Dan B. rocks the Ironman Coeur d’Alene

Finish Yoga. Or as Buss described it “Vomit suppression pose”

Dan B. could barely swim when he decided to do an Ironman.  But then again, Busse is no stranger to bad decisions.  He’s done multiple Leadman’s (all the Leadville events in a season), RAAM rider, Breck Epic . . . The list goes on.

Last weekend, he went to Coeur d’Alene  to qualify for Ironman Kona, and try not to drown.   He came out of the water in 71st.  By the end of the bike, he was in 35th.  The man can ride.  He was picking off more folks until the wheels came off around mile 11 on the marathon.  He death marched it home, and still manage to fend off most other folks to keep his standing, finishing in the top 10%.   Congrats buss.  You da man.

Buss crushing the bike with his Alchemist kit and aero helmet.

Feeling rough, but looking strong at the finish

Drew, Jon and Dan R. contend for 24 Nats, and Sean and Todd ride with Ron Kiefel

Jon throwing down at the 24 hours of Enchanted Forest National Championships

Drew, Jon, and Dan R. went down to Gallup, NM last weekend for 24 hour Nationals.  They rode solo in a large men’s open category.  Turns out the rain turned everything to mud around 11pm, so the race was shut down for 7 hours.  Come morning, Jon had put in 120 miles, and figured that was enough, so he focused his energy on supporting Deb, who won the 4 person women’s Team category.  Awesome.  Congrats, Deb.  Dan rode after the mud delay, and shot up to 15th. Drew knocked out another three laps after the morning start before clipping a pedal and supermanning it into the dirt.  He dislocated his shoulder in the process.  Later, he would tell me that he thought to himself  “WWJD”  or “What Would Jeff Do?”.

We often have the debate in the ER about whether to sedate people for shoulder reductions or not.  He prefers to knock em out, I prefer to give them no meds and slam it back in, Lethal Weapon style.  Actually, it’s very gentle, but the point is that we have different styles on shoulder relocation.  After the crash, he didn’t have the option of sedating himself, so he did it Wu style.  The tough mother-grabber put his own shoulder back in, and then rode 10 miles to get back to camp.  He packed it in at that point, finishing in 11th place.  He was in 5th at the time.

Nice work out there, you three.  I’ve officially retired from solo 24 hour racing, so hats off to anyone who is willing to suffer that much.

Jon, Dan R., Deb, and Drew at 24 hour Nats. Before the pain.

Team Headquarters

Mud Lap Casualty

Deb and her Team on the Top Spot

Sean and Todd finished up the RTR this past week.  Before they were done, they rode a stage with Ron Kiefel, who, despite a few extra years, can apparently still hammer.

Sean and Ron Kiefel after sharing pulls at the Ride the Rockies.

Ron K. back in the 7-11 days. No Helmet!

Naked Women Show Appreciation for Alchemist Team Riders

“Naked Girls show appreciation for the domestique work of the Alchemist Team.”

Sean B. sent this photo of him and Todd at the Ride the Rockies.  The caption under the photo is his, not mine.  Domestiques, for those who don’t know,  typically ride at the front, blocking the wind for the Team leaders behind them.  So Sean, what you are telling me is that you and Todd rode at the front, pulling the Naked ladies along in your wake.  So that means they were looking at your asses the whole day?

You guys are doing it all wrong.

NAKED WOMEN Mix It Up with Alchemist Team Rider

Alchemist Team rider, Sean B. gets busy at the Ride the Rockies with the Naked Women Race Team. Kris in an Alchemist made 303Cycling kit joins in the fun.  Todd, where were you?

 

303cycling video of day #1

Drew finishes 4 peaks at Trans Germany

Drew firing off the start in Lofer

Drew just finished up the Trans Germany, now called the Bike 4 Peaks.  Ridiculous climbs and technical descents were the flavor of the race.  He was pretty cooked by the end, but made a great showing with a 16th place finish (out of over a hundred in the Grand Masters Cat).  The Euros take their racing really seriously, so to be in the top 20 is pretty amazing.

Finished the “Bike 4 Peaks” today. Really fun event, brutally hard, glad I rode & & glad I am done. A day or two more would have killed me.

Ended up 16th overall in the Grand Masters (50+). Dropped one slot today.

Yesterday’s stage 3 was from Kirchberg to Kaprun all in Austria. The initial climb was longer & higher than we have ridden but at a much more do-able grade. Everyone starts at 100% effort for position every day (just like Leadville but up hill with better riders). We were all redline in the first 2 minutes. Climbed up a beautiful valley dodging cows all the way up the steep narrow dirt road.  Caught & dropped one of the pro gals who has been bugging us. She brings a chair & a masseuse to the start pen & takes up 5 places of space.  Toni & Wesley love it when I pass her.. Reached the snow-line & crested over a bit. My Garmin said we were 2k short of the top but I was thrilled to descend. There was a group of ice-climbers in a long line scaling the snow ridge to my left about 1000 feet above us. It looked like a picture from Everest. Around the corner we took a sharp, straight up hill left. Those climbers did not have backpacks – those were bikes and we were going up there. We proceeded to climb 2k & 500 meters vertical in the snow. We then descended in the snow. I consider myself a pretty good snow rider but every one with me could also ride it.

The single track section started just below snow line. The “roadbook” – the detailed route listing – says the first descent is -67% grade.  The steep section on the Link is maybe 20%, The Wall of Pain on flagstaff maybe 16%. What the hell is 67%? We dropped off a dirt road in to the section. It was a loamy groove straight down, filled with a few roots just for fun. The whole group just dove in. Off the back of the saddle, both brakes locked & tires just sliding & surfing. Really fun. The turns were grooved so there was no way to miss a turn. That is a DH I would never have ridden but in the group you just go with it.

We then had 30k upwind & up-valley to the next climb. I did have my aero helmet & was happy for it. I was ahead of a big group of riders & too far to bridge up the the next group. I towed the 4th place women 30k. She was very nice about it. “I’m just to small to ride in the wind”. The start of the last climb was straight up the ski area grass; steep like powerline but 200 meters wide & lined with people. The 4 Peaks guys just love to throw that crap at you. The last climb was not steep nor too long but it was a death march for me. No legs. Lost 10 minutes & a dozen places just trying to survive. The descent into town was another “flowy” trail. Brutal water dips you have to jump every 10 seconds. My back & arms were screaming for rest. Glad to roll in & find Wesley & Toni with beers & a great hotel!  18th on the stage & 15th in GC.

Today was the last stage. Long flat roll out with a couple “bumps in it”.  We rode on a pave & dirt bike path that was 2 meters wide. These guys were rolling at 50+ kph, 4 abreast negotiating 90 turns constantly. The group worked perfectly. No bumps, yelling or crashing. They told us there was one steep “bike walk” before the big climb but it was only 200 meters. Problem was they mean 200 VERTICAL meters. This was Powerline + steep & much longer. We were walking in 2 solid lines wheel to wheel. The 3rd place pro lady was to my right only she was riding – the whole thing! She was no faster & never got out of line. Just moving uphill at 2mph. She rides for “Squeezy” a Euro energy gel, so her butt says Squeezy.

Last climb was OK but as Phil Liggett would say – “he has hit the wall & is moving backwards”. The had changed the route which anyone who speaks German knows of course. I was really expected a summit at 69k but 69k came & went. Around the corner was a face with switchbacks & lines of riders – one more brutal clmb; those bastards never let you off easy here. I was riding in  a normal helmet today. At the top of the hill one rider bridged up to me – “you changed your helmet …… GOOD” and he then rode off. So much for aero-cool. All single track DH but this was pretty fast & ridable. Not too hard on the arms.Dropped to 21st on the stage but riding with my usual group. Held on for 16th overall.

Great event. They do it up like the Tour de France. Huge start/finish kites, giant bike expo & 1000 really good riders. This ride will humble you. You think you can climb – come on over. You think you can descent – give it a try. Pack riding – like a roadie. I could not train any more or better than I did (may be a few 10x Lick Skillett would be good). I rode every stage at the top of my game. No big errors or mechanicals. I felt like I was ripping it 100% & tons of guys roll right by me.

Consider it on your agenda.

Alps, Baby!

Cow, Baby! Classic Euro

View from Ruhpolding Hotel

Ripping Singletrack

Bike 4 Peaks in the Books. Congrats, Drew!

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Luke Wins Short Track, and Drew Crushing Euro’s at Trans Germany

Luke crushed the field in last Wednesdays Short Track sporting the new Team jersey (junior edition).

Drew is over in Germany throwing down some serious climbing against the best that Europe has to offer.

Here is his account from days #1 and #2:  WARNING:  Bliss said the following account made his sphincter quiver.  If you have a fragile sphincter do NOT read further.

Tough day today. Dropped a few places – finished 16th & probably about the same in GC. Only riding about 5 min slower than yesterday though so I h=am hanging in there.

Stage one was a hard race. Rode over threshold for anything that was flat or uphill. I was pegged but was deep in a big group of riders. That was a great race for me. I have never raced that hard in the US. These guys & gals can climb! Climbs are uber steep. The start climb was 75% grade – though that was a joke. Everyone crawled up it bike on their back. Had a terrible start block assigned but just moved myself (like Thomas would) up to about 300. Then off the line about 20 of us sprinted on the parallel bike path right up to the top 50. 20k battle in a huge pack to hold your position.

Today was a bigger stage. 2500m climbing. 14% short first climb but of course everyone is going 100%. I set my personal record for VAM  (vertical meters ascent). I was positioned well but took a big face of mud on the descent – it is wet & muddy here. Had to stop & take out a contact so I lost a bit & my train. Did not have the fast helmet – could have used it for the wind.

The monster climb is to the top of the Kitzbuel ski area up the famous Hannekam DH course. Only a 11k climb but it was 10-14% & relentless. Don’t have to worry about gear selection. Just put it in the smallest I have & grind. Climbed into the snow at the top. We descended on the “new” world championship course built for the UCI World Marathon here in 2 weeks. By new of course they mean – build last week. Brand new very rough terrain. 3000 feet drop in 7k.  Their site describes the top a “selective” and the bottom as “flowey”.  There must be a German translation problem. What “selective” really means is terri-fucking-fying. It is major world cup technical with roots, drops, vertical off camber turn/drops.  What “flowey” means is dense wet roots with 12 inches of mud flowing over them. I have never raced nor ridden any course in the US that difficult. I am actually a better descender than the group & am riding with so I am generally moving up in the group on the DH.

Tomorrow – another monster climb of course right out of the start. Does not look quite as steep which is good for me. I am happier at less than 8%. Still in race mode – have not yeet stooped to survival mode but it is coming.

Good beer. Good sausages.

Here is Luke cruising to the win.

Indian Creek

Stuart crossing Indian Creek

Indian Peaks — RME Series Race #3

Team Alchemist had a nice showing at the third installment of the Rocky Mountain Endurance Series at Indian Peaks. This was the inaugural year of the race, and it didn’t disappoint.

Alex C. considers these trails his backyard stomping grounds.  He rides the single track around Sedalia regularly. His beta: really fun course, and really hard.  I threw on a 20 tooth cog for the climbs that were advertised as soul suckers.

Mike W. volunteered to load up Mabel with the Boulder crowd for the ride down.  One aging minivan, six guys, six bikes, and XM radio tuned to Brittany Spears. Don’t tell our wives.

The start of the race was pushed back because the registration line was as long as the race course. In Thane’s words, “We didn’t know it was going to be so popular.”  Nice to see such a good turnout and show of support for the race, which supports the local Search & Rescue service.  As the day unfolded, the rescue crews utilized every bit of every resource they had available.

Alex, Stuart, and I were on single speed, and we went off just after the pros.  Stuart and I trailed the pack in second to last, and last place, respectively.  The first lap was supposed to be a “half lap”, but as we pulled into Aid #1, it seemed like we had done nearly a full lap.  Turns out we did most of the full lap but skipped the best part of the course, Ringtail.  On lap two, we turned it loose on the windy, hard packed singletrack.  Ringtail is the signature piece of trail in the area, and is what keeps the locals grinning.  We descended about 3000′ along the buffed out, banked trail, hitting speeds over 30 mph in tight, treelined terrain.  We were eventually spit out onto an exposed trail that gave us views of some impressive red rock formations.  Ken later told me that we were riding next to the Arrowhead golf course, which is one of the coolest intergalactic golf courses in the universe.  I swear it was built by aliens.

What goes down, must come up. All that descending wasn’t free.  We had to climb back out to get back to the start.  I caught Stuart at the remote Aid on lap 2, and we rode together to finish the lap.  There were several sections of the climbs that were too steep and loose to ride.  They were even hard to walk.  This is the part of the course that broke many riders.  I think there were more DNF’s in this race than in all the other RME races combined.

The climb back out is broken up by one particularly fast, technical descent.  A number of “Slow” signs were scattered along the way to mark the 2′-3′ peaks that were placed in the trail.  You had to either commit to hit them at full speed and launch off of them, which could easily clear a 10′ gap, or slow down enough that you kept both wheels on the dirt and roll over them.  I’d like to say that I maintained my speed and gave my best shit-eating grin as I supermanned through the ether.  But after a couple close calls of landing front wheel first, I slowed way down and took the latter approach, dribbling one wheel after another, over each of the berms.  Anything in between fast and slow would buck your rear wheel upward and send you ass over apple bucket.

After crawling over the biggest of the bumps, I had to hit my brakes hard and veer off the trail.  A branch had been laid, apparently intentionally, across the trail, diverting traffic off to the right.  A racer asked if I had a cell phone, and I was sorry to say I didn’t.  Several yards down the trail, I could see why he asked.  A couple racers were off the trail to the left helping a third, who had obviously taken the last berm the wrong way.  The injured rider’s face had been split wide open from the upper lip through his nose and mid face.  It was gruesome, even for someone who has seen a lot of gruesome stuff.  He had a couple folks with him, but I felt like I should stop anyway.

Flashes of the Laramie Enduro went through my head.  Last year, I stopped for a racer who crashed and dislocated his shoulder.  I put it back in, but lost a handful of minutes and several places.  This time, there was an EMT there holding C-spine, and except for his face, everything else appeared to be okay.  I let them know I was an ER doc, but the two guys assured me there was nothing more that could be done at the moment.  I asked for the injured rider’s name and figured the best way I could help at that point was to ride my ass off and find help.  As it turned out, we were in the most remote part of the course, and I didn’t come across help for over half an hour.

Stuart and I pulled into the main aid after lap two and stuffed our faces.  To my surprise, he asked me if I was going to do another lap.  Uh, yes?  I didn’t know he was that deep in the hurt locker.  But we saddled up for lap three, if reluctantly.  I took two bottles with me for lap 3, but misplaced one of them in the cage on the climb out, and somehow ran it over with my rear wheel.  Ah, the humanity.  I backtracked to retrieve what was left of my crushed bottle.  I poured the rest of the contents out and stuffed the raisined thing into my bottle cage.  By that time, I lost contact with Stuart, who was feeling good again.  I finally saw him again after Ringtail as I was approaching the remote Aid station.  He had just pulled out.  Another rider was refilling his Camelback, and I wanted to catch Stuart, so I paused for half a second, and then skipped the Aid.  Big mistake. I was about half full (or empty depending on your outlook) in the remaining bottle, but not nearly enough to make it back home.

We stayed together for a while when we were stopped by a course official.  We weren’t the only ones.  There was a long line of riders stopped on the trail, some waiting for 15-20 minutes.  The injured rider was finally being evacuated out.  It had been over 2 hours from the time I had passed him the first time.  That’s a long time to be lying there bleeding with your face turned inside out.  I drank most of the rest of my bottle as we waited, and saved one last sip for that If-I-don’t-have-something-wet-in-my-mouth-right-now-I’m-going-to-shrivel-up-and-die moment.  After 10 minutes or so, we applauded the efforts of the search and rescue crew as they took Keith out on a stretcher, and then mounted our bikes for the rest of the climb out.  Ken caught us on that final climb.  He passed me and asked why I never acknowledged his calls.  That was when I realized he had been ever so close most of the race yelling ahead, “Wooooohooooooo!!!”  That whole time, I thought it was just some fella who was having a really wonderful time riding his bike.  Ken was on fire, he blew my me and took Stuart with him.  Damn.  Alone again.

I had cracked.  Dehydrated and spent, I just limped home from there.  I hurt about as much I’ve ever hurt on a bike.  Came in 8th SS, which I’ll take, all things considered.

We had a very nice Team turnout for the race.  Dice and Alex C. picked up big points for the Team competition with 4th place finishes in the Women’s Open and SS cats.  Stuart took 6th in SS., coming off the couch to crush me.  Ken finished 9th in a large 40-50 men’s field.   The way he was riding, he would have won the Clydesdale Cat, but this year he decided to stop eating ice cream.  WTF?  Mike S. brought home some much needed points in the Men’s 30-40 Half Marathon.  John A. and Noel rode like warriors, knocking out the Marathon in 7 hours-ish.  Sean and Kevin also rode well, grabbing points in the Men 40-50 Half.  I think Rich was riding well in the Marathon and was right on my tail at one point before snapping his derailleur off.  Rich, I think it’s time to put that new derailleur on now.  Mike W. hammered out the Half and figured that was fun enough.  He is wise beyond his years.  That was a tough course.  Nice work out there Team.  We are just 60 points out of fourth place.

Some race pics.  Missed a couple of the Team. The Yann site had copyright issues:

Dice rockin the Old School Team Jersey to 4th place

Alex C. out of the saddle and leading the Alchemist SS pack.

Wu making it look hard

Wu gettin wet

Mike W. always smiling. He’s thinking about Cheeseburgers and listening to Britney Spears

Friend of Alchemist, Michele, on her way to winning the SS cat

Mike S. focused and riding hard

Sean exiting the water and busting a move

John A. plunging in full speed

Ken riding strong and airing it out

Noel hammering up the climb