Sunday, July 25, 2010

My how time fly's, flies...crap Idunno.


So, April was the last time I had the time, energy, or inspiration to write anything. Well, I've certainly had the inspiration, just lacking in the other two departments.
Where to begin...I guess I could start with the AJ officially leaving his Dad in the dust a few months ago  and CAT'ing up to a 2! And on his 18th birthday no less. It was something special to watch as the entire Pro 1-2-3 field sang Happy Birthday to mah boy before his very 1st race as a CAT 2 out at the Golden State Crit.
This past June AJ competed in his first ever Jr. National Championships up in Bend OR. (see pic <---)
AJ...Jr. Nats Bend OR...contemplating.
But I guess the biggest news, of course, is AJ making the 2010 Mid Atlantic Development Team for Le Tour de l'Abitibi which is basically the Tour De France of Jr. racing. Teams from all over the world will converge in the city of Val-d 'Or Canada in Quebec and compete in a 7 day stage race with no rest days.
The team is a composite squad put together from Jr.'s all over the nation. AJ submitted his race resume a few months back and lo and behold, he was chosen. He, along with 4 other boys from around the U.S. will join forces and race against the best Jr. racers from all around the globe. Sadly, Dad can't go with him, but it'll be good for the both of us... 

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Top Sport Stage race

Whew! What a weekend! It's been a difficult month or so of hard racing for me. I'd been watching the reg for this race and wasn't sure whether or not I was going to do it, but after watching teammates Judd, Dan, Robin, and Steve throw down in the P12's out at Land Park and Jones'n super hard to be out there with them...that, combined with Judd rolling up afterwards and pointing at me with a forceful, "You need to be out here with us!" then following it up with a, "Don't you want to help AJ out in the P12's too!?!" sort of jump started me in to seriously thinking about getting my upgrade points.


Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Madera Stage Race 2010

It's Friday afternoon and I found myself up in Auburn at Bicycle Emporium getting a 9th hour hookup from Bill "Bubba" Morengo on a TT rig for AJ. I'll save my PG-13 readers from posting his initial response to my asking if he'd be able to get it built and rolling in 2 hours. Funny though it may have been...it's the visual that would send it over the top. Bill, being the kinda guy that would send Sinatra back to wardrobe for an overcoat, gave me that disgusted "Uncle Vito" look, "Pshhhh" then hollered out to Nando, "Hey Nando, you wanna hook up your compadre here and build him a TT bike?" "Chure, no-prollem!" Nando says without skipping a beat. I've gotta tell you, without the help of a good hearted bike shop, those of us who race on a budget, would never be able to continue to do what we love to do.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Merco...uhm...Team Time Trial? :0/

"Crap! We forgot our water bottles bud!" We both stop pedaling and give each other that "oh shit" look. We coast, one hand on our bars and the other holding our spare wheels. I quickly surmise that the likelihood of us finding anyone willing to give us 4 bottles is slim. AJ's race starts 5 min. after mine. "We can come back and get them." I say, but figure there's no way we have enough time. I look over and see Chris Baker just mounting his rig, spares in hand and ask him how much time we have. "I think it's getting pretty close." He replies. Since he and I are in the same race, I ask if he can take my wheels to the sag car. "Yeah sure" so I hand them over and tell AJ to go on ahead and that I'd bring him his bottles. I turn and head back to the truck. "Now lets see, the last time I checked it was 8:38...that had to be about a half hour ago..." Whistle blows at 9:05..."SH!T!"

Saturday, March 6, 2010

"E-PEE-EYE-SEE!?!"


"E-PEE-EYE-SEE!?!" What kind of race/ride "qualifies" as an "Epic" one? Well, I guess it depends on what side of the handle bars you're looking from. I tend to be picky when it comes to awarding a ride with this badge of honor. The ride out in Bodega Bay last month with mah boy and the UCD Aggie Elite squad, 97 miles, King Ridge, Cruz Ranch, oodles of quad ripping climbs, on some of the most beautiful roads in Nor Cal, wind, rain, mud, in 5 hours...definitely earned the badge...maybe. Worlds Toughest Mt. Bike Race in 2004...90 miles, +13,000' of climbing, dislocated shoulder, piano player in the middle of nowhere up at Rubicon Springs, great friends, family meeting us half way and only seeing us for 5 min in the parking lot at Loon Lake, mah boy running along side us for the first 100m cheering us on as we continued and me having to tell him to turn back, hitting 52 MPH on a fat tire rig, in ? hours, insane ride home, lifelong friends...definitely earns the badge. This weekends festivities down in Snelling Ca., especially the early morning events, wind, rain, no less than 3 water crossings, mud, manure, debris all over the road, dodging moto refs and emergency vehicles at high speed, and loosing almost half of the field by the 3rd lap? Pin it!