Nature Valley GP Stage one

Good old Minnesota eh. Wrapped up the first stage of the Nature Valley Grand Prix. A super fast downtown criterium in the evening. We didn't start until 7:00 pm, but with Summer solstice just a few days ago and being almost in Canada it doesn't get to dark here until about 10:00. The team looked pretty good. I think some of us were a bit sluggish at first after doing Philly week and not racing since then. It took me a good 40 minutes to feel normal. The course was a bit dicey and lots of corners. Only a 1K course with six turns and a small hill. Lots of coasting on the fast back section and then everyone pins it on the little roller.

Evan ended up getting 6th and Ceasar came in 7th right behind Evan. I hung on and tried not to lose time, but somehow I managed to lose a bit of time. The legs feel good though and I am looking foreword to tonight's stage, a short road race with lots of cross wind and a dirt road section. Last year I flatted on the dirt road, RACE OVER!

Anyway, this update is a little weak and not very entertaining. Just woke up from a night off tossing and turning. I am looking foreword to getting home for a bit. More later......

Olympic Mountain Biking

I have been laying low in Athens, GA for the last week since Philly. Athens is a pretty happening town. I would even go as far as that I could live here. The town is pretty cool, the people seem friendly, and there is allot to do for fun. The road riding is great with endless roads in all directions. The bad thing is the humidity. It gets pretty hot and humid. If you aren't used to it like me, it can definitely get to you at first.

Yesterday my teammate Cody Stephenson and I went over to Conyers, GA to ride the 1996 Olympic Mountain Bike course. We rounded up some sweet mountain bikes from @ the Hub, the local shop in Athens, and headed down there with big John Erwin. John is our mechanic and works at the shop. John organized a Father's Day ride and Cody and I seemed to be a main attraction. I guess people will take any opportunity they can get to come out and put the wood to the roadies on the dirt. I rode a sweet 29er for the first time and Cody roosted a new Fuel. It was a blast and felt great to be out in the woods on mountain bikes.

The Olympic course was actually much more challenging than I thought it would be. I remember watching it on t.v. and seeing the Granite Slick Rock sections, which by the way, pummeled my hands. Cody and I had no trouble cruising through the trees with our road kits on and even riding in road shoes and our Speedplay road pedals. As for the 29er. I think I am still sold on a short travel full suspension with 26 inch wheels. The 29er just doesn't accelerate as well. You can definitely get away with rolling over big things and laying it into corners with a bigger wheel. It just felt a bit sluggish and harsh on the pot holed rock section.

I ended up catching a bit of a cold after Philly. After racing in the rain in Lancaster and all the crap on the roads in PA, in general, it is no surprise. It seems that many people have become sick. I am not the only one with a head cold. Whatever, I feel strong on the bike so hopefully I can translate that into something next week in Nature Valley.

Today I head out to Minnesota for the Nature Valley Grand Prix. Lots of racing in 5 days. Even a double day stage with a criterium and a time trial. Last year I ended up crashing out of the race, so I hope to at least finish and would like to score a result there for the team if not for myself.

Well, I am off and running to the Atlanta Airport today. Bigger news is that I am not doing Tour de Toona this year. Instead I have been assigned to do the British Colombia Superweek. I am very excited. New races are always a good time and new country. Until next time.

Philly, fastest race ever!

Wow! What a race. 160 miles, attacks all day, crashes, and the fastes finish time ever for that course. It was an incredible day with good weather and the usual 60,000 fans lining the streets and Manyunk Wall. Everytime up The Wall it was insane. The fans are probably just a couple beers short of needing to be carted off to detox, they are smoking cigaretts, dope, and who knows what else, screaming for all the riders as you put yourself into difficulty again and again. It was awesome!

I felt pretty good today up to about mile 120, then the legs just shut down. CRACKED! I would have died, had it not been for Cody Stevenson, my teammate. He got us bottles all day, endless amounts of bottles. Every time the team was in need of food or drink, Cody pulled through. All of the guys killed it today. Neil Shirley won the KOM Jersey. I tried to go for the KOM on the first lap. Didn't work!

Annyway, made it through 3 crashes. I don't know how, but I rode right through a crash. One guy was on the ground skidding next to me while another was in the air on the other side of me. Huge pile up. I weaved through it. Unreal. It was one of those moments where you are just in the zone.

Off to Athen's tomorrow. Thanks for stopping in. Thanks to everyone cheering for us and the team. See you on the road.

Don't Tune in!....Documentary Cancelled!

Well, as of yesterday we found out that the Bean Team Documentary on Versus has been cancelled. Something to do with, not the right fonts for the subtitles. I am sorry to get every one's hopes up. We actually got to view it last night as a team, it was a pretty good piece of work.

I am getting ready to depart the hotel and head out for some serious racing. 6 hours of suffering today. Lots of fast guys and 10 laps up the WALL as they call it in Philly. Should be a good one.

Report later!

Triple crown day 2- in

Triple crown day 2- in the books. Actually felt like myself today, Went up the climbs fast, covered lots of moves. Off to Phily tomorrow!

Don't forget...this Sunday

Howdy folks! Just wanted to remind everyone to tune into the Jittery Joe's Documentary film that will air this weekend, Sunday! I won't be able to watch it right away because we will be racing in Phillidelphia. I am curious to see how it turned out.

Tomorrow is the second stage of the Triple Crown series. I compeleted the race last year, it was a fun race and a tough circuit. I am feeling pretty strong after a few days of rest. I must be the fittest I have ever been, at least according to the heart rate as it was 35 this morning after a cup of coffee. Lowest I have ever seen it. Alright, that is enough of the training squawk. Hoping to perform well tomorrow. Just have to get my suffer face on.

The riding here is awesome in the Amish country. I did a great ride yesterday with the Teammate Tommy Nankervis and the youngster we are staying with Zac. Zac took us on a great ride and we saw the Amish farm from the movie "Witness" with Harrison Ford.

I get back to Durango on the 25th of June, then I think I am going to head back up to the North to vist the parents for a week if the funds are there. Even eyeing the WYDAHO Mountain bike race at Targhee. I have to find some races that will be fun to keep the fitness while on the road.

Anyway, I am going to get a little nap in. Rough life huh, yeah, we have it pretty easy sometimes, until you have to race with sketchballs on narrow tires in the rain. More later!

Results @ CSC and Langcaster

Well yesterday was the first day of Philly week in Langcaster, PA. I pretty much picked up where I left off last season, sucked! My legs felt pretty shitty after the CSC 100k criterium. However, I can't complain because CSC was the first race in a while where I felt like I was a bike racer. I was able to hang in there the whole race which was very hard and helped get big Evan up to the front to have a go in the sprint. I am not in the results for that race though, I popped anyway after helping Evan out.

Here in Langcaster, I cracked on the 8th lap. It was pouring rain from start to finish. I turned into a complete softie (imagine that!) Covered a few moves on the first couple laps and then sat in the back, which is the worst place to be. I finally pulled the pin. I am a little bummed, but didn't expect much since after racing CSC in 92 degrees and humidity. I pulled out of the race but the results say I finished in 22nd. Sweet! Put that one on the resume.

Anyway, I hope that I feel a bit better in the next stage on Thursday in Reading, PA. Lots of uphill which should be alright if the legs agree. I will update more later from Amish country, just kind of over the site at the moment. Thanks.........

A day in Arlington/D.C....Never will I live here!

I went out for an early morning ride in Arlington/D.C. yesterday with my teammate Cody Stephenson. We left from our host house after I had finished my finger painting for the day (see previous post). After scouting out a loop on the bike route map of the area, we went with a ride that was supposed to be "less traffic and bike friendly". I think we went through 200 stop lights, got the middle finger about as many times, and dodged cars all day swerving around trying to kill us. It ended up being an all right ride once we got out into the old, extremely rich neighborhoods.

Upon our return Cody and I watched the movie "Pro" about the race we will be doing next week in Philadelphia area. It used to be the one day US Pro Championships and is now the Triple Crown. Pro was a descent movie with some good race footage.

At 6:30 we decided to hit up a training race in Maryland on the other side of D.C. We drove up through the gridlocked traffic, which I guess wasn't really to bad, to a state park where the race was held on a one mile circuit. I think we did 23 laps. Big Evan Elken went from the gun. It was a tough little course with no resting and was actually allot of fun. I talked with the locals a bit and that is the one hard ride each week they do. All other training is in another park, just doing laps. These people are tougher than I am that is for sure!

Now it is just resting up, in final preparation for Philly week and the CSC invitational that begins this coming Sunday in Lancaster, PA. More later......

Arlington, VG!

We made it to Arlington after a 3.5 hour drive down through Dirty Jersey. The drive was relatively flawless and I pretty much lounged in the van all the way and read a book. No near misses on the way. Cody and Kinger did however miss a turn in the mini and ended up doing a few extra miles, tolls, and tunnels to get to Arlington. The hardest part was getting through the D.C. traffic! One more reason why living in the middle of nowhere Durango is appealing.

We are staying in some host housing and it is comfortable. My room for the next few days is one of the kids rooms. It is like a time warp to childhood. Legos, art supplies and colored pencils. The walls are covered with drawings from elementary school and posters of Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. I might even bust out the little guy's water colors and do a little painting myself. Paint a picture and have it hung up in the trailer for our mechanics!

Cody and I are about to head out on the streets of Arlington. Wish us luck, there isn't a safe road around here. It is so congested and everyone is in a hurry. It will be good crit practice dodging cars, trucks, and pedestrians!

Oh yeah, I have been getting asked what happened in Somerville (DNF in the results), don't worry, I finished! They just can't write down all 198 riders numbers fast enough and screwed it up. I am fine, no crashes, tried to get in the train to help lead out the teammates but got chopped and swarmed. I even threw a little jab at some dude that was coming in on us. Usually, I neve get that agressive, but it is necessary when there are 100 guys that want the wheel you are on and think they can win the race. More later!

On the road to Virginia!

On the road to Virginia! Somerville went good. There were 198 starters. I stayed out of trouble, followed and covered moves. Felt good to race!

Tour of Somerville, New Jersey

I made it out to New Jersey on my Birthday. Woke up at 4:30 a.m. Caught a flight to Salt Lake, then to Pheonix, then Pheonix to Newark. It was an epic day of traveling. Over 7 hours of flying alone plus more driving get from Durango to the East. The price I pay for living in a small mountain town.

It is good to be back with the teammates. I am rooming with Tim Henry (two first names). Tim has been going pretty well and finished 2nd in the Raleigh crit a few nights ago. The hotel we are staying is awesome in downtown New Brunswik, New Jersey.

I don't know what it is about the East, but they love Dunkin Doughnuts. Every single time I ask where a good coffee shop is the answer is always " There is a Dunkin Doughnuts right there". O.K. The key word there people was "good" coffee. Dunkin Doughnuts is horrible. Never fails, every time, Dunkin Doughnuts. Drives me crazy!

Today we are just hanging out in the hotel until we race in Somerville at 2:30. I did this crit last year and it was 99 degrees, and 100% humidity. Pretty much the worst possible climate imaginable. However, I am looking foreword to getting the race legs back and racing with the teammates. Also, whenever I race back East, I get to see allot of former teammates that I haven't seen in a long time. It will be good to catch up with some of the fellers.

Well, wish me luck, I will try to throw up a few photos tonight if I can snag some. Somerville is always a big crowd and lots of guns. I just want to hang tough, finish and try to get into some moves.

Versus to air Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team Documentary

I think I may have mentioned the documentary about Jittery Joe's earlier this season. All of the information is below. Make sure you tune in and watch the drama as it unfolds in the world of professional racing in the U.S. Spread the word!

Versus to air Jittery Joe’s Pro Cycling Team Documentary
Athens, GA—One Of A Kind Films has inked a deal with Versus Television (formally Outdoor Life Network) to air a one-hour TV documentary following the Jittery Joe’s Professional Cycling Team from their training camp in San Diego through the Tour of Georgia and the Athens Twilight Criterium. The documentary will focus on the ups and downs of a small professional cycling team traveling on the North American race circuit and is hosted by race announcer Dave Towle.
“When I started this project I had no idea how amazing it would be”, said Myles Berman from One Of A Kind Productions, “These guys love their job and it really shows.”
“This is a huge deal for our team and for our riders,” said Micah Rice, General Manager of the Jittery Joe’s Team, “we are very excited to be a part of such an exciting and professionally done project like this.”
The TV program is scheduled to air on Versus Television (formally Outdoor Life Network) on Sunday, June 10th at 3:30pm EST. Please check your local listings for times.Jittery Joe’s Coffee Roasting Company is based in Athens, Georgia and has been selling superior quality small batch roasted coffee for over twelve years. Jittery Joe’s is now opening up new franchise coffee shops around the nation. Jittery Joe’s Morning Ride Cycling Coffee is an organic, shade grown Colombian coffee and all proceeds go straight to the Jittery Joe’s Cycling Team. The coffee is sold in over 700 bike shops nationwide. For more information, please check out our website at www.thebeanteam.com.

Angry Sleeper!

I don't know what is going on with me when I am sleeping. The last few nights I have slept horribly. Two mornings ago I woke up and found one of my soft pillow cases clear across the room. My only explanation for this is at some point in the night I got angry and tore the pillow case off and threw it across the room. I must have had some serious night rage or night terror. It was definitely strange! I have been tossing and turning ever since.

I rode into the passes yesterday with Todd Wells and Ned Overend and others. They are both riding really well. Todd was climbing faster than I have ever seen him climb. Ned drove up and skipped one of the climbs and Todd was still out climbing him. As for me, I felt strong, but the top end just isn't there. I think from the lack of racing. So I am on taper mode now. Short hard rides to get the leg speed up and the top end here before next week. I hope my plan is going to work. I have been training hard and it will likely be one of the last blocks of training for a long time.

The mountain bike has been so sweet. I am actually digging the cross country full suspension. The trails in Durango are ripping right now. We have been getting some good rain and the trails are so tacky.

Not much else going on. I am working on my plans for the fall. Trying to figure out what will happen with Cylcocross. I would like to do a full season and possibly relocate to the East coast for a month or two during the season. I am thinking, couch surfing, racing UCI Cross every weekend and possibly even go for a try at the World Championships this year. I have had the opportunity to go the past couple of years, but school was always a problem. Not anymore, so I might give it a go.

Next up on the race schedule: Tour of Sommerville, CSC, and Philly Week. Watch out!

FLC Cycling takes two National Titles in TTT

A picture from the first of the FLC TTT wins! Bowman, Shriver, Troy and Kuhl


Congratulations to the Fort Lewis Cycling team in continuing their dominance. The Men's team won the third straight team time trial today in Lawrence, Kansas. Collegiate Nationals have been there for the past 3 years. The FLC women also won their first ever Division one team time trial title. Congrats! Tomorrow is the road race and I look for a few good results from our home team. Go Skyhawks and congrats on the wins and great start to the overall omnium title. As Joey Thompson said it yesterday "the cream rises to the top!" Nice work!

Working on the climbing legs!

First, sorry for the lack of updates. I don't have any photos right now either. I know, lame updates, but I just can't carry my old tank camera around all the time. It is huge!
I have been hitting the passes allot lately and trying to get the climbing legs back. Last week I made it up into the passes a couple of times. I went up to just under 11,000 feet on Molass Pass. The legs are feeling better, but still, not good enough to hang with Danielson.
Saturday I rode with Danielson and Ned Overend. It was so cold and snowed on us. After about 45 minutes of riding we were cruising through ice water and slush. After flipping it, we hit the Cliffs climb and tried to climb with frozen legs. It hurt badly! We had a better ride the next day and I was able to hang with the old man Overend on the climbs. That guy is going good as usual. I think he could win the Iron Horse this year at 53. Unreal!
How about all the crack down on the Operacion Puerto guys! Finally something is coming of it and not just pointing the finger. Before it was just a bunch of talk and now it looks as though some guys are going to be out of racing for good.
My new mountain bike will be here in a couple of days. I am looking foreword to hitting the dirt and roosting the trails around Durango. They are so good right now. I might even do a mountain bike race for some training if there is one on an off week.
It looks like I won't be doing the Iron Horse this year. Thought I might be around for it this year, but I got a phone call and I am off to race the Tour of Sommerville in New Jersey. Then the schedule is a little in the air, I may do CSC and a couple days of Philly Week, or CSC and all the days of Philly Week. . Anyway, lots of racing soon. I am looking foreword to it. You can only train so much. Long update I know, more later.......

Training again...Finally!

Cruise control!
The pain face in the sprint, Riping into it!

I have finally gotten back to training normally. Last week I was so cracked still from Tour de Georgia but I also ran ran into finals week. I didn't get to do many rides, even short recovery rides. Studying and working in front to the computer all day, then going out for a ride, just wasn't happening. I am starting to come around again though and am feeling pretty strong.

On Friday I was out spinning a valley loop, ran in to Danielson. He asked if I wanted to ride the passes on Saturday. After graduation we met up at Bread. The plan was to go to Molass Pass and back in the passes and hit it about a medium pace. I hung with Tom all of about 4 minutes on Shalona. Shalona is the first climb. Pretty much blew my doors off right from the start. I felt better though as the ride went on and it was a perfect day in the passes. I haven't been up to 11,000 feet in a little while. It was a good ride and I am looking foreword to getting up there soon.

Today was the last Durango Wheel Club criterium out at the new hospital. I decided to give it a go and the field was small, really small. Former teammate Anthony Colby showed up. With some big $$$$ on the line, the guns always come out of the woodwork. Anyway, I attacked on the 2nd lap. We rode together the whole race. Then we gave it a go in the sprint. The face says it all! It was close, even had to do the wheel throw. I scored the victory and got a good workout in when I wasn't motivated. Thanks to the DWC folks and Mercy Medical Center for putting on a great race series.

No school tomorrow. Some good chamois time tomorrow for sure. The weather has been perfect.

Live update from FLC Graduation.

Wells and I getting ready to graduate. Nice day in the mountains, headed into the passes after this. After school, what is next besides paying ack student loans? Hopefully good things to come..

Georgia is over!

Stolen photo from the DWC website. Thanks Mr. Wallace.

I am in full on recovery and school mode. Trying to get the last bits of finals done today and tomorrow. It is almost over. Hit up taco night and drank a few Tecate's. I am back on the bike tomorrow. No Gila because it is totally full and closed. Working on getting the mountain bike on the way. Love the white kits huh?

Nashville's Bread

On the way back to Durango. Stopped in at Nashville's version of Bread the bakery. It wasn't bad and had similar breads. Not the same though of course. Tour de Georgia went good. I was a little dissapointed with the form, but it will surely come now after those efforts. It was so hard. Totally different racing and much safer. Super fast and long stages. I was happy to just finish and do some good work for the team. I am back to school tomorrow, missed a final today on accident, oops! Rest now and maybe go do the Gila. We will see.

Put a fork in me!

Quick mobile update this morning. This photo doesn't do it justice. That is our team bus, which is bigger than Discoveries, our van and trailer, and two mini coopers. Brass Town was crazy. I was in the box all day. It was so fast from start to finish. We were on the front all day chasing. I didn't last long, but it was important to keep the break close. I am super impressed with my teammates. They are all so strong and professional. All of them poured their hearts into it. Good work. More later after 117 miles in stage 6.