pnwbuckeye

2011-12-28T22:56:00.000-08:00

"the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes 'Awww!'
-Jack Kerouac, On the Road

2011-12-06T12:34:00.000-08:00

Living the Dream

A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play; his labor and his leisure; his mind and his body; his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing, and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both.

-Francois Auguste Rene' Chateaubriand

That quote does a pretty good job summing up my existence as of late. Now, I would not be so bold to call myself a master of anything. I am not. If you consider yourself a master then you stand a good chance of falling into the trap of complacency. When that happens the pursuit of excellence comes to a screeching halt.

Rather, this quote for me sums up what happens when you are able to pursue your passion. The line between work and play becomes very fuzzy, almost non-existent. I have had the good fortune these past three years to be the sport director for The Hagens Berman Cycling Team. 2012 will be my fourth with the team. I have also started to expand my knowledge base by partaking in a number of coaching seminars in the past 12 months and toying with the idea of doing some coaching beyond the four athletes I currently work with. Prior to that I was was a climbing instructor/guide for over a decade.

The main take away is that I have been able to cobble together an income and live a life pursuing my passions. Am I getting rich off of it? No. Has it always been easy? No. Would I be able to do it without a partner of over 16 years who has always been supportive? No (and a big thank you to her for that). But what I am doing doesn't feel like work. And for that I am grateful because I really am living the dream.

2010-12-24T22:34:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2010-12-17T16:37:00.000-08:00

Best Training Tool Developed in the Past Decade? Powermeter? HR Monitor? I say, Neither.

I've been having some discussions lately with a few of my more training savvy friends on the pros and cons of training with power versus training with a heart rate monitor (as some are going back to HR such as Quick Step) and I've come to the conclusion that the best device for training that has come around in the past decade is the Ipod. It beats SRM's and HR Monitors hands down. I think I will just create playlists for training plans from here on out.

Today's playlist included songs by:
The Cult
Sisters of Mercy
Siousxsie and the Banshees
Shriekback
Nitzer Ebb
Front 242
The Stone Roses
Echo and the Bunnymen
Joy Division
New Order
The Cure
Big Audio Dynamite
Public Image Limited

I will let you figure out what zones I was riding in today.
With that, I will leave you with this:

2010-12-13T12:30:00.000-08:00

For Sale: Campagnolo Nuovo Record Brakes

In an attempt to downsize I am going to be posting some stuff for sale from time to time.
This is the first in the installment.

I have a set of perfect condition, never been used, still in the box Campagnolo Nuovo Record brakes I am selling. They include: calipers, levers, cables and housing and the original box. They still have the blue cardboard on the adjusting barrel.

Pictures are below. I may or may not be putting these on Ebay (I have never been much of an Ebay guy). I will accept any reasonable offer. And by reasonable I mean this: I did not just fall off the turnip truck, I have been in the sport for a long time, I know what these are worth to a collector. That said, they are also doing me no good and I have had them for close to 20 years. So again, I will accept any reasonable offer.

2010-12-10T10:26:00.000-08:00

Props From Cipo

I was just reading an article in Cyclingnews in which Cipollini was decrying the lack of machismo in today's cycling and it made me remember my brush with the great Italian sprinter who had a flair for the dramatic that is so missing from the current crop of pros.

I was working for a small frame manufacturer and we had a booth at Interbike back in 2007. It just so happens that we were also the official bike for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and we had 1 of those bikes on display at the bike show in my size. Pink of course.

2007 was the first year that the USA Crit Series held their final race in Vegas and they were also holding an industry crit as one of the events. I signed myself and one of our sponsored racers from the South Bay Wheelmen Women's Team up for the race and had my buddy at Champion Systems make up a special kit for us: all pink of course.

Now an important component of this story is that a friend of mine from Ann Arbor, Marne, was assisting us at our booth that year. Marne is a multi-sport athlete specializing in mtb, cross and Xterra events. Marne is also very....well let's just say that Marne is very easy on the eyes. Get the picture?

So the evening of the race I get changed into my all pink kit and proceed to ride my all pink bike down the Strip in Vegas on my way out to the race. I got stopped at a light and as I was sitting there I noticed a bike wheel roll up on my right side and a bike wheel roll up on my left side. I glance to my left: Massimiliano Lelli, and I glance to my right: Mario Cipollini. I nod to Cipollini and he asks in his heavy Italian accent:

"Are you riding out the bike race?"

"Yeah, I'm riding out the bike race.....are you riding out to the bike race?"

"Yes, we are. We don't know where it is. Mind if we join you?"

Pause..........

"Yeah, no problem." I offer my hand to shake, "My name is Joe."

"I am Mario, that is Max"

"Nice to meet you."

The three of us then proceed to roll a few more blocks down the Strip and we get caught at another light. As we are sitting there suddenly out of nowhere, Marne - tan, long brunette hair, easy-on-the-eyes Marne, wearing nothing but a running bra and short running shorts runs up to us from the sidewalk. She practically pushes Cipollini out of the way, grabs me, gives me a hug and a quick peck on the cheek, tells me good luck and she will be cheering for me at the race and then just as suddenly is gone, running down the sidewalk.

Cipollini looks at me, one eyebrow raised slightly and without a word, gives me the thumbs up.

I look back at him and reply, "I have no idea who that was but that happens all the time."

And then the light turned green and the three of us rolled on down the Strip.

2010-11-25T19:10:00.000-08:00

WOODY HAYES, A LEGEND AMONG BUCKEYES

T-minus 2 days and counting to the biggest rivalry in sports and I have to devote some time to one of the greatest college football coaches of all time, a man whose name still invokes the type of reverence reserved for saints in the state of Ohio, Woody Hayes.

Woody Hayes was the Head Coach at OSU from 1951-1978. While at Ohio State, Woody Hayes coached the Buckeyes to a record of 205-68-10. Different people have different opinions of Woody, but all would agree on one thing -- he absolutely despised and refused to lose. People can label Woody Hayes as many things, but the one thing he was without question was a winner. He won four national championships, won 13 Big Ten titles, played in 8 Rose Bowls (including four straight from 72-75), produced 56 All-Americans, and had three Heisman Trophy winners.

The phrase "three yards and a cloud of dust" came from his conservative style of predominantly running the ball down opponent's throats. Woody believed that the pass should be used as an element of surprise; "There are three things that can happen when you pass, and two of them ain't good," he would say.

There are two stories that circulate about Woody Hayes that I love and they both involve his special hatred for that team from up north. Hayes was famous for his hatred for Michigan and anything that had to do with the state (he referred to it, of course, as "that state up north" or "that team up north"):

One night on a recruiting trip in the state of Michigan, an assistant noticed that the car he was driving was going to run out of gas. He told Woody, who was dozing in the passenger seat, that he had to pull over for gas. Woody refused, and the assistant drove on. The assistant, who saw the weather was starting to get bad, began to get worried about getting stuck in the middle of nowhere, and once again stressed his desire to pull over and get gas. Woody erupted: "No, goddammit! We do NOT pull in and fill up. And I'll tell you exactly why we don't. It's because I don't buy one goddam drop of gas in the state of Michigan! We'll coast and PUSH this goddam car to the Ohio line before I give this state a nickel of my money!" The assistant knew he wasn't kidding, and they barely made it across the border and sputtered into the first gas station they found in Ohio.

The second story comes from Ohio State's 50-14 drubbing of Michigan in 1968. The day after the landslide victory, then assistant coach Lou Holtz approached Woody and asked him why he opted to round off the win with a rub-their-noses-in-it, two point conversion after the Buckeye's final touchdown.

"Coach, why did you go for two?", asked Holtz.

"Because." replied Hayes, "they wouldn't let me go for three."

Hayes' competitive drive and legendary temper would prove to be his ultimate undoing. He was fired in 1978 after striking a Clemson linebacker named Charlie Bauman who intercepted a pass to clinch the game for the Tigers. Ohio State was embarrassed, and they had no choice but to immediately fire Woody Hayes.

That final incident left a sour impression on Hayes' brilliant career, and it is the picture that many college football fans envision when they think of Hayes. But that shouldn't take anything away from the fact that he is one of the greatest college coaches ever. Buckeye fans by and large still love The Old Man as he was known and remember very fondly the days when he was coach. For most Buckeye fans, Woody always has and always will be the very essence of Buckeye football.

2010-11-22T10:59:00.000-08:00

The Bike Lane Discussion

A discussion got rolling on Facebook today spurred on by this article in the NYT

I have been able to enjoy some pretty nice bike lanes, most notably in the Agoura Hills/ Calabasas area of Southern CA where I lived for five years. It has been my experience though that these were the exception and not the norm. I have to say that I am not a huge proponent of bike lanes. Typically they are nothing more than an after-thought, an existing shoulder that the municipality paints a bike outline in and proclaims it a bike lane. Then it is ignored and becomes a lane filled with debris that I, for one, have no interest in riding in. Then as you inch into the car lane you get nothing but grief from drivers yelling at you to "ride in the bike lane". I think bike lanes also reinforce the notion that cyclists have no business on the road, that they are second class citizens who belong in these lanes or on the sidewalks. I would prefer that more energy is put towards educating drivers to the rights that cyclists have and how to share the roads with them.

Thoughts?

2010-11-12T12:21:00.000-08:00

Zen and the Art of Training:

In a recent exchange with the Hedge Fund, he had this to say which pretty much hits the nail on the head to what my approach has been for both myself and my young padwan (who will remain nameless to protect the "innocent" - most of you know who he is anyway).

"...but one thing I just haven't gotten into is the counting. I guess I'm like that with watts though...maybe it's useful to know sometimes, but on a certian level it makes my mind take over and deadens a bit fo the "feel" component. I believe more and more in getting your head around macro principles but then using a lot of intuition and personality and maybe you could even say personal expression for the rest. We've all got our own way of going about things and if you can plug into that, and treat your "training" and racing more like an art show than like a science experiment, I think that's when it starts to click. You've just gotta live it, and counting shit takes me out of that.”

Amen brother.

2010-04-16T23:34:00.000-07:00

Tour of Walla Walla. A Tale of Soooo Close and Yet, So Far

I am back at the ToWW for the fifth year in a row. I did 3 as a rider and am now on my 2nd as a team director. This is a race that comes really, really close to being a really good (maybe even great) race and yet every year it just falls short. Now I mean this as a constructive commentary in the hopes that the last few pieces can fall into place. Everything I mention is what the really successful NRC events are doing. Some things that would take this race from a B- to an A include:

Better Tech Guide. The stage maps look like an outline of a coffee spill. There are no turn by turn instructions or even cross roads named on the map.
True Neutral Wheel Support (at least for the Pro 1-2 men and women). Each rider here is paying a pretty hefty entry fee. Spend a few hundred bucks to have a pro like Joe S come and do neutral tech support. If not that then use the old "wheels in, wheels out" system. They are using a "wheel lottery" system here. They randomly choose riders from teams and if chosen that team has to provide a set of wheels to the neutral follow vehicle for the use of any and all riders. All I know is that if I go to the trouble of bringing a spare set of wheels to put in the wheel car then I want to be able to use my wheels. Why should I have to provide for somebody else if they can't go to the trouble? And why if a team goes to the trouble of getting the resources to support their riders (car in the caravan) should they also have to provide for everyone else? So: hire someone or use wheels in wheels out.
Have a start sheet with all the teams listed with their riders and numbers. And for god's sakes provide the riders on the same team with sequential numbers. There was nothing provided at the manager's meeting with this sort of information so when Com 1 came on tour radio telling us riders 34, 78, 108 and 121 had 35 seconds on the field...well, you pretty much had to guess who they were.
Tweak the schedule. I said it before, but having a 7PM start time for a crit (second stage on the same day after a TT in the morning) and then a 9:25 start time for the RR the next morning is not Pro. If this race ever takes the next step it just does not provide enough time for a team meeting, dinner, massage and then getting ready for the next day.
Email the results in the evening or at least upload them to the website. It is the year 2010. I heard the internet is on computers now. It is not hard to load an excel sheet with the results onto a site or attach it as an email to team directors or the riders.
Provide a little training to your volunteers who are driving vehicles in the caravan. Last year was a little touch and go and so was stage 1 this year. A race caravan is not for the timid. It makes an airport drop off at LAX during the holidays look tame. It can also be down right dangerous for the riders. Even saying simple things like don't leave too large of gaps in between cars and honk your horn when riders are advancing through the caravan would go a long way.

The Tour of Walla Walla is not a bad race. The courses are good. In fact, I love the downtown crit and the road courses are quite challenging. Walla Walla itself is a great town and the host housing is top notch. And the townsfolk love the race. So, while being a good race, it could get better and it wouldn't take much. With that said I also want to say thanks to all the people that make it possible. A stage race is a huge undertaking and is one I would not want to attempt. It's why I only promote crits-way easier. So, my hat is off to the entire race staff. Remember, this is just one racer's/ team manger's opinion.

Kudos.

2010-04-14T12:18:00.000-07:00

A Brief Note to Stage Race Promoters:

Having a 9:25am start time for a road race the day after a double day which includes a morning TT and a criterium with a 7PM start time is probably not the best idea. In fact, it is a really bad idea. Especially when you consider that the Cat 3 men have an earlier crit start time (5:20PM) and a later RR start time the next day (10:45).

2010-04-13T10:06:00.001-07:00

Radio Bans

From Velonews:
Riis carefully directed Cancellara during the race from the passenger seat of the Saxo Bank team car. He revealed that he told Cancellara to attack when he did, after noticing that Tom Boonen was too far down the line of riders.Cancellara trusted his boss, didn't look back and opened up the after-burners, even though there was still 50 kilometres left to race. Before Boonen even realised what had happened and moved out of the line to look up the road, Cancellara had already opened a gap that would have been impossible for him to close."I told him to attack on the radio. As soon as I saw that Boonen was not on his wheel, I said: 'Now you go' ," Riis explained

So the UCI bans radios at all levels below class 1 to make racing more intuitive and less predictable, putting the onus on riders rather than their team directors to decide tactics.

I see that is working out well. Have they thought about banning televisions in the director's cars instead?

2009-08-31T16:42:00.000-07:00

I am going to the AC/DC concert tonight and it is going to be awesome! One thing though, what exactly does a 41 year old wear to an AC/DC concert?

2009-08-28T13:33:00.001-07:00

This is a test to see if I really can update my blog from my phone via email (because really, I am that busy and that important).

2009-08-27T22:55:00.001-07:00

Hello Again

I am back, probably for a limited engagement, but I am back. I have been away, I have been busy. Busy training (because I love it), busy trying to develop racers to the best of my ability and knowledge (because I love it), busy racing my bike myself (because I love it) and busy working (because I have to but also because I am fortunate enough to earn an income doing things I love like direct a bike team and coach kids in climbing).

Because of some back and forth between myself and The Hedge Fund I directed him towards the Gym Jones site and Mark Twight. Twight and his writings have always resonated with me. Hedge already knew about Twight, which didn't surprise me because Hedge is not afraid of hard work and he is afraid of complacency and mediocrity.

I decided to check out the Gym Jones site again and came across this. I have probably posted this before. Well, I am going to post it again, because I like it.

In Defense of Elitism
As if it requires defending …Gym Jones is exclusive. We exclude. It is not a question of elitism vs. egalitarianism because there can be no question; the black belt is elite, the white belt is not. The black belt is earned through long, difficult work, rigorous education, commitment, and persistence. Not everyone gets a black belt. It's not T-Ball. We invite elite performers to train here because they foster the environment we prefer. It is the rare athlete who improves despite training exclusively with less capable practitioners and such exceptions may not be used to prove a rule. Talented athletes surround themselves with others of a similar or higher caliber – both mental and physical – and improve by doing so.
The parallel motive has to do with choosing who we want to spend our limited time with: why would we open our arms to any and everyone?

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

from www.cyclingnews.com:

USA Cycling seeks volunteer collegiate conference director

USA Cycling is recruiting a volunteer director of the Atlantic Collegiate Cycling Conference (ACCC) which covers North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C.). The volunteer will work to promote the growth of collegiate cycling through individual membership growth, member retention, club stability, and new club development and will attend conference-related races, events and schools to support conference activities. He or she will coordinate conference scoring, results and rankings for each race, event and season and contribute conference news to USAC's website and other outlets. The position will require significant work during business hours.

Seriously USAC?, volunteer? Are you kidding me? Especially when the job description states that the position "will require significant work during business hours." I mean WTF?! Is this part of their long term plan to promote cycling in this country, seek volunteers to run multi-state conferences?

2008-12-22T11:39:00.000-08:00

Le Roi D'Hiver makes his return...to the streets of Bremerton.

2008-12-22T11:34:00.001-08:00

SNOW!!

2008-11-25T09:30:00.000-08:00

IT WAS A GOOD WEEKEND FOR COLUMBUS SPORTS

OSU 42, that team from up north 7

COLUMBUS CREW 3, New York Red Bulls 1

Congratulations Crew on the MLS Cup!

2008-11-21T16:13:00.000-08:00

I'M BACK.

"Why?", you ask.

Because tomorrow is the appointed date of the biggest rivalry in sports.

That's why.

THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES versus the team from up north.

BUCKEYES BABY!

I SAID, "BUCKEYES BABY!!"

GO BUCKEYES!!!!!!!!

2008-10-12T11:21:00.000-07:00

TOLEDO ROCKETS 13, MICHIGAN 10

Most of you probably don't know that before I was a Buckeye at The Ohio State University, I was a Rocket, a Toledo Rocket, of the MAC Conference. Well, they beat Michigan yesterday...at the Big House. That means that both of the universities I attended are going to beat Michigan this year. Oh the glee....

And yes, that is a Toledo Rocket beer cozy, or rather, a beer jersey. Classic.

2008-10-04T12:30:00.000-07:00

Goodbye To A Friend

It is with great sadness that I find myself making another post about the passing of another friend of mine. I just found out this morning that my steady climbing partner from the LA days, Joe Christy passed away a couple of weeks ago. I found out about it while scanning through some updates on Facebook of all places. I called a mutual friend of Joe's and mine and found out that Joe had taken his own life. Conjecture is that the ghosts of Vietnam finally caught up with Joe. Joe and I talked of many things during our climbing days at Malibu Creek State Park but one thing we never spoke of was his time serving in Vietnam. It turns out that Joe was a tailgunner in an attack helicopter. One can only imagine the things that Joe saw during his time serving his country and it seems as if those personal demons finally got the best of him.

I will always remember Joe as someone who never turned down the chance to meet up for a day of cragging. I had the great fortune of meeting Joe and John Long one afternoon at Malibu Creek and had the even greater fortune of becoming a regular climbing partner with both of them. The routes that Joe wanted to do were always "whatever you want to do". His positive energy was infectious and I became a better climber because of it. Joe belayed me on many attempts on my very first 12A project and was holding the rope when I finally completed the redpoint of the Drifter. Joe had an encyclopedic recollection of every move on every route in Malibu Creek. One of my fondest memories was an afternoon climbing with Joe back in the Ghetto. We were doing some laps when Joe noticed the water had risen...a lot. He suddenly realized that the rangers had opened the dam upstream and if we did not hightail it out of there we would be swimming home. Classic.

The very last route that I climbed in Malibu Creek came on a trip back to LA after I had moved to Seattle. I had never completed Malibu's classic standard "Urban Struggle", a four star 12 a/b before moving away. I put it on my to do list when I knew I was coming back to LA for a wedding. I called up Joe and he was more than happy to meet up with me in the parking lot for the walk back past the Apes Wall, and the water traverse back to the Ghetto area. Joe and I were prepared for a siege that day as I was not feeling all that great. I redpointed it on my first try. A day full of great conversation, a lot of laughs and a successful redpoint of our local crag's classic standard. Those are my last memories of Joe Christy.

So long Joe, you will be missed. I am going to the climbing gym today to do some laps in your honor.

2008-09-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

IN DEFENSE OF ELITISM

Anyone who knows me really well knows that I am a fan of Mark Twight. One of my favorite books and one of the few that I have read multiple times is

Kiss or Kill.

You also probably know that I don't believe that just because someone enters a race that it makes them a winner. Everyone is not a winner.

So you can imagine my glee when I read this on the Gym Jones website:

In Defense of Elitism

As if it requires defending …Gym Jones is exclusive. We exclude. It is not a question of elitism vs. egalitarianism because there can be no question; the black belt is elite, the white belt is not. The black belt is earned through long, difficult work, rigorous education, commitment, and persistence. Not everyone gets a black belt. It's not T-Ball. We invite elite performers to train here because they foster the environment we prefer. It is the rare athlete who improves despite training exclusively with less capable practitioners and such exceptions may not be used to prove a rule. Talented athletes surround themselves with others of a similar or higher caliber – both mental and physical – and improve by doing so.
The parallel motive has to do with choosing who we want to spend our limited time with: why would we open our arms to any and everyone? -Mark Twight

"It's not T-ball"

Classic

2008-08-20T21:18:00.000-07:00

2008 BLACKBERRY CRITERIUM

Yes, it is going to happen!

SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2008
Total cash prize - $3600 (min.)

CATEGORY - TIME - DISTANCE - PRIZES - PLACES - ENTRY
Cat. 4/ 5 11:45 30 min. $150 3 Places $20
Jr. C/D* 12:30 20 min Prizes 3 Places $12
Jr. A/B* 1:00 30 min Prizes 3 Places $12
Masters 30 + 1:45 45 min. $500 5 Places $20
Women 2:45 45 min. $250 4 Places $20
Cat. 3 3:45 60 min. $750 7 Places $25
Kids 11 and below 5:00 TBD Ribbons to all Free
Pro 1/ 2 5:30 75 min. $1950 15 Places $30
*Jr. men & women race together but scored separately.

Course: 4th Street, Pacific, 5th Street, Warren Ave. Four 90° corner circuit on excellent wide pavement including slight rises at both ends.Directions: Circuit is a block from the Bremerton Ferry Terminal. For more info on the event and the Bremerton Blackberry Festival please go to www.BlackberryFestival.orgRegistration: On race day only. One day USCF license available. WSBA numbers will be used & can be purchased at www.wsbaracing.com (not for sale at race). Rental #’s available at the race for $10 rental ($5 is refundable).

Out of state riders, no fee to rent just a $5 deposit.

For further information on the race call Joe Holmes (818) 430-7055 jgholmes@comcast.net
All USA Cycling rules will be enforced. All riders must sign a waiver and wear an approved helmet.
USA Cycling permit pending.

2008-07-14T22:49:00.000-07:00

WHALE OF A CRIT CANCELLATION ANNOUNCEMENT:

I regret to inform everyone that we have had to cancel the Whale of a Crit this year. This decision was based on a number of factors all adding up to a situation where we felt like we would not be able to put on an event that met our standards. We made every effort possible to pull the event off and only made the decision to cancel at the eleventh hour after it became apparent that we would be unable to address all of the issues that sprang up in the past few weeks.

I would personally like to apologize to everyone who made adjustments to their schedules to accomodate the Whale of a Crit, most notably Eric Anderson who moved the Team Trial Championships for our race. My apologies also to those individuals who find themselves unable to compete in both the Senior Games and the Team Time Trial Championships as they now fall on the same weekend. Please accept my sincerest apologies as I know this was quite a topic of discussion this spring. I also would like to apologize to those of you who were targeting the Washington Cup and now find the series one race less.

Those of you who have participated in our events these past few years know that we try to put on the best event possible in terms of race course, event atmosphere and prize list. We just felt that we would not be able to meet all of our criteria and did not want to make due with what we were going to end up with.

I am sorry for all the inconvenience that this had caused and I hope that this will not influence anyone to not take part in our events in the future. If anyone wishes to contact me personally please feel free to do so.

Thank you,

Joe Holmes
Ridge Racing

2008-07-08T22:47:00.000-07:00

Just when I thought football season could not get any better.

Patrick joins NBC, reunites with Olbermann

Fantastic.

2008-07-07T21:27:00.000-07:00

Pittsburgh's Rooneys Quietly Shop the Steelers.

WHAAAT?!

2008-07-07T21:03:00.000-07:00

Hinault is awesome.

2008-07-07T14:47:00.000-07:00

Badger:

Badger is the common name for any animal of three subfamilies, which belong to the family Mustelidae. Badgers are capable of fighting off much larger animals such as wolves, coyotes, bears, and protesters during the podium ceremonies at the Tour.

Seriously though, how awesome is it that Hinault was the first guy to throw the protestor off the podium during the stage winner presentation? That is reason #842 why I have always loved Hinault.

I think I got as excited with that as I was with Frishkorn almost winning the stage.

2008-07-06T21:09:00.000-07:00

Thank you OLN, er, I mean Versus.

For not making my ears bleed this year listening to the ignorance of Al Trautwig during the Tour coverage this year. Craig Hummer has always provided knowledgable reporting in the past and he is a welcome replacement for the melodramatic banter of Trautwig.

Good on ya.

2008-07-06T21:01:00.000-07:00

NOT TO BRAG OR ANYTHING BUT...BRI RULES AGAIN!!!!

The Joe Matava Crit was kind to the guys in blue as BRI went 1, 2, 3 in the Masters A race as well as winning the Pro 1-2 race and the $145 backside prime. Congrats to GB and DR for another BRI double.

Then to top it off, DR adds another win for the weekend at the Bellingham Crit on Sunday.

In the words of Stuart Scott: "boo yah!"

2008-06-29T23:12:00.000-07:00

HEY P-DOG: BRI IS THE NEW AWESOME

Because not only did BRI win the 1-2 race at Des Moines, but they went 1st and 2nd in the Masters A State Crit Championship. Which means BRI doubled on the day, doubled for the State Crit Championships and are currently in 1st place in both the 1-2 and Master A BARR competition.

SNAP!

2008-06-26T22:38:00.000-07:00

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

I am giddy with anticipation. In IMAX too!

2008-06-26T21:30:00.000-07:00

WHAT MORE CAN I SAY?

2008-06-24T22:48:00.000-07:00

This Ken Schram op piece (It's about the flow of money-er traffic) was on KOMO 4 news on Monday night and got me so riled up that I thought my head was going to explode.

Apparently the WA State Patrol is citing motorists who are camping in the left lane and impeding the flow of traffic. My response: Fantastic.

I have driven thousands of miles all over the country and the drivers in WA are hands down some of the worst I have ever encountered and most of it revolves around the fact that they are inattentive, never want to get anywhere. and are cut of the passive aggressive cloth. If they are not driving exactly the speed limit then they are driving 5 under, and on top of that they are doing it in the left hand lane, right next to someone else doing the exact same speed. But when I come up behind them, wait patiently for them to get over, wait, wait, wait some more then give them a very quick one touch on-off flick of the lights (you know, the universal signal that anyone in Europe or Canada or the east coast knows means "excuse me, I would like to pass you could you get out of the passing lane")-I am the asshole. Even though they are the ones that are: 1. camping in a lane that is supposed to be for passing, not sleeping in and are 2. not paying attention and checking their mirrors or 3. notice that I am behind them but for some reason feel that it is their duty to keep me from driving faster than the they are driving, in other words, they are the ones being inconsiderate.

I can't believe I would ever say this, but, good for the WA State Patrol for ticketing these lane campers. Apparently Ken Schram thinks otherwise:

"The trooper explains that the left lane is for passing only, which means you also should be constantly weaving in and out of the other lane to get around the slowpokes, but you can't stay in the left lane even if you're doing the speed limit"- Ken Schram

That's right dude, because the left lane is for PASSING. Did they not teach that to you in driving class?

Excuse me while my head explodes.

2008-06-23T21:43:00.000-07:00

I can neither confirm nor deny that the following cluster of words may or may not have some meaning within the next few weeks. If they do, you heard it here first. If they don't, well, I didn't really say anything did I?

1. Kaiser
2. Chicken
3. A bike race won by a Tour de France winner
4. Not Wranglers

That's all.

2008-06-19T10:32:00.000-07:00

CROSS POLLINATION with P-DOG: TRAINING RACE SERIES DISCUSSION

Again, P-dog scooped me this week on a topic I had been thinking about posting.
Damn you P-dog!!! Here is a copy of the comment I made on the topic of training races:

Yes Andrew, Tuesdays are run poorly. Yes the courses are fun, much better than Seward in my opinion but they are not run well. All of these have happened more than once and they are gripes that I have heard from other riders, not just my typical whining about races around here:

1. Lap cards not being accurate. I was in a 2 man break last year for the majority of the race with a 1-3 field that was small. They gave us 1 to go 2 laps in a row. How hard is it to keep track of 2 guys? Again, the lap card mix up happened more than once.

2. The promoter telling us to keep track of how we finished to help with results. If I was paying $5 for the privilege of using the track, I am ok with that. Since I am paying you ($13 last year, $15 this year) that is your job. Use a camera, get it right.

3. The promoter frequently rings the bell for primes when it is obvious that 2 different fields are coming together on that lap. It happened again last Tuesday. He is not figuring out the re-entry trajectory of the space shuttle, just when would be a good time to ring a prime bell and not contribute to the confusion of one field catching another.

4. The promoter doesn't even take the time to get to know his customers. I know a rider who got 3rd overall in the series a few years ago. The promoter still does not know the rider's name.

5. Finally, and really this is the least of the transgressions: he gives little to nothing back in terms of some pay-back. Thursday night races cost the same amount, and on just about every Thursday there is the opportunity of winning at least most of your entry back for the night. The above mentioned rider who got 3rd overall in the Tuesday series got a multi-tool. When Doug Davis won the Seward series 2 years ago he won $300 and a fleece top. That and the fact that Thursdays are run well, finishes captured on film and the fact that the promoter knows just about everyone (and that most people can ride there) are the reasons why Thursdays are going strong and Tuesdays are not.

Bottom line: Once you reach a certain level of entry fee, along with that comes a certain level of expectation. Charging $15 every week for a training race reaches that level and the Thur series gives back proportionately, the Tues does not. There is a training series that has been going on in LA at the Rose Bowl for over 40 years. It is every Tuesday and Thursday night. There is no entry fee, no prizes, just a start time that everyone knows and a finish line. Sometimes this race has had over 150 riders in it and every time it is contested like the World Championships. That is what training races are all about. If there is a fee to use the course (Seward, SIR) then charge just enough to cover those expenses and put a little in the promoter's pocket to reward him for the effort. If you want to charge a bit more, give back some more effort and some green in return. Your customers will thank you and keep coming back.

2008-06-16T22:52:00.000-07:00

NICE JOB KIEL!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2008/jun08/naturevalley08/index.php?id=/photos/2008/jun08/naturevalley08/naturevalley086/NVGP-Men-S6-12

Local boy Kiel Reijnen posts up as the top amateur at Nature Valley finishing 10th overall. Kiel really messed his back up in a crash a few months ago but it looks like he is coming back from that injury nicely.

I am psyched for him. Take it from me, this kid is going far. You heard it here.

2008-06-12T09:43:00.000-07:00

MORE ON BOONEN:

Even though P-dog beat me to this (as it appears he is on a blogging 2 and 3-a-day blitzkrieg to make up for lost blogging) I too have to say, who gives a shite if Boonen was enjoying some nose candy out of competition? Let's chalk it up to another brilliant decision by ASO to declare that one of the fastest and most popular riders of the current generation is not welcome at their table because he made a bad personal decision that did not cross the sporting line? I was glad to see that his team is sticking by him and that Quick Step renewed it's sponsorship for another 3 years.

Stupid.

2008-06-11T14:32:00.000-07:00

THIS WAS HOW MY BALLARD PRO 1-2 RACE ENDED:

That's me in blue under Brad M who is pile driving me into the pavement. The race was about half way over and I started to notice that there was a heavy mist settling in over turns 3 and 4 (dry at 1-2). The thought that came through my head was, "Gee, turns 3 and 4 are starting to look slick...". A few laps later my rear wheel went out from under me like I hit an oil-slicked ice cube and the next thing I knew was that I was sliding across turn 4 knowing the whole time that I was towards the middle of the field and could expect numerous guys to be riding into me. Fortunately 26 years of racing have honed my "Get into the fetal position response".

You can see Russell taking evasive action in the background on a completely different vector than everyone else.

Even though I was wearing gloves, it looked like I was in a bar fight at the Tractor later that evening.

Bike racing is dumb and so am I.

2008-06-10T09:54:00.000-07:00

BOONEN TESTS POSITIVE FOR COCAINE-WHAAAAT?!

Story here. And here.

2008-06-09T09:45:00.000-07:00

BALLARD: Nice job Grant!

There it is in a picture: the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.

Grant Boursaw nips DR on the line. What can I say? BRI did a great job controlling the front in the waning laps of the race and looked to have it's 3rd win at Ballard in 4 years after DR got the gambler's prime and a sizable gap with 2 to go. But....the young kid closed down the gap on his own and had enough in the tank to out kick DR to the line. Another BRI win would have been nice, but if we have to lose to somebody, I can't think of a better guy.

Nice one kid.

2008-06-09T09:39:00.000-07:00

TODAY'S POST: The weather here in Seattle right now.

The comment: WTF?!
Seriously though....WTF?

2008-06-04T21:41:00.000-07:00

RED WINGS!

2008-06-03T12:17:00.001-07:00

Enumclaw Picture of the Race:

Look at McKissick in this shot of the Pro 1-2 race. He looks like he is on a coffee shop ride at the top of the climb while everyone else is turning themselves inside out trying to get back up to him. God I hate that guy (not really).

2008-06-03T10:48:00.000-07:00

Giro Coverage on OLN (because I refuse to call it by its new name)

I know I really should not be complaining about cycling coverage on television because, well, at least I can get cycling coverage on television. But here is the thing, when OLN has 2 hours of coverage on a Sunday covering the final day of the Giro (or any stage race for that matter) and the last stage happens to be a time trial, why do they have to spend all of 15 minutes doing a recap of the preceding week's stages and then spend the other 1 hr 45 min showing the time trial? The last thing I want to do is watch that much of a friggin' time trial. This year's Giro had 2 awesome mountain stages leading up to the last day and a stage where Jens Voigt stormed off the front for a great solo win. I want to watch that, not some mind numbing time trial. Use the first hour to show more of the exciting stages and spend an hour at most showing the TT.

(note: yeah, I know about Cycling.tv and Cyclingfans.com and all the other on-line outlets, I am talking specifically about what I can watch for free on my big screen television and not have to get up at the crack of dawn to catch)

2008-06-03T09:49:00.000-07:00

The Claw 2008

After a thorough beating by the Symmetrics A-Team last year, I decided 2008 was the year I acted my age and raced Masters at the Enumclaw Stage Race. Even as late as a few days prior to registration closing I was still considering racing the 1-2 race. I succumbed however and opted for Masters. That was a decision I did not regret.

BRI went 1-2 in the overall as well as going 1-2 in the crit. (photo courtesy Wheels in Focus: The BRI Blue Train doing the last lap lead out).

That's right, we ruled. It was fantastic. I was a water carrier for the weekend since time trials are not my thing and we have infinitely better sprinters on the team than myself (since I don't possess a single fast twitch muscle) for the criterium. The entire team really raced well together and did what needed to be done in the final stage road race to place our guys 1-2 in the overall. Hats off to Carter as well who also fielded a strong team. It was fun racing against those guys.

2008-06-02T22:00:00.000-07:00

Stanley Cup Playoffs

Four words: Wow, what a game!

The Penguins tie the game with an open net goal with less than a minute in regulation and win 4-3 in the 3rd overtime.

Disclaimer: I really only pay attention to hockey during the playoffs. My two favorite teams to follow: The Red Wings and The Penguins.

Go Red Wings.

2008-05-23T15:59:00.000-07:00

Rolling Old School!

That's right, I will be sporting some Mavic GP-4 hoops, 24 front, 28 rear. I found these brand new rims covered under some cobwebs in the back corner of my LBS and had my man Billy build them up for me. All you retro-grouches out there: get a nice shade of envious green!

2008-05-21T12:34:00.000-07:00

Looks like Obama could be my candidate....

....because the reason listed here is as good as any other. Something tells me though that Tressel is probably for somebody else.

2008-05-14T10:54:00.000-07:00

Adult Presidential Fitness Award

No wonder we are a country of fat asses. Check out the adult fitness test: PFA

Aerobic test: Walk 1 mile or run 1.5 miles and time it
Muscular Test and Endurance: Push ups and Half sit-ups. Half a sit up? Are you kidding me?
Flexibility: The sit and reach test, by the looks of the guy in the photo his hamstrings look piano string tight, wonder how he scored?

2008-05-07T11:07:00.000-07:00

BUCKEYE BIKE

Oh hell yes.

2008-04-25T09:38:00.000-07:00

KABOOM!!!!!

That was the sound my body made as I completely blew up at the end of last weekend with the Walla Walla Stage Race being the hammer hitting the last nail into my coffin. I could feel the body starting to do a slow come-apart in the days leading up to Walla and I was not brimming with confidence going into what would probably be the hardest race weekend I was going to do all year. ( Pre-whine warning coming )

Walla Walla has the potential to be a really good race (big kudos for the rolling enclosures for the road races). All the promoter needs to do is a little tweaking with the start times. As it stands though, it is ridiculously hard, especially for punters like me who are still trying to live the dream (this time it was a nightmare).

Stage 1 started at 4PM on Friday (note to promoter: move the start time up 2hrs to 2PM, the riders and your race staff will thank you) and was a 65 mile road race with 5000 feet of climbing, add to that winds gusting over 20 mph and you had a stage that did not put a lot of smiles on people's faces. As for me, I was already starting to cough and hack even before I pinned a number on, and the wind and shit blowing in the air did not help. 4 miles into the race I knew that I was in trouble. I was doing the big gear-small gear-big gear-small gear thing and not feeling comfortable in any of them. 30 minutes in as I got shelled from the group (who the hell is up there drilling it like this?!?!) I was calling for the gruppetto to form. I was done, and crispy too. I managed to finally conjure up some motivation from somewhere though and started to use every caravan trick I knew to get my ass back to the group. If I was any closer behind some of the vehicles as I used them to pace back on I would have been considered standard equipment. Unfortunately, it seemed none of the caravan drivers knew what they were doing and were leaving gaps that Evil Knievel could not have crossed. Not to worry though, that is what side mirrors, door handles and timely hand slings are for. After a bit I was back on the group.

Only to get shelled again. The caravan exercise took place again. And when we went up hill faster than we were going downhill (due to the wind gusts) I was shelled again. This time there was no getting back on and a nice little group formed and we made our way to the finish.

So now it was 7:30 PM (twilight road races, you got to love them), we had to drive back to the hotel, shower, get dinner, get to bed and drive back to the same place for a 10K time trial start time of 8:30 AM. WTF?! I had no intention of riding hard in the TT. My warm up was the 1 mile from the car to the start line. I couldn't care any less. My team mate Brown had the same idea. I beat him though....by 0.17 seconds. We couldn't have been that close if we had ridden side by side and crossed the line holding hands. Clowns. TT done it was back to the hotel for some chow, a 30min nap and then back for the 95 mile road race starting at 1:30 PM that had 6000 feet of climbing in it. This one went slightly better than the night before and I finished in a nice size group that formed after the 3rd time up the big climb. One note though: it actually spit some snow at one point during the race. Snow, in April, again, WTF?!

So, I had now raced almost 160 miles with over 11,000 feet of climbing over the period of 25 hours and had not 1 second of fun while actually on my bike.

Yours truly in my own personal hell

Fortunately Sunday's criterium is right downtown on a very mid-west like 6 corner course complete with manhole covers, tar strips, pot holes and spectators. Perfect. Finally a smile started to creep onto my face. Motivation to actually try anything resembling racing was still zero, but at least I was no longer in my own personal hell. To top it off, DR got 2nd to a rejuvenated Tubbs (who when I saw him riding up the last climb the day before looked like he had just come from the Bataan death march. Seriously, he was in a bad way).

Tubbs just beating DR (on orange crush) to the line

All I could think about during the 5 hour drive home was how little I was going to ride this week. Walla, plus the sterling weather we are still getting here in the PNW had cracked me wide open (reports are I am not the only one). I have done nothing but ride paper mache cranks on my rollers all week. That's right, paper mache cranks (defined as way easier than glass cranks) on rollers for 4 days in a row. I went to the doc on Wednesday, turns out I had a cold. He said I could take some antibiotics if I still felt bad but since they make you feel like you are riding with a parachute on even after you get healthy I decided to gut it out.

Now it is Friday morning, there is a strange glowing orb, somewhat orange-yellow in color that is in the sky. I have heard rumors of such a thing, and have a vague memory of something like it while I was living in Southern California. I think it is called "the sun". I am feeling a bit better, not hacking anymore and am actually thinking, maybe even looking forward to a nice little 2 hour ride later today.

Amazing what a little rest, and that glowing orb in the sky can do.

Oh yeah, and if you ever hear me start to talk about racing Walla Walla again, hit me in the back of the head with a bat. I am sure it will hurt a lot less.

2008-04-24T17:29:00.000-07:00

MORE FROM THE HOME GALLERY

So my lady went to Thailand a few months ago and came back with this original work by......Thong Thai....the elephant. That's right, my lady got one of those elephant paintings you have seen on that there You Tube on the internet (which I have heard is on computers now).

It goes without saying that this is 10x better than what I could do.

The other thing, the frame cost 8x what the painting did.

2008-04-16T21:18:00.000-07:00

Well Isn't This Just Great

2008-04-16T09:26:00.000-07:00

THE INNES

In an effort to mature artistically, our household has slowly evolved from one of Ansel Adams and Nevada City Winery prints in the main room viewing areas to one of bona-fide original pieces. Just arrived and proudly hung yesterday is a piece from my buddy Billy.

Nice.

2008-04-09T19:21:00.000-07:00

Someone call WADA, Eggheads Dope Too!

Performance Enhancing Brain Drugs, where is Dick Pound when you need him?

So, do we test cum laude, magna cum laude and one random?

2008-04-07T09:34:00.000-07:00

Yeah! What He Said.

I have to agree with my Bay area friend on this one. I think what China has done and is doing in Tibet is deplorable. But protesting China by protesting the Olympic torch relay is not the same thing. And the fringe talk that I hear about boycotting the Olympics in Beijing make my head hurt. Because it is not the host country that suffers, it is the athletes, period. The Olympics are about sport, not politics. So leave the politics out of it and let the athletes compete. And to all you torch relay protesters out there, get a clue.

2008-04-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

Tour of America Postponed

Now there's a surprise. The organizers had their booth across from ours at Interbike. I have seen better booths at 5th grade science fairs (because I have been to a lot of those)

Their booth that is, not ours.

2008-03-27T12:33:00.000-07:00

AS GOOD AS IT WAS EVER GOING TO GET

I happened to be talking with a buddy of mine on the phone while I was in the basement working on a bike when an old Black Flag song came on my Ipod. I mentioned it to him as I knew he was a Black Flag fan and he told me the following story.

It was Sunday, July 29, 1984 and it was his birthday. He got up in the morning, traveled to Yellow Springs, Ohio with his team mates to participate in a road race. He won the race.

Then he traveled back home and got there just in time to watch Alexi Grewal from the United States win the men's Olympic Road Race in stunning fashion over Canada's Steve Bauer who many thought would kill Grewal in the sprint.

He then picked up his date for the evening, went to a Black Flag concert which kicked ass, took his date home and proceeded to get lucky.

July 29, 1984. If he had only known then that at 24 years of age, it was all going to be down hill from there.

Classic.

2008-03-25T22:33:00.000-07:00

Great.
Well, isn't this just great news.

2008-03-24T10:39:00.000-07:00

GOODBYE TO AN OLD FRIEND

From the Columbus Dispatch:

Stuart Vincent Depp
DEPP Stuart Vincent Depp, 54, a resident of Tiejras, New Mexico, passed away unexpectedly from complications of diabetes at his home on March 15, 2008. Stuart was born September 28, 1954, in Columbus, Ohio. He lived in many places across the United States, where he touched the lives of many people. Stuart graduated from Jonathan Alder High School in Plain City, Ohio. In 1999, he graduated from the School of the Practical Nursing. Stuart bicycled the United States, from New York to Alaska, exploring our great country several times. Friends and family will remember Stuart for his love of the outdoors-hiking, cycling, backpacking, and skiing were a few of his favorite pastimes. He loved to get to know people, share music with them, and if they were lucky, maybe some coffee. He tempted many as a superior coffee sommelier at Stauf's Coffee House or he might have dashed past you as a downtown bicycle courier. He wanted to be surrounded by nature and challenges that tested the human spirit which brought out the best in himself and his friends. Stuart was proud to serve his country and the people who live here throughout his varied careers. Stuart learned the foundation of his incredible work ethic, working beside his father, Gerald. His first paying job was a Geneva Hills Presbyterian Church Camp staff member. He was a proud member of the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserves where he achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class in U.S. Army and served his country in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. He was also a distinguished honor graduate from the First Armored Division (Old Ironsides) Noncommissioned Officer's Academy. He considered it a privilege to serve as a military Honor Guard member, and presented funeral honors for more than 50 times for his fallen comrades. His military awards include the Army Commendation Medal (3rd Oak Leaf Cluster) and the Army Achievement Medal (5th Oak Leaf Cluster.) Stuart is survived by his father, Gerald E. Depp; siblings, Beverly (Banwo) Longe, Steven (Helaine) Depp, Cynthia (Larry) Cain, Cathy Ann Depp, Jessica A. Depp, Joyce (Bill) Kaiser; many nieces and nephews, and many good friends. He was preceded in death by his mother Willa Louise Depp. A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 29 from 2-6 pm at the Longaberger Alumni House on the grounds of The Ohio State University, 2200 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio. A private family burial will be held at a later date. Memorial donations can be made to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at www.jdrf.org in Stuart's memory. Sign the online guestbook at www.dispatch.com/obituaries

Published in The Columbus Dispatch on 3/23/2008.

I met Stuart when I started working as a bike messenger for EZ-Delivery when I was attending Ohio State. A few years later when I was in a jam, Stuart offered to let me live with him for a few months while I got myself sorted out.

Stuart was one of the wisest, kindest, most even-keeled individuals I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. He could spin a yarn like no one I have ever met and his delivery telling a joke was spot on. We turned each other on to all kinds of music, books and movies (usually of the off the beaten path variety). He turned me on to what a really good espresso tasted like and how to best use a French press during his time at Stauf's Coffee Roasters while I showed him how to pour a glass of wine with a final twist of the wrist so as to not lose a drop.

The one thing that Stuart was really into was bikes. He loved them and the more classic and retro they were the better. He and I used to spend more time than I care to admit talking about the superiority of Campagnolo Super Record over everything else.

We both moved West around the same time, he to New Mexico and I to California. I made it a point to stay in touch with him. Sometimes it would be 5 or 6 months in between our chats but when they happened they were good ones, usually filled with a lot of laughter too. In 2002 I traveled with the team I was managing to Tour of the Gila in Silver City, New Mexico and Stuart made the big drive down to have dinner with me and then drove home. He spent 5+ hours in a car to have dinner with an old friend. That was the kind of guy Stuart was.

In the 17 years that I knew Stuart, I never heard anyone say a negative thing about him. Ever. Not a single negative thing. Think about that.

So I say to Stuart, I will miss our phone calls every five or six months to catch up. I will miss you calling me one of the Rodriguez brothers. I will miss the occasional email from you. I will miss your stories about the latest crop of rookies that came through to do their "Army Training Sir".

Most of all though, I will miss you.

Here is hoping that you are finally as bike fit as you always wanted to be, that all your Campy and Snap-On tools are exactly where they should be, that all your Dylan CD's sound like Bob was playing in the same room, that your crema is always perfect and that you are at peace and one with the world.

Stuart, aka Man of the West, Johnny Rojo, Zeek the Friendly Pirate, Black Stuart, Petey the Marmot, Good bye and thanks for helping to make me a better person.

I already miss you very, very much.

2008-03-20T12:28:00.001-07:00

RISING CANADIAN DOLLAR BAD FOR CANADA'S PREMIER TEAM:

FROM WWW.BICYCLEPORTLAND.NET:
Symmetrics Hit by Rising Canadian Dollar

After the rumours which have been flying around in recent weeks about possible troubles at Symmetrics Cycling, Canada's top road team, we have had a chance to talk to team owner Kevin Cunningham and clarify the situation. The long and short of it is that, yes, the team is going through some short term financial difficulties, but intends to continue with its long term goals of an international presence.

"We last year sat down to decide what we wanted to do going forward. We determined that we still want to find the large sponsors necessary to step it up," explained Cunningham. "We are in this sport because we love it, and we do it for the athletes, so we want to continue to grow the program, race in Europe and run the split squads necessary."

"However," Cunningham continues "in my business, forestry [Westlam is his family company], we are devastated right now by the rise in the Canadian dollar, the whole forestry industry is in a tough spot. We [Westlam] will survive, but right now we are unable to continue contributing cash like before."

This cash crunch comes at a particularly bad time, when other sponsors are withdrawing or facing similar issues. "Farm Pure Foods [who came on board as a sponsor in the middle of last season] is also in financial difficulty because they sell a lot to the U.S. - they are a quarter of a million dollar sponsor, so that threw us off our program. And our financial sponsor [Coast Capital, who it is believed contributed upwards of half the cash budget] is being very cautious with the current situation in the banking industry. The other thing we are dealing with out here is the [2010] Winter Olympics as a competitor for sponsorship. It's all about Vancouver out here, but we're very busy, very hopeful on the sponsorship front."

This has necessitated changes to the program from previous years. "The next six months are critical, so sponsorship has been affected for 2008. We need to be more cash efficient this season. If you want to know if we are at a pivotal time, yeah, we are. We have told the athletes that by mid-summer we will make a decision [about whether to continue]. If we don't find sponsors we can't hold the athletes back, and I'm not interested in running a team without the top riders."

The program has been streamlined, with the team only contesting selected major events - Redlands, Philly Week, Beauce, Nationals, BC Superweek, Tour of Utah and the Tour of Mexico. What about Tour de Georgia? "It's up in the air. It is on our program, but we haven't received an invite yet. They chase all the ProTour teams and let us know as the last two or three teams chosen"

"It's a good solid program, unlike last year, we're not getting on planes chasing UCI points for the CCA anymore; we spent a lot of money chasing UCI points last year."

"We have all of our riders under contract and being paid [all riders are returning, plus Ryan Anderson and Francois Parisien], we are just trying to run cheaper. We want to be creative in sponsorship, and try working similar to the Canadian Ski Team, with personalized sponsors per athlete; they have a different sponsor on each athlete's helmet."

Cunningham says that the focus will be on the top athletes, particularly those with Olympic aspirations - Cam Evans, Svein Tuft, Christian Meier and Zach Bell - so what does this mean for other riders on the squad; will there be racing for them?

"There is still lots of regional racing," he points out "the training and preparation races are still available, and we will work on the best roster for each race, which is no different than in the past."

However, Brandon Crichton, one of the 'non-Olympic' riders on the squad, who switched schools and moved west this winter, will be one of the riders left wondering how much racing time he will get. "There is no budget for running a double squad, so local racing is where it stands now. My hat's off to the [team] management; they've put in a hell of a lot of work in the last six months. But am I looking [at staying] inside the sport or outside - is this it for me?"

"This comes at a time when the season is starting, so it puts the motivation at an all time low. I've spoken with a bunch of people [teams], and I have ask myself do I continue racing or pack it in? That's where I am right now. I don't know what the future holds."

"I'm looking around for amateur teams who need someone and keeping my fingers crossed waiting for the phone to ring."

Cunningham is still confident that Symmetrics will be back on track. "This year is a bump in the road, and when you look at the number of days of racing, it's not that different from last year."

He also says that this may actually mean stronger performances for the team. "Last year Svein started in January at the Track World Cup, and he was worn out by June. When you are a clean athlete you have three to four good months, so we are trying to hold back this year. By the time we get to Philly, Svein will be really fresh, and I think that there is a really good chance that we could win Beauce this year. But the ironic thing is that we killed ourselves to get Canada three spots [at the Olympics for the men's road race], and there is a chance that we won't have a single rider selected because of regional politics at the CCA."

"This is the first time in five years that there has been any instability in the program," Cunningham points out. "It is no question that this is a pivotal time for the team right now if we can't get the sponsors, but it just takes one person, one sponsor. Am I nervous? Yeah, we've put six years of our lives into the program and I don't want to quit."

"We are not giving up, we're fighting like dogs."

www.BicyclePortland.net
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2008-03-10T21:42:00.000-07:00

Spitzer Caught Up in Prostitution Ring In NY, WTF?!

The man who promised to clean up the state of NY and its politics may not be so clean himself.
Check it here: AP Story.

I read an article about Spitzer a few years ago when he was the NY Attorney General. I will admit to thinking "this guy seems interesting, seems like he really wants to clean things up, etc."

At the end of the day it appears as if he is just another smug, self-righteous hypocrite. Disappointing really.

2008-03-09T22:31:00.000-07:00

You Have Got to Be Kidding Me:

This is from the race announcement for a road race here next weekend:
Category/ Start time/#of laps Prize List/Cash
Men's 1, 2/ 11:00 am / 7 laps/ $75 /3 deep
Men's 3/ 11:00 am / 6 laps/ $75 /3 deep
Master Men (35+)/ 11:00 am / 6 laps/ $60 /3 deep
Women's 1, 2, 3/ 8:30 am / 5 laps/ $50 /3 deep
Men's 4, 5/ 8:30 am / 4 laps/ No prize list
Women's 4/ 8:30 am / 3 laps/ No prize list
Entry Fee for all races: $20

Total Prize List: $260
$260 total, 6 categories, 2 of them with absolutely NO prize list. This is ridiculous.

Call me the East Coast guy who only races for money and you will be wrong. I have been racing for over a quarter of century and quite frankly I am not that good of a bike racer. If I raced for the money I would have quit a long time ago. I like riding my bike, a lot. And I like racing my bike. But with bullshit like this, I have to admit I am liking it less and less. My bitch is the entry fee-prize list ratio. I will say it again, I think promoters should make money, I do. I don't put races on for free. I charge a fee. But what I do is enter it as a line item in the race budget and then our event management company gets adequate sponsorship to cover the prize list and all of the race expenses, including my fee. If we put on a race with a total prize list of $7500 (which we have) we try to raise at least twice that amount of money (which we typically do). That way, we keep the entry fees a reasonable amount for our customers: the riders. And where do those entry fees go if we raise enough money to cover the budget? They cover any of the short falls that we might run into after we get the champagne for the winners, the trophies, the ribbons for all of the participants in the kid's races, pay the podium girls, print the giant check for the winner of the main event, get lunch for our volunteers, pay our officials, our timer, our announcer, etc. Then any money left over, we give some to our local junior development club and put the rest in the bank to help us put on the next race. Do we always cover our all of our expenses and have a profit? Not all the time. Just most of the time.

I have lived here exactly 5 years this summer. I moved here with no established network and was approached by a local businessman to help put on some bike races because of my years of experience in the sport. We formed a LLC and within 2 years we were putting on the richest prize list crits in the area. How was this possible? We worked at it. We put together a sponsorship proposal, we arranged some meetings, we cashed the checks and then we put on some damn good bike races. And they weren't out in the middle of nowhere either, they were in town centers.

Bottom line, there are too many race promoters out there who make their money off of the riders and give little in return. My advice to those promoters: do some work other than the day of the race. Raise some money from some sponsors, it's not that hard. Then use some of that money to pay out a prize list that is reasonable for what you are charging in entries. Your customers, the riders, will thank you for it.

And quit putting on bush-league races like this.

2008-03-07T13:47:00.000-08:00

WHAT PART OF PRO CYCLING TEAM AM I MISSING HERE?

A press release that appeared in Cyclingnews the other day:

Richmond gets new pro cycling team
Richmond, Virginia, USA, has become home to a new professional cycling team. Working in conjunction with the non-profit People Cycle, the team, previously named Team Natures Path, will be branded Richmond Pro Cycling fueled by Natures Path (RPC).
The team's approach has drawn many community contributors, helping to create a sustainable organization whose mission is based on individual and community development, as well race results. As team founder and manager Craig Dodson said, "The next generation's leaders need to start somewhere. This team is about building good people on the bike, and then using them to help build strong communities off the bike."
In addition to its community work, the team will be represented at more than 80 events, including the USA Crit Series. As one of the leading U.S. amateur squads since 2005, RPC has taken a calculated path to the pro ranks. Returning to the team will be rider-manager Craig Dodson, former kilo-National Champion and Pan-Am Games athlete Gerardo Castro, top-10 finisher at U.S. Elite nationals, Paul Ward. Adding to the roster this year are Jeff Buckles, Stephen DeLisle, Ryan Mele, and most notably, Esteban Jukich. With podium finishes at several NRC races across the U.S. and internationally, Jukich brings to the team added criterium and road muscle.
The team will officially kick off their 2008 season with a four-day team camp from March 20-23, in Richmond, VA. Unlike most teams, including many U.S. Pro Teams, RPC has a dedicated support system for riders, including health insurance, paid housing, and a medical staff.
Team Roster: Jeffery Buckles (US, 21), Gerardo Castro (UY, 29), Stephen Delisle (US, 19), Craig Dodson (US, 29), Esteban Jukich (UY, 25), Ryan Mele (US, 24), Paul Ward (US, 24).

Now here is the list of the registered 2008 UCI Continental teams in the US:
BPC
BISSELL PRO CYCLING
USA

COL
COLAVITA / SUTTER HOME PRESENTED BY COOKING LIGHT
USA

DLP
DLP RACING
USA

HNM
HEALTH NET PRESENTED BY MAXXIS
USA

JBC
JELLY BELLY CYCLING TEAM
USA

KBM
KELLY BENEFIT STRATEGIES / MEDIFAST
USA

RAP
RITE AID PRO CYCLING
USA

RRC
ROCK RACING
USA

SLP
SUCCESSFULLIVING.COM PRESENTED BY PARKPRE
USA

TT1
TEAM TYPE 1
USA

JIT
THE JITTERY JOE'S PRO CYCLING TEAM
USA

TPC
TIME PRO CYCLING
USA

AEG
TOSHIBA-SANTO PRO CYCLING PRESENTED BY HERBALIFE
USA

TUP
TOYOTA - UNITED PRO CYCLING TEAM
USA

Funny, I don't see this team listed. Maybe it is a Pro-Tour team. Is this guy kidding? I mean, does he not realize that there are guys like me just waiting to pounce on bullshit artists like this? A guy affiliated with this team came by a booth at Interbike 2 years ago with sponsorship packet in hand talking about what a kick-ass "Pro-Am" Cycling team they had. Pro-Am? He was calling his team "Pro-Am", at Interbike? I can see maybe using that type of language if you are trying to get sponsorship from your local business that does not know much about cycling, but talking like that at Interbike, and then sending that press release to Cyclingnews? Are you kidding me?

Tool.

2008-03-05T10:03:00.000-08:00

AND WHAT'S UP WITH THE DI LUCA CASE?

The Italian Olympic Committe is seeking a two year ban of Di Luca because it is speculating he did something wrong? WTF?!

2008-03-05T09:32:00.000-08:00

WHY CAN'T THEY ALL JUST GET ALONG?

This author feels that the pissing match between the UCI and certain race organizers needs to come to an end and that the rider's union needs to grow a set or else cycling is going to continue to be in a state of turmoil that will scare even the most cycling friendly sponsors away.

The UCI decides now is the time to play hardball with race organizers and threatens the riders who opt to participate in next week's Paris-Nice? The lesson in all this? Once again, it is the riders who are getting screwed. Where was the UCI when Unibet was getting the shaft last year? Their lack of action kept a registered Pro-Tour Team, Unibet, out of most of the Pro-Tour races last year and emboldened race organizers who have now taken that inch given and gone way more than a mile.

The riders/ teams also have themselves to blame in all of this as it seems their union is one in name only since it did nothing to come to the assistance of Unibet last year or Astana this year. Granted, the riders/ teams have to act in the best interests of their sponsors but at some point they need to take a stand and say enough is enough!

Get up to speed here:
Velonews
Cyclingnews

2008-03-04T10:42:00.000-08:00

SIX DAY RACING IN VEGAS!!

This is going to be fantastic! Six day bike racing in Vegas during the bike show! Downtown Brown and I are going to get our Madison swerve on....because I expect a call from Simes at any minute. Bruno Risi? Who's that when you have Downtown Gary Brown and the Buckeye!

2008-03-03T09:28:00.000-08:00

Not A Bad Start

The first Mason Lake race was this past Saturday and it was a pretty good start to the season. Although there were some isolated showers in the area, none of them came our way. The Pro1-2 field was a good size with everyone there sporting their new team kits for 2008. BRI was no exception as we started out with 9 total guys, 4 of them new to the squad for this year.

I am typically a slow starter, especially in a road race and Mason Lake usually provides at least a little bit of clowning around catch up time with faces you have not seen since last season. Not this time though as I found myself covering a move that had no BRI representation in it 6 miles into the race. Next thing I knew I was going through and off with 6 other guys and by the time we crossed the finish line by the end of the first lap we had 2 minutes. WTF?

The eventual group of 6 (we popped 1 after a lap) stayed together until a little over a lap to go when the fireworks started going off. Shawn Ongers of Axley ended up being a deserving winner (when he countered with the winning move my immediate thought was "oh, that doesn't look good"- let's just say he attacked with authority), Chris Teufel was 2nd, Mike Hone was 3rd and yours truly was 4th. Hone and I just stayed away from a chase group who almost got us in our slow crawl to the finish (the last 12 miles were interminable).

New BRI team member Chris Torgeson ended up rolling across the finish in the chase group in 6th.

Nice.

2008-02-28T23:12:00.000-08:00

This is a great story from T o C right here: Slowtwitch.com

2008-02-27T11:33:00.000-08:00

Figures:

Saturday: Rain. Highs in the upper 40s and lows in the upper 30s.-from Weather.com

After being blessed with some of the nicest weather in the country for the past few weeks, the rain comes back on Saturday just in time for the first race of the season. To top it off, the high will be the lowest it has been in awhile also.

Add to that, it is Mason Lake, a race with no prize list and a $20 entry fee and it will have some of the biggest fields that this area will see all year. Bigger than any of my races which have the biggest prize lists in the area and are held in July and August when the weather is at its best.

I really don't understand the mentality around here.

Best of all, my dumb ass will probably be out there with all the other morons. WTF?!

2008-02-25T12:42:00.000-08:00

NICE.

Sonye, upstanding whistle blower or snitch violating confidentiality?
(Velonews.com: Soigneur claims Leogrande confessed to doping)

Stolen Underground spills the beans: (Link)

Opinions please.

2008-02-24T11:04:00.001-08:00

BIKE PORN:

Check out the latest models from Seigler Sports:

Seigler Sports traveling road show, coming to a town near you:

SAR w. integrated seat mast and super stiff bottom bracket shell design:

CCR, what I & the boys on BRI will be racing on in 2008.

The curved top tube and rear stays make this one stiff machine:

STR, aero seat collar and post:

SCTT, speed machine for the race of truth:

Need more bike porn? Check all the latest sexy images here:

Seigler Sports Image Gallery

Or, go to the website:

Seigler Sports

Just remember, with porn like this, you might need some time alone.

2008-02-20T10:29:00.000-08:00

Cipo Gives Me Props

All this talk of Cipo has prompted me to tell my story of my own brush with the Italian slicked-backed haired speedster.

It was at the Vegas show last year as I was riding on the Strip on my way to do the Industry Cup Race. Seigler was the official bike of the Komen Foundation in 2007 and we were continuing with the breast cancer awareness theme into 2008. As a result, I was on one of our "Passionately Pink" ALR bikes and sporting a full pink kit made courtesy of Champion Systems.

So, you get the picture clearly: me, riding a pink bike, in a pink kit, on the Strip in Vegas, at night.

I was at a red light when up on both sides of me I see 2 bikes roll up. I look to my left and see...Massimo Lelli. I look to my right and see...Mario Cipollini. The conversation that ensued went something like this:

Cipo: "You going to the bike race?"
Me: "Yeah, I'm going to the bike race. (slight pause)...You going to the bike race?"
Cipo: "Yes. We don't know where it is. Can we ride with you?"
Me: (slight hesitation as I put on the air of thinking about this question)...."Yeah, you can ride out with me. I'm Joe" as I offer my hand to shake.
Cipo: "Thanks, I am Mario"
(thought in my head at this point: "no shit you're Mario, you're Mario friggin' Cipollini!"

So we roll on down the Strip and get caught at another red light. Again, picture: me in pink kit on pink bike, and 2 Italians, one of whom is the pimpest pimp daddy speedster of all. Oh yeah....and not a helmet on between us.

As we are sitting at the light, all of a sudden a female friend of mine who was helping us at our booth suddenly appears from the sidewalk, practically pushes Cipo out the way without even giving him a second glance, grabs me in a hug, tells me good luck and then sprints back onto the sidewalk to continue running out to the race. Now, this friend of mine, let's just say she is easy on the eyes.....VERY easy on the eyes. And to top it off, she was wearing short running shorts and a sports bra. Get the picture?

As my friend runs off out of sight, Mario looks at me, raises his eyebrow....and gives me the thumbs up.

My response to him: "I have no idea who that was, but that happens to me all the time."

And off we ride down the Strip.

2008-02-19T10:13:00.000-08:00

T of C

Just a few bullet points on this for now:

First off, let's hear it for local Seattle product Tyler Farrar who was at the top of the leader board for the prologue all the way until the really, really big guns began to fire (and who has a bigger prologue gun right now than Cancellara?)
How about Rock Racing's Mike Ball playing chicken with AEG and blinking first? Seriously though, I have to agree with him in principle. I think it is BS that just because someone is "under investigation" (whatever that means) then they can't continue to race. Granted, it has seemed to play out that where there is smoke, there is fire, but until we start seeing the flames, let them race. Besides, hasn't Hamilton done his time on this already?
More Rock Racing, one word: Cipo. Can he win a stage in this year's T of C? I say no. Too many other good sprinters in the race and Cipo always had to win from a train. I don't think Rock Racing has that train. Especially not with only 4 other guys on the team (rumor has it that number will be down to 3 when today starts).
Who has the worst new kit of the 2008 T of C? I think it is a definite battle between High Road and BMC. My vote goes to BMC. I mean, come on, when Jackson Stewart was off the front in Monday's coverage I was thinking, why are they showing this Fred in the plain white jersey and black shorts off the front? Isn't the whole point of sponsoring a team to actually advertise? I had no idea who Stewart raced for at least half the time they were showing him off the front and my memory was failing me until Phil, Paul and Bob said he was on BMC. Man those are some terrible kits.

Chime in all. I know I have been gone for a time but tell all your friends I am back in the blogging saddle again. It's bike racing time again which means bloggin and talking shit.

2008-02-17T10:11:00.000-08:00

IT'S OVER!

The writers' strike that is. After holding the line out there with all of my fellow writers, the union tells me it's ok to put pen to paper (or keystroke to hard drive). So, after a long hiatus, I am back. Hell, I might even have something interesting to write about.

2007-12-22T12:17:00.000-08:00

THE OAKLAND RAIDERS OF CYCLING?

"Tyler Hamilton signs with Rock Racing"
"If you look at the team across the board, with bringing on the riders from last year, where a lot of people wouldn't have given them a shot, or had kind of written them off, it's similar, but we're kind of taking it to another level. We've elevated it, but we're still the underdog, we're still the outcasts. We're still the misfits, if you will." -Mike Ball, Rock Racing
"Throughout the years, Al Davis has looked around the league and brought in misfits and outcasts from other teams. What he saw in these misfits is the fact that they still had the desire and ability to play great football. " -from CBS Sports Community

2007-12-17T23:41:00.000-08:00

Hubris

"hu-bris" [noun] excessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance

"In many myths, mortals who display arrogance and hubris end up learning, in quite brutal ways, the folly of this overexertion of ego. The Greek concept of hubris refers to the overweening pride of humans who hold themselves up as equals to the gods. Hubris is one of the worst traits one can exhibit in the world of ancient Greece and invariably brings the worst kind of destruction." -from the Mythology Study Guide by Edith Hamilton

Why all this discussion on hubris you ask? Well my kind reader, click here: Hubris

2007-12-13T22:03:00.000-08:00

NEED ANOTHER ASTERISK?

Anyone who wants to put an asterisk by Barry Bonds' home run record keep this in mind, Bonds may have been juiced up when hitting all those baseballs out of the park but now what everyone was thinking appears to have some weight behind it, so were the pitchers he was hitting against. Roger Clemens, Mr. Ageless Seven Time Cy Young Award winner was named in the Mitchell Report as having partaken in steroids and HGH as well. (Wetzel Column, Yahoo Sports)

I wonder if we can just call it all even now.

2007-12-10T22:42:00.000-08:00

Evel Knievel, R.I.P.

I couldn't believe when I read the news in the paper, Evel Knievel was dead. The greatest daredevil the world has ever known died, not in a fiery ball of flame but of a rather mundane illness typically earmarked for more mortal types.

I grew up in the 70's when Evel was a brand in of himself. On that topic check this post out:
The Last Gladiator Passes

I can still remember going to an elementary school friend's to play and anxiously awaiting my turn to send his Evel Knievel stunt cycle tearing off the launching ramp and up and over whatever we had assembled on the floor. Or the countless hours spent riding my Schwinn Stingray Fastback over our makeshift ramp set up in the driveway imagining that I was Evel.

Evel Knievel was one of a kind. RIP Evel.

2007-12-10T11:40:00.000-08:00

CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY:

A big thanks to Old as Dirt who sent me one of the best things ever last week in preparation for the big Steelers-Patriots game (which turned out not so big, more on that later). I anxiously tore open the UPS delivered package to find this:

That's right, my very own Steelers hard hat for game day. Nice.

OAD requested a picture with me wearing it so he had "proof that I got you to wear a helmet".

Well, game day came and once again I had reason to hate the Seachickens, or more importantly, that I lived in an NFL city that was not Pittsburgh. Why you ask? Because the NFL has some stupid licensing agreement that dictates that if a team is playing at home then no other games can be televised on the local affiliate. So that meant that even though we pay a bajillion dollars for our cable, I was stuck with the stupid Chicken Hawks versus the Cardinals. Ugh. The worst was when I was watching the NFL pre-game on CBS and at the end when they went to their scheduled televised game they made a point of taunting me, "...and later, most of you will be watching the marquee game of the day between the Steelers and Patriots". Aaaarrghh!!!

Being resourceful though I resorted to old school meets new school by finding the game on an online streaming CBS radio station and hooked it up through my stereo:

After the first quarter I went very old school and took my lady's Walkman and listened to AM 950 in between trees blocking the signal on my ride. The last time I listened to a game on AM radio whilst on a ride I didn't like the outcome of that either. It was November 25, 1995. I know the date exactly because it was when #2 and unbeaten Ohio State with standout players like eventual Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George, Mike Vrable, Shawn Springs, Terry Glenn and Orlando Pace played the 8 and 3 Wolverines in Ann Arbor. It was the day that Wolverine running back Tim Biakabutuka ran all over the Buckeyes, finishing the game with 313 yards and a Michigan upset over the Buckeyes.

The lesson in all of this: no more listening to games that I care about the outcome on a ride. Superstitious? You bet.

2007-12-07T18:18:00.000-08:00

THE UPDATE:

I have once again been lame and not updated this thing in some time. I guess being busy will do that to you. Not that I have had a lack of topics to blog on, just a lack of time. I will try to hit the highlights to catch up.

OSU 14, That team from up north 3

For the 6th time in the last 7 years, The Ohio State Buckeyes handed the Wolverines a defeat. The maize and blue were unable to send out Loyd Carr with a victory over the sweater vest.

STATE CROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS:

We had a great turn out at the Fairgrounds Cross Classic/ Washington State Championships back on Nov. 18. We had close to 200, not quite what the Series has been getting every weekend, but considering that we had 28 total last year, I would say it was a success. BRI went 1-2 in the men's main event. And then there was G. Brown. Let's just say, at least he beat one guy.

LA BOUND:

The very next day after the cross race, I flew to Los Angeles. Business trip. Don't laugh, it's true. Seigler sponsored the SBW Elite Women's team in 2007 with our Komen for the Cure Bikes and they were having an open house. I met up with them and some other clubs down there to see about 2008. Oh yeah, I took my bike too. Sunshine, shorts and short sleeve jersey, sunscreen, Ipod, and 2 great rides along PCH and up some climbs in the Santa Monicas. I did Mulholland on Tuesday and Latigo on Wednesday. Half of Wednesday's ride was on the bike path along the beach. I got to see stuff like this:

That's right, it's a beach volleyball game....with girls in bikinis. This was the day before Thanksgiving. I had a lot to be thankful for.

THE IDIOT TAX:

Yeah, I had a lot to be thankful for. Until the next day that is, when I went downstairs from where I was staying to get into my rental car, which had my bike box with bike inside of it, to drive to the airport. Only to discover....the rental car was no where to be seen. Nowhere, zip, zilch, nada, gone. You know that sinking feeling you hear about? I got it. I didn't like it. Especially not at 8 am in the morning, before I had any coffee. I called the Redondo Beach Police and told them my car was missing. They had no record of a car getting towed from that street. That meant the car was stolen. Fantastic. I did not pop for the extra rental car insurance either. This was going to suck. A lot. There was a guy out front drinking coffee. I talked really loud on the phone to my lady hoping he would eavesdrop and maybe be able to tell me something. He did, said his daughter told him a car got towed last night. Right then, the Redondo Police called me back. Turns out my car did get towed. Apparently when I parked the car the night before I had inadvertently put part of the car in front of a driveway. So they towed it. Says something about your day when the good news is that your car got towed. Well, a cab ride and $275 later I got my rental car out of the tow lot. I got to pay the idiot tax, because I was an idiot. That left me little time to get to the airport in time for my flight. I had to speed, very fast. My day would be complete if I got a speeding ticket. I didn't. And I made my flight....because it was 1 hour late. Happy Thanksgiving.

THE DELUGE

What the hell was up with the weather this week? It rained over 10 inches in a 24 hour period over here. I think I saw animals assembling in pairs. Why couldn't it be snow, at least then there would be some fun to be had after it was all finished. One of my routes out of town is no more because there is a giant SUV swallowing sink hole where the road used to be. My basement got extra wet. No standing water though, just a few more damp seepage spots. We were lucky by the sounds of it. The next day the winds came. I was preparing for another power outage like we had the month before where I had to resort to this to get my morning java fix (I like my coffee):

BUCKEYES!!!

(and more importantly: PITT! and SOONERS!)

Yep, the improbable (or impossible) happened and the Buckeyes are playing for the National Championship against LSU. After their loss to Illinois (at home), my thoughts were that they did not deserve to play for a national championship. No one, including myself, really thought the Buckeyes would be towards the top of the rankings when the season started and they were ranked 11th after losing a number of last year's team to the NFL in 2007. Well, the regular season is over, and they are ranked number 1 and will be playing for the National Championship against LSU. Now, I don't want to hear about how they only got in because of their weak schedule or any of that other BS. According to the guidelines set out by the BCS, the Buckeyes are currently ranked number 1. I am happy they are playing LSU too because I am sick and tired about hearing about friggin' LSU and how great they are and how they are undefeated in regulation. The last time I looked, if you were tied in regulation, you went into overtime, whoever had the most points at the end of the overtimes got 1 marked in the "W" column, the other team got 1 marked in the "L" column. I believe LSU has 2 marked in the "L" column. Buckeyes, they have 1 there. Bottom line: Buckeyes are playing for the National Championship for the second year in a row and for the 3rd time since the BCS started.

Go Buckeyes!!!

2007-11-16T09:19:00.000-08:00

THAT'S RIGHT, THE MOST MASSIVE THING IN THE UNIVERSE: HOLMES BABY!

2007-11-15T23:18:00.000-08:00

SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY.

Come to the Kitsap County Fairgrounds for some fun in the mud. That's right, it's the 2nd annual Fairgrounds Cross Classic, a.k.a. The Washington State Cyclocross Championships. The course is fantastic, you have my personal guarantee. Be there!

2007-11-15T11:03:00.000-08:00

APPARENTLY I THOUGHT I WAS TURNING 21

This past Sunday was my 40th birthday and my lady decided to throw me a little birthday cocktail party on Saturday to mark the occasion. Many cocktails and fun were had by all. Some more than others. Especially me. I was in bed until 3 PM on Sunday. Maturity at its finest. Someone should have hidden the aged Kentucky bourbon. Nice one.

A big thanks to all who came, it was fun....what I remember of it.

2007-11-13T23:29:00.001-08:00

It's That Time of Year Again

The Ohio State University versus that team from up north.

Yes, the Buckeyes lost last week at home to Illinois (WTF?!), all will be better with a win this Saturday.

If you want to know what the fuss is all about with this greatest of sports rivalries, check out the documentary showing on HBO this week called The Rivalry. It might explain why I get a little nuts this time of year...like a Buckeye.

2007-11-09T10:41:00.000-08:00

THEY SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED

"Health Net had sought to keep the documents secret...arguing that they contained proprietary information and could embarrass the company."

The above quote from this article pulled from the LA Times describing how Health Net tied company bonuses to how many individual policies were dropped and how much money was saved.

The is reason number 837 why I have so much contempt for the insurance industry. Makes me want to burn all my Health Net Cycling paraphernalia.

Oh wait, I don't have any. Phew.

2007-11-06T20:17:00.000-08:00

Yeah, what he said:

Check this Wetzel column in Yahoo Sports.

2007-11-06T10:01:00.000-08:00

Grrrr.....

Anyone who is on the NWCycling email list has probably already seen this. "Peter McKay Post"

If you haven't, click on it and read, prepare to get mad. It is making me angry, very angry. Dipshit motorists better be on alert when I go ride my bike today. Don't cross me, not today. You have been warned.

Anyone who rides a lot with me knows that I have a hair trigger 97% of the time in response to hillybilly, red-neck, ignorant, dipshit motorists. I don't take any shit from anyone. I know the zen, passive way is to turn the other cheek, say a mantra, etc. when someone in a car does something stupid. Sometimes though you need to just say "f*%k that".

I took a beer bottle to the face from a car going in the opposite direction when I was 18 years old riding to a club race. 20 stitches, 22 years and 2 detached retina surgeries later and I still get pissed. This guy's incident is just like mine, arguably worse.

I am really pissed right now. F*#kers.

2007-11-05T22:43:00.000-08:00

"Are you in heaven now?"

Those were the words uttered by my lady in the first half of the Monday Night Football game as the Steelers were up by 21 to 0 against the dreaded Old Browns (i.e. The Ravens) and Terry Bradshaw was being interviewed in the booth.

My answer: "Hell yeah I am in heaven".

It was fantastic. The Steelers demolished the Ravens 38-7 and the 75th anniversary team was introduced at half-time. Steeler greats Stallworth, Swann, Blount and Bradshaw were all interviewed, the 70's Steeler dynasty team was talked about over and over again, and the present day Steelers were killing a hated division rival.

I would say, my birthday came a few days early.

Again, fantastic.

2007-11-05T10:29:00.000-08:00

BROWNS 33/ SEACHICKENS 30

A ha ha ha ha ha.........

I was a little torn going into this game yesterday as to who to root for since the Browns are in the same division as the Steelers.

In the end, my disdain for the Chickens of the Sea won out over divisional concerns.

2007-11-01T11:01:00.000-07:00

WSBA PROMOTER MEETING

This Saturday is the Washington State Bicycle Association annual promoter meeting where those of us who put on bike races get together, pick dates for our events and talk about the general state of competitive cycling in the state of Washington.

I and the folks at Ridge Racing have 4 road events that we are looking to put on next year:

The Whale of a Crit in Silverdale, probably on July 27
The Kirkland Twilight Crit, a new event that Dave Visintainer and I have been working on since this August. Look for a big money crit in downtown Kirkland on August 2
The Blackberry Crit in Bremerton, the race that started it all for Ridge Racing, this edition will be the 4th one. Look for another $5000 Pro 1-2 men's purse
The Winslow Criterium on Bainbridge Island, another new race for Ridge Racing. Some business owners on the Island approached me last year about this event but it did not come to fruition in 2007. The same businessmen plus a few more approached me again for 2008 and I am cautiously optimistic that it will actually happen in 2008 the day after Blackberry. That's right, a 2 day Labor Day Weekend Race Series with some good money both days.

So, what else should be discussed at the meeting? Chime in, you know that I have my opinion, what are yours?

Some things I think that should be discussed: prize money-entry fee ratio for sure; the crazed enforcement of riders wearing all 87 WSBA numbers at races. That's all I have for now.

2007-10-30T23:40:00.000-07:00