Tuesday, December 23, 2008

"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

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

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

Sunday, November 09, 2008

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 :-)

Thursday, October 23, 2008

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.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

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.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Day off Work!

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

Time for a bike ride!

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Saturday Ride

I did the First Rate Mortgage team ride today, they are so nice to let me ride with them even though I am no lomger on the Team. They are nice about it too, thanks guys.

We rode across I-90 to Newport Way-Issaquah (where Salmon Days made it crazy!) Issaquah-Hobart, Cedar Grove Rd and back the Cedar River trail to Renton and up the west side of the lake.

There are still some guys who need to back off the intensity for this time of year, it's ok to go hard up a hill of for a sprint, but you need to limit the intensity for a few months and recover, or build endurance if you have nothiing to recover from.

That said, it was a good ride, despite the fact that Stoked could only ride to Leschi and back, still suffering the effects of a lingering cold.



Tomorrow I get to ride with my only Seattle teammate!



I have been following what is looking like a very intense race at the Furnace Creek 508 between two time defending champion Michael Emde, from Spokane and Kevin McNulty from Ramona, California. After 253 miles only 1 minute seperated them!

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Off Season!

I took two days of work last week as my brother Tony and his wife Joyce came to Visit. They are on a grand tour of the US for their 25th wedding anniversary.
We took the Clipper to Victoria on Thursday. Then went shopping and wine tasting on Friday. Saturday Tony and I rode on the Tandem for a bit (he doesn't ride much anymore) he was the one who introduced me to bike racing, at my parents urging, to get me out of trouble. I don't think it worked ;-). On Saturday afternoon we went to Martha's Dad's house in Anacortes and sat on the deck drinking wine, or beer. then went to dinner.
I had them at the Airport at 5.30am on Sunday, for their flight to Vegas, where they took a Helicopter trip over the Grand Canyon, and tonite they are going to see Mamma Mia on the Strip.
Me, I'm probably going to El Tour de Tucson again this year, instead of a trip back to Ireland!

Friday, September 19, 2008

Cali Dog

Went to see Mr Pruitt off Last night, had to keep him and stangelator apart, seems like there's some anomosity there ;-)
Good to see bike racer types we hadn't seen in a few weeks, well all year, considering we were in Oregon every week this summer!

After a lot of soul searching I have decided to change teams for 2009, I will be riding for Z Team next year. I think we'll have a great team for Masters stage races, with David Zimbelman, Clint Chase, Matt Slater and me. Then for one days, Nathan Hobson (we just have to teach him some patitence so he can be a force at the finish)Karsten Hagen and Mike Dunn.

and Jen T, we're still thinking of and praying for you.

Monday, September 08, 2008

Duathlon

Well my 24hr race was spent mostly sleeping!

I was feeling great most of the time, not going too hard, but not quite able to get enough fluids in, my legs were still good after I finished the big loop of 171 miles and I did the 2nd fastest night loop of all my first time around.
When I stopped to get drink and food at the end of the lap, I couldn't stand up and then couldn't steer the bike when I tried to ride on. I had, I think a combination of Heat Stroke and Dehydration, I believe. That was it after 10+ hrs and 184 miles for me, and I was ahead of record pace too, but not halfway through the race!

The hardest part is having to wait a whole year to try it again, yes I am a sick man, but I'm also determined to do this once, at least. Well at least try one more time!

Huge thanks to Brian Ecker for coming all the way to Maupin and providing great support for me. Also to George and Terri for putting on such great events, they really make you feel like you're special, wherever you are in the field.

Also Kudos to Stoked for an excellent 193 miles in the 12 hr, only 9 miles behind the overall winner and a new womens course record. She's looking for a partner for next year to break the mixed team record....any takers?

Thanks,

Mick

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

24 Hours!!

No not the TV show, it's a bike race stupid!

"I went down down down and the flames went higher, and it burns burns burns The Ring of Fire"..........http://www.raceacrossoregon.com/roftt

The question is how many miles can I ride, the competitor in me wants to try to beat Urs Koenig's record of 414 miles, but that's a tall order....Urs is a peddaling machine. I would realistically be very happy with 400 miles....A 400 mile ride? even that sounds nuts.

Well here goes! and watch the website, they update during the race. I will start about 6.45 am on Sat and then they want me to go to breakfast after we finish at 7 am on Sunday. We'll see

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Summer Riding

I won a race last week, in Bellingham , Masters of course. I also lost a race by a lot, to one of the best hill climbers on the west coast.

This weekend was a tale of two seasons! Saturday was beautiful and was spent riding my bike for 9 hours in the most beautiful place in the state......North Cascades Hwy. Great prep for This.

Today started out nice, but quickly turned nasty, the seward park masters A race was cancelled, nobody showed up! I bailed on the 1/2s race it was just miserable, so I just rode to Seward and back.

Next week is Eugene Celebration race for us!

Sunday, August 03, 2008

Time Trial Perspective

Sunday 3rd August,

You know, It's pretty easy to offend people when talking about your performance, especially in a time trial.
I did the State 40k TT champs today in Tenino, my performance was not what I hoped for on a fast course. Where Ian McKissick went sub 50 mins!

To say I sucked would be offensive to all the people I beat, and I have heard that many times from riders who have beaten me before.

Let me just say my performance was not what I hoped for, and congratulate all the medal winners.

Next up for me is the State Hill Climb, I can only try to be better there and maybe get in the medals.

Mick

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

I'm here Still!

Wow, just never got time, or made time to blog.

I did Mt Hood, Elkhorn and Cascade so far, and survived. Not as good as last year, but ok. Co-Motion Classic Tandem Race was last weekend, and we did manage to retain our "title".

Next big event is the Ring of Fire 24 hr TT! Could be great, could be a disaster, but it should be fun, in a sick kinda way.

Mick

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Weekend Update

Wow, what's up with this weather?

Well, we took a weekend off racing this week and planned on doing some good training rides, maybe even take the Tandem out before we race it in three TT's next weekend in Maupin. Well, we are still stuck on our rain bikes!
We had leftover snow on Sat morn at our house, but still hit the road at 7.15 am to meet the Excel guys at marymoor, well wouldn't you know most of them bailed and Glenn didn't know we were planning on coming, so we missed the 3 that did ride by when we were waiting at the Velodrome? Ended up riding to Carnation for coffee and back home over some hills :-)

Sunday wasn't much better, and Martha rode north while I ventured back out to meet anyone who might show up at Marymoor.....again nobody! Oh well I trugged along and got a good ride in.

My total for the weekend was 155 miles, not bad for snow and temps around 40 degrees most of the time.

Walla Walla sounded like a brutally hard race in all Categories, some fast people lost a lot of time . Kudos to teammate Sile Kiernan for winning the cat 4 womens event, and Robin Secrist winning the Cat 3 race overall, Robin was 2nd overall in the 1/2/3 womens race....and I'm sure there's more to come from both.

Note to "2wheels" It's only one race, you guys Rock and will again. Keep the positive attitude.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Constant Hum

Well, It has been a while, but life has been.... well, life!

I work in Bothell (for now) and they have been pile driving mondo beams into the ground for the last several weeks. It's part of the Brightwater sewage treatment plant tunnel. It's been a pain, unlike Stoked I can't just pack up and go home when there is an annoying noise outside ;-)

Racing has been average, with stresses at work, they are changing what I do daily it seems. And just not getting enough training, I'm just happy to be riding my bike. Hopefully I will be able to compete before long.

Next up is the Deschutes River TT Festival in Maupin. We are doing it on our Tandem again, I
remember last year my form started to come after this weekend of suffering, so hopefully it will be the same this year. Otherwise I will be in the hurt locker at the Mount Hood Stage Race, which comes two weeks earlier this year. I bet we see snow on both road stages, and not just on distant mountaintops!
Hope everyone has fun at Walla Walla, sorry I won't be there. I am looking forward to all the reports, especially from smack talking Brian in the Cat 3 race.

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Blog?

Sorry no time to blog, too busy working, sleeping and trying not to get my ass kicked too badly at races!
I do have a sweet new bike that fits like a glove, though. No excuces on that front.

Marcroft

Saturday, February 09, 2008

A new concept!

Well, training has not been going too well, I haven't felt sick at all, even pretty good during the week, but the last 3 weekends I have been unable to ride, just sleep.
Today was my return to somewhat normality, I wasn't very fast, but I did get to put in a long ride with Stoked and Ed Harley. We went to Sultan, nice and steady,we even had reasonable weather. I suffered on Ed's wheel quite a bit, but at least I was out there. I know, once again, March and April will be Results free for me AGAIN this year, but I hopefully things will get better by May.

Let's see how I feel tomorrow! That will tell.

I am so looking forward to getting my new race bike built up, just waiting for the components. I think it will help my morale, and hopefully I'll reap the benefit of having ridden 28c tires all winter on my already heavy bike.

I saw my neighbours Marcroft rain bike tonight, it looks great.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Weekend Recap

Not that I want to go over what was a bad weekend, but here goes.
My freewheel broke on Saturday's ride, all I had was freewheel. Darren P was a hero, though, he rode home from McDonalds hill got his car, and a replacement wheel, and drove me home. Thanks DP I owe you one, or six.
I spent Sat afternoon working on my bike (and sulking!)
Sunday's ride started out promising, but wasn't too long before I figured out I didn;t feel too good. Maybe a coffee stop in Snohomish would help? NOT. I was sooo slow coming back High Bridge Rd. I just told Martha and Martin to leave me in my misery at 8 mph. They waited a few times, I wasn't getting better, eventually I told them "please leave me" and they did, I could always call if I was not going to make it.
Then the Husky Cycling team blew past me, Galen introudced me to them (now they'll know me as the slow old guy we saw in January!) as they passed.
I started to recover a bit after crossing hwy 9, and decide to take a shortcut and hooked up with Martha and Martin before Bothell and managed to stay with them to Logboom.
The one bright spot of the weekend was a good dinner with good friends on Sunday evening. Now let's try to be better next week.

Congrats to Kenny on making the Final of the scratch race at the LA World track cup this weekend!

Mick

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Training mode and other things

Well, I'm trying to get into the swing of a training routine, and trying to ride a little faster (than 14mph!) I'm not doing too well, though we did have a great ride in awful conditions last Saturday.
There were 11 of us rode from "downtown" Arlington,Wa. mostly my Teammates, from Seattle and Bellingham, and Jason, Flavio and Mike from The Garage Team. It was 37 degrees as we left towards Darrington, on the 107 mile trek.
Well, as we neared Darrington it started to rain, then we saw the snow on the roadside and in the fields, that made it colder, plus it started to rain harder! Everyone was struggling to stay warm, and Robin was to turn back, until Ed Harley and I said we wouldn't let her go alone. She stuck it out and was really strong, as usual, by the end.
It was a great training ride, not too hard, but I know I was tired at the end, and felt it on Sunday's ride.
I must say Robin Secrist and Daisy from WWU were really impressive, they never struggled to keep up and took their fair share of pulls, and Daisy only started riding in the fall!

I also wanted to note that my former Club Mate won a Golden Globe award on Sunday night! Yes, though I never rode with him, didn't meet him either :-) But Daniel Day-Lewis was a member of the Emerald Cycling Club in Dublin, as I was. I heard he used to ride quite often back then, not sure if he still does.

I have a couple of photo's I need to post, My new look and my new Marcroft frame....It is really sweeeet!

Let's hope the roads clear up and we can ride this weekend!

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Mileage Confessions

Jan 3rd 2008
Happy New Year

Well, seeems Stoked has started a trend by posting her mileage for 2007, so please forgive me for my sins....here are the details.
Total Mileage........................................... 13,029
biggest mileage month....May .................1,387
Longest Ride.............................................. 200 miles and on the tandem too!!!!
Total days off the bike in 2007................39

Tonight was a nasty ride home from work, was raining sideways. Shouldn't complain wasn't snow or Ice.