WADA's New Testing Facilities

With all of the doping scandals going now days why aren't lesser known pros getting on these teams or any sort of publicity for these guys. Simple answer would be cause teams are welcoming back riders convicted in the past based on their word that they will not CHEAT again. Come on people Discovery couldn't land a major sponsor caused by basso and the general issues surround doping in our sport that we as cyclists strive to keep alive on a daily basis. What has to be done to keep this sport clean? What has to be done to keep the governing bodies honest instead of the witch hunt that has been taking place and not following correct procedures as instructed. Pretty soon there will be "agents" waiting in the porta johns ready for YOUR deposit. I guess I can be happy knowing that I progressed to this point 100% clean minus a few Point Specials here and there.

Positive Note: Ski Swap Saturday at Marathon Park!!!!!

Weekend Rides

Well I've been doing the commuting thing to work for a few weeks now and I needed to get some good ridin in somwhere other than the road to work. I packed up the singlespeed and headed East of Stevens Point to Standing Rocks County Park. This place was just what I needed what a trail system. For those of you in the know and after the posting of 1,2,13 and 14 being closed due to the burn, I started from the tower dr lot and hit section 6, 7, 8, 9, 10a,10b, 11a, 11b, then 12, 3, 4 and 5. I did this loop twice. I am glad to have had a chance to ride there. I will probably go next weekend if at all possible, but this system immediately gets added to my favorites. Looked like Scott, Mark, and Don were out there but must have just missed each other. Hopefully the snow will start soon so that I can get some xc skiing in and work towards 08.

Seasons Changin

Last weekend we ended up going to Stevens Point for the banquet. I met up with Nate, Brando, and Jesse and ended up going to Rusty's for some bloody marys, point special, and some good greasy food.

From there we went to the Point Brewery for a fantastic tour and samples of some of Wisconsin's finest beers and then back to Nates in preparation for the 2007 WORS Banquet. The banquet was a good time with a shrine of Point Special being erected on the table in the form of a beer-a-mid. I was awarded for my efforts in the Cliff Bar Comp Series placing 3rd in the 25-29 age group. I also scored some raffle goodies and needless to say I wont be running out of cliff shots or bars anytime soon as well as a nice commuter light from Sigma. Special thanks goes out to Don for running the dirt circus and the WORS Posse for getting things set up.

After the banquet we met up with landon and some other cyclists at Final Score in which many adults beverages were consumed. Landon had to do some cross racing sunday and headed home while the rest of us walked up town.

Sunday was hangover ride 07. After the consumption of mcd's breakfast we made the trip out to Neilsville for some awesome riding at Levis Mound. This was the first time out there and I was very impressed. Great views, awesome singletrack, and so many options to ride. I got out the Rockhopper Singlespeed with a 32x18 which handled most of the climbing pretty well.

Well I have some exciting events and tons of ideas of what I want to do for 2008. Definitely going to incorporate some travel to different states and venues, but more on that later.

Now just making the commute to work on the bike and some XC Skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, etc.... for the winter months.

Thunderdown (No Pun Intended) 6hr

Friday, weather called for only a 10% chance of storms. Saturday was the same. Again meteorologists were wrong as usual and I started the 6 hour solo event in the underdown forest. These guys spent a ton of time out there making some of the best singletrack I have ridden this season, but unfourtunately the rains came in.

At 1 pm I got off the start and rode strong on leadout keep 1st and 2nd within my sights and I noticed that one of the two were struggling on the climbs even as early as the first lap which played to my advantage considering that I pride my riding based on my ability to climb. Most of the course some 80-90% was of the singletrack variety which made things a struggle at times during the rains but nothing that I couldn't handle. So I came through on my first lap grabbed a bottle and went straight through passing for 2nd. The 2nd lap brought a light rain in which wasn't falling hard yet cause of the thickness of the forest I was able to get two clean laps in before it got serious. I continued on laps 3 and 4 with quick stops for bottles and hammergel only and I felt like I was riding out there alone and for the most part I was because most have thrown in the towel and called it a day, but I along with some of the 12 solo guys were still out there. On my 5th and final lap I was having some vision problems, but kept on pedaling and eventually caught the 1st rider and gapping him by a couple of minutes to take the win and the free growler fill at Hereford and Hopps I think the Oktoberfest may be the brew of choice for this one. I have gotta thanks the guys at Turner Bikes again for giving me a bike that outlasts any condition that mother nature can throw at it and propel me to yet another win this season.

Sheboygan next weekend and I will following up that race with a visit to Lambeau field to witness a stomping of the Bears via Favre and the Packers. Have a good week.

I was Tater Baked

With only 2 races left in the WORS series I was sitting in 4th place and excited to have a spot up front I was ready to make my attempt at another WORS podium. We got off the line with no incident and I knew right away I was not feeling good at all. My HR was maxed out legs felt heavy and my stomach was uneasy...that's right, the lingering effects of the flu. I was riding strong about 2 minutes behind Aaron for most of the first two laps but then I exploded and could notice that immediately on the climbs when I used the granny. I survived even though at times I thought of pulling out knowing full well I didn't have it in me that day, but I held on to get the points and will re-focus going into sheboygan. I have the 6 Hours in the Underdown on Saturday, but am really looking forward to wrapping up the season in Sheboygan and am wondering how the course is going to run with sections in reverse.

Chequamegon

What a ride what a weekend. Brett, Jim and I arrived to casa de Jasperson at around 5 on friday just in time to go and register. We ate a big dinner of mostocholi and watched "Off Road to Athens" for inspiration. Needless to say as it got closer to the cannon blowing off I was getting very nervous for this was the first time I made it into the 40. The cold air of friday night/saturday morning was enough to make me focus elsewhere like trying to keep warm.

The cannon goes off and right away we were spinning. I treated this as a warmup since I sat in the car the whole time up till about 15 minutes before the race...not a good idea... I managed to gain control over everything about 30 minutes into the race just past rosies field I decided to kick er down. I was killing it on the climbs and bombing the decents to carry momentum going up the next one and it worked I must have caught a lot of the field after "OO" cause soon I was riding alone and gapped a lot riders not strong on the climbs which is what most of the last 8 or so miles was, so a race like this benefits me the more climbing the better. I am pretty happy with how I did in my first attempt and will look to improve and enter the triple crown next year cause these mass point to point races are a blast.

Results for:Justin LundChequamegon 40

Bib #
1128
Age
26
Gender
M
City, State
Appleton, WI
Team Name:
fdl/osh cyclery/spy
Age Group
M 25-29Split Results
Split
Time
Pace
Hayward to OO
01:04:52.5
14.7 mph
00 to Telemark
01:35:46.2
16.2 mphFinish Results
Finish Time
02:40:38.8
Pace
15.2 mph
Overall Place
271 out of 1766 Chequamegon 40 finishers
Division Place
240 out of 1469 Chequamegon 40 Men finishers
Age Group Place
28 out of 105 M 25-29 finishers

I would also like to recognize a new partnership for 2008 Evomo. They will be covering me from head to toe in some quality threads and really exemplify the image of people who live to ride on the dirt. I would also like to thank Spy Optic, Twinsix, Turner Bikes, Crank Brothers, and Osiris Shoes for their support this season. There is only a few races left in my season then it's off to XC Skiing and Snowboarding.

Sunburst

Well another good race with another good result down at the Sunburst Ski Area. I got bad start and stuck with the leaders until the first climb where it was clear I was a much better climber and needed a better start so I didn't get held up on the first climb. I moved up quickly through our group but noticed I was caught easily on the downhills honestly for reasons I can't put my finger on. Lap 2 and 3 I felt much better, more fluid in my cadence, hammering on the climbs and my heart rate and breathing was finally under control. The last lap some fatigue set in but I put the chain up in the big ring and pushed through it. I think I had one of my best performances of the year and felt confident in my abilities, but still have some things to work on. Starts and Decending. Other than that I feel pretty good about my singletrack skills. I am very happy with my climbing ability. I am not that far off of where I need to be but like I've said a million times before. A 3rd place finish here and less than 10 minutes back overall which is nice cause I've been struggling in the overall in general this year.

A group of us are going up to chequamegon this weekend. For me this is my inagural trip to the fattire and I gotta tell ya I'm a bit nervous about the road race like start being so close to the competition for miles. Maybe this is the cure for my starts who knows. We'll see how this turns out.