Where the Rubber Meets the Mind-Nye’s Blog

Most people would think that at my age, racing the Whiskey 25 Proof and getting 93rd out of 800 people was great, but I know different.  Last year I finished 66th place which was a much better accomplishment.  Being a year older, stronger and doing another years worth of training (that was much more complete than the previous year),  I was positive that I had much greater fitness and strength.  After discussing my race, it was easy for me and my coach to find what was wrong-my mental side of racing.  The Whiskey Off Road Race taught me that I can have the greatest physical fitness in the world, but without having a mental game and intensity, I’ll just get good, but unsatisfying results.

I know now that my parents focus, on my growing up, not just my racing because they see that it’s the most important part of my racing success.   I need to be mature and realize that learning from what other people have experienced is smarter than the repeated trial and error method, I normally follow.   One of the things I’m trying to work on is having greater personal values and standards. Do my best all of the time, when I’m washing, brushing my teeth and doing my chores and other things-because I care, that’s what is important.  One thing I have a bad habit with is not doing things without being told.  For example, I need to do stuff like, if I know I need to clean my bike, do it, without waiting to be told.  Taking personal pride in my responsibilities means I am creating a habit of being the best I can be.  Not just being satisfied with any decent outcome!

My racing passion is another thing I need to work on and improve.  If I can have strong personal pride in all of my activities of growing up I’ll be on the right road for getting a burning passion for what I like to do!  A point which I need a bit of improvement on is putting out 100% effort at each and every ride and training session.  Being agressive is so important!  At the Sea Otter XC race I was following another racer.  I didn’t pass, but my competitor did and I didn’t follow immediately and I lost to him because of my lack of aggressiveness.  One thing that applies to all aspects (growing up and racing) is not being satisfied with results that are less than my true abilities! Quiting! It’s a bad habit and I cannot continue to do that training and racing.  My dad, read me a quote I like;  “Suffering is temporary,  Quiting is a lifetime”.  He said “Habits are who we are” and I want to be someone of great accomplishments!

I will improve on my mental side, my passion, my aggressiveness and my personal pride, that I get from the way I complete my tasks.  At both the Sea Otter and the Whiskey, I let my competion pass and ride away from me and I knew that I had the physical fitness to keep up, I just quit mentally because I wrongly thought that they looked bigger, stronger and taller and that was enough to make me think that they would beat me.  I know that I should have never quit mentally because looking at somebody doesn’t determine who’s stronger-the race does!  Even if they are stronger I know my job is to put out my best effort.  Then, and only then I’ll be on the right track to reach my goal of becoming a Olympic gold medalist.

Bike Wise Beyond My Years-Jake’s Blog

The Whiskey Off Road was great!  This year I raced the 50 Proof Category (50 miles) and it was quite a race, I had a wonderful time before, during and after the race.  This is what happened…..

The days leading up to the race were really fun, we were phyched to be able to do 4 days of preriding the course, as we had just traveled in from the Sea Otter Classic, arriving late Monday at dusk.  On our ride the 1st day our Dad got a slice in his tubeless tire and we spent over an hour patching a bad tube (I hate it when that happens!).  After 5 patches it still failed and I needed to give him my tube.  The next day we put on a brand new Panaracer Driver tire, and rode half of the 25 mile loop.  We were nearing the top of the Sierra Prieta road climb when suddenly out of nowhere comes a bobcat chasing a mule deer…it stops on the edge of the road for a few seconds and then it’s gone!  That was so cool!  The next few days we did some rides and just hung out and enjoyed nature!

The day of the race was exhilarating!  I was pretty nervous at the start since this was going to be my first 50 mile race but I got through it and was ready to go.  Man the start was fast!  Once we were around the first corner the fast guys took off, I struggled a bit but managed to stay in the top 100 racers going into the singletrack.  On the descent into Skull Valley me and another 50 mile racer were duking it out down the descent and it turns out we passed at least a dozen people.  Nearly the same thing happened climbing out of Skull Valley.  I wanted to see how many people I could pass so I picked up the pace and I eventually caught a road racer (“gone dirty”),  He and I caught one racer at a time until we had a big group formed.  We must have passed 20 racers when it was all said and done! He eventually dropped me but I wasn’t on my own for long.  I caught the 3rd place junior, he tried to keep up but he couldn’t hang on!  On the singletrack descent back to town, I caught the roady gone dirty (that dropped me on the climb) and passed him a mile before the pavement.  I caught another racer and we hauled butt to the finish, a sprint to the line, he barely edges me out..DARN!  Though, I did feel great that I won the battle with that Roady!  At the finish line the Roady told me good job, I told him ” I wasn’t going to let you catch me” he said “well this Roady was definitely trying to catch you!”, I told him “good job, you made me ride fast”

After the race I hung out at the Shimano booth waiting for my Dad to come off the course and Nye to finish his 30 mile race.  I had some pizza and a ice cream cone and waited for the awards ceremony. I was happy with my finish last year but this year I upped my game to the 50 miler and finished 3rd place in the juniors <18 category and ended up 73 overall out of 607 racers!

This years Whiskey Off Road was awesome! We met some cool people (Sid Taberlay), had some great adventures and learned that if you put your mind to it any thing is possible!

Jake’s Blog Setting Your Sights High

Coming into 2013 Red Rock Desert Rampage MTB race in St. George, UT, most people would have thought it would have been a bad idea to Cat up from Cat 2 to Cat 1. But not my Dad/Coach, he thought he had seen a rise in my capabilities so I registered for Cat 1, since this race is not USA Cycling sactioned!

I’ve been racing the Red Rock Desert Rampage event for 4 years and I have great success there. Seeing that I started racing so young there many people that questioned the race Categories I entered.  For example, in 2010, at 9 years old, I raced in the Cat 2 13-15 age group.  As I lined up at the start line I was saying to myself aloud ” I’ll probably beat those two kids ” but a teenager named Hunter over heard my conversation and said, ” Ha! he thinks he’ll beat you two ” but I showed him and ended up in 3rd place! In 2011 I raced Cat 3 13-15 age group since there was more competition. It was a good race and I placed 2nd. In 2012, I raced the Cat 2 13-15 age group.  The competition was fierce.  I finished 1st, a full minute ahead of the 2nd place finisher.  I had great result from the 2012 season. I trained hard in the off season and I was super excited for our first MTB race! 

It’s 2013 at the Red Rock Desert Rampage.  I’m racing Cat 1 19-29 age group. Then the longest ten seconds of my life:  I hear the start whistle……. and we’re off!!!  I have a great start and I’m up front, but after a few hundred meters the field of mature men swamp me and I’m now dead last heading across the flat doubletrack.  I knew my fortures would change as the sucession of singletrack climbs and descents were to come.  After a few miles of the 1st of 3, 7 mile laps, I caught the leader, just as I expected!  One lap down two to go; I pass the leader and gain first place, and the next two miles go along as smooth as butter….. and I take the win, Woohoo!

My dad was right, and hard work sure does pay off!  Finally I would like thank all of our sponsors:  Jamis, DT Swiss, FSA, Enve, Magura, Panaracer, Primal, Osprey, Ergon, Sidi, Light and Motion, Finish Line, Honey Stinger, Headsweats, Xpedo and Feedback Sports for supporting us and I would like to thank our friends and family too!

A Big Apple! A Small Bite! Nye’s Blog

Racing the Valley Of The Sun Stage Race was a great new experience for me.  Road Racing is so much different than MTB Racing.  I need to learn and develop different strategies and tactics. Before the race we had very limited time and didn’t do much training because we are still squarely placed in Winter.  So my Dad/Coach decided we should spend that time practicing doing several Time Trials since they are such huge parts of the General Classification results. I practiced having a consistent, high cadence, high speeds and aerodynamics.

At the Time Trial Race, breezy conditions made me focus on my cadence and aerodynamics.  It help me keep my speed up!

The Criterium course had large potholes and rough roads. The bike handling skills, I learned from riding and racing MTB’s over the last 5 years made that part of the race easy.  During my race I narrowed my tactics and focused on who we thought was the biggest threat in the Crit,  but, I lost sight of a even larger strategy, staying in contact with the main peloton filled with 13-14 boys and 15-16 girls.

 I allowed a gap to form and I wasn’t able to reacquire the draft.  It turned out to be a major mistake!  Two of the 10-12 boys, were in the peloton.  This forced me to pull at the front of the chase group every lap to try to protect my General Classification leaders jersey.  When was all over I saved a 2nd in the GC, but the Crit was a tactical disaster.  I let 2 of my competitors ride away in the Peloton and one took 1st in the GC, I threw away 1st or 2nd in the Crit and I was too spent to sprint for the podium

It would have been great to get to experience the Road Race, but Race officials decided it was unsafe the 10-12 Juniors.  It was fun to be able to apply the skills I practiced in the TT.

 The Valley of the Sun Stage Race was awesome! I would love to do it again!  I placed 2nd in GC, 1st in the Time Trial and 5th in the Criterium!  I can see that I have a lot to learn to be able to apply the correct tactics in each of the road racing disciplines!

New, New, New…….2013

New Race Kit for 2013

Well,  the New Year, 2013, has Officially begun!  And there are many things that will be New!  New Race Kits, New Sponsors, New Races, New Look Websites and New Season Goals.  But the theme really should be the Old!  As much as there is new, the old will be the continuing path to follow.  Our old prescription, unquestionably has been good for Us!

Our previous season’s Sponsors dominate our 2013 Sponsor’s List.  Nearly, all of our 2011 and 2012 sponsors have reaffirmed their partnership with Yackle Brothers Racing. Reaffirming that, our Team is being developed well!  However, mixing in the new makes a statement that “we are never content with what we accomplished yesterday”.

We have 17 Industry Partners for 2013.  FSA, ENVE and Panaracer, have been with us from the start and continue to anchor our Team. DT Swiss, Primal Wear and Magura, join our senior sponsors to give us a solid foundation to keep on building our Elite Junior Race Program.  Our 11 junior sponsors, provide an unsurpassed value to our Elite Junior Team.  We would like to thank each one and ask everyone to always patronize, Race Team Sponsors-and especially our fine Sponsors!  They help provide the Racing we all LOVE!

Our 2013 Primal Wear Pivotal Helix Race Kit is a statement of how our Team is forward looking.  By utilizing the best technical race wear and coupling it with the most professional look, this gives Yackle Brother Racing the “Hole Shot”!  Primal Wear knocks it out of the Park!

Yackle Brothers Racing continues to advance our internet presence and social networking.  We keep advancing  our skills in these areas to present the most professional and complete promotion, marketing and reprentation of our Sponsors and the our Team.  New appearances and added information and content, improves these sites over our 2012 versions.

You can check us out and join us on a number of internet sites, beside our Webpage: http://www.yacklebrothersracing.wordpress.com
Facebook Profile: http://www.facebook.com/yackle.racing
Facebook Athlete Page: http://www.facebook.com/yacklebrothers.athlete
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/yacklebrosracin
Google +: https://plus.google.com/112311425303711479217#112311425303711479217/posts

Let’s Get Ready To Race………………………Happy New Year to All……………………………… See You at the Races!!!!

Went Fishing, Caught 4 Deer!!!

This is a Repost of a Great Story I was sent!  So Cool it has to be Shared!

A once in the history of mankind kind of thing!

The Best Day Of Fishing Ever!

Some fishing stories are a little hard to believe, but this guy has pictures to prove his story… I’ve heard of salmon jumping into boats, but never anything quite like this… Tom Satre told the Sitka Gazette that he was out with a charter group on his 62-foot fishing vessel when four juvenile black-tailed deer swam directly toward his boat.

“Once the deer reached the boat, the four began to circle the boat, looking directly at us. We could tell right away that the young bucks were distressed. I opened up my back gate and we helped the typically skittish and absolutely wild animals onto the boat.

In all my years fishing, I’ve never seen anything quite like it! Once onboard, they collapsed with exhaustion, shivering.” “This is a picture I took of the rescued bucks on the back of my boat, the Alaska Quest. We headed for Taku Harbour . Once we reached the dock, the first buck that we had been pulled from the water hopped onto the dock, looked back as if to say ‘thank you’ and disappeared into the forest.

After a bit of prodding and assistance, two more followed, but the smallest deer needed a little more help.
This is me carrying the little guy.

My daughter, Anna, and son, Tim, helped the last buck to its feet. We didn’t know how long they had been in the icy waters or if there had been others who did not survive. My daughter later told me that the experience was something that she would never forget, and I suspect the deer felt the same way as well!”
I told you! Awesome… huh? Our Lord works in mysterious way..
“Kindness is the language the blind can see and the deaf can hear.” – Mark Twain

 

Bust’n Our Britches!

In 2011 Jake and I set goals for 2012 to win USA Cycling National Championships and to win New Mexico Off Road Regional Point Series Championships.  We already have our stars and bars!!!  The chase for the NMORS Championship is on!

After the our Sandia Peak Onmium, there were only 5 races left in the Series.  The Series is based upon your best 8 races out of 13 total.  Prior to the Red River race we had competed in 5 of the first 8 races and dominated our head to head races with our closest competitors.

In the last 6 weeks we raced:  Top of The World, Back To School Special and Horny Toad Hustle and Squash Blossom Classic.   I finished 1st beat my second place competitor in the point series by an average of 7:00 minutes.  Jake demolished the 2nd place competitor by an average of 15:00 in these 3 races.

We just crushed it!

I locked up the Championship Category 3 Juniors <18 yrs. NMORS.  Jake racked up his 2nd Championship but this time in highly competitive Category 2 Juniors < 18 yrs..

 

We’re stoked!

Jake and I both won the series with the minimum of 8 races!  With my 1st Championship locked up, I took on a new challenge,  to race in Category 2 in the Squash Blossom Screamer last weekend!  I’m stoked!  I accomplished my goal to race 19 miles and beat my brother’s course record when he was 9 yrs. old of 1 hour 45 minutes; my time was 1 hour 37 minutes!

I think we set some pretty high goals for 2012. Not only did we accomplish those goals.  Our season’s accomplishments ended up way beyond those goals: 2 New Mexico State Championships, 1 Colorado State Championship, 2nd Junior Team Mountain States Cup Point Series and 1 MSC Point Series Championship.

Season ended!  A Camp Vacation to Moab, UT is waiting.  Then!   Bring on 2013!