Backward Posting

These pictures are from a hike we took the day after the District Criterium Championships in Minden. Which was before the next post about our trip to Puerta Vallarta...which was before the following post when I spent three days flying in and out of La Guardia (did you read it with the accent? La Gwadia) to include the day I spent 14 hours in the cockpit because of weather....aarrghhhh.

Anyway, this is the Loch Leven Lake trail near Tahoe. It was a wonderful hike (thanks for the suggestion Tony!). It was easy to get to the trailhead and then about a two hour walk to the upper lake. There are more pictures here.

Sleep, Eat, Margarita, Nap, ...

Margarita, Eat, Nap, Margarita, Eat, Wine, Sleep....Repeat x 5

OK, so maybe we did a few other things...
like read,
and swim,

Oh, yeah
we went to Old Town
and La Zona Romantica
...did a little shopping and
had a nice dinner.

And,

one day
we went out on a boat where we
ate and drank margaritas and snorkeled...actually we snorkeled first then drank margaritas. The order didn't seem so important then but now I see the logic in it...

We saw the ARCH from
the boat on the way
to the little town of Yelapa

and once we got to Yelapa
we hiked (a very short hike)
up a trail to see a waterfall

and we
sat on the
beach and
drank ice
cold beers
from
Fanny's...
not exactly
Phanny
but close enough that I bought a shirt!

And we thought this was
a funny scene...

...packing out all the essentials,
but mostly soda!


More pictures here.

Guess Where I Went?

This is an easy one.

Stockton Interview

OK, so it isn't much of an interview...but it is coolio as oV would say.

Welcome to the Track

I finally made it down to Hellyah.

It was timed event day. No mass starts.

I borrowed myself a Felt and headed that direction.

I thought I was going to do an open training session after the timed events. But, it looked like everyone was having so much fun I had to join in. Good thing too, I left at 4pm and they still hadn't gotten to the Team Pursuit (really wanted to do that...bummer).

I got to do the 500, the kilo and the 3k.

When he said go on the 500, it was the first time I ever did a standing start sprint on a track bike. Shoot, for all practical purposes today was the first time I rode a track bike...period.

I had a good time.

I mean I enjoyed myself...my times, well let's just say I left some room for improvement.

I hope I have time to do some mass starts this year. I was out of town the good weekend (no local crit), this Saturday would have been perfect but it was Junior State Championships and I think my Saturdays are spoken for the next several weeks. Ah well, we'll see how it turns out.

A quick plug for the sponsors:

Have you seen the Sugar billboard on 101N with the cyclists?

Moto-moto-vate me

De-de-hydrate me!

95º....you gotta be whackin' me,
on the Peninsula?
at least it is a dry heat,
because it is not the heat that
hurts, it's the humidity...

...but I've had worse! I recall days over in the sandbox when my Polar read 118º. That was a dry heat. Just couldn't carry enough water on those days. Of course I didn't go riding in the middle of the day. I tried to get in a quick ride just as the sun was coming up when it was still in the low 90's.

Why in the world do I have to motorpace at NOON?

Wouldn't it be cooler in the AM?

'Cause that is when the scooter is going to show up. At least I have a scooter to pace with. If you don't have a scooter and driver here are some drafting tips. I am not sure I would do this though. Drafting behind someone not specifically out there for you sounds a little too dangerous for me. It's bad enough when they know and want you back there!

Why do I have to motorpace at all? It is supposed to be good for improving bike handling at high speeds and improving top end speed and good for the track.

I think it is also a mental thing for me. If I can hang on to the scooter going up and down the hills on Canada I should be able to hang on anyone's wheel pretty much anywhere...right?

And isn't the idea to be behind the scooter?

Three laps on Canada:
1.a. Behind scooter to warm-up (did I mention it's 95º)
1.b. In the wind on signal, recover behind scooter

2.a. Paceline with scooter, change on signal
2.b. See 2.a.

3.a. Behind scooter
3.b. Go home, you are red and tired and it is hot and I am sorry I ran over your full water bottle after you dropped it and squished all the juice out.

I finally figured out how to lose 5 pounds in an hour. I also figured out that vodka and wine are not the proper rehydration liquids. I am trying coffee now. I'll let you know how it goes!

Track Frame Possibility

We'll see...

They arrive next week...one could be mine!

And, it is black, all black!



UPDATE:
After oVs comment
I checked out Fetish Cycles

The ATTACK

Looks nice...I guess it is hard
to tell from a picture though.

And, lots of people make nice frames.



I uploaded this picture
not because it is a nice
track frame
(you'll notice it is a TT frame)
but because I thought it looked
pretty damn sexy...

and the bike looks nice too.

Pesky

I am sitting here in the STL airport...

...anxiously awaiting
the news about today's race
so I dug up some pictures taken by Bill Willet
last year.

There was a picture of Dan,
he finished top ten in the P/1/2
what a stud!



Then there was this picture of me
at the finish...

...no, not the Safeway rider slaying himself,
that's oV getting sixth.

Look to the right between the guys with climbing legs
and the horsey sign...yeah, that's me and no I didn't already
finish the race but I was finished.

I wanted to save my legs for...oh, hell, I sucked and quit and hung out with VB to watch the big guns duke it out!


Then I found this picture.

In the days of carbon frames and
carbon wheels in search of
the lightest of the light,
with 14 pound bikes,
oV races on a steel bike
and leaves the saddle bag on it.

I think he does it to mess with the heads of the guys behind him...that's a lot of messing.




And now Taz
has taken up
the habit as well...

he raced Cat's Hill
with a ginormous saddle bag on

...and then he won

...the P/1/2 race!

Jealous

Been watching the build all day.

Step by step.

I am jealous.

I want a track bike.

I want to race with the boys in the world of left hand turns.

June 13th...I'm planning on it.

Beware all.......

First Phone Blog Message

Another night in a hotel! Sent from my phone.

Chalk Up Another One

Mount Hamilton is a mountain in California's Diablo Range. In 1861, while working for Josiah D. Whitney on the first California Geological Survey, William H. Brewer invited local San Jose preacher (and Brewer's personal friend) Laurentine Hamilton to join his company on a trek to a nearby summit. Nearing completion of their journey, Hamilton, in good humor, bounded for the summit ahead of the rest of the men and claimed his stake. In fact, Brewer suggested the mountain be named after Hamilton only after Whitney declined to have the mountain named after him (a different mountain was later named Mount Whitney).


Mount Hamilton Road Race is a bicycle race in the NCNCA sponsored by Network Control (who I cannot link to because it goes to the old five-wire url but there is nothing there, anywho...kudos for the sponsorship). In 2007, while riding for Robert Pasco and the Safeway/G•A Communications team, Michael Hernandez invited local San Jose/Rancho Cordova preacher (and Hernandez's personal friend) the right Reverend Daniel Martin to join his band of black clad men on a "Trek" to a nearby summit. Nearing completion of their journey, Martin, in good humor, bounded for the finish line ahead of the rest of the geezers and claimed his stake. In fact, Hernandez suggested the mountain be named after Martin only after Pasco declined to have the mountain named after him (a different mountain was earlier named Mount Pasco). The California Geological Society denied Hernandez's request on the grounds that a Mount Martin already exists...bummer.

Haven't got the full report yet but rumor has it Taz took top honors in the Mt Hammerfest geezer race.


Fire I tell you, that boy is on fire!

In coherance with the newest of MIB traditions,
it is rumored that you might find this tattoo
on the upper right arm of our very own TAZ?

OK maybe not. But it would be funny...
....wouldn't it?


Good luck at the Memorial Day Crits...as a veteran, shouldn't I be there?

Almost Perfect

It's been a GREAT week!

Too bad I have to work this weekend instead of racing
...that would have been tops.

I felt so good at the Steinbeck Crit in Salinas two weeks ago.

photo: Steve Anderson

But, I have no doubts the boys will do well at Mt. Hammy and the Memorial Day Crit without me.
Despite my amazing history at Mt. Hammy ...in 2002...

Senior 5, Field 36
1. Kyle Glerum               Pen Velo

...(yeah I know, I didn't even really go over MtH).

Then in 2003 at the Memorial Day Crit I did my first 35+ 1/2/3 race, except it was 35+ 1/2/3/4 I guess because I was a 4. I was so happy just to finish. I think I have shown a little improvement since then.

So, I am really sorry to miss these races.

Anyway, I probably wouldn't have been much help. I haven't gotten that pre-Salinas feeling back in my legs after a week off.

Last week I went to STL to fly Tuesday and Wednesday. Then had to get down to ATL. I started feeling a little under the weather on Wednesday and it didn't get much better over the next couple days. I swear riding in the back of the aluminum disease incubators is not healthy with all the inconsiderates coughing and sneezing and wiping their illness on everything...ick!

So, between being busy with military duties and feeling bad I didn't ride. Then there were a couple days I couldn't ride. Then I had to choose between riding and flying the Hornet for two days?

Hmmm....fly the F18 from Atlanta to San Fran to see my sweety or drive three hours up to Nashville for a crit in the parking lot of Titan's Stadium after not riding for 5 days?

Of course, I could have just ridden around Atlanta but if I was going to pass up the flying I was going to race!

No real decision there, I flew home. Then...flew back on Monday, drove to the airport, and rode Brand D back to SFO.

Man was I exhausted!

But, I got about 250 fast miles (with some good power climbing) over the last five days and despite feeling really fatigued this morning...still rode well. A couple days of rest and some gymtervals. A couple days on the bike back home. I'll be so fired up for the "Crash for Cash" and EMC Crits I won't be able to stand it!

Love this Ad

That's really all I've got to say about that.

MIB in Salinas

Californian.com

Jeff and Kyle with the Pro peloton (did you know peloton literally means balls...hee hee)

photo: Steve Anderson

Big Doings for the Men in Black

Berkeley Hills Road Race
Berkeley, CA
5/12/2007
Dan Martin (1), Chris Wire (4), Michael Hernandez (5), Robert Pasco, Ronald Reade, Reed Maxwell

It looked like the winning move had gone up the road with Chris Wire, AMD's Craig Roemer, and Spine's Colin Cooper. A huge effort by several teams managed to reel them in just after the dam on the final lap. Zteam's Phipps launched an attack which Daniel Martin jumped on with AMD's Metcalfe in tow. The three got a sizable gap and prepared for the duel that would take place on Papa Bear. Phipps put forth a huge effort with Metcalfe on his wheel and Daniel sitting in the catbird's seat. Though an excellent climber, Phipps was unable to drop the other two. Metcalfe put the pressure on through the feedzone but it wasn't enough. Daniel came by him at the finish for the win. Meanwhile, back in the pack, Chris and Mike were able to break free with a group of 5 or 6. The two of them tag teamed the rest and took the next two finishing positions for fourth and fifth.

Golden State Criterium
Sacramento, CA
5/13/2007
Dan Martin (1), Roger Bennett (3), Robert Pasco, Ronald Reade

About 20 minutes in it got pretty hard and strung out, guys were taking fliers and the speed was always fast. A couple of hard surges into the head wind took the stuff out of everyone and going into the tailwind it was just too rip for a surge. Knowing the dangerous part of the course from the P/1/2 helped and Dan Martin came out of the corner going into the tailwind full gas. About 5 escaped and they caught the solo EMC up the road quickly. Into the head wind, things were dying in the break and Jason Dunlap (Sierra Nevada) hit it hard. Dan waited and then jumped across, another rider with him. That was it, a 3-man break. After a few laps, Dan realized it was his break to win, the guys were on edge, but they were still pulling away from the field. The break grew up to 35 seconds and then the lap cards appeared (12 to go). Dan kept the pressure on but not enough to drop the others, he didn't want their teammates chasing just yet. The rest of the MIB were doing some great covering back in the field and nothing got up to the break. With 8 to go Jason fell off in the tail-wind section (the gap was down to 20 sec). Only two left in the break. 4 to go and the gap was 15 seconds, the break could feel them breathing down their necks. Going across the S/F with 3 to go a solo Rio Strata guy was attempting to bridge up with Joe Olivera close behind. For Dan it was now or never, he hit it full gas and broke away solo before they made contact. Rio Strata made it to the wheel of Dan's break mate. Dan opened up again and coming across the S/F with 1 to go he had at least 12 seconds on the chasing field. Time to suck it up and feel the pain! Last turn into the tailwind, full on 2 minute interval style. Looking back he can see Vince digging deep to reach him with Robert on his wheel. So much for an interval, now it's full on out of the saddle sprint with 800m to go. Getting to the next to the last corner a quick look back and there is no Vince or Robert. The pack is back about 5 seconds and he knows he's got it. Last corner and he started with a full sprint just in case, but had enough room to ease up and cheerish the win. Roger duked it out in the field sprint and took second, for a third place finish overall.

Steinbeck Country Oldtown Criterium
Salinas, CA
5/13/2007
Chris Wire (4), Kyle Glerum (5), Jeff Poulsen (6), Patrick Tafoya (8), Andrew Nevitt

We had a lot of hard racing at Salinas; it is a great course, kind of like Suisun crit, with a strong tailwind/headwind on the long sections. In the 35+, Kyle rolled a solo break about 4 laps into the race for a whole bunch of laps early on, making Morgan Stanley do quite a bit of chasing. In the ensuing counters, we rolled the final break with Dirk Copeland, Mark Noble, Chris Wire, Scott Derdenger and then Kyle bridged up to it. The break rolled fast and hard from then on. It was a break of sprinters so there was not much we could do to slow it down; it was a good sprint for Chris and he felt really good. We knew if we got caught we had two strong sprinters, Jeff Poulsen and Patrick Tafoya in the field rested and ready to counter. Setting up Chris for the win, he rested the last 3 laps, and Kyle took a few extra pulls and then led from 1 to go down the backstretch. Chris was really rested and ready to give it a go but apparently the Sea Otter ghost is still lingering with him and as he jumped around the last corner on Mark's wheel he somehow pulled his foot out of his pedal. He got back in, tried to catch up, almost got back to Scott, but fell short at 4th. Kyle was 5th, Jeff brought home the FS for 6th, Pat 8th, Andrew 11th and a bunch of primes on top of it all.

Pat was up there in the 45's and Chris was 10th in the P/1/2. We won the overall mens category which was good for a case of wine. It was a good day of racing for the third of the team in Salinas (not quite as good as for the guys in Sacramento though!).

*photo credit Biker Jun

A Snake is a Snake

I took the kids to Pulgas Ridge today for a walk. We love this spot. It is right across the street from the house, few but adequate trails, a wide open off leash area, lots of big eucalyptus trees, and some really nice vistas. Oh, I forgot to mention, wildlife!

Now I was a Boy Scout and all but never really learned much about snakes. And to be quite honest...don't care much for them. Now it is someone's pet that's OK. I am more afraid of the unknown and therefore have a HEALTHY respect for what they could be. Anyway, we came across this cute three foot or so brown snake with white bands. I know it is not poisonous but, this little voice inside my brain said..."stay away". So, we stayed away.

Then I got to thinking

"It is summer, the air is cool, the sun is hot...there are going to be lots of snakes out...maybe even poisonous ones."

So, I put the dogs back on their leashes and walked the trails. Maybe I will quit letting them run free in the off leash area for a while. I don't know for sure, but am pretty confident, that if Phanny saw a snake she would try to play with it. If it was a rattler it might scare her away though. When she was younger we used a shake can to get her to leave things alone and maybe the rattles would sound similar and she would back off.

Not going to risk it. Love my kids too much.

Kansas City Rant

On the road again.

I am so tired of Lifecylces!

I have done more intervals on stupid life (sucking-crotchrubbing-ratchety-
sweatrusted-fatassseatequiped-nostrap-
wornout) cycles in the last couple months...it's killing me!

I want to be home...and ride my bike on my roads in my fresh clean air in my sunshine without the humidity and ogle eyed chubbies staring at me dressed all faggy-like in my spandex sexy shorts.

Here I am in the Kansas City, MO Westin Crown Center (sounds fancy doesn't it?) bar sucking down over-priced Cali-wines released two years early because greedy bastards put profits above quality and that is what they serve by the glass. I would be in my room, in my Heavenly Bed, if they didn't charge for the wireless up there. But, no, I have to sit down here and use the free wireless and drink wine. Cheap? Stupid? YEAH

My Kansas City Fiorella's Jack Stack BBQ is sitting pretty. Two glasses have taken the edge off. So, now maybe it is time to search out the sandman in my pillow topped, starched sheet, down covered, cloud like horizontal time accelerator. I have an early start to a long day tomorrow. I have the feeling Starcrooks will help themselves to several of my George Washigtons in search of eye-openness, brain awakeness, and body alertness.

Ah, the calmness is setting in. The release into blogdom is quieting and relaxing.

Good night!

Jazzfest 2007

What a great time we had...not as good as this person...



...but still a good time.



I love the hat on the girl siting in the middle...

.....and how many pairs of glasses does one need?





There were parades!










...and good friends and good music and well, festival food...