Ginger K's Blog

Team Exergy Sponsor Camp 2012

2012-02-03T16:58:00.000-07:00

This past week was the first camp for Team Exergy in 2012 in Boise Idaho. This camp is unlike any other camp you may read about on cycling websites. Usually when you think of a pro cycling team camp you think about new gear and lots of riding, but this was the opposite. With many new faces to Team Exergy for 2012 including riders, staff and sponsors, this was the time to meet everyone face to face and build relationships. There was no riding our Felt bikes this week as we had a busy busy schedule to tackle.
To get our first race jitters out of the way we all went Go-karting to see who was ready to go fast. When you get a lot of competitive people together in one place everything turns into a competition. Of course the obvious is the fastest lap time which Ben walked away with very easily, you also get other types of competition. Like who can drift there car the best, or who can beat the manager, or I succeeded at having my front wheel fly off 3 laps into the race and had to change karts.


So fast its a blur

Concussion testing

Then we had a day where we listened to all of our sponsors talk about their product and how it was going to help us succeed in 2012. It was very interesting learning and knowing what products we all will be using so we then can educate others about it.

Jim Felt talking about his bikes

Team Bike

SpiderTech HQ

Then the last day was very serious as we want to gain seconds anyway we can to win races. This sums it up pretty good. Enjoy!

Team Exergy Wind Tunnel Testing from Team Exergy on Vimeo.

Home for another week until Colorado before I head off to Team Exergy camp in California, where we will get plenty of sunshine and miles in the legs. This week can't go by fast enough as Colorado already has a foot of snow over night and still coming.
Thanks for reading.
Ginger 1


2/2/2012

2/3/2012

Flying back into CO

Round 2 of 2...

2012-01-19T10:52:00.006-07:00

Cycling Chapel

Well the second block of my Tucson training is coming to a fast halt. This time around has been much better then the first, I know the roads a little bit better, a few of the Exergy boys are here and the weather as been AWESOME!!!! I will be leaving wonderful Tucson next Tuesday morning to head to Denver for the night to celebrate my Nephews 1st Birthday. It will be a short trip as I am flying out of Denver Wednesday morning to head to Boise, ID for Team Exergys sponsor camp. Its a five day camp in Boise where we get to meet all of our teammates and Sponsors for the upcoming season which is pretty much here. I am really looking forward to get things rolling and get into the racing regiment again!!.

Bruce, Conor and I out for a spin

Ginger 1 & 2

Ouch!

Riding into the clouds on top of Mt. Lemmon

Two days and two rides to the top of Lemmon

Climbing part way up Lemmon with part of Team Exergy

Heading up Pistol hill

Noting much else, I have been training hard since I got over the flu and everything is going well.
I am currently sitting out side in shorts and a t shirt, probably getting burned but man its nice!
Thanks for reading..
Ginger 1

Until next time...

Happy New Year

2012-01-03T16:03:00.003-07:00

Well not much has happened since my last post. I have been at my parents house in Colorado for the holidays and it was nice to see family and friends for a bit. With the colder temps I have been on the trainer since I have left Tucson. It has not been as bad as it could have because I was on a bit of a break so it was bearable.
I am really looking forward to heading back to Tucson in a couple days. The weather looks better then the last trip and 5 other teammates will be there as well.
Unfortunately I got sick 3 days ago and have been in my bed since. Went to the doctors today and I got the Flu. Not the way I wanted to start the New Year but better now then later. I got an unexpected break and should be back on the bike in a couple of days and I think the sunshine in Tucson should help me feel better.
Hope 2012 is better then 2011 for everyone.
Thanks for reading
Happy New Year!

Round 1 of 2.......

2011-12-19T10:10:00.000-07:00

Well it's already been 19 days since I have been here in Tucson and today I am heading back to Denver Colorado for the Holidays. I had such a great time here in Tucson and met a lot of great people and got a lot of big miles in on the bike which I was looking for.


Up Mt. Lemmon a ways

Great riding

Heading up Madera Canyon

Like I said before I have never really had the chance to go somewhere warm during the cold months in Colorado and get a really good block of base in the legs. It is something new for me to go somewhere and train where I know very little people and don't know much about the town. Going somewhere unfamiliar can be very beneficial. Here I didn't have the normal distractions I would have at home. I was able to really focus 100% on training, trained really hard and recovered even harder and I feel like I am miles ahead of where I was last year at this time. With that being said, I have decided to come back to Tucson after the new year to get one last good block of training before the season gets underway. It was either stay in Colorado and sit on the trainer in the basement or come back and ride in warmer weather, it was an easy decision. So I will be returning January 5th-24th, then we have our first training camp in Boise January 25th-29th.

A lot of flats

Lots of rain caused some washouts

Inside the cookie cabin on top of Mt. Lemmon

Reward of getting to the top of Mt. Lemmon

Great Treat!

I cant thank the people enough who helped me while down in Tucson. It always amazes me how generous people are to complete strangers. I was very fortunate to find host housing while down here and it helps us soooooooooo much. I am able to feel more like I am at home sitting on the couch instead of a bed in a hotel room for 3 weeks and it cuts down on cost tremendously. I am able to cook real food and just relax and have a quit place to relax. I cant thank host housing families enough, you make my job way easier. I have taken over our host Tim's house for 19 days so far and he is welcoming us back when we come back, unbelievable. THANK YOU.
Check out Daily Peloton as they did a Q&A with Conor and I!
Also updated my race schedule tab!
Hope everyone has a great Holiday.
Thanks for reading
Ginger 1

First week in Tucson

2011-12-08T14:02:00.001-07:00

I have been in Tucson AZ for one week now already, time is flying here. The first 6 days felt like I was back home in Colorado with Cold temps. The first 6 days here were the coldest on Record for Tucson, of course it was when I came here for warm weather, but I will take it over snow any day. Right now the temps are warming up where they should be. I have got some great miles in so far this first week and I now remember what tired really feels like. The first Saturday Conor and I tried making it to the Famous shoot out group ride. The start of the ride is about 18 miles from where we are staying at right now so we had to leave pretty early to make it to the 7:30am start. However Tucson roads had different plans for us that day to welcome us. We left the house around 6:20 to give us plenty of time to find the coffee shop everyone meets at. Literally less then 2 miles after leaving in the dark and our small frog lights on Conor hits a rock and double flats! So I haul back to grab a handful of more tubes just in case we get another flat on the ride. So after fixing both flats we haul a** to make it on time and about 10 minutes from the coffee house Conor flats again. So after fixing it we are pretty much already late and we finally find the start 5 minutes after we were suppose to be there and no cyclist was to be seen in any direction. SO we decided to ride back towards where we are staying and get a few more hours in. We will try again this week, but bring extra tubes and give ourselves more time.


Great Views

Conor

We also have met some really nice people and great riders in our short time down here so far. A friend of ours that use to have a bike studio in Colorado has moved to Tucson 3 years ago and his shop is about 1 mile from where we are staying, and the guy we are staying with is good friends with him, small world. Check out Uno Bicycle Studio

Tucson Mountain Park

4th flat of the day

So for now we are just going to keep getting in good base miles before the 2012 season starts very soon. We are heading back to cold Colorado on December 19th but now we are thinking of coming back down here the first week of January and train here before the first Team Exergy camp in Boise at the end of January. Riding down here sure beats riding the trainer in the Basement.

Great riding

SufferX2

Also Check out VeloNation, Conor and I are writing blogs for them and the first one just was published. Stay tuned for more.
Thanks for reading!

Tucson Bound!

2011-12-01T12:15:00.001-07:00

Conor and I currently are sitting on DIA getting ready to fly to Tucson Arizona for 3 weeks and I am really looking forward to it! It's a Winter Wonder Land outside right now in Colorado so I couldn't of timed this trip any better. It will be nice to get a solid base in the legs this year. I have never had the opportunity to go somewhere warm in the cold months, and I have heard great things about Tucson and the Cycling community. I will post some photos once we get riding in the warm weather!

New Change

2011-11-26T10:02:00.001-07:00

It's the Holiday season and 2012 is fast approaching and I have a lot of changes going on for next season and I am very excited about it. I am currently in Denver Colorado with my family and am in the process of looking for a new house in Louisville Colorado! I am pretty much moved out of Grand Junction but I have one more trip over the Mountain on Tuesday to get the last bit of things.
I recently just purchased a scooter for some motor pacing. In the past I have never got in the routine of motor pacing because I didn't have the resources so i think the high speed training will help out a lot for a stacked crit schedule for 2012.

I am leaving on Thursday Dec 1st to head to Tucson AZ to get some warm miles in. It is already too cold for me in Colorado so I am very excited to get to warm weather in the coming days! I have never had the opportunity to travel somewhere warm in the off season so I think it will have a huge benefit being able to get long hours in and mentally stronger in the winter being able to train in warm weather. Then I come back for Christmas and move into a new house, get settled in then have Team Exergy first camp in January! It will all be here before we know it.

New Approach

2011-10-28T11:07:00.002-06:00

Right now we are in the off season and the weather is changing very quickly, from warm sunny days to cold dark days. Usually during this time it makes for great cyclocross conditions however its rough during base miles. Like I mentioned before I am not racing cyclocross this season so I have time to fully prepare for the 2012 road season. It is a nice change not having to be on good form for most of the year, but I do miss the cyclocross racing scene a bit. With the different time schedule I have plenty of time to train right. I already got most of my base miles done which is awesome because I usually don't get that done until end of January early February if I was racing cyclocross. I also am now starting some gym workouts. I go to yoga in the morning to help stretch out the muscles, it is actually a lot harder then people think so don't bash it until you try it. Then after the morning yoga session I get to work on some weights. This week is the first week so very minimal weights, don't want to go in guns blazzin and be sore for the rest of the week and not be able to recover right. In the past few seasons I have done some weights but with a different approach so we will see how this years approach works. Then after all they gym workouts I am able to go out on the road and ride when the weather warms up a bit.

I am really anxious to get back and training right. This whole past week I thought I caught the sick bug. I thought I had a virus so I rested to let my body heal and really just laid low for the whole week. I was able to get out and spin for a bit and felt great but didn't want to push it and get worse. I didn't understand why I wasn't getting better, I was doing everything right but no progress. Then I was told maybe I have hay fever? You have the same symptoms if you were sick but actually it is just allergies. I usually don't have allergies but I guess I do. I took some allergy medicine last night and I now feel like a new man. Its kind of a bummer that I lost a week of training because I thought I was sick but actually it was just allergies but o well. I am learning to really listen to my body this off season and rest when my body tells me to and that's what I did, but I was fooled this time.

This "off season" is where you put in all the hard work and long days to prepare for the following season. I think many people believe the off season is where you just sit on your butt and watch movies. That is partly right, you definitely need to take a couple of week off the bike and recover physically and mentally. But once that short break is over you need to start busting you butt for the next season. I am really excited to see the benefits from this off season, after doing a whole new approach for next season.
New news, Conor and I will be writing a blog this season for VeloNation! Stay tuned for the first post.

Exergy 2012

2011-10-22T09:20:00.002-06:00

Peloton Magazine has announced the official roster for Team Exergy 2012!! I am very excited to be racing for Team Exergy again in 2012. Last season I started racing with the team 2 months remaining in the season to get a taste of the pro racing scene. Next season will be my first full year racing with Exergy. I am really looking forward to the year and have been training hard so far to make a bigger impression next year. Stay tuned for more news!
Check out Peloton Magazine for the write up.

Cali Trip

2011-10-15T21:54:00.000-06:00

This past week I was fortunate enough to travel toCalifornia and ride for a week. My coach had a week off from work and wanted togo see his family in California and asked if I wanted to travel with him andget some good miles in. OF COURSE! First we went to beautiful Tahoe for acouple of days to get some good climbing in the legs. We were very fortunateenough to be able to crash at a condo right in Tahoe City. Josh the Exergymechanic knew a guy who owned the place and he was kind enough to let us crashthere. Rob is currently a cycling agent and road pro back in the day so it wasreally cool talking to him for a while. We were able to catch up with my coach’sfriend from when he was growing up Marty and he road with us for a few days. It’salways fun too ride new terrain and ride with new people, makes for a nicechange.

Monday we headed towards Sacramento to do some MTB but itwas raining since we woke up and I was not too thrilled to ride in the wet andmud but I gave it a go for a bit. I only lasted about an hour before my coachand I turned around and left Conor and Marty to keep riding. Then Tuesday Robhooked us up with AthletiCamps, which specializes in VO2 and lactate testing. Ihave done quite of VO2 testing in the last couple of years but never a lactatetest so it was good to get some more data for training purposes.

Then we were able to stop in Salt Lake City on the way backto Colorado to ride with a good friend Chris. We went MTB and it was actuallyfun. Smooth rolling terrain and great weather. Altogether it was a good tripand met a lot of good people and made relationships that will last!

I am currently now in the car driving to Denver to see myFamily and Friends for a couple of days before we head back to GJ. It has beena lot of time in the car this week. It feels like race season with all thetravel but it keeps be busy. But it will be nice when I am able to stay in oneplace for more than two weeks.

Cyclocross Bike for Sale!

2011-10-04T15:51:00.002-06:00

I am selling my cyclocross bike that I used for the last 1.5 years. It is a Great bike and still in great condition but I am unable to race this season so I don't want the temptation sitting in my living room so please help me out!

Check it out on Ebay

2nd Week

2011-10-02T19:10:00.001-06:00

Right now I am in my second week of base miles and feeling great. The weather has been fantastic so far but next week looks like it changes for the ugly. Leaving for California at the end of the week with Conor and our coach to go ride for a week! Been trying to take some photos to post on here the last two weeks of riding. Enjoy!

Living

2011-09-25T15:21:00.003-06:00

Well it feels great to get back riding everyday and feeling good and having FUN!! Talking about fun, what better then riding with a group of juniors. Yesterday Conor and I got the opportunity to go ride with Two Rivers Junior Cycling team here on the western slope of Colorado. I love junior racing for many reasons. Juniors is where I started racing and learned a lot about the sport. Its where you learn to have fun and the basics of racing and riding. I just love the enthusiasm of Juniors while riding, they will ride their heart out until they blow. This team is what I love, a lot of sponsors and parents who back the team. The western slope is such a great place to ride and they are the only organized team out here, props to them. After the ride we got to hang out and eat some good food and talk to the juniors and parents about racing and what it takes to be a pro. Then we got to hand out some Exergy stem caps so the juniors will be rippin around with Exergy on their stems.

Other great news is I just bought a fully automatic Espresso machine! I love this thing and think I am using it already too much but why not.

NO Cross

2011-09-20T14:48:00.000-06:00

This year Conor and I are not racing cyclocross for a couple of reason. First Exergy didn't want us getting hurt and they told us they wanted us to focus on the road for next year and prepare for it proprley, this way we will be well rested when the road season comes around again. I am very happy with the decision so far, I am able to relax a little more and get some good base miles in and watch videos like this.

# 1 reason why I am not racing cross, so I don't end up like Joey!!!!

VEGAS!!!

2011-09-18T15:44:00.001-06:00

A week in Vegas will break anyone who tries to take it on. We took off to Vegas on the 8th to watch Kenny take on the Ironman World Championship 70.3. We arrived in Vegas a few days before his race so he could check out the course and get his legs dialed before the big day. The days leading up to the race was very hot and miserable outside but race day was a nice 90 degrees for the high. In the end he finished 24th in his age group which was a huge improvement from the previous year, lets see what he can do next year, I am expecting BIG things.

Then we headed to the strip on Monday for Interbike but the show didn't start until Wednesday so we had sometime to kill. Nothing too exciting this year but it was still fun to check out. We were planing on coming home Thursday but we were informed from our managers that we had to stay one more night for a HUGE announcement for the team!

We got the email saying EXERGY was hosting a party at the Marquee in Vegas which is the hottest night club in Vegas and there was a dress code. Thursday morning we went out to buy some nice cloths so we could get into the club. When we arrived you had to check in and you had to have your name on the list to be able to get in. Then you took an elevator up to the club and was greeted by six or so waters with all different kinds of potions, you could get any drink you wanted or Voss water. The food was also amazing and the club was insane. The big announcement was Peanut Butter twenty 12 is going to be Exergy twenty 12 for next year and years to come!! Big step forward for women's cycling and Exergy, I am really looking forward to what next year has to offer.

After not riding at all in Vegas I got back on the bike and feel really out of shape. It is time to get back out there and get ready for 2012.

Hoover Dam

Exergy Party

New Nutella & GO!

Getting back at it.....slowly

2011-09-07T10:50:00.001-06:00

Back in Grand Junction and riding my bike since the last post, took a couple of weeks off to mentally and physically rest. Nothing crazy yet just going on group rides, riding the mountain bike and actually surviving which is something new for me. I am actually having fun riding the mountain bike. So I will be in Junction until the weather starts getting cold and I hope we can go somewhere to ride in the warm weather during the winter.
Leaving tomorrow for Sin City Vegas!!! Kenny has 70.3 Triathlon worlds on Sunday, so we are going to cheer him on as he takes on the best triathletes in the world. Once that is done we will be heading straight to In N Out burger a little end of the year gift!! Monday we will head to the strip for Inerbike trade show and check out all the new cycling gear coming out for next year. Dirt demos start Monday so we can go test ride all the new Mountain gear. Wednesday we will go watch Cross Vegas for the first time. Conor and I are not racing cross this year, which is something new for us. We have raced cross for many year and had a blast doing it but we are trying something new and actually have an off season so we will be well rested for a hard schedule of road racing next season. So this time I get to be the guy on the sideline yelling at the racers!!
Until Next time....

Photos from the phone

2011-09-04T15:24:00.000-06:00

Reno

Kenny and Conor

Big Screen

Vaill TT Start

Great Season

2011-08-12T16:27:00.000-06:00

This past weekend was my last race of the season in Chicago = It was 3 days of hard racing to end off a good season. I am now back in Grand Junction for a while. I will be traveling back to the front range to watch my Teammates take on the best riders in the world for the US Pro Challenge.
My computer broke 2.5 weeks ago so I am waiting on a warranty one hopefully but until then I will have to keep these short.

McCall ID

2011-07-28T18:40:00.000-06:00

So this past week Conor Ben and I travled about 100 miles north of Boise to McCall ID to get some altitude training in for our upcomming races. We spent a week out there getting some great riding in and some time on the lake. We were spoiled while we were there and sad to leave but its almost time to race. We arrived back to Boise today and will leave Saturday morning for Reno for the Tour de Nez crit on Sunday. After the race is done we will travel to Salt Lake for a few days to ride with the Colorado Squad then head to Chichago for the Tour of Elk Groove. This will be my last race of the year. I am really looking foward to it and had a great summer so far and hope to go out with a bang. I am also looking to sometime off and being back in Colorado for sometime during the off season. Here are some pics from the week.

View off the back deck

Top of White Bird Climb

A look down the switchbacks(Awesome Climb)

Something you don't see everyday, a goat on a leash

Rough Life

My team backpack

Canadian Photos

2011-07-20T11:01:00.000-06:00

Photos from Greg Descantes

Boise Twilight!!

2011-07-18T22:01:00.000-06:00

This weekend was full of excitement. Friday night we had a team Exergy BBQ to get pumped for the Twilight Crit in downtown Boise; this was the first time all year the whole team was in one place. My parents and little sister flew in from Denver to watch the race and hang out for a few days. It was really nice having them here for the short period of time. Saturday morning we had a community group ride and spun the legs out and went to lunch right after. Got home took a shower and laid down for a few hours before we had to head back downtown to prepare for the race. We arrived with the earlier races going on and had a meeting in a hotel room and received our new kits for the rest of the year. They are all WHITE, a lot cooler in the hot sun! Then we went and raced our hearts out. A lot of sponsors were there to watch us race so we wanted to thank them with a hard effort and a good performance. Early in the race I was up front covering all the early moves and keeping it together. With 15 to go Fly V took control and drove it. With three to go a crash in corner 1 stopped me in my tracks. Carlos was positioned well with Freddy setting him up and ended up 4^th.

After the race got to hang with the parents and sis until Monday afternoon which was really nice just to relax and take my mind off of racing and training for a couple of days. Tomorrow Conor, Ben and I are going up to McCall Idaho to train in some altitude for our upcoming races. It will be nice to ride somewhere new and have the lake in the back yard to soak the legs. The rest of the team is Racing Cascade Classic!

Canada....eh

2011-07-15T16:11:00.000-06:00

Just got back from Canada a couple of days ago. Going to Canada I didn’t know what to expect with my form since my last race was Tulsa and I have never been to Canada so I was pretty excited to see what it had to offer. We left Thursday morning to make the trek, when we hit the US/Canada boarder we had to present our passports and answers a few questions. One of us must have said something wrong to set off a red flag so they made us park the car and walk inside to talk to another guy as he ran our passports. After only about 10 min we were on our way again and shortly after reached the host houses. I ended up staying at a house literally on the boarder of the USA. It was pretty cool is was a cement line a few inches about the ground to indicate the boarder and a US patrol border man sat on the other side off and on throughout the week.

Racing began with the Tour of Delta on Friday with a crit on Friday and Saturday and a Road Race on Sunday. Our plan was to win the overall, and it being an ommnium it was based on points the whole weekend. . The first night was a fast crit with a nice riser and a fast decent. We got a teammate up the road early in a break that stuck the most of the way. With 3 to go we didn’t want to drive the pace because we would catch the break so with 1 to go we hit out and caught the group on the last corner. Andres got 2^nd and Carlos 4^th I believe. The next night plan was to get Carlos the leader’s jersey and we did just that. We rode the front and were very aggressive. Carlos ended up 3^rd I believe but that was enough to put him in the Jersey! The next day was a rolling RR and we had to get Carlos to the end without doing much work. We rode the front early and stayed there all day. We let a break go with no threats and a couple of them stayed away. Carlos ended up losing the Jersey to United Healthcare by 1 point so that really hurt. Monday we had a day off from racing and Tuesday was another crit from a different event, BC super week with races the rest of the week but we could only do Tuesdays because we had to get back to Boise to get ready for Boise Twilight!! The crit on Tuesday was on the UBC Campus with it being a big rectangle. Carlos ended up getting in a break and Winning from it!!! Ben ended 5^th

With tomorrow being our home race right downtown Boise there is a lot of pressure to perform. My parents and lil sister are flying out tonight to see the race so it will be nice to see them and hang out for a couple of days. Tomorrow is a big day for the team; write up sometime next week about it.

New red bont shoes so everyone can tell Conor and I apart

Boise

2011-07-10T16:19:00.000-06:00

Well since the last post I am currently in Boise Idaho living here for the rest of the summer. The accommodations are awesome and don’t get much better than this. Currently Conor and I are living with teammate Sam Johnson and it’s a good time. Been in Boise for about a week. Went to Sun Valley Idaho over the weekend to do a crit of the 4^th of July and it was an eye opener. Coming from altitude and been racing in it for many years I was not concerned of the altitude that is in Sun Valley. However during the race I felt like I was breathing through a straw. The legs were there but the lungs were burning more than normal and everyone on the team was feeling the effect. We rode very aggressive and went for a lot of primes. In the end we came up short for the win but still managed to grab 2^nd with Remi and 3^rd with myself.

Next stop Canada. We are leaving tomorrow morning to arrive in Canada tomorrow evening and race Friday. Friday and Saturday are crits and Sunday a Road Race. The 3 day event is called the Tour of Delta, follow along at http://tourdedelta.ehosting.ca/. Then we have Monday off and another crit on Tuesday for BC super week. Then we travel back on Wednesday to get ready for the EXERGY Twilight downtown Boise on the 16^th. This is the team’s home race and having the top teams from across the Nation coming there is a lot of pressure to perform. I will update after Canada!

First race done

2011-06-17T12:19:00.000-06:00

Last weekend was my first race as a pro cyclist and there was a lot of nerves about heading into the races. It was about a 10 hour drive to Tulsa Oklahoma for 3 day of NRC crit racing. We arrived in Tulsa Wednesday evening and didn’t race until Friday night so we had a little bit to meet and ride with our new teammates and get use to the bikes and gear a little bit. The first race was Friday night at 9pm and with the race being delayed 15 min due to lighting and rain the tensions were high to just get underway. The race was very sketchy with crashes just about every lap in the first half of the race due to slick roads. I stayed near the front all night long and with about 5 to go we lined it up for our sprinter Ben, and we all got caught up with a crash 1.5 laps to go. That’s bike racing and we all were undamaged for the most part and the bikes were still in one piece. Sunday night was the same with a 9pm start and a fast course didn’t have the same legs as I did the night before but hung in there. Sundays race I will remember for a while with it being a 4pm start in the middle of the day with the heat beating down. It had a good climb in the course called “cry baby hill” and the crowds on it were unbelievable. It was something you would see on tv at the tour on the final climb.

Now I am in Denver for a couple of days then off to Grand Junction next week for a little bit then off to Boise Idaho for the summer!

BIG News!!

2011-06-02T12:23:00.000-06:00

Well I have been out of school for a couple of weeks and it’s been so nice just to relax a little more than normal. However I have been stressing out a little bit about Grad School for next semester. I just took the GRE test (Graduate Record Examination) it’s a 4 hour computer based test covering all materials and you are not able to use any other resources besides your brain not even a calculator. I will find out in about two weeks my final score and if I get fully accepted into the program. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Other than that I did my first race back since Collegiate nationals a couple of weekends ago and I did pretty well considering I only touched my bike three times prior to the race and I was still on antibiotics. The race was a USA cycling sanctioned race so pros were allowed to show up since they are unable to race anything but USA cycling races now? It was a crit downtown Aspen Colorado which is a VERY NICE and the people are rich and walk around like it. Other than that it was a 10 corner course under 2 min laps. I ended up 3^rd which I was happy with and walked away with all my skin and some extra cash. Since then some BIG news has come up.

Both Conor and I were unable to secure a team this year which would be able to fully fund us at the races we wanted to go to. Up until now we have been flying the colors of LiveTrainRace.com and it has been a blast. They are a local team based out of Grand Junction Colorado and they have helped us out as much as they could and we both really appreciate that. However we got an unexpected call from the manager of Team Exergy Pro Cycling Team a few weeks ago asking us if we would like to ride for them. It came out of the blue for me and I said YES right away. Exergy is a first year Pro cycling team based out of Boise Idaho and they already have some horsepower on the team. Both Conor and I rode for the team last year when they were an Elite team and learned a lot. We both are really excited to make the jump to a Pro team. We have our schedule for the most part for the rest of the season and it is looking fun and hard. Our first race will be next weekend in Oklahoma for Tulsa Tough. Its three NRC crits with two of them being Twilight crits. I am so excited to get this opportunity to ride for a Pro cycling team and it has been my dream for a long time and I have worked super hard for someone to give me the chance to show off all my hard work and the time is now. Follow along for my first season as a Pro Cyclist!

Press Release http://teamexergy.com/new/newspost/team-exergy-expands-roster/

www.teamexergy.com

Summer

2011-05-11T12:28:00.000-06:00

School is out for summer! It's already time for summer and school is done for a few months. I get to focus on training and racing now!

Collegiate Nationals was this past weekend in Madison Wisconsin. The weather forecast before we left was saying rain every day. We lucked out and it was dry and warm. We flew out of GJ Wednesday and arrived in Madison Wednesday night. Thursday we Pre road the road course to open up the legs and check out the course. I forgot how hard this course was with short steep climbs throughout the whole course with no place to really recover. On the pre ride my legs felt awesome and I was ready to throw down.

Friday morning came early, with an 830 start and about a 40 min drive to course it was defiantly early for me. The plan was to get in a break early on and try to get two Mesa guys in the break if possible. To make it short we tried hard but nothing was going to stick. With about a lap and a half left Conor and I got into a promising break but it was not meant to be. We both cramped and the field brought every one back besides the winner. I ended up 16^th; I was really bummed because I was in the right move. I am not happy with the result but I am happy I gave it 100% and tried but just didn’t have it that day.

The next day was the TTT, and with no TT bikes allowed it was going to be interesting to see how it went. Being the defending National TTT champs there definitely was pressure to repeat. Warming up on the trainer my legs felt so bad. I felt like I was pedaling squares and was getting really nervous’. We were the last team to start to we could see the other teams out on course. It was an out and back course with short steep roller throughout the course. Right out of the gate you go up a nice kicker to get the legs burning right off the bat. We rode smooth the whole way and really pushed it on the way back. We defended our title and now are 2X National TTT Champs. I was so happy we could do it back to back. We were only about 20 sec slower than the year before which is pretty impressive with no TT bikes and the wind was a lot stronger this year.

The last day was the crit and a new venue with a longer course just shy of a mile. We were going into the race with high hopes as well as Richard was the defending champion. Early in the race there were plenty of attacks but nothing was sticking. About half way through I made an attack that drew a few guys with me. At first it was just one other dude that was not pulling through. Then finally a few others rolled up to us which looked promising. It was a good size group but I felt like everyone was not doing their fair share so I attacked the group and drew two other guys with me. We all started working pretty well together with everyone pulling through. However I could tell the other two guys were not giving it a 100% and they were not totally committed to staying away. This made me very frustrated because this was Nationals and the worst we could have ended was 3^rd. I tried telling these guys to pick it up this is the move we can win this but they were not having it for some reason. When the field was closing in then the other companions started really drilling. I did not understand their motive but it really pissed me off. We ended up getting caught with 2 laps to go. Being pretty spent I jumped on the front to get the lead out train rolling. I pulled off with a little less than a lap to go and it was up to the guys to do the rest. A little miscommunication on the last lap Conor ended up 4^th and Rich 6^th. Not what were looking for but we can’t complain we gave it 100% and rode well.

The team ended up 2^nd overall falling short by 12pts to Mars Hill who took the top step. Mesa rode strong and smart but with small numbers compared to the other schools we rode very impressive. Someday soon we will be on the top step.

Its summer vacation now, I finished up my last final yesterday!! I am looking forward to a few days off the bike and recover a little bit and get back to the grind. I get to graduate this weekend. I already graduated last semester with my Sports Management degree but they don’t have a ceremony in the fall so I am walking this weekend. It will be weird because I am still in school going for my Master’s degree.

BIG Show

2011-04-29T16:32:00.000-06:00

Well like always time is flying by and Collegiate Nationals is already a week away. I am ready and can't wait to get there.
Rewinding a little bit the collegiate season is done besides Nationals of course. It was yet another great year for Mesa as we won the D2 Conference and on the men's side took 1st-4th individually, pretty impressive. It was a fun season and like always learned a lot about myself as a racer. A couple of weeks ago a few of us went out to Monetary California to test our legs against the Big boys to switch it up a little and to see how our fitness was shaping up to be. To be honest I was a little nervous heading into it, I didn't know how I would react. I actually impressed myself and hung in there. I was climbing better then I have ever been and really dug deep and had a great time and got a little confidence builder going into the rest of the season.

So back to Nationals, the team is leaving next Wednesday for the Big Show! We will be bringing 5 guys and 3 women so we have high hopes going into it and I think we have a good shot to get our name out there once again.

REST!!!

2011-03-23T16:14:00.000-06:00

This past week was our Spring Break even though it was not Spring yet. O well it was a much needed break from school. Got to catch up on some sleep and got to just relax. I went back to Denver to see the Fam and Friends, it was nice to catch up. Then last weekend was the first collegiate races for RMCCC. Two crits, one on Saturday in Boulder and Sunday in Wyoming wich we decided to skip out on the Sunday one because that is a long drive back for a 1 hr crit.
So saturday was the same CU crit that have had for many year. Very simple, an oval with decent road a few potholes and two dips after the start finish. Very little incline so it is always a fast race. I went into the day knowing my Knee has been hurting and this is my first effort at elevation so I didnt really know what to expect. Lined up in the back row because FLC and CU all had like 10 guys each and they all lined up like 5 min before the start. We had a little bit of pressure to do good because we won this race last year. Once we startred I was just so excited to be racing and the legs felt awesome so i went on attack after attack. But to make it easy nothing stuck and it was a bunch sprint. With about a lap and a half to go we got swarmmed up front and before i knew it i was in the middle of the pack so I had to work hard to get back towards the front but just dint have enough time. However Rich won and I ended up 4th. Pretty excited with the form and getting the Win I was excited to get back in the groove of racing.

Check out Velonews for race report:

But now I am SICK, ugggg. My body is telling me to rest I think so thats what I am going to do until it is ready to get back out there. I am kind of bummed because I will have to miss this weekend of racing but it is still very early in the season and no need to be pushing it yet so going to take some time off until my body gives me the go ahead to get back out there.

Until next time....

Time Change!

2011-03-13T18:35:00.000-06:00

I am stoked that the clocks moved an hour ahead today, that means an extra hour of sunlight that I have the opportunity to ride in so I don't have to rush home from class to just get a short ride in. Also my base riding is coming to a close end. I will be shorting the hours on the bike and getting some intensity in since the collegiate scene is pretty much
Have been having a little knee problem lately with my patella tendon but I think we are getting it under control, I hope. I am on "Spring Break" right know even though technically it is still winter but it sure does feel like spring out so no complaining. I have a week off from classes, so that means I get to sleep in and go ride when I wake up and try to catch up on homework but we will see if that happens. I leave Wednesday to head to Denver to see family and friends and relax a little bit and hang out with my new Nephew, Ayden.
This Saturday is the first RMCCC race in boulder which will be a crit. I am excited to start up racing again and to see where my fitness is with all these base miles I have been putting in. Last week I got an idea where I am at when i took a VO2 test. I lost nine pounds since last time and increased my power so I was really stoked about that but it still all comes down to the race. I am not going to let a test make me too happy until I see the results in the actual race.

Pic while in Arizona for Valley of the Sun

Crit at VOS

Time is ticking by....

2011-02-27T18:14:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that it is already March, time is flying by. I can't wait for spring time and warm weather and being light out longer. Last time I posted we were heading down to Arizona for Valley of the Sun Stage Race. It was a good time and the weather was awesome. Nothing better then walking outside in February in Shorts and sandals on. Brief race report, the TT was average I think in the middle of the pack not too bad considering that was the first effort of 2011. Then the RR was good, windy and hard, I was surprised how well I felt. With about a lap to go I was sitting in the main group and got a rear flat very fast and had to wait a little for a wheel change. There was no way I was getting back in the group with only about 14 miles to go so I just cruised the rest of the way home. The crit was a good test for the legs and they passed with flying colors. Ended up 8th in the sprint so I was happy with that.
I still have just been getting in some great base miles since then. I believe I have been lacking a good base in years past so I am really looking forward to see how this season goes with that in the tank. I will prob just keep on cruising for another couple weeks until we start collegiate racing which will be my intervals.
This weekend with my my first Triathlon. The college rec center is putting on it's first annual indoor tri. It's 20 a 20 min swim which I might drown in the a 20 min bike on the spin bike then a 20 min run on the treadmill. The thing that sucks about it is they are multiplying the disciplines which I think is lame just keep it the same and see who gets the farthest in their totals. So the swim will be x8 and the bike x1? and the run x3. I think it will be fun and a good workout so I will try to get some pictures of be dying.
Until next time...

First test

2011-02-09T07:36:00.000-07:00

Well a lot has been going on since last post. Been getting some good base miles in, no intensity yet just some good riding. Found a place to live, was suppose to move in on Monday but had some complications so today is the day.
Then later this evening I will be heading down to Arizona for Valley of the Sun stage race. I am just looking forward to the warm weather and good training and probably some good IN N Out! so my first interval of the season will be Friday afternoon for the TT. OUCH!!
I am just ready for some warm weather here in GJ and get some good races in 2011.

Getting back in the swing of things

2011-01-31T11:26:00.000-07:00

Well we are about a month into 2011 and things are starting to roll for the 2011 season. Just finished the first 3 weeks of training and it feels good to get back into shape, kinda.
This past weekend went to go see my new Nephew. Pretty unreal I am an Uncle but pretty sweet at the same time. While I was down in the front range got my bike fit by Diamond Peak PT in Loveland. I am so glad I got that done. Did a quit a bit of changes on my position so I am looking forward to getting that dialed in. I believe it will make a huge difference this year to actually have the right fit instead of just guessing on everything.
Now I am currently still looking for a place to live in GJ. Might hear back today on a place that I hope we get. Very close to campus which will be very nice.
With school starting,being a Uncle, looking for a place to live and getting confused in school and training hard Conor and I are putting together our home collegiate race the Mad Cow Classic which will be held in GJ April 9th and 10th. Open to anyone who wants to challenge themselves. There is a lot going on right now but it is keeping me busy and I think that is a good thing.

2011!

2011-01-12T10:35:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it is already 2011. I am excited and uncertain of the season to come. I am looking at some bigger races and hopefully some good results in 2011. I took about 3 weeks total off exercising after cross nationals and a long season of road, mountain and cross races. It felt really good to refuel the engine. Now I am running, yes running a little bit. I would love to be riding but I left all my cycling gear back in Junction so I wouldn't be tempted to ride earlier then I was suppose too.
So the new plan now is I will be going back to school. Never thought I would say that but I am going to continue to be a college student and pursue my MBA. I am excited to continue to be living in Grand Junction and racing the collegiate scene again.
One problem right now is I don't have a place to live when I go back to Junction because I was not planning on going back to school and so we are looking for a new place. I am fortunate to have a place to live for 3 weeks when school starts but then I need to find a new place to crash. A couple of options are in the works and I hope they work out.

Forgot about this

2010-12-08T08:25:00.000-07:00

With my last semester of college rapidly approaching I am getting a lot of questions through my head. My plan as of now is move back to Denver for a little then find a part time job between Broomfield and Boulder and race my bike. I currently don't know who I will be racing for yet in 2011 , long story ugggg. So i am not sure what i am going to do.
Tomorrow I leave for Bend, OR for my last collegiate race EVER! WOW. I am hoping to do really good in the collegiate, I would love to have another jersey. Then after the collegiate race I have a 3hr break before the elite race where I just plan on holding on for dear life. Then right after that we hop in the car and drive back to GJ for Finals on Monday, that is going to SUCK!!

Stars and Bars!

2010-05-11T12:26:00.001-06:00

Collegiate Nationals was this past weekend in Madison Wisconsin, with a Road race, Crit, and a Team Time Trial. We arrived in Madison Wednesday afternoon with sunshine and wind. We just settled in and relaxed the rest of the day. Thursday we drove the TTT course to check it out and see what we were up against. Rolling hills and narrow roads, an out and back about 19 miles long. Then we drove to the RR course to pre ride it, We got a little lost riding it but got most of the course down. Friday morning was an early day for us, we started at 8:40 am and it was about a 45 min drive from where we were staying. It was raining and about 40 degrees out so it was pretty cold. We started with a one mile neutral roll out on a downhill, pretty sketchy. The course was short steep climbs with the last climb long and gradual and was a real leg burner. To make it short Pat made a move with a couple of other guys that stuck right of the bat. Rich bridged up to the group and Pat was spent and extremely cold so had to drop out. Richard ended up 3rd and I got 21st, I had nothing left on the last climb, kind of disappointed with that. Conor had to drop early on due to a broken shifter.
Saturday afternoon was the crit downtown around the capitol. It was a pretty straight forward crit, a big square. We knew we had to be in every move of the day and try to set rich up for the sprint in the end. Throughout the whole race we did not miss a move and were riding really well together. With about 10 laps to go there was a guy dangling off the front of the group, so with about eight laps to go all four of us moved to the front. Conor, Patrick and I were rotating through on the front to pull this guy back as rich sat fourth wheel to stay fresh for the sprint. With about five laps to go we caught the guy off the front and then picked up the speed just a little bit. No one dared come around us or try to attack, we were controlling the race! With one lap to go I gave it everything and pulled off for the guys to finish it off. Conor pulled to about half a lap to go then Pat took Rich to the last corner then Richard gave it everything and won the race by three bike lengths. It was a great feeling knowing I did everything I could during the race to help him win the race and now he is the National Champion. It was textbook racing.

After the crit

The next morning was the TTT, we all had all the aero equipment we could get our hands on. We had a really good warm up on the trainers and all were feeling pretty good going into the start. Right of the start you took a sharp right turn straight into an uphill. We got our speed up quick and kept it that way throughout the race. We were communicating and rotating very smoothly. It was a really hard 19 mile TTT. We ended up taking the Win by over 20 sec. I am so excited we are team time trial national champions! We road great together all year and it paid off getting the stars and bars I have been missing for the last couple of years.

Start

Pre made national jerseys(pretty sick)

Now it is finals week and I have three more to go, then it is off to St George Utah with Kenny to go watch his triathlon and eat some In N out of course. Then we will head back to Denver for a few days then it is off to Boise Idaho for the summer racing for Team Exergy. Can’t wait for the things to come.

Collegiate Nationals

2010-05-02T09:38:00.000-06:00

Collegiate Nationals is less then a week away. We are flying of of Junction next Wednesday to Denver then Denver to Madison Wisconsin. I am really looking forward to it. We have a really strong team going this year and I really hope we can deliver the goods. I am feeling good and well rested and healthy I just cant wait to be there.

Once we get back it is Finals week for school ugg. So right now I am making up all my work I am going to miss over the next week. Then it is back home for a little and go to my lil sis Graduation, CRAZY! Then it is off to live in Boise Idaho for the summer and race for Team Exergy. Conor and I cant wait to race for a real team this summer. It is going to be a whole lot of new things and I can't wait for the experience.

Rolling

2010-04-08T10:04:00.000-06:00

Well Collegiate racing is in full swing right now and I am feeling good. Just getting over being sick for over a week and it feels nice to be back to normal. It is trying to warm up in GJ but not fast enough.
Recap of the last two weekends of racing. Our home race was not easy. Saturday morning was the hill climb up the Frutia side monument. My legs felt great but my lungs didn't. Finished about mid pack. Then that night was our twilight crit, fast and technical course. Right off the bat a breakaway form with Richard, Caley and two other guys. They managed to stay away the whole time. Rich 2nd, Conor 5th, Pat 6th and me 10th. Sunday was the Road race. A couple minutes in a break went up the road with Pat in it for Mesa. A few miles later Conor bridged up to the breakaway so we had two guys in the break. Things were really looking good for us. About halfway through the race Conor flatted his tubular and with no wheel support was out of the race, and not too shortly after I flatted and waited on the side of the road for 40 min until a random car came and picked me up. Then Pat had some bad luck and cramped out of the break. So we only had rich left in the race and 2 miles to go he cramped bad to say the least Mesa didn't have a good day, a lot of bad luck. This past weekend was the Mines races another hill climb and crit. The HC went as good as it goes for me. The crit was fast and really hard to get a break to stick, they all got brought back. With 5 laps to go the guys set up a train for me. Fort Lewis was trying to jump in the middle of our train and mess us up but we didn't let them in and elbowed them out and made it clear don't try to mess us up. I screwed up the sprint and got 3rd, felt pretty bad should of had the win. Then after the race Fort Lewis was crying because they said we rode too aggressive. WTF you were the guys trying to screw us up, all we did was hold our position. You wouldn't believe how much they are complaining there coach calling nate and complaining and even talking to RMCCC saying we were too aggressive. If they don't want to get bumped and shoved then stay away from our train. This weekend we will have to make sure to stay at least 5 feet away from all 15 FLC riders to make sure they have enough room and don't feel like we are too aggressive.
Local crit series put on by Livetrainrace.com has been going on for two weeks. They really know how to put on a race. The Mesa guys worked hard for me the last two weeks and got me the wins. I got my cat 1 upgrade on my B-Day thanks to them. This weekend races is Colorado college in the springs. A crit and another HC. UGGG

OUCH!!

Race time

2010-03-22T13:08:00.000-06:00

Collegiate season is under way, we have only made it to one weekend of racing though but we made our presence known. The first weekend of races we had out team fundraiser so we were unable to make it. Then The CU/UNC crits was our first races together as a team and we kicked ass. We worked really well as a team and were really strong. CU have 15 riders in the race and we had 5. We were in every move both days of racing. Saturday came down to a bunch sprint and we set up Richard and he came out with the W for the team. Sunday was another crit and it was a bit colder and smaller fields. We knew everyone know knows we are a strong team so they will be looking out for us. There were many attempts for breaks but nothing stuck until Conor attacked and a little bit later a CSU rider attached to bridge to Conor and Patrick sat on and made it to Conor, then a CU guy attacked and Rich sat on his wheel. Soon enough we had 3 out of the 4 riders in the race in the break. I just sat in and followed some wheels and watched my 3 teammates Team Time Trial in the break. Rich again came out with the W, Pat 2nd, Conor 4th and I got 10th. Not bad at all for our first weekend together. This past weekend we were unable to race. Lovely Colorado weather decided to dump some snow on the front range. So the Saturdays race was cancelled but yesterdays race was on but we decided a 6 hour drive was not worth it for an hour of racing.
Right now I am sick and on antibiotics, today is my fifth day off the bike and its killing me but I know I need to rest to get healthy. This weekend is our Home race here in Grand Junction. Going to be some hard two days of racing. Saturday starts off with a Individual hill climb up the Frutia side monument. Then Saturday night is a Twilight crit at the go cart track off I70. Then Sunday is a tough Road race. If you want to come watch any of the races I would recommend the Crit Saturday night, you can watch the whole race. Hope I am healthy by this weekend!

Race flyer

http://org.mesastate.edu/cycling/files/RoadRace2010.pdf

Some people are CRAZY

2010-03-04T10:30:00.001-07:00

It's finally warming up in Grand Junction, about time. It is suppose to be 55 today and I can't wait to get out there. Right now I am working hard at the student rec center typing this blog and getting paid. I am starting to get some more hours in the legs and it feels really nice. Just got over a cold or just about too that took me off the bike for 5 days to get better again. This weekend is the first collegiate race of the year with Metro hosting a TT and DU having a crit. They are both great races but we will not be attending this year. We are having a team Fundraiser instead on Saturday Night. We will be showing Race across the Sky with Lance Armstrong. It is about the Leadville 100 MTB race. I hear it is a great movie so you should come check it out. Here is a link to the trailer. http://www.livetrainrace.com/wp/?p=308

So yesterday when we were almost done with our ride like 10 min from home we had a jackass skim us while riding. There was four of us rider two a breast with on in the bike lane with gravel and glass and everything else that ends up in the bike lane and another one riding right on the white line. Every other car that passed us had no problem driving right around us. But this one driver decided to get as close as he could and I have no idea how we didn't get hit. We all threw up our hands and he slammed on his brakes and skidded to the right. We just decided to keep riding and go around this jackass but once we were passing him he grabbed Richard and tried throwing him off his bike. Good thing he has good handling skills otherwise he would of hit the deck and we would have had more problems. That is considered an assault, he crossed the line when he tried grabbing one of us to throw us off our bike going about 15mph. We asked him what was his problem was while riding away in a different tone and text and he said that the city pays a lot of money for these bike lanes. Well they should pay to clean them up to. We kept on riding while he got back in his car and came next to us at the red light. It turned green and he decided to start to drift in the lane. Some people just amaze me sometimes with how angry they can get. Heaven forbid you might have to tap the break and go around us. So sorry for the inconvenience. The great thing was we got his license plate number and he was driving his company's car with Davidson homes all over it. So I recommend you never do business with these guys they might get angry and try to rip you off. We reported him to the state troopers and now he will be getting a telephone call. Some people just don't realize that there car is a deadly weapon. If they hit is with their car it could kill us.

Off to a better note, spring break is next week for us. I am stoked just to relax and get some good miles in. It kind of sucks though because it is still considered winter. O well it will be nice to get a little bit of a break from school.

Valley of the Sun

2010-02-17T20:22:00.001-07:00

Well it was nice to get out of the cold weather for a little while and hang in Arizona for a few days. The two Germans, Brent, Keeny, Conor and I drove down to Arizona Wednesday afternoon. It was a long day for me having to wake up at 4am for work in the morning and not going to bed till after 1 am once we got to Arizona. But before we settled in our place we hit up the first In N Out we saw, it was delicious. We sleep in on Thursday and woke up to warm weather. It was great we got out for a little bit to open up the legs again for Fridays TT.

The TT went as well as it could, got a bike fit from German # 1 a couple of days before we left. Raised the seat height by 3 cm at least and I actually looked aero for once. I felt good and shaved a few seconds off from the previous year. Then Saturday was a 90 mile road race with 400 ft or so of climbing per lap. I was going to take it chill the whole race and sit in and see if I could do something on the last lap. But it was really hard to get away and stay away. A lot of people tried thorough out the race but nothing stuck, so it came down to a bunch sprint at the top of the climb. I was feeling really good and felt like I was going to get a good result. However once we hit 2k to go everyone goes crazy and forgets how to ride and just rides dumb. So once we got past the craziness I was feeling good until 500 m to go I just shut down and had nothing left. Finished somewhere in the mid 20's, not too bad considering I was just going there for warmth, In N Out and some good training. The crit was Sunday afternoon and it was nice and warm. I wanted to get in a break or grab some primes and hope maybe conor could just sit in and get a good result. Right from the gun Conor went with an attack but got reeled back soon. Opened up his legs and sat in the rest of the time. I went with attacks and made attacks and but nothing stuck. I road very aggressive and felt really good for the first crit but with 3 laps to go I knew I was not getting away and sat in. Conor had good position up front and ended up 3^rd in the sprint which was great.

Now I am back in Junction depressed from going to very nice warm weather to crappy snowy weather. It sucks but I got to keep on training through it. Collegiate season is starting in a few weeks and we will have a STRONG team this year. I can't wait to race with a team for once. Then the summer will be great to. I just got some good racing coming up very soon. Until next time…

Training

2010-02-06T08:50:00.001-07:00

Haven't posted on here in a long time. I am just going to school and riding my bike as much as possible. It's going to be a good year. The weather here in Junction has really sucked lately, it hasn't even hit the 40's since we started school, or at least that is what it feels like. Yesterday was the nicest day, it was perfect out, prob still in the 30's but it was nice and today it is snowing. I HATE the snow, I just want it to warm up.
Next Wednesday 6 of us are heading down to Arizona for Valley Of the Sun Stage Race. Looking forward to warm weather and wearing shorts and getting some good miles in. Just going down there for fun and training, not looking for a good result, but if it presents it's self that would be great. Looking forward to some In N Out, Yumm.
Pretty stocked just got a Garmin 705, it's pretty sweet. I don't know how to use all the things on it yet but it's got a lot. Look out for Mesa this year, we are going to KILL it. Cant wait, about a month till the first collegiate race. I need to get a camera so i can post pics on here but I lost my camera a while ago. i hate when that happens. Until next time.

New Year

2010-01-01T12:38:00.001-07:00

It's a new year and I am looking forward to it. I am heading back to Junction in a few days. I have been off the bike since nats and it has been nice. Getting back to it in a couple of days. My "off season" went really fast this year. I am ready to get back to junction to get some good miles in and hit the gym. I am really looking forward to the racing season ahead. Mesas road team is going to be killer and my summer team as well. got my one upgrade in cross so in 2010 my goal is to get my one upgrade in road. hoping 2010 is more successful. Wish everyone a safe and healthy new year.

Crunch Time

2009-12-01T11:10:00.000-07:00

Everything is all coming together at once right now. Trying to get everything done before I can take a break. This week is the last week of classes and next week is Finals. Once I am done with Finials it is off to CX Nats. Trying to study and being able to ride good at nats is a fun task. This cross season it could be summed up with Bad Luck. This season nothing seems to be going my way. Every race this year I have had some type of mechanical or flats etc. I am starting to feel really good racing now so that is a plus. I only need one race to go perfect and that is nats so if it goes good there I will be happy. Looks like Conor and I will actually have a really good team this summer to race for. Really looking forward to racing with a high notch team. Ready to learn a lot and have fun.

That's Cross Racing

2009-10-28T13:22:00.001-06:00

This past weekend was some racing is Castle Rock on Saturday and Boulder on Sunday. We arrived to the race pretty early on Saturday to make sure our bikes were running good because this was the first race on our new cross bikes. We rode the course a couple of times and it was really muddy. It was about a 2 mile course which is pretty long for a cross course. I was ready to race and was able to line up second row which was huge; usually I am in the back row. With about 30 sec to the start I noticed I had a flat rear tire. I was going to try to ride it a lap to the pit which was at the end of the lap but once I hit the cement I knew w I was done. Luckily Jeff was standing there with his small MTB so I grabbed that and started racing. His bike was too small for me and he had different pedals then mine so I couldn’t clip in so it was a hard lap. I finally made it to the pit to switch bikes. At this point I was at least 2 min back from the last guy in the race, and who knows how much to the leaders. So I started passing guys one by one. Then just about when I started rolling I went through this swap area and went flying over the bars. I hit a rock or something at the bottom of the mud pit and just went swimming in the swamp. I got up very slowly loosing even more time. I bent my hood pretty good and my brakes were rubbing. So once I got to the pit I switched bikes again. At this time I really just wanted to pull the plug, but I didn’t give up and keep on passing people. I ended up 12th witch was not too bad considering all the mishaps I had. I just really wished I could have had a better race. Then we woke up Sunday to some flurries coming down. We drove out the Boulder Reservoir to race, Conor decided before we got there that he was not going to race because he crashed hard the day before and was getting a cold. So we watched some of the earlier races and I noticed that everyone was running A LOT. So I went and pre rode the course which was mostly sand and a lot of it you had to run. I wanted to ride my bike not run it. The weather was getting bad and the passes sounded like they were going to get pounded on. So I decided not to race so we could get home before the passes got worse.

on the first lap riding the small MTB

This weekend is the Boulder cup races. I can’t wait it should be some sweet racing. I am just hoping not to get lapped, that would be cool. The weather right now looks cold this weekend in Boulder so I hope the mountains don’t get too much snow so we can make it over on Friday. It is snowing here now in Junction so I really hope the passes clear up by Friday.

Survived

2009-10-06T10:44:00.000-06:00

I survived this weekend of mountain bike racing. It was our home races this past weekend the RMCCC conference finals. Saturday was a technical short track. I guesses if you want a front row start you need to get to the start at least 15 min before the race starts. I didn't get that memo so I started in the last row. 30 sec into the race it shoots into a single track and I was the last guy into it, perfect. I was waiting to get lapped the whole race but didn't happen. I was passing a lot of guys through out the race. On the last lap i bobbled a little and two guys passed me, but o well I didn't fall so that's good.

Short track

The Sunday was the cross country race, i was actually looking forward to this race. I got very familiar with the course so I felt confident I would do well. The skies were black all morning threatening to down poor. We started in dry conditions, then about half way through the first lap you felt some rain drops, then it just stated pissing from the skies. So on our second lap it was a mud fest slip and slide. so pretty much everyone gave up and was walking a lot a trying to stay up right. When the dirt gets wet out there it turns to concrete. So I was hoping to would just cut the race short. On the last switch backs before the finish i decided to do a superman over the bars.Ouch was not expecting that but got up rolled to the finish and i was done. the called the race 2 laps in out of 4. I was happy but i wish it was dry the whole race so we could of done it all. O well I didn't get too hurt so that's always good.

Me right after I did my superman

Less then a week we are off to collegiate MTB nats in Truckee California. Should be a fun time, my goal is not to hurt myself, just have a fun time. Just cant wait for IN N OUT!
This weekend I am hoping to make my way down to Denver to do some Cross racing. Just hope the passes stay clear but it doesn't look that way so I will have to wait and see.

Take Action Oct 24 350.org

2009-09-28T13:48:00.000-06:00

Dear fellow cyclists:

Riding our bikes on roads and trails, we have access to parts of the world few of our fellow citizens ever see, and enjoy scenery that most people don’t notice whizzing by at 65 mph. By being active outdoors during all seasons, we as cyclists surely take note of our changing climate patterns – and we are able to directly impact climate change by choosing to ride our bike more instead of drive. We're asking you as a cyclist to take action on Oct. 24 in a one-day project that we hope will have some measurable impact on changing the world.

You spend much of your time riding your bike out in the elements. It is likely that you’ve noticed your local weather patterns getting less stable, less consistent, and more volatile. Climate change is having a direct impact on our world weather through significant melting of glaciers. In fact, scientists who have drilled glacial cores around the world tell us this melt is happening ever faster, to the point where in our lifetimes it may endanger billions of people, ecosystems, food production and more. So far, though, the political response to climate change has been too slow!

The cycling response has been great: 350.org is lucky to have the CLIF BAR Development Cyclo-Cross Team, Kashi Leuchs, Ted King, Adam Craig, Tom Danielson, Heather Irmiger, Lea Davison and more riders and teams supporting our cause.

Now, with the crucial negotiations looming on the horizon at the United Nations Climate Change Conference this December in Copenhagen, we can do something to help change that. The world's foremost climatologist, NASA's James Hansen, and his team last year declared that 350 parts per million co2 was the most carbon we could safely have in the atmosphere. That's a tough number, because we're already past it. At the moment, the atmosphere holds 387 ppm co2, which is why glaciers and Arctic sea ice are melting. Indeed, this research team cautioned that unless we got back below that number, then eventually the earth might well be ice-free.

The planet will scrub some of that co2, but only if we stop pouring more in. To move political leaders to take this seriously, 350.org is organizing a huge global day of action on Oct. 24, designed to drum that number into every head on the planet. So: we urge you to ride somewhere notable and visible on October 24 – by yourself, with a group, or at a race - and figure out some way to make the number 350 visible. What we'll need by day's end if possible, is a photo, uploaded to the web, of whatever 350 bike ride action you've figured out to do. We need a picture of you and 350.

A few days beforehand or a day or two after will work as well - the goal is simply to take this obscure number, arguably the most important number in the world, and make it the most well-known 3 digits on the planet. If we do, then it will set the bar for negotiators. At the very least, we'll have helped let the rest of the world know what the crucial reality facing the planet is.

If you can help, please contact Jamie Henn at Jamie@350.org.

Cyclocross season is here!

2009-09-22T12:06:00.000-06:00

This past weekend was my first cyclocross race of the year in Breckenridge. I was really excited to start racing cross again and to see if I remembered how to dismount and run with my bike. Before this weekend I only road my cross bike for about an hour the week before and I felt pretty good but that was with no barrier in front of me. Once you actually have to jump over something it becomes a mental game. I was a little worried about running because two weeks before this I crashed pretty hard in a collegiate mountain bike race. I smacked my upper thigh pretty hard onto a rock and could barley bend it for a couple of days. So when I ran it really hurt. But I was not going to let that stop me from racing my bike.
I got to Brek about two hours before the start of my race. I warmed up really good and pre road the course a couple of times and really liked it. It looked like it was going to rain but it held out until the last lap so that was nice. The start of a cross race is very important. If you have a good start it is a lot easier to do well in the race. Unfortunately that was not the case for me. I got to the start about five min before the race but everyone else was already lined up, so i started near the back in the middle, and with the course pretty much shooting into a single track right off the bat I knew I had a lot of work ahead of me. I started moving up pretty quick and starting to get closer to the leaders. I was feeling really good and finally caught up to Conor and Robin and worked good together. Then it was Conor and I chasing the leaders down and really working hard but feeling good. With three laps to go I got a flat rear tire so that was my race. I was to far to get a wheel change so I just had to pull out. Kind of a disappointment that I had to pull out but at the same time I was feeling good so that a plus. It is early in the season so I will have many more opportunities. This weekend I will be racing again on Saturday in Boulder so I cant wait. You can feel the chill in the air now and that only means it is CYCLOCROSS season. I am really looking forward to the season and getting some good results. Can't wait.

Off to a rough start

2009-09-14T13:44:00.000-06:00

Well this past weekend was my first weekend racing collegiate MTB of the year. I was looking forward to racing and testing out my new bike. We got to Beaver Meadows were the races were held at about 1030is at night and set our tents up and went to bed. woke up early the next morning for the short track race. it was a pretty cool course. I had an ok start and felt pretty good throughout the whole race. ended up 16th or something so not too bad. Then we ate some food and went to go pre ride the XC course for Sundays race. It was a pretty cool course with some good climbing and technical descending and i was feeling confident. Saturday night was cold, with some flurries and rain. Sunday morning was a lot nicer, the sun was out and it was warming up. Lined up at the start with probably around 50 or so racers ready to pin it to get to the single track like a min up the road. It started very fast like i was expecting and 30 sec into the races this metro guy tries to squeeze through a gap which was to small and clipped the csu riders bars right in front of me and they both went down hard, had to jam on the brakes and wait for them to move and i continued on. Started chasing and was feeling good climbing. then just about when the decent was starting I was coming up to a river crossing where I was going to dismount and run across, when i was just about to get off i believe i hit some roots and went flying over the bars. Smashing my upper thigh and shoulder hard onto a rock. I tried standing up and continue racing but i tried standing and couldn't. I thought i broke or a bone or something. So i sat there on the side of the trail as everyone else was racing. i sat there for about twenty min and then Garrison came through and carried my bike across the river and i walked across the river and then sat there for about ten min until i could get on my bike. I pedaled on legged down the trail because i could not bend my left leg very well or put any pressure on it. I found a fire road and coasted the rest of the way down. I got some ice on it and just waited to leave. Today my leg hurts really bad and i cant bend it that much. It's weird there is no bruises or anything, very tender to touch too. I am hoping it feels better soon. Planing on doing the cross country mtb race this weekend in sol vista and race my first cyclocross race of the year on Sunday just really hope my leg feels better by then,. But it is still early in the cross season so if it still hurts by this weekend i will just have to rest and let it heal up.

Short Track

Short Track

Short track

XC racers

Icing my leg after the crash

MTB Season

2009-09-11T09:22:00.000-06:00

Looks like I will be doing some collegiate Mountain Biking again this season. I actually have a nice bike this year that is mine. A stumpjumper FSR 29er it is a really fun bike. Heading off to Fort Collins today at 3 for some racing this weekend. The other day I went over the bars pretty good so lets hope I feel ok this weekend and stay up right. Hope it is not too cold. I am off to class now to take a test, I will post something on Monday recapping my first MTB race of the season.

Ride your Bike!

2009-09-03T22:42:00.001-06:00

A Reason to Bike from Brighter Planet on Vimeo.

Learn Cyclocross from the best

2009-08-17T23:02:00.000-06:00

Need to touch up your skills or want to learn more about cross. Here is your chance, it is a great camp and you will learn a lot even if you are a begginer or a competitive racer, all skill levels. Cyclocross us almost here.

Over due

2009-08-10T12:01:00.000-06:00

I have not posted anything in a long time. Summer is going well, almost done with, i start school on the 17th already. Racing has been going all right. Cascade and Nationals were all right, nothing great. I finished so that's good. I was starting to feel really good on the bike after Nats and was ready to race this past weekend. There was two crits. Saturdays race was short and technical. I felt really good the whole race fighting to stay up front, otherwise your race was over. Five laps to go it got very hectic up front. On the last lap my leg cramped really bad, the same place where i cramped in cascade. I ended up 17th which was not bad. Then yesterday was a longer crit with Shit pavement. Big names showed up for the big payout. I knew it was going to be fast and hard but i was ready, besides my leg was killing me where i cramped the day before. if felt like a knife stabbing be every pedal stroke. And today it is worse, it hurts to even walk on it. so i am going to take a little break and let it heal. I leave Wednesday to go back to GJ. I am ready to go back but not to start school. Where did the summer go. I now have a twitter account, i don't know why but i guess it is the cool thing to do.

Not what I was hoping for.

2009-07-01T10:08:00.001-06:00

This past weekend was the Dead Dog Classic in Wyoming. It is a two day stage races with 3 races total. Conor and I headed up to Fort Collins Friday night to spend the night and leave for Wyoming early Saturday morning for the RR. We were running late and when we got there hoped out of the car, picked up our numbers and got ready and rolled to the start. Didn't get to spin the legs before the race. Going into the day I knew it was going to be hard, a lot of climbing which is not my speciality. So i was hoping to hang on. It started a lot faster then I thought. But as i expected I got dropped on the climb out. Kind of disappointing.

Saturday was the Crit and i was looking for revenge. The plan for the team was to keep on attacking like crazy until one of us got in the break. there was three of us so we took our turns attacking and finally Ian got in a break with about 8 other guys. All i could do after he got in the break was hold on for dear life. Teams had there whole teams on the front and count bring back the break. ian ended up 7th and i managed to hang on and finish with the main group. Kinda disappointing i was hoping for better but at least our teammate was in the break.

Then the TT was right after. They said it was a flat 10 mile course and i really did not want to race since I was well out of a good spot in the GC. I looked at my start time and barley warmed up, i was so unmotivated to race. I rolled to the start a min or so before my start and the official said i was suppose to go off a min before. So i guess i missed my start so that made me even more unmotivated so i pretty much just road the TT. No real hard efforts, just wanted to finish. O and it was far from flat. i don't know how they consider that flat.
So my next race is next weekend a crit which i hope i can do well. Then Boise twilight, Cascade, then u23 nats.

Racing Again!

2009-06-18T13:44:00.000-06:00

This past week Conor and I went back to Junction to ride and get ready for our first race back since Collegiate Nationals. I was excited to get back racing and see how my legs were doing. So we rode for a week in Junction, then raced Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Glenwood Springs. Friday we had a ten mile TT, and some big boys showed up. Lance Armstrong and Levi showed up to show us how it was done. It is cool to say that I have raced against those guys. I always see them on TV and now i am racing with them is pretty cool. I was already out on course when they started so i saw them when i was coming into the finish. They smoked everyone but it was still cool to see them out there.

Saturday was the 70 mile RR. There were some guys from Garmin, Bisell, and Ouch so i knew it was going to be a hard race. i was feeling good the whole race. When we hit the dirt section i knew i had to be in good position. After a few miles on the dirt my computer stopped working and i thought my magnet moved or something. Then i looked down and my sensor came loose and was rubbing against my spokes. So i decided to stop and take it off. i had to take my wheel off and slide the sensor off. Once i got my wheel back on i had to chase hard to get contact with the group again. Once i made contact we went up a pretty steep climb and i just couldn't hold on anymore. I used a lot of energy catching back on. So i just rode back to the finish with a small group.
Sunday was the crit and i was really looking forward to it. it is a very fast and technical course. I had a good start and stayed near the front of the race the whole time. i tried going in a few breaks but they were brought back. On the last lap i was sitting third wheel and feeling good. Then a lot of guys swarmed the front and i moved back a lot. So on one of the last corners to move up i went up the right hand side and moved up quit a bit. i ended up 8th witch i am pretty happy with, but i think i could have done a lot better.
Now i am just riding a lot and getting ready for Dead Dog Next weekend. I am feeling good and am hoping i get stronger and get my upgrade soon.

Summer Break

2009-06-01T10:12:00.000-06:00

Well School has been done for a few weeks and it has be nice to worrying about it. I went to Vegas A couple weeks ago for the first time with good friends and it was a good time. I didn't win big, actually i didn't win at all but it was a lot of fun.Conor won $400 on a penny slot within the first few hours of being in Vegas so that was cool. Did a lot of walking to stay in shape. I took that time off the bike and it was nice to take a little break before i get into full swing of summer racing.
Right now I am not racing i am just riding for long hrs to build back my fitness. My first race back will be the Gleenwood race. The weather today is really crappy so i hope it clears up soon. Going up to Fort Collins at the end of the week to ride and hang out with friends. Then I am heading to GJ on Monday to ride also and get ready for Gleewood.

Collegiate Nationals wrap-up

2009-05-12T16:56:00.000-06:00

Well collegiate Nats went pretty well this year. We got to FOCO Thursday night in time for the riders meeting. Then after that signed in and went to pre drive the RR course. The course was a little different than last year. A lot more climbing. The first climb split the group up pretty well. I barley hung in there. got dropped but chased back into the lead group of about 20-30. Then once we hit the flats no one would work at all, and most of the guys who got dropped on the climbs caught back on. Once we started the laps a couple guys were off the front. About half way through the lap I went with an attack which got brought back fast. Then Conor counter attacked right away and i sat on the front making sure the whole group didn't bring him back. i let about 4 guys bridge up to him so he had someone to work with and i was sitting on the front making it look like i was going hard, rocking the shoulders and mouth wide open. But the funny part was I was not even going hard and i couldn't believe no one would come around me. it was crazy. the break lasted to the finish and Conor got third. I got 2nd in the pack finish and ended up 11th. Not bad day.
Then Saturday was the crit bright and early. my legs were feeling really good and our plan for the day was to get Conor and i as much prime points as we could. I was marking the guys who may be going for the overall. I was in a couple breaks but noting stayed away that i was in. Two guys managed to stay off the front. I ended up 8th on the day and Conor got 10th. Another good day but not good enough to get Conor the overall. Conor ended up 2nd overall and i got 7th. O well, guess we will have to step up even more next year.
Sunday morning was the TTT really early. We were the first team off at 8:02. It was in the 30's and raining and it sucked. We only had 3 guys doing the TTT because Brent's Knees have been hurting for a while. We got DFL. lol o well we were not really looking for a good result in the TTT.

Now i am resting for a while taking sometime off the bike. I had four of my finals yesterday and now I have one more tomorrow and then it is summer. Next Friday i am going to Vegas with some friends, i can't wait it should be a good time.

BIG ONE!

2009-05-05T12:57:00.000-06:00

Well got back from the Gila late Sunday night early Monday morning. Nothing great at the gila, just average. The first day i lasted till the last climb and got dropped. lost fifteen min there. ouch. Then the next day i wanted to get in a break like i did last year. About half way through the race i felt like crap so i went for it. I was just trying to bring back the break but Conor didnt know that and sat up a little and i went off the front and caught a guy in no mans land from Rio Grande. We worked well together, then a chase group of six caught us. There was still three up the road, but we were working well together. My legs were on the verge of cramping the last 20 miles. I did as much as the work i could do without going overboard. The three lasted to the finish so we were fighting for fourth. i knew i didn't have much so just sat in a passed a few guys in the finishing stretch. Ended up 6th on the day so the same as last year. The TT was ok nothing great. Crit was decent, tried going off the front a few times but got brought back. Then the last day i sat in all day trying to save it for the climb. Got dropped on the first cat 2 climb wth two miles to the summit, fought back and caught back to the group with one mile to summit. then lasted till the last climb. was not up front for the first surge up the climb so i was not to far behind. felt good climbing.
Now i am just resting keeping the legs fresh for collegiate nationals this weekend. We leave Thursday after class and the RR is Friday, Crit Saturday and TTT Sunday. Wish me luck, hoping for a great result.

Getting serious

2009-04-27T09:05:00.000-06:00

School is almost done with and that means racing is really getting underway for me. Got back from Salt Lake City last night after some hard racing. It was conference finals and i was hoping to get a good result but i had some bad luck instead. Saturday morning was the TTT. We have not even practiced a TTT yet so we knew it was going to be interesting. It was raining when we got to the race and it did not look like it was going to clear. We had about a ten min warm up before. my legs felt ok during warm up but i really didn't get much intensity in it. it started off ok, took a little to get into formation. then my legs were not firing correctly and i got dropped pretty quick. Kinda sucked but the other three finished strong in 6th place hope we can get it together before Nats in two weeks. Then later that night at 7 we had out crit. it had 12 corners and a kicker to the finish. I was feeling really good all race. Conor or I were in just about in every break and when it got brought back we would counter, but nothing stuck. I attacked once on the hill and caley from CSU came across really fast and blew by me. he sat up until i could grab his wheel but by the time i got there i wanted to puke to bad. brought it back quick. Then the last lap i was top five or so and a FLC rider goes down two in front of me. I have to idea how i didn't go down. but had to stop and unclip. I tried chasing back on but in a crit on the last lap it is usually not going slow. caught on to the back of the group and coasted in. I was pretty mad because i was feeling really good. Just glad i didn't go down on my new bike.
Then Sunday was a circuit race. they had to move the race because it was snowing where the road race was supposed to be held. it was about a 7 mile lap or so, pretty flat the whole way. Right off the bat 6 riders were off the front with every school represented besides us and DU. So we worked really well together to try to bring them back. We were up there for about 4 laps going all out before we knew we were not bringing them back. thats when the bigger teams started picking on us. they would send one or two fresh riders off the front and it would just kill us trying to cover them. Ended up getting into a small group off the front of the peloton on the last lap but was still placed in the teens.
Now i am trying to get all my school work done before i head to New Mexico tomorrow for the tour of the Gila. i have not signed up yet but will get on that. I am excited to race, my legs feel like they are coming back to form again. Then we come back on Sunday and then leave Thursday for collegiate nats in Fort Collins Colorado. Then come back and take finals, then summer

TTT Start

Crit

Resting up

2009-04-14T16:36:00.000-06:00

This past weekend was the FLC home races. A TTT, Crit and RR were in order. I was looking forward to racing because the past two weekends were canceled. I didn't know what to expect what my legs would do with no racing in the legs for a while.
We woke up Saturday morning bright and early for the TTT. It was not bad out when I went to breakfast but once we got to breakfast it started raining pretty good. then followed by some big snow flakes. they ended up canceling the TTT a little bit later. So just sat around until the crit.

It looked like it was clearing up. The roads started drying up. But once we lined up it started raining again. About half way through the race it was sleeting and it hurt the face. Didn't really have a good race, ended up in the pack but was hoping for better.Then Sunday was the RR with a steep mile climb or so in each lap. we did 9 laps at 6 miles a lap. I was feeling ok until we hit the climb, every lap i struggled to hang on and eventually popped. still finished but nothing great. Just had a bad weekend. They can't all be good.
I am about ready to go to the local Tuesday night ride/race at six. I am just going to sit in today and see how the legs feel. i think i am getting tired/sick so I am just going to ride. This weekend we are headed to Colorado springs for some racing. Air force is having a TTT, Crit, and RR. I hear the crit is in a parking lot. LAME. I think i will be going there working for Adam. Just hope my legs start to come around. Got the Gila and collegiate nats coming up within a month.
Picking up my new frame this weekend. hope i can build it up next week and have it ready to go by Utah.

Lazy weekend

2009-04-05T20:25:00.001-06:00

It was nice to have just a relaxing weekend at home again. Didn't have much on the agenda, just ride a little bit and study. The races this weekend were canceled due to bad weather in Golden. On Saturday it was a bit chilly out and i was not motivated to go outside. It was snowing off and on and i didn't really want to freeze outside and I really don't want to risk getting sick at this time of year. It is a long season and some big races are coming up in about a month. So i decided to ride the trainer and watch a movie. Today was a bit nicer, still a little chill in the air but went and spun the legs for a few hours. Then came back and watch Tour of Flanders. Now I have to study for my math test tomorrow which i need to pass.
Next weekend is Fort Lewis races. A TTT, Crit, and a RR which goes right through campus. Pretty cool hope we have good legs. Mesa is sitting 2nd right now in the conference. Pretty good considering we only have a handful of racers.

Before

After

Training camp

2009-03-31T11:04:00.000-06:00

First off today is the last day of mustache March and i am really happy about that. I can't wait to shave it off. The weather here feels like winter again and it sucks.
This past weekend a few guys from our new team RMCEF came to Junction to have a training camp. I didn't really know what to expect with the weather, and how my legs were going to feel since i took the week off from riding leading up to it and i didn't really know any of the guys that were coming. It all ended up being a good weekend.
The guys showed up Friday around dinner time and Tucker stayed at our place for the weekend. On Saturday we went for a long ride. We first rode to Fruita to meet up with the rest of the guys and we froze on the way out there. Then we snaked our way out to the Utah border. Then rode back to Junction and went up and over the monument and then came back to junction. It was a long day and very tiring. About 120 miles in 6 hours. I was beat when we got home. We went over to a guys house were some of the team was staying to have a team dinner. The guys that I met that are on the team are really cool guys. They all are super strong and I can't wait to race with them this summer.
Then Sunday it was VERY windy out. we were getting thrown around. We rode towards gateway and it felt like we were in a wind tunnel on the way out there. Got about 10 miles or so from gateway and turned around. that was the best part of the day. Then we hauled home with a tail wind, it was so nice.
Then yesterday I had class all day so some of the guys went up the west side of the monument and i climbed up the east side after class to catch up with them. Only got to ride with them for about 15 min yesterday then they took off to Denver. Some of the guys really want us to go to SEA OTTER with them in a couple of weeks but I just don't think I will be able to pull that off. I really want to go but just don't think it will happen this year.
This weekend we have another collegiate race in Golden CO. The weather looks like crap, 30's and snow so who knows what will happen. Saturday is a ITT hill climb up look out mountain. Then Sunday is a crit on CSM campus.

Whats up with the weather

2009-03-26T11:32:00.000-06:00

Well this past weekend was our home race and Conor pulled off a Win again in the crit. It was a fun fast course single file the whole race and he got away with a FLC rider and took the sprint. I got 6th. The RR was so hard. got dropped at the end of lap 3 out of 4. still finished 14th.
The weather is crappy now. last weekend it was 60's to 70's and today I woke up to a little dusting of snow. RMCEF is suppose to be here today but who knows with the snow up in the mountains. Hope they make it here ok and we can get some good riding in.
Moved into a new place a week ago. Pretty sweet, a lot bigger.
Well got to run to class sorry for the short update.

Race Season

2009-03-03T10:17:00.000-07:00

Well race season is officially under way and i am psyched. Valley of the sun went well a good first race of the season. kind of got screwed in the road race with it being neutralized 200 meter to go. But i rolled across the line 4th and got some points for it. I will take it.
This past weekend was the first collegiate races of the year. There was two crits, one on CSU campus at the oval. Then Sunday in Colorado springs for yet another crit. I was excited to see how i measured up with the collegiate scene. The CSU crit was fun. With some of the big collegiate names there. the race was 60 min and it was a little chilly out but not bad. I was feeling good the whole race staying up front and out of trouble. I tried to get off the front a couple of times but got brought back fast. Conor and Adam did the same but nothing stuck. With two laps to go people were scrambling to get to front and get good positioning. Some CU guys crashed to the left of me and feel right in front of me and I could do nothing about it and went down. I was lucky to land on some other bikes and bodies and dint get too bad of road rash but a little. My bike was fine which is good. I was kind of pissed i was up front feeling good and some idiots take me out. o well that is bike racing. I will have to get a pic up soon. Keeny took a pic of me right before i went down.
Then we took the trek to Colorado Springs for another crit the next day. This course is pretty cool with a nice kicker right before the finish and a 180 corner soon after that. i was a little stiff after the crash the day before but reedy to race. i had a good start and was up front. Attacks were going all day but nothing was going to stick. Conor Adam and I worked our asses off to bring back breaks and try to get in them. It was a tough race. I finished 13th or so, i was hoping for better but not bad for all the work i did all day. Conor killed it and got 4th. Adam worked his ass off for us and am really excited to race with him this year.
This weekend Conor and I are going to take a weekend off from collegiate racing and go down to Boise to visit STU. Conor, Tom, Mat, And I are going down to hang out with Chris. Then it is back to some more crit racing at CU and UNC. Lets hope we can pull it all together for a win.

Logging the Hours

2009-02-04T11:02:00.000-07:00

Well school as been going for a while, this is our 3rd week back and so far so good. This week and next week is test weeks so we will see how they go. I have been busy with school and riding a ton. Last week i go in just over 25 hrs on the bike. It was a good week for me. I did a great ride on Saturday with Conor from GJ to Gateway and back. It is a pretty hilly ride. six and a half hours and 110 miles. This week i am planning on getting 25 hrs again but start some intensity up this weekend. I rode the TT bike last weekend for the first time since last year and man it is not comfortable. I hate the rollers right now. I have been going to class, sprinting home getting out the door for a couple hour ride until dark then been coming home and riding the rollers for a couple more it sucks. It is finally starting to warm up here in GJ. Suppose to reach 50 today which will feel really warm. It is no Denver high 60s but i will take it. i can't wait for the time change.
Next Thursday I am planning on going down to AZ for Valley of the Sun Stage Race. I have not signed up yet but I will get on that. I am just using it as a training race, I am not expecting a win or even podium, but if I do that's great. Just going for the warm weather and the intensity. I will leave you with some pics over the past few weeks. NVM my pic uploader is not working, maybe next time.

New Year!

2009-01-20T08:18:00.000-07:00

Starting the day out with this really help me get going.

Well the break is over and school starts up again. It felt like the last 5 weeks flew by. Now i have to go back to school and it is going to suck to have to ride the trainer a lot. On MWF it looks like i will be inside riding the trainer wich sucks i really hate the trainer but it will get my mental game in it.
I finally feel like I am getting my fitness back after 2 weeks of some good training. I have been riding my bike a lot out here in Gj in the cold. I have been here for a little over two weeks and it has not past 42 degrees yet. It was 42 out yesterday and it felt like summer, I hope it warms up. I have been also doing some cross country skiing. At least i am trying to, it does not look that pretty, i don't go down hill that well, usually it is on my butt. This weekend i think i am going to do my first cross country ski race. It is a 10k , wich does not sound far, but the speed i go it is.

Mad speed!

Right now i am just getting in my base miles. Next month I am planning on going to Valley of the Sun for a training race. Not going there to win, just to get some good hard riding in, in the hot weather.

Up early

2009-01-12T06:26:00.000-07:00

I am up early getting ready for my fitness walking class. What a joke. It gets me up in the morning so I can go ride later instead of sleeping in real late.
Lately I have been waking up early going to the gym walking for a while. Then I go lift some weights then it is on the bike for a while and if i am feeling good it is some CX skiing up on the mesa. That's pretty much all I have been doing. School starts in a week and it looks like the temps are getting warm here soon. It is suppose to get into high 30's low 40's. That will feel warm compared to what I have been riding in. I don't think it has reached much warmer then 32 here in GJ.
The other day I went on a 4:30 hr bike ride then went up to the mesa for 2:30 hr cx skiing. It was a full moon out and it looked like day time up there. It was a lot of fun, very tiring but a good workout. I am still not that good on the skis, epically down hill my skis just split. I just bought some used cx skis which seem to be working out good.
Well I am still not 100% yet who I will be riding for this year for road. I am hoping for Rio Grande but will not find out until this week so lets keep our fingers crossed.
Well my picture upload is being lame and not letting me post pictures, so i will try later

Slacking!

2008-12-29T00:44:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since the last post. Cross nationals went a lot better then expected for me. In the U23 race I ended up 12th and I was pretty happy with that result considering who all was in front of me. I accomplished my goal, wich was to beat 19th place which I got the year before. The collegiate race went a lot better then expected. Got a front row call up which helped out a ton, I wish I could start up there every race. There was a group of five of us off the front for pretty much the whole race. it was really cool to be up front and actually make the race. I ended up 2nd and was really stoked. Going into the day I was hoping to just get on the podium. even during the race I just keep telling myself stay where you are and you will get fifth, I was not even thinking about 2nd. I wish i had more confidence going into the race. i was only 10 sec off from fist and maybe if I believed in my self a little more something could have happened. O well I was very pleased with my 08 cross season.

I have been taking a break off the bike since nats and plan on starting to ride next week and do some cross country skiing. I already head up to school on the 1st for a 2 week fitness walking class? We will see how that goes.
Suppose to meet with a guy from Rio Grande Cycling this week, so lets cross our fingers that we get on that team for 09. I can't wait for road season to start. Before I know it i will be in Arizona for Valley Of the Sun.

Count down

2008-12-06T11:45:00.000-07:00

Everything is coming to a close end. I am almost done with school for the semester. I only have four more days of finals left and i am done. Cross is almost done for the year for me as well. Two more races at nationals, Collegiate and U23. I am hoping to do good at Nats this year. I did pretty good last year for it being my first year, so now I am hoping for a little better this year. The last race that I did was in NJ. The running race. I tried racing last weekend but my pedal came off a couple laps in so that doesn't count. Hope that was all my bad luck for the year. I was planning on going down to Boulder today to race the state cross race tomorrow but that didn't happen. I just didn't know what the passes were going to be like on Sunday and I have to be back for finals on Monday so it was not worth risking it. Just get some good riding in and studying instead.
I am hoping Nats won't be frozen like last year. It was fun but scary. I dislocated my pinkie and it still hurts today. We leave for KS next Thursday out of DIA around 8. I get out of my last final on Thursday at 12, then we have to drive to Denver to catch the flight. Crossing my fingers that the passes are ok.

Last years frozen tundra.

Thanksgiving Break

2008-12-01T11:12:00.000-07:00

It was good to get home for a while and see the family and friends. Left Grand Junction last Tuesday after class and made it home in pretty good time. Pretty much just relaxed all week, had some good rides and saw some good movies. I was looking forward to racing cross because my legs were feeling good.
I woke up Saturday morning with a couple of inches of snow on the ground and was looking forward to race. Got to the race early to watch one of my Buddy's race in the fours. The course was long, it took the 4's about 10 min to do a lap. About 80% of the course was single track and really muddy. But this mud was rideable non like NJ a couple of weeks ago. Didn't really get a good starting position and didn't really have a good start. It was loose gravel at the start and guys were going everywhere. Then once we got to the single track you were just fighting to stay upright. The first lap was good, almost everyone was still together. The second lap I had a guy three in front of me who could not ride worth crap. He made a huge gap from the group in front of us. I passed him when it opened up then crashed on a slick corner and a few guys passed me. I got back up and it was hard to get going again. I was almost catching the group in front of me, before i knew it i thought i slipped off my pedal up a little incline and tried clipping back in but noticed my pedal came all the way off. The pedal was on the bottom of my shoe. That was my race, even if i had a spare bike in the pit i was screwed, the laps were so long there was nothing i could do about it. Conor had a good race sitting in 6th the whole race until the last corner when he fell on a corner and the guy 10 sec behind him passed him in the sprint.

Pissed my pedal came off

Was unable to race yesterday due to the weather. We had to leave Denver early to make sure we could get back over the passes ok. We had to cram into one of our Buddy's car to get back. Had to leave the cross bikes back home. I am hoping to get back this weekend to race the state cyclocross. That is depending on how the weather is. Then the following week it is off to U23/collegiate cyclocross nats in Kansas. Can't wait, hope i have a good ride there.

Fun drive back

The light at the end is near

2008-11-20T21:14:00.000-07:00

Well last weekend I traveled to NJ for the second grand prix. It was my first Grand Prix ever so i didn't really know what to expect. I knew it was going to be fast and I was going to be slower then normal. I was sick for the two weeks leading up to it. The first week I had a very bad virus and could barley stand up then the next week it turned into a sinus infection. So i finally got some medication for that and started feeling a little bit better before I left. I was only able to ride three times leading up to the race so I knew I was going to get my butt kicked or I was going to be fresh and feel good. We got there really early Friday morning due to delay of our flight. Got to bed about 4 am. Got to the course around 1 pm to pre ride. The course was awesome fast and long and I was really looking forward to it. My legs actually felt good during the pre ride.Then Friday night it rained and I didn't think anything of it. Got to the course Saturday afternoon and it was a mud bath. People were running the slightest up hill section. I was not happy,I HATE RUNNING. I started near the back and stayed there. Sunday pretty much went the same way a lot of running. I made a dollar during my run. the fans were throwing dollar bills in the mud for you to pick up.

Now I am feeling better and am almost done with school for the semester. Got thanksgiving break next week. Then a week of class then finals. I was going to go to Portland for the last GP but am unable to go anymore. I am pretty disappointed about that but to well. Now I am just getting ready for U23 and collegiate nats. i hope my time off the bike wont kill me at nats.

Getting better

2008-11-12T09:01:00.000-07:00

Well I have been sick since the Boulder cup and have only road twice since then. I went to the doctors last week and they said I had a virus and they really couldn't do anything for me. Then I went back into the doctors again at the beginning of this week to try to get meds so I was better for the weekends USGP. They said it was turning into a sinus infection and they gave me antibiotics. I am feeling a lot better not not 100% yet but almost there. I am going to try to ride my cross bike today for a little just to get the legs moving, nothing hard. I am leaving tomorrow afternoon for Jersey. I leave junction around 440 and leave Denver around 640. Don't get into Jersey till 1230 am. A little late but i need to go to school first then I will have all day Friday to sleep and pre ride the course. My family is all coming from New York to watch us race. That will be pretty cool, I think it will be an eye opener for them because I don't even think they know what cyclocross is. It's my first USGP and I don't feel prepared. I just hope I don't get more sick by racing.

It's all catching up to me

2008-11-08T10:22:00.000-07:00

Well a lot has happened in the last couple weeks. Had collegiate MTB nats. Did pretty good in short track. Got 10th. Then the Boulder Cup was last weekend. Did ok in that. Those guys are fast. with all this racing and traveling I have been doing it is all catching up to me this week. First off I am not liking this time change. And now I am sick and feel like crap. On Thursday I could barley stand up. I just feel like crap. Only got to ride twice this week. I went to the doctors and they said I just have a virus so they couldn't give me any med. I am leaving for Jersey on Thursday afternoon for the Grand Prix. I better be feeling better by then. I don't know how much riding I will be getting in before then. I just hope I can ride well there. It's my first grand Prix. I took this weekend off from racing because I am sick and it feels weird not being at a race. I just hope I can get better soon.

After the short track(a little muddy)

I am off to collegiate MTB NATS

2008-10-22T13:16:00.000-06:00

Wish me luck.

NEVER give up!

2008-10-20T10:10:00.000-06:00

This past weekend I had a break off from collegiate MTB so I headed over to Fort Collins Friday afternoon for two cross races. Saturday was at Xilinx, and Sunday was in Fort Collins. I was looking forward to get my cross fix in for the week.

I arrived to Saturdays course pretty early because I had some friends racing in the fours and threes. So i got to see the course and the lines people took before I raced. My race started very good, very fast. I was fifth going into the first corner and feeling really good. It was a long course so I knew that we would not be doing a lot of laps so I had to stay up front. Then on lap two my chain feel off during a barrier section. That cost me some time and a lot of places. I started getting into a good rhythm after that, but once i got rolling my chain feel off again, and lost some more time and more places. Just had some bad luck. Ended up 27th, not very happy with my result so I was ready for Sundays race to redeem myself.

Sunday was another long day. got there early once again to cheer on some of my friends. The course looked very fast and very bumpy. So our race started fast once again. I tried not blowing myself up too bad in the start so I was about mid pack into the first corner. Then a couple of more turns my chain fell off again.

I got passed by the whole field and lost some time. The next time through the pit I changed bikes. I didn't want my chain to fall off again so that's why I changed bikes. Then one of my friends said he fixed the chain guard and my bike was ready to go.So the next time through the pit I changed back to my normal bike. Loosing a lot of time from changing bikes and fixing my chain I had a lot of chasing to do to get back to the front. Then again my chain feel off. I fixed it but decided not to change bikes and hope for the best that the chain would not fall off again. I was so far back at this time that I was mentally not there for a few laps. Then I got rolling again once I started picking off people. On the last lap I caught 3rd-6th place and gave it my all to pass all of them. It was a slug fest until the finish. I kept passing 3rd place then someone would pass me. Then on the last barriers before the finished i surged into 3rd place and sprinted as hard as i could. I ended up 3rd on the day, not bad at all considering what happened. I gave it my all and threw up once i crossed the finish line. Now that's going all out. That is my best result so far in the pro field and I am hoping to improve on that. The moral of the story is never give up until the finish line.

I am in school for a couple more days then i am off to collegiate MTB nationals in North Carolina. Then once that is over I will be sole focused on Cross and can't wait until the Boulder Cup.

Photos by Mat Peters

Mesa hike a bike

2008-10-15T14:51:00.001-06:00

Well this weekend was our home collegiate MTB race. I was hoping we were going to have a race on the front range this weekend because of fall break and I could have gone home. But o well. Friday I went out to set up the short track course for Saturdays race. I didn't see the course before then and i was surprised at the climbs. O well looked fun. Then Friday night we went to go set up the cross country course for Sunday. O ya and while i was setting up the short track course i thought Conor and Brent got kidnapped.
Saturday morning came around and we road out to whitewater for the short track and super D. Short track was OK took me a little to get going but finished about mid pack. Then I decided to do the super D just because it was free and I have never done it before. There was about 13 A's or so who started the race. I was just expecting to get last because I suck at MTB and going downhill. But the race started with one push up then a run to our bikes. I put my bike last because i just thought i was going to get last. But the race was fun finished 5th overall and 1st d2 which was surprising.
Then the XC race was brutal. I was killing it on the first two laps sitting in 7th. Then the last lap came around and i just couldn't control my bike very well. I was so tired so i faded a lot. Ended up 14th not bad for not being a mTber. O and by the way I raced on a Specialized stump jumper 29er the whole weekend. It was a lot of fun thanks Ruby Canyon.
This weekend is off to FOCO for some cross races. Then back here for three days and back to DIA for collegiate MTB nationals in NC. Then back for a week then Boulder Cup, can't wait.

Fruita on fall break

A little break

2008-09-29T11:03:00.000-06:00

This past weekend I decided not to race MTB in Boulder or cross races. Instead I went to Moab with Conor and our buddy josh. Left Junction at noon on Friday and made it to Moab at a good time. Went to go do some slick rock Mtb which was fun. Then we camped out and heard a mountain lion close by when we were going to bed. So we slept with a huge knife in our tent. Next morning got up and went and did some four wheeling. Then came back to junction to do some more four wheeling on little park. Then yesterday went to the air show which was also cool.

It was a good weekend to rest my legs up for a big block of hard racing coming up in the next month or so. This weekend I am racing both cross races in Frico, then the following weekend is our hike a bike race in Junction which I am not looking forward to. Then another two cross races in FOCO. The collegiate Nats in NC. Then back for the big Boulder cup. The rumor has it Lance Armstrong may show. Then off to my first Grand Prix in New Jersey. Hoping that family from New York will make it over to see what Cross is all about.

Lets hope I can go as fast as it looks

2008-09-24T10:11:00.000-06:00

ALL OVER

2008-09-17T11:31:00.000-06:00

Have to make this quick because I have class in a little. PAst weekend was my first MTB race of the year. It was actually fun. Didn't crash, or flat and didn't getlast. The cyclocross race was fun, long but fun. Hit the deck hard once, my pedal hit a root and flew me over the bars in the cyclocross race on Sunday. Ended up 11th in first 1,2 race wich is not bad.

Heading off to Wyoming for another MTB race this weekend. I am actually looking at getting a new MTB but the only thing stopping me is the money.

GO Green!

2008-09-15T14:13:00.001-06:00

New addiction

2008-09-12T11:29:00.000-06:00

Well I went to my cross camp last week, got a sweet new bike. Can't wait to race it. It is not all built yet still waiting for all the parts to come in. Also found out that I will be going to all the Grand prix which I am really excited for.
I have not been riding my road bike much, mostly Mountain and cross. I can't believe I am going to be doing this but I am racing a mountain bike race this weekend in sol vista. I am actually having fun this year mountain biking. I have not raced yet, so it might be a different storey after this weekend. I will be racing the cross country race tomorrow, then Sunday me and a couple of guys are heading up to Breckenridge to do a cyclocross race. First one of the year for us all. Hope it goes as well as my first race last year where i won. but i dought it since i will be racing in the pro 1,2's.
So since i am going to be doing some MTB this year Ia m looking at buying a nice MTB. So I am selling a couple of things to get some extra money for it.
for sale:
Power tap
MTB
Fixie
Chris king headset
If you want to buy any of those let me know asap.
Off to Sol Vista

TOO LONG!

2008-08-29T11:04:00.000-06:00

Wow I don't even know the last time I was on this. A lot has gone on since my last post but i am going to make it short because I don't want to type a lot.
Well I went to U23 road Nationals in cali and I was doing great in the crit until the last lap and there was a HUGE crash right in front of me, so that screwed and good result. Then the road race was VERY LAME. The officials pretty much pulled everyone. 130 guys started and like only 11 finished. Then right after that drove home with MO, all through the night because he had to be at work Monday morning.
Started school the next week and I am already sick of it. And it is very lame because we don't have Labor Day off from school. Started riding my bike this week, took two weeks off from the bike after nationals, now I am gearing up for cross season.
Next weekend is the team camp for cyclocross and I can't wait. New bike, new cloths, can't ask for anything better.
Might be going white water rafting this weekend, so looking forward to that.
I will def post after cross camp and get some pics up.

almost to an end

2008-08-04T11:21:00.001-06:00

Well the road season is almost to an end for me this year. Two more races and that's it. U23 road and crit nationals in Cali This week. Have the crit on Thursday and a Road Race on Sunday. Hoping for a good result, but after this weekend of racing it is not looking good.
Saturday was a circut race. It was about a 4 mile course with a lot of false flats. it was really really hard for me and I had to drop out. When I pulled off I noticed my wheel was rubbing really bad on my breaks. One of my spokes were really loose. That may of explained why it was so hard. But since it was a Circuit race there was no free laps. Then later in the day I notice I broke the hub. It is getting fixed now.
Then yesterday was a crit downtown. I was hoping to hang on and get a good result. There was some big money and some big names there. But I just couldn't do it. Was not feeling it at all.
So lets hope I saved some energy and can kill it this week. We fly out to Cali on Wednesday morning. But I might have to drive back with my coach Sunday right after the race because he has to get to work Monday morning. So I may just go straight to school on the way home. Wish me luck because I am going to need it.
Soon after road is over Cross will begin, Can't wait! Still a long season ahead

Unlucky 13

2008-07-13T21:31:00.000-06:00

Well this weekend was two crits. One 80 min and one 90 min so they were pretty long crits.
Yesterday I had the unlucky number 13. I thought I should have flipped it like the pros so I don't have bad luck. But I didn't. And it came back and bit me in the butt. The crit had a downhill and an uphill. There was a group of about 8 up the road 30 sec or so, so i decided to jump and bridge up to them. i was hoping someone would come with, but no luck. I was in no-mans land for a couple of laps or so before the pack pulled me back and spit me out of the back and I was done. Just didn't play it smart. so today I played it smart.

Trying to make it to the break

It was the state crit and some good teams were there again, Gamrin,Successful living, team type 1 and Kelly's benefit. i stayed in the front 10-15 guys the whole race and felt great. my legs have never felt that good before in a race and it was an hour and a half. there was a group of about 20 guys up the road with a 40 sec gap but we brought them back with 3 laps to go. Then the race was on and I just couldn't move up much. I ended up 29th or so out of 75 but i wish i would have been a little bit farther up when we caught the break but o well I am learning.
wish me luck for tomorrow I have the dentist and have to get two cavities filled. Then on Wednesday it is off to water World for a little fun.

DOPERS SUCK!

2008-07-11T17:06:00.000-06:00

Well this week flew by and it is already time to race tomorrow. This weekend is two crits. Sunday is the state crit. With all the big boys at cascade this week hopefully I can get some good results.
Well once you thought the Tour was going to be clean some jerk has to ruien it for everyone. Manual Beltran is the first guy caught in this Tour de France for Doping. Who is next?
Talking about dopers. I was out riding today and I usually don't find anything cool to write about, but today i found a bag of weed sitting on the side of the road.

Riding at a new level

2008-07-08T15:23:00.000-06:00

Well last week was a rough week for me on the bike. I just was not motivated and had some bad days on the bike. But finally I am back into it ready to train and race.
I finally got to race this past weekend. It was a 75 min crit in Niwot, close to Boulder. Once I arrived to the race I knew it was going to be a fast one with Toyota United there with 4 guys. There ended up being some big names like; Day, Steviz, Clarke taking 1,2,3 from Toyota United, Zajicek from Health Net, Pearce, Donald, Caldwell, Danielson from Garmin Chipolte then some guys from successful living, Team type 1, and BMC. Pretty cool all these guys just showed up for a local race. 90 guys started the race and only 40 finished so it was really really fast. I was kinda upset that I couldn't hold on the whole race but o well. I am still young and have only been racing for 3 years, got some time to improve. I usually watch these guys on TV and now I am trying to race them, that is pretty cool.
Got 2 crits this weekend and one of them being the state championships so I hope I can ride a little better then last weekend.
U-23 Nationals is less then a month away and I can't wait. I am not 100% yet that I am going but I am planing on it.

This is a pic of me before I pop. Thats is Dan Schmatz to my left, use to ride on BMC

Lame!

2008-06-27T15:49:00.001-06:00

I should be on my way to Wyoming to race Dead Dog but instead I am sitting at home. The reason I am not going is because it is too expensive. My team will not pay for it like usual. This is the second weekend in a row that I can't race because it is too expensive. My team is lame, I need a team that will support me. The thing that really sucks is my legs feel great and I can't show that in a race.
Yesterday I had bad luck while I riding. I had a bee fly into my mouth a sting me in the lip. It really really hurt. I had to pull into a gas station and pull the stinger out and put ice on it to put the swelling down. And I also go two flats which sucked. It was not a good day on the bike. And to make things worse my motivation to keep on training hard is low. it has been a VERY LONG season so far and it is starting to wear on me. There still is a big chunk of the season left so i have to find a way to keep the motivation high.
Can't wait to race again.... who knows when that will be.

ut I am having fun ripping it up on my new fixi i built up.

Racing!

2008-06-18T22:44:00.000-06:00

Well this past weekend was the first Gleenwood Springs Road Race and it was a good one. First off we set off to Grand Junction on Thursday to go mow our weeds at our house in GJ. Then it was off to Rifle to spend the next couple days with coach Mo. It was a good time.
Saturday was a 75 mile Road race. It was a lot of fun with a lot of rollers until the turn around where there was a steep climb that spilt apart the field. I fell off a little but kept on chasing hard with a big group and tagged back on. By the was it was so hot out. We didn't start until 12 so it was a hot one. On the way back to the finish I could not see out of my sunglasses because there was so much sweat on them. Coming up to the finish there was a 4 man break less then a min up the road. We did not pull them back. But I felt so good with 1k to go. I really wanted to jump but just couldn't, I was a couple guys back and could not move through. It was my bad but I wish we could of used the whole road for the sprint instead of just one lane, o well. Ended up 12th which I was happy with the first pro 1/2 Road Race.
The next day was a crit downtown Gleenwood Springs and it was another HOT one. They just paved the finishing stretch. I was thinking it was going to be very fast through there but since it was so hot it was melting and was sticky. Still fast but kinda sucked. They were very fast laps, less then a min so the field split up very fast. I managed to stay with the main group. A couple guys were off the front so I attacked to get to the front group but before I knew it I heard a ticking coming from my bike so I slew down to find out what was up. I thought it was a broken spoke but it was a safety pin that went through my tire. So I got a free lap and tried to get back in, but couldn't clip into my pedal for some reason. So I pulled over again for a free lap. I thought I broke my cleat but it ended up being a rock from the new pavement that was in the pedal. So I was ready to jump back in but they didn't let me back into the main group like they were suppose to, they let me go after they passed and since they were such fast laps I could not get back on. I was pissed. And after all that hard work they didn't even place me, I should of been 17th but they didn't give me a placing. What BS. They were going to DQ Conor and I because we didn't sign the release waiver again, Didn't know I had to sign it twice for and omnium but I guess so.
Don't know my next race yet, maybe Dead Dog next weekend.

New level

2008-06-03T10:26:00.000-06:00

This past weekend was my first men's 1/2 race. I was really excited to race and see how my legs were looking. This was my first race since collegiate nats. Our race started at 12:30. It was the biggest 1/2 field they have ever had. With 80 guys starting and having a Slipstream, Jelly Belly and Type 1 guy at the line I knew it was going to be a hard race and I just need to hang on. So the gun went off and I mad sure to stay top half at least. with so many corners and roundabouts I knew if I was chilling on the back I would be off before I knew it. It was an hour and fifteen min race. After a little bit a breakaway formed with non of the big names I knew, so I thought we would bring them back. After a couple laps the pace speed up to bring the break back. Wow was it fast, we didn't end up bringing them back and I don't know how we were rolling. With about five laps to go I thought I was done. I was riding on the rivet and giving everything I had. The finish was the break away with about 5 guys, then our group of about 25 or so then a bigger group behind us. I ended up 29th. Not bad for m first 1/2 race.
The biggest difference between the 3's and the 1/2's that I noticed was how smooth everyone road and didn't freak out about anything. I felt so much more comfortable . Also I noticed if you just sit up a little you go back like 20 positions. And when guys make an attack they are hard and fast and if you don't go with them right away it will take a while before you catch on.
This weekend is the State TT. I am not very good at TT but I am working on that. I am really looking forward to Saturday because two Toyota United guys start right before me. Justin England starts a min before me and then Ben Day 30 sec before me. At least they are in front of me and not behind me. It is a 38k TT.

logging the hours

2008-05-27T10:59:00.000-06:00

Well not a whole lot has been going on this summer. Just pulling weeds and riding my bike. I have been getting some good hours in on the bike and am looking forward to race on Sunday.
Conor and I have been picking weeds at one of our buddies house in the morning hours and riding in the afternoon. Not to bad so far. Today we are suppose to go ride for four hours and then go do an hour crit then ride back home for 40 min or so, so I hope it will be a good day if the weather holds up. It has been cloudy and drizzling the last two days and just makes me want to sit inside all day and do nothing.
My first race since collegiate nats will be this Sunday at City Park at 12:30 if anyone wants to show up and yell for us. It is the same race as the DU race this year but with 2 miles added onto it. Some big boys showed up to this race for the collegiate race so maybe they will be back to rip my legs off.

update

2008-05-17T12:23:00.000-06:00

Well I am finally done with school. This year went by so fast I can't believe we are already done. Nationals went well, I did a lot better then I thought I would in the RR. Right off the bat we started climbing the damn and man my legs were not ready for that. I fell off the back but chased really hard and caught back on. It was a really hard race, especially the back side with a slight downhill, I was hurting so bad and spinning out. But my legs were hanging in there, then after we did the laps and were heading back to finish I was thinking I was going to get dropped on the climbs back but I didn't. The last corner on the decent was very sketch. Everyone in front of me had there wheels locked up and so did I. Then I heard the guy being me just slam right into the guard rail. It was not a pleasant sound I hope he was ok, I think two guys crashed there. With my adrenaline pumping I finished 10th and Conor 7th. Both top ten not bad at all.
Then Sunday was the crit and I was expecting high things for myself. But that didn't happen. Not a great performance but not shitty either. I hung in there and finished 31st or so and Conor like 28th. O well can't do great in them all.
I have been doing a lot of moving in the past week. I had finals last week and was moving into our new house in Grand Junction. Then I had to move all my summer things here to my parents house where I am going to stay for the summer so I can get some good racing in. I am just ready to race my bike.

Gila!

2008-05-06T11:20:00.000-06:00

What a race. I had a lot of fun and it was really hard. My first cat 2 race and I think it ended up a success. I finished all 5 stages rubber side down and am still kicking. The first day totally kicked by butt, with my engine shutting down about 20 miles to the finish because i had no fuel. No water, I only had 3 bottles for 95 miles or so because when I got to the neutral feed zone they were out. So the next day I came out with revenge. Brought plenty of water and was ready to go. Once the race started and we we out of the neutral zone I went with an attack. After a while it was about 9 guys and we stayed away the whole race. With 3 more guys catching on with about 15 miles to go. I didn't think at all that I was going to be able to stick in the break all day but I did and it was sweet. Ended up 6th, not bad. Then the rest of the days just went on. Did the TT but not at my max, pretty much just road, then the crit I was trying to get in a break to stick. One guy was up the road so Just road away from everyone on the uphill and caught the solo rider ahead. We stayed away for about 5 laps then we got pulled back in. Got a prime and then just ended up finishing in the bunch sprint. Last day held on for dear life. Stayed on until the last climb.

All in all it was a fun a successful weekend. Already got some upgrade points. Leaving Thursday for Collegiate Nationals. Hope to see everyone there.

O ya I got my Euro Mullet

Good Legs, Bad Lungs

2008-04-22T11:18:00.000-06:00

Well this past weekend was the Colorado College crit and Air force Road race. I was really looking forward to these races because I felt so good on the bike the week before, I was riding the hills and flats very strong and was ready to really get back into it. I got a good warm up for the Crit on Saturday and felt great. My throat was dry thought. The air quality really sucked. But the race started and I wanted to get into the break. So right off the bat a CU guy went off and I went with feeling very good. Then a CSU guy jumped on and we only stayed away for a few laps but my legs felt great but I just couldn't breath it was crazy. So once the pack caught us I sat up and went straight to the back to try to catch my breath but just couldn't so I had to quit. I really don't like quiting a race but I needed to I was not getting any oxygen. The medics there said it would be best for me to go to the ER to get checked out. I really didn't want to go but am glad I went once it was over with. My plus ox was only 80 and that's pretty low. Got some drugs now and an inhaler.
Then Saturday was the RR. It was very windy but it is a fun course. I just wanted to sit in since I didn't know what my breathing would be like. The first lap was good I hung in there. Then the second lap was pretty much neutral because the pros passed us. Then once we started my legs were not ready to start up again. We stopped for a while and then started racing hard. I don't think my legs and lungs were ready for that. So i hung on for about 3 laps out of the five an dropped back. ended up 25th on the day. guess not bad considering I was in the ER the day before.
Leaving for the Gila next week,I am looking forward to that. Hope my lungs get better and my legs get stronger. We will just have to wait and see. This weekend is conference in windy Wyoming. Hope I am feel up to par to race. Time will tell.

Go time!

2008-04-18T09:09:00.000-06:00

Livin the life. Just sitting hear on a sunny Friday morning drinking some coffee and typing this wonderful blog that about three people read.
I am finally feeling like myself again. This week I went climbing on Monday and Tuesday and felt really good, a lot better then I have in a long time. Especially Tuesday, I felt like I was flying in those torturous winds. I guess the real test to see if I am back and ready will be this weekend in Colorado springs for the Colorado college crit and Air Force Road race. For once we get a reasonable start time. Get to sleep in tomorrow and don't race till 2:20. Then Sundays road race starts at 10. I am feeling good again hoping I can pull something cool off.
Yesterday I got some sweet new kicks. Thanks to Ruby Canyon for giving me a great deal on them. I really needed these new shoes my other ones were pretty beat up.

OLD

NEW :) Hope I can go as fast as these shoes look.

Only got one more full week of school left if all goes as planed. I am planing on leaving Monday April 28th to go down to the Gila. Then get back to school that Sunday night May 4th. Go to school for a few days then leave again on May 8th to head down to fort Collins for collegiate nationals. Then come staright back to school to take some finals, then SUMMER! Got a lot of racing coming up in the next few weeks, lets just hope my legs can handle it. Kind of scared for the Gila, the longest race I have ever done and it's my first cat 2 race. Then straight for nationals hope I don't blow.

Getting back into form

2008-04-07T13:12:00.000-06:00

This past weekend was the CSM collegiate races. It was a climbing weekend. Saturday was a ITT up lookout MT. I knew that it was going to be hard but I was ready. I talked to a lot of people that went before me and they said they blew early on, they went too hard at first and had nothing in the end. So I made sure to start a little slower then I normally would. My legs felt great but my stomach and lower back was hurting the worse. I finished 20:20 about 2 min off the winner. O well need to keep on practicing my climbing. Then yesterday was another hard crit with a climb in it that just blew up the field. I was giving it my all just to hold onto the field. I only could hold on for half of it with the group of about 8 but just couldn't. I feel back but just kept on rolling hoping not to get lapped. I didn't get lapped and finished up 12th. Not bad i guess but was hoping for better.
I am finally feel 100% healthy but am still lacking in my fitness. That will just take some time to get back.
This weekend is a stage race in Utah. I am looking forward to that. See how I do.
I just got my upgrade to a cat 2 so I am pretty excited about that. And tomorrow is my big 20!

Great Surprise!

2008-04-03T23:16:00.000-06:00

Well Monday morning Stu gave us a call and said that he was coming to GJ for a couple of days. It was a last min thing. We all got really excited to see him since we haven't seen him since the end of last year. A little time went by and we thought he was just pulling an April fools joke. But it was for REAL. He actually showed up and we had a good time. It was a short visit but well worth it. He got a flight down here from a lady on his team that is a pilot that had to come to GJ to get the plane worked on.
We all went riding that day with coach MO and Brent. It was a lot of fun. Went climbing up the Monument, at I started out not feeling so good so just tried keeping a good pace. Then once we passed the tunnel I started getting into a fast rhythm. I passed Conor and was gaining on Stu. Just didn't have enough hill to catch him LOL. And lets just say on the way back down we almost got into some trouble by the Ranger. Never do what we did again. LOL
Then just as fast as it happened it was gone. Stu left and it was back to normal. I wish Stu would have stayed here again this year for school. O well shit happens. He gave me his skin suit with the national flag on it since I lost my other skin suit. I will just have to cover up those flags until I get my own national title. Hopefully one day. Thanks again Stu for the skin suit.
I went riding yesterday with Brent. We went into palisade and back into a head wind. It was a good couple hour ride. Then I went on my first MTB ride of the year right after that. It was pretty fun, a lot of climbing on slick rock. It was cool never really road on slick rock. Road for about two hours on the MTB. I am hoping to get some climbing legs back.
Tomorrow I will go out for a couple hour ride then head to Golden at 4. This will be my second weekend back racing since I have been sick. I feel like I am in much better shape then I was in last weekend. So I am hoping to do ok this weekend and get some points to go to collegiate nats. Saturday is a ITT hill climb up lookout mountain. I have climbed that quite a few times so I kinda know what to expect. Then Sunday is a crit. It is a new course then last year so I am hoping to play my cards smarter this weekend and get a good result. Try to help Conor defend his last win last weekend in the crit here.

Died Trying

2008-03-30T16:13:00.000-06:00

Well what a weekend. This weekend was the Mesa collegiate racing. This was my first weekend racing feeling better. I was not sick but I just didn't have the best of legs this weekend.
Saturday was a 73 mile RR with some good climbing and I was just not feeling it. Right off the bat CSU and FLC went off the front and we just didn't think it was going to stick so we let them go. then the gap just kept on growing so I went the the front just a little bit before the down hill section and started drilling it. Then Conor came up to help me and we just were flying. No other D2 schools wanted to help so we just sat up. While we were up front pro (Nate) was sitting on the back. I got dropped on the climb every lap but chased every lap and got back on. Then on the last lap just couldn't chase back and came in a a little bit after the field. About 24th place.
Then today was the Crit in downtown Frutia. I was looking forward to this race and ready to drill it. It started off fast and I got a bad start and started in the back so had to use a lot of energy to get up front. Then I was there some guys attacked and I went with. Then they just sat up so I kept going. Used a lot of energy and got caught. Rested for a little and back up front for another attack but once again got pulled back in. Then with about 4 laps to go i got pulled. I tried early but just didn't happen. You have to die trying and that's what I did.

Conor just killed it today. Always up front and following moves also. He was the only mesa guy in the field with the last few laps to go because Pro just got tired sitting in all day and doing no work. But Conor sat on the CSU train on the last two laps. They blew apart the field but he held on. The sprint was awesome. Coming out of the last corner was 2 CSU guys and Conor. The last guy to pull on the CSU train pulled off. Phil the CSU guy thought he won it, so he put his hands up for victory but he forgot to look right and see Conor passing him for the win. You really had to be there to know how exciting it was. Beating the Crit national champion and the whole CSU train. Nice work Conor. First win for Mesa!

Next weekend is school of Mines races. Saturday it a ITT up lookout mountain. My climbing skills suck so we will see how that goes. Then Sunday is a crit. Different then last year which I am happy for. I will just have to play it smarter in that crit and hope my legs are back to get a good result.
O by the way, we had to get up this morning at 4:10 am to go to Fruita to go set up all the barriers for the crit. But at 4:15 the fire alarm went off in the dorms so I am kinda glad I was already up. I was just making my coffee and then it went off. I walked back into the room and Conor is like "did you set that off?". I just thought it was a very funny question. How the heck would I do that lol. I think my ears started bleeding it was so loud. I guess some kid just pulled it or something.

Almost there

2008-03-24T20:26:00.000-06:00

Well since last week I took off the bike nothing really exciting has happened. I didn't race this weekend however I did go down to watch the races.
Conor kicked butt both days and surprised a lot of people. Once again he was the only Mesa rider racing because I was sick. But you wouldn't know by the way he raced. On Saturday there was a breakaway with 3 guys in it and Conor was not in it. But he did manage to win the bunch sprint for 4th. Beating some guys who had some trains going for the sprint. Then on Sunday was another fast crit but he managed to get the breakaway of 4. They went off like ten min into the race and were out front the majority of the race. He managed to stay in the break but didn't have enough left for the sprint. He was right there but not enough for the win. Another 4th place.

Today started me riding again and it was very nice out. I probably spent 2 hours today on little park. A pretty good climb. Then I just road around for a little longer. Road for 3 and half hours and I felt a lot better then I thought I would. Today was the first day I had to put sunscreen on and I missed a few spots. LOL I have a huge red line on my right arm that looks really funny that I missed with the sunscreen. Tomorrow I plan on riding a lot to try to get my legs back for this weekend race here in Grand Junction.
On Saturday morning we start at 9 am for a 72 mile road race. The hardest RR of the collegiate season I think. Then at 4pm we have a 11 mile TTT if we do it. Then on Sunday have have a crit. I am really looking forward to get some more racing in. I just hope I didn't loose too much ground on everyone from taking that time off the bike. It is suppose to be some good weather here this weekend, so I can't wait for some good racing in GJ. Mad Cow Classic

Getting better!

2008-03-20T13:36:00.000-06:00

I am finally feeling better. Not 100% totally but almost there. I am going to stick to my plan and take today and tomorrow off also. The more rest I get the better I will feel. So I am hoping to be back and running my next week and feeling good.
This weekend is two crits. One in Greeley hosted by UNC and one in Boulder hosted by CU. They are both great courses and I have done pretty good at them before. But I am not going to race this weekend since I have not ridden for the past few days. So i am just planing on going down there with the team( if you want to call it that) and just go riding. Nothing hard just go ride as much as I can while I am down there.
Next week I will have to step it up and try to get back to good form and feeling better so I can do good for our home race next weekend. The Mad Cow Classic. We have a TTT, Crit, and a RR and it is open to all categories collegiate and USA. So come on out and get some good racing in.

Watch this video! Pretty crazy.

http://view.break.com/470052 - Watch more free videos