BALLS VI in the books. 45 new and old friends in165 miles in 2 days, campfire and some great #1 brew #2 (s) in between along with an unbelievable support crew that fed us till we were ready to burst.
Best weather we've ever had, the rookies got a break.
Regrouping, Dodgeville.
Contrast of tire choices and everything in between.
Dodgeville rollout.
The Mayor speaks and comments from a rookie.
Russ and I broke out from the group and easily caught one of the leaders.....
My feminine side revealing its self.
A little blurring after slogging through the Cheese Country trail.....but got back on track quickly after......
...the infamous Combination: Limburger Cheese, Braunswchweiger (liver sausage to some) and raw onion on rye.
Randy found a new best friend after his shot of petrone.....
Butch found a challenge after his shot.......
And Mike, well he finally found something,too (right Heidi?)
Butch seemed a bit insecure, had to get a compass to find his way back to the trail!
This was actually a few weeks ago...guess I'm getting a little lazy.
BALLS V (basically a 100 mile mtn. bike ride on rail-to-trails of varying conditions) started like most of them, weather a crap shoot, leaning mostly towards crappy. It stopped raining long enough before the 7AM start for Tim Mullen and I to get out of the sag wagon (my trailer, where we slept for the night, in front of Bear's house) and join the rest of the crew as we got packed up and headed out.
Loading up the trailer.
Jin tossing in his bag....I think this was his 4th BALLS. He was in on BALLS I..link to it later on.
Sorry Tim, I ate 2 of Bear's rolls before I realized he only made one pan....how was that cold cereal by the way?
15 or so decided to clean the garage, wash the basement floor or just
hang on to Mommy's skirt as the rest of us, 35 or so strong, took off.
It was a fast lead out, 17 mph or so. Weather conditions not bad by BALLS standards. By the time we hit the exposed part of the ride, about 25 miles in, the sky opened up and we were all soaking wet and getting cold....and colder if you even slowed down, let alone stop. The front group I was with decided to grab a cup of Joe and warm up some and let the weather maybe sort it's self out some. Coffee, pancakes, oatmeal and the list went on.... quiche??? ok, Dave, whatever trips your trigger.
Random shots along the trail....I didn't take many pics this year. It seemed to be a year where people just wanted to keep going and get it done. I rode by myself a lot of the way, something different. If new to this blog, check out BALLS I for some interesting comparison pics.
It was damn cold actually due to getting so wet. Some riders carried dry clothes, some used rain coats, some just took off like it was a sunny summer day. Hummm....wonder who that was?
Cold feet were a common complaint. Buddy Tim stopped at a store to pickup some plastic bags to use as socks with one guy dropping because he couldn't feel his tootsies anymore....I couldn't either, what with my sandals and all...so I took a peek once in awhile just to make sure they were still there.
I actually wore socks this year and something other than shorts....I'm getting to be a pansie, I guess.
These guys were rather amazing...I could never consume as many adult beverages as they did and still finish with the rest of the pack, if at all. At least the stops they took kept them riding with most of us mere mortals. Not sure what Dave was thinking, but Randy and Mike seemed to be having fun.
BALLS IV completed. I only did the first day, 100 miles. Had to head to Cincy on Sunday, plus didn't want to press my luck on the broken foot. One or two Ibuprofen taken with every endurolyte seemed to work well.
Tim and Pete filling water bottles. Sean's wife had us set with pancakes, sausages and nanners.
Clan Mullen. Pete (1 BALLS) Tim (3) Sean (1) Patrick (1) The Mayor, Greg and Dave. Greg warming up. Loading the sag wagon.....I hope the next view of this trailer will be of the STeed with the HiFi on it, loaded up for CO and ID. Heading out of town. Todd explaining to Patrick how the wind pushed him sideways off the shoulder which made Patrick slide out trying to avoid him. Same warm beer sign we've seen the past 4 years. Tim stretching out some. Always have an opener near by. Thanks to Chris for the brews at the end of the trail. Richard and his Pugs. Just got off a section where it really shined...10 +miles of loose gravel. Last stop before the last 27 mile sprint. Tim getting some energy setup at Subway.
BALLS coming up. With very limited riding/training time due to broken bone in foot not sure what to expect...nor what to expect in the weather.
From 4 the first year to 50 this year.
BALLS I, 2008 what all the rest of them have been compared to.
Little over 100 miles the first day, little over 60 the 2nd. 26 riders the first day, 10-12 the 2nd.
This ride was started 3 years ago because the single track is normally too wet to get on yet in late April. Typically not the best of weather, this year was not an exception, but still better than the last 2.
Weather forecast was close...but not as much rain or wind as predicted, but still crazy enough for a 165 mile 2-day ride.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. East wind between 10 and 15 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday Night: Periods of showers. Low around 46. East northeast wind between 10 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Sunday: Periods of rain. High near 55. Breezy, with a north northeast wind between 15 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Gathering at Bear's house. 6:45.
Nate guuing up. Or is that Butt-Butter??? Nelson, no risk getting dehydrated.
Chuck, he's such a blurr....7:20 ready or not, we head out. First wrong turn, 3 blocks from Bear's house!!! Next stop, Dodgeville. Tim avoiding a $168 fine for riding on the wrong side of the road. Bear's old work place....first snickers bar? Critical Mass, WI style? Into the Mystic. Buying trail passes in Mineral Point....Chuck!! wake up! Just thinking of beer makes a guy smile. Warm only?....another WI custom? Not hardly, but we didn't need to buy ice when we got to the campground. The beer didn't warm up very fast. Bear, showing off again.
a few flats Mile 50 update by the Mayor to Bean....good the wind muffled his initial comments.
Trailside treasure. Helmet head. 30 miles to go, hot coffee and McGrease burger, ahhhh! 10 miles to go and some stretching was in order. At the Crazy Horse Campground (we had cabins, with hot showers available) Brodhead, WI. Bri, the road crew we couldn't have done without. Poor pic, sorry about that! Day 2, the tunnel. One of the few times I was out in front.
