Two Wheels and Other Things

A goodbye to another fellow local cyclist and competitor.  Keep on riding, Jose`

http://www.supersquadra.com/News.aspx

Be careful out there.

My heart goes out to big Jens and his family.  That was a nasty fall today at 7okph

Heal quickly-

(update)

Good News from Grenoble-

In a statement issued late Tuesday evening, the team said the 37-year-old German is alert, but will remain hospitalized for observation.

 

“An examination at the University hospital in Grenoble this evening has initially given positive reports on Jens Voigt’s health after the nasty crash during today’s stage of Tour de France. He has incurred a fracture of the right cheekbone and a concussion. For now he is staying at the hospital for further observation.

Read the entire story over at Velonews.com

Last week Rosanna told me to keep Thursday the 16th open.  No racing, no training, no yard work (like I do that anyway) because she had a date planned out for us. 

“Where are we going?”

“Not tellin’ ”

Now, I must admit, I wasn’t worried at all.  She is quite the planner and I knew whatever it was she had planned for us, it would kick ass. 

I hopped in the passenger side of her car and we headed east on 520.  Side note: I don’t miss this commute at all.  I am SO glad we moved out of Kirkland.  Traffic was absolutely brutal.  I started tossing out thoughts of where were going…  Fishing?  Cow Tipping?  Shooting range?  Red Hook outdoor movie?  I was wrong on all counts.

COUNTING CROWS.  Hells yes!  Ro got us tickets to the Marymoor outdoor venue with Adam Duritz just killing it.

God I love this band.

After a dinner of beer, cheesesteak sandwiches, fries and more beer we settled down on the grass for the show.

From Adam Duritz’ blog-

I know you’re all used to showing up at 8:30 or 9PM for concerts that started at 7. It’s understandable. You’re there  to see YOUR band and you’re showing up when you think they’re  gonna play, right? Well, starting on Thursday July 16th at  Marymoor Amphitheatre in Redmond, Washington, that’s all going to change.

Ladies and Gentlemen, at 7:15PM, when the curtain goes up on *The Saturday Night Rebel Rockers Traveling Circus & Medicine  Show*, *Augustana* AND *Counting Crows* are all going to be  walking out onstage together and that show is going to start with EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US onstage singing and playing our brains out. We’ll do a few songs together and then it may be *Counting Crows* that plays the first set alone. I don’t know  exactly how the shows going to run every night. It’ll  definitely be different a few days later in Friant, CA when  *Michael Franti & Spearhead* join up. It’ll probably be  different every night. The only thing I know for sure is that  EVERY show on this tour is going to start with EVERYONE onstage together and we’re going to all be running on & off stage all night playing on each others songs and playing songs all together and basically just playing whenever we feel like playing. So you get my point, right?

GET HERE ON TIME!

Cuz when the curtain rises…THE CIRCUS BEGINS

Holy Heck that was awesome.  I should have the video or audio of the show soon if anyone wants a copy.  A great version of both Miami and Mrs. Potter’s Lullaby last night that I really want to listen to again.

Thanks for the great night, Ro.  Ice fishing next weekend? :-)

Notion

Use Somebody

Closer

Stranded in this spooky town
Stoplights are swaying and the phone lines are down
This floor is crackling cold
She took my heart, I think she took my soul
With the moon I run
Far from the carnage of the fiery sun

Driven by the strangled vein
Showing no mercy I do it again
Open up your eye
You keep on crying, baby
I’ll bleed you dry
The skies are blinking at me
I see a storm bubbling up from the sea

And it’s coming closer
And it’s coming closer

You, shimmy shook my bone
Leaving me stranded all in love on my own
What do you think of me
Where am I now? Baby where do I sleep
Feel so good but I’m old,
2000 years of chasing taking its toll

And it’s coming closer

This week has absolutely flown by.  

Saturday I raced the Joe Matava 4th of July crit and absolutely got worked.  Stupid move with 5 to go and got blown straight out the back  Pretty unhappy about it but hey, it happens.  Sunday Rosanna and I hopped on the tandem and rode onto the ferry heading to Southworth.  We basically rode along the water into Port Orchard and up Mitchel Road to see my mom and then back  Good 40 miles with a few good hills.  I SO need a new saddle on that bike. :-)

Tuesday, Tony B and I drove down early to Pacific Raceways and did a fantastic 20 mile warm up before the race.  We actually rode past a house he lived in as a kid.  It was a great route  and we got a chance to catch up.  Brad showed up too for the race and it was us thre against what felt like 35 yellow and black jerseys from the Wine’s crew.  I will admit, they rode smart but in reality, it’s easy to own the field when almost half of it is YOUR team :-)  Good race though.  I finished mid pack and really had a great time.

Took wednesday off to drink beer.  Yup.

Today, Jeff D, Ryan G, John N and I met up for the 6pm Seward Park crit.  HUGE group showed up so we planned to stick at the front to avoid any mishaps.  Unfortunately, Ryan (with those massive legs) tore his damn rear derailleur off on the last lap.  Sucks to be that strong.  I busted my cleat on the small hill sprinting to stay with the lead group on the prime/ 2 to go.  That has NOTHING to do with massive power… they were just really old :-)  It was annoying riding back though after the race… click, click, click…

I’m now onto my second beer for the night, about to eat a Burrito, watch the tour and head off to bed.

Goodnight everyone, stay beautiful.

One of my favorite Pearl Jam songs 

Release (live 2005)

Now the same song but in 92.

I see the world
Feel the chill
Which way to go
Windowsill
I see the words
On a rocking horse of time
I see the birds in the rain

Oh dear dad
Can you see me now
I am myself
Like you somehow
I’ll ride the wave
Where it takes me
I’ll hold the pain
Release me

Oh dear dad
Can you see me now
I am myself
Like you somehow
I’ll wait up in the dark
For you to speak to me
I’ll open up
Release me

Yellow Ledbetter

From Pez Cycling-

Into the Big Ring
Here are four tools you can use to climb up and over the next frontiers in your riding:

1. Take the sting out of your negative thoughts. Be wary of any “certainties” – “I’m going to get dropped,” “I’ll finish DFL,” “My teammates will be angry with me” – and challenge them. Notice any feared (but realistic) possibilities – “I’m not sure I can do it,” “I might get dropped,” “I might not finish at all,” – and plan for how you’ll handle those feared outcomes; you may then not fear them as much. Check out the articles on Effective Self-Talk and Handling Pressure for more ideas here.

Negative thoughts feel powerful, especially the “certainties,” but it’s a superficial power, not a deep power. Superficial power can look like an effective way to combat your anxiety. It’s not.

2. Find additional ways to manage and reduce your anxiety. The less fear and anxiety you feel, the more likely you are to go for it in your riding. Effective self-talk will help a great deal, and may be all you need. However, you may benefit from understanding your anxiety – on and off the bike – more clearly, using breathing techniques, and better integrating your body and mind.

3. See and be seen. Reflect on everything in this article. If there’s a part of you that’s been hidden and yet running the show at times, seeing it will help you. Check out the article on self-awareness for more ideas here.

Having others you trust see these parts of you may help as well. Physician Rachel Naomi Remen, in her wonderful book, “Kitchen Table Wisdom,” tells the story of attending a day-long master class with the great psychologist Carl Rogers. He said to the group, about his counseling practice,

“Before every session I take a moment to remember my humanity. There is no experience that this man has that I cannot share with him, no fear that I cannot understand, no suffering that I cannot care about, because I too am human. No matter how deep his wound, he does not need to be ashamed in front of me. I too am vulnerable. And because of this, I am enough. Whatever his story, he no longer needs to be alone with it.”

After watching Rogers conduct a session, Remen was stunned. She remembers:

“I had always worked hard at being good enough; it was the golden standard by which I decided what to read, what to wear, how to spend time, where to live, and even what to say. Even ‘good enough’ was not really good enough for me. I had spent a lifetime trying to make myself perfect. But if what Rogers was saying was true, perfection was the booby prize. What was needed was simply to be human. I was human. All my life I had feared being found out.”

4. Trust the power of experience. As I noted in The Power of Cyclotherapy, experiences on the bike offer you opportunities not only for fun and success but also growth and transformation. Yes, you could be right at times: Feared outcomes will make you feel every bit as bad as you fear you will feel. But not only will you survive those experiences, you may need them for your freedom: you may need them in order to reduce and eliminate the hold your anxiety and injuries have on you. There very well may be no way out but through.

The full article can be read over at Pez.  It’s very good… Something I know I need to pay more attention to.

Damiano Cunego will NOT be leading the Lampre team in the 2009 Tour de France.

The real reason?

Well…

I drink good coffee every morning
Comes from a place that’s far away
And when I’m done I feel like talking
Without you here there is less to say
I don’t want you thinking I’m unhappy
What is closer to the truth
That if I lived till I was 102
I just don’t think I’ll ever get over you
I’m no longer moved to drink strong whisky
‘Cause I shook the hand of time and I knew
That if I lived till I could no longer climb my stairs
I just don’t think I’ll ever get over you
Your face it dances and it haunts me
Your laughter’s still ringing in my ears
I still find pieces of your presence here
Even after all these years
But I don’t want you thinking I don’t get asked to dinner
‘Cause I’m here to say that I sometimes do
Even though I may soon feel the touch of love
I just don’t think I’ll ever get over you
If I lived till I was 102
I just don’t think I’ll ever get over you

Not really but it sounds cool.  Every Tuesday a small band of local racers gather at the west side of Mercer and blast the horshoe on Mercer Island.  Basically a race to the Tennis Courts on the east side where you then regroup, high five like a bunch of white guys, talk shit and refuel before racing back to the bridge.

I haven’t had the chance to join in this season at all yet but I jumped into a bunch last year.  It’s a no joke ride…  No teams just you against everyone else.  Attack-chase-counter, attack-chase-counter and on and on and SPRINT.

I was completely out classed (and still hurting from Sunday).  Right from the start Alex R from Garage jumped off the front and stupid me decides to lead the chase.  When I caught him I checked the back and noticed we had a decent gap.  Alex waved me through and I just couldn’t do it.  I was still trying un cross my eyes from the catch.   Second Ascent blew past us on the left and then the rest of the pack followed.  It was like that for the next few miles and I was struggling to hang on.  The body just didn’t want to go.  So before we got to the down hill I turned around hoping they would catch me on the way back.

Lesson?  when you KNOW you are tired and the pack is head and shoulders above you in fitness level – grab a wheel.  No need to get up there at the beginning and throw down with folks who will look at you, smile, tear your legs off and then spank the hell out of you.

Easy buddy… easy.

Ride – 42 miles

Bike – BMC SL01 51-35 x 11-21 Q rings Neuvation Wheels

Food – shot blocks and water

Side note – I think I’m going back to round rings.  I hade to ride a different crankset the last couple of days and after riding the Q’s yesterday, I either need to reposition them or just throw the round ones back on.  Just feels different for some reason.  I might have them positioned backwards.

Legs were feeling mighty tired as I headed out the door Monday afternoon.  I just kept it in the small ring and cruised over to Leschi to see if any IJM teammates were going to show up for a late scheduled ride.  Dustin was already there and I grabbed a quick cup of coffee and chatted a bit before we took off.  I felt a little overdressed as the temperature seemed to be a little warmer and muggier than it was in West Seattle.  Dustin’s “Slow Pace” is also my regular speed so I kept on sliding into his draft or it was a fight to stay with him.  My hips were just so sore from the weekend.

Headed through the tunnel, dropped off Dustin and I headed down Jackson back to West Seattle… again in the small ring :-)

Ride – 40 miles

Bike - BMC SL01  53-39 x 11-23 Neuvation wheels

Ride Food – Water, bag of shot blocks

Mercer Island World Championships this afternoon.  I might have to go over and throw down.

Capitol Crit -

I wasn’t planning on racing Saturday but at the last minute I changed my mind.  As has been well documented throughout my blog, I am NOT a crit racer.  I always feel like I’m hanging on for dear life and am never much help to the team.  Friday night I decided to nut up and toss myself into the fire.  The weather was muggy.  It felt like it was going to dump rain on us at any moment.  In fact during the womens 3 race I did feel a drop or two but that ended up being the only rain for the rest of the afternoon. 

IJM was well represented in the Cat 3 field with: Aaron S, Brad K, Ryan D, Jeff D, Tony B and Brian S.  I really put in a hard warm up which I think made this crit for me. 

To be quite honest, I couldn’t see straight for the first 30 minutes.  I fought to stay in the front / middle of the pack because I knew on this course that if you got gapped off the pack you were pretty much toast.  I locked on to Tony and shadowed him pretty much the entire time.  I popped up front twice, once when Brad had a great gap and then when Aaron was in his break which turned to be the winning group, Aaron killing it for another podium place, 3rd!

Boston Harbor -

This is by far one of my favorite races.  As Jeff D put it, it’s a “longish crit” as it’s a short circuit race at only 40 miles.  small rollers with one quick decentthen an up hill leading to a false flat and then a bombing finish run.  We were rolling a little short with expected IJM racers with Brad, Tony, Jeff and myself.  We needed to change tactics a bit but still knew we would have to watch EVERYTHING Recycled did since it was the second day in a row that they brought a large group.

As was expected Recycled threw guys off the front from the start.  We covered well with a little help from some other squads but it really felt like the IJM/ Recycled show part 2.  They were either chasing us or we were chasing them and the rest of the pack would just follow.  We were flying… The pace never really let up with the exception of a couple times on the backside before another set of attacks.

It was pretty good game of cat and mouse and Our guys put some serious work in.

Going into the last lap the pack shattered.  The pace was starting to get to folks and we had a break of about 10 off the front with NONE of us in it.  I didn’t have much left in the tank for a good finish so I put everything I had left to put Brad Jeff and Tony back into play

I was cooked and barely hung on to the back of the pack as we caught the break.  we hit the downhill and the quick right/ left turn and ended up losing concentration and rolling into the ditch.  I tried to regain on the backside but the small headwind was pushing me back further and further.  Up the road I could see people getting popped off the back as the pace got faster and faster…

There was a 15 man sprint and the rest of us trickled in.  I had a hard time turning the pedals to the line and was just a little dissapointed that I didn’t make the lead pack.

It was a great weekend with my friends.  We are starting to click together and I think the end of the season and going into next will be fantastic.

Bike – BMC SL01  Neuvation wheels 53-49 x 11-25

I planned on racing the Eastons on Sunday but turned out I hadn’t swapped my 9spd cassette since the Time Trial.  The Neuvations did well though.  I really love those wheels even though they are a tad creaky.  I need to take them in and get them tensioned.

Caught some grief from a falling leaf
As she tumbled down on to the dirty ground
And said I should have put her back there if I could
Well everyone needs a better day
And I’m trying to find me a better way
To get through the things I do and the things I should

All you want is a place to lay your head
You go to sleep dreamin how you would
Be a different kind if you thought you could
But you come awake the way you are instead

Found this over on www.mynorthwest.com

WASHINGTON (AP) – The group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants the flyswatter in chief to try taking a more humane attitude the next time he’s bedeviled by a fly in the White House.

PETA is sending President Barack Obama a Katcha Bug Humane Bug Catcher, a device that allows users to trap a house fly and then release it outside.

“We support compassion even for the most curious, smallest and least sympathetic animals,” PETA spokesman Bruce Friedrich said Wednesday. “We believe that people, where they can be compassionate, should be, for all animals.”

During an interview for CNBC at the White House on Tuesday, a fly intruded on Obama’s conversation with correspondent John Harwood.

“Get out of here,” the president told the pesky insect. When it didn’t, he waited for the fly to settle, put his hand up and then smacked it dead.

“Now, where were we?” Obama asked Harwood. Then he added: “That was pretty impressive, wasn’t it? I got the sucker.”

Friedrich said that PETA was pleased with Obama’s voting record in the Senate on behalf of animal rights and noted that he has been outspoken against animal abuses.

Still, “swatting a fly on TV indicates he’s not perfect,” Friedrich said, “and we’re happy to say that we wish he hadn’t.”

Deputy press secretary Josh Earnest said the White House has no comment on the matter.

If you blinked, you would have missed it.

Cadel ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING!!!!

Too little too late.  Contadoper assisting his future teammate?  Me thinks so I says.

If you grew up in the cycling world around the mid 80’s as Greg LeMond was starting to shake thinks up in Europe,  You were groomed to hate the French star, Laurent Fignon.  He was the enemy…  His uber cool pony tail.  His round little glasses…

Damn he made every race exciting, though.  In my opinion,even more exciting than Hinault.  That final TT  in the Tour de France will forever be burned into my memory as he fell to the ground after losing the Tour by only 8 seconds.

Well Fignon has another battle brewing, this time with cancer.

Story over at VeloNews

And I wonder…

If everything could ever feel this real forever. If anything could ever be this good again.

The only thing I’ll ever ask of you, you’ve got to promise not to stop when I say when.

I’ve been a tad upside down lately and apologize for the lack of updates.   It’s been hard to find the time to sit down and type something that people actually understand compared to the gibberish I toss up on my Facebook updates.

I’ve left Cochran, Inc.  It was expected, really, since I was quite vocal in my opposition in the direction they were going.  It would be uncool to describe it all here right now so I’ll give all the details at a later date.  I must say though that my time there with George B, Nate M and a few others was a great period in my career.   Their attitude, knowledge and support have inspired me to jump into where I am now, a company that has a little risk involved but with a lot of hard work and attention to detail, it will be a dominating force in the region.

I’m excited to say the least!  So far I enjoy everyone I work with.  A very passionate group of people commiting to grow a “mom and pop” contractor into a powerful commercial / industrial shop.  It’s fun :-) and just my style.

Racing has taken a back seat right now.  I need to get this handled and get the house in shape before Ro throws me out on the street.  I have been riding alot.   I dropped more weight (159) than expected (mostly from not eating) and feel I have lost a lot of strength in the process, as was well detailed at the Enumclaw Omnium.  Watched my team kill it in a few crits and am looking forward to Boston Harbor and the LWV series.  I might throw down in a few criteriums but they aren’t my favorite.  You only get better by doing them though.

Back to work I go.  Thanks for coming back and checking in on me.  I promise I won’t go this long with out writing again.

bps-

We lost my father 11 years ago today.

Dad was a strong quiet man, a provider and protector. He was very careful about how he did things, always reading, observing, studying and then addicted to whatever it was he was pursuing. Very determined and to the point, when dad set out to do something he would never waver and 98% of the time came out on top.

Way before we became a bunch of health crazed bike riding nut jobs, My dad was a pack a day smoker. That is until he realized he was killing himself and his family so he threw the cartons away, woke up the next morning and never smoked again. It was all about succeeding to him.

I remember the day my father went on his first bike ride. He left the house on a brand new Schwinn High Sierra and set out for an “Around the Golf Course” loop that I think was maybe a 5 mile ride. He came back 45 minutes later, red faced- half way to a stroke and staggering to the shower. The next week he bought his first pair of “real” cycling shorts and never looked back. He was a member of Cascade, Tacoma Wheelmen and his own club at work Team N.E.D (Nuclear Engineering Dept.) He racked up the rides, STP 1 day, RAMROD, Daffodil, PMC and many others and went on to buy a tandem that we all (Mom, Evan and myself) stoked on but it was with mom that he found the most fun riding with at multiple tandem rallies across the area.

In late 1994, My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. It was a shock to say the least. I mean, prostate cancer is an “Old Mans Disease”, right? Dad was only 46! With the same determination he charged headlong into the fight. Pouring over articles and online support groups he was very involved with his own treatment. The occasional cry over an AT&T commercial or a trip to a Sears White Sale (due to hormonal therapy) brought a bit of levity to the situation and dad did keep a sense of humor through it all.

Though he fought hard the next few years, he lost his battle in our home on May 24th 1998.

Dad is in our thoughts everyday. He is and always will be part of our lives. Every time I ride he is right next to me reminding me to keep my elbows bent and to always try the hardest I can at everything I do. Evan has some great memories too that we always gravitate to whenever we hang out.

We love you dad… keep on riding.

If you are a site owner like myself you probably have some sort of analytics chugging along, gathering data from the traffic to your site.  For the thumbprintracing.org site it’s more of a tool for me than what I look at on my blog but it’s always fun to look back and see what search words an individual used to find themselves staring at my life.

Some normal search words are of course

• Brian Snyder
• Brian Snyder Race Photo
• Thumbprint Team
• IJM.org Racing

Then there are searches for my friends or family

• Rosanna Snyder MS
• Evan Snyder Blog
• Brad Kilcline Crash
• Cathy Varland Mason Lake Video
• Guy Tucker Track Racer

Finally are the ones that I seriously get a chuckle out of:

• Damiano Cunego urinating
• Chad Gerlac cats hill
• Buy Midwife Bicycle
• What are cows? Cows for Dummies
• Family Bonking
• Ben Gibbard on drugs and alcohol

Love it!

That’s enough for now… Just know that there are folks looking at what you type in the Google search bar!

IJM.org / Thumbprint representation in the Cat 3 field

Brad K, Aaron S, Tony B, Darren M and myself.

Beautiful day for racing.  I still went with arm warmers but took them off on the first lap.  The sun seemed to bring everyone out as all categories looked packed which on a wider road course would have been much more enjoyable but with these out in Ravensdale made for a lot of bumping and pushing.

As we pulled out of the parking lot, Alex R from Garage and I are at the front with an easy neutral roll out pace.  We were confident that we were neutral to the “y” where the circuit starts and were floored when a Lenovo kid flies past us on the right, locks on to the back of the lead car and is gone.  GONE.  All of us are convinced that he will be DQ’d for either jumping the neutral or drafting the lead car so no one really chases.

Lap two (of six) I hit a pothole and lose my bottle.  My FULL bottle.  I have flashbacks of last year when bottles were flying right and left and we lost half the pack due to crashes.  Luckily I’m at the BACK and don’t create the carnage that should have ensued.  I feel bad… really bad and the loss of the bottle makes it even worse.  I think about pulling out on the 3rd lap… Water almost gone, sketchy riders doing stupid stuff.  Taking HUGE risks that get the no where.  Just stupid.  Lap 4 I’m feeling better.  The legs aren’t feeling as heavy but I’m out of water and my mouth is starting to go dry.  Some guy lets me take a pull off his bottle and that helps but I know I’ll be hurting soon. I can’t see what’s going on up front but I notice a couple IJM jerseys pop off the sharp end of the group every now and then… Nothing is getting away as Hagens is chasing everything down (even their own?). Lap 5 I move to the front and hear the time gap to the Lenovo kid.

2:30

2:30???  Holy !@$%

He’s still racing.  He’s not DQ’d

I fight the 5th lap just to stay up since I know moving up on lap 6 will be almost impossible because of the narrow roads.  I’m parched… completely dry.  I can feel the coagulation around my mouth and I feel really hot.  Tony lets me take a long drink and it’s instant rejuvenation. About 5k to go the speed dies.  we start to get swarmed and I know we’ll need to keep our position so I nail the front to string it out a bit more before the downhill and turn.  Who chases me?  Hagens.  Does he come through?  Nope.  Recycled does though and we are hammering again.  As I fall back in the little kid from Hagens runs right into me.  Just blatant idiocy and not paying attention.  Some of the guys yell at him, I’m trying to get back under control and go from 10-30th wheel in 2 seconds.  We hit the turn and all of IJM makes it through.  Sitting good and all 5 of us next to each other… gonna be a great lead out!  We hit the base of the first roller and it happens. HUGE pile up.  Tony goes down (on his new bike!) Aaron puts it in the ditch, Brad endo’s into the pile… and I do something retarded.  I look back to make sure the guys are ok and then turn my head back around to see guys on the deck in front of me.  I plow into them and there goes the pack.  Or what’s left of it.  I see Darren is still up there and I was able to jump back on my bike  I pass a few people on the second roller but it’s over, D gets 9th and I get 29th.  Aaron, Brad and Tony limp in.  No damage done to the machinery and Tony only lost a set of shorts.

Turns out they DID DQ the Lenovo kid for Neutral roll out infraction.  That moves us all up one spot and makes for one pissed off (and almost in tears) kids.  Roll out infraction or not… that was an amazing performance.  I say give him the points and let him enjoy the cat 2’s.  Really, who’s fault is it?  The lead car gunned it from the start.  Doesn’t the car control lead out?

BAck at the car I chugged a bottle of water and a Corona that Tony gave me.  I was well on track for recovery and all I needed was a cheeseburger and I’d be set.

Good times.  Next race for me (not counting PR or Seward) is Enumclaw Omnium.  Haven’t decided if I’m doing the whole thing or not, guess I need to make up my mind soon.

Great job by my teammates in all categories, especially RC in Masters AB getting 3rd.  

Rock on!

Race – 56 miles, rolling narrow roads light breeze and sunny

Bike – BMC SL01 51-35 q rings Easton EC90 Aero wheels

Breakfast – Pasta, cottage cheese,  coffee, HEED

Race food – 1/2 a powerbar, bag of shot blocks and 1 small bottle of water

Max HR 201

Avg HR 157

thumbprintracing.org

I’m still here (I think).  I have survived the 2009 Swine Flu outbreak as well as the massive storm that pushed through our region last night and tragically blew the lid open on the recycle container (it’s attached with a hinge… I’ll survive). 

Have we become a society of Chicken Littles?

Anyway-

Saturday, Rosanna and I spent the morning with Dustin and Elizabeth on the Montlake Cut, watching the Windermere Cup.  UW schooled them all, sweeping every race.  Although it drizzled for most of the day and we had to leave a tad early to beat the opening of the bridge, it was a ton of fun and we love hanging out with those two.  Her parents are pretty rockin’ as well.

Sunday I was able to hit up a decent solo ride in the sun.  started with arm/knee warmers but by midway I needed to take them off.  It was such a beautiful day.  Lots of families out riding their bikes together, headed out for picnics on Lake Washington.  A very pleasant day.  I put a few hard efforts in but made sure I kept it easy,  just keeping it a fun day.  Rosanna and I had a stay at home date night with blue cheese burgers on the grill,  french fries, wedge salad, margaritas and lazily watching the dogs play down in the grass as we relaxed in our courtyard.  Ro fell asleep next to my crackling fire pit while I finished building the BMC back into a fully functional Death Star… I mean Bicycle.  We made it in before the clouds completely covered the sky and the drizzle fell.

Monday was a day I should have looked at the weather forcast before I road rode my bike into work.  While it was dry and pretty warm on the way in, 4:30 brought a monsoon that didn’t play well with a fenderless bike.  Oh well…  It’s just water.  

It’s just water unless you are a Chicken Little.  Run for the hills everyone, we’re all gonna die.

John Butler Trio

The John Butler Trio is an eclectic roots/jam band from Australia led by guitarist and vocalist John Butler. Two of the band’s albums,Three (2001) and Living 2001-2002 (2003), have gone platinum in Australia and reached the top ten of the Australian album charts in those years. The 2004 album Sunrise Over Sea debuted at number one on the Australian charts on 15 March 2004 reaching gold record status in its first week on sale. Their next and latest release, entitled Grand National, was released on 27 March 2007. The band’s releases are marketed independently by Jarrah Records which John Butler co-owns with West Australian folk band the Waifs.

The band won an ARIA award for “Best Independent Release” for Three in 2001 and again for Grand National in 2007 and has been nominated for three others. Three was released in the U.S. in 2002 and the John Butler Trio toured the U.S. in that year supporting theDave Matthews Band and John Mayer. 

Ocean

Peaches and Cream

What You Want

Have a fantastic weekend!

Like I have said previously, if you want short, steep hill repeats, West Seattle is a great place to live!

Bike – Flyte SRS2 50-34 x 11-23

Ride food – water

Route

Fun times.

Snarf!

Sunday was the Vance Creek road race in Elma, WA, lovingly staged at the Satsop Development Park (which is a cute name for a never finished nuclear reactor plant).  This is a fairly challenging course starting with a sweeping decent into a cross wind followed by a hard right on to twisting narrow farm roads, another right turn into the wind and small rollers that end up being a greater than 90 degreeturn with a 20% incline before rounding the coolant towers and starting another lap. 

The weather was perfect with the exception of a slight breeze that grew stronger throughout the race and it was just in between arm/knee warmer or without so I opted for with, which turned out to be a good choice.  We rolled down the first hill through what seemed to be purposely sanded yet never swept roads.  The gravel was flying every where… in my helmet, in my mouth, bouncing between carbon wheels…  a lot of flats today.  We drilled the farm roads on almost every lap and if you were unlucky enough to be at the back, that’s where you stayed.  the tight corners and narrow road exacerbated the accordion effect and it was strung out for pretty much the entire length.  We all came together though at the park… the collective breath  before the rollers and climb.

The climb to the finish really isn’t all that hard.  Alex and Ryan rolled it in the big ring.  I was spinning the small ring to the top and never felt I was in any type of trouble.  I sat comfortably mid pack every time up and was glad to hear the cheering from Elizabeth through the feed each time.  Thanks!  Alex once again sat at the very front for most of the race, which I didn’t feel was too necessary on the 1st and second lap.  No one was letting anything get away.  He tried a couple of times and so did Aaron but Recycled and Cucina were killing it to keep it together.  I shot off with Tom Wick on the farm roads lap 3 (his second break attempt) and some other guy but right away I knew it wasn’t going to go anywhere.  the other guy wasn’t pulling hard enough for us to get away, I was tired from bridging so I couldn’t pull and Tom couldn’t do it ALL himself so I sat up seeing how close they were.  All of a sudden Olivier from Apex screams past me and is gone, picking up one of the guys from the break and heading off.  I let Alex, Aaron and Ryan know who just went off and the chase was on… caught just as we hit the rollers.

You could tell by lap 5 that the fatigue was starting to set in.  2 guys over cooked corners on the farm roads and ditched it.  Ryan Dean took a spill after the park but before the rollers.  I stopped and yelled if he needed a pull up but he was taken care of by the follow car and the pack had slowed a bit, it was easy to catch back on.  Going into the last lap there was a small group off the front and no one was really concerned as we descended into the farms roads for the last time.  I picked my way up to the front and gave chase with a Receycled and Hagens guy and then started rotating.  Odd that no one was coming up to help considering the representation in the group.  Finally mid way through the back side half of the Recycled crew just drill the chase.  It was pretty impressive!  and with their efforts came the inevitable catch and posturing before the final climb to the finish.  I was in poor position at 1k and when the pace really picked up right before the turn I was no where near the front.  I rolled though the line with a smile though… I knew Aaron and Ryan were in great position and that is a perfect finish for both of them.  Turns out they went 5th and 6th over the line together, Alex at the front of the main pack and then me.  Poor Recycled Cycles, after ALL of that work I don’t think any of them cracked the top 20.  Sucks but that’s racing.  They won the tough team of the day award.

After the race it was off to Alastair’s house and had a great time munching on Lamb burgers and a couple of beers.  Good Times!

Race – 80 miles

Bike – Flyte SRS2 50/34 x 11/23 (back up bike until the new cranks get here for the BMC)

Food – 1 large bottle w/ 4 scoops of Enduarance/ Malto 1 small bottle of HEED (I could have used another bottle and two bags of shot blocks

Max HR 197

AVG HR 141

AVG speed 24

Max speed 48

Great news from the day, Brenda took 2nd in the cat 4 women and Cathy took 2nd in the Cat 3 women.  Greg K finished well in the Cat 1/2 men and Dave H took a top 10 in the Masters Men.

Next weekend is the Glenwood RR in Port Orchard (which I will miss) and then Longbranch RR on Key Peninsula.  Pain fest!

Band of Horses.

The Funeral

Reminds me of My Morning Jackets, “Gideon” (another fantastic group that I have written about before)

The Great Salt Lake

Have a fantastic Weekend,

Live Beautifully.

Sheesh it’s been busy.

I’ll do a longer recap of the Tour of Walla Walla stage race.  I’ll just say that it was hard… REALLY hard.  In fact, the new Friday stage was the hardest race I have EVER done, next to TST a few years ago.  The team had a great showing in all categories for men and women.  Rosanna got to ride her cruiser bike all over Walla Walla with Elizabeth and wine tasted while all of us were killing each other in the hills.

Oh my god hills.  I need more climbing.  Lot’s more climbing.

Quick tip to those who put on night crits.  It’s supposed to be dark, I know, and it’s really cool but make sure their is adequate lighting to see a couple feet in front of you, at least on the corners.  That was $@%^ ridiculous.

Brad had a nasty fall on Sunday but because he has 20 pound stones hanging off him he got back up and finished the race, then drove himself to the ER.  Holy crap.

Rosanna and I ended the life of a deer on I-90 heading home.  Deer meat and blood all over the car and bikes.  Not a pretty sight.

More to come, I just wanted you all to know I was still alive and kicking.  More recap and photo’s to follow-

OK, we Americans need to face it. The French were right. We were wrong. Yes, this is a provocation but there’s a lot of truth to it. Let’s go down the list:

The Iraq War: Yep, the French said there was no real reason, no weapons of mass destruction, no Al Queda—and they were right.

Neoliberal free market capitalism. Yep, the French wanted more regulation and less globalization and the US wanted no regulation and total globalization. The resulting financial/economic disaster shows—the French were right. National Champions? The US government is now picking corporations and banks it wants to survive. The French always did.

Global Warming/ Cap and Trade. Yes, the French were for it. US against. Now, the US is racing to catch up. So…the French were right.

Health Care. The US insurance-dominated system costs twice as much as France’s with poorer health outcomes. The French public/private health care system is a better model. Hey, doctors actually come to your house in France. Yep, the French were right.

Wine. The French always said wine was good for you. The US had to spend billions in scientific research to prove that wine is good for your heart. So…the French were right. I’m waiting for the results on cheese.

Food. The French have always been into local, seasonal food. Americans are just beginning to “get it.” France has always had artisanal cheeses, breads, pates, etc. Yep, Americans are just getting into it. So…the French were right.

Sure, the French still need lessons in making entrepreneurs who take risk (all the young French hotshots leave for New York and London). And the very idea of electing a black man to lead France is still shocking. France has a way to go in race relations.

But, all in all, Americans would do well to remember that we really do love French Fries (even though they are Belgian). And we are all French now

I have never finished this course.  First time I ever raced here I got spooked after a bad crash, got dropped and then pulled.  The next couple attempts were fitness problems and I just got blown out the back (granted I was REALLY sick last years race) and for a 1 minute period yesterday I thought it was going to happen again.

The first 10 minutes were pretty fast.  I have to say I was completely red lined but looking at a lot of the guys around me, we were all in the same boat.  30 minutes in and I was getting comfortable but had a hard time holding position.  I’d find myself at the front going up the hill only to get shut down and slammed to the back around the water tower.  

Midway through I tried to move up on the right side of the hill and tagged the curb, dropped my chain and shot right to the back.  A spectator gave me a great push and I was able to get the chain back on but not in the big ring.  I hit the support and Phil said he would put me back in the pack but a lap down.  At the time what he said didn’t register with my brain and I was stoked that my race wasn’t over. 

I finished mid pack but because of my “non mechanical pit” I was put last which doesn’t bother me too much.  I wasn’t anywhere close to placing just happy to get this race done :-)

Great team showing with Aaron, Brad, Tony, Alex, Ryan and Darren. 

Race – Volunteer Park Crit, .8 mile course 1 hill 2 tight turns – 60 minutes

Bike – Flyte SRS2 50-34 x 11-21 SSC SL Wheels

Breakfast – 2 eggs, pasta, cottage cheese and a bagel

Lunch – Peanut butter sandwich, snickers bar and Heed

Race food – Nothing.  I didn’t even take a drink of my water bottle.  Sheesh!

Max HR – 204

Avg HR – 145

I’m spending Easter trying to get my BMC working.  I might have to break the epoxy and swap the cranks out.

That was one bad ass race.

Hit up Seward Park 6pm with a handful of the IJM.org Racing Team.  It worked out pretty well with the Aaron and Dean rolled off the front to bridge with the early break of the night, I just sat up front and kept the riff-raff at bay.  Break stayed away and Aaron ended up with 6th place.  Thanks to Jeff Lynch for the picture!

I haven’t raced Pacific Raceways in about a year and a half. The drive, the cost, the wedding race restriction… all factors led to me staying put in the Seattle area staring at my bike on Tuesday nights. Well, last night I hitched a ride in the Martin Mobile and jumped into the 1/2/3 race with Brad, Dustin and Aaron.

I anchored the back of the pack and chatted it up with a few guys I haven’t seen in a while, talked about the new IJM.org team and basically watched what was happening from afar. That got boring though so I moved up to Pat G and sat on his wheel for a while. Chased Hone down after the first prime but I don’t hink he was giving 100%, seemed tired from the stage race last weekend. When we got caught he and I floated back a bit and I asked him how Ongers was doing. Sounds like he needs some recovery time but he’ll be back up in the mix soon. What a scary thing to go down. Back injuries scare the hell out of me.

By the second prime I was finally feeling the Wheaties and pounced on the group leading through the turn. I couldn’t come around the Lenovo guy at 100m though and missed the point by a few wheels. We had a bit of a cluster going into the bell lap at the exact same time the 4/5’s were finishing but no one ate pavement luckily. We stalled on the drag strip and I could see Dustin and Brad, then Aaron and they looked in great position so I jumped up to string it out a bit into the turn. Aaron took a dig and we both pulled off before the straight and I think Dustin got 8th with Brad close behind, not sure since I was sitting up in the back with Aaron.

Lesson from the night was I started it too early. Should have waited until the turn but then who knows someone would have jumped us and we wouldn’t have put anybody up there. It’s just a fun night. It’s nice to be back

Bike – Flyte SRS2 (the BMC is broken… Boooo!) 50-34 x 11/23 Easton EC90 wheels
Ride Food – bottle of water
Speed- Dunno… my magnet came off on the warm up. Any one get the max and average?

Seward Park this Thursday and Volunteer Crit/ Brad Lewis Crit this weekend. Good Times!

Saturday morning met the team at Leschi at 8am for an absolutely beautiful ride out to Snoqualmie Falls, the upper loop and then back home.  For some reason I just never got the legs and the lungs going.  I’ve been fighting this chest crud for what seems like a month now and the pollen count is off the charts so the entire morning was Brian coughing wheezing and basically trying to hold on for the entire 70 mile ride.  The guys turned around and waited for me a few times (even though I told them not to)  and Jeff rode with me for a bit too as he wasn’t in the mood to hammer.  I actually started to feel  good about mile 55 but promptly bonked when we hit mercer Island, creeping back to the car at a blazing 8mph.  There are always days like this, days that the body just doesn’t want to go.  Today was my day.  I just wished it wouldn’t have happened on such a beautiful day and on this ride.  I love this route but it’s brutal if the body doesn’t respond.

Bike BMC SL01 51-35 x 11-21 Ksyrium SSC wheels
Ride – 72 miles Snoqualmie Falls
Breakfast – Pasta, cheese, French bread
Ride Food – 1 large bottle of Endurance, 1 small bottle of HEED, 3 shot blocks

I was out of my mind really after that ride and recovered with a few (read FIVE) Dick’s Cheeseburgers.  I know… not healthy but I had the urge.  Then Hit up pizza with Aaron, Jeff and Dustin.

Sunday was all yard work.  Raked up brush, trimmed the hedge, pulled weeds and scrubbed the brick porch.  Then I went out in the backyard to mow the dog poop. Good times.

Rosanna spent all weekend at the Walk MS event.  Fantastic weather for it too!  I haven’t heard what the official tally is for fundraising but when I do I’ll post it.
Stay Beautiful!

I’m certainly lucky. Waking up every morning to the person who completes and compliments me in every way. She listens to my Ride and Race recaps with out ever looking bored (even when she is… they all sound the same! Dude went off the front and I chased him down, didn’t have the legs at 1k… blah, blah, blah) She challenges me to be the best person I can be, not just for her but so I can say that I tried my hardest and became a better person after any ordeal.

I’m so happy to have found you. You are amazing.

 
Stevie Wonder – Overjoyed

 The West Seattle Bridge slog,  Highway 35th Ave SW,  Gang Bangers over on Delridge, Pothole haven on California Ave.

Living here does have it’s perks though and this is one of them-

Saturday I woke up to a birthday party induced hangover.  Was it the Belgian Lager, the Tequila or the Scotch?  Had to be the Tequila.  Bagged out racing at IVRR as the weather was absolute crap and I had no intention of driving all the way down there just to end up hypothermic.  I ended up meeting Dustin at Leschi and spinning around Mercer Island in 38 degrees and pouring rain instead.  The rest of the day was spent cleaning up the house, working on the bikes and hydrating/ fueling up for the Sunday race.

Sunday – PoC RR in Woodland, WA.  Although it is in Washington this race is through OBRA and I think they have it dialed.  Organization, volunteers, quick results posted, great site… No slam on WSBA at all because I think they are really trying to improve what we are but OBRA is the bee’s knee’s.

Race – 50 miles. Absolutely pancake flat (80’ of total gain!) and WINDY
Bike – BMC SL01 51-35 x 11-21 Easton EC90 wheels
Breakfast – Turkey sandwich, Rice, banana and HEED
Ride Food – 1 small bottle of Endurance mix, 1 small bottle of water

Weight – 163
Max HR – 206 (Ha!)
Avg HR – 135
Min HR – 91
Rest  HR – 43

Riders-  Cat 3 Tony B, Jeff D, Brian S
              Cat 2 Dustin V
 
A complete opposite from what our teammates had at IVRR, we had sunshine and 55 degrees of beautifulness.  It was a tad windy at the start and turned to blustery through our first lap and continued to get worse all race.  The first (of three) I hung close to the back of the pack keeping every bit of me I could out of the wind. Jeff sat about mid pack and Tony up front maybe 10 to 15 wheels back.  We seemed to gravitate towards each other through the first 10 miles, said our hellos and then got separated again.  The wind was a considerable factor, folks would make a move on the cross wind before the bump up to the long tailwind section where we felt like we were absolutely flying.  The gradual left turn would put us face into the wind and we would slow to a crawl a few folks would try to jump off but it was never going to work.  Second lap saw Tony pushing the pace with a few pops off the front joined by a few strong riders. An attack here, a chase there but nothing was sticking.  I moved to the front to take Tony’s spot as he was the sprinter for the day, if he can’t get away we better make sure he’s fresh and it’s strung out for the trip to the line. I popped up to the front and stayed 3rd to 5th wheel for the remainder of the race and buried myself on the final 5k.  It was head down, screaming legs and a place that I have never been in before.  I think I made a small break through on the pain scale and am pretty damn proud of myself. At 3K Jeff screams that he’s behind me and we are both yelling for Tony.  A voice from next to Jeff says “I’m right here, man” but it’s the wrong Tony :-).  For a second I think that all of this work is for nothing until 3 riders blow past on our left and T-dog is riding the back of them. We hit the turn at 800 meters and the wheel Tony’s following overcooks into the gravel, luckily he stays up and continues the crank to the line.  Jeff passes me and I’m done.  I sit up at 200 and finish with the pack coming around me.  I had nothing left at all for a sprint and I was happy to help Tony get a place. 

65 Cat 3 riders started the day-
Tony – 7th
Jeff – 23rd
Brian – 44th

40 Cat 1/2 riders
Dustin – 10th

I Remember

Cold Water

Rootless Tree

Motor pacing around Mercer Island at 28 mph is a blast. Especially when the motor happens to be Dustin “Holy Finger” Van Wyck. I had a pretty hard day yesterday and the legs weren’t doing so well until about halfway around the island so I just rode Dustin’s or Aaron’s wheel (who had a backpack on the size of a small trailer) until he backed off and then I shot out to chase down some dude in a blue jacket. I hate them blue jackets!

Good Times.

Heck yes.

Guess who’s coming back!!

Actually, everytime I hear that song I get flashbacks of Steve Buscemi singing “True” at the end of Wedding Singer in that awful awful (but oh so beautiful) suit.