Big Dales Place

This Blog Sucks

2008-07-08T21:48:00.003-05:00

This thing here really sucks. But any way This last race was a blast. Chippewa has always been my favorite race since it started 4 years ago. So much to do for the family and who can beat 5 dollar all you can eat food. Well I have to give props to Rumby for manning up and racing with the rest of us losers. I feel that I made the right decision after the first race to take a step down and start enjoying riding again. I mean I almost stepped away from racing all together. What most people don't understand is I was very sick over the winter and still into race season. I cost me any chance of training. I only was able to get the problem solved close to 3 weeks ago. Who would of thought that a guy growing up in good old Brat land would end up with a pork allergy. This really sucks but I will have to deal with it. I mean there are turkey and chicken brats right. Well any way Best of luck to Rumby. I will be moving out of the cit clydes at some point. I may do Sunburst in my age group and see how it goes. Sport will have to wait for some point in time next year. To all of you who have given me crap you try and be sick for 5 months and still ride. At least I am still racing.

A piece of STEEL

2008-03-13T16:05:00.003-05:00

Well anyway I got a call from the shop the other day saying that my new frame was in. Mind you I ordered this thing the last week of December. So I get to the shop thinking ok they are pulling my leg. Sure enuff there it was. My beautiful green 29er Gunnar. I am under firm belife the hold up had to do with Russel. I know he has some connections over there in Waterford. So any way well I was there I ordered my parts wich I guess are in except for my wheels, fork, and tires. Again I blame Russel on the wheels. I don't quite know the model of them but they will be up to par since one of the boys at Sun ringle will be biulding them. Thinking about calling them Holcombe Harassers. I will post pics as soon as I get this beast together. Ofcourse this bike will only have one gear. I'm starting to get confused with all those other ones. I still go the same speed. You all Know. What is it you all say on your way by Get the F#@k out of my way you fat boy. Or was it this is a race junior.

ENUFF SAID

2008-02-14T20:39:00.001-06:00

For NSFDFF

2008-01-18T18:25:00.000-06:00

I belive this may be Fattires and Beer" new Team Bike!

For Bubba

2008-01-16T14:20:00.000-06:00

Down south, Bubba called his attorney and asked, "Is
It true theys suin them cigarette companies fer causin
People to git cancer ?"
"Yes, Bubba, sure is true," responded the lawyer.
"And now someone is suin them fast food restaurants Fer
makin them fat an cloggin their arteries with all Them burgers
an fries, is that true, Mista Lawyer?"
"Sure is, Bubba."
"And that lady sued McDonalds for millions when she Was
gave that hot coffee that she ordered?"
"Yep."
"And that football player sued that university when he
Gradiated and still couldn't read?"
"That's right," said the lawyer.""But why are you asking?"
"Well, I was thinkin . ..
What I want to know is, kin I sue Budweiser fer all
them ugly women I slept with?"

Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

Its Been A Long Time

2007-12-04T14:38:00.000-06:00

Wo I can't belive it has really been two months since I did a damn thing with this. Well a quick recap of the last couple of months.Work way to much. I am making more money than I ever have. Finished up the race season with a DNF at Shevegas that sucked. Our team had their cross race. That seemed to go well. Thank you to all who atended. Bowling started. Cool thing there is I roled the highest game of my life a 295 to bad I blew the 300 with the last ball. Then I went deer huntingAfter 21 years of trying I finally got my BUCK. he is a small 8 point but sure better than all of the does I usualy see. Our hunting party was as fortunate as I also. W3e had 6 deer by about 8:30 am opening morning. That was by far the best season yet. Our team for the next year is starting to come together. We have made some changes to what and how our team is run. Our team is now part of the Janesville Velo Club witch I was elected Vice President of. Michaels Cycles is now our sponsor. Team mebership is open to any one in the club or any one interested in the club. You must however be a club member to be on the Team. I am still trying to get my butt in gear and order my Gunnar. We have had a group of people work on a new jersey desing and I think that all of their hard work has payed off. It will be a Ruffian 29er just not sure what color. Think I might have to get ahold of Russel for some Bubba beaters. I hope with the drop in weight I can and will be faster than last year. That brings me to a sad farewell. To all of my former Clyde competitors I like Russel have droped below the magic weight that keeps our fat asses having fun. I will now have to race my age or race singlespeed this year. Who knows maybe both. Even though I will most likely be able to race with you guys let me say it has been fun over the last 5 years. So no elbows when you catch me next year when you still have the downhill advantage. well hopefully it wont take me another two months to post again. I hope to start putting up more of the team and club hapenings. Strarting with The next club meeting will be on January 7th. Anyone interested in joining the team and our club contact myself and I will get youy pointed down the right path. Well the snow is starting to fall again. Time to get ready for frozen fools challange. More to com on that

Fall Color Fest

2007-10-01T20:54:00.000-05:00

Well any way I know I havn't posted in a while so what better time than now to do so. On Saturday I went over to John Muir for the Fall Color Fest.This has to be one of my favorite events just because it is only a half hour away from home. Well any ways I decided to break out the single speed for this " EVENT". i thought that since this would be the first time I had raced this bike I would wimp out and only do the 10 mile. So after seeing all the rest of the "events" start it was time to go. So when the man yelled go I went. Had a good start hanging on in about 3rd to the start of the red loop. Downside was I was only riding 2 to 1 so off went like 8 more guys. I fall to around 12 or 13th. So we get to the blue loop and with the hills I start picking up more positions. The traffic from the 20 mile race was picking up at this time. So after passing what seemed to be about 20 people I get passed by the first female in the 10 mile and I decided to pick up the pace. I get back by her in the sandy pines when she came to a dead stop. So zoom there I went. Well ok she held my wheel for the rest of the race but couldn't get around me. We pass by a course marshall and he tells us we are in the top 10. I was like wow. So up the hills I went. I felt great Imanaged to climb every thing. So I come in to the finish and there the guy at the finish they tell me that I was in the top 10. Cool. So after results are posted 4 hours later I find out that I finished 8th over all and 3rd in the singlespeed class. So this weekend its off to Shevegas for the last race of my year. Hope this weekend is as good to me as last. I need some real help to finish in the top three this year. I need a 3rd or better or a DNF or bad race from at least one of the clydes. Not going to mention who he has had enuff bad luck this year. No matter what happens congrats to every one this year its been a blast. Lets hope to see you all back next year when I am no longer a Clyde and I am racing my new singlespeed.

If You Can Help Please Do

2007-08-30T16:08:00.000-05:00

Janet is a friend of mine as well as a teamate. I fany one can help plese call the numbers listed. If you do help I will even by you a beverage of your choice.

JANESVILLE-Janesville police are asking the public's help in finding a red, full-size pickup with front-end damage that was involved in a hit-and-run accident Tuesday.Janet K. Schlegel, 42, of 452 N. Oakhill Ave., Janesville, was bicycling west on Rockport Road at 6:03 p.m. when she was hit from behind by a vehicle. She suffered pelvic and hip injuries and was treated and released from Mercy Hospital in Janesville.Witnesses told Janesville police they saw a full-size, red Chevrolet pickup leave the scene and head west at high speed.Police asked any who sees the truck with Z71 logos and minor front-end damage to the passenger side headlamp to call Janesville police at (608) 755-3100 or Janesville Area CrimeStoppers at (608) 756-3636.

What"s New

2007-08-02T14:34:00.000-05:00

Well there has not been much new going on around the Smith house as of late. I will be starting a new job with Uhaul on Monday and have to train in Wausau. That will be cool I'll take my bike with me and ride Nine Mile. Racing has had its ups and downs this season. I just can't seem to train the way I should. Though the best thing I did was take 2 weeks off after the last race. I've been hitting the bike hard this week. Rode 20 miles at Kettle on Sunday came home ate some lunch and went out for 30 miles on the road bike. This is the most miles I have put in in a day all year. I was suprised to see I good I felt. Then on Monday me and the family met up with Janet. Kayla,and Larry for a ride at Rockport park. The ride started off good and then what do you know Shannon crashed cutting her lip open. She told me she had put her tooth through her lip but after I looked at it it was just a small cut. I got her out of the woods and had Dakota keep riding with Janet until I got back with the car. When I got back Shannon said she was OK so we rode for a little bit. Tonight I am headed to Rock Cut with the team. This has the potential to be a good work out. On saturday I am going to go and Pre ride the Alterra course and then go to Shannons Class reunion. Then on Sunday I will race. I just hope I can get the saturday of the Subaru Cup off to race. If not I might have to race Comp that day. No not gonna happen I already finish close enuff to DFL as it is.

HELL HAS FROZE OVER

2007-07-06T12:34:00.000-05:00

That's right hell has officially frozen over. You may ask why well I am about to tell you. At Phillips it all started. Dakota got his first podium ever only finishing 32 seconds back of the leader. But this is still not why. It may have cooled things down in hell but it isn't what caused the problem. I WON A RACE. Its true with the three clydes that usually whip me every week not at the Firecracker I pulled it off. I would like to thank the Big Wheel at Fattires And Beer for the help pulling my fat but around for two laps. Next it is off to the Reforestation Ramble to see if I can once again regain my mediocrity. I also guess that I am for now the Supreme Ruler of Shit Turd Mountain. I will try the best I can to rule in a fairway.

Hows This Post for a Update

2007-06-20T15:06:00.001-05:00

The new Start Wave Right in front of all us Sport Clydes!

Race season is here

2007-04-02T18:45:00.000-05:00

Well my race season is about to start. I will be going down to Moline Il. on the 15th of April for some race down there in the I74 series. I figure it should be flat. After all it is Illinois. The following weekend is The Whitewater race. Not to sure on this as of yet. Then the last weekend of the month is the Rock cut race. Always fun. Then it is the wonderful WORS season. I think I am going to keep the bike on both wheels this year at Iola. Well that is my goal.

Man this is lame

2007-03-28T21:46:00.001-05:00

Well I seem to only be able to update this thing once a month. Well whats new. I got some new bling for the bike in the form of a new crank and new carbon handlebar. Also me and the wife are both in the fattire short and fat. This will be her first race ever. It is giving her some motivation to get out and ride. We put in 18 miles on Sunday that was good. The boy went with us and made the distance. Hope the trails here in Janesberg will dry up soon. Well hope to have more news soon. I'm looking at posting my race agenda for the year very soon. All 12 WORS races are almost a lock plus the Fattire. Maybe a WEMS race or two. Looking to do 24/9 again just need to get a team together Clydes againg of course. I might even try a road race in Whitewater.

Time to up date this thing

2007-02-19T18:35:00.001-06:00

Well this blog is way more lame than Bubba's. I think I have only had 3 updates since race season got over. Well any way I went for a ride today. I started by saying lets just keep it short. About ten miles. Then it turned into 20. By the time I got home I had put in 32. So it was a great day. This along with the 83 I put in last week are the first real miles for the winter. I have rode a little here and there but not much. On to the boys bike. I have most of it done. I am just waiting on his new shifters. I had a set of diore but they suck so he will get a set of lx. He has my old Race face evolve. Because I had to buy myself a new Deus. Thought the silver was a bit much so I went with the black. He also got my new XT rear derailleur. So I ordered a new one for my bike. He has a new Race Face carbon seat post and will be getting my old carbon handle bar. I went back to my old riser bar last year. Right now the thing weighs in around 25 to 26 pounds which is 6 pounds lighter than he was riding last year. Sorry Russel no fancy wheels yet. if you have some cheap let me know what you got. I am in Tossa just about every day right now. If any one is interested I have some parts I need to sell. I have a GT I drive frame it a year 2000. I also have a set of sun wheels. You want them make me an offer. I have no need for either of them. I think I am going out again tomorrow. This time I am taking the knife not the gun.

Kids New Bike

2007-01-23T16:04:00.000-06:00

Well I started biulding the kid a new bike this week. We are starting with a Horo V5 frame. It is going to have a Judy XC fork. The stopping power will be provided by a set of Avid mechanical disc brakes donated to Dakota by Bob after he won them at our team dinner. Thanks Bob. Istill have yet to decide on a crank set or wheelset for his bike. I thought about a set of Sun Ringle but Dakota said no way. He was worried that Russel may have tampered with them and they would just fall apart. I a looking to raise some extra cash for this progect. I would like to upgrade his fork. It would be cool if I could give him my Fox so I could buy a new one for my bike but right now the wife says no. I hope this new bike will be the spark this kid needs to apply himself this year and atleast hit the podium once. When I get a chance I will post some pic of the new ride. Hope I biuld this thing light enuff.

Please Check out This Blog

2006-12-18T21:12:00.000-06:00

If you care about your wife. Your daughter. Your mother or any other female or male in your life please check out the Big Hausers new blog. He is working on a worthwile cause while doing somthing he loves. Those of us in the cycling comunity should do what we can to support him. Eve though he will look like a big fat fairy on his PINK bike.

Whats wrong

2006-12-04T18:41:00.000-06:00

I've been sitting around playing on my favorite sites and what do you know .This Guy site is still not back up yet. I think he has said the hell with it moved out to Cali with the rest of the clydes. If this keeps up Cali will take the beer and brat title from cheddar lad just like they did our milk. Stop the insanity. John say its not so.

Its Been A while

2006-12-02T10:48:00.000-06:00

Well since my last post I have gotten a job. I now work for Morey's Seafood out of Minneapolis. I am responsible for the Roundys accounts in southern Wi. I also went to the WORS banquet. It was cool to see our team once again take first place. Currently I am working with our shop manager Bob in final preparations for our 2007 team. I will now be responsible for tracking all of the volunteer activities our team and club contribute to the community. If any one is interested in our club please see the link I have posted under Janesville Velo Club. I have also been rehabing my knee from a minor injury sustained at the last race in Shevagas. Knee is feeling good now. I've been on the trainer the last two nights. I will probably go for a short ride in the snow on Sunday.
Also deer hunting was a great success this year. Our group of three took two deer opening weekend. The plus to this is we saw around 25. I took mine at about 9 am Sunday morning. I don't have any pics. Sorry no Xmas advent here like here. Every one have a great Xmas hope to get to some of those great riding spots next year with my new job. I forgot to mention I get to travel the state with my bike to ride.

It's almost over

2006-10-18T19:29:00.000-05:00

Well the season is almost at a end. Overall it has been a wonderful year for the fat guy. I guess the kid had some fun too. I won't up finishing third in my age. I was on the podium seven tomes this year. Yea me. None of this would be possible if it were not for a very loving and understanding wife. She came to every race this year except The 12 hour of John Muir. That's OK because its only like a 30 minute drive to get there. Now I am on a quest to get into the Iceman. EBay has an auction for an entry so I'm going to try and win it. I would also like to thank of the other people that helped me out this year.

First and most important is Michael's Cycles. You guys are great. Bob you do a terrific job running our team. Mike its great to have a guy like you that dose what you do supporting us. The guys in the shop that turn our bikes around so quick when we need work. If you are in the Janesville area stop in and check these guys out. Or click on them in my links. www.michaelscycles.net
Second would be all of my teammates from the Michael's team. Wonderful job this year repeating our past success as Champs. It was wonderful riding with all of you weather we were racing or just riding back here in Janesberg.

Third is all of the guys at Fatires. John you and your crew are amazing. Dakota can't wait until next year so he and Shane can run around. Thanks Connie. Shannon loved having some one around while we were out racing.

Last is to all of you Clydes that I have come to know over the last three years. I can't wait for next year to get out there a do this all over again.

Shevegas

2006-10-09T13:14:00.000-05:00

Well the weekend started as good as it possibly could. Dakota won his soccer game. We made it to the race course with plenty of time to ride. So off on a pre-ride I went Dakota in tow. Well I asked dakota if he would be fine and then off I went with Bob and Sean. Rode the course shot up the equalizer with no problems. So anyway race day comes. Dakota race went as normal. He finised in the top 10. So I get ready to go. I sitting in the pack waiting to hear Don yell GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. I want to sit anywere from 2 to 5 in my age on the first lap. So I hear GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO and I'm off sticking to the plan. We get to te equalizer yep I'm 5th just like I had planned. I start climbing passing moving up and then it happened. My Knee went. I dabed about 10 feet from the top. limped up tried to go again and nothing. It hurt so bad to push with my left leg. So since I had third place locked up in the series I decided that a trail ride was in order to finish the race. Man did it suck that that was all I could do because I was in a position to win. I finisehed the race in 5TH to my suprise. I didn't realize that I passed people again. Overall it was a good day. I'll spend the next week rehabing the knee and looking for a job still. Hope to do atleast a cross race this year. I might even sneak over to the night race this friday.
Good Riding to all you CLYDES see you at the banquet. Time to start huntin and killin.

Off To Shevegas

2006-10-07T12:01:00.000-05:00

Well this weekend is the end of a very long season. Today we are leaving for the Wgwam\Ultimax Classic. This has tradionaly been a bad race for me. We will see. I have in the past won the sprint prime. And climbed the hill. I know I will finsih in third for the series nomater what happens sunday. The best part of this race is we get to stay with Shannons brother Nic and His wife Amber. The down side is they are selling their house so next year its time to finde some thing else. Hope every one has a good weekend. Good Racing Yall.

Wonderful Sunday

2006-10-05T11:33:00.000-05:00

So anyways on Sunday I decided to take the family for a ride. Everyone get in the car and things are well. We show up to the park. Things are well. I offer my full suspension bike to the wife se declines and takes the single speed. Things are well. Now mind you she has ridden this bike before but not off road. So its off to the woods we go. Things are well. Climbed the first hill. Things are well. Enter the first single track. OOOOOPPPPPPSSS things are no longer well. It seems that there was a reality check for my loving wife once she had to pedal up a hill in the woods. So she walks. I make her get back on the bike after again offering my bike. She still declines. Then she tells me the trees are out to get her or something like that. Once back on I follow here to yell words of help. Like ride you brakes you are fine what not. So we come to the next hill mind you the whole time I have ye to shift my bike because I wanted to be on the singlespeed instead. I climb the hill. She walks. Our son laughs at her and says I made mom! When she dose reach the top she looks like she was ready to die. All she wants to do is sit on the ground. At this point I say you are done with the one gear wonder give her the carbon rocket shift it to a easy gear for her and tell her we are riding. So off we go. Things are still not fine. She stills tells me those trees are out to get her. We hit the next set of single track called plinko for these of you who have ridden at this park. What do you now she wasn't kidding those trees got her. Right at the bottom of the hill. Mind you I'm on the singespeed laughing my a$$ off as she says I told you the didn't like me. So I got her back on the bike and we ride up a new reroute and then I fall flat on my face. I told Bob we needed to get rid of that STUMP in the turn but no. She laughs at me. I took her and the kid out to the rest of the single track things are again well until she finds a grape vine to land on. That was more funny than the trees. SO WE FINISHED THE SINGLE TRACK LOOP and headed for the bike path. This all went well. On the way back the rode the path to the car and I cut through the park. I got to the car and all was well. Now I think I have thought the wife a lesson. Ride the one gear wonder and die. That's My bike. Build your own.

You are all DQed

2006-10-01T18:36:00.000-05:00

Well as of today I am now a USCF offical. Took my class. Took my open book test. Paid my money. Got my patch. So you cheaters out there better look out. I might have to take you beer away and put it up for safe keeping.

Back From The Rapids And Still NO Job

2006-09-28T12:17:00.000-05:00

Well we went To the race up in the Rapids over the weekend. The course was pretty much the same as other years. We got there on Saturday. It did nothing but rain the whole way up so we stopped and got some lunch in the Dells. Let me say this avoid Cracker Barrel in the Dells. Worst service almost ever. So we continued on our way get to the Rapids and no rain. Cool of to ride I go. After all that we went to dinner at Pasquels. This was by far the worst service ever. If you were there that night you know what I mean. Sunday was all good. Dakota Started out really slow. Last out on to the road. Then He comes Out of the first single track up about two spots. That's where he finished. So a ok race for him. I set out on my race on a mission. All I needed was A third or better to lock up third in my series for the year. So off I went. I got some HELP from Hauser wich was a surprise to me because the guy I was racing for third was his teammate. So hears how things went. Me: you ready to go. Hauser: lets do it. And it was like that the whole race. Unforunatly I fell off right at the end going up the gravel hill or there could have been a good sprint to the finish. Best part is I finished Second for the second race in a row. This weekend its off to the Fall Color Fest. I am going to try the singlespeed thing. I will have my rear handed to me but it will be a blast .

The 40 well Short and Round

2006-09-20T16:02:00.000-05:00

Well any ways on Saturday I did my first race at Cheq. I only did the Shoirt and Fat but man was it a blast. If you have never raced here you need to. This is probably the single best race in the midwest. Well any way I started near the front. Well the top 200 atleast and managed to stay there all day. That was good considering the night before I slept in my car like a homeless guy. That to was cool. Wish my bud Neil Could have made it I should have let him now where my wife was while she was In Cali. Well Imanaged to finish 13th in my age and 176th over all. I was happy because i was in the top 25%. Remember there were 800 racers in my race. Well this weekend we are off to Wisconsin Rapids. I love this course. Flat and full of single track. Hope things go well. Dakota is racing as well. I just hope he dos't finish last. He has improved some over the last couple of races. Lets see if it continues.

Whats up with this weather

2006-09-05T19:57:00.000-05:00

Well me and the family went to our cabin over the holiday weekend and what do you know it rains all day on monday. That sucked because I had a epic ride planed for little Dakota. Well moving on the forcast for this weekends race is looking like a repeat of last year. Yes it is for rain. So on tonight ride I took out my single speed in anticipation of the upcoming mudfest. I hit the local trails feeling pretty good all in all not having ridden since last thursday. I got in 31.6 miles tonight before it got dark. I am hoping I won't have to use the snot rocket this weekend but another good mudfest is alwats welcome in my book.

Thursday at the kettles

2006-08-31T19:55:00.000-05:00

Thursday at The Kettles
Well I went out to the Kettles on today to get in a ride. To my suprise I was just floating around and over everything. I can't ever remember a time where everything just felt this good. I was a little depressed that most of the climbing has been taken out of the blue loop. But then again Iwas no fan of those stupid mats. It was also kind of wierd not to see that many riders out tonight. I rode about 20 miles @ blues and a red and headed for the general store. That place has some kick butt sandmies.