So im back to racing tomorrow after a 3 week relief from is and I can honestly say im looking forward to getting my feet wet again. Tomorrow is Hyde Park, a local, yet fun as hell crit in a classy little town in Cincinnati. It has a history of being very fun, and with a split with Grandview Heights all weekend the fields could either be great, or not so good. Either way its a fun time.
Sunday I head to Columbus for Grandview Heights Classic and some really REALLY tough racing for local stuff. The bigs will be there and of course there is money up. Good money, so it should hurt pretty well!
I got a kick out of THIS looking through pez. Seems the girl on the start ramp at Eindhoven Tim Trial maybe didnt do her job as well as she should have. Haha... poor Andriy Grivko.
As for now, hope everyone is enjoying the lovely rain here in Ohio. I sure have while I've been rippin it up training this week. No complaints, it makes you stronger!
-Dee-
Friday, June 29, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Home AGAIN!
So im back in Ohio from my journey south to Georgia. I came back with very mixed feelings and both good and bad experiences revolving around the trip. Good experiences include, once again, the girls in chattanooga, riding beautiful Georgia and Tennessee Mountains for 5 days, meeting some awsome guys and two girls who have no problem romping on me in the mountains, and coming up with what seems to be a possible Tour de Toona winning composite team.
On the other hand I learned a few things about my fitness and how things have been handled this year. It kind of sucks, but sometimes the best way to progress is to see whats holding you back and remove it in hopes of finding something that will better you as a rider.
With that being said, I have some more good news. I am currently bringing on a new coach. Kimberly Fasczewski of Vantaggio Fitness and member of Vantaggio Specialized Pro Womens Cycling team has brought me on for the remainder of the season and needless to say it couldnt come at a better time. With nationals 24 days away, toona after that, and finally Gateway Cup and crossroads classic looming in the near future, I can't wait to see what I can develop with her help. Thanks Kim for all the help and the butt smashing climb of the Tour of Georgia TT with the lovely leg opening 23% gradient.
As for pictures, as you know, I'm normally one to post a ton after a trip but it turns out I left my camera in GA when on one of our little starbucks "journeys" off campus so when I get it back from DAVID BISHOP I will post some.
--CONGRATS TO A&F PRO DEVELOPMENT TEAM on taking the Leaders, Sprinters, and Climbers jersey at TOH. Wish I could have been there. NOT to get slaughtered by all of you but to see how well you rode! CONGRATS MARK!---
Off to mail out a TON of paperwork that I was forced to fill out last night, then im off to work, and riding!
Heres some videos from TOH and all the A&F guys dominating and wrecking!
CRASH in Hillsboro
Crit Domination
On the other hand I learned a few things about my fitness and how things have been handled this year. It kind of sucks, but sometimes the best way to progress is to see whats holding you back and remove it in hopes of finding something that will better you as a rider.
With that being said, I have some more good news. I am currently bringing on a new coach. Kimberly Fasczewski of Vantaggio Fitness and member of Vantaggio Specialized Pro Womens Cycling team has brought me on for the remainder of the season and needless to say it couldnt come at a better time. With nationals 24 days away, toona after that, and finally Gateway Cup and crossroads classic looming in the near future, I can't wait to see what I can develop with her help. Thanks Kim for all the help and the butt smashing climb of the Tour of Georgia TT with the lovely leg opening 23% gradient.
As for pictures, as you know, I'm normally one to post a ton after a trip but it turns out I left my camera in GA when on one of our little starbucks "journeys" off campus so when I get it back from DAVID BISHOP I will post some.
--CONGRATS TO A&F PRO DEVELOPMENT TEAM on taking the Leaders, Sprinters, and Climbers jersey at TOH. Wish I could have been there. NOT to get slaughtered by all of you but to see how well you rode! CONGRATS MARK!---
Off to mail out a TON of paperwork that I was forced to fill out last night, then im off to work, and riding!
Heres some videos from TOH and all the A&F guys dominating and wrecking!
CRASH in Hillsboro
Crit Domination
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Chattanooga choo choo!
Chattanooga... what a city. So im here in Panera in the Chatt (not to be mistaken for the shatt) enjoying a nice Passion Fruit begal with cream cheese, a fruit cup, and three or four cups of coffee (I lost count). I'm hoping to put in a good week of training here to set me up for a good run at Nationals and Tour de Toona.
We got here a little early yesterday to find out that Chattanooga has a few things going for it.
1. Cool Coffee Shops
2. Friendly locals and safe downtown to ride
3. River Festivals
4. Cute girls
5. Beautiful Girls
6. Stunning girls
---enough said---
SO after an hour out and about showing off the spandex and shaved legs we wondered down to riverfest and found a sweet dinner of blackened salmon and well, more chattanoogan "scenery" of mountains and again stunning girls (one of which just walked by with a cheese danish **ahhh**). After an hour or so of meandering through countyr music and southern hospitality we hoofed it back the 2 or 30 some blocks to the Chattanooga Choo Choo Holiday in where the security seems to not like us much and has scolded us twice for riding on the premesis the whopping hundred some feet to our actual building. Baaaaad guys in spandex! Bad.
So now Justin, Allen and I are setting up shop until checkin at Lookout mountain for the week. I'm excited but at the same time bummed that I can't be back at Ohio for Tour of Ohio or in Missouri for Nature Valley. Oh well. This will be good for me. After this week it's back for state TT champs, then some really cool crits in Grandview and an always fun crit in Hyde Park in the natty before the slaughter of Nationals in seven springs! Good luck Gamm and everyone back home at TOH, im sure you will not dissapoint on the bike or off afterwards! I can't believe im leaving this southern haven of beauty for a week with guys and bikes... somtimes we have to sacrifice!
-PEACE!-
The guys and I downtown Chattanooga!
More cruisin on the town!
Hopefully there will be wireless where we are staying for the week but if not then wish us luck. These mountains be big. Sorry for such a boring post. Being tired kinda takes it out of me. Wait! Not having coffee in me takes it out of me... and imagine that. My coffee is right here. I'm good to go!
We got here a little early yesterday to find out that Chattanooga has a few things going for it.
1. Cool Coffee Shops
2. Friendly locals and safe downtown to ride
3. River Festivals
4. Cute girls
5. Beautiful Girls
6. Stunning girls
---enough said---
SO after an hour out and about showing off the spandex and shaved legs we wondered down to riverfest and found a sweet dinner of blackened salmon and well, more chattanoogan "scenery" of mountains and again stunning girls (one of which just walked by with a cheese danish **ahhh**). After an hour or so of meandering through countyr music and southern hospitality we hoofed it back the 2 or 30 some blocks to the Chattanooga Choo Choo Holiday in where the security seems to not like us much and has scolded us twice for riding on the premesis the whopping hundred some feet to our actual building. Baaaaad guys in spandex! Bad.
So now Justin, Allen and I are setting up shop until checkin at Lookout mountain for the week. I'm excited but at the same time bummed that I can't be back at Ohio for Tour of Ohio or in Missouri for Nature Valley. Oh well. This will be good for me. After this week it's back for state TT champs, then some really cool crits in Grandview and an always fun crit in Hyde Park in the natty before the slaughter of Nationals in seven springs! Good luck Gamm and everyone back home at TOH, im sure you will not dissapoint on the bike or off afterwards! I can't believe im leaving this southern haven of beauty for a week with guys and bikes... somtimes we have to sacrifice!
-PEACE!-
The guys and I downtown Chattanooga!
More cruisin on the town!
Hopefully there will be wireless where we are staying for the week but if not then wish us luck. These mountains be big. Sorry for such a boring post. Being tired kinda takes it out of me. Wait! Not having coffee in me takes it out of me... and imagine that. My coffee is right here. I'm good to go!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
IM FAMOUS!!!....nooot
So after a few days, a good two with Allen in cincy training and another today after work with J-anderson, i am really starting to feel good. Today was one of those days where I just felt like I could rip the pedals off my bike. I love it. Tomorrow is the weekly local world championships of Ault Park so that should be a helluva fun time, especially since we might actually have decent numbers and a good part of the team there.
Mainly, I wanted to put up a few really cool pictures I came across from the Edgar Soto Stage Race i did in nashville two weeks ago. Im famous, what can I say!
Rippin in the TT... i've got my suffer grin on for sure!
100+ mile road race in 97 degree weather... I was happy with my finish despite the photog getting a way too lance-like picture.
Our field was big!
Mainly, I wanted to put up a few really cool pictures I came across from the Edgar Soto Stage Race i did in nashville two weeks ago. Im famous, what can I say!
Rippin in the TT... i've got my suffer grin on for sure!
100+ mile road race in 97 degree weather... I was happy with my finish despite the photog getting a way too lance-like picture.
Our field was big!
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Some very cool stuff...
I know I know... I have been posting a lot lately. Whatever. This deserves my posting. As I said a month or so ago, my buddy Mark Hekman won this years athens twilight crit in Georgia. SInce then he has continued being the best amatuer racer in the country and leads the US crit series overall and have moved into the top 20 overall in NRC standings. In doing so, cyclingnews has decided to give him one of their few interviews so I think EVERYONE needs to go read it. He plays bassoon so yeah, it's entertaining.
As for today. I got back on the bike with Allen down in Loveland and the weather couldnt have been better. It was a nice, GOOD workout and It was nice to ride around and admire the VERY expensive houses in Indian Hills. Although I did overshoot a descent, it was a good time. Tomorrow the work really starts with a 3-4 hour planned ride in Rabbit hash so that should be sweet to get some climbing in the legs before GEORGIA U23 stuff all next week!
As for today. I got back on the bike with Allen down in Loveland and the weather couldnt have been better. It was a nice, GOOD workout and It was nice to ride around and admire the VERY expensive houses in Indian Hills. Although I did overshoot a descent, it was a good time. Tomorrow the work really starts with a 3-4 hour planned ride in Rabbit hash so that should be sweet to get some climbing in the legs before GEORGIA U23 stuff all next week!
Friday, June 8, 2007
MORE RANDOM....
See what happens when you give me an off week. I go off the deep end. Anyway. Today marks my last day of insanity becuase I get to go on a ride in a few hours. YES! The best part is, i live in Ohio, and no longer do we have the 70 degree weather we had early this week, but instead we have 20-30 mph gusting wind and "severe weather warning"... sweeeeeeeet. So i have decided to wait it out, and hopefully the weather will be gone later in the day.
In wasting time, I (with my big sunglesses) headed down to west chester and found myself asking "why can't my parents live here"? Why? Becuase not only did I find SIX cycling magazines on the rack, but I also found 3 amazingly attractive 20-some-year old's two of which had the need to talk to me and one of which works in Starbucks at Barnes and Noble. Becuase of this I walked away with a serious yet sophisticated "tall triple americano with a little room for cream". It earned a smile and an "im working tomorrow if your looking for coffee again!" Looks like Ill be back tomorrow morning. HAHA. After grabbing my Procycling magazine I headed out the door to see the dark clouds looooooooming overhead and sprinkles coming down. So instead of scurring back inside, I ran directly across the road to the stand alone starbucks and suprise suprise, a beautiful girl working the register. She told me she likes my glasses and noticed I had my magazine as well as my shirt from Edgar Soto Memorial Stage race so she came over and decided to chat with me about shaved legs, bikes, and where I live. This one earned a number! HOW AWSOME! At least Monroe may start getting entertaining soon.
As for my reading, I have to give credit where credit is due Procycling this month rocked quite possibly their best edition in a very long time. Not only were the opening pages strewn with some awsome pictures of the spring classics (ricco and gilbert in MSR and Ballan attacking the Murr with a very cute belgian girl screaming at him in the background *sigh*) and your expected letters regarding doping (especially Jan and whoever else doesnt matter any more) but I came across quite possibly the most awsome picture of Robbie McEwen *** I will post it *** . Aside from this is what seems to be a good article with Ricco and Simoni BOMBING Basso and doping today as well as a pretty awsome look at Allez Jet Petacchi and his comeback over the years, a look at russian team Tinkoff, and much more including a talk with Saul Raisin and a look at Jullien Dean and his Credit Agricole ride. The highlight of this, and the reason I love it as I do, is the interview with Chris Boardman and why he chooses not to wear a helmet. I wish I could be a british badass like him.
Alright, sorry, im rambling now. GO GET THE MAGAZINE! IT WILL BE GOOD! It seems to be the first magazine that is starting to change it's focus. Over the past months its been riders in doping, problems with doping, directors and doping and well.... doping. This months edition seems to be the first magazine in a while taking a look at the new face of cycling. Those overcoming odds and those who are becoming the new face of cycling. This is awsome.
As for me. Coco the pomeranian are going to nestle in and look out the window and watch the storm roll in, drink some coffee (me not the dog) and the convince myself that it will be worth it to brave the 20+ mph wind and RAIN to get fast since I have taken 4 of the last 6 days off this week. You have to have your valleys to have your peaks. If Boonen can take a mid season break and come back fast enough to win, I guess I can. Then again he was riding week long races and winning them before and Im trying just to finish 4 day races and not winning. Whatever.
The glasses
The McEwen picture
The coffee I earned!
Once the coffee is gone im sad... guess Ill have to go back tomorrow for another!
In wasting time, I (with my big sunglesses) headed down to west chester and found myself asking "why can't my parents live here"? Why? Becuase not only did I find SIX cycling magazines on the rack, but I also found 3 amazingly attractive 20-some-year old's two of which had the need to talk to me and one of which works in Starbucks at Barnes and Noble. Becuase of this I walked away with a serious yet sophisticated "tall triple americano with a little room for cream". It earned a smile and an "im working tomorrow if your looking for coffee again!" Looks like Ill be back tomorrow morning. HAHA. After grabbing my Procycling magazine I headed out the door to see the dark clouds looooooooming overhead and sprinkles coming down. So instead of scurring back inside, I ran directly across the road to the stand alone starbucks and suprise suprise, a beautiful girl working the register. She told me she likes my glasses and noticed I had my magazine as well as my shirt from Edgar Soto Memorial Stage race so she came over and decided to chat with me about shaved legs, bikes, and where I live. This one earned a number! HOW AWSOME! At least Monroe may start getting entertaining soon.
As for my reading, I have to give credit where credit is due Procycling this month rocked quite possibly their best edition in a very long time. Not only were the opening pages strewn with some awsome pictures of the spring classics (ricco and gilbert in MSR and Ballan attacking the Murr with a very cute belgian girl screaming at him in the background *sigh*) and your expected letters regarding doping (especially Jan and whoever else doesnt matter any more) but I came across quite possibly the most awsome picture of Robbie McEwen *** I will post it *** . Aside from this is what seems to be a good article with Ricco and Simoni BOMBING Basso and doping today as well as a pretty awsome look at Allez Jet Petacchi and his comeback over the years, a look at russian team Tinkoff, and much more including a talk with Saul Raisin and a look at Jullien Dean and his Credit Agricole ride. The highlight of this, and the reason I love it as I do, is the interview with Chris Boardman and why he chooses not to wear a helmet. I wish I could be a british badass like him.
Alright, sorry, im rambling now. GO GET THE MAGAZINE! IT WILL BE GOOD! It seems to be the first magazine that is starting to change it's focus. Over the past months its been riders in doping, problems with doping, directors and doping and well.... doping. This months edition seems to be the first magazine in a while taking a look at the new face of cycling. Those overcoming odds and those who are becoming the new face of cycling. This is awsome.
As for me. Coco the pomeranian are going to nestle in and look out the window and watch the storm roll in, drink some coffee (me not the dog) and the convince myself that it will be worth it to brave the 20+ mph wind and RAIN to get fast since I have taken 4 of the last 6 days off this week. You have to have your valleys to have your peaks. If Boonen can take a mid season break and come back fast enough to win, I guess I can. Then again he was riding week long races and winning them before and Im trying just to finish 4 day races and not winning. Whatever.
The glasses
The McEwen picture
The coffee I earned!
Once the coffee is gone im sad... guess Ill have to go back tomorrow for another!
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Meltdown in M-town...
Who here has ever sat and listened to so many podcasts, news articles about soigneirs claiming they know how to inject EPO and looked at so many random blog posts and you tube videos that you finally realize you HATE where you are and that all you really want to do is punch a baby. Thats right. PUNCH one becuase there really is nothing better to do.
Tomorrow marks my first day back on the bike this week becuase i "earned" a rest week which really means I was SLOW becuase of Nashvilles slaughterfest two weeks ago. Yeah. that's earning it alright. Maybe a tinge spiteful. Maybe a little BORED to the point of meltdown.
Is this UCI legal?
It would motivate me too.....!?!? New "style" of doping. Maybe it's more direct?
How my mind functions without a bike, common friends, racing, or no bake cookies, I mean....nevermind, you wouldnt understand
Tomorrow marks my first day back on the bike this week becuase i "earned" a rest week which really means I was SLOW becuase of Nashvilles slaughterfest two weeks ago. Yeah. that's earning it alright. Maybe a tinge spiteful. Maybe a little BORED to the point of meltdown.
Is this UCI legal?
It would motivate me too.....!?!? New "style" of doping. Maybe it's more direct?
How my mind functions without a bike, common friends, racing, or no bake cookies, I mean....nevermind, you wouldnt understand
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Call it a rough one!
Two days of racing and im in a bad bad mood. Saturdays crit found me flatting out and being restarted only to be pulled and re-started again. Awsome I know. Didnt finish. Left Angry. Thats racing.
Sunday I head out to Hocking Hills for a stupidly small race of 13 riders. Yeah awsome. Hayden Godfrey and Mr. England made it out to so we knew who to keep an eye on. Sadly, the group went away on the big climb we would see three more times. I stayed with Godfrey as long as I could but my legs werent having it. In the end I had to shut it down and come in a measly 6th or 7th. Pitifull. I have decided to take the next few days off the bike completely and give the legs a rest. Im still feeling rough from Soto and havent given myself a chance to recover so thats the plan. Hope it works.
Congrats to mark on 13th at CSC invitational. Yay for being the best place amature and beating up on a bunch of pro's. You are nuts!
--Suffering--
Sunday I head out to Hocking Hills for a stupidly small race of 13 riders. Yeah awsome. Hayden Godfrey and Mr. England made it out to so we knew who to keep an eye on. Sadly, the group went away on the big climb we would see three more times. I stayed with Godfrey as long as I could but my legs werent having it. In the end I had to shut it down and come in a measly 6th or 7th. Pitifull. I have decided to take the next few days off the bike completely and give the legs a rest. Im still feeling rough from Soto and havent given myself a chance to recover so thats the plan. Hope it works.
Congrats to mark on 13th at CSC invitational. Yay for being the best place amature and beating up on a bunch of pro's. You are nuts!
--Suffering--
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Back at it...
So back at it this week. Im on my way out the door to St. Albans Grand Prix in St. Albans W.V. and a semi-local race at hocking hills on sunday which appearently my family is coming to, so I guess I have to do well!
Got a chance to do the fun little local crit in the dirty south cincy wednesday night so that was fun. I had no right being there, and it was quite possibly the worst I have ever felt on the bike. I guess thats what I get for the 110 miles I put in monday in Nashville. As for the rest of the week, it was a lot of laying around, WORKING, not riding much (it's an off week, BOOOO) and putting in a couple of hours of mountain biking yesterday. Fun times....
As for now, I'm out of here. Wish me luck, hopefully my legs will feel better than wed. night!
-smooches!-
Got a chance to do the fun little local crit in the dirty south cincy wednesday night so that was fun. I had no right being there, and it was quite possibly the worst I have ever felt on the bike. I guess thats what I get for the 110 miles I put in monday in Nashville. As for the rest of the week, it was a lot of laying around, WORKING, not riding much (it's an off week, BOOOO) and putting in a couple of hours of mountain biking yesterday. Fun times....
As for now, I'm out of here. Wish me luck, hopefully my legs will feel better than wed. night!
-smooches!-
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