My dream rig/My new favorite rider

Who do I have to kill? When do they need to be dead by? What method would you like me to use?

Glen Chadwick of Team Type 1 on the Wall in Philly...watch the vid and notice what happens @ 50 seconds...




That's right, he took a cold beer hand-up from the crowd...freaking brilliant...

To quote David Byrne...

"...This ain't no party, this ain't no disco, this ain't no foolin' around..."
It seems as though the weather is the deciding factor for who shows at the TNCWC these days. The two weeks prior to last night, the weather was beautiful. Cool, no wind, no threat of getting wet. Last nigt, it was hot, the wind was howling down up the short chute and the were some seriously dark clouds on the horizon. This, of course, brought out all of the horsepower. I can say with some convinction that last night was one of the fastest races we've done out there. There was virtually no filler last night. It also seemed to bring out the sketches as well. The guy in the Outjokin' kit and the sleeveless Summit dude were back and as bad as ever. Pick a line through the corners guys...and stick to it. And the Summit dude tried to force his way into the line about 6 times. Then he yelled at Doogie for something that was his own fault. He really needs to stay in the back until he gains some skill.
The first 25 minutes was a single file deathmarch. Crusty made the comment that it seemed that everyone was trying to outdo each other when they pulled through the line. You take your pull for a 1/2 lap, come off and drift back to 20th...quickly!!! The next thing you knew, you were back on the sharp end.
I felt pretty puny when we got started, but seemed to get better as the time clicked on. At 40 minutes, I jumped to close a little gap and my right foot felt very disconnected from the bike. I didn't clip out, but the ratchet on my old Diadora shoes came undone. Not a pleasant feeling at 50kph...and I didn't want to mess with it in the middle of the group, drifted to the back for the fix. I guess it's time to setup the new kicks...
On the last lap, I found Big Jamie and told him to follow me through the last corner. We divebombed the inside and as soon as we came off, I nailed it and led him to @ 200m. He jumped off my wheel and won with ease. His wife and grommets were there. I heard one of his kids yell, "Daddy won...!" Nice...! You owe me...!
It was a really good race. Very fast, but it felt good.
See you guys Thursday !!

Rest...

So I got up and did the Saturday ride...
The group was small, but the pace was still quick with some honestly fast sections thrown in. We did a very modified Eastover loop and ended up with just under 95km in 2:45. I felt very flat and just tired on the bike.
Il Prof and TVH went off into Calhoun County for a 140km deathmarch this morning...
Casey and Rob are moving and she was racing...
Doogie was on call today...
I just decided to bail on riding all together. I needed the rest.
The management trainees were across the river this weekend, so the H.O. and I had the place to ourselves. The house was eerily quiet...! It was nice to go to dinner and a movie though. Batman is pretty good, FWIW.
I finally chased and eliminated the click in my BB as well. I had to take the whole bike apart and re-assemble with a lot of teflon tape and grease, but no more clicky...
I may be out Tuesday night...or not...maybe some people will show up this week...

Um, that was hard...

Last night, a small group met for the Thursday ride. It seems Mrs. DK is leaving town today, so DK felt the need to get home early last night. He went to the front from the Gate and kept the pace much higher than usual out of the Fort. It was hard, but not killer...very steady.
Once we got onto the open roads of LR, the pace went back up and everyone worked together. The run down to Elon was quick, but again, not killer. The kicker was the fact that I was the slowest climber of the front group, so I actually had to burn a match or two to get over the top. I made it over just behind Mandrus and Beano, which ain't too shabby for me.
We gathered back up and started the end of ride shenanigans. The stretch from Bunky's to the end of Airbase was fast, period. Everyone took their turns, but DK would just jack the pace when he hit the front. We were losing people left and right. I got gapped a bit over the rise, but chased back with little problem. From that point on, it was down to 6, then down to 4. DK, Doogie, Mandrus and me. We caught Il Prof (shortcut) and he jumped in, only to cause a gap when Karl nailed it on the front. I was 5th in line when this happened...
I chased the gap and got to within 20 meters, but was at my absolute limit. I should have just HTFU and sprinted across, but I was tapped. DK and Doogie rode away.
We rode tempo through 2X Homey and to Shop, but the pace went up again on Shop. DK hit it going over the overpass and we spit people out again. I should have jumped, but decided to mark DK for the sprint. He knew I was doing it and didn't jump. I went too late and got nipped by a tire. Shoulda, coulda, woulda...
Overall, it was a damn hard ride and it made the last three or four crits look like child's play. I felt good, rode well and don't feel too bad today.
See you guys tomorrow at the circle... 8:00 am!

Short effort

The TNCWC went off last night with a little bit larger group. I woke up yesterday feeling pretty stiff and out of sorts, but went out anyway. I'd planned on bailing as the heat index was supposed to be 105+. The highest temp I saw yesterday was 94, so I formulated a plan.
I just wanted to warm-up to get rid of some stiffness and then ride hard for 15 minutes to open things up. And that's just what I did! I chased across to the first break and got into it for a couple of laps. After that, I chased two gaps. Just after chasing the second gap, the alarm on my watch sounded and I sat up. I felt really good and could have stayed in without problem, but I'm sticking to my plan for right now. Most of the horsepower has been absent from the Crit lately too. I guess everyone has the mid-summer laissez-faire attitude. It was quicker last night, but nowhere near the normal pace or the pace of the last few Thursday rides.
It was really hot, but not brutal.
'Cisco won last night, which was a show for his father, who's in town from Colombia.

The queen stage is today...Alpe d'Huez...gotta go watch...

Weekend rides

Saturday morning, the group was pretty good sized and had some HP. We did a modified Crusty Loop through Lower Richland. I made the mistake, again, of following Crusty through a corner. He went in way too hot and locked up his rear wheel, which isn't an issue unless you're on the outside. Did I mention I was on the outside? I went straight, down through the ditch, up the other side and almost into the church parking lot. The only other time I've hit the tarmac in the past 5 years was following Crusty through a corner at high speed.
Note to self: No going thru a corner 2nd wheel behind Crusty anymore...
We ended on Airbase and had a good, high-tempo paceline that was punctuated by a few attacks.
The ride was shorter than usual, but that was fine with me!
This morning, we met to do an easy spin. Ben Jones was in town, so he and Peter Discoe came out. It was a good ride. Nothing terribly difficult, but I could definitely feel Thursday and Saturday in my legs. It was one of those rides that felt longer than it really should have.

The H.O. is leaving town for a meeting this afternoon, so I'm in charge...frightening!

Speaking of frightening...

Holy Chute....

Felt bad...rode well...?

Man, a brother felt like complete ass-crack all day yesterday. The heavy load of antibiotics is catching up with me. I'm really tired, I ache all over and I've been short of breath for 4 days. All side effects of the Bactrim I was taking for the last week. I called the Doc and he said it would be at it's max load in my bloodstream 3-5 days AFTER I stopped taking it.
I left the house and felt like shit and was convinced that I was likely to get shelled before leaving the Fort. The pace out was quick, but not brutal.
Guns started firing on the run down Ridge and RW flatted just before the end of the road. Doogie and I rolled down Horrell Hill, waiting for stragglers. I guess everyone stopped because we were almost to Bunky's when the group got back together. From that point, to the end of Airbase, it was pretty f'ing hard. I missed a couple of turns but probably should have just pulled through. Tail-gunning when everyone is attacking each other is just hard. Gaps opened quickly and I worked my bookie-hole off to close them up. The legs felt good, but my HR and breathing were funky at best. It was like I couldn't exhale properly. I could get a full lung of air, but just couldn't get rid of it. Weird...
From the end of Airbase to the end of the ride, we all stayed together and Mandrus took out both sprints...uncontested...the streak continues.

Cavendish wins the last two stages of the Tour with ease. He's just plain faster than everyone else in the last 150m.
And I've changed my opinion of Cadel. I wanted him to win, but now I hope he cracks like a walnut. He's a pissy little bitch. First he cries on the podium when he got his yellow jersey and now he's slapping reporters for trying to touch him. Ass...

Good and bad

Let's start with the good...
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2008/features/dura-ace_79000_ride08

It seems the new D/A shifters ARE compatible with current rear derailleurs, so there's no need to drop $300 on a new R/D. The front, not so much. For the upgrade, you'll only need shifters and a F/D...that I can deal with...

And the bad...

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/tour08/news/?id=/news/2008/jul08/jul17news4a

Ricco positive for EPO...he said he wanted to be just like Pantani...he's halfway there!!! Now he just needs to OD in a crappy hotel room...
Just when I thought the Tour might be coming around...
Personally, I blame the cheese eating surrender monkeys. They threw out the UCI and let the ASO and AFLD run the show. It's been proven that the AFLD has no clue what they are doing when it comes to testing protocols, yet they are still in charge...
I think it made the riders greedy. They thought that the UCI was out of it, so they could micro-dose and skate by the testing. Wrongo...! I wish these fuckers would see that they are killing their own sport. L'Equipe reported that up to 20 riders had abnormal blood values coming into the race. Oh, and Moreau quit yesterday...injury or saving face?
Now we can watch the Tour for two reasons...to see who wins the stage and to see who tests positive...excuse me... 'non-negative'

A bit of a rant...

I went out to the TNCWC last night...it seems not very many wanted to race last night, as the group was very small. I felt iffy and my heart just wasn't in it. I warmed up and started though. I did exactly one lap and decided I just couldn't care any less. I sat up and just spun home. I still ended up with a decent 90+ minutes on the bike and 45km.
Now for my smallish rant...
On the warmup and the neutral lap, there were a few grumbles about the course being dirty and having gravel on it. One person, who never comes out and should probably just STFU, actually said that someone needs to get out there and clean it up. When you point a finger, there are three pointing back at you...gaper.
I spent two hours out there on Monday night to get it into the condition it was in. When I got out there, it looked like a cobbled section of Roubaix. Maybe the juniors and their 'coach' should get a little bit more involved in the 'community' and go out there one weekend morning and run some leaf blowers and push some shovels and brooms. Or maybe the people that bitch and moan should take it upon themselves to help out.
I don't do it for a pat on the back or for some boost of false male pride. I do it because it NEEDS to be done for the course to be safe for everyone. I've only been out to the crit about 6 or 7 times this year, but I've cleaned the course twice. It's a great place to ride and race. It should be cleaned and kept up for it to remain great. The businesses out there aren't going to do it. The city isn't going to do it...so it falls to us.
I'll continue to clean it when the need arises because I'm good like that. If you don't participate in the effort, keep your mouth shut!

Stage 10

Piepoli wins on Hautacam...
Evans takes yellow and cries on the podium...man up Buttercup!
VandeVelde is a climber now? Who knew?

I cleaned the crit course tonight. It should be better...watch the backstretch though! There's still some gravel. I got all of the big stuff, but there's only so much one guy can do with a 28" push broom!

A new and better day

Ricco wins Stage 9...the first day in the high mountains!
Kirchen still in yellow

Doogie, Rob, Casey and I met bright and early this morning for a foray into Calhoun County. I felt tired when I woke up, but much better than yesterday. I guess drinking (literally) gallons of fluid and eating everything in the house can, in fact, turn you around. I feel better now, after 3:30 and 100km in the saddle.
We ride a pretty even tempo...faster than the usual loops out in the country. I guess the absense of Il Prof and TVH made the pace higher.
Now for the scorecard...
I am proudly wearing the Calhoun County green jersey today. Of the 4 sprint points, I took out 3 with little trouble. Regardless of what excuse(s) Miss Gale might come up with, I showed clean wheels in all of my wins. The one I didn't win, I didn't contest, as it's at the top of an ugly climb and we all know about my stellar ability on the high cols. :)-

Anywho, it was a good ride, with good company and I don't feel like whipped shit anymore.
Good luck to Miss Gale, as she is leaving for the Olympic Training Center tomorrow. Kick ass, take names and chew bubble gum...

ANother high mountain day tomorrow too...I'm all atwitter...

Stage 8...wet and wild

Cavendish just has another gear...
Kirchen still in yellow...

I went out with the group this morning and probably just should have stayed home. I knew the minute we rolled out that it was going to be a bad day. Bad legs, upset stomach, no HR...just really flat and blocky. When the group went left on Airbase, I turned right and came home...slowly. I guess I'm tired from Tuesday and Thursday and a lack of sleep...! I really can't blame the drugs, as I rode well on my previous two rides. I just feel like whipped shit right now. Maybe I need a nap...

Stage 7

Luis Leon Sanchez takes the stage...

Kirchen still in yellow...

The thursday ride was good one last night. Pretty quick and steady the whole way. I really felt Tuesday night in my legs though, especially at the end of the ride.

We chased the weather for the first two hours of the ride and, of course, caught it about 15 minutes from home. Nothing like ending a perfectly good ride with wind driven rain. I actually had an excuse to give the Ridley and good lick and rub this time. Usually, my OCD forces me to clean it.

Rumor has that a certain man with the initials LL (no, not that one...the one who actually rides and is fast) blitzed the TT in Charlotte on Wednesday night. A tick over 21 minutes for 10 miles is really GD fast folks. 46kmh average fast...! The guy who won? Sub-20 minutes...where's the drug testing trailer when it's needed? That guy must piss kerosene!

Saturday - 8 a.m. at the circle.

Stage 6

Ricco wins at the top of Super Besse...showed Valverde and Evans a nice little finish kick...

Kim Kirchen in yellow...and green...

Chavanel in the maillot pois...

Stage 5 ...finally a sprint

Cavendish shows how it's done...clean wheels baby!!
Schumi still in yellow...

I ventured out to the TNCWC last, fully expecting to get shelled like a 180 pound pecan, but something funny happening. I actually rode okay, considering I'd ridden once in the past 10 days and I'm on a antibiotic regimen that would kill a smaller man. It was weird too. I can't decide whether it was a fast ride or an average ride. My computer doesn't work out there because of the electrical transfer station...quality Specialized product...
I rode at the sharp end for the first half, chased a gap or three and then decided to retire to the back.
The group was big and stretched out for 40 minutes of the race. The last 15 minutes were a muddle. There were a couple of guys with VERY suspect handling skills. One guy in a Summit jersey needs to learn that he doesn't ride in a bubble and that his head is on a gimble. He swerved off his line on numerous occasions, running into RW at one point. The best were the 3 times he almost took himself out in the turns...once while he was on the very front. I mean, how in the Wide, Wide World of Sports do you almost tuck it in when you're in the front? He was given a wide berth after that...
I have no idea who won. I pulled Der Kaiser and just sat up on the last lap.
We also had a visit from the Richland County Sheriff's department. It seems that ONE person out there called to complain. The deputy (Dep. Brantley) was very cool and basically told me that he was only out there to say that he checked it out. He said the complaint included claims of nudity in the parking lot and the entire group just riding out in front of vehicles. The person who complained didn't give his name to the Deputy...! If I find out who called the police, I'll visit the guy at his office and we'll talk like men. Not talking to us before calling the police is a bitch move in my book. We've had no complaints in 6 years...until now.
We're out there 1 day a week, for @ 90 minutes, during the summer...after 6pm! Whoever complained needs to settle the F down.

Stage 4

Time trial...
Stefan Schumacher win TT and takes yellow...on a bike that isn't quite a Specialized...hmmm!

and the Doc changed my antibiotics...after a week on them...

Oh Joy, another week of meds...at least I only have to take two a day now!

Stage 3

Holy escape Batman...

208km stage...207km break!!!!

Sammy Dumoulin wins stage...

Roman Feillu in yellow...

Stage 2 ... God of Thunder

Hushovd...

Valverde in yellow...

Doggie and I went for a short 2 hour spin through LR this morning. My foot is better. It didn't hurt to push on the pedals. I can tell two things though...

1) I haven't turned a pedal in a week and it felt really weird for the first 30 minutes.

2) A large dosage of antibiotics makes you feel very heavy on the bike. Not that I'm light on the bike on a normal day... ;)-

It felt good to ride though. I'll be at the crit Tuesday. No racing, just turning the legs over for a couple of hours.

Well, it's about time to load up the entire corporation and head to the blue hairs' house. Senior Blue Hair is turning 90 today....

Stage 1

Valverde...

WTF man?

So my back is feeling good, I finally have a bit of form and can ride with some anger. I got the bike together, working like the fine tuned piece of high-dollar machinery that it is, and I was feeling good about going to NC and having a good ride.
I got out of bed to use the bathroom the other night and steeped on a small piece of jagged gravel that must have gotten dragged in the house. I felt it immediately, it hurt! I didn't think anything of it. Come Tuesday, the resulting blood bruise is inflammed and sore as hell. I still didn't think much of it until the red streaks started appearing on the TOP of my foot. Yes, folks, the beginnings of a lymph system issue. I went to my Doctor who informed me that the blood bruise was now an abscess and needed to be drained and I had to go on anti-biotics to fight any possible infection. Fucking perfect!!!!!!! No 4th ride for the kid!!!
Anyway, he jabbed my foot with a needle waaaaay too big for the job and blood just poured out!
I limped out with what amounted to a club foot and a prescription for Keflex. Oh, and I got a hu-mangous tetanus shot!! Flash forward to today...
I'm limping, the foot is sore-ore-ore-ore and I'm on 2000mg of Keflex a day. No, that's not a typo...2000 milligrams. 4 horse pills a day...and no big straw to blow them down my throat.
The meds make me hot, itchy, give me body aches and a headache. My arm feels like a got hit with a cricket bat from the tetanus.
I honestly am starting to think that the 4th of July ride has bad mojo for me. I've never gone up there and had an uneventful ride. Something either breaks on the ride or I get sick or injured in the days before.

2004-broken spoke on the decent of the Watershed...at 40mph...
2005-broken Ridley Excalibur frame on the climb of the Watershed
2006-injured back 3 weeks before...unable to ride...or sit on toilet...
2007-bitten by wolf spider 1 week before the ride...rode anyway...felt like shit and had a terrible ride...on 'roids and antibiotics...
2008-jacked up foot 1 week before...

Maybe the Madonna del Ghisallo is trying to tell me something about this ride...

Who knows when I'll be back on the bike...