I've been home the last few days and it's been very nice and relaxing. I got in to Stevens Point on Tuesday and I'll be here until Sunday afternoon or so...maybe Saturday night. Not quite sure yet. I've seen some family, hung out with a couple friends, cleaned my bikes, and have gone on two very easy 1 hour rides.
It's definitely nice taking some time off the bike. Makes me realize other things that are going on and lets my body rest nicely. Yet, I can't wait to get back on the bike. On these two rides I've felt amazing...I know they've been slowly and easy, but my legs feel lots stronger and ready to train hard again. I'm liking the feeling. So Monday when I'm definitely back its time to go "solid" again.
I've watched two movies that I've been dying to see lately...Pan's Labyrinth and The Fountain. Both very good movies. The Fountain wasn't what I was expecting, but oh so good...yet confusing at first. After you think about it for awhile its sort of understandable....
I've also decided on what Superweek races I want to do....I'll give a list later when I do have it finalized. Pro/1/2 Superweek is going to be intense...
Other things that have gone on lately. Just today I travelled back to my youth when I use to play baseball. My friend Minch and I decided to take out the dusty gloves, bats and baseball and play a small little game. Batting practice, a little catch, and reminiscing of our childhood days. I played baseball for 10 years of my life...age 5 to 15. I quit because it just wasn't fun anymore and the skills just weren't developing because of it. But it was still nice to play a short game with an ex-teammate friend. I'm happy I went to cycling though....
The next couple of days I'm still just going to relax. I think tomorrow I'll go on another 1-1.5 hr ride slow and grab a coffee and relax in our "downtown" area....Saturday we're having a family picnic with Minch also invited. Then I'm either heading back to Madison on Saturday so I can make it to Jessie's Going Away Party, or I'm staying in Point one more night before I have to go back to work on Sunday...we'll see.
Time to eat some dinner....
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
27.6.07
25.6.07
UWW RR....
So after getting home at 4am. I woke up at 9am and drove Frye and myself over to Whitewater for another Road Race. Frye's race was at noon...mine was at 4pm. Means a lot of sitting around for me. Frye did well, finished with the field.
My race was a joke. I was actually kinda pissed the whole time. The race was 9 laps of a 6 mile course, which really was not selective at all. Some rollers and a small big ring climb at the end of each lap. There was barely any wind either that day. So my legs were not feeling too well after 6 days of fast and hard racing...300+ miles in about 10hrs will do that to a person. Halfway into lap 1 I decide to wake up the legs...so I attack. I got about 15 seconds on the field so I kept going. Then they decided they didn't want me out there. They brought me back in lap 2. A couple more useless attacks from others went. Lap 3, a Beans and Barley guy goes off. Looks promising cuz I know he's strong so I decide to bridge. I look back and another Beans and Barley guy is covering my move. We both look back and we have a gap. We decide to go for it. We catch the break and that guy drops his chain on the hill...damn it. That would have been a good break. I would have been outnumbered, but that would have been ok.
As we were going I could tell the B&B guy was not as strong. I pulled 70% of the time...his pulls were not as strong either. We had about a 30 second gap going. We were making some time too. He only had one teammate left after the dropped chain and I had no teammates...so no real shutting down of the field. But we had to keep working. For the first two laps out our little breakaway was going well, with me pulling alot of the time...and still feeling good. The third lap out we got to the final little hill of the lap and I go up it at a good tempo. I look back and he's off my wheel. I waited up for him and then drilled it when he got back on. The next time up the last hill, I dropped him again. This time I knew I had to just keep going. Well, the field saw that he was dropped so they kicked it into 2nd gear and started charging. They caught me 1/4th into lap 7. Damn it...I wish I had some teammates and had a stronger breakaway partner. I wasn't even tired when the field engulfed me. Right after that a Wheaton guy rolled "slowly" off the front and created a gap. I really should have gone with him, because he stayed off solo until the end and won. The field didn't do anything...and never really chased. They just wanted to be together and save some energy for their precious little sprint for 2nd at the end.
Nothing happened for the next 2.5 laps. It was slow and boring. I almost fell asleep. On the last lap I attacked with about 1/2 mile left and hear a PING. I kept going and was covered and then was countered. After that I didn't give a shit. And rolled in for about 12th or so. I checked and the PING was a broken rear spoke. Everything on my bike is breaking.
Pretty much that race showed me that I gained a little bit of form and I tried a couple more things that I haven't done in awhile. But the race pissed me off. I can't wait to get out of Cat 3...I actually applied for my Cat 2 upgrade. Hopefully I get it.
Congrats to Seth Meyer for winning his last ever Cat 3 race...
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
My race was a joke. I was actually kinda pissed the whole time. The race was 9 laps of a 6 mile course, which really was not selective at all. Some rollers and a small big ring climb at the end of each lap. There was barely any wind either that day. So my legs were not feeling too well after 6 days of fast and hard racing...300+ miles in about 10hrs will do that to a person. Halfway into lap 1 I decide to wake up the legs...so I attack. I got about 15 seconds on the field so I kept going. Then they decided they didn't want me out there. They brought me back in lap 2. A couple more useless attacks from others went. Lap 3, a Beans and Barley guy goes off. Looks promising cuz I know he's strong so I decide to bridge. I look back and another Beans and Barley guy is covering my move. We both look back and we have a gap. We decide to go for it. We catch the break and that guy drops his chain on the hill...damn it. That would have been a good break. I would have been outnumbered, but that would have been ok.
As we were going I could tell the B&B guy was not as strong. I pulled 70% of the time...his pulls were not as strong either. We had about a 30 second gap going. We were making some time too. He only had one teammate left after the dropped chain and I had no teammates...so no real shutting down of the field. But we had to keep working. For the first two laps out our little breakaway was going well, with me pulling alot of the time...and still feeling good. The third lap out we got to the final little hill of the lap and I go up it at a good tempo. I look back and he's off my wheel. I waited up for him and then drilled it when he got back on. The next time up the last hill, I dropped him again. This time I knew I had to just keep going. Well, the field saw that he was dropped so they kicked it into 2nd gear and started charging. They caught me 1/4th into lap 7. Damn it...I wish I had some teammates and had a stronger breakaway partner. I wasn't even tired when the field engulfed me. Right after that a Wheaton guy rolled "slowly" off the front and created a gap. I really should have gone with him, because he stayed off solo until the end and won. The field didn't do anything...and never really chased. They just wanted to be together and save some energy for their precious little sprint for 2nd at the end.
Nothing happened for the next 2.5 laps. It was slow and boring. I almost fell asleep. On the last lap I attacked with about 1/2 mile left and hear a PING. I kept going and was covered and then was countered. After that I didn't give a shit. And rolled in for about 12th or so. I checked and the PING was a broken rear spoke. Everything on my bike is breaking.
Pretty much that race showed me that I gained a little bit of form and I tried a couple more things that I haven't done in awhile. But the race pissed me off. I can't wait to get out of Cat 3...I actually applied for my Cat 2 upgrade. Hopefully I get it.
Congrats to Seth Meyer for winning his last ever Cat 3 race...
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
Tour of Ohio, Stage 6....
Stage 6 concludes the 2007 edition of the ToO. Stage 6 was a 4 corner, 40 mile criterium. The corners were huge and you really did not need to brake...making it an extremely fast, yet extremely easy race. Nothing special really happened. We did 60 laps which got pretty boring after awhile. I started in about 60th position or so. The pace was fast, but not hard. We averaged 28.5mph for the race. I was barely breathing that whole race and it was easy to move up. I moved up slowly every lap. See nothing too special.
I did want to contest the sprint. I actually sprinted pretty well. I ended up in 22nd for stage 6. I moved up one more spot on the GC. I finished 41st overall, only 6:33 back and I placed 2nd in the Best Cat 3 Rider Classification. Not too shabby for my first stage race....with no teammates. 2nd place Cat 3 got me 125$, which is pretty sweet. A lot of people said that this race was really hard...well, I'm happy I was able to hold my own in this race. I do feel stronger and feel more confident in my abilities.
If I can get good enough, next year I'm thinking about going to NVGP....
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
I did want to contest the sprint. I actually sprinted pretty well. I ended up in 22nd for stage 6. I moved up one more spot on the GC. I finished 41st overall, only 6:33 back and I placed 2nd in the Best Cat 3 Rider Classification. Not too shabby for my first stage race....with no teammates. 2nd place Cat 3 got me 125$, which is pretty sweet. A lot of people said that this race was really hard...well, I'm happy I was able to hold my own in this race. I do feel stronger and feel more confident in my abilities.
If I can get good enough, next year I'm thinking about going to NVGP....
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
23.6.07
Tour of Ohio, Stage 5....
Today was a bullshit race. We were suppose to do 5 laps of a 12.8 mile course and finish with 6 circuits for a total of 64 miles. Well, turned out we couldn't do the circuits in the city for some reason and they had us do 4 laps of an 11 or so mile course. 45 miles...that was it. We actually finished it faster than the stage 4. We averaged between 26-27 mph for this race.
The course was pancake flat with one little climb at the beginning of each lap. The climb wasn't even that horrible, but A&F drilled it so it did definitely hurt sometimes. Nothing eventful really happened today. No breakaways....lots tried. Seth Meyer got into 4 of them. About 50 riders got dropped. Huge group sprint of 80 riders.
The second time up the climb there was a crash half way up. I looked over and the white jersey was in it. Great just stay with the group and finish. It is a lousy way to win the jersey, I may add, but thats also bike racing. I was feeling good as the peloton was cruising at about 28-30 mph. All of a sudden I hear from behind "yeah, I was chasing really hard for awhile". I look back and its the White Jersey. That dude must be strong...and I respect him for that. It is something about having a jersey too...it just makes you go that much harder. So looks like he'll keep the white jersey, and I'll have to deal with 2nd, which isn't really that bad.
Other than that...not much happened in that race. Kinda boring. As Seth Meyer said, "Stage 5 should have been stage 2, stage 2 should have been stage 3, and stage 3 should have been today". I think that would have been a great idea. The race was pretty much won on Stage 3. These last 3 races are/have been crits. Nothing will change in a crit.
Well, today is the last day of the ToO. Stage starts at 7pm. 40 mile, 4 corner, 1km crit. All I have to do is stay with the pack and watch out for all 110 squirrely riders in the field, cuz I really don't want to crash on the last day. After the race we'll be heading back home, doing some night driving. Sunday I need to change my saddle cuz somehow it cracked perpendicular to the rails in the middle of the saddle. Too much Man-torque I guess. I have an extra saddle thank god. After I make that repair I think I'll go to the UWW road race and hopefully make some Cat 3's hurt.
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
The course was pancake flat with one little climb at the beginning of each lap. The climb wasn't even that horrible, but A&F drilled it so it did definitely hurt sometimes. Nothing eventful really happened today. No breakaways....lots tried. Seth Meyer got into 4 of them. About 50 riders got dropped. Huge group sprint of 80 riders.
The second time up the climb there was a crash half way up. I looked over and the white jersey was in it. Great just stay with the group and finish. It is a lousy way to win the jersey, I may add, but thats also bike racing. I was feeling good as the peloton was cruising at about 28-30 mph. All of a sudden I hear from behind "yeah, I was chasing really hard for awhile". I look back and its the White Jersey. That dude must be strong...and I respect him for that. It is something about having a jersey too...it just makes you go that much harder. So looks like he'll keep the white jersey, and I'll have to deal with 2nd, which isn't really that bad.
Other than that...not much happened in that race. Kinda boring. As Seth Meyer said, "Stage 5 should have been stage 2, stage 2 should have been stage 3, and stage 3 should have been today". I think that would have been a great idea. The race was pretty much won on Stage 3. These last 3 races are/have been crits. Nothing will change in a crit.
Well, today is the last day of the ToO. Stage starts at 7pm. 40 mile, 4 corner, 1km crit. All I have to do is stay with the pack and watch out for all 110 squirrely riders in the field, cuz I really don't want to crash on the last day. After the race we'll be heading back home, doing some night driving. Sunday I need to change my saddle cuz somehow it cracked perpendicular to the rails in the middle of the saddle. Too much Man-torque I guess. I have an extra saddle thank god. After I make that repair I think I'll go to the UWW road race and hopefully make some Cat 3's hurt.
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
21.6.07
Tour of Ohio, Stage 4....
To start off. After stage 3 I'm sitting in 43rd overall, 6:13 back. I did actually lose the White Jersey. I thought the other Cat 3 got dropped, but he was able to hang on in the front group. So he made 5 minutes on me. Kinda pissed me off. Oh well, anything can happen and at least I can definitely hold 2nd in that classification. But on to today's stage....
WOW...that was fast. There was a downhill with a headwind, turn, sharp big ring uphill, turn, gradual climb, straight, turn, straight. All of that in 1.2 miles...for 40 miles (33 laps). Well, it was pretty much a crit. Started off amazingly fast as usual. I started in the back, cuz guys like to camp out at the start an hour before the race even starts. I pretty much held on in the back for the whole race. My legs were just not into it today, but I wasn't going to drop out. I stayed next to the white jersey alot today. I didn't want to lose anymore time on him.
The race was extremely fast and hard...atleast thats what I thought as I secured the back. The downhill and the gradual climb were definitely the hardest parts of the course. The sharp climb was fine and I could always gain a couple positions up it. The downhills always saw speeds of 40-45 mph and it wasn't even that steep. With 26 laps to go my legs hurt pretty good and I wanted to drop out. But I kept telling myself to just keep going. Gaps were opening up right in front of me and the field kept getting smaller and smaller. I would close the gap...look behind me and there would be about 5 guys. So many people were dropping out. I had to stay in. With about 14 laps to go I started getting a little bit of the shivers...low electrolytes probably (don't worry I've been chugging the gatorade for tomorrow). Kept going.
With about 4 or 5 laps to go a crash happens on the 2nd to last straight. I swear, this is a sketchy field. I get around it and get back with the field. Each lap after that speeds up just a little bit...but not as fast as the other laps. I started to move up slowly during these laps. Couldn't drop now. With one lap to go A&F were drilling it as they have been for the whole week. I just hold on and finish with the field at the end.
Thank god my legs lasted that whole time. I was just thinking about the white jersey the whole time. It hurt real good. But after this stage my legs feel good again. After yesterday's stage my legs felt like complete crap. I even slept from 11pm until 1:30pm today. I was definitely tired. But now I'm more awake and ready for tomorrow.
Lots of people were saying that this is the hardest race they've done this year. Even two junior riders who raced a couple UCI events in Europe says that this race was harder. Matt Holecko said that he averaged 312 watts for that race...pedaling. I know I was definitely doing more than that being on the back and closing a lot of gaps. Well, I'm just happy that I've been staying alive lately and still going strong. I also definitely moved up a couple more spots on the GC...maybe top 40. I'll know more about that tomorrow morning...
Stage 5 will be 5 loops of a 12.8 mile course with 6 laps of a finishing circuit. I really hope to get back that 5 minutes on Dan Campbell (White Jersey leader). Anything can happen, and it has to happen tomorrow....
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
WOW...that was fast. There was a downhill with a headwind, turn, sharp big ring uphill, turn, gradual climb, straight, turn, straight. All of that in 1.2 miles...for 40 miles (33 laps). Well, it was pretty much a crit. Started off amazingly fast as usual. I started in the back, cuz guys like to camp out at the start an hour before the race even starts. I pretty much held on in the back for the whole race. My legs were just not into it today, but I wasn't going to drop out. I stayed next to the white jersey alot today. I didn't want to lose anymore time on him.
The race was extremely fast and hard...atleast thats what I thought as I secured the back. The downhill and the gradual climb were definitely the hardest parts of the course. The sharp climb was fine and I could always gain a couple positions up it. The downhills always saw speeds of 40-45 mph and it wasn't even that steep. With 26 laps to go my legs hurt pretty good and I wanted to drop out. But I kept telling myself to just keep going. Gaps were opening up right in front of me and the field kept getting smaller and smaller. I would close the gap...look behind me and there would be about 5 guys. So many people were dropping out. I had to stay in. With about 14 laps to go I started getting a little bit of the shivers...low electrolytes probably (don't worry I've been chugging the gatorade for tomorrow). Kept going.
With about 4 or 5 laps to go a crash happens on the 2nd to last straight. I swear, this is a sketchy field. I get around it and get back with the field. Each lap after that speeds up just a little bit...but not as fast as the other laps. I started to move up slowly during these laps. Couldn't drop now. With one lap to go A&F were drilling it as they have been for the whole week. I just hold on and finish with the field at the end.
Thank god my legs lasted that whole time. I was just thinking about the white jersey the whole time. It hurt real good. But after this stage my legs feel good again. After yesterday's stage my legs felt like complete crap. I even slept from 11pm until 1:30pm today. I was definitely tired. But now I'm more awake and ready for tomorrow.
Lots of people were saying that this is the hardest race they've done this year. Even two junior riders who raced a couple UCI events in Europe says that this race was harder. Matt Holecko said that he averaged 312 watts for that race...pedaling. I know I was definitely doing more than that being on the back and closing a lot of gaps. Well, I'm just happy that I've been staying alive lately and still going strong. I also definitely moved up a couple more spots on the GC...maybe top 40. I'll know more about that tomorrow morning...
Stage 5 will be 5 loops of a 12.8 mile course with 6 laps of a finishing circuit. I really hope to get back that 5 minutes on Dan Campbell (White Jersey leader). Anything can happen, and it has to happen tomorrow....
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
20.6.07
Tour of Ohio, Stage 3....
Today's race was hard...that's all I can say about it. 5 climbs in 64 miles. It was 82 degrees outside and we started at 1pm. Nice. Well, before the race I picked up my WHITE Best Cat 3 Rider's Jersey and put that on. That felt good. And its white...so it was Hott and awesome!
I started in the front row and was pushed back just a little bit. Still sitting pretty good. The first mile or so was a decent. After about 2-3 miles a break went off...with Seth Meyer in it. Good way to redeem yourself after being pissed off from the day before. The break stayed away for the whole race. It started with 5, maxed out at 12, and 4-5 finished with the others joining back into the group. The race was fast...but really easy to stick in a draft. It was pretty flat for the first 15 miles or so...That's what I think at least.
The first real climb came at about 24 miles in. I could see that there were not too many climbers in the field. I was able to get around a bunch of guys easily. Oh, there was also alot of gravel on this climb as well and that made people squirrely. I made it up fine. After the first climb there was an extremely fast decent (~50mph). One guy went right off the road into the grass, and went down hard. I hope he's alright.
Next, there were a couple rollers. At about 35 miles in, another climb. This one was really easy I thought. Probably about 5 minutes of climbing at about 5%. More guys fell off. Then right after that it got fast. I had a guy right in front of me just sit up and I had to sprint around him back up to the field. That was a good all out effort for about 1.5 minutes. Thanks dude. But I made it back on and had a couple guys tell me good pull. I recovered very nicely. The race went on. The next climb I don't really remember the 3rd climb...I just know I was with the group.
Next came another crash right in front of me...as usual. The field slowed to about 13mph and the guys in front of me kept braking and then bam. About 10 guys down. Slam on the brakes and slowly weave around them. The field was still going slow so getting back up to them was easy.
The next (4th) climb I thought was the hardest. Probably averaged well over 10% (it was also a stair stepper climb...about 5 sections to it. Up, flat, up, flat, up, etc.). It was hard. I had a couple more squirrely riders in front of me so I had to find a way around and lost a little time. The really strong guys were drilling it up this climb. I was catching dropped riders everywhere. Probably passed about 20 riders up that climb. I had a couple guys tell me to keep going. Thanks for the encouragement. Finally I made it up and over. I had one guy with me over the top. He started drilling it, but I needed just a little bit more recovery. I let him go and I caught him about 5 minutes later. The next 7 miles or so were roller after roller. When is it going to stop. Pain was setting in at this point, but I still felt strong. We caught a group of 6 in front of us and started working together...at least for a little bit. One of the guys got a Propel from his team car, drank half of it and then saw me and gave it to me. Ok I'll take it...I was a little thirsty. It's really nice how people respect the jersey leaders...or at least the Cat 3 rider that's somehow sticking with the P/1/2 field.
By the 5th climb we were in a group of 25 or so. I started up the climb and got into a groove. I was with two other guys and then we had a gap on the rest of the guys. I was definitely doing a lot of work in the group, but I was dropping guys easily....that made me feel good. But I still hated how no one was working. I had to save as much time as I could.
Next came the last 2 miles. A quick roller and then a hard right turn back towards the Old Man's Cave State Park. The road up to it had about a 2% gradient. Jamie Kimberly from Turin motioned for me to get on his wheel. I did and he drilled it...he was definitely helping me out to secure that White Jersey. Thanks Jamie! He did an awesome job getting me really good position. I finished 5th in the group. There was another group in front of us of about 25 guys with the 4 leaders in front of them. So about 35th on the day out of 129 guys....I think. Not too shabby. Only 5 minutes back from the leaders.
Seth Meyer gained about 1min30sec on me, putting him about 8.5 minutes behind me. I found out today that there was another Cat 3 rider tied for time with me today. It wasn't marked down on the sign in sheet that he was a Cat 3 by accident. I don't know how he finished. I don't think he was in the first group. It would be nice if I definitely got some good time on him. Then only Seth would be my main man to watch out for. But really we just want him or I to take the jersey. Him and I getting 1st and 2nd in that classification would rule. I'll know later tonight about results. I'm hoping...
I'll get a picture up later tonight of me in the Best Cat 3 Jersey for proof that I do actually have it.
Until tomorrow's next episode of the Tour of Ohio....
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
I started in the front row and was pushed back just a little bit. Still sitting pretty good. The first mile or so was a decent. After about 2-3 miles a break went off...with Seth Meyer in it. Good way to redeem yourself after being pissed off from the day before. The break stayed away for the whole race. It started with 5, maxed out at 12, and 4-5 finished with the others joining back into the group. The race was fast...but really easy to stick in a draft. It was pretty flat for the first 15 miles or so...That's what I think at least.
The first real climb came at about 24 miles in. I could see that there were not too many climbers in the field. I was able to get around a bunch of guys easily. Oh, there was also alot of gravel on this climb as well and that made people squirrely. I made it up fine. After the first climb there was an extremely fast decent (~50mph). One guy went right off the road into the grass, and went down hard. I hope he's alright.
Next, there were a couple rollers. At about 35 miles in, another climb. This one was really easy I thought. Probably about 5 minutes of climbing at about 5%. More guys fell off. Then right after that it got fast. I had a guy right in front of me just sit up and I had to sprint around him back up to the field. That was a good all out effort for about 1.5 minutes. Thanks dude. But I made it back on and had a couple guys tell me good pull. I recovered very nicely. The race went on. The next climb I don't really remember the 3rd climb...I just know I was with the group.
Next came another crash right in front of me...as usual. The field slowed to about 13mph and the guys in front of me kept braking and then bam. About 10 guys down. Slam on the brakes and slowly weave around them. The field was still going slow so getting back up to them was easy.
The next (4th) climb I thought was the hardest. Probably averaged well over 10% (it was also a stair stepper climb...about 5 sections to it. Up, flat, up, flat, up, etc.). It was hard. I had a couple more squirrely riders in front of me so I had to find a way around and lost a little time. The really strong guys were drilling it up this climb. I was catching dropped riders everywhere. Probably passed about 20 riders up that climb. I had a couple guys tell me to keep going. Thanks for the encouragement. Finally I made it up and over. I had one guy with me over the top. He started drilling it, but I needed just a little bit more recovery. I let him go and I caught him about 5 minutes later. The next 7 miles or so were roller after roller. When is it going to stop. Pain was setting in at this point, but I still felt strong. We caught a group of 6 in front of us and started working together...at least for a little bit. One of the guys got a Propel from his team car, drank half of it and then saw me and gave it to me. Ok I'll take it...I was a little thirsty. It's really nice how people respect the jersey leaders...or at least the Cat 3 rider that's somehow sticking with the P/1/2 field.
By the 5th climb we were in a group of 25 or so. I started up the climb and got into a groove. I was with two other guys and then we had a gap on the rest of the guys. I was definitely doing a lot of work in the group, but I was dropping guys easily....that made me feel good. But I still hated how no one was working. I had to save as much time as I could.
Next came the last 2 miles. A quick roller and then a hard right turn back towards the Old Man's Cave State Park. The road up to it had about a 2% gradient. Jamie Kimberly from Turin motioned for me to get on his wheel. I did and he drilled it...he was definitely helping me out to secure that White Jersey. Thanks Jamie! He did an awesome job getting me really good position. I finished 5th in the group. There was another group in front of us of about 25 guys with the 4 leaders in front of them. So about 35th on the day out of 129 guys....I think. Not too shabby. Only 5 minutes back from the leaders.
Seth Meyer gained about 1min30sec on me, putting him about 8.5 minutes behind me. I found out today that there was another Cat 3 rider tied for time with me today. It wasn't marked down on the sign in sheet that he was a Cat 3 by accident. I don't know how he finished. I don't think he was in the first group. It would be nice if I definitely got some good time on him. Then only Seth would be my main man to watch out for. But really we just want him or I to take the jersey. Him and I getting 1st and 2nd in that classification would rule. I'll know later tonight about results. I'm hoping...
I'll get a picture up later tonight of me in the Best Cat 3 Jersey for proof that I do actually have it.
Until tomorrow's next episode of the Tour of Ohio....
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
ToO stage 2 results....
Just wanted to let everyone know quick. I'm sitting tied in 7th place overall with a whole bunch of guys. Only 20 seconds down. And right now I'm the best Cat 3 rider...with over 9min on the next Cat 3!!! Today I'll have to try extremely hard to keep that going.
Wish me luck!
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
Wish me luck!
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
19.6.07
Tour of Ohio, Stage 2....
Ok so to start off...yesterday I was placed at the 73rd position. They did take my time at lap 8 to go. 1:17:30. Atleast I'm the same as the field.
On to today. Today was not looking too good weather wise. But it did come through alright during the race. They actually changed the course a little I guess...it was 6 laps of an 8.6 mile loop with a couple of rollers and a 500m climb up to the finish. We got to the race a little later than expected. I got ready and it was already time to line up pretty much. I got a spot in about the 5th row...I believe. I'm pretty tired so I may be wrong, but it was up there. It was sprinkling a little bit, but not horribly bad. They were going to stop the race if the weather got too bad. Never did. Actually cleared up after the first lap. From the gun, the race had a blistering pace going. People were attacking and the teams would not let them go...then another group would attack and the pace stayed high for the first 3 laps. I was just hanging on the back pretty much the whole time. A couple gaps opened up here and there so I would have to close them...a few I was worried I wouldn't be able to close, but the field slowed down just enough for me to get back on, which was a relief. The field was disintegrating quickly. Lap 4 slowed down a little bit...I think some of the teams were a little tired. So that was a little bit of good rest. Lap 5 sped up again and again I was hanging on for dear life. Every time I looked back I was 5th from the back even after moving up 10-15 positions at times. Lap 6 was fast too...seeing that it was the last lap and teams were getting their sprinters into place. On one of the climbs on the backside I passed Jamie Kimberly from Illinois. He decided to grab hold of my jersey pocket to help him up. But for reimbursement he gave me a little push. No prob...I thought it was funny. During the last lap I witnessed two crashes...right in front of me of course. One was around a left turn that was still wet due to tree coverage. 3 MSU guys down right in front of me. I slammed on the brakes, but not enough to slide my wheels out from underneath me. I did not want to join them and ruin my position. I got through that alright. Then about 2 miles later, two guys go down on a straight away, pretty much right in front of me again...this time I really had to slam on the brakes. My rear wheel fish-tailed a little, but I was able to save it. At this point the race got extremely fast. I tried to drill it back up to the field after losing a little ground due to the crash. I was successful, but only after about a mile of it and I was spent. I was able to hold on the back, but then another surge went and I started falling off just before the final climb. I also started cramping a little bit in the quads. I just kept going, because it was the finish and because I saw some of the guys in the field starting to fall of on the climb that I could gain some time on. About 3/4th up I passed the yellow jersey and got about 15 seconds on him, which was awesome. He definitely exploded, due to the crawling uphill at a very slow pace. I was able to come in about 20-25 seconds back from the field at the end. About 40th position I think. Only about 50 or so finished in the main field.
I think it was a good race. Hard, but good. It showed me what I can do and that I have atleast some form. I wanted to just drop out after 2 laps...but I kept going because I thought it was going to slow down just a little bit, after a break went. But no break = no break for me. I made it through two days now and I think I'm sitting decently on the GC...at least for my ability. I moved up a little bit on the GC...I'll know more tomorrow for that.
Tomorrow's race will be extremely hard. 64 mile out and back with 5 climbs. Guys that have done this stage before said to have a 27 cog in the back. Well, I have a 25. I'll have to live with it. I just hope to lose less than 20 minutes on the field. It'll be hard and I'm going to try my best.
Ciao ciao...
Waitey
On to today. Today was not looking too good weather wise. But it did come through alright during the race. They actually changed the course a little I guess...it was 6 laps of an 8.6 mile loop with a couple of rollers and a 500m climb up to the finish. We got to the race a little later than expected. I got ready and it was already time to line up pretty much. I got a spot in about the 5th row...I believe. I'm pretty tired so I may be wrong, but it was up there. It was sprinkling a little bit, but not horribly bad. They were going to stop the race if the weather got too bad. Never did. Actually cleared up after the first lap. From the gun, the race had a blistering pace going. People were attacking and the teams would not let them go...then another group would attack and the pace stayed high for the first 3 laps. I was just hanging on the back pretty much the whole time. A couple gaps opened up here and there so I would have to close them...a few I was worried I wouldn't be able to close, but the field slowed down just enough for me to get back on, which was a relief. The field was disintegrating quickly. Lap 4 slowed down a little bit...I think some of the teams were a little tired. So that was a little bit of good rest. Lap 5 sped up again and again I was hanging on for dear life. Every time I looked back I was 5th from the back even after moving up 10-15 positions at times. Lap 6 was fast too...seeing that it was the last lap and teams were getting their sprinters into place. On one of the climbs on the backside I passed Jamie Kimberly from Illinois. He decided to grab hold of my jersey pocket to help him up. But for reimbursement he gave me a little push. No prob...I thought it was funny. During the last lap I witnessed two crashes...right in front of me of course. One was around a left turn that was still wet due to tree coverage. 3 MSU guys down right in front of me. I slammed on the brakes, but not enough to slide my wheels out from underneath me. I did not want to join them and ruin my position. I got through that alright. Then about 2 miles later, two guys go down on a straight away, pretty much right in front of me again...this time I really had to slam on the brakes. My rear wheel fish-tailed a little, but I was able to save it. At this point the race got extremely fast. I tried to drill it back up to the field after losing a little ground due to the crash. I was successful, but only after about a mile of it and I was spent. I was able to hold on the back, but then another surge went and I started falling off just before the final climb. I also started cramping a little bit in the quads. I just kept going, because it was the finish and because I saw some of the guys in the field starting to fall of on the climb that I could gain some time on. About 3/4th up I passed the yellow jersey and got about 15 seconds on him, which was awesome. He definitely exploded, due to the crawling uphill at a very slow pace. I was able to come in about 20-25 seconds back from the field at the end. About 40th position I think. Only about 50 or so finished in the main field.
I think it was a good race. Hard, but good. It showed me what I can do and that I have atleast some form. I wanted to just drop out after 2 laps...but I kept going because I thought it was going to slow down just a little bit, after a break went. But no break = no break for me. I made it through two days now and I think I'm sitting decently on the GC...at least for my ability. I moved up a little bit on the GC...I'll know more tomorrow for that.
Tomorrow's race will be extremely hard. 64 mile out and back with 5 climbs. Guys that have done this stage before said to have a 27 cog in the back. Well, I have a 25. I'll have to live with it. I just hope to lose less than 20 minutes on the field. It'll be hard and I'm going to try my best.
Ciao ciao...
Waitey
Tour of Ohio, Stage 1....
Well, first off it took us about 9 hrs to get down to Ohio due to traffic and construction. But we made it here. Frye’s grandparents’ house rules. Very nice place, pool table, and they are constantly feeding us. I kinda feel spoiled. But I guess they like it.
Ok stage 1. It was about 95 degrees Fahrenheit today. It was a dry heat though, which I like a lot more than that horrible humidity that just zaps my energy. We got there and saw some pretty big teams. Kelly Regional Team, Priority Health, A&F, Colavita Regional Team and others. We thought it was going to be hard. I just wanted to finish. The course was a 1km long 8 corner criterium. We did 40 miles of it, which turned out to be 68 laps. Damn that got boring after awhile. Well, I started in the 6th or 7th row of the 127 person field right next to Seth Meyer. Matt Holecko got a good position in the front row. The race got started and it really wasn’t that fast. Probably because of the all the corners. I got pushed back a little bit in the field. After about 10 laps or so my legs started feeling good and I had a bit more confidence so I started moving up. I thought it was really easy to move up in the corners and on the finishing straight. When I really wanted to I would gun it up to a corner and cut it in close and make up about 5 to 6 spots. The finishing straight was the same thing. The corners were very smooth and I barely had to touch my breaks. God I love people that know how to ride a bike. So pretty much the whole race I kept moving up and then pushed back a little, etc. I had to close down 4 gaps during the race, because some riders just sat right up...right in front of me nonetheless. But it always came out good in the end.
So they had a rule during the race. You just had to make it to 8 laps left and they would take your time at that point. After that you could drop out...the last part was meant for the sprinters, due to the narrow course. I made it to that last 8 laps with the field, so I should have the same time as pretty much everyone else...but I kept going. Over the next 8 laps I started risking it a little more to make a couple more positions here and there. I was going for the Best Cat 3 Jersey. I didn’t know who was a Cat 3. The only ones I know about are me, Seth Meyer, Jason Carr and one of the guys riding for MSU/Hotter N’ Hell. And I wasn’t about to drop out of a race just because I could. I’m definitely going to finish. Many people dropped out after that 8 lap rule. The pace did get faster, but it was still pretty easy. I had Seth Meyer behind me and I was following an MSU riders wheel (I don’t know if he was Cat 3 or not...I wasn’t going to risk it, so I had to beat him). At the end I was able to sprint around the MSU guy and keep Seth behind me. The race only averaged ~24mph.
I guess I placed in the upper third of the field. Hopefully top 40...and hopefully I got the Best Cat 3 rider as of right now. I’ll know that tomorrow. I really don’t think there are too many cat 3’s in this race.
Well, tomorrow is a 53-mile road race. It’s 5 laps of a ~10 mile lap with two climbs per lap. Start time is 5pm...it may rain. I just hope the legs have what it takes.
Oh and congrats to Nick “Steamer” Frye. He won the Cat 4/5 race today and got some sweet new orange tyres that match his bike. Yeah...he pretty much crushed the field.
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
Ok stage 1. It was about 95 degrees Fahrenheit today. It was a dry heat though, which I like a lot more than that horrible humidity that just zaps my energy. We got there and saw some pretty big teams. Kelly Regional Team, Priority Health, A&F, Colavita Regional Team and others. We thought it was going to be hard. I just wanted to finish. The course was a 1km long 8 corner criterium. We did 40 miles of it, which turned out to be 68 laps. Damn that got boring after awhile. Well, I started in the 6th or 7th row of the 127 person field right next to Seth Meyer. Matt Holecko got a good position in the front row. The race got started and it really wasn’t that fast. Probably because of the all the corners. I got pushed back a little bit in the field. After about 10 laps or so my legs started feeling good and I had a bit more confidence so I started moving up. I thought it was really easy to move up in the corners and on the finishing straight. When I really wanted to I would gun it up to a corner and cut it in close and make up about 5 to 6 spots. The finishing straight was the same thing. The corners were very smooth and I barely had to touch my breaks. God I love people that know how to ride a bike. So pretty much the whole race I kept moving up and then pushed back a little, etc. I had to close down 4 gaps during the race, because some riders just sat right up...right in front of me nonetheless. But it always came out good in the end.
So they had a rule during the race. You just had to make it to 8 laps left and they would take your time at that point. After that you could drop out...the last part was meant for the sprinters, due to the narrow course. I made it to that last 8 laps with the field, so I should have the same time as pretty much everyone else...but I kept going. Over the next 8 laps I started risking it a little more to make a couple more positions here and there. I was going for the Best Cat 3 Jersey. I didn’t know who was a Cat 3. The only ones I know about are me, Seth Meyer, Jason Carr and one of the guys riding for MSU/Hotter N’ Hell. And I wasn’t about to drop out of a race just because I could. I’m definitely going to finish. Many people dropped out after that 8 lap rule. The pace did get faster, but it was still pretty easy. I had Seth Meyer behind me and I was following an MSU riders wheel (I don’t know if he was Cat 3 or not...I wasn’t going to risk it, so I had to beat him). At the end I was able to sprint around the MSU guy and keep Seth behind me. The race only averaged ~24mph.
I guess I placed in the upper third of the field. Hopefully top 40...and hopefully I got the Best Cat 3 rider as of right now. I’ll know that tomorrow. I really don’t think there are too many cat 3’s in this race.
Well, tomorrow is a 53-mile road race. It’s 5 laps of a ~10 mile lap with two climbs per lap. Start time is 5pm...it may rain. I just hope the legs have what it takes.
Oh and congrats to Nick “Steamer” Frye. He won the Cat 4/5 race today and got some sweet new orange tyres that match his bike. Yeah...he pretty much crushed the field.
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
Giro d'Grafton....
So Saturday saw the Giro d’Grafton criterium. I arrived early (about 1pm) to watch a little bit of the Men’s 4/5 race. Steamer finished 3rd, which is awesome for him. He’ll probably get his 3’s upgrade by the end of the season. After that I sat around for about 2 hrs for my race to start at 4:30pm.
The course was kinda sweet. Long finishing straight with 6 corners and one little hill after corner 2. The cat 3 field started with probably around 45-50 starters...I think. The race started out amazingly slow. I actually rode up to Seth Meyer and asked if this felt really easy. He agreed. Then all of a sudden after about 10 minutes into the crit Dallas was found on front drilling the pace and then trying a break. He got away for a little bit, but was pulled back not too long after. He did end up winning 2 primes. After a while I tried going on a couple breaks. I went on 4 total during the race. One looked promising...but then my legs said no. So I went back into the field and rested up. A couple Get A Grip guys decided to go and they were chased down. That was pretty much the whole race...attack after attack. With 3 laps to go I noticed the field slowing down so I decided to try my luck. I didn’t really attack...I just went a little harder and rode off the front. I looked back and had a pretty decent gap. I actually went around the first corner and heard a couple guys go down...ah Cat 3 riders. I stayed out for about 3/4th of a lap and looked back...still a gap, but Seth Meyer bridged up to me. Sweet. We went about another 1/2 of a lap and Dallas bridged up to us too. Thats what I call a pretty awesome breakaway group. This is the group that I think all the cat 3 riders are scared of. Well around the last corner of lap two...Seth hits some melting tar just wrong and his front wheel locks up, he saved it pretty well though. It made me hit my brakes and Dallas got a little gap on us. Well the field started going really hard now...and caught us all. Damn it. I think it could have stuck if we just communicated a little more to each other. At least we know that for next time. We stayed with the field for the last lap and sprinted. Dallas got 12th (with puking in the sprint), I got 15th (last money spot) and Seth got 22nd. The race averaged 27mph...pretty good. Didn’t seem that hard though.
I stayed for the Pro/1/2 race. All I can say is Twilight Crits rule! Crazy race though. After 2 or 3 laps a break of 15 got off and stayed off with lapping the field at minute 70. Some big names were in that break. Some Kelly Regional rider ended up winning, Garrett Peltonen was 2nd and Freshie Steve took 4th.
Monday starts the Tour of Ohio. We drive down on Sunday. I’ll try and write a report after every stage...
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
The course was kinda sweet. Long finishing straight with 6 corners and one little hill after corner 2. The cat 3 field started with probably around 45-50 starters...I think. The race started out amazingly slow. I actually rode up to Seth Meyer and asked if this felt really easy. He agreed. Then all of a sudden after about 10 minutes into the crit Dallas was found on front drilling the pace and then trying a break. He got away for a little bit, but was pulled back not too long after. He did end up winning 2 primes. After a while I tried going on a couple breaks. I went on 4 total during the race. One looked promising...but then my legs said no. So I went back into the field and rested up. A couple Get A Grip guys decided to go and they were chased down. That was pretty much the whole race...attack after attack. With 3 laps to go I noticed the field slowing down so I decided to try my luck. I didn’t really attack...I just went a little harder and rode off the front. I looked back and had a pretty decent gap. I actually went around the first corner and heard a couple guys go down...ah Cat 3 riders. I stayed out for about 3/4th of a lap and looked back...still a gap, but Seth Meyer bridged up to me. Sweet. We went about another 1/2 of a lap and Dallas bridged up to us too. Thats what I call a pretty awesome breakaway group. This is the group that I think all the cat 3 riders are scared of. Well around the last corner of lap two...Seth hits some melting tar just wrong and his front wheel locks up, he saved it pretty well though. It made me hit my brakes and Dallas got a little gap on us. Well the field started going really hard now...and caught us all. Damn it. I think it could have stuck if we just communicated a little more to each other. At least we know that for next time. We stayed with the field for the last lap and sprinted. Dallas got 12th (with puking in the sprint), I got 15th (last money spot) and Seth got 22nd. The race averaged 27mph...pretty good. Didn’t seem that hard though.
I stayed for the Pro/1/2 race. All I can say is Twilight Crits rule! Crazy race though. After 2 or 3 laps a break of 15 got off and stayed off with lapping the field at minute 70. Some big names were in that break. Some Kelly Regional rider ended up winning, Garrett Peltonen was 2nd and Freshie Steve took 4th.
Monday starts the Tour of Ohio. We drive down on Sunday. I’ll try and write a report after every stage...
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
15.6.07
Racing, Part II....
It's been well over a month since my last post. I'm just lazy...what can I say. This summer has been pretty good so far. I've been waking up early, which is a first....then I go on a long bike ride....get home....take a nap (sometimes)....and then either hang out for the night or go to work. I like doing that. That's what I live for.
So far this year I've done 25 races. I have 25 more this year and then its cyclo-cross season. So far its going well. I've been going pretty well in the cat 3 races. I've been more working for Dallas and Corey...but I see myself as more of a domestique. I'll give a little overview of the more important races done so far since my last post.
Collegiate Natz RR: 90 mile road race on a 90 degree day....
There was flooding on one part of the course so they had to reroute the beginning of the race...onto a 2 mile gravel road. AWESOME!!! I loved it. The first time through it was neutral and at the end of it we waited for 40 people to get flats changed. The race wasn't too fast...at least not as fast as the first year I did it (2 years ago)...or maybe I am that much stronger. I actually thought it was fairly easy. My goals for the race were stay with the pack to the finish, go on a breakaway and be in the front of the field. Well, two of them came true. During the first lap I saw an opening and gunned it right up to the front...goal 1 complete. I was able to stay in the first half of the field for the race. Halfway through the first lap, a group of 5 tried getting away so I tried my luck and went with them. We didn't stay out too long, cuz they couldn't work together too well...but at least I was out there. At the last little climb of the lap, before the gravel section I was getting water bottles in the feed zone. All of a sudden I look straight ahead and there's a pile up of 12 guys about 10 feet tall right in my path. I go all the way around the left of them away from the feed zone and get by safely...but theres a gap between me and the field. Well, in gravel sections the first group tends to drill the pace. I worked my ass off through the gravel section passing and seeing about 60 riders on the side of the road waiting for the wheel truck. Thank god I didn't get a flat. Got through it, but had a little bit more work to do. I was joined by 5 more guys (one of them being ultra-squirrely and cutting across my front wheel and going into the left ditch...I think he's cleat came out of the pedal). The main group slowed down a little and we were able to catch back on. The field started with about 160 riders I believe...at this point we were down to about 80 or so after the gravel. Most of the big dogs were out of the race cuz they didn't have enough wheels for everyone. We even lost Freshie Steve. But don't worry, he soloed it back to the group for 20 miles...it was also the fastest lap the field had (he's kinda strong...you know). We'll I pulled the field for a little bit on the backside, trying to pull back a breakaway. Cut the time gap down a little bit...good feeling. Still felt good. We got back to the final climb of the lap and there was another crash in front of me that I had to go left of away from the feed zone. I was just on the back of the field though...so going good. We got to the gravel...halfway through I see Baumann with a flat. I stop and give him my front wheel. He goes 3 feet and the rear flats. We have a little bit of trouble getting the rear wheel off my bike but finally get it. I wait for the wheel truck...thank god they had wheels again. I didn't want to drop out. It was Eric Bean, Baumann and me. We were going to TTT back to the field. Well, after stopping for that long (about 6 minutes) my legs thought the race was done and started going into shut down mode. And neutral support put in the wheels crooked and were rubbing on the breaks so that slowed me down in the gravel, which I noticed after getting out of that section. So I had to stop and readjust them...losing more time. While I soloed it in for 69th place. Congrats to Freshie for his 4th place and Seth Meyer for 20th (thank god for training in Europe...it actually does make you stronger).
The scene for most of the day in all divisions
I also did the open Crit...I got 18th. Legs didn't feel too great that day.
Memorial Day Weekend:
Next major races were Snake Alley, Melon Cities, and Quad Cities. Snake Alley was hard. It started raining just before our race and did so for the first 5 laps or so making the Snake very slick and sketchy. You couldn't get out of the saddle and would have to try and not slip around. I started 4th row in the middle, which was pretty good positioning Well, right as the race started the whole right side of the field missed their clip-in and the left side of the field had a flawless clip-in. I was right in the middle. I got about 30th place going into the first corner right before the Snake...damn it. Also, right at the corner someone crashes due to locking up their brakes and sliding. They hit my rear wheel, but luckily I didn't go down. The rest of the race was going hard and chasing. I kept making my way up slowly. I was feeling good and my climbing was pretty good too. I ended up in a sprint with two other guys...I beat one, but jumped a little too late and Sam Stone beat me by about half a wheel, maybe even less. Well, I got 21st. 1 place outside of the money. Dallas got 2nd, Corey got 5th.
Melon Cities. We wanted to get me in a break. The pace was high for the whole 18 laps. No one could get away. The last lap the field started slowing way down...so instead of making it dangerous I jumped on the front and drove the pace until halfway up the final hill...Corey was able to hold my wheel in the leadout and get 3rd place. Dallas and I finished in the field.
Quad Cities. This was a fun race. 30 laps of rage in the cage due to chicken wire holding us in and the drunkards out. I guess it was the fastest average speed during the day including the P/1/2 field. Awesome. We wanted to get me in a break again today with one of the Get A Grip guys. Well, right from the start I started in the 4th row again and some guy in front of me falls over at the f#$*ing start line. I get pushed back alot. I stay on the back for the first 5 laps, doing sprints around every corner to get the legs good and warmed up. On the 6th lap I go from the last 1/4 of the group to the top 15. I stayed there for awhile. With 10 laps to go I attack with Steve from Get A Grip. GAG and BD are at the front shutting down the field. I look back and there are 3 more riders bridging up to us. Steve looks back and thinks its the field...I tell him to pull around me and get this going. He tells me "I don't want to blow my load too soon". WHAT!?! We had more than a block gap on the field and it was growing. I just needed a second of rest and then could have pulled again...but he stopped pedaling and the break was caught. Not gonna lie...I was pissed. No more breaks were going to go. I wanted to try with 4 laps to go, but I got cut off and one guy went off the front and won it solo...I should have been up there with him. With 2 laps to go, knowing that I don't have a sprint and the field was slowing way down to save some energy for the sprint...I jumped on the front and drilled it amazingly hard for Corey and Dallas. I lasted on the front for 1.75 laps. Averaging between 33-36mph the whole time. I made the field string out. At the 2nd to last corner Dallas and Corey sprint around me and were able to hold the field off for 2nd and 3rd place, respectively, with me finishing in the pack. We were definitely the team that controlled the whole race and what we planned out actually happened. We really work well as a team. I'm just happy they at least gave me a shout out on the podium.
On the front of the Quad Cities Crit, drilling the pace for the last 2 laps....
State Champs RR:
The last race of importance so far this year. This course was small rolling hills with one 300 meter power climb up to the finish. Seth Meyer and I definitely wanted to get something going in this. We both tried attacking many times during this race, but we were both definitely targeted. The field would let solo riders go and then slowly pull them back. Yet every time either Seth or myself would attack the field would be on our asses immediately. They were watching us like hawks. Seth and I were putting in solid attacks...just the field never wanted to see us go. The first time up the climb I was sitting about 4th wheel. I saw Seth come around me and I jumped on his wheel immediately. I was actually surprised I was able to stay on his wheel easily, seeing that I'm a fat ass and wouldn't quite call myself a climber. For the next 6 laps I always found myself no farther back than 5th wheel on that power climb. I probably attacked about 6-7 times during that race. Nothing ever worked. Finally with 2 laps to go 2 guys get off the front and one was able to stay off for the solo win...we caught the other guy up the final hill. Well, going up the final climb up to the finish I was sitting 5th wheel and moving up. 2 guys come around me on the right. I look to my left and the first guy to pass me is flailing all around with both feet unclipped. He threw the 2nd guy into my path and I had to slam on my brakes and get started again uphill...that sucks alot. I had about 6-7 guys pass me. I was able to hold off the rest of the field for 12th, but I should have been top 5. I was pissed. But oh well...50 guys started, 30 or so finished and I was always one of the first up the power climb. I gave a good effort for that whole race.
Now on to training. I've been putting in 4-5 hours days in on the bike in just the small ring with a couple hard efforts up hills. Doing this has definitely made me a lot stronger. I feel as if my climbing, sprinting, and overall power are improved. I definitely feel like one of the stronger Cat 3's in the field. I can't wait to upgrade to Cat 2...get my ass handed to me and improve even more. Tomorrow is the Grafton crit and I'm holding nothing back for that win. I'm not giving any type of leadout...I'm going to save everything I have for the final sprint or get in a break. After that I will be leaving for Tour of Ohio (which I hope to update this blog after every stage). 6 day stage race all around Ohio. 340 miles. Cat 1-3 race. Should be good, fun and hard. I'm ready....
I'll also probably have a couple interesting updates later on in the summer. Oh and I got a new sweet toy. I'll let you know more about that later....
Hopefully, I start updating this more so I don't have to write 20 pages at a time and remember half a summer's worth of memories...
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
So far this year I've done 25 races. I have 25 more this year and then its cyclo-cross season. So far its going well. I've been going pretty well in the cat 3 races. I've been more working for Dallas and Corey...but I see myself as more of a domestique. I'll give a little overview of the more important races done so far since my last post.
Collegiate Natz RR: 90 mile road race on a 90 degree day....
There was flooding on one part of the course so they had to reroute the beginning of the race...onto a 2 mile gravel road. AWESOME!!! I loved it. The first time through it was neutral and at the end of it we waited for 40 people to get flats changed. The race wasn't too fast...at least not as fast as the first year I did it (2 years ago)...or maybe I am that much stronger. I actually thought it was fairly easy. My goals for the race were stay with the pack to the finish, go on a breakaway and be in the front of the field. Well, two of them came true. During the first lap I saw an opening and gunned it right up to the front...goal 1 complete. I was able to stay in the first half of the field for the race. Halfway through the first lap, a group of 5 tried getting away so I tried my luck and went with them. We didn't stay out too long, cuz they couldn't work together too well...but at least I was out there. At the last little climb of the lap, before the gravel section I was getting water bottles in the feed zone. All of a sudden I look straight ahead and there's a pile up of 12 guys about 10 feet tall right in my path. I go all the way around the left of them away from the feed zone and get by safely...but theres a gap between me and the field. Well, in gravel sections the first group tends to drill the pace. I worked my ass off through the gravel section passing and seeing about 60 riders on the side of the road waiting for the wheel truck. Thank god I didn't get a flat. Got through it, but had a little bit more work to do. I was joined by 5 more guys (one of them being ultra-squirrely and cutting across my front wheel and going into the left ditch...I think he's cleat came out of the pedal). The main group slowed down a little and we were able to catch back on. The field started with about 160 riders I believe...at this point we were down to about 80 or so after the gravel. Most of the big dogs were out of the race cuz they didn't have enough wheels for everyone. We even lost Freshie Steve. But don't worry, he soloed it back to the group for 20 miles...it was also the fastest lap the field had (he's kinda strong...you know). We'll I pulled the field for a little bit on the backside, trying to pull back a breakaway. Cut the time gap down a little bit...good feeling. Still felt good. We got back to the final climb of the lap and there was another crash in front of me that I had to go left of away from the feed zone. I was just on the back of the field though...so going good. We got to the gravel...halfway through I see Baumann with a flat. I stop and give him my front wheel. He goes 3 feet and the rear flats. We have a little bit of trouble getting the rear wheel off my bike but finally get it. I wait for the wheel truck...thank god they had wheels again. I didn't want to drop out. It was Eric Bean, Baumann and me. We were going to TTT back to the field. Well, after stopping for that long (about 6 minutes) my legs thought the race was done and started going into shut down mode. And neutral support put in the wheels crooked and were rubbing on the breaks so that slowed me down in the gravel, which I noticed after getting out of that section. So I had to stop and readjust them...losing more time. While I soloed it in for 69th place. Congrats to Freshie for his 4th place and Seth Meyer for 20th (thank god for training in Europe...it actually does make you stronger).
The scene for most of the day in all divisions
I also did the open Crit...I got 18th. Legs didn't feel too great that day.
Memorial Day Weekend:
Next major races were Snake Alley, Melon Cities, and Quad Cities. Snake Alley was hard. It started raining just before our race and did so for the first 5 laps or so making the Snake very slick and sketchy. You couldn't get out of the saddle and would have to try and not slip around. I started 4th row in the middle, which was pretty good positioning Well, right as the race started the whole right side of the field missed their clip-in and the left side of the field had a flawless clip-in. I was right in the middle. I got about 30th place going into the first corner right before the Snake...damn it. Also, right at the corner someone crashes due to locking up their brakes and sliding. They hit my rear wheel, but luckily I didn't go down. The rest of the race was going hard and chasing. I kept making my way up slowly. I was feeling good and my climbing was pretty good too. I ended up in a sprint with two other guys...I beat one, but jumped a little too late and Sam Stone beat me by about half a wheel, maybe even less. Well, I got 21st. 1 place outside of the money. Dallas got 2nd, Corey got 5th.
Melon Cities. We wanted to get me in a break. The pace was high for the whole 18 laps. No one could get away. The last lap the field started slowing way down...so instead of making it dangerous I jumped on the front and drove the pace until halfway up the final hill...Corey was able to hold my wheel in the leadout and get 3rd place. Dallas and I finished in the field.
Quad Cities. This was a fun race. 30 laps of rage in the cage due to chicken wire holding us in and the drunkards out. I guess it was the fastest average speed during the day including the P/1/2 field. Awesome. We wanted to get me in a break again today with one of the Get A Grip guys. Well, right from the start I started in the 4th row again and some guy in front of me falls over at the f#$*ing start line. I get pushed back alot. I stay on the back for the first 5 laps, doing sprints around every corner to get the legs good and warmed up. On the 6th lap I go from the last 1/4 of the group to the top 15. I stayed there for awhile. With 10 laps to go I attack with Steve from Get A Grip. GAG and BD are at the front shutting down the field. I look back and there are 3 more riders bridging up to us. Steve looks back and thinks its the field...I tell him to pull around me and get this going. He tells me "I don't want to blow my load too soon". WHAT!?! We had more than a block gap on the field and it was growing. I just needed a second of rest and then could have pulled again...but he stopped pedaling and the break was caught. Not gonna lie...I was pissed. No more breaks were going to go. I wanted to try with 4 laps to go, but I got cut off and one guy went off the front and won it solo...I should have been up there with him. With 2 laps to go, knowing that I don't have a sprint and the field was slowing way down to save some energy for the sprint...I jumped on the front and drilled it amazingly hard for Corey and Dallas. I lasted on the front for 1.75 laps. Averaging between 33-36mph the whole time. I made the field string out. At the 2nd to last corner Dallas and Corey sprint around me and were able to hold the field off for 2nd and 3rd place, respectively, with me finishing in the pack. We were definitely the team that controlled the whole race and what we planned out actually happened. We really work well as a team. I'm just happy they at least gave me a shout out on the podium.
On the front of the Quad Cities Crit, drilling the pace for the last 2 laps....
State Champs RR:
The last race of importance so far this year. This course was small rolling hills with one 300 meter power climb up to the finish. Seth Meyer and I definitely wanted to get something going in this. We both tried attacking many times during this race, but we were both definitely targeted. The field would let solo riders go and then slowly pull them back. Yet every time either Seth or myself would attack the field would be on our asses immediately. They were watching us like hawks. Seth and I were putting in solid attacks...just the field never wanted to see us go. The first time up the climb I was sitting about 4th wheel. I saw Seth come around me and I jumped on his wheel immediately. I was actually surprised I was able to stay on his wheel easily, seeing that I'm a fat ass and wouldn't quite call myself a climber. For the next 6 laps I always found myself no farther back than 5th wheel on that power climb. I probably attacked about 6-7 times during that race. Nothing ever worked. Finally with 2 laps to go 2 guys get off the front and one was able to stay off for the solo win...we caught the other guy up the final hill. Well, going up the final climb up to the finish I was sitting 5th wheel and moving up. 2 guys come around me on the right. I look to my left and the first guy to pass me is flailing all around with both feet unclipped. He threw the 2nd guy into my path and I had to slam on my brakes and get started again uphill...that sucks alot. I had about 6-7 guys pass me. I was able to hold off the rest of the field for 12th, but I should have been top 5. I was pissed. But oh well...50 guys started, 30 or so finished and I was always one of the first up the power climb. I gave a good effort for that whole race.
Now on to training. I've been putting in 4-5 hours days in on the bike in just the small ring with a couple hard efforts up hills. Doing this has definitely made me a lot stronger. I feel as if my climbing, sprinting, and overall power are improved. I definitely feel like one of the stronger Cat 3's in the field. I can't wait to upgrade to Cat 2...get my ass handed to me and improve even more. Tomorrow is the Grafton crit and I'm holding nothing back for that win. I'm not giving any type of leadout...I'm going to save everything I have for the final sprint or get in a break. After that I will be leaving for Tour of Ohio (which I hope to update this blog after every stage). 6 day stage race all around Ohio. 340 miles. Cat 1-3 race. Should be good, fun and hard. I'm ready....
I'll also probably have a couple interesting updates later on in the summer. Oh and I got a new sweet toy. I'll let you know more about that later....
Hopefully, I start updating this more so I don't have to write 20 pages at a time and remember half a summer's worth of memories...
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
8.5.07
Racing....
Still here? I guess I am. I don't have much to say right now. School is almost done and I've been riding and racing my bike alot. I leave for Collegiate Road Nationals tomorrow. I'll be competing in the RR and probably the open crit. Should be a good time. Our sponsor schwinn gave us free Peloton LTD frames to ride at Natz....and not gonna lie but those frames are sweet. Acceleration is amazing and its very responsive. So you'll probably see me on that for awhile...too because I don't really want to take the time to put the Frugeri back together.
I've done 14 races so far this year and I'm definitely stronger than last year, but I still have a lot to work on. I have about 40 more races this year left....I think I'll be able to get stronger.
So my form is alright right now, but I wish it was better. My goal for the Natz RR is to just keep with the pack. It'll be hard. As for the the rest of the season I plan on being in form for the Memorial Day Weekend races, Tour of Ohio, Superweek and Gateway Cup. I want to be able to upgrade to Cat 2 after ToO for superweek...I know it would be hard, but I'm up for the challenge. I just have to start riding smart. On Sunday I raced the Wheel and Sprocket crit up in Neenah. I was definitely one of the strongest guys in the field, but I played it stupid and did way too much work. I need to just stay in the field and then attack at the right moment when everyone is tired....oh well.
Well, other than that I'll try and update this thing a little bit more....oh yeah I'm in the running to be the UW cycling President. I'm up against the current Prez. Wish me luck...elections are tonight.
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
I've done 14 races so far this year and I'm definitely stronger than last year, but I still have a lot to work on. I have about 40 more races this year left....I think I'll be able to get stronger.
So my form is alright right now, but I wish it was better. My goal for the Natz RR is to just keep with the pack. It'll be hard. As for the the rest of the season I plan on being in form for the Memorial Day Weekend races, Tour of Ohio, Superweek and Gateway Cup. I want to be able to upgrade to Cat 2 after ToO for superweek...I know it would be hard, but I'm up for the challenge. I just have to start riding smart. On Sunday I raced the Wheel and Sprocket crit up in Neenah. I was definitely one of the strongest guys in the field, but I played it stupid and did way too much work. I need to just stay in the field and then attack at the right moment when everyone is tired....oh well.
Well, other than that I'll try and update this thing a little bit more....oh yeah I'm in the running to be the UW cycling President. I'm up against the current Prez. Wish me luck...elections are tonight.
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
5.3.07
Cold + Sick + Dangerous Course + 2 crashes + 60 minutes = Pain....
Only one word can explain this weekend.....EPIC.
The race weekend brought us down to Crawfordsville, Indiana. On the way down mother nature treated us to high winds and white out conditions. Winds got up to around 60 mph and "The Mother" was definitely trying to destroy our bikes. On the way down we saw about 41 cars in ditches and 2 accidents. One side of my fork decided to rip out of the tray and flail all around...possibly destroying the fork (it needs to be looked at). The tray Darren's trek 5.2 was being held on split in half and his bike nearly flew off the car. Further inspection found a crack in his carbon frame...Mother Nature 1, Us 0.
It was only suppose to be a 5 hr car ride...it turned into 9 hrs. I hope this weather ends soon or I'm going to punch mother nature in the ovary. We got there at 11pm eastern time, unpacked and tuned up our bikes for Saturday.
Saturday:
Drive the course...find snow on the ground...find that race is postponed until 10...9am...ITT at 11:30 now.....9:30am...snow rolls in with whiteout conditions....Race cancelled.
We drove back to the hotel and relaxed a little bit. At noon a couple of us decided to go for a ride outside, while others stayed inside and rode trainers and rollers. I would rather be outside for 30min than inside a hotel riding rollers. Froze our feet and hands and never made it to the crit course to ride it a couple times. Came back and just slept.
6:30pm rolls around and its time to go to Applebee's. Fun times happened there. Lots of joking while watching more snow come down outside. A couple beers here and there, half a plate of Chicken Penne Alfredo and a brownie dessert later we're off to the hotel. We had a short little team meeting and then about 6 of us were off to the strip joint only 200 feet away from the hotel. We met up with 3 Mizzou guys there. We definitely did not get our hopes up for this place and thank god we didn't. We were in Indiana....can't expect much...mostly nothing actually. We had a couple beers, didn't really want to watch the women. Got back...there was a little bit of chaos and we went to sleep.
Sunday:
We got to the course and it was covered in snow. But the race was still going to happen. It was suppose to start at 9:30...but was postponed until 11am. 15 of our teammates left...and with my bike. I had no bike. Great. All the fields raced with time cut down. We didn't have any D's or C's riders. We won women's B's. Got 7th and 9th in Men's B's (close to that atleast). And women's A's we only had 1 rider, but I believe she finished middle of the pack.
Men's A time:
I used Spencer's six13 and Darren's keo pedals. The bike was a little small so I was a little twitchy, but it had to work. 60 min...they asked us if we wanted to drop the time down to 45 minutes. Lots of people wanted to. I was there to race and I paid to race. They already cut the time down by 15 minutes, I want my 60 minutes then. There were 4 of us that wanted 60 minutes (Dallas, Seth Meyer, Me, and I believe a Milwaukee guy). They kept it at 60 minutes. Awesome. 28 people started. They started the race and I had a really good start. I started 3rd wheel. But...the legs were not ready to go in that cold weather. So I went back a little bit to the middle of the pack. About 10 minutes in about 6 people and I went down in the corner that everyone was going down in all day. I'm ok. Free Lap. I enjoy free laps. I got back into the field and then people started going hard and the field was crashing and getting torn apart. All of a sudden I was in no man's land with an 8 man break away group, a 5 man chase group and then me, with a couple guys behind me. It was time for a little TT action from me. For about 30 minutes I chased and chased and chased. Dallas knew I was behind so he tried to slow down the group. I slowly kept moving up. I finally made it up, but Corey fell off after someone pushed him into a snowbank and wasn't able to clip in. So then I was in a group of 5. I just hung on the back and got some energy back. We tried to make our way up to the front group, but then they decided to make it hard so it never happened. 6 laps to go I get on the front and push harder. I made a mistake in the final corner again and went down hard. Dallas got dropped and then got lapped. Another guy went down with me. We crashed on the last lap that we could for a free lap. I got a little bit of road rash on my left thigh, banged my left wrist, left shoulder, right elbow and the right side of my neck. I also tore my shorts a little bit...damn it. I decided to roll in a bunch of mud and then get back on the bike. I got back in with an Indiana guy, dropped the guy that crashed with me and it was just two of us for 9th and 10th place. For 5 laps we took corners nice and easy and tried not to get lapped. We never got lapped and sprinted for the finish. I didn't have much left after TT'ing it for 30 minutes and crashing twice. But I finished and never got lapped and possibly got a top 10 finish. Just waiting for the results to be posted. 28 starters...11 finishers. WOW.
During the last 5 laps. I couldn't quite see out of my right eye....filled with mud.
Me after the race....spent....
Next weekend....Mizzou. Saturday Road Race and Sunday ITT. After my solo performance in the Crit I should be able to do pretty well in a 9 mile ITT.
Ciao ciao....
The race weekend brought us down to Crawfordsville, Indiana. On the way down mother nature treated us to high winds and white out conditions. Winds got up to around 60 mph and "The Mother" was definitely trying to destroy our bikes. On the way down we saw about 41 cars in ditches and 2 accidents. One side of my fork decided to rip out of the tray and flail all around...possibly destroying the fork (it needs to be looked at). The tray Darren's trek 5.2 was being held on split in half and his bike nearly flew off the car. Further inspection found a crack in his carbon frame...Mother Nature 1, Us 0.
It was only suppose to be a 5 hr car ride...it turned into 9 hrs. I hope this weather ends soon or I'm going to punch mother nature in the ovary. We got there at 11pm eastern time, unpacked and tuned up our bikes for Saturday.
Saturday:
Drive the course...find snow on the ground...find that race is postponed until 10...9am...ITT at 11:30 now.....9:30am...snow rolls in with whiteout conditions....Race cancelled.
We drove back to the hotel and relaxed a little bit. At noon a couple of us decided to go for a ride outside, while others stayed inside and rode trainers and rollers. I would rather be outside for 30min than inside a hotel riding rollers. Froze our feet and hands and never made it to the crit course to ride it a couple times. Came back and just slept.
6:30pm rolls around and its time to go to Applebee's. Fun times happened there. Lots of joking while watching more snow come down outside. A couple beers here and there, half a plate of Chicken Penne Alfredo and a brownie dessert later we're off to the hotel. We had a short little team meeting and then about 6 of us were off to the strip joint only 200 feet away from the hotel. We met up with 3 Mizzou guys there. We definitely did not get our hopes up for this place and thank god we didn't. We were in Indiana....can't expect much...mostly nothing actually. We had a couple beers, didn't really want to watch the women. Got back...there was a little bit of chaos and we went to sleep.
Sunday:
We got to the course and it was covered in snow. But the race was still going to happen. It was suppose to start at 9:30...but was postponed until 11am. 15 of our teammates left...and with my bike. I had no bike. Great. All the fields raced with time cut down. We didn't have any D's or C's riders. We won women's B's. Got 7th and 9th in Men's B's (close to that atleast). And women's A's we only had 1 rider, but I believe she finished middle of the pack.
Men's A time:
I used Spencer's six13 and Darren's keo pedals. The bike was a little small so I was a little twitchy, but it had to work. 60 min...they asked us if we wanted to drop the time down to 45 minutes. Lots of people wanted to. I was there to race and I paid to race. They already cut the time down by 15 minutes, I want my 60 minutes then. There were 4 of us that wanted 60 minutes (Dallas, Seth Meyer, Me, and I believe a Milwaukee guy). They kept it at 60 minutes. Awesome. 28 people started. They started the race and I had a really good start. I started 3rd wheel. But...the legs were not ready to go in that cold weather. So I went back a little bit to the middle of the pack. About 10 minutes in about 6 people and I went down in the corner that everyone was going down in all day. I'm ok. Free Lap. I enjoy free laps. I got back into the field and then people started going hard and the field was crashing and getting torn apart. All of a sudden I was in no man's land with an 8 man break away group, a 5 man chase group and then me, with a couple guys behind me. It was time for a little TT action from me. For about 30 minutes I chased and chased and chased. Dallas knew I was behind so he tried to slow down the group. I slowly kept moving up. I finally made it up, but Corey fell off after someone pushed him into a snowbank and wasn't able to clip in. So then I was in a group of 5. I just hung on the back and got some energy back. We tried to make our way up to the front group, but then they decided to make it hard so it never happened. 6 laps to go I get on the front and push harder. I made a mistake in the final corner again and went down hard. Dallas got dropped and then got lapped. Another guy went down with me. We crashed on the last lap that we could for a free lap. I got a little bit of road rash on my left thigh, banged my left wrist, left shoulder, right elbow and the right side of my neck. I also tore my shorts a little bit...damn it. I decided to roll in a bunch of mud and then get back on the bike. I got back in with an Indiana guy, dropped the guy that crashed with me and it was just two of us for 9th and 10th place. For 5 laps we took corners nice and easy and tried not to get lapped. We never got lapped and sprinted for the finish. I didn't have much left after TT'ing it for 30 minutes and crashing twice. But I finished and never got lapped and possibly got a top 10 finish. Just waiting for the results to be posted. 28 starters...11 finishers. WOW.
During the last 5 laps. I couldn't quite see out of my right eye....filled with mud.
Me after the race....spent....
Next weekend....Mizzou. Saturday Road Race and Sunday ITT. After my solo performance in the Crit I should be able to do pretty well in a 9 mile ITT.
Ciao ciao....
28.2.07
Hooray Pictures....ok mostly just 2....
So this is the only picture of me from the A's crit at OSU. Pretty much everyone took around 9000 pics of all the other races and killed their cameras by our race. But enjoy....
And then I definitely had to put this sweet picture. Argyle on a dog, a chihuahua none the least, at the Tour of Cali...
I wanna go race again...3 more days.
Ciao ciao....
25.2.07
Finally a race....
Alright, sorry for not updating for awhile. I got lazy and busy for the past 4-5 weeks...pretty much when school started. But over that time I've been doing tons of homework, exams, was traiing like crazy and was working alot. Now I'm done with the exams and homework (for a little bit), and I don't need to work...but I need to train a lot more. I found out this weekend that I'm in good form, but I need more strength.
This weekend we traveled down to Columbus, Ohio for what should have been 2 races, but only turned out to be 1 race. A criterium...which I'm happy about because I LOVE crits. So all the races went off. We had some strong showings for our team. Frye who I've been training since before break won the C's race, we had a 2nd place in D's and a 10th place in B's. Some certain people are definitely looking in form for the beginning of the season. Our race went off at 3:50pm. A 1 hour crit. I kinda had a bad start and went to the back of the race right away. The next 30 minutes was just trying to stay alive and with the pack. There were 5 corners in the crit...well...I had to sprint back up to the pack after every corner. Do that for about 12 laps...you think I would be dying. I didn't. Every time I would corner I fought my way back up to the pack. Sometimes I was off the back by 10 feet or so and I was still able to get back up to the pack. People were dying and just falling off the back. I wanted to join them a couple times, but I told myself just to keep going. After that 30 minutes of "sprinting intervals" every 10-15 seconds my legs felt fresh and strong. In one lap I went from dead last in the pack to around 3rd wheel. I looked at my teammates on the sideline and you could see they were extremely surprised. I loved it. For the rest of the race I covered many attacks with Fred, cuz Freshie was in a breakaway up ahead. Even I couldn't believe how I changed in 30 minutes of the race. Even during the beginning of the race my legs felt really good...I think I was just trying to get back into the racing scene. At the end I had a good amount of energy to sprint at the end and I passed a couple riders and finished 25th. Not bad for me right now, seeing that the last time I actually did a road race or crit was beginning of June last year I believe and I got dropped. My strength and endurance have definitely improved a lot since then. I just need to work on positioning in the final laps, cuz everyone definitely started flying past me in the final 3 laps. It feels good though. I'm starting out the year stronger than any season I've raced. I can only get stronger from here I guess.
I just wish the Road Race would have happened today. Screw you Mother Nature...Screw you...
Hopefully next race I can get on the front right away and maybe get in a breakaway. I'll be training hard until Thursday. My legs always feel fresher after working out. Kinda weird, but I'll take it.
I'll try and get some pics up when I find out who got pics of the A race. And like I always say I'll try and update this more....time to do a little homework and train really hard....
Ciao ciao....
This weekend we traveled down to Columbus, Ohio for what should have been 2 races, but only turned out to be 1 race. A criterium...which I'm happy about because I LOVE crits. So all the races went off. We had some strong showings for our team. Frye who I've been training since before break won the C's race, we had a 2nd place in D's and a 10th place in B's. Some certain people are definitely looking in form for the beginning of the season. Our race went off at 3:50pm. A 1 hour crit. I kinda had a bad start and went to the back of the race right away. The next 30 minutes was just trying to stay alive and with the pack. There were 5 corners in the crit...well...I had to sprint back up to the pack after every corner. Do that for about 12 laps...you think I would be dying. I didn't. Every time I would corner I fought my way back up to the pack. Sometimes I was off the back by 10 feet or so and I was still able to get back up to the pack. People were dying and just falling off the back. I wanted to join them a couple times, but I told myself just to keep going. After that 30 minutes of "sprinting intervals" every 10-15 seconds my legs felt fresh and strong. In one lap I went from dead last in the pack to around 3rd wheel. I looked at my teammates on the sideline and you could see they were extremely surprised. I loved it. For the rest of the race I covered many attacks with Fred, cuz Freshie was in a breakaway up ahead. Even I couldn't believe how I changed in 30 minutes of the race. Even during the beginning of the race my legs felt really good...I think I was just trying to get back into the racing scene. At the end I had a good amount of energy to sprint at the end and I passed a couple riders and finished 25th. Not bad for me right now, seeing that the last time I actually did a road race or crit was beginning of June last year I believe and I got dropped. My strength and endurance have definitely improved a lot since then. I just need to work on positioning in the final laps, cuz everyone definitely started flying past me in the final 3 laps. It feels good though. I'm starting out the year stronger than any season I've raced. I can only get stronger from here I guess.
I just wish the Road Race would have happened today. Screw you Mother Nature...Screw you...
Hopefully next race I can get on the front right away and maybe get in a breakaway. I'll be training hard until Thursday. My legs always feel fresher after working out. Kinda weird, but I'll take it.
I'll try and get some pics up when I find out who got pics of the A race. And like I always say I'll try and update this more....time to do a little homework and train really hard....
Ciao ciao....
31.1.07
Recovery...
Its a recovery week....on the bike...but not for homework. I've already had a paper due and I have an exam in 7 hrs...MY GOD!...its only the 2nd we of school. I need a recovery week from homework already. This semester is going kinda suck. I can't wait another 3.5 weeks for the season to start.
Oh and I really want to go to Collegiate Natz...I think I'll be in pretty good form by then...I'm kinda in good form right now. But my Accounting 300 class might fuck me over. Natz is May 10 - 13...well I have an acct 300 final on the 13th. They don't move finals really. Their thought on moving exams..."you should just drop the class now if you can't take the exam" Fucking-A man. And I need this class too, thats the thing. Accounting...you're not the center of the universe. So I went up to my TA and told him that I've been picked to go to Natz (Just in case). Well I need to get a letter from my "coach" the dates of the race and expected travel dates. Thing is...we don't have a coach. Do I just get a note from the Prez?...the Clubs Coordinator?...the Dean? And it sucks too, they want the letter, like, now even though our season hasn't started yet. I'll probably just talk to the Prez about this issue. God damn you Accounting....God damn you....
I'm studying for another 15 minutes and then heading to bed...gotta get up at 6AM to study a little more...
Ciao ciao....
Oh and I really want to go to Collegiate Natz...I think I'll be in pretty good form by then...I'm kinda in good form right now. But my Accounting 300 class might fuck me over. Natz is May 10 - 13...well I have an acct 300 final on the 13th. They don't move finals really. Their thought on moving exams..."you should just drop the class now if you can't take the exam" Fucking-A man. And I need this class too, thats the thing. Accounting...you're not the center of the universe. So I went up to my TA and told him that I've been picked to go to Natz (Just in case). Well I need to get a letter from my "coach" the dates of the race and expected travel dates. Thing is...we don't have a coach. Do I just get a note from the Prez?...the Clubs Coordinator?...the Dean? And it sucks too, they want the letter, like, now even though our season hasn't started yet. I'll probably just talk to the Prez about this issue. God damn you Accounting....God damn you....
I'm studying for another 15 minutes and then heading to bed...gotta get up at 6AM to study a little more...
Ciao ciao....
29.1.07
I'm already tired....
I guess people are wondering if I'm still alive...so I guess I should start updating this thing again....
Its only day 6 of school and I'm already tired of it. I work until 1am for SAFEwalk and I don't go to sleep until 2am and then I have to wake up at 6:30am for 7:45am class...OUCH! And when I'm not really getting enough sleep I kinda start getting a little cranky. I do however have an interesting schedule. I'm taking:
Food Sci 321: The law and regulation of food (Its only a 5 week course)
Nutri Sci 332: Human Nutritional Needs (Its pretty much the same course I took last semester, NS 132, but more indepth)
Food Sci 236: Nature of Food Lab (I'm the only male in a class of 18 students...YAY!!! I enjoy that ratio)
Bact 102: Bact Lab (yeah...boring)
Comm Arts 266: Theory and Practice in Group Discussion (We write papers about groups)
Acct 300 (I don't like accounting, thats about it)
Its only 13 credits...its nice I'm done at noon or 1pm every single day except for Mondays (Discussion at 3:30)...So Mondays will be my rest day with training. Training will be nice this semester...I just want it to be warm out.
I've been training pretty well for the last month and this week is a rest week for me. My power output has definitely increased alot just this month of January. Hopefully my body recovers and heals very nicely so I'm even stronger at the end of this week and then its more sprinting and intervals next week. Only 4 more weeks of training before the racing season begins...and I'm getting so antsy. If I'm studying with someone, all we can talk about is the upcoming racing season. I think I'll be pretty well set for the beginning of the season and I hope to improve alot by Natz and then be able to upgrade to Cat 2 during the summer. Soooo soon!! AHHHHHH....
And this coming weekend I need to travel up to Wausau. I guess Eastbay, the athletic company, wants me to model for them...So I get to go up to their store and model off some of their equipment and clothing. I'll be making 100$/hr which is super awesome and its my first modeling gig...so I'm excited and nervous. I'll let you know how that goes....
Other than that I've been hanging out at coffee shops finishing up/trying to get ahead in homework...going for rides (INSIDE), I'm kinda starting to hate the trainer but I'm still getting on it....and sleeping when I can. Not too much going on with life as of now. There will be a lot more when the season starts...then I'll be a very happy camper...
Ciao ciao....
Its only day 6 of school and I'm already tired of it. I work until 1am for SAFEwalk and I don't go to sleep until 2am and then I have to wake up at 6:30am for 7:45am class...OUCH! And when I'm not really getting enough sleep I kinda start getting a little cranky. I do however have an interesting schedule. I'm taking:
Food Sci 321: The law and regulation of food (Its only a 5 week course)
Nutri Sci 332: Human Nutritional Needs (Its pretty much the same course I took last semester, NS 132, but more indepth)
Food Sci 236: Nature of Food Lab (I'm the only male in a class of 18 students...YAY!!! I enjoy that ratio)
Bact 102: Bact Lab (yeah...boring)
Comm Arts 266: Theory and Practice in Group Discussion (We write papers about groups)
Acct 300 (I don't like accounting, thats about it)
Its only 13 credits...its nice I'm done at noon or 1pm every single day except for Mondays (Discussion at 3:30)...So Mondays will be my rest day with training. Training will be nice this semester...I just want it to be warm out.
I've been training pretty well for the last month and this week is a rest week for me. My power output has definitely increased alot just this month of January. Hopefully my body recovers and heals very nicely so I'm even stronger at the end of this week and then its more sprinting and intervals next week. Only 4 more weeks of training before the racing season begins...and I'm getting so antsy. If I'm studying with someone, all we can talk about is the upcoming racing season. I think I'll be pretty well set for the beginning of the season and I hope to improve alot by Natz and then be able to upgrade to Cat 2 during the summer. Soooo soon!! AHHHHHH....
And this coming weekend I need to travel up to Wausau. I guess Eastbay, the athletic company, wants me to model for them...So I get to go up to their store and model off some of their equipment and clothing. I'll be making 100$/hr which is super awesome and its my first modeling gig...so I'm excited and nervous. I'll let you know how that goes....
Other than that I've been hanging out at coffee shops finishing up/trying to get ahead in homework...going for rides (INSIDE), I'm kinda starting to hate the trainer but I'm still getting on it....and sleeping when I can. Not too much going on with life as of now. There will be a lot more when the season starts...then I'll be a very happy camper...
Ciao ciao....
10.1.07
Alright, fine....
I guess I need to come out from under my warm covers and write something. I mean it has been awhile. I've been back home in Point for about three and a half weeks or so and I'll be heading back to Madtown in a week and a half. But I have been keeping busy (yet staying lazy) here in Point mostly all alone. I sleep, eat, workout at the gym, ride my bike or play guitar Hero. Thats really about it. I like that schedule though...nice and relaxing.
Two nights ago I went bowling with Minch and bowled a 201 in the first game of the night and then plummeted down to 118 in the next game. I guess I just spent all my talent in the 1st game. And then last night Minch and I hit up Graffiti's downtown to have a couple Capt. & Cokes and play some trivia. Yeah...I really need to catch up on past and present pop culture and not so much science. Seems like knowing pop culture will get you farther in life than a degree in something important sometimes....
See bowling is fun....
Well, not too much to report from X-mas and New Years. Didn't really do too much. I spent a lot on presents for christmas and stayed in on New Years. Would have been nice to get down to Madison, but it was also nice to spend some time with Mutti and Minch. Nothing hardcore. But I really can't believe its 2007! It'll be a good year.
I tried growing a beard....for 35 days. Yes I was counting. I think at day 27, the hairs started to recede. I looked pretty sketchy, but I think it was a good attempt. I would have a picture of it if I had a camera that worked, but you'll just have to picture me with a beard...well, lets just say I had an anti-beard...so picture that. I'm always trying to work on my image....and right now with the more intensive training schedule now, my image is definitely changing. I'm definitely getting pretty fit again, I'm feeling strong again, and I'm losing some body fat...finally. First race of the season is only a month and a half away. I'll be starting Men's A for collegiate and I want to be fast. I started a little bit harder training regime...and I'll increase that when I get back to Madtown cuz its always easier to sprint with someone than by yourself.
I'll be hitting up the Brazen Dropouts Swap this Saturday. I'm really hoping to find a cheaper Powertap or something of the sort...to watch my improvement. I'll be volunteering at 7:30 in the AM for the swap seeing that I'm still on BD for 2007 and its kinda mandatory we help out. They do pay for our races...well actually the money they make at the swap pays for our races...so I want them to do very well this year. I have a lot of bigger races in mind for this year...and mostly just a lot of races. So everyone should get there asses over there....
I mean come on look you can haggle...and haggling is fun...
Other than that....not much has been going on around Stevens Point, its pretty boring but I'm able to get my training in. So thats mostly the reason why I haven't been posting...I have nothing to talk about...unless you want me to talk about all my intervals and stuff like that. However, I don't want to let all my secrets out. You'll just have to see if all my "secret" training is paying off...and no I am not taking EPO or testosterone...I'm not that stupid...and I wouldn't be able to afford it anyways. I think next winter break I'm going to go someplace warm to train....
Ciao Ciao....
Two nights ago I went bowling with Minch and bowled a 201 in the first game of the night and then plummeted down to 118 in the next game. I guess I just spent all my talent in the 1st game. And then last night Minch and I hit up Graffiti's downtown to have a couple Capt. & Cokes and play some trivia. Yeah...I really need to catch up on past and present pop culture and not so much science. Seems like knowing pop culture will get you farther in life than a degree in something important sometimes....
See bowling is fun....
Well, not too much to report from X-mas and New Years. Didn't really do too much. I spent a lot on presents for christmas and stayed in on New Years. Would have been nice to get down to Madison, but it was also nice to spend some time with Mutti and Minch. Nothing hardcore. But I really can't believe its 2007! It'll be a good year.
I tried growing a beard....for 35 days. Yes I was counting. I think at day 27, the hairs started to recede. I looked pretty sketchy, but I think it was a good attempt. I would have a picture of it if I had a camera that worked, but you'll just have to picture me with a beard...well, lets just say I had an anti-beard...so picture that. I'm always trying to work on my image....and right now with the more intensive training schedule now, my image is definitely changing. I'm definitely getting pretty fit again, I'm feeling strong again, and I'm losing some body fat...finally. First race of the season is only a month and a half away. I'll be starting Men's A for collegiate and I want to be fast. I started a little bit harder training regime...and I'll increase that when I get back to Madtown cuz its always easier to sprint with someone than by yourself.
I'll be hitting up the Brazen Dropouts Swap this Saturday. I'm really hoping to find a cheaper Powertap or something of the sort...to watch my improvement. I'll be volunteering at 7:30 in the AM for the swap seeing that I'm still on BD for 2007 and its kinda mandatory we help out. They do pay for our races...well actually the money they make at the swap pays for our races...so I want them to do very well this year. I have a lot of bigger races in mind for this year...and mostly just a lot of races. So everyone should get there asses over there....
I mean come on look you can haggle...and haggling is fun...
Other than that....not much has been going on around Stevens Point, its pretty boring but I'm able to get my training in. So thats mostly the reason why I haven't been posting...I have nothing to talk about...unless you want me to talk about all my intervals and stuff like that. However, I don't want to let all my secrets out. You'll just have to see if all my "secret" training is paying off...and no I am not taking EPO or testosterone...I'm not that stupid...and I wouldn't be able to afford it anyways. I think next winter break I'm going to go someplace warm to train....
Ciao Ciao....
21.12.06
As I sit here....
I'm becoming pretty brain fried. I've studied about 6 hours so far for 2 exams that are tomorrow. One at noon and another at 7:30pm. Its 12:30am right now and I'm going to be studying for another 3 hours. Then tomorrow morning I shall awake at 8am and continue to study all the way until noon. After that exam I'll come back to the library and study for another 5 hours before taking the last exam of this semester. Wow...I really study when I really need to. And since I've been studying almost nonstop this week I haven't been able to get out on many rides. I went for a 3 hour ride today after work...which was swell. It started raining a little bit, but I felt pretty good. I did a little bit more of a tempo ride just to make sure the legs are feeling the workouts. Damn I can't wait for the intervals...so soon!!!
Well, next week I'll put in one more solid week of base and then January comes...and the start of intervals begin. This semester is just about over...I can't wait to get out of Madison for a bit...some people are bothering me, and I just want to get out of this environment for a little bit. Relax, read, train, sleep, eat (healthy, cuz I really need to get into better shape starting now) and do it all over the next day. Thats all I'm going to do over break.
Other than that, sorry I haven't talked about the Holiday formal....All I can say is I got drunk 3 separate times, stole a glass full of a white russian from the Nitty Gritty, drew on a passed out Joe Comer's face, ate a crapload, and had an awesome time. I can't wait until next years holiday formal. But what I really can't wait for is the collegiate road season and hanging out with the team every single weekend and creating chaos.
Alright, I really need to get back to studying and thinking about cycling....I'll update everyone even more when I get home on Friday....maybe Saturday...or Sunday...you'll just have to wait and see I guess....geez the suspense! Can you handle it?
Ciao ciao.....
Well, next week I'll put in one more solid week of base and then January comes...and the start of intervals begin. This semester is just about over...I can't wait to get out of Madison for a bit...some people are bothering me, and I just want to get out of this environment for a little bit. Relax, read, train, sleep, eat (healthy, cuz I really need to get into better shape starting now) and do it all over the next day. Thats all I'm going to do over break.
Other than that, sorry I haven't talked about the Holiday formal....All I can say is I got drunk 3 separate times, stole a glass full of a white russian from the Nitty Gritty, drew on a passed out Joe Comer's face, ate a crapload, and had an awesome time. I can't wait until next years holiday formal. But what I really can't wait for is the collegiate road season and hanging out with the team every single weekend and creating chaos.
Alright, I really need to get back to studying and thinking about cycling....I'll update everyone even more when I get home on Friday....maybe Saturday...or Sunday...you'll just have to wait and see I guess....geez the suspense! Can you handle it?
Ciao ciao.....
15.12.06
Final exams suck....
Right now I'm at the library and I'm probably going to be here the whole night. Its going to suck.
I don't have too much time...seeing that I need to learn about 4 weeks of bacteriology in 8 hours...HOORAY ME!!! Tomorrow night I shall tell of the adventures from the formal, how training is going and some random thoughts. But for now...here's a pic from the formal...you can come up with your own ideas on what's happening.....
Yeah, I'm drunk...I actually got drunk 3 separate times during the night. Craziness....
Ciao ciao.....
I don't have too much time...seeing that I need to learn about 4 weeks of bacteriology in 8 hours...HOORAY ME!!! Tomorrow night I shall tell of the adventures from the formal, how training is going and some random thoughts. But for now...here's a pic from the formal...you can come up with your own ideas on what's happening.....
Yeah, I'm drunk...I actually got drunk 3 separate times during the night. Craziness....
Ciao ciao.....
8.12.06
Interestingly enough....
This one is for all the ladies...
...I've been enjoying the trainer rides. Today I put in 3.5 hours. I got through half of Jackass the Movie, all of Matrix Reloaded and an episode of Nip/Tuck. I'm definitely getting some good base miles/hours in this winter. Tomorrow I doing another TT and then I'm going to go home and do another hour at tempo.
This weekend is suppose to be really nice...40's and sunny I believe. That's awesome for Wisconsin in December. Hooray global warming...
I still want January to come, though. I want to get done with this base stuff...and do what the big boys like to do...intervals. I'll also be starting at the gym next week too to make sure my sprint really improves.
Ok well...I have a quiz in the morning so I should probably head to bed...I may squeeze in an episode of Nip/Tuck first though. We'll see. Oh and the Holiday Formal starts in 17 hours!!!
Ciao ciao....
7.12.06
Wow wow wee whoa....
An artsy picture...why not. Thanks to Geo for taking the pic....
Can the weekend be here now? I'm pretty much done with this school thing...good thing I have 5 more semesters after this, eh? I'm not motivated to study or do anything. I want A's, but I don't want to work for it...I know, doesn't work that way...unless your a Gen-Ass. I'm making it through though. Only 4 more days of class for me...thank god for having Tuesdays and Thursdays off.
Last night when I should have been doing homework, I instead created a little training schedule for the next 12 weeks. I have a lot of base to go...but my legs are feeling great. Probably the best they ever have to be completely honest. So far I've put in a 15hr week, a 12 hr week and about a 10 hour week. From now until January I'm putting in about 20hrs/week. I'm on track for this week. I can't wait for January to come when I'll be starting up a few interval training rides. I want to go fast...because thats what I'm made to do. I'm definitely working on my sprint for this coming season....thats my weakest point on the bike. I can drill it, I would just never be able to win a field sprint.
I definitely know my fitness is increasing and my metabolism is getting faster as well. Today I had another research study. It was a TT. I was able to average 350 watts at an average RPM of 114. I took 4 seconds off my last TT in there. Thats pretty good. I have two more TT's in this research study...I want to cut off another 3 seconds and then I'll be real happy. After the study I went home, ate quick and then set up the trainer in the basement and spun for 2.5 hrs. Legs feel real good. Tomorrow I want to spin a little bit in the morning before work and then again after work in the evening. I hope this weekend is going to be as nice as it says...almost in the 40's. Thats perfect weather for a couple 4-5 hr rides. If not, well then I'm on the trainer watching movies for 4-5 hrs. Thank god I'm getting use to all these trainer rides...they keep going by quicker and quicker.
This Friday is the UW Cycling Holiday Formal. I love hanging out with the cycling team. Such good friends...and some of the freshmen this year are actually pretty cool.
Ok well, I need to dream some more...I really have to try and write a blog entry earlier than 2am.
Ciao ciao....
5.12.06
I don't know if you've noticed, but....
...Its fricken COLD outside, and walking around on duty for SAFEwalk hurts. I like the cold and winter, but I dislike the stinging sensation on the face and the toes.
This semester is almost over and I can't wait. 2 more weeks and then finals week. I want to just go home. Sleep, eat, train, eat, relax and sleep. Thats all I'm doing over break. I'm going to be putting in some intense rides to get stronger during January and I can't wait. I've been putting in about 15 hour weeks the last couple of weeks and my endurance is definitely improving. When January comes around I'll start the really hard stuff.
Well, the 8th cycling research study I'm in is going well. Just some TTs and constant workloads...and I'm feeling better after every one. So there is definitely an increase in my power too. Holding 340 watts for as long as you can at a cadence of 114 rpm is kinda hard...kinda hurts too. But still, definitely going well.
The UW Cycling Club Winter Holiday Formal is this Friday and I can't wait. I love hanging out with the team. And I never miss this formal for anything.
I really need to quit the Physics Library. I'm going to tell them on Thursday that I will not be coming back to work for them next semester. I want my Tuesdays and Thursdays off...thats why I scheduled it that way...and its not worth working there. I just want to have the time to train those days...and I should have that luxury.
Oh yeah...Aveda hasn't called me back about the gig. They did tell me I have 'very nice hair' though. Oh well, there will be others....
Well, I really don't have much more to say...I don't think I do at least. Tomorrow I'll be doing a good 4 hour ride and then I'm sitting in on some SAFEwalk interviews. After that its the last cycling meeting of the semester and then I'm playing some Wii.
If I think of something else...I'll write it tomorrow. I need sleep. I'm going to dream about racing and the like....
Ciao ciao....
This semester is almost over and I can't wait. 2 more weeks and then finals week. I want to just go home. Sleep, eat, train, eat, relax and sleep. Thats all I'm doing over break. I'm going to be putting in some intense rides to get stronger during January and I can't wait. I've been putting in about 15 hour weeks the last couple of weeks and my endurance is definitely improving. When January comes around I'll start the really hard stuff.
Well, the 8th cycling research study I'm in is going well. Just some TTs and constant workloads...and I'm feeling better after every one. So there is definitely an increase in my power too. Holding 340 watts for as long as you can at a cadence of 114 rpm is kinda hard...kinda hurts too. But still, definitely going well.
The UW Cycling Club Winter Holiday Formal is this Friday and I can't wait. I love hanging out with the team. And I never miss this formal for anything.
I really need to quit the Physics Library. I'm going to tell them on Thursday that I will not be coming back to work for them next semester. I want my Tuesdays and Thursdays off...thats why I scheduled it that way...and its not worth working there. I just want to have the time to train those days...and I should have that luxury.
Oh yeah...Aveda hasn't called me back about the gig. They did tell me I have 'very nice hair' though. Oh well, there will be others....
Well, I really don't have much more to say...I don't think I do at least. Tomorrow I'll be doing a good 4 hour ride and then I'm sitting in on some SAFEwalk interviews. After that its the last cycling meeting of the semester and then I'm playing some Wii.
If I think of something else...I'll write it tomorrow. I need sleep. I'm going to dream about racing and the like....
Ciao ciao....
26.11.06
So. Much. Food....
Turkey, mmmmm.....a lot better than this crap....
Gross....
Its been a good break. I really wish it wasn't over because I could definitely use more time off from school. Only 3 more weeks...and then 4 finals and I'm home free for a month.
Last week I started my second week of base. I put in 15 hrs, which I think is good for me. I can definitely feel a change in my fitness already and I'm liking it. It'll be another long week of riding again this week and I can't wait.
Also last week I made it to only 1 of my 5 classes. Good thing I have lecture slides from 2 of my classes and they just spell out whats on the slides....very boring. I just couldn't wait until break...don't worry I still have A/AB's in all my classes. I'll have to go to all of my classes for the next 3 weeks though...and STUDY. I want Winter Break now!
Well, Thanksgiving was awesome...so much food and too much fun. I got home on Wednesday night at around 9pm. Got a call and went right out to the bars. I didn't drink too much...but it was a late night. Thursday (Thanksgiving) I helped my mom cook the dinner and kinda just lounged around all day. Dinner came and the family came over. I ate so much food...passed out and then woke up and ate some more. That's pretty much rediculous if you ask me. The next day I went on the Point Brewery Tour with about 10 other friends...toured the place and then got some samples...good thing was...one of our old friends was giving the tour, so we definitely got our share of the samples. After that we went to the Wooden Chair for some delicious breakfast type food. I went for a 2 hr bike ride outside of Point (Haven't done that in forever - its also hunting season and its scary...didn't want to get shot). After all of that I went over to a friends house for some pre-partying and then it was time for the Point Bar Crawl...my god!! My whole graduating class at SPASH and the years before and after mine were there as well. Pretty much all of SPASH was out...shows you what there is to do in Stevens Point. I mean we do have 32 bars in a town of 24,000. Stayed out late again and then just passed out. It was really good seeing everyone again. I've missed a lot of people...some definitely not.
Me and a couple of my really good friends....
On to Saturday....I woke up a little later and then just relaxed for a little bit. I got on the trainer at around 2pm, got off at 3 and went for an hour ride outside. I saw one of my teachers from high school out on my ride so I stopped and talked to him for a bit. I finished up my ride outside at around 4:15 and then got home and went back on the trainer for another hour. So I got in a good 3 hrs on Saturday. I went over to a friends house to show her and her parents my modeling pics and then we frosted some ginger bread cookies. It was really good seeing her again and her parents. I got back home and should have started my online lectures for the exam I have on Tuesday, but I instead fell asleep. I wanted to get up at about 7am to start them...but I instead slept. I'm really not that worried about the exam.
Today Mutti and I went to a couple stores back in Point before heading out. People on the road suck ass. I really don't like people I remembered today. One person tried to run us off the road for no aparent reason...we looked over while honking and I just saw a smirk on the guys face and even his ugly wife's face. I wish I was the one driving when that happened. Well, we did get back to Madison safely. I dropped my stuff off and Mutti and I wanted to go see what the new Trader Joe's was all like. I really like that store...and everything is soooo cheap!!! It's also only about 5 blocks away from my house. After that we went over to Panera Bread for some dinner. I was brought back home and started my online lectures.
I just finished my lectures about an hour ago...its midnight now. I'll have to study the old exams tomorrow and then I'm off to Minneapolis for the night and then have to go to a casting call at 9:30am on Tuesday. I'm going to an Aveda Hair Show Casting Call. I really hope I get the job. If I do the Show happens Dec 12th to the 15th. I'll get a pro haircut, have a photo shoot and a video shoot. Pay is amazing!!! I'm not going to say how much though.
Maybe I'll be able to put these good looks to use soon....hehe
The thing that sucks....I also have the exam on Tuesday evening. So I'll be in Minneapolis in the morning and then I have to drive back 4 hrs to Madison...hopefully in time for the 5:45pm exam (Which I'm able to drop anyways...so if I do miss it its no big deal, but I kinda don't want to miss it). Then I have to go work at SAFEwalk until 3am...which is going to suck big time seeing that I have class at 8:50am the next morning. But I'm excited about the casting call and thats all that matters.
I'll let you know how everything goes...
Ciao ciao...
21.11.06
I'm coming back....
CX champs was this weekend....I think my legs are coming back. Let the training begin. I'll give you details soon....
Ahhh...I love cycling again...
Ciao ciao....
Ahhh...I love cycling again...
Ciao ciao....
15.11.06
Time to give Thanks?....Almost.....
Ah the weekend and then the extended weekend is almost here. I really only have a quiz to go on Friday. And then I'm done for Thanksgiving. I do have an exam on the 28th right after I get back from home, but it'll be easy...nothing to worry about.
Got my classes all worked out for next semester too. I'll have Tues and Thurs completely off. Good nice rides those days. Mon and Wed sucks ass....but I'll be able to put in a couple short hard rides in there somewhere. And then Friday I'm done at 11:50...enough time for the collegiate road weekends so thats perfect.
Went on a ride today...just 2 hrs....thats all I had time for. I'm loving this warm spell we're having...too bad it'll probably be gone soon and then trainer time. I also got to the gym today....worked some upper body. This weekend will be the start of the long slow rides. And I'm starting it off with a 5-7 hr 150-200km day on Saturday. I guess Baumann is doin' the Horribly Hilly Hundred (HHH) route. Then on Sunday it'll be the last cross race of the season for me. The Wisconsin CX State Champs race. I hope I can show myself that I still have a little something seeing that my legs are finally not kicking me in the nuts.
I can't wait for Thanksgiving break and then Winter break. It'll be so nice not to have to do anything other than ride. Get the legs back into shape....kick a little bit of Baumann ass. j/k Baumann...I'm going to crush you. I hope... I just want to get back to the form I had at last years Superweek....just stronger....
Look at that pretty bike....I think someone lit it on fire, beat it with a baseball bat and left it for dead....how the hell am I riding that POS???
Geez...I'm on a role with all these posts...how long do you think that'll last?
Ciao ciao....
Got my classes all worked out for next semester too. I'll have Tues and Thurs completely off. Good nice rides those days. Mon and Wed sucks ass....but I'll be able to put in a couple short hard rides in there somewhere. And then Friday I'm done at 11:50...enough time for the collegiate road weekends so thats perfect.
Went on a ride today...just 2 hrs....thats all I had time for. I'm loving this warm spell we're having...too bad it'll probably be gone soon and then trainer time. I also got to the gym today....worked some upper body. This weekend will be the start of the long slow rides. And I'm starting it off with a 5-7 hr 150-200km day on Saturday. I guess Baumann is doin' the Horribly Hilly Hundred (HHH) route. Then on Sunday it'll be the last cross race of the season for me. The Wisconsin CX State Champs race. I hope I can show myself that I still have a little something seeing that my legs are finally not kicking me in the nuts.
I can't wait for Thanksgiving break and then Winter break. It'll be so nice not to have to do anything other than ride. Get the legs back into shape....kick a little bit of Baumann ass. j/k Baumann...I'm going to crush you. I hope... I just want to get back to the form I had at last years Superweek....just stronger....
Look at that pretty bike....I think someone lit it on fire, beat it with a baseball bat and left it for dead....how the hell am I riding that POS???
Geez...I'm on a role with all these posts...how long do you think that'll last?
Ciao ciao....
14.11.06
Ugh......
Long weekend.....lots of drinking....too much drinking....
Mark and I on the ride back home....
It was a good birthday weekend though. I went home for Mutti's birthday which is Nov. 12th. Friday and Saturday were very nice and relaxing days. And then Geo, Mark and Ash came up Saturday night to go out to the bars with Mutti and I. Mutti was only going to stay out until 10/10:30....well at 2:30am she's still out partying with us. It was great. The next day we went to Shooters for brunch and then I was off back to Madison. Really nothing else happens the rest of the day...I slept.
Yesterday was my 22nd birthday...god damn thats a lot of birthdays. Soon enough I'll be 30 or something...well actually I hope not. Went to class, then it was work, went to the gym for a bit, and then it was time to go out. There wasn't many of us or too many people out at the bars. Thats what you get for having a b-day on a weekday. But it was a good time...however...now I feel fat and sassy. So after this weekend...I'm going to put a hold on drinking. I'm not going to go to the football game on Saturday just to stay away from the drinking.
Maybe I drink too much. If I want to do well next year in the cycling realm I'm really going to have to start focusing. So step 1 is to get healthy and stop that drinking. I've been going to the gym for the last 2 weeks and I'm definitely feeling and seeing results. I'll probably start base during Thanksgiving...or just possibly this weekend cuz I'll be done with exams and quizzes for a bit. We'll see....
Oh and that girl thing....yeah....not my type. I've figured out its a two week process. It takes two weeks to finally get the real look on the person. Well...she's not my type. There were a couple things that annoyed me. She was kinda trying to manipulate me...I've been manipulated before when I was new to this whole dating thing...but not this time. I know its a small thing, but she wanted me to stop saying "ciao ciao". Her excuse "its too predictable". Isn't good bye predictable? I'm not going to change myself for someone. So I'm definitely staying single. She would be a better friend anyways. Thats the report on that. And as Gehling said..."I need a sweeter girl". (Thanks for your wisdom Jaco)
Ahh....I think its time to learn 3 weeks of Bacteriology lecture in about 12 hours. Should be fun.
Ciao ciao
Mark and I on the ride back home....
It was a good birthday weekend though. I went home for Mutti's birthday which is Nov. 12th. Friday and Saturday were very nice and relaxing days. And then Geo, Mark and Ash came up Saturday night to go out to the bars with Mutti and I. Mutti was only going to stay out until 10/10:30....well at 2:30am she's still out partying with us. It was great. The next day we went to Shooters for brunch and then I was off back to Madison. Really nothing else happens the rest of the day...I slept.
Yesterday was my 22nd birthday...god damn thats a lot of birthdays. Soon enough I'll be 30 or something...well actually I hope not. Went to class, then it was work, went to the gym for a bit, and then it was time to go out. There wasn't many of us or too many people out at the bars. Thats what you get for having a b-day on a weekday. But it was a good time...however...now I feel fat and sassy. So after this weekend...I'm going to put a hold on drinking. I'm not going to go to the football game on Saturday just to stay away from the drinking.
Maybe I drink too much. If I want to do well next year in the cycling realm I'm really going to have to start focusing. So step 1 is to get healthy and stop that drinking. I've been going to the gym for the last 2 weeks and I'm definitely feeling and seeing results. I'll probably start base during Thanksgiving...or just possibly this weekend cuz I'll be done with exams and quizzes for a bit. We'll see....
Oh and that girl thing....yeah....not my type. I've figured out its a two week process. It takes two weeks to finally get the real look on the person. Well...she's not my type. There were a couple things that annoyed me. She was kinda trying to manipulate me...I've been manipulated before when I was new to this whole dating thing...but not this time. I know its a small thing, but she wanted me to stop saying "ciao ciao". Her excuse "its too predictable". Isn't good bye predictable? I'm not going to change myself for someone. So I'm definitely staying single. She would be a better friend anyways. Thats the report on that. And as Gehling said..."I need a sweeter girl". (Thanks for your wisdom Jaco)
Ahh....I think its time to learn 3 weeks of Bacteriology lecture in about 12 hours. Should be fun.
Ciao ciao
8.11.06
A new start...
So my legs are finally back I think. I can push the pedals and feel strong. I've been going to the gym for the last week working on upper and lower body. I've definitely gained a couple pounds of muscle and I just feel better overall. I haven't felt this good in awhile....too bad the season is over.
I'll be doing one more race this year. I'm going to compete in the Wisconsin State Championship Cross race on the 19th. I'm not expecting much, but I am training for it. After that race is when I'll begin to work on base and weight lifting even more. Only thing I need to do is eat better. I have some high goals for next year which I believe I'll be able to achieve. I'm really focusing on next year. I probably won't do much if any MTB...focus will be more on Road and Cyclocross.
Today was a beautiful day, so I went on a ride with 4 other teammates. It was about a 2 hr ride and we went hard. Sprinted up every hill, attacked each other when we felt like it, rode hard into the headwinds. I was able to get most of the hill sprints with the exception of one where I was taken by about 1/8th of a wheel. Then down Seminole Hwy I decided to lead out. Got up to around 33-35 mph for about 1/2 mile and dropped everyone from my wheel. Then in the arb I attacked hard...a couple of the guys tried to catch up, but I held the 1.5-2 miles and got to the end a good deal ahead of everyone. Dallas broke a spoke with all of his man-torque through the arb. Nick told me I was fast, and the cocky guy was mad that I was able to beat him so easily on everything. Good day.
It always feels good when you've gone hard and felt really good. I've really missed those days. I've missed racing this whole year practically. Next year is a new year, and I'm going into it strong....
Alright well back to my stupid 8 page paper on Cephalopods.....
Ciao Ciao
I'll be doing one more race this year. I'm going to compete in the Wisconsin State Championship Cross race on the 19th. I'm not expecting much, but I am training for it. After that race is when I'll begin to work on base and weight lifting even more. Only thing I need to do is eat better. I have some high goals for next year which I believe I'll be able to achieve. I'm really focusing on next year. I probably won't do much if any MTB...focus will be more on Road and Cyclocross.
Today was a beautiful day, so I went on a ride with 4 other teammates. It was about a 2 hr ride and we went hard. Sprinted up every hill, attacked each other when we felt like it, rode hard into the headwinds. I was able to get most of the hill sprints with the exception of one where I was taken by about 1/8th of a wheel. Then down Seminole Hwy I decided to lead out. Got up to around 33-35 mph for about 1/2 mile and dropped everyone from my wheel. Then in the arb I attacked hard...a couple of the guys tried to catch up, but I held the 1.5-2 miles and got to the end a good deal ahead of everyone. Dallas broke a spoke with all of his man-torque through the arb. Nick told me I was fast, and the cocky guy was mad that I was able to beat him so easily on everything. Good day.
It always feels good when you've gone hard and felt really good. I've really missed those days. I've missed racing this whole year practically. Next year is a new year, and I'm going into it strong....
Alright well back to my stupid 8 page paper on Cephalopods.....
Ciao Ciao
24.10.06
It's been awhile.....
Yes I know I should update this thing more often. I bet all of you maybe one readers are just dying to know whats going on in my life. Well, things are going pretty well actually and I'm loving it. I'm going to make this short because of it being 2:30am and I having to wake up at 7am to continue studying for an exam.
I <3 cyclocross. My new cross bike rules and I want to specialize in cross. It'll take me some time to do that....seeing that I'm just getting back on my bike again and really have no power, but cross is a blast. My first two races I got 18th and 21st. Not great but not bad. The winter training season will now be starting up for me. I want to come back to the collegiate road season strong in February.
School is going well. I have an A or AB in all of my classes. I have 2 exams this week...one that I need to study for just a little bit more tomorrow, but it'll be easy. I'm mostly ahead in everything which is nice and not stressful. Next semester will be a little bit more stressful unfortuntely. Oh well.....
And I'm sort of dating someone now. Thats what it seems like. It hasn't really been set in stone yet, but I wouldn't mind at all. She's cool, funny, very cute and attractive, smart and she rides bikes!!!! I really like her. I've only known her since last Friday (13th). She's just really fun to hang out with. I just feel that I'm doing something wrong. I haven't had a girlfriend/dated since the summer after senior year of high school...so almost 4 years now. Its like I don't know what to do. I'm just going with the flow right now. Hopefully I don't ruin things and things go well.
Well, I'll let you know more later on. Now...I need sleep.
Ciao Ciao
I <3 cyclocross. My new cross bike rules and I want to specialize in cross. It'll take me some time to do that....seeing that I'm just getting back on my bike again and really have no power, but cross is a blast. My first two races I got 18th and 21st. Not great but not bad. The winter training season will now be starting up for me. I want to come back to the collegiate road season strong in February.
School is going well. I have an A or AB in all of my classes. I have 2 exams this week...one that I need to study for just a little bit more tomorrow, but it'll be easy. I'm mostly ahead in everything which is nice and not stressful. Next semester will be a little bit more stressful unfortuntely. Oh well.....
And I'm sort of dating someone now. Thats what it seems like. It hasn't really been set in stone yet, but I wouldn't mind at all. She's cool, funny, very cute and attractive, smart and she rides bikes!!!! I really like her. I've only known her since last Friday (13th). She's just really fun to hang out with. I just feel that I'm doing something wrong. I haven't had a girlfriend/dated since the summer after senior year of high school...so almost 4 years now. Its like I don't know what to do. I'm just going with the flow right now. Hopefully I don't ruin things and things go well.
Well, I'll let you know more later on. Now...I need sleep.
Ciao Ciao
6.10.06
Cyclocross rules!!!....
So I got the Felt F1X and I love it. I went for a skills ride with Eaon and he taught me some good tricks for cyclocross racing. I'm going to love it. I'll be starting in Cat 3 for this year. I hope to move up by the end of this year actually. I've started riding bikes again and I actually still have a good amount of poer in the legs. I'll be trying out the Felt in a cross race next weekend in Delafield. I want to/will at least place top 5. This weekend I'm going to do a little skills training in the mornings and then go for a ride ith the Frugeri in the afternoon (do some intervals and stuff). I really want to come back strong next year and I think I can. Eaon is going to kinda be my coach will will be awesome. I can't waite! I want to be able to get sponsored for the next year so I need to show people what I can do. That's it for now. Time to study for a crapload of exams.....
Ciao
Ciao
26.9.06
I'm getting a new cyclocross bike!!!....
Its the Felt F1X. I love it. I just took it on a test ride today. Only $1300 and its an ultegra drivetrain. I'll probably be purchasing it in the next couple of weeks.
Oh and I got my new frugeri fork. Definitely a lot girthier than the one that broke.
P.S. A new spoke and nipple for a Fulcrum Racing 3 front wheel = $40. I hate you at the moment Fulcrum.
29.8.06
Reborn...a little....
Sorry about that last post. Sometimes things just build up and its that one thing that makes you snap and look at things all the wrong way. I got a nice email from a friend I haven't seen in forever. It was relaxing. Its true...mostly all that stuff I was complaining about in that last post really shouldn't get to me. I have to live my life to the fullest and not care about the 'little' things that suck. I just have to be the fun, spontaneous person that I usually am. That's all.
I just got back from an MTB with the Super Strong Freshman Steve. I feel awesome. We were riding really strong...even though I know he could have just taken off and left me in his dust. But in a way I feel like I could have taken him on. I felt strong and good on the Fuel (even though I want and need a new MTB, which will be a Salsa Moto Rapido). I've been going to the gym alot and getting toner and fitter so thats helping a bit. I just feel a little better. This winter will be a lot of training, but the correct training. I WILL come back stronger next year. I will be going to Mizzou this weekend for the collegiate races. I'm only doing B's but if everything does go right I may go up to A's for the Purdue weekend 2 weeks later.
And if anything I get to destroy a wall in our house tonight. So if I have any anger left in me I can take it out by putting many holes in the wall....
I just got back from an MTB with the Super Strong Freshman Steve. I feel awesome. We were riding really strong...even though I know he could have just taken off and left me in his dust. But in a way I feel like I could have taken him on. I felt strong and good on the Fuel (even though I want and need a new MTB, which will be a Salsa Moto Rapido). I've been going to the gym alot and getting toner and fitter so thats helping a bit. I just feel a little better. This winter will be a lot of training, but the correct training. I WILL come back stronger next year. I will be going to Mizzou this weekend for the collegiate races. I'm only doing B's but if everything does go right I may go up to A's for the Purdue weekend 2 weeks later.
And if anything I get to destroy a wall in our house tonight. So if I have any anger left in me I can take it out by putting many holes in the wall....
28.8.06
Life.....
So tonight was fun until a point...and you probably don't want to read the rest of this.
I've been tipsy or drunk for the past 4 nights in a row. I think its starting to get to me. Tonight started great and then hit rock bottom. I don't think people really like me. They just act and say they see me as a friend even though they don't want to be my friend. I know I'm an ass. I don't know why I am. I just am. I won't believe any of the comments I get....if any. Who really reads this blog anyways. You probably shouldn't anyways. Don't waste your time.
Mostly my life is going nowhere right now. I don't bike anymore...I want to bike more though. I just wish people would understand that I'm having a bad year and don't want to be on the bike. I don't have a job that has to do anything with my major. I don't have money to do anything. I drink alot. I sleep until 2 in the afternoon. No one really seems to want to be my friend. I suck at meeting new people. I don't have a girlfriend (by the way I fucking hate it when people call me gay...I FUCKING HATE IT...even as a joke). I'm not secure with myself. I say the wrong things.
I don't know what I want. Aaron and I had a conversation just last night about relationships...Minch understands too. I have a lot of passion to give...but I don't have anyone to give it to. I can't even find anyone. That's all I want right now. I so badly want to find a girlfriend. I've put it in posts before, but I want someone now. It's different than the last posts. I would like to get on my bike right now, but I hate it when people call me weak since I haven't been on a bike for awhile...yeah, sorry I've had such a bad year that I don't want to be on my bike right now. I just want to take the rest of the year off, but I feel like I need to race and shit like that just to fit in. I finally had fun on the bike today. I went on a ride with Minch. It wasn't training or anything like that. It was just a fun ride, that's all.
I don't want people to ask me about modeling anymore. Sorry I ever brought it up. I don't want to have a huge ego. I hate myself anyways....but I guess thats what keeps me going somehow....having a big ego. I've tried to tone it down, but I guess people still see me ass an ass.
Sorry if I've put my finger in your ear. Sorry if I've said something rude to you. Sorry if I've offended you. Sorry if I've said the wrong thing. Sorry if I've thought too highly of myself. I'm trying to change my attitude. Maybe I should just stay away for awhile (probably would make you all happy). Thank god school is starting....it'll be easy then. And I'll have two jobs and want to do well with my grades.
I've meant everything I've said in this post. You think I "love" myself. Well....guess what....I don't.
Ciao
I've been tipsy or drunk for the past 4 nights in a row. I think its starting to get to me. Tonight started great and then hit rock bottom. I don't think people really like me. They just act and say they see me as a friend even though they don't want to be my friend. I know I'm an ass. I don't know why I am. I just am. I won't believe any of the comments I get....if any. Who really reads this blog anyways. You probably shouldn't anyways. Don't waste your time.
Mostly my life is going nowhere right now. I don't bike anymore...I want to bike more though. I just wish people would understand that I'm having a bad year and don't want to be on the bike. I don't have a job that has to do anything with my major. I don't have money to do anything. I drink alot. I sleep until 2 in the afternoon. No one really seems to want to be my friend. I suck at meeting new people. I don't have a girlfriend (by the way I fucking hate it when people call me gay...I FUCKING HATE IT...even as a joke). I'm not secure with myself. I say the wrong things.
I don't know what I want. Aaron and I had a conversation just last night about relationships...Minch understands too. I have a lot of passion to give...but I don't have anyone to give it to. I can't even find anyone. That's all I want right now. I so badly want to find a girlfriend. I've put it in posts before, but I want someone now. It's different than the last posts. I would like to get on my bike right now, but I hate it when people call me weak since I haven't been on a bike for awhile...yeah, sorry I've had such a bad year that I don't want to be on my bike right now. I just want to take the rest of the year off, but I feel like I need to race and shit like that just to fit in. I finally had fun on the bike today. I went on a ride with Minch. It wasn't training or anything like that. It was just a fun ride, that's all.
I don't want people to ask me about modeling anymore. Sorry I ever brought it up. I don't want to have a huge ego. I hate myself anyways....but I guess thats what keeps me going somehow....having a big ego. I've tried to tone it down, but I guess people still see me ass an ass.
Sorry if I've put my finger in your ear. Sorry if I've said something rude to you. Sorry if I've offended you. Sorry if I've said the wrong thing. Sorry if I've thought too highly of myself. I'm trying to change my attitude. Maybe I should just stay away for awhile (probably would make you all happy). Thank god school is starting....it'll be easy then. And I'll have two jobs and want to do well with my grades.
I've meant everything I've said in this post. You think I "love" myself. Well....guess what....I don't.
Ciao
20.8.06
HEY EVERYBODY...Come see how good I look....
Well today was the day of the photo shoot. My mom came down yesterday and we went shopping for some new clothes and such. We got all of my clothes ready last night (ironed them, sorted them out, etc.). I had over 30 shirts, 5 pairs of pants, 2 pairs of shorts, 6 different sunglasses, 2 hats, 2 belts, 3 belt buckles, and 6 pairs of shoes. WOW.
So this morning I woke up at 6am to get me and all my stuff ready. We left and got to the photo shoot spot at around 7:50am or so. My photographer's name was Jeff and my make-up/hair stylist's name was Anja. They were both really cool. They were kinda hippie-ish. They were awesome. So after getting all my clothes together they only put me in 4 different outfits. But they were good choices. I got my make-up on, my hair did (3 different styles), and got ready to look pretty. All I can say is modeling is FUN! I would just be standing around and Jeff would love the pose I was doing. I must be a natural. lol. The other girl that was there modeling never modeled before just like me and honestly thought that I've done this already. Nope...I just love the camera. Jeff really did a great job with the shooting. I really liked my pictures. Some of them really don't look like me, but I still really liked them...alot. I'll be getting a CD with all the pictures and the proofs in 2 weeks. Until then you'll have to just wait to see the pictures. I hope this modeling thing goes somewhere.
Ciao
So this morning I woke up at 6am to get me and all my stuff ready. We left and got to the photo shoot spot at around 7:50am or so. My photographer's name was Jeff and my make-up/hair stylist's name was Anja. They were both really cool. They were kinda hippie-ish. They were awesome. So after getting all my clothes together they only put me in 4 different outfits. But they were good choices. I got my make-up on, my hair did (3 different styles), and got ready to look pretty. All I can say is modeling is FUN! I would just be standing around and Jeff would love the pose I was doing. I must be a natural. lol. The other girl that was there modeling never modeled before just like me and honestly thought that I've done this already. Nope...I just love the camera. Jeff really did a great job with the shooting. I really liked my pictures. Some of them really don't look like me, but I still really liked them...alot. I'll be getting a CD with all the pictures and the proofs in 2 weeks. Until then you'll have to just wait to see the pictures. I hope this modeling thing goes somewhere.
Ciao
18.8.06
La mia forcella....
So I finally have pics of my f$#@ed up fork. If I only had some elmer's glue and duct tape I could put it back together....
Both arms snapped right off.....
I think the right arm was fautly and then the left couldn't support the weight anymore....
That is some thin carbon....
I am a lot better now, but the fitness and the legs are just not there anymore. It'll be a tough winter for training....
Ciao
Both arms snapped right off.....
I think the right arm was fautly and then the left couldn't support the weight anymore....
That is some thin carbon....
I am a lot better now, but the fitness and the legs are just not there anymore. It'll be a tough winter for training....
Ciao
17.8.06
I want these Mutha-f*$#ing snakes off this mutha f*$#ing plane....
OK so I haven't posted anything in a super long time. So here it goes...I'll try to remember everything I've done the best I can.
First of all, I have my photo shoot on Sunday morning. I can't wait for that. It should be fun. My niece got chosen to go to LA to model and have over 400 businesses from all over the world look for the top models. Who knows my niece might get to model in Milan. Lucky....but thats what I hope can happen with me. I just have to do my best. I love getting pictures taken so it should (and will) go well. I'll be going to the mall on Saturday to find a couple more clothes. I mean come on this could be me:
OK well maybe I can do something like this....
Ok so other than that I have been trying to work alot to make some of that cash out there. I've been working at SAFEwalk alot. I've been promoted to a dispatcher. 50 cent raise right there so that'll help. And we may actually get a raise at the beginning of Sept. I really hope that goes through. I also got another job working at the Physics library. Freshie Steve works there and says its pretty easy and it seems its going to be easy too. I'll probably be putting in 12-15 hrs a week at the physics library. So hopefully if you put these two jobs together and a couple gigs from modeling hopefully and make sure to save...I should be able to make some good money this semester. Lately I've been handing out bus passes to UW employees. Such a mind-numbing job. But its money.
I've been going to the gym a lot lately and cycling again to get a nice bod for the modeling and to get ready for the Collegiate MTB season coming up soon. I don't know how I'll do seeing that my legs have been feeling like crap for mostly all of time. We'll just have to see.
So this year I want to be busy. Very busy, which means very productive for me. So here's a list of what I will be up to this semester at least:
Working at SAFEwalk
Working at the Physics Library
Modeling
13 Credits of Schooling (13 pretty east credits though)
Training (SERF and cycling)
The Collegiate MTB Season
Hopefully be Prez or VP of the UW Cycling Team
I think it'll keep me pretty busy. I want to do other things too. Get into more activities.
Oh and last night I went up to Wis Dells with Geo to visit his brother and his brother's girlfriend. And well...to see a bikini contest. WOW those girls were HOTT! 3 out of the 10 were not so hott. The other 7 had amazing bodies and were very very HOTT. I didn't quite enjoy the results though. Two of the girls were not hott and they got 2nd and 3rd. Rachel - Geo's brother's girlfriend was not in the top 5 even though she honestly should have been. But just seeing all those girls in their bikinis....WOW. I need a girl like that.
Well, tomorrow is another day. I will be helping with cleaning our house, cycling meeting, SERF, fixing my commuter, washing everything I have for the photo shoot, and completing other random acts. My mom comes on Saturday and we will be doing a little bit of shopping for the shoot, some grocery shopping, and relaxing.
Well until then...
Ciao
First of all, I have my photo shoot on Sunday morning. I can't wait for that. It should be fun. My niece got chosen to go to LA to model and have over 400 businesses from all over the world look for the top models. Who knows my niece might get to model in Milan. Lucky....but thats what I hope can happen with me. I just have to do my best. I love getting pictures taken so it should (and will) go well. I'll be going to the mall on Saturday to find a couple more clothes. I mean come on this could be me:
OK well maybe I can do something like this....
Ok so other than that I have been trying to work alot to make some of that cash out there. I've been working at SAFEwalk alot. I've been promoted to a dispatcher. 50 cent raise right there so that'll help. And we may actually get a raise at the beginning of Sept. I really hope that goes through. I also got another job working at the Physics library. Freshie Steve works there and says its pretty easy and it seems its going to be easy too. I'll probably be putting in 12-15 hrs a week at the physics library. So hopefully if you put these two jobs together and a couple gigs from modeling hopefully and make sure to save...I should be able to make some good money this semester. Lately I've been handing out bus passes to UW employees. Such a mind-numbing job. But its money.
I've been going to the gym a lot lately and cycling again to get a nice bod for the modeling and to get ready for the Collegiate MTB season coming up soon. I don't know how I'll do seeing that my legs have been feeling like crap for mostly all of time. We'll just have to see.
So this year I want to be busy. Very busy, which means very productive for me. So here's a list of what I will be up to this semester at least:
Working at SAFEwalk
Working at the Physics Library
Modeling
13 Credits of Schooling (13 pretty east credits though)
Training (SERF and cycling)
The Collegiate MTB Season
Hopefully be Prez or VP of the UW Cycling Team
I think it'll keep me pretty busy. I want to do other things too. Get into more activities.
Oh and last night I went up to Wis Dells with Geo to visit his brother and his brother's girlfriend. And well...to see a bikini contest. WOW those girls were HOTT! 3 out of the 10 were not so hott. The other 7 had amazing bodies and were very very HOTT. I didn't quite enjoy the results though. Two of the girls were not hott and they got 2nd and 3rd. Rachel - Geo's brother's girlfriend was not in the top 5 even though she honestly should have been. But just seeing all those girls in their bikinis....WOW. I need a girl like that.
Well, tomorrow is another day. I will be helping with cleaning our house, cycling meeting, SERF, fixing my commuter, washing everything I have for the photo shoot, and completing other random acts. My mom comes on Saturday and we will be doing a little bit of shopping for the shoot, some grocery shopping, and relaxing.
Well until then...
Ciao
6.8.06
I'm still alive....
Ok so quickly here is what I've done, gotten, been up to:
1) I'm back on the bike
2) I bought a Nintendo DS
3) I got some new clothes
4) I can't wait for my photo shoot
5) Mark got me addicted to Guitar Hero
6) I started going to the gym again (forming some abs actually)
7) I've been sleeping alot
8) I've been working a crapload (the next 4 weeks I'll be putting in 107 hrs)
9) I enjoy life
1) I'm back on the bike
2) I bought a Nintendo DS
3) I got some new clothes
4) I can't wait for my photo shoot
5) Mark got me addicted to Guitar Hero
6) I started going to the gym again (forming some abs actually)
7) I've been sleeping alot
8) I've been working a crapload (the next 4 weeks I'll be putting in 107 hrs)
9) I enjoy life
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