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...
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
There's an old saying in cycling...
it's all in the head baby, it's the way you look at it...
Sorry M.M. but everyone knows the new 3's, 6's and 9's are smokin'!
Monday, April 28, 2008
East Canyon
First things first... this is only a race... I need to put this one in perspective because it still burns... in the past few weeks we have seen guys go down hard with injuries that will side line them for a while. As well as other serious health issues that have hit a local cycling icon, and another's child... that is what really matters... Godspeed in a fast recovery to each.
Frustation, with a capital F... that's it in a nutshell- cut to one simple turnaround... at the turnaround... legs fresh, able and ready, I got boxed to the inside as the 35's and 45's merged into one big cluster... a group of about eight 35's got out and drilled it to grande gapage, while a few of us were trying to negotiate through the 45 pack... to which a violent effort off of the 45's (which isn't easy with Schaeffer and Armstrong pushing the pace) then to continue on with long hard pulls couldn't quite get us back on the train... game over but, not without a fight...
The highlight was, by launching off the front of the 45's to chase down the ocho amigo's, we got to ride next to Louis " Cancellera's bro separted at birth" Riel for a bit...he was TTing off the front of the 45's forever (every one was cheering him on as we checked out the 56X9 he was pushing into the headwind), also got to play cat and mouse with some of the 45+ chasers who ended up trying to bring back the lead group, lead out by Mr. Shaeffer, Zimbelman and the Claw, who were none other than Armstrong and the "Good Doctor" Longe... read on for the fun stuff...
At one point on the last flat section me and my Mazda Posse where side by side with Armstrong and the Doc, two synchronized pace lines one 35+ and one 45+... tyring desperately to bring back each lead group respectively, hoping we might catch on, if they end up doing the 1k dosey-do infront of us... the funny thing is one of the dropped 35+ riders who we caught (no name will be mentioned) decided that the rules didn't apply to him and was sucking wheel to the 45+ wheel chase group of Armstrong and Doc, like a hungry calf suckling momma's teet when we caught them... only to continue doing so even though Doc was telling him to stop time and again... and on top of this, we were watching him in amazement separated horizontally by two feet to the left... it gets better, if we passed the 45's he would suck our wheels and vice versa, switching back and forth... at the end, after I did long pull number 107, wheelsucker went flying by me to take the line, fortunately Porterlicious passed him... cuz I certainly couldn't, being that I spent my last bullet 30 pulls before... the entire episode was kind of sureal, like "hey guys I"m cheating, see! Check it out-and just wait until I pip you at the line"... I guess if you choose to ride like that, it's best to do it with gusto and gleen pride in a job well done! Compared to the turn around fiasco this really didn't matter that much to me, and to a certain extent it was kind of entertaining, it broke the monotany for sure, but I will say this... is it really worth it for 8th or 9th or whatever position? In the big scheme of things it's simply not that important, and it's certainly a quick way not to be invited to Lagoon for the next birthday bash with chocolate cake and noise makers...
Oh well, but I did really get to see two great races from just about every vantage point througout the race, I might not ever get to see that again... it was I was watching all the action on the tele with a beer in hand, of course minus the beer...
Frustation, with a capital F... that's it in a nutshell- cut to one simple turnaround... at the turnaround... legs fresh, able and ready, I got boxed to the inside as the 35's and 45's merged into one big cluster... a group of about eight 35's got out and drilled it to grande gapage, while a few of us were trying to negotiate through the 45 pack... to which a violent effort off of the 45's (which isn't easy with Schaeffer and Armstrong pushing the pace) then to continue on with long hard pulls couldn't quite get us back on the train... game over but, not without a fight...
The highlight was, by launching off the front of the 45's to chase down the ocho amigo's, we got to ride next to Louis " Cancellera's bro separted at birth" Riel for a bit...he was TTing off the front of the 45's forever (every one was cheering him on as we checked out the 56X9 he was pushing into the headwind), also got to play cat and mouse with some of the 45+ chasers who ended up trying to bring back the lead group, lead out by Mr. Shaeffer, Zimbelman and the Claw, who were none other than Armstrong and the "Good Doctor" Longe... read on for the fun stuff...
At one point on the last flat section me and my Mazda Posse where side by side with Armstrong and the Doc, two synchronized pace lines one 35+ and one 45+... tyring desperately to bring back each lead group respectively, hoping we might catch on, if they end up doing the 1k dosey-do infront of us... the funny thing is one of the dropped 35+ riders who we caught (no name will be mentioned) decided that the rules didn't apply to him and was sucking wheel to the 45+ wheel chase group of Armstrong and Doc, like a hungry calf suckling momma's teet when we caught them... only to continue doing so even though Doc was telling him to stop time and again... and on top of this, we were watching him in amazement separated horizontally by two feet to the left... it gets better, if we passed the 45's he would suck our wheels and vice versa, switching back and forth... at the end, after I did long pull number 107, wheelsucker went flying by me to take the line, fortunately Porterlicious passed him... cuz I certainly couldn't, being that I spent my last bullet 30 pulls before... the entire episode was kind of sureal, like "hey guys I"m cheating, see! Check it out-and just wait until I pip you at the line"... I guess if you choose to ride like that, it's best to do it with gusto and gleen pride in a job well done! Compared to the turn around fiasco this really didn't matter that much to me, and to a certain extent it was kind of entertaining, it broke the monotany for sure, but I will say this... is it really worth it for 8th or 9th or whatever position? In the big scheme of things it's simply not that important, and it's certainly a quick way not to be invited to Lagoon for the next birthday bash with chocolate cake and noise makers...
Oh well, but I did really get to see two great races from just about every vantage point througout the race, I might not ever get to see that again... it was I was watching all the action on the tele with a beer in hand, of course minus the beer...
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Be safe out there...
This should help, but it's not very aero...
This guy actually made this for his daughter for her prom dress...
This guy actually made this for his daughter for her prom dress...
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
The psych and pfizz of cycling...
Great job to Ski Utah, Jeremy Smith and the officials for a great race... The TT was really rad with those crazy roller coasters...
Hope Mr Garage is fairing well, he's tough, when I rode by he had blood all over him yet was walking around I wasn't sure if it was real, since I was somewhat delerious at that point... apparently the Hoov did a literal flip over him, yet he and his bike were ok to continue on but Mr Polka Dot had a knee the size of a grapefruit, get well fast my man...
The plan was to put someone out on a break on Stagio uno with 15 miles left, that guy wasn't me. But, within seconds at mile 2 into the race it just seemed right, so I figured I would be the sacrificial lamb for the sake of the team... I pegged it to a HR of 175+ and unfortunately had to keep it there for the entire race to keep my speed up enough to hold off the pack... So this was new, I have been on breaks that have stuck with 2 or 3 guys, but none solo... my expectations weren't high to say the least... so I tried not to think (which I am rather good at I'm told) and just focused on running through inspirational race stuff in my head, like Cooke, Schaeffer, Riel, Porter,Treasure and the Skarpohl sticking long solo attacks in races I was in... that's it, nothing more, keep it simple... and big thanks to all the officials, for their support at each turn around telling me I could do it, and P-man, Hoov and the rest of the team for the cheers, these little things kept me going for sure... my body rebelled after 58 or 59 miles, teammates Andre and Scott caught me at 3k to go and pulled me to 1k until I told them to go hard, because I couldn't hang on any longer and we were only 45 seconds ahead of the field... afterwards I felt like I got hit by a truck, a big truck... I knew I blew my load and wondered how I was ever going to do a TT feeling like this in a few hours.
All my teammates and friends were great and did everything they could to work on my brain, with Scottie finally throwing me the comment of the year right before I took off on the roller coaster, and it worked, I prob did the best I could considering...
Stage 3 we had numbers on our side, and we used it... I was on a break with Chuck from Wyoming and did no work because I didn't want to overtake my teammates for the GC. So the whole time I just tried to keep him motivated letting him know that he could stick it and I would'nt contest him that guy has a lot of heart for sure... Well Mark Larson who was a horse, and Hanseen (we'll get back to him later) reeled him in with a great effort with one lap to go... then Scott attacked right off the front several times, Mark had more in his tank and attacked a couple of times, Andre then attacked hard, and I being fresh attacked for longer digs several times , always with Hanseen locked on... we could not break Hanseen, he was so super catlike fast catching any and all accelerations, more so than anyone else... at 1k to go I went hard to the outside, Hanseen had to work to reel me in and did with 900m to go, I kept on surging, Hanseen was right there, then Andre and Scott squeeked by with Hanseen on their wheels... I gotta tell you Hanseen was a beast, he would not break and was there at the end contesting, what a total stud.
and that is what I am talking about, when everybody brings their "A" game they motivate and raise the expectations of the group, individuals raise their game more, the group gets better as a whole and more competitive outside our little area. For me this race was a lot more in the head than in the body, and I can thank all the aforementioned guys before and during this race for the inspiration to perserve and improve... thanks, cause in the end it's really just you against you regardless of whatever circumstance you find yourself in...so to Hanseen, that's my cycling take on Zeitgeist...
Hope Mr Garage is fairing well, he's tough, when I rode by he had blood all over him yet was walking around I wasn't sure if it was real, since I was somewhat delerious at that point... apparently the Hoov did a literal flip over him, yet he and his bike were ok to continue on but Mr Polka Dot had a knee the size of a grapefruit, get well fast my man...
The plan was to put someone out on a break on Stagio uno with 15 miles left, that guy wasn't me. But, within seconds at mile 2 into the race it just seemed right, so I figured I would be the sacrificial lamb for the sake of the team... I pegged it to a HR of 175+ and unfortunately had to keep it there for the entire race to keep my speed up enough to hold off the pack... So this was new, I have been on breaks that have stuck with 2 or 3 guys, but none solo... my expectations weren't high to say the least... so I tried not to think (which I am rather good at I'm told) and just focused on running through inspirational race stuff in my head, like Cooke, Schaeffer, Riel, Porter,Treasure and the Skarpohl sticking long solo attacks in races I was in... that's it, nothing more, keep it simple... and big thanks to all the officials, for their support at each turn around telling me I could do it, and P-man, Hoov and the rest of the team for the cheers, these little things kept me going for sure... my body rebelled after 58 or 59 miles, teammates Andre and Scott caught me at 3k to go and pulled me to 1k until I told them to go hard, because I couldn't hang on any longer and we were only 45 seconds ahead of the field... afterwards I felt like I got hit by a truck, a big truck... I knew I blew my load and wondered how I was ever going to do a TT feeling like this in a few hours.
All my teammates and friends were great and did everything they could to work on my brain, with Scottie finally throwing me the comment of the year right before I took off on the roller coaster, and it worked, I prob did the best I could considering...
Stage 3 we had numbers on our side, and we used it... I was on a break with Chuck from Wyoming and did no work because I didn't want to overtake my teammates for the GC. So the whole time I just tried to keep him motivated letting him know that he could stick it and I would'nt contest him that guy has a lot of heart for sure... Well Mark Larson who was a horse, and Hanseen (we'll get back to him later) reeled him in with a great effort with one lap to go... then Scott attacked right off the front several times, Mark had more in his tank and attacked a couple of times, Andre then attacked hard, and I being fresh attacked for longer digs several times , always with Hanseen locked on... we could not break Hanseen, he was so super catlike fast catching any and all accelerations, more so than anyone else... at 1k to go I went hard to the outside, Hanseen had to work to reel me in and did with 900m to go, I kept on surging, Hanseen was right there, then Andre and Scott squeeked by with Hanseen on their wheels... I gotta tell you Hanseen was a beast, he would not break and was there at the end contesting, what a total stud.
and that is what I am talking about, when everybody brings their "A" game they motivate and raise the expectations of the group, individuals raise their game more, the group gets better as a whole and more competitive outside our little area. For me this race was a lot more in the head than in the body, and I can thank all the aforementioned guys before and during this race for the inspiration to perserve and improve... thanks, cause in the end it's really just you against you regardless of whatever circumstance you find yourself in...so to Hanseen, that's my cycling take on Zeitgeist...
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