This blog and I have been through some good times together, but lately I just haven't been happy. And when a relationship gets stale and you can tell things aren't going to work out it's better to just break it off instead of dragging things out. I'm moving up and moving on.
I'm going to make a concerted effort to create a site I can be proud of and write some things people will be anxious to read (myself included). So, with that goal in mind I've started this new site. I had everything dialed in over there, and then I blew up the whole thing and had to start from scratch. But that's part of the fun: you can join me on this adventure as I strive to create something worthwhile. Hey, this might even be your chance to get some input on what you're looking at.
So don't worry. It's the same inane ramblings but with a new look. Jet on over, check it out, and (hopefully) enjoy.
This blog documents my travails as an amateur a professional cyclist racing around the US world.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Good Day in the UK
I won a race this past weekend. How sick is that?
Now that you've had time to process your shock and excitement at that declaration, I'll level with you: this was not the most prestigious race I've ever won. In fact, I was hesitant to even call it a legitimate race until I saw that British Cycling had awarded me bona fide points for it. Those sweet, sweet points have shot me up the national rankings. Look out, Britain, this Yank means business. I'm gonna claw my way to the top of the heap one chipper crit at a time!
The race was the Stan Jones Paramount Circuit Race #2. (We all know how highly regarded races are that feature a series number. Ugh.) Team Raleigh had no big races on the sched so a whole troop of blue smurfs turned out for this race, meaning we had 7 riders in a field of about 40. I like those odds. The course was a purpose built circuit in an L shape with a 180 turn on each end, the second one being a real screamer. (Sorry I don't have any photos, but just picture your favorite NRC crit and then double the number of spectators.)
There's really not much to say about that race. Our team rode hard out for 60 minutes, but nothing got away, and then my boys rallied at the front to give me a stellar leadout. Despite some interesting timing and poor gear choice on my part I managed to snag the dub and thus crack the seal on 2011. Hopefully it's the first of many and not the most prestigious. They had locker rooms again at this race and they were definitely one of the highlights of the day. Liam rolled a 3rd, and G6 4th which meant we all made back our entry fees + enough skrilla for a cup of coffee. Bonus.
On Sunday I got to roll my first British RR, the Evesham Vale. Again the team laid it down, zwaffling the field and cleaning up the first 4 spots in the race and landing 6 guys in the top 10. There were some strong dudes in the race, but as you may have guessed the field was missing some riders from the other big teams. Whatever. Races like that are a total blast to ride, they're good for the confidence and for team bonding, and so long as we didn't make any lifelong enemies then it's all in good fun.
I've been blitzing all over the country again, playing chicken with tanks, sipping drinks in the officer's mess, scoping Stonehenge and pulling a Rip Van Winkle, but more on that later. Time to strip down to my skivvies and go sprint in the sunshine. Booyah!
Now that you've had time to process your shock and excitement at that declaration, I'll level with you: this was not the most prestigious race I've ever won. In fact, I was hesitant to even call it a legitimate race until I saw that British Cycling had awarded me bona fide points for it. Those sweet, sweet points have shot me up the national rankings. Look out, Britain, this Yank means business. I'm gonna claw my way to the top of the heap one chipper crit at a time!
The race was the Stan Jones Paramount Circuit Race #2. (We all know how highly regarded races are that feature a series number. Ugh.) Team Raleigh had no big races on the sched so a whole troop of blue smurfs turned out for this race, meaning we had 7 riders in a field of about 40. I like those odds. The course was a purpose built circuit in an L shape with a 180 turn on each end, the second one being a real screamer. (Sorry I don't have any photos, but just picture your favorite NRC crit and then double the number of spectators.)
There's really not much to say about that race. Our team rode hard out for 60 minutes, but nothing got away, and then my boys rallied at the front to give me a stellar leadout. Despite some interesting timing and poor gear choice on my part I managed to snag the dub and thus crack the seal on 2011. Hopefully it's the first of many and not the most prestigious. They had locker rooms again at this race and they were definitely one of the highlights of the day. Liam rolled a 3rd, and G6 4th which meant we all made back our entry fees + enough skrilla for a cup of coffee. Bonus.
On Sunday I got to roll my first British RR, the Evesham Vale. Again the team laid it down, zwaffling the field and cleaning up the first 4 spots in the race and landing 6 guys in the top 10. There were some strong dudes in the race, but as you may have guessed the field was missing some riders from the other big teams. Whatever. Races like that are a total blast to ride, they're good for the confidence and for team bonding, and so long as we didn't make any lifelong enemies then it's all in good fun.
I've been blitzing all over the country again, playing chicken with tanks, sipping drinks in the officer's mess, scoping Stonehenge and pulling a Rip Van Winkle, but more on that later. Time to strip down to my skivvies and go sprint in the sunshine. Booyah!
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