Adding It Up

The Road Season unequivocally has a fork in it, and it’s in the initial stages of decay as it fades further and further in the rear view. And that can only mean one thing: the fall down, beer soaked phenom known as Cyclocross, and it starts this weekend with the Cross over stage race. But a quick look back before looking forward:

- top news is that Kmac actually rode her bike around the block the other day. Her brand new delicious Veloforma F1R (thanks Mark Duff!) took her for her first spin since the accident. Boy, what a long time coming, and what a great piece of news. Relax, she was in an inflatable suit, had a personal security detail, and was wearing three helmets.

- Alderwood took 4th in the Mst 1/2/3 and the Mst 4/5 for the month of August at PIR to close it out. He then ate cheese sandwiches and made horrifically inappropriate comments. He also listed his orientation on his driver’s license as “multi-sexual”, whatever that means.

So looking forward, the Rapha Gentlemen’s Ride and Pain on the Peak are next weekend. Rest assured, both will hurt. Badly. But coming up first as stated above is another dastardly creation from Sal Collura, the first ever and one and only cyclocross stage race, aptly named the Crossover. We have Dave and Gerow in the SS, where they no doubt have Treefarm quaking in his boots (sarcasm, buckets of it) and Voytilla in the B’s. Wish us well.

We do, however, have an apt strategy for the pain ahead

knife crime! cyclocross!

Every Dog Has His Day

I abhor 1st person drivel, but I guess I gotta do this one as such.

It was a toss up as to what might happen first: the Cubs winning the world series, or me winning a race. Being the prototypical hack that I am when it comes to bike racing, my money was on the Cubs in this one.

But last night, with the sterling rides put in by teammates Q, Conley, Barker, Deann, and Lana, I was dropped off in a perfect spot to win the bunch sprint. And I’m not a sprinter by any stretch so that goes to show you how much the team played into the win.

The race was at first in jeopardy, as when we passed the novice men’s field, they thought it a good idea to integrate into our field, and all of a sudden we had 120 guys instead of 66. I tried to parse it out and get the novices up the road to finish their race and half our field got it and moved right, the other half of the chuckleheads kept drilling it up front. The 25 or so sporting ones finally caught back on after a two lap chase. Disaster averted.

I managed 2nd in a prime, and won another outright, so with points in pocket all I had to do was settle in and take the field sprint. Q and Shaun dropped me off perfectly and once released, I was completely determine to put this one in the bank. And that’s just what I did.

Believe it or not

A great team win, and a great way to finish the road season, and a great way to race my last race as a 4. My upgrade is in and through and now I get to get the ever-loving shit kicked out of me next year in the 3′s.

winning has its perks

And to top it off, we had a fine party back at my place after the race complete with the usual post-PIR accoutrements: Tacos and beer. And there were many beers and tacos to be had! A nice fire, a bunch of friends and teammates, a guy couldn’t really ask for more.

And there was another win of sorts last night, as our dear Brody – back from a European Tour as Tracy Chapman’s guitar tech – brought a present home for Lana. Yep, our dear Lana got her very own Tom Boonen pillow, and was all giddy for it. I guess chicks dig fast guys who do a lot of coke. As with trading the Bluesmobile for a microphone, I can see that.

Happy Tom, Happy Lana, Sweet Dreams ahead

So stick a big fat fork in it. PIR is done and dusted and that was a lot of fun.

See you in Eugene for the Crossover Stage Race. Time to stop training and fall down a lot.