Dreaming Big

For a cyclist, this is the time of year for dreaming big. As you ponder next season, aspirations of greatness flow through your mind. You can punch through the glass ceiling of your abilities and make anything happen. With another solid year of training and racing in your legs you have become stronger and smarter. There’s no doubt you’re going to take another giant leap forward next year. Throughout all of those races you go over in your imagination you believe in yourself. Nobody ever envisions getting second or third. Why couldn’t I win Elite Crit Nats next year? I could get in that magical breakaway and have everything go my way. It could be my turn to throw my hands up and let out that magical roar. It’s not the roar of happiness from winning, but the sound of raw emotion from deep in your soul. The emotion you’re going through while training, the emotion of countless defeats and bad luck. It’s the silencing of nonbelievers and praise of those that have stood behind you. It’s the purging of inner demons that have haunted your ascension to that moment.

However, as I’ve progressed and become more experienced, this period has become more than daydreaming. Early in my cycling career that’s how it was and I’m sure countless other bike racers would agree. However, when the season starts it’s a different story. Everyone has been dreaming about winning races but for every race there’s only one winner. Accepting this reality is hard for a lot of people. Some get mad and work harder, some reassess their goals in cycling and some just quit. As the years go by, more and more people disappear. It’s not necessarily that I’ve progressed a lot faster than the others that started when I did. It’s that I kept showing up. I worked through the tough times and never lost sight of what was important. Looking back over the past four years, I could probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve skipped a workout. That’s been the difference. I’ve been able to dream big and stay motivated but also accept when those dreams don’t immediately become a reality. Cycling is a sport with a lot of sacrifice and little reward. For every win there are countless defeats and after all of the hard work and time in the saddle that can be a tough pill to swallow. You have to get some type of gratification from cycling other than winning. Those that don’t never make it.

This year has been a little different. I still find myself dreaming big, but it’s not just about bike racing anymore. I’ve always known there would be life after bike racing. I guess I had always thought there would come a time when I would just walk away from elite racing and that would be it. Bike racing would stop and life after bike racing would begin. However, my vision has widened. If I could stay in the cycling industry, make an actual salary and still race bikes, why in the hell wouldn’t I do it? I’m still young and my prime racing years are ahead of me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not ready to give up racing. I’ve worked full time and trained and raced before, and that was when I was doing construction. It’s not a matter of can I do it. It’s just a matter of capitalizing on the right opportunity.

I recently watched an interview with Adam Meyerson where he was asked who the next Adam Meyerson was. His answer was that he hoped there isn’t another Adam Meyerson. He didn’t want anyone else to go through everything he had to in order to get to where he is today. If you went around and asked cyclists if they wanted to be Adam Meyerson you would probably get a lot of yeses. However, if you went around and asked people if they wanted to be a full time amateur, live off of prize money for 10 years, quit, start a business, come back and finally make it pro and be somewhat successful in their late 30’s I don’t think you would get many takers. I say somewhat successful because he’s still not living off of bike racing alone. He works amazingly hard to run his coaching business and continue racing. Nothing against Adam, I have a deep and profound respect for him. He is one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met and I enjoy being around him. It’s just not worth it to me to live the life of a struggling full time amateur for another ten years so I can go pro and barely make enough to scrape by. Especially if I can get a foothold on my career now with a job that I enjoy and still race bikes at an elite level.

Who knows, maybe I’m still just dreaming big as I always have, only with a new variable. Maybe the right opportunity won’t present itself and once again I’ll have to accept that the dream isn’t an immediate reality. If so, I’ll do the exact same thing I’ve always done. Grit my teeth, work my ass off and keep showing up.


"If you can dream it, you can do it." -Walt Disney

Through A Spotted Lens

In addition to the mental struggles resulting from cross ass kickings, this week I was visited by the cold, hard reality of cycling politics. It came, kicked me in the balls and stood over me while I lay on the ground writhing in pain, all the while laughing in my face.

It started out by hearing that I didn’t have a spot on Mt. Khakis next year. The team is downsizing due to sponsor difficulties and there just wasn’t enough money to support a larger squad. It immediately put me in a bind since I hadn’t been talking to any other teams and this news was coming in late. Most teams have already finalized their rosters for next season which has left me struggling to find a ride. However, I can’t be too upset. No one ever told me I had a spot for next year so I should have had contingency plans in place. I believed too many rumors, thought I was safe and learned a hard lesson.

The salt in the wound came later. Without going into too much detail, I had to sit here and listen to the back door dealings that go along with elite cycling teams. And yes, even in elite cycling money walks, or maybe it rides. Either way, it stung bad. My situation wasn’t actually affected. I didn’t have a spot before or after all this transpired. It’s not like my spot was taken from me, I never had it. And it doesn’t change what I have to do now. Namely, find a ride or just train my ass off over the winter, show up next year in a black kit and stomp the hell out of some races. Nevertheless, it was a shitty situation and there was some sleep lost.

The other day I was out riding, watching the scenery pass through my trusty sunglasses. The lenses are spotted from two full seasons of racing. They’ve been through a lot. Epic races where they were so caked in dirt and grime that you used more water cleaning them than you drank. The days of riding in oppressive heat, sweat covering them in a layer of salt, then having to clean it all off the next day so you can do it over again. I couldn’t help but get mad. It signified how hard I’ve worked over the past couple years but I’m left with no team and no support for next year. I’ll probably be wearing those same glasses next year because I won’t have a sponsor to give me shiny new ones. Nor do I have the money to buy them because I have to pay for all my equipment and still get to races. It’s incredibly frustrating. I felt like I finished the year strong and showed that I have the potential to be successful at the next level. So to be in this situation now is hard to stomach.

My week has been spent contacting people, scrambling to try to find a ride for next year. Needless to say, my efforts haven’t been particularly successful. It’s a tough market to begin with and the fact that it’s so late certainly isn’t helping my cause. Worst case scenario is, as I said; show up next year in a black kit, kick ass and hope some opportunities come up. So that’s what I’m preparing myself for. I’m still hoping I can find a team but I’m preparing myself for the worst. I’m sure as hell not going out like this, bitter and disappointed. It’s time to get all George McFly and lay out Biff to get the girl. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you either don’t know shit about Back to the Future or you don’t know shit about me!

The Struggle

Cross has turned into a mental battle like I hadn’t imagined. The range of emotions is varied and seemingly unpredictable. The course at Ken’s we’ve been doing every week and recently had a weekend race on is the main source of my frustration. The power sections are all slow, uphill grinds broken apart by very technical, single track sections where mistakes can be very costly. The course takes away all my strengths and hits me with my two main weaknesses. It’s basically a short mountain bike course. Needless to say, the average ride there is nothing short of demoralizing.

After the usual Thursday evening race there a couple weeks ago I hit a low point. After constant mistakes and struggles I was lapped by Hamblen. That in itself wasn’t that bad, it was just the icing on the cake. As I drove home my mind was going wild. “Why am I doing this? Should I just be resting and getting an early start on preparing for the road next year? How can I have a good year on the road and then suck this bad at cross? What am I doing wrong? All I do is sit around and ride my bike, how can I still suck this bad? Can I ever be good at this?” I was seriously contemplating my future in cross. However, the next morning epitomized why I hate bike racing. Every thought of quitting was gone and all I wanted to do was work my ass off. I think Myerson effectively described the love hate relationship in cross in his article for Bicycling. While I’m at it, here’s another interview with Adam where he talks about what’s happening with Team Mountain Khakis so you can stay up to date.

That weekend, me, Hammerstix and Matt Canter headed up to Virginia for the Richmond Festival of Cross. After the devastating performance at Ken’s I wasn’t holding my breath for a miracle but I went in with an open mind saying I was going to race hard and whatever happened happened. Luckily we were greeted with more traditional cross courses that allowed me to utilize some of my strengths on the bike. I didn’t feel so hot Saturday and finished an unimpressive 7th but I came back to get 2nd in the time trial (one lap of the course). I was a bit lucky Sunday with some people getting flats, including Hamblen who flatted both of his bikes. I managed to finish 4th, missing the omnium win by one point. Oh well, I won enough money to pay for the trip and finished second overall. While the competition in Richmond wasn’t too stiff and I was a bit lucky on Sunday, it was still a better weekend than I expected and my spirits were considerably higher than before. Also, a big thanks to Tim and Team Type 1 for letting us stay at the team house for the weekend! We really appreciate it.


Ahh, I miss pavement already.

Fresh off the weekend race at Ken’s, all I can say is I’m glad it’s over and I don’t have to do that course again. It’s cliché but I was like a one-legged man in an ass kicking contest. I couldn’t do anything but lose time. It was so frustrating, but I knew that going in so I wasn’t as upset with the outcome as I could have been. The NC series begins this weekend and I’m sincerely excited. I’m looking forward to real cross courses, especially Saturday in Southern Pines where I won the state championship as a cat 3 last year. Hopefully the feeling of severe disappointment is over.

In conclusion, the only thing that sucks worse than racing cross is not racing cross.






If you want sweet white Sidi's or a set of custom, hand-built tubular wheels glued up with white Challenge Grifo's, hit up the guys at Ken's Bike Shop here in Winston. The wheels are awesome and way cheaper than any carbon tubular while also being indestructable. By far the best value for cross wheels.

I Think I’m Starting to Party

Unfortunately, I can’t take credit for the title of this post. That’s a direct quote from Travis right before he went to sleep from anesthesia for surgery on his collarbone. While it’s quite humorous by itself, I also felt like it’s a good representation of my current state of mind.

I haven’t been partying in the literal sense much at all lately but things have been starting to come together and I feel like I’m hitting a groove. My Cyclo-cross woes were answered by a quick phone call to Jon Hamblen who hooked me up with a ride on the Ken’s Bike Shop team. While I was a little upset with the lack of support from Mock Orange, I was thrilled with the switch to Ken’s. It was immediately obvious he just wanted to help out and was happy to do so. It’s a great, positive environment to be in. It also means I get the continued mentorship of Jon which proved to be invaluable on the road and I assume it will be even more so in the dirt.

After the team situation came to fruition I was eager to get the cross season started. Winston once again amazed me with the fact that I could do three training races during the week without driving more than 45 minutes away! How many other places in the country can say that? As awesome as that is, the races didn’t go quite as planned. I’ve been training but I didn’t have the ultra intense efforts in my legs that are cross racing. That, combined with some mechanicals, made for a frustrating first week on the cross bike. However, the form is coming around quickly so I should be good to go by the time the NCCX season starts. Plus, there’s nothing like getting your ass handed to you to make you want it that much more. In addition to personal ambition, Ken had faith in me and I want to repay him as much as I can while proving that I deserve everything he’s doing for me. Results are certainly part of that. So I guess there’s nothing left to do but break out the embrocation and see what I can do.

I’m starting to rough out a schedule and work in a couple trips to the northeast for some UCI races so it should be a fun season. I’m definitely looking forward to it while anxiously awaiting news for next year on the road. Ahh, the anticipation.

Pro Life... As An Amateur

A lot has been going through my head this week. With last weekend marking the end of yet another long season on the road, rest was in order. My job ended a couple weeks ago so there has been plenty of time to sit back and ponder. Of course when you’re in my position you have to constantly be on the hustle. So I’ve been scraping some things together to keep the coffers from going bare but free time has been plentiful to say the least.

I live the life of a pro, without the paycheck. A pro’s weeks are spent eating, sleeping and riding bikes. Mine are the same except for the addition of a job. A pro’s weekends are generally spent racing. Mine are too, the difference is that while a pro travels to all the important races across the country racing in front of big crowds against the sport’s best, I can usually be found at regional races trying to scratch and claw my way to the top. Every weekend I pour my heart into my legs and whether I come out on top or not, the only crowd around is usually that of the other racers. However, while it’s hard to equal the adrenaline rush that comes from a raucous crowd at a twilight crit, I’m not here for fame or glory. The only opinion I really care about is that of the other racers and earning their respect within the peloton. Having said that, I do long for the opportunity to prove myself against the best racers in the country week in and week out. Nonetheless, while a pro would generally be sitting back enjoying some much needed carefree R&R, I have to figure out how to pay rent.

While it is hard and does wear on the soul, it’s a life of purity and enjoyment. I’m doing what I love and for all the right reasons. I’m racing bikes for the sake of racing bikes alone. There’s no paycheck, any money I make racing in spent getting me to the next race. It’s a struggle, but it makes success that much sweeter. Yes, it is all in search of the chance to go pro and earn a paycheck. However, to me that paycheck only means a chance to race and train full time. It’s the ability to spend all of my energy trying to be the best bike racer possible. So that when my day comes to walk away from full time bike racing, I can do so knowing I left absolutely everything out on the road. As I anxiously await news about the team for next year, I can’t help but think about how nice it would be to go into next season with a little less financial burden. I’m definitely keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best.

This week I’ve also been pondering my future in cyclocross. Last year I came in with no preconceived notions of what my season should be like or any pressure to do well. Everything was new and exciting so it was easy to coast through the season without putting much pressure on myself (I was also winning cat 3 races which took any remaining stress away). Now that I have some experience and the competition is much better, I don’t want to half-ass it. However, there is one major obstacle standing in my way. It’s incredibly simple. I’m not going to get much support. I’m not even sure how I’m going to afford enough equipment to get me rolling. Forget having two bikes and wheel and tire options. I’m talking about a single working bike. It would be easy to say screw it, cross is not my focus so I’m just going to show up and mess around and not worry about it. However, that just wouldn’t be my style would it. If I ever want to see that level of support I need to get some results and start finding my way into the cross hierarchy. I’m just going to have to bite the bullet this year and race out of pocket in an effort to get enough results to warrant some support next year. The thought of having to break through in another discipline is somewhat draining but it’s also motivating. The pursuit of success never seems to get old and it’s apparently the only way I can operate.

So while I’m thinking about the upcoming cross season like every pro, I also have to figure out how I’m going to foot the bill. It’s time to pay some dues.

Quote of the Week: “It’s diet coke. With lime!!!.”

How much coffee is too much?

Whew, a month to the day since my last post. That’s sad for someone who claims to be a journalist. What can I say, I’m spent. The days of waking up fresh, hopping out of bed and jumping on the bike seem a distant memory. Exhaustion has become a theme. Mentally I don’t have a problem getting on the bike but my legs feel otherwise. Every time I ride I feel worse and my training numbers don’t look good. My body is smacking me in face telling me to take a break, something I haven’t done all year so it’s long overdue. I’m resting up for state road race championships this weekend but it’s not looking good. I wanted to hold some form till Carolina Cup in a couple weeks but at this point it doesn’t look possible. I’ll make a decision this weekend but I should probably bite the bullet and hang the bike up for a couple weeks.

The good news is I can hang the bike feeling good about my season. Elk Grove didn’t go quite as planned. It was by far the best amateur field I have ever seen. Those races were hard, period, and there were still 50 guys legitimately fighting at the end. I couldn’t believe it. Regardless, I didn’t feel great on Saturday and bad luck killed me on Sunday when I was stuck behind a crash after free laps had expired. Oh well, the legs were feeling a little better and I was ready to rip it at Crossroads. The five crit series has always been a big deal for the team and I had been looking forward to it all year. Now that it’s all said and done, I rode well and feel like I took another step up. I was in the action every night and had a couple shinning moments. Of course there was some frustration thrown in there but overall I can’t complain too much. The team rode well and once again it was great to be a part of it. Sixth and 12th were my best two finishes but I wasn’t exactly sitting back saving it for the final. I tried to line up every night with aggression and old school fury on my mind. It didn’t quite work out with bunch sprints being the norm for the week but I was able to stay consistent and finished 6th overall for the series. The week definitely left me wanting more but I felt like I had shown myself and was ok with my effort. Unfortunately, after Crossroads everything fell apart. I became sick and just haven’t been myself since then. I think the seven races in eight days were the swansong of my season. Oh well, I had been going good for a while and it’s just time.


Under the lights in Statesville during Crossroads.

Looking back, it’s been another year of ups and downs but most importantly I’ve taken another big step up. I’ve had a blast and when I think back to some of the great memories from the year, on and off the bike, I wouldn’t trade them for anything. I also learned a lot from my experiences racing with the pro team so I’m eternally grateful to the managers for having faith in me and giving me those opportunities. Whether or not my performances warrant a spot on the pro team remains to be seen. Would I love to be on the pro squad next year, you bet your ass I would! However, that decision isn’t up to me. Next year is still a question mark but hopefully things will start to take shape in the near future. Regardless of what happens with contracts for next year, I’ll be back stronger than ever and I’ll be looking for big things. Now all I have to do is work my ass off so I’m ready, can’t wait to get started! Oh, wait, cross first though.

The Heat

Since my last post there has been a lot going on but not a lot of energy to spare writing about it. The oppressive heat is legitimately draining, physically and mentally. So my time has been spent at work, training and not much else. However, here's a quick recap.

The Tour of the Valley went great! I was feeling good and excited about my first stage race with the pro sqad. I'll spare you the entire race recap but you can find it at the revamped team Web site, teammountainkhakis.com. To summarize, Joey, Matt and Oscar crushed the entire race and we made lots of money. However, I took a lot more than money back from Ohio.

My time trial performance seemed lacking on paper but my wattage was actually quite good. Not having a TT bike hurt me in the end but no matter, I was ready to work. The road race was on a fairly rolling course with a couple hills. Having three guys in the top four overall, it was up to us to control the race. That meant a lot of time on the front for me and Will. I have to say I rode better than I had anticipated. I did a lot of work, was able to suffer through the climb both times after leading out the guys into the bottom of it and when we hit the finishing circuits I was still in the very select front group. I was fairly spent on the circuits but my job was done. I wanted to have a big ride in the crit but it wasn't quite as good as I had hoped. I covered as many moves as possible in an effort to keep the pre-race plan intact but wasn't able to control the race quite like I wanted. I did manage to work my way up to 20th overall. Not bad considering I did so while being 100% focused on working for the team and spending a lot of time on the front. In fact, I didn't even realize it until Joey told me after we had left so they had to mail the check.


Tour of the Valley TT

It was also a great experience to room with Matt Cooke. Matt has ridden for some of the biggest teams in the country including Navigators and Health Net and his experience showed, on and off the bike. Being a professional bike racer in about so much more than what you see in a race. You have to be a complete professional at all times. It's a business and learning how to conduct yourself off the bike is almost as important and pushing the pedals hard... almost. Also, a big thanks to Jim Behrens for all the amazing support throughout the week. We all had a great time and he took so much weight off our shoulders. He is a true enthusiast and it's refreshing to be around someone who so purely loves bike racing.


Tour of the Valley Crit

After the successful Ohio trip I was ready for some French Broad action but numerous logistical matters led to only going up for the crit. Long story short, tried to get in a break but nothing was going, started pouring rain, felt good but was swarmed before the sprint and had the door shut on me in the final strait, 12th. I felt like rode good and had the sprint to win but should have been more aggressive after I was swarmed.

Oh, the other revelation of the past couple weeks. According to the coach, I'm a sprinter. After finally having reliable power data the sprint legs are looking good. I'll have to admit, the sprint has been feeling good lately. If nothing else, there has been a boost in confidence which never hurts. Hopefully I can pull the trigger on a good sprint the next couple weeks and come up with the goods. With Elk Grove and Crossroads right around the corner there shouldn't be a shortage of opportunities so keep your fingers crossed. With no job and the prospect of having to secure a ride for next year the pressure to perform has been taken up a notch. It's about to get interesting.

I Knew There Was A Turn Up Here Somewhere.

The last few weeks have been up and down. I’ve been training hard and feeling good. The wounds are healing nicely and I’m pleased with where my form is at. You always wish you could be stronger and hopefully I’m still on the upswing. Having said that, I’m in the best shape of my life right now and I’m really excited about this weekend. I’ll be at the Tour of the Valley in Ohio racing with the pro team. It’s a great opportunity to step it up and show that I can be a factor. We’re sending a strong team and any result other than the win will be a disappointment. So the pressure’s on and I have a feeling Ohio’s about to get a taste of old school fury.
The down came when I learned that the owner of the shop I work at was closing it down. So in about a month I’ll be sans job. It’s a bummer because it was a good situation. I more or less made my own schedule and had an amazing boss. I already miss T-bag’s antics and worldly advice. I feel like another speed dial number might have just been spoken for. While the shop closing wasn’t a total shock, it did force me to start thinking about what’s next. I feel like the best way to go about it was to start with what I know for sure and fill in the blanks. The one thing that I do know is that I want to give the bike another year. I’ve worked so hard and come this far, it would be stupid to give up just when I’m getting close. Plus, I love racing my bike. So that’s the easy part, now to fill in the blanks. I remember facing this dilemma last year and I think I have to face it in much the same way. Finish up the year on the road, see what happens with teams for next season and go from there. Until then, I just need to ride hard, try to get results and keep my eyes open for opportunities.
So looking into the immediate future, there’s a lot of work to be done on the road. Ohio this weekend, French Broad the next and then I should be flying for Elk Grove and Crossroads. There is $16,500 up for the two amateur races at Elk Grove and lots of prize money + no job= Elk Grove here we come. In any case, it should be a good opener for crossroads where I hope to have some good performances.
I don’t know where the next turn will lead, but I’m sure it will be taken on a bike seat. Time to Saddle Up.

Screw It, I’m Shaving My Arms

As I look back over the past couple weeks there is much to discuss. I hate to condense all of it into one post but typing has been a bit of an issue for the past week.

After my podium in High Point I was feeling good about my form coming into the Ohio/Fitchburg block. A weekend off racing yielded some quality training and I was ready for the final couple weeks before my biggest goals of the year. Then I finally won a bike race! Yes, it was a weekday race, but it was Dixie which is notoriously hard. It’s a coveted scalp for any Winston native. It felt good to give Hamblen some money for once and the piece de resistance came when Thomas Craven complemented me on how strong I was getting. Thomas, who is a Dixie regular, rode for 7-Eleven, was on the U.S. team the year LeMond won the World Championship and did the Giro d’Italia. His complement was a real honor and a nice ego boost.

After my coup at Dixie I headed into the Crit State Championships looking for a result. Friday night was a who’s who of North Carolina racers and with almost 70 guys lining up it was going to be fast. So it was, and despite me and Hamblen doing our best to get a break off the front, it was destined to be a bunch sprint. In the hustle we never got together and I ended up 6th with Jon 8th. I felt ok, not content mind you, with the result since everyone that beat me was legit and it came after doing a lot of work early on trying to make a break happen. Having only two guys there, covering all the moves and finishing both in the money isn’t a terrible day. I was hoping it was a sign of things to come.

Saturday brought the U25 race. Everyone had been talking about how I should dominate so I was feeling a bit of pressure. But as luck would have it, about 10 guys showed up. Not being categorized, some of those guys were 3’s and 4’s. I was one of four fairly strong guys in the race. The other three were all on the same team so frustration was in the cards. After one of their guys finally got away solo we were racing for second and just cruising around when I stood up to stretch my legs. The next thing I knew I was smashing into the pavement. I wasn’t sure what had happened at first. We weren’t going fast and I knew I hadn’t touched anyone else. This was the first time I’d ever crashed and just layed there. I went down right at a step little bridge so I smacked into it with my hip and just stopped. After a prolonged oh shit period I looked at my bike and noticed that my steerer tube had snapped in half. No warning, it just went all at once and that was it. A rare fluke and there was nothing I could do but put a new fork on and deal with the pain.

Despite having a golf ball sized welt on my hip, I was going to be tough and race the next day. When I woke up the swelling had gone down and after loosening up on the bike I was actually feeling pretty good. However, any inkling of positive energy was short-lived. After the first lap there was a small group just off the front and I was on the wheel of the guy chasing it down. There was a fast downhill into a tight corner and the guy on the front went in too hot. He slid out and there was nothing I could do. I hit the pavement doing over 25mph and it was not pretty. I didn’t break anything but the road rash was no joke. I got it all over and it’s deep in places, especially on one palm which means I can’t hold the bars well enough to ride. Ohio…gone.

I know the guy that took me out quite well and I like him as a person. He recently upgraded to Cat 2 and while he’s strong, he’s obviously not the best bike driver. He took an unnecessary risk and we all paid the price. He had some road rash and a concussion and the guy behind me broke his collarbone and had to have surgery to repair it. It was stupid to be that reckless on the second lap when the small group was definitely going to come back. I had to lay in bed pain, not able to sleep, sticking to the sheets, thinking about how much work I had put into being fast for Ohio and Fitchburg and then having it all taken away because of someone else’s mistake. All those hours spent shivering on the bike over the winter, thinking about wearing the leader’s jersey or winning a stage, kiss them goodbye. It was a hard pill to swallow.

This week has been terrible. I have trouble sleeping, there’s constant pain and I effectively have one hand. My wounds are a constant reminder of last weekend. However, that’s bike racing. Shit happens and you move on. I’ve been on the trainer the past few days and shouldn’t lose much fitness. Hopefully I can jump right back in to getting results. There’s still plenty of racing left and I’m dying to make something happen before the end of the year. Maybe this crash is just the motivation I needed, or at least that’s what I’m telling myself since crying over missing Ohio isn’t going to do any good.

I should be back to racing soon and hunting for some good finishes. Thanks to everyone for their support over the past week and to Jay Cox for the use of the fork.

Quote of the Week: “That sucks.” –virtually everyone I’ve seen over the past week

Why Do You Pedal?

As I sat here at work trying to think of something interesting to write about I was starting to get discouraged. Just when I was about to give up the ghost, “crazy” Ivan stopped in front of the shop window.

For those of you not in the know, “crazy” Ivan is a gentleman that frequents Mock Orange Bikes which is right next door. More or less homeless, his bike is obviously one of his few possessions. He comes by virtually every day and always has something “wrong” with his prized possession, an older steel framed road bike. Resplendent with saddle bag, reflectors, chain guards and all, Ivan never seems to lack pride in his machine. He struts along pushing his bike just feeling good. Come to think of it, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Ivan actually ride his bike. Nonetheless, as I watched him check his wheels that were undoubtedly just trued for the billionth time, it made me realize that people ride bikes for all different reasons and it prompted me to think about why I ride a bike.

It’s important to take a step back sometimes. Not just with cycling but any interest you may have, or life in general. It’s easy to get so wrapped up in something that we forget why we are there in the first place. You can skew in different directions without even realizing it and in doing so, turn something you love into a secondary chore. It becomes routine and mundane. In essence, you forget to enjoy it. Sometimes we spend too much time looking at our power meters and forget to enjoy the scenery. (That’s an analogy, think about it.)

Ivan may have a simpler life than most of us. He has plenty of time to stare at his bike, eyes glistening and grinning ear to ear, but we can all learn something from him. Not one bit of enjoyment with his bike is lost. While most of us have jobs, school, children, etc. to occupy much of our time, we should never forget to enjoy the things we really love and remember why we started doing them. How often do you find yourself rushing to squeeze a bike ride in between work and other happenings, or chugging a cup of coffee on your way out the door (don’t rush my coffee experience, I want to savor it!)? The fact is that sometimes we have to. Time is a precious commodity and sometimes it’s scarce. However, when you are fortunate enough to have a few extra minutes, remember why you’re doing whatever it is that strikes your fancy. Soak it all in, your soul will appreciate it and it can be the difference between hating life and loving it.

There's nothing revolutionary about this. I didn't invent enjoying life. However, a little reminder every now and again is good. So thanks Ivan. Right now he is undoubtedly strutting around town with his life’s true joy, totally oblivious to how he impacted my day or that I’m writing this post about him(and to the fact that someone may or may not have created a Facebook profile for him). There’s also a good possibility he’s already downed a 40oz., but ride on Ivan, for I am but a student and you are the teacher.

Quote of the Week:
Ivan: “My front wheel’s messed up”
Zach (Manager of Mock Orange): “How’d you do that Ivan?”
Ivan: “Crashed.”
Zach: “How’d you do that?”
Ivan: “Drunk”

Hey Podium, Long Time No See.

It’s been a while since I’ve visited the podium, excluding weekday races, but last weekend at the Downtown High Point Crits I finally made it back. As with any big local race there was some build up. Being next to my current adopted hometown of Winston, the crowd and the field were filled with friends. With the added prestige of being twilight crits there was a bit more than money on the line. The lights were on, the band was loud, the beer was flowing, the stage was set.

It seems like it would be hard to get excited about a crit at 10:30pm in the rain but all I could think about Friday night was racing my bike. My only teammate was Mark Hekman, past winner of Athens Twilight and last year’s USA Crits overall winner. I definitely saw it as an opportunity to prove I was worthy of the jersey. I raced hard early hoping the race would blow apart with the wet course but it was all in vain. The race stayed together and I was too patient coming into the last corner. Mark managed 2nd despite coming out of his pedal in the sprint and I rolled across in 11th, not good enough.

The skies cleared for Saturday’s race. It was a different course but utilized the same start/finish straight. With Mark gone to race at Sommerville, it was up to me to get a result for the pro team based 20 minutes away. There was going to be a break and I was going to be in it. That was it, no questions. In the end, that’s exactly what happened. We went early, the composition of the break shuffled a little bit with a couple guys getting dropped but four of us finally found a good rhythm and stayed away.

The break getting established.

Wiping crap off my face.

I enjoyed my time off the front. I can’t lie, it was a bit of an ego boost to come through the start/finish stretch and hear all the people shouting my name. A big thanks goes out to all of you. It definitely made me want the win that much more. However, my options were limited. It was going to be hard to get away and with two good sprinters in the move the win wasn’t going to be handed over easily. The fact that we basically soft pedaled the last eight laps and everyone was able to recover didn’t help my cause either. I put in a dig with one to go but no luck. Everyone else was content to sprint it out and I was in too low of a gear coming out of the last corner so that was it, third.

I can sit here and shoulda, coulda, woulda all day but in the end I got third and that’s that. It was a move I could have won out of for sure. You always want to win and I’m not content with third. However, I’m going to feel good about it and enjoy the moment. It was another step up and as long as I’m moving forward I shouldn’t get down on myself. It also serves as a confidence builder coming into the Tour of Ohio and Fitchburg, two of the big goals for the year. The form is on track so I’m really hoping I can make something happen at those races. The extra love in the bank account from the weekend was also a relief.

As a side note, the venue was awesome! I hope they can keep those races going and Chip did and awesome job organizing everything. Live music, a beer garden, Chad Andrews calling the action, all completely sheltered, it was 100% PRO. If you weren’t there you missed out.

The venue before the masses arrived.

Solid

With ever improving form things are starting to look up. Other than a bad weekend in Boone due to illness, this year has been a steady progression. I’m transitioning from mediocrity to rides that I would consider “solid.”

It’s nice to be up at the front fighting. Having a teammate like Jon Hamblen, who is crushing it right now, definitely makes things easier but the last thing I’m going to do is sit back and let Jon work everyone over. I want to play too!

Yesterday was the Downtown Wake Forest crit. It’s a race I won as a Cat 3 and I like the course so although it’s a smaller race I always enjoy it. To make a long story short, Jon lapped the field twice with only one other guy doing the same. On the last lap I made the executive decision to lead Jon out so he was sure to win, which he did. However, in retrospect it might have been the wrong decision.

I instinctively said race for the win, did it and we won. However, in doing so I ended up contributing absolutely nothing to the prize money split. I sprinted for almost every prime and ended up getting second or third in almost all of them. The guys taking the primes, aside from being good sprinters, were sitting in while I followed attacks and controlled the front of the race so they were going with fresh legs. Then I decided to lead Jon out and ensure that he didn’t get swarmed on the last lap. After doing so I sat up and came across the line one spot shy of money. If I had just kept going hard instead of pulling off I would have at least contributed something. I could have also sat back and sprinted for myself and Jon would still have won but at the time I felt like it was too much of a gamble, and maybe it was.

In the end, I don’t think I made any bad decisions but maybe didn’t always make the best ones. We won the race with effectively two guys but wearing a pro team kit I should have still been up there. When Jon handed me my prize money split I couldn’t help but feel like I had let him down. Don’t get me wrong. I rode hard and I did my job. If I hadn’t I would never have taken money. However, I wish I had done more and next time I will be riding with another lesson learned and even more motivation to prove my worth.

One bit of solace I did take from the day was when an old friend from Chapel Hill, someone I always respected as a person and as a bike racer, rode by me after the race and said one thing, “You’re on your way man.”

Rewind

The past week was so hectic it was hard for me to find free time with a computer around so I’ll give you a quick rundown.

It was USA Crits Speedweek which kicked off in Athens, went all week and finished up yesterday. So over the past 9 days I did 8 races and worked on the two “off” days. Yes, I’m kind of tired. Here’s a quick results breakdown.

Athens- 11th in the qualifier. I was caught behind 3 crashes in the last lap and a half of the evening amateur race so I don’t even know where I finished. By far, the 2 sketchiest races I’ve ever done in my life.
Roswell- 11th
Dixie- 3rd, teammate Johny Hammersticks won
Walterboro- 6th
Spartanburg- 19th
Dilworth- 7th
Dylan Mitchell Memorial Crit- 8th, Pat was in the move and finished 4th

Quick facts: Finished in the money 4 times, not much but every little bit helps. One crash which was at Spartanburg, nothing serious. One mechanical, broken spoke in the sprint at Walterboro. It’s definitely time to start wearing sunscreen. If you don’t want to absolutely blast Ke$ha before a race you better not be in the same car as me.

To clarify, all of the Speedweek races I did the 2/3 races in search of a win (except Athens which was 1/2, Dixie and Dylan Mitchell were also Pro-Ams) Obviously the win didn’t happen but I still think it was the right decision. You have to learn how to win before you can really progress and do it at the next level. I was up there fighting for the win and I learned some valuable lessons which will pay dividends later down the road.

The form is starting to come around and I had decent legs this week. I still think I’m on track for some good rides at the Tour of Ohio and Fitchburg which are definitely targets. Other than that it was another incredibly fun and exhausting week of racing bikes. Now it’s time for a little R&R before the final build towards Ohio. It always comes sooner than you expect it but I’ll be ready fo sho.

Maybe after some rest I’ll be able to render something more insightful.

Quote of the Week: “Latress on the menjay.” – Peter Klaven from “I Love You, Man”

Aggghhhh!!!

Friday afternoon started off like any other. I left work early for a tune-up ride before heading out to Charleston, SC for a couple crits. It wasn’t going to be anything special, between Battenkill and the NRC crit in Anniston the field in Charleston promised to be manageable. I was looking forward to riding hard in search of the first real result of the year. Then the phone rang. The team needed another person to go to the Sunny King Criterium in Alabama. The next morning I was cruising down to Anniston Alabama for my first NRC race ever. Opportunity was knocking and I was more than happy to fill the last slot for the team.

Sunny King is by no means the biggest NRC race of the year but it’s still an NRC race. There’s a jumbotron, cameras covering the course, crowds, all the big crit teams are there and there’s $15,000 up for grabs. The course is straightforward, four corners with the start/finish stretch being slightly uphill. The legs felt fine and I was anxious to get the race started.

I’ve always loved the beauty of road races. The landscapes, the tactics, the epic battles over multiple mountain passes, I feel that it’s the heart and soul of bike racing. However, there’s something about twilight crits that’s just exhilarating. The noise of the crowd, the speed, the intensity, I can’t lie, I love it. When you pull up to the line, under the lights, you know it’s the calm before the storm. When that gun goes off all hell is going to break loose. The attacks are constant as everyone vies for their shot at glory. It’s a truly amazing thing to be a part of, especially at this level.

So there I was, standing on the line shoulder to shoulder with guys that I usually just see in magazines. As I looked up the street there were people lining the barriers all the way to the first corner. The course ahead was barren, creating a tunnel effect with the glow of streetlights illuminating the way. The pathway to success was sitting in front of me. Not to say that I was expected a result. Far from it, but this was another step up and I wanted to get things in the big leagues started off on the right foot.



When the announcer said go all the philosophic wanderings ceased, it was time to do work. The race was blazing fast from the gun. I was feeling good though. We were going hard there’s no doubt about it, but the sensations were good. I knew the pace wouldn’t stay that hard the entire race so I settled in and tried to weather the storm. I was fine until about 25 minutes in when it became obvious the break was going clear and everybody that had anything left, and no one in the front group, poured on the gas. Gaps started opening and it got crazy hard. I was on the very tip of the saddle gritting my teeth, sweat dripping on my glasses, my legs burning trying to get around guys blowing up and getting shot out the back. I kept thinking, “There’s no way we can go this hard for an hour and half. It has to slow up soon, just hang on one more lap.” Then it finally happened, shit, that’s it, I’m done. As I sat up, legs on fire, heart racing, feeling totally dejected, I saw the group in front slow and mushroom out. You’re kidding me! If I could have hung on one more time up the start/finish straight I would have been fine, I’m pretty sure I was the last person dropped. Right after I came off, about 30 minutes in, the group enjoyed a nice leisurely 15 or so laps until the break lapped the field.


Eventual winner Ben Kersten.

I was that close to finishing my first NRC race. Opportunity had come, slapped me in face and left. It was hard to stomach. I tried to console myself by saying that NRC races are Pro/1 only and there were a bunch of guys that came off before me. It didn’t help much. In the end it was a good learning experience and I’m eternally grateful to the team for giving me the chance to go. Now I’m super motivated for redemption at Speedweek which starts this weekend. Ohhhhh, I want it bad.

Quote of the Week: “It takes two to fill me up.” - Commercial for the new KFC double down. I can’t decide who I want to belittle more, the guy who decided that sandwich was a good idea or the guy that came up with the ad.

Respect

With another weekend of racing in the legs the form is starting to come around. I had a fairly good weekend with a strong ride on Saturday followed by an overeager mistake on Sunday that I paid for. Nonetheless, I stayed true to my previous post and raced hard. At least I went down swinging and learned a valuable lesson in the process. I also learned another lesson when I found my rear brake slightly rubbing on my rear wheel that isn’t true. Oh well, I can’t blame anyone else for that and it definitely won’t be happening again. Sunday’s ride was a bit disappointing but the pro guys rode great and capped off an amazing weekend. With some big races quickly approaching it looks like they’re on track for some real results.

One thing that sticks out about last weekend was the respect I witnessed from wearing a pro team’s jersey. There were a couple of times I was accelerating to get on a teammate’s wheel only to feel a slight push from behind. Both times I looked back to see a guy from Kenda Pro Cycling slotting in behind me. There is a mutual respect among pro bike racers and a definitive code to follow. Up till this weekend the code had been something I heard about in team meetings or from one of the pro guys after a race. This was different, this was me. I’ll have to say it was a bit of an ego boost to finally be a part of that scene.

The same revelation happened again in the road race. The break was gone and somebody hit the gas. Luca Damiani from Kenda reacted and I jumped on his wheel. We both had guys up the road and we were at the front of the field doing our job. After the attack was neutralized we sat on the front for a while setting a nice easy tempo letting the break’s lead stretch out as much as possible. I didn’t catch all of what he was saying to me in his somewhat broken English but I didn’t have to. Cycling is an international language.

To give credit where it’s due that respect came from the others before me to wear that jersey. It was earned with their blood, sweat and tears. Fighting it out, battling for their place within the hierarchy of the peloton. That fact is not forgotten. Nor is the fact that this was a small race. I still have to earn that respect for myself as a rider. Especially in bigger races where there is much more on the line, and I have to say, I couldn’t be more eager to do so.

Speedweek looms dark on the horizon, one last tune up weekend in Charleston before real racing starts.

Amaaazing

According to the Chicago Tribune, the word amazing is becoming “overused” and “mundane.” However, this past weekend was the very embodiment of the word in all its glory.

It all began on Friday with my (and Trav’s) birthday. What does a struggling amateur cyclist do on his birthday you might ask. Well, I worked all day. Racing bikes ain’t free so there’s no rest for the weary. Working wasn't so bad though, thanks to Tashina and baked goods.



Saturday marked the first ever Boone-Roubaix which I had mixed emotions about. On the one hand, I heard the course was fairly tough so I thought it would be a good barometer to see exactly where my form is at. On the other hand, I finally got my new team bike and ended up changing my position quite a bit so I figured I would fade fast later in the race. No excuses, it just is what it is. I am pumped about the position change though. My coach, Zach Lail fit me on the new hhwhip and made some great but drastic changes. So in the long run it will definitely be positive but right now I’m still in the adjustment period.

I stayed true to my last post and rode my ass off. With the extra motivation of the first race on the team bike and wearing a Mountain Khakis f/b Jittery Joe’s kit, I wasn’t going to leave with anything left in the tank. The race started off ok but things quickly went south. I missed a turn chasing back on to the lead group and then got a flat, spent several minutes waiting for the wheel truck, day over, almost. I rode the rest of the race by myself or with small groups of random people, and I rode hard. As I rode by the parking lot after the first big lap I looked at the people who, for one reason or another, had already pulled out. Their faces showed signs of defeat, relief that it was over and I could already hear the excuses. As I rolled into the bottom of the big climb for the second time I said “f” that. I didn’t have the legs to win and I had some bad luck, that’s bike racing. But I kept going, rode my ass off and crossed the line having accomplished something. At the end the day I was done and the tank was empty. I had managed to turn a bad race into a good workout. Sitting on the side of the road isn’t going to put you in that front group fighting for the win.

I traveled to the race with Hekmen and Hamblen so lunch was possibly the highlight of the day. Stories of racing out of pocket, living off of prize money, it was true old school fury by the guys that lived it. I can’t get enough of it. They worked hard to make their way in the sport like I’m trying to do now and to be able to learn from them is an opportunity I don’t want to miss out on. Hopefully there will much more to come throughout the season. BTW, Hekmen won the race, Jon was 4th and Neil was in the lead group that was directed off course and disqualified so they all rode great.

While I could have sat there and talked with them for hours on end there was a bit of raging to be done. Saturday night was the big party for me and Trav’s birthdays. Needless to say we had been looking forward to it for a while. Times when we can kick back and cut loose during the season are few and far between so we fully intended to make it count. Let’s just say it was great and thanks to everyone who helped make it happen. It’s going to be a tough one to top for sure.

Mediocrity

For seem reason this season has started off at an uncanny level of mediocrity. From January Nats., through performance testing to last weekend’s races in Greenville, NC. Nothing has gone badly but nothing has been outstanding either. I always do well enough to come away with my chin up but not satisfied and thus motivated to improve.

Fresh off two crits in Greenville it is all the more apparent. Training is going well and my form is solid. I’m stronger than I’ve ever been even though I lack the top end that comes from a solid block of racing. So if I can improve like I did last year from this point I’m definitely on track for a solid year. However, with the legs I have I still feel like I could be getting better results. The fields in Greenville are usually small but strong and this year was no different. I expected moves to go both days, which happened, except I wasn’t in them. Saturday I just missed it, I waited too long to play my cards and that was it. Sunday I was more upset. It was really windy but I still didn’t expect the race to be hard enough to shatter. So I sat back and waited for everyone to get tired, sit up to take a breath and then I was going to punch it. Too bad the race completely split apart. I was only two or three people too far back but the gap opened quickly. I chased for about two laps by myself but couldn’t bring it back. The good news was I had enough energy left to fight in the sprints, but what good is it when you’re sprinting for 7th? Last in the break is always better than first in the bunch. However, if there was a prize for top finisher on a cross bike I would be straight kickin’ ass.

The positive that comes out of this is that I know results are close and within my reach. It’s actually way more motivating than getting my ass handed to me since I know every little thing could make the difference. It could be that last pound I lose, the extra nap I take or the extra interval I do. The four or five pounds I’m about to shave with my new team bike certainly won’t hurt either. I’ve grown fond of my cross bike over the last several months but the road is calling and she just can’t answer. And yes, the only reason I haven’t won every race I’ve done this year has been because I was on the cross bike. Oh, and my cleat was 2mm off, and my chain is kind of heavy, and I only had one carbon bottle cage on. Sorry, I hate excuses, even more so when it’s me making them.

Moving on, another busy week lies ahead with dollars to be made, bikes to be obtained, built and raced, training to be done, etc. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. With Boone-Roubaix this weekend and me and Trav’s joint birthday party afterwords, it’s going to be amazing. One last blowout before racing really gets for serious. Wait, crap, that also means I’m turning 24, when do I officially have to become an adult again?

Quote of the Week: (Done in an exaggerated southern accent) “All the money’s up the road. I’m blown.” -Eoin McDonnell’s impersonation of Curtis Staples

O.S.F.

So my master plan to post throughout team camp didn’t quite work out. Between work, team meetings, taking care of the Specialized fit technicians and almost 23 hrs. on the bike it was a full week. Stressful, exhausting and awesome are the adjectives immediately coming to mind. Looking back, it’s amazing that I was able to do so much in one week. It was a great experience and I had a good time meeting the new guys and catching up with some others I hadn’t seen in a while.

Having said that, the stress hasn’t subsided much. There’s still some logistical loose ends I’m trying to tie up so I can fully focus on racing. Sometimes the hardest part of being an amateur bike racer is tuning out all of the noise around you so you can simply focus on what’s important, performing on the bike. Regardless of what wheels I’m on, what shoes I’m wearing or how light my cranks are, I’m going to leave everything out on the road in a blaze of “old school fury.” Every race I do this year is going to be hard as shit. If I walk away from a race thinking it was easy I didn’t do my job. One thing my teammates can be assured of is that I will always give everything I’ve got. Sometimes it won’t be enough, it’s that simple. But I can promise it won’t be for a lack of effort. I’m not just talking about the race itself. When I step up to the start line I want to feel like I’ve done everything possible to be ready for that moment.

Whew, I’m trying to step away from the passionate rants and I almost got caught up there. Anywho, the weather has been good, the time change is here and Dixie starts tomorrow so all in all I can’t complain. Especially since I’m surrounded by litany of amazing people. Big thanks to Chris and T from the shop. I couldn’t ask to work with better people, enough said.

Quote of the Week: “Wicked tiger. He looks proud.” –Paulie Bleeker

I'm Late I'm Late I'm Late!!!

No, I'm not pregnant. It was reference to the rabbit in Alice In Wonderland. It seems to sum up the state of my life right now. It seems like I always have multiple things that I should be doing and I can never get caught up. Things are definitely starting to get busy. We’re now in the final days leading up to team camp and the stress of balancing cycling and the real world is bearing down. There are a lot of things on my mind but while these things are constantly swirling around in my head I have to remain focused on the bike. Having said that, it’s also a very exciting time.

On Wednesday, Joe, Neil, Isaac and myself piled in the team van and made the trek to the human performance lab at Eastern Carolina University. Our good friend Dr. Tim Gavin had a new protocol he wanted to run on some cyclists and we jumped at the chance for some free testing. The Dexa scan was beneficial because now I know how much weight I can drop without losing muscle mass. I was always paranoid that I was going to focus too much on being light and lose power. In general it was good to get some baseline numbers for the year. It was also the first time I had been tested so I was a bit nervous about seeing my VO2 max which is more or less unchangeable. I was legitimately scared that I was going to be told I could never be a pro bike racer. I kept preparing myself for the worst. I imagined being told I would never be good and using that as motivation to win bike races so I could throw it in their faces. Luckily I don’t have to do that. My VO2 was not amazing by any means but it wasn’t low enough for me to be seriously concerned. My body fat % and lactate threshold were not bad for the beginning of March but there is definitely room for improvement. So I walked away feeling ok about were I’m at but definitely motivated to see how much I can improve before we go back and get tested this summer. Thanks to Tim and all the others at the lab who helped out, we sincerely appreciate it and can’t wait to get back this summer.

Moving on, I’ll get another race in my legs this Saturday before team camp which begins Tuesday. I’m so glad the season is starting. It’s time to do work. Look for updates on team camp throughout the next week.

Lighter Fare

With things still winding up for the season and racing yet to begin, my mind is starting to wander. After logging some time yesterday in 60 degree weather I finally didn’t have to psych myself up to go for a long ride. Before heading out into below 40 degree temps. for four hours or more you have tell yourself how badass you think you are for doing it and think about how suffering through the cold will result in you crossing the line with your arms in the air at some point of the season. But yesterday, the first time I've seen my knees while riding a bike in ages, I was just loving being out on the bike with a good group of guys and I was able to expend mental energy on things other than how bad it sucks to not be able to feel your toes.

As my mind wandered to different places, it dawned on me that I had been so caught up with training and trying to get stronger that I had forgotten about possibly the most important part of racing bikes, style! During that euphoric ride it dawned on me that I was not going to be able to rock my own style while on the bike this year. Now that I've reached this level of racing I'll be sporting the same things all my teammates are wearing. Don't get me wrong, I'm far from complaining. The teams' sponsors are all great and we'll be riding some really flash gear this season. The kits are amazing, I’ve heard the Kane bikes look great, the gear is all top notch. All things said, I think Mountain Khakis fueled by Jittery Joe's is going to be one of the best looking teams in the world this year and I’m eternally grateful for anything I’m given to ride. I couldn't be more excited. Having said that, in years past when I have had to pay for equipment I've been able to add my own flair and twist, making it distinctly Evan. Now that I’m fortunate enough to have great support from amazing sponsors, I've been forced to look for style outlets in other places.

I've been pondering the Euro mullet for a while now. I've been close before but never pulled the trigger. With the mane getting out of control and in need of a trim, it could be right around the corner. I could immediately go into a full-on Euro mullet as we speak. But then you have to decide if you want to keep it trim, like a Giovanni Visconti, or maybe bring some old school fury Ekimov style. There’s also the question, are you fast enough? In order to sport the mullet you have to back it up with your legs. Nothing’s worse than a Cat 3 with pro syndrome that thinks he can back up the $5,000 bike his parent’s bought him with a trip to Great Clips. Hmmm, I don’t know if I can handle that pressure yet.

My new Timex Expedition, courtesy of my amazing boss Chris Ramm, is atrociously huge, orange and awesome. How more PRO can you get than a watch that matches your kit? It will also compliment the rugged outdoor theme I’ll be rocking to races courtesy of Mt. Khakis. You can believe I’ll be enjoying a bud and some coffee in my original mountain pants (follow the link for an explanation). Throw a cyclist in the pants that coined the term ‘MK butt’ and you can’t miss, with the bartender or the barista. I’m no Cipollini, but then again, he’s no Evan.

The quest for ultimate coolness will never end, but I guess that’s it for now. Up next, who knows, maybe I’ll race some bikes.

On Track

Wow, I'm shocked and ashamed that it's been over a month since my last post! It's odd since there were multiple times I found myself wanting to write but something always seemed to get in the way. It's time to get my social media priorities straight fo real.
Fresh on the brain right now is my trip to January Nat's yesterday. Isaac, Zach and myself piled into the Mountain Khakis team car for the trek over to my old home turf on the roads outside of Chapel Hill. While not an official race, it's a coveted title and everybody who's anybody shows up, kind of. More than anything it's a gauge to see where your fitness is at before racing gets underway. I can say I'm content with where I'm at right now. I'm definitely not ripping it by any means but for the first hard efforts since the last cross race I feel like I'm on track. It puts my mind more at ease since I would like to get started off on the right foot with the team. I'm pumped about riding as an amateur for Moutain Khakis fueled by Jittery Joe's this year. It's an amazing program and I couldn't be happier to remain a part of it. I can remember when I first started riding bikes, Jittery Joe's was hot shit. They were pro, and they were cool. They were in another dimension. They were guys I looked up to and when I saw them in pictures I dreamt that one day I would be there. While I'm definitely not there yet, I feel like I'm getting closer and knowing that Jittery Joe's is going to be on my jersey this year is an amazing feeling. At the same time, when I line up at a race in that kit I have big shoes to fill and I don't take that responsibility lightly. I still have to prove that I deserve to wear the jersey. Being faster is what I think about, whether it be during those long hours out on the bike, when I'm in the basement on the trainer, when I get my very small paycheck from work or whenever. It has become part of who I am. Hopefully that transpires into results and validates my position on the team, I guess time will tell.
The roads and old friends from Chapel Hill also brought back memories and it was nice to catch up with some people I haven't seen in a while. It's hard to believe it's been five months since I've moved from Chapel Hill. It felt like yesterday that I was out on those very same roads. It's probably because I trained on those roads for four years and know them inside and out. I can remember going out there when I first started riding and was working my way up to two hour endurance rides, wondering what racing was going to be like. Ahh, such a long time ago. It puts into perspective what a long road it's been yet I've still got so far to go. It's motivating to look at how far I've come and look into the future and think about how far I can take it. It's the start of another year and I'm still just as motivated as I was then. I'm stronger, smarter and more mature but when I look inside myself I still see the same thing I did then, a bike racer.
Up ahead there will be much to write about. The first couple races, team camp with lots of sweet new gear, as well as a probable trip to ECU for some performance testing in the lab. All that in addition to the usual so it should be a fun several weeks. I'm mos def looking forward to it and I'll be sure to keep you better informed.

Photo Finish

The last several weeks now seem like a series of snapshots forever ingrained in my mind. Whether it’s the immense relaxation of reading the paper and drinking coffee while watching the snow fall before everyone wakes up, or remembering how amazing it is to once again have my entire music library at my fingertips (thanks Santa), the snapshots are all going into the vault I like to call fond memories. One of my particular favorites was the flight back from Chicago, watching the last rays of the sun disappear, leaving an amazing array of colors in its wake on one side and the lights of the city fading into darkness on the other. Chicago is an amazing place and I always love spending time there. The flight back is always a contemplative time. I’m refreshed from the time spent off the bike with the family but I’m already starting to miss them. Thoughts of the long year ahead are also racing through my mind. Cliché as it may be, sitting in that coach seat, oblivious to the others around me as I pick some mood music, is the calm before the storm. The year ahead is sure to hold its ups and downs with immense amounts of training, racing, working and just life. Life is never easy but hopefully along the way there will be a couple of those fleeting, special moments that all bike racers dream of. Those moments that will be forever ingrained in our minds. They’re not always wins or results and might not even happen during a race. However, they are the reason we get on a bike time and time again when others have given up long ago.

So to everyone who made last year such a memorable one, thank you. I can’t say it enough and you know who you are. And to everyone who is or will help take this year to another level, it’s going to be long, hard and amazing with many more snapshots to come. So saddle up!!!