Base Miles....Skiing!

I have the Holiday Blues right now where all I want to do is relax, eat, and not do much at all. I go through this every year about this time when Base starts. I get burned on the fact that I have to log all those long slow hours in the snow and cold. I get bored with base so quickly every year. I am already thinking about only doing one month of solid base before I start hitting it hard. It is to early.

We have been getting so much snow lately in Durango that is has been hard to ride. I have been doing allot of Nordic Skiing and even thought about going back to racing. I haven't done a skate ski race in about 8 years. There are a ton of really good skiers and I would get crushed, but it would be fun to give it a go.

I went up to see my family in Idaho for Christmas. I think the sun was out for one day out of the six days that I was home. They don't plow the roads in Idaho so you are on your own when it comes to driving around town or getting out for a ride on the raods. I forget how backwoods it is in Idaho. Crazy up there in polygamy country.

I am ready to get back in the groove of school and try to get' er done this next semester. I have some photos to post, but hte camera is not functioning properly. It is a Canon so imagine that. I am trying to get a mountain bike together so that I can do some training on the dirt this witner and spring as well and am thinking about doing the first NORBA National if it doesn't conflict with any big road races that Jittery Joe's might want me to do. Anyway, lame updates, I am kind of over the site. I will get some pics up soon and some more entertainment.

No Cross Nats for me

Bike Polo pretty much explains all of the bike related activities I have been doing. I have been playing Bike Polo at least once a week and look foreword to it every weekend. I have only played 4 times in my life and already I feel like I am getting pretty good. Although yesterday's game I was having issues. At one point I went to hit the ball and my mallet went into my spokes flipping me over the bars. Brenden Vahey ( above Left) went over the bars twice trying to use his front brake instead of his rear.

So the cat is out of the bag now. I won't be in Providence at Cyclocross Nationals. The reason: I want to have enough time to rest up and be ready for a good road season. I am bummed that I won't be attending nationals, and for the first time in three years it looks as though it is going to be good weather wich is always a good advantage for me. I have never raced a nationals in good weather. I think I am making the right decision in my preparations for the best racing year of my life. I have big goals this upcoming season, and skipping nationals to start my base training a month earlier is going to set me up well.

I got my "Free Sager" wrist bands last night from the Real Joey Thompson. I will be rocking those during every event until Sager's stupid sentancing is upheld. I finished finals today and will be hitting base next week. More later

Blue Steel, Le Tigra...Magnum! Backcountry Glamour

Stelicom USGP #5 Tacoma, WA 9th place
Start of Stelicom in, and off the back already!

I have taken some time off the bike lately in preparation for the 07 season on the road. I will be starting base a little earlier than my norm and taking a good break. All this in hopes of tearing off legs in Georgia. I am still trying to figure out how I am going to pull of Georgia since it lands on my last week of school. My professors are all awesome, so I am sure it is something I can manage.

This past week I have been practicing my male modeling on top of Molass Pass in sub zero temperatures. My roommate, Jay "crash" Rush, and I did a winter camping photo shoot for the Sierra Designs website. They sent the photographer a bunch os super nice winter gear. Everything from hats, gloves, to long undies and tents sleeping bags. Good thing they sent huge down parkas and warm ski pants. The gear was super nice.

The first time we went up it was definitely a winter camping scene. I felt like I was trying to camp out on the summit of Everest. It was so freaking cold already at a few degrees below zero, and then add the wind chill and it was unpleasantly cold. The gear was warm though but I had to change a couple times and act like it wasn't that cold out. There were some shot's were the snow was blowing so hard that we weren't even in the photo because it was a white out about 10 feet from the camera. Epic! So they got their winter camping scene.

We had to go back up on Friday and redo the camping scene all over. This time it was all sunshine and a heat wave at 15 degrees. It was great though with the sun out and was much warmer and a ton of fun. The pictures turned out good and my modeling skills were ten times better. I did crack once at the end of the shoot when it was dark and I was sitting around the camp kitchen. Jay and I were doing a fake study of the map with our headlamps on. The photographer, Chris Giles, told me to look at Jay. I looked over at him and just started laughing. I couldn't stop laughing for the next 10 shots because the scene was so Broke Back Mountain. I was cracked. Finally, I regained my composure to finish the shots.

Got some good gear coming out of the photo shoot. It was well earned after risking my life at near death freezing temperatures. Only two weeks of school left in the semester. I am looking foreword to a break and possibly heading south to some warm training weather. Today I have to get ready for a mean game of Bike Polo. If you haven't played, you should check it out. It is a blast. Until next time!

As if there were any doubts..Clean!

Police Brutality-Officer J Dangle from Reno 911 and co worker!
Working on the Biomechanical Leg: It jumped 20" and landed!
Clean as a whistle!

I got my USADA letter the other day with the results from Gloucester. Negative! Bart Gillespie is going to get a suspension for not showing up at the Drug Testing at this event. It is lame because no one grabbed him at the finish of the race to tell him he had the random. The other lame thing is he actuall asked the USADA person if he had been selected. They said no, so he took off, then they posted his number up on the board. It is a bunch of shit. I would have missed my test had someone not been there at the finish with a lasso to rope me over. Sager is currently battling with USADA for a suspension given to him for the same reason. He missed a test at a race he dropped out of. They say it is your responsibility which is legit I guess but it should be a combined effort by the USADA people and not just your responsibility. The even lamer thing is when you are on a suspension they will still show up at your house and test you. Half the guys that are suspended don't even want to race after all that bullshit. But USADA still wastes money to go and test guys that are retired. Seems a little counter productive. Just my thoughts. Sager, Jimi Mortenson, Cale Redpath, and Bart Gillespie have all taut me a valuable lessons. Don't count on USADA having thier shit together!

My Turkey Day was great! I have been on break for the last week and today is my last day before going back to the books daily. I have been working on the Biomechanical Leg project with Rick Wetherald. It has to jump and land. Can't weigh over 5 lbs-6lbs and has to land in a 12" corridor. It is crazy how difficult is to make a leg.

I put the Shriver Cross race on yesterday at the college. Overend took it! I am on a little break becasue I have been sick as a dog. I am over it now though. Caught a nasty cold after the Seattle races. None of the guns showed up to race, just to watch.

The weather here in Durango has been unreal. 50 degrees and pure sunshine. It is November and the mountian biking is the best that it has been all year. I only wish I had a mtb bike to get out there and giver on the trails.

So that is pretty much it for me. I am getting excited about next year already. Jittery Joe's stuff will be on the way soon. If you see a guy out there in Orange and Black, that is me. Tour de Georgia is going to be my biggest goal of the season I think and hopefully I can keep it all rolling from there. I am looking foreword to racing the road again already. Thanks for stopping in!

Knapp Time- USGP 5 & 6

Wow! Lame on the updates, the site was down. How are all the race fans supposed to know what the Hero, me, is up to! Well I will tell you. After paying $90, (cha-ching) to get the site back up and running people better start hitting this thing more. Sorry for the lack of photos, I have been to lazy this week to haul the 8 pound digital camera I have that is only like 3 mega pixels around.

I am in Seattle right now racing the USGP's of cross. Luckily Kona riders are everywhere and I am staying with the Knapp's. Dale and Ann Knapp live right on the Puget Sound in Des Moines, Washington. The water is so close that I could toss a quarter in it. It is pretty awesome. Dale killed it in his race and was sprinting for the win, it was Knapp time all day!

Anyway, Last weekend was the Colorado State Championships in Durango at FLC. I helped organize and put on the race with Dave Hagen. It was a ton of work to get the ball rolling and everything organized. The course was awesome, the racer turnout not so awesome. The fans were great though and we had a huge turnout because the soccre team was having a tournament and all the Hooligans came over to the beer tent to continue punishing their livers while we punished or entire bodies on the course.

I ended up staying away from the Wells brothers because Todd decided to do a crank-grind on the concrete stairs run up in the ampatheater of the course. Note to self-"Don't smash $500 cranks on the edge of concrete stairs" end note to self. I stayed away mad some sweet moola with uncle rico and had a good time at the party at Steamworks. I was to cracked to head out to the Dawg and dance the night away. Todd's wife meg was buying Tequila Shot's that was my cue to get on outta there ASAP. I'll do one! I'll do one turned into a couple.

I just got back from the 5th round of the USGP Cross races here in Seattle/Tacoma. Thank god it wasn't raining. I am already cracked, rain will just crack me some more. I don't know what is going on with the UCI points this year. I have been doing pretty well and still I am in the 3rd row. Even Horner got called up before me, WHAT???? So Horner totally botched the start today and I ended up losing like 30 spots right from the get go and had to work my way back up through the field again. Made it up to a group of 10 on the 2nd lap that was the chase group. The run up today was 80 meters long and was the UCI limit. We did it 9 times and it was so steep and loose. The last lap I was chasing McCormack and trying to catch him on the run up. For the first time in my life I was going so hard that at the top of the run up I couldn't feel my arms and my vision was going. The walls were closing in on me. I couldn't catch McCormack. Adam Craig caught me again in the corners. That guy is so freaking fast in the turns. Luckily I saved some of the Shriver Surge for the end and Adam wasn't ready for it. I gave it to him for 9th. I don't think he even cared.

Tomorrow is the last round of the USGP of Cyclocrss series in Portland. It is supposed to rain so it should be nice and sloppy. Sweet for packing the bikes for the 6 am flight out in the morning. Wish me luck! As Dave Towle would say, "there is a 90% chance of rain and a 100% chance of pain".

USGP #4, South Boulder-8th

More Photos of day 3 at the USGP#3
The barriers hurt!

Coming through the pits!

Well I had another good ride yesterday and it was a surprise. I started 3rd row this time around for some reason. I lined up behind the Danish thinking he would have a great start since he is a National champion. Well the gun went off and his chain snapped right as he tried to go, that left me at a stand still and I had to hesitate and move around him. Immediately I lost some serious spots. I was running about top 25 on the first lap with 24 fast guys in front of me. I was sluggish to get going and wasn't feeling the duffer at all. I didn't really lose many spots, but I wasn't going anywhere fast. I was just trying to hang on with what I had. Halfway through the race I was shaking my head thinking it was a crap day. About this same time I started to pass guys. Soon I found myself in the top 15. Riders were going backwards and I was getting faster with each lap. At least I was maintaining my speed. I caught and passed Chris Horner, Ben Jaques Maynes, Troy Wells, Joey Thompson, John Baker, Doug Swanson, and Anthony Colby. The course was difficult and took its toll on the racers. The sandpit was were I was actually making time. I would ride the first half and jog the second half. It was about the same speed as riding it, just less energy. Instead of being totally gassed out of the sand I could get back on the bike and hit the gas out of the next corner. I would make big time in this section. On the last lap I was sitting in 10th, Baker and Swanson were still there. I hit it hard up the climb and gapped out Baker just a little. Then I hit it again on the flat section before the sand and again out of the sand pit. I was trying to get rid of those guys and going so hard that I almost caught the next two riders in one lap. Carl Decker (Giant) and Jeremy Powers (Jelly Bellly). I think the strategy of not starting to hard paid off. I just wish I could have had another 30 seconds, I may have been able to get up there with Powers and give it a go.

I have only 3 cross races yet. I am planning on skipping Nationals this year. I need to be ready for the road season. Although all this good racing makes me want to go to nationals. We will see how Portland and Tacoma go in a couple of weeks. Once again the offer is on the table to go to Europe and race with the US team in the cross world cups and then worlds. I wish I could go and I really want to do it someday, but it just doesn't work with the road scene. It would be fund to do Worlds this year because they are in the Netherlands which means they would be bigger and crazier than the Super Bowl.

This weekend I am helping put on the Colorado State Cyclocross Championships. We had the course all dialed in but have to move it now because there is going to be a Soccer tournament. I actually think it will help us make a new sweet course that has never been raced before. I have some good ideas, I just hope everyone else likes them. Lots of racing in the quad near the clocktower. Bring your A-game!

This weekend

USGP #3 Boulder Top 10

The log carry, this hurt!
The Cref boys hitting the barrier section!

Another epic day of cross racing in Boulder. The conditions were awesome considering I love the fair weather racing. It was about 55 degrees and cloudy, nice! The course was great and very challenging. The fans were awesome and it was a good change to race out in the west instead of the east. People were all over the course screaming for me. Thanks for all the support, it definitely made me force myself into the hurt locker a bit further.

Down to the race action. I started second row and it was a fast and sketchy start on the pavement and shot into a off camber technical dirt sidehill. I sat in about 15th for awhile and moved up throughout the race. All day I found myself with Erik Tonkin, the caveman, again! Andy Jaques Maines came out of the front group and was battling with Tonkin and myself. I think the highest I made it in the field was 8th and it hurt. Coming down to the end I hit it hard on a little climb. Tonkin came off and it was Jaques Maniac and myself. I was in the front though and new he would gun me in the sprint. I kept slowing down trying to get me to come around, but his is a grizzled veteran and knew to well what I was doing. I had to lead out the sprint and it wasn't much of one as he crushed me. I ened up 10th on the day! I am pretty happy with that.

Huge props out the the rest of the D-town crowd. Todd Wells needs to work on his sprint as he got pimped at the line by jeremy powers for 3rd. Anthony Colby had a slow start and came on stong and finished 15th. Troy Wells has been training his brains out but hung in there until the last lap and slid to 25th. The biggest new was the real Joey Thompson finishing 13th and starting in the 6th row. Moving through people like they were out on a Sunday ride sniffing the flowers.

It was a good day, time to rest up for tomorrow. Thanks to everyone for screaming for me. I better see you all out there again tomorrow. Until next time.

Boulder Again!

That last post was lame. The link didn't even work, hopefully some of you got to check it out.

I made it up to Boulder again and I am staying at the same place I crashed out in last weekend. Pipp's and Hartman's, and Bryan Smith's. I traveled up with Chad Cheeny in his van and it is always an experience with Cheeny. WE got a late start getting out of Durango because on the way out Chad was cruising alley's dumpster diving and looking for free stuff in people junk piles. You have to have an eye for it, but for Chad one man's junk is another man's treasure. We did find some cool junk. One thing may possibly be a trophy this next weekend at the Colorado State Championships. Be on the lookout!

We did hit up a random ride yesterday neer Gun Smoke and it turned out to be one of the best cross rides i have ever done on a cross bike. It was ripping and the views of the collegiate peaks were incredible.

I am gearing up for the USGP of cyclocross in Boulder. I think that I may have overdone it a little a few days ago and I am feeling sore. I went motor pacing on Thursday for only 35 min and then rode another hour or so. I am feeling a bit cracked. Hopefully I nice cup of coffee will get me rolling. I looked at the start list and there are 100 dudes in the field. Stacked too!

Should be a blast, stay tuned for a race update tonight!

The Organic Rebellion - STORE WARS - oganinc foods explained

I try to eat health and mostly all organic foods! This short video just cracked me up when I saw it. I hope you enjoy it. It is a little long, but creative and funny.

Boulder Cross- Pipp's Pancake shop!

Some links to the Boulder Photos on cycling news: http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos.php?id=photos/2006/oct06/boulder06/IMG_2564 and http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos.php?id=photos/2006/oct06/boulder06/IMG_2549 and one more http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos.php?id=photos/2006/oct06/boulder06/Tonkin_Shricer_Pearce_OnBea

Rolled up to Boulder this past weekend in the red rocket (my Subaru) for the Boulder UCI C2 Cross race with Joey Thompson. We left at 8:00 on Saturday morning. I barely made it out the door after being totally hung over from the Miami Vice party the night before. Yeah, Miami Vice! The party was pretty fun, but I had about 5 to many Vodka Tonics.

Anyway, after hitting RGP's in Pagosa for a delcious breakfast wrap we were cruising through Bailey, Colorado a few hours later and our lives flashed before our eyes. Some lady crossed a two lane highway right in front of me. I hit the brakes full on skid , then let off the breaks, hit the gas and dodged through the median and around the psycho that tried to kill us. This all happened in about 3-4 seconds. It was insane and felt like slow motion. Thompson was pretty much on the dashboard bracing for impact in the fetal position. I have no idea how or where the driving skills came from. I have sweet driving skills I guess!

We showed up at Boulder Cycling center founded by Frank Pipp, Wes Hartman, Brian Smith, Karl Menzies, and Garret Peltenon. I slept like a baby and the next morning Frank hooked us up with the best Pancakes ever. I found out the secret ingredients and I can't wait to try to remake them like Little Susie Homemaker Hartman. Hartman was baking stuff all day and couldn't come to the race because he was making a carrot cake. I hope that cake was good Hartman, you missed a good show.

As for the race, it was a blast. The laps were a little short and went by fast but the run was actually fun and exciting. I finally got a call up and started on the front. Being able to start in the front is a totally different race. You are actually in the race! I didn't get the whole shot but sat in second wheel. I took the lead befor the dock barrier section. I was able to lead through the run up and for most of the 1st lap. Then Wells took over and attacked. I bobbled out of a corner and couldn't get back on the main group. I ended up battling with Eric "the Cave Man" Tonkin all day. In the end I cracked a little and hung on for 5th place. Scored some points and some cash. It was a good time.

I am back in D-twon recovering and preping for another week of racing in Boulder this coming weekend. I am looking foreword to crashing at Pipp's Pancake shop and hope to have some cakes both days. THey are so freaking good. Stay tuned!

UCI Cross Rank-144th- 5 points- Kind of a big deal!

Yeah, I am ranked 144th right now in the world cross rankings. I am kind of a big deal! I have 5 points to my name right now which in all honesty is so huge. Now I wont have to worry about getting relegated to the back for sneaking into a better start position. 5 points at a small race is pretty much front row.

The rain is coming down in Durango right now and the cross ride at 2:00 is looking to be another epic one. I don't mind riding in the rain because it is good training for cross racing. It is a little hard on the bike and having to wash your bike after every ride is no good on the steed either.

I am thinking about heading up to Boulder this weekend for a UCI C2 race on Sunday. I may have to drive the Subaru up there. I just threw on some new tires because I had two flats in the last month. C2's are a gamble because there are usually enough tough racers to make it hard to crack that top 10. It's all about scoring points. I think everyone from Durango will be heading up there.

I just sent in all my info for the new Jittery Joe's stuff. They are on it and already ordering the bikes. I can't wait to get the new rigs and train on the TT bike. Hving a tt bike to train on will help so much. Congrats to Andy Guptil for finally getting a well deserved ride on Colovita/Sutter Homes. It must be nice to have free olive oil and get all schnaquered on free wine. Not as nice as free coffee though!

FLC Wins Again, Hagman wins everything.

Hagman Triples his titles!
Oompa Loompa's were out for Shriver Cross last week!

Another division one mountain bike omnium title for the boys and girls of Fort Lewis College. Congratulations to all of the riders on the team and the staff for once again delivering. My good friend Alex Hagman walked away from the competition in both the STCX and the XC leaving no questions about who was the best in the country among the collegiate ranks. HAGMAN! The rest of the team put in solid rides as well. Eric Ransom in a close second in the STCX and Noah Singer with a 3rd in a short track. Not bad for his first crack at the championships. I have to give props the the Clownhillers as well. They are a part of the team and they got the job done. Chris Heath, finally got that jersey he has been after for the past few years. Now he can drop out of school and race Pro Clownhill on his winnings. Better stay in school! Good job Chris!

I went out to Granogue in Delaware and another race I can't pronounce in Pennsylvania this past weekend. It may as well have been Round 3 and Round 4 of the GP series. Everyone who could ride a bike was there. All the fast guys.

Saturday was Granogue and I tried to sneak in behind the UCI point riders and got caught by some psycho official. Everyone was fighting for a spot, I just got caught. The official screamed at me " Number 142, get back here". I was busted and so was Johny Sundt. Sundt was furious and almost got in a fight at the start of the race for calling the riders without points "Pylons". Like the construction cones that you just mow through I guess is what he was getting at. So after being relegated to the very back of the race by the official that wanted to hang me from a tree for trying to have a fair start, I had a pretty good race. I avoided the guy who crashed his brains out by snapping his fork off at the start of the race and taking out Troy Wells. Moved into about 30th by the end of the first lap. My toughest battle was with Matt White. That guy is riding good and he was dusting me on the downhills and riding the run up. He had a smaller ring, yeah , that's what it was?? Anyway, I finally got rid of him on the last lap when he dropped himself in the barriers, ouch! I ended up 13th.

Yesterday I was not into it. I don't know if it was not enough coffee or just tired. The gun went off, I had a good start position and just flailed. I couldn't race my way out of a wet paper bag. I was running way to much tire pressure and it was a course with lots of turns so low pressure was important. Oops! Then after I had already decided that I wasn't going well I remounted at the top of the run up and heard a crack! Not good. Turns out that I need to stop eating all those cookies. I broke my seatpost. With four laps to go and a borrowed pit bike I decided that I had had enough embarrassment at the back of the race already. I pulled the plug just in time to watch Todd and Wicks sprint in slow motion. Todd could have gotten him but waited to long and went to late. Dang! It was exciting.

All in all it was a good weekend of traveling and racing. Thanks to the TIAA-Cref squad for driving me around and picking me up. It was good to have a team rig to base out of. Until tomorrow.

Jittery Joe's in 07

It is official folks. I have signed with the Jittery Joe's cycling team for the 2007 season. Jittery Joe's is based out of Athens, Georgia and is an awesome squad. I look foreword to drinking allot of their coffee and racing all over the country with the team. They have a great set up and it looks like a good fit for me. Here is the link to the website www.thebeanteam.com where you can purchase some good coffee that supports the team. Purchase the Morning ride coffee to support the team

Glouster went pretty well and I placed 16th the first day and 15th the next. My goal was to get top 15 at the races and get UCI points. I received one point! THe conditions were fast and dry with lots of racers. I had to start in the back row and feel like I was riding well considering I haven't raced since US Pro road and I was right in there.

Next week I will be traveling to the Granogue race in Pennsylvania. Two UCI races, Hopefully I can score some points there and be ready for Boulder. More later, I just wanted to get the team signing out there.

Gloucester and FLC Shriver Cross

I am all packed up and actually got about 7 hours of sleep last night which is a new personal best over the past couple of weeks. I am off to Gloucester this morning and I take off at 10:00. I can't wait to get after it with the big guns again. Things will be different this year with no UCI points and less form. Last year I had already hit up two UCI races in Long Island and had good points with a good start position which helps a ton in cross. This year I have no points and a crap start position. The form is coming around, but I am not at top cross form. I am shooting for a top 15 which would be a good start to the season. If I place higher than that, then I will be be surprised.

Here is the latest on the FLC shriver cross series. I threw up a blog for the series to help post results, schedule and infor about the races. spread the word. The address will probably change to just flcshrivercross.com, but for now it a regualr old blog, check it www.flcshrivercross.blogspot.com. See you out there next weekend!

My head is about to explode from being learned!

Quick ,how many ATP does the Kreb's Cycle Produce?
Cramming for the exam in the morning.
The new Kona Major Jake, so hot, tssssss!

I have been studying for an exercise physiology test tomorrow. It is already mid terms next week so this one is going to count big time. I am confident in my knowledge now after the serious cram session. All I have to do is retain it long enough to regurgitate it on a multiple choice test at 10:00 tomorrow.

I finally got the cross bike built up after about 6 trips to the local bike shops and about 6 hours of labor. My productivity level went way down after I left the shop. It is amazing how slow you can become and clumsy you get with tools when you never use them. Kind of like your brain after sitting at a desk studying the Kreb's Cycle, I am fried!

On Sunday I hit up Folsom Park for some cross practice with the real Joey Thompson and Adam Snyder (not Schneider). They are both riding really well and it was hurting me to even hang. Finally after Joey attacked I hung on and attacked and got a small gap, but it wasn't easy and I blew shortly after. I am worried about my form going into Glouster. Whatever though?

Still no word yet on next year. Things are coming together though and I should know what I am doing before the end of the week. Stay tuned!

Fall Blaze

Durango at dusk!
The start of the Fall Blaze
The Danielson's, after Tom crushed me up Shalona. I wasn't really trying to hang though, yeah right!
3rd Ave., D-TOWN!!!!!

Today was the Fall Blaze fundraiser for the FLC Cycling team. It is in it's first year and after the turnout today it is definitely going to be an annual thing. I decided to go and show my support for the club that has helped develop so many of us riders in Durango. Thinking it was going to be a light turnout in it's first year. Only 300 people!! That is awesome. It was a huge success and I had a ton of fun riding with all the people who worship Danielson. It was good to catch up with Tom after his long season. His wife Kristin had an awesome season on the mtb NORBA series for her first year as a pro and was top 10 in the series. Watch out next season ladies!

As the gun went off I rolled out slowly and hung at the back thinking it would be a slow ride. Before I knew it I was getting spit out the back with Deez. I looked up ahead and saw that it was single file. Some of the new freshman were up front drilling it on the fundraiser ride. Nice job guys. Way to blow apart all the fun riders. There was a nasty headwind as we rolled out the valley. Soon I was on the front suffering trying to catch people. Tom was up there to as well as Velo News Jason Sumner. We were all complaining (yes, Imagine me complaining) about the headwind. By the time we got to Shalona it was time to bring back the kids who attacked the fun ride. Danielson shelled me easily up Shalona. It was a refresher of what it is like to watch him ride away from me. Bye Bye!

I finally got my cross stuff last night. I will throw up a picture of the bike when I get it al built up and completed. The new Sram Force stuff is light and trick. I can't wait to giver at Glouster. I haven't been feeling top notch lately, but that is kind of the plan, not to be peaking in the beginning. So when I get crushed next weekend don't be surprised. But if I am in the Top then be very surprised because it just means that I am going to get faster. I want to be fast at Nationals this year.

Anyway, got to go build up the bicycle. Thanks for stopping in, leave me a comment sometime, even if it is hate mail I am sure someone will get a kick out of it. Waiting to hear back from Colovita today! Should be good, Stay tuned!

I'm just livin the dream!

Fall in Durango
My Bro (Zach) Ripping the Colorado Trail
Jay Rush, starting to crack at the top
At the top of Dryfork/Colorado Trail, Silver Peak in snow!
Roosting it!

I have been roosting the mountain bike for the last few days. Thanks to dicky dub for loaning me his Kona Leroi. It is a pretty sweet bike and not bad for a full suspension. I hadn't been up on the Colorado Trail since last year. It was still covered in snow the last time I had a bike and it had been a while. It was ripping up there and the colors are perfect right now. Get up there while you still can if you are from the Durango area.

I rode out in the gulch today on the mtb bike. The gulch is about 2 minutes from my house and has some of the best riding around. Sick! I just cruised today, because I am feeling a little under the weather. School is starting to crack me and it is hard to recover from any hard training. Could be worse though, so I am just taking it in stride.

My cross bike showed up today. Just waiting for the parts that should be here by the end of the week and I will have a cross bike to throw down on this weekend hopefully. Glouster is next weekend. Gotta get some practice in on the bike.

Still not sure about next year. I am starting to get some offers though which is good. Talking to some more big teams that have lots of opportunity. It is looking like I will be racing on the road again next season. I am looking foreword to it already. It was hard at times, but a blast all around. That's all for now folks!

FLC Squawker Home Race

Shagman, Reigning STXC National Champ, needed Beer HeRE!
The Real Joey Thompson came out to throw down on the Cross bike, Scary Fast!
Caleb rode away from the B's, time to upgrade sandbagger!
Euro chick in the stxc sporting some cotton candy booties
Another FLC Woman, roosting the corner!

It was great to be a spectator of the Fort Lewis College short track instead of a participant. Lots of riders showed up to log some suffering junk miles. It was a gorgous day and the races were action packed. The Fort Lewis XC teams are unreal strong. They won everything today!

The men's A start was so fast and it reminded me of the suffering that I used to be good at. Alex Hagman got stuffed at the start and had to work his way back up. Too many beers on the town last night though and he was never in the lead group. Come on Shaggy! It was up to Eric Ransom and Joey THompson to do battle at the front of the race. They crossed the line holding hands I think. Joey looks strong on the cross bike and Ransom looked very comfortable as well.

Since I have no mountain bike of my own yet still, I borrowed one from Rick Wetherald. I haven't ridden the MTB since April. My god the trails were insanely good. I was out there for a couple hours killing all of my old trails in Horse Gulch. As I came back down Anasazi I saw a huge group of riders gathering in the meadow. Turns out I was just in time for the Men's A Super D. I haven't done one of these before so I decided I would line up and race with the collegiate boys. I had no number but whatever? It is a lemanz style start which was freaking crazy. After running to my bike I got out onto the trail in 5th place. Quickly I found myself in familiar territory right behind another veteran Chris Jung from CU who I have battled with many times. I was able to move past him on the last big climb and into the lead. I was sketch going through the downhills on a bike I had just gotten 2 hours before and since my mtb skills are a little rusty. None the less, I hung on for the win in the Super D. It was a 6 minute suffer fest but a hell of a good time!

Tomorrow is the X-C and I had not planned on racing. Although, I do have a bike now to borrow. It is a full suspension, but hey, it worked good today. What to do? To race or not to race? I have to go out and pre-ride at 7:45 in the morning for Hagen anyway, might be a good warm up. Hhmmmm?

Still no mountain bike of my own and no cross bikes. My first race is in two weeks so I am getting a little worried about lining up with the guns, no time on the old CX bikes and no time on the dirt. SKETCH! Whatever, it is all for fun anyway. Gotta go eat some more food.

Guess Who??

Who can it be??

Do you remember the 80's? I threw up a pick for all of you fans out there. Can you tell me who the guy is leaning in the doorway putting out the 80's vibe and talking to the drug dealer in the 80's addidas suit? Check out the stonewash jeans that are pegged at the bottom and the fanny pack. It is kind of hard to see the cut off collar on the sweat-shirt. He even has a beer in hand. I am not going to give you any hints because it is almost to easy to guess. Post your guesses in the comments section. I busted this picture out of the archives.

Still no mountain bike and I am losing my mind trying to stay excited about riding the road bike. How many valley loops are possible in one year? I think I have exeeded the maximum allowed quota in one year. Surely I am not even close to the record of some other cyclists who put in insane hours. Doing multiple valley loops is inevitable with the weather and it is one of the only flat rides around here.

Got word that the cross bikes are on the way and will be here next week. Sweet! I can't wait to rage on some trails in the gulch on the cross bike and throw down in Folsom park on the Wednesday cross rides. Speaking of cross rides, we are thinking of doing two rides this year. Maybe one on Thursday Afternoon?

I am still not sure what is going on for next season? Who will I be racinig for? Will I be retiring? Who knows? Maybe I can be as good as the guy in the stonewash jeans someday!

Freeze! Police!!!

Sean checks out some drunkie's license!
That would be a large shotgun
Busted!

Last week I did nothing after US Pro. I don't have any important races to do and my mountain bike isn't here yet. I ate, recovered, caught up on school work that I missed in the first week and drank some beers, allot of beers!

I went out on a ride along with my roommate who is a Durango Police Officer. It was a ton of fun. You don't even realize how stupid people are until you are actually listening to them mouth off, drive drunk, and just be dumb. I went on the night shift for a few hours and was out until 1 in the morning . Basically you jump in the car and cruise around all night. When you are driving around you run the radar allot looking for speeders and drunkies. We busted a bunch of college tools for open containers. They didn't stop lipping off, so they got tickets. Idiots! It was fun and if you thing being a cop is easy, do a ride along and watch all the shit they take. It is crazy.

I am tuning up for cross and tackling a ton of school. The cross schedule is not to demanding but looks like I will be traveling a little. Glouster will be my first stop. That's all I am cracked! Lame update, sorry!