Time away

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...

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

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....

-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 !

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?

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...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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!

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

Getting ready, moving on...

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...

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

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

Did someone say Holiday...

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...

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

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

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

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

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!

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!

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!!!!

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!