Central Valley is in the bag.

I just got back to Durango today, about 3 hours ago. Got off the airplane at 1:00 and went straight to my 2:00 class. Actually one of my professors was on the flight back from the Caribean. He looked like he had a better time than his students, maybe hitting the cans a little to hard there in the sunshine. I am going to take the old GT stead out for one last recovery ride to get the toxins out of me.

The last stage of Central Valley was uneventful. I don't know what it is about that course, but I couldn't do a damn thing on it yesterday. I kept hearing on the radio about my teammates up the road attacking covering moves, and I could barely keep the legs going. I was trying hard to get up there to the front, but being a bit rusty and not having the crit legs, I was a little weak to do anything. Towards the end of the crit I actually started to feel better and was moving up during the last three laps, but still, nothing for the teammates. I felt like an idiot. I like to do my job, and yesteday, I may as well have been out of the office for the day. All I did was ride around in circles. I didn't ever think about pulling the plug. I kept trying to get up there to help. It just wasn't happening.

My teammates where disapointed in me to say the least. I felt like I let them down, and I left them with a bad first impression at the first race of the season with them. That is not something I wanted to do at all. I just don't have any speed right now, the power at Threshold sucks, and my race tactics were not good. I am disapointed. Willo was pissed, rightfully so, for he and Shirley were doing a lot of the early work. So, it was rough to leave Fresno on a bad note.

I am hitting the TT bike the next two days. It is important that I find a good position where I can actually put out some power on the bike. I should have my training bike here soon, hopefully. Well, I have to go out for a spin to get the flight legs out of me. It is nice in Durango now, almost 70 degrees, just windy. Spring!

Wasted!

This wino tried to give Willo a beer in this photo. They were messing with the guy. He thought the Aussies were cops because of the Aussie accent. Then he started talking like a pirate. Arrg matie! We was a wierd guy and sat down on the bench next to us talking to himself. Willo asked him "what time did you start hitting the cans today, and did you put it in your cereal?" The poor old tymer kept getting all crazy about Kangaroos in Australia. He said "Oh Australia, you have Kangaroos there huh?" Willo said "Yes, and we have tooth brushes to mate", because the old guy had no teeth. Every person that walked out of the store by the bench, the old guy kept saying, Aaarg Matie!

So I crept pretty slow in the TT today. It took me 5k to figure out where to sit on my tt bike. I have to ride that thing somemore. I am looking foreword to the crit tomorrow believe it or not. I am not a huge crit fan, but I am enjoying being back in the racing groove and it is going to be tough to head back to school on Monday. I fly into Durango and go straight to class. Then hit the homework pretty hard for a couple weeks and back out to Cali for Redlands. I should be going pretty descent by Redlands, then hopefully off to Tour de Georgia. Just have to make the cut. It is a tough cut to make.

I was talking to the mechanic tonight about yesteday when I had the mechanical. I was motor pacing back onto the group at 54mph. No wonder I was cracked when we hit the climb again. Just don't have that engine yet.

Mobile update, Post time trial.

Mobile update, Post time trial. I rode like shit today. No excuses, just need some serious tt work. First 5k was epic, after that i went o.k.

Fresno Day 1: I blew up!

Today was the first race of the season. I could definitely tell. It was a rolling course with some good climbing in it and a couple long fast descents. The team rode very well and we were in every move. The one move that would have gone with Trent Wilson, or the man they call Willow, we brought back as a team pretty quickly. We had to bring it back because once Trent had to go back to the car for bike trouble, we had no one in the break. I actually felt really strong for the first race of the season, but the power and race legs just weren't there today.

On the second lap after we pulled the move back I launched an attack at the bottom of a climb. I looked back and no one was there, then Colovita's Davide Fratini had bridged. I thought it would get brought back right away and I was suffering like a dog. Tim Johnson from Health net bridged across next. Tim is the best rider in the country right now so I thought it might actually stick. Soon there were about 15 guys in the lead break. Here I was launching an attack thinking it might help send one of my teammates once it got brought back. With less than one lap to go we go caught at the base of the long climb. Just before the catch some strong guys, Tim Johnson and Chris Baldwin attacked. I went with them but that was the dagger. We soon got caught by the field and I went right out the back door. It was all I could do to drag myself the last 20 miles to the finish line. The teammates did well though, Cesar is in 7th, Trent is in there and Tommy Nankervis (Nanny) is in the top group as well.

The race is still up for grabs tomorrow as the Time Trial is up next. I guesse that Cesar can throw down a good time trial. Hope to have a descent day myself, you never know with early season form though. More tomorrow.

Off toFresno........ The Central Valley

Off toFresno........
The Central Valley Classic starts tomorrow with the Road race. I guess there is a 5 mile climb per lap, rip into it!

Landis

I sent this photo during the ride the other day, but for some reason it didn't post. Floyd is a nice guy, not cocky, Hip is doing good he said.

San Dego Camp!

How ya going mate!

Jeff Hopkins putting out the Aussie vibe on the coast today. Hoppy is a former Worl Champion in the Kilo on the track. He tried to take me in the kom sprint. I let him have it. Rest days tomorrow, the Aussies are a rowdy bunch.

California Sunset.

I am loving the mobile uptades. Look for mor on the training ride tomorrow. I forot to mention. OLN, now Versus is here and they have been filming all week for a documentury to air during the
Tour de France on Jittery Joe's . Pretty cool. Thanks for stopping in.

Mobile update!

Checking to see if the mobile update is working. Today we rode down on the 101 along the coast. Unreal gorgeous! The ocean is incredibly beautiful and the beachesare nice. It was a bit windy today, so according to the Aussies on the team, the surfing wasn't looking so good. It is so nice here. Another note, I will be racing in Fresno next weekend at the Central Valley Classic. Am I ready, not quite but there is only one way to get ready I guesse. Go Kart racing at a serious track tonight. These things are for real. I am just livin the dream.

Another day at camp.

Beautiful weather again in San Diego. 125 miles yesterday. Riding with Floy Landis tomorrow. Will be good to base an impression of meeting Floyd and talking to him ather than all the media, negative press. More later.

I am trying to get

I am trying to get my mobile blogging going, should have some photos and updates live during camp. Be patient. Thanks.

Empty Message

Empty Message

Burning Chad

I won't be able to make it because of training camp, but it looks like a blast! Chad Cheeny is getting hitched. Burning Chad is his bachelor party down in Sedona. Should be a great time for all. Chad's last stand as a free man.

Moab always delivers

Rise and shine campers, don't forget your booties because it's cold out there!
Drop it like it's hot! Why is my tongue out?
Turned out to be a little more snow than expected on Porcupine Rim

Moab always delivers some kind of adventure. Last year I didn't get to ride my mountain bike that much. Going to Moab was definitely a test of the skills that I once had on the mountain bike. It was great to get back to my roots for the weekend and ride some epic classic mountain bike rides in Moab.

When we left on Friday it was dumping snow in Durango. About 12 miles out of Moab we ended up hitting some serious white out conditions. We couldn't see 10 feet in front of us and the roads were covered with snow. My brother and I thought for sure we would be turning right around and heading back. We woke up to snow.

We decided to roll into town from out camp at Behind the Rocks and get a cup of coffee. The sun came out blazing and there was no snow on the North end of town. We hit up a new ride on the way out to Sovereign trail and also some new trail to get out there called Bar M loop. It turned out to be a great ride and the sun was shining the whole time.

After the best sleep I have had in months in the Westy V-W, we hit it early today to get back to Durango at a good time. Zach and I decided to go for Porcupine Rim which we knew would be a little snowy and epic near the top in the shade of the North faces. Our approach was different as we took a new trail out on Sand Flats called Fin's N things. It turned out to be an awesome jeep trail that puts you right into the Porcupine Rim trail. The descent was a little hairy. Not only is Moab famous for very technical riding, dropping steep ledges with ice and snow was a bit more trying. My skills were a little off at first. When I came up to my first ledge, all of about 6 inches, I totally puckered and hit the brakes. Finally I got myself to get up the courage to drop the little ledge. It felt like I was base jumping or something, serious pucker factor!

I have two days of training in Durango and then I am off to San Diego for camp and to meet the team. I have been looking foreword to this coming week since I signed with Jittery Joe's. My future awaits me and I get a taste week of what is to come. Hopefully I also get a taste of some dang good coffee from Jittery.

Going for some Dirt!

I did a ride yesterday that I haven't done in years with Troy Wells and Adam Snyder. Picked a couple of goof balls to ride with for the day and it was great. 55 degrees yesterday and today it is supposed to rain and snow. We did the Cherry Springs ride out on Red Mesa, a good dirt road ride that was pretty much dry for the most part.

The weather is supposed to be back to normal wintery conditions today with rain and snow. Tomorrow it is going to snow some more and Sunday it will be descent weather. I am going to bail out of town and head for Moab. Now is a good time to hit the dirt since it helps build good power, will be different than riding the same rides in Durango and the weather is always better in Moab this time of year. I will be going with just my brother so I won' have any dead weight to haul around this year like my roommate Raley in years past. Should have some pictures from the weekend.

Alright, gotta get out there before the wintery mix starts up. It is already clouding up and supposed to get crappy, I am outta here!

Wintery Mix

First of I have to say something about the controversial stage one finish at the Tour of California. Something shady is going on??I can't believe they neutralized the race because of a crash so far from the finish. Crashes like that happen all the time. That is racing road racing when it gets hectic near the finish. Crashes in bigger races have happened just outside of 3K in huge races and were not neutralized. It seems a little shady. The fact that Levi was not in the yellow in his home state and the fact that a non pro tour team would be leading the race. I don't know if that is what it was, but it seems shady and I don't understand? Am I missing something? I feel bad for Ben Jaques Maines, a strong racer who should be in the jersey in my opinion. Levi is strong enough and his team is excellent a riding at the front and would have no problem getting the lead back. Strange decision I think?

The other day on my ride I got a taste of everything. Before I headed out I checked the weather and it said "Wintry Mix". I was wondering what a Wintery Mix was as I was riding in pure sunshine and 40 degrees. It didn't take long to find out that it was a taste of everything mother nature can throw at you. One minute the sun is shining and the next there was snow. Shortly after that it was pouring rain and 38 degrees. The wind picked up and the rain switched to sleet and then groppel. As I decided to cut the ride short and avoid Hypothermia and head back to the house the sun came back out. Toward the end of the ride there was lightning and thunder in town. Crazy weather.

I am starting to get bored with the training in Durango. I have been putting in allot of miles this year and hitting allot of the same roads. It has been pretty wet and the dirt roads have been kind of off limits because of the mud, unless you are Troy Wells the Thrasher who will ride anything on any bike even if it ruins it. Anyway, I have been having a hard time mixing it up lately and I am ready to get to some new riding in Southern California for a little change. Then I will be refreshed on the Durango training. Allot of it has to do with loggin miles in the cold. It is finally getting to me and I thought I would never be over the rides. When the dirt roads are bad, it is kind of hard to mix it up. They should be good tomorrow though, heading south and it is supposed to be 53. Finally!

As for the training, I have been hitting some transition this week an did a few short Threshold efforts today. I don't want to be to far of the back at team camp next week and it is time to start hitting it to get ready for Redlands which will be a stepping stone for Georgia. I do feel strong this year. Whish is great.

I killed my Midterm today. Now I am going to make a great dinner and finish up some work, maybe head to Moab for some MTB action if the weather is bad here. Will be fun to hit the dirt. More later!

Throwdown Session!

Today was the first little test of the season as I hit up the annual Sunday ,Durango showdown throwdown. I am starting to dabble into the suffering a little. I am always dragging a tad coming out of base and today hurt. It was a beautiful day and the warmer temps are starting to show.

The group left from Bread and kept it neutral over the top of Edgemont. The usual route to Vallecito and back. Two sprints, one at Vallecito and the other at Edgemont on the way in. Dan Bowman came out to turn the srews on all of us and to make sure we had our share of punisment by the end of the ride. In the end, Dan killed me up to the dam as I got gapped out before the sprint. I got him on Edgemont though, HA ha! So we are even so far. I am very pleased with the way my form is coming along and I felt very strong for not doing much intensity yet. Signs of good things to come.

Yesterday we got pulled over by a State Trooper. The guy was a total idiot. He was so unprofessional and didn't say why we were being pulled over. He yelled at me "you go, get out of here" . I looked into his beady little rat eyes, totally confused. What the hell is he talking about? "Go now" he said. I left and he let Bowman, Lee Rosenthol, and an FLC kid named Allister. Anyway, the rest of the group including the Chocolate Factory boys, Wilk and Grant Berry all received tickets for being over the white line and riding double. I can see riding double, but over the white line? Also, the law says you can ride double under certain circumstances. I am a little confused about the law. I better check into it before the State Trooper from Bayfield, who looks like Hitler, yes he looked like Hitler, gets hold of me.

Dan Bowman's quote of the day regarding Assof and Yordan from Israel. They are attending the Fort and racing for the team. He asked me " So where are all these Israeli kids coming from? Uhhhh?? "Israel Dan!

Given'er!

I have been way to busy to update the site lately. I am also a little burned out on updating this thing and until I get my camera fixed, it is boring without pictures. I have been given'er with the training. I just finished base adn took 3 days off the bike. That actually worked me over. I tried to do some transition the first day I was back and it was not happening. THe legs just weren't there. I have been doing Yoga to help me structurally and to give me more core strength. It is funny how old ladies in the class are doing head stands and I can't even stay upright while using the wall.
I am getting excited to go to San Diego for spring trainign camp and to meet the rest of the team. They will be racing in Fresno. The race in not my style so I opted out and will be doing Redlands instead to prepare for Georgia. Nothing like getting thrown into the fire at Redlands. I should be going o.k. by then with a month of harder training under me.
With Jittery Joe's we didn't get a addle sponsor this season. I am officially sponsored by Specialized Saddles as of today. They are very nice and comfy, and super light, so I am excited. Thanks to Overend for making it happen. www.specialized.com. I will put up a link to just the saddles later. That is all for now. More excitement later.