Slacker!!!

Well, It's been a while, to say the least. But it's not easy riding 43 miles commuting, working 8 hrs a day and trying to keep up on Facebook updates, as well as Cyclingnews.com too.

Interesting year so far for me, started off with terrible weather and an inability to ride my bike more than 12 mph....on a good day!
Luckily I'm married to the best caregiver in the world, and she figured out I might be Gluten Intolerant. Martha has been baking all kinds of Gluten Free goodies and making sure I've had a Gluten Free lunch at work too. Thanks to her I am feeling better, lots a ton of weight and riding many miles this month. In the 10 days to Saturday (where I did 213 miles in the Lewis and Clark Ultra 12 hr) I totalled 900 miles. I feel like I have not been racing very much, probably true. It will be interesting to see how my body reacts when I get to racing at Mt Hood and Elkhorn Stage races.
Then I was talked into racing the Race Across Oregon on a 4 man team, that's 528 miles, in 20 minute increments!!!! Then it's back to Bend for Cascade Classic.
August is my rebuild month to see If I can go back and finish my first 24 hr race at Ring of Fire on Sept 12th-13th.

Hopefully it will be less than 5 months before my next post....but you'd never know.

"Pre"

I like this quote, and to be able to race like this AND win is a sign of true greatness.

A lot of people run a race to see who is fastest. I run to see who has the most guts, who can punish himself into exhausting pace, and then at the end, punish himself even more. Nobody is going to win a 5,000 meter race after running an easy 2 miles. Not with me. If I lose forcing the pace all the way, well, at least I can live with myself.

Happy Christmas! or whatever else you celebrate.

Mick

December Already?

Well, I have a pet peeve, walkers and joggers on the BGT and Sammamish River trail wearing dark clothing in foggy conditions. Impossible to see!
Well, I did EL Tour de Tucson, stayed with Franz and had a blast. I didn't make the split at the 2nd wash (sabino creek) so just cruised in with Bruce from Excel and about 60 others. Hanging out with Dan Byrne, Franz and the HSP crew was great too.
The Thanksgiving Day Ride was a huge success, we raised $1,400 on the day, so Northwest Harvest will benefit to the tune of about $3,200 when all matching is said and done. Hats off to the Seattle cycling community, we need to get some more publicity next year!

Other news, Ed Farrar was moved to Harborview for therapy this week, we wish him well and if
you get a chance, drop by and say hello.

That's it for now, except I hear Two Wheels is working on two tires for Christmas! (spare tires that is)

Mick

Ride For Ed Farrar

I did the "get well soon" ride for Dr Ed Farrar in Wenatchee today. It was amazing the amount of people who showed up.
Stoked has a full report on her website. Scroll down too and check out her new components and bike :-)

Astoria

It looks like Astoria is where THE party of the weekend will be ( yes Jamie even bigger than yours!).
Have you seen those Cross Crusaders Party? Here's the "menu" from Brad, I'm sure there will be something stronger too, if you so desire.

Now on to the real important business. BEER. I'm bringing 45 cases ofPortland Brewing beer for prizes for the last two weeks. Also, we have four kegs for the Saturday night bonfire, and there'll be a beer garden all day Saturday and Sunday.

Sunny Saturday

I did the Excel, Marymoor ride today, just 5 of us. Went up novelty hill and north on snoq valley to lost lake and woodilville.
I got lazy...got?? this afternoon and did not go to the gym. Washed the burner plates on the stove, though while Stoked salved in the garden. Spent some time on Bebo networking site
too :-)

I also got the first of my 2009 Z Team Clothing!! How many of you can say that? and there should be more on the way soon, just got a skinsuit and arm warmers today, Louis Garneau...very nice.

Tandem ride in store tomorrow! Weather looks like it will hold up.

Day off Work!

I have a day off! I worked last Saturday, though.

Time for a bike ride!