Monday, December 29, 2008

Diegem

Well i think i mite have just had my best race in euroland yet.  I ended up 24th 2:55 down at diegem last night.  It is always nice when the people you are riding with actually have fans all around the course.  I was only 30 seconds off 16th place which was an awesome result for me.  I was really racing not just riding around.  The course was amazing as always in diegem and was under the lights which just made it a step up.  I even got call a douche during the race.  That always makes u feel good.  With the late race i wasn't able to sleep which sucked.  I was up until 3 a.m. just watching seinfled after seinfled and reading chapter upon chapter of my book.  This morning i woke up went out for a spin got a massage from the fox and laid around all day.  Tomorrow it is time to pin up the number again and do battle with the euros one more time.  Hopefully i will have good legs and maybe have a great ride.  We will see..

Friday, December 26, 2008

Quick Update

Ended up 35th today in the world cup in zolder. I was stoked with the result i had a couple problems and didnt have amazing legs but all and all a good day. I dropped my chain with just about 4 laps to go and lost my group and had to give it everything i had to get back. After i got back i was in the hurt locker forshooow but was able to hold on until half a lap to go but than it was lights out. It would have been nice to win the group and end up 28th on the day but i will take 35th 3:20 down. The course was super fast with a couple technical sections. I almost TKO myself when i was trying to come back to the group going down the major descent on the course no brakes ended up in a full on drift at the bottom with my bars T up. It was one of those moments u see your life flash before your eyes and just think this is going to hurt. After the race you could tell 20000 spectators watched the race considering it took an hour to go 3K to the highway. Tomorrow is an off day with maybe a coffee shop ride with a opener or two to get the legs ready for diegem on sunday under the lights. I'm sure i will also find a couple things to make fun of shriver and the fox about also. Andrew is definitely the easiest person to pick on it is like shooting fish in the barrel with him. Hopefully i will get some good photos from mario of todays race that maybe i can post tomorrow.

Life at the house!!


Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Merry Christmas

So it is christmas day and im currently in izegem getting ready for the world cup in zolder tomorrow. I can't wait to get the racing underway since i've been here for 6 days without much going on. The training feels good i think todd and i made the right call taking a little break after natz b/c im motivated to race and my legs arent tired anymore. So the number will be pinned on 4 more times in the next 7 days and than it is on the plane and back to the U.S. for a day than Alison and I meet up with Todd and Meg in mexico. It sure does look alot nicer there than here let me tell you. But i actually did see the sun today which was nice change. It had been alittle over a week up until today that is a long time when you are use to living in D-town. So on tuesday i went to brugge with matter and shriver. It was a cool afternoon trip and a good way to get out of the house. On wednesday we hit up the tour of flanders museum which was awesome to see but all i really wanted to do was take a nap. Museum seem to have that affect on me. Last night Els put together a great meal for christmas even and santa claus even showed up. I got a picture taken with him on the fox's camera maybe i can get it from him at some point. So here are some pics from the trip to brugge.



Sunday, December 21, 2008

Belgium

Well i made it over here with out any problems.  It is nice to be back in belgium and see the fox ells noel and the rest of the staff.  Also kicking it with everyone else who is over here for the camp.  Rooming with shriver and brian matter.  Shrivers didn't have anything show up so he was trying to rock the clif kit for the last couple of days.  He thinks he is big time now.  Besides from that just trying to get use to the euro life again, it has been a 2 years.  I did a small race today more for an effort than anything else.  I was looking forward to taking an entire weekend off from racing but it is way easier to do part of a race instead of trying to do a effort out on the roads by yourself.  So i raced for about a half an hour and was definitely feeling the jet lag.  I have a couple good stories about my flight over here so i'll leave you with one.  So i ran to my connection in DC.  Made it with close to no time to spare.  Get in line and a guy rolls up behind me and starts telling me how he had a tight connection.  "I only had 30 minutes between flights so i didnt have time to get food all i had time for was to go smoke a couple  in the smoking lounge.  You can't go on a seven hour flight with out smoking before it."  All i was thinking to myself was please don't let this guy be anywhere near me on the plane.  Lucky for me i think he ended up with the nice seat up against the bathrooms.  I had a sweet seat with plenty of leg room not business class but probably the best economy plus seat you could have.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Albany Airport

Currently I'm on my way over to euro land for the cross camp.  My flight in Albany is delayed thanks to this awesome storm moving through.  I hope i can make my connection in DC and arrive in euroland tomorrow morning instead of who knows when.  If this flight take off at 330 like it is saying it will i should have no problem.  I also got slammed at check in with having 2 bike boxes and a roller bag.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

My nationals is a race I will just put to the side.  I ended up 12th and never made the front group.  Just couldn't get it together out there.  I was racing for 10th on the last lap but just couldn't pull it out.  I have to congratulate treboohoo for making all of us look silly out there except for driscoll who just straight up killed it.  He def had the ride of the day. After the race it was party on but i def went out alittle to big.  I ended up breaking my cell phone and camera.  I always seem to do that at natz.  Now im back in NY resting up and getting ready for the euro trip.  Taking alittle break hoping my form will come back around in time for zolder on the 26th.  I will actually be over in belgium for a 6 days before my first race so jet lag shouldnt be a issue.  I had brady take a couple pics during the race.  And ive also got a couple pics from the post race party.






Sunday, December 14, 2008

Pre Natz

Well I'm sitting in the hotel room trying to get ready for the big race.  This is the day that it seems everyone in the U.S. remembers for the next year.  It is going to be a fast and hard race with alot of climbing and minimal recovery.  I'm just hoping that i've got a great day in me and see what happens.  The best place to watch the race is cxmag with live updates just about every min for the entire hour.  Thats about it..  Sorry for the weak update.

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Much Better Day

Sunday went much better with me making the front group putting in a little attack and ending up 5th.  I also laid it down out there which was not so nice.  Todd ended up 2nd on the day with a much better ride also.  We think we have it figured out how to make sure we are ready for sunday and don't have another day like this past saturday.  It sucked having to deal with all the clean up after the race.  Nothing like doing some laundry in the shower after your race.  Sunday night ended up being a fun night.  Alison came down and watched the race and hung out.  We had a large crew including Mcduff, Jpows, Timmy J, Treefarm, Kira, Salam, Simon, The Jacques-Maynes, and Meredith.  We went to Treefarms favorite place in portland Dante's.  It is crazy their you see some stuff you definitely don't see everyday thats all im going to say.  It was alot of fun for everyone including powers even though at first he wasn't really feeling it.

Todd and I flew out around 11 on monday got back to dtown by 5.  It was nice here today with the temp only getting up to maybe 45 but the sun was out which always means alot here in colorado.  I'm currently hoping for the weather to turn for natz in kansas.  The forecast has been changing almost everyday.  If it could just rain or snow sunday that would be perfect for me i think.

Sunday, December 07, 2008

Bad Day

Portland is normally a good race for me but yesterday just didn't seem to be my day.  I just couldn't get going.  I was in suffering the entire race and going no where.  I don't even think i was in the top 20.  Every part of my body was hurting but i hope i can turn it around today and put in a solid ride heading into nationals.  Summerhill had a solid ride yesterday with his best USGP finish coming 7th.  Besides from that it is still not raining here which is amazing.  Normally it rains from the time i get off the plane until i get back on in portland.  

Friday, December 05, 2008

DIA

Well after a couple of chill days in Dtown I'm back in my second home during the fall the DIA airport on the way to Portland for the finial round of the USGP.  It actually looks like it just mite be dry for once in portland that will be a first.  The 10 day forecast is showing snow for Kansas City on saturday and rain on sunday which should be good for me.  But you never know it is 10 days out normally they cant get it right within 3 days so you never know.  The weather has been really nice in dtown for the beginning of December.  I haven't even had to break out the face mask which is always good.  Got in a couple days of good training and alot of down time including a Elka massage.  My bikes have to be completely rebuilt before tomorrow thanks to jingle cross.  Thanks alot to sram for hooking me up with everything to keep the bikes running during this long season.  After Natz i will head over to europe for the two week x-mas camp which is always painful but u do gain alot of experience racing with the big guns.