I think it was the bolognese
So last night was the last SIR of the year, or to you newbys, PIR. I had never won one and Pruitt has held that over my head for about 7 years. It was a typical final SIR, chilly, threatening skies, and wind. The masters race series was decided I think. The excel team was dishing out some serious speed for the sprints. There were points 1&2 for the winner of the primes and the final sprint. Matt Hill and Martin were going at each other for those. I was pretty impressed with the way excel was leading out the sprints. very fast all the way to the line. Its great to see that but not so fun to have dudes in there that really have no business in a sprint. a) they are not fast enough or b) they are puffs that sit up if they dont think they are going to win or dont have the balls to dig that deep. Both primes were like that and when we came into the final half lap, the right team took their spot on the front to lead it out. I actually won the stinking thing and now wished that I actually rode my bike every once and a while. Then again, you could argue that I sat in the whole time. But no one was really attacking last night to try and get out. It seemed to me that it was planned to end in a bunch sprint and I sat in the front 15 the whole race and I was the fattest dude out there with the hairiest legs.
Point is, to those out there who focus sooooo much on power meters, heart rates, fancy wheels, titanium screws, and having an expensive coach- there is nothing stronger than the mental aspect of our sport. Getting excited about winning a race is more important than preparing for it physically, although it helps to have some fitness.
Pay attention to what you are doing in the race and what you need to do to help your teammates or what they need to do to help you. The more energy you spend on yelling at someone because you think they took "your" wheel or you think they wronged you, is less energy you will have at the critical moment. Example, the two dudes yelling at eachother last night were nowhere in the sprint. Too many people think they know what they are doing and they really dont. And after all, its tuesday night racing, be cool.
Congratulations to the points getters this year, it takes alot to stay in it all year, heavens knows I cant. Until next year.
If you dont believe in something, you'll fall for anything
Ask the questions. Thats really all we have to do. Why am I getting New Zealand apples when I live in washington? Why is my Italian bike frame made in Taiwan? Why does any of this stuff happen? Easy. No one asks questions.
In the begining, people thought the more exotic the item, the better. Why use chicken feathers when you can have ostritch. People thrive on getting their hands on the things that you cant get anymore. I heard someone say the other night, " I wish I would have got that fish they had on their menu cause its just about endangered and you wont be able to get soon."
There are several questions right there. But that is the mentality out there right now. If you never ask about where something is coming from or how it is produced then you get to live in this bizzare state of bliss. Call it denial if you want. People know animals are treated poorly. People also know people are treated poorly. But if it isnt in front of your face or you choose not to think about it then you dont feel too bad. But its back there in the hippicampus somewhere.
Cause then one day, you ask a question. How comes I cant get a pork tenderloin that isnt injected with water and salt? Why is it farmed salmon has food coloring added? How comes my natural chicken breast is so dang big. What does natural mean? What is a free range turkey and do they really have a bunch of room to run around. My body lotion is brown and natural but it is owned by johnson & johnson. Who makes these little parachutes in my fancy drink. They must have small hands. How bout my phone, my bike, my seat covers, my cool jeans, my cooler t shirts, my leather shoes.
When you ask the questions, you give yourself a choice. A choice to eat what you think is the right foods to eat, the right places to shop, the right businesses to support, the right organizations to affiliate yourself with, and the right people to talk to about these things. When you give yourself the choice, you learn from that choice, good or bad. You also get the knowledge so you can educate others on the choices you have made and how they make you feel.
34.
So here it is. 34. Easy to type. Easy to say. I have to really think about it, though. I remember turning 16 and not having alot of fanfare. I got a boombox. I cant remember 17, 18, 19, 20. 21 I went to the Tides tavern and had a beer. 22, nothing.
23. Now that was a good year. I was in Alaska and I had a peach pie from the store with Aaron, Sherman, Sonja, and Rashawn. We had lots of wine, smoked tons of pot, had a bon fire and just enjoyed what we had as a friendship from working together all summer in the fishtank. I drove home with Sherman that fall. I had alot explained to me. Much of which I had no way of understanding at the time. Sherman was already there. Already answered lots of tough questions, dealt with shit I had no way of understanding. How could I, I was only 23. If I remember, he was 31. He asked me questions that were tough. Ones that I had to think about. Ones that made me realize that the actions I take in my daily life effect everything all the way down the line. Some that me emabarrassed to have done what I did and all the time opened my eyes. He was young at heart for sure, but even in my own young age, I could tell his was an old soul with tons to teach. I had some paths laid for me that fall that are just now turning into roads in front of me. It was a critical time in my exsistence and I am forever grateful I had him there to give me guidance, even though it didnt seem like it at the time. I have told numerous people numerous times, "you really need to get a Sherman." and when they ask what that means and I tell them, they do wish they had someone like that.
Ten years on. There is shit going on in my life that I only dreamed would be happening back then. I am trying to keep up with all that life is thowing at me and let me tell you, it feels like randy johnson is on the mound. I am trying to connect and hopefully get a hit. Its weird, I feel as though I should be a bit more stressed out about things but Ill tell you, I almost feel a certain calmness dealing with all this action. I mean, how bad can it get?
At this point, I start to count my blessings and realize that every day I get out of bed, even if I sleep in, I have so much to be thankful for. My family and friends who have helped me along this journey to get to where I am at today.
So onto the next year. here we go.....
the reserve
Ah, I love the taste of a bottle of wine that you have tasted once before. Because it will inevitably taste a bit different two years later. Tonight was pork loin that I brined for an extended period of time with a bit of special dust knownst only to one other(and his lovely girlfriend who rolls her eyes at it). The pork turned out fantastic. I cooked it JUST done. Still a bit on the pinkish side but hell, whens the last time you heard of someone getting trichinosis? The Townshend reserve '00 was good on its own and it seemed to butt heads with the hog but in the end, its seemed to me to mend well with the subtle tenderness of the meat and the sour cream & smoked paprika dressing I had on Brent Olsen's potatoes. I really fell through with no greens of any kind, in fact I am a bit embarrassed by that. By I know I made a mistake and I hope everyone will forgive me. I don't even know if I can forgive me for crying out loud!
Today was the extension of my birthday weekend. For those that don't know, I tend to spend it close to myself and if my friends remember, great. If not, that is fine too. Geoffrey, who was incredibly hung over, came over today around 1pm and we went down to the market to do some people watching and to buy some items. We got a fantastic parking spot. So good I almost didn't want to leave. We got racked over the coals for some crappy lemonade and I think we even managed to get a little sunburned.
Happy Birthday!!
So I went and bought myself a condo for my birthday this year. Last year, it was a haircut. Cool but not as cool. Although, I did make out all night last year.
Had a fantastic time at dinner last night with the boys at Trader Vic's. Good food, great bourbon, and lots of good conversation. Got the call from John O at 9:15pm pst that said if you want it, they took your offer. Hot damn!
More to come.....
Ahh, breakfast is good.
Today I rolled into work a bit early to get warmed up for what could have been a busy day. Instead, as I pulled up, Gillian was leaving out the alley and Schumacher's jeep was already in the back. I thought I was late!
When I got in the kitchen, I was quickly ushered into the office and told by Gillian to look at some condoms or the tour de france on the internet.30 minutes later, she brought me in and lo and behold BREAKFAST! Stuffed french toast, buttered challah breads, fruits, coffees, memosa's! And the tipper, Skagit Valley breakfast sausage. Dang it! It was goooood!
Gillian, Mindy, Schumacher, Daniel, and Conville were in attendance and I thank all of them for a pre birthday breakfast. Ive been waiting a long time for someone to cook me breakfast and hot damn, I got it!
FLANDIS IS INNOCENT!!!!
So here is my new theory. The cronies in wada are in cahootz with the reporters in the various newspapers throughout europe. When they want to take someone down, they flick something in their piss and make up a postitive test. They(theoretically) did that with Armstrong. So claims Pruitt. What would stop them from wanting to do that to Flandis? Im not claiming a French hate thing here because I like the French, esp. their croissants and butter and fries. But what I do know is they are fanatical about their race and want anyone but an american to win it. It would be better to find out in the next couple of weeks about this than two years or ten years down the road.
get off my back!
So much to write about, sometimes so little interest. Ahh, Im in the middle of buying a condo. Actually, I am going to put an offer on a place on the LCW. We'll see how this one goes. The other one had me looking at the gas station on the corner of Aurora. I know I am not in the highest tax bracket but thats not the view I want.
I seem to be missing out on all the bike riding fun as of late. Conville and Randy went out and reconnoitered the may valley course at o'dark thirty the other morning. I hadnt even got to work by the time they wrapped up their ride. And I can say this about it, I am glad I wasnt there suffering on their wheels! stuff that.
But they had as much fun telling me about it as they had doing it so good for them.
Are you sure? Im postive.
Seels as though Flandis has tested positve in the second round. I guess at some point we are going to have to believe the tests, right? Think about this. In the US, the land of lawyers, rarely is an athlete guilty of doping. Even if they test positive. Take baseball. They didnt even really allow testing. Is that because there was no need because there was no doping? Or is that because they wanted to protect the likes Rafael Palmeiro who wants to keep up with the youngsters and he dont wanna go out like that. Or he didnt wanna go out like THAT. In europe, the police raid cycling team hotels like the DEA and put all the riders in the pattywagon in the middle of the night and shove them in jail. At the same moment, they raid their houses and get all the drugs out of there. Then everyone knows just how guilty they are.
Now Flandis is going to drag this on. If he is guilty, I say he should come out of the closet and lay it all out. Even about those he has raced with in the past. Not like his team should even be around anymore. Good job Pereiro on winning the tour. He must have learned well on Phonak.
STP-the second half.
So the middle of the STP was spent as everyone else in chehalis or wherever we were. First, the orange creamsicle, next the water, then the spot in the shade, the painful pee, then after you feel satisfied, the food. Now you have your choice of the same hum drum fruit and dry PB&J with a fig newton chaser or you can go for the more civilized BBQ beef brisket with chips, pickle, and a gatorade. No choice, really. As I hunkered down to busted on that beef, I just watched all the cyclists come rolling in and realized just how weird my family is. Ah well, Im not different.
After a proper glazing of the third coat of spf 45(which one of us did NOT put on) and one more creamsicle, we rolled out. It took a bit to get the group back together but we did after about 10 minutes. Now then, I remeber vividly last year at this time just getting ready to bite down and finish this ride off strong. This year was different. The tandem was starting to pick up steam and really was powering heavy over the little rollers that seemed to be coming fast and steady. I was really struggling just to hang onto the back of the group when all of a sudden at mile 118, I blew. Really, I blew. As Jonny would say, the check engine light came on and the heat gauge went to the top. I was struggling just to peddle my cycle. I was in a spot that was dark and my mind was playing lots of games with me. I started to get emotional, pissed, and humiliated. Guys that I should be putting in the ditch were now minutes up on me with no chance of them holding up because there is nothing better than seeing Craig on the ropes and puttin the whippin on. Hubbard didnt know if he should wait for me, he hasnt been in that spot before. Me neither. When we got to ryderville or whatever forsaken place that was in lower washington, the group was in the stop but there was no way I was going to stop. fuck that. If I would've stopped, I would have had a hard time getting back on. Onto the 150 stop. I ate 5 plums and sat in the shade as the group came in a bit later. I also had a 1/2 a ham and cheese. I peeed twice and did not want to get back on the bike. We rolled into(actually, I hung onto the back) longview, the site of the bark infested bridge with a heavy crosswind and LOTS of traffic. After I caught back on, oh yeah, I got split off at a 5 way intersection when the guys decided to run the red light and I stopped, we went up the climb. I was able to set myself at the front to keep the group from going ape shit up that thing and on the way down, I took advantage of none of them being able to go down hill as fast as me. And no, Im not that much fatter!
Low and behold, we were greeted with a tailwind as we rolled onto the 30. For those that dont know, HWY 30 was the first cross country hwy. I have ridden it in four states and none of it is fun. The group eventually got back together with the exception of Conville. All I knew is the tandem was driving it, I was hanging on for dear life and whatever happened behind me at this point was none of my business. It hurt real bad and I was vocal in telling todd and crofoot to chill out a bit. Then they would say something to eachother and the pace would go back up. I was hanging on by a thread. Remember the first time you had sex and how cool it was? Well, this was nothing like that. We got to the last stop and people were shitting their shorts in the corner of the school and others were so dehydrated they couldnt walk straight. In other words they were in real bad shape. It had started to get hot and people hadnt prepared with enough hydration. You could tell. I took a bath under the water spicket and told everyone how nice it was. My foot was swelling and right leg was getting numb. The critical two was ok but everything else was getting tight. On with it. We rolled out and Conville went straight to the front. Its all downhill at this point to portland and the tandem was licking their chops. They rolled up next to me and gave me this sly look and proceeded to take it up to 28-30. I held on as long as I could and that was it. I said uncle.
The rest of the ride was quite nice. I rolled it at a good pace, kept eating till I couldnt eat anymore, and showed the kraut that was along with me different volcanoes that he had never seen. I gave him a brief geology lesson and before I knew it, I had to climb that last little bitch before we entered town. I saw some reeeeal long faces on the run in. One dude, I thought he was going to go in the ditch he was so hammered. The others wouldnt even talk. Finally, I ran the yellow light only to have the dude at the finish line yell at me and shove the stop sign in my face as I was ALREADY in the walk. Geez. I got my tag to prove that I finished. The best part was having Daniel come up to me and gloat a bit, "we did it under 10 hrs..." Yeah, bitch look at my speedo, 9 hrs. 57 min.
The Glisten
So I said I would report about the second half of the STP and I will. First, though, The Glisten. Ill just leave it at that.
Pacific Raceways Bruhaha
So I hear the Category 4/5 races at S.I.R are going batty?! This is the story handed down to me by the guy who broke up the fight(aka Chris Conville). The guys were sprinting for a clif shot and one guy got squirely. The other guy got vocal. The next thing one dude knew is he is on the floor and he is ready to kick some ass. He then proceeds to beat down the guy who pushed him and at the same time yelling, screaming, and otherwise tossing vularisms all over the course. You wanna know my opinion on this?
Rule #105 in the uscf handbook.
a)No rider or licensee may be disrespectfull towards organizers, officials, riders, or spectators.
b)No rider may use foul or abusive language or conduct during a race event. Disqualification and 15 days suspension.
c)No rider may assault or do battery to anyone connected with an event. Suspension of one year.
Rule #105
Pushing or pulling of riders is prohibited in all races except the madison.
Yeah, I have been involved in all kinds of tussles on the bike in races and have been pulled, pushed, and shoved. I have also done some of the same. But this is how it breaks down. The knuckle head that pushed the other guy should not have pushed him. The guy that got pushed had every right to beat the snot out of the guy that pushed him. Should that dude kept his cool? Yeah. Should he be kicked out of the race that night? Yeah. Should the guys who pushed him be DQ's that night? Yeah.
The way I see it, both those guys should be kicked out of the series for the entire year and have whatever points they have dissovled. If they have licences, they should get suspended for 30 days. They are both idiots and need to figure it out. Rory also needs to nip this crap in the bud. There is way too much of this going on out there in some of the races. All for a clif shot. The ones who really love it all are the 10 or 15 kids standing there watch it all go down. I know those two guys are going to say the feel like junk and they should. They should feel better next year when they show up to race a bit more humbled. But chances are nothing will happen and they will probly have a run in next week or the week after. With any luck they will take out a few more guys next time.
how bout this!
So the uci will not release the full dossier concerning operacion puerto. I say all the federations should allow those riders who have been implicated race. Why? Because none of these federation even know if what proof if any is against the riders. I am starting to believe that some of the dossier has been fabricated just to shake shit up and get people in trouble without any proof. Its called circumstantial evidence for a reason. Like one of my delivery drivers said today, "why not just let them take whatever they want and let nature sort out the really stupid ones."
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