Tour of Kansas City, June 2010

June 25-27, 2010: It's not often you get video of yourself winning a race... www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUWsefGoXPs Thanks to my Mercy Cycling Team for putting the brakes on in the field allowing a sizable gap and eventually a Win for the Team. Day 2 at the hot and vertically challenging Cliff Drive I got 10th. The final day was a criterium in the downtown Power and Light District where I pulled out a 4th place which was good enough to place 3rd in the Omnium.

What I'm Racing this Year

TREK "MADONE"

Equipment: Tires are by Challenge (model: "Criterium" Color: white). Bontrager Carbon Wheels, and Bontrager Bars/Stem. Currently on 5-year old Shimano Dura-Ace but patiently waiting to upgrade to SRAM Red all the way around. I do have a wireless SRM Power Meter for training purposes so my Coach Adam Mills of Source Endurance can put the screws to me. Everything on the bike you can get from my Bike Shop Sponsor- Trek Store of Kansas City, Omaha, Lincoln, or Saint Louis.

29er Crew Kits

Will be wearing this new kit while racing on the dirt for the Gary Fisher 29er Crew. Thanks Gary Fisher!

Arm-chair view of Cyclocross World Championships

Good day today as I had the pleasure of watching the Cyclocross World Championship throw down from the comforts of my couch, office chair, kitchen table, and bar stool. No doubt it would be cool to see it in person but I have to say that Universal Sports "live" coverage was second to none. Up close and personal. My thoughts about the race...Stybar was not given an inch, he took it! Nys, well, if you have been following him you knew he was digging deep seems how almost every time he had an opportunity to bunny-hop the barriers he did with success and an advantage. I wonder what Tim Johnson is drinking right now? I have personally been around and with Tim Johnson after a win at Nationals times two...after a long night of celebrating it ended in a food and ice fight at Ihop in KC, KS. Todd Wells and wifey were involved too. Anyway, I'm sure he is celebrating as if he just won a major race. 14th place at Worlds is a feather in the hat for Tim. Stellar effort and placing! This officially hangs up the Cross bikes until probably Hermann Cross in September. Looking forward to it. ...Until we Cross again...

Therapy

So, where IS the sun? It truly is a personal struggle when I start to have a withdrawal symptom from the most simple thing I take for granted. That thing that brings LIGHT to me every day, the Sun! Leaning on the side of Vitamin D deprived and a bit moody requires daily sessions of epic bike riding to combat the moody blues. Since, let's say, the day before Xmas KC has been enveloped by (guessing) 17" of snow and single-digit temps. Did I ride? Yes. Outside? Yes. Why? Because 4 walls will make a guy like me crazy at some point. Mounting the Super Fly 29er and storming the local Trails head-on did the Trick during the ice age temps. However, right now is a different story. The Melt is upon us. I'm on my road bike now and it's wet, cold, foggy, and dark. Every day seems like a rain day due to the slowly melting snow. I depart dry and come home wet. Upon my return home I instantly throw my shoe covers, cycling shoes, leg warmers, and gloves on a furnace vent nearest the garage entrance and huddle around a steamy cup of green tea. Each new day I grab my DRY/WARM gear and head out for another refreshing ride OUTSIDE. Bottom line is that I make it work. On the flip side I would be driving my sweet wife crazy and my kids...well...more nuts than the usual 4 and 6 year old. My plan with this new blog is to share the silver lining in my daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly experiences while in the saddle. At least for me, life "Seems To Go Better On a Bicycle." Happy reading and riding.