roadragedave

NEW SITE!!!!

2008-11-14T18:59:00.003-05:00

Hey everyone. Good news bad news....

Good news is I am moving to a new site so from here on out check into it and let me know what you think. I decided to move over to wordpress since that's what I am now using for Cyclocross Magazine, so it keeps things all tied in together.

Bad news is, with the new site comes a new name. Roadrage Dave is moving into retirement. I know. So sad. I guess sacrifices must be made.

It's under construction as I speak so yeah, check it out and keep in touch. Updates will start rolling in soon with some fun racing going on this weekend!!

Check it out HERE

-D-

Im Important!

2008-10-26T18:32:00.001-04:00

So I figured out you dont have to be fast to get on velonews, you just have to know how to do it.

My parents would be proud of THIS

Double post

2008-10-17T21:35:00.004-04:00

So I don't normally have time to double post given my extremely over-complicated life (???) but tonight I seem to have the availability to do so. So I am. I am laying here in my DELUXE KING room at the ritsy Red Roof Inn, eating pretzels while cagefighting with my conscious on whether I should start my paper due Monday afternoon or not. Not it is. Instead I lay here, watching t.v. in my boxers eating pretzels following my healthy salad, and bagel dinner that I chased with a 3 Musketeers bar. I find it amazing that regardless of what time of year it is, I fail at racing at the weight I would like to. Durring the road season my excuse normally is along the lines of "ahhh, It's february, it'll come off by nationals" then around nationals it's something like "ahhh, Im cracked! I need to get healthy for cross season". Then when cross hits my excuse stoops to new lows of "it's cross season, you need the fat to stay warm". Next thing you know you've sandbagged your weight an entire season. Depressing. Anyway, Im getting more and more excited about tomorrow's chick'n- cross in Raleigh. With a nice steady COLD rain blessing this lovely little suburban antfarm of shopping strips known Cary, surely it will be muddy. Hopefully I can find my way to the highway. It seems every road here is a one way street going the direction I don't want to go in. It's actually fun after a while.

Anywho, I will have likely have an update tomorrow post race, but as promised, I wanted to throw up some pictures from the UCI's. Enjoy!

the lame field we lined up

Riding with some swiss guy that sounded cool when he talked.

Tricky off camber roots

Waiting to get lapped

Form isn't bad for the second race of the year.

At least I kind of look like I know what I'm doing. If you didn't know any better you would think im fast!

Ohio is too much

2008-10-17T07:55:00.002-04:00

After a week of hell via class work, I am finally getting to spill some information on the past weekend's excursion to Ohio for three days of UCI cyclocross racing. Looking at this weekend it is funny to say I am tripling the UCI races compared to last year. My only hope this season is to get ONE SMALLLLL UCI point so I don't have to start way in the back at UCI and National races, and also so I can place my name on the same list as the cyclocross beasts in Europe.

Kym, and Mark joined me (despite it being their anniversary) as did Jordan Humble (who ended up taking three wins in the Cat 4 races this weekend) for a hoot of a good time in Ohio.

Friday afternoon's course was tough last season. Considering the race now had three nifty letters of importance in front of it (UCI) I was convinced it would be even more difficult. Was I ever right. The course was the bumpiest thing I had ever seen. It's not too often you get to see bike steerer tubes breaking and tubulars popping off tires like zits on a junior high wrestlers face. But such was today. The race started in typical UCI fashion. Fast and hard, until turn one when some dude from the trek factory team chopped in from off the course, causing a chain reaction crash I was stuck behind. Dismounting and running I soon found myself DFL for the first half lap. The first chance I had to pass I opened it up and settled into a painful tempo. Eventually I caught and passed about 9 guys and started riding with some Swiss guy, and another guy from Alan-USA. Soon, although I am not sure how, our little group imploded and I was soon riding by myself. Luckily the race leader Jpow brightened my day by not only lapping me and making my race one lap shorter, but bunny hopping the barriers in front of me as I was forced to jump nimbly (or not) over them. Jpow 1- Dee zero.

Saturday afternoon's race was my "best case scenario. With more guys registered for the weekend's race I had a mid pack start. That meant I had more places I could drop back when I blew up and still have someone to ride with. In the warm up the course suited me. It had good flow, some great power sections, enough technical for me to take advantage of, and a nice paved climnb on the back side. When the gun shot for the start I hit my pedal perfect and put in a few huge pedal strokes. Next thing I know I am lying on a pile of people with bikes, people, and who knows what other interesting things raining down on top of me. As it would turn out, some guy thought it would be a stellar idea to hook bars in the start and end up on the ground. Thanks bud! Again I found myself picking up the pieces, hopping on the bike and starting my chase. By the mid way point I had passed a ton of guys and finally caught onto a group including Ben Popper from Rock Lobster (who's column is well worth a read) and some other guy who's uniform was a very sexy purple and yellow collaboration. As expected Jpow again zoomed by without even a wink. Although I do think he snickered the word "mortals" as he sipped effortlessly away. Here's my ego Jpow, go ahead and throw it in the blender! I wont mind. Really! In the end I rolled in a disappointed 34th. It's frustrating knowing your day was at hand, yet circumstances dictated your success. Oh well, that's bike racing.

Sunday was the final day of racing at the famous Harbin Park. This place holds a special corner in my heart as it is where I began cross racing just one year ago. The field was stacked with the normals Jpow, Wicks, Parbo, Wells, Baker, and Bishop. As if that weren't enough Summerhill and Selander came down from the great white northeast to try and get some CAT I UCI points. For the first time all weekend the start went off without a wreck and I found myself taking some chances moving up in the first few twisty grass turns. Thinking I had to move up, and being overly impatient, I took a low line on a tricky off camber and ended up losing a ton of spots. Sadly, just following this mistake everything started coming apart the rider who's wheel I was on went on to finish top 20. Well done Dave. Well done. After about a half hour of racing I was comfortable in a group of pretty good riders (including Chance Noble of Cal Giant) when something happened. I am not sure how many of you have been lucky enough to hear this sound, but if you have it is a wonderful sound similar to forest nymphs playing piccolos in the trees. Carbon, cracking and popping beneath you as it falls apart ply by ply under my 10 lb overweight rear. After clean pit my legs sut down and we were pulled with a lap to go.

In the end, I was bummed to have no achieved a goal of mine, but happy with what I had learned. I know that I took more away from this one weekend of racing than I did all last season,and I am looking to build on these things for the remainder of the year to get that UCI point.

For now, I must run. I know this post is lengthy, and a bit all over the place but I have written it three times, and for some reason my computer keeps deleting it so I am just fighting to complete it once and for all. I will get some pictures from the weekend up tonight for whoever may want to see them.

Off to Raleigh for two days of NC cross. Wish me luck.

Livin' the dream,
-Dee-

bad luck and bad times

2008-10-12T08:09:00.003-04:00

Nothing like THIS happening within the first 500 Meters of two UCI races. If you look closely, you can see me untangling my bike from the jumble of bodies and what not. Oh and the guy in the assos shorts beside me is the Swiss National Champ that I plowed over in the crash!

Anywho. Im off to grab some coffee. Check back for updates and pictures where I actually look fast later.

OUCH

2008-10-01T20:46:00.001-04:00

Poor Mr. Pendry

You know is cyclocross season when.....

2008-09-25T07:29:00.003-04:00

video courtesy of cross beast Chance Noble.

If this doesn't get you fired up for cyclocross season nothing will. One week from tomorrow! CANNOT wait.

Off to black bear rampage. Hope I don't die! Wish me luck!

Dee

The big hurt

2008-09-22T17:58:00.004-04:00

SO in case you haven't noticed, the weather is finally venturing in the direction of fall. Yay, that means cool weather, mudd and knobby tires. To keep this post short given the abnormally HUGE amounts of homework I still have to catch up on from the hurricane stranding I endured while visiting Ohio for what I thought was the weekend. Simply put this weekend was a blast. Nothing but eating crap, riding bikes up and down mountains (on trails aka mountain biking), visiting the local Piggly Wiggly, and every so often picking myself slowly from the dirt. What a blast!

Until I have time to fully post a decent blog post worthy of your time and my effort Ill leave you with some fun pictures of my soon to be cross-mates on our "bonding" trip to the Ocoee! Black Bear Rampage next weekend then off to start my cross season in Tennessee! UH OH!

Mike and I... enjoying ourselves at the Ducktown Piggly Wiggly

My crash site. From what I am told, I am alright at the whole mountain biking thing. If you look closely you can see the resemblence of a smiley face within the bruising. It was mor noticable this morning but it slowly became less obvious as blood started accumulating to the surface. Oh well. In case you were wondering, I have a similarly interesting bruise on my back where the bike landed on me. OH WELL!

Tough Days on the trails...

2008-09-08T21:53:00.004-04:00

First things first. Pro champs weekend went off without a hitch. Not only did I get a chance to meet some great sponsors in Andy Woolard of Barkley, spend some time with my awesome teammates and my new family here in Greenville, everyone at Hincapie Sportswear, but I got a chance to chat with George for the first time since he got back from Europe. It was a tough day in the saddle for him, and in the end the Garmin onslaught got the best of him. I guess that is the power of numbers.

This weekend on the other hand was a more "painful" enjoyment when it came to bike racing. I got a chance saturday to head up to Chattanooga to train with my coach Kym, who rides with Vantaggio/Specialized Womens Mountain Bike team, and her husband Mark. After a day of entertaining them with "developing" mountain bike skills, we headed to Nashville for the Loc 4 Challege mountain bike race. For those of you skeptics saying, ahhh mountain biking, how fun. It can't be that hard. Right? I snarl at you for you being a complete and utter fool. It was the most difficult thing I have ever done. I never thought 14-16 miles could hurt so much. In the end I went from heading into the first single track in third place to being last by the end of the last lap. How fun. Sure come right by. It's all good. I'm not demoralized or anything. In the end, my fitness kicked in and I was able to work my way back into the top half and finish a respectable 7th place. Not a bad day for only having ridden a mountain bike three or four times this year in my opinion. Not to mention I got to crash once and I witnessed what happens when someone snaps a steerer tube in a mountain bike race. Lets just say, it's so much worse than just getting some road rash.

On a semi-bike related note, if you get a chance check my updated links here on the blog. I got some time tonight to get up a link to Kym's team blog for the Vantaggio/Specialized Professional Womens Mountain Bike team, as well as a link to one of the nicest and most personable sponsor relations people I have ever met, Andy Woolard who works for our co-title sponsor Barkley. Finally I thought I would show Scotty and the guys at Hincapie/Coca Cola the respect the deserve. So check it out and if you get a chance take a look at their pages. If it weren't for these people, I wouldn't be where I am as a racer, and wouldn't be going in the amazing direction I am going today. To all of you, thanks for a great season!

Time to start looking at more off road fun. I just spent the past half hour registering for a endurance mountain bike rage (Black Bear Rampage), three UCI cyclocross races (Ohio UCI Cyclocross Festival in October) as well as this weekends cross race in the motherland of Ohio. I think that's enough run on sentances for one day! Look for some more updates this week.

Until Later
-Dee-

A seasons end is a new ones bloom....

2008-08-21T22:02:00.005-04:00

So I DID IT! What did I do you might ask? Well I can tell you what I didn't do. I surely did not win Espoir Nationals. If you thought that possible I scoff at you. In fact only 17 guys finished the race if that tells you anything on the experience out west. I also undoubtedly did NOT win Espoir or Elite Crit Champs. As a matter of fact I got caught behind, but nimbly (and stylishly I might add) complete annihilation of body, mind, and expensive carbon parts by attempting to bunny hop some large man in blue. Sadly I didn't make it completely over him and proceeded to run over him. I am pretty sure my train of thought went as follows "Dave Scared! Dave smash smurf dude! Dave needs to clean chamois! Dave chases up to teammate Talbot only to be outsprinted to the line by the tiny guy!" To make it better I arrived at the airport only to realize my flight wasn't scheduled until the following day. Sweet. Hey Mr. Delta Airlines, break me some more. I appreciate it. I hope you die... Yeah. California is dead to me now. I truly HOPE that place falls off the continent and goes to chill with Hawaii.

Crit champs was crit champs. My legs were ABSOLUTELY FRIED, but I managed to ride comfortably near the front attempting to work for the Hincapie- Coke guys as I was the sole rider of my team there. Yay for racing alone. So much for motivation....

In the end some stupidity happened and my season went up in utter oblivion 10 laps early. Some guy from somewhere won the race.... I wouldnt know who, I was already eating a burger and having a ginormous chocolate muffin, and putting on as much weight as possible before cross starts in two weeks time. Yeah. It was wonderful! Oh and for shear enjoyment, I had one of these on the way home!

Thankfully my parents came with me to watch me DNF my last race of the season. Even better was the fact that it was the only race they saw me race all season. Awesome....
If pictures for races one DNF's are acceptable, here are some my dad took with his new snazzy camera!

This one is sweet because Steve Tilford (aka the crosser who found the fountain of youth/most likely to take over the world) and the other guy are gritting their teeth like they are towing a large bus or fire truck by they seatpost!

See... I was at the front!

Field was pretty big. MAbout double the pro race....?

So I am sure you are asking me what next. Well what I can tell you is that for now I am getting fat and waiting...... thats right..... waiting for the most anticipated season since I started riding my bike!

Need I say more?

Hurrah nationals

2008-08-02T13:11:00.001-04:00

Nothing like cresting the mountains of lovely california looking into the smog ridden...I mean pleasantly hazy valley of Los Angeles after a 4 hour flight next to a girl who doesn't speak a lick of english and having been up since 3 am eastern time chock full of a couple pounds of chocolate cake from the night prior. I guess its time for nationals. That means no more cake. :(

Until later, keep your eyes on some updates from sunny california.

Time to find me bike at LAX. Not fun. Good luck to the teammates not flying and not taking the bus because the transmissions toast. Should be a helluva drive.

DEE
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

R, R and R

2008-07-16T11:02:00.008-04:00

Rest, Relaxation, and Racing. After a much needed and awaited break from the bike I was back in action this weekend. The 4th of July went extremely well and was a blast. Nothing like a day at the pool with beautiful ladies, cool people, and vito (who applies to none of the above) to take your mind off the business and stress that is life. It was quite the evening viewing every fireworks display between Atlanta and greenville from vito's condo balcony. Good times.

This past weekend marked my return to Atlanta (which seems to be turning into my second home) and more importantly my return to racing in preparation for nationals. Friday gave way too a heck of a good time at Red Light Cafe where Erica, the ever talented and lovely roommate of Kelly's showed how amazingly talented she is at the whole music thing. Check her out, she wont disappoint!

Saturday provided quite possibly the closest thing to hell-Esq weather possible. Thank god we had a nice unshaded highway road race to do! Yeah. Cool. TO make things better I ended up making the chase group of just three that spent the entire race dangling just 30 seconds off the winning break. 30 seconds... no big deal right? Hahaha. Yeah, big deal. After cursing myself for even making the split, let alone contributing stupidly to our futile death march to the finish, I crossed a good yet disappointing 6th place. Ill let the picture express how happy I was rolling across the finish.

The feeling I had the following morning for the crit was much much less than enthusiastic. After stumbling through Kelly's scrounging what I needed for whatever concoction of oatmeal I could create for the days meal, the two of us loaded up the pimp wagon saturn and headed for the race. 10 minutes into the sunny sunday morning drive I recieve what would be my most motivating and overjoying message imaginable:
"It's on like donkey kong...It's pouring rain at the course, hope your ready...kisses---Vito" ok, maybe I added the kisses. But it rained none the less.

After an hour and fifteen minute delay racing began. Plan was for me to try and force a move up the road, and if nothing was rolling then just set vito up for the sprint. Attempt after lazy assisted attempt three laps to go hit. I set up shop with vito just off the back of the Latino sprint train. On the final lap we were set perfectly for the win (mistake #1) , vito came along and told me to hop on his wheel, which I did. In turn two Latino pudgy sprinter overshot it and somehow kept it up, but dropped me right into the leadout train of Kanckle legged guys (mistake #2). Coming into the final turn vito came along side me and I knew it was on. I let a small gap open for him and next thing I know I am getting kamikazied by some Latino crackhead and heading for the curb. Rather than playing my normal yelling, elbow throwing self I check up (mistake #3 and biggest of all) from there it was 400 meters to the line. The sprint started, I missed it, and rolled in 7th. Bummer. Vito salvaged fourth on the day and end the end it turned out the way we thought it would. Could haves suck but I feel if I hadn't been dive bombed and if there had been money up on the finish I would have been on the podium or even better. Whatever. Finally I had to post the most imspiring explanation of crashing in bike racing I have ever heard courtesy of Jon Vaughters of slipstream...
"Next time your driving in your car at 50 mph, strip down to your underwear, open the door and jump out, thats what crashing in professional bike racing is like" Thanks John! Well said!

Photos courtesy of Kelly and truespeedphoto.com

Well for now this will have to do. Sorry for the long winded post, I am bored and waiting for my brunch to digest so I can go do my VO2 workout! Wahoo. Check back, more racing, boredom, and less than interesting babbling to come!

NO BRAKES!!

2008-07-03T10:24:00.001-04:00

Thats right... John Kelly has twisted my arm long enough. Im hitting the banks and giving track racing a go!
The rig is near ready. All I need is a track rear wheel and crank and I am GOOD to ROLL!

Catching up

2008-07-03T07:26:00.005-04:00

As if i were worried that those of you who actually poke in and read the useless ramblings I thought I would preface this with an "I'm Sorry". So I'm sorry.

The past few weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind of craziness and business. Two weeks ago I got the opportunity to coach at the Midsouth Regional Development camp with Mark and Kym. It was a great group of guys, hot weather, and just a outright good time. In the end I was drained as the nunery (or whatever the heck you call it) was void of air conditioning. Eventually I gave in, mentally broke down, and resorted to eating desert with every meal including breakfast.... Don't ask. For those of you who have never witnessed the camps I am speaking of, here is a look at the bike room! Yeah, there is more money here than most pro tour teams hold throughout an entire season. Oh yeah, and most all the riders are JUNIORS!! Don't ask me how they have SRM's and full carbon rigs blinging from the butthole with Campy! My first bike wasn't even ten speed!

Post camp I opted to forgo the trip to fitchburg, partake in a bit of relaxation with friends, and start gearing up for nationals in a month. Spending no more than three days at the apartment at a time has been a bit of a commonality, but considering the time is being spent with great people and great times, the lack of time home is well replaced. Evenings with kelly, bike rides with Spencer (aka the superbad race car driver with GT-2 Porche team Pumpelly Racing)

exceptional nightlife, the occasional AMAZING pub, and enough music to make a deaf kid consider suicide have been more than common. Considering the hella hard training and racing I have coming up it's a good thing I have them to keep me sane!

This week marks the last week of no racing. After that is Georgia Games, possibly some superweek races, french broad classic in Asheville, Gwinnet Bike Fest and Crossroads cycling classic, then it's a redeye flight to LA with Butler for Nationals! The end is near. Wait... no it's not I race until january! CRAP!

off for some pedaling! Until later.

D

Life, bikes, and just great people.

2008-06-10T08:29:00.002-04:00

That is what my life has been the past week, and nothing could be better. Not only did I wonder north to GA to ride six gap with pimp nasty teammate AJ. I followed it up by heading to NC with Kym, Mike and Mark to ride the tail of the dragon/skyway out of Robbinsville. Let me tell you, 30,000+ ft. of elevation in less than a week will in fact tire you out.

On another note I am back in Ohio until the River Gorge RR/Worlds Qualifier visiting family and getting life back on track. Thanks to everyone for the support lately whether it be in life, riding, or just being great friends. Sometimes life throws you cucumbers and you have to make some pickles out of them. I'm not exactly sure what I meant by that but it sounded insightful.

To finish this entry in proper fashion, I must expose two comical look into the world of cycling. The first in the one and only Marky poo-Hekman hitting Lemon hill. Nothing like seeing the lanky ginger headed beast racing the biggest of big races. Tough day Mark but wow... congrats on making it where so many of us want to be!

The second is an article regarding quite possibly my most respected and highly regarded riders in European racing... Tom Boonen. Just read. Theres not much to say about it: Article
"Belgian super star sprinter, Tom Boonen has allegedly been caught in an out of competition test for cocaine, according to Belgian newspaper HLN.be. The out of competition test allegedly occurred three days before start of the Tour of Belgium, where Boonen won the final stage."

yep! You heard it. cocaine... Sprinter... Suprise... Come on now. They're sprinters. What else is there to do. Hmmm. When you see this picture there is a little bit more to understand...

Hopefully soon I can get some pictures from this past weeks adventures and riding. It was possibly the most beautiful riding I have ever seen so hopefully I can.

Until later,
Dee

Tour of Atlanta weekend

2008-05-28T17:55:00.007-04:00

A few pics from Tour of Atlanta. I dont have time to write some comical, entertaining or even somewhat worthwhile explanation of the weekend. I have a fresh fillet of salmon ready to go in the oven, and a well earned glass of vino to toast to myself with. Yeah. Everyone is gone from school, and the life of the lone, single, bike riding guy with compression socks on watching soccer nightly and begging the few people he knows in town to do something has begun. Wahoo. How fun... can you sense the sarcasm seeping from that? If not, you should be able to, pungently.

Simply put the weekend consisted of getting dropped 20 minutes into a 8 corner <1mile "circuit", getting dropped from the TTT because chris had a 55 tooth chainring... and hes chris and vito got hit by a guy who we passed and screwed everything up, crashing in the road race less than a mile in, Chasing four 7 miles, watching vito do the turtle kick dance while flopping around on railroadtracks durring the road race, finding out Rich got off his bike on the same tracks and walked over them, riding tempo for an hour with pros, telling pros to go to hell when they ask you to come back up and work to pull back the lone guy off the front because they couldnt, and lining up against a bunch of NRC pro's for crits that I have already DNF'd this season and still managing to get a teammate in the top 5. Yeah. It was eventful in case that discription didn't clearify the point I was hoping it to.
Aside from riding 5 races in four days, were the boring events of the evening which I will leave unexplained. Instead venturing only to say a few simple ideas I associate with evenings of fun downtown. Aston Martin, good food, good drinks, Randy and his... preferences, butt electrochip implants (long story...), "ass-offs" (pardon), wonderful ladies, Cheesecake factory, patio music and one of the best weekends I have had in a while. I guess I have another reason to look forward to this coming weekend and going back to Atlanta and chilling with vito! Enjoy the pics, and hopefully this was enough to keep the few of you who actually care the slight bit enough to read this entertained for maybe a few seconds. If not. Oh well. Im hungry and the oven just beeped. Yum.

Vito showing what happens when the turtle kick dance is done in an unsupervised manor

Kelly and Leanna came out to support us, and look adorable. For those of you that dont know, put girls in the mix, and you race better. Last time I DNF'd this crit, and this race, I was attacking all day. Coincidence... I think not.

Dont I look happy on the last days crit?

thats because we had to go up this stupid hill every lap!

until later.
-Dee-

With or Without You - Sungha Jung

2008-05-19T09:52:00.001-04:00

a stray from talking about my butt, pedaling a bike, and a focus on something far more interesting, impressive and worthwile. Ill let it speak for its self!

This is what happens when school is over...

2008-05-16T15:27:00.004-04:00

I get bored...
I look at cycling pictures...
I buy stuff I dont need...
And I buy 20 powerbars from the school market to waste the hundred some dollars I wont get back from the school...
wahoo.. im a rebel

At least this is on it's way!

yep.. Going old school and taking care of my bum with class.

One more thing! Does anyone notice something weird in this picture besides the 6' plus 130 pounder....?

..............................
Nothing? How bout this one???

Still nothing... ok, you suck! In case you didn't have the cat like eye for something strange take a look at the SOON TO BE production carbon DA shifters. Cables under the bars, and carbon baby! Pimp.

Now that I have proved my true level of bike nerd-ness, im off to ride, and probobly buy some more stuff at the markey afterwards again!

Until later!

I heart Athens!

2008-04-27T21:57:00.007-04:00

We came... we rode... we showed that Hincapie Barkley is for real! Nothing Like second at Athens baby! The team rode to perfection and did what we needed to do! Bed time for now, but I will post a TON of pictures tomorrow! I think this picture sums up our excitement after the race!
David going away early

Me and vito working back after a mishap on lap two with some retards and a barrier

Working with Ty after we went down

setting tempo with David back...

because Nick is in the winning move!

Winding it up for the sprint for third!

"HEEEEEEEEEELLLLL YEAAAAAAAAAH!" This is what I look like when I say that when we podium at Athens.

Great teamwork this weekend boys. More to come for sure! For now, I have to run and watch HOUSE and eat a fudgecicle. sorry for the brief unentertaining post, but I had people asking for photos so here they are!

-Toodles-

I'm and Uncle...Again.

2008-04-20T22:34:00.004-04:00

Just throwing up some pictures of my real life away from the bike. Family, friends, and my new baby nephew Nick!

My beautiful niece Emma.

My first time hanging out with the new pup Nick!

Catching up with my brother Donnie in chilly Ohio.

Chilling with Baby Nick pre ride in the usual crazy weather of Ohio. One day it's 70 something degrees and the next barely 50. Wahoo.

As for the whole bike riding thing, I have saddle sores the size of quarters and Athens is less than a week away!

Ciao!

It can only get better

2008-04-17T07:47:00.002-04:00

I HAD to put this picture up. Not only is the foot in the air stricking me as comical, but Boonen's face is absolutely priceless. Gotta love slick cleats!

Oopsy daisey

2008-04-16T20:00:00.001-04:00

One reason you never finish a bunch sprint with a double arm salute before you cross the line, Cav pips Boonen with his arms raised. Ruh Roh! How should I feel about one of my favorite riders being beat by one of my favorite riders? hmm.

Äußerst Raffiniert-Wirklich harten tag

2008-04-14T15:44:00.004-04:00

Thats right... I am sophisticated. Or just looking for a good enough way to present the fact that I now have a blackberry! No good can come from this.

With the random picture so too must a description of this weekends eventful races. I got my first introduction to exactly how some race directors feel when trying to ensure their team is prepared for a race. After making our way (via big pimp hincapie bus) to chattanooga for round 4 of the Georgia cup Baker and I were up bright and early (sometime around 5:45) in order to get to the race in time to set up the tents, trainers, unload bikes, run my TT, get passed by Frank Travieso for the third week in a row, get back, cool down, load back up the bus go eat a sandwich at Carpenters, go downtown, unload the bus, set up the tent AGAIN...break down the tent two minutes after setting it up(it was a tid bit windy), get sunburnt, watch Gabardi win the cat III crit, start my crit, miss a wreck, no two wrecks, no wait NINE wrecks (actually I missed 8 and got stuck behind one) eat dinner, shower and finally get to bed at the early hour of 12:15. Fun. What made it even more fun was getting up again at 5:45AM to go do the same thing again the next day. yeah. It's really easy to perform at your best under those circumstances isn't it.

I was happy with the weekend though. It was a good time getting to ride with the guys. Sundays road race was hard, and given my soreness from my several crashes this season as well as the lack of sleep I was simply wanting to finish the 90 mile road race in the 20+ mph winds and 20 some NRC and Euro-pro's preparing for tour of Georgia in two weeks. It turns out wrecking can kind of keep you not feeling 100% for quite a while if your not careful. Simply wanting to finish wasn't enough so I ended up getting two teammates back into the race in the cross/headwind section when everything hit the fan on the final lap, and given that I had one BIG bullet to use in the race, I wasn't able to stay with the field (or what was left of it) over the climb on the last lap. But being able to say I was rocking at 40 mph on a flat windy section of rode with 10 or so riders in town gave me some positive re-enforcement of my riding right now. Regardless, teamwork was great and I was able to justify crying myself to sleep last night.

Finally what would the trip from Chatt-town to Greenville be without something eventful happening? Turns out the alternated belt on the bus just didn't want to do any more work and decided to blow up like Jan Ullrich chasing Lance in all seven tours. After a detour to several parts stores Baker and I proved once again that the Hincapie Barkley team is a force of in-surpassable power not only fixing the bus but doing so in the dark of the autozone parking lot. Yeah. It was a good time.

So i suppose now is a good time to relax and recover from a terrible, rather hectic yet comically fun weekend. Farewell to all. Until later. Ciao!

Fun time again

2008-04-12T09:25:00.000-04:00

Nothing like having Tim Henry as my thirty second guy and Frank Travieso as the thirty second follower and only having 10 hours of sleep in me for the past two days. Fun will be had in chattvegas today!

Toodles

Musings

2008-04-09T08:37:00.002-04:00

When you think you have had a bad day on the bike... you could be worse off and be this poor soul!

Chute Tour des Flandres
Uploaded by Petit_Brun

One more thing! This qoute is from a 24 year old sweedish cyclist racing as an amature racer in the U.S. Maybe he has something to teach everyone about idolizing other riders. Or maybe he is just reccomending we find other riders who are real people to follow after their footsteps!

"I look up to Levi, but I don't have cycling idols," he said. "It's great to be racing with such good riders, but my idols are just normal people."
--Martin Erlandsson--

toodles

Best of the worst!

2008-04-08T11:30:00.004-04:00

Going to keep it brief... The weekend included brakepads falling off the TT bike, a pack of puppies being run over in the road race, hitting the deck again in a race, and DNF'ng a crit that I attempted to race with one leg. It was not fun.

On a better note Big George rode great in de Ronde van Vlaanderen finishing 5th it what could simply be summed up as epic. Kind of like what we rode through only more than double the length!

Look for Hincapie Barkley rolling deep at Chattanooga this coming weekend! We wont be hard to miss!

Off for a week of hard training to get myself back on track from a terrible weekend.

-Dee-

Its coming!

2008-04-03T09:53:00.004-04:00

Less than three days.... Belgium, God bless you and your crazy crazy racing!

Who will conquer and find their way into the history books of hardmen who somehow push through the agony of the belgian "burgs" to win this magical piece of cycling majestry. Or who just strait up punk slaps the piss out of everyone to show them they have a bigger set than everyone! Only time will tell!

One more thing.... Found this pic of George online. Cracked me up. Gotta love the big G Leg! Good luck George, show the world what Greenville already knows!

Benny Benassi - Satisfaction (Original Video)

2008-03-30T20:38:00.001-04:00

When your 25 pages into an argumentative essay of religios ritual versus silence.... you listen to this to keep going!

Good times and good people...

2008-03-28T10:07:00.011-04:00

With the race season going full tilt next weekend beginning with Gainesville, I took the time to get some good training in to make up for being sick two weeks ago. Nieport and JAnderson came down for spring break training and it's been a blast. Besides Nieport riding his cross bike (with 42 front chainring and a 23 rear cassette) and Justin "forgetting" he has a powertap to look at so he can realize he is going WAY too hard, it's been a blast. It's been a week of procrastination from school, good food (lots of it), great riding, weather, and beatiful "people" aka ladies/women/ cuties...wandering around campus acting like it's summer. I love the south. Anywho, we got a sweeeeet ride in yesterday up ceasars head and then down to the valley for some crappy paved and ast times unpaved roads, and a final trip up paris. It's nice having some guys to ride with after training alone for quite a while! Especially some old buds from back home. It's always nice to catch up and chat in 70+ degree sunny weather in the mountains... ok. Im making myself envious!
Dancing or something...

Atop ceasars head!

Out on the town for Justins Bday!(note my hincapie jeans and BELT BUCKLE pokin out!

Dinner at Chicora for Justin's birthday!

FRAKIN flat! First all year!

Lunch on the ride!

not sure....

Other big news is I am an uncle to Nicholas Allen Hutton who was born yesterday afternoon. He's got hair which is sweet. Time to start getting him some good product so he can pimp the baby fo-mullet like me.

As for now.... one more long ride in before the weather gets back to less than perfect! Bummer. Toodles!

Random babling...

2008-03-23T08:19:00.004-04:00

So Im sitting, coffee in hand (or for the most part the table next to me) far too early in the morning at my coaches humble home here in Chattanooga. It's been a good past couple days although I haven't gotten in the time that I had wanted on the bike since I have been here. Nothing much over three and a half hours, but considering this area makes Greenville look like Indiana once did in terms of constancy of elevation gain, it's all good. Nothing like two mountain climbs each day for two days in a row. Yesterdays was impressive considering I was doing some hard workouts up the mountain. It was also interesting to look at the route we did considering it coverd last years TOG time trial course. I realize now how much further I have to go to get to where I want to be some day! Kim also has one of the mountainbike athlete here doing some training. Nothing like having another guy here to heckle mark about why he's gay, that his movies are gay, that his phone ring is gay, and just how homosexual he may be at heart. Good times good times. Anywho, its been a good time and tonight we dine for easter with a little get together at the house so I am looking forward to meeting some local riders, grabbing some good grub, and enjoying a break from normal hectic life. Should be a hoot.

Aside from that I have had the fun opportunity to sift through cycling's happenings via cyclingnews.com, cycleto.com, and velonews.com. I am trying to comprehend the feeling Cancellara just had winning la Primavera. Solo! As much as I have come to respect and attempt to immulate the belgian mindset of hardmen, hardraces, and just being a badass (pardon) it is far to hard to dismiss that Cancellara is a gifted individual.

For as long as I can remember when was the last time you saw a man solo away from an entire field for a win of this magnitude.... Paris-Robaix---i believe he did the same there. Le Tour de France---yep, rode away from the entire field in the yellow jersey. hmmm, I am seeing a similarity here. Anyway, the classics are just around the corner and with the talent the way it's going its hard to say how things will turn out. Pipo Pozzato with his cornrows in flying, Cancellara is, well...fast, Gilbert is romping like the Belgian he is, as is the likes of Boonen in the early season. All I hope for is that big G. Hincapie can get the win he deserves and has worked so hard for.

One more thing.... SLIPSTREAM DANS LE TOUR DE FRANCE!!! BIEN! BIEN!

As for now, I'm off to whip my rear into shape and get out for a ride with Talbott and AJ for 4 hours or so. Enjoy.

p.s. I love clumpies Ice cream, thin mints, and home made pizza durring hard training. Wowsers!

Healthy, Slow, and fat...

2008-03-17T21:06:00.003-04:00

Thats what I am... which is better than being unhealthy, slow and a little skinnier than I was a little over a week ago!

Nothing like going to get some snap back in your legs with tornadic winds, unpaved roads and a VERY fast pro in big Frank Travieso starting 30 seconds behind you in the TT only having ridden my TT bike twice. It was an "experience" to say the least, and given the climb on saturdays road race, being almost 7 pounds bigger than I want to be for nationals and full on hard races this year, I did not have a great weekend.

It was a good time meeting Ty, and Matt Winstead, and hanging with Christian and big tall will, eating Nutella, and overdosing on oatmeal creations all weekend.

With that I leave you with some stuff chuckle at and pass time with. Im in a hurry to get this post up so I can go study (i.e. Watch T.V.) Toodles!

This is why we can't have nice things!

also check out the videos I MAY be on sometime with Georgia Cup Racing
HERE

and finally one CRAZY crash from Paris Nice. American Farrar was on track to set the fastest time on the day when this happened. SOmetimes you can be as fit as you want, in the end, the bike owns you! WARNING: one explicit english word, and several french explatives!
Click here

Double post... I am sorry!

2008-03-07T21:36:00.002-05:00

Dinner....

Also, I reccomend visiting Dave Z's Blog HERE just read the first 4 or so, it will provide you with way more than enough entertainment!

One more thing. Perry Roubaix is coming up next weekend in Georgia. It will look a little like this

Pharm-ASSY

2008-03-07T19:38:00.003-05:00

If you got the hint, thats how I feel. You know something is wrong when in the same week you are told you have the following:
1. Strep
2. The Flu
3. The common cold

only to find out you have....A CHEST INFECTION! Thanks Ohio for freezing my lungs to death and infecting them with salt. I hope you die. Or get kicked in the teeth. You choose. As for now, my countertop truely looks like a pharmacy courtesy of Furman University Infirmiry(spelling...?). Speaking of schools. I applied to NGU today for next year

Random. Yay me... there are winds of change approaching. Either that or my fever is back and I need to go kill some more meds. Either way! CHEERS!

Perry-Robaix next week whether I'm healthy or not. No sickness is going to keep me from 100 miles of unpaved fun and jolly good times with the Hick Nousley!

-Keep it fresh...and HEALTHY!-

O-H-I-Ohhhhhh

2008-03-04T22:09:00.005-05:00

Nothing like returning home... ok, maybe thats true, but not so true in the positive sense. I headed up to the frozen north of Ohio with hardman and teammate Nick Housley for a romp on my old stomping grounds. Although the visit with family was nice, the hectic bedlem of "how are you's", "We missed you's", and "It's not too cold to drink's" seemed to greatly outweigh the prior niceness that was supposedly my spring break... in February. Either way, Nick and I got out for around-a-bouts four hours in on friday after a spiffy little photo shoot, and interview with the class middletown journal, aka the local paper where I grew up. After that we ventured out to Oxvegas for a night out with some old fond friends of mine. I feel the night could be accurately labeled a debauch, comedy, or realization as to exactly why I left that blackhole of a good time.

Finally nick and I headed to Columbus for what proved to be the most deadly crit of all times. I think it may have been slightly more safe only by adding a snack pit jump of death, and a bed of flaming coals which you had to walk barefoot across to finish. I ended the day sprinting in the grass for 16th place only to have some d-bag from you know where claim my prize money before I got there.... I looooove Ohio. 12 hours, four (give or take if your counting how many shots of espresso were in each given drink) coffee, 10+ outbreaks of slaphappy laughter for no appearent reason, 20+ gawkings at random HIGHLY attractive ladies which nick and I passed and one stop at a classy dinner north of atlanta, I finally made it home. Three hours later, lets hear a slow clap for Dave getting up to go to class. Living the dream, what can I say.

As for now, I am cagefighting with the nasty bug I picked up sometime along the way this weekend. Not just a bug that makes you feel crappy but a bug that makes you feel like there is a ping pong game being played on the back of your eyeballs, and one which keeps you freezing cold regardless of the fact that you truly are wearing four layers of WARM clothes with no successfuly production of warmth. Oh yes. Im in a lovely mood. As for now, I am off to sleep, as I have all day, and hopefully I will be able to get my life pieced back together. Hopefully....
Heading out for the day

Killer mountains in Ohio.... errr, HUGE brewery. same thing.

Master photo skills by Nick

My new formed opion via facial expression of sub 40 degree training weather in Ohio...

Kicking it off right, kind of......

2008-02-29T08:42:00.003-05:00

This weekend proved to be a combination of high highs and low lows. Hincapie Barkley kicked off the first races for the team last weekend and it was a sight to be seen. Saturday was the hindy hell fest that is Donaldson center. I wasn't going into either of the races last weekend with any hope of personal success but the team rode well. Although we struggled to function as a team, we took the sprint finish in the field missing the break. I rolled a tubular, ate face, and DNF'd the first race of the season. booo.

Sunday proved a little more interesting. Although the weather was a bit "cold" meaning low 50's and cloudy in Greenville, the lovely throb of BMW motors drifting through the center of the BMW Test Track which was hosting the race must have gotten a bug up our butts. The team rode amazingly well taking fourth behind three impressively good riders in Andy Baker (professional), Scotty Weiss (ex-pro and national champion), and Spencer Beamer (Pro and super sprinter). Overall a fun weekend and good fitness was gained. It was great to see the team organize a leadout THREE LAPS out, although it didn't work, it showed that the team is willing to do what it takes to win. Big change for me I must say!

As for now, Mr. Nick (supercalves) Housley and I are setting up shop in Ohio and looking to make some money this weekend at the Arnold Classic. nothing like $1,500 for the win in OHIO in FEBRUARY... It should be highly interesting. I am feeling creatively challenged and this blog is going to be borderline mind-numbingly boring, but hey, can't a guy be full bellied on Frosted Miniwheats and coffee and not feel like writing a fun, entertaining, and pointlessly whitty entry! CUT ME SOME SLACK! Ill be more creative once I hopefully get some money this weekend!

here are some picsof the new kits and Hincapie Barkley in action! And NO IM NOT FAT, i just have a lot of clothing on!

WOOOO COLLEGE!

2008-02-19T12:34:00.004-05:00

Here is a fun little self promotion from the furman Student site FUnet. Cycling team riding strong by Melissa Murphy February 19, 2008 “In the last five years, Greenville has become the Mecca for cycling in the United States,” says Furman sophomore cyclist Spencer Beamer. With the beautiful scenery, favorable weather and light traffic, Furman is the ideal spot for cyclists. Just last year, a group of students approached Paul Thomas, an education professor and avid cyclist, to be the advisor for a new club on campus: The Furman Cycling Team. According to Beamer, “it was a little rough starting”, but the club has already doubled its’ member involvement and gained national recognition. Despite its’ 16-month existence, the cycling team is gaining momentum as they prepare for their upcoming season and second appearance at nationals this spring in Fort Collins, Colorado. In their first year, the team captured the Southern Conference Division II Title, which automatically qualified them for a spot at Nationals. While competing in Lawrence, Kansas at Nationals last year, the Furman cycling team placed 6th in the team trial, only one minute off the first-place finish. Furman female cyclist, Ashley Anderson placed fourth in the road race and Spencer Beamer captured the third place title for Divison II in the criterium, a shorter road race on a circuit. Their success, however, has not come without much hard work. Daily, the team trains under the guidance of racing veteran Glenn Thrift, fitness center equipment coordinator, and health and exercise science professor Scott Murr. On occasion, the team is privileged to ride with George Hincapie, one of the world’s most recognized professional riders who resides in Greenville. Hincapie is the only cyclist who rode with Lance Armstrong in each of his seven Tour de France victories. During the winter, the team builds endurance, logging 25-29 hours per week. Once the season begins, the workouts switch to high intensity interval training for speed. Close to peak condition, the men's cycling team has a very realistic chance of capturing the national championships this spring. In addition to the men's team, the women’s individual title is within reach of Ashley Anderson. The depth of the team is building upon “world class cyclists” such as Beamer and Anderson. Because Beamer rides for a professional team, his goals for the Furman team are to establish the club and make a name for the Furman cyclists. For Beamer, the club provides wonderful motivation with increasing number of training partners. The club was not set up strictly for those who race. The Furman cycling club encourages all who enjoy riding to come and be a part of the group. Not all riders joined with the same experience level, but the rapidly improving newcomers, Kit Hunter, Craig McKinney, Sean Kettring, Chris Butler and Todd McClure, are going to play key roles in determining the national title. Butler has only been riding for a few years but is one of the strongest riders on Furman’s team this year. He and fellow teammate David Hutton, who transferred from Miami to race at Furman, also ride for the Pla d’Adet/Hincapie Barkley U23 Development Team based out of Greenville. The professional teams allow the Furman cyclers to be able to compete outside of the regular season. The start of the Furman season begins in three weeks at Georgia Teach. To track the Furman cycling team this spring, you can check out their blog at: http://furmancycling.blogspot.com/

As for now, Im off to rock out some pimp Tiesto...and some sweet freakin Ferry Corsten in some impressive 20-40 mph wind. yahoo.... can't you smell the excitement in my voice?

If you've got it flaunt it...

2008-02-14T19:33:00.004-05:00

it's a crappy picture, but you get the idea... NEW GEAR = Pimpin!

Great looking stuff courtesy of Hincapie Sportswear. Finally, I thought it would be a good idea to thank everyone for everything they have done this year to get everything under way! A big thank yo goes out to Rich, Steve and everyone at Hincapie sportwear. Also, thanks to Barkley Advertising, Randal and Cristina Maddox at Headstrong, Giant Bicycles, Shimano, Time, Ritchey, Selle San Marco, Industry 9, Northwave, Oakley, Giro, Micheline, and many many others I can't seem to name right now. Your support has been amazing, and the season is just around the bend, We'll make you proud.

Weekend of ups and downs...

2008-02-11T18:58:00.000-05:00

Nothing like crazyness continued in my life. Finding out my saddle height was super super high (making me feel like complete hell and nearly doing damage to my leg), to a stellar time with the team (thanks nick for keeping me company at the hut hut), to running my slowest time up paris, to seeing Chris Butler run 26 seconds off the fastest ever time up paris (9:01 officially, which is like i said 26 second slower than LEVI at PROCHAMPS with the help of John DEVINE!), to finding out that I have officially failed my first class of college (and my first class at Furman meaning POOPY GPA) to getting my new team kits and what not...

Simply put... i have no idea whats going on in my life. Gotta love it!

anywho. Here are a few picures from the weekend!
Team pic on day 1

Riding on a beautiful south carolina morning! (thanks nick for the pimp george shades for the day!)

The porta poop pose!

Baker photo shoot

tug-o-giant

fun over coffee at the photo shoot

Maybe life will chill out now that I have been disposed of from my theories of poetry criticism class! Doubtfull!

Over a cup of esspresso!

2008-02-07T07:06:00.000-05:00

You heard me right... Im typing this over a cup of esspresso! In my own apartment!

WOWSERs I know! Thanks Spencer for asking me to babysit this little happiness producing lug of metal!

Also though I would get in some shameless self promotion! CLICK HERE If you scroll about 3/4 the way down youll see our article!

Team camp comes to town tomorrow. Off to write one of my three papers due in the next 24 hours!

rear in gear...

2008-02-01T11:25:00.000-05:00

Total insanity. Thus has been the label now applied to my life. A second week of living hell doesn't explain what life has been for the past five days. Rest weeks are normally welcomed with open arms when it comes to riding. That being said, weeks such as this are when the full need to hop atop the saddle of a beautifully engineered work of agressiveness that is my bike in order to simply annihilate myself in the most masochistic way possible in the hope that it will maybe for a few minutes take my mind away from the paper I am going to write when i get back. Horrah for somiotic transitions in the poetry of Keats! Horrah for looking for a spoon to gouge my eyes out with. Sadly, I perservere. I know... depressing eh?

To say I'm looking forward to two weeks from now is the greatest understatement any human could make. No more drowning myself in coffee, two day old pasta, and weekends of looking at books all day. I pitty those who I will line up next to any given race when I have another week like this. I may not finish the race, but I can assure you that if there are people to put the wood to, I will be the one riding myself into oblivion simply to get the stress out. I'm sorry. It will happen.

As for now, i'm sitting quietly in the corner of einsteins bagels, listening to frou frou and the pixies, flipping through velo news and the abundant variety of cycling media the so sprawls the internet when I come across this I will in fact find this girl some day, and sweep her off her feet. Or, I will just gawk for a moment, realize that the girl two tables over has noticed my love spackled face, and is beginning to find it rather scary, so I contain my jawdropping to a later time.

Alright, enough of my useless banter, im off for a piece of coffee cake, and some more internet entertainment browsing...

OH YEAH! Some useless self promotion!
Bike Radar Story
Greenville News Article

Until later. Maybe next time it will be shorter, less blah, and much more worthwhile for you to read!

-Toodles-

Hitting the fan, floor, and the hundred steps I'm heading down...

2008-01-30T21:37:00.000-05:00

I have officially discovered how STRESSFUL life can truly be. This past week marked my second 20+ hour week on the bike. That coupled with two compositions, and an exam, being sick, and having some other issues to attend to in my life and I was more than happy for the weekend to roll around. The poopy ohio/belgian-esk weather blessed us for a day or so, then things finally started to warm up. So exciting. January and armwarmers.... By the end of the weekend I had logged quite a bit of time on the bike, some good rides chatting with Spencer, and Chris Butler and just some hard earned life time memories. Anywho. So is the life of the overachieving over stressed cyclist student or student cyclist. Choose your priority, both are equal I assure you.

Big news on the bike end of everything is that all kinds of new toys are rolling in for the team. Bikes, saddles, pedals, and soon to be helmets and kits. Being a local to the vacinity of the delivery place (aka Rich's temple of fun and lots of expensive toys) I get the first chance to hop on all the new stuff first. Simply put, out Gian TCR advanced team bikes are (pardon my language) on damn crazy fast bike as dicky glen put it on the other days ride. Amazingly stiff, amazingly agressive, and above all else, amazingly sexy. On top of all this, the team is bringing on Chris Butler, one of the very few people I know here at school, to ride for us this season. I might not sound excited but I am. He's a great addition and one I'm lucky to be riding with, until he drops me going uphill like he always does. I'm not in a creative mood tonight seeing that im staring a second go at revising a paper that was considered "unsatisfactory" in the face before I hit the bed for the evening. Not fun. Here are some pictures for all of you back home wondering what it's been like here. I promise I'm still alive. Barely, but im hanging in there.
Atop Paris Mt. which is approx 2.7 miles from my doorstep. Yeah, NICE

Had to shove myself in here somehow... You can see our school golf course behind me.

The team rig being built... wowsers

Working hard.... and hardly working!

2008-01-23T22:55:00.000-05:00

Schools kicking my butt, Im eating pastries on a daily basis, and I have more money in bikes in my apartment than my car cost off the lot. YAYA!

20+ hours on the bike again this week. Im going to bed!

One haaaaard mother trucker...

2008-01-20T09:11:00.000-05:00

Just to let everyone know, cold down here is very different to cold in Ohio. See, in Ohio they utilize this space age high tech chemically composed stuff called salt. Although it saves your life and makes it possible to go to the mall, starbucks, school, and wherever your little heart desires, it creates a mess of everything it touches. For months after the winter Ohio tundra that once has disappeared, I would still find myself scrapping the lining of my ear canal, still finding the remnants of....you guessed it. Salt. Now looking here to the lovely Upstate North Carolina area, salt is but of no concern to them. Just as it seems irrelivant to spend the millions in state tax dollars for the fleet of deisle spilling, salt slinging infantry of plow trucks. Although it's nice not being crustified to the point of being considered antiqued, as well as finding that in fact your bike works much better when not completely filled to the bearing camps with liquide salt sludge, it makes descending paris mountain, ceasars head, and the many other mountaintop escapades I I have been routinely making. Moreso, considering the elevation one gains when traveling further into the stratosphere, or maybe just up the side of the mountain, it is safe to say that regardless of how much you wear, you will be sweating your life away by the time you reach the summit, at which time you get to barrel directly back down the mountain, freezing and finding yourself contemplating whether or not you in fact lost a finger breaking for the upper switchback, or if that was the brake pad freezing andf snapping from under you. Something similar, just in lesser craziness to this!

One more thing, when bridge crossings say "Bridge Freezes Before Road" trust that it does so.... it's not a fun feeling to realize honesty is key in road sign creation. I wonder what that means for duck crossings.......

The Pro People
First I thought I would give a shout out to some friends of mine. Velonews announced some continental teams for 08. Congrats guys.
TOSHIBA-AEG
D.S. Gustavo Carrillo

(COL) ALZATE, CARLOS
(ARG) ARONE, Claudio
(CUB) FALCON, Yosvany
(USA) HAGMAN, Alex
(USA) HEKMAN, Mark
(USA) KEIM, Eric
(AUS) NANKERVIS, Tommy
(USA) NORRIS, Keith
(COL) PARRA, John Freddy
(SCG) PROKIC, Predrag
(USA) SWEETING, Robert
(USA) TALANSKY, Andrew
(CUB) TRAVIESO, Frank
(USA) VAILLANCOURT, Daniel
(USA) WEISS, Scott
(USA) DAVID, Winston

DLP Racing
Director: Jon Kane
(USA) BEAMER, Spencer
(USA) CODDINGTON, Joey
(USA) DULIN, Thaddeus
(USA) JACKSON, Scott
(USA) JOHNSON, Boyd
(USA) JUDY, Christopher
(USA) NIELSEN, Owen
(USA) PENDRY, Charles
(USA) ROSEBROCK, Geoffrey

It's finally starting to feel like the season is here and rearing it's lovely head for another killer season. With that being said, I thought I would make some predictions...

--Frank Schleck will win something big. The tour...maybe, an impressive climbers classic such as Amstel...very well could be. Competition for the second scrawniest schleck in the peleton, FOR SURE...

--We will see one of the most exciting finishes to a Belgian classic we have ever seen....Boonen, Cancellara, and Pipo Pizzato going toe to toe in the final kilometer. remember last yar big Cancellara almost pipped him!

--Team Slipstream will make a good showing in the early season, get a bid to the tour, and maybe even win a stage! They will at least be in every break every day regardless of terrain. Look for Mr. Pate

--SOMEONE WILL DOPE, and everyone will say it's the end of cycling, and it wont be!--

Team High road with Big George, Geral Ciolek, Mark Cavendish, and Roger Hammond will be one of the most impressive teams of 2008. Look for a big classics win from George, and look for Cavendish and Ciolek in the bunch kicks. One has a big win in their legs this year.

On the US side of the pond, Phinney will win gold in something...probobly on the track, and probobly since he is setting PR's and shattering persuit records left and right. Oh wait. He won gold yesterday! Also, we will see Mark Heckman on the top step of the podium for USA crit champ. He's got the team, and now the confidence, and he's a helluva fun guy. You deserve it Mark!

RandomRush

2008-01-18T07:30:00.000-05:00

I'm going to most likely be failing an exam today at 9:25 in French.... not cool at all!

Other than that, The next post will be absolutely CRAZY!! Wait and see.

Also, check this out! CIPO is back. 40 years old young and a friend of the infamous Michael Ball of Rock and Republic racing... hmmmmm Can this guy do anything else to seem completely out of his mind as a team owner? Maybe attempt to sign Basso, or HEY EVEN JAN ULLRICH! Sorry. Ill let that topic be.

Also check out this interview with the hero and sprint super rock start and classics moster Tom (tornado tom, tomke, or what I enjoy best, Freaking Booooonen) Boonen. Will we see this more this season.... i get the strong feeling YES is appropriate!

Racing is just around the bend, one turn to go and 3 hundred meters to the line. ANTICIPATION!

Doing it the hard way...

2008-01-10T19:41:00.001-05:00

four hours, 40 some degrees, rain rain and rain. Sometimes I wonder as Im punishing myself, numb toed, head throbbing as I ride from mountain to hill to steep freaking incline to mountain mountain, just why the hell I actually am doing what im doing. And for one of the first times in a long time I can say why. Because I love it. Theres something about putting my body to the test and overcoming it each and every day that makes me want to keep going, keep getting stronger, keep digging deeper. Every time I wake up and hear rain, I think, GREAT, now this is why I'm going to win races next year. No one wants to hop on the bike, saddle sored, soaking wet, and slog themselves up a 12 K climb only to descend it just a few minutes later, not being able to put into words what the goosebumps under your tiny little fleece lined, strappingly attractive leg warmers make you feel like as you sweep from switchback to switchback, with little to no visibility, only to have the person behind you in their heated little mini cooper flip you the bird out the window as you ride the brakes so you can pedal enough to keep your legs from tightening up to the point of complete oblivion. But it's doing this that makes me strong. Makes me best friends with how to hurt. Makes me no longer care what the weather's like because I know in the end, the guy next to me in the pack a few months from now who has sat on his trainer watching tour de france highlights, or family guy (no offense to anyone who does both---including myself) really hasn't touched this weather because he's afraid to get his bike dirty or because he just doesn't feel like it. pansy! Anyway. Enough of this rant, I just felt like venting my distaste for bad weather and people who are smart enough to avoid it. In essence, I have just made completely logical sense of something I love to do. Call me a hard man. Call me a psycho. Call me a complete idiot. Ill accept any of the above. Until later enjoy.

The road less travelled, at least by most... no where to go but DOWN! brrr.

I figured I would attempt to look like I enjoyed it. Heck it was freaking mythical!

getting normal...if its at all possible.

2008-01-09T08:31:00.000-05:00

Things are finally getting normal, if thats ever possible. Classes are going well. I have a wonderful french class, in which I find myself pondering about 90% of the banter my little french speaking, english dismissing hater of a teacher, is speaking over the hour and ten minutes of class. As if not speaking english in class whatsoever weren't enough, I also have the problem of not really being able to understand the syllabus, leading to a free-for-all of confused effort towards and unknown success. If this doesnt make sense to you it's alright, it doesn't make sense to me either.

Aside from class, the whole bike riding thing is going good. base base and more base. This weekend was a great team camp in chattanooga TN. Lots of climbing, lots of townsign sprints, and oh yeah LOOOOOOOTS of food. If I could put into words exactly how much I ate this weekend it would be the most compelling story you would ever read. In stead, I can simply say that it felt something like this.

"My names JAN ULLRICH, I like CUPCAKES AND BEER..." only without the EPO and Doping
I will say the most impressive part of this weekend aside from the nudging aside of several african villages starving to death to fill our overworked, and tired bodies to to the point of disgust, I would have to note AJ's 1980's Zoom jersey, tie die tights and chrome skateboard helmet that he sported for the final days easy ride turned sprint off.

As for now, im off to the good ol' FU for french, and then home for a nice 4 hour ride with Spencer up to Ceasars head.... gotta love 20+ hour weeks, class, and maybe possibly having a life.

oh and one more thing. Dear Ohio State and Jim Tressel, thanks for ruining my wonderful week. It's much appreciated.

Thanks for making us wait ANOTHER 364 days. Thanks a lot.

-love, Dave-

Home sweeeeet home... Sort of

2008-01-02T17:15:00.000-05:00

What a crazy time it's been since my last post. Not only have i moved to Greenville, at which time I realized I have faaaar too much crap, become an official student at Furman University registering for a highly eventful schedule of classes (french and poetry), but I have turned 21 (which proved to be HIGHLY uneventful) celebrated new years (which WAS VERY eventful) and realized that although it's great here, I am greatly looking forward to having SOMEONE in town that I actually know.

Luckily, although running non-stop with the move, I have managed to get out on the bike since I've been here, and although I in no way could consider myself "knowledgable" with the roads here I tagged along with George, Craig, Rich and Randy for a nice ride up to Ceasars Head. After realizing just how slow I really am compared to George and Craig (who decided it would be a good idea to big ring workout up the 12k climb) I struggled back, stocked up on a snickers and made it through the remaining hour and a half of feeling like complete vomit legs. Our team camp kicks off tomorrow, which I will have to miss the first day of because of some silly thing called class that thought it would be sweet to kick off the same day. WHAT's UP WITH THAT. Mr. Kearns is coming down to keep me company on the ride to chattanooga so that should be great. Oh! I almost forgot. For all of your southerners and clemson goofs here in the lovely upstate Greenville area, tomorrow, O-H-I-O GOOOOOOO BUCKS! National Championship game better be watched by all!

Considering my creativeness is not coming out tonight, I will stop writing boring babble and leave you with a few pictures of the new pad! ENJOY!

First ride living here. I was a happy guy!

The bedroom, I know kind of metro but im not gay I PROMISE. (intended for beth who will eventually read this.)

Kitchen bar and table. I've actually gotten stuff on the walls so it looks a little more homey.

Horrible picture of the sun room/office. I in no way need all this, but I love it!

NOT: Plasma screen WITH HDTV! Wahoo....

As for now I am off to do what I have done every night since being here. Sit on the couch and watch bowl games, fix a lovely dinner, and actually hang out with some of the guys from the Furman team! Until Later, toodles

Time away

2007-12-26T16:51:00.000-05:00

So the past week has been my time away from the bike and with the Holidays and packing, I'm extremely glad I was able to not have worry about touching the bike. I got a chance to roll north, to the windy, gusty, and retardedly ummmm wind blessed area that is northern Ohio. What an awesome place. Aside from the terrible 6 a.m wakeup, the cooooold car, the lack of breakfast, and the americano, mocha, aaaaaaand venti christmas blend that was consumed in the three hours drive that it actually takes to get there, I arrived. Again I was reminded that not only do I have NO GIRL to so kindly connect some stupid idea called a relationship to, and that can otherwise be labeled a "commitment", but that I as usual envy seth for his ability to convince his so called girlfriend, wife, or whatever she may be to him or will one day be that she should cross train on the bike with him that day. Again Seth, I hate you. Aside from me blasting Seth for his superior female relational skills we did partake in some Christmas festivities at Seattles that was greatly needed, and wonderfully comical and entertaining. Thanks everyone for a great time!

Although I did get back home for christmas, although almost dying in the car drive in 50 mph winds, It seems that the holiday season shot by faster than I thought it could. Simply put, I almost feel like I went through it and didn't realize it was actually Christmas until I woke up this morning and realized it was actually over. What I did realize is this:
1. I love my family and they obviously love me to.
2. If you ask for a flat screen TV, most likely your family will get you one. Whether or not you truly need it.
3. I can wrap a PIMP present when needed
4. Grandmaws peanut butter pie IS IN NO WAY good to eat, therefor you should and must always eat as much as your body will hold the week you actually can ignor the cost/benefit ratio of what goes in your body. That being said, EXPECT to be horribly miserable for the rest of the evening.

Although I did kind of overlook Christmas, and will accept being called a scrouge for it, to say my head is elsewhere would be an understatement considering Im moving in a few days. Ba hum bug. Not really...

Here are some pictures from the holidays:

presents were abundant

my dominant wrapping performance! See I am good at more than riding bikes.

Finally today I got back on the bike and although I felt absolutely horrible, ripped my thermal shoe cover (which i didn't really need to have on in 48 degree weather) AND having to actually start kicking my butt into gear for next season, I was lucky enough to ride in some of the best weather we have had in months. I was also bored out of my mind all day and looking for refuge from packing so I decided to take pictures of not only my depressing healthy hearty breakfast, but also my depressing boring, non-eventful base ride that could prove to be my last training ride in Ohio for a LOOOOONG time. Thank you GOD. So for those of you saying "wow, your pitiful", your right, and next time I see you, I will refrain from kicking you in the shin simply because im a good guy. For those of you who actually don't care, you may enjoy the reality that is suburban paradise training at it's best. Enjoy!

Yummmm (I got apple butter for christmas, and was overwhelmed with joy. really....)

HAPPY on the bike!

The best scenery all ride... and now you understand why the moving is taking place!

as for now, I am off to do what I have done basically EVERY night since coming home. Lay in the "man room" and watch movies. Four down, a few more to go. Two days till move day. HOLY POOOOOPAH! Wish me luck! Have a GREAT new year if I don't post again before its 2008. Look for apartment pics next post too.

Just Some Pictures...

2007-12-23T12:28:00.000-05:00

Since my last post was longer than... well... something that's really long, I figured I would keep this post brief until I have more to talk about. Don't really have much so yeah.

Here are team pics from camp last weekend. This I BELIEVE is all if not most of the U23 guys

Team Camp Recap

2007-12-18T09:03:00.000-05:00

So to say that this weekend was absolutely great would be like saying pizza is "alright" or that the victorias secret model you see on the goofy commercials of their's is "cute". UNDERSTATEMENT! Anyway, Camp went off great. The team is a great group and I am more excited to get this season kicked off than I thought I would be. Not to mention that I return home to the remains of a snow storm which is still blessing us with it's always enjoyable cold front. Yay for 30 degree riding.

Back to team camp. Friday night we headed to Rich's house for team dinner and movie night. The were kind enough to have some photos of the kit's well be riding in and needless to say, they rock! It turns out we have a new sponsorship from Barkley Advertising out of Kansas City. Needless to say this is a GREAT addition for the team, and just gives us all more reason to make a huge effort this year to make things work and to be successful. George and Craige joined us for some great lazagna (thanks Rich) and some killer salad and bread.

Saturday
Saturday was an early wake up for a very VERY busy day. We finally got the entire team together considering we had some slackers coming in a little late in the evening. We headed out for a ride, met up with a few others at Rich's and headed over to Georges to meet up with George and Craig and Vito. In the end, I think we rolled out with almost 20 people, so it was a great chance to chat, and get to know each other. Although it was raining our intended 3.5-4 hour ride turned into a 5+ hour ride due to George wanting to ride up Saluda. God bless that bakery there considering all I brought along on the ride was a GU and water. Whew for sticky buns. After dropping a few others off on the way back to town we got a chance to open our legs up coming down the mountain. That coupled with George's "You guys feel like doing some paceling work?" it was a great time, and I think everyone is still in shock from not only getting to meet George and Craig and some others, but to also have the oppertunity to ride and talk with them and realize that they are in fact REAL people that are where many of us hope to be one day... one day...

Now onto the interesting part of camp. Not to downplay the ride, meeting everyone and getting to talk to everyone, but saturday night was a splendid time. After some AMAZING pizza (I wish I could remember the name of the restaurant) we headed over to the Hincapie store to set up for our little meet and greet. After PHOTO's were taken people started showing up. Handi catered in some rocking good indian cuisine and simply put, it got dominated although by the end of the night my stomach didnt enjoy it as much as it did when I started eating it. I have to say, the feeling at the store was something to remember. Although I knew people were excited for the team and everything happening around us, this was the first time I had the chance to step back and look around. To say people are excited is an understatement. THE CITY, as well as some HIGHLY important people want to be a part of what is happening with us, and without a doubt, this team is moving in a incredible direction; success. To everyone thanks! Especially, George, Rich, Shane, Steve, and Christina O'Neil Maddox from Headstrong. I dont know whether any of you have realised yet, but WE and by WE i mean me, and EVERYONE involved with the team are more thankful than we can describe. It's an honor to be part of what is happening here. Thanks for making something great! And thanks for letting us be a part of it.

sunday
Sunday was a rough wake up after a 10:15 movie of I Am Legend, which although crazy, was an alright movie. Although Shane continues to argue with me. We headed out on a CRAZY windy ride and to say it was tough is an understatement. Although we were told it was only going to be a 2-2.5 hour ride, I expected the worst, and packed some extra num nums for the belly that was oh so deprived the day before. GOOD THING. Turns out we put in a little over 3 and had two flats. I guess my bike heard the word that in a month it is getting replaced with a new bigger better buzz lightyear to it's woody the cowboy, and decided "hey, you know that big ring thing you have... nadah, SAY GOOOODBYE!!!" becuase 10 minutes into the ride the chain wouldnt stay on the big ring. AT ALL, which is not fun when ritch gets a peppy pill in his legs and starts hittin it pretty good in 20+ mph wind.after everyone headed out Shane and I headed to dinner at Brixx which ROCKS MY SOCKS off, and after some good conversation, and story telling, we headed back to finish up in style, lounging on the couch and watching Graham Obrey's movie The Flying Scottsman. He's a girl. Geeez.

Overall I couldnt be happier (except to be back down there instead of waiting 10 days) and the team and support is world class. The guys are great and Im looking forward to rocking out a crazy tough and strong season. Thanks again to everyone. You've put me in a position I have never been in, one that is expecting success, and is providing us with more than enough of everything to be successful. THANKS

Here are some pics from the weekend and a Full Roster for the team:

Ben Gabardi- Jackson MS
Tyler Carnes- Chesapeake VA
AJ Mayer- Cohutta GA
Ty Manger- Griffen TN
Nick Housley- Atlanta GA
David Hutton- Greenville SC
Evan Wynn- Ashville NC
David Talbot- Chattanooga TN
Shane Weaver- Greenville SC
Rich Hincapie- Greenville SC
Steve Carpenter- Chattanooga TN

stopped for one of the two flats in the cold... i mean fourty degree's

Rich on the blackberry. This were rather normal on the weekend.

AJ rocking the team issua Radars... yeah. Not to shabby eh?

Attempted self photos... didn't work to well!

Greenville or Bust....

2007-12-14T13:56:00.000-05:00

-WARNING.... NOT FOR THOSE IS IN THE MIDWEST FREEEEZING YOUR REARS OFF!-

From this...

To this...

For those of you that dont know how weather is in the south, THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS, suprise!!! 68 degrees and suuuuunny! Incredible. I'm back in Greenville again and to say that it's finally setting in that I'm really going to be living here in less than a month is kind of blowing me away, it's happening. I think I just tinkled myself. Unbelievable!!

Team camp starts tonight and I'm absolutely stoked, but I figured I would rub in the fact that for those of you from Ohio heading west to Kansas and Cross nationals or what should be better named the Joack Frost's toilet bowl, Enjoy not feeling a single limb of your body while I bask in what is the nicest weather I have seen since... oh, LAST TIME I came to Greenville.

As for now, Weaver and I are out for a little ride in the sunny sunny lovely sunny weather before the rest of the team shows up and the craziness begins! Should be an EXTREMELY good time... one last visual comparison to leave you with!

Hell Frozen Over!

VS.......
OH Beautiful SUUUUUUN!

Ill leave you to decide. CIAO!

Charlie bit my finger - again !

2007-12-10T17:25:00.001-05:00

For those of you wondering what the poor, overworked mind of a bike racer, student, and part time stunt devil (which is what im claiming to be after several encounters with the uphill slog to town with a sheet of ice on the sidewalk... dont ask) does to keep from slipping further into the oblivion that is finals week, while slipping further and further up the success poll of procrastination. One needs look no further. Enjoy. It is what I've been doing since I got back from my four hour ride....37 degrees, rain, and poptarts. Who the hell wouldn't laugh at this after putting themselves through CRAP!

Enjoy

Great!

So if when it rains it pours... what's it do when it snows?

2007-12-05T10:23:00.000-05:00

So this is what I woke up to this morning.

Although horribly beautiful, it is safe to say it is less than condusive to the betterment of physical fitness that I was prepared to enthrawl myself in this week. If thats too complicated a sentance... simply put, I am NOT riding outside becuase it's too dang snowie! Yay for being completely done with Ohio in a week. Really, A week from today Ill be heading south and wondering whether I packed too much warm clothes and whether I should bring a pair of shorts or not. O.k. Im overexaggerating the situation there. But compared to here, it will be exotically tropical. I wonder if they serve those yummy drinks with unbrella's there? I hope so. I'll tip well if they do!

The pages are turning faster than I can read...

2007-12-04T12:37:00.000-05:00

The past week has been the most roller coaster week of my life. I had a blast of a time not racing this weekend and taking part in my fun little going away party. I really wanted to get some pictures but since I didn't ill label myself lame so you don't have to.

School and Life
I have officially started my last week of classes here at Miami and as hard as it is to say It doesn't bother me to be leaving, I am going to miss a lot here. Cute jersey girls, The North Face, squirrels, brick streets, everyone I have gotten to know better than I should have even though I knew I was leaving, Brandon Shaws pimp Farrari edition pumas and matching track jacked (envy), and just the idea of being someplace I know.

Aside from that stuff I would rather not think about right now classes are coming to a close faster than I had hoped. I spent almost four hours of my life in the class of a loonie prof who has read the same chapter of some young adult novel about a retarded indian for the past three classes. Yep. We got a winner. I'm enjoying getting stuff finished, writing portfolios, studying for exams and all that fun stuff. And by enjoying that I mean doing none of that which I listed. But hey, it'll get done.

The Bike
The season is done sooner than I though but strangely enough, I am HORRIBLY happy about that. It's like I was a little kid waiting on his birthday. He knows it's coming, it comes, he rips all his presents open, goes all out, dominates at life, then poof. All done. You wake up the next morning buzzkilled a year closer to dying and your like, man, I'm glad thats over, now give me a spoon so I can eat ever bit of leftover cake there is so I dont fit into any of the new clothes everyone gave me last night! Actually that makes no sense whatsoever but it sounds good in my head so Im going to let it be what it is. Hmmm, that sounds familiar (no one will understand what this means but me and one other person so dont worry).
As for next years build up, I am already pissed. a twenty degree difference in weather between here and Carolina is really pushing my "what the eph are you doing going out" button. But instead of sun and sixty's Ill settle for this...

Thats right. three jerseys, two bottoms (one thermal), a thermal base, two pairs of gloves, two hats, and warming oil. Yeah, its very similar in feeling to that of those sumo suits you and your friends find yourselves pummeling one another with at new years eve bashes for high schools trying to keep you from drinking. It truly sucks.

As for now, I am going to jump right into all that crap and hit the bike for three hours or so in the blistering, exotic, and tropical weather that is the Midwest. 30's windy, and nooooooo fun! Yay. I want to punch myself in the eye now!

I can see the end...

2007-11-27T22:08:00.000-05:00

So as the cyclocross season slowly comes to an end for me, with Nationals less than a month away, I'm still a little unsure if I will even be going after all. Thats right. Imagine that you have to register for a race MONTHS in advance and something might come up that makes things not work. WOW, life actually happens randomly. Whatever. No need to complain.

It's Time to Have Fun
So I came back from sundays HORRIBLY HARD state championship cross race to the funniest situation I have ever had. First I must explain the situation that was the drive home. I scurried away from the race in hope of getting back quickly for cookie night. That didnt happen. After waiting fifteen stinking minutes for a stupid sandwhich at Panera and a coffee to get rid of the hand numbness usually associated with cross racing I was kindly chatting with a lovely young lady from school when I look in the mirror. What are two things you dont want to see in the rain? Lights.... one red, and one blue. No speeding involved I assure you. Regardless I am greated by what seemed to be a female police officer. If only you could have been there! In case you didnt know what happens to people who get pulled over suspected of drunk driving, this is how it goes.
Police: Can I see liscense and registration sir...
Me: yeah!
Police: Were you aware of crossing over your lane back there sir?
Me: Did I really. No... It is raining....
Police: Sir going to have to ask you to step out of the vehicle
Me: REALLY... but it's raining
Police: **Insert angry face from behind fat cheeks**
Me: Alright alright...
Police: Sir can you repeat your alphabet backwards for me
Me: haha NO.
Police: ** insert second angry face here **
Me: OK... Z, W, X, Y. Crap, wait, let me start over.
Police: No thats alright. let me have you close your eyes and touch your nose.
Me: Dangit, I suck at this too.
Police: O.k. Sire, im going to have to ask you to wait here.
Me: ok.... (STILL RAINING!)
Police: Sir can I have you blow in this...
Me: BLOOOOOW
Police: Hmmmm, can you blow again.
Me: BLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!
Police: Well sir, im sorry for the inconvenience. Just trying to make sure everyone is being safe over the holidays. You can never be to careful you know. Have a nice day.
Me:........................

Yep. thats how it goes when you get pulled over suspected of drinking and driving. Anyways, Saturday is the Dave Hutton shindig going away shabang p/b Seth Buckwalter and Alex Kerman. I'm pretty sure there have been nearly 200 invites so... Im scared.

As for the racing. Everything was alright. I had a horrible start and soon found out how good I am at track standing on off camber 180's... needless to say, I was less than stellar. I turned in a 7th or 10th place so I was rather happy. I felt like a dog had pooped sand in my lungs all day so that wasn't very pleasant, but still it was a rather impressive course and one of the more fun ones I have done this season.

As for everything else in life... some wrenches have been thrown in the mix, but nothing I can't handle. Only STUPIDLY attractive girls from Jersey, People backing out of taking my lease, and finding out that even though there is carpet are the stairs, you are not clear of slipping and doing rather unpleasant things to your talebone. Long story, dont ask. For now I'm still hating the cold Ohio weather, wind, and endless supply of absolutely nothing to do but study, eat, ride my bike, and cuddle. Wait. Forget the last one. Two weeks and im off to Greenville, no wait, three weeks, no wait one week, nooooo two weeks. Yeah, I'm not sure when our first team camp actually is, but either way, it's coming up soon. For now, I just have to prepare mentally for Saturday nights FIESTA and get it some super secret get fast workouts hoping I can race at nats. Heck if not, Ill look like a beast at camp! Either way, none of this really matters, and no one really cares. Im going to watch intervention. If you haven't seen it you should. It's a show that makes your life look VERY normal, regardless of what you do. REALLY. I have it TVo'd so stop by. You WILL BE AMAZED! Until next time, sorry for the long post. Sincerely Dave.

Sand, tree, and 6 a.m.

2007-11-20T10:02:00.000-05:00

My leg hurts. Well, actually, it doesn't hurt now, but it did. It hurt bad, and had a Ritchey WCS stem bolt patter nicely molded into my knee cap. Yeah. It hurt. Just a few words of advice here for racing successfully, none of which I did.
1. Eat well the night before... (ok I did this I lied)
2. DO NOT have a cute little girl from class come over and watch TV... until 2 a.m.
3. DO NOT wake up a 6 a.m. and expect to not fall asleep or to race anywhere near your potential at a cross race 3 hours away.
4. DO NOT drink too much gatorade before a race with a bathroom such as the one at the race venue... guuuuu

But in all seriousness, Gamm and I headed out to Purdue this last weekend for a two-race-in-one day. Not a good idea considering the most roady friendly course all year was set for sunday and the OVCX but what the hey! The collegiate field was decent,and a bit cold. I rolled in a spot behind Mijn kleine vriend for 5th or 6th. we managed to waste some time after the race getting the circulation flowing in the sweet pimp Miami van as we meandered campus for a CVS, some chocolate milk, and IcyHot... we failed and had to resort to simply going in the local chipotle for a momentary relief, potty break, and stretch then it was back to the race start to do a cooldown/warmup for the elite race. Lining up was most likely the WORST idea i have ever had. About 5 minutes into th elite race my legs went zit and popped and I soon found myself struggling to hold the wheels in about 11th place. I started feeling better and dieseled my way into good position somewhere in the top 5. I was riding faster technically than I ever had before so I was highly excited. Then it happened. About 45 minutes into the race I thought it would be a great Idea to take myself out of the race in normal Dave Hutton style. You see. Whoever thought this course up (Thanks Derrick) decided, "oh hey, there sand by all these really rooty trees... lets make everyone do 180's in them, it'll be sweet." and i must admit, for the first 35-45 minutes, it was fun. Turning through a deep section of sand my shoe popped loose as I was accelerating out of a turn and BOOOOOM! No knee for you. I cursed once.... actually MANY times, and proceeded to watch person after person that I had so easily blown by in the first half of the race pull right by. Dicks! I made it about a quarter of a lap and finally I couldnt put pressure to the pedal at all. Great. In the end, I walked myself out of a money spot $17 poorer, with a WCS tattoo on my kneecap, skipping lunch/dinner so I could get home sleep, think about how I wasn't going to race the following day, and kiss goodbye to the series overall top three I wanted. Way to go DAVO!

one of the coolest race photos I've seen so far!

Real Life
For those of you who know me, I don't get serious all too often, but I suppose now I am going to. As everyone has known, I am about three weeks from moving to Greenville and starting and entirely new chapter of my life. Regardless of what I may say, I am scaaaaared beyond belief. But, what I must say is that I love this feeling. Although I'm scared, I am more than prepared to get everything rolling. Above all I wanted to thank everyone who has helped me along as far as they have in life the way they have. Everyone at Team Dayton, if it weren't for you guys I never would have started racing, found what a good group of people who play cornhole and drink beer at team get togethers, or just been able to have fun. Thanks. Everyone at PV Racing. Thanks. Mitch, Tim, April, Justin and Alex, you all have been awesome. You gave me support, help, and motivation to better myself and to work for what I want. You gave all of us the oppertunity to be successful and I think it showed this year with our results as well as friendships. Thanks for everything and the best of luck. Above all thank you to all my family and friends who have helped in so many ways. My parent's who have worked their butt off to make this work, even though they may not want to. I'm sorry for any trouble it's caused, and I'm blessed to have you around like I do. It will be a different thing, living alone, 7 hours away, but I really know that everything is meant to be. I appreciate everything you do every day of my life. Your truly a blessing. And finally thanks to Shane and Ritch for the oppertunity I've been given in Greenville. I feel priveledged to be part of a team such as this. I know your expectations are high and I hope I can help the team, and everyone be as successful as possible. I am honored to have met you all and I truly cannot wait to get down there. Two and a half weeks till camp! I normally am far from excited for road season to begin in November but already I'm anticipating next season. So again, to everyone that has helped make this happen, and make this dream a reality, I thank each and every one of you. It's going to be a change, and you all will be dearly missed. I am honored and priveledged to have each and everyone one of you in my life.

With that, stop the sincerity, Im going to go get a coffee, hop on my bike, and go home to beat to poopah out of some turkey and pumpkin pie! Holiday weekends and Rest weeks hitting at the same time are Gods blessings to cyclists. I'm out!

news news and more news...

2007-11-14T19:56:00.000-05:00

So with some free time, and a good night of sitting around, sipping some tea, I figured what better a thing to do than write randomness in hope that someone will read it. If not, then I truly am wasting a HUGE bit of my life in a very pointless way.

Shoe Shopping

I finally got the news that my brother's mystery baby now has a sex. It's a boy. Which most likely means the doctors saw a peepee in the little cone photo. I figured in celebration I would buy the little tike some shoes so when he finally pops his little self out, he's got some sweet kicks to rock for the chicks. Gotta hook the little guy up right. I was thinking I could either get him the "team color" which is above (......) or the fararri edition. Either way the little guy is going to get a more expensive pair of shoes than I have had in YEARS. It's well worth it. But seriously brother, congrats.

Thank God for The Midwest....not
This is what greated me when I got home from a niply little ride. pepe and coffee. Ignore the mud, it's all we had! Seriously. No really. Seriously!

It's been a crazy week of training. The average temperature has been ummm warm! And with about a month until Christmas I am hoping the normal Ohio weather holds off until i've moved... but most likely it wont. Actually, I know it wont. The Ohio turned Belgian-like rain, sleet, poo is due to be back tomorrow. Lovely 40 degree highs with oh I dont know, 250% chance of rain, wich a high high high chance of purely being pissed off likely to occur. Gotta love life. Oh did I mention 20+ mph wind. If not, I just did and it doesnt matter either way.

Chocolate, Waffles, and cross thats what the Belgians do!

This is the scarriest picture I have ever seen. Nightmares will occur. But in all seriousness, there has been a lot happening in the world of cross here. For one I actually got my bike clean. Yeah, it's taken me this long, but it's working and I'm happy. After missing a few weeks I really am feeling fresh and starting to feel better on the bike. I guess thats good a month out from nationals right? Anywho, I cracked the top 5 of the OVCX series again with a decent ride in the stripper mud fight turned cross race we had last weekend. Thats exciting. With a few weeks left to ride, and only missing one more local race (due to team camp in Carolina) I think I might actually get something out of this series. Considering it's my first season for a new style of riding thats really motivation to keep up with it even when I move. Despite the conflict some saw on the local listserve, thanks for showing your ass (sorry for the language) K.A. If only we all could be as fast as you. I guess we will never know what it feels like to be super super fast, and really uptight. I appreciate the help really! Next race is going to be a double on Saturday in Purdue after a *cough* date *caugh* on Friday night. Sorry, I think I am getting a bug or something. I'm going to roll to the line with Gammers in the collegiate race and get him the win, and then head to the elite race on the same course later in the day. I guess there's a pizza party but I dont think I'm supposed to know about it. I'm a party crasher and VERY proud of it. Keep your eyes peeled for opperation slice heist! Sunday we'll be up and heading to Lexington for the OVCX race in which I really want to do well in so I can keep up the overall. It would be nice to actually seem good every once in a while. The results havent reflected fitness this year so I'm glad I will actually grab some respect!

As for now,I'm off to do some homework, er, watch happy feet or something. Who knows. I have some brownies too, or I should say the kids I was supposed to make them for tomorrow wont have them. "I have no idea what happened to them. Chocolate craving jackrabbit pulled me out of my car on the way here. It's all I could do to stay alive." Wish me luck with fridays events, if all goes to plan, well be making ginger bread houses on sunday which would be sweet after a hard day of cross in the TUCKY... oh speaking of tucky, check out Berry Wicks (aka Wicknasty's) blog and see his feelings on Kentucky and it's "uckyness". Really I'm done now!

When it rains it pours...

2007-11-12T21:52:00.000-05:00

I should have expected some fun when I read the weather forcast:
High 52, chance of rain, 80%. It should have just said: cold, chance of rain, constant and terrible with a high chance for chaos.

Gammers and I showed true cross spirit finally taking part in everything that is cross. Rain, Cold, Wind, and mud mud mud. Considering this is my first truely muddy experience with mudd and anything other than a trusty 29er I normally ride, I figured the worst that could happen is complete and total distruction. little did I know how accurate that assumption would prove to be. After one single warm up lap, I saught refuge from the blowing devilish weather to change into dry clean stuff and put some warming oil on the legs and really actually warm up before the race. Thank GOD for thermal socks by the way. I made my way to the line with a decent field to shiver our little spendex butts off for a few seconds then, boom, off we went.

Of course i had a worse start than I wanted, but I ended up hitting the first turn (a slight right hander transitioning from pavement to grass) I soon realized what I was in for for the next 59 minutes... literally in, up to my ankles, in mudd. I found myself hitting the deck in the first 180 with about 10 others. Needless to say they didnt have kind words for me. "o.k. lets see here, there are 9 other people here b*** lets blame this one of the others here. Yeah its all my fault. Shut the heck up!" i ended up working my way back through the pile of muddy bodies and slippy slidyness to finally make my way in the first BIG chase group. Awsome right? WRONG! I am officially NEVER riding in a group of guys when we are well on our way to the second heavenly flood to eradicate mankind. I found my way quickly off the front of the group on my own for what would now prove to be the remainder of the race all the while finding SOME way to get in a should bumping contest with a nice oak tree that unkindly hopped in front of me on a muddy technical section of the course. JERK. I will say something I learned... and take my words from experience. DO NOT get in a conflict with an oak tree. Especially a punching contest. They hit back a lot harder than you expect. BELIEVE ME on this one!

Now shoulder and knee-less I made my way through what was the remaining few minutes of the race for what I think was 12th place. Suprisingly I was happy with the race being my first mudd caked in teeth and private parts style run at cross. I was able to put A HUGE gap between the guys I have normally finished with in the past so that is at least proving that either A) they need to ride in the mudd more or B) I am actually getting more fit doing the workouts I am being told to do... Hopefully the latter is valid. After grabbing a lovely cup of starbucks caramel americano, chocolate covered grahams, and rolling around in a puddle in the parking lot to remove what I could of the mud that had found it's way into every crack and cranny of my body gammers and I return to Ox-vegas to return the life away from being super hero's! Sad I know. Seth and I partook in a lovely early christmas exchange involving his Great Lakes Christmas ale, which as a friend of mine put it "is full of all wintery goodness and holiday cheer" , and my Hussmans pretzel rods! What a rockin night! I love my suckwalter! Prohst!

As for now, I have just endured a three hour monday evening class that I have just realized I am about 5 weeks behind in and most likely am going to fail miserably, that nearly cost me my sanity and at points throughout the night nearly caused me to jump off a bridge... If there were one within, i dunno, 20 miles, that was actually high enough to do damage, I would most likely have done what everone else would have... pushed acted like we were going to jump so she may send us to a therapist rather than making us endure the hell that is EDT 423! yay for Education courses that arent transferring. Good thing I had my cyclesport america magazine to keep me company. I read the entire thing and class still had 20 minutes to go. Good thing I had my buddy John who just had eye surgery and was sporting some very Terminator like glasses to class along with a very humerous vicoden influenced personality. It's not every day you get in an in depth conversation among the class (including the professor) regarding global warming, the death penalty, and committing yet avoiding being charged with felonious actions as minors! I love my life. Things just got a little more interesting in the life of Dave (outside of the bike and school) in which most of you have no clue as to what it pertains to. So if your in my circle of trust, feel free to stop by and chat, it's quite the interesting position to find myself in 4 weeks before moving 7 hours away!

Have a lovely evening. I feel like death and have a 3 hour slugfest planned with my bike tomorrow! YAYA! by the way I guess I spell awsome wrong. At least thats what this unbelievably GORGEOUS friend thats a girl of mine told me last night. About 1500 times. Oh well! You have to lose some to win some. Something like that. Whatever. Goodnight!

http://www.truesport.com/Bike/2007/Q4/photos/ovcx137.html
http://www.truesport.com/Bike/2007/Q4/photos/ovcx186.html
http://www.truesport.com/Bike/2007/Q4/photos/ovcx206.html
http://www.truesport.com/Bike/2007/Q4/photos/ovcx216.html
http://www.truesport.com/Bike/2007/Q4/photos/ovcx234.html

we came, we rode, we destroyed... there were no survivors! o.k. maybe a few, but it was AWSOME... i mean, awEsome.

PICTURES OF THE LEPRICON!

2007-11-08T20:56:00.001-05:00

In case you didnt notice im the guy in yellow and black in the back eating face!!!

Getting ready, moving on...

2007-11-08T08:55:00.000-05:00

So as you all know, I'm moving on. These past three weeks of craziness and distraction are coming to a wonderfully stressful conclusion.
1. Find a place to live... ring it up as done
2. Find someone to take over my section of the lease... not so much done
3. Adjust to the suicidally horrible weather in Ohio. chalk it up! 40 some degrees with 20+ mph wind, and all is well in the world. But now I suppose it justifies me drinking more coffee.
4. Have camp moved to the weekend before finals! YEP! Meaning I have the drive back from Greenville to Ohio sunday night with an exam monday morning at 8 am. How pleasantly horrible!
5. work for 10 hours on the same work and only get less than 1/3 of it completed.

But in all honesty, life is in fact good. Of course motivation is at an all time low when it comes to school work, but thats life when your moving I suppose. Nothing like leaving you 3.0+ GPA over four years of school behind to start all over again! But I guess that's how the world works. Luckily I have the loving, supportive, and understanding family that I do. It looks like Ill be heading to Kansas for nationals, racing until the 16th, driving back and packing 18th-24th, doing christmas the 24th,25th, and 26th, packing, have a goodbye party/birthday party (or so I've been told) on the 27th and moving the 28th. Celebrating my 21st at mellow mushroom of course, becuase I can and I want a choice of beer thats worth getting for my 21st. Then I start class on the 2nd and heading to team camp the 4th! Sounds like a great christmas/winter break. It's a good thing I get a break from the bike between nationals and the 1st! Oh by the way, speaking of the bike, I came across some more good pictures over the week, further distracting me from my work, of some good crashes in the sand and some others of me staking my claim in that sand without the act of falling or gracefully removing myself from the race. I can in fact ride sand WELL. I assure you, it can be done!

first is the True Sport photo thats my orange bike in front of the guy on the ground!
next is my favorite

As for now, I'm off to continue working on the same work i've been doing over the last oh... 48 hours. Wish me luck. Sorry for this being so boring but I have to take a break from this. Coffee in hand, frustration intact. Time to rip this stuff up!!! With me luck

The sand lepricon...

2007-11-05T22:28:00.001-05:00

Saturday--COLLEGIATE CROSS #1 Lindsey Wilson
So remind me again why I do what I do. Saturday morning I found myself rolling out of bed at the lovely hour of 4:50 am. Thats right. The time most people in my tiny little fishbowl college town are finally nestling into bed, well buzzed from the nights prior drinking and debauchery.... But not I. I have places to be and people to do. Err, you know what I mean.
Anyway, I rolled out of bed and had my normal race morning breakfast of a mound of egg whites, oatmeal, and a granola to go. Just before jumping on the highway I made my green lady stop at starbucks, this time opting for a venti, and heading out on my adventure south. I hit Lexington just in time to see the sun come up for my second cup of coffee for the day. The last I would see before I reached the race. I rolled into Lindsey Wilson... the smallest and loneliest school I have ever laid eyes on to realize not only were they a time zone behind my Ohio abode, but that I could have slept an extra two hours because the race had been moved back an hour. Either way. It made me want to punch a small kitten in the face, or cry myself to sleep. It was terrible. After my suicidal depressive meltdown I chilled out, got the bike ready and got a chance to pre-ride the course a lot. Awsome cool weather made me feel like it was actually cross season and the course was alright. It was nothing special, but nothing disapointing. With two sandpits, uphill barrier, some offcambers, and another barrier as well as a concrete runup it was nothing short of enough fun for me. I managed to hit the sand second wheel and away we went. I forced the first move of the day and drove it until we hit the second barrier then WHAP... freaking barrier monkey decided he wanted to lay the smackdown. After shaking off the cobwebs, dirt, and frustration that comes with your first time back on your cross bike in two weeks, I drilled it and chased back onto the front group no problem. From there it was clear sailing until about 45 minutes in. My lower back has been bugging me, and the lack of pressure my body has had on it resting the past few weeks didn't like the beating it was taking today. Finally I cracked and soloed in for third on the day. Overall I was happy regardless of crashing on each obstacle. Thats right, sand, barriers, and runup (Dont wear toe spikes when running up concrete steps!) Nothing like driving almost 4 hours, with no phone reception to race for 55 minutes, no money, and drive 4 hours back. What can I say, I'm a rockstar! I even have my own van (courtesy of Miami University Motor Pool)

Sunday--- OVCX Gun Club Cross
After another nearly four hour drive back home I found myself up bright and early getting some homework done... since I guess school is rather important and having an exam on Monday it seemed logical. Gammers and I headed down to Loveland to throw down on the OVCX series... the only thing I ended up throwing down was a front row callup that I ruined the first time through the sandpit. Suprisingly at the start my legs felt pretty good and I got a clean clip in. The pace was fast and I found that there had already been a split in the field. Going into the pit all hell broke loose and I found myself head deep in sand. On my face. On my hands. Between my buttcheacks... it was everywhere. I managed to collect myself and realized that I had gone from nearly top 5 to dead last and the chace was on. Slowly I worked my way back up through the mountainbike course turned cross course to finish alright. The wreck coupled with the burped tube midway through the race and I had enough to complain about on the way home... In the end, I finished 12th or 13th. A result many would be happy with but one I was disgusted with. I will say one thing though. Cross here in Ohio is going to be missed. I have noticed that cross in the south isn't quite what it is in the midwest and I'm positive I will be making it back up for some races next year from Greenville thats for sure. The group of guys I have come to know, and learn from will forever be the best people I know. What a group. What a sport. What a freaking trainwreck. Here are some pics but I'm sure Ill be able to pop some more up. Word is there was some video footage of the sandpit playtime I got into on lap one. Supposedly it looked like an orgy of spandex guys mauling each other and looking like complete idiots. Although I like to say I did not cause such a problem, I will admit, it was not my fault. Had it not been for the silly little sand lepricon i hit, everything would have been o.k. If you know where he ran off to tell him to meet me at the bigtoy at recess... It's ON! Anyway, once I get some footage of the fall, or what I call a stylish crascendo of french ballet mastery or for better words uncontrolled plummet of death, I assure you, entertainment will commence. Don't worry, don't worry, I am able to autograph anything for a price! Enjoy the pictures I do have courtesy of kwellshamilton

Two Johns Podcast was there announcing. Well done!

The start... all business on this end! Nieport has the poopy face! Rad!

Gammers rippin the sand on the way to his first win this season! Hella good ride man!

Me on the chase back after the sand lepricon attack!

Brad Huff Tour of Missouri Crash Remix 1.0

2007-10-31T22:01:00.001-04:00

HOLY CRAP!!! Whoever said road racing is for pansies... yeah, keep it shut for now.

Did someone say Holiday...

2007-10-31T18:02:00.000-04:00

It has now been two weeks away from racing, almost the same off the bike and needless to say it couldn't have gone any better. Things accomplished in the past two weeks:
--Cracking from overtraining...check
--Resting becuase of cracking from overtraining... check
--getting a girlfriend... NOT! Thought I would throw some people off
--Compile enough purposeless blubber to hold me over through December and nationals which are in Kansas...Check check check!
--Eat brownies... check
--Eat cake...check --Eat brownies, cake, and pumpkin pie...mmmm check.

Finally it's time to stop the slacking off and get back to work. I can honestly say that three weeks without racing cross has made me a bit rusty. It's incredible to hear about the big dogs kicking us Midwesterners around in a few of the local races. With two UCI weekends in three weeks, I guess I picked a good three weeks not to race. It was also awsome to see Fulcrum coaching's very own BILL and TED also known as my boys DAN and DAVE show the Ohio spirit and love for big Berry Wicks at Louisville GP of cyclocross:
PHOTOS HERE

Now that I think I've thrown up in my mouth, I'm going to go to a stupid stupid group meeting so I can complain about how stupid I think this assignment for english is and say how stupid I'm getting becuase I'm having to do the stupid assignment... I have to wear a pink shirt for it too... stupid I SAY! As for the rest of the week. Off to the land where Honesy and Hops flow like a river, also known as Kentucky for the kickoff of the three week collegiate cross season at Lindsey Wilson college. If it's wort sticking around for I will but most likely it will be a four hour drive there then a four hour drive back, sleep, hour drive to cincy for the Gun Club Cyclocross which John Gatch and Two Johns Podcast is hosting then an hour drive back to say how very little I've actually accomplished over the past 48 hours at which time I will probobly go to sleep, doing no homework until morning giving myself enough time to wake up, eat, do homwork and get to class the minute before psycho Frag counts me absent... again.

LIVIN THE DREAM SINCE 1986...well actually things only got interesting since 2005 but whatever!

It's on paper...

2007-10-15T09:37:00.000-04:00

This was the story that made the news here in Greenville... the roster is now complete but this was written a few weeks ago!

Pretty cool.

Greenville, SC – Hincapie Sportswear is proud to announce the formation of its new Under-23 Junior Development Cycling Team to be managed out of its home office in Greenville, SC. The Hincapie Development Team will consist of six to eight 15-23 years old development riders and three Elite racers. The Team is focused on promoting the sport of cycling through an experienced rider mentoring program that allows U23/Junior riders to race and train with experienced Pro/Elite cyclist. The mentors will provide guidance in every aspect of the sport including training techniques, racing strategy, nutrition and sports psychology. In addition to these critical skills, the experience will also help promote an active lifestyle with life-long benefits.

“We have promoted cycling on many levels from event promotion to race team management and this is the next step in our support of the sport,” said Rich Hincapie, Team Leader and president of Hincapie Sportswear. “My brother, George and I understand how far you can go in this sport when you have quality opportunities, and we’re proud to provide support to these talented junior cyclists. Two-time National Champion, Craig Lewis was a rider on our Hincapie Elite Team several years ago, and he recently signed a professional contract to ride with George on T-Mobile, one of the most prestigious pro teams in the world. In addition to Craig’s success, our Elite Team has also developed numerous National and World Champions, so we know the program can succeed.”

Rich and George Hincapie are both products of USA Cycling’s junior development program. Most leaders in the sport agree that the key to growing bicycle racing in the US is to develop junior racers from a young age. There are development programs locally that help introduce riders to bike racing, but the Hincapie Development Team will provide the missing link between casual competition and racing on the elite pro level. Racers on the Hincapie Team will be groomed and managed to help them graduate from the amateur ranks into the pro peloton. These opportunities will help these talented youngsters achieve their cycling dreams.

Hincapie Development Team Roster:
U-23 Development Riders
AJ Meyer- JR Cat 2, Cohutta, GA
Ty Manger- JR Cat 2, Griffen, GA
Ben Gabaldi- JR Cat 3, Jackson, MS; 2007 13/14 JR National TT & Criterium Champion
David Hutton- U-23 Cat 1, Monroe, OH; Furman University Student
3-4 Spots TBD

Elite Team Mentors
Rich Hincapie- (Greenville, SC) As a long-time veteran of professional and amateur bicycle racing, Rich will provide expert guidance on every aspect of the sport. Rich was an accomplished domestic professional before starting Hincapie Sportswear, and he still competes regularly on the Elite level.

Shane Weaver- (Greenville, SC) Shane has developed a reputation as an intense competitor and a savvy team tactician. His superior bike handling and solid training regimen have lead to numerous successes. The powerful Category 1 sprinter has amassed over 20 wins, including one National Championship and seven State Championships in his relatively short career.

Steve Carpenter- (Chattanooga, TN) This 20-year veteran’s racing resume includes three top-seven finishes at the Master’s National Road and Time Trial Championships, two Tennessee Best Area Rider Jerseys and multiple District Championships. He is respected throughout the Southeast for his time trial and climbing skills and his talent to motivate and coach riders of all ability levels.

time to get rippin!

The Roller Coaster Continues

2007-10-14T12:13:00.000-04:00

Greenville... yeah Greenville.

I guess I can go ahead and announce the news since I don't want to wait any more and this weekend made things "official". Starting the new year off right there will be some big changes.
1. I'm moving to Greenville. I finally got my acceptance to Furman so I am on my way to a new place, new people and new... stuff. I'm super excited to get things kicked off coming off my Holiday after cross season.
2. Hincapie Development Team here I come. Rocking some awsome kits (you will have to wait and see) and a stacked team, I'm super excited to get this rolling. Rich Hincapie and Shane Weaver are heading up a multifaceted development team that is looking to make an impact. Ex-national champs, current national champs, U23's Juniors, guys who spent some time in europe. It will be fun. With the focus changing from piss on (pardon) local crap to NRC and Southeast big shot stuff, I'm super excited to get things rolling and start taking things a little more serious. I cannot wait.

As for racing. I'm tired. I'm thinking about calling it a season and just enjoying the cross for what it's worth. A good time, and nothing too serious. I probobly am going to change my ambitions and start focusing on the Southeast hoopla to come next year and just let cross be a release for me. As for here and now, I DNF'd last nights crit and had a really bad day. My legs have just felt sluggish lately, and I really think I may be getting burnt out. Luckily I have mr. Weaver and Scottie Weiss here to keep me company. P.S. Scottie drinks more coffee than me. As for now, I can't really say any more about much until later, so I'm going to run and have yet another cup of coffee to try and match Weiss' 7 cups yesterday. Here are some pics of Weavers condo he let us trash for the weekend!

Scotties steed

My Bed...

The LOOOONG ride to the course. I think it's less than 1 kilometer away.

Yellow Springs. Yeah...Yellow Springs

2007-10-09T09:59:00.000-04:00

It's not too often you find yourself in a town like Yellow Springs. It takes a city with character and personality (very stoner character) to have a storefront called Dingleberries. But of course, it's towns like these that are happy to have us lycra clad fools running around on grass and jumping over bit wood boards! I'm living the dream, what can I say.

Again Ohio shed it's face of stupidity giving us 90 degree temperatures and singletrack. Dirt singletrack. Lovely dusty singletrack. I got the front row callup I was hoping for, but of course I blew it, like I always do. The first few laps were a little hectic but finally mid way throught he second lap things were starting to slow and split. I found myself in a good group of 6 or seven guys including Gamm and Rish, Keirin, Dave Emmig, and a few others. Again the cycling god's chuckled away as Rish and Swain of A&F decided it would be a splendid idea to bumper tag each other into a conveniently placed stalk from hell...Thank you breaks and bye bye good finish. I managed to squirt through but there was no luck, my day was finished. Knowing the two guys ahead of me in the standings were up the road I decided to play it safe and be a series whore and sit in with the guy behind me in the series standings, Dave.

Now at this point it got entertaining. As we road around all we kept hearing was "Go Dave!" and "Yeah Dave!" Finally I yelled at an unknown spectator saying "specify which Dave your rooting for you idiot!" Everyone got a kick out of it. In the end, Dave and I dragged it out for a wimpy 12th place finish, with me taking him by half a bike. Again I finished just out of the money, but for a stupidly open course with wallnuts of death strewn stupidly in all the technical turns, I was happy for the day to be over. After a coke and a cliff bar it was home sweet home.

Here are some pictures:
Dave and Dave
Dave and Dave again!
It was a bit hot!

Next weekend I'm off to the last road event of the year. Downtown Greenville Cycling Classic. I'll have an official announcement to make on Monday! Wish me luck racing with George Hincapie and Craig Lewis!

Michigan UCI Double Cross, Louisville Cross and My Rant

2007-09-29T10:38:00.000-04:00

Last weekend didn't go so well! I headed to Michigan for the Tailwind Double Cross with Mr. Page and some other pro's looking to get their UCI on. The course was pretty sweet, nothing too hard, yet nothing too easy. Your typical cross course. I got a good start and was sitting in the top half of the field until boom! On the deck thinking "what the *$&*". I untangled myself from a pile of guys to see the field GONE. Nowhere to be seen. I jumped back on and drilled it catching back on coming into the barriers. Things went alright through there until I passed the pit. Just past the pit my shifting completely went nuts and I was struggling to peddal without busting the chain or ruining a cassette. Needless to say I didn't do well. After that it was a long 5 hour drive home and after a ticket in a construction zone for "impeading traffic", stinky butt Gammers tooting over the river and through the woods, and being impressed with BG's ladies sitting outside of starbucks was a fun night in Oxford. Overall NOT the way to experience your first big UCI race. AT ALL! Now for the part I've been waiting to get out. THE RANT

RANT
This past weekend as any pedal pushing, shaved leg timmy knows marked the 2007 UCI World Championships in Stuttgart Germany. I was absolutely elated when I realized that WSCN.com was covering every race this year! Nothing like way too many hours spend watching people let a break go up the road for a few laps of relaxing racing then ripping each others legs off for the last two! What I will say is this. Paolo "the cricket" is an amazing person to watch. Seeing him instigate the decisive move then talk to the guys about not working hard enought then work his butt off only to end up taking them all to the line. If I were a rider in the break and saw how he was riding I would have been like "Piss off you little ball of Italian way-too-ephin strongness!" Either that or I would have done what Frank Schleck essentially did and drove myself into the ground knowing I stood the same chance as a volkswagon falling from the sky flaming only to land next to me catch my pants on fire and singe my leg hairs away. Yeah, I dont have leg hairs... my point precisely! Either way Cadel again showed that he truly is a pansy who isn't willing to work for a freaking thing in his life, only to STILL get outsprinted by everyone. And to think, I used to think Sastre didnt work for anything! In the end, the strong little cricket scampered his way to the line for a repeat and an amazing ride with an exciting finish. Not too shabby!

A good salute for a man being "targeted" by some UCI snob noses!

Louisville Cross
Finally Mr. Neiport and I headed to Louisville for the 4th race of the Ohio Valley series. A fun course + no crashes finds me working my way into the top 4 of the series standings behind three WAY stronger guys than me. But hey, for my first season, not too shabby. Especially since I have absolutely NO goals for this season and will most likely be heading down to fulfill my roady obligations in Greenville at the Michelin Downtown Greenville cycling classic the same week as the UCI double weekend in Middletown and Fairfield. Nothing like leaving for a 12 hour collective trip south when the races are in your home town and less than an hour collect travel time all weekend! We'll see how it plays out! Ill post pictures when they come out and hopefully next week I can get a picture of my FRONT ROW callup ill hopefully recieve for the overally standings:

1 Brandon Jessop -- BioWheels Racing
2 Mitch Graham -- BioWheels Racing
3 Phil Noble -- BioWheels Racing
4 David Hutton -- OneCallNow/Miami University
5 David Emig -- Fulcrum Coaching

Jumping right in... Stampede's and Tailwinds

2007-09-20T08:35:00.000-04:00

This past weekend was a great reace put on by darkhorse racing in Burlington KY. The turnout was pretty nice and a strong field worked its way to the line. The start of the weekend was spent with John Verheul of JVB coaching coming into Biowheels for some pizza, beer and watching cyclofile. Pretty fun stuff.

Saturday a group of us headed out for some skills work with john, lunch and figuring out how to race the course sunday. Sunday the race picked up with a great crowd. At the start I slipped a pedal and almost went down. Nothing like going into the first 180 degree turn in last wheel. I knew I wasn't going to be able to get to the front group so i slowly and patiently started working my way through the people ahead. It's nice being fit passing guys dragging their jaws on the top tube. Everything was going really well until this happened:

yep... thats a broken seat stay on a 3 week old bike! Tears are welling. So now i have the challenge of getting this bike warrantied while getting ready for Tailwind sports UCI double cross in Davisburg, MI. Nothing like going into your first ever UCI race with about an hour on a bike thats not yours with a field including:
1. WORLD SILVER MEDALIST JONATHAN PAGE (who is now living full time in Belgium as a euro cross pro)
2. Trek VW rider Tristain Schouten
3. The great Steve Tillford, who seems to be one of the greatest all around american riders to date
4. First year crosser and bikeless senior transfer student David Hutton. In case you havent hear of him, he's basically awsome.... people know him!

anywho. It's going to be a long day with class, my coaches husband mark most likely coming into town for the day, and going to pick up Jason's bike down at Reser Bicycles in KY. Thanks for saving my season jason!

Until later. try not to break your bike and know that Apple Fritters are AMAZING! Yaaaay pastries

IT has BEGUN!

2007-09-11T14:33:00.000-04:00

The cross season has officially started. I headed north to Heath, Ohio for the kick off of the Ohio Valley Cyclocross Series. For my first race on a cross bike I was pretty happy to pull in a top 10 finish and work my way into the top half of the finishers. I was suprised that my fitness was where it was. I was able to hold with the from group for a few laps but I just couldnt get through the barriers as fast as them, and once the elastic snapped "WHAP!" it hit me right in the jaw. I was able to keep my composure but still I realized there are some major technical things i need to work on. Clipping in being the major! I know... pathetic. But i tell you what, finishing ahead of a guy who's been riding cross for 7 years and basically coaches mostly cross riders, I was satisfied (not not happy) with my performance. I thought I would throw up my cross schedule on here for anyone to check out. It looks like it's going to be a busy semester of class and racing. Just how I like it!

Sept 9 OVCX #1 - City of Heath Festival Cross Columbus, OH
Sept 16 OVCX #2 - Cyclo-Stampede presented by Darkhorse Racing Burlington, KY
Sept 23 - Pedal Power Cyclocross-Masterson Station Park Lexington, KY
Sept 29 CapCity #2 - Alum Creek State Park presented by Echelon/Trek Store Columbus Columbus, OH
Sept 30 OVCX #3 - JP Morgan Tour de Louisville Louisville, KY
Oct 6 CapCity #3 - Worthington Area Park presented by Team Awesome/Jeni's Ice Cream Worthington, OH
Oct 7 OVCX #4 - John Bryan Fall Classic Yellow Springs, OH
Oct 13 OVCX #5 - UCI C2 - Java Johnny's - Lionheart Cross Middletown, OH
Oct 14 OVCX #6 - UCI C2 - BioWheels/United Dairy Farmers Harbin Park Cincinnati, OH
Oct 21 OVCX #7 - Riverside Cross Cincinnati, OH
Oct 27 OVCX #8 - UCI C2 - US Gran Prix Louisville #1 Louisville, KY
Oct 28 OVCX #9 - UCI C2 - US Gran Prix Louisville #2 Louisville, KY
Nov 4 OVCX #10 - Gun Club Cross Cincinnati, OH
Nov 10 CapCity #4 - Grandview Area Park presented by Team Awesome/Jeni's Ice Cream Grandview, OH
Nov 11 OVCX #11 - Brookside Cyclocross Cup/USCF Indiana State Championships Indianapolis, IN
Nov 18 OVCX #12 - Promotion Cross Lexington, KY
OR
Nov 17 & 18th- North Carolina GP- Hendersonville, NC
Nov 25 OVCX #13 - Team Columbus/USCF Ohio State Championships Lexington, KY
Dec 1 CapCity #6 - Lane Rd. Park Upper Arlington presented by Echelon/Trek Store Columbus Arlington, OH
Dec 2 OVCX #14 - Storm the Greens/USCF Kentucky State Championships Louisville, KY
Dec 9 OVCX #15 - Series Finale - Wendell Moore Cross Buckner, KY
Dec 12-16- USA CYCLING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS! Kansa City, KS

Hope some people can make it out
Tough Run Up section

NEW BIKE courtesy of Van Dessel Bikes! PRETTY!

It Begins.... the CROSS SEASON!

2007-09-09T09:23:00.001-04:00

High 77 Degrees... swwwweeeeeeeet
Winds 5-10 mph... NIIIIICE
Chances of rain 80%. localized heavier rain possible..... HAHA!

Thats right. cyclocross kicks off this week in Heath, Ohio and for the 8,000 time this year the cycling god is laughing his hind end off at us spendex clad worriors! It's been rainless here in Ohio for the past month and a half and of course, just in time, it poors for two days strait. It killed my powertap yesterday and is going to make today PREEEEETY interesting. Hopefully I can get some pictures or heck even a video or two up tonight or tomorrow. Until then this will keep you more than entertained.

LOVE OF SPORT!

---Cheers---

I have to wait 3 months!!!!

2007-09-04T15:26:00.000-04:00

This weekend, simply put, was a rockin' fun time. Not only did Seth and I head down to SC, but I had a pretty good race, got to watch the US ProChamps Road Race, take part in one of the most awsome parties ever, and then come home to a cross bike! HOLY SCHNICKIES!

Greenville was awsome. I got a chance to do my first race in the area im hopefully living in starting in January and it was great. I good agressive ride, with some hills, sore legs, and lots of attacking, chasing, and all that fun bike stuff. Overall I finished 18th. Nothing to be happy with, but considering we had almost 60 riders and only 20 some finished it was a pretty good day!

Good Size fields are normal here i guess!?

Coming through for a feed...
Sunday after resting up all night and eating a GREAT bunch of pizza from Mellow Mushroom Seth and I headed for a late afternoon ride with some guys from Furman and then headed into town with all 70,000 other people to watch the national championship road race. It was awsome to see those guys ripping around town like they were. 4 times up Paris mountian for good measure too! WOW. Levi Leipheimer took the big time win showing how strong he really is. He soloed nearly 20 miles for the win a full minute ahead of what was left of the race!

Food time on the ride in Publix

Picture time with Saul Raisin

Levi taking the win!

Picture time with Tyler Hamilton... nuf' said

Fast Freddie with John Vaughters of slipstream.

After all the hustle and bustle of the race and getting out of town we headed back to the Hotel to change and head to George's (Yes THE George Hincapie) afterparty. It's a long story and one that i will soon be able to explain more. Let's just say there are some changes coming. Any way. It was a great time to just chat with some very awsome people over some drinks and stories of everything we love. Enjoy the pictures. They are PRETTY cool.
Newly Crowned National Champion and Tour de France podium-er Levi Leipheimer

Big George and the little one. He had actually "heard about me".

2 Daves... Yes thats Dave Z, current US TT champ

Tony Cruz of Discovery channel. Hell be around a little more joining BMC next season.

Bobby J. taking off from the hotel we were staying at. he explained that pros too cramp!

Fast Freddie home after being on the Belgian squad with McEwin all season.

Race announcer Dave Toll and Soignier Sarah from Navigators. Dave grabbed her butt. Funniest two people I talked to all night.

Just hangin out... yeah pretty sweet eh?

So yeah. Crazy times in Greenville. Totally great. As for now, I have some ripping off of my legs to do on the bike. ITS CROSS SEASON YA'LL!

Rippin!

2007-08-29T15:18:00.001-04:00

for those of you who ride bikes, do you ever have those days where you go out and feel like your absolutely ripping the pedals off your bike. Yesterday was once again a tough day on the bike courtesy of the Uber secret mission impossible training program Kim has me on right now, and boy was I ripping! Nothing putting out sustained power WELL over your normal! yaya.

Back to Greenville
That being said, im excited to be coming back to racing. After a two week slip from racing, to bust my butt into shape, im excited to give the Greenville Road Race a run! Seth and I are heading south to check out US prochamps and to party with the pros for a night. I can't wait. Sunday should be a fun ride with some of the locals before we watch the big boys rip up Paris mountain. Should be a hoot.

The show that is Professional cycling
Although it has been a touch season for cycling, it is now getting to a very interesting and in my opinion a very interesting point. With the Vuelta Espania and Worlds just around the corner there are some big things to look forward to. Also with teams and sponsors changing a little its cool to see that an American team is going to be a heck of a show. Team Slipstream is getting not only the fun american additions of Tommy Danielson, And Dave Z. but also are getting magnus backstead, david millar, as well as matti white. Tony Cruz is heading to BMC so that should be a BLAST racing against him next year. And finally Big George is heading to T-mobile... wow. NUTS!

A look at doping puts the spotlight now on Alejandro Valverde... hes out for worlds which sucks considering he has always been one I thought was clean. It would be sad to know he's doping if he is, becuase this year it must not be working becuase he's been struggling and he doesnt look like this....

either way it's a pitty. 2 weeks until cross season. this should be a blast!

Changes....

2007-08-27T08:58:00.000-04:00

With school picking up and everything the posts are coming slow. I know. The first week of classes went off almost without a hitch. My ed. professor is OUT of her BLOODY mind! The other classes seem pretty cut and dry so yeah, nothing to explain there. Campus has been awsome this week. Everyone has been getting together, lots of cookouts, team group rides,lots of dinners, and lots of... FUN! It's always nice to head out for a late afternoon ride in oxford and stroll back through uptown, clad in spandex to get yelled at by already drunk guys at skippers. Classy.

Gamm came back from nationals to tell me that all hell broke loose while there and that mark broke his foot. Not cool. It's gotta be tough having the lead in the US crit series and losing it like this. Have a look at what Mark has to say about it. Best wishes to you man.

I also have some VERY exciting news that should be coming out in the next week and a half or so, I'm excited for a few things that are happening and I should have the big suprise coming in next week when I get back from my state RR and US Pro Champs in Greenville SC.

Until then,
-D-

Back to normal

2007-08-20T16:24:00.000-04:00

So I'm back at school and classes just started today. It's been nice. After last weeks hard training and racing im on a rest week so much needed time with everyone around the house is GREAT! Classes are o.k. and we FINALLY got some much needed rain here. I got some good info when I was in greenville about possible teams for when I move down there and I found out that the school im going to hopefully be at has an AWSOME cycling team. Im really excited but a little bummed im leaving here and all the awsome people ive gotten to know over the past 3 years or so. Oh Well sometimes things need to change. As for now, here are some pictures from Greenville and being back home for the first week!

my soon to be school FURMAN

my friend and local racer Peter and I riding through campus

Nothing like climbing PARIS mountain the day of tuesday night worlds at Donnelson center

Easy riding with my teammate/housemate/guy who hasnt shaved his legs in three weeks

When my coach says EASY ride i do an EASY ride.

Im off to Greenville again labor day weekend for US pro champs and the state championship there. Until later.

Vacation pt: Deux

2007-08-09T07:37:00.000-04:00

After a few days in Chattanooga riding and hanging out im remembering why this is one of two places I want to move some time soon. I got a chance yesterday to head out for a little bit with Kim, one of Kim's teammates and Mark for a little while. We headed up an absolutely awsome climb named Suck Creek. It was a stellar climb, beautiful and deffinately one at the top of my favorites list so far in my life training. I felt really strong and actually feel like each day, although a little sore, am getting stronger. I got a chance to split off on my own to get some riding in alone which is nice for the thinking. Not long after Suck Creek came the climb that I feel is one of the hardest and worst climbs ever; Henson's Gap. Switchback after switchback had me cursing first under my breath then downright screaming at the hill. Thank God no races go up that freaking monster. With it being 105 degree heat index Kim was nice enough to come escort me back home and considering i had been on the bike for 3:26, it was more than welcome.

Today Mark and I are taking Kim and crazy Jamie to the airport so they can head to Aspen for a mountain bike race... gay. Then it's packing and heading to Johns tomorrow afternoon and the hell of a race that is known as Dahlonega. Until later enjoy these photos I FINALLY got off my camera David Bishop had. There from Edgar Soto a little while back.

My "vacation" pt:I

2007-08-07T21:47:00.001-04:00

I made it to chattanooga in piece and im glad to be here. Shacked up with my coach Kim and her husband Mark and their three dogs and a cat really is pretty awsome. I got in my first day of training today with my friend who lives here and fellow rider of my coach's. We got in a good 2 hours with Kim, Mark, David and another of Kims riders going up part of one of the hills here from tour of Georgia. Good stuff. After winding through the shaded backcountry David and I broke off to go get two more climbs in. It's a bit hot here so I think I lost a lot of fluid on the first climb, and by the second I was pretty shot and ready for my days riding to be done. I headed up Racoon Mountain, which really is a hellishly hard climb. I guess there is a local race that finishes atop that climb. WOW! To have that in Ohio would be amazing! After slogging my now soggy and still overweight carcass up the climb I headed down and back to Kims for a sandwich, shower, and a nap.

Mark and I headed into downtown to meet up with Kim after work for dinner and one of her co-bikeshoppers came along. Bunches of bread, Salad, and eight no bakes later im stuffed, happy and mad at myself for eating YES EIGHT no bakes... O.K. It's not my fault Marks a puss and wont eat them. Whatever.

Tomorrow is a 4 hour loop ride up Suck Creek and Hensons Gap. Should feel awsome after a day like today... (no sarcasm here) And for your information this is a vacation for me, so yeah, 7 hours on a bike in 2 days is fun. If not then whatever! Until tomorrow!

A little rest is always good

2007-08-04T08:28:00.000-04:00

So i decided to take this week and forego the punishment that would have been Crossroads cycling classic in North Carolina.

So instead, for the first time in months im not racing today. It has been a nice week coming back from Altoona and taking a break before the hard end of the season I have planned. Ill be leaving for Georgia monday and I couldnt be more excited. Ill be spending a little less than a week with Coach Kim in chattanooga area to get a good block of climbing in my legs. Friday I'm heading deeper into the south to stay with John Kelley and his dogs down in HOTlanta (aka the island of misfit cyclists). There is a good race in Dahlonega with a 7 km uphill time trial fallowed that same evening with a circuit race with some decent "rollers" (hills to us Ohioans). Sunday is the epic seven climb 80 mile road race that will feel to me like a 5 alper (again I HATE ohio and thats partly why im LEAVING!). I love the fact that part of the course we will be doing is part of the HARDEST day in Tour of Georgia! You know you in store for a hella hard ride when you talking to your coach and is goes as follows...
ME: "Yeah I figured I would stay until friday and go and stay with John... I guess there is a pretty sweet Georgia Cup Race down there!"
Kim: "Yeah where at"
ME: "Danalega...?"
Kim: "Oh Dahlonega... hahahaha! Yeah (insert pause to represent your going to die here!"

WHY CANT PEOPLE JUST LET THINGS BE A SUPRISE! Now i think im going to go down there and be chased up the side of a 20+ grade mountain by revenous back country Georgia snake shakers or something!

After racing I will be heading to Greenville SC to get some riding/training in as well as visit Furman and hopefully find out if financially I am good to go so then I can look forward to getting down there in January. Im excited for the changes going on this year, and although I will miss the utopian community of Oxford, OH, in all honesty I am ready to get away. You see Oxford is like a black hole for chaos via sarenity. Im ready to get where I BELONG, and start a new life with new people and new things. I will miss my family above all, but sometimes to grow up you have to put yourself in a situation where you have to. Something I have yet to do here, and something that needs done.

As for now, I have a cup of coffee with my name on it. NO REALLY the mug had my name right on the side. And it is time it goes down the hatchet. Check THIS out...this is the only thing I can say is more crazy than naked mountain bike crits in Vermont!

Also I have a new BIKE ON THE WAY. The guys at Van Dessel sports are awsome and are hooking me up for cross season this year with their Gin and Trombones (named after some belgian stuff thats too complex to explain on its own!) Cool thing is im getting it in a color they down even offer right now! PIMPS! When it comes in in about a week or so Ill get a picture. Until then its a SUPRISE!

-HUGS, Dee-

Tour de Toona and the comedy of professional cycling!

2007-07-31T11:04:00.001-04:00

Tour de Toona Day 1
I was coming into tour de Toona with high hopes of a top ten GC finish and some good fitness... luckily one of those happened. Sort of. The first days race was an intense and short circuit race in the boonies outside Altoona P.A. deep in the realm of Menonite (Floyd) country. It was a rolling circuit that came into town for a very tight very very fast crit like thing coming into the finish before heading back out on the bigger circuit. I was able to ride agressively, and actually got in an attack on the final lap that had promise. Sadly, when the pace of the field is over 27 mph it's hard to stay away. Coming into the finishing circuit everything got REALLY scetchy and I ended up not risking my life and coming in with the WAY TOO INTACT field. Oh well.

Tour de Toona Day 2
After checking out the course the night after the circuit race, I knew it would be a day of work for me to get Justin in the front group. My legs havent been reacting to climbing well this year and considering im about 6 pounds heavier than I need to be to climb well, today I would be a work horse and was I ever. I spent the majority of the first 40 miles toward the front going with a few stupid yet possibly good moves then all hell began. Blue knob signs began to show up and the closer we got the faster we went. At the base of the climb I started hurting and I did what I needed to to get Justin in the front. Then boom, the wall of 10-15% grade hit the thighs and I was finished. After about 15 miles of chasing in a sad belief that we just might catch one of the front groups we started picking up small groups and sadly one had Justin in it. Poop. In the end we had a fun little finish sprint that I finished 2nd in. oh well. Sunday I kind of hurt my knee so I didnt get too far into the crit. Good thing. It was a hellish course and I was not even 50% so I called it a day and watched the remainder of the race from the sideline. Oh well.

Chalk up another and another gone

Iban Mayo is a doper.

Sweet... who else? With that being said, the clean team in America is looking to grow. Sliptream is adding not only David Millar, THE Dave Z, and Christian Vande Velde and "a past winner of Paris Robaix" Check out the article here. I remember reading a few months back an article about big Maggie Backstead and how he hoped to work with up and coming pros when he got older. Considering Van Petegam, Boonen and Stuey are all pretty set in their teams and their roles on those teams my money is on Big Maggie. This could make NRC racing in the states pretty intense if they decide they want to come over and "play" wahoo.

Any way, its time for me to get on the bike. I have a two week block to get ready for Georgia Cup Stage Race and then it's vacation, school, and greenmountain or Windsor. yaya

What the hell is happening?

2007-07-26T07:47:00.000-04:00

The Situation
The yellow jersey Michael Rassmussen puts the hammer to the best riders in the world on what many call the hardest day in tour de france history. It seems like life in the cycling world is calming down and finally starting to clean up. WRONG! Less than an hour after finishing his amazing march up Col d'Aubisque Cristian Moreni of Cofidis comes across the line and is welcomed with open arms by french police. He tested positive for testosterone. Once again, the system is cleaning up and everything is good. less than six hours later all hell breaks lose. Rasmussen is removed from the tour, in yellow, for lying about his whereabouts durring the off season. SO.... yellow jersey gone, Moreni and his entire team GONE, and Astana GONE, I guess I have to settle for the fact that again discovery will win the tour AGAIN. Yes I'm American and yes I'm glad to have freedom of speech and all that other nice stuff like food, clean water, obesity and suv's but im deffinately not one walking around with a bald eagle on my head dawning a stars and bars toga. In all honesty I'm a little tired of american teams and riders winning. Luckily the newly changed yellow goes onto the shoulders of a 23 year old spaniard. But still. Discovery.... dang. It's like the yankees getting into the world series AGAIN because some guy on some other team is on steroids or something! Er...wait... but...nevermind. All I can do now is that everyone wrecks in the TT Cadel makes it through unscathed and becomes the first Aussie to win the tour and that the rest of the top 10 gets caught as drugies so that horner and maybe just maybe Luxembourger Schleck can take a podium like he deserves... maybe Jens Voigt or even Tom "the tornado" boonen? Nothings impossible in todays world. So here is my conclusion for tour winner:

AND WHAT IS HIS "SUBSTANCE" OF CHOICE!?!?!?

Life for us Normal People
The hunt for a new home is underway as I said. I realized I only put up one potential place of possible export this winter, but there is another. Hopefully I will know in the next few weeks which one is going to work out best. HOPEFULLY! As for now, myself, J.Anderson, Kerman, Billy "the yorkshire beast" York, and B-Unit Tim are off to Tour de Toona. yaya! Wish us luck! 6 hour drive with 5 guys. yeeeeeeeeees!

Need more coffee. J.A. Your a pansy!

The chicken, life, and learning how to fall

2007-07-24T08:17:00.000-04:00

Les attaques de poulet!
As many people, even those who dont give a flying whi cares about cycling know that there is some big bike race going on right now in France. Apparently it's a big tour, and apparently it's kind of a big deal. For me this has been one of the most entertaining cycling spectacles I've ever seen (unless you count the naked bike races @mountain bike nationals). Not only is the race so wide open that a freight trail could billow through it, but the leader of the tour is a 130 pound 5'9" dane who's nickname is the chicken... Need I say more.

Learning to get up
Sunday's racing landed at one of the more interesting, tough, yet fun courses in the local vacinitiy. Tour d'Burg is a comprised of no less than 7 turns, with a poopy brick section, 90 degress turn with a sewer grate in it and 3 brick walkways to work your way through when turning. Fun I know. After a rather agressive start, I could tell Justin was feeling good, and decided to get him a result he so desperately needed. So after getting away twice in the first 15-20 minutes (with roadhouse riders on wheel again) Justin was able to go with a counter and make the first real group. It was up to me to shut the field down seeing that no other team really "wanted" to. So, after 20 minutes of fun chasing, attacking, and tempoing on the front, Kirk of course went. HARD. Thinking twice I hesitated and missed probobly my best chance at a good result for the rest of the year. Oh well. Coming into on of the backside turns on the course, "ahhhh". Yeah, on the deck I went. Hip busted, elbow bleeding everywhere, I made my way back, bike unscathed to the pit for a restart. Luckily there were only about 7 laps to go so I sat on, waited for the sprint, and gave it what I could given my condition. In the end just got 10th or something, and I, have no idea where I finished. Who cares. It's Ohio.

Moving on
Finally, it looks like I have a new home coming soon. Keep me in your thoughts (prayers if thats your thing), as I am making a big step in chance, and hoping it pays off well in the end.

Troy Classic Recap

2007-07-22T09:08:00.001-04:00

First I have to say there is nothing like living the professional amature cyclist life. Riding, working every once in a while. Traveling. Eating. Sweeeeeet. Yesterday marked my return to Troy classic and although the result did not come as well as I thought it would I can say I'm very happy with my fitness It doesnt help when you roll into a race with 12 guys from Texas Roadhouse and no a combined 1,2,3 and U23 field. You have to love Ohio. Paul Martin was there in his stars and bars jersey so that was a cool thing to be riding with. Even better was the fact that he was my mark for the day. Wahooo. The race was negative as is every race around here with roadhouse putting three in a move with Grimm from Team Godspeed. It was up to me and a guy from team sweet to play the agressive idiots and try and pull back the 30 second gap. Needless to say, no one helped. With 10 laps to go I moved to the front to string it out and try and limit the attacks for alex. He got in a conflict with a roundabout but made his way back and was riding agressively. With 5 to go I again moved up and was drilling it just to see he had been dropped.... Yeah. Awsome. I swung off and had a bit of a conversation with some people in a raised voice and the field came in for a sprint. Big suprise. I started the sprint too far back and didn't feel like sprinting for 20th place so I just coasted in for 30th or something. again, not a result I like, and not one that shows my fitness. Oh well, thats bike racing! Got some good pictures, so enjoy!
Assessing the damage!?

Stringing it out AGAIN. Looking relaxed eh? I guess im fit or something

Sitting in again. The calm before the storm of 10 to go!

sitting comfortable in 5th wheel

Call it a day...

Gett'r DONE!

2007-07-18T21:07:00.000-04:00

So im sitting here watching one of the most entertaining tours in years, being stuffed to the gills with Chicken and garlic sauce from Phan Shin uptown and I thought it would be a good idea to take care of a few things. Firstly, I guess I needed to register for toona since It has been one of the focus races of my season. Secondly, i finally sat down and figured out my total schedule, and WOW, is it busy.

So here it is:
7.21- TROY CLASSIC CRITERIUM
7.22- TOUR DE BURG
7.27/29- INTERNATIONAL TOUR DE TOONA
8.1/5- CROSSROADS CYCLING CLASSIC/HANES PARK CRITERIUM ***NRC***
8.11/12- Tour of Elk Grove
VACATION to GREENVILLE
8.25- Rockford Criterium
8.26- Chagrin Falls G.P.
8.31-9.3- Gateway Cup

So yeah, for those of you wondering where ill be, ta-duh! Thats where ill be. As for now, im going to bed. yes it's 9:30. I really dont care!

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...

2007-07-16T10:13:00.000-04:00

Im back in ohio from nationals and needless to say, I have had better experiences... Points to highlight:
1. Driving to 7 Springs BLOWS from ohio.
2. Meeting two cocky Kodak Gallery Riders at Ruby Tuesdays is entertaining
3. Getting wrong directions from the host hotel and missing your national RR start SUCKS!
4. TT's on INTERSTATES with headwinds DONT suit me!
5. 30 mph average crits ROCK
6. Making a drive from PA to OHIO starting at 8:30 p.m. is nearly impossible.

Theres a lot to explain so im going to avoid a lot. Firstly, YES we DID miss the start of the RR, NO its NOT my fault, and YES I was REALLY pissed off. The TT the fallowing day in no way suited me, and I hope they find a different way to handle it next year, and yes, I will be in better shape thats for sure. As for the TT here is a picture of my buddy BEN GABARDI winning the 14 year old age group TT... this kid can fly. Tell me when you last saw a 14 year old guy look like this!

As for the crit, I have to say, this course was very nice, yet very hard at the same time. Simply put, 3 corners + 90 some riders x No one getting away means that this course was FAST. And considering I found my way off the front once at 30+ with 3 others and got pulled back in less than one lap is a perfect example. I was in great position for a top 25 finish coming into the final corner until a rock and republic rider found a way to force the field into chaos, allowing oh about half the field behind to move into a better position than myself with less that 500 meters to go... thanks bud! To make it even better. The guy whos wheel I was fallowing for the last 5 laps (Cody O'Reily) found his way onto the podium avoiding the insanity behind. AWSOME...

Overall, it was a learning experience and I look forward to next year, know how things work and being in much better form. Maybe some top 25's or even better.... after all i have only been on a bike for less than 2 years!

as for now, im running solely on coffee and pop-tarts from last night and this morning and am now off to the shop for an 8 hour day of dealing with bikes I really dont care about. We'll see how this plays out.

until later
-dee-

p.s. two fun local races coming this weekend. Everyone should come out and support!

"Looking for a slap and tickle": A few long weeks!

2007-07-08T13:52:00.001-04:00

So it seems it has been quite a while since posting so figured I would keep he few people who read this entertained for as long as...well... Someone with as oddball a life can keep anyone entertained. Last weekends races were as hit and miss as the bars can be here in Oxford in the summer (Ill explain later).

Hyde Park treated me alright. I pulled out a 7th place regardless of coach KIM giving me a workout to do durring it. That course is fun, but sometimes, I dont know, after a CRAZY hard week on the bike, you just can't go as hard as you wish. So after making some money, I headed up to columbus to be BLOWN out of the water in Grandview. I havent been dropped from a crit in 15 minutes since... well... now that I think about it, I NEVER have. Gammers rode like a raging angry little man as always and beat up on the pros and ex-national champs for second place. Hes a stud!
Here are some pics from saturday:
Trying to bring em back!
STILL off the front
SUPRISE... OFF the front

This weekend i came off a rip rearing hard week on the bike again trying to get ready for nationals so i decided to only do one race. Considering state road race champs were going on, why not. Lucky me my body reacted better to stress this week and I pulled out a podium getting second. I completely dehydrated myself and my feed wasnt at the right place on the course so i did nearly have the race on "E" In the end I was pretty happy but hurting REALLY bad. Which leads me to the section of the post called LIFE.

I have decided to move back to Oxford for the remainder of the summer considering the travels will be frequent why not. Since back here on tuesday my days have ended at bars... lots of bars.... and the encounters have been downright unexplainably funny! in a few short quotes I think I can lay out how things have been...
"PONG!"..."There not coming i guess"---Getting ditched
"6 in an hour!?"---reaction to getting ditched
"YOU LAUGH at me?--From an angry cagefighting boyfriend we have tagged as crazys**t
"NOOOOOOO!" ---two girls reaction to my requesting of drink at 45 east
"It was my idea to take them home"---why cage fighter wanted to kill me
"I guess I enhaled some chemicals at work and I feel terrible, I guess I have to stay up late so I see if i die or not!"
"What do you do after you leave bars... in Austria bars do not close till 5 or 6 o'clock...."
the always favorite...."where'd my pants go??"
then the QOUTE OF THE WEEK"Did you know theres a possum outside the door of your apartment....?

I love Oxford! Thanks Gamm and Tyler for a hellafun week. Thanks to two funny funny girls with BIG boyfriends. Thanks to Austrians. And thanks to fun girls with 21st birthdays. Thank God im not staying here much longer the next few weeks. I might die! 4 days until NATIONALS in 7 springs PA... WAHOOOOO

Time to get going!

2007-06-29T08:25:00.000-04:00

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-

Home AGAIN!

2007-06-26T08:27:00.000-04:00

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

Chattanooga choo choo!

2007-06-17T09:12:00.000-04:00

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!

IM FAMOUS!!!....nooot

2007-06-12T23:47:00.000-04:00

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!

Some very cool stuff...

2007-06-09T21:41:00.000-04:00

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!

MORE RANDOM....

2007-06-08T11:51:00.000-04:00

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!

Meltdown in M-town...

2007-06-05T22:58:00.000-04:00

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

Call it a rough one!

2007-06-03T20:57:00.000-04:00

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--

Back at it...

2007-06-02T09:59:00.000-04:00

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!-

Let it be done...

2007-05-29T09:43:00.000-04:00

With four days of hard racing in the Nashtucky, I am home and happy. I finished which is more than I can say for many others. The first three days were hard but no where near as difficult as the last day. Aside from the detour on the wrong road, and high temperatures, the course was tough. I was able to avoid the feed zone mayhem, and stay with the front group until the huge 3 mile climb on the course. It was a really difficult one that didnt really allow you to set much a rhythm until you were too far into to set a rhythm. Either way, i finished and am very happy to complete my first ever stage race so that is done.

Im back home for a day or two before heading back to Oxford. I also start work today so thats fun. Nothing like 4 days of bikes, then coming home to work on bikes!

Thanks to everyone who called me and kept up with the race. The support was nice!
Our start on the final day

Coming up the climb the first time. It hurt.

Keep The Rubber Side Down...

2007-05-27T22:13:00.001-04:00

This is why you need to not wreck in 100+ person fields. This is my teammate Allen Morris. ouch!

he actually blistered his hand sliding...

the good wound.

Todays crit was hard, I lost time on the GC... whatever. Ill have pictures up soon when I can get them off my internal memory. tomorrow = 100+ miles. Yaaaaaay

two down and two to go... Nashville pt. duex

2007-05-27T09:05:00.000-04:00

Yesterdays events were the normal routine for race day. Waking up bright and early, a little unhappy about my previous night, hotel breakfast, starbucks and on the road for our little transfer to Franklin TN. The course was pretty intense, but nothing suprising for here. It was going to be 66 mi with 10 climbs racking up 1,100 ft. of elevation change per lap. The race started as expected, with the pro guys of Jelly Belly, Jittery Joes, and HEalthnet controlling the field but nothing was going away that early. After a few laps of sitting in, an attack went in from Healthnet that found one of their riders off the front in a mix and match group of pro and strong elite guys. Jittery Joes tried to control, but not luck was on their side today. 4 Laps in, Karl "the beast" Menzies put in a hella hard attack hurting what was left of the main field. I quickly started moving up when the field started to mellow, and got a chance to give it a go. Off the front with 4 others was fun, but once we got things organized jittery joes, and krystal elite was having NONE of it and drove hard to bring us back. In a poor attempt to get something going I attacked our group on a climb only to be caught 4 or so miles away.
The last lap hurt the legs with Jittery joes lining it out right after the feed zone leading up to the long climb. BY this time the field was dwindling and exploded on the last climb. My unlucky break was that I had a badly timed dropped chain that found me getting gapped and trying to chase back on. In the end I lost 46 seconds to the main field with one of the Healthnet riders winning the sprint in the break.

Other news:
1. Teammate Allen Morris found the going get tough putting in a very good finish in the 3's bunch sprint only to clip a roadside cone and find out how pavement feels at 40 mph. not fun seeing a 16 y.o. kid with gnarly road rash and blistered fingers but then again, thats racing for you!
2. Rich Harper from the back home team of A&F almost took a huge with for them at Raleigh Twilight finishing 3rd. Awsome for them.
3. Erik Zabel and Bjarne Riis suck because they take drugs and make our sport look bad. THANKS DICKS!
Loaded and ready to head south!

My lifeblood on the way down, AND in nashville, AND before races AND on the way home after a 100+ mile RR tomorrow!!!! Caffeine!

Nashville oh Nashville... (pt.1)

2007-05-25T08:57:00.000-04:00

Firstly, thank GOD for Panera bread. So wonderful, until you look up how many calories you just ate in a suffle and a pumpkin muffie! AHHHHH. I got a chance to go drive the TT course for the Soto Stage race and it's pretty awsome. Some nice technical turns, two climbs, seems like it will be REALLY fast. Im heading out there this morning to ride it and see how it feels on the legs.

Tomorrow is the circuit race running 66 mi. and covering 6,600 ft. of elevation change. Yay!

Sunday is the crit DOWNTOWN in NASHVILLE. I ran into a few people at Borders last night buying my normal race weekend reading and they were saying they knew a lot of people coming to watch, so it sounds like the crowds will come! Exciting.

Monday is the beast 109 mi road race ending on a multi-mile ascent to the finish. I'm feeling pretty motivated and excited, if only my legs felt the same. We'll see how it goes. FInally, I have to say, Brentwood is INSANE in the money aspect of life. My host house is massive, but is dwarft by their neighboring 2.6 million dollar home. WOW!

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN FOR PICTURES; ill be posting again soon!

Here we go again

2007-05-21T08:37:00.000-04:00

Two races in a little more than 12 hours. Yaya! As I previously mentioned, saturday marked the start of the crit season for me as I made it to Lancaster, oh for a lovely little Tym Tyler crit. Basic four corner, not technical, not hard course. Luckly A&F brough 12 riders so needless to say it was not so fun. Given the circumstances, and the addition of a Colavita pro, we were in for a fun night. Tim popped pretty hard early on and I know it was up to me to salvage anything I could from the race. After an hour and a half of racing I found myself rolling in 4th in the bunch behind the A&F 1,2,3. Overall I was pretty happy, I was able to put in some hard efforts and motivate the field a few times. I'm really looking forward to Soto.

As for sunday's race, I again found the wrong side of the pavement in the most negative race I have ever ridden in. A wasted 30 bucks and I was on my way back to Wooster with a full belly of Panera Bread Co. and coffee. Whatever. In all honesty, I think I would have lost my sanity if this race continued the way it had.

So now it's me signing off from Seattles in Wooster to head home for two days then Nashville for Edgar Soto Memorial Stage Race in Nashtucky! Here we GO!

Drillin it into turn 3

Chillin in the field.

I dont reccomend attacking with an open bag of gel in your mouth... it can get messy!

Pretty.... (random!)

2007-05-19T10:12:00.000-04:00

Today marks the start of the 2007 crit season for me and my team and im a bit mixed on my feelings. Although I absolutely love crits (nothing like going 25-30 mph for an hour on a pan flat course lots of times!) I am feeling a little indifferent. I'm not actually very good at crits and I find it hard to justify driving two hours to race for one and drive back 2 hours. Especially when it's put on by people who really dont pay out all that much. Anyway, I'll do it, whatever. It's better than not racing I suppose.

Aside from that, Tomorrow I will be heading to chipawa creek to do the hilly, yet supposedly fun race up there. I'm not driving so WHO CARES! I got nothing better to do! I am excited to post some pictures today. I finally got my tubies in and mounted so I took some "real" pictures of the bike. Cyclingnew.com style:

Isn't she pretty?

Conservative with the allow classic bars and 4 axis stem from Ritchey

SRAM

Lot's-o-carbon. The classic bends look nice atop a beefy and decorative headtube and 58 mm deep American Classic Rims!

FSA K-Force keeps the beefy and carbon theme running strong!

Artsy... ahhh yeah!

Foaming Rant:In case we didn't already find ourselves wondering what the hell some pro's (seeming like MOST = SOME) are thinking or doing to the sport of cycling today let's give it up to Floyd Landis to not only (not) inject himself with testosterone, something that would benefit him none, unless he was hoping to persue a career in track cycling after his tour de france victory, but lets give him credit in surrounding himself with such intelligent and responsible people. It seems his now (ex-) manager thought it would be a good idea to call up Mr. Greg LeMond, who we all know can handle criticism and sexually harrass the man who has a bad family history of sexual harrassment. Way to go mr. Geoghegan, way to go. As if riders were already making the sport entertaining enough, now we have spectators involved making it that much more entertaining! awsome. Check out the article here along with some other fun doping stories. Maybe if it keeps up we can see a podium of guys who are all excluded and my boy Kloden and Frank Schlek can be up there.... I'M CROSSING MY FINGERS HERE.

Anywho, off to pack and run to the bike shop and get my skewer back since they failed to do so yesterday when they changed my cassette! Wish me luck for today and tomorrow!

A week away!

2007-05-17T10:18:00.000-04:00

SO with no racing this past week it's been training training training for Nashville, TN. Fun times. This week has been a blast, I made it up to Wooster to visit my friend Seth Buckwalter from Miami and some of his friends. Good people, good times. After some hanging out I did get a chance to get out with the local fast guys in the lovely northern Ohio weather that seemed much more Belgian-esk than Ohio, but who really cares. a 20+ mph rainy training ride and putting the wood to some guys felt good. I can't wait to be racing again this weekend. Figured I would throw up some fun ones from this weekend. Enjoy!

Breakfast... sorry, i didnt have patience to take the pic before I ate it! But yes that is a "Daymaker" Large coffee with 3 expresso shots! yummmm

my big legged friend Seth....

The Gammer's bike!

Crit racing starts for me this week so it's back home for a day, Columbus, and heading to cleveland on sunday. Wish me luck.