Sweaty Yeti Fat-Bike race 2013

Well, the punishment continued, sort of.
The day after the Birkie was a local fat-bike race. It's held at a great spot and the race director and trail builders are so dedicated I wanted to at least show up, even if I'd be pretty sore and stiff from skiing the day before. We had such a great time last year at this event I wanted to go again, even if we doing it differently by not camping and Chris wasn't here. The free beer tradition was carried over so that's always a plus.

So, I pulled in and was hoping I could bend the rules from being on a 3 person team into a 2 person team. The race was only 2 hrs. long so I was hoping to get a bit more riding than a 3 person team would allow. When it looked like it was 3 person or solo, I picked solo, not knowing for sure how my legs would  handle it. Then some friends who had a 3 person team already must have seen my anxiety and decided to split up and we became 2 2-person teams.

My legs although a bit stiff were fine, but I was glad I wasn't solo but also glad I got a solid hour of riding in alternating laps with my teammate.

All pic credits go to RD Steve Meurett (below) or Nathan Long.

The start...Steve and I have had some good political bantering in the past and am glad he still likes guns! The starting shot was made by him.

 

 Friend Al Potter.

 The coarse....

 FarmGuy, Greg Haack from Madison. Kindred spirit.....I'm 6 months older than him...but he acts older than me most of the time...at least when he's not in the saddle of one of his bikes. ;-)

 My teammate, Jason. Nice smile!

 Your truly getting ready to make a passing move.

 Your Truly on the move!

 The Yeti...getting Sweaty!

Fell so hard it knocked the hide right off of his hands!

Sweaty Yeti Snowbike Race

2nd Snowbike Race of the year. The Sweaty Yeti at Levis Mounds, WI. This is great mtn. bike area in the summer and now with Snowbikes, a great place to ride in the winter. xc-skiing of course, as well.
A little over-view from a local newspaper.

With registration we got a T-shirt:

 

Chris (son) and friends Al and Paul came over. A few other friends had happened to show up and we had a great time.
After the race, we setup Chris' winter tent, with a wood stove inside, and had a nice toasty sleep.Maybe the brews helped...
A fellow rider, who decided to take pictures this day, did a great job and many of the pics I'll post below will be from him.
Ryan Nanney. Check out his work.

The race format was 3 person relay team. Me before the race sporting my wolfman hat and Russ getting a chuckle out of it in the background.

I went first, LeMans start (had to do a little run before we got on the bikes). Never was a runner, still not !

 Al was 2nd after my 15-20 minute lap. Around 2 miles per lap.

 Al and I at the transition.

Al ahead of brother Paul, who was on a different team.

 Chris was our anchor. Fastest guy on our team.

 Paul, Al's brother.

 Sand Creek Brewery gave away a lot of refreshments....everybody seemed to have won something.

Yours truly.....Thanks again to Jen for letting me use her Pugsley for the winter.

Cooper and I heading out for another lap. My last one of 4...Coop's maybe 15th?? He ran all day, with just about everyone. This was the lead out from the transition, probably the fastest part of the course. You can't tell by me, but you can see Cooper is legging it.

 1st lap, ahead of buddy Greg from Madison.

Ryan took great pics...Cooper, who ran with at least everyone for the 3 hour race....he slept well that night.

Cooper following a couple riders.

 Random shots during the race. Gomez getting a hand-up.

 Buddy Greg from Madison.

More dogs. They all got along and never got in the way. Fun time for them, as well.

 Chris and Randy dukeing it out.

 Greg and his tractor....we're in WI, whadya expect?

Randy showing off on his last lap.

After the race and a few beers, it was derby time. Riders ride in a slow tight circle. If your foot touches the ground, you're out. It keeps getting tighter and tighter until only one person is left riding and is the winner. Good bike handling skills are required.

 Fire pit.

 After the race...some goodness from Sand Creek Brewery. Lasted well into the night. Gomez found the best seat in the house.

Winter camping, tent setup.

 Al, Jason (friend if Al and Paul) Paul and Chris.

 Kitchen.

Chris and I the next morning.

 Getting ready for a morning ride.

The next morning, Chris, Cooper, Al and I took off for ride/run for an hour or so. When we got back, Al left for home and I traded in Jen's bike that I've been borrowing all winter for skis and with Chris and Cooper went out for another 90 minutes or so.

 Chris made the comment as we were standing in softly falling snow that there was no place he could think of he'd rather be....I had to agree.