People are starting to show up here in Cable, so it is getting confusing.  Pretty soon it seems like everyone is like a flock of birds just flowing in the wind.  I think there are going to be 10 people staying here at the Kruse compound.  Luckily the girl/guy ratio isn’t super out of wack, well it is a little, 3 to 7.  That makes for a little more organized food consumption process.

My legs are wasted for some reason, even though I barely rode 20 miles yesterday.  I was actually cramping a bit last night while sleeping.   I plan to ride way less today, even though Catherine is going to try to get me to ride the last 1/2 of the race today.  I’m not biting.

Speaking of cramping, I met the Peter Spencer, the promoter from Lutzen, yesterday at the Rivers Eatery and he told me that he had a hook up with the product from itsthenerve.  Its a anti-cramping product that I’m super interested in.  I was actually planning on trying to meet the Nobel prize winner inventor after Worlds in Richmond.  But, I guess some of the product is out there.  I know nothing about it, whether you take it to prevent cramps or you take it when you start cramping. Either way it something I’m very interested in.  I might have some in my possession as early as this evening.  It probably isn’t the best day, tomorrow, to test the product.

So far this morning we have just sat around and talked about tsunamis, insurance fraud, removing boat lifts from lakes, apple cider, Norwegian spitz dogs, etc.  This morning is going to turn to afternoon before anyone gets up from their chairs.

Evelyn Dong was assembling her bike this morning, but now she is stuck in the conversation. She was putting her rotors back on her wheels.  I haven’t flown with my MTB since I’ve had disc wheels.  Man, what a hassle.

I made another pie last night and it is pretty much gone.  I think there are a ton of apples still in the tree.  I couldn’t really see them last night, I’d went over and picked them at 10:30.  It would be a lot easier doing it in the daylight.

Just got a call from Pat Lemieux and they moved the ITU Grand final race up to 1 pm today.  The race is in Chicago and is on Universal Sports.  Gwen Jorgensen is going to try to cap off an undefeated season if she wins the event.

Okay, I can’t really concentrate now, so I should just stop.  I could write all morning.

This is a fork I got from Trek a long time ago. I’m going to race it tomorrow.

Dennis wearing an apron.  Later on he was using a toothbrush to clean his bike.

2ns pie in two days.

Trudi got a new road bike from BMC. Looks like Andrej Bek is helping her assemble it.

Today is Chequamegon.  It is a 40 mile MTB race from Hayward Wisconsin to Telemark Resort near Cable Wisconsin.  It is on the Birkie trail some, logging roads some and snow mobile trails some.  The race is really open and very fast, for a MTB race.

I’ve won the race three times and have been on the podium numerous other times.  It is one of my favorite events.  The course really doesn’t suit my abilities so much now, but I’d never skip the race if I can help it.  Last year, I did the race just 3 1/2 months after breaking my hip.  I finished 14th, which, now that I think about it, was a little crazy.  But at the time, it seemed normal.

I hope to go okay today, but I don’t really have any idea how I’m going to ride.  I think I did the right training, but the last few days I haven’t felt very good riding.  Kind of out of sorts physically, but nothing to pin point.  But I usually go better on race days than I think I might, so I’m hoping for the best.

It is going to be in the 40’s at the start and the highs in the mid 60’s later on in the day, so it is pretty great MTB weather.

Katie made an awesome dinner last night.  3 chickens, corn, potatoes, salad, etc.  It was a feast. She is a great cook.

We usually always have a podium finisher staying at the Kruse compound.  I think that Evelyn Dong is going to be the safe bet here.  She has the credentials to do really well here.  Like I said above, I’m a big question mark.  If I’m having a great day, then, I could be an outside shot.  If not, then I’ll just enjoy the race along with 3000 other riders.

Okay, I need to pack up the bikes in the van and head down to Hayward.  We usually ride out the start 5-7 miles and then back.  It is a good warm-up and a way to keep the nerves in check. Live results starting around noon tomorrow can be found here.

The Kansas guys at packet pickup with Gary Crandall, Mr. Chequamegon himself.

Gary and I last night.

Mick set up a big screen for the ITU finals yesterday afternoon. They moved the race up 4 hours because of potential storms.

Nearly everyone in Dennis’ neighborhood was there watching and cheering for Gwen Jorgensen.

Gwen smeared everyone in the ITU race yesterday, making it a clean sweep on the season. Unprecedented.  So, she is probably super busy today so I thought I’d sneak in this pre-wedding photo from last fall in today.

Katie’s chicken after we were done with it.

I picked up some of this yesterday. Itsthenerve. I don’t think I’ll drink it down today, but I’m going to carry it in my pocket just in case.

Fun activities at registration.