Better than expected...

The Professor made an executive decision at the last minute to change the ride from Platte to Wabash. Sorry if you showed up at Platte with brass knuckles. I swear you'll get another chance to throw fists at a Goathead soon.

We were afraid Platte was going to be too muddy. We figured if the single track at the Wabash was too muddy we could at least ride on the trail. It turned out that the single track was in almost perfect condition.......Every time I ride there, I always say 'why don't I ride here more?' Turned out to be a great ride. I lost A-Train on the way back, but as far as I know he completed the ride without blowing a tube, so that's worth celebrating right there.

J-Law, sorry we didn't hook up this time, hopefully next time it'll work out. Don't take your frustration to work with you. That's can only end one way......a grand jury. Get out and ride so you don't go NYC cop on the next meth dealer you take down.

Goathead Nation

It's been a while since Goathead nation assembled en masse.
Cross your fingers and hope that the rain holds off. If it does, the plan is to descend on Platte this Sunday around 2:30. No excuses! If you've ever called yourself a Goathead, be there! If you've always wanted to be a Goathead, be there! If you've ever wanted to punch a Goathead in the face, be there!.....

So it's Video Tuesday

Sorry - didn't ride this evening, just watched videos of other people riding...



Here's to keep on keeping on. He was going for a 360, but it wasn't to be had this day.


I'm feelin the THOR energy here - I'm feelin it, I'm feelin it... I know some of the courses have great stuff, but imho every trail should have at least one ladder. ;)


And here's some video of Porcupine Rim that does not have any Goat Heads in it, but reminds me of good times.

Cement vs Dirt

If the Goat Heads made a music video...

.. this is what our rehearsals would look like.



I love the ROTFLOL part! :)

2wheels1gear

Gas prices keep going up, and I live less than six miles from Grace. What should I do? Our friends at Highgear provided the answer. While the ride to work wasn't bad, I think the ride home may be a bit tougher.

Manawa - 4/20

The Professor, Proletariat and myself went out to Manawa on Sunday. Overall it was fairly dry, with a few spots to avoid and the small pond near the end section. Since we got miles on the road the day before, this was mostly a play da... I mean bike handling training day.

**braaaaaap** Burpin my bike.

Here's a little something we like to call the Proletariat Slide.

Modding Mod's Motivation

Mod, the GoatHeads challenge you to set your sights higher, and in color.

Oops

I thought this was a funny story.

Went out for some paved miles late afternoon yesterday. Only came home with two though...

I stopped to snap this shot of one of the longer climbs, put the phone away, clipped in, hissssssssss... Not again!! I ended up walking up over that hill to where my wife could pick me up.

I kid you not, about 60% of my rides have ended this way since I changed my original tubes. You guys all know what I'm talking about, the Professor had to pick me up on the last long ride we tried to do. J.A. rode back to my car to get a spare tube for me at Manawa. When JC, Lumpy and I went on that ride and met our wives for a picnic, it happened then too. I'm getting really tired of this.

Why do the valves keep pulling out of the tubes? Apparently the tire slips on the rim, pulling the tube with it, putting tension on the base of the valve. Somebody please help me figure out how to stop this. (it was the front tire this time, by the way, so only braking forces acting on the tire)

The best I can do......

All I can do is offer my sincerest apologies. You've all been waiting patiently for the Goatheads 2007 video, complete with helmet cam footage from Moab so cool that it will make you face melt off. Unfortunately it's been held up in post production for several months. It started with the writers strike and is now embroiled in a law suit over copyright and distribution rights. As soon as the lawyers give the okay the video will be released here......Until then, I've put together a short montage of some of our photos (sorry, no video). I'm sure men in black suits will try to shut us down for leaking this early, but I'm willing to take that risk. I'm sick of The Man holding me down with his foot I my neck. Today is the day that I "Raise My Fist and Resist!"




Hopefully that lifted your spirits a little, despite the crappy weather. If not, Wilford Brimley surely will.

Inconvenient Truth

As I watched the snow fall during breakfast today (the morning of APRIL 11TH) I realized there would be no Goathead group ride this weekend. At least not on single track (THOR guidelines). I began to wonder something, can we start a recall effort on Algore's Nobel Peace Prize.

Action Figures? I KNOW those guys!

FW: What Dads Do with Action Figures...

Prank

Here's a simple prank; all you need is 30 guys in spandex, 40-50 people with signs and cowbells, and a race podium. Let the hilarity begin.



This is the only way a Goathead will ever see the podium.

Swanson Controversy

Mod brought up the one thing I forgot to mention from Swanson on Saturday. Join the controversy.

With the changes to Tranquility and Swanson, will Manawa be the new downhiller entry trail?

(stirring the pot)

Update: When a blog censors itself, it makes it really awkward for the other blogs that link to it. I feel exposed. I think my slip is showing. :(

A Swanson Saturday

The Angry Butcher took me along to sharpen his cleavers on Saturday, looking forward to a bountiful new season. While we just road the front-side to avoid getting our pretty tires dirty, the new signs that marked sections as "difficult" puffed up our egos enough that it didn't really matter we missed out on the whole trail. The only thing better would be black diamond signs that say "May Cause Injury or Death!" If the parking lot had one of these signs, we would ride around our cars all day and leave feeling like we conquered the world.

A shout out to Mike D. and the mustache posse - thanks for making my day! You and Mod put the Goatheads to shame.

Perseverance

Obviously flats are something we have to deal with in cycling. But what do you do if you are leading a race, you flat, and don't have anymore cartridges / spare tires? You push on.