How many hours did you say?

Deegan Williams Schroden

2012-01-17T19:00:00.000-08:00

Deegan's Room with my paint job
My wife at 30 wks pregnant

Holding my son, Deegan

Angela and Deegan a few hours after a natural delivery

Born 10.27.11 @ 4:48 A.M.

3 weeks old

our Miracle

2011 U. S National 24 Hour Championships

2011-10-13T09:08:00.000-07:00

Photo taken at Mueller State Park about 15 miles west of Colorado Springs, CO or directly on the west side of Pikes Peak. We stayed here two days before the Championships and it proved to be a great place to stay. The camp we set up was at an altitude of 9400ft and it felt great. A little winded the first day there, but I adjusted very well. Angela did also, who is pictured here at over 8 months pregnant, and Ben.

Walking to the start of the 2011 24 National Championships. I could not have asked for a better day with the weather. After a little stress the night before with set up, we made a wise choice to stay with some great people minutes away, and I was able to rest well the night before the race. It paid off!

This photo was taken after I paraded around the venue on the back side. Angela and Ben were able to meet me here if needed anything additionally from the pit if I didn't stop.

Here I am on the back side, riding along the edge of a cliff that goes straight down! That is Pikes Peak in the background at 14,110ft!! (Riding bike #3)

Getting ready for night time with my super light Cannondale Flash. This bike proved to be a great bike for the course because of all the climbing, however, the course was very technical that the full suspension was nice to have to take the edge off.

Here I am with what I thought was the last lap, with Ben waiting to give me a little something in that precious bottle. With the very dry climate, I drank a lot of fluids during the duration of the race, and especially when the morning temps warmed up quickly. This was not the last lap, I was feeling great, tired but still feeling like I had something left in the tank. One more lap I went; didn't even stop at the pit the last 4 laps. I ended up passing a rider in the last couple of laps to bring me up a position. Maybe I was just getting warmed up? (I wonder if there would ever be a 36 hour race?)
I finished the U. S. 24 Hour National Championships in 6th place overall. I was pleased with the end result considering many factors of the race. There are always going to be the what ifs, but that is the game of racing. I raced for 23 hours and 52 minutes or close to that, and traveled 208 miles.

With a shower after getting packed up, I drove the first two hours of our trip back to MN. Ben drove another couple and we all called it a night. A special thanks to Angela, my wife, and great friend, Ben, for all their support. Thanks to all my sponsors who provided me with the equipment that makes it possible too.

Stay tuned for what I have been up to for the last couple weeks and to what is ahead.

IMG00076-20110921-2049.jpg

2011-09-21T18:50:00.001-07:00

Crank Brother pedals rock!!

Oakley

2011-09-20T04:36:00.001-07:00

For the last ten years I have been supported with SMITH optics and have had zero complaints with the optics. Yes, some fit better than others, but overall, it was a good relationship but change was needed. Change is what happened.
Somewhat late in the year to make a major change with what I know that works, but I could not pass on this opportunity. Oakley is the new sponsor for me and Oakley products will soon be available at the store.

Based on how the glasses felt once I first tried them on, it was love at first sight!

The technology behind the lenses, the overall fit and functionality are remarkable. I have been testing the photochromatic lense for the last couple of weeks and report that it is ideal in many situations. No more need to have a full drawer of lenses to search through.

With the ventilation of the frame and lenses, there have been no problems with the lenses fogging over with these climate changing mornings. Awesome products. A great start to a great relationship.

Countdown is approaching fast

2011-09-19T04:55:00.000-07:00

Colorado Springs, CO is the new host to the U. S. A. 24 Hour Mountain Bike Championships for 2011.
For more information on the race, please follow the link to official website by clicking on the logo.
Yes, I will be attending as preparation for this race has been a long time counting; over three years to be exact . Departure from MN in 1 week.

Tuesday night group ride

2011-08-26T02:51:00.001-07:00

No the gravel nights have not started on Tuesdays and nor has the mountain bike night started and been moved to Tuesdays. Jimmy just thought it would be nice to rock a minimum maintenance road on road bikes. Bring it on, I guess.

Wausau24

2011-08-16T03:27:00.000-07:00

The Wausau24 is a race that has a format that starts at 10am and goes till the next morning. I prefer this format as the day gets long, the nights get longer, and I get faster as time goes on. This is the first race of the season for me and it is being used as a preparation race for the upcoming U. S. National Championships. Having it been a while since I have raced, I was rearing to go. The race started with the usual lemond running start. Not my specialty. Rolling with the plan of having the first three laps pretty fast, the racers and the riders were going to be seperated early. Moving up continuously through the first three laps, I was ridining is fourth. On lap four, the pace was still being held fast and picking off one more rider and seeing the race leaders in the singletrack, I was feeling pretty good. Lap four complete and onto "FIVE" The was getting closer at this point with the leaders about two minutes ahead. Two minutes is nothing in a 24 hour race unless Mother Nature has anything to say about it. With the lap nearing completion, the skies opened up and down came the rain. Not just a gentle rain, but one like the Midwest ohas experienced numerous of times this summer. Along with rain, thunder and lightning, the race was going to continue I thought. Unknown to me, the weather rules stated by the race director stating the race will cease if lightning is present. What seem unfair and still a weighted issue that will pass, my fifth lap did not count because of the lightning. That is a huge blow so early on in a 24 hour race and the harder blow was that the timing area was not closed yet when the two riders ahead of me had their laps count. Not fair.

Race on hold for 1.5 hrs.

At the restart, feeling deafed only hours into a race and having 17 hours still to go was a mind challenge. Knowing that I was an hour and a full lap behind on great competition, I knew the race may have been lost there. I stayed focused at the restart to pursue my own goals in preparation of Colorado Springs.

I rode very strong through the entirety of the race. Taking a maximum of 1 minute 45 seconds between laps help keep my legs loose to keep turning the pedals over and over. Moving through the night, nutrition played the biggest factor so I would stay fueled for the long night. 4a.m. was the toughest point for me. I felt like I was intoxicated and I came a few points where I was hallucinating. Made it through that lap and it got easier as day broke.

I finished the Wausau24 in fourth place. I was a little disappointed in the end placing, but I did come away with some very valuable information. I totaled about 220 miles in just less than 22 hours. I could not do this if it was not for my sponsors and providing me with the best bikes and equipment to keep me rolling. A huge special thanks to my wife, Angela. She is the back bone of the support crew taking care of everything while I am on the bike. Even being 28 weeks pregnant, she is a trooper. Also thanks to Ryan Horkey for assistance through the night.

Up next is 24 Hour U.S. National Championships. Stay tuned.

A view of a quick year!!

2011-05-10T05:20:00.000-07:00

June 2010, Parry Sound, Ontario.

3rd Place, 24 hours of Summer Solstice. Great race and great competition.

On our way home with a little run on the beach. Well, a run for Angela and Pavlov. Both of them were my awesome support crew.

One month later, it was time to tackle another 24 hour race. This time we were in WI for Wausau 24 at Nine Mile Forest.

Seems to me, 3rd place was going to be the story of the year.

A little break in the action for me, but now it was time for Angela to do her thing. Chicago Olympic Triatlon. She had fun, and did an amazing job. I was a nervous wreck watching the bike portion. Biking on a highway, coned off from traffic and potholes everywhere; not a good scenario.

She finished and did a great good in overcoming the heat. It was like 103 degrees on the pavement that day.

Time for the last event on the year. 24 hours of Seven Oaks.

I had a solid finish for second place. I had to put everything I had into finishing there. I was still exhausted from the entire season and the course was the toughest of the year.

In October, Angela and I moved into our first new home.

And yes, in February, I turned 30.

For my birthday, I decided to treat myself to a royal punishment and ski the Mora Vassaloppet 58km skate race. Tough year being as warm as it was.

Before the craziness of spring rolled around the corner, Angela and I ducked out to a long weekend in Puerto Vallarta. Great time and I would go back in a heart beat in the winter time.

More to come as it is May and bike racing has begun and I am already behind. More pics of life and bikes to come.

St. Cloud Times Article

2010-07-28T06:50:00.000-07:00

(Mike Schroden maneuvers the rocks on a training ride in Quarry Park and Nature Preserve. Shroden is training for another 24-hour off-road bike race. (Jason Wachter, jwachter@stcloudtimes.com))

Cyclist pushes himself to extremes
BY KELLY SUTER • KSUTER@STCLOUDTIMES.COM • JULY 18, 2010

Through mud and muck, over roots and rocks, Mike Schroden conquered the elements in his first crack at an event most cyclists won't even attempt in their lifetime.
The 29-year-old St. Cloud resident finished third in the 24 Hours of Summer Solstice off-road mountain biking race June 26-27 in Toronto, Ontario.
Yes, 24 hours.
"Know what I'd like? To be top five," Schroden said, recalling his thoughts before the race in Toronto. "I thought, realistically? Is this realistic? Maybe I'll learn experience, but the area was unfamiliar and I knew that it could be strong competition."
For the last two years, Schroden has trained — physically and mentally — for this and other 24-hour off-road mountain biking races in hopes of adequately preparing himself for the USA Cycling 24-Hour Mountain Bike National Championships that will be held Oct. 9-10 in Moab, Utah.
In Toronto, Schroden went shoulder-to-shoulder with strong competition — but not strong enough to keep him from surpassing his goal.
"There was definitely quite a bit of traffic," said Schroden, who co-owns Revolution Cycle and Ski in St. Cloud along with friends Ben Doom and Harry Forsyth.
He also has committed time to creating and supporting the Dutri Club, a club organized to support duathlon and triathlon athletes in the St. Cloud area.
The 24-hour race featured 2,200 riders. There were four-person teams, two-person teams and solo riders. Schroden was one of 100 solo riders in the 40-and-under age division.
To place third, Schroden completed 17 10.5-mile laps of the course from noon June 26 to noon June 27. In front of him were two individuals who each completed 19 laps, one faster than the other.
But the journey to third wasn't simple.
A long ride
Before becoming involved with 24-hour mountain bike racing, Schroden participated in cross country racing, longer point-to-point bike racing and long-distance mountain bike races. Cross country is shorter two-hour racing and road racing and the other events were 40-, 60- and 100-mile races.
But 24-hour races brought Schroden's cycling to a whole new level.
"He's done really well and in the biggest (24-hour race) in North America, he got third," Doom said. "He loves the endurance events: The longer the better."
Schroden's training program had to be adjusted significantly.
"Basically, I had to restructure my whole training program and how my body works," said Schroden, who was sponsored by Cannondale Factory Racing. "I had to get my body to go and go and go like the Energizer Bunny."
Schroden had to train himself to overcome issues with nutrition, exhaustion and physical elements.
"Obviously, the main goal is to stay on your bike and stay awake during that period," Schroden said. "You travel as many miles as you can in the most efficient way."
In order to prepare for 24-hour races, Schroden has taken it to the next level with training.
"The time spent training has increased over the last two years," said wife Angela Schroden. "(Before) he would ride his bike two to three hours a day and now he progressed to eight-hour training."
In addition to increased time on the bike, Schroden also pays careful attention to his diet and sleeping habits.
"I experiment with different foods," Schroden said. "(I've used) energy gels, some other foods easier to eat on the bike and foods that digest fairly easy to not upset my stomach."
Fatigue factor
Although Schroden doesn't alter his sleeping habits to prepare for the 24-hour races, other factors affecting his energy are taken into account.
"Ten days prior (to the race) I was monitoring my sleep," Schroden said. "I limited the amount of caffeine I took in. I was eating extremely well and mentally I knew what I was getting into."
Thirteen hours into the race, Schroden's mental and physical training paid off.
"At that point I wasn't riding as smooth," Schroden said. "I wasn't staying focused. At one point I clipped a tree... I just noticed there wasn't something right and I actually started talking to myself."
Within 35 minutes, deprivation was solved
"(It) was all I needed," Schroden said. "It was like a full night's sleep, pretty much."
After regaining energy, Schroden was back on track with quicker lap times, increasing his speed as time passed.
Schroden's wife contributed significantly to his success.
"He needs food made, beverages available, his bike cleaned, emotional support," Angela Schroden said. "I did all those things at the race and realized that it's not just a one-person job."
Staying awake for the entire 24 hours, Schroden and his wife stayed in contact while she constantly kept tabs on his progress throughout the race.
On lap five, Schroden was informed he was in fourth place. By the next lap, it was third.
"It was really motivating to get that response from her," Schroden said. "From there, I kept on plugging along and mentally stuck with it. That kept me on the pace I needed to be."
The road ahead
The race in Toronto established a foundation for Schroden's future races.
"Besides getting third, I gained valuable award in knowing what I need to do in the future as far as nutrition and bike setup," Schroden said.
"(I know) changes as far as what I need to do and keep time limited when I come into the pit and what I can expect to happen 13, 14, 15 hours in."
Schroden will participate in two more races before competing in the national championships. He will be competing in the Wausau (Wis.) 24, and the 24 Hours of Seven Oaks race in Boon, Iowa.
About 5,000 racers will attend the national championships, some solo and others with two- and four-person teams.
"I hope to have a top-10 finish out there. That would be excellent," Schroden said. "I think it's realistic, but it's a pretty high goal.
"I know the competition will be tough and there's a lot of people that train for that particular race all year long. I'm figuring things out still, but I'm figuring them out pretty quick."
Training for and participating in 24 hour races only scratches the surface of Schroden's involvement and passion for biking.
"He's a hard worker," Angela Schroden said. "Owning (Revolution Cycle and Ski) takes a lot of work — mentally and physically. His heart is into his shop that comes first, before his training, and his training is very important as well.
"He has to be aware of his time spent and how to organize. He gets up at 5 in the morning, does his training and works 10 hours."
Doom, who frequently bikes alongside Schroden, puts it simply.
"His drive helps him," Doom said. "It's easy to say, 'I'm not going to ride today.' He's able to control his mind so well. (He has) overall drive and ability to control his brain.
"(It's) his overall attitude. He's always positive on the bike. He's a fun guy to ride with because of that."
While placing third in one of North America's largest 24-hour mountain biking races was a particularly rewarding feat for Schroden, it's only the beginning of his endeavors.
"It was a valuable learning experience ending in a good result, too." Schroden said.

24 Hours of Summer Solstice

2010-06-23T08:56:00.000-07:00

In a couple hours I am headed to a city near Toronto, ON to race in the 24 Hours of Summer Solstice hosted by Chico Racing. This race claims to be one of the largest 24 hour events in North America bringing in athletes all across the continent. I am competing as a solo athlete and this will be the first attempt at the 24 hour circuit. This is a long awaited race for me as I have been training for these style of events for some time now, and I have to say that I think I am ready.
More to come as Angela and I are on the road. I will try to share with my Blackberry pictures of places we travel through and of the gear that is needed for a 24 hour solo event. So Long!!!

I will try to have Angela update as the race progresses through this channel and/or Facebook.

Better Late Than Never

2010-06-05T06:44:00.001-07:00

So this is a little past due, but great job to all those that participated in last weekend's Apple Duathlon. Here is a picture of the crew that showed up for the event.
Here is a picture of my wife, Angela, and her sister, Jenny, taking home some hardware. The two of them competed in the womens relay finishing in first place. This is the second time that the two of them have stood on the top podium position.

Angela had her best time on the bike course ever. She completed the course in a time around 56 minutes with an average speed of 21.8 mph. Others from Du Tri St. Cloud also had personal bests this year. Congrats to all.

Assistance tonight

2010-05-26T20:21:00.000-07:00

My two co-workers helping me out tonight. Good night at work with my little buddies, Pavlov and Julius. They just scored a treat!

Chequamegon 100 Completed

2010-05-25T04:22:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I made my way over to compete in the inaugural Chequamegon 100. The race started in Seeley, WI at 7 a.m. on Saturday with about 170 riders in attendance. The start of the race rolled us out on gravel roads, very soon to double track and not more than 3 miles in we were on the promised singletrack. More than 75 miles of singletrack for the day.
From the start we rode back to Hayward on singletrack with a little mix of the Chequamegon 40 trail backwards. I was very happy to ride the singletrack instead of the 40 trail. Too open and boring but still very beautiful. Once we arrived at Hatchery Creek trailhead, the group of us amounted to 7. Yes, we were the lead group.
At about mile 30 something we stopped to make sure we were going to correct way. A couple more riders joined us that were riding very fast. We had a great group now. Now at 40 miles in, we were unsure where we were and what direction to go. Yes, we are not on trail and a little lost. We have now rode the same singletrack 3 times back and forth trying to find our way, and riding way out of our way. Some tempers started to flare but I just thought to myself that I am riding my bike and enjoying myself.
We found our way onto the trail and arrived at the drop point where we were able to have some nutrition or whatever one may need dropped off. I used a Victoria's Secret bag to identify my bag so I had zero time trying to find mine amonst all the others. I was glad to see that bag!
Seven minutes and we were off again. Some riders chose one way, we chose another, and we soon found out that neither of us were on the correct trail. At this point, we were about 6.5 miles over out targeted mileage. We, Horkey and Heath, agreed that we couldn't waste time or energy going in the wrong direction anymore. From the 65 mile cue point, we made sure that we were going in the right direction. I wanted to take that 3 seconds to keep my mental sanity at each marker. It worked kind of. One more time being unsure of our route through some logging area and then we were on track again. Just three of us on trail together and there was not too much talking going on but we were on our way. Just more and more singletrack to one last big climb on the Birkie trail that lead us to the final gravel road to bring us home. The day ended with close to 110 miles traveled in 9 hours with a tie for 3rd place.
Cheers to a great event with great people. Great job Tim and Joe.
I tried to load a pic but was unable at this time.

Good Luck

2010-05-15T15:32:00.001-07:00

This weekend I am standing on the other side of the fence as a supporter. Tomorrow, Angela is running the half marathon here in Green Bay, WI. Also running tomorrow is Jenny, Angela's sister, and Danny(Jenny's husband). Should be a great time with good weather in the forecast for the morning.

Time Flies

2010-05-12T04:04:00.000-07:00

One week ago was the start of the 3 days of intense, long hours in the morning before putting in a full days worth of work. My goal was to ride for 6-7 hours each day Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I pretty much achieved this in my little world, but the days proved to be a challenge set forth from Mother Nature.
Wednesday started out a little chilly in the morning and it felt cooler from the winds gusting to 30 mph. With the winds that fierce I planned a route to take me SW to Paynesville, MN. With hitting the wind directly for 4 hours in the face any chance to take cover or get a cross wind was well liked. Making my way around Lake Kronus I found a little shelter on the lake road. As I found my way into Paynesville the skies started to spit on my a little bit. No big deal I thought. When I rolled into the Casey's gas station for the scheduled refueling, the skies started to open up. I kept the break very short and headed North out of Paynesville. This part of the ride was the toughest. With the cross winds and the rain feeling like needles, the trip about 15 miles to the North felt like it took forever. Once I turned back to the East I was moving very fast. Too fast! By this time and where I was in the route, I was headed home. Luckly the trip home went well and I rolled in very close to 7 hours that day.

Thursday morning Ben and I headed out again at 6 a.m. The route planned for the day was to go North on the East side of the river to gain a little coverage from the wind. Destination was Little Falls and by going up the East side we were able to enjoy the views as we were doing a usual route backwards. Once we arrived in Little Falls we started to roll back to the South, then to the West, then further West, then South, and then back to the East. This brought us home in just 6.25 hours of riding. We had a couple stops, with one top fix a flat. Thanks for joining my Ben.

Friday morning when I woke up it was raining. Not to mention it was cold also. I had to do everything I could to convince myself to swing my leg over the bike outside. I did and it was brutual. I have to admit that I could only make it 4 hours though. I was extremely cold, wet and tired after 13 hours of riding in the last two days. I planned a route to keep me on the outskirts of the town just incase I needed to pull the plug. Honestly I made it longer than I thought considering that I was soaked all the way through in the first 45 min. All in all I was glad that I toughed it out that day. I looked as if that morning had been a race, I would have done it. By doing what I did over the last three days, I hope the training will pay off come 20 hours into a 24 hour race.

On Satudarday Angela graduated with a double master's degree. An outstanding achievement for you! I am very proud of you.

Check back

2010-05-08T06:17:00.001-07:00

Just a quick update for now. With the last three days of very long training, I made it through and I feel pretty good. A total of about 270 miles with some very tough conditions. I will post about it later tonight when I have some down time.
Today is all about Angela. She is going through graduation with achieving here double Masters Degree. Way to go. I will post a pick later.

Coffee Day

2010-04-30T06:42:00.001-07:00

I was planning on getting out for a few hours this morning on the road bike thinking that the trails were going to be wet. The rain this morning though is keeping me in since I have been a little under the weather. In turn this leaves me with a morning filled with coffee drinking and catching up with some other items.
While on the computer I came across some pictures from this past years Mora Vasaloppet. These pictures were taken from my wife's sister in-law. Don't worry, I don't have skiing on the brain.

FAN CLUB!

Thanks Rachel.

Time to go hit the weights now.

New ride

2010-04-25T20:29:00.001-07:00

Last night I was able to take my new Cannondale Factory Racing team bike out for a quick spin. The bike of choice for 24 hour competitions this year is the Scalpel.
So far it feels great and the Sram XX has a super smooth feel. More to come after I get some time off road with it.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

2010-04-22T14:13:00.000-07:00

I will catch up with this blog someday here soon. Lots of fun stuff going on in the bike world. Life has been just a little hectic lately. Busy in a good way though.

Hope everyone is having a great earth day with this beautiful weather.

It's Go Time!

2010-04-03T05:21:00.000-07:00

I am sitting here this morning after another quick night it seems like. Getting through the regular morning routine of drinking coffee, getting the bike ready, and looking ahead of what is in store for the rest of the day. The only thing that differs is that I am looking at a map instead of just so called wing-ing it; destination- Elk River, MN.
The wind is brutal this morning in a not so pleasant direction with a little bite to the air to remind us that it is still the beginning of April. Plan on leaving at 8am to make it be 5hrs to Elk River. (I am taking the round about way there.)

Quick Night

2010-03-25T03:36:00.000-07:00

About six hours ago I got home from changing the store around with Ben and Brian. Now I am up and I know Ben is up because we are meeting for our 6am ride. Anyone interested, let us know for next week. I love getting a 3 plus hour ride in before work, but I have a feeling that today I might be dragging a little at the end of the day. Today is the last Community Education class that we host in the repair center at the shop. Next classes start in June; make sure to sign up early to save a spot.
Specials thanks to Jenna for helping last night too. (Brian's Wife)

Dirt in March

2010-03-24T07:36:00.000-07:00

I have to say this is the first time that I have been on dirt in the month of March for a very long time. I hit the trails early this morning accompanied by Brian and Jesrin to the south end trails. Plum creek, I must say, is riding very well. With the morning temperature below freezing the trail was solid but I would have to say that during mid day I think it would still be OK to ride with out any damage to the trail. The North Loop trail on the other hand, is a trail that needs to dry out before riding. Some have attempted and it has resulted in many ruts in the trail. For now, we just need to stay off.

As far as training progresses, I think that I am in a pretty good position for the year. Right now though, I can tell that my legs are not recovering as well. The only thing that has changed with training in the last few weeks has been a incremental increase in hours, but not quite enough to make that big of a change in the way I feel. My only conclusion is that shop is at a very busy time and it is go go go. Being on my feet 12 straight hours day in day out, will do it I think. I am not going to complain because fitting and getting new people on fancy bikes is a ton of fun.

With the busiest time of the year in full swing, I am going to be putting my non bike related hobby aside for the season and restart with it again in the fall. This past winter I started throwing pottery again for the first time in 13 years. I must say it was the most relaxing thing I have done in a long time. Too bad I just don't have time to do it anymore this time of year. Here is a picture that Angela took of a couple pieces.

Already looking forward to next fall to get back to the studio. I have a list of stuff that I want to make.

Spring Time is Near

2010-03-11T03:54:00.000-08:00

It's Raining, It's Raining, and riding must go on. Well, that is- riding must go on but it will be downstairs. This is the most crucial time to take care of one's self is when the temps are still low for riding outside, training time increases, and when there is still some flu bugs going around. For me, I would normally go ride in the rain, but when the temps are chilly and the training hours are stacking up, I head downstairs on the trainer to make sure I keep training on the quality side.
Speaking of quality, last weekend I was able to achieve some great early morning riding before work. Sure was nice and I am now on the bike full time after 3 hours on Saturday and 4 hours on Sunday.

Sunshine

2010-03-04T04:24:00.000-08:00

I have been putting off getting on the bike for about the last month for couple reasons. It is not because I don't like to ride, but skiing has been wonderful and I feel mentally it will be good for me with the long hours that I will be putting in this year.
Yesterday though, was a bike day. How could I resist with the sun shinning and with the tems near 40 degrees. We, Matt N. and I, rode out to St. Joe to explore the new Co Rd 51. I can't wait to do a little hill time trial on that with a road bike. Very nice. I also noticed that the county has done some improvements to Wild Wood ski area on 51. Looks very nice. Hopefully I can make it out there for a ski before we lose all the snow.
The ride from there lead us to some grave for a while and popped us out West of Avon. Just a few hills in there which felt great.
Finally back home with a good almost 4 hrs, I had a 3 minute pit stop, and I was off and running to finalize some year end ski room stuff at the high school. More on that soon.

Riding tip for early spring riding: Bring plenty of nutrition products with, even if you think, "I won't eat all of that."

Just a little tease

2010-02-28T19:15:00.000-08:00

I know, I know- it has been way too long since my last update and even the last update was not worth much at all. Well, I have something that is a little worth while but most of it is going to have to wait since my wife and I are going on our third brand new computer in the last couple of weeks. There has been numerous problems with the new ones that we have received and Angela has done a wonderful job handling the problem to figuring what is going on. Not having a computer is not an excuse for not blogging, I know. We have plenty of computers at work and that is exactly where I am sitting.
Tax season is on and our tax appointment is this week. There are just a few things that I need to read through and collect to be ready. Ready as most anyway.
Soon as I can recover some pictures from the old computer, I will post a little about what I was up to over the holiday months. I like posting with pics.
So I will leave you with this image.
Yes, this is going to be my new ride, 2010 Cannondale Team Scalpel. This bike and along with my Team Cannondale Team Scalpel from 2009 will be my race bikes for 2010 24 hour Solo National Championships.

2010-01-24T19:22:00.001-08:00

I guess it was a butterfingers game. Not the result MN was looking for.

ViQueens?

2010-01-24T18:38:00.001-08:00

Just like all other Minnesotans tonight. I guess we'll have to see what the end result of the Vikings game will be. Stay tuned for more from the last two weeks.

Setting sail

2010-01-03T10:38:00.001-08:00

Angela and I are ready to have a little fun. Still does not seem that warm, but when Ben said it is still minus 20 in Minnesota it feels even warmer. I will try and update as we go.

2010-01-03T03:35:00.001-08:00

Here I sit at the airport to depart for warmth. I personally can't think of a better time to go someplace warm. First stop miami, then the big boat!

Burglar?

2009-12-25T23:17:00.001-08:00

What would you do if you saw a eight foot snowman outside your kitchen window if you wake up in the middle of the night? Well, I give you the update in the a.m. Angela, Danny, and myself went outside for a little midnight fun. Happy Holidays to everyone!

Going Green?

2009-11-25T17:32:00.001-08:00

Now I thought that I could kill two birds with one stone today. I have to get my ride in and pick up a turkey. Not any old turkey though, one that is organically raised about 10 miles away. I mounted the winter road bike, hooked up the kid trailer, and off I went. I picked up the turkey, turned around and was blasted with the wind. Now that is what I call being GREEN!

My alarm clock..

2009-11-24T03:54:00.001-08:00

I wanted to start the day off by throwing my alarm clock out the window. I think that my wife did also. She said to me at 5 a.m. somthing this morning, " I have heard it go off twice now, get up." Thanks, that is what I needed on this rainy morning. So instead of ditching the alarm clock, I threw my legs out from the covers and proceeded to start the day.
First up, I needed to get my coffee in. Then I had two little doggies pouncing on me to get their food. I would say that they are spoiled because they get to eat even before I get a sip of coffee.

Now it is time to tackle what I got up for so early. I am headed off in the dark for the first hour of my 2 hour ride this morning. Last nights ride was canceled do to the rain. It was kind of sad because I think there were a few that were really looking forward to the ride. I guess that flexiblity is key when it is above average temps nearly in December. Usually I could have gone skiing if biking was canceled for the night. Instead I changed the rest day up.

Time to go saddle up.

My alarm clock..

2009-11-24T03:54:00.000-08:00

Mtb Monday!

2009-11-23T13:28:00.001-08:00

Could this be the last Monday night ride? Word on the street is we are going to ride a new trail tonight. Exciting!
Snow is on the way and it is time to ski!!!

Cross training!

2009-11-18T08:26:00.001-08:00

First day on roller skis for the year. Felt great the whole 18 miles. I am really looking forward to the real thing though. For me it great way to get a mental break from the bike.

Good night sleep tight!

2009-11-09T20:48:00.001-08:00

View on my way. Tonight was a good ride.

2010-New Season

2009-11-05T04:32:00.000-08:00

This morning I kick off to the 2010 season. I have taken a good three weeks off of training and my body is now feeling recharged. I had not taken a break since Angela and I went on our honeymoon in August of 2008 so it was great to take a little time off. My time was not spent on the couch of which I am sure would have felt great, but instead getting caught up on few things that I have let go.
My sponsor, Light and Motion, make amazing lights to light up the road or trail, however I am not going to start the first day off in the dark. With daylight savings, I thought it was supposed to be way lighter out by now. Come ON!!
My coffee is gone and my oatmel almost digested, time to get suited up and hit the trail. 'Til next time.

2009-10-21T11:52:00.000-07:00

This is one fast bike and bike of my choice. Check it out!

The rainy weather is making me take a little time off. It is kind of scheduled so I am happy with that.Plus it gives me time to get caught up on house chores. I have also been working on a few things for next year, and I have to say that I am getting excited. Looks like second week in November training starts for 2010.

IMBA Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day

2009-10-15T04:36:00.000-07:00

The title of this entry is somewhat incorrect, it should read, "Take a Group of Kids Mountain Biking." Last week I meet up with 7 kids and their group leader from the St. Cloud Childrens Home. We met over at the North Loop Mountain Bike Trails to meet and greet, do a little skills clinic and then hit the trail. For some this was the first time riding the trail and the excitement was there.

In the trail we stopped at some of the rock gardens, log drop and a few other areas so I could demonstrate how to approach and ride the obstacles. A few of the kids even tried some of them making a great effort. Even though they did not make it that day, I told them to keep on trying. Practice makes perfect! (At least that is what I tell myself when I get tangled up.)

Here is a picture that was taken at bridge two on Granny Hill.

I applauded the kids that overcame a little fear when approaching the bridges. We had a couple successes, a few that said next time I am going to do it, and one who crashed very hard off the bridge that said next time I will conquer it. At first I thought that the crash was going to end this person's day, but there is something to be said about getting bucked of and jumping right back on. This person did just that and I must say she is quite a trooper!!!

Wrapping the ride up I realized that it was just past 5 o'clock and time for them to get back. I asked one of them if they were going to still get dinner? He replied, "As long as I am having fun, I would miss dinner any night for this."

A few others asked when we are going to do this again? Sounds like this might happen more than once a year. Maybe once a month is in order next season?

Thank you Mary at WalkingBillboards for donating the custom T Shirts for the day. It brought upon many smiles!

2009-10-10T21:38:00.001-07:00

Only just a litte sample. I must say it was a good night!

This message has been sent using the picture and Video service from Verizon Wireless!

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Note: To play video messages sent to email, Quicktime@ 6.5 or higher is required.

Hopefully this works!

2009-10-10T07:44:00.000-07:00

Test from phone!

ill prepared

2009-10-09T22:33:00.000-07:00

Shame on me! I was not prepared for the first snow fall of the year. Skis are still in the bag with storage wax. If I was ready, I would have made a lap around the yard with the dogs.

Here are some pics that Angela captured

Pavlov waiting to come in the house!!!

Julius saying, "I am not ready for this snow!"

Here I sit...

2009-10-05T05:15:00.000-07:00

Well, it is raining and I am supposed to get ready to go meet everyone for the night ride. Yes, the famous night rides have started on Monday nights at the North Loop. I sit here typing tonight because for the second time this year the ride has been canceled.

I can't believe that we are starting the first full week of October. The days are getting shorter and the temps are dropping. I think this means that winter is just around the corner. Even though the shop is getting dialed in for cross country skiing, give me another month of mountain biking and then I will be ready to ski.
Yesterday I took an early morning trip with Brian and Ben to Hillside Trails in Elk River. I had a blast. The crew there has done some incredible trail improvements over the summer.
September was here and gone before I knew it. Maybe that happened because Angela and I had a lot going on. A person could say that September was bike racing month for us though.

Recently the Mid Minnesota Cycling club had a huge weekend on September 26 & 27
Revolution Cycle and Ski sponsored the fourth annual Single Track Escape in St. Cloud. For a great recap of the race check out the summary on MTB racenews at http://www.mtbracenews.com/

The next day was followed up with the Mid Minnesota Cycling Club's Pork Chop Challenge Cyclocross Race. Now this is a fun event and for the first time I decided to participate in it. Yep, it hurt and is not as easy as it looks. Not that I thought it looked easy, but my legs seemed like they did not want to work properly jumping the barriers towards the end of the race. For the best highlight of the event check out this video.

Video credit to Quinn Williams

Photo credit Angela Schroden

The weekend of the 19th was the race that everyone waits for all year long. Oh yes, Chequamegon. For a race report on that one, scroll down and see my race report.

In the early part of September I had the opportunity to sit on the other side of competition. Angela had her last triathlon of the season and it was a good one. She placed 2nd in her age group(which is a tough group) at the Square Lake Triathlon in Stillwater, MN. She is currently working on her run to be faster next year. With her working on that to be combined with her bike and swim, she will be in contention to win some races.

Time for me to go watch some football. Will Farve survive tonight???

test

2009-10-01T04:59:00.000-07:00

This is test. Can't find out how to get my voicemail, but I can try this out on the new phone.

Life is Good.

2009-09-29T05:04:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was a hit for the Mid Minnesota Cycling Club. Thanks to all the volunteers for all their help. Participant numbers were up on both days and I think that is due to the excellent name we have built for ourselves. Way to go.

The weekend wrapped last night with the first weekly night ride. We had 6 total riders last night and I suspect that in nights to come the numbers will grow. What a perfect night it was.

Just a little reminder that the wine tasting to benefit the MMCC is happening tomorrow evening at Pioneer Place. If you already have tickets-great. If not, stop by the shop to purchase some and bring your friends.

See you all tomorrow evening.

Fat Tire Festival

2009-09-22T04:47:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was what some call the big show. I would now consider the big show Interbike, but for racers Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival is. Here is my recap of the weekend.

Friday Angela and I headed out of town with the car filled to the brim with the dogs. We were able to arrive in Hayward in the late afternoon to get a leg stretcher on the bike and do a little reconnaissance out at Rosie's Field. After a nice little spin we headed to Telemark Resort to pick up the goodies and return to town for a dinner at the local pizza joint.

Can't believe it but it was the morning of the race already. It had een on the calendar for what seems like forever and it was here. Race time- less than 2 hours. I got suited up and checked the bike over one last time. All systems go except for me. I had some stomach issues in the morning and I thought that it passed but still did not feel great. Nothing that I could really do but tough it out and go race. Got a great warm up in for what I thought was going to be a race from the gun. I was wrong and it was a nice surprise. The roll out was very controlled until we hit the main highway. It was great not to hear any bikes and bodies sliding across the pavement.

This is where my reconnaissance on Friday helped. When the pace was getting really fast and you could tell the others were picking their spots for the entrance of the trail. I, too, was doing the same thing, but I went to the outside where everyone else went to the inside. My move proved to be a good one as I was able to accelerate past a group of racers to find myself placed in a group of fast riders. At the top of Rosie's Field I could see the leaders and I new that I was in good position. I settled in with the group of about 10 and we motored through the Birkie Trail what seemed to be pretty fast. I arrived at OO doing a little self check. Yes, I was working really hard and one problem was that I had not been drinking enough of my fluids. I got my fluid feed from Angela there and I soon crashed off the trail from another rider losing my position. It is tough seeing racers go by that you had passed when I thought they were out of sight. I think that I lost about 15 positions from taking a detour into the woods. Back on the gas to catch that group. Slowly but surely, I played my cards right and I kept picking riders off. Getting to about 8 miles left where there was more climbing, I could tell that my 12 hour endurance racing was paying off; I was fresh and my competitors were not. I accelerated a few more times and at this point I was watching the clock. I wanted to better my best time of 2:22 and I had to motor if I wanted to do that. I found my last gear that turned my body inside out and kept it that way for the last couple of miles.

I came rolling in at 2:19 in 61st overall. I was very pleased with the result. I had zero mechanicals and I left everything I had on the course. After the race I was feelling pretty yucky. I think that the lack of fluids throughout the race had left me dehydrated. I know that I have to drink but seems like there was not time. That was my own fault and I paid the price.

Others that had great races were Kyia-2nd place woman, Ben-PB time, Taggart, Matt, Jeff, Charlie, and John. Way to go!! I think that Cannondale Scalpels won the battle of the bikes for the day. I know that my Cannondale was super fast.

Darkness

2009-09-09T04:38:00.001-07:00

Are you down with the darkness? I am not.
Currently I am sipping a lot of java waiting for sunrise so I can get out on the bike.
Somedays, like yesterday, are tough to get my training in when I don't ride in the morning. Check back later and I will post a few pics of projects that consume a little more of my time.
That is if I have time!

Deep Fried.

2009-09-08T05:22:00.000-07:00

Last Friday Angela and I made our first trip together to the Minnesota State Fair. We both managed to eat unhealthy; Angela even ate a Pronto Pupp. I also ate a Pronto Pupp along with macaroni and cheese on a stick, deep fried pickles, cheese curds, pizza, scotch egg, french fries, and cookies. I learned my lesson with the cookies... go big or go home. We went to the fair with Angela's sister and her husband, which means that you can all stop thinking that I ate all of this by myself. In grade school I was taught to share, so share I did :)! The next day I felt tierd, but I would of felt much more than that had I eaten all that food on my own. The rest of the weekend flew by; I worked. We are approaching the last week of our Back 2 School bike sale, which meant that a lot of our customers couldn't hold out anymore. Ben, Jesrin and myself were very busy!I enjoyed my day off on Labor day with Angela. We went for a beautiful two hour road ride and then I added on another hour on my own. After riding it was time to get some chores done around the house. I got done with what I wanted, only to realize that our fridge is not keeping my refreshments cold. Yeah, the fridge is going out, which means that it is time to shop for a new one.Have a good start to a short week everyone. Chequamegon countdown: is less 2 weeks.

State Fair

2009-09-04T04:12:00.001-07:00

This is where I am going today, the Minnesota State Fair.

It has been a few years since I have attended deep fried food on a stick convention so I thought it was time to check it out again. The word on the street is my wife is going to eat a Pronto Pupp. Who can resist a Pronto Pupp?

Transition Time

2009-09-03T08:37:00.000-07:00

Life is all about transition. For my life, there are transitions all the time. Currently I am adjusting to a little different training to prepare for shorter much more intense races, getting ready for ski season which is not too far away (big store switch over), getting ready for the next bike season, and having a busy life (which everyone has). Balancing my wife's schedule and my own is transition all together. With Angela having 14 hour days at her clinic and a couple night classes, spending time together has been a little tricky lately with our combined schedules. So the time that I do get to spend with her, I love.

Last weekend we were able to sneak away for a little bit. I raced the Seeley Lions Pre Fat Mountain bike race to get some intensity on a course similar to the Chequamegon course. The race went well for me, considering that I have trained my body for a much different style of racing. I finished well and felt stronger towards the end of the race. From the result of the race and a little time spent on the trails, I feel I have gained some valuable insight to competing at this years Chequamegon Fat Tire 40.

Thanks to Angela for standing out in the cold, yes cold, for the length of the race. Not to mention it was drizzling too. Here we are together after the race.

After the race, we joined Kyia and Kris at a local brickoven pizza place in Cable, WI. The pizza was great and the beer was cold!!! Yippy.

From the race, we left town to drive to Carlton, MN where we met up with a bunch of friends at a cabin. It is always a great time to eat, drink, and laugh late into the night.

Today I had a great early morning ride and stopped at Great Harvest to pick up some awesome breakfast bread. I think I could eat the whole loaf, but I'm holding myself back. Time to get a couple things organized for the end of the week and then off to the shop.

Final Decision...

2009-08-28T14:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Home of the14th Anniversary Seeley Lions Club Pre Fat Mountain Bike Race

After a long week of going back and forth on if I was going to race this weekend, I am going. I am looking forward to an intense race to get ready for the big show in a couple of weeks. It will be interesting though as I feel my body currently is not in the correct form.

I am also using this weekend as a nice get-a-way with my wife. No, we are not just going to another bike race. We are headed to cabin to spend the evenning with friends and family. It will be a knarly time. (I might even use the stream to recover my legs; I have heard it is cold.)

Off to spin my legs and then to the truck I go.

Good Luck Ben!

WOW....It's about time!

2009-08-27T07:44:00.000-07:00

Time has finally hit me straight on the top of the head. I can not believe that the race season is as far along as it is, our Back 2 School sale is going on right now, and my wife has started her internship. This all means one thing for me; summer is almost over. I know that I have not blogged much at all, and I can't use the excuse of not having time so I don't know what to say, but something is going to change. With all that I have to say, I would be here for a few hours and I don't have a few hours. I would also assume, reading would get too long, so I am going to do it magazine style (like myself, I look at the pictures first) and then I go read the article. So have at it...

12 hour race race in La Grange, WI. Finished 3rd overall.

Camping trip wit the Williams family in Wisconsin. Very fun vacation, looking forward to next year!

I have really enjoyed cheering my wife on at the many triathlons that she has competed very well in this year. I must say, it is nice being on the spectator side occasionally. She has had a wonderful first year and looking forward to next year, I THINK.
(Recently took 2nd in her class at the last tri. Way to go.)

Most anticipated event of the summer for me, National 24 hours of Nine Mile competing in the 12 hour solo division.

--> After 12:54 hours of riding!!! Just a little tired.

Finished 2nd overall at Nine Mile. Completed 144 miles. Very pleased with the outcome and only a few minutes behind first. Next year, 24 hour solo division. Thanks to Angela and my parents for their support at this race. Over the summer, Angela has dialed in my nutrition for these events to make transitions very quick. With her assistance, it has allowed me more time on the bike and I would not be able to do it with out her. Thanks for sticking it out the entire time Angela!

Thats all for now, check back soon, and I do mean soon this time.

Month of May- Where???

2009-06-02T20:38:00.000-07:00

It's June already and I can't believe it. Seems like not that long ago that the skis were put away to make the shop full on bike season. Well, it is here. Bike season has been great in many ways. The shop is doing very well and we are definitely keeping busy. As for myself, training continues and I am eagerly awaiting the next race.
I do have to say that I am pleased with how the first race went overall, and I can't believe that it has come and gone already. Like other things, it seems not that long ago that my wife and I planted the garden, but it shows signs of growth already. That is really exciting!!
With a little time to reflect on my first attempt at the solo 12 hour discipline, I must say that I did very well. The many hours of training put in over the last 8 months and the nutritional experiments have definitely paid off in the long run (I mean the long rides)! The first race took place at the Reforestation Camp in Green Bay, WI. It's a great trail that really suits my riding style. For the duration of the race which consisted of 11 hours and 20 minutes, I covered 139 miles to finish fourth on the day. I was pleased with my result, but most importantly I am focused on what I need to do next time to better my result.
My Cannondale Team Scalpel was superb and so was my Cannondale Taurine. I had to start on my Taurine set up for the wet conditions and as soon as the rain stopped, then I was able to move over to the Scalpel of which I stayed on for the rest of the day. I must say that the bikes were dialed and a special thanks to my dad for making sure that everything ran smooth during the race. Great Harvest Bread Company of Waite Park, MN and Powerbar Nutrition kept me fueled for the entire day. Thank you very much, the day would have been a lot harder without your generous support.
(I also used my secret concoction a few times, RB:H20, ask me if you want the details.)
Over the last couple of weeks I have been taking care of a little overused knee. I guess that's what happens when you turn the cranks over 57,000 times. I will be ready for the next race though, which is now only 11 days out.
Check back soon... more posts and pics to come.

Nice and Short

2009-04-19T19:11:00.000-07:00

I had this weekend off and I was going to make the best of it. I wanted to get some stuff done around the house most importantly, but I also wanted to get a good ride in with a good friend.
I didn't get everything done around the house that I wanted to, but I made use of the nice weather by getting some raking out of the way. (I think that I used some muscles that are not used on the bike because I am a little sore.) Before I started out with the house chores, I made my way done to Elk River to meet Horkey for a little mountain bike action. Wow for two reasons, it was great to get on the mountain bike and there were tons of people out. The trail was in great shape and I always say that I am going to drive down there more often, but I don't really care for driving to ride. Problem solved-- the North Loop Mountain bike trail received a little TLC today and it is open and looking great.
See you all out on the trail.

We're Famous...

2009-03-10T18:55:00.000-07:00

There are many ways in which you could call us famous. The first one is referring to the Midwest as, " We are famous for having the w0rst weather!" I am sick of the snow for the first time this year. I would have welcomed the snow like other times this year, but I am in full bike mode along with the rest of the fellow cyclists in the area. Time to clean up the roads and the trails to dry out. At least clean and dry roads. The trails are going to be wet for a long time this year.

The reason for my title of this blog is that my wife and I are pictured in this months issue of Minnesota Monthly. So if you are sick of the cold and are curled up inside reading, page through the issue to find Mr. & Mrs. Schroden.

Training has been going pretty good. I still have not had a consistant amount of time on the bike. I had been skiing a lot up till last weekend and the skiing was great. The one thing about not being on the bike the whole entire winter is that I am really excited to get on the bike finally.
The last five days on the bike have been really good so hopefully this snow melts quick and I can get back on the roads.

Til next time....

How Travel Changes....

2009-02-26T19:31:00.000-08:00

I have to say that I have been in bike mode since the Vassaloppet in early February. That means that I have been out on the bike a fair amount and enjoying the dry streets as we have had a little snow melt.

With a little snow in the last week, it spured me on to dig the skis out again. I thought that it was pretty nice to have a variety of workouts this early in the season so I welcomed the snow. With having a solid four days on skis and seeing a bunch of wildlife out on the trails, I was ready to get back on the road.

Well, that only lasted for one day and it was a good one, but good things rapidly came to an abrupt hault. Today Central Minnesota was in a severe weather alert meaning that we were going to be pounded with snow.

I chose to walk to work this morning; one of the ways that my wife and I are cutting back on gas consumption. Walking to work has been something that I have actually taken a liking to. It gives me time to enjoy a little piece and quiet and better yet, my coffee!!!

With substantial snow on the ground this evenning leaving from work, I decided not to walk in my tennis shoes home, so I chose to use a different mode of transportation. Oh yes, I skied home on the streets. Ready to go...

I have been wanting to ski to work or either ski home for a long time and I thought there was not a better time than now.

With only one little accident on the way home, I would consider the trip to be a success.

I guess the bike is going to be put away for a little while and the skis are coming out for another week. With more snow, that means more work to ski...the trails need to be groomed and I get to go enhale exhaust from the machines.

Here is a final picture of my final destination...HOME!!!

The end of the Weekend Update...

2009-02-15T18:59:00.001-08:00

I hope that everyone had a great Hallmark Holiday this weekend. My wife and I voted to stay in rather than battle the crowds this past Saturday evenning. We thought that it could be more enjoyable to cook at home since it is one of our favorite things to do together. Off to the store to get some food. On the menu was jumbo shrimp and scallops cooked together with a garlic cream sauce served with asparagus. We had a few slices of bread on the side and a little sushi. Everything was perfect.
Eat your heart out because I sure did.

For dessert we did the real deal...Cold Stone ice cream. Since we were also celebrating my birthday, I chose to get the Birthday Remix combo. It was really, really good. Good thing that I rode 3 hours in the frigid cold that day for all the calories that I consumed.

Speaking of riding, I am in bike mode... not ski mode. This morning I checked out the snowmobile trails and they look pretty good to ride with the winter mountain bike. I love riding those type of trails because I am never really sure where I am going to pop out.

Tomorrow is going to be an early morning on the bike and then lifting before I meet the fellas for a little business talk over coffee, so I am signing out.

Bang...It Has To Start Sometime

2009-02-12T21:28:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, you have all been asking, "Where is the blog that you have been talking about?" Well here it is to document all the action from training, racing, and what it is like to pedal for an Ultra Marathon event. Now this is just the start and there will be more to come. I am not training tonight at staying up for 24 hours so I am off to bed.

Before I check out for the night, I will share a photo of what came the other day. Yep, that's right, it's my new race bike and I am excited to build it to go super fast.