Nationals Wrap Up

From what I have read and seen, this years nationals was bigger and better than ever. Huge fields, great racing and big surprises everywhere. My predictions were not too bad and we will see how things go for worlds.

Congratulations to all those Utah folks who made the trek and it looks like things went well for all. Since they haven't found a venue for the 2009/2010 Nationals maybe Utah should throw their hat in the ring. We might be lacking a classy venue that can handle that kind of traffic but I am sure we could some up with something nice. That new Rio Tinto Soccer stadium looks real nice and since it sits empty half of the year they mine as well put it to use. Plus they already have bleachers, food and beer available.

It finally started snowing so maybe I can make some turns before the end of the year.

DFL

That's right and for those who don't know that means Dead F*&%$#! Last. I started the morning off by spending 5 hours at work trying to get 160 kids, coaches and parents organized with Jr. Jazz. Next I rush home, grab my bikes and gear, get everything into the truck and Emily and I head down to Draper. I barely make registration and thankfully the folks at SportsBaseOnline let me sneak in at the last moment for which I am grateful I think. If they would have only said No, I could have drank beer, hung out with Em and friends and rang a cowbell. But of coure not, they let me in so I could suffer.

The short story is I didn't really warm up, made a lap around the course, had an uphill 1/4 mile or longer start, hung in there for a lap and then completely exploded. My back felt like I had someone punching me for the whole race, I couldn't respond to any attack, I flatted and swapped front wheels, the weather was hot, the uphill climb sucked and someone needs to call the wambulance.

Too bad things all fell apart for me since this is the first race Emily has seen me race in this year since she has had rehearsels on Saturdays all fall. At least she got to hang with the girls in the sun drinking a beer. Thanks to Karen for running around yelling at me and way to go Jason for putting the hurt on me.

All in all it hasn't been too bad of a first full season in the A's. Ton's of room for improvement and it's great to know what's possible. "Last Call Cross" is in a few weeks and hopefully the weather will be crappy.

Best of luck to all of those out racing at Nationals in Kansas City.

Cross action a go go

With only one series race left and the Last Call Cross Race in January I guess it's time for a little update.

So far the season has been great and I have been getting worked pretty good running around for 60 minutes with the Men's A's this year. I have been single speedin it up until last weekend. I finally have gears and what a difference it makes when you want to ride some of the runups or cruise a little faster on the flats. I am not giving up the single speed since I love the challenge and the benefits too.

Cutthroat Cross was a big success and everyone loved the course. Thanks to Team Rico for the course design.




It's great to have a new course around and hopefully we can pull off another team race.

For my cyclocross race predictions I have the following.

U.S. Nationals
Men Todd Wells, Tim Johnson, Ryan Trebon
Women Georgia Gould, Katie Compton, Sue Butler
U23 Danny Summerhill, Mitchell Peterson, Adam McGrath
Juniors Connor O'Leary
Mens 60 Lew Rollins
(you gotta chear on the locals)

Other Utah folks that are gonna ride strong and place high:
Bart Gillespie, Ali Goulet, Art O'Conner, Matt Ohran, Eric Rasmussen, Tanner Cottle and everyone else I have forgotten

Worlds
Men Sven Nys
Women Katie Compton
U23 Danny Summerhill (One can hope)

At some point it may snow and we may get to ski, so pray for snow.

Cross Action

A few weeks ago was the first cross race of the season around these parts. It was up at The Canyons and ran before the Jeep Dual Slalom Race. It was warm, Jon G. did the best he could with the course with such a short notice and the beer was flowing. Why take the first race so seriously and especially when you know you are not really ready to go get em?

Fast forward to last weekend and it was the 3rd race of the series and my first since I had to work during the first couple of races. The race was in Ogden and was a new venue. The damp ground quickly start to dry out pretty quickly and while pre-riding the course I picked up my first goathead. I say first because during the process of racing I decided to find four more of the damn things. So four flats, three different bikes and 60 minutes later I finished second to last. Oh yeah, I finshed in front of someone.

So while I was screwing around with flats and trying to figure out how to go faster I missed this.

I don't mind getting my arse handed to me and especially by Bart Gillespie who was seventh at nationals last year. I just wish I could catch a glimpse of this kind of magic. It can be such a great learning experience to get a few moments of riding behind someone who is so damn smooth.

The season is young and I have more than plenty of room for improvement. The new frame just showed up in the mail so I better get that thing built up and ready to rumble.

A little like Fall

Time is just flying by but their sure has been some good times. A couple weeks ago I had to pleasure to spend some great days back in good ole Gunnison Colorado. Of course getting together with a lot of great friend to celebrate the wedding of our friends Kain and Steph is what brought us all together. We rode as much as we could, drunk our weight in beer and tekilla, pulled ourselves toghether in the mornings at the Firebrand and got ready to do it again. The wedding was incredible, seeing everyone was amazing and I am psyched I got the chance to go.

With fall in the air that means a few things: the cross season is close, 24 Hours of Moab is around the corner and you can once again ride around here without worrying about heat stroke. Don't get me wrong I love the warm days of summer but it's the stagnant, dirty air that I can do without.

This weekend is the unofficial start to the cross season. You can stay local and race in Park City or head up to Victor Idaho.


Due to a low budget I am sticking around and due to a large amount of money spent on the truck a couple weeks ago I am racing the single speed again to start the season. I am going to run with the A's this week and see how things go. I will eithter race with the A's or B's for the official season. Either way I ain't ascared.

So get your bikes ready, warm up the cowbells, get ready to run in the mud and drink some beer.

Racin

Well their hasn't been too much on this front lately but in the past couple of weeks I have hit up a couple of races.

#1 I went up to the Chalk Creek Road Race and since I have flatted at 2 out of 5 races this year I was a bit skeptical. Well 1.5 miles into the fun I get pushed into the middle of the pack and then hit a pothole at 20 mph. The first thing I think is wow I didn't flat. Then a few seconds later I realize my computer flew off my bike into never never land and my rear wheel is dragging. So I say f$%@# it and keep riding. Thankfully we got held up behind some cows on the road and I have time to beat my wheel against the asphalt in hopes of straightening it out. That helped but it still was dragging, so I continue to push on and finish the 50 mile race with a wheel dragging on the brakes almost the entire way. Either I am real determined or am just a dumb ass. I just kept telling myself that it will only make me stronger for cross season.

#2 So a few days later I decided I needed some redemption and headed up to the Solitude Weekly MTB Series. I just raced my own raced, passed people, held off a chaser and finished fourth. It may not have been some glamarous race with a huge field but it still felt good. Better yet it feels good to know that I am on track for cross and am building up strength without over doing it. Now I just have to work on my starts.

Little Belgium Movie

This free movie is worth checking out for sure. People will be jumping up on their seats, screaming for September to get here quicker.

Chuck Norris vs Le Tour

Once Chuck Norris crashed in the Tour. The road got Chuck Norris rash.
Chuck Norris doesn’t need to be aero because the wind gets out of his way
Chuck Norris sweats pure EPO.
Chuck Norris once challenged Lance Armstrong in a “Who has more testicles?” contest. Chuck Norris won by 5.
Chuck Norris doesn’t chase down breakaways. Breakaways chase Chuck Norris.
All 21 switch backs on Alp d’Huez are called Chuck Norris
Hors catégorie is French for Chuck Norris.
Chuck Norris finished the Tour de France yesterday.
When they screen the riders’ blood for performance enhancing drugs, they’re looking for Chuck Norris.
Edit: Another one …

Greg Lemond accused Chuck Norris of doping. No one knows what really happened but they have agreed to call it a hunting accident.

Saying Goodbye

A few weeks ago a good friend, John Taliaferro, unexpectedly passed away. It was especially hard to take since John is the older brother of one of my very best friends, Will Taliaferro, whom I have known since middle school. It meant a lot to be able to attend John's Memorial Service and to share that with an incredible group of people. Without the support of my family I wouldn't have been able to make it there and for that I am extremely grateful. So every time I hear CSNY playing I will think of you John and know that you are in a good place. Your influence on all of us will always be there and I am so very thankful for the times we got share together. We miss you brother.

Gunnison Times:
Well known Gunnison resident John Taliaferro died unexpectedly in his home sometime late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. He was 37.

Gunnison County Coroner Frank Vader reported that Talieferro was found in his home Thursday morning, June 26, after he didn't show up for work. Vader said the cause of death is unknown, but that by all appearances he died of natural causes. Foul play is not suspected, Vader said, adding that an autopsy will be performed.

Taliaferro grew up in the Penrose and Canon City areas and moved to Gunnison in the early '90s to attend Western State College. To help pay his way through school, he got a job as a cashier at High Mountain Liquor.

That is where he continued to work until his untimely death. He originally worked for former store owner Ralph Black and then for several years managed the store for current owner Terry Marrow. He was also the former manager of the Brick Cellar Wine Bar in Gunnison.

Taliaferro was a popular resident and active in community affairs. He was a member of the City of Gunnison's Planning and Zoning Commission. In fact, he attended the planning commission's regular meeting Wednesday night as normal. There was no indication that he was experiencing health problems.

Funeral services are expected to be held in Gunnison sometime next week. Arrangements have not yet been made.

Headed to Worlds

My good friend Kain Leonard has been selected to represent the good ole USA at the upcoming MTB Worlds. Thanks to Mountain Flyer for the picture and you better buy a subscription. Best of luck to Kain and I am sure he is gonna tear it up at Val di Sole, Italy.

Turning a new leaf

Well it has been quite some time and to catch up it's gonna take a list.


1. A two week road trip with the lady was just what the doctor ordered. It was amazing and anyone thinking of visiting the Boulder Mountain Lodge and Hell's Backbone Grill should not hesitate. Get down there, it's worth the money.
2. My prediction list isn't looking too bad.
3. Most days feel more like April than June right now.
4. The Giro rocked, the Tour is going to be better, and can Contador win the Vuelta?
5. The Olympics are around the corner and let's start making bets.

Spring came and went and I raced around some roads. It was a good time and even tried to go fast on dirt. I didn't go too fast but it's still fun.

Summer is here and I don't know where it's at.

I am gonna give this thing another go as I get ready for the upcoming cross season so stay tuned.

Start of a New Season

Well 2008 has barely gotten underway and it is building up to be a good one. While some are in the middle of their hell weeks of base, others are hitting the dirt and pavement of this years races. Of course to all those junkies who like to slide on snow, the season has been too good to just let it go withtout enjoying it. It may not be the same as riding the trainer but it's a hell of a lot more fun.

Of course their are those who have already pinned on the numbers. Big props to all the folks from Cutthroat Racing who braved the elements and had a great time at 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo. Also, congratulations to Jason Sager for winning the Mas O Menos race on Saturday.

2008 is going to be a big year and here is my first Top Ten Watch List.(I reserve the right to change this thing up throughout the year.)

1. 2008 Summer Olympics (Hopefully with Marc Gullickson at USA Cycling we can do a better job of supporting our riders and not have another "Offroad to Athens.")
2. Astana gets the big no go to Le Tour.
3. Endurance events are going big and are popping up everywhere.(Good or Bad?, you choose)
4. Both of the Single Speed World Championships will be in the U.S. this year. Cyclocross in Portland and Mountain Bike in Napa. Remember it's both world class riders and drinkers.
5. Mike Curiak peddling his monster bike across the fozen tundra of Alaska.
6. Slipstream Chipotle is gonna tear it up this year.
7. Barry Wicks is headed to the World Cup Circuit.
8. Will the winner of the 2008 Summer Olympics Men's Mtn. Bike race be on a Cross bike? (Sven Nys thinks it can be done)
9. Big Maggie is gonna come back and win Paris Roubaix.
10. American Cross racing will only continue to get better. You better get ready for the Industry Race at Vegas Cross, cause I am.

2008: Get Ready To Rumble

With the holidays come and gone now is the time that I need to send out a bunch of cards for the Chinese New Year. I know I suck when it comes to holiday cards and at least it is nothing new in that department. On Saturday was the Last Call Cross Race and it was a kick in the pants. Having not been on a bike in a few weeks, it was nice to get out and get muddy. More pictures to come when I get them.

In the world of politics, the Iowa Caucus has passed and New Hampshire is on the way. I haven't decided on a candidate but after seeing Mike Huckabee's speech, I might have to go with him. I am no Republican, but anyone that has Chuck Norris in there corner deserves some serious attention.



I just want to know who everyone else is going to counter with. Maybe Hulk Hogan or Linda Carter(Wonder Woman)?