The Muscle

TT nats

2009-08-01T10:36:00.001-07:00

What would be the best word to describe what I was feeling out on the course....not sure if there's a word that fits, but it was effen painful. I wanted this one, bad. I did everything I could have, before, during, and after (praying to a higher power, which is myself of course 'self, please let me have this one'). Two areas I probably came up short on were - messing with my position for the past few days (just trying to squeeze a bit more power out) and not taking a water bottle with me for a 35k time trial in 100 degree temps - reguadless I suck in the heat.

It seems to me that I'm usually better on shorter courses, 20k or less, around 10k probably being ideal. In hindsight I was a bit too fast out of the gates. The mentality was go up the hill as hard as possible, 12 to 13 k or so, and then recover on the way back down and then crush it in the last 10k. The problem was I never recovered going back down as the heat was keeping my heart rate elevated, on top of that my left hamstring and hip locked up (probably a result of moving the saddle around) and I couldn't get it stretched out. In the last 10k I pushed as hard as I could but I could tell I was going slower and slower.

I finished on top of the leader board so I was hoping that most of the good guy's were cooked from the day before and possibly my time would hold. About ten minutes later my heart sunk into my stomach as someone finished almost a minute faster then me, and again and again I fell further from the top to seventh. The guy who won was Mike Olheiser, he is current 35 plus crit and TT champ and also got 2nd in the RR, and he won the Elite RR the day before, on top of that he was top amateur in the NRC standing last year just a few points ahead of me. Yup, the strongest guy won, and as they say - 'That's bike racing'.

In the interim

2009-07-29T10:52:00.000-07:00

Well Cascades has been over for a few days and now I'm just sittin around waiting for the National Time Trial. I decided to forgo the Road Race in hopes of two things: A-The guys who are doing the RR will be So spent they won't have the legs the next day (still can't believe they put them back to back) and B-Of course winning it.

My Time Trialing hasn't been as good as it's been in the past but I have always felt like I was on the cusp of a big ride. For one reason or another I haven't really felt all that comfortable on my rig (maybe it's due to the fact I move shit around almost every time I get on the bike), oh well my nervous ticks or neurosis or whatever you want to call them are not unfounded, but none the less hinder my progression. I thought I got it dialed in two days ago, but ended up moving things around yesterday. Today - I ride the road bike and try not to mess with that too much - you don't want to know what I've been doing with my road bike for the past week.

So as I sit around watching movies on the lap top and riding down to the coffee shop two or three times a day I go from motivated and excited to tired and feeling like my body just went through the grinder. All I can hope for is the right legs and the best possible head for Fri. At a certain point I have to let it all go and do what I can to be prepared and not worry about the rest.

Yes I have way too much time on my hands right now and definitely going a little stir crazy. Isn't bike racing wonderful.

This is a photo after the crit last Sat. Myself and Jp on the other end, and the female half of my host family. I would have to say this has been one of the best host families I've ever had the privilege of staying with. JP being indirectly related as the father and husband is his step brother. Good times 'Viva la Oregon'.

Cascades day 6

2009-07-26T17:36:00.000-07:00

This race was a 16 mile circuit that we had to do 5 times. I did one lap.

Cascades day 5: The Crit

2009-07-26T07:59:00.000-07:00

I was feeling pretty good at the start and really wanted to be a part of the race instead of pack filler like the previous stages. I attacked on the second lap and was quickly absorbed a lap later, but I could tell the legs had finally come around.

The race was pretty dodgy and it was hard to surf the front. Rock had taken control immediately and let two guys get up the road (Mike Creed and Jackson Stewart) and were holding them at about 10 seconds. There was a slight lull on the backside and as Rock swung right I flew the coup, a guy from Garmin in tow. I bridged the gap solo as the Garmin kid wouldn't pull through and at that point I knew this was the break.

It took me about two laps to recover and then I was able to work as we rolled at 30 plus.

Halfway through it was looking like we were going to lap the field. Stewart and Creed were the motors of the break and I overheard Creed saying he didn't want to lap the field so he sat on for a while as the pack went back out of sight.

With ten to go I could hear the announcer saying 16 seconds but I didn't realize it was the field. I was pretty spent, Creed and Stewart were doing most of the work at this point and I was happy to let them. Coming into two to go Stewart attacked and I made it up to him - unfortunately the field came barreling down half a lap later: Game over.

Glad to be back in the game - sucks it didn't stick. Sheet, that's bike racing.

Cycling News Related story. And the reason I'm wearing mismatched kits from the past two years: laundry issue.

Cascades day 4

2009-07-24T16:36:00.000-07:00

Well I got through the TT so I was thinking it was time to try and get into a break. The first eight or nine miles where pretty flat to false flat that lead into a five to six mile steady climb. I was thinking the move would go on the climb but I saw a chance before we started going up. I attempted to get across to a few guys dangling about 3 or 4 hundred meters and a group of 6 formed for the chase and were working fairly well together. I ended up having to do a bit more work as not everyone was willing to commit, and then, we got caught right as the road turned up.

You couldn't have asked for a worse time to be caught, right as that happened the pace went full throttle. For the next five miles everyone in the peloton was bleeding through their eyeballs trying to stay on wheels. The peloton split and I was fortunate enough to be the last one onto the second group. There were about 15 to 20 of us over the top and the main peloton was out of sight. Fortunately there was a ten mile decent where we were able to catch back on without doing to much work.

I didn't feel bad, it was actually the opposite, it was just bad timing. I gauged my effort to where I wouldn't blow up and caught onto a solid group that had a good chance of catching back on.

The rest of the day was fairly boring as Rock had taken control and we rolled through some of the most beautiful country side I had seen in a while. The pace was fast but steady, so I was able to take my spot on the rears of the peloton without too much trouble.

The final climb was steady and not too tough but my legs were pretty spent, so I punched my ticket at about 3 to 4 k out and rolled in with the groupetto. Starting to feel better so who knows. The crit is tomorrow night.

Photo: Jim Wilson

Cascades TT

2009-07-24T08:01:00.000-07:00

Sheet this was a tough one. You basically go up a hill for seven and a half miles, turn around, and go down hill the exact same way you went up.

I was feeling pretty good warming up as I was able to shut it down the day before when I was caught out behind the crash on the lead into the climb. I went out of the gates pretty good and was starting to get a good rhythm, and then the hill started. I was struggling a bit but I was pushing through. I caught my 30 second guy pretty quick but had a hard time catching my minute man. About three quarters of the way up I popped my chain into the small ring by accident and it took me a good bit of time to get it back up. The problem was I was in the top gears in the back and after three or four attempts I realized I had to down shift. One cog, no, two cogs, no, three cogs, no, four cog, yup, 'sheet I'm in a huge gear'. My legs filled up and it took me almost a k to get my rhythm back. Not sure how much time this cost me but it was pretty significant, I'm not saying I was crushing everyone but it was pretty bad. After the turn around I caught another guy, and in the last k I passed two more. I ended up 39th.

Not really the result that's going to boost my confidence going into nationals, but it was still a decent ride. I felt my gear selection was about as good as it could be for me and I think I'll go much better for next week. It is the same course they just start it a bit further down to squeeze another five k in.

Cascades day 2

2009-07-22T17:02:00.000-07:00

The parcours were a bit tougher for today so I was thinking the race might start off a bit slower. Once again it was full throttle from the gun. The biggest issues in the race is the disparity of fitness levels and bike handling skills. If you don't feel like banging around at the front and hang in the back there is a good chance you might get split off, or you end up doing so much work as the guys are choppy and you end up in the slink (if you don't know what the slink is, think of the first few guys going through a corner smooth and the rest of the guys bunch up and sprint out, the slink sucks).

Things were going ok until we went through the first feed zone. I was fairly close to the front but as we went through I had to slow almost to a stop. Not too worried about it I eased back up to speed and we turned a corner. I'm pretty sure it was Garmin at the front drilling it into a cross wind section, they split the field and I was caught out. I was worried but I didn't panic, the worst thing you can do when your in the gutter behind a split is panic and do too much work, then your done. Eventually the group caught back on and 'no worries', at least for myself at the time. I would say another quarter of the field was gone.

I believe Bissel had taken control at that point and it was a hard but steady roll. By the time we got to the climb my legs were pretty cooked, but I was still in good position. Unfortunately there was a touch of wheels towards the front of the pack and I was caught behind it. Not having the legs to chase back on that was pretty much it for the day. I did the last eight K on my own (up a mountain), not enjoying it one bit. So when I was saying maybe today could be 'fun' I was wrong. Fortunately this kind of racing elevates your fitness and will pay dividends over the last part of the season.

Up next the TT. Not sure how the legs will tick over, but I'm hopeful.

Cascades Classic day 1

2009-07-22T08:13:00.000-07:00

This being the easiest day (terrain wise) I was thinking mentally I would be able to cruise along and put the first day in the books. Well....it was hard as sheet.

It started off slightly rolling, to slightly down hill. I actually spent a good amount of time in my 53/11 and 53/12, spinning, if that gives you a good gauge. I didn't want to expend any energy but every now and then I'd end up behind someone either attacking or going across to a group. I was in a solid group for a couple of K's but like I said the pack was rolling so fast over the first 40K nothing was seeming to go.

A group finally split off and the pack started rolling steady.

I didn't look at the course profile so I didn't know what was coming. We were on a steady uphill grade when all of a sudden we came around a corner and there was a steady 2 to 3K climb. Me not being in the know I was pretty far back. There were a fair amount of guys in the small ring and going backwards, I was in the big ring going forward. By the time we reached the top I was closing a small gap (bleeding through my eyeballs) to the back of the pack, I look back and there was daylight. Close call.

For the next twenty K (from what I heard Garmin was on the front drilling it) I was on the back dying a thousand deaths. It was hot - really hot. I don't usually do all that well in the heat regardless, but those first couple of days are gut wrenching. Obviously if you've been on the east coast it's been a fairly mild summer so far, so my body was far from acclimated to these kinds of conditions.

Finally the group slowed in the last 20k as a result of the guys drilling it so hard that they split off. The only reason I know that is from reading the race report on cycling news.

Today's another day and I feel like I recovered pretty well. Mentally yesterday was one of the hardest day's on the bike so far this year. I'm hoping today, mentally, it might be a bit easier and who know, maybe the word 'fun' will be in the mix.

'Butch Trucks'

2009-07-20T09:45:00.000-07:00

"I can still remember the day he reached in and flicked a switch in me that changed me from being a really nervous, introverted drummer to playing with confidence. Most people don't really have it in them to let it all hang out. That's why most people aren't professional musicians. They asked Mark Twain what it took to be successful , and he said 'That's easy: All you have to be is ignorant and cocky.' You have to not be afraid, and at the time I was very afraid. So we were jamming one day , and it wasn't going anywhere , and Duane turned around and stared me in the eye and played this lick. It was like a challenge, like, 'Come on, motherfucker!' I backed off, and he did it again, and again, and after a while I got mad and I started hitting the drums like I was slapping him on the side of the head. And I forgot about the nervousness and that I was afraid, and the jam got going, and he pointed a finger at me and said, 'There you go.' And a light bulb went off. I made a decision then: 'I can play.'"

Rolling Stone: Greg Allman interview.

Giro de Coppi

2009-07-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

Well it's official, I've done my first masters race. This is the first year where they changed the age limit from 30 plus to 35 plus, luckily (only in this circumstance) I'm 35. As it has been in the past I would have been able to race 30 plus for the past four years, but it never made sense.

Last year at Green Mt the promoter told me to register in the 30 plus, as the pro race was closed, and he would switch it when I got there. Well....when I arrived to pick up my number I was informed that I was doing the 30 plus. Trying not to sound arrogant I told him that most of the guys probably wouldn't want me in their race - with a smirk he said he would see what he could do. As it turned out I got into the pro race and had good legs. I had a flat in the circuit race and lost my GC hopes so I throttled it in the road race and the crit. Even the top pros commented on how well I rode. At the crit the promoter approached me and commented on how several masters racers were grateful I wasn't in their race. Well that made me feel a little better as like I said I wasn't trying to come off as arrogant.

Sorry getting off the subject, somewhat. The reason I did the 35 plus at Giro de Coppi is they did not have a 1/2. I also thought it might be a light lead into the Cascades Classic of which I'm leaving for tomorrow.

The race went as such. Up the first hill I spun up as a flurry of attacks were going. Waiting...waiting...ok now attack. I was working for Chuck on the day so if Chuck wasn't there I would just sit on and wait. Fortunately he came blazing across, and as he caught on I pushed the gap until we had enough distance to where the group could get organized. Me and Chuck talked before the race and had planned on waiting a lap or two, but when you see an opportunity you take it.

With two to go I was taking a long, strong, not hard, pull. I wasn't trying to hurt anyone I was just taking the brunt of the work. An Artemis fellow (it wasn't really an attack) surged. To my dismay I yelled "what the hell ya doing" and rode back up to the split. A bit angered at the time I attacked through the top section and R Muio managed to bridge across. Chuck not being there I wasn't sure what to do so I hesitated, luckily Chuck came blazing across and once again I put down the pace. Chuck won, R was second, and myself third.

The shot above was taken by one of the best local photographers: Kevin Dillard. Thanks for coming out, and thanks for the shots. The slide show from Iron Hill is on point. You can definitely say - it tells a story.

Iron Hill Twilight

2009-07-12T12:35:00.000-07:00

Two bacon egg and cheese bagels, and two chocolate chip bagels with butter. Didn't eat much all day to the point of dire hunger. I had gotten two bagels for immediate consumption and two for later, unfortunately my mouth was bigger than my stomach and I had to start the race burping up bacon and cheese.

I got a good start as a result of following the Colavita guys backwards on the course after everyone had already lined up. This being a tight course and well over a hundred guys spread out if you don't get a good starting position obviously you have allot of ground to make up. Energy not well spent.

The gun went and it was full gas. I made it across to an early move that was reabsorbed and immediately threw down an attack in the second to last turn. If you can get a clean line through this turn there is a good chance you'll get a gap. For about three laps I didn't look back and went as hard as I could.

Thoughts: I'm out here solo and there is still 45 to 50 laps to go. This is suicide. Oh well I'll try to get as many primes as I can get. Man this crowd is awesome. 30 to go, I got the midway prime, fuck 30 to go. If I get to twenty I'll eat my last gel. I just heard a spectator say how beautiful it is watching me take the corners, that's cool. 20 to go, I'll save my gel for ten to go just in case I have to put down the hammer. 16 to go, damn I'm going to catch the back of the pack, the crowd is going crazy. Alright, Chuck has seen me and now he's helping me get to the front, maybe me and him can go fast enough to where the break behind won't catch on before the finish. Damn, Chucks dyin, I'm fucked but I'll go as hard and as long as I can on the front. 3 to go, damn, the group caught on and now they have teammates to help them, I'll see if I can surf the front and still get up there.

I ended up third which I was happy with. I did chop Mike Friedman in the last corner by accident as I didn't see him coming up on the inside. Aside from that I couldn't have asked for a better race. I racked up a good ride for the team and a boat load of primes. The crowd was great and the energy was amazing. http://velonews.com/article/95015/van-gilder-and-damiani-score-at-iron-hill-usa-crits-race

Fitchburg Crit

2009-07-06T14:30:00.000-07:00

It was fast, it was hard, I pulled the plug at 15 to go. With all of my GC hopes gone with the wind (literally) in the circuit race I had no reason to finish the crit, unless I wanted to say I finished the crit.

Right from the gun I parked my ass in the rears of the peloton not having the legs or the head to bang around up front. I couldn't really see what was going on up there but on a hunch I thought JP might have gotten into the move. Reason - he was a lap down in the road race due to bad luck and would generally be motivated to crack a can of whoop ass on their ass's.

This being said I had the intention to hang on the back for a while and see if my hunch was right (I could at least help get him back to the front if they lapped the field).

Getting towards the latter half of the race Bissell and Kelly put both their teams at the front and were drilling it. When I pulled out the gap was down to twenty seconds and falling - low and behold JP was in the break that was soon to be doomed.

As for the rest of the race I'm not really sure what happened. I took a shower at the fire station and didn't make it back before the end of the race.

All and all I'm happy with my result in the RR and hopeful of good races to come. The legs seem to be coming good for the second half of the season, soo hopefully with a little bit of luck and the right motivation at the right time I can turn around a sub par season (thus far) and turn it into a year to remember. Up next Iron Hill. I like this one.

Fitchburg RR

2009-07-04T17:01:00.000-07:00

I'll keep it short and sweet as I'm pretty tired. I ended up fourth today as a result of riding smart and digging deep at the right times. The way the race was set up this year was a bit more toward my abilities in the sense that it didn't finish on the tough climb that I generally struggle with.

My head wasn't into the race today as the result of yesterdays miserable day on the bike. I did want to redeem myself but I wasn't sure if I had the mental energy to battle for a top spot. Truth be told I spent most of the day on the back after I threw down my best attempts at forcing a move on the first couple laps. I missed the early move and realized the GC teams would set tempo for the rest of the race so I parked it on the back - literally - except when need be, which was the lead into the climb.

On the last lap I managed to get on the back of the final selection and ride the wave as we neared the finish. Guys were firing off and I just sat and waited to play the only card I had left, which was wait to the last minute and slog by a few riders as we came to the line. It worked out well, I just wish I had gotten on the podium - oh well. Still much happier then yesterday.

Circuit Race

2009-07-04T05:01:00.000-07:00

Thinking this would be my best chance at a result I went into the race with the intention of getting into a break. Everything was going well, I was in a move for a couple of laps that was well represented, and a few laps later I was throwing down my own attacks, feeling pretty good. Unfortunately luck was not on my side today.

I'm guessing there was a crash behind me because all of a sudden someone was taking the spokes out of my rear wheel with their front skewer. I rolled to the top of the hill thinking I'll have a better chance of chasing on down the backside (in hindsight it would of been better at the bottom of the hill as they went fairly slow up the hill and pegged on the backside). I like to peg it on the back side, hehe.

I didn't catch on and immediately the gods opened up the heavens and then came the torrential down pour. Going through the start finish the announcer saying "this isn't where we expect to see Russ Langley, off the front now off the back". Yeah thanks for kicking a man while he's down.

At this point I just wanted to pull the plug but unfortunately I had to ride the next 30 to 40 miles with all the jit bags that had gotten dropped and were pulling way to hard for being dropped. I finished and got a start time for the RR so at least I'm still racing. We'll see if I can get my head back in it and try to get into an early move.

Check out Chucks entry to see how the rest of the team did.

Fitchburg TT

2009-07-02T16:32:00.000-07:00

The TT went about how I thought it would go, good but not great. As I said before you always hope you'll somehow rise above where you're at and pop a big result, but that didn't happen. This leaves me with nothing to worry about in respect to the overall. Now it's just training and hopes for individual stage results, and who knows if you get into the right break then you're back in it.

Tomorrow is the circuit race which is probably my favorite stage and one of my better chances of getting a result. Hopefully I'll have good legs and the right motivation to be where I need to be to get into a move. The rest is up to luck 'not that I'll need it'.

Oh I was thirtieth and Keck was our next best guy at 82nd. Can you say "nothing to loose".

Reston GP

2009-06-29T10:48:00.001-07:00

When it comes to local events put on purely for the enjoyment of racers in the area this has to be the best venue. Not a lot of money to be made but definitely a place to showcase the strength of individuals as well as teams.

Throughout the race you could say the Battley boys had full control. There were few moments when we were on the defensive and that was quickly rectified as we would pull something back and put more guys off the front. The only moment where I felt like we lost control was about seven or eight to go. I was gassed and had to sit in for a lap or so and Dave was the only one at the front and not looking like he was able to do much at the time. Seeing that I slugged my way back up to the front, started to jump across to a move, but thankfully somebody else did most of the work and I found myself at the front with two to go.

With one to go I saw Dave and Dave saw me. I took the front and Dave managed to slot right behind one of my old teammates, John Delong who was second wheel. Couldn't ask for a better situation as I knew I didn't have the pop to give a proper lead out coming out of the last chicane, but Delong would. I took it into the chicane, and as I had figured Delong jumped at the perfect time. Dave shot the inside of the last corner faster then anybody else and crossed the line about a bike length ahead of Ken Young.

The team is really starting to gel, and most of the guys are starting to get their legs. Proper as were heading into Fitchburg where we'll meet up with The Page Clan. Game On Bishes.

Photo: Bruce Buckley

Poolsville RR

2009-06-28T06:36:00.000-07:00

The racing down in Richmond went well for myself and the team. I got the training I needed, the team rode well, and we got the win on Thurs with Dave coming in solo out of a break. Oh yeah, Chuck got second.

The Poolsville RR was a bit light in entries but there was plenty of horse power to make the race hard. By the second lap the race was already down from 30 to 15 due to the fast tempo and plenty of flats. Going through the gravel section the second time I hit a huge rut full bore and knocked my bars down a few notches. Realizing there was nothing I could do I just kept on riding not thinking about it (back was killing me by the end of the race).

Third lap Jose (one of my teammates) went on the attack and soloed for the next lap and a half. Noticing that guys were starting to feel the pace I laid the smack down and rode across to him. Eventually another group caught on and at that point we had four out of eight. Not bad.

The group surprisingly worked well together considering the odds (I believe there were a few guys in the break that were strong but didn't have much of clue as to race tactics). Inevitably the attacks started coming so I threw down, I was caught, then Keck countered. Race over. He soloed for the next three laps or so and finished 6 min up.

Back in the group most of the guys played their bids for second place but with three out of seven we were still able to work them over for second with Chuck. Side note: he also won the 35 plus race earlier that day and now leads the local bar, senior and masters. If you don't know what the Bar is it's a points system for the overall races throughout the year.

Reston later today. I've won this race two out of the last three years, getting second the one year I didn't win. This course suits me but with the lack of skin on my nuts from yesterday I'm not sure if I'll even be able to sit in the saddle.

On the boards

2009-06-22T07:07:00.001-07:00

I could have done it better, he just thought of it first. I Am Funny! I Am Great! Share the Road!

Well the racing went as such. I didn't race on sat as a result of a dentist appointment, but on the good side my teammate Chuck won the RR in the Tour of Washington County. Unfortunately as it usually goes for Chuck he was in a break with the PA TT champ and ended up second overall. Even when he wins he still gets second.

I was signed up for a 40K TT on sun which I was using as training and more of a gauge for upcoming events. Unfortunately neither my alarm nor my back up alarm went off and I missed it. Sucks but not so much.

In conclusion, I have nothing to report, so in a feeble attempt to stay on the boards I poached someone else's wit and humor. I like Pearls before Swine, but I once saw an interview with the creator and was highly unimpressed. Much like back in the day when you heard a band and were like, these guys effen rock, and then you see them on MTV and you're like, these guys suck. Some things should be left to the imagination.

Heading down to Richmond to do three 60 min crits from tues to thurs, Workman or Workmen crits, not sure. Should be fun and a good guage as to where my wrist is at. Not that anyone cares but I'll let ya know any way...bishes.

Or is it that I don't care. Sheet, I'm confused now...(speaking to myself) bish...

Broken? Ah, stick a band aid on it...

2009-06-13T20:38:00.000-07:00

Did I happen to mention I was very happy to be on the bike and able to press on the pedals. Two weeks ago I was thinking about a cast for possibly four to six weeks, instead I put a band aid on it. Seems to be working. Thanks Dr. Don

Photo: Amy Jones

Church Creek TT

2009-06-13T18:13:00.000-07:00

Almost 9:30 and I still don't know how I did. I almost put a computer on the bike a few days ago but didn't get around to it, so when I say I have no idea I really mean I have no idea. I suffered, but I suffer when I do good. I'll say one thing, I didn't rub as much skin off the sack as I did the last time, that's good, right. Um... if anybody knows my time pipe in. Thanks, and oh I do believe Tillford is either 49 or 50 depending on when his birthday falls.

This is just a test...

2009-06-11T11:53:00.000-07:00

That's pretty much what a time trial is right... anyway, we'll see what two weeks straight on a TT bike yields. I was not able to put to much pressure on the wrist so as a result I've been able to focus on the shorter harder efforts, and hopefully dial in a slightly better position. Like I said it's just a test as I haven't put much time and effort into my Time Trialing this winter, so I'm hopeful but don't expect much.

The next day is the Murad race revisited, as it was canceled a few weeks ago and rescheduled for this sun. The last time I did this race was 07 and was up the road with someone I probably would have beat in a two up, unfortunately with about a half a click two of his teammates caught me and immediately did what they should have done, attack the piss out of me - Tom Soladay just nipped me on the line. Tom is currently in the best sprinters jersey at the Nature Valley Grand Prix as the result of an early break attempt that just barely got caught on the line. Big ups, as NVGP usually has one of the strongest fields when it comes to stage racing in the US.

Top ten:
1 Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Colavita / Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
2 Thomas Soladay (USA) Team Mountain Khakis
3 Alejandro Alberto Borrajo (Arg) Colavita / Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
4 Charles Bradley Huff (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
5 Rory Sutherland (Aus) OUCH Presented By Maxxis
6 Tyler Wren (USA) Colavita / Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
7 Will Routley (Can) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 8 Anibal Andres Borrajo (Arg) Colavita / Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
9 Richard England (Aus) Amore & Vita - Lifetime Fitness
10 Stephen Tilford (TradeWind Energy/The Trek Stores)

Trivia question - anyone know how old Steve Tilford is?

Modeling school

2009-06-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

Modeling school of course. Yesterday was underwear modeling, and obviously this was fish fashion day.

Time to start thinking about a new career. Chances are at this point the only thing I'll be able to work on is gay porn. It might Suck (literally) but I should be able to make good money.

Morning commute

2009-06-03T10:57:00.001-07:00

Wrist guard in the left pocket, boxer briefs in the right.

Not sure how I worked it out that its better for me to ride without the wrist guard. Seems that I can put pressure on the inside of my wrist which is ideal for the TT bike. The only problem is I effed up my neck from the crash so I have a hard time keeping my head up.

Sliding out of second and...

2009-06-02T07:39:00.000-07:00

Photos: Christian Lewis

Good legs - bad luck

2009-05-31T08:35:00.000-07:00

As I sit here typing with one hand I can't help to think, why do people say "good luck, not that you'll need it".

I had a good start. I saw The Chad go and for a second I flinched knowing it was a suicide move. I then flowed at the front staying out of trouble, catching the waves that constantly ebb and flow. It's a battle, but not so much if you're smooth and concise. I noticed a few guys on the same team that were obviously strong, but the bike handling skills were not at the same level. Immediately I did my best to keep these young (South African) guys anywhere but in front of me. Unfortunately when someone dumps their bike in a corner sometimes (he was on my inside) there is nowhere to go. I nailed his bike and flipped over my bars, landing mostly on my left wrist. I also broke my helmet and got a few bruises here and there.

I pulled into the pit, got a wheel change, and got a push back into the race. I rode into the top corner and pulled out immediately on the back side. I couldn't hold onto the bars and I had a pretty good gash that obviously needed to be stitched up.

Off to the hospital to hopefully get some stitches and be on my way. As it turned out my wrist was fractured in one, and possibly two places (the other might be from my skateboarding days).

Time to take a break and figure out the quickest way to get riding again. Chances are I might be on the TT bike for a bit. Not a bad thing as I haven't been on it much this year. My initial plan was to start working on my TT'ing more after CSC, so the moons might still be in the process of lining up. Shit happens for a reason, right. Something like that.

The Muscle - still blazing a trail. See you bishes in a few weeks.

Ricola Twilight GP

2009-05-28T09:03:00.000-07:00

The mid week race leading into CSC and Air force. In my eyes this is the last chance to top your form off going into the biggest weekend of racing locally. The last chance to get a bit of confidence with, hopefully a good ride.

As it usually goes, based on past years, I did my job at RFK and spent as little energy as possible, of course looking toward Sommerville and Ricola. I sat in toward the front as to miss out on the possibilities of crashes and took the front as needed. Dave was in a move for a good portion of the race so it made it easy to put it on cruise control. As it was looking more and more like an inevitable field sprint I made my way to front to get our sprinter in place. As it goes sometimes The Muscle sometimes doesn't know his own strength, and as I opened full throttle pain (pulling faces all over the place) I dropped my sprinter and gave the Khakis guys a great lead out into the last corner. They were first and second.

Sommerville went as it has in the past, I suffered. Maybe its the heat, maybe its the course, I'm not completely sure but I've never felt like I was on a good day for this race. The best I've done was last year at 13th, and the only reason that happened was because mid race I was letting Jp know I couldn't help him in the finish, he said "just follow wheels" Ok, it hurt but, Ok. This year I wasn't as bad as in the past, I spent a fair amount of time at the front covering attacks, or attacking. Coming down to the final laps I found JP and did my best to keep him at the front, but coming into two to go I was punching my ticket. There was a big crash in the last corner as we were about to get the bell, I was caught behind it so now I had my excuse to pull the plug. Unfortunately JP was also behind it so he only managed 16th.

Ricola is one where I can open up the throttle. The course suits me and with the efforts of the previous days of racing I usually have pretty good legs. I had a good start and ended up in the first move. This one had good representation of most of the teams (except Type 1) so it motored up the road pretty quickly. Dave and one other guy bridged up so we were looking good, unfortunately the pack wasn't far behind as Type 1 had three guys on the front drilling it. The rest of the race was very similar in the sense of small groups going up the road but not very far. I went for three primes and only managed one (the smallest of the three) and payed the price. At one point I went so hard I tried to sit back and recover, forgetting that its twice as hard at the back. For fear of getting popped I put in a big effort to get back to the front and then was able to recover. Coming into three to go me JP and Dave found each other at the front. Me and Dave took control and were able to drop JP at the front with one to go, if we had one more guy that would have been ideal, but all things considered we had a good race, JP ended up fifth.

See you Bishes at CSC.

Wilmington and Bike Jam

2009-05-18T18:21:00.000-07:00

Two weekends off from racing and that first one back is gonna hurt. I did speak to a few guy who were actually in the race at Wilmington and to my surprise they said it was hard.

Bike Jam was a bit different. One thing that I'm starting to notice is the heat is really effecting me right now, I'm sure its adaptation for the most part, I'm sure the rest is preparation. Less booze and more water.

Sun I was in the race from start to finish. We had good representation at the front of the race for most of the non splits, but as that race goes, if it's not the perfect combination its coming down to a field sprint.

Me and Page were looking good going into the last, and only turn, but someone got in between and gaped him off. I managed 16th. My effort was getting into that last corner in good position, so I didn't have much of a kick to the line.

Happy to be back at the front and suffering.

Photo: Baltimore Bike Jam - Jim Wilson

Ephrata TTT

2009-04-26T13:02:00.000-07:00

When I said the pendulum swings both ways I forgot to say "Look out!" because sometimes the pendulum might smack you in the back of the head.

I missed the start of the TTT. I'm angry at myself, not because of the destruction of my own performance, I'm angry because I screwed the team. I lost money for the guys and results for individuals as well as the team. I made the team look bush league today, no excuse. The best I can say is - we as individuals we are harder on ourselves, more so than anybody could be.

The Irony of this situation is I won last year, and Bobby Lea who was in the lead missed his start. This was a bit worse as it was a TTT, but I'm sure it sucked for him as well the year before.

Sorry boys, I fucked up. I owe you all a good lead out, or I'll drive a break for you. Keck - I won't man your glory hole, but I'll be your bitch in a race, just let me know when.

Ephrata RR

2009-04-25T17:19:00.000-07:00

Much like I sucked at Jeff Cup, and as I said before the pendulum swings both ways, I sucked at Ephrata. Don't get me wrong, I have a million valid excuses. It just sucks when you suck.

First lap - aggressive. I rode at the front, going with moves, but not attacking. I soon realized I wasn't on a good day. The biggest factor being the heat. Give me 45 and raining, I'll be fine, but heat? I just haven't done any hard rides in the heat thus far.

Second lap - still aggressive. This time I was doing my best to ride at the front without using to much energy. I managed to stay in that front group (the one that has guys who look like bike racers) but I couldn't get my HR down, plus my legs were starting to go.

Third lap - still aggressive. At this point I'm mid pack (the guys who kinda look like bike racers, but not the good ones) and I'm suffering to hang on. My head was starting to hang low, and that headache that starts at the base of your skull was kicking in. Every now and then I would use my bike handling skills to get to the front, then like a bowling ball I would go backwards.

Fourth lap - looked aggressive from the tail end of the pack (just got contacts). I hung on for as long as I could, then popped on the hill.

Fifth lap - I rolled through the start finish and asked if I could get a pro rated time, his reply. You have to finish the race. Fuck... so I rolled it and coming into the last lap they pulled me and said I can start tomorrow. Thank god - even know I'm not religious...

Keck was second to Jamie Driscole (not sure if that's how you spell his name) and we had three other guys in the top ten. Not bad for the team, sucked to be me though. Tomorrow the TTT and crit. Hopefully I'll have better legs.

Battenkill

2009-04-20T14:33:00.000-07:00

Saturday I made a twelve man break. Toward the end I made the final selection but I shot my last bullet to get there. I got dropped with about four miles to go. Bobby Lea and a BMC rider caught me, attacked me, and I rolled in for eighth.

Sunday I got a flat in the same place my legs went flat on Sat. This being the fastest point in the race it was game over. To tell you the truth my legs weren't so good from the previous days effort, so with a smile I rolled into the start finish, grabbed a pizza, some beers, and watched a BMC rider take the win.

I'm glad I went, it was a race to remember. Not only that I got something out of the way, first pro break of the year. As this was unexpected hopefully there will be more to come - The Muscle staying the course.

Up next Ephrata. I heard Josh Dillon and the Bike Reg (fior d'fruita) boys are coming down. Should be fun. I'm the defending champ but the venue is slightly different. Instead of an ITT its a TTT. On top of that its on time instead of a points system. Not sure if this will work in my favor so we'll see. Plus I've only been on my TT bike a few times in the past week. Excuses, I've got a million of them.

Sneak peak at new Harley kit

2009-04-03T16:53:00.000-07:00

.............................................................................................................................................O

.........................................................................................................................................O

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" Dude, these new kits are gonna look bad ass..."

Best camp ever

2009-03-25T15:08:00.000-07:00

The Man and The Man

aka

Papa Jay and JB

Jay wears non bib shorts for quick access to his vagina

Token gay scenic view.

Working shit out on the side of mountain

2009-03-09T09:37:00.000-07:00

Alright, I've got it. This will be the new craze. Instead of the finger (of which was not directed at any one particular person, more toward every one particular person, including myself) I will be giving the thumbs up. That's right, the thumbs up. Allot like white is the new black, and black is the new white, the thumbs up is the new fuck you. Now starting out I'll probably throw this gesture around and some might be privy to this. Don't take offense by it, I'm just trying it out. As I move forward I'll probably get a bit more selective with my "thumbs up" of which at that time you are welcome to take offense to it. Happy riding, and I'll see you out on the road.

"Thumbs Up!!"

It's not me...It's them.

2009-03-04T09:31:00.000-08:00

"It's been a whirlwind few weeks but before I tell all about I need to get this airport angst off my chest. Call it self-therapy if you will, but without it you'll click onto Cycling news tomorrow to read a news flash about an incensed cyclist being bundled off a 747 after an episode of plane rage. I'm kidding of course, but anyone who knows me knows I'm a relaxed guy - perhaps too relaxed at times – so maybe it's the stress of travelling that gets to me and puts me out of sync. I don't like airports." - Andy Schleck Diary

The funny thing of this, I actually got thrown off a plane on my way to the San Fransisco Grand Prix 2005.

It was a long and punishing season, we started out racing in China and this was where we were ending it. I was cool with that and was definitely looking forward to this one. The way everyone described it over the years it was looked at as a privilege, the cherry on top of the cake. Unfortunately my season was more like a spicy meat pie that had given me gas.

Everything was cool leading up to the departure. No pressure, I didn't have great form so the race was looked at more from the aspect of a vacation. As I was boarding the plane I ran into an old friend of mine (a short, very pretty, fairly out spoken, lesbian from New Jersey). We hadn't seen each other in a while so the conversation was extensive and probably somewhat loud. The flight attendant (an obviously oppressed, recently out, traditional angry DC gay guy, who shouldn't be working in the service industry) asked me, very rudely, to stop talking while he was giving his tips on buckling my seat belt. I said "OK" as I glared at him and he glared back.

The problem was he didn't let it go, every time he would pass he would swing his elbow directly into my face. I turned to my teammate and said "can you believe this guy" right as he was putting his elbow back in my face. This is where my short comings came into play, unfortunately I can't let these things go, "Is there a problem, do me and you have something we need to work out....." and so on.

Apparently he didn't appreciate my invitation to settle things like men and told the pilot of the issue, and the plane, which was on the taxi, was turned around. The Air Marshall came onto the plane, pulled me off, got my side of the story, and put me on the next flight to SF. I was at the baggage claim by the time my luggage was coming off the belt.

This made for a great story when I saw the rest of my teammates at the hotel, but in hindsight, this might have been the moment when I lost my spot on the team after the next year.

Back in the saddle

2009-02-28T14:59:00.000-08:00

Felt good to air it out a bit today after being sick for the past week. I did the 7am group ride and most of the 10am ride also. Didn't feel as bad as I thought I would. I rode at the front of both rides for as long as I could, or as long as I wanted to suffer, and then pulled the plug. No reason to kill myself trying to crush guys who are going well this time of the year. For me my goals are a little farther down the road. I'm still in my, ride for fun mode, not ride for fitness mode. I feel like I'm in a good place in all respects. Good to see everybody out on the local group rides. It's a good feeling when you look around and see such depth in respect to the amount of riders, but more so the amount of strong riders.

Phuck EW, from China 06'

2009-02-24T18:39:00.000-08:00

The picture above was Chong Ming Island, just off the coast of Shanghai 2006. I'll give the quick recap version of that trip.

Two nights before I was planning to leave for China the girl I was staying with had given me a "Whole" day to get my shit out of her place. Not so fazed by this, as I was leaving to do a race in china, I proceeded to ride my bike to the shop where I was planning on boxing it. Unfortunately I didn't make it. Some little punk threw a tennis ball that hit me in the face and as I unleashed the wrath of the muscle on him twelve to thirteen thugs served me an ass whoopin. When I got out of the hospital I phoned my directer and told him I was going to be a bit late.

In a frenzy I packed my bike and went to sleep. The next day of travel was and still is the hardest trip I've made travel wise, I believe I was Brained twice, and even that didn't penetrate the I'll feeling that consumed my being.

Within building my bike the next day I realized I had lost my stem somewhere along the line. I then had to go from team to team asking if anyone had an extra 120 stem (most of the time I couldn't even break the language barrier). The mechanic from the Marco Polo team had an extra stem I could borrow and proceeded to brow beat me for the lack of support provided by my team - yeah no fucking shit, but "Thanks".

On the bike the day before the race starts, and no worries. We are in China. My body a little beat up from traveling, I started to feel a little twinge in my knee, but didn't think much of it. The next day in the first race I pulled out two thirds of the way into it, my knee in full on tendinitis mode.

Given a pro rated time they let me start the next day. Right before the start I was taking off my knee warmers when I heard a shot go off. Thinking the pace will start off slow I took my time and started to chase on. Ten miles later of full on suffering I made it back to the group, the bad news, my knee was fully blown. After I was caught out in a cross wind section, getting cussed out in Chinese from a rider and the commissar, I decided to pull the plug and limp home. All along the way I heard the locals heckling me with some word that sounded like, Chiu, Chiu. Turns out it means, Go, Go. Fuckers!

With nothing else to do for the next few days, me, one of my teammates, and one of the directors, went on a shopping spree and a tour of all the local massage parlors. Just like Chinese food is different in China, so are the massage parlors - all they give are massages. Also being the stature of The Muscle, and Chinese folk being of smaller stature, I didn't find much clothing that fit me.

Oh well. Packing up and still happy about the fact I had the privilege of racing in a very foreign country, I got a phone call from my boy. He started to tell me the mountain bike I had sold to pay for the trip was destroyed in shipping and the $ had not been deposited. Broke, injured, beat up, and tired, I prepared for the 24 hours of traveling to get home - Oh yeah, I didn't have a home.

Looking at photo's a year or two later I realized the number on the frame was, Lucky #13. Harumph!!!

One more thing I forgot, I threatened to stab my teammate with a fork in front of all the other teams in the dinning room area. In hindsight, this might of been the moment where I lost my spot on the team for the next year, even know I didn't really mean it.

The building process

2009-02-20T16:22:00.000-08:00

Back from NOLA, and a break from the bike. Sometimes a break from the bike doesn't always mean rest. I'm sick and feel like someone twisted my body into a pretzel. Oh well. I feel ready, mentally that is, to start training. I just have to wait for the body to catch back up. This is usually one of the heavier blocks of training coming up. This is when consistency counts: Sporadic training creates sporadic form.

Big TITS at the Ranch

2009-02-10T07:14:00.000-08:00

Tits being - Time In The Saddle - I cannot take credit for this one, it was laid down to me like a cut being dropped in the middle of a heavy set, by none other than DJ Cyclone - man or myth - you decide. The ranch being, Raw Talent Ranch.

First day, effen cold as effen sheet. By the time I got back to the Ranch I believe the temp. gauge was reading 9 degrees, and that's without the wind chill. Fuck!!

Second day was a bit nicer, and more relaxed. I felt good so I rolled it out, unfortunately I hit the wall halfway up the backside of the barn. Not just the legs, but my head - Exit stage left even...and then the calm after the storm.

Third day me legs felt like lead weights. I had plans to do a moderate ride and then possibly blow out the big one on Sun. About one quarter of the way through my legs came back and I locked in a steady tempo. I finished this ride off with one of the hardest efforts of the year so far. About halfway up a man in a pickup had pulled over, and started cheering me on "Your an animal, You're a fucking animal". He was right.

Day four, back in DC. Sunday ride out of Rock Creek at 8:30, put on by The Bicycle Place. It's always nice to finish off a hard block of training with some big efforts, and fortunately there are plenty of strong riders in my area to push me to the point of seeing my breakfast one more time, most of them being my own teammates.

Time for a rest week, heading down to New Orleans to hang with the rents and me Woman.

Rock on Bishes!!

Muscle & Crooked Boy

2009-01-27T16:26:00.000-08:00

Up close shot.

Muscle and Crooked Boy ponder as they think "how do we save the goats". Or...maybe the goats won't mind....

A Goat - not - The Goat

2009-01-20T08:18:00.001-08:00

Kicked off training for 09' at the Ranch. Got in some hard man (or woman - but dosn't apply for The Muscle) miles. Finished it off with a long hike in the snow. Meet jays neighbor. Not "The Goat", but a goat.

Moments

2009-01-16T14:02:00.000-08:00

I remember sitting on Big Maggies wheel, not thinking - Holy shit this is a former winner of Paris Roubaix. I was more thinking, goddamn this is one big dude what a great place for drafting, and chances are if I ride behind him long enough I'll get myself into a ton of photos.

Oh, then I crashed...that was suckey...then JP started to heckle me a bit after the race...that was suckey too...then I realized the pressure gauge on the pump was broken...that made everything else seem even more suckey...

...still the highlight of my year.

Testosterone

2009-01-14T10:09:00.000-08:00

I read an interesting article about the effects of testosterone in the wall street melee in the effect of - If your ring finger on your right hand is longer than your index finger you have higher levels and can process testosterone better. People of this nature could effectively take bigger risks in the heat of battle with a quicker and more clear thought process. Toward the end of the article it commented on, these people also tend to be better athletes and musicians.

Seeing that my ring finger is second only to my Fuck You finger, I'm good to go. Although I'm not sure about the clear thought process. When I get into the heat of battle I tend to fog up and see red.

Started going to the gym

2009-01-08T18:15:00.001-08:00

I remember the first year Walton started coaching me. He had a weight program that had a mix of heavy legs and some light to somewhat heavy upper body workouts. The problem was I started out slightly big in comparison to most cyclists, I'm not saying I was huge, but I liked to pumps me some Iron. By the time I made it to training camp my triceps were pretty developed. My teammates proceeded to clown me by poking them, joking that they looked swollen and could pop at any moment. I still think Walton was fucking with me, but I showed him, I'm still a poor, ass, kinda skinny, bike racer. By the way, that's not me and I'm not working out in the gym. I prefer to work it out on the side of a mountain.

Happy New Year

2008-12-31T18:48:00.001-08:00

Part 1 to a story that has no sequel

2008-12-30T14:08:00.000-08:00

One more day in 08' and I can't say things like "thank god 09' is here" or "this thong that I'm wearing is to tight" because 09' was a beautiful year in so many ways, and of course I don't usually wear a thong.

The photo posted above was the first year that I rode for the HD team, 07' Jeff Cup. I had ridden for Rite Aid the year before and had what one could call a melt down. By the time I made it to Philly I was in a deep depression and was begging our mechanic to take my place in the race. The only highlight was seeing Dario Pieri outside the hotel smoking a cigarette. He was wearing this cool Lampre pull over and I asked him if I could have it. He responded with gestures amounting to the effect of, what do I have to offer. Unfortunately all I had was a Rite Aid polo, which obviously didn't equate to much in this exchange. I walked away with nothing but my stupid story.

At the end of the year I threw the towel in and told John Wirsing not to hold my spot on the team for the next year. He said OK and that was that - in hindsight I'm sure the decision had been made long ago. When I recovered mentally and had moved on to the next year, and new possibilities, I called up John and said I'm still in. I belive his response was "No". This time I walked away with, the Merlin I raced on, and a stupid story.

Now with a new team, a new motivation for racing (kicking some Rite Aid ass) and a new head space I looked forward to racing again. I trained hard with my new motivation - I trained smart as I had been coached by one of the best in the business - and I had the means through a good friend that opened his house to me in an idyllic setting for training http://lostriverbarn.com/.

At this point were going to fast forward through all of the narcissistic bullshit that I'll start to come up with as I trained harder than anyone ever, I stroked The Muscle harder than humanly possible, and...we arrive at late spring 07'. Tour of Virgina opening TT. Me and Chuckle Head Johnson, who annoys the hell out of me (but non the less is a great guy) were stretching out the legs on the TT bike's the day before. I commented "my legs feel pretty good". Me being an OK time trialist this didn't equate to much, so we just rolled on.

The next day I was thinking, ok, this is a pretty short TT so the warm up is critical - to tell you the truth I think the warm up was harder than the TT. I roll up to the line, a bit nervous, so when that final count down came and went so did a sigh of relief. I of course went as hard as I could - it consisted of going up a long steady hill, going down a long steady hill, turning around, going back up the long steady hill, and then finally going back down the long steady hill into the start finish.

Afterwards I jumped on my road bike and went on a short ride. Good weather, good thoughts, and that air of lightness that comes after such a violent effort. I pull back up to the hotel, saw one of the officials, and asked if he knew the results. He replied by saying that one of the guys on my team had done well but couldn't remember the name. I started to go through the list, of course throwing my name in, hoping.

No...no...no...no...Oh wait, what was the last one...Russell Langley... Yeah that's the guy who won.

I went back to the hotel room to take a shower and get ready for the podium, I proceeded to break down in tears. I tried to hold it back but my emotions opened up like a waterfall. The way I had felt about cycling the year before and where I was at in that moment, the emotion welled up and came pouring out. It was the release and cleansing that I needed to restore my faith in a sport that I dedicated myself to twelve years ago. I didn't get into racing for any other reason than I love to race. With that first big result and the training I put in, I had my best year to date.

That was 07', and as it goes, 08' is now in the books. The new year brings new possibilities and a hope for something better. If you've lost faith, stick around long enough for it to be renewed. If you've got faith, stick around long enough to loose it. Thats life and thats bike racing.

Santa was left handed

2008-12-24T18:51:00.000-08:00

A good time to reflect - 08' was great, 09' could be better. If 08' sucked, I hope 09' doesn't suck as much.

Peace love and Bitches, it's what I'm about. Merry Christmas!

A tribute to JP - Take em' down at Nats

2008-12-13T11:24:00.000-08:00

The Muscle & Crooked Boy

Rhino Strong - Not without the Bucks!!

05' First time I met Jp - He was third. He he...

07' First time he rode with Harley - CSC

JP's Beautiful wife - Cori

Bab's and Milo - Cori's mom and little man.

The Family

Recovery drink - JP style.

JP on podium - Racine - Yeah he won!!

The Muscle - Takin it like a man!!

Jp on the attack - P Health Classic 08'

If you read this, send Jp some good positive energy for tomorrow. Take em' down!!

New photo - I'm not naked I swear

2008-12-10T08:51:00.000-08:00

A culmination of stringing myself out like a junkie on bike racing, a team that formed like Voltron, and being up the road with someone that sprints worse than I do.

Yeah I'm happy, but check out Ricardo Escuela's mean air guitar.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Sept. 6, 2008

The Muscle & Crooked Boy meet Van Damn!

2008-12-08T12:12:00.000-08:00

The Muscle & Crooked Boy

2008-12-07T11:40:00.001-08:00

The Muscle - Losing a losers battle

2008-12-06T07:37:00.000-08:00

I just read Chucks blog about training and coaching. It's OK, and I somewhat agree with what he's saying, but that's not why I'm posting. I then checked his profile of which I've done a couple of times, not sure why I guess I get bored pretty easily. What I noticed is that over four hundred people have viewed his profile to my almost one fifty. This sucks! That means Chuck is beating me at bloging. Although he is going for a more mainstream audience, and I'm going for more of the, underground uprising of The Secret Gnome Army that take you out at the ankle sort of blog, this still hurts. What I'm asking, without going to my own profile three hundred times, is how do I get my stats up without compromising my integrity as a writer.

Turns out it's not as underground as I thought.

This one is rated R, maybe worse

2008-12-05T05:21:00.000-08:00

I saw the comment at the bottom of my last post and therefore became inspired to put this one up. When I first looked at the comment I said "Oh shit, Mom" and then realized it was just some Jerk Ass. Mom must stand for man on man, and I'm sure he rides a fixie.

2008-12-02T06:45:00.000-08:00

At the TOV two years ago I had lost the leaders jersey on the second stage to a Javier Zapata, who eventually won the overall. I had no misconceptions of my climbing abilities and therefore had expected to loss it that day.

Without the bullseye on my back and legs that snapped back, I started attacking, like The Muscle attacks. After a bazillion attempts me and Grahm Howard of the Bissell team went up the road. We worked well together and managed a two minute gap at the base of the first climb that day, also the hardest climb in what they were dubbing the Queen stage of the tour, Mount Vesuvius.

Like I said I had good legs so with a good tempo I had hoped to stay in front long enough to jump in with the best climbers and possibly make the front selection coming off the climb. As I crossed the KOM line I could see a small group coming up, Bishop, Perras, and various other gangly climber types. To my surprise the Tattoo laden fellow in the picture was mixed in amongst these mountain goats. It struck me as odd but I'm not the one to cast stones, to say the least I was impressed.

The next day in one of the Crits I was called up to the line, pulled up next to him, and proceed to tell him how impressed I was. It seemed he snubbed me a bit, at the time I thought because my tattoos weren't up to snuff, or he was so much cooler than I was. As it goes he's been handed a two year suspension. I mean common, EPO at Super Week. Personally I find hard work and a positive environment seem to work best.

Wind tunnel testing

2008-11-27T14:28:00.000-08:00

New helmet cam. Also dose still shots.

Break!!

2008-11-14T09:16:00.000-08:00

I don't need to say much on this one. If you see me passed out in a ditch and I'm face up, turn me over. I'll thank you later.

Page pins The Muscle

2008-11-07T14:20:00.000-08:00

Photo for the Chicken.

(July 2008 Kenosha Wisc. Super Week)

http://www.cyclingnews.co.nz/road.php?id=road/2008/jul08/superweek08/superweek0816

Read the report if you have time. If you have read it, Sterling Magnell deserved it. He also had some bad crashes due to, I don't know, maybe...."Karma".

Planet Bike /Battley Harley Team

2008-11-03T10:34:00.000-08:00

Milo was Jonathans final lead out man. When asked "aren't you a bit young to be banging with the big boys"... the pragmatic look was all he could muster. No one else had anything to say.

(Photo:Super Week Wisc. 2008)

2008-11-02T07:25:00.000-08:00

Sunday morning eight thirty ride. I like to do this ride if I'm not racing and after yesterday in Elkridge you might see me on the ride more frequently.

Don't get me wrong there were some moments of yesterday that I enjoyed like...... actually now that I think about it I really didn't enjoy any aspect of it.

I suffered right from the gun. I had a hard time getting into my pedal and ended up ninth or tenth and proceeded to move up into about fifth, cutting a corner here, surging in a straight away here, and starting to pay the price.

The problem was there were allot of corners and that's were I struggle. According to Auer I corner like I'm riding a crit. I can't disagree and it makes for a long day.

I bobbled the first time and ended up with Bobby Lee for a good portion of the day battling for I believe fifth and sixth. He was strong and good in the corners so it was just a matter of time before I slipped and started moving backwards.

When I heard four to go and I had worked it out in my head there were two to go, what little spirit to fight was left in me had quickly flown out the window.

With about two or three to go (I was really tired at this point) I took the turn too fast going into the sand and smacked my shoulder on the gate door. Half a lap later when I could feel my left arm again my legs really started to give out.

Going into the last lap I was still in ninth and still going strong enough to hold on but I slipped in a corner, two guys caught me, passed me and kept on going. I was eleventh.

I'm tired, beat up and I really don't feel like doing Beacon cross next weekend. Beacon being the race that crushed my spirit and consequently ended my short but non lucrative cross season last year.

It was nice to be back on the road bike and feel like "The Muscle" again, in cross I feel like "The Little Girly Muscle".

Little Girly Muscle

2008-10-27T13:24:00.000-07:00

I made the podium, thanks to Stoop's broken leg and Dewald's rolled tubie.

dccx

2008-10-27T12:50:00.001-07:00

I poached this picture from somebodies flicker account, if there is etiquette and I'm not following protocol let me know.
A little bit about the photo. At this point I had fallen at least three maybe four times, but the last time I went down my chain dropped, my bars were twisted and I think the guy who tried to ride over my bike while I was lying on the ground still clipped in might have destroyed my front derailleur. I had done two thirds of the race in the big ring and now I was relegated to the small ring . Not to mention to to shift in the rear it was down two up one, up two down one....you get the picture.
I felt good yesterday, comfortable early on which is good because it seems to be the hardest part of these races. If it looked like I was suffering yesterday I was, one because cross is damn hard, two because I couldn't stay upright. I'm learning quickly but believe me, I know I have a long way to go.
As its been in most of the cross races I've done this year I was good in the hole shot. I think I had a good chance to take it but I know better, I'm only as good as the guy in front of me. Shempf first, me second and Dewald third, looking good. The rest of the race obviously held true to most of the races I've done in this respect...it was down hill from there. All and all I'm happy with how I rode, I didn't give up and I was in the $. Fix the bike, stretch out the kinks, see you next week.

2008-10-25T08:10:00.000-07:00

Cross racing?.... Do I love it or do I hate it. I guess it depends on how well the last race went for me. Right now I'd say it falls somewhere between, I hate it because my last race was damn hard and didn't go so well and I love it because tomorrow I will be able to ride to the race in my hometown of Washington DC. The last race I did was Granogue which was my first C1 and I was somewhat looking forward to it because it was a first and you always remember the first. With that in mind I wanted to make it somewhat memorable, but in the same respect I didn't pre reg for Wissahickon just in case I got my head kicked in and needed a week or so for my bruised body and ego to recover.
Warm up - I arrived pretty early as I've been on a pretty consistent schedule with waking up around 7 a.m. and I'm always of the thought of staying in front of the eight ball. My teammate Ryan Dewald was doing his first cross race of the year and met up with me for a couple warm up laps before the women's race started. I had gotten in a few laps on the course earlier and was feeling somewhat confident in my ability even though the course was pretty technical, that was until I took my first of four spills. Now that my confidence was shattered it was time to start the race.
Hole shot - A long paved straightaway, perfect! I of course was in the last row which was to be expected as they line everyone up according to your UCI standings (I hope to one day earn a point). Out of fifty guys and me being behind most of them I believe I was top fifteen maybe just outside of the top ten as we hit the dirt. It reminded me of the last few laps of a really hard crit. so I was somewhat in my element.
The race - I was in a little over my head at this point, not so much because of the field but the course was somewhat beyond my skill level (I say not so much because of the field as it seems everyone is in their own respective races). I'm also finding it hard to just "finish the race". Once I'm out of the top twenty I find myself loosing motivation to catch the guy for 25th or not let the guy catch me for 26th. So with a little more than two laps to go I washed out in a corner, broke the buckle on my shoe, thanked god for a mechanical, and gracefully exited the race before I was lapped by the leaders. I believe Dewald ended up 18th, not bad for his first cx race of the season.

I didn't do Wissahickon the next day which in hindsight was a good thing because it could have potentially been my last cross race for the year. I do my best to persevere but I've been walking that fine line of mental and physical burnout since mid August and I have occasionally crossed that line. With that said we'll see you tommorrow for hopefully my first "muddy cross race".

The Muscle abides

2008-10-20T14:58:00.000-07:00

This has been my mantra for the later half of the road season and the first half of the cross season (this being my first real cross season). The reason for this is...I'm a little intense, or so people have said. I do my best to stay calm, keep perspective, not react to certain situations...but that never happens. As a result I tend to have a fair amount of stories and as they happen I'll pass them along. To the woman I encountered last week who threw her shoe at me and threatened to shoot me, as she was trying to run me over, this blog is dedicated to you.