Thousyard stare/TT face

A Laughing/No Laughing Matter

I've forgotten the html for it, but this is one of the funniest things I've seen on ebay. Then again it isn't:

nevermind it's not working, but search for "used basso blood doping bags" on ebay and see what you find. here's a snippet:

"DIRECT TO YOU FROM MADRID by way of Italy, Germany, etc!! These slightly used, completely “clean” and still perfect blood bags can hold your supplies of hemoglobin-rich, EPO-infused, blood transfusions for your mid-season training “boost” (especially if you are competing in the NCNCA Masters races). These are the very same Dr.Fuentes approved PROFESSIONAL Quality blood bags you’ve read so much about and were previously used just to store, and never, never, EVER, actually make available, blood doping supplies to their owners."

here's a pic I snagged from some random MN cycling blog from the beginning of the Marty, MN race this past weekend. I was still shivering quite hard at this point before hitting the front to warm-up:


Tomorrow the crew is heading down for Nat'ls. Gotta get to Jake's house by 11 and be ready to go. Should be a good time. I think we might have a shot at some jersey's in both the RR and CT. Just maybe. Finger's crossed.

Seems the team has had some tumbles in racing and training but continues to pull out consistent results which is always good to see/hear. Can't wait to get home and race some more USCF with the guys. First up is Sauk #2 and then a double-header at Wheels on Willy.

1.33 hrs today and maybe another with Dan if it works out later tonight. That cursed paper is almost done. Maybe both'll get posted after I'm done with the last one. That's kind of embarrassing though...

back to the grindstone, ciao

You're SO Tan!

That's what I'm told anyway, or was told by the kind clerk at the New Prague Marathon station today. Long day today, rode hard(er that I should have maybe) and then harder still merely because my front brake was rubbing? oops. I need to take care of that. For the most part, MN racing is a little sparse over the next few weeks, so I'm glad to be heading back home where Sauk and Wheels on Willy are happening the weekend after Nat'ls. Then it's Quad Cities (still need to register) and a cat-up. Fun stuff. Can't wait to see my mom this weekend; it's a nice two-fer, mom's day and nat'ls

In other news, things are getting verdant. Back to finishing out my school year. Here are some photos from today to pass the time:

Idyllic


Green:
Ciao

Gluek RR

There are some good guys, not just bike racers, in the 3's field here in MN. Racing with guys like Mark (MCT), James and Matt (Birchwood), and Mike (flanders) makes racing that much more fun; they work hard and play the game fairly, hell Matt let me have the rest of some snack on the final lap this weekend, much appreciated.

Mark and our women (kidding) well Mark, Ingrid, Emma, and I left Olaf at 9 or so to head up to Marty early in order to predrive/preride the course. Registration was a breeze except for my misplaced numbers which garnered some guff from some of the LSC organizers; it was well deserved and it turned out I left them with Emma. As mark and I warmed up, the sky opened up with rain that felt like hail. We were immediately soaked. At the start I put on my jersey and arm warmers over my skinsuit, glad to have done it since the race was extended to 60 miles/5 laps.

Race went well enough, had the restart my sprint after Josh (Nature Valley) jumped inside 250 after being sheltered from the wind by first James and then Mark (those guys saved my bacon, thanks all around) but managed to muscle back after lifting the wheel once or twice and then sitting down to shift and stand again. oops. kinda sloppy, need to work on that. A liter of chocolate milk, some jawing, subway/DQ remnants later the four of us were headed back home to find our friends at the end of Lutefest, the free outdoor concert in the spring here at Olaf. Thanks again to Mark and James, and Dan and Linda (who picked up after me). It was a pretty good weekend:

also notice Doug Swanson in the 1/2's field. In the big ring at the hill on the course into the wind where we were crawling by in our 39/21's and 23's. yowza:

Small Things

It's funny what the small things can do for your riding. I finally replaced my HR monitor battery. Boy does that make a difference, just knowing how I am doing and how I am recovering from my efforts. neato. Same with chocolate milk; ever since Van Susteren gave me some out at the LAPT crit in Madison last year, I swear by it. The Perkins meal w/ Finn turned out to be the perfect recovery. 2 tall glasses. Legs felt good today, almost as if I didnt need an easy hour, but rather should've stayed out for longer, oh well schoolwork called. Bike is at the shop (milltown) getting worked on for a variety of reasons after the crash. Should ride like new for this weekend. Prereg'ed for Gluek today. Krueg and I plus our GF's (OMG SO CUTE) are heading up. I think Jake is as well. I just do not know what to wear, oh my. Off to the Guthrie for some Shakespeare. Gotta keep it intellectual or something.

Ciao

Tuesday

Suprise! rode my bike yet again today. 4.6 or so hours, most spent in the wind. Went down to Kenyon via 246 after first heading to Dennison. From Kenyon back through Nerstrand and then home on our race course w/ gravel. I was going quite slowly; my legs were hurting after the long weekend and the 2:45 that Dan and I put in yesterday before the rain cut the ride short and Linda was gracious enough to pick us up (and then take us to DQ. very nice). It could be the hole I've been digging myself into in prep for Nat'ls. Recovery starts thursday, upticks for the weekend and resumes on monday. My mom is coming and that I am looking forward to.

After 3:30 or so by myself, I met back up with Krueg, Finn, Kyle, and Conor (affectionately called Water Bottle) and Jake. We met up with Carleton heading up 3 north (wind). As soon as we join, Kyle flats and will remain that way. Brief delay, Krueg helps inflate the new tube but the VALVE STEM SNAPS CLEAN OFF. TOO MUCH POWER. just kidding. but it did snap. oh well. Group moves on while Kyle gets picked up my Mark. Finn and I turn around, nice tailwind, probably doing 24-25, Jake joins us. HWY 3 has some nice rollers on, grades of about maybe 3-4% mabye 5 tops, they're definitely noticeable. As soon as he got there we all dropped it down some gears. Didn't look but we were flying. Has some fun continuing to drop gears going up the hills. By the time we reached the sprint Jake had pulled the last 3/4 mile to the sprint which was in effect who could inch away from whom while seated.

Finn convinced me to head to Perkins, the best place to eat a recovery meal. 2 glasses of chocolate milk and 5 pieces of french toast later we headed back to campus where we parted amicably. It was a nice day. I felt like garbage until the end when the hammer dropped. When my legs are exhausted or hurting or overreaching, it feels best to hurt while accomplishing something, even if that's just going fast for awhile. These posts are too epic. oh well.

ciao.