Saddle Up

Time Is Honey

2011-04-19T15:45:00.000-07:00

Lately it's been hard for me to find any energy to do anything productive in my precious few free moments. Things have been going full gas since I've been in Amherst, Mass. Most of my writing has been focused on my column in the Embrocation Cycling Journal.. So if you haven't seen it already, cruise over there to find out more of what's been going on.

The job has been more taxing than anticipated. It's like 30 hours of my week are gone, imagine that. I guess after 8 months sans job I was in the rhythm. Oh well, back to the real world. Not really, but I keep it real enough to count. Between the bike shop, training, racing, moving, writing the column and settling in I haven't had much free time but I guess that's a good thing.

The new locale is good but the weather up here has been crap so far. If I wanted shit weather I would have moved to Belgium. I need my SRM back so I can focus on something other than how bad the weather is. Hopefully we will be reunited soon. Come on tax return! Aside from the atmospherics, the roads up here are awesome. Plenty of 10-30 min. climbs close to the house and you can do six hours of flat roads if you want to. If this place was in Florida it would be perfect. Once it warms up it will be key.

Quick team recap. Battenkill was crazy. It was the most stressful race I've done, period. Basically, you're either going crazy hard or trying not to die, for 100 miles. Chapeau to Max and Peter who both showed their tough man prowess to finish in the front group, 14th and 20th I believe, respectively. Of the 100+ rider field of top pros and amateurs, the front group was only about 25 guys. So yes, it's hard.

Much more racing to come and I can't wait. We're still rolling with a somewhat abbreviated squad but we'll be in full force soon. I'm pumped to say the least.

K, now for some R & R. Stay tuned in to Embrocation, I'll be putting up new segments every other week or so. Hopefully I'll have the time to fill in the blanks here. Until then...

It’s Like Christmas…Well, More Like Hanukkah

2011-03-10T07:48:00.000-08:00

It’s about this time every year that all of the PRO team camps are come and gone. We’ve been reading about them on cyclingnews.com and velonews.com for a couple months now and are ready for racing to begin already. Everyone has all their new team kit and is fit from a week riding in some sunny locale we all envy. Well hold on, not everyone. For us amateurs the process is a bit different.

Being based in New England, the BikeReg.com/Cannondale team camp is still a few weeks away. April is a little late to be getting set up on a new bike and most of us have already done a few races. So instead of showing up at camp with our new bikes and all our gear neatly laid out for us in one big bang, it’s being shipped in stages as the team gets it. This way we can begin racing and getting dialed on our new whips before the real racing starts. So instead of one day of presents, we have eight crazy (somewhat stressful) nights.

In some ways it’s a bit frustrating. I’m on my new frame but I still don’t have wheels, TRP brakes, a Thompson seatpost and stem and some of my new drivetrain. You miss out on that huge rush of throwing your leg over a brand new ride and setting off into the sunset but realistically it’s a lot better for the rider. Then my new Mavic shoes arrived and are awesome, but they were way too huge so I had to send them back. Hopefully I reordered the right size but who knows? Clothing was shipped all over the country to everyone individually so there were a few errors that can’t be immediately rectified. Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not complaining. This is just the kind of thing you have to deal with before you make that next big step up. I feel like it keeps us humble, as we should be. The team manager, Todd Nordblom, has done an amazing job bringing everything together. I couldn’t have asked for anything more from him. Everything else will be at camp and then we’ll be ready to roll and that’s the number one goal.

It seems like a drag but trust me, the alternative is much worse. When you wait till team camp and nothing is right it’s awful. This way, all of the problems are sorted out before team camp and we can seamlessly roll into the new season. Check out some of the flash new BikeReg.com/Cannondale stuff that will be raging on a race near you…

Remember that post when I bitched about wearing old sunglasses? Not a problem.

Best aluminum bike in the world, check.

Random Updates: First race of the season last weekend. Seven hours driving in the rain to race two hours in the rain, welcome back to racing.

I now have a column in the Embrocation Cycling Journal. My biweekly column is called, “Nothing is Written.” The explanation of the title and what it’s all about will be in the first article which should be up in the next day or so. Check it out. It’s a cool site with more a lifestyle twist. It’s a nice break from Cyclingnews or Velonews.

This Just In

2011-02-24T15:44:00.001-08:00

Riders in the domestic peloton are being told to be on the lookout for a bunch of pissed off Aussies and an old, toothless guy. They are wanted in conjunction with a stream of crimes related to ripping legs off. If you see them, please contact your teammates and tell them to "harden the fuck up."

ProTour to Continental, they are out to prove something.

"I do five hours on my easy days." Scary.

Pros and Cons

2011-01-25T12:50:00.000-08:00

Lately I’ve been focusing on a lot of the negatives concerned with moving. The prospect of living in a crappy apartment and working at a shit job is generating some anxiety. As the search continues, things are starting to shape up and the likelihood of that becoming a reality is diminishing. However, it’s hard to get it out of my mind until things are set in stone.

While that is a reality I have to face, I feel like I’ve been neglecting the pros. Since starting this venture, the standard comment has gone something like, “Do it now, while you’re young.” I always felt that paralleled a lot of other quests where people my age have ventured forth to see the world and began their adult lives. It dawned on me that I haven’t really seen the world. Yes, I’ve traveled to some races but I’ve mainly raced locally and always lived in central North Carolina. I haven’t really gone out and seen the world. I haven’t been backpacking in Europe or thumbed my way around Thailand, both of which seem to be popular these days. Moving to the Northeast will let me see new things, meet new people and gain an entirely new set of life experiences. Yes, there are unknowns in the future and from a certain perspective the darkness ahead is daunting, but that’s part of the beauty isn’t it. The adventure and mystique of the unworn path awaits.

Vermont…the current front runner for locale.

In addition to the drastic changes that are about to happen on the life front, I’m also incredibly excited about this year on the road aboard a shiny new Cannondale. I’m really looking forward to doing more national level races with a strong, dedicated team. While I’ve been on various teams the past few years, I’ve never been part of core group of riders that did almost every race together. Even last year on Mountain Khakis I only raced with the pro team sporadically and otherwise I usually only had one or two teammates. I can’t wait to race with six other guys week in and week out and really be a part of a team dynamic. We have experience, youth and strength. It should be good fun.

So there it is. The glass is half full again. All things considered, it’s shaping up to be a fun ride. The big news this year is that you will be able to come along and saddle up with me and BikeReg.com/Cannondale in a forthcoming video diary. Once the season starts, I will be creating episodes every few weeks so you can get an inside look at top level amateur racing in the U.S. and the struggles we face in, “The Pursuit of Pro.” Stay tuned.

Feeling PRO...Kind Of

2011-01-18T07:59:00.000-08:00

With another big year of racing ahead, my ebay account is about to see some serious action. The funds have to be replenished to sustain this lifestyle of the amateur bike racer clawing his way to the top. Don’t get me wrong, the support from BikeReg.com/Cannondale is more than I had hoped for. Unfortunately amateur bike racing doesn’t quite pay the rent. So I’m cleaning house with some of my accumulated bike goods, a couple frames, wheels, my SRM that won’t work with my new Cannondale bike, etc.

While going through this stuff I had a fleeting PRO moment of selling all of my accumulated product to make some extra cash. Then I had the amateur moment when I remembered that I paid for most of this stuff and the money was going to pay rent because I don’t get a paycheck for racing my bike. Nice.

Can I Get A Hell Yes!

2011-01-05T14:10:00.000-08:00

The reason for my recent lack of posts is very simple. The last month or so has been the most stressful time in my life, period. Day after day spent trying to find a team or a job, or both, and dealing with constant disappointment was tough on the psyche. Little glimmers would appear, sometimes allowing a moment of optimism, but it would never last. I can’t tell you how many e-mails I’ve sent in the past two months. It felt like I had a full-time job and that was even more disheartening because I wasn’t making a dime. I was ready to take anything, job, team, personal sponsorship, whatever. The search just kept dragging on and on. I thought it would never end.

Then, out of the mist, it appeared. I was offered a spot on BikeReg.com/Cannondale. I was busting my ass on all these intricate plans with personal sponsorship/ employment deals. Then the best offer I could have hoped for was just tossed my way. I couldn’t believe it. I guess sometimes things just work out.

So, needless to say, I’m pumped. My reverse of fortune has given me new life. BikeReg.com/Cannondale, formerly Fiordifrutta, is one of the most highly regarded amateur programs in the country. It seems like a great fit and I can’t wait to start racing. Training for the unknown was incredibly hard mentally but I now have renewed enthusiasm and the stinging desire to work hard and step it up. First things first though. The team is based in New England so I have to relocate, at least from April to September. I’m in process of researching possible relocation sites as well as trying to source some type of income for when I get there, any suggestions?

As of right now, Northampton, Mass. and Burlington Vermont are the front runners. I’m getting really excited about new roads, new people, new culture; it’s going to be interesting if nothing else. I have two schools of thought on the income situation. Part of me wants to be a modern day Cortez and the burn my ships. If I went up there and just worked at a coffee shop or something I would probably be more motivated to kick ass on the bike and try to get a pro contract for next year. I wouldn’t have any off-the-bike career distractions. I wouldn’t have that safety net. It would be success or nothing, like Cortez. The other part of me, the part that went to college and isn’t a dumb ass, wants to be in a situation that is going to benefit me when bike racing is no longer the priority. So we’ll see what opportunities are presented. Who knows, maybe things will just work out again.

Dreaming Big

2010-12-03T12:17:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-01T09:13:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-21T08:47:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-30T10:15:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-10T08:18:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-08-26T11:35:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-26T10:04:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-07-06T13:51:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-20T13:32:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-06-07T13:13:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-06-02T10:36:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-24T12:15:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-03T13:37:00.000-07:00

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!!!

2010-04-19T13:39:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-12T14:10:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-05T12:11:00.001-07:00

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

2010-03-29T13:27:00.001-07:00

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.

2010-03-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

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!!!

2010-03-05T11:17:00.000-08:00

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

2010-02-22T13:50:00.001-08:00

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

2010-02-08T08:26:00.001-08:00

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

2010-01-03T12:43:00.000-08:00

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!!!

Tis the Season

2009-12-20T18:46:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to my housemate Travis’ blog post on cyclingnews.com. He’s been killing it on the cross bike all season and he’s in Belgium at the Euro camp right now. It’s nice to be living with someone else that’s hungry and focused but still knows how to enjoy life. Good things.

I’m off to Chapel Hill tomorrow to hang out with some friends before flying out to Chicago for Christmas. It seems like I just left but at the same time it feels like forever since I’ve seen them. It also seems too early to be nostalgic but I guess that’s how it goes after you spend 5 years somewhere and make so many lasting memories. It should be the perfect break before coming back and getting into race mode 100%.

Quote of the week, “…five hours of training up in the mountains by myself isn't that different from sitting in an alley doing crack.”
-Chad Gerlach

This Post Isn't About Anything

2009-12-11T16:14:00.000-08:00

This past weekend brought the last cross race of the season. It was a nice way to go out. I had a good start, crashed a couple times, then came from behind and won. Definitely not the pro race but it was fun which was the reason I did cross in the first place. I’ll have to take it a little more serious next year if I want to be competitive in the pro races but I’ll save that for later, much later.

With cross officially over it’s time to switch gears and get back to the road. Check out the team Web site for next year. Where else can you have your name put on a pro team’s jersey? Constant innovation, that’s how we roll. The Web site is still in the early stages so keep an eye on it. There are not really any new revelations otherwise.

I’ve lost some of the initial fascination with Pandora.com but it’s still pretty sweet. Especially if you take some time to tweak the stations a little bit with the thumbs up/down. We’re definitely rocking it at the shop as well.

On that note, I did get the job I mentioned in the last post. It’s turning out to be a really sweet gig and I’m enjoying it so far. Check us out on Facebook.com, be sure to become a fan of Recycled Outdoor Gear. The rock wall should be good to go in a week or so and the coffee bar should be in sometime in January, good things. Between the coffee bar at the shop and the Jittery Joe’s sponsorship, I’m going to be running hot next year, real hot.

Wow, this post took way to long as a direct result of Jersey Shore. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I envy you. It’s terrible but I can’t stop watching it. Read a book meatheads.

This is a snack attack and it's happening!!!

2009-11-23T10:20:00.000-08:00

I’m happy to report things have been happening the last couple weeks. On the cross side, I had a couple solid rides in Charlotte with an 11th and a 4th. Then I finally got a decent start the next weekend in Southern Pines and ended up winning after riding the entire race with only my teammate and coach Zach Lail. We talked on the last lap and he thought it was better for the series overall standings for me to win so I rode across the line first but we both deserve credit for the win. I also took advantage of some flat tires in the Tuesday night race in Charlotte and came away with another small win. The last couple days were spent at the North Carolina Grand Prix in Hendersonville. Being a UCI race, the CX 2 and 3 fields were combined so there was much more firepower than I’m used to at cross races. I sucked pretty hardcore on Saturday and was told I finished 30th. Sunday turned out to be fairly epic with temperatures in the mid 40’s, steady rain most of the day and a thrashed course from the previous races. Another mediocre start was followed by some surprising speed and I was able to splash my way back up to 11th. It was good fun though. Big thanks to the guys in the pits and everyone that yelled and/or heckled, you make riding in 40 degree mud enjoyable. An amazing night with the crew in Asheville also made the trip well worth it. One more cross race to go and it’s back to training for hopefully a big season on the road next year.

I just finalized the road situation as I will be riding for Mountain Khakis fueled by Jittery Joe’s as an amateur. It’s going to be pretty amazing wearing the jersey, even as an amateur. I think wearing the kit without pro status makes me even more motivated to prove I deserve it, to myself and everyone else. In any case, I’m excited to be a part of such an incredible program and am really looking forward to next year.

Now for a reality check, I don’t want to jinx it but I am being offered a job. I have a meeting tomorrow to work out the details but I think it will be a good situation. I’ll be keeping it part time to maintain the focus on training and racing with hopes of a good year on the road. More on that as it develops.

In other news unrelated to cycling, I finally jumped onboard the Pandora bandwagon. It’s amazing. Especially for me since my music selection always reflects what mood I’m in. With Pandora, it keeps playing songs with the same feel but you get a variety of artists and I rarely find myself hitting the skip button. You’ll undoubtedly hear songs you love but haven’t made their way to your iTunes and it might just make your day.

I’m also going to reinvigorate my social media efforts. So look for a Facebook facelift as well as more regular updates there and more consistent blog posts. Twitter is going to have to wait. My life is not that interesting right now and if you feel the need to see pictures and comments on what I’m eating, where I’m at and generally what I’m doing at every moment, get a life of your own. When I consistently have a constructive reason to Twitter I will most certainly do so, but that time is not now.

P.S. I just read the last post and I would like to apologize. That was weak, na, it was lame. I promise to do better.

Cross Continues

2009-11-05T09:03:00.000-08:00

So last weekend was spent slogging through the mud until my rear derailleur decided it really wanted to be in two pieces. Day done, at least I got to spend the weekend in the mountains and enjoy a Black Cat burrito as is always necessary when in Boone.
After a practice race in Charlotte on Tuesday and another good cross ride with the Mock Orange boys on Wednesday I’m starting to get the feel of riding in the dirt. The key word there is starting since I’m nowhere near proficient yet but I think it will help my handling skills on the road as well which never hurts.
The move to Winston is more or less complete. I’m kickin’ it with Joe and T-Nasty for the moment, which is awesome. The Winston crew is really fun. Combine that with the change in scenery and you have an amazing place to live and train. It was definitely the right move. Good life decision, I’m pumped.
I would put up some pictures from last weekend but I decided it was a little self-centered to keep putting up pictures of myself so if you want to see them check out the Facebook page.
Now it’s time to do a little work on the man cave. Get ready, it’s gonna be huge.

Facelift

2009-10-26T09:20:00.000-07:00

As you can see, I made a couple changes since the road season is more than officially over and cross has begun. I’m pumped since the new kits are my favorite color scheme ever! It is also my first experience with Giordana clothing and I’m really impressed. It’s quality stuff. I’m also digging the new Ridley Crossbow. I’m probably not the man to do an all out review of a cross bike since I spent most of the time creeping through the woods, hauling ass on the straits and generally praying I didn’t spend any more time on my ass but I can tell you it looks sweet and seems to get the job done with much more panache than myself. If that’s not good enough for you come by the Mock Orange tent at the next race and ride or race on one of the demo bikes.

As for the races themselves, it was a frustrating but overall positive weekend. Due to a little license misunderstanding I ended up doing the CX4 race on Saturday. I swear, it wasn’t my fault but to all the people giving me shit before the start about doing the 4 race, I told you not to worry. Almost 90 guys lined up and luckily I muscled my way onto the front row. On the line it started to rain. Awesome, I’ve never ridden a bike in the mud before in my life, much less in a cross race. The first time I’d ever ridden’ a cross bike was Wednesday. Even so, I knew I was going to catch all kinds of hell if I didn’t win. The whistle blows and I can’t get clipped in, nice. First corner, crash, I avoid it; second corner, crash, I avoid it. Now there’s like six guys ahead of me. I cautiously get around all but one guy who is going fairly fast so I sit on his wheel for a while. Only a couple laps in and I can’t even see third place. The guy I’m with is slowing down and I know he’s about to blow, hard. I decided to wait till that happened, pin it, and wax everybody. It was a great plan till he crashed and I crashed avoiding him. I was riding tubeless wheels and the front tire burped letting all the air out. No sweat though, I’m right at the pits. I’ll just pull in, grab a wheel off the spare bike and rock out. Too bad everybody was busy drinking and didn’t put the spare bike in the pit. So I walk over to the tent, grab a wheel and get some practice in. Not a big deal, if I had raced at 11:00 I probably would have done the same thing and I should have made sure the bike made it to the pits anyway. Oh well, live and learn. It’s cross, I’m not going to get upset about it and my teammates are too awesome to be mad at. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t have had a spare bike anyway.
With my first race done I was looking forward redeeming myself on day two. I got the license issue worked out and did the CX3 race. The course was awful for me. I don’t want to think about how many turns there were. My tactic was to use my fitness to haul ass on the fast sections and be cautious through the technical parts so I didn’t crash. It was a good plan except there were really only a few places I could open up the throttle. After pre-riding the course I made the mistake of hitting the bathroom right before the start and was the last one to line up out of 39 starters. The race starts and the first time into the woods it just stops. I ended up running the first wooded section since guys were going so slow. Thirty seconds into the race and I can’t even see the leaders anymore, just a never ending line of guys in front of me. At this point I’m like ok, I can’t do anything about it now except go as fast as I can and see what happens. So I focus on finding good lines and pushing the fine line between going fast and crashing. The whole race I’m passing people. I don’t know what position I’m in and it really doesn’t matter. I was going as fast as I could go without taking any big risks. With one lap to go I can see Joe in front of me and he finished third the day before so I figure I’m up there somewhere. I end up 7th which wasn’t too bad considering I started at the very back and it was a terrible course for me.

With the racing done it was time for a beer, a brat and some heckling. A luxury not often experienced during road season. I’m super pumped to be riding for Mock Orange. It’s an awesome group of guys that ride hard and have fun. It’s a nice break from the road since I’m trying not to put any pressure on myself and not sweating the little stuff. I’m saving that energy for the road. Next weekend in Boone, NC should be a good time and I’ll be looking for a podium finish.

Hopefully I’ll have some news for the next year’s road team soon. If everything comes off as planned it’s going to be an awesome situation but it’s not 100% yet so I’ll hold my tongue. It also looks like I’m moving to Winston this week which will be a nice change of pace and much needed change of scenery. Hopefully I’ll find some more pictures from the races to put up as well.

Hello Old Friend

2009-10-07T17:16:00.001-07:00

So it’s been forever since my last post but a break was much needed, from everything. Now that I’m mentally recharged it’s time to do work. The road season officially ended and I’d have to say I’m ok with how things went. I made a ton of progress across the board and I’m ready to do the same thing again next year. Right now I’m trying to focus on the fast approaching cross season. Training is back full force and it feels good to get back on the bike. I think I’m on track to give cross a full go so I’m excited about the first race.

I’ll leave the road team situation for next year to a different post. Things are constantly changing so anything I would say could change at this point. Instead of constantly updating I’m just going to wait till it’s set in stone and fill you in.

My rant for the day is the fact that it finally happened. I’ve been beaten by somebody that was definitely on drugs. Mitch Comardo won the French Broad Road Race and it was just released that he tested positive for a whole slew of crap. He didn’t steal any money from me that weekend. If you remember my post from that race it was probably the worst weekend I’ve had all year. The prize money wasn’t anything to write home about anyway, that’s not what got to me. It was the fact that he took away somebody’s opportunity to ride across the finish line and throw his hands up in the air. That’s why we all race bikes. It’s that feeling we get when we come out on top. It’s what we think about when we’re freezing on a five hour ride in January. If you’re not Mark Cavendish it’s a feeling that you rarely get to experience. Then he tries to spew some crap about how he’s taking full responsibility, not contesting the results and accepting his punishment like that negates what he did. Admitting you did something wrong doesn’t make it right…jackass. Have fun not racing bikes for two years. I’m out.

Cowboy Up

2009-08-11T08:57:00.000-07:00

It’s been a long week. The past nine days brought eight races and the last big week of the year for me on the road. It started with the WNC Grand Prix in Black Mountain, NC. I loathe driving to the mountains and doing flat crits. Luckily there was a short, steep hill right after a 180 degree turn that made the course tough. I felt a lot better than I did at French Broad but still not 100 percent. Stomach cramps ended my shot at winning the 2/3 race with about three laps to go. I held on for 10th, last money spot. My $10 check was not what I wanted but it’s been so long since I’ve won anything it was a step in the right direction. I also started the Pro 1/2 race but I didn’t have that hill in my legs anymore.

I knew after a couple days of rest I would be on track for the Giordana Crossroads Classic. It was going to be another step up. With Presbyterian and Hanes Park over the weekend big guns come early to tune up and get ready. Lining up with some of the best pros in the country was a new and gratifying experience. Crossroads are the only races I’ve done every year since I started riding bikes. I’ve done the 4/5 races, the 3’s and now the Pro 1/2. As I sat there on the line it made me realize how far I’ve come. From getting dropped in the 4/5 races to battling it out against some of the best riders in the country, it’s been a long a journey that’s only just begun. Crossroads were also the first real Pro races I ever watched in real life. I vividly remember standing at the finish line as Davide Frattini from Colavita won in Salisbury and this year as I lined up and looked over at the Colavita guys it all came rushing back. I’ve been so focused on the future and trying to make it as a bike racer I hadn’t ever really thought about how far I’ve come already. As the road season winds down for the year it was good for me to look back as I head into another off season in preparation for taking another step up next year.

Lining up was real philosophic but after the race started it was all business. I don’t know what our average speed was but I don’t think I want to, it was fast. I felt ok, when I was sitting in it was just below my red zone and I was more or less comfortable. Moving up was a different story. There’s plenty of room to move up because it’s usually single file. However, there’s a reason it’s single file. It takes serious effort to move up and there was only so much gas in the tank. I finished 35th the first day and looked to improve throughout the week. I finished the next two days but was unable to improve the result. I didn’t finish Friday or Saturday for various reasons but tried not to come down on myself too hard. I really wanted a result in the 2/3 race on Sunday and rode hard but the cards just didn’t fall right. I ended up 15th after having the door shut on me in the sprint and hitting my brakes. It sucks but it’s also good motivation. Knowing that I’m so close to results gives me something to think about during the long hours of training that are sure to come this off season.

Now it’s back to the real world. Still don’t know where I’m going to be living a month from now, or where I’ll be working. I just know I’ll be riding bikes. I will be racing cyclocross for Mock Orange Bikes which I’m super pumped about. My teammates are all awesome and I’m looking forward to bangin’ bars in the dirt, more on that to come. Here are some links to more pictures from crossroads. This week reaffirmed that the Kane is an awesome race bike. I don’t want to count up how many corners and accelerations there were this week but the Kane took them all in stride.

http://www.cyclingphotos.ca/gallery/9196016_Tw7tL/1/613823762_hspBF/Medium
http://www.cyclingphotos.ca/gallery/9177601_ZSjEc/1/612469820_SNZsT/Medium

Busy Busy Busy

2009-07-25T15:34:00.000-07:00

I finally found some pictures from Fitchburg so there you go. The last few weeks have been crazy. I followed up a couple solid performances at the Piedmont Triad Omnium with the worst ride of the year at the French Broad Classic. I don't know what was up, I just didn't feel myself. But that's bike racing. It's time to move on and look at the last big push, the Crossroads Classic. Hopefully I can hold on to some form and finish off the road season on a good note. There are a couple more road races after Crossroads but I think it's about time to check out and take a little break before my cyclocross debut. I move out of the house here in Chapel Hill tomorrow. What comes next is a big question mark. Things are starting to shape up for next season but there are still some big decisions to be made. Like where I'm going to live. I'll keep you posted as I figure things out. Ok, so I should probably start packing.

Stage Racin' Recap

2009-07-07T16:19:00.001-07:00

During the past few weeks there have been plenty of things to write about but not enough time. Here’s a relatively brief recap. After finishing Ohio with a somewhat disappointing 19th place overall and a best stage finish of 13th (I think) it was back to Chapel Hill for a week of making dolla bills before heading to the beach for the bro’s wedding, congratulations again guys. The next day it was off to Massachusetts for the 50th Annual Fitchburg Longsjo Classic.

It was the same crew as Ohio sans my teammate Daniel who broke the ball of his shoulder in a crash there. However, Tim took up the slack and decided to race his bike. Five guys crammed into Le Motel 6, it was going to be a fun race. It’s amazing how close you get to people after spending virtually every minute with them for two weeks. Our trips basically consist of laughing so hard you cry punctuated by racing bikes. I think we’ve found a good balance with this group of guys. We have a great time but when the kit goes on it’s all business. The race always comes first and everyone is surprisingly professional.

Fitchburg didn’t start off great and I was fairly disappointed with my time trial performance. I didn’t expect to win by any means. It was the first time trial I’ve done all year and I don’t specifically train for it. I also don’t have a TT bike. It was clip on bars, a TT helmet and off to the start gate. Sixty-eighth was not what I was looking for but I had to put it behind me and focus on the three days ahead. The circuit race was really fast. I felt ok and Shawn was ready to get me to the front for the finish but with 10 guys up the road I told him to save it for the road race. I just finished in the group which was surprisingly small by that point. I moved up eight spots in GC. The next day was eight laps and 87 miles mainly decided by the feed zone climb. It was probably the hardest race I’ve done all year. Shawn (who finished 10th overall in Ohio) and Tim were dropped the first time up the climb. It was going to be a long day. I tried to stay in good position and avoid getting gapped off. I was able to finish at the back of the front group in 33rd place. How tough was it? I moved up 30 spots in GC just from finishing in the group. It was one of those mental battles that stick with you. I hate to admit it but I was actually fairly pleased with my ride, even though it was for 33rd. I could go on and on about how bad it hurt and how deep I had to dig and how I’m the man for not giving up but that’s just bike racing and you’ve heard it all before. Not to mention the fact that it just doesn’t come as badass when it was all for 33rd place. The crit was surprisingly easy compared to the other days. I sat back and let the race unfold. With the GC leaders only separated by 2 seconds it was going to be aggressive. In the final 8 or so laps there were massive attacks by the guy in second place looking for those few precious seconds. With three to go I knew he was tired so I threw out an attack but he wanted those bonus seconds on the line and wouldn’t let me go. I was stuck behind a massive slow up with one to go and couldn’t find space to get back to the front. The legs felt great, I just couldn’t get a clear shot to use them. I finished somewhere in the field. Somehow I still moved up two spots on GC to finish 28th. Not great but not bad considering I moved up 40 spots after the time trial. Results have eluded me once again but the steady progression continues and hopefully the stage racing in my legs will pay off before the season is over.

Now it’s back to the hill and back to the real world. The last month has flown by, time to recoup and prepare for the final push of the season. It’s also back to the French press, finally, and my old routine. Panera you’re awesome, but enough is enough. Hopefully I can find some pictures from Fitchburg and put them up soon along with other random happenings I forgot to mention.

Like A Boss

2009-06-19T20:14:00.000-07:00

So take us through a normal day for you:
Wake up.
Like a boss.
Eat mad food.
Like a boss.
Work on my bike.
Like a boss.
Go to the race.
Like a boss.
Sing along to Taylor Swift with four other guys on the way to the race.
Like a boss.
Flirt with the girl in the café so I can use the bathroom without buying anything and end up using the bathroom and getting a free cookie.
Like a boss.
Get dropped on the KOH along with three fourths of the field.
Like a boss.
Chase back on through the “caravan.”
Like a boss.
Hard ass crit.
Like a boss.
First place finisher not in the break.
Like a boss.
Eat more food.
Like a boss.
Pass out.
Like a boss.

Ohio Looms

2009-06-13T17:49:00.000-07:00

It’s been a long and exhausting week and the next one is going to be the same but for a different reason. The next eight days hold seven days and 415 miles of racing. Tomorrow is the NC State Road Race Championships and Monday it’s off to the Tour of Ohio.

I’m looking forward to the trip for several reasons. First of all, what could be better than racing bikes for a week? Yeah, racing bikes for three weeks would be better but such is life. Second, just getting out of Chapel Hill and riding somewhere else is going to be awesome. I love Chapel Hill but having trained here for almost four years now it’s getting a little old. The same roads day in and day out take a toll on you mentally. Third, I love traveling. Ever since I was a kid I’ve loved striking out in search of new wonders. You never know when you’re going to stumble upon some new treasure. Whether it’s the best culinary creation you’ve ever imagined or simply amazing scenery passing by the window traveling is always a welcome adventure. Fourth, I get to stay with some old friends that have been gracious enough to offer us their house for the week. I don’t know if people realize how much that means to poor cyclists but not having to pay for a hotel for a week is often the difference between going to a race and not. To everyone who has ever, or will ever offer a cyclist host housing, enormous thanks.

One more rent check, decision time is fast approaching. I’m ready for new surroundings but where to go, where to go. Time will tell, but for now it’s time to ride hard, race smart and enjoy the moment.

OUCH presented by my job

2009-06-05T09:33:00.000-07:00

So I had this grand plan for a positive, uplifting post about the race last weekend. I was going to talk about how it was the smartest race I’ve ridden and about how I soloed up to a move with Ben King (Trek-Livestrong), attacked out of that group as it was getting brought back only to look back and see that I was then off the front with Johny Sundt (Kelly Benefit Strategies). And then about how I soloed up to Johny, Ben and one other guy on the last lap only to have Johny blow up when I was five meters away and the others accelerated (they were caught just before the line anyway). But instead, there was another incident this week that really made me think.

I was at work the other day and caught a nail in the thigh. When I say caught, I don’t mean glanced or scratched. I mean this nail went into the muscle in my quad. When this happened, most people would have been worried about the pain or the risk of infection. But as I sat there pressing a cloth against it, trying to stop the bleeding, all I could think about was how it was going to impact cycling. Would it take me off the bike? For how long? With my two biggest goals of the year approaching this was not good.

It turned out to be not incredibly serious, so far. I was back on the bike the next day, albeit in slightly more pain than usual. However, it really made me sit back and take notice. I think of everything in terms of how it relates to cycling. From the food I eat to the hours I work, I plan it all around the bike. There is no way I could be happy doing anything other than what I’m doing right now. I work hard for little pay, it’s a constant struggle, both mentally and physically. But each weekend I get to go race my bike and there’s never a doubt in my mind that it’s worth it. Will I still have the same mindset in ten years? I doubt it, but right now I’m living in the moment going full gas and not looking back. Who would have thought having a nail puncture your leg could be so philosophical?

Ohio is only a little over a week away. Get syked!

Ridin' the Bull, Feelin' the Flow

2009-05-29T11:09:00.000-07:00

I guess I’m starting to be negligent with posts but there’s just not much going on. There’s lots of training and working, all boring. State crit champs were last weekend and it was yet again a better race for me. I don’t want to jinx it but I’ve continued the trend of having a better race every single weekend. I finished one spot out of the money in eleventh after a group of five lapped the field. I hate to knock my teammates but when I’m behind blocking and we have two guys in the lead group of ten and that lead group splits in half you need to be in the front, especially when it’s so obvious that the group is going to lap the field. If you don’t have the legs you don’t have the legs and that’s ok, but I didn’t hear any of that. That tells me you just messed up, which is not so ok. I felt great at the finish but my cassette came loose with four or five to go and I was left praying my bike didn’t fall apart. So I was more or less happy with my ride.

The form is definitely coming around in time for Ohio and Fitchburg. I’m working out the logistics of those trips now and it looks like we’re going to put together a composite team for Ohio and have a couple guest riders for Fitchburg. Both trips should be crazy fun and hopefully I can sneak away with some results.

I sent out a rent check the other day, one more to go. Over the last five years I’ve moved nine times so you’d think I would be used to it by now, and I am. This time, however, I don’t know what I’m going to do next. Previously it was always school or summer or something of that nature. Now it’s the real world. It’s exciting because I can basically do whatever I want. There’s nobody telling me to do this or that and I’m not restricted by school. It isn’t always so great on the nerves but I’m happy to be racing my bike and as long as I keep doing that nothing else matters so much. I can assure you that whatever my next move is it will reflect bike racing being the priority.

The Rise Continues

2009-05-19T18:07:00.001-07:00

Last weekend brought another good race. The result wasn’t so hot but I was aggressive early and tried to make something happen again in the closing laps. Nothing quite came together but my efforts were not wasted since it allowed my teammates to sit back and have a free ride. They both came through and finished in the money. The fitness is still on the rise and I feel like every race I’ve done has been better than the last. I’m constantly learning the new game and the team is starting to ride better together.

I’m trying to keep the boring race news to a minimum. The other positive of the week was getting the new ride. Yes, finally, it’s here. A big thanks to Jonathan Kane for spending his entire Friday afternoon helping me put it together in time for the weekend. Initial reactions are good. It’s super stiff and still manages to soak up the road. With the current set up it’s pure race. I’ll try to get some pictures the weekend since everything is finally together. I also had a pro moment as I was gluing up the tubulars. I haven’t ridden them yet though. So this weekend I’ll be rolling deep. State crit champs are on tap but it’s time for a road race already. A trip to some hills is also in order.

Wait, one more thing. The latest press release from Team Mountain Khakis is out. You can see it here. I’ll have to admit, it’s pretty cool going to a site that’s been on my favorites list for a couple years and seeing something I wrote. Not that it’s really an amazing achievement, but it feels good. Now back to resting. I leave you with a quote.

“Now remember, things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. 'Cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live nor win. That's just the way it is.”
-The Outlaw Josey Wales

My Mind Is Racing

2009-05-11T13:04:00.000-07:00

As I sit here enjoying a coffee and watching the rain come in, the world around me remains unusually serene. However, my mind is moving at a different pace.

I am approaching a time when I need to start making decisions about what’s next. My lease here in Chapel Hill ends after July and I need to start thinking about what’s next. The problem lies in the fact that I don’t know what my riding situation is going to be next season. That largely depends on how I ride in months of June and July. I am going to several big races then and I need to get some results if I want to take another step up. So I’m in a situation where I can’t really make any solid decisions. I need to focus on riding well and getting some results. Then I can reassess my situation and go from there. In the meantime, all I can do is go over multiple scenarios in my head, over and over. The only thing I know for sure is that I want to keep racing my bike and trying to make the dream of being pro a reality. I harbor no illusions of winning everything for the rest of the season and signing a huge contract for next year. I know it’s not going to come easy. I’m going to have to continue to struggle on with that one goal in mind and the decisions I make need to reflect that commitment. As I buckle up the shoes once again I cannot help but imagine where I’ll be doing the very same thing next year. What team will it be for? Will I be in the U.S.? For now I can’t dwell on those things. I can only give 110% and have faith that it will get me where I want to go.

Giving 110% has not been a problem. At the beginning of the year I wondered how I would feel at this point in the season. Would the struggles of working to pay bills, training and racing take their toll on my motivation to continue? Would that early season hunger for success begin to fade? I can say with certainty that it has not. I’m more motivated than ever to continue to fight. It hasn’t been easy. Sometimes it seems like I never get a break. After working and training all week I spend the weekend in the car traveling to and from races. Then I wake up on Monday and it starts over. Somehow quitting never enters my mind. When I do wake up on Monday all I can think about is the next race and what I need to do to become a better bike racer. It’s a consuming lifestyle, but one that I love and hope to continue.

Catch Up

2009-05-03T17:21:00.000-07:00

It’s been a while. The past couple weeks have been good. A few more races are in the bag and I’m pleased with the progression. The fitness is still coming along nicely and there’s no evidence of it slowing down. I’m putting up good numbers in training and I’m racing better and better every weekend. I’m starting to get really excited about June and July. There’s going to be a lot of travel and racing and it’s going to be the culmination of all the hard work this year.

The team is finally cranking things up and we’re starting to get into the flow. Hopefully we can gel quickly and start getting results. I’ve also just heard that the new bike frame should be in my hands this week so we can start looking the part as well.

I guess the big revelation since my last post occurred Friday night at the pro race in Spartanburg. It was part of the USA Crits Speedweek Series so most of the big teams had squads there. My teammate and I decided to do the Category 2/3 race in an effort to get a result instead of just trying to finish the pro race but we stayed and watched the heavy hitters slug it out. The entire time I was watching there was only one emotion, and it was the desire to be out there racing. It was one of those moments that reminds me what I’m working for and reassures me that I made the right decision to put the career on hold to pursue such a lofty goal. I wanted to be out there so bad, it was killing me. The speed, the power, the suffering, the sacrifice it took for those guys to get to where they are. Bike racing is such an amazing and beautiful thing. Magnifique.

And oh yes, don’t worry, the new French Press arrived.

My Heart is in Pieces

2009-04-22T17:44:00.000-07:00

I felt like it was time for another post, but what about? The Theo Bos incident, over done already. How annoying twitter is quickly becoming, too many negative waves. Where my new frame is, enough is enough. How training is going, too serious and boring.

The story of the week is instead my shattered heart, or rather my shattered French press because they one in the same. The sound of that horrendous moment will haunt my dreams forever. I imagine the last few days of my life have been a lot like drifting endlessly in a lifeboat on the open ocean. There is nothing that can quench my desire for that sweet nectar. The first rule of survival, keep a cool head. I immediately ordered a new one and every time I come home my eyes lock on the doorstep. Ahh, it will be here soon and such I glorious moment I can only imagine. Ok, maybe I exaggerate. Nah, this is for serious.

I did get a lift a minute ago when I checked the weather. It’s full on shorts time and it’s going to be hard not to ride all day long. I’m also syked about tomorrow. I get to have one of my ideal days. No work equals key breakfast, coffee (maybe tomorrow’s the day it arrives), cycling videos, loud music and hard riding. Then I get to chill and recover, a nap perhaps. Man, I wish there was a way I could do that every day. Wait, isn’t that called a professional cyclist?

It Hurts When I Ride Hard

2009-04-18T18:39:00.000-07:00

So it’s been a while. Sorry for the white noise but my computer went haywire this week and it took some doing to get it fixed. Anyway, I’m sitting here in Charleston, SC icing my back and drinking a decaf Americana in the hotel room and thought it was a good time for a post.
The back is not so hot. I pulled something or pinched a nerve last weekend and could barely stand up on Monday. I was able to ride and it got better every day but the races today were just too much. Carrying tile up a flight of stairs all week probably didn’t help either but it did pay some bills and those are the breaks right now. Thirty minutes into the pro-am my back was screaming and the remaining 45 minutes were not looking too appealing. I suffered through it before it finally called no more with just two corners left. I was a bit heartbroken since my legs felt great today. The new workouts Zach has me doing are already paying off. If this is me after a week and half with Zack I can’t wait to see the results in a couple months. Say, at Fitchburg maybe? I went from getting dropped in 20 minutes at Rock Hill to being in the top 15 with two laps to go today and still having legs, just no back. It was a similar field to Rock Hill with some very legit riders so I was happy with my ride. I also started the 2/3 race but I was a spent force and didn’t feel like pushing the back any more than I had to so I pulled out after about 15 minutes.
Gear Review: My taint and new Fizik Arione CX saddle are becoming quick friends. My iAero says I gained 100 ft. in elevation while riding in circles today. My headset is so loose it rattles around. Not so fun cornering at 30 mph. Where is my new bike for real? Oh, and all my new Defeet socks are way too hot.
Random hotel boredom rendered this gem, match.com on HGH, our world is awesome. On the music front, this week’s theme was decidedly country. The Zac Brown Band- Whatever It Is, Dwight Yoakam- Close Up the Honky Tonks, Dwight Yoakam and Allison Krauss- If I Were A Carpenter, Taylor Swift- White Horse (I’m half German, half Scots-Irish and one sixth 15-year-old girl)
Well, the Americana is almost gone. I think The Office and then sleep. Ciao.

The Busiest “Off” Week Ever

2009-04-12T07:01:00.000-07:00

With no races this weekend I had been looking forward to an easy week. However, my life had other plans. Monday was spent working and then fixing my computer and getting my iAero operational which took until about 11:00pm. And oh, the iAero was no where near operational. Tuesday was more of the same with work and trying to figure out the iAero. Wednesday was spent at a teammate’s house building a fence prior to picking up my mom and little brother at the airport. They’re in town for a little visit and it’s always nice to have them around.

With no work on Thursday and Friday I was looking forward to some good riding and getting the ball rolling with my new coach, Zach Lail. I was also super pumped since my brothers were going backpacking at Stone Mountain and needed someone to drive a car to their pick-up point. I was really looking forward to going uphill and spending some time clearing my head. I always seem to have these very contemplative moments while climbing by myself and it is much needed right now. However, I had mad problems with the iAero and the day’s main goal was fitness testing to get some baseline data for Zach. Thus the sacrifices for cycling glory continue. Instead of spending the day railing it up mountains on a beautiful day I was throwing stuff around my apartment with unending frustration. I finally got it working, more or less, and had to settle for another ride around Chapel Hill. Luckily I was cross eyed most of the time due to the testing and didn’t really know where I was at.

Friday and Saturday brought more hard rides. My training is going to shift significantly with Zach. Time on the bike has decreased while intensity has done the opposite. When you look at the time I’m spending on the bike you think “Ahhh, that’s nothing.” Then you see the actual workout and after only three days I can already tell you that these workouts are draining. I’m really anxious to see the results. Side note, if you ever hear me say “bro” it means I’m really tired and need sleep. Also, look for my guest contributions on the Presicion Cycle Coach blog.

Team News: My frame size is in! Now it just needs to be painted, come on Jack Kane I know you can do it. I think we are going to have to reassess the goals of the team for the year. We are down to three guys right now. Two of which have combined to race a grand total of five or so times. We’re looking for someone else to fill a slot but it’s really late in the game right now, and who wants to ride for a team that doesn’t race? I hope the other guys decide to step it up soon, it’s time.

Random News: I finally watched Sixteen Candles, quality. I’ll actually not be in the car traveling from a race today so I can watch the Paris-Roubaix coverage. My heart wants George to win, but it seems improbable. My mind says who cares, it’s Roubaix, and it’s going to be epic regardless. I can’t stop listening to Old Crow Medicine Show and I think I’m starting to like Euro dance music too much while I’m on the bike.

Steep Learning Curve

2009-04-06T19:19:00.000-07:00

The new game has officially started. Last weekend in Rock Hill, SC was a rude awakening. It was my first race as a Cat 2 rider and any illusions I had about my level of fitness were quickly ripped out of my body via my legs.

Rock Hill is about as tough as it gets for a smaller local race. Mountain Khakis and DLP had full squads. There were also a couple Kenda and Team Type 1 riders thrown in for good measure. In addition to the roughly 15 pro riders there were also several top level regional amateur teams fielding full squads. The final tally was around 85 guys on the line. Saturday was the downtown crit on a technical course. I was still feeling the birthday celebration from Thursday but wasn’t putting pressure on myself so I was relaxed. Lining up was a bit of a rush. I had finally made it to the main event and was rolling up beside some guys that are strait up legit bike racers. The gun went off and the fun ended there. I was gaped off in almost every corner for the first three or four laps. After that I started driving my bike better but by that point I had been at the back and guys were getting popped. I constantly found myself having to close gaps which was not good. Closing a gap in a 3 race is nothing. I never thought twice about it. I knew I could close anything but then again I wasn’t having to accelerate up to 30 mph out of every corner. In short, it was fast. After about 20 minutes a guy made a desperate move to stay on and about took my front wheel out in the process. Then he blew and left another gap, my day was done. The real kick in the pants was the fact that the entire time I was dying a thousand deaths and getting dropped, Hekman was off the front by himself. It’s just another level.

After spending the night with the Mountain Khakis guys at some excellent host housing I was hoping for a better result on Sunday. I still wasn’t putting too much pressure on myself and decided to just race as hard as I could and whatever that was it was. I felt like most of the garbage from Thursday was flushed out of my system the previous day so I was ready to ride. I got a good spot on the line and wanted to stay near the front in case there were any big splits in the field. I wasn’t looking for a small break but if 20 or so guys rolled away I wanted to be in it. We started slow as everyone got warmed up. It was the calm before the storm. After 10 or 15 minutes the clouds were starting to look ominous. A Mountain Khakis rider rolls past, closely followed by a DLP rider, then Jet Fuel, Global Bike. Then, all at once, BOOM, the shit hit the fan. One guy went and it was on, it was just never ending attacks from then on. There was this constant reshuffling of the deck as guys went, were brought back, countered, and so on. I stayed near the front most of that time and if 20 guys had gone I had a good chance of being there. Ten guys eventually got away and it was game over. The pack chilled until we hit the hills on the last lap and things warmed up again. Nothing crazy but we weren’t exactly chatting on the hills either. The last ten miles were insane but incredibly fun. I didn’t have a computer on but I swear we averaged at least 30 mph for that entire stretch. Everyone was attacking, chasing, fighting for position. There is definitely going to be a learning curve to this part of the race at this level but I felt good and was enjoying the fight. I stayed in decent position most of the time and felt like I still had some legs for the field sprint. However, I was too far back and rolled in around 30 something. It was a little redemption from the previous day and very educational. So I was able to end on a fairly positive note.

Another positive from last week was that I started working with Zach Lail of Precision Cycle Coach. I’m really excited to be working with Zach and I think his experience is going to be immensely helpful. More updates on that as it progresses. The bad news of the week was hearing that another one of my teammates had to withdraw from ITS-Kane. That means the already small squad of five is down to three, two of which apparently don’t race bikes much. Hopefully we can pick up another guy and everyone will start racing consistently. The other bad news is that my frame size isn’t in yet. It’s supposedly being expedited from Taiwan but who knows. So the new componentry and the iAero are going on the current ride for now. The next post will probably be an update on how that’s going. Now it’s time for more much needed rest. Adios.

Culmination

2009-03-30T17:01:00.000-07:00

I should probably be excited about last weekend but I’m just too exhausted. It was the first time I’ve ever been on the podium back to back days with second on Saturday and third on Sunday. It also gave me more than enough points to finally upgrade to Cat 2.

On Saturday the rain came, just like I wanted. I stayed active and at the front the whole race. Nothing seemed to be able to get away and looked to be settin up my favorite thing in the world, a Cat 3/4 group sprint in the rain. There was a late attack with 1 lap to go and the guy on the front of the group chasing him down crashed, taking out four or five guys behind him. I was able to avoid it but the kid off the front was gone and second was the best I could do. It still gave me the last couple upgrade points and lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.

Sunday was a bit different with warm and sunny conditions, it was going to be fast and I wanted to win in my new ITS-Kane kit. Again, I stayed at the front and covered anything dangerous. Early on I bridged up to a move and we were off. The seven of us lapped the field and the game began. I covered an attack with three to go but we were brought back and I got in position for the sprint. With two turns left there was a move on the right by a guy that was in the move being led out by a strong teammate. I jumped on the wheel and we were off. Into the second to last turn somebody flew across the road and my only options were to check up or hit the curb. So he knocked me off the wheel of the guy who eventually won. I still managed third but was not happy. The guy made a dangerous move and screwed me. He never even got the wheel I was on. He knocked me off it, but never had a chance for the win and I did. I was so close to ending my Cat 3 career on a high note but it was not meant to be.

I also did the pro-am on Sunday. I was feeling the previous race and hadn’t eaten enough so I suffered most of the time. With about six laps to go there was a huge split in the field and I was behind it, so was my only teammate left. I didn’t feel like I had anything for the finish so I hit the front and closed the gap for my teammate. Right after I caught the front group Rich Harper attacked and it was game over. I felt good about still being able to help out my teammate in the end and I think with fresh legs I could have been a factor in the race. Hopefully it was a sign for things to come.

Other high notes for the weekend included getting my iAero power meter and learning that I should have my new Kane bike very soon, maybe not in time for next weekend but for sure(please don’t jinx it) by the next races after that. I also won enough money to cover all three entry fees and travel, so that was crucial. Last weekend was a culmination of so many things. The upgrade points, the new team clothing, the power meter, the bike and to top it off my birthday is Thursday. So yeah, it’s a good week.

Now that I’ve met my goal of upgrading it feels like I’ve just climbed a mountain but am now staring at a much bigger one right in front me. It might sound hard to conquer a challenge only to be immediately faced with another, much harder one. However, I couldn’t be more excited. I’m playing a whole new game on another level and can’t wait to step up to the plate. It’s time to get nasty.

Dancing for Rain

2009-03-23T17:45:00.001-07:00

As I sit here evaluating last weekend I feel ok about it. I didn’t come away with a result and that is not ok, but compared to last weekend I certainly can’t complain. Both days were somewhat hilly, not quite enough to suite me but better than flat for sure. My legs felt good despite all the hard training leading into the weekend. I think the new tune-up ride is a keeper. I didn’t want to let the same thing happen this weekend so I was aggressive early both days. However, the field was much deeper and I could only get away by myself. Any type of group was immediately chased down and neither course was conducive to an early solo move. So I stayed calm and alert at the front for most of the race both days which came down to a group finishes (or what was left of it). Saturday I can blame no one but myself. I was there in the end and felt great. I was fresh and ready to uncork my sprint. However, in the mad shuffle for position I forgot when the road opened up and was totally screwed. As soon as it happened I was kicking myself. I felt so good but was helpless. Sunday was a little different story with an uphill finish I was looking forward to. Most of the race went the same as Saturday. I attacked a couple times and followed anything dangerous but nothing formulated until I got into a group of three with three laps to go and a small gap opened up. We didn’t keep the pace up long enough though and were quickly reeled in. For the finish I was a little further back than I would have liked but not in horrible position. Out of the final bend I pinned the throttle and poured my heart into my legs. I started flying by people and was starting to believe in a top finish when I see some guy soft pedaling up the side of the road. Obviously he was not in our race but was in the road. The guy in front of me had to come left to avoid him and he closed the door on me. My free line to the front was gone and I had to tap my brakes in an uphill finish. I managed to stay somewhere around tenth or so but again, had the legs and didn’t get the result. I felt good both days and also felt like I read the races well tactically. So I feel good about it but even hungrier for that result. Thanks again to Pat and Jamie and the Mountain Khakis crew for a place to stay. Hopefully I can return the favor.
Next weekend brings two crits in Greenville, NC and the forecast looks like rain again. I’m actually hoping it rains though (hence the title of this post). I want redemption from Columbia and this could be it. Gunning for the last couple upgrade points in nasty weather could lead to an epic battle, a fitting way to end my Cat 3 career.
Tommeke let me down in Sanremo but damn Cavendish is fast. My mind picked Boonen but my heart picked Cavendish and honestly I thought he could do it. I let the critics affect my decision too much.
So for now it's back to work and training. I'll leave you with the quote of the weekend, ciao.
"Keep it hard so the fatties aren't there in the end." -Yelled with frustration from Scott in the closing laps on Sunday.

Comin' In Hot

2009-03-20T19:11:00.000-07:00

This week has been extremely busy but good. I did way more intensity on the bike this week but I think I might have been short changing myself before. I feel like my body can take that volume of intensity now and I can really benefit from it. The legs were a little slow to get going today but after some hard efforts they loosened up. I also ramped up the intensity on the tune-up ride today so it will be interesting to see how the legs respond to the changes at the races this weekend. It occurred to me that I always raced better the second day so I might not have been coming into the weekend hot enough. Hopefully the more intense tune-up will rectify that. I’m also staying with the Mountain Khakis guys again and looking to redeem myself after last weekend. So, as always, the motivation is there. Will the legs be?
I didn’t have time to change the music on my mp3 player but I’m making some cd’s for the car. The wagon doesn’t have a tape deck for me to connect the mp3 player through and I haven’t used cd’s in about five years so I’m just getting something to rock out to on the way to the races this weekend. Here is a sample of what’s getting burned.
MGMT- Electric Feel
The Asteroids Galaxy Tour- Around the Bend
Kings of Leon- Use Somebody
Rise Against- The Dirt Whispered, Audience of One
Say Anything- Alive With the Glory of Love; Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too
Katy Perry- Hot ‘N Cold
Franz Ferdinand- Ulysses
Think positive waves for the last couple upgrade points and a new bike, both of which are overdo. Also a big weekend across the pond. La Primavera, three-hundred kilometers of awesome. My Sanremo pick is Boonen, he wants it.

A New Leaf

2009-03-17T16:35:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a report from last weekend's races you won't find it here. I've relived it enough times already and it's time to hit the reset button of sorts. It was awful, the worst weekend of the year. At least Cat 3's lack some grit and I was still able to get a couple upgrade points and win enough money to pay for the trip. I do want to thank Tom, the race promoter, and Team Mountain Khakis for hooking me up with a place to crash. It's always good hanging out with those guys. Every time I'm around them I learn so much and I definitely think those lessons will pay off. That saved an otherwise devastating weekend.
Today was a good day of training and I'm already looking forward to next weekend. I'm putting last weekend behind me and moving on. I'm also switching up the training plan a little so we'll see how that turns out.
Work is good. Hours for the next few weeks should be plentiful and today I was reminded why carpentry is paying the bills right now. Tomorrow is going to be an awesome day and there are two group rides. That means quit time comes early and the potential for five hours on the bike opens up, not possible with a nine-to-five.
Now I need to put some new music on the MP3 player. I'm working on some new playlists for my workouts. I'll post whatever I come up with and something more interesting to read later, until then.

Ahh the life, kind of

2009-03-12T18:42:00.001-07:00

This week has been a somewhat pleasant diversion from the norm. Having worked a grand total of four hours there was plenty of time to relax and enjoy the beautiful weather. With temps in the 70’s it was hard to not be outside all day and I took full advantage of the gap in work. Tuesday and Wednesday yielded three rides filled with some long hours. It was nice to spend some time in shorts on the bike; it won’t be long before the tan is back in full force. I tried not to dwell on the fact that I wasn’t making any money and just enjoy the break. My days were filled with sweet potato waffles, coffee, cycling videos and riding. I also got to break in my sweet new Specialized S-Works kicks, so awesome. So it was a good week, the legs feel good and my mind is refreshed.

I was looking forward to traveling to the races this weekend with some teammates but due to the impending weather it looks like I’m flying solo again. I almost thought about throwing in the towel since I’m getting tired of spending 10 hours driving by myself each weekend and it’s taking its toll on my bank account, but I’m a bike racer. If it meant 20 hours in the car to race in 50 degree rain I would try to find a way to get there. You can’t win if you don’t show up and toe the line. Luckily I have a free place to stay in Charlotte so I’m not sleeping in the car yet. I guess I’ll just turn the frustration into motivation and unleash it on the bike. If I’m sacrificing all this to race you can be damn sure I’m gonna throw down. So this weekend it’s on like Donkey Kong.

On a lighter note, the speakers have been pumping out a lot of Rise Against and Kings of Leon for the pre-ride and a lot of Old Crow Medicine Show in the evenings. I tend to find new music and completely wear it out in a couple weeks so I’ll try to keep current trends posted.

Hills, Wind, Sun and Pain

2009-03-09T11:41:00.000-07:00

This weekend was the last of the Greenville training series races. The fields were fairly large again and the weather was amazing. With clear skies and temps in the 70’s I was ready to ride my bike. Saturday’s course suited me well and I as anxious for a result there. It is not often I get to do a race with a hill hard enough to be decisive, but this was my chance. I felt good on the climb during the early laps and bided my time. I attacked before the climb with 1 lap to go but everybody was scared to use any energy other than on the climb. The break I initiated was caught before the climb and it was full gas up the hill. I was feeling my attack a bit but put my head down and went up the climb as hard as I could. When I came across the top there were six or seven leaders about 8 seconds in front of me. I got in the first chase group of eight guys, most of which seemed content to race for eighth or whatever. I was there to race for the win, so I struck out on my own but couldn’t quite close the gap which had grown significantly from the eight seconds on the hill. I hit the bottom of the climb on my own thinking I would at least stay away from the group I was in but about half way up I cracked, hard. My 13th place wasn’t what I was looking for but I played my cards, rode hard and raced for the win so I didn’t come down on myself too hard.

Sunday can be summed up by flat, crazy windy, no corners, no teammates, no result.

So the weekend didn’t yield any upgrade points, just a solid couple days of hard racing that I believe will pay dividends in the weeks to come. Now it’s time to train and focus on next weekend’s crits in Columbia. With work a little light, the first three days of the week are 100% focused on the bike. Maybe it’s just what I need to get my mind and my legs ready. It’s time to make this upgrade happen.

I could go on but the sun is shining and the air is warm, it’s time to spin the legs out and clear the mind for the week to come.

Finally, team camp pictures

2009-03-09T11:30:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are a couple pictures from ITS-Kane team camp at Topsail Island and our trip to Jack Kane's shop in Jacksonville, NC. I can't wait to get on one of the new frames, it should only be a week or two. The power meter is also forthcoming, it's going to be a good coupld of weeks.

Sweet potato waffles and snow

2009-03-02T07:03:00.000-08:00

Last weekend was great, aside from the weather. Luckily, I had built in a rest period so I wasn't flipping out not being able to ride two days in a row. I was able to relax and enjoy the time I spent with Team Mountain Khakis in Winston. It was easy to enjoy it with sweet potato waffles and the most amazing coffee machine I've ever used. Ahhh, the life.

It was great meeting all the guys I didn't know and catching up with a few I did. Team Mountain Khakis is a rarity here in America. They are fully committed to pairing older experienced racers with younger ones in an effort to help them reach their full potential as pros. Not many other programs have that as their main goal and it is a very interesting dynamic to be around. Aside from knowing how to ride bikes really fast, they are a genuinely good group of guys and fun to be around. I'm extremely excited about spending some time with the team this coming year and learning as much as I can from them. I started my PR work with the team this weekend via some interviews with several of the riders. Each rider seemed to have their own interesting story, especially the older riders who also had a wealth of knowledge to share. Look for some of those interviews on the team's Web site http://teammountainkhakis.com/ in the near future.

For now, I'm listening to rise against and catching up on some much needed work while I'm snowed in. The job situation improved slightly as I learned the gap isn't going to be quite so long ,but it is still not going to be easy on the bank account. Me thinks there is just going to be a week or two of intense training in the near future and lots of penny pinching. Hopefully the next few weekends of racing will yield some prize money to help out. As a side note, I know plain text is getting boring. I promise I'm working on getting more pictures, it's tough not having a camera.

No Pressure

2009-02-28T06:46:00.000-08:00

After starting the day making waffles, perfecting my French press technique and watching it rain. I ran across this picture from Molly Cameron’s flick’r site from his trip to Belgium. Being under 150lbs., I generally shrugged off racing in Belgium as not fitting my body type. Maybe I should just gain some weight.

With bad weather and the same course, again, I decided to forgo the pleasure of a third race at Donaldson Center. Instead, I'll be going to the Team Mountain Khakis launch in Winston-Salem, NC. I'm really looking forward to meeting all the guys and getting a jump start on the work I'll be doing for the team this year. It should be a great way to spend the weekend and relax a bit before the last big push for the final upgrade points.

This week has been up and down. The training has been going great. The weather wasn't so bad and I was able to take full advantage of it since I'm not racing this weekend. My form is rising rapidly and I'm already much stronger than ever before. Maybe the antibiotics were killing me more than I thought. I also found out that I can get my hands on a power meter that I can afford, supposedly. With my eyes firmly set on making it to the next level, I don't want to leave anything to chance. I want to do everything possible to maximize my performance legally and get results, 100% clean, and training with power is a part of that.

The down side of the week was learning that there is going to be about a three week gap in my job. It has worked out great so far. It was the perfect balance I was looking for between a 9 to 5 and part time job. I made enough to live off of but was still able to train like I needed to. However, we were not able to lock in a job until early April so it looks like I'm out of work for a while, in that job. I'm pondering possibilities but regardless, I think it's going to be a tight month. Luckily, all my bike stuff is paid for so it's a matter of paying rent and bills, and oh yeah, eating. I honestly don't yet know how I'm going to do it. I've talked the talk, now it's time to walk the walk. I think this is going to be the first month that really tests my commitment. I've looked up to guys that had trouble finding gas money and entry fees and became bike racers the hard way. No national team or big pro contract out of the gate, they fought for their spot in the pro peloton and EARNED it the hard way. Fighting tooth and nail week in and week out. I've dreamt about it, now can I live it? Man, I'm getting so jacked up just talking about it I've got to get on the trainer before heading to Winston.

Next up, details on the weekend with the pros.

Do stars and stripes make my butt look big?

2009-02-23T15:07:00.000-08:00

Last weekend was spent at the Greenville Training Series races in South Carolina. It was my first weekend off antibiotics and I wasn't so sure how the form was. I hadn't felt good the previous week but upgrade points were needed so it was off to SC. A big thanks goes out to my cousin Will for letting me crash on his couch in Charlotte, NC. The training series seems to rising in popularity. The fields were huge. Next to The Fitchburg Longsjo Classic, they were the largest fields I've ever been in and it's only February!

I was traveling by myself which makes the trip fairly expensive. That, combined with the need for upgrade points and the disappointment last weekend meant I had the game face on. However, the game face would not last long. Upon arrival Saturday morning I was riffling through my bag getting clothing sorted out for the day and I couldn't find a jersey. The team clothing still isn't in yet so I thought I had thrown in a plain jersey but evidently I was mistaken. Then the panic set in. I couldn't find anyone with a spare jersey until I spotted the BMW-Bianci cars in the distance. (They are basically the women's counterpart to ITS-Kane, both run by the Capital Cycling Club) Next thing I know I'm cramming into a women's team national champion skinsuit. It was the only thing they could come up with that fit. Thanks Evie, you came through strong. Serves me right for screwing up and I couldn't help but laugh along with everyone else. Is it wrong that a women's skinsuit fit me like a glove?

I don't know if it was trying to compensate for the emasculating skinsuit or what but it was one of the best races I've ever ridden. I had good sensations in the legs and was able to maneuver through the 80 whatever rider field with ease. Mentally and tactically I was golden. Even when things seemed bleak, I kept my head in the game, didn't give up and did what I needed to. I felt stronger mentally than ever before. Mainly due to late crashes, the result was not good but I left feeling positive about how I had ridden.

Sunday was a different story. The wind was ripping the course and set things up for a day of attrition. I knew what was going to happen in the wind, crashes and splits in the field so I was in every single move off the front. Nothing was going to get away without me in it. I said I was going to make a break happen and I did. After attacking multiple time, five of us opened up a large gap and held it for most of the race. Then we were caught by a what was left of the field, less than 20 guys. I couldn't believe we were caught but I kept my head in the game and stayed attentive. That group stayed together to the line and I managed fourth in the sprint after being off the front in the wind for most of the race. I was not content with fourth but felt I did the right thing getting into the early move and I still beat a lot of guys that were fresher than me in the sprint. It is also not a course, especially in those conditions, that suits me at all. Flat and windy is not my style. So I came away with positive vibes, confidence that my form was coming around and most importantly some upgrade points.

The weekend was marked by lots of emotions. The drive down on Saturday was enlightening. As I cruised along I-85 rocking out to race mixes and savoring the heavenly nectar that is coffee, I was reminded why I chose to pursue cycling. I love everything about it. I love the feeling of driving to a race while contemplating the battle of legs, minds and wills that would inevitably be accompanied by pain and suffering. I love the camaraderie between teammates and fellow racers. I love the travel and the never ending stream of challenges. I love the sacrifice and the dedication. I love the elation of success and the motivation of defeat. I love cycling.

The Fire Inside

2009-02-15T15:55:00.000-08:00

This weekend was nothing short of atrocious. I'm finding it hard to put my emotions into words. I was looking forward to getting back to racing at the Wolfpack Cycling Classic but it was not meant to be. The road race on Saturday started off well. I was aggressive and stayed at the front, following attacks and throwing some in myself. I felt good. I kept telling myself before the start that I was going to do everything in my power to make a break happen and I was sticking to my plan. Then I attacked and was off the front alone. The road was a little wet and up comes a corner of fresh, uneven tar. Thigh meets road, but I get up immediately and chase back on. Everything seems OK except for some road rash but the adrenaline was pumping so no worries. Next up, I follow an attack and my chain slips. I almost ate it but kept it on two wheels. After that, every time I stood up to put power down the same thing happened. It sucked, I felt good but was helpless. Today was even worse. I used a different wheel and cassette and thought I had the bike dialed in. But when I was warming up I cranked up the power and it happened again, day over. There was nothing to do except sit in the car with a towel over my head and try not to lose it. As it turns out, my entire drive train was so worn the chain was slipping over the cogs in the cassette. I was putting it off till my new bike arrived but I had to bite the bullet and replace everything(thus, part time job at a bike shop totally paid off).
As I write this, I'm still fighting off explicative hours afterwords. I still need a few upgrade points and the pressure is on to get them before the first team race. I'm on a Cat 2 team, this upgrade needs to happen soon. However, next weekend will be a different story. I have the bike worked out and the events of this weekend have uncontrollably motivated me. It's like someone hooked up nitrous to my engine. All I can think about is how hard I'm going to ride, it's going to be guns blazing for sure. I'm not remodeling houses for some profound reason. I'm doing it because I want to be a professional cyclist and it allows me to train and race like I need to. Results are not going to just happen, I need to make them happen. It's time to effing step it up. No half measures, one goal, one mission.

Team Camp

2009-02-10T17:21:00.001-08:00

Team camp last weekend was great. It seems like forever since I've been to the beach but it was nice to be back. I'm really more of a mountain man but I will take riding anywhere other than Chapel Hill right now. The same old roads are getting to me and the fact that I rode in shorts helped matters immensely. Hanging out with the new teammates was good as well. Everyone seemed to gel so I think it's going to be a great year. I'm looking forward to traveling to races with the guys almost as much as racing, almost. Everyone was also going well and seemed to be where they wanted at this time of year from a fitness standpoint.
We also went to Jack Kane's bike shop in Jacksonville, NC. I'll have to say it was impressive. It was by far the cleanest shop I've ever been to. Even the mechanic area was spotless and he also had leather couches stacked around a big screen playing cycling videos. It's definitely worth stopping by if you're ever in the area. We also met Jack himself. He's a very personable guy and really knows his business. After meeting him I have complete confidence in our bikes and am glad to be riding with his name on my jersey. I also got a look at one of the new team frames. It's gong to be a really flash ride. Stay tuned for a full (and completely unbiased) review of the bike as soon as I get it, hopefully within a month.
In short, it was a relaxing weekend with some great training and a good bonding experience. Now it is back to the grind. Work, training, eat, sleep, repeat. I also learned I am going to be doing some PR work for Team Mountain Khakis this year. I'm really stoked to have the opportunity to work with such a great group of guys and put my degree to use. I think it's going to be a great experience and hopefully I can help the team make a positive impact in the sport.
I'll put up some pics from team camp as soon as I get them. Until then, ciao.

Waffles, Coffee and Racing

2009-02-02T15:57:00.000-08:00

I'm a bit tired from the weekend of great riding. Speedway races kicked things off on Saturday. Not my preferred venue and due to tactical issues, 5th in the B race was the best result I could manage. Things definitely could have been better but they also could have been worse. A couple more upgrade points was nice so I didn't walk away empty handed. Sunday was brutal but tons of fun. I'll take any hard ride that has hills in it, no matter how big or small. After it was said and done, I had about 7.5 hours in the legs, along with a lot of lactic acid at times. It feels good to get back in the swing of racing again and I'm content with where I'm at physically, so things are good. I'm extremely motivated to get the last few upgrade points so I can get down to business with my ITS-Kane teammates and I'm looking forward to the long, hard season.

I'm also looking forward to the ITS-Kane team camp next weekend. The weather is looking good, if we can get some 4-6 hour rides in shorts it will be perfect. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Pictures will certainly accompany the team camp post so stay tuned.

Nutritionally it was a very international weekend. I hoped to obtain some extra push from European influences, French roast coffee, Belgian waffles, pasta. The trifecta of fare from cycling crazy countries must not work on speedway races. I'll try again for the first weekend of REAL races.

Shaping Up

2009-01-28T16:54:00.001-08:00

So things are coming together. Our first team meeting was Monday and everything went well. All the guys seem to be on the same page and focused on racing their bikes. I'll be glad when all of the equipment is sorted out so I can focus on racing it and not buying it but it's a necessary evil. We also have a team camp coming up in a couple weeks which is really exciting. I'm looking forward to taking time off work to ride my bike and getting to know all of my teammates better. It is going to be at Topsail Island, NC, so I'm hoping for warm weather and sunshine, even if it is February.
Racing starts this weekend and I've got that old feeling again. Apprehensive is a proper way to describe it. I'm excited about racing but the first race is always a test. Hopefully all the hard work over the winter will pay off. Being my fourth year racing I've come to know my body and I know my form is on track. I've had some solid rides the past week and the legs are starting to come around. I was fortunate enough to get a spot on a Cat 2 team even though I am still a 3 so there is definitely pressure to get results early and upgrade. And oh yes, the fact that I put the career on hold to race bikes adds another dimension, no pressure.
My next post will probably be after the first race of the season, finally!!!

Exhaustion

2009-01-15T15:21:00.000-08:00

So it's been a while since my last post. What can I say, I'm tired. This was the last week of the training block it was sucking the life out of me. My saddle issue is on the return so it's time to start antibiotics in order to hopefully fix it for good. Thirty days of antibiotics sucks but it's better than time off the bike and at least it's not a crucial time during the season. Thanks to my new and expensive health insurance, the antibiotics were free. I'm counting change to make sure I can cover bike parts so every little bit helps.

Due to the saddle issue, complete exhaustion and bad weather, I started my rest week a couple days early. Then it's time to start some real intensity in preparation for the beginning of the season. I can't wait to get back to racing and get into a rhythm with my new teammates. Our first team meeting is this weekend and it will be nice to finally get an idea of what the schedule is going to be like. Then I can start building my training plan around key periods in order to maximize the use of hopefully good form. I'm thinking a big July is going to be in the cards but we'll see.

Check out the new kits and team bikes! I was pleasantly surprised with the designs. They're cool and unique but retain a traditional feel. Cycling is my life and I put a lot of effort into how I look on the bike. I probably care about it a bit too much, but pro style is part of my love for cycling. Now we're definitely going to look the part, we just have to back it up.

Up next, rest and details from the team meeting.

Amazing Rest

2008-12-29T07:27:00.000-08:00

So I just got back from Chicago last night and am definitely sad it's over. The lack of posts while I was there is a direct result of how much I was enjoying myself. It was great to spend time with my family since I don't see them much and to do so in my favorite city makes it that much better. The food was amazing, too much so, but it was nice to indulge a bit before the season starts and it's all business. I could not have asked for a better Christmas.
I didn't touch a bike the entire time I was there so I'm ready to ride. However, a reoccurring saddle issue is delaying my return by a day or two. One thing I have learned you can't sit around and stress about not being able to ride. You have to roll with it and try to enjoy the rest, so that is what I'm trying to do.
Now it's time to put the head down and focus on racing which starts in a few short weeks. I'm amped about getting back to racing even though there is some serious training yet to be done. I am also anxiously awaiting more sponsorship news and learning when we will be getting our new bikes. I'll pass that on as soon as it comes in, with pictures fo sho.
I did get a new ride and it's fairly tight. It's a Mazda 6 sport wagon so I will definitely look the part at races, at least when I roll up. Can't wait.

Rest Day

2008-12-15T16:12:00.000-08:00

So with no bike today it is time to catch up. Last week was good, on and off the bike. My job during the week is helping out my friend and fellow racer, Adrian Carter, who is a licensed contractor. It is nice having a boss that rides bikes since we decided to blow off work and ride 5:30 on Wednesday when it was 65 degrees. I also went on a team ride and got to meet a couple more guys that I will be racing with on the ITS Kane elite team next year. There will only be eight of us so it should be a tight knit group. I'll fill you in with all the team news soon.

Anyway, it's looking like more warm weather is on the way so I'm resting the legs and looking forward to logging major hours before leaving for Chicago to spend Christmas with the family. It will be a nice break to recharge physically and mentally for the final bit of training before racing begins.

Hopefully I will also be getting a new car this week. I totaled my trusted ride a couple weeks ago so a new vehicle is in the works. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise since it is allowing me to pick up a more racer friendly vehicle. Next year I will be a part of the seemingly endless line of wagons found in race parking lots.

For now I'll go back to figuring out what gear I need for next year and how I'm going to afford it all.

Greetings

2008-12-11T17:03:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone and thanks for tuning in. First off, I want to thank all of my family and friends for being so supportive in my quest to become a professional cyclist. Not many parents would encourage their son to put off a career in order to chase a wild dream, especially after paying for four years of college. I will be forever indebted to them for everything they have done for me through the years. For me, a professional contract is not right around the corner. It is going to take time, dedication and sacrifice. The next couple of years are not going to be easy, but I could not be more excited about the journey ahead. I believe I have the heart and the dedication to do great things in this sport. This blog is not about eight page race reports or power files from every ride I do. I will discuss these things since they are a huge part of my life, but this blog is about my life and the experiences I have on my journey to become a professional cyclist. My plan is to mix up the playlist regularly with posts on music, food, coffee and other aspects of life off the bike. So saddle up, hopefully you’ll enjoy the ride as much as I believe I will.