Fairhill and Tacchino Recaps

Well Had a blast of a race weekend, this past weekend. Started off with Fairhill race in Maryland. I have always loved this race, and even the mountain bike race back in the days I use to MTB. Great venue, shame more people never show up to this one, but well kept hidden secret. SHHHH! I arrived there with plenty of time to spare, chatted with few folks, normal get ready ritual. Rode some of the course because some changes form last year, looks to be nice changes at that. rode on the road for last minute stretch out and waited for whistle. Started off in mid pack position, and managed to stay up well with the other riders. loves the twists and turns of this course. Hurry up to the sandpit(horse arena) area, which has always been my favorite section. They changed it slightly, but all rideable and went strong thru that section each lap. Didn't know where i was position wise but felt great and even felt confident about my riding. finished strong, and ended up 21st place out of @ 55 racers. not bad at all, did much better then last year, where I was in the 30's. No crashes, no mechanical issues, and a great race with solid results. Stayed around and cheered on my fellow teammate Mark. glad to see him out, he will be back to this race cause it is a nice course. Gorgeous day with slight chill, but warmed up nicely.

Sunday at Tacchino: Whole new venue this year- different park, location, city and course of course. Hoping to do another recap of fairhill's race. got there after a few misjudgments of location. Rode to registration because it was about 3/4 mile away. Only 1 urinal and 2 toilets for men, a little weak if you ask me, considering the amount of racers at last year Tacchino race. Course was set up nice, not my style though, too many long straights , there were some short sections for speed, but the longer staights are not my forte. not a lot of places to recover either. Well rode most of the course for warm up and saw my fellow Cx results nemesis, Adam. Chatted for a few minutes with him. Dang its 70-80 degrees out and i have my thermal skinsuit on9forgot to check weather night before), at least i took my underarmor thermal shirt off, even put some light chocolate embrocation cream on, becuase it was slightly cooler earlier, but warmed up real quick. Kiss form girlfriend and ready to fly! Mass start without prolog is a mistake. You have got 80-90 racers all vying for a small area to an off camber upgrade and a quick sharp right turn after that, and then another quick left turn to a slight straight away. Well started off with elbows and positions at stake, took a few and even gave a few got off 100 feet of road and then on grass on off camber upgrade. riders on both side, probably mid to 2/3 back of pack. At least 3 riders go down off the left front of me and then one right in front of me he went sprawling to ground bike in my path, no where to go, cant stop cause others bearing down on me form behind with a clue, eyeballs got huge and lifted front wheel up and rode over his rear wheel and managed to stay in motion and upright at the same time. Next quarter lap, was checking tire/wheel alot, worried i would have a flat. Had my spares , but never pitted them-DORK! , well continued up the steep inclines and long rolling flats with corners around bushes, bike riding well and no flat. Really short course only at 2-2.5K length, so they stated before that lapped riders would be pulled. Saw Adam up ahead after 2 laps and with 3 laps to go. Still quite a bit of carnage going on, folks rolling tires, flatting, broken ankles, small crashes, but managed to stay free of all this luckily. Was going to jump barrier for a sausage premium, but chickened out instead. Have no idea where my position is riders everywhere, even I was lapping some riders. Couldn't quite catch Adam, he powers to much on flat areas, which is not my game. I would be close and then lose him again. After 5 laps and coming to finish, 3 riders in front of me, gained on them in corners, but they pulled ahead on flats, but gained on technical sections right before finish. One guy took off 2nd guy started to, but i had changed rings and started to kick it in and finish strong. The rider in front weaved and tried to push me off course, but beat him by @ a helmets length and own my third sprint finish this year. WhoooaaaaHHHH sprinted for 47th place(after checking results). Well 47th out of @ 90 some riders isnt too sucky, but not great. i hope they fix the cross results for it only has 57 because they stopped numbering the lapped riders. Now it looks worse the i actually did.

Anyway, no actual crashes from me , no mechanicals or flats, and got to watch the Tacchino turkey having fun with masters racers and ate some Belgian frites!!!! now thats a race!!!!

Mid Season Thought

Having a fun season so far this year, not the results i was hoping for, but its all good. Having fun, staying healthy, and finishing the races are more important. Hup camaraderie is nice as well. Always fun to cheer on fellow Hupsters. Well doing another double this weekend. Fairhill and tacchino. Should be fun, having normal fall weather looks to be, not the usual rainy Belgian style weather. Peace out and keep up the pedal power transfer all.

Between races

Well the trick is always what to do between races. Had Charm city Cross on Sunday 9/20/09. Had a place with @ midpack finish. what I expected at this time, even had desires for more. Its all good though, things will continue to get better. A few days of riding, had a decent post race ride Monday and then another good ride wednesday. Easier paced recovery ride Thursday. Legs a little tired working too many 12 hour shifts this week , not helping recovery time. Should be ready for a nice race in Buckeystown, for the Ed Sander Memorial cross. Hope to see you out there.

Passion to Ride!

My colnago with baby blue hup colored tires.

As Lance once stated, it's not just about the bike? or is it? No it is definitely a state of mind. to be able to ride away from the etheral world but existing yet in the physical world is a priviledge. It something not found in every sport or workout. You surely cant find it in the gym, nor the noise of ball games(all types), but it is found in those types of exercise, where one strives to be the very best at that moment in time. You can find it in running, surfing, rock climbing, cycling(of course), and many others.

There is nothing "extreme" about it but more out of body, something....... dare I say, spiritualistic about it. It is existing, because you are there in that period of time, on the road, on the trail, in the water..... either way you are there physically. Yet there is a spirirtual essence about it, because your mind is free and coexisting on another level with your fears, your pains, your suffering that you are implementing on yourself and your body. Er find ourselves driving ourselves to the brink of utter exhaustion, and for what..... that extra one second off our time, for that extra mile, for that extra rock you climbed over up another sheer cliff: nay! It is for the love, the passion, the desire to excel past your limits: to push oneself further than you have ever done so before, to the near breaking point and sometimes beyond.

my girl Abby.

Of the thrill, the acomplishment of not the destination, but the limits that we pushed ourselves to. That little breaking down of our mental barriers that said it coulnd't be done, it cant be done, it will never be done!!!! Yet here you are before the executioners blade, wondering will i push myself or will i do limit myself and do what is comfortable. I reveal in the thought that each day we expend ourselves in an inner battle, but also an inner peace about us. for we are out with cars speeding by, animals looking on, passerbyers wondering what drives on when we could be much more comfortable relaxing in Air Condition cars or sitting in front of the sofa. I feel an almost pity for those that dont know the desire, the drive, the passion that puts us out there on a limb. I do hope everyone can experience this fuel that lights our fire, but some may never know, what their body can do beyond the control of the mind.

Only those that are willing to risk it all, take that chance at life and even love. They are willing to go that extra mile not for the sake of accomplishing, but for the sake of punishment so that we can brake down- Demolish the mental and physical barriers that we think bind us and hold us back form our true potential. I have loved and lost, tried and failed, started and blundered, rose and also fell, and also crashed and burned in many aspects. But I wake up every morning, take another breath, enjoy the time I have, push myself another moment, share my love with the ones that surround me, and then again do what must be done to still function. I do these tasks with vigor and yet no matter what happens, what comes around the corner, i can walk over to my bike and transform again, become one with the universe, become a spirit and rush through the wind, feel the water, taste the sweat, and revel in the pain that i know but one truth: Existence is what you make of it, so dont waste another day! Get out there and push it!

Cyclocross, Campagnolo, Lion of flanders and of course HUP united! What else do I need to say?!

Hum de hum ho. Went for a mountain cross ride @ week ago and reirritated my strained back during the ride. Was riding with a mountain biker along the well, and going thruough some nice sloppy mess. Felt great till mid way thru to grab some hydration, and then felt the after effects from hopping over logs, pulling up over boulders, clearing water/mud gaps, and haggling over tree roots. Great ride except for silly back discomfort. Oh well no crossing for a while and back to road riding. doing some parts swapping on the road bike, had an off brand carbon crankset that worked well for a few years, but is fexing too much now and cuasing occasional rub to inside of bottom bracket housing on bike. so found an older super shape Aluminum classy Campy record crank that looks to have hardly beemn used, even though a few years old on Ebay. Great find and gives my classic colnago a little old school pizzazz. Usualy run michelin Krylion Carbons, but were hard to find for awhile so settled for a Deda clincher. Well dont recommend this tire. Way to soft and no durability. Had more cuts in it then a carved turkey. so tidbit for anyone out there. I found a good deal on a pair of lithions(Baby blue of course), mid range tires, hopefully they last a little longer the Deda. Ill keep my eye out for a pair of Krylions on Biketiresdirect.com, they usually have good deals. Got some more team kit items,. love the new woolie jersey- sharp, classy , and a really cool retor look. New woolie socks with of course HUP united on them, and some water bottles coming up. Well see you all out on the road. Thanks for stopping by.

Cross ride it Is

Another day in the mow 40's here is pa. At least got out for another romp on the trails with the cross bike. Functioned well/normal and had a decent overall splendid ride. glad to be out and drag my tired legs out and about. not much else to say. tongue tied today. here is a pic of the Garneau color scheme with the duds. looks fantastic to me. Ready to don the appearal appropriately and display the strength and fortitude that is HUP. go Belgians, Lion of Flanders rules, and see you out and about.

The Way, The Ride

Gray overcast skies. damp chilled air. Succumb to the coolness, but layers make cozy inside. Briskness touches my face with the turn of my bar presents me toward another direction, hence invigorating me with renewed longing: where am i going? From whence did this journey begin? Am I alive, for yes the chilled air brings me back to my reality but my mind still lingers into a web of drizzled perceptions from the constant downpour of thoughts that flood through my meager mind. Is this the day? No my dilemma, my journey has not yet come to the point that i had thought i would be. I spin my legs in sweet rhythm, keeping up the for tense of exercise, but yet wallow in the desire to be out and lose myself in my thoughts and feed my passion that i have come to love all so well. Is it an addiction? Some may beg to differ, some may think so. I think this journey that I take myself on is just an extension of my self and this world, the longing /desire that feeds the frenzy takes me from one point to another, but yet the scenery, the thoughts, the reclusiveness of this journey brings me to another realm. This realm is one of my escapes from the reality of the world, that drives us and directs us in a way we know not and sometimes understand not all so well. this is one time were i can reprieve and delay the inevitability of life, of the world, and the circumstances that dictate us. this is my time, if there is such a thing , to escape, to dream, to punish, to live, to breath, to pedal, to ride--is all i desire!!

Hope you are out there as well as I . Stop complaining and start living. go out and ride. I could take a camera and take some pictures, but the memories in my mind are much more vivid and produce much more involvement into the very being in which i am, in which I strive to be, and in full course who others perceive me as. We are, I am , you are all the same- friends, coworkers, parents, loved ones, acquaintances, bike riders. Stop your waiting and get out there and enjoy the day! Have a good one Everyone. HUp it up.