Thanksgiving prayer: Thank you God for this world and your love. Thank you for this life and the ability to dream and love and laugh and cry. Thank you for the Sun and stars. Thank you for every person who has come before me and will come after me. Thank you for music and art. Help me to continue to listen for your guidance. Thank you for your animals, trees and water. For the food we eat, the clothes on our backs and the roofs over our heads. For community. Thank you for the Mystery within the Mystery. The light within the light. The darkness within the darkness. May we remain in awe and wonder, in your balance and presence forever and ever. In peace and gratitude. Amen.
What do you do when you are 33 years of age, love looking at old cars, but have no clue about cars? You buy one.
The sentimental value of this car far out weighs the practicality of a guy who knows nothing about cars owning a collectors car. But I do think it will be cool to drive it a couple of blocks down to the local Burger King for their Thursday night car show.
I’m calling this sweet, blissful ride “The Godfather.” Think louder exhaust, chrome rims, and low profile tires…yes, Ayden will be that kid going to prom!
Instead of a picture of the start, take the five minutes and see just what 1,900 riders coming down Hayward’s main street looks like.
The 29th Chequamegon Fat Tire race has been filed away in the history books…but what a race it was. This race brought many first for me that made for an awesome weekend of racing and spending time with my family.
First first…
For the first time Ayden put on a number plate and participated in the kids race/parade. he kept talking about how he was like and dad, riding really really fast. He really didn’t follow the directions and basically rode where he wanted to ride. He had a blast and talked about his race all day…It was a blast to watch.
Second first…
FYI....I'm the rider in the lower left corner of the pic
I was lucky enough to grab a “preferred” start for the race this year. It made for a relaxing warm-up for the race, to say the least. Being able to show up an hour before the race, warm-up on the bike that you are racing, and roll up to the start line fifteen minutes before the cannon goes off is a routine that I sure could get used to.
The hwy 77 rollout was a blast and was pretty laid back because of a pretty stiff head-wind. 5 wheels back sure gave me a new perspective to racing. I tried to take in every second of the experience….hoping to learn a thing or two about racing at that level.
By the time we hit Rosie’s Field the game us off and the chase was one. Note to self….when you it the Birkie trail, position is all that matters. Meaning, don’t get caught in the back.
Picture by Kelly Rudolph
I came through OO in no man’s land because I had a horrible position in the chase group that I was in. By the time I came through OO and got my hand-up from my wife I was all alone on some pretty fast sections of the course. I latched on to a group of about ten riders (one being a teammate of mine, Mike Johnson) that came through and this time I didn’t make the mistake again. I sat second wheel for the most part of the second half and took a pull here and there to try to break the group up. By the time we hit the last Birkie section the group was down to four as we began our climb up the high point. I got dropped, along with two other riders right before the Birkie food station. The three off us took turns pulling on the two-mile downhill gravel road and when we hit the final Telemark ski trails I put one final effort in to put some distance between us. But when I looked back I saw a train of riders come up on us fast. So much for that…
Third first…
The group caught me on the descent into Telemark. I kept them to a about a three-second gap knowing that I had enough in the legs to out sprint them on the final climb to the finish. I picked my way through the group and rolled across the finish line for my first top 100 finish (80th).
It was one of those races that you put the “perfect” stamp on it. Everything worked together perfectly on Saturday and the legs felt great throughout the race. But It wouldn’t have happened if it were not for the support from my wife and made it a point to let me get out on the bike, my son and all his “good tuck daddy” speeches, my parents for their continued support, my extended family for their entertaining gambling on my races, and Twin Six for making me look fast with the clothing and the kit.
Nothing beats a post race tailgate party with family and friends
The little man who brings the perspective to my races
Last weekend I took a break from my studies here in St. Paul and made it home so that I could celebrate Ayden’s 2nd birthday. It was the birthday bash of a lifetime. He was surrounded by many who care for him and he reaped a whole lot of toys. But I really think birthdays are not about the person who is actually celebrating their birthday. Instead, I think birthdays are more about the parents.
Aydens’ birthday was a time that Nikole and I can celebrate in the grace that comes with parenting. Yes, I said grace. So while we were celebrating Ayden’s birthday, his parents were celebrating something different on the inside. Even though Nikole and I make mistakes, mess up, get frustrated with each other, get frustrated with Ayden and hate those moments in life where we feel like we are on a free fall into chaos we celebrate grace. A grace that embraces us for who we are; parents who feel that very seldom we get it right.¹
Single Swizzle
The Sturgis Family
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¹ Disclaimer – the bike in the photo IS NOT my bike. Are you kidding me….what was that parent thinking?
