2011, I'm late, but I'm here

After way too long, I'm coming back to blog. I did some cyclocross racing on my Jamis NovaPro over the winter and have decided cyclocross is for me. To work on my off pavement handling skills I bought a Jamis SixFifty B2 mountain bike. I'm having so much fun on it, I signed up for an 8 hour mountain bike race. Time to train furiously!

Putah Creek TT

Tonight I rode the Putah Creek TT, or Putah Creek Smack Down as it is alternately named. I was lucky enough to ride this for the first time on a day with a ridiculous headwind! I managed a 28:23 for the 10 mile course, even after having on of my aero bars come loose and rotated down while I was down on it about mile 3. I was very fortunate not to crash when that happened. When I got back to the car I found out my little buddy Braeton is on His way to Children's Hospital there in Texas for an emergency MRI because the numbness in his leg and hip is spreading, and is all the way to his mouth! I will be praying for Braeton, and we will be looking into making some Riding for Braeton bracelets for people who want to ride in support of a young man who can't ride a bike, but has more can do attitude that most people who do.

Riding for Braeton update

Still thinking of the greatest athlete in Texas this morning, and no, it's not Lance Armstrong. My little buddy Braeton in Texas is having more problems. He is still dragging his leg, and now they think it may be a neurological problem. I am keeping him in my prayers, and every time I throw a leg over the bike I'm Riding for Braeton. He never gives up, and he told another kid a while back that"It's ok that I can't ride a bike, Mr. Scotty rides for me!" Braeton, you are ten tons of inspiration in one person. I need to get out today and do another ride for you. Keep going forward, only look back to see how far you've come.

Rockville TT, New Personal Best Time!

Today I was planning on trying out the time trial bike for the first time in a time trial. I was getting ready when I saw that my #1 fan, (and my personal hero) Braeton had fallen and hurt himself. He was hurting, with his legs and tail bone both numb and burning. Ouch. I decided I would shoot for a personal best time tonight and dedicate it to my buddy Braeton. My previous best time was 51:59, not a great time, but the fastest I'd done this course before. As I arrived at the start I could see the trees swaying in the breeze and I knew this one was going to hurt. I decided to shoot for 51 minutes flat. I hammered out of the gate hard, passing my 1 minute man (they have a staggered start where one rider leaves every minute), 3 minutes out of the gate. Uh oh, I think I'm starting out to hard. I don't know if I can sustain this pace with this wind. After 8 miles, my body was trying to tell me to stop, slow down, just stop hurting myself. I looked down at my RoadID bracelet and the last line on it reads Ride For Braeton. That's what I did. I shifted to a harder gear and got back to business. I calculated in my head (not an easy accomplishment when you're in oxygen debt), that I might even beat 50 minutes. Shift again. Think aero. Look up. Head tucked into shoulders. Elbows in. DRIVEON! I could feel it. I knew I could do it. Then when I could see the finish line I glanced down again. WHAT?! That can't be right? Can it? After I passed the finish line I rolled over to the van and thrust my fist in the air. I did it for Braeton! When I went back and got my official time it was 44:52, over 7 minutes faster! It's amazing what you can do when inspired. Thank you, Braeton, for inspiring me day after day. June 6th I race for you again!

Embarrassingly slow

I showed up for the Monticello Cycling Club's Saturday morning ride. The Club's website lists an 8:30 AM start, but only a rider from VeloCity and myself showed up to ride. I rode on his wheel for a while until I decided I just couldn't go at that pace and take any pulls. I drifted off the back and rode solo for a Winter's Loop. Soon my son and I will be going to Velo Wrench Bike Shop's Grand Opening for Jamis and KHS demo rides, free chow, and a prize raffle. I'm sure we'll have a good time. I need a good time after getting dropped like a bad habit this morning. Only 6 weeks until the Dunlap Time Trial, I am going to be going 100% in hopes I can improve on last year's time.

California Farms

I went out for a 45 mile ride today. No emus today but..I did see a llama and an ostrich sharing a field. My legs had no snap today, but as always I enjoyed the ride. This evening my son and I went by Velo Wrench Bike Shop and helped Vinny The Wrench get his shop ready for the Grand Opening tomorrow. Lots of discounts, raffle prizes, and demo rides on Jamis Bicycles. Vinny thinks I'm coming for the free hot dogs, but I'm hoping they bring some time trial bikes to demo. My first race this year is the Dunlap Time Trial in June.

6 weeks and counting!

Today is 6 weeks from the Dunlap Time Trial. Vinny and I will be racing, and hoping some more of our teammates From Team Grass Roots Racing Join us in the fun. I've been really looking at a TT bike down at the Velo Wrench Bike Shop. It would help to time trial on a proper TT bike rather than a road bike with clip ons, but we shall see what my finances are over the next month and a half. I'm hopeful! Vinny and I went for a ride this evening, his first ride in a while. It's good to get him out and help him remember how much he loves riding bikes. WE had a nice ride over Cantelow. Doesn't Vinny look happy?