I'm a PUNK!



Say what you want, I had a blast today racing with Erek!

Hey all!


Not much has been going on, just riding around trying to find some motivation. I have motivation just not the "holy shit I'm flying and my favorite race is this weekend" motivation. As far as my pops eyes go my track legs are really starting to come around. I don't always feel like they are but if my spin looks good I'm game. Dave and I are really starting to dial the swing, and it's awesome the way we comunicate and know how to change the smallest thing to make a huge difference.

Crit worlds is next Thursday, I'm pretty excited for it. I've been joking around about showing up with a cape and a shield to complete the Captain America theme. I just don't think I have the riding capability/history to back it up at this time. I don't know how the crit is going to play out. I can totally see it play out like stage 2 of Missouri, or it could be a field sprint. I don't think the whole field is going to be super motivated to race, just a part of the field. I hope I'm in the right place at the right time.


OMG TTYL BFFs

ROFLMAO to You Tube.

Missery, oh Missouri.

So did pretty well I suppose yesterday, a big break got away in the first hour and that was the whole race. In the end the boys did awesome work in the circuits and I didn't have enough to come up with the field sprint, but I ended up with a top 20.

Today was shit! The course was ridiculous. So much for a flat race. Got time cut from what cycling news posted. Pretty bummed, but what are you going to do. Looks like i'm just going to be getting in the way the rest of the week.

Peace!

Holy macaroni.

I think this was the tour's shortest stage today. It was pretty rough, first hour was attack after attack, the it was pretty mellow for 40 min or so and then Disco got to dancing to bring the break back. The men calling the shots wanted us to go for the sprinters jersey, so I was up there to do work early. I got 4th in it and then the typical counters went something fierce. I was at the back faster than I could say "ouch" and some nice size rollers were right after. I was suffering and wanting to go home, but boyed up and pushed threw it all. The local circuits were pretty tough and had an awesome crowd. The last time up the rise Hincapie let it loose, and have every one behind pooing themselves to get to him. At the top I think was still around top 20, but I was in zone blood red; at some liquid from the gut came up a few times. YAY! I recovered OK and started to look for wheels to follow. The finish was super hectic, it seemed like some Tecos riders were out for blood. Looking for anyone to rub elbows with. I was in OK position but still new to the whole big race sprint set up. Rolled in for I don't know what result it you want to call it that.

The next day is my longest race to date, hopefully it will be mellow for a bit and we won't actually race for the whole 120+ miles. Can't wait for the massage tonight and get some food, and then its legs up and TV time.

No real pics yet, so maybe something soon.

Holy, what the... it's the morning of. Should I be nervous? I don't know what to feel. Past day or so has been pretty crazy inside the head. I'm pretty sure I'm wasteing random energy, which is something I would prefer not to do. Hopefully I'll calm down after the stage a) Cause I'll have no energy to waste b) I'll know my fate here. I hope I don't crash someone everyon likes. That would be bad, really bad. Ok well time to go calm myself with music and put the legs up.


I love you ROSE!!!!



Maybe look for a post race post tonight. possibly a pic or 2 also.

Missouri.

Haven't been here to long but the weather is good and the forecast looks even better. Went for a ride today to open up and get some lovely fresh air. the roads look pretty exciting to race on. It's pretty exciting to see some of the big faces on and off the bike walking around. To be honest I'm super excited and also pretty nervous about this whole thing. More good news keeps rolling in about all the possibilities of next year.

The boys at Specialized are crazy amazing. I got the new SL2 to ride on, It's ridiculous. The thing is super stiff and handles like a dream. I was doing some motor pacing right after I got it and holy crap, even at 80+k's on a bumpy road and high cadence the thing shoots straight as an arrow. I can't wait to get some more time on it and hopefully let something loose either here (if everyone falls down) or in Vegas later this month. Specialized is an awesome group of guys from top to bottom, at this point I couldn't ask for a better sponsor. Thanks Guys!

Team presentation is tonight, kinda nervous about that. Never really been a part of such an ordeal. Wheewww, all this is pretty crazy for me, so I'm trying to stay chill and not waste random energy off the bike.

Tell next time.

The past week was pretty laid back. I did quite a bit of track work and double days to get some hard work in. On Friday McCook and I were doing some madison exchanges and one went wrong some where along the line and Dave crashed. He rang his bell really good and ended up with a wicked concussion. He revovered fast and ended up 3rd an the Atlanta 100k.

I did a lot of driving this weekend. Friday night Rose and I drove up to a good friends to hang out Saturday for her house warming partay. Erek and I hit up the local morning ride on Sat. It was a totally different than any group ride down in the south bay. The roads were pretty beat up, guys don't really point holes or anything like that. On top of it half the ride was on the left side of the road, even though there is not to much traffic it was still scary to think about a head on collisions with a car. We made it out alive :). That afternoon we walked around old town Sac which was rad, they had a western show going on for the holiday weekend. Sunday morning Rose, myself and Earl the mechanic (Jim Ryan) drove down to LA for the Jonh Fitzpatrick/Dave Staub Memorial Far West Championships at the Encino Velodrome. The group down there is awesome and they always put on a good race. It was a bummer to see that crowd has fallen over the years but still a fun race. It was hotter than hot with a hot wind which made it HOT. By the time I got the bike all ready and dressed there wasn't much time to get the legs moving. So I wasn't sure how the Scratch race was going to go with no real warm up, and there being 8 Rock Racing guys in the race. Before I know I have a half lap on the field and gaining. I laped the field in the first 10 laps and had 2 Rock Racing guys hot on my heels to lapping also. The last 10 laps wern't as fast as I thought they would have been with the whole team leading out Rahsaan who lapped also. I ended up hooking one of the guys trying to sweep and staying calm enough to set up a run out of corner 2 with one and half to go. I got a good gap pretty fast but Rahsaan was coming hard but couldn't make up all the distance. In the madison I rode with Sterling Magnell, who hadn't done an exchange in a long time. But with my pop and his huge engine we lapped the field pretty quick and held on for the W. Got some nice BBQ on the fast food strip of Ventura ave and then headed home to get some sleep for the Giro di SF the next day.


Woke up for the Giro feeling pretty good, not to sore from all the driving and training/racing. Got to the race pretty early so I could ride some before to get some hours in to get ready for Missouri. Once I got on the bike I felt good which made me smile. Erek and I got together before the race to discuss race strategy. There were some big primes up for grabs and we decided if we were in posistion we would go for it and if not no worries. I spent the day moving from the front to back and going across to a few moves that looked pretty dangerious. It was super windy all day and that made it hard for things to stay away. In the last 5 laps or so the Strawberry boys stated to line it up and I was fighting for the back of it with a few guys. A prime in the last 5 laps messed up there train a bit but they got it back on track and things started to smooth out for the last 2 laps. Going in to the bottom 2 corners a small swarm came around and I was now 6 or so back which was ok with the slight up hill windy sprint. But going in to the last corner the front guys slowed slighty and I carried a lot of speed out of corner 5 and hit the gas. As soon as I jumped I said crap this is a long way to go, I hope I can hold on for something. In the end no one came around and I held on for the W.

Now it's time to put in some miles. After a day off yesterday to see the chiropractor, I'm off to the valley ride tonight. I'm going to ride for a few hours before and try not to get too cross eyed to make it home. Then Thursday ride for a few hours and then hit up the points race at the track. Friday and Saturday are long rides and then rest time and one last visit to get my back straight before the plane ride.

I'll let you know how the week goes.