Hike at Wilson Creek for Appalachian Ecology

Little Lost Cove Creek. "Hunt Fish Falls" and following swimming hole. 
The local "hot spot" for chillin' purposes for all the teenage Osteichthyes fishes. 
The most natural sauna I have ever seen. If only the water was 105 degrees instead of 50. Ohh well, maybe next time. I am sure at some point during the summer it gets close to 60.
I took this one for Sarah, of some sp. of Lepidoptera
The water is amazingly clear all along Little Lost Cove creek.
"Hunt Fish Falls"
More pictures to follow,

e

Summer Class

Well, this blog seems to have died, my fault. But I am in Banner Elk for a summer course...Appalachian Ecology. So, BE is not too hoppin' so I am back to blogging to pass the time. Maybe I am lucky enough to still have an occasional curious reader. 

But today we hiked around Wilson Creek, within the Pisgah National Forest, so I'll throw up some pictures of the hike tomorrow.

e

Anyone still read this??????

Well a lot has been going on since I last posted. I got through six weeks of base and wasn't having a good vibe, so I just finished taking 2 months off. So, more or less I am in the worst shape I have been in in umm, 5-6 years I guess haha. But riding is feeling good again, so I suppose everything will come back around in time.

During the downtime, I've been busy trying to wrap up other aspects of my life and open new ones. My time at Lees McRae is wrapping up, and I will finish up in the fall with a major in Psychology and a minor in Biology. In December I am going to do my internship in Uruguay. 

Then I'll start applying to graduate schools. I am mostly interested in Appalachian States Biology program. It's nerve racking and exciting all at once, I will be glad when it is a done deal. 

Everyone knows text posts aren't too exciting, so I'll get together some pictures over the next fews days and post. Peas,

e 

yep, it's that time again

Sunday: San Diego, CA, 74 degrees

Monday: Asheville, NC, 42 degrees

Tuesday: Banner Elk, NC, 19 degrees

FANTASTIC!!!

California

I've been in California for a week, staying with C-dub. The weather has been great, and certainly better than in North Carolina. So, we've been riding a lot to take advantage of it before we head back to the east coast for the spring semester. We spent a few days in San Diego, and now we're in Warner Springs. Which to me, is the desert. Riding is a little harder here, it is really dry and feels warmer than it is. But tomorrow we head back to San Diego for one last day, before our flight on monday.

I am about to start my last two semesters of college, and luckily this semester doesn't look to daunting. So, hopefully I will have more time to ride and race than I did last semester.

I will try and get some pictures up soon, since text posts are not too interesting.

addio,

e

just an update

Well I haven't posted in an eternity it seems. I've had to devote a lot of energy to school this semester. I am still in the process of working out a team for next year. I should have the final word in the next weeks.

I've been in the weight room a little bit, and on the bike a little bit. training will prick up a lot as soon as december rolls around.

I'd like to thank the Capri-Foundation and Joe Carpisassi for everything last season.

til next time

e

tour de toona report: a really GOOD day

well it's old news by now, but heres the official toona report. me and carson drove up to altoona pa and took part in the 3-stage cat2 race. We drove up a day in advance so we could ride the 9 hour drive out of our legs. so we explored nearby duncansville and holidaysburgs. stage was is a super fast, rolling course mainly through a bunch of fields, but you come through a residential area for the start finish, so theres six 90 degree turns in the last km. i crashed with three turns to go last year in the rain when someone slide out, so i decided to try and conserve and get up there if the oppertunity presented itself. i got through the stage well, but a lot of those guys take that race extremely seriously, and despite several attempts, getting good position leading into the last km wasn't going to happen without really getting aggressive. so i stuck to the flat and cruised in, in 51st i think.

stage two is a beast that goes over blue knob ski resort, with a total of four 5km climbs, all in the last 35 miles. blue knob ended my hopes last year, and it took everything i had this year as well, i really struggled the first 2km, and had to claw my way up, and bridge several dropped groups, and had a really good final km, and went over the top in the third group, 10 seconds behind the second group of 12, and 20 seconds behind the leading group of 18 or so. I had a teammate, Rob Mcconnville with me, and our group worked well together thankfully, and we bridged to the second group within a few miles, and then quickly rejoined the leaders. this made the lead group about 45 riders strong, so we dispensed of a good 40 riders on blue knob. the next two climbs are a true 5km, and aren't as steep and blue knob. the second climb starts really gradual, and then the last km really kicks up and again, i suffered a lot on the steeper section, but made it over in the group, and we lost another 4-10 guys. the third climb is almost identical, gradual intro and ended with a brutal final km, i felt great on this climb and rode comfortably in the top 10 across the top. this is when all the training in Banner Elk starts to pay off i guess haha. a 6 man break got away somewhere first before the third climb and was maintaining a 40 second gap across it, and into the valley, and by the final climb, they had 2 minutes. the lead group was down to about 30 tired guys, the pace on the final climb didn't pick up until the final 3km when we went through 20km to go, a couple guys attacked and really stretched out the group, and instantly put some riders into the red. i surprisingly handled the acceleration well, despite having a hard time with that all year. the final km, like the previous climbs, the road kicked up a bit, and i feel like everyone was on the rivet, and a few guys were driving it, and it was really stretching out and i made the desicion to conserve since it was going to be a very select group for the sprint, i'd take my chances there. across the top there is a nice extended plateau through a small village and come guys hammer across, and i took two really hard pulls too to try and keep anyone from rejoining before the decent. after that, there is a 12km decent to the line, and the group was down to 21 riders. the sprint is really wide, 4 lanes, and very slightly downhill aka not my thing, but i was pretty confident, there were some attacks in the final km but nothing was going to get away, the sprint was pretty drawn out and chaotic, and i didn't judge it well, and only managed 8th from the group, slotting me in 15th overall. which despite the reality of the potential 7th i was sprinting for, i am really pleased with since last year i got dropped on blue knob and finished 64th. i find myself a lot, debating aggressive vs conservation, i have chosen conservation a lot this year it seems, because i've been subjected to some big races like tour of virginia and u23 nats where i have been racing over my head. and i feel that generally i can out climb the sprinters, and out sprint the climbers, but can't match the purists of any disipline. looking back at the blue knob race, i wish i'd of driven it up the final climb and worked the group down to 7-8 riders and sacrificed my sprint. but it is easy to say things like that looking back. there is always next year.

we rolled into downtown altoona for the stage three criterium, 20 minutes before our start, for no other reason than we are really lazy haha. but we got ready and got to the line, and took off with no warmup. luckily after two killer days in the saddle, you're pretty open and warmed up anyway. so i made and plan to stay where i was, in the back, and ride for 6 laps to get warmed up before i started moving forward. this worked out well, and ten laps in, i was sitting in the top 25. but much like the technical circuit race friday, the locals were taking huge risks in the corners, something i was a little hesitant to do. but it's the last day, i'm young and heal fast right? so the last five laps were crazy and i was determined to get up there and contest it, i worked my way into about 25th wheel and there was a small crash in the final corner before 3 laps to go, i got through it really cleanly on the inside, and had to close a 2 second gap, but the chaos moved me into about 10th wheel. i haven't previously mentioned that i had nursed a broken seat rail through the circuit race and road race, that i broke on our ride in holidaysburg before the start. well literally over the line with 2 laps to go, the other one broke! so the nose of my seat went down, and was only being held on by the railings behind the clamp, so i could sit my weight really far back on the seat in the turns and then had to stand through the straights. anyone that rides knows, two laps of mostly standing kills you haha, but i suffered through it and only lost ten spots and finished 21st i believe.

so it wasn't a tremendous weekend results wise, but overall i am really pleased with how it went. I got through safely after crashing twice last year. and improved greatly on my position each day and overall. and just as important, this race was really fun and altoona is an cool litlte town.

I just got moved in up at school, and will enjoy one more free weekend before the collegiate mtb season starts. and the search for a new team begins as well. some small negotiations have come up, but nothing serious by any means. hopeully something will work out. til next time,

e

uno mais foto espoir nationales

Espoir Nats and French Broad Classic

The finish of the tim trial at u23 nationals, it went okay. The course was open and wide and straight, with four turn-arounds! and it was fairly windy aka not really my kinda time trial but I think I managed 63rd. The most frustrating thing was that I couldn't line up at TT helmet, it kinda sucks not to have the proper equipment for nationals but whatever.
Mr Tollesson navigating the third turn-around. I was his minute man, so needless to say, I eventually saw him out on the course. Felt like the old LMC days!
Me negotiating the third turn-around, not to stoked about having to start the sweet slight grade without precious momentum haha.
In the start house. Ready to rock.

The road race went ok as well, I don't have any pics unfortunately but I managed to get through in the second group, in 81st place. Not stellar, but I was pleased to have finished and have a vibe that I was getting back on track.

My home race in Asheville was last weekend, the French Broad Cycling Classic. The time trial was brutally windy for the early starters, which included me, because I was too lazy to register early haha. So I was on a great pace until the turnaround, but didnt have the power to fight the headwind, and only ended up beating my time from last year by 1 second. But, my placing was higher...15th. I felt GREAT in the road race, "no chain" as Hincapie says. But in almost identical fashion to last year, I got a little excited and instead of waiting for the field sprint, I attacked with 1km to go...and got caught 50m from the line, sucked, but the reality of racing bikes. there was a break off, so it was only for 5th anyway. But it is frustrating to feel so good in front of your home crowd and not come up with the goods. But it's only one race after all. I ended up 15th, again. I'll just keep hoping one year they decide to make the race longer. please. haha. The course is really flat, and I actually really like it a lot, I do time trial practice on the exact loop that we raced. But unfortunately, when the course is easy, I need it to be long to really excel. One day...I'll win it.

The crit is a super tough course that I managed a very good result at last year, but this time around it was a suffer fest, there is a really sharpe turn before the climb, so you hit the climb at like 10mph and have to sprint up it every lap, and it worked me over pretty good. I couldn't do much more than sit in and survive. Amazingly....15th place, yes, again. Worst case senario, I can call my weekend performance consistant haha.

I am In Altoona PA right now, for the Tour de Toona. I'll do a TdT post as soon as it's over and I get some pics. Stay tuned

e

the new mtb

this is my new mountain bike, i just got it built this weekend. BMC aluminum frame, carbon rear triangle, cane creek zonos wheels, sid race, avid juicy brakes, filled out with xtr and sram x.o. weighs in at 22.8 lbs.

if i can get the engine in a little better shape maybe it can do some damage this fall on the collegiate circuit.

3 weeks?

well i've got three weeks of race-free atmosphere. my ribs are doing better, but i am going to have to pass on the Soto Memorial stage race, which sucks because it was one of my goals, but life goes on. i had a free weekend scheduled after that anyway, which fits my three week "no racing" period the docs conjured up. so i'll get going again June 6th at the TT at Lowes Motor Speedway, then the Roan Mountain RR June 9th. I'll try and get some fotos up since text posts aren't too exciting.

bustED

well. the road race went like this: flatted on 1.5 mile gravel sector first thing. got a wheel, in the pack, no biggie. Felt good, entered the feedzone 8th wheel, got a feed, while my hand was still off my bar someone tapped my front wheel, i over corrected and crashed, landed on my bike and a few guys piled ontop of me. got the wind knocked out of me, some bruising on my chest and back, nothing much. bent my frame, broke my front shifter. dnf.

yesterday i went and talked to a doctor cause my chest was giving me some trouble. word is i crushed some of the cartilidge that connects my ribs to my sternum. GREAT. but not much i can do other than load up on ibprofen and rest, it's supposed to hurt for three weeks. bummer. so i have some uninvited restdays coming up, but shouldn't affect any races, since i wasn't scheduled to race this weekend anyway. and i still plan on lining up at the Soto Memorial stage race May 25-28.

Team Time Trial

the first event of collegiate nationals is in the books. it was mildly successful. one of our girls flatted at about the halfway point which is terrible luck, but they rode well to seventh place in DI.

by the time the guys lined up it was super hot. our team hadn't done much training together prior to the last few days but we worked pretty well together we just didn't go fast enough, we rode the hills pretty well but on the final five miles of flat we were struggling. when we finished we had the third best time posting 24:50, but fell to 13th by the end of the day. I was the only returner from last years national championship team and i think i should of been able to carry more of the weight on my shoulders this year but it was a good learning experience and something to build off of since we'll have all four guys back next year. ttt life is a little harder when you don't have Bookwalter buring it at 32 for extended periods of time. we're sitting 8th overall in the team omnium right now, not where we wanted, but out best events are to come, so we'll take another look after tomorrows road race.

we'll be back next year to contest for the win.

the road race is going to be super dynamic. part of the course is flooded so they are re-routing us across 1.5 miles of gravel. it is going to be crazy, that section is just after the 1.25 mile dam we have to ride across, with only a nice hill inbetween them. that section will make the race.

Channel 6 Interview: Collegiate Road Nationals

watch my interview here

Eve of TTT

another day in kansas in the books. early this morning we indulged in some continental breakfast, then the mens and womens TTT teams piled into the bus and drove the course. Then we came back to the hotel and got dressed, drove back to the course and rode it twice. we did two ten minute efforts with the team, rotating at 80%. Then we did two 4 minute max cadence efforts to get the legs good and open. I feel pretty good, and the team looks solid. we should have a good ride.

we then ate at chipotle, aka i walked to subway haha. and then we went to the host hotel and took care of registration, which went very smoothly and fast for such an event. i was impressed. and while we were there i got interviewed by channel 6 news which was kind of cool, it airs tonight so i'll get to see how pro and diplomatic i can pretend to be. still no fotos but i am working on it.

over and out

KANSAS

well after 14 hours of driving the LMC team has made it to Lawrence Kansas. We just went out and rode for 2 hours, the TTT did some rotating and practiced a few turn arounds. The legs feel pretty good, but not great after all the driving. The TTT is friday and the RR is sunday, then i get to help the guys that are doing the criterium on sunday. more updates to follow and i'll try and get some fotos as well.

Lowe's Motor Speedway Time Trial

the LMC team made the drive down the charlotte for the TT. the orignial plan was for us to do Team Time Trial practice and me not race, but we didn't get there early enough to do practice, so i decided to race since i was there. it went okay, all seven laps were within 3 seconds of each other. official results aren't up yet, but i have me at 20:28 unofficially. that's 1:10 faster than i did last year, and it is only early May, that has to be a good sign?

TOV

well my Tour of Virginia adventure ended on the third stage. I had a dissappointing TT, where i just couldn't get my legs rolling for a 3.6 mile effort. In the stage 2 crit, I felt great just sat in on the difficult course and finished same time, just as planned which moved me up 23 places on GC. Stage 3 was a road stage with three categorized climbs, two cat 3s, then a cat 1. I made it over the first climb okay, near the back but not in the red. then there were at least two climbs that weren't categorized that sure felt like they should of been, and I was wearing down and dropped off the back on the second one. then managed some very uneffective use of the caravan to try and get back into the pack, blew a lot of energy and got dropped for good. a teammate wasn't too far behind and me and him chased until the second feed zone at 85 miles, where we were already 25 minutes down, with a cat 1 climb remaining, so knowing we we're destined to make the time cut, we loaded up into the team car.

it was pretty dissappointing but i've got way too much left on the agenda to dwell on it. so, one weekend of local stuff to get the legs moving then off too Lawence kansas for Collegiate Nationals where I will race the TTT and the RR. Then it is straight to Russellville Arkansas for Tri-Peaks Stage Race, then straight to Nashville for the Soto Memorial Stage Race. Then there will surely be some rest and family time, and time with my beautiful sarah beth. Then i can plan out the second half of the season.

addio

Conference Championships

riding da bike
sometimes you just have to go solo for a while just to show everyone you can


watching the morning racing with a lil buddy, that i officially named Ewok

what a bear

conference was fun, but it is nice to be back. loading the truck up tomorrow to drive up to lexington VA for the Tour of Virginia.

Lee's McRae Collegiate weekend

(L to R) Spencer Beamer, Scott Sewart and me, catching and dispensing of the break one by one on the climb up hw 194.

well, a little rest the last two weeks and the legs are coming, as all the work is starting to pay off. This weekend was a lot of fun. I got to do my first climbing race of the year, to test out what the numbers in training were saying about my form. it was 48 degrees and threatening rain, misty and foggy. quite epic. 6 laps with your standard avery county portions of climbing.

we let a 7 man break roll at the start, and were content to stay conservative. but the climbs and the technical decents shreaded the lead group down to 8 riders after 2.5 laps. LMC had four there, Scott Stewart, Carson Worts, Kevin Holdber and myself. we kept the pace solid for another lap when on the 3 mile climb Scott, Spencer Beamer and myself went off on our own. The gap to the leader was too much to worry about, but there were people inbetween to be caught and of course, Spencer to deal with. next lap on the same climb Scott and I started attacking him and finally I got clear and stretched out a 15 second gap, and scott dropped Spencer at the top. I waited on Scott on the following technical decent and we worked together, or basically he pulled me around another lap and a half haha. but the last two laps it started raining really hard and my legs got really cold and went from feeling "no chain" to unfunctional in the matter of one decent. we had caught all but 3 of the break, and while 5th on the road i called it a day. I was freezing and got everything I wanted out of the race, some TOV prep and some confirmation of how my climbing is looking. I was really happy to be in the three man group with two VMG/Nat'l Team guys, and to be able to cut it down to an LMC only chase group late in the race and on the biggest climb after pulling everyone else around for 3 hours.

Next weekend is Conference Championships at Vanderbilt, then it is quickly back to school, then off to Tour of Virginia on monday. not to mention the masses of homework I have to do inbetween now and then.

easter break fotos

me and sarah before i went out to ride
sarah and lil sadie
my dads crazy project
carson and me posing for some fotos
and some knitting
and of course my lil sister, annabelle

3 steps of collegiate racing

1. Bike Racing: Luke Winger (LMC), me (LMC) and Spencer Beamer (Furman/VMG) lapping the field in the Criterium at UGA.

2. Sleeping after bike racing: that is a sweet van you might say

3. anddd...eatting after sleeping after bike racing: this is actually after eatting too, but whatever. downing some ruut beer.

carson and me posing for some fotos

Donaldson Center RRs

Well saturday was sunny and warm in Greenville sc, and windy to the point of being rediculous. The wind made the race really hard. And a sweet pothole took out 4 of our guys, what bad luck is that! A break got off the front again just like last week and stuck til the end. I have to thank Dan and Rob for helping me through the last couple of laps and allowing me to be up there in the field sprint to finish 14th overall.

After the injuries throughout the team sent a couple teammates home, we were left with only three guys, and after Lucas flatted, only two to contest the finish. sunday was good weather, and still windy, but not nearly like the day before. Jason did an awesome job keeping me out of trouble and toward the front, he got me up into the top ten wheels for the sprint which i finished third in, but unfortunantely there was a break that stuck again, so I was 9th overall.

A pretty solid start to the season, I am very happy with how my Banner Elk form has worked out in these early races. The sprinting is coming around, if only there was a climbing race soon, ugh. Now I get to rest up and enjoy a few weekends of the collegiate scene.

Spring Series

Well, I finally got the racing legs going last weekend at the Greenville Training Series. Saturday went okay, I felt really good but the team still has some kinks to workout, but all in time. The field was all together with one lap to go, which lead to a crazy final lap. 8 guys got off the front and stayed away and everyone else contested the field sprint, where my teammate Justin Beard finished second, and I got sixth, putting us 10th and 14th overall. So a solid start to the season, the legs felt good, that's all that matters at this point. Sunday was cold and rainy, so I opted to stay home and sleep rather than partake.

Recovery Riding

nothing like ending a good three day block with a recovery ride in the rain.

W

Me and Carson W made the drive down to Raliegh this weekend for the second round of the Winter Series at the Wake County speedway. I am still feeling the lagging effects of being sick which is really a bummer. But the field was small and the team got to practice rotating and try a leadout for the sprint. All the guys did an awesome job and I was able to win the sprint. It was fun to go through the motions of a leadout in a small race, because we'll need to have that experience in order to do so in bigger races coming up. Baby steps to bigger things...

Banner Elk: 16 degrees, feels like 4 (weather.com)

Great.

Base Endurance Ride: Mount Mitchell State Park

Chart courtesy of my CycleOps Power Tap SL. This ride was from Asheville to Mt Mitchell and back via the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Some Stats:

• duration 5:55
• miles 85.4
• avg watts 216
• avg hr 140
  

and the season rolls near...

Finishing up my VO2 max and lactate threshold testing. and my 2007 race schedule is taking shape...

• January 27 Winter Series Criterium
• February 3rd Winter Series Criterium
• February 4th January Nationals
• Feb 16-18 Valley of the Sun
  
• Feb 24-25 Spring Training Series #1
• March 3-4 Spring Training Series #2
• March 10-11 Ga Tech Collegiate
• March 24-25 Charlotte Crits/FSU
• March 31-1 Greenville Omnium
• April 14-15 LMC Collegiate
• April 21-22 SECCC Conference Finals
• April 24-29 Tour of Virginia
• May 4 Town Mountain Hill Climb TT
• May 5-6 Wake Habitat Cycling Challenge
• May 10-14 Collegiate National Championships
• May 17-20 Tri-Peaks Stage Race
• May 25-28 Edgar Soto Memorial Stage Race
• June 9-10 Roan Mountain Road Race
• June 15-17 Race for Kids/Second Testing at ECU
• June 28-1 Fitchburg Longsjo Classic
• July 5-15 Espoir National Championships
• July 20-22 French Broad Cycling Classic
• July 23-27 Tour de Toona
• July 30-Aug 5 Crossroads Classic Criterium Series
• Aug 6-sept 8 Cycling Center Hertsberge Belgium
  

Human Performance Lab at ECU

The Capri Foundation Elite Cycling Team gathered in Greenville NC to get our VO2 Max, Lactate Threshold, Body Fat % and some bio metrics stuff analyzed. It was a super fun experience and a chance to ride with all the guys. Our training camp kicks off this week, friday-monday in Asheville NC.

I am also excited to be working with a coach this season, previously of AEG-Jet Networks Pro Cycling Team, Hugh Moran. I think it will be an awesome experience and a good relationship.

It is only about 5 weeks until my first race of the Year: Valley of the Sun stage race in Arizona, February 14-16.

til next time

me

haha my sweet team headshot. no real reason to post it, except i am trying to get a picture into my profile, and this one might fit the stupid size requirements.

The Capri Foundation Elite Cycling TEAM

This is the team and the staff that make it all work. Also, the team website is up and functioning a little more each day, check the link over in the right hand column.

off season happenings

well, i jumped the ship and turned 21. and me being a lover of greens, the popular gift was mountain dew. here's my stock by the nights end. my friends pretty much rock. and no, i haven't been sleeping well haha.

also did some pumpkin carving with sarah. it turned out to be terrifying mind you.


the Capri-Foundation Elite Cycling Team had our kick off meeting october 28th, and despite the chaos, me and lovely found some oppertunities for some foto opts.

over and out

Well, this season is a wrap. I am enjoying a nice October with no training and a little recreational riding. Although, per usual, I will most likely dabble in some cyclocross races, so I will do some updates along the way.

i miss her so

LMC MTB Weekend

Another MTB weekend in the books. Here is our A mens lineup shortly after the 2 hour mudfest was over. The team had a great weekend, and I managed some lesser placing, 3rd in short track and 6th in cross country. But with the tidal wave of allergy related problems I have had the last couple of weeks, I am just glad I could race.

Team News

Well, I can finally announce that I will be riding for the Capri Foundation Elite Cycling Team next year. Which will take on its official name after all the team sponsors are released. This is a first year team based out of central North Carolina. More news to come.

Ga Tech Short Track

Some racing action from the weekend...
...smoking some short track...
...which really didn't go that well, 6th I think. Which is dissapoiting, but tomorrow is another day and another race.

Collegiate MTB at ETSU

Well my first mountain bike endeavor since nationals last october haha. And I am happy with how it went for the most part. As you can see above, I dabbled in the DH for a few extra conference points. This roadie kept it real in 15th. Then later I had a really dissapointing TT, it felt good and fast but I only managed 6th. Then way later in Short Track I was able to secure second behind a flying Scott Stewart. So I was really pleased with that result.

Then Sunday, in XC a lead group of four established in the first lap which I was in. But early in the second lap I lost contact but held on to 4th spot until the finish, which I was pleased with.

A little more time on the mountain bike to brush up the technical skills, and we'll see what happens.

Straight Gangster or Just Plain Stunning?

Well there's not really much racing news to speak of, I just thought everyone should see what me in Andy "cowboy" Evans hat looks like.

Back to Banner Elk

Here's one of my new favorite pics. Finally have some racing on the horizon, a TT at the Lowes Motor Speedway tomorrow. Hopefully the legs will be ready for that. The frequent climbing here in Banner Elk is surprisingly feeling good.

And everyone should check this out http://ebaumsworld.com/2006/07/faintinggoats.html

...it won't dissapoint.

Eds Movie Review: Talladega Nights

Well Stu wanted it, so here it is: my review of ricky bobby. The instant the quote "i am all jacked up on mountain dew" hit my ears I loved this movie and it is the best movie my eyes have ever caught in their reflection. Well not quite but still, it was kicking and I highly recommend it to everyone. It's defenitly stacked with one liners, so I think a few viewings are in order to totally embrace the retardness of the movie that the guys on the LMC cycling team will likely over- embrace on every ride for the next 4 months.

Track Racing? Why?

Well its been a while since I did an update...I did the crossroads classic this week, which is a criterium series that runs thursday to sunday. I had a lot of fun but no results. My back is still giving me a little trouble from my crashes in Altoona, which doesn't work out to well in fast crits, but I should be good to go now that I can do some low key training for a few days. Haha so wednesday I think I am going to race on the track! I don't know how that will pan out since I have never raced there before. I am doing the points race, so I'll do an update after that.

No Belgium

This decision was made about a week ago, but I am not going to make it to Belgium this year. I might do another post about it later.

Another Crash and back to NC

Well the criterium was pretty sweet. The pace was solid. and there was a "s" turn the people decided to crash in about every third lap. Eventually my ticket was up i suppose. With 9 laps to go, two guys crashed there, and i had to go to the outside and centered up the haybails stacked up against the barrier just past the corner. So luckily made it without any "on the ground" action, took a free lap, jumped back into the action and that same lap ended up bridging to a 4 man break. I am sure the officials were stoked to see that haha. So, the break ended up being 9 guys with 7 laps to go, and almost functioned but not quite and we got caught with 3 laps to go.

Overall the race was cool, but my luck was anything but helpful, but i will be back next year for sure and have another go at it.

a Crash and a Snowball

Well i started out my ventue in Altoona PA with a nice little crash. The whole circuit race was out on country roads, but came into town and through a residential area to finish, with six 90 degree corners in the last km. It had been raining slightly, just enough to make the roads wet. So everyone battled it out over the 5 km before town for the top 15 wheels, I take the first corner about 10th wheel, make it through the second in the same position but not without some thrown elbows to keep it, and third corner, maybe 400m to the line, the guy in front of me slides out, and i just watch him, making sure i get through inside if him, and BAM i slide out just the same, come to a stop and look back to make sure no one is going to hit me, they don't. and I remount and ride in an amazing 1:41 down in only 400m. I grinded my hip pretty good, and just a little on my arm, knee and hand. but the nights sleep was difficult and today that crash sort of snowballed into a bad stage 2. I had good position when we hit the first climb up to Blue Knob ski resort, about 26 miles in. the climb wasn't too bad really, but stair stepped the whole way, and the steep parts were steep, and I drifted out of my top 15 wheels slowly to the back of what was already a 30 man lead group after the first 2km of the climb, and my hip didnt really hurt, but apparently i was compensating for it somewhat with my left leg, because my lower back got super tight and my power output went to crap and I didn't make it over the first climb with the leaders and rode the rest of the race in what was the third group, of 11 guys. Not a good day to say the least, seeing as i had winning this one in the back of my mind when i drove up here. It came down to a sprint from 20 guys, thats almost ideal for me. So that makes it even more dissapointing, and now i am not really looking forward to tomorrows criterium, because i don't think these people know how to ride there bike much less race through downtown, oh well.

Tour de Toona Points Race

Well I am heading up to PA tomorrow for the cat2 points race. Wish me luck and I will try and do updates from each stage.

FBCC Criterium

Well a good weekend came together today. I had great legs, nothing hurt, I always had more if I needed it. I desperately wanted a field sprint, but it was too much to control, and the teams weren't strong enough. Thad Dulin (Nerac) had a nice ride and lapped the field, assuring the win. While Darby Harris (Hearns) and Brandon McKeever (Hincapie Bianchi) got away with two other riders late in the race and stayed away. Sooo, I got the field sprint I wanted, too bad it wasn't for the win, but I won it and wrapped up 6th place. I was happy with that, I mean I really wanted to win one of the FBCC races this year, but I am still pleased with the weekend. My first Pro Am win is not far away...

FBCC Road Race

81.5 Miles, 11 laps, mostly flat and fast with two climbs. A three man break got clear early and built up a solid lead of 2:00, but that fluctuated down to a minute on a few occaisons when the field really hit the climb solidly. The pace wasn't too bad but it was hot out and that slowly wore on everyone, and late in the race a couple of singe riders and a group of two bridged to the break which was sitting only 1:00 off the front of the pack. As far as I know there were seven riders in front at that point, with 3 laps to go. The pace was solid on the smaller of the two climbs and there were a few attacks on the gradual downhill off the backside and I was sitting second wheel going through a right hand turn as we switched roads, and this was where the riders crept off in the previous laps, so I attacked out of the corner, got a gap and put my head down, its kind of rolling and curvy but very fast. I managed to get out of sight and could actually see the lead group pretty quickly. I made it within 0:25 of the break and looked back and saw four more riders coming, so I eased off and we quickly caught the group on the next lap, putting 12 riders in the lead. Just inside of one lap to go, 3 more riders bridged across including Justin England, so that more or less assured that we wouldn't get caught. The pace wasn't too bad the last time up the final climb, no one attacked, so a 14 man sprint. Justin attacked with 800m to go and everyone covered that, and maybe 450m to go I countered, got a slight gap, sat down and put my head down and ramped it up with all I had and BAM the legs locked up almost immediately with cramps. I had to stop pedalling almost immediately and unclip and dangle my legs toward the ground. Kind of unfortunante, but thats racing. I don't think I should have made that move anyway, I should have been confident enough in my sprint to be patient and wait for that. I liked the course, I ride those roads a lot. Again, I miss the priveledge of teammates like I have in the collegiate races. But overall, I was happy that I got myself into the winning situation, even if coasting across the finish line in 14th is quite far from what I had in mind. Tomorrow is another day and another race, and the legs are good, so we'll see what happens.

FBCC Time Trial

20km Time Trial: flat, fast, out and back course, ever so slightly uphill going out, with just a touch of wind. It was really very nice conditions that were condusive to fast times. I did a PR of 26:43, which slotted me 14th in the Pro12 field. I am pleased with the time, which was 37 seconds faster than last year. It's just a confidence factor more or less, because I am much more interested in tomorrows Road Race and sundays Criterium. My Lee's McRae College teammate, Preston Anderson smashed the course in 27:12, claiming 6th in the Cat3 field.

my lovely sarah

Well I couldn't update without throwing in a picture and Sarah is gone to Europe for a few weeks and I miss her! So I figured this one was perfect.

Keep checking back for some race reports, hopefully the good kind

French Broad Cycling Classic

well, it's that time of year...this is the asheville omnium, and the locals usually like to hold down the fort and I am no different.

All the courses are flat this year, a little too flat but it's that way for everyone and everyone says they can climb so it really doesn't matter, and the same people say they can sprint (hmm...i think i say that?). I'd say a field sprint in the road race is likely or a suicide early break, but we'll see what happens, that part of the world can serve up some stiff wind so who knows?

I'll try and do reports for each day. and hopefully get some pics up as well.

Italia!!!

Well the World Cup wrapped up yesterday. It was a interesting game, both goals in the first 19 minutes, then nothing else through regulation and both overtimes. I have to say I was pulling for the US haha but apparently we are all talk and no walk. And past that I was pulling for Germany. But given the finals I was pulling for Italia, the cyclist in me could not allow me to pull for France. I am glad Italy won, but I have to say France dominated the game as far as possession and shots on goal. And I consider myself a Zidane fan but I mean his "head butt" manuveur falls slightly outside of what I call classy or professional. Despite his actions being unsportsmanlike and uncalled for, you have to admit it was pretty impressive, I mean he levelled the Italian guy completely. PKs in the World Cup was pretty exciting and I am glad that sorted it out, because sudden death would have taken forever because everyone was pretty much dead. But anyway, congrats to Italy, as well as Germany for winning the consolation game.

Downtown Lenoir Criterium

Well I finally got back into the groove today and raced my bike for the first time in....umm three weeks. Thats quite a long break in competition and I felt it slightly, feeling a little "off" in my technical cornering, etc. but the legs felt solid, and I felt fresh. There was solid money up for grabs, so some pros show up, a few AEG guys, a Toyota United guy, and a few Nerac riders, and a Successful Living guy, plus all the normal regional fast dudes. So I tryed to get into the break that I knew would go early with all those guys in it. But the unfortunante reality is without teammates, I can't be everywhere at once. So I covered the move right before the one that stuck, and missed it. Seven guys rolled off, and lapped the field. In that chaotic mess, three of those guys got off the front again along with four new riders, basically putting 11 riders up the road. Long story short, I conserved well and won the field sprint for 12th comfortably, which put me nicely into the money. Overall I was happy with how things went, but the race does make me appreciate the awesome teammates I have in the collegiate races in the spring. Sorry no pics from the race, I'll work on getting some up soon.

They Might Be Rockstars?

this is my new favorite summer pic.

while i am on this update topic, finally a race on the horizon. i am doing a criterium in Lenoir saturday, so I'll do a post after that. til next time,