Racing?

Sorry, no jerseys here...the jerseys I won are all full of moth holes!

Just got a new schedule at work, 7am to 3.30pm. That's good and bad, I get to train ( note I didn't say train more!) but I have to get up at 5.15 am to do it. You might think that's not so bad, but probably in the first 28 years of my life I Never, or VERY rarely got up before 7am!

Last weekend was Mason Lake and Ice Breaker TT. I was not very good at either, I did manage to eventually get to the front at Mason Lake with two laps to go, but that only lasted about half a lap and I was VERY happy to see the finish. Didn't even have the energy to chit chat with Jamie!

I guess I'm not Mr Early Season anymore, I always took pride in being on good form from the get go, but the last couple of years have eneded that. Hopefully I'll be good again in June and July, like last year!

Nine O'clock already!! Bedtime...see you later


And Keep your stick on the ice!

Seasoned?

Well, I did my first race of 2007 today, considering I did my first bike race in 1977, I would say grizzly rather than seasoned!
The race was the Frostbite TT in Lowell, which is a suburb? of Everett (How bad can it get!) and we rode 4 miles towards Snohomish turned and came back!

I did ok, considering I had to stop on my saturday ride at a Starbucks and wait while Martha rode home and got the car!! I just had no energy, but today was better. No results yet, but compared to the young uns out there, I did ok. Adrian H beat me by a little over 1 minute for 8 miles, not great but after the off season I've had It will have to do. My time was 18.15 (I timed it at 18.10, but what can you do?)
We also did our first race on the Tandem, it went well. I was just happy to have nailed the turnaround, without looking like an idiot. Our time was, by my computer, 17.58. It wasn't a lot faster than my single time, but about where Martin and Martha were in realtion to my time last year, we can get faster.

Next week is Mason Lake on Saturday and Ice Breaker TT on Sunday, my legs should be good and fried for that 10 mile TT (doing again twice) in Black Diamond.

Sad Trip Home

Well, these are the trips I never want to make to see my family. It also makes living so far away harder.
A brother of mine, I have 5, died suddenly last week, so I planned an emergency trip for his funeral, which was yesterday. It was nice to see many relatives I had not seen in a long time, but in unfortunate circumstances.
I am staying umtil sunday, so I did bring my bike. Not sure how much riding I'll get done. I did do my favorite 60 miler today, it was cold but sunny, like the weather we'd had in Seattle last week. I hope to get a group ride on Saturday,we'll see how the weather is, as there is snow in the forecast up north, so maybe 38 degrees and rain here, on my race bike??? A day of tea and biscuits might be in store, or a trip to the local horse racing track with another brother, gambling and drink beer.
I am pretty sure I will e in full view of the follow car at mason lake this year...again, I just hope it doesn't pass me until at least the last lap.

I think I must comment on the waving issue, when big groups meet, I declare yelling to be ok too.The thing is when it's only one on one that's when you should be sure to wave. We're all friends after all,so just give a little wave ; -)


Keep your stick on the ice!

Yippeee!

I got to ride to work today! It's been more than a week since I had done that, now to see if I can make 60 or more miles this weekend??
Results from the Velotron Tests came out yesterday, and Congrats to Kele Murdin and Jason Bethel on having the fastest times.
So, who took pnwbuckeye's political sign from his Lawn?? Dang they won't cross the water to race, but they go over to remove his political sign!! Where does it end?

Grrrrrrrrrr and Brrrrrrrrrrrr

Well, I'm watching Seahawks pre game show on TV instead of riding my bike. There's been snow on the ground since weds and it hasn't gotten above freezing since then either. It's 23.5 degrees right now, when the low was supposed to be 26.
I think there are a lot of frustrated cyclists in Seattle (and Portland) right now I'm sure Michael Emde is laughing at us, as this is normal for him. Shows what dedication he has that he can come out in the first races and be soo strong. Me, I'll be suffering at the back, again, at Mason Lake.

Later

My pet hate

So,I got totally drenched on my way to work this morning, and now it's sunny and I have to put all those wet clothes back on. I think I'll have an uncomfortable ride home.
Hopefully I won't get trail bombed by Robert from Garage for the third time this week. I shouldn't feel bad, he dosen't even wave to his own teammates. What's up with that??

That's two pet peeves!

I'm becoming a grumpy old fart.

It's Time

It's getting to be serious training time, Jan 1st is always the start of my favorite season....training season, I just love long epic rides in cool weather (less so in wind rain or snow/ice).
We hope to get some weekend rides on our tandem too, but we must be nice to everyone we're riding with and not go too hard.

Nice to see some new members to the NW Blog community ,Coach Curly in particular, with his witty yet sensible advice colums, but I do wonder what he is doing with all those recipes?

Speaking of advice, I think I might have to take the advice of the esteemed RS and abstain from blogging, so I can get down to riding my bike and not flittering away my time reading blogs ( not likely to happen, but I will try). I will only read at work!!
Oh, yeah speaking of work, I got called in at midnight last saturday to open up the store and give someone from McDonalds a motor he needed to fix a fan that had shut down, God forbid someone would have to go without their Big Mac at 3am!!!! Let me miss my sleep, but don't let Bubba miss his Big Mac, Large fries and large Coke.
If the guy ever comes back, maybe he'll give me some Mickey D's $s, well I'll be sure to pass them on to RS, as I hear when he's out of range of Dicks, he just loves his McDonalds breakfast before a race ; -)

Happy New year to you all and ride long,slow and safely.

Oink Oink!!

It's Christmas time, so let's pig out... Stoked and I went out to dinner tonight and ate WAY too much. We went to Tutta Bella, so it wasn't hard to eat too much. We started with a mondo salad then both ate a whole 12" pizza, but the best part was the NUTELLA ice cream ( read it and weep .n)......yummy.

re Cycle Me!

Ok The snow is all gone and we're back on ther road! and on the Computrainer.
Last night I did my second Cylcle-U computrainer "race" and along with gaining 2 pounds in the past two weeks, I managed to go 23 seconds slower! I finished 5th of 7 in my heat, PruDog was 6th, in his 2nd effort of three for the night!!, and Stoked was 7th both not far behind. El Gato was there and despite his claims of drinking beer daily and no riding, he almost put a minute into me.
Luckily it's still early in December, time to start training, if the weather co-operates. And now I have some motivation : -)

Oh, and we collected $750 for northwest harvest on the thanksgiving day ride, thanks to all.

Snow Stories

I am sure everyone has a good snow story from yesterday's storm, let's hear about them.

I had taken the bus to work, and when I left Northcreek Park in Bothell it was a blizzard, I walked to get the Bus at the UW Bothell campus. The bus never came, I could probably have walked the 10 miles home, but I wouldn't have made it to work Today if I did that!
I walked back to get a hotel room, and spent the night in Bothell " for a weekend or a lifetime" isn't that their slogan?
I-405 was soooo amazing, cars for as far as you could see....and none of them moving. The Hotel/Gas Station area was surreal they never saw so many people there and probably never will again. People who abandoned efforts to drive 3 miles north after not moving for 2 1/2 hrs. Needless to say the hotel was full, and when I went to breakfast this morning there were people sleeping on the floor, under stairs and in the lounge area.

And we're supposed to get another dose on weds night thurs morning!!!

Oh yeah, my boss reimbursed my hotel room charge ; -)

Slainte

Thanksgiving Day Ride Seattle

Tomorrow is the big ride for Northwest Harvest
We'll meet at Leschi at 8.45 to depart at 9 for an leisurely paced ride around the south end of lake washington. I'm suggesting a donation of $5 for this ride.

Looks the weather might be best in the morning too, so come on out and work up an appetite for that turkey feast we're lucky enough to have this day.

Mick

Nasty!

Well, I did 3 hours in ugly rainy slop with KW today.
I'm going to call out The Virgin as he wimped out "I'll wait until later" he said. Suck it up and ride your bike.....

another long break!

Wow it's been forever since I bolgged!

I first decided I'd had enough of getting dropped on the start line in cross, and comments like "you're not on the road now" and "Nice dismount" maybe I should try racing Bs, but that's against the rules, I guess.

Then I went to visit Family in Ireland, for a week, well I took a week of work, but spent 2 1/2 days getting to and from, using my United Miles I was obliged to fly through Chicago AND London both ways. I did upgrade to Business Class, so that helped.
While there I got to go to the opening of a new clubhouse for one of the first Cycling Clubs I rode for, It was great all those familiar faces from 25? years ago, I am old as dirt!!
I then went and joined the rest of my siblings, 5 brothers and 2 sisters and their significant others, as they are now called ; -). I spent the night talking and eventually got to bed at 6.30am, though, luckily I think, I didn't drink all night.

I got back home at 11pm after 25hrs of travelling and was up for work next morning, luckily it was thrusday, so I worked two days and had two days to recover.
I can't believe how slow I feel/am since I got back, so now it's time to get ready for training season ; -) Hopefully the weather will co-operate.

mjw

Dissin the Dog

Well, after a hard weeks work, I had no clue what ride I wanted to do today. I woke up at 8am not anting to ride to Zoka for coffee, or jump staright into a ride with Kenny and the Virgin. So, I had more coffee and waffles (frozen, no less,Stoked rides in the dark on sat morning!) and waited to do the classic "Erickson Ride" which I realised I first did 11 years ago!!

Well, while at logboom before we left, the Axley ride came by, and Pru Dog yelled some profanity, I think he also said I suck at Cyclo Cross.....well I already know that and it doesn't offend me at all. I almost bailed on the ride and went after the "Axies", but I didn't.

Well, after last weeks debacle of a Cyclo Cross race I said I was done, but no I'm going back out there again, I don't know why? Maybe I'll suddenly figure it out and be up there duking it out with Kenny et al......LOL!! That's not going to happen, this year anyway.....did I just say that?

This will be my last 'cross race, again ; -)

I'm going to visit my mother and 7 siblings on thursday, spending 4 1/2 days in Dublin. I will bring our Camera and take some bad photos!

That's all I have for now,

M

Cyclo Cross Dud

I don't know how or why, but I decided I needed to do a cyclo cross race, and with support from Kenny Williams and Dean Sabol and the www.pedaldynamics.com crew, I saddled up on Deans fancy Moots Ti Cyclo Croos bike for the Masters A race at Kelley Creek.
It had been pouring rain all morning, but had eased off by the time our race started. The 1/2s went a minute in front of us. When Phil Miller said GO, we took off, well everyone else did, I was off the back when we passed the finish trailer after 100 yds!! I tried to up my pace and keep up with the tail enders, but they kept pulling away from me. I knew I was not going fast enough around the corners, but couldn't do it, the straight aways were ok, but I was very entertaining for everyone watching at the barriers!! I felt like my legs were not attached to my body.

I had to walk a couple of times when my right foot came out of my pedal at innapropriate times, but did manage to pass my 2007 teammate Brad Reed, oh yes he was stopped getting his saddle fixed ; -)
The 1/2 leader passed me after about 1 1/2 laps, then it seems like everyone else in the race passed me.
All in all it was a humbling experience, but I suppose I have to do a few more races to see if I can improve, don't think I can get worse, but you never know!

I was very impressed by the support of fellow racers and friends who insisted I come out again next week, despite my poor showing, either they are being very supportive or just like to see me
humiliated. I'd like to think it is genuine support, but I'm sure Pru Dog will tell me like it is and say I should quit because I suck!! So because of that and my competitive drive to at least be involved in the race........I'll be back

Another world out there??

I like this from Velo News Photo of Bettini on the poduim at World's

Unlike The Star Spangled Banner, the Italian national anthem does not end with the words 'play ball.'

Also, Awsome the US got their butts kicked at The Ryder Cup (that's golf, for those of you who think there's only 3 sports in the World ) and it was in Ireland too!!

Peace Out, as a current National CycloCross Champ would say.

Tugboat!!

Holy Tugboat, Tyler Hamilton is free to race from tomorrow!! Though the UCI are still after him.

Dedication?

Well, we went to the Gym on weds night, Stoked and I. 2007 begins now baby!!!! 3 days after my last race? Is that dedication, or a total lack of anything better to do??
I must say we didn't very much working out al all, just checking out all the new expansion at our gym, but we did resist temptation to go to Starbucks on the way home!!

It does really look like fall is here with all that rain on weds night thurs morning, we were thinking of riding up Hyw 20 on Sunday, we'll see!

Fall is here ; -)

Looks like there was great racing at the Veulta today! Vino attacking o the descent and getting the jersey from Velvarde, hope he gets it back tomorrow.

I'm back!!!!

Yeah, I spend so much time reading everyone else's blog that I don't update my own!

Well, It's been a great summer, though I'm not ready for the season to be over and not spend 12 hours of the weekend in a Car! One more trip to Eugene next weekend, though.
First we have the Crystal Mtn Hill Climb, the last WSBA state championship, and the final BARR points available. I am top Ten in 1/2s so maybe I will get some points and hold that place, we'll see. I am after all OLD AS DIRT, so it's tough to keep up with thise young guys.
We also lead the team BAR, so it would be sweet to win that!
I am sorry to be missing the final Oregon Cup race down in Bend, as I'm sure I will drop from my current 3rd spot, hopefully only 2 guys will pass me and I can stay top 5.

Seward is on sunday, actually both races this weekend will have a BBQ after, so we can get a head start on stacking on the winter weight!! Though I must try to wait until after the Mt Baker hill climb on Sept 10th to really let go!! I will try not to top the 166 lbs I got to last year, with not riding for 6 weeks because of that darn Mono.

Maybe I'll post again in less than 6 weeks! If work is slow ;-)