What this blog has meant to me...
1. It was a nice way to show the appreciation to my fellow teammates and competitors.
2. It was a way to have fun.
3. It was a way to keep in touch with old and new buds.
Racing has evolved for me recently, I simply want to just go out and represent well and be there for the team, if I reach the podium that's cool, if not, and I helped the team then that's cool too- it really doesn't matter... for those of you who know me well, it serves much more important purposes which I have come to appreciate in way's I'm just starting to comprehend... and furthermore, at the end of the day- I really, really like the community of racers (and bloggers). To everyone out there racing, officiating, commentating, organizing, or just sociallizing, big thanks from me to you...sincerely.
Schaeffer last year told me after Wolf Creek that "winning the race didn't really mean that much." He was looking at the Nationals (which he took). He wasn't just talking, because I know that he was putting in 400 miles a week, obviously not a way to stay fresh... recently he told me he "just wants the race to go hard" and if it doesn't he will go hard... I couldn't have said it better... to reiterate, I really like the competition and just going all out... if I do well- great, if my teammates do well even better and if I get schooled by some random unknown dude who has been on a racing sabbatical (aka Jeff Rauch) even better... because the way I look at it, that is what it's all about... you don't really race against anyone else, you compete against yourself in this sport, you are really competing with yourself, and wherever the chips lie after the race, its written and stamped... and after the race maybe you have gained some more respect and developed it for another rider.
I really enjoy racing and announcing... it's a hard sport, but a pretty simple one also, if you love it hard, it will love you back- don't, and you will reap the consequences of your lack of preparation... anyway, that is all I have to say within the Nest until the sabbatical is over. Most of all, I am thankful for all of the friendships gained, and I look forward to the next hard race for sure...
Cheers,
Hornet
Monday, May 19, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
For you mom!
I have never posted a pic of myself on this blog... but I'm going to break that one time for mom... she is awesome to say the least... My step dad, Mr Z (who is pretty cool in his own right) and mom are going to come out and visit me and the grandkindred when I do the live radio updates from the road on ESPN and KFAN for the Tour of Utah in August (thanks again T-Mac!)... so here is an action shot last week taken by non-other than P-Man, notice how well matched the outfit is with the Nest's background... for affect... it was planned!?!
If you want to see more, larger photo's of the Championships click on P-man's website at and just click on the pics for enlargement
http://picasaweb.google.com/canyonteam/UtahCriteriumChampionships2008
If you want to see more, larger photo's of the Championships click on P-man's website at and just click on the pics for enlargement
http://picasaweb.google.com/canyonteam/UtahCriteriumChampionships2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
State Crit Champ-een-chips!
Had an opportunity to announce the State's... and I am glad I did...
Hey- Kevin Rad-man-inski did the first few races, then we tag teamed the womens pro event and Masters 45+ and finally I went solo for the last few races... Kevin is one super funny dude... in my next life I'm gonna go to whatever college the Rad-man attends fo' sure... at times I couldn't do commentary I was laughing so much...
First off the pro ladies... and they put on a great show... fireworks ery'where... Park City had the numero's so they did what they should... attacked the bejusus out of the group... Kirsten, Nisie, Tiffany...ect time and time again...the Ski Utah gals hung really tough... Laura Howat was not to be denied, she covered at least the first 15 attacks single handedly... and Laura Patten did a great job in the next group getting hit by the Parkies... in the end Nisie blasted it, but Pizz-gal helped out off of the back and both were DQ'ed... there was no doubt that they thought it was a legal move doing it infront of the judges... now we all know that it isn't that was unfortunate... any way the Kot-adian took it with Howatinater in second... great race by all the ladies... and we did notice the the yomen's like efforts of Intermountain trying valiently to bring it back the entire race... anybody that missed this race really missed out on a good one... thanks for the show!
Next Master's 45+
The first half of this crit can be stated in these two words... Manitoba Missle... that's right Louis Riel did his thing and TT'ed off the front forever... which made Mr Mckone, Mr Armstrong Mr Schaeffer, Mr Worsoki, Mr Adams and others work. When they finally caught him Team Canyon Bikes Draper sent others to attack immediately... in the end Mckone (who rode one of the smartest, coolest races I have seen) took it over a fired up Gary Swain who had a last minute mechanical... these guys hammered all day with all the big names taking turns digging it out in the front including Steve "Chop's" Lewis' one last effort... Another great race with a ton of action...
Masters 35+
This is a pretty simple one... Scott Martin likes deep space 9. Because, that's all he did was do his best impression off the Manitoba Missle... only Scott Allen was gun slingin on his tail 90% of the time for the first 1/2 of the race, then other smaller attacks occured, but nothing stuck... Mckone drove a lot more in the race, as did other 45's on the second race like "the Killer" Steve Worsoki, who may be small but will drill it at the front relentlessly and Glen "Damnhesfast" Adams... The Hanseen was on form taking a big flyer off the front toward the end, yet still garnered the 3 spot after Stan "the man" Price and the victor Mr. Best who had a mad sprint in the end to finish the job...
Cat 3's
The Cat 3's race was a lot different ... about 15 of them were strong enough to make the break, then they raced somewhat conservatively... choosing to use more tactics in the last few laps to see just who's got it in the sprint. (Which typically this year has several riders contesting pretty closely) Schofield who has been riding really strong did a good portion of work as well as others... good to see Clint Eastwoodarter back... he went on a long solo but didn't have the legs to sustain after the time off... my bet was on A.O. but his teammate Mr. O'Leary pulled it off over another second place finish of the day for Gary "Gimmiesomemore" Swain... O'leary was impressive especially after doing a lot of work the last few laps and then still pull it off...
Men's 1-2's
Big field with big guns... a lot of smiling until Gary started it... then bam... as in Peter-sack! Chris just went to the front and drove it for laps... riders were strung out over 150 meters... eventually he took a breather only to do it over again! The typical players from the typical teams took there digs to no avail, only a few riders dropped off but many were suffering... then a big pile up resulted in the yellow flag mid way through the race for a few laps... Gary and I let the pack know in advance when racing would resume at the start line- (which was hillarious) ery'one had their poker faces on, just chatting and laughing away and as soon as the first wheel crossed that line--instantanously not a peep to be heard and pedals to the metal! Finally a group with Pietrzak, Hoffman teammate Perry, Mr Lille and Barrett with teammate Ben D'Hulst got away and had over a 20 second gap to the chasers... Contender and FFKR took hard turns trying to get them back all the way to the end, which they might have been able to pull off if the Turbo didn't launch with one lap to go... that was quite ballsie to say the least- with those dudes chasing... anyway he held it for the trophie with Pietrzak closing it hard coming in just behind for a well earned second, after doing a ton of work, that dude is crazy strong right now... of note- whatever R.B. pays Big Ben it's not enough... as written in his blog... Ben did a ton of work to bridge a lot of attacks, drive a few to then only periously hold on for dear life, then do it time and again... Big Ben has arrived... and he may even get more aero than R.B. (being that they are both a combined 13 feet tall and probably tipping the scales south of 3 bills...
L8ter...
Hey- Kevin Rad-man-inski did the first few races, then we tag teamed the womens pro event and Masters 45+ and finally I went solo for the last few races... Kevin is one super funny dude... in my next life I'm gonna go to whatever college the Rad-man attends fo' sure... at times I couldn't do commentary I was laughing so much...
First off the pro ladies... and they put on a great show... fireworks ery'where... Park City had the numero's so they did what they should... attacked the bejusus out of the group... Kirsten, Nisie, Tiffany...ect time and time again...the Ski Utah gals hung really tough... Laura Howat was not to be denied, she covered at least the first 15 attacks single handedly... and Laura Patten did a great job in the next group getting hit by the Parkies... in the end Nisie blasted it, but Pizz-gal helped out off of the back and both were DQ'ed... there was no doubt that they thought it was a legal move doing it infront of the judges... now we all know that it isn't that was unfortunate... any way the Kot-adian took it with Howatinater in second... great race by all the ladies... and we did notice the the yomen's like efforts of Intermountain trying valiently to bring it back the entire race... anybody that missed this race really missed out on a good one... thanks for the show!
Next Master's 45+
The first half of this crit can be stated in these two words... Manitoba Missle... that's right Louis Riel did his thing and TT'ed off the front forever... which made Mr Mckone, Mr Armstrong Mr Schaeffer, Mr Worsoki, Mr Adams and others work. When they finally caught him Team Canyon Bikes Draper sent others to attack immediately... in the end Mckone (who rode one of the smartest, coolest races I have seen) took it over a fired up Gary Swain who had a last minute mechanical... these guys hammered all day with all the big names taking turns digging it out in the front including Steve "Chop's" Lewis' one last effort... Another great race with a ton of action...
Masters 35+
This is a pretty simple one... Scott Martin likes deep space 9. Because, that's all he did was do his best impression off the Manitoba Missle... only Scott Allen was gun slingin on his tail 90% of the time for the first 1/2 of the race, then other smaller attacks occured, but nothing stuck... Mckone drove a lot more in the race, as did other 45's on the second race like "the Killer" Steve Worsoki, who may be small but will drill it at the front relentlessly and Glen "Damnhesfast" Adams... The Hanseen was on form taking a big flyer off the front toward the end, yet still garnered the 3 spot after Stan "the man" Price and the victor Mr. Best who had a mad sprint in the end to finish the job...
Cat 3's
The Cat 3's race was a lot different ... about 15 of them were strong enough to make the break, then they raced somewhat conservatively... choosing to use more tactics in the last few laps to see just who's got it in the sprint. (Which typically this year has several riders contesting pretty closely) Schofield who has been riding really strong did a good portion of work as well as others... good to see Clint Eastwoodarter back... he went on a long solo but didn't have the legs to sustain after the time off... my bet was on A.O. but his teammate Mr. O'Leary pulled it off over another second place finish of the day for Gary "Gimmiesomemore" Swain... O'leary was impressive especially after doing a lot of work the last few laps and then still pull it off...
Men's 1-2's
Big field with big guns... a lot of smiling until Gary started it... then bam... as in Peter-sack! Chris just went to the front and drove it for laps... riders were strung out over 150 meters... eventually he took a breather only to do it over again! The typical players from the typical teams took there digs to no avail, only a few riders dropped off but many were suffering... then a big pile up resulted in the yellow flag mid way through the race for a few laps... Gary and I let the pack know in advance when racing would resume at the start line- (which was hillarious) ery'one had their poker faces on, just chatting and laughing away and as soon as the first wheel crossed that line--instantanously not a peep to be heard and pedals to the metal! Finally a group with Pietrzak, Hoffman teammate Perry, Mr Lille and Barrett with teammate Ben D'Hulst got away and had over a 20 second gap to the chasers... Contender and FFKR took hard turns trying to get them back all the way to the end, which they might have been able to pull off if the Turbo didn't launch with one lap to go... that was quite ballsie to say the least- with those dudes chasing... anyway he held it for the trophie with Pietrzak closing it hard coming in just behind for a well earned second, after doing a ton of work, that dude is crazy strong right now... of note- whatever R.B. pays Big Ben it's not enough... as written in his blog... Ben did a ton of work to bridge a lot of attacks, drive a few to then only periously hold on for dear life, then do it time and again... Big Ben has arrived... and he may even get more aero than R.B. (being that they are both a combined 13 feet tall and probably tipping the scales south of 3 bills...
L8ter...
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