"3 Up" - WORS #2 Rhinelander

It is a good day when you wake up in your own bed, the sun is shining, and the morning temps comfortable. It wasn't even 10 am yet and as I was packing the bikes it was already a great day. A few days before Sunday I had decided to travel the morning of WORS #2 Rhinelander. I do not get to do it often and there is something extra motivating and special about preparing a meal the night before and sleeping in your own house before a race. Pre-riding for a race course is one way to prepare but the other is taking care of your body and mind. 

The lead out and lead lap was good. I was positioned well in the start and was comfortable up to the hole shot. I didn't get in exactly where I preferred but sitting 4th wasn't a bad place to be. Nathan G. pounded out a great first lap. A few times making me question my effort as the dust filled my mouth creating a cotton ball on the dry course. A fairly uneventful first lap and we wrapped around for lap 2 in no hurry on the 2 track leading back out and our 4 became 5. Back into the single track and once again I rode 4th wheel. About a 1/4 way into the lap the unthinkable happened. I dropped a chain. XX1 has been solid I didn't believe it was possible to drop a front chain but it had happened. I tried to finesse it back on but nothing going. A stick had found it sway in-between the ring and chain causing it to come off. In the end, not result of the incredibly solid XX1. A fast stop and I patiently worked it back onto the ring. Any panic in this situation and I find it is takes longer than just staying calm and taking your time. The 3 rode away quick and Justin P then passed. I had been feeling pretty good so without panic I was in chase mode. Hitting every hill and punching every corner I slowly bridged the gap. It took about 5 or so minutes of high effort but I was back on. I took a moment to recover on the back and we rolled around for lap 3 in a group of 4.

Once again, we were in no hurry on the 2 track leading back to the single track which lead to a bit of impatience by me. Also, panic of Big D's teammate, the pedaling "Wicked Witch" - Chris P, steadying his way back to us. I took the front and a higher pace into the single track. I slowly gained speed taking my attack at the front. It did enough to bring the lead group down to Nathan, Big D, and me. The legs were good after the attack and in hindsight I should have just kept going until something happened with me or the group but I seen this as mistake #1 of a couple I made in the last lap. It is a hard decision to make in battle when the guys that tag your wheel are as solid as they come in single track. A rider better be on their game to ride Nathan or Big D of their wheel in tech sections.

Lap 4 went down the same as 3. I lead the entire lap but instead kept a pace to keep people from catching instead of a pace to drop riders. The 3 of us knew it was going to come down to a sprint so in my mind any wasted energy during the final lap was a loss. The final 1/2 mile is a 2 track perfect for cat and mouse games. Nathan came to the front and I came by his side blocking any chance for Big D to take a jump. The fear of Big D and his power is quite daunting and forced me into mistake another mistake. A childhood rule, "He who hesitates has loss." A coach use to yell that at me all the time and sure enough 20 years later here it was. Nathan jumped and I responded. I thought it was a perfect set up for Big D to come off of my wheel and around both of us but instead I led him array. A big mind lapse and thinking the finish line was where we started I made a small turn towards the wrong way. It was quickly fixed but it left no time to catch Nathan and no time for Darrin to come around me.

Not often you get into a 3 up sprint for the win. A blast it was and a lot learned. A victory so close, .9 seconds, it is hard to enjoy 2nd immediately but after a good CD you realize that any podium position at a WORS event is a good day. Thanks to Darrin and Nathan for a competitive day of racing.

Legs Say "Go" - WORS #1 Iola

It is not very often in racing when your legs are screaming "go" and your body yells back "no." It is most always the other way around. I suppose if you start to do this racing thing long enough your bodily experiences will find a new way to surprise you more often than not.

The site of Iola is always a good one. It is site of a new day, new opportunity, new goals, but the re-resurrection of  MTB fun. Training and racing accumulates a bucket full of pain and frustrations but bring everyone's same struggles to one venue and all becomes worth it. The unique thing about knobby tire bikes is we all share the same passion and love for the sport and no matter what ones experience in the past days or weeks WORS brings us together. Ahh yes, it is good to be back.

We were welcomed with a humid and hot 85 degree day. The sun was hiding but it didn't decrease the intensity factor of the heat. I do not usually mention the heat and can fair well in it but bring a Upper Peninsula boy down from his unseasonable 40-60 degree breezy climate into 85 degrees of humidity and the body may react. I came in feeling good and not all that nervous about the challenge in front of me. I had a lot of excitement to analyze the fitness and skill. Although my analysis is not exactly what I expected I'm happy with what came from the first effort.

As most expected the lead out was tight and competitive. The elite field has a mass of riders that can stick the start effort making positioning a battle. The change to the Iola lead out extended this battle and the front group stuck together a lot longer than usual. I lost some aggression at the start but managed to jump on the lead group in about 8th/9th. Cole was off the front and Tristan lead the chase the majority of the first lap. The group winded around the smooth single track still in tact back to the start/lap position. The 2nd time up the start climb I made the decision to ease up on my effort to keep in site the finish that was still 1:20 minutes away. The group rode away and I my objective became "Peariso" power. Known to others as "steady" or "old man" power. Even at that, my legs felt the need to go but no response from the energy stores to allow them.

Chris getting the edge in the last corner

My red line effort on the first lap altered my decision making and started to show in my line choices. The start of the 3rd lap I recovered as Justin P. approached. I jumped onto his wheel forcing myself to choose a better line and bring my alertness back. He rode well and I felt like we gained some of the time back I lost on a slow lap 2. Most of lap 4 of spent solo and all of lap 5 until the last 500 meters. The last 1/2 mile of the course I allowed my guard to drop and didn't take notice of 2 chasing riders. In no hurry I approached Michelle P. and she kindly gave me room to pass where I declined knowing 2 track approached. I sprinted the 2 track and felt someone on my wheel not knowing who. We went onto the last section of 2 track and out of nowhere the other Peariso contended me for hole shot into the last piece of single track to the finish. We ran it right to the last moment and he nabbed it. 9th to 10th in the last 500 m.

A number is a number but a result is not always the result. It was good to be back and to get a picture of the year. The late start to the WORS season leaves us with 3 straight weeks of racing. Saddle up, it's going to be a fast one.

2013 RASTA Rally

We have waited, waited and have waited some more. For the mountain bike season that is. The Northern part of Wisconsin and all of the Upper Peninsula have been buried by late season snow and lingering fall weather. The inclement weather has prolonged the off season or the fat bike season, depending on how you look at. The mountain bike season has traditional come by this time of year and yet very few riders could claim any race results or effort as of May 11^th. The RASTA Rally held in Rhinelander, WI was the first for many to seal up their tubeless knobby tires and feel the single track dirt beneath them.

The RASTA is one of the few races in the North Country that could claim their original date. Even with that, Mother Nature did it’s best to keep us away. Driving through snow from Ishpeming to past Iron River things were not looking promising but as I inched closer to Rhinelander the snow slowly vanished. As the snow vanished the temps fell along with it.  A brisk 31 degrees at arrival made it tough to get into the mid-summer MTB mindset. Ole’ man winter fought but Susie sunshine fought back. The sun slipped through the clouds giving each of us a small hope of rising temps.

With a small crowd on hand the start line was scattered. This was a surprise as I thought people would flock to the first opportunity to ride single track this far North. A relaxed countdown and the first “go” of the season was released. With an absence of race efforts my intention was to mock a high effort start as we see in the WORS season week in and week out to acclimate to the brutishness both mentally and physically. With no care of who was around or on my wheel my eyes stayed forward. Around the first bend Justin Piontek, the other pro on hand, took his turn applying the same start effort I had attempted. After the 1 mile lead-out I took the hole shot into the single track. With no concern of energy for the 2 hours to come I pounced at each hill and turn. Justin glued to my wheel we extended our 2 man lead. My effort felt hard and fast but what wouldn’t feel hard after 5 months of no MTB racing. 1/3 way into the lap Justin takes control. He applied the pressure and now my turn to keep glued. I let a small gap open as I allowed my early efforts to replenish. The hills of Rhinelander smoothed out to flowing single-track. This allowed me to creep closer until we popped back out a 2 track climb. Taking back to the front I settled into an effort. As the terrain went up again I slowly opened a gap. Prior to this my single-track skill was far from being envied. A 5 month layoff of dirt was showing its way with me. The slowly forming gap allowed my mind to relax and I allowed my Trek SF100 do its job. I pointed the 29” wheels and the Maxxis Icon gripped.

The first lap had been completed in 1:02. Not knowing the 2^nd lap was shortened from the first I managed my effort for the next 20 minutes until I noticed I approached a section closer to the end. Figuring I either missed a turn or they cut a section off I picked up my pace tapping the pedals to the finish.  The sun had now started to come out in which I figured was perfect timing so it could shine down on my smile from completing my first MTB race effort of the year. To a course that I figure not to be my specialty Rhinelander has always been good to me. A win in the legs but more importantly it was a race effort long overdue waiting for ole’ man winter to give way to the sun shine of spring.          

2012 Iceman Cometh

This is by far one of my most favorite races of the year.  One of the most challenging too.  The challenge is not the nature of the course but instead the late season training, competitive field, and aggressive start.  When your season starts in February the months of October and November can be come mentally challenging.  Especially when the UP turns to rain and 30's.  The Iceman has become a National level race with some of our top riders in the Midwest, America, and in the past the world.  The start! Most way say, "You can't win the race in the start but you can loose it."  This doesn't stand more true than in this race.

I got to Traverse City early this year.  I arrived on the Tuesday prior to the race.  I wanted the the week to be a full time bike racer.  Train, eat, and rest.  I wanted to give myself no excuses when my season ended Saturday afternoon.  All planned perfectly but sometimes things you just cannot control.  Tuesday I arrived at my condo and unpacked in just enough time to stock up on food and supplies.  When I rested my head that night I felt the first sign of the common cold, a soar throat.  I woke up Wednesday dry and stuffed.  The plan was to do course recon and intervals on Wednesday but between the sideways rain outside and the start of the my cold I made the decision to ride the trainer indoors to help along the recovery process.  For the whole day I consumed water, vitaman C, Zicam, and cough drops as if if were my dietary plan.  On Thursday the weather got a bit better but the cold did not.  I needed to ride and needed recon so I rode from Williamsburg Road to the finish.  The course was packed and fast but the better part is felt open on the bike.  Friday I woke up more dry and stuff than the day before but the body wasn't too bad.  I did my traditional out to 7K and back openers and then it was back to the condo for rest.

The Race
Temps were cool but not too bad.  The worse part was the start line waiting for the gun as the chill ate to the bone.  As USA cycling does it, the gun went off in an anticlimactic way.  Within 30 seconds I had made my way to the front. The very front.  Iceman is one of the most aggressive starts I have every taken part in.  The battle at the front is ruthless and the first couple of turns and bottlenecks will make or break your race. So I found myself leading it out into the first corner and I was fine with that effort.  Down the straight stretch I stayed in front until a few moved around.  This happened to be right before the bottleneck and I got shuffled into the middle.  The challenge of riding at the front is fighting off the surges you can't see coming from behind.  Just as we reached the dirt I was farther back than I fought to be and wanted to be.  I had to be 25-30 back.  With the single track coming earlier this year I was not in good position.

Into the first critical single track the race was one very large line.  I got stuck behind 2 riders that allowed that line to get away and I could not find a free and open spot to make a move to join it.  On the first set of two track and I was now digging to attach to the group.  I bridged up to the back of the group but had noticed that their was a front group already starting to form and to get away.  I missed it!  This was about the time I knew my legs were good, my body was fine despite my cold, and my mind was in gear.  So to miss my opportunity in the first 10 min of the race was a huge let down.  I jumped to the front of the chase group and worked with a few to bring back the lead group but we never could catch them.  2 groups were formed which made the rest of the race quite predictable   The front guys were 10-11 strong so they rotated and kept the pace high.  We were also 10-11 strong but only a few did the work.

Eventually our group was whittled down a bit as the course had a lot more single track than years prior.  This pushed the true roadies out the back.  Skill was more important this year.  With about 10k remaining I was still feeling good and had high hopes of finishing at the front of the group.  The problem was so were the other guys I was with.  Tristan made a pretty good move up the final hill before the single track and I went into last in my group.  It spit us out into another hill and before I knew it I was disconnected.  I pounded each of the last hills dropping 1 guy along the way and finished on my own in 19th.

I had a good day.  I couldn't use my cold as excuse.  My legs were strong, my body was good, my bike perfect, and my mind in line.  In a race that you need a good start I did not have one.  Despite my finish outside my race goal I was pleased with my performance.  Sometimes we have to look at the overall picture rather than the finish #.  The season is long and the effort is hard to dwell on a number.  The race is incredibly fun and the atmosphere is like no other.  It is tough to be disappointed when you are involved in such an great event.                

WORS Overall Standings

A couple weekends ago was the Wisconsin Off Road Series banquet.  This is held as a wrap to the season to acknowledge a seasons worth of accomplishments for the overall finishers.  This year my goal at the beginning of the season was a top 5.  I reached my goal finishing 4th so I attended the banquet to celebrate the accomplishment.

Even though the banquet signifies the end of a season I was still not done.  So before I could celebrate I joined up with Chris P. in Amherst to pedal out some intervals on the rail trail in preparation for Iceman.  At this time Chris was in full off/beer season swing but he loves his bike enough to suffer with me one last time.  Crazy old man.  We had a great workout and now it was onward towards celebration and fun.

My goal was a top 5 overall finish for the series.  With the the week in and week out competition that shows up at any given WORS race I knew it would be a tough goal to achieve.  My final position of either 3rd or 4th came down to the last race in a battle with Darrin B. from Adventure 212.  He got the better of me in the final race and pushed me back to 4th overall but this was still within my goal.  In just 3 short years I was able to go 12th, 7th, and now 4th overall.  I'm blessed to have such a great team, coach, and support crew to keep me healthy throughout the 12 races.  Not only do you have to be good on the bike but luck and support have to be on your side.

National Story here.

Video Interview

2012 Mud Bowl - WORS #12 Sheboygan

What would a 12 race mountain bike series be without an annual mud race?  A 12 race mountain bike series!  The WORS series seems to have an epic mud race every year and this year did not disappoint.  Ironically, we had one of our driest riding seasons we have had in a few years but raced in the rain more this year than prior.   4 of the 12 races were raced in the rain this year, Iola, Rhinelander, Suamico, and the most recent Sheboygan.  As any champion would it saved its best for last and WORS did that with WORS #12.

The weather watching started early in the week after rumors of cold and rain emerged on the iPhone, iPad, and even the iMac, each device spreading the same rumor.  In the 4 hour drive down south on Saturday it never stopped raining, rumors confirmed.  The next morning we woke up to sideways rain and a 30 minute rain delay which would do nothing but allow the course to be stirred and mixed with each drop of precipitation. 

We sprinted out on pavement for 100 yards shooting into grass and that is where the challenge started.  The first blade grass sucked your wheel in as if we were fighting dropping into a black hole.  We were around the first few corners and the bike, kits, and bodies were covered in mud.  Sliding down the first single track I was in 5^th position and the literally slid into 4^th when Nathan G. was forced into a line that threw him and his bike overboard.  It didn’t take each of us long to realize that bike handling would be overshined by any fitness a rider displayed.  Each section had its own and new type of challenge.  Off camber mud slides, uphill tire slips, buried roots, flooded trail, brakeless log jumps, and river crossings that were quickly turning into lakes.  I will allow the enclosed pictures to tell the story rather than making up descriptive words that don’t do the conditions justice.

With each mile of trail the more skilled riders took ownership and rode a race of their own.  There wasn’t much more you could do than just race what you could manage.  Cole H. was immediately up the trail alone and Marko L. was close behind.  The way they were displaying riding skill they were sure to stay away the rest of the race.  Darrin B. and I were behind.  Not so much in chase but riding what could be managed.  Darrin would put small gaps on me in the more technical sections but I allowed my patience to stay intact on the first lap and would bridge them back.  Starting the 2^nd lap I allowed my race management and my patience to disappear.  I attempted to put a move in on a drier part of the trail and pushed my pace.  My chosen pace put me outside of my technical limit and soon thereafter I was sliding, slipping, and falling.  I slid into a tree and caught my hand the wrong way causing an instant throb.  From that moment I lost patience, confidence, and enjoyment.  All huge “no noes” in XC racing.  I knew better but with each wheel rotation the course got worse and I was exposed each time.  By the end lap 2 Darrin had put a gap on that put him out of reach. I was joined by Nathan as he made his way up from his 1^st lap fall.  He too put a gap on me that put him out of reach.  With ½ lap remaining I had another racer ride up and it was Mike P.  We switched spots a few times but he took control in the last ¼ mile as I allowed my mind to beat me ruthlessly. 

I came in 6^th place after riding in 3^rd and 4^th for most of it.  It was disappointing to drop a few spots but after having time to reflect I’m the only one to blame.  Not my fitness, not my skill, but me.  At first I wanted to blame the weather as anyone could blame the weather and conditions for a poor ride but I was exposed just as every other rider was.  I allowed my biggest competitor beat me, my mind.    

The beautiful thing about WORS racing, even in the midst of a Midwest monsoon, is the people involved.  As I allowed my mind to beat me Darrin was yelling encouragement to me the whole time.  My competitor, the one I was racing against to claim a 3^rd overall series spot with was yelling for me to keep going, to keep with it, to stay focused.  I am grateful for what we have even if I’m still cleaning mud from out of my ears. 

WORS #11 Bear Paw

The WORS season is quickly approaching its final races.  As sad as it is to see the season and year reaching its end it is always a great day to be at the final 2 WORS events.  They are 2 of the best courses we do all year and timed perfectly with the best time of year, fall.

White Lake, WI was the race site for this past Sunday and only being 2 1/2 hours from home I was able to sleep in my own bed the night before which is always an advantage.  The ride down south was one of the brightest I've seen in quite awhile.  The yellow on the leaves were vibrant and the air temperature perfect creating a must smile attitude.  Perfect before lining up.


My legs were good in warm up but I didn't know what to expect coming off of my worst week of the year 2 weeks prior.  I had a good week of training and some longer base miles to get my legs back under me.  The first climb came and I settled at the front until Cole took off.  I was happy to see this and knew I could respond.  At the top the attack took 4 of us with including myself, Mike P. and Nathan.  I enjoyed the pace up the climb which set confidence knowing my legs should be good. After the first single track  I let a little gap to to Mike and Cole.  On the next flat I passed Nathan and eventually by the end of the lap attached to Mike but Cole had another 10 seconds on Mike.  I always had them in sight but it took a full lap to get back on.  The course is technical and their skill kept them just out of reach until the two track.  At the end of lap 1 Mike clipped a pedal and was forced off the bike and I was chasing Cole alone.  The start of lap 2 I was with him.  He took the lead in all the single track and I did some work on the 2 track.  Each technical section he would take small lead but nothing I couldn't bring back on a hill or two track.  Although I believe this is where he noticed his advantage  On lap 3 he gave me the lead into some single track.  This ended up being my worst lap and I just couldn't find a rhythm on the bike.  By mid lap Cole took advantage of that and was off the front.  Ending lap 3 I noticed Nathan was coming up behind me with the momentum of a Porsche on a back country road.  He had found his engine and looked on fire.  We were together for a half a lap and I did work on the 2 track as he would shoot in front on the single track.  Eventually his skill rode away from me and left me back in 3rd.  I finished with a descent lap and felt good at the end.

I was happy to come away with 3rd place and some good points towards the overall series.  I wasn't completely satisfied though as I had the legs to win the race but not the skill.  On a course where skill outshines fitness it just wasn't my day up against some smooth riders.  The win would have granted by true wish so I could bring Copper up on the top step with me for his first ever podium visit.  Sunday was one of Coppers last days with us as cancer took the better of him.  I wanted badly to to win for him and show him off on the top step but in true Copper fashion he was just as happy on the 3rd step as he would have been on the top.

National Article