Bike Geek

The t-shirt says it all. References available upon request.



Blue Star

Training Update and Racing Calendar

Not much happening these past few weeks other than lots of training. I'm averaging just shy of 15 hours a week including my gym work. I'd like to bump up the hours closer to 20, but it is really hard with bad weather and 4pm darkness. There is only so much trainer time a guy can take no matter how focused. 120 minutes is my usual limit doing mostly zone 2/3 efforts, occasionally I can go a full 180 minutes, but that takes a lot of mental stamina.

Last week, I started my Max Strength phase in the gym. I've been throwing around almost 500lbs on the leg sled in an effort to get some more horsepower under the hood. The Christmas holiday will bring a few days of desert training on the MTB and then in January I'll transition to some build phase stuff on the bike with one day in the gym to maintain my strength gains.

I'm still planning out my 2008 race calendar. It is going to be similar to year's past with a focus on NMBS events, Sea Otter, the one-day National Championships at Mt. Snow (assuming I qualify), and various local and regional events to fill in the gaps. I'm waiting to publish a post with a complete list until some more details come out regarding the NMBS series. Of course, the big addition to the schedule this year is the 7-day BC Bike Race that kicks off in late June. I also know I'll be starting my season down in Phoenix at an Arizona State Championship series race. The strategy there is to get some sun (i.e. Vitamin D replenishment) and hopefully earn an early qualification to Mt. Snow. We'll see though as the body won't have much intensity yet, so a race effort is going to hurt.

On the 2008 sponsorship front, things are still getting dialed in. I'll pull together a post revealing my sponsors once all the deals are inked. As the saying goes, I don't want to count my chickens too soon. However, as I've alluded to in previous posts, next year's lineup is going to look a little different. Change is good though.

No pics today. Sorry. I know my loyal readers like imagery.

Blue Star

Project One Speed

This evening I just about wrapped up work on Project One Speed. I converted my Ellsworth Enlightenment into a singlespeed. The cool thing is it cost just a few bills to do it in addition to a couple of parts from the the storage bins in the Blue Star shop. I'm using a Soulcraft Convert tension device and I converted a FC M960 XTR crankset using a Blackspire Mono Veloce ring and Ring God guard. The only thing left to do is dial in the position and cut the steerer tube on the Fox F80RLC fork.

Why singlespeed? Sheldon Brown says, "Many cyclists are rebelling against the excessive complication, fragility and weight of current mountain bikes. More and more cyclists are discovering the joys of simple, one-speed bicycles." Others practice the art of singlespeeding as a way to eschew the norm. See, e.g., Singlespeedoutlaw.com

My reasoning was a bit more practical than merely an aversion to the complexity of the modern bicycle or a form of rebellion. Rather, I wanted a rig that could take the punishing winters that are served up here in the Pacific Northwest. The mud is brutal and it reeks havoc on cog stacks and skinny 9-speed chains. Also, pushing the 32x16 up the Cascade foothills will give me some solid bike-based force workouts to supplement my strength work in the gym.

The beautiful thing about this particular build is the entire bike weighs in at just about 20lbs even with some heavy mud tires. Swap out the tires for some light weight racing rubber, cut the steerer to length, and it will definitely come in under 20.

The rig and the happy mechanic.


The rig up close.


Yep, just one 16 tooth cog back there.


Blue Star

And then there was snow

Today's two-hour recovery spin, turned into a mini-epic. I left the house and it was cold, but there was spots of intermittent sun. A little after the one hour mark, some small flakes started to fly. I thought to myself, "how beautiful." Soon after, however, it was a full on white out. I trudged home, gingerly taking corners in an effort to keep the rubber side down. The streets were covered in slush and the snow started to stick almost immediately. It was very hard to see, because my glasses were getting coated with snow and I couldn't take them off because the big flakes hurt my eyes. Once home, I was coated from head to toe in snow and SLR snapped a couple of pictures as she laughed at my appearance. Note the accumulation on the bar and post.





It is still coming down at a good clip as I type this post. We've got over an inch in the yard. Seattle does not deal with snow well, so the roadways are going to be a mess until the rainy weather returns tomorrow. If I was still in the saddle, I'd surely look like Andy Hampsten in the 1988 Giro Di Italia on the Passo Gavia.



Blue Star

Beer Season

In years past, I have made a concerted effort to avoid alcoholic beverages except for the extremely rare treat. This off-season I have decided to take a different approach and allow this pleasurable indulgence on regular occasions and not deprive myself. I read an article that JHK and Mrs. Irminger regularly indulge in fine wines and they are some of the fastest on a MTB in the US. This change of tack will, of course, cease once the race season approaches, but until then I will be tipping my classic German beer glass (RAL, thanks for the glassware) with some of the world's finest ales, porters, and stouts.

This evening I am partaking in a Duvel Belgian Golden Ale. I figure the Belgians are some of the fastest riders in the world, so maybe it's in their beer. Even if it's not, Duvel is a delicious ale. Duvel has a classic yellow ale color with crisp bitter flavors and a hint of sweetness. The head rises up from the glass after the initial pour like a slow eruption of viscous lava from a volcano. The head ultimately comes to rest with the appearance of meringue on a lemon pie or perfectly steamed milk destined for a fine cappuccino. In short, this beer lives up to its world renowned reputation. A worthy tip of the glass.



Cheers,

Blue Star

Musings on CX

CX is evolving from the obscure to mainstream in the US. The rapidity that is happening is amazing. The New York Times even has an article today. Who would have thought that riding a short off-road course on unsuspended (read, uncomfortable) bikes for an hour or so in miserable weather would become widely accepted?

I wonder why XC mountain bike racing isn't sharing the same growth in interest. I suspect it may be the duration and length of the event. Short CX race equals doable for most, even if they are out of shape. If you are sucking wind and cannot turn the pedals over one more time, you just pull out and the car is usually a few hundred yards away. Plus, you have the rest of the day to hang out, drink a beverage, and watch others ride in circles. Whereas long XC mountain bike races with thousands of feet of climbing can sometimes make finishing a harrowing feat and the car is often miles away. If it is a really bad day, the venue could be nearly empty by the time you reach the finish. Then again, I'm probably wrong, because marathon and stage race endurance MTB events are also gaining popularity at a pace nearly equal to CX.

Whatever the reason, it's all good that more people are getting out on bikes. Gotta love the bike!

Blue Star

Turkey Day Weekend

A long weekend of mastication, imbibing, and riding.

Some bird...


Some good wine (meant a hangover on Friday)...


Some CX at a frustratingly moderate pace...


That was Thanksgiving 2007 in a nutshell.

Blue Star

Oh So Semipro

Yesterday, USA Cycling sent me an email...

The following request to change your NORBA category has been approved and processed by USA Cycling: Change category from Expert to Semipro.

Yep, I'm now officially a semipro mountain bike racer. Except for dreams of being an NBA basketball player as a kid, I never really thought the word "pro" would be associated with anything I do. Being 5'10" with a moderate vertical leap squashed those hoop star visions after high school though. I guess I'm a pro lawyer, but law school and the bar exam involved much less physical suffering than racing a mountain bike faster than 99% of the population.

2008 is going to be a good year on the bike. A physcial and mental challenge like none I have faced before. I'm confident I can coax some more watts out of my body, let's just hope its enough to be competive at the next level. More importantly, I'm just enjoying the ride while it lasts!

Also, I have some things brewing on the sponsorship front. But I'll keep that under wraps until things are finalized.

Blue Star

Rain, Feeling Blah, & Semi-pro Upgrade

Lots of rain to deal with today. Radar does not paint a pretty picture for a comfortable outdoor ride. With 4 hours on the schedule, I'm torn between getting rained on or riding the trainer.



For now, I'm going to sit on the couch and watch my favorite football game of the year: Ohio State v. Michigan. Maybe I'll get inspired to ride.

Skipped my workouts yesterday. I've been beat down lately and not sure why. Most of last week, I was really tired and felt as if I was in a fog. Lots of fatigue and even had to soft pedal to get home from a three hour ride on Wednesday. Not sure what the deal is, but I visited a doc yesterday to see if there is anything wrong. He took some blood and did some other tests. Hopefully, there is an easy fix besides taking an extended break from the bike.

I bit the bullet this week and submitted my semi-pro upgrade request to USA cycling. According to the rules, I have sufficient results, so I should get it. Assuming I get the updgrade, I figure the worst that happens is I get smoked by the competition and I get faster trying to keep up. The only thing I'm worried about is qualifying for the National Championships at Mt. Snow in July. It will be much harder than in years past to get the necessary result. I love that race and will do everything I can to get in.

That's all for now.

Blue Star.

Bike Handling

I consider bike handling a skill that I have in my quiver of race weapons. This video shows skill can be elevated to art. Simply masterful.



Blue Star

Disc Brake Powertap

Saris finally released some details on the disc brake-compatible Powertap hub. Looks sweet, but I'm curious if there some added weight with all 8 bolts to hold on the proprietary rotor. Although I have been told additional intel to suggest that the final production model will get the carbon cut outs of the existing SL model.

Lace the Powertap hub to a DT Swiss XRC 330 carbon rim, throw in some ceramic bearings, match it with a DT Swiss 190 based front wheel, and you have the ultimate MTB wheelset.

Blue Star

A Moral Failure?

Check out this recent article in the Seattle PI about a cyclist from West Seattle that was shot with BBs while commuting home. One of the BBs lodged in his lung and the other bounced off his aorta and settled on his diaphragm. Luckily, he is recovering and even riding to work again just days after the incident. For an even more detailed account, you can check out the cyclist's story on his blog. Reading the article and his blog made me nauseous and has me wondering about the moral turpitude of people who could commit such an act.

As a cyclist logging thousands of miles on the road every year, I count my self as lucky to have experienced only a few "incidents" of my own when interacting with motorists and have never been injured as a result. I've had people yell profanities at me through open windows, had things thrown at me including a mostly full bottle of beer, been buzzed at high speed by large pickup trucks while blasting their air horns, sprayed with gravel by a car that purposely drifted onto the shoulder in front of me and floored the accelerator. These things, unfortunately, are common place and there is little a cyclist can do besides shake an angry fist at the offender as s/he speeds away.

I just can't comprehend why people have such hostility to cyclists. Is having to drive 10 mph for a few seconds while waiting to pass such an inconvenience that warrants acting in a way that puts the cyclist at risk for injury or death? I don't know anyone whose time is that valuable. Are fat assess sipping their super-gulp soda on their way to pick up some french fries at the local drive-thru that resentful towards someone actually doing physical exercise? Even a brain twisted by the desire to get a fast food fix can't be that perverse. Is someone's homophobia so acute that seeing a man in spandex for a few seconds requires retaliation for such an affront? I can't imagine someone that depraved. These rhetorical questions may touch on some truth, but I think the bigger theme that may underlie such actions is that our society is experiencing a moral failure. People are indifferent to the lives of others in this hectic, take or be taken, succeed-at-all-costs world we live in. People are so wrapped up in getting ahead, they forget it is an actual person they are pushing out of the way to get there. It is an ugly race to the bottom. If you think I'm wrong, then read the content of some of the nearly 200 indignant Sound Off Comments to the PI article.

I don't have an answer of how to fix such a fundamental failure. If I did, I think I could solve many of the world's greatest problems, which I believe originate from this same disregard for the lives of others. But I will keep riding my bike, ignorance be damned! However, I won't be alone. Seattle's Bicycle Master Plan was just approved unanimously by the City Council. The City will be spending $27 million for cycling projects including 118 miles of new bike lanes and 19 miles of trails. A step in the right direction. I only hope there is an educational component that goes with the infrastructure.

Stepping off my soap box.

Blue Star

Weigh

What does a super-wife get her husband who is a bike nerd? A pair of Ultimate Digital Scales for weighing anything and everything. Any self-respecting bike nerd's workshop needs these.

I got one of these...


and one of these (the scale, not the stem)...


Most won't comprehend the sweetness of such instruments, but I'm as excited as a kid on Christmas. What to weigh first? Thanks SLR!

And some relevant lyrics by Phish (or click here for an audio sample)...

Weigh
I'd like to cut your head off, so I can weigh it, what do you say?
Five pounds, six, pounds, seven pounds.
I'd like to go to your house and gather all your razors and pick all the little prickly hairs so I can weigh them, what do you say?
Five pounds, six pounds, seven pounds.
I'd like to gather all your friends and squish them all into a small
swimming pool so I can weigh them, what do you say?
Five pounds, six pounds, seven pounds
Why weigh on a sunny day?
So much to do so why, oh why weigh?
On a sunny day, why oh why weigh hey?
Why weigh, why weigh?
I'd like to hear my options, so I can weigh them, what do ya say?
Five pounds, six pounds, seven pounds
Why weigh on a sunny day?
So much to do, so why, oh why weigh?
On a sunny day, why oh why weigh hey?
Why
Oh Why [x11]
Why weigh?

Blue Star

Putting Power to the Pedals

Power is the rate at which work is performed or energy is transmitted, or the amount of energy required or expended for a given unit of time. In the cycling world, power is measured in watts (w). The watt is the SI derived unit of power, equal to one joule of energy per second. Power to weight ratio (w/kg) is one of the most critical aspects to being a successful bike racer. The more power one can generate as they pedal relative to their body weight, the faster that person will be as a cyclist. For example, an average person can usually generate a power to weight ratio of about 2.5 w/kg for a 1 hour effort, whereas a Tour de France contender can turn out 6.5 to 7 w/kg for the same amount of time. Hence, cyclists, are always struggling to strike the appropriate balance between their body weight and their musculature.

I, being the bike nerd that I am, have a Powertap hub and computer on my road bike that instantaneously measures my power output and it stares me in the face as I ride. I download data to my computer and crunch numbers to see how I am doing and my workouts are structured around hitting certain power objectives. I can very accurately track how my fitness is improving or decreasing by doing standardized tests over a certain course and comparing my average power for the same route. Power is more accurate than time or speed, because it eliminates variables such as wind, tire pressure, mechanical problems, etc. As the saying goes, power is absolute.

I have always wanted to be able to have a power meter on my mountain bike, but there was never a really good option because Powertaps were not compatible with disc brakes, SRM seemingly ignored the MTB market, and Ergomo, well, it has some serious bugs and is not compatible with triple chainring cranksets found on MTBs. So, I've never had good data to analyze mountain bike races or how to structure my training to better perform during races.

For 08, however, there several manufacturers that are releasing viable options. One setup that I'm lusting after is combining a Garmin Edge 705 gps unit with a SRM crankset that measures power generated at that crank rather than the wheel. The GPS gives you all the cycling computer data (speed, distance, etc.) as well as topographic information such as rate of ascent/descent, pace, and other numbers to crunch. The SRM crankset communicates wirelessly with the Garmin computer providing power data.

08 SRM MTB Crankset


Garmin Edge 705


Also, word on the street is that Powertap is going to release a disc-brake compatible rear hub in early 2008. This unit would not be compatible with the Garmin, but it would still give power information, which is the most critical. Plus, it will likely be a slighlty cheaper option than a SRM setup.

Lastly, there is a new company on the block called Quarq. They are going to be rolling out a chainring spider mounted power measurement device that is adaptable to cranksets with separate chainring spider assemblies. It is not clear to me whether this unit will work with a triple chainring crankset though.

If one of these options comes to fruition, this year is going to be even more fun. I can't wait to be able to crunch my MTB data and use it to get faster.

Blue Star (aka Bike Nerd)

Contentedness

My high school basketball coach once opined "Be content, but never satisfied." A seemingly incongruous statement that flew right over the head of a naive kid. Here I am 15 years later and that quote just popped into my head. A sudden revelation out of my subconscious, I guess. I can't recall ever thinking of that quote since it was uttered to me during a motivational speech as another game on the hardwood approached. Until yesterday that is. But why yesterday? Yesterday, yesterday was my birthday. I've been riding this spinning globe for 32 years. I often take pause on my birthday and review the year's journey and luckily my brain works in strange ways and I remembered that quote. The last few years I've focused too much on the "never satisfied" part and forgotten about the "be content" part. As I sat and thought about my 31st year, I realized I've done some great things, despite having to overcome some big obstacles. My take on my coach's quote is to strive for balance between trying to achieve more and being content with what you already achieved. For me, I am content because: I am a bike racer; I am a lawyer; I am a husband; I a member of a loving family. What else can I ask for?

Blue Star

For the Love of CX

People at work often ask what my weekends entail during the fall. I say "cyclocross racing" and more often than not the response is "what's that?" I usually try to explain with a comparision to steeple chase, but with bikes. I get some nods, but I know there is not a true understanding there. So, here's a couple of videos to answer the question a bit more definitively.

Lesson 1: Runups and Barriers at high speed.


Lesson 2: Slippery mud while riding road bikes with skinny knobby tires means little traction and staying upright is a challenge.


Lesson 3: Euros are really good at it and they get 20,000 fans at World Cup races. There is even live TV coverage and the national news media cover the events like Americans do with baseball and football. Americans are getting better finishing 2nd at last year's World Championships (both men and women), but I doubt it will ever be as popular as it is in Europe.


In a nutshell, that is how I flog myself in the cold and wet Fall season in the Pacific Northwest. It helps with the bike handling skills and keeps my fitness relatively high so getting ready for mountain bike season doesn't hurt as much come 2008.

Got cowbell?

Blue Star

New Rig

The photo below is a peak at my Giant Anthem Advanced that I'll be racing on next year. I've got a few rides on it so far. My initial impression is that it is very light (23 lbs) and accelerates like a bottle rocket. I'm also hoping to get a super light carbon hardtail for those races that don't require full suspension.



Blue Star

Evergreen CX

I hit up some CX on Sunday in South Seattle. Despite arriving to the line about 15 minutes before the start, I was relegated to about the 15th row. I guess cross is a little popular here in the NW. The rest of the day was pass, pass, and more pass.

Me acting all serious at the start with Dutton-Willekes or Willekes-Dutton--not sure which, so hereinafter he will be referred to as WD-40 in honor of the degreaser that the world thinks is a lube.


The first of three runups on the course.


Coming through the barriers with WD-40 on my tail.


Rolling through the finish. Ended up 19th out of about 65 starters. Not bad for starting in the second to last row behind 60 guys. Next week I'll get to the start early to ensure a better start position.


Blue Star

Transitions

October and Fall generally is a time of transitions. Summer fades and the cool breezes, rain, and short days set in. This year, Seattle was not afforded the luxury of easing into winter, because it has hit already. Rides have been rain filled and cold. Suffer fests with wet hands and feet (except when I don the Goretex). The trails are wet and muddy already. Fall, where did you go?

Like the weather, my transition between race season and off-season training has not been the usual few relaxing weeks off the bike. This year my "transition" period included a 70-mile ride, some high intensity cross races, and a number of other changes from the norm as well. Now, in the second week of October, base mileage and weight training are in full effect. Also, I'm working on putting together my racing schedule for the 08 season and lining up my sponsors, some of which are already on board. It's been quite the hectic transition period to say the least.

If all goes according to plan, I should have some big news to report in the near future. So, keep checking back. I promise to keep the posts coming more frequently now that I've got my ducks in a row.

Later,

Blue Star

Blue Star Way

Cashmere, WA is my kind of town.

Star-Crossed

This weekend is the big cyclocross show in the Northwest, Star-crossed. All the big guns come from around the country to Marymoor Park in Redmond, WA including K-Bomb, Wicks, Trebon, etc. This is a really exciting race because it is in the evening under the lights of the Velodrome. A barrier section runs through the beer garden where a dj is spinning some beats. The entire course is visible from the top of the south bank of the track, so spectators come out in the thousands. The fact that almost all the fields are maxed out is a testament to this race's greatness. Hopefully, my legs are ready to bring it, because it will be a hurricane of pain and everybody's watts will be on full show.

Blue Star

Ode to the Bottle Bitch

The NMBS Series finals went down in early August. All I had to do was finish within a few spots of a couple of guys and I had third place wrapped up. Mission accomplished, but I had to suffer in the process. The course was a lollipop shape with the majority of the race going down up around 10k feet above sea level. The race is stunningly beautiful and the 1track on Government Trail is awesome. Long story short, I finished and enjoyed my time in the Rocky Mountains once again even though I was not dicing for the win.

Another season comes to an end with one more podium.


A shiny plaque for the mantle.


All of my successes on the bike could not be possible without the best wife in the world. It's difficult for many people to understand all the preparation and sacrifices that go into bike racing including the training, equipment, nutrition, recovery, the mental game, etc. SLR, the self-proclaimed bottle bitch, makes sure everything is dialed in and all I have to worry about is pedaling my bike as hard I can. She is far from a bitch, more like a queen. I have nothing but respect, admiration, and gratitude for how much she puts into my racing. Following her example, I strive to give her unyielding support in whatever her goals are. Lately, she has been kicking ass on the bike herself getting ready for the Livestrong Challenge. Completely transforming her body and, more importantly, her belief of what she is capable of. She is an inspiration on so many levels and undoubtedly deserves the top step of the podium this year.

A helping hand on the course and in life.


Much KLH. Even with a muddy face!


Blue Star

BC Bike Race

This BC Bike Race from June 28 to July 4 has just been calendered for my 2008 season instead of the TransRockies. I can't imagine a better race: Victoria to Whistler in 7 days. Beauty, epic 1track, serious competition. Count me in. Anyone interested in being support crew?



Blue Star

Slacking

I know I'm long overdue for an update. Even though the season is over, I'm still riding. Getting ready for some CX and hitting up some local epics. Here's a shot from this weekend up on Crystal Mountain with THayes. It doesn't get much better. Note the new rig is in the stable.



I still owe an update on the NMBS Series Finals and rapping up 3rd place in the overall. But it will have to wait for another day, when I have the motivation and access to the photos.

Later yo,

Blue Star

Photo Dump

Here are the pictures from the Mt. Snow east coast trip that I promised...


The bikes made it on the plane free on the way out. Saved us $100.


Building the bikes at the CT base camp for the week.


I hit some 1track at Collis P. Huntington State Park near Trumbull, CT.


Glacial erratic, some trees, and the rig.


After arriving in VT on Tuesday, the rain started and it did not finish until Friday evening before my race on Saturday morning. I read a couple of books to pass the time.




The rain made the Mt. Snow 1track a quagmire. Thick mud + Steep Trail = Pushing a Heavy Bike Uphill for about 1 mile.


Yep, this one was for the stars and bars.


A gap already? Why am I slow today?




I was bombing the DH and passing guys, but...


... dragging ass on the UH and losing lots of time.


SLR sporting her new Blue Star attire.


She worked the crowded feed zone masterfully as usual.


2.5 hours later it was time for the suffering to end.


Wrecked and left with nothing in the tank.


The Blue Star Fan Club came out in full force. Many thanks!


Even though I sucked, I still had a great time at my favorite race venue in the country. Who could not be happy in such cool threads? Thanks SLR!

Next up, a Snowmass race report (altitude got me again!) and some pics of the new full suspension rig that will be in the stable tomorrow.

Blue Star

Race Report Delay, Series Finals, & 2008

I'm long overdue for an update about the east coast trip and my not-so-fast races at Mt. Snow. To be honest, I haven't had the motivation to revisit my lack luster performances and spin a yarn about the trip. Bottom line, I just didn't have the legs for some reason. Even more strange, I had a no-chain day (i.e. pedaling is so easy you have to check and if the chain is still there) on the Thursday after we got back to Seattle. Bike racing is an enigma. Sometimes you're fast, sometimes you're not. There is supposed to be "science" behind the training, but I think there is way more to it than periodization and spending lots of time riding. All the variables that come in to play are mind bending when you try and figure out what happened: too much saddle time, too little saddle time, good training but stressed mentally, the perfect day that happens for no apparent reason (e.g. the Padden race this year), nutrition, hydration, too much sleep, too little sleep, travel, etc., etc., etc. All I know is I love to ride and some races it works out and some it doesn't. I'll just keep on trying.

Racing aside, I love Vermont. I feel nearly as at home there as I do in the Pacific Northwest. The riding is really technical and the hardwood forests remind me of the days when I first got into the mountain bike lifestyle. I have a bunch of pictures to post from SLR and Dr. J and I promise to get them up shortly. I also have to say a big thank you to the Blue Star fan club that made the trip up from the Constitution State. The t-shirts rocked. Thanks to SLR for spearheading the effort. It sure made the pain of the muddy suffer fest a little more tolerable to know people were cheering me on. Maybe next year, I'll bring some legs.

This weekend SLR and I are off to Snowmass, Colorado for the NMBS Series finals. The course is 18 or so miles with 7000 feet of climbing. It's going to be crazy hard! I want to have a better showing than I did at the last altitude event I did in Park City. In any event, I'll be living it up enjoying the last mountain bike race of the year in the beautiful Aspens groves as the race descends Government Trail. Assuming I finish the race, I should finish 3rd overall in the series. Some more hardware to round at a year's worth of training, traveling, and racing.

Now that the season is winding down, I'm already starting to think about next season. A few changes are on tap. Do I go semi-pro? I'm leaning towards yes, assuming I can get a reduced work schedule. I know I'm making a sponsor switch as well. I've been working with Ellsworth for several years, but I've decided to move on for a variety of reasons. A primary reason is I think there are more technically advanced bikes that have come out in the past couple of years. Carbon fiber is an amazing material and my race bikes next year will be several pounds lighter than the alloy Ellsworths I was running. 2 lbs makes a huge difference on a long climb. Thanks to some help from Lloyd at Velo Bike Shop in Seattle I'll be rocking a Giant Anthem Advanced and XTC Carbon hardtail. I'm also contemplating expanding my race schedule to include some races other than NMBS and local XC events. In particular, I'm going to try to get a spot in the 2008 TransRockies. TransRockies is a seven-day mountain bike stage race that covers about 550km in the Kootenay mountains of British Columbia. A unique aspect of this race is that it is a team event. Teams consist of pairs of riders that must complete the entire course together remaining within two minutes of each other at all times. Choosing my teammate among my cycling friends will be an interesting process.

That's all for now. Sorry for the lack of posts and I promise some photos from the VT trip soon. Thanks for reading.

Blue Star

US National Championship

Mid-pack in the XC (13th out of 30) and Pulled in the Short Track. Not a stellar performance, but fun nevertheless. I will get a full report up this weekend.

Until then, check out this video of me riding with the Discovery Channel Team here. Lance is slowing down in his retirement. ;-)

Blue Star

Floyd Landis Speaks

I went to see Floyd speak at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park yesterday. It just so happens the store is at the bottom of my regular hill climb, so I found it sort of surreal listening to a guy who "won" the Tour de France last year just a few hundred yards from my usual training route.

He spoke for a couple of minutes, before opening the floor to questions. His introductory remarks were mostly about the beautiful weather and the good riding in Seattle. He seemed somewhat surprised by the number of attendees, several hundred. Then the questions came at him for about the next 45 minutes. The inquiries ranged from the benign, "Shimano or Campy?" to the serious, "Explain the Greg Lemond situation?"

I found he came across as a pretty genuine guy. He was clearly not all that comfortable with public speaking, but once grilled with questions he came into his own. He definitely had an aw shucks vibe about him when he received a standing ovation as he walked into the book store. He was funny and often cracked jokes before delving into a question more seriously.

Over the past few months, I read the briefing from his arbitration and hearing that his legal team posted on the Internet. I was struck by the discrepancies in the science, especially the margin of error between the two tests on the same sample. The standard deviation between the test results is clearly a red flag. Floyd mentioned during one answer that the Chatenay-Malabry laboratory has a significantly higher number of positive tests for testosterone than any other lab in the world.

Do I think he will prevail in his arbitration? I think he just might. Do I think the French lab screwed up? Absolutely. Do I think he doped? I just don't know. So many Pro Tour riders have confessed to getting some medical "help", it's hard to know what to think. SLR, on the other hand, thinks they all dope or were doping.

In the end, it doesn't really matter to me, because I find the most entertaining thing about bike racing is the beauty of the sport. Carbon and alloy machines gliding along through the majestic scenery of the French countryside and rising up through its high alpine peaks. The buzz of the freewheel, the whirl of carbon rims on pavement, the clicking of gears. Chearing fans on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. The snaking of the peloton as it winds through narrow switchbacked roads. It is simply, beautiful. For me, drugs cannot detract from that.

Padden Mountain Pedal

The Padden Mountain Pedal was unique in many ways. First, the pro/open and expert men were started together, but not before a show by several belly dancers for all the spectators and racers to enjoy.



Second, the race start wasn't the usual grid of racers 5 wide and 15 deep. It was a big curved single file line of racers across a baseball field. The chaotic part of it was we were all shooting for the woods 100 yards in the distance and the entrance to the trail was not wider than 10 feet between a tree and a concrete pole. 150 fast bike racers aiming for a hole shot is scary. Add in the fact the promoter offered $100 to the first person through onto the trail made it VERY VERY scary. My goal was to stay upright and not break my bike. With a shout, "GO!", the mania was on and the whole field of pro and expert men charged through the field towards the trail entrance. Many racers crashed. I got stuck mid-pack and had to wait my turn to get into the trail while racers untangled themselves from twisted bikes and bodies heaped at the entrance to the trail. I don't think this was the best way to start a race, but I'm sure it was interesting for the spectators to watch. Maybe it would garner some ESPN coverage if this was the standard protocol. Americans love carnage, right?



Third, I was really fast! After my less than stellar start, I had to play catch up to many riders that were way up the course by the time I got onto the trail. No problem. I was motoring and passing guys at ease. After passing what seemed like 50 guys on the initial climb, I settled into a pace I thought I could hold for the 5 laps. After a while, I stopped seeing expert numbered racers around me and it was only pro/open numbers around me. I even held back a little on the last lap in anticipation of a last lap surge from one of my main competitors that regularly has a strong kick at the end of a race. I never saw him or any other expert guys for that matter. I won! Victory is very sweet, especially when it's been my objective for so long and I've come so close, finishing second on several occasions over the last couple of years. I earned my top spot on the podium (cooler).



Fourth, I won something in the raffle. I've gone years without taking a raffle prize. This winless streak came to end with the announcement of the numbers "0-4-7". I won a sweet set of FSA K-force carbon cranks that have an MSRP for about $500.



All in all a great weekend! A real morale boost going into the Mt. Snow National Championships. In Vermont, I plan on turning my self inside out and leaving everything on the race course. As my high school basketball coach would say before big games, "Pain is temporary, glory of victory is forever!"

Blue Star