Derailed...

6 weeks of Clean Eating nutrition due to the TWO brownies (with chocolate chips) that i just consumed. When i got the "all staff" email that they were in the office i should have known. I convinced myself that there may be something important in my box (there of course was NOT) so to make it look like i wasnt wasting time and just walking around campus, i ate the brownies. I am so upset.

In other news:

Yup, $100. i haven't spent it yet, but i have a few ideas on how to waste it pretty quickly.

• Sunday was the Cal State Championships (a very odd name for an event if you ask me). At this race, it is usually all the same local chicks that show up at Rim Nordics or Fontana races. Nothing too resemblant of the cyclists that this vast state actually holds.

• But, yesterday, we had a few wild cards. Now i am not sure if there is any rule that you actually have to LIVE in California or even be an American citizen to do this race, but if there is, i will be the champion. Although i got worked. Maybe we should show a current electrical bill or something? wait, no. because i don't have one of those either. but you see what i am saying here...could i go to Kansas and race in their state Championship? Not that i would win, but i don't know any MTB racer chicks from Kansas, so i could have a shot.

• Top Block: Adventure racer chick who has done La Ruta (5th overall) - Angela Parra Sierra, from the Country of COLUMBIA

"Angela Parra Sierra of Bogota, Colombia has committed to the California Multisport finals taking place September 28 in the local hills of San Luis Obispo. She is podium finisher of La Ruta de los Conquistadors, and one of the most talented expedition female athletes of south America...and that says a lot. They are tough as nails down there." Excellent!

• Second Block: Xterra racer from one of the Scottland - Lesley Paterson, she went running post XC.

"Lesley was a professional triathlete who competed for Great Britain and Scotland in many world championships. Having trained her body for 6 hours a day, she has become best friends with pain,hard work, and commitment." I'm just saying...

• These chicks started FASTER than any cal state i have raced. I wasn't sure who they were and if it was logical idea to stick on their wheels. well, it probably wasn't. But i did for around 15 miles where i got attacked repeatedly. I have never been attacked this much in an XC race and had to play the cat and mouse game. But eventually, the descents would take their toll and the high efforts would take even a greater toll on my body, and i would settle, way....back....into third. I even started getting leg cramps. that is sooooo 2006!! what's the deal!

These girls were a ton of fun! We had a long chat post awards and it seems like one, if not both, will be around this area for even more racing!!

What I am Missing Out On...

My Southern Hemisphere Family is reporting cold rains, winter sniffles and pulled backs. Those things i don't miss, but, i do miss getting to play with these little monsters!!! I wish FedEx would transport little people!!

Griffyn, my 3 year old nephew has more hair than me!!! They are not going to cut it until he is 5!!!

Gwen is completely my sisters daughter!!

Julene with the offspring. I want Griffyn's socks!!

They seem to be getting along. Now....
I think he is looking for Aunty Joy-Joy...

Well thank you for asking!!

Recently i have been asked how i came out so good, so "wholesome" to be exact.

Here is your answer.
That's right. I went to home school. Brenda, my mom, was also my first teacher. I went to traditional school in 5th grade, but before then i spent three years doing the following:
(This is Mom with Mary Whipple - that's right, mom kicks it with Olympian Gold Medalists!)

• Planting gardens (one year 30 tomato plants, 18 hills of zucchini)


• baking bread from scratch


• Raising kittens and puppies


• Cleaning


• Making dinner


• Building forts


• Building play houses


• Working in the yard


• Not watching TV


• Not playing video games


• Helping out on a fellow homeschoolers ranch


• Hiking through the woods


• And doing an occasional math worksheet
• Riding my bike to the community swimming pool

Now, most of you probably almost deleted me from your blogroll. These facts do not make me weird, at all. Promise.

I just wanted you to know that not everyone who goes to homeschool turns out odd. My brother and sister both went, and from what i know they seem pretty normal. We are all quite socially adempt too (i have almost 300 friends on Facebook...its way better than myspace...).

So, give a homeschooler a chance!

Sundays Just Don't Seem To Be Our Day...

That's a Goat Head Thorn.

Joey: "Dude, i have like a hundred thorns in my front tire. Sweet!"

Joy: "um, so do i"

Matt: yelling back at us, "do one of you have a flat?"

Joy/Joey: "yes, we both do"

As we had a pit contest to see who would fix it first, Matt's back tire went flat. Since i finished first...I soon realized my front was flat as well. When i went up to Joey's bike, i saw his front was flat too. Then it was all quiet and what not, and we could hear the air coming out of Matt's front tire too.

6 flats total. No tubeless. 3 tubes.

As we were walking our bikes up a really rude asphalt climb, i asked Matt how his day was. He said "way better than last weekend." Yes, this is true. Every ride will be better than last weekend!

A lot has happened since we last talked...

Jamie Black-Listed me. Even after I bought him a burrito.

Joey Crashed.

and Matt wrote all about it.

I did however get myself a new bike for my birthday. Well tra-la-la. Don't hate because I am queen of Matchy-matchy.

PROOF

Finishing last is lonely.
The climb was not lonely, but the clouds were very threatening!
The air was pretty thin up there.
That's why the book is called "Under the Banner of Heaven" this place was beautiful!

I feel like...

1. Racing my bike at 9,000-11,000 ft isn't that bad. Until you try to walk up three flights of strairs to the condo.


2. Warming up for a race wearing base layer, jersey, vest, arm-warmers, and a zip up pink sweat shirt is over-kill. If i had been in the IE.
   
3. 80 with a chance of a snow storm is just your average day in Southern Utah.


4. 4 girls, 4 bikes, 4 loads of junk can in fact fit in my car


5. 9 people in one condo makes a pretty cheap "vacation": $44 each for three nights
   
6. 9 people in one condo makes for no hot water.
   

WEEKEND HIGHS and LOWS

• UP wearing arm warmers - i can't remember the last time i was cold


• UP watching Matt, Maureen and Joey race Super D. (although Shelli and Jason and i sat on a cold picnic table for 45 minutes staring at the mountain side waiting for the "show"). Too bad Jamie wasn't there (down..)


• UP working my mad Tuesday-night skills on the 28 minute road and dirt climb. At 13% with Krista and Amanda.


• DOWN coming across Chloe Forsman, U23 National Champion , who had gotten caught in a rut and had a nasty crash. She is super cool, and super fast. I stopped and got her bike off the trail and went into first-aid mode to asses the situation. She had a NASTY gash under her right knee and would end up getting 25 stitches!! I stayed with her for probably 20 minutes or so. I tied one of her super-fancy Luna arm warmers around her knee, put her chain back on as we started to walk/ride down the trail in search of help. A fisherman was walking up the trail calling for us, since Maureen had given him the heads up. I hope Chloe is ok!


• UP/DOWN from then on, i was in ride, not race mode. I stopped and talked to a guy suffering severely from the altitude, you know, the talk it out. I talked to another pro female who was "done" and had a flat and in no way wanted to fix it, just wanted OUT. i stopped to talk to the water station people to tell them what i had found on my reconnaissance mission. I was completely last, but i had an awesome ride, on fantastic trails in beautiful weather. That's all i need.


• Things I Tried to Give away: 1 ) Pink polka-dot PJ tank. I tried to get Chloe to let me wrap it around her knee. i was wearing it because i was FREEZING and had no base layer! 2 ) My tube 3 ) my arm warmers 4) my bike - a guy had a bad mechanical and said he was SO tired of walking out. We were about 1.5 miles from the finish, but he wouldn't take mine. hmph.
  

AWKWARD!

I was cooked by the time i got out. I had missed my feeds and had no food on me. it was cold and extremely windy. i re-layered and went into the lodge where they were having awards. Larry Longo caught my eye and what ensued was the WORST, but the BEST 20 minutes of my year.

I became the PODIUM GIRL. Picture this. Helmet head. Check. Sweaty. Check. All chamied-out with layers and miss-matched sweatshirt. Check. I had leg warmers on, so they were battling with my shorts for territory, creating that "lump" that encircles even the sveltest of thighs. It was horrible. and i was in front of everyone.

It gets worse. I a giving awards to RACE WINNERS for pro men and women. OLYMPIANS!!! National champions, World-cup podium finishers. I was flabbergasted. Women i race against, or at least line up behind. There was paparazzi, cheering, and yelling. And each athlete was headed straight for me.

I didn't know if i should smile, look them in the eye, give them some coy word of congratulations. I began to sweat. It was horrible.

My defining moment came when it was time for the men's top 5 for the race. They all wear hats and sunglasses and about 5 feet out from me, began to bend their heads ever so slightly, assume i would smoothly lasso them as they slowed only slightly on their way to the blocks.

I got caught up on Ross Schnell. Now some people know i have an "affinity" towards him, and they were laughing in the crowd. I think i turned beet red as he approached, i fumbled, and caught the bill of his hat. Which then caught his hand, and we were momentarily intertwined. I stuttered, and all he said to me was "ROOKIE MOVE." i will remember it forever.

I also got to put a medal around over-all series winner and Canadian Olympian Geoff Kabush. I saw him race the Redlands Classic one year. I cheered very loudly during the crit. He wears fancy skinsuits, that look real nice.

While we were going about our business...

Carrie and Malora are STILL hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. They were in Idyllwild over Cinco de Mayo, and now they have reached Oregon. By foot.

Hello Everyone,

This will have to be short and sweet because I only have 5 minutes on the computer.

Malora and I successfully made it to Oregon about a week and a half ago. It was an amazing feeling to cross that border. But of course in true Oregon style about 3 days after the border we had 3 days of rain and thunderstorms.

Enough cold and wet weather to make us realize how truly miserable it can be when the sun is gone. Wet socks, shoes, pants, sleeping bags. And with all of this wind and rain the mosquitos were still thriving.

Currently we are in Bend, OR. Just off Santiam Pass where we reached mile 2000.9. We will stay at Big Lake Youth Camp tonight and hit the trail in the morning. Nice and early. We are doing 25 miles with ease now. And 30 if we don't have too many hot drinks in the morning. We still love our food, thanks Sandy. But honestly it is a chore to eat 4000-5000 calories a day. We love the food but are sick of eating.

We should hit Washington this week in about 6 days or so. Then finish in Canada hopefully in the 3rd week of september. After this weeks rain the idea of slacking until the autumn chill arrives doesn't sound that appealing. There is already a bite in the air. It keeps us moving. With all this beautiful scenery around we are thankful to be out of smoke filled skies that gave us the blues through Northern Cali. Off to a burger joint in Sisters, OR to down some calories and then a hitch to camp and off to bed.

What's funner...

Playing Laser Tag with the coworkers:

(i am really not that huge)

Watching the coworkers do karaoke:
Or racing my bike?:
Monday night 25 of my coworkers and i loaded the school bus and headed to Chino (i don't even know where that is) to play Laser Tag. we were all bugged to go, but once we got there, it was like we were in 8th grade again. I haven't laughed that hard in a very long time. Those girls are brutal, and had no qualms about tag-teaming me and killing me repeatedly. Maybe it was because my code name was Miffy.

But i would probably have to say racing my bike was more fun. Things fell into place for me and i had a good day with only two crashes and one small mechanical. It was awesome to have Christie and Carolyn back at a venue. I have been lonely without them!! It was cool to share the podium with them.

In other news, and this is very sad, i had to put Shelli on probation after sundays race for breaking Team Protocol. She flatted on lap 2 right near the feed zone and decided to abandon the race. To her credit, she has fixed approximately 25 flats in the last 2 weeks because her tires are so horrible. But still, we made a pact years ago that the only way we would quit a race was if there was severe blood loss or bone protruding from the skin. Nothing else. Don't worry Shelli, new tires are on the way. (Which they have been for 5 weeks...)

Actually, i take it all back. The funniest thing was people trash talking in the feed zone. Do they not know that like half of us either car-pooled there or had lunch together the next day? what goes down in the feeds usually never stays there. Rumor has it that i am as fast as i will ever be and I am done. Pfff. Its just begun.

that's all i got. Word has it school will be filled with children tomorrow. i gotta go put my game face on.

The will to Yack

I would totally puke on the bike. If i had to. At like the national championships or something of that nature. But, would i at the Tuesday Night Championships? Mmmm, well no.

For some reason, i felt awful last night. My legs were dialed, but not much else was. I felt like i was racing red-lined at altitude, yet i was chasing anoynymous Health Net riders down. I was so close to puking, i didn't know if i could actually stop my bike when it happened and wondered if i would just get it all over myself, or how many guys i could get it on. I was over it. When i sat up, i could probably have walked faster. But no big thing.

Of course i stayed out of the way of the "racers" but one came by super close, so i just ducked into the dirt to the side of the road. No big thing. She YELLED at me, as loud as she could "IT'S NOT A MOUNTAIN BIKE" Um. Ok. Funny thing coming from one of the only other females out there, who i met mountain biking.

It would have been so much cooler if i had puked just then.

It was fun last weekend, so why not go for round 2

Big Bear Lift Runs #2
This weekend was Carolyn's birthday! (second from right!) She is well, fast. Put it this way. at the National races, she beats me by about 15 minutes. And birthdays are fun, so we do fun or epic things on birthdays!Jesse took the pic, of course. Matt and Trevor, well, they are trying to stay true to their purest ways, rode their one-speeds with one shock and did some horrid ride back to Redlands through the woods.



Us gals and Jesse, on the other hand, did over 10 runs!!



And yes, i usually look like i am having the most fun. I probably am having the most fun.
Here's the proof that i hung up the hardtail for the adventure. Riding this thing make my bike feel like a pin-ball machine. Healing, yup. Over 3 weeks into scar control, and here we have it.

I also laced up the sneakers for the first time since June.

I am back to work!!

Way to ride it out Bro'

um. i'm a girl.

But thanks for the props.

I was about a millimeter away from my first road wreck tonight and somehow, while bobbling and bouncing, half clipped in, i pulled it out.

I ended up with a nice bruise to my right calf. Rude.

And the most severe chain-suck i have ever seen. Two grown men (who called me "mam" - what is that) both pulled and pushed and kicked it to no avail. One of them crashed when he stopped to help me. the other one crashed when he left me. i was not within 20 feet of either of them. i felt super bad.

At least Carolyn was in town on my MTB so we got to kick it for a lap and finish off with some pizza with Josh, Trevor, Jamie and Joey. But they just make fun of me.

New Leaves

This week was supposed to be a rest week. I think what that means is that the bikes should stay in the garage, and me inside the house or in the pool or in bed. I got confused somewhere along the way and broke all the rules.

FRIDAY: Adam (Crash Adam) and I hit up Idyllwild

point of the mission: Succesfully take 10 13 year old boys into Hurkey Creek park to ride some single track.

We had some hurldes: 10 REALLY DIRTY Trek 4300 mountain bikes. word is they have not been cleaned for 8 weeks. and they have been ridden multiple times a day. suspect, very suspect. We took some tools, rags, and a bike stand. Here is Adam, busy at work.

I like to get my protein from Egg Whites. Paige, and well Christie and Shelli and Matt and Trevor all FREAK OUT because i will fry my eggs and eat them 30 minutes to 5 hours later. This here is 4 egg whites that I kept in my cooler. YUM.

The beginning of the ride

The middle of the ride - lessons on Chain Suck
Before lunch. We had a long talk about this one. Very long...



NEW LEAF: I had a Camelbak and Baggy shorts on. Have never ever worn baggies and all my camelbaks are in storage and probably rotten. this was a loaner. You gotta be prepared in the wilderness with children!!
Waiting for the shuttle back to camp. the kid in the ALL BLACK,...said during lunch "THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY SUMMER."

Adam and I opted out of the shuttle and hit the 3 mile road climb back to camp. The day had been really long, lots of exposure and at moderate altitude. It was hot!! About halfway to the top, mid-sentence, i stopped, put my bike down and shed the stupid baggies. If i didn't love the environment, i would have thrown them in the woods. Don't worry, i kept the other half of the shorts on!!

Needless to say, i continued my green assault friday afternoon, because i went NOWHERE!! I was exhausted!!

Saturday morning brought new trails and new companions. Shelli, Joey, Willie Stewart (you HAVE to check this guy out! He and Adam are heading to Colorado for the Leadville 100 this weekend!!) Adam and myself hit up Loch Leven and Santa Ana River Trail for some quality time. Which ended with a big, long nap at home.

SUNDAY: i almost called in sick. but Shelli had rallied some troops and the target was big bear.

New Leaf: I RENTED a 6" travel bike from Derek at Bear Valley Bikes and we bought lift tickets and rode up the lift and railed down the mountain.

I told several friends of my evil plan and they thought i was jocking. but this plan is part of an even larger plan of well, getting faster, so i had to stick to it.

I would have to say, this was the most fun i have had on a bike in months. Ely came over from Apple Valley and was in rare form. He makes huge air and nasty drops look like no big thing. He took us on trails i never even knew existed. There was a time that i pulled up to him completely freaked out, you could see my hands shaking on the handle bars! But i loved it!!!

Quote of the day: Shelli behind me on a nasty rock drop: "Joy, get off your bike. get off your bike. Get off your bike" I rode it. She said it looked horrible and really thought i would die. Pfff. Please.

She and i decided to part with the group and head back to the bike shop to get there before closing. When we split i offered my map to the others and she said JOY NO!!! Some of you know that the two of us once got lost for almost 8 hours in the San Bernardino mountains without water, maps and what-have you. we took the map, and here is the proof!! (that's for Greg and Edward!!!)

Three trail systems

Over 20 different ride partners

In 3 days

I am pretty sure, i now need a rest week.

YUCK!!

I smell yucky.

It's not that bad, because i am sitting at the computer. by myself. but i was just sitting at the bank.

I think the reason i swell weird is two-fold. I went up to Idyllwild today to ride my MTB with 13 year old kids at summer camp. I perspired, because it was hot, and then put my street clothes back on and sat in a hot cafeteria for lunch. then drove home in a hot car.

From their, i decided to be green for the rest of the day. Because one of the 13 year olds said this "What are you rich? you drove up here today, are going back, and coming back tomorrow?" um, no, and very good point. i am poor.

So the green theme began when i rode the city bike to the credit union. Funny thing, neighbor Leo pulled out of his driveway precisely at the same time as i did. He was in his SUV. Even funnier thing, he was parked at the curb of the Credit Union. He beat me. But i beat him on green points.

From there i went to Bank of America, because my debit card is pretty wacked. I wanted to order a new one. I had to sit in a waiting area. people looked at me weird. maybe i smelled then. or just looked unkempt. But then they tell me a new card was ordered yesterday. by who? from where? awkward!!

Then i rode the city bike home. it takes like forever on that thing.

But i have committed to riding to the Red Asphalt Ride tomorrow night. and to social security on Monday and the DMV on Tuesday. I think it will help me fit in better, burn some kcal's and save like $3.67 on gas.

I'm gonna jump in the pool.

Yes, it is true.

I pulled a Foist and i threw my bike.

I have felt bad all day about this. But it took awhile for me to start feeling bad about it. I wanted to find the guy who made me crash and see if passing me at said extrememly inappropriate time led to his success in the race. The fact that i never saw him afterwards leads me to believe that well, he did pretty poorly.

I guess i need to fess up and admit that from time to time, i actually do write up race reports. but none of the hum-drum stuff. something great, or superemely lame, has to happen.
(Example of being lame)
WHAT: California State Race - Rim Nordic (Running Springs CA)
WHEN: Today
WHY: Because i need points. And because i race my bike.

This course is a bit of a cluster boasting more single track than any other Cal State race. Problem is, there are a ton of racers on it which means you will be dealing with traffic the entire time.

Today there was Ca$h money to be had (flash back to Idylwild and cash was there too....this could only be bad) and there were only 3 pro wmn, but like a thousand experts. Now i like these girls just fine, but if there is money on the line, i better cross it before they do.

The charge began, another pro Heather and i took the bait and led the group out, with an expert ringing her bell (serious) on our tails. I would like to find her bike and take her bell. just out of principle. Bells are for spectators or Single Speeders. Not the rest of the field.

I was feeling some ailments, but also felt like you know what, i could win my first pro race today. or at least be second. so much better than 35th and 20 minutes, or 30minutes behind the winners.

Then of course i got a flat and was passed by about 8 women. No biggy. Fixed. Ride. Catch all but 3 that had passed me. Come to start finish. The expert men were waiting stage right for their start. Sport men were STOPPING stage straight ahead because they were, well, done. But they stopped and blocked the entire course. I had to get off my bike and yell, "Hey, lets move it" a bit of a skuttle and i was off. Lame. I could see #3 up ahead, about 100 feet. I had a master plan of picking her off on the climb and never seeing her again.

BUT... those expert men started. Some are nice, some are not. Coming into some tight single track, washed out left hand corner, three of them ahead of me, three behind, i can see my Shark Bait about 100 ft ahead. One decides, hey, since this is a really bad place to pass, im gonna do it. He hooks my left handle bar and he falls, stage left, taking me with him. I basically flip over him, hitting my BURN really hard, skinning my arm and knee. If it had been a decent, i would have grabbed my rotor and burned him too. He was under his bike, which was under my bike. So after a "word exchange" i picked my bike up. And i threw it. So 12 year old! Being that it is carbon, it went way farther than i thought. I just stood there staring at him. ARE YOU KIDDING ME. REALLY!!?!??!?!?!? The girl i was stalking was gone, and so was my mojo.
(Massive abrasion. could hardly plod on. but it was the the actions behind the menace...much like the one in Aspen last year)

Peddle, peddle. what to do. I was having fun again, riding with Lisa and Heidi V, started making up some time, then something totally AWESOME happened!! I GOT ANOTHER FLAT!!! No tubes or CO2 left. I started running (you know that is a dark day). I stopped to talk to the girl in the water-feed. She said she runs at high school. I proptly ran away. (Literally) I was completely committed to a DNF. But i just wanted to get out of the sun and heat.

Then super teammate Shelli rolled by, and began dropping the contents of her pocket on the fire road. Here's your tube. 100 yards later, here's your CO2. UGH!!! now i HAVE to finish!!! But you know that is pretty cool when someone is willing to empty their pockets for you with another 10 miles to go. ACtually, come to think of it, i think she yelled over her shoulder "if i flat, i will blame you." Rude!

(We both are complete winners. We both came in third. but Shelli was not last. you can tell a lot about or personalities by the way we wear our vests. i am all zipped up - pretty kosher and rigid. Shelli is pretty unzipped....

also - this is STILL an aside - i am getting a hair cut on Wednesday. this is 2 months of growth. and helmet hair. but should i go super short again>!>!>)

I lesuirly made it to the feed zone, where i stopped to talk politics with my parents and unload the useless contents of my pockets. I asked another feeder of the whereabouts of some other experts. I was getting bored and needed friends. Come to find out, they were having about the same level of high quality race as i was.

Although 2 experts pocketed 2 of the 3 money prizes (BTW...Bear Valley bikes added $25 to each of the MENS prizes, going 5 deep. The women went 3 deep. Maxed out at $50. Men maxed at $125. LAME!!!!) it was a good day after all.

Why, was i on crack? no.

But, Ma and Pa were there
I got to see ALL my homies
And this gradual sifting and serging within the race categories makes it so i can get to know a ton of people. I like people.

Also, the sport men were FANTASTIC about allowing us to pass and the pro/semi-pro men were completely gracious when they made their passes.

Sometimes, you just have a big target on your back. and things just do not work out.

Oh yes, people really like my burn. it is looking horrid and causes quite the stir.
(Don't worry. i know i am also covered with dirt and sweat. i may shower. before i go anywhere. tomorrow.)

Dude, is that a Magura?

i run these pretty sweet brakes on my MTB. This is what they look like on my bike.

This here is what they look like on skin.


Yes, in fact, that is a Magura rotor. Burned into my right calf.

There are many ways this conversation can go. one being the first aid technician telling someone on the other end of the radio that they were treating a burn. Silence. Then a "what?" they must have thought i was working the BBQ grill at one of the food vendors.

we could also discuss the fact that this could be on my calf for well, ever. the blister is getting larger and larger, and will continue to do so. if i let it pop (yuck) it will get real bad (ouch) so i need to wrap it when i sleep and ride. done.

Ah, how did i do such a stupid thing?? first off, i must use my brakes. a lot.
Secondly, i was probably off my bike when i should not have been.
And yes this leads to some sort of crash or flailing about.

Where: USA MTB National Championships, Mount Snow Vermont
When: Today, lap one of three.
HOW: this course is riddled with fantastic, technical, rooty, rocky, descending single track. For the first time in 3 years i rode the whole thing and had an absolute blast. The course was lined with spectators with cowbells, horns and whistles. Pretty cool experience.

But of course, all the space i made up on the climbs, i began to lose in the descents. one girl passed me and I bobbled on a root which shot me into a tree, then onto the back of my saddle and onto the ground. All that happened was that my seat looked like a BMX seat, pointing to the starts. So i went around the bike the try and push the nose back and down when OUCH!!!! I hit the rotor and when i looked down there was SMOKE!!!! No lie!!!

By the 3rd lap i was thinking ouch some more and wondering what i had actually done. by then i was covered in mud so at the end of the race i went to the bike wash to asses my issue. The race folk said to hit up first aid, where i got bandages and what not.

the race was great, not sure where i finished but a really fun day!

i don't take photos. other people do.

today i am in Albany New York at staring out the window and sometimes onto the computer screen to do some work. But since it is Shelli's computer, i have looked at a few photos on her desktop and tra-la-la, i have found myself in a few. imagine that! so we will go on a brief photo tour of Shelli's and my history of cycling with Team Jose Ole. It started a few years back, like 2004 as freaked out beginners, and has brought me all the way to New York in '08 as a freaked out Pro. I know, i should have stellar course photos, race updates of positions lost and descents fumbled, but instead, lets take a gander at the great times that have come before. or that i just found on this computer...


It may have been November, i can not really remember now, but Shelli, Cody and I did what some of my compatriots have labled a "disease ride" better known as the MS 150, Waves to Wine


I got to ride down a hill in some of the most prestine riding roads in the north


We all got to ride through some bridges, by some vineyards, and up HWY 1


We have one guy, that well, if it wasn't for him, i wouldnt be updating my blog tonight. This is Jesse. he's the man, well, he is Shelli's man, and great guy. he has sat through, walked around, and taken some killer photos of countless MTB races. And the disease ride.



These rides have a purpose you know. Cody rode the whole thing with this sign on his helmet for his dad. The gusty wind, especially along the coast, had a great time flopping his head around.


Obviously Shelli races bikes too. This is her shredding some one track in Santa Ynez. It was hot. very hot. She also likes to Scuba dive, wakeboard, and next weekend she and Jesse will hike Half Dome. what an over achiever!



Ah, Sea Otter. Contrary to popular belief, i raced there once. Shelli and i both got podiums there. In beginner class. She passed on the last climb, i was "coming apart" as only beginners can, and she beat me. We were mad at each other. just for a little bit. We have yelled at each other on the course before too. Now we laugh about it. But once i remember being very "upset" that she beat my by like a handful of seconds. Somewhere.

Please note, i still wear my pink Baby G watch. every day. and i have a lance bracelet. but i think it is a different one than the one i had in 2004. I also have about 15 inches less hair. man, that was A LOT of hair!!

Those were the good old days for sure. but i have a premonition - word of the week, i have had a few of them already - that we have many more to come.

National Championships next weekend. there could be mud, roots, rock drops, and fast girls. something that so cal is not the best at prepping you for.

one...week...closer....to .....fitness....? i can only hope!

Whack

It is summer, so i squander my time. big time. I find myself rushing to get a ride in by 8PM and wondering where all the time went to fix my hair. Which had not been fixed. then spending that valuable time trying to see what in fact i have accomplished. not much.

But i am on the road to productivity. i am planning on completely revamping my Geography Curriculum for the fall - this will take me about 13 minutes, and finally completing my PE toy inventory.

I also bought a book today, and my plan of productivity is to have it read in under 2weeks. i know, i know, aim for the stars. it is 203 pages long and it is about bikes. So this could become a reality.

This is the book: ROADIE: The misunderstood world of a bike racer

If you ride bikes and have someone in your life you love, used to love, or would like to have love you, make them read this book. it will give them a better appreciation of why you are the way you are so when they run away, they have solid proof of your life-wasting antics.

The WHACKS are for all the extremely annoying people you run into while wasting daylight. If i could, i would kick them square in the neck. But i am a bike racer, so my hip flexors are pretty much seized up.

*The guy driving REALLY fast in ANY parking lot - Vons, Barnes and Noble - who gets super annoyed that you would even think of crossing the cross walk at the legal spot.

*Cars that honk at you just because you are on a bike, on the right side of the white line, single file.

*the rest of them would go for myself, but as i stated already, i can't reach there.

Things like looking for my storage unit keys for 4 days and finding them in the first place i looked on the first day.

Or doing the same thing with the locker keys for school

Or putting in my rear brake pads wrong and thinking it was broken, or something

Thinking that a drip line on plants means that water actually gets there. but if it is not hooked up to a water source... you get my drift

Now to pack a bike for the east side. Much staring, turning, jumping the box lid to get it closed and head scratching is in order.

WHACK!

Not Everyone Thinks Short Hair is Lame

Sister Julene sporting her new Mom cut. She's a mom, i ride bikes. Both are quite taxing and time consuming, thus the option for short hair is just too great to pass up.

Julene and Rouru just celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary! Eesh! Although i haven't seen Sister since October 2006, i still think she is pretty cool. But i am very jealous of her homies that get to play with her kids, deal with her, i mean the kids, tirades, and well just be part of their every day life.

Maybe a trip to NZ is in store. No racing next year, no new bikes, just a plane ticket to southern hemisphere. maybe i will never come back!

She finally created a blog, so you should check it out!!

BUY MY BIKE!!!

WHAT: 2008 TREK 69ER (big in the front, small in the back)
SIZE: MEDIUM
PRICE: $1,200ish

I bought this bike in November to train on and used it through January. This could be bad, since that is winter, but i live in So Cal. It got "muddy" once because i wasn't watching where i was going and rode through the only puddle within miles.

Of course it is in pristine condition and it is a ton of fun to ride!!

If you or anyone you know of is interested, contact me!! (only about the bike, come on...)