Handlebar Confessional

Time to do it...

2011-10-20T10:36:00.000-07:00

Follow our journey to the land of the enlightened. We leave on October 29th and return on November 20th. Click on the link below to see where we are today...

Annapurna 2011

Casaval Ridge, Mount Shasta

2011-05-15T23:10:00.000-07:00

Paul, Eric and I out for a go at Casaval Ridge, Mount Shasta, California. We ended up pulling at 11,900' just below the hourglass.

The dead of winter in the middle of May on Shasta?

2010-05-26T08:16:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, I was guiding a great group of climbers up on Mt. Shasta. They were mostly all from the Seattle area raising money for the Hutchinson Center for Cancer Research. Most all of them have climbed mountains before. At gear check on Friday morning at the 5th Season, it was rare to have somebody with any rented equipment. Me and the rest of the guides were stoked. It seemed like we had a strong group of 17 that all knew each other relatively well and were ready to climb. From the parking lot, we could not see a cloud in the sky and the standard flip flops and boardshorts were the attire. As we wrapped up the gear check and final instructions, the clouds rolled in like a freight train. We knew there was a chance of showers in the afternoon and colder temps with high winds, but the morning gave no indication as to what were in store for.

When we reached Bunny Flat trail head, a full springtime snowstorm was in effect. The kind of storm where you would get a sunburn AND an inch of graupel within an hour. Day one found us at Horse camp and sharing the warming hut for cooking detail. It was great to share the space as the storm was developing outside. By nightfall, the winds had picked up to a steady 30 mph and the snow came in waves.

Day two had us on the move for high camp at 10,400’ before the summit attempt. Spirits were high as we climbed. The wind had subsided for a time and the sun came out. It was downright hot with all of the residual radiation coming off the snow and lack of wind. It was the “Country Club” climbing these folks from the Northwest had signed up for. We arrived at Lake Helen parched. We divided up the duties of brewing water and helping set up camp. No sooner than the tents were up, the clouds rolled in and deposited another 6” of snow. Temps dropped like a rock and the wind returned with a vengeance. From that point on, it was pure survival mode. We rushed getting the rest of the water brewed as the spindrifts kept extinguishing the stoves like a kid blowing out birthday candles. Finally to bed as the intensity built to gale force winds and the temps dropped to single digits. It was cold, and getting colder. The tent lines whistled in the wind while the tent fly danced and stretched over the poles. The flapping was loud and non-stop. Sleeping was not in the cards.

2:45am. Summit bid wake-up. Turn on the radio to check in with the other guides and assess the situation. The current temperature was -1 Fahrenheit with 35+ MPH winds. The wind chill was around -34F. We quickly decided that the summit chances, with this group, was off for fear of frostbite. By 4am, I went stir crazy with the wind unrelenting on my tent and the fact that I had a 20 degree bag in far colder conditions. I got up and dressed to try to warm up. I love this time in the morning where the sun is rising and the clouds create images on far away canvases. As I watched the sun come up, I watched multiple groups try to gain the avalanche gulch, only to turn around because of the horrid conditions. I knew we made the right call. Later in the morning, I had to talk multiple team members out of their disdain for not attempting to summit. I assured them the only thing they missed out on was the unquestionable likelihood of losing digits. Not on my watch.

New Years on Pico Orizaba

2010-01-01T20:15:00.000-08:00

Garmin GPS track of the climb
flickr link to the photos

Why not?

2008-12-08T21:43:00.000-08:00

In June, Caron, my girlfriend and I met this couple at a going away party for my friend Liz. We ended up just chatting. You know, the usual; Where are you from? How do you know our friend Liz? What do you do? The conversation took a drastic turn when one of them glanced down at my feet. You wouldn't think the following question would be a life altering moment...but hey, take it as it comes. "Where are your big toenails?" asked one of them.
"Well, funny thing, I lost them climbing Shasta (again) this summer," I replied.
Next thing you knew we were talking about their trip to Argentina and their climbing trip up Mt. Aconcagua. After about 30 minutes of back and forth questions, we were duly talked into the idea of giving it a shot. We had already planned on spending 3 weeks in South America over the winter holidays. Now we had a destination.
So, now, after months of preperations, consultations, discussions, hikes, weight lifting, learning to pee in a bottle in a tent in the middle of the night, we are ready. We have spreadsheet upon spreadsheet of logistics, aclimitization schedules, calories per gram for the foods we are carying, and a plethora of other details that someday I will put into some sort of report and post it somewhere on the interweb.
What is an Aconcagua?
It's a beast of a mountain. All 22,841 feet. It happens to be the highest of all mountains in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres. We are taking the Normal Route up to the top. We are departing today for Buenos Aires. On Monday we fly to Mendoza and buy the last of our delightful trail food, hire some mules to carry our 200 pounds of stuff to the base (2 days trek in), and get a good night sleep in a nice hotel. On Tuesday, January 16, we embark on our journey. We will be hopefully summiting on the 28th if all goes perfectly. Regardless, we have hotel reservations in Mendoza on the 2nd, so one way or another, we are back, eating the best beef in the world and drinking Malbec wine by a pool.

Read up on the mountain if you would like. We will have more to come once we get around a computer after the climb.

Until then, enjoy the ride (or climb)

Shasta: Certain Uncertainity

2007-07-17T15:18:00.000-07:00

"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today."

Franklin Delano Roosevelt:

Everything went according to plan. Almost.

It was a trip rife with uncertainty. This was a first for me in many respects. First time climbing Shasta. First time attempting a 14'er, and really first time over 12,000 feet. First time hiking through the night to destination unseen and virtually unknown. I had good reasons to feel uncertain of the journey I was about to embark on.

I left work on Tuesday afternoon around 3:30pm. On the drive up, I had plenty of time to think about a lot of things. I found myself having driven the whole 4 plus hours without listening to a single song on the IPOD. Now that is unheard of for me. But given the things I had to think about, music would have had no use or effect on me, I was deep in thought. Everyone on that mountain tomorrow was climbing for a cause, Cancer. More specifically breast cancer. I needed to look only near to my heart to find my inspiration to climb. Cancer will affect us all in one way or another throughout our lives. I chose to think about someone that I know that has been threatened by cancer, not someone that has lost the battle. Not that my meager steps can cure anything, but my intent thoughts about the significance of this person in my life and how to possibly make a difference in theirs when they might need it the most. That is powerful.

Before I knew it, I was in Mt. Shasta City by 8:00pm. I grabbed a big chicken pesto sandwich at the local Italian restaurant and I headed up the mountain to the trailhead; Bunny Flat, elevation 6950ft. I changed out of my work clothes into some shorts and a t-shirt, pulled on my boots, took one last check of the equipment and threw on my pack. There was a blanket of clouds covering the peak, and it smelled like rain. I was already nervous that this was going to turn into a wet slog and an exercise in futility. But I press on, ready for what comes at me.

My first section is a simple 2 mile hike to Horse Camp, a place where in the olden days, mountaineers would ride their horses to and tie them up while they climbed up Avalanche Gully. The Sierra Club has built a small warming hut there fully stocked for emergencies, and general shelter from the elements for hikers and climbers. It is at Horse Camp that I am going to meet up with some co-workers from Clif bar, Kim and Jennifer. They have been selected to raise money and climb for the Breast Cancer Fund. I knew that there would be a lot of people on the route on Wednesday morning, which is the only reason I decided to go Solo. I would be climbing alone, but there would be 35 people around me if I got into any trouble and needed help.

I managed to let my nerves get the best of me at the start. I waffled around the trailhead, not quite sure which trail I needed to take. There was one very distinct trail I followed for about a mile or so, but it felt like it was going too far to the left of the Avalanche Gully. So I backtracked to the main junction. I then followed the trail the seemed to go a little more to the right and it too was feeling all wrong. I pulled out my map, took a good look, in the dark, under headlamp, and retraced my steps back the the junction. I then took the original trail off to the left. I felt some relief that it was well traveled, unlike the last one. The rain started to fall ever so lightly. It smelled good, and it felt even better. It was 9:30, and it was still in the low 80's at 7500 feet. I noted that at my cabin last weekend, 2 days prior, we arrived around 11:00pm and it was still in the 70's, but much lower in altitude. I was in for a warm hike. My thoughts were if I were to get "lost" I had my GPS with the location of the car locked in, so I could at least find my way back to there. I was just going to hike till I got tired, sleep, and then access where I am in the morning. If it started to downpour, I would retreat to the sanctuary of my car and reassess the situation. Finally, if I made it to Horse Camp, I would reset my goals for the summit with the same parameters.

I arrived at the Sierra Club hut at Horse Camp around 10pm (right on time according to my plan) and immediately checked in with my support crew of Seth and Caron by sending a text. Caron's response was "Glad you made it. Sleep tight and good luck tomorrow." If she only knew where I was going to be sleeping, and for how little time. It amazes me that I can be on the side of some crazy mountain and have cell service. Thank goodness. I left my climbing plans with both of them and promised I would check in at regular intervals along the way if there was service. (Which there was the whole time.) They were my safety net. It always feels good to know somebody out there is aware of your existence. I managed to run into a couple of people that will be climbing with the BCF. I mentioned that I worked for Clif Bar and that I was there to cheer them on. One lady noted that my co workers were departing around 1am and that I could find them up on hikers right of the trail.

I settled down on the side of the hut, sitting on some foundation rocks, just enjoying the warm evening when it started to pour rain. I gathered my stuff and moved to the inside of the little hut. After about an hour, the rain stopped and I could then head back outside, where it was much cooler than inside the hut, and now it was clear. I laid down on the same rock foundation wall and I could see a gazillion stars which reminded me of sleeping on the deck of my cabin only two nights before. I needed to rest my eyes, for I only had an hour or so till I was to start climbing.

Sure enough, at midnight I could hear lots of people rustling in their tents, getting ready to climb. My plan was to let the first group go out front so I had somebody to follow in the dark and let the other groups follow me. That way, I could see where to go, and have back-up if I was to get into trouble. Hiking in the dark is a trip. Your headlamp is your only source of light. While you are out in the great wide open, your realm of reality is really only the small cone of light coming from your headlamp. While I was not scared, I was respectful of the severity of what I was doing. I did have the confidence in knowing that it was not too hard to find my way. Just go up. And coming back, just go down. Simple...right? And it was, but still, 6 miles and 7000 feet of climbing is no walk in the park. If there is anything to create uncertainty, it is the environment that I was currently challenged with. A baby cone of light all by it's lonesome in this vast space on the side of this serious mountain. My only guidance is gravity. I know to walk in the direction of most resistance...and that is about it.

Within an hour, I caught and passed the group ahead of me. As per my usual luck, the guide taking up the rear is a friend of a friend from Jackson Hole Wyoming. We chatted for a few minutes before I passed the group. Luckily, I met up with two guides that had no clients and were there for additional support if need be. They were traveling fast, like I, and they allowed me to tag along. We got up to Helen Lake at 10,500 feet (which is not a lake, but a big pile of avalanche sluff) where we took a break. I refilled my water bottles in a nearby spring. It was still incredibly warm. I had on a pair of running tights and a turtleneck. Not bad for the middle of the night.

At 11,000 feet, the snow climbing started. I have been essentially hiking up a large, inverted funnel. The higher I get, the tighter it gets and the steeper it gets. From what I hear, at the top, the slope is over 50 degrees in pitch. The guides tell me that the easiest route I had intended on climbing is unclimbable due to severe lack of snow. Oh, oh! What does this mean for me? I am certainly not going to climb something out of my comfort and ability zone. They tell me that we can only make it up "Left of the Heart." I remember reading in the guide that this is a more direct route to the top, but it is much steeper and a bit more of a challenge. Is my climb over? My uncertainty grows, yet I continue. I figure, I will go as long as I feel like I am not in danger to myself or anybody else.

The two guides and I manage to make it up to 12,000 feet before the sunrise, still 1,200 feet below the crux of the climb, the 50 degree section of ice. Upon the first light, as we climb by, we all notice this rather large rock precariously balanced on this pedestal of unmelted snow beneath it. Imagine a Volkswagen Beetle balanced on a garbage can, but not quite as high. Later, we all mention that we just had a very bad feeling and energy from the rock, yet none of us mentioned it at the time. We continued on, and at this altitude, coming from sea level the night before, I noticed I was moving in slow motion. Breathing was becoming a bit laborious. Still, I keep moving, and feeling nervous about what was to come.
"Rock! Rock! Rock!" I hear repeatedly from down below. The yell was not of caution, but of fear. I quickly look uphill to clear myself. Whew, okay. I whip my head downhill to see that large rock we passed rolling quickly towards all of the teams of women below us 1,000 feet. They were all directly in it's line while it gained speed. People were diving right and left like crickets trying to avoid the oncoming locomotive of a rock. You could hear panic in their voices, and I could hear my heart stop. Someone was going to die, I thought. At one point the rock hit another rock and it split in two. Now people did not know what to do. Dive from one into the line of another. I knew my co-workers were at the bottom of the chute, directly in it's path. As the rock careened out of sight, there was an erie silence that came over me and the two guides. Quickly, they were on their radios, getting a damage report. I thought for sure we would be switching into rescue mode. We could hear the other guides all report in one by one. Two women were shaken up pretty badly and in shock, but nobody was directly hit. Nobody died.

I sat there for a good few minutes, collecting myself. What did I want to do? Continue on? or down climb and just go home. My mind was strewn with thoughts of home and loved ones whom I desperately wanted to see right then and there and let them know how much they mean to me. But alas, I have lived my life in such a way that they already know this. I tell them all the time. Still, I am uncertain as to whether this was a sign from the mountain that she did not want us to climb her today, or was it just a test of desire to continue despite the uncertainty at hand. After a good mental inventory, I decided to continue on, but with great respect and caution. I want to climb high, but I don't want to die. I have people at home I want to see again, now more than ever.

At 7:30 am, I climbed up through the 50 degree chute "Left of the Heart" and onto the ridgeline at 13,200 feet. I had made it past the hardest part. I was elated that I had made it this far, higher than I have ever been on my own two feet. Upon my joyous celebration, I quickly looked in the direction of the summit to learn of my next hardship. Thunderclouds.

I still had over 1,000 feet to climb up Misery hill and finally onto the summit, and I could not even see the summit. It was covered in clouds. My heart sank. My climb was certainly over. I walked to the base of Misery hill and started up the first switchback when the rain came. Being on a peak or a ridgeline in a thunderstorm is no place to be. The risk of lightning is way too high to sit around there. I retreated to below the rocks in the chute. I was safe from lightning, I had a commanding view of the the climb below me and I was out of the rain. I figured I would sit there a while and enjoy the fruits of my view. It was a great time to reflect on the reason I was there, climbing in the name of someone else. Every step to this point had a hint of significance, and not of my own, but that of someone else. I was bummed that I was not able to make it to the top and raise my hands in dedication, sign the summit registry, enjoy the feeling of accomplishment of reaching the summit. Or could I still make it??? My mind quickly shifted from quiet defeat to the air of uncertain possibility. It was 7:30 am. My designated turn around time is 12:00 noon. I still have time. The weather may clear. Pigs may fly. I have a chance still and I am not leaving till that chance is gone. I reached in my bag and started eating my Clif Bars and drinking my water, prepping for a summit push if I get the opportunity. The rain has stopped. I think I will go topside and check it out.

As I climbed to the ridgeline for the second time, i was elated to see that not only had the rain let up, but there was a noticeable change in the density of the clouds shrouding the summit. I looked out onto the horizon and I could see blue sky. The winds tell me that that blue sky is coming my way. I time it and figure that I have an hour till the clouds open up and the summit will be in the clear. I start back over to the base of Misery Hill. My stomach is in knots. I am now not nervous, but scared. What if I am wrong? What if I get struck by lightning? What if the leaning tower of Pisa topples? All things are possible. I carefully and calculatingly walk up the trail leading to the top of Misery hill. The wind is fierce. As I walk on the switchbacks from into the wind to away from the wind, I have to catch myself from toppling over from the side wind. Slowly and nervously, I continue. I keep an eye on the clouds behind me blowing my way and I keep another eye on the summit. As time passes, the summit becomes more and more clear. I take another look behind me to notice that my plan is working. The clearing is soon approaching. As I crest Misery hill, I can see that the summit is now within reach, and the clouds are all but vanished. This is the final push. Every step at this altitude is intent. You don't want to be wasting valuable energy and oxygen. I scramble over the final scree field and climb up the last bit of trail up to the peak. Upon reaching the top, an elation has overcome me. I have conquered all the uncertainty to be here, and it was worth it. I thought a lot about how I had made it and what it all meant. I thought about the person whom I dedicated the climb to and I well up with emotion. I thought finally about the fact that I was only halfway to the finish and I should enjoy it for a bit more, than head on down, carefully. Get home.
All the way down the mountain, back to the car, and finally all the way home into bed that night, I thought a lot about how so many times I thought the climb would never take me to the summit, yet I never stopped believing it could be done, and that made all the difference.

"Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we often might win, by fearing to attempt."

Jane Addams:

Addendum: I keep getting e-mails asking who this mystery person is that I climbed for. It is a personal thing, between me and them. If you really must know, climb up there yourself and read the summit registry from July 11, 2007.

Another Day, Another Journey...

2007-07-09T19:50:00.000-07:00

You would think after spending the weekend up in the Sierras climbing, conversing and relaxing, what I am about to embark on would be the last thing you would think of...

"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns
home to find it."
- George Moore

After work tomorrow, I am heading to the base of Mt. Shasta in advance of climbing to the summit (14,162) on Wednesday morning. I will arise around midnight, make some breakfast, turn on my headlamp and set out into the dark to climb over 6000 feet in a little over 6 miles straight up Avalanche Gulch, alone.

Now before you go getting all worried, I have three things to say. First, I will technically be alone, but this is one of the most climbed peaks in the US and I will be climbing the most common and easiest route up there. Additionally, I do know that there will be a party attempting to summit from Horse Camp, 2 miles up the trail, at 2 am. A few co-workers are in that group climbing in the fight against breast cancer. So there will be lots of people around. I did ask a few different people to join me, but for for varying reasons, they all declined to go.

Second, I do know what I am doing. I have spent the better part of my life in the mountains and I know to respect the mountains with great humility. This time of year, there is virtually no risk of avalanche, little risk of snow storm, and occasional risk of afternoon thunder storm (which is why I am leaving so early.) My turn around time will be 12 noon. Wherever I am at noon, I turn around, no matter what. There is a late afternoon risk of lightning, as well as the temps go up significantly and that increases the chance of rockfall. So, get in early, and get out before the risk goes up at all. Besides, the snow stays nice and firm which is better for walking on.

Third, the "Why?" Well, I need to get some thinking done. Without really going into details, I need to get over some things, work through some things, and get on with life. (No, I have not joined a 12 step program or anything like that, I just need some alone time in my "crawl space." What better place to do it than watching the sunrise from 14,000 feet.)

Now, I have to say, I am a super happy-go-lucky guy. While I much prefer to journey with a companion, for the experience with another is infinitely better, I have no problem wandering the earth by myself. I've done it most of my life. Not in a selfish sort of way, but sometimes you just have to go about it alone if you want to go at all. If you wait around too long for someone to go with, you may never get to where you want to go. And sometimes waiting is worth it, unless they don't want you to wait. So sure, I roam alone sometimes, but I have never been lonely.

John Greenleaf Whittier once said:
"Of all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these:
It might have been."

It's time for me to wander...so don't worry. I'll be fine. I always am.

RAAM Pre-Race

2007-06-09T19:13:00.000-07:00

Race Across America- 24 Hour Corporate Challenge Team Clif Bar (Click on the link for time updates)

San Diego, CA-

Just a quick update. After months of preparations and hours of safety inspections, we are about to light this candle...We start tomorrow at 9:00am. We have decided to have Eric Walle, my cohort in crime at work lead it off for the 7 mile (neutral) Parade followed by a flat 8 mile section where he will undoubtedly throw down. I will then take over for the first of many hills here in the mountainous North San Diego County. My section will comprise of a 3 mile climb where hopefully, we will take over the lead, say goodbye to our competition and settle into just going as fast as possible...for the next 20+ hours.

It is official: bike racers are complete geeks. While attending the rules meeting this afternoon, the organizers called all of the solo competitors on stage. These are CRAZY people in their own right. They will be sitting and sweating it out for 9+ days on end NON-STOP. To top it off, one of them showed up to dinner, wearing his chamois. (You'd think he will be getting enough time in them in the days to come) There is another report that one team will be wearing time trial helmets (you know, the ones with the big fairing that make you look like a conehead). I promise to get some snapshots of all the geeks and post as soon as I can...but we will be riding through Nowhere, Arizona so I can't promise when. Thankfully we have a great support crew from Clif Bar helping us every inch of the way keeping us fed and hydrated. More to come soon...

Enjoy the ride...

Pat Bush 2.0

2007-05-25T22:28:00.001-07:00

Yup...I can't believe it either. I am actually posting a blog. To put it mildly...I have been relaxing and enjoying the P.L.T. (Pro Leisure Tour). I am racing again...sort of. Aside from the occasional "Off The Couch" cameo appearance on the local crit scene, I am joining my co-workers in a couple of weeks to race in the Race Across America 24 Hour Corporate Challenge on June 10-11. As you can see in my profile, I am taking it seriously. Don't tell anyone from the Two Ring Circus, but I had to put Aero-bars on my road bike for this one.

Since December, I have been up to a lot...but not on the bike so much. My energy has been focused on another fight, another race and ultimately another journey...that was coming to an abrupt end. Since September, my step mother was battling her third bout with cancer, and it finally won in the middle of December. That was a life altering experience for me. It reminded me how short life is, and how important your family and friends are. Every day, every minute, every second and every breath count. I literally sat and watched life pass and the lasting effects it not only had on me, but those that are dear to her, especially my dad. The thing is, it will happen, and when it does, what will it all sum up to? Say it happens tomorrow. Will you be clear with your closest friends and family as to how much you loved them?

Since I broke my back at the ripe age of 21, I have always thought about how I have appreciated life, in my own terms. I have been really good at ensuring that my time is spent doing the things that are important to me with the people that are important to me, but not really as it pertains to others.

As I sat and watched my dad say goodbye to his wife, my stepmother of 17 years, I realized how final it was. This was IT. My experience with her was ending right here and now. The big questions come to the forefront. Did she know that I loved her and appreciated her? Did she know that no matter what, I was going to take care of my dad for her and that she should not worry about him? Did she know that I will forever be grateful for being a positive part of my life?

For the most part, I know she knew the answers to those questions because I made sure in the past that she was aware of it. But what if she didn't understand? Or what if she was not quite sure? Or if I was not really that good at conveying how I truly felt? I can tell you this...I promised myself later that day, that nobody significant in my life would ever doubt how I felt about them or the positive impact they have made on my life.

So that's what has been going on, in a nutshell...in my nutshell.

Semi-retirement has allowed me to not live like a Buddhist monk anymore and actually have a social life. I skied my ass off this winter both alpine and Nordic, caught up with old friends, and made some great new ones. I am simply doing everything that I enjoy doing, including doing NOTHING whenever I feel like it. I promised myself to not over schedule myself to oblivion for a while. As it was in the past, I could tell you exactly what I would be doing on any given day down to the minute for the next nine months. And now...well, whatever...I like sleeping in on Sunday mornings when I get the chance.

I AM enjoying the bike, and all of the roads and trails it allows me to experience as well as the people that I can ride with along the way. With RAAM coming up, I am sure there will be some Blogs pertaining to the antics involved with 6 guys, riding bikes, FAST, for 24 hours from San Diego to Flagstaff. You can be sure, there will be pictures and stories coming from this one...

Working at Clif Bar is better than ever. I LOVE my job, the people I work with, and the positive impact we have on this earth. To put it lightly, we have fun, and we work hard. There are plenty of other GREAT things to share, but I shall save them for another time.

Till then, Enjoy the Ride.

Oh yeah, I was told that if I mentioned Paris Hilton, more people would read my Blog. So there you go, I did it...for whatever it means...

Happy Holidays

2006-12-23T06:16:00.000-08:00

Every year on Christmas night our family reads a story after dinner. Usually it is the same story, the "Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry, so I thought I would share it with you. Click Here to read it.

Happy Holidays to everyone.

Waffle Wednesday

2006-12-22T05:32:00.000-08:00

Working for a food company has really brought out the "International Waffler" in me. So much so that it has worn off on my co-workers. I work in the Sports Retail sales group. Our group has taken it upon themselves to really represent the heart an soul of the company. In the past, we have done such things as "liberate" the company Foosball table from the finance department. Well, this week we started a new tradition, Waffle Wednesday. Our goals were rather simple. Eat some waffles. Oh, and how could I forget...the main topping was Nutella. We had a brief planning meeting on Monday where we decided on who was bringing what and then we just did it. Normally in similar events one would send out an all office e-mail. One of our (SR's) pet peeves is the all office e-mail banter. We were going to rely solely on word of mouth advertising as a sort of social experiment. Our theory was the people that would be up for waffles would somehow find out about it anyway. In the end, we ended up serving over 75 waffles..."great success." For the last two days, all anybody asked me was when was the next Waffle Wednesday. We did not want to set ourselves up for failure, so we gave ourselves plenty of time. It is going to be a regular occurrence, "Every third Wednesday in December, every four years. Rain cancels." I am sure that we will come up with some sneak attack sooner than that, but the bar has been set high, so we must ensure we outdo ourselves next time, hopefully sooner than the next planned "Waffle Wednesday."

More on the Waffle Wednesday can be found at the Clif Bar Blah Blah Blog

Enjoy the Waffle...

Friday Meeting

2006-12-12T07:12:00.000-08:00

So I was in our year end meetings for two days last week at Clif Bar. In the building we have an intimate little auditorium that we use for a variety of events aside from our usual Thursday morning employee meeting. I have seen bands play there, film premieres and the launch of a group that is very dear to me The Tyler Hamilton Foundation. But Friday I never expected to see one particular individual whom I will reveal momentarily.

So keep in mind, it is the second day of highly entertaining meetings. We have an extremely brilliant and talented group of employees. So the presentations with seemingly boring topics are not only entertaining, but captivating. The previous day, the entire company watched "An Inconvenient Truth" while munching on popcorn. To an outsider, this may sound strange. A company actually urging it's employees to watch a film on company time. But we're different. Our company measures its success on five bottom lines. One of which is our impact on the environment and our progress towards not only becoming a "Carbon Neutral" company, but a "Restorative" company whereby our footprint on the earth is actually negative (we take away more emissions than we put in).

So on Friday, while watching another short DVD presentation, the DVD player skipped. All 180 of us sat waiting to resume the presentation, feeling a bit awkward for the people working the soundboard. They start playing some music (Queen none the less), pretty loud, and all of a sudden, BOOM, the stage lights come on and Al Gore is standing ten feet in front of me.

Needless to say, we were all in SHOCK and AWE (the good kind). He went on to speak for almost two and a half hours on all sorts of issues including a hefty Q & A session. Here is the press release from Clif Bar...

"Al Gore Delivers Surprise Speech at Clif Bar & Co.
Former VP’s Global Warming Message Coincides With Unveiling of
Nation’s First Employee Commute Incentive Program
to Reward Biodiesel Car Buyers

BERKELEY, Calif., Dec. 8, 2006 — Clif Bar & Co. received a surprise visit today from former Vice President Al Gore, whose inspiring talk about global warming coincided with the launch of the eco-focused food company’s groundbreaking Cool Commute program. Cool Commute is the nation’s first incentive program to pay cash to employees who purchase clean-burning biodiesel cars. It also helps them buy high-mileage hybrids and offers a variety of rewards to those who leave their cars at home altogether.

Gore drew resounding applause from the 180 people at Clif Bar’s annual meeting as he challenged the company to continue its efforts to reduce its impact on global warming. “There is a hunger in the business community for practical solutions on how to put environmental goals into action,” said Gore, whose film documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth, presents a powerful case for addressing global warming. “Companies are searching for pioneers that are examples of positive change.”

Clif Bar is a nationally-recognized leader in the fight against global warming—Gore’s top priority as an environmental advocate. Clif Bar’s new Cool Commute program helps tackle global warming at a personal level by paying $5,000 to employees who switch to biodiesel (B100) cars for their commutes. In addition to a cash incentive for biodiesel, Clif Bar also will pay $5,000 to its people who buy a fuel-friendly hybrid vehicle.

Along with incentives for driving more fuel-efficient cars, the Cool Commute program awards points to Clif Bar people who carpool or leave their cars at home and opt instead to walk, bike or take public transportation to work. Points can be redeemed for tax-free public transit vouchers or gift cards from Whole Foods Market, Peet’s Coffee and other local green businesses. Points can also be used to support environmental groups such as American Forests, Clean Air-Cool Planet and NativeEnergy.

“We found that collectively the folks at our company consumed about 29,500 gallons of gasoline commuting more than 700,000 miles to and from work in 2005,” said Elysa Hammond, Clif Bar’s staff ecologist and co-developer of the Cool Commute effort. “By encouraging our people to rely less on fossil fuels in their commutes, we can make a difference as a business when it comes to arguably the single biggest issue facing us all—global warming.”

“Our company measures its success not only on how well we sustain the business, but on how well we help sustain the planet,” said Clif Bar CEO Sheryl O’Loughlin, who sought out Gore for the company’s annual meeting. “We truly believe you can operate a thriving business that treads lightly on our environment.”

“Clif Bar is constantly looking for ways to reduce our ecological footprint,” said founder and owner Gary Erickson. “We’re using as many organic ingredients as possible, reducing waste in our packaging, ‘greening’ our office space and offsetting our climate impact by helping build wind farms and planting trees. There’s a lot more we can do—and we’re committed to that journey over the long haul.”

Gore encouraged other businesses to also think beyond quarterly earnings and consider the long term value of environmental stewardship. He said most businesses now “treat the environment as an externality,” which results in decisions that “ignore or are actively harmful to the planet.”

Cool Commute is the first phase of a larger Clif Bar initiative that will eventually help employees address their environmental impact at home as well as at work, according to Jennifer Freitas, the company’s wellness advocate and co-developer with Hammond of the Cool Commute program.

Clif Bar & Co. is a leading maker of all-natural and organic energy and nutrition foods and drinks, including the organic certified CLIF® BAR energy bar delivering nutrition for sustained energy; LUNA®, The Whole Nutrition Bar for Women®; Clif NectarÔ, the organic fruit and nut bar; and CLiF® ZBaRÔ, the energy bar that nourishes kids in motion. Committed to sustainability, Clif Bar & Co. works continuously to reduce its footprint on the planet from the field to the final product. " Thanks to Paul McKenzie for the great Photos.

So, if you are wondering how I am "settling" into my new life as a former pro cyclist...I'd say it's going pretty well so far. I do miss some of the epic rain rides this time of year...just a bit, but I don't miss HAVING to do it day in and day out.

Ride a bike. It's good for you, and it's good for us.
Enjoy the ride.

Fresh Tracks

2006-12-02T20:52:00.000-08:00

Tahoe Rim Trail 10.28

For most of my comrades, this is the silly season. The time where the off season has come to a close, and it is time to get back to work. Last year, I already had a full month of base training under my belt. That meant a full month of riding 3-6 hours a day, six days a week. It is quite a treat to ride for that period of time and never have to ride hard...in fact it was discouraged. This is where the races are truly won...in the off season. The hard work starts now. Aspirations meet opportunity, and the only possibly way for the two to co-exist is through honest to goodness W-O-R-K.

I am missing the excitement of it all to some degree. To be out on the bike for ENDLESS hours, racking up some serious miles gives one a sense of satisfaction and achievement. Not to mention the clarity of mind. With the weather being as nice as it usually is in November in Northern California...it becomes almost infectious. Just when you start to get some confidence under your belt, SMACK in the face, the weather hits you. And from there on out, only the committed continue and hence, the cream will rise to the top.

Yesterday was one of those first "Test" days where the temperature drops below freezing in the pre-dawn hours. As I walked out my door to head to work , scraping the frost off my windshield, I couldn't help but offer up a moment of silence for those of you that were out doing what I used to do every morning, rain or shine...ride it out. While I was perfectly happy and comfortable in my down puffy coat and beanie, I couldn't help buy feel just a little jealous that I wasn't out suffering, building something for the summer.

Pinecrest Peak 11.04

For my comrades, yesterday was the first in a series of tests that will determine the results of some race in the middle of some unknown cattle ranch, on some pothole riddled road, in the middle of the summer, worlds away from today. Were you ridin'...or were you hidin'? Only "you" will truly know, and you only have you to blame one way or the other when the results will be revealed this summer.

I, on the other hand, don't feel the pressure to be out there. I did it, I enjoyed it, and now, I am on to something else. I don't feel the need to be out there and "train", I have found solace in simply riding, regardless of the weather. In fact, I would say I have probably logged more miles on my mountain bike in the past month than I have all last season. The more interesting thing is, I have done predominantly all of those miles in the Sierras, primarily in Tahoe. I have been up there virtually every weekend for the past two months. I can't seem to get enough of that place. I am fortunate enough to have a great group of friends that live there, and are always open to having me come up for the weekend.

Pinecrest Peak 11.04

Back in the day, I was on the road so much in the fall, I never really got to experience the changing of the season in Tahoe. My friends from back East would contest that the change out here pales in comparison, as I would agree, but it is stunning, none the less. This year, I have been really fortunate to watch Tahoe morph from a summer sanctuary into the winter wonderland that it is known for. I have been there to experience the cold nights and warm days of Octoberfest change to sub-freezing nights and cold days of Thanksgiving.

Tahoe 11.11

On my last trip over Thanksgiving, I was feeling like the ride I was on was almost like cheating Mother Nature in a way as there was a significant bit of snow on the ground and I was still riding my bike. The trail was almost unrecognizable at times, yet never unrideable. The downhills were like powder skiing as the snow flew from the sidewall of the tires as I carved the turns that the trail dictated. Freedom never felt so good.

Tahoe 11.25

The shadows told the story of a bike ride mimicking a ski run. A giant grin was plastered on my face as I started to remember why I loved skiing so much. I can't wait to get back to the other things I love...like skiing. I felt bad for everyone that was at home, waiting for the "Big Dump" to happen so that they could finally make their fresh tracks. I was already getting mine.

Tahoe 11.25

Next weekend, it's the real thing. No horsing around on bikes...just skiing. No joke, I'm back.

Squaw 11.26

See you up there...

Enjoy...

And Now for Something Completely Different...

2006-11-30T20:15:00.000-08:00

Whew, that last post was a bit heavy. It has been brewing in my head for a while. I told you I had been doing a lot of thinking.

Anyway, I have been thinking about getting a new TV. The one I have works pretty well, but some of these new HD TVs are AWESOME. The clarity is by far superior. I am not much of a TV watcher, but now and again I go through these phases. Right now, with all of this free time, it has been top of the mind.

I am thinking flat screen, plasma, HD...the works, but I don't want to spend thousands of dollars on it so I have come up with a SWEET solution...

I just hope my landloard doesn't mind the mess.

On second thought...I will just stick with what Ive got. My place is too small for something like this.

There Goes My Hero

2006-11-20T13:00:00.000-08:00

“It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not.” ~Author Unknown

Back then…1994…I was not afraid of who I was, I was afraid of who I wasn’t. I was really afraid of the unknown. I mean, at age 23, who wouldn’t be. I was fresh out of college. I had the luxury of a great job right out of school, but in my mind I was going down the path of least resistance, not the path to me that ultimately would be sustainable. A lot of my friends really struggled to find “the” job out of college at the time. I was lucky. I was recruited to the dream job, a ski rep. I eagerly took the job. I mean, who wouldn’t. I had a van full of skis, a salary, benefits and a sick expense account. My alternatives were to return home and work at Ski Shop Santa Cruz, or stay in Santa Barbara and continue working at Mountain Air. Both of which I loved, but it was time for me to branch out. I took the job.

Life was great. I was living a fairytale of sorts. I worked hard. I was in my element, and I loved it. Yet, in the back of my mind, I knew I was not living to my potential, just what came easy to me.
After not even a year, I was promoted to the craziest job in so many ways. Looking back, I still can’t believe what I did, where I went, the people I met, and I actually got paid for it. I was traveling the globe, working on skis and boots for some of the greatest skiers (my heroes) in the world at some of the greatest ski places on earth. I was always on the road…and never the same place twice. Life was in fast forward, and I knew I was like a surfer just trying to hang onto the wave as long as I could…at almost any cost. Life was easy, I worked hard and I was good at what I did.

Over a brief break at home in Squaw Valley for New Years, I met this woman that would forever alter my life. I had no idea what it all meant at the time, and I still don’t to this day. We dated for a while and even went on a vacation to Cabo together. In the end, we broke up the next summer. During our relationship, I began to get this uneasy feeling. She was looking for what I thought was a fairytale. Something so unrealistic to my reality that I passed it off as such, unrealistic. At the same time, I took note because not understanding her really bothered me. I knew that I was having a hard time understanding what she was about. She just graduated from college as well. She moved to Tahoe to live the dream of skiing in California, and maybe find a job. But what she really dreamed about was writing. Writing, skiing and me. That’s what she wanted. Her supposed fairytale.

Yup…she, a writer, and I, a corporate ladder monkey. In my mind, while we both loved to ski, her dreams were noble yet unfounded. I wanted measurable success, and she wanted an immeasurable fantasy. She wanted the fairytale. We wanted complete opposites, or so I thought. I was bothered by such discrepancy, and I took note despite my lack of understanding and appreciation. We were in love despite our differences (at least I was), which made breaking up hard. I was promoted yet again and had to move to Southern California so I broke up with her. It was one of the hardest things I had to do to this day, yet, it seemed so logical at the time. Two different dreams, and two different places. Simple math. I still remember how hard I cried the day she drove back to the East coast. I called Seth, and all I could mutter was, “She’s gone. She’s really gone.”

The biggest thing that bothered me was how much I felt for her but how little I understood and appreciated her and what she wanted in life. I mean, really. Who could shun reality and go after their dreams? Who could set aside all convention, pay no attention to the naysayer, and actually go after what makes one happy? And how could you really justify doing what you truly love if it was not measurable in the eyes of others let alone your bank account? Who REALLY lives their dreams????? Yet, underneath it all, deep down, I understood it, I even envied it, yet I just could not logically quantify or justify it in any certain terms. Ironically, it sounds familiar to me now...

Well, it was that episode that shaped my adult life. I was so bothered by how I let somebody whom I loved go, how I moved away from a place that I loved and how easy it was to let go of who I am that to this day it haunts me. I knew I was doing something terribly wrong, but I sided on the path of least resistance. The day I drove a moving van out of Squaw Valley and pointed it towards Long Beach, effectively ending my relationship, I knew something was fundamentally wrong with me. I was on the wrong road…and I knew it. But…hey…when you get to a junction in the road…take it…right? Little could I know that this was exactly the path I would take to find myself...

A few years went by, and got progressively worse as I got farther from who I was and closer to a person who I loathed. One day, things started to fall back into place. Inspired by the person whose dreams and desires I could not understand at the time and ran away from, I let go of who I thought I should be, and started to grasp who I am, and who I dream to be. I took to heart what I could not allow myself to be, yet inherently am, a dreamer. I decided to do what was right for me, not necessarily easy to do. I took the path less traveled for once. I realized that in order to survive, and to be a happy and complete soul, I needed to live my dream no matter how different it may be from conventional wisdom. No regrets, no guilt and most of all, on my terms. The first steps back were excruciating, but necessary.

My ride back to who I am has been the greatest journey (read all of my past entries). I have many people to thank for allowing me to live my dream. Without the support of so many, I would never have achieved such mediocre success. Seriously, the friendships that I have forged and survived through the past years have meant the world to me. I am here today thanks to all of you. Sadly, the one person I have to thank the most for inspiring my journey has left me in the past out of self preservation and cannot believe the person I have become, the dreamer. I guess the tables have turned. I am the dreamer and she the logical, cynical doubter. Serves me right I guess…

Today, watching one family member slowly forget life as it rapidly slips away, while another frantically fights for life reminds me…life gets shorter everyday, and I cannot go another moment without telling you this, though you probably won’t hear me…

I adore you for daring to dream. I admire your courage to live in the direction of those dreams. I am forever thankful for your inspiration. Now I understand.

Enjoy your ride…Happy Thanksgiving

Epiphany Ride: Europe

2006-11-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

Col du Petit St. Bernard (FRA)

It's been a while...I know. Believe me...I know. I appreciate all of the "where's the update?" mail. I have missed writing, it's just...well...I needed a break to get my shit in gear and time to think about the meaning of what I was doing. It is quite emotional to end a career, even if it is on a high note. But all is good.

I have not really had a chance to actually sit down and just breathe for quite a while. I got scared the other morning as my alarm went off. I actually woke up in this weird place that I sort of recognized...my own bed. It's true. I had a hard time remembering where I was. I have really not been around since I left for Mt Washington Hill Climb back in August. I was home for a couple of days then it was off to Worlds in Canada. After that I was home for a couple of days then it was off to Europe for a couple of weeks. Upon my return (of one day) I boarded yet another plane and went to work at Interbike in Vegas for the week. I finally got home ...and decided that I couldn't stay at home. I needed to get away from the pending pile of duffels and bikes that sit piled in my living room, so I left for the weekend. I needed it. I managed to sit by a lake, without my bike and just breathe. It probably sounds weird, but you should try it sometime. It feels great.
Since then, I have done a lot of reassembly to the other parts of my life. When you spend as much time on the bike as I did, a lot of things get pushed aside. So now I am in the process of doing all of those things I set aside reluctantly or not. Lately, I have reunited with friends and family, managed to get in some epic riding in the Sierras before the winter sets in, and worked on my new career at Clif Bar. Many of you have asked me if I have had a problem settling in to my new job and my new life. Do I miss what I was? The simple answer is no. It was time. I was ready to give it my all and then be satisfied with the results. I loved EVERY second of my time training and racing. There was not a pedal stroke that went by that I did not appreciate. But as the saying goes, "Life goes on." I still love riding my bike, and that is the way I always want it to be. But I love a lot of other things too.
My travels have given me so much perspective on life, and it is the bike that has provided me with these opportunities. To sum up what I have seen and learned would nearly impossible.
I will provide stories and pictures as time warrants, but for now let me just share a defining moment...
As a ride leader on MS Global, I was able to share in many personal victories as we rode around Mont Blanc in September. The third day of MS Global, the skies opened up. Rain and wind with the possibility of snow were the forecast. We were to climb the highest and longest pass of the entire trip, Le Grand St. Bernard from Switzerland to Italy. The last 15k was some of the toughest stretch of road I have seen on a bike.
I rode with a strong group of riders, of which a few had MS. For one person in particular, it was her first time riding in Europe. She had no idea what was in store for her coming from Houston where the highest point there is the pitchers mound in the Superdome. We were riding over the shoulder of Mont Blanc. No easy feat even for a seasoned rider like myself. She had it in their mind that she was going to conquer the climb of the day no matter what. With me riding in support…every pedal stroke of the way offering words of encouragement, I caught a glimpse of a Serono rider ahead. It was at that moment that I had an epiphany. In front of me was a Serono Rider. Without Serono and the MS drugs they produce many individuals with MS would not be able to ride a bike, go for a hike or just maintain a quality of life. Right behind me was one of the fundraising cyclists. Without fundraising efforts of the cyclists MS research would not be funded. On my left side was the van with the staff. Without the Tyler Hamilton Foundation and the staff we would not all have come together. And on my right was an individual with MS, determined to reach the top. We all need each other, one depending on the other. MS Global is about community, working together in the fights against MS.
I highly recommend doing something like the MS Global. It is a life altering experience in which you will not only challenge yourself physically, but you will enrich the lives of many in the process.

More to come soon, I promise. For now...

Enjoy the ride.

A Whole New World

2006-11-03T07:01:00.000-08:00

Long time since I posted....I know, but I have been busy. Europe, Vegas, Tahoe, Pinecrest, Marin, Tahoe....Just because I have retired does not mean I have stopped riding. It just means I can ride wherever I want, whenever I want, however I want...or not at all.
I am off on yet another adventure this weekend; My cabin, to grab one more high Sierra mountain bike weekend before the snows hits. This time with the hooligans that got me into 24 Hour racing way back in the day. (I can say that now...right?)
Upon my return, I will start posting again. I am ready. I have lot's to share. I've been doing a lot of thinking.

Till then, Enjoy the Ride!

Soxxxxx

2006-09-09T14:57:00.000-07:00

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"Flip Flops"

2006-09-08T22:59:00.000-07:00

I am pretty much an "add water and stir" kind of guy. I can drop into just about any situation and find my bearings pretty quickly. In order to be successful at bike racing at the elite level (or anything for that matter) you have to not only accept adversity, but thrive in it. It is just part of the game. Some people manage it by planning for it, yet get totally tripped up when something unexpected happens. Others just fly by the seat of their pants, and somehow pull it off, but other times crash and burn.

Me, I am a little of both I guess. I am certainly prepared for things when the wheels fall off the cart. After a lifetime of competing at different levels, in different sports around the world...I have seen a thing or two. I have had to deal with a lot of "deal breakers" turning them into opportunities. I think this comes from my parents. The taught me long ago how to be well prepared for not only success, but failure. And when amongst seemingly sure failure how to remain calm and collected for that is the only way to see a way out. Some things you just can't control...just accept it.

Worlds was no exception. I was sick going into the race. My bike nearly started retirement without me first by breaking a rare frame only weeks before in Napa, then by missing the flight up to BC. To say the least, I had the cards stacked against me. But over the years I have learned one simple rule: to persevere despite how things seem. So many victories and successes come to those who continue trying when others have give up and gone home. Whether it be in sport or life...that rule applies.

I went to win. I was going to do everything I could to make that happen, but more importantly to follow my own defining principal: Above all else, Enjoy the ride. It became clear to me early on in the race that because of factors out of my control, I was not going to win the race, but that was not going to stop me from having the ride of my life.

After three of the four laps and watching my first lap lead fade all the way to 8th, I was determined to ride it out and finish the race with everything I had, one final time despite what place I was in. Going into the final lap, I welled up with emotion. What started out as a hobby, then became a passion, then became a rare opportunity to live out a dream was ending. And end it did. Nothing like finishing a great journey with a yell out loud and a huge infectious smile. You would have thought crossing the line I just won World Championships not come in fourth like I had. But to me, that did not matter. It was my own personal, well deserved celebration for merely being alive.

The thing about living a dream is you never really forget it, but you can ruin it if you try to hard to hold onto it. For the rest of my life, I will never have to look over my shoulder and wonder "What If?" because I had the courage to try...and that has made all the difference.

What's next? Oh the list is long...and it includes plenty of time on my favorite beach with nothing but boardshorts, "Flip-Flops," a towel and a few pesos and maybe a friend...

But first, I am off to Europe to ride in the Alps with Tyler and friends to raise some money to help fight Multiple sclerosis. Please help me help the cause... www.active.com/donate/msglobal2006/patbush

Worlds

2006-09-03T19:09:00.000-07:00

4th place...and top american...
Details to follow (when I'm not on my cell phone).

Sent from the Treo 650 of:
Patrick Bush
415.847.0370
http://patrickbush.blogspot.com

All systems are go...

2006-09-02T22:14:00.000-07:00

Air Canada finally got my bike to Kamloops airport late this afternoon. I hurried down to pick it up. You can't imagine the relief I felt upon seeing a silly bike case.
The bike is built, I got some food in me, and now I am off to bed. Tomorrow will be a great day to end my career on...I can feel it.

Sent from the Treo 650 of:
Patrick Bush
415.847.0370
http://patrickbush.blogspot.com

"The good news..."

2006-09-01T23:41:00.000-07:00

Sun Peaks Resort, BC Canada (Eh?)

So why am I awake so late with worlds in a little over a day away? Well, I am goong stir crazy...That's why. Not in a good way EITHER. The airlines left my bike in Seattle...where it still is as of my latest hourly call. The common response from them goes like this, "Mr. Butch (wherever they farm out their phone banks, their culture cannot say "BUSH") the good news is we have located your bag. (yeah, no shit! I told you it was sitting next to the plane as we pushed back in Seattle, genius). We have it scheduled for transport."
For over 24 hours now they have been telling me the same song and dance. So tonight...as I pray to the airline gods that my bike makes it here in time to race on Sunday morning...my bike sits somewhere...and they have located it. But they don't seem to know when it will get here.
At this point if it is not here by tomorrow, they may as well keep it. It does me no good. My dance is done.
I think next time I will take up something that you can carry on to a plane if need be...
Any Ideas?
Ty...sorry I took your hat. This is karma I guess.

Sent from the Treo 650 of:
Patrick Bush
415.847.0370
http://patrickbush.blogspot.com

Oh Canada...

2006-08-30T22:53:00.000-07:00

UCI Masters Mountainbike World Championships
Sunday September 3
Kamloops, British Columbia

The ride for all the marbles. The last dance. The whole shootin' match.
My plan is no secret. Time to leave everything out on the course. I am going to roll across the finishline with NOTHING left. Whatever happens...happens.

To quote one of my favorite movies, "I am superfly T-N-T...I am the Guns of Navarone...I'm a mushroom cloud layin' motherf--er...motherf--er."

I still have the hat...and Boston lost tonight to the Oakland A's. Huh...I guess this jinx stuff really works.
I'll update when I can...if there's cell service...
Enjoy the ride...

I LOVE Hate Mail

2006-08-29T21:31:00.000-07:00

It seems that the entire Red Sox Nation is angry with me. They blame me for the Jinx that they suffer from. When I roam the halls at Clif Bar, I sometimes get snarls from some of the "New Englanders." Next they will want to blame me for Bode not winning any medals or something crazy like that.

No way. I'm not accepting the blame for their losing streak. Nope, they are doing this to themselves just like Ty has done to me. I am the victim here. Tyler is the one they should blame. One of their very own!

First my clothes were stolen, then they were turned over to savage beasts. All this after I recovered the hat from the summit house because I understand...I understand the significance of the hat. I went out of my way to save it.

By keeping the hat, I am merely retaining what little I can from this atrocity. He should have thought twice. I was acting out of kindness, saving his hat, and that's the thanks I get. Turning a pack of wild dogs on my stuff. No way. No way am I turning the hat over. You can't mess with Pat-In-The-Hat and expect to get away with it.

I don't have to be from New England to understand the value of a favorite hat...I am a man of many hats (hence "Pat in the Hat") , and I too have a favorite. And ...it is a sweet Boston Red Sox Hat that I am wearing right now.
I will gladly send Tyler one of these...

Thuggz...

2006-08-28T19:54:00.000-07:00

Hat Hostage Situation UPDATE:

I am looking for a reputable individual or group that would handle all of the details and hostage negotiations.
I talked to these guys, but I checked their records...and it seems that they had problems in the past. Something about shooting Marvin in the face, divine intervention, Ezechial 25:17 and "The Wolf." So I kept looking...

Then these Bounty hunters offered to pay me for the hat. It seems one of them is a pretty good baseball player and a Red Sox fan. (He even threw out the first pitch of a Boston game once, just like Ty).

But it turns out, he had a MAJOR drinking problem, and bailed on the whole thing (he forgot).
I have decided to scrap the whole idea and just keep the hat. Afterall, my Thermal had been so terribly mutilated, it is useless to trade a hat that is in great shape for a useless shirt. So, even though I am not a Red Sox fan, I guess I will wear it.

So Ty, what do you think of them apples? I'm keeping the hat. Thanks. Me and my hat will see you in Europe next week. Don't forget your sunscreen. You're gonna need it with no hat to protect you.

Mt. Washington...The House of Pain

2006-08-27T19:34:00.000-07:00

I just received these photos from Jonathon McElvery. He is an excellent photographer, yet even with his skillz, it seems, there is no way to truly capture how steep it is. If you click on the MotionBased link below and check out my GPS data from the race you start to get the idea. I think there was something like 50 meters of flat between the start and the finish. I am riding Alpe d'Huez in two weeks "Just for fun" to compare the two fabled climbs (as well as many others while I am over there).

2006photos@jsmcelvery.com

2006photos@jsmcelvery.com

Enjoy the ride...

War Crimes...

2006-08-26T13:02:00.000-07:00

So...I have received a response via e-mail as to the condition of my Thermal T-neck that is being held captive in Boulder, CO. Pictures were provided (and can be viewed below). As of press time, there was no mention of the possibility of a hostage swap.
Upon viewing the photos, I was appalled at the treatment of my belongings. Especially after I have displayed Tylers Boston Red SUX hat with all decency while being held hostage here in my remote village on the North Coast of California.

Just for review...
Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War Article 13

"Prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated. Any unlawful act or
omission by the Detaining Power causing death or seriously endangering the
health of a prisoner of war in its custody is prohibited, and will be regarded
as a serious breach of the present Convention. In particular, no prisoner of war
may be subjected to physical mutilation or to medical or scientific experiments
of any kind which are not justified by the medical, dental or hospital treatment
of the prisoner concerned and carried out in his interest. Likewise, prisoners
of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or
intimidation and against insults and public curiosity. Measures of reprisal
against prisoners of war are prohibited."

The following photos contain graphic detail and may evoke blind rage...View at your own discretion.

This calls for immediate and extreme retaliation. Paybacks are a bitch...

Pat In The Hat: A Hostage Situation

2006-08-24T19:15:00.000-07:00

I'm holding Tyler's hat hostage till I get my sweet thermal back!
So I go to these Tyler Hamilton Foundation events to help raise money. Sometimes we get a couple of pieces of clothing embroidered with the foundation logo on it to wear at the event. For this trip, we were to each get a warm-up suit to keep us warm at the summit of Mt. Washington, a tee shirt and a thermal zip t-neck...easily the coolest piece in the bunch. Since my stuff was waiting for me in Boulder, CO to be picked up the previous weekend where my flight and trip were canceled, Tyler flew out with it in his luggage. (I know you are thinking, "What a nice guy"). But WAIT...not so fast.
You see, Tyler has such an incredible reputation for being such a giving person, and he is. I have stood with him at the top of some climb in some nasty rainstorms, shivering uncontrollably right alongside of him, and he will insist that you wear his jacket. I have watched him give his jacket to someone in those conditions more than once, and it never ceases to inspire me. He is a rare person like that, and I wish to be known for the same.
Sometimes though, it can go too far. Not in some crazy, weird, "Here, wear my shorts and I will ride naked" kind of way, Nope. When he gets in this giving mood, and he has run out of his stuff to give, he starts giving out other peoples stuff. His wife Haven can attest to this. Ty recently gave me one of "His" shirts, when it was really Haven's. (I secretly gave it back to her upon hearing the story that it was hers to begin with). The next day, I caught him trying to give it to somebody else. It's funny, he thinks just because it has his name on it, it's his to give. (And really, it is his to give...I'm just saying...there is a line...and he crosses it.)
Tyler and I are the same size. He will attest that he has bigger gunz than me, but that is HIGHLY debatable. He decided that he would poach my clothes earmarked for me. I managed to get the sweat suit, but not the sweet T-Neck. Apparently, he had already stole Haven's too. To me, this means war. "Game on" I say...
So on Saturday, after the race, we were sitting in the summit house on Mt. Washington waiting for the rest of the racers to finish up before we could drive down. I noticed Ty had left his backpack, his helmet with his shorts and jersey, and his beloved Red Sox hat. The one he was given when he threw out the first pitch of one of their games after winning the Gold Medal in the Olympics. I throw the stuff in the van and head down the hill...thinking nothing of it at the time. It was not until we had said our goodbyes on Sunday and started driving to the airport that I realized what the gross wet thing that was hitting my massive calves was. It was his helmet with the wet jersey and shorts...and...HIS BO SOX HAT!!!
I whip out the Treo, snap off a picture and text him on his phone, informing him I am holding his hat hostage until my ransome demands are met, I want my T-Neck!!!

His response was, "Eff-You, I want my hat back now!!!" (Clearly, I am on to something here...)
To where I shot back, "Don't Eff with Pat-In-The-Hat...Your hat is coming with me."
So the banter goes back and forth for a while, and then the idea was thrown around that I should make a sign and take a picture of random people holding the sign, flaunting the hostage.
Quickly the plan was assembled as we approached the toll booth on Interstate 93 near Manchester, NH. Our first model...

the toll collector.

Upon sending this...silence...to which finally he finally responded with, "Anchor ate your thermal."

So, I still have his hat, as promised, and a lot of "Ransom" shots have been taken. They are as follows...

PK is in on the Situation...and it has driven him to drink. He HATES the BO SOX, but could use a painting cap for his new pad.

Just give me my Thermal and nobody will lose their pants over this

Your hat is very happy here...

Don't mess with S/Him

Paul is ecstatic about your generosity.

Kit doesn't like that hat, but is thankful, none-the-less

Gary Likes the hat, and actually looks good in it, unlike you....

Give me back my Thermal, or I'm gonna open this can of "Whoop Ass"

So, what I'm trying to say Ty, is Thanks, Thanks for the cool hat. We all LOVE it.

I expect to see my T-Neck in the mail soon.

I left my hamstrings...in New Hampshire

2006-08-19T00:03:00.000-07:00

Mt Washington, NH
9th Place overall (Tyler Hamilton, 1st)
2nd place Men 30-35 (Tyler Hamilton, 1st)

Details coming soon....

From one Bay...to another, overnight.

Revere Beach Wall

Dunkin' in Revere, MA

"Wicked" Steep.

One mile back...

Grounded...

2006-08-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

So...The past two weeks have flown by. When I last posted, I was on my way to Aspen, CO for the final stop on the NORBA National series, and effectively, my final race as a pro in the US. Thursday, August 10, I was supposed to fly after work to Denver, pick up a friends car and drive the remainder of the way to Aspen. Well, just like this whole year has gone, surprises happen when you least expect them...
Thursday night after waiting seemingly forever for my plane to arrive from Atlanta, my flight was canceled. The flight from Atlanta never made it off the ground due to weather. Keep in mind, this was also the very same day where the Terror Level went to Red. Because so many people missed their flights due to "increased insecurity" that day, the soonest I could get a rescheduled confirmed flight was Saturday morning. I tried everything in the book. Different airports, different times. Different connections. The closest I was getting was Santa Fe, NM before Saturday. With that in mind, and a sick feeling in my stomach, I canceled my flight and hence my final race On the NORBA circuit. This was not supposed to happen. It was the last time I was going to see many of these people, and somehow I felt robbed.
After pulling myself out of a depression on Friday, I realized that while I may have missed out on that opportunity, but when one falls away, another arises. After studying the schedules online, I found the perfect racing supplement locally, Howell Mountain Challenge in the hills surrounding Napa, CA. Perfect. A local race on the dirt with a good field of local pros. Excellent preparation for what is coming up on my schedule.
I arrive on Sunday morning after spending Saturday visiting with many relatives scattered around the Napa valley. I am feeling better than good. I know the race is going to go well...I can just feel it.
Long story short, I had the race of my life. I had a great start, set a good hard pace. I dropped a lot of people, and then worked on shelling the remaining trailers in the opening minutes of the race. About eight miles into the first of three ten mile loops, I was descending a fire road at a high rate of speed. My front wheel clipped a tree branch and kicked it up into my rear wheel where it got stuck in the spokes. It managed to rip out a couple of spokes before it forced itself onto the frame and managed to break my frame in two places. My race was over, and my weekend was nearly a complete failure with catastrophic results. The good in it all was I was okay. I did not take a "dirt nap" or have an "agricultural experience." Despite the frame breaking at a high rate of speed, I managed to keep the bike upright and safe from danger. The one shining moment in this whole thing was I looked at my stopwatch when it happened, and I managed to gain over a minute and a half in not even a full lap...and I was just starting to get'r goin'.
I was as far as I could be from the start/finish line when this happened...so I had quite a hike to get back. On my journey, I managed to run into my good friend and now boss, Gary Erikson, owner of Clif Bar. He too had a mechanical that day. We had a great chat on out hike. It had been a long time since we had spoken. Some things were meant to be I guess...
Enjoy your time with your friends, when you can...
Sorry, no pictures this time...my camera is still packed for Aspen. Maybe I will bust it out before I head off to Mt. Washington, NH next weekend, August 17th.
Till then...enjoy the ride...

You Got Up Dog?

2006-08-08T05:28:00.000-07:00

I raced in Fort Ord last weekend where the experience was totally different. I managed to have some fun, mostly because everyone was acting their age and not throwing temper tantrums and waterbottles.

It will be good to see Ty racing again...even if it's his back wheel for a minute...

My career as a fulltime pro is winding down fast. Next I am off to Aspen, Co for the NORBA National Series finals. Interestingly, it was my crash in Aspen that ultimately ended my career as a ski racer at the ripe age of 20. And now, 15 years later, it will be on the very same slopes that I will race my final time in the US as a pro. Isn't that Ironic?...Don't you think? I have been invited to represent THF in New Hampshire in the Mount Washington Hillclimb. By the numbers... Terminus 6288 ft. (1916.58 meters)Base (Toll House) 1565 ft. (477 meters)Elevation gain 4727 ft. (1440.79 meters)Length 7.6 miles (12.23 kilometers)Grade Avg.12%, extended 18%, final 100 yds. 22%Road surface 65% paved, 35% packed gravel. Record 49:24 by Tom Danielson, 2002. And apparently, the hard part is not the road...it's the weather. Check it out.

Does anybody have some spare legs I can borrow? Because I am pretty sure mine will be obliterated by the time I get to the top...but this is what I love.

After Mt. Washington, I have a weekend of rest and then I head to Canada for my final race...World Mountainbike Championships in Kamloops, British Columbia. I have heard the new course suits my strengths even better than last year. And with a fith place under my belt from last year...well...no predictions...just dreams and aspirations. It would sure be nice to go out on top.

And just when you think it's time to take a much needed break, I head to Europe. I have decided to forego the World Cup and focus all of my efforts on the THF MS Global Ride. It was just going to be too much of a hassle, bringing two bikes over trying to rush around Europe to race AND lead the ride. Besides, I am so slow, they would undoubtedly kick me out after a lap or two. So, Spend a week of running around to race for 40 minutes or so??? I don't think so. Besides, I will be retired...And a new card carrying member of the PLT (that's Pro Leisure Tour).

Besides, I have found my next gig http://www.prostaredown.com/ Care to jump in the ring with me?

Enjoy you ride...and try not to stare at those that enjoy less conventionally.

Sorry...I have been busy.

2006-08-07T20:20:00.000-07:00

It happens...we get busy. I have had my entire life turned upside-down. My new job has me going into work early and training late. By the time I get food in my belly, it is way past my bed time. My spare time to write has been severely hampered by this transition I have been going through. Not to mention I have been racing on the weekends...nowhere near my home. I know..I know...Blah, blah, blah. You don't want to hear it.

Last weekend, I was racing in the Masters District Championships up in Woodfords. (Yeah, Like I knew where the effe Woodfords was). I threw my tent, backpack stove and sleeping bag in the car and drove deep into the Sierras on Friday night. I ended up camping somewhere near Kirkwood. It was a warm night with a ton of stars out. It sure felt good to get out and sleep under the stars. It is not the best thing to do before a race...but it sure beat trying to find a motel room at one in the morning in the middle of nowhere.

The race course was beautiful. Probably the most beautiful of all the races in California. Too bad it only had two mini-climbs in it. (Especially with the Sierras RIGHT there next to the course). I was happy because I made the winning break of ten guys. With one lap to go, two guys from two teams that had teammates in the break started fighting. I mean they were throwing waterbottles at each other, brake checking each other and yelling explicatives that I don't care to mention here (it's a family show...). I managed to tolerate this for about a half a lap before I got really frustrated and downright sick of it. It was bad enough that wherever I go, most NON-cyclists and even occasional cyclists treat me as if I am a doper because Floyd was deemed a doper, then we all must be dopers. To these people, I represent the entire professional cycling population to them...and so I must defend the beauty of the sport as much as it sucks.
Not to mention these are grown men, acting like a bunch of school children fighting over a dodgeball game or something. I finally rode up next to them after nearly getting taken out numerous times by their shenanigans and politely told them to grow up and ride their bikes. The only reply I heard was"Mind your own effin' business". So I sat up and pulled out of the race...not ever wanting to ever race my bike again.

In my mind, the sport that I love, the sport that has allowed me to recreate myself, the sport that has allowed me to make a difference in others lives is under severe public scrutiny for deep rooted corruption amongst the ranks. I am already feeling personally attacked for even being a competitor in the sport. And now, I find myself, on the most beautiful course in California, racing for a district title and these guys are not upholding the beauty of the sport and the true spirit of competition. I mean really, we are not racing for anything other than the joy of the experience and your name on a sheet of paper that says for one split second in time, you were the fastest. In reality, while trying to impress others, nobody gives a shit. You are really only impressing yourself...and if you believe differently, you are good at lying to yourself. They are not racing a smart and tough race, instead, they are making asses of themselves and ruining my experience in the process. You would think better of grown men...in all regards.

After collecting myself while sitting by a high Sierra stream on that afternoon, I realized that my journey is really up to me. I can allow them to ruin it or not...it's my choice.
I choose to continue on my journey that I dreamed about, decided on, planned for and have lived everyday since.

8.04.06

2006-07-24T22:45:00.000-07:00

"Staff Meeting"

2006-07-24T21:40:00.000-07:00

So...it's been too long since I have had a minute to post anything. First it was Nationals right here in my backyard. I managed to have a career best ride in Short Track on Sunday the 16th. The temperature rose to 105degrees for the start. Larry Longo, the announcer for all NORBA Nationals, calls Short Track the "Hurricane of Pain." A fellow Rider/Blogger, Nick Martin compares Short Track to that of giving birth to a cactus. I would like to add that it is always all those things and more, but on Sunday, with the temps...well...the only way to describe it is imagine wrapping your lips around a hairdryer while going anaerobic. Let's just sat, "I melted the motherboard." And I had a great time doing it.

The next day, I started my new career at Clif Bar. My game plan in job acquisition was to loiter there until they gave me a desk and a paycheck. My plan only took the better part of 6 years to implement. While the first week was filled with a lot of meet and greet meetings and learning a whole new lifestyle, I loved it.

At this "Meeting", Finance, Upper Management, R&D, Customer Service, Luna Chicks Team and Marketing departments all "Collaborated" on future initiatives.

The first week of any job can be a bit on the difficult side. For me, coming into Clif Bar, it was more like returning to school from Summer Vacation. The company is filled with new and long time friends. Most people thought I already worked for the company.

I have a feeling I am home.

I mean, where else can you drop your boss at a meeting.

I celebrated my new job by heading to an Extra-Innings Giants game with my mom, uncle and cousin in the afternoon sun. It was only 102degrees. At least the seats were close to the action.

Adendum: I am not complaining about the weather, I am merely commenting. I appreciate any day that it does not RAIN.

WInter Wonderland

2006-07-18T07:36:00.000-07:00

Sonoma, CA 105degrees...
Pretty Busy...started my new job at Clif Bar...
More details to come...
But for now, chew on this...

You know you're big time when you can call your Blog in.

Another Birthday...

2006-07-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

Nathan, I could not ask for a better brother. I will talk to you soon...

Black Lung

2006-07-10T10:13:00.000-07:00

Park City, UT
I think I have Black Lung...(cough...cough)It's been three days since my latest dive into the dry pool of pain and I am still coughing up the dust. This time I emerged victorious. Well, I didn't win the race, but I managed to get my best pro result of my short career (38th out of 97) in the cross country. I felt good going into the race on Saturday, did my normal warm-up, and then gunned it from the start. I had to starting on nearly the back row. That's what I get for missing the last two races. I managed to pass a bunch of people right at the start as it was the typical Ski Area Start...straight up. I always do well when it goes like that since I am not trying to haul a huge carcass up the hill.

Upon reaching the bottom of the next hill, I was staring at the back wheels of guys I never see in races...just at the start line as they get called up way before me. This inspired me to stay on the gas. I managed to pass a lot of them too. In my mind, I cannot believe it...then again, after all of the training and planning, I can. The most unbelievable thing besides a working class pro like myself riding with the full-time pros, was this was at altitude. Something that a sea level person should be feeling the effects of, yet I was floating instead of drowning in Hypoxia. Normally riding that hard at that altitude feels like breathing fire through a soda straw. Yet both the lungs and the legs felt great.

All systems were go, so I stayed on the gas the entire race. I never had the feeling of crumbling or pain so bad that you are looking for any reason to quit. You know, excuses like, "Ummm...I think my tire is flat and I got a stick stuck in my spokes...and I am trying to save myself for tomorrow. My feet hurt. I think my frame is cracked. I sure am hungry. " I have had all of those reasons and more run through my head many times...but not this time.

When I ride through the feed zone, I can always count on the moral support of a few people regardless of how far back I am. This time, Jon from Fisher/Subaru was feeding me. The first time through he had this look of amazement on his face. When I saw that, I knew I was having a great ride. Poz from Trek always gives me a shout as well as Waldek from Luna and Gary from Maxxis...and this time, they were louder than ever...they knew I was going good too. As I ride past the start finish line, I always get props from Longo, the announcer. This time he did not even see me as he was probably expecting to see me 20-30 places later. Even Frosty, standing on the course at the start/finish line will give a yell, but he just stood in amazement. Those guys are always there for me...rain or shine as well as many others all around the course...all around the country...I may not see you or recognize you...but I hear you...so thanks. This is a day I will never forget!

For the latter part of the race I was locked into a battle with a couple of guys, one of which is a fellow Northern Californian and good friend, Aren Timmel. Aren and I kept yo-yoing for the final two laps. I think he was having some mechanical issues. We also had two other guys that were latched on. On the final climb, both Aren and I gassed it trying to lose the other two. I know I was on the edge of blowing up so I backed off a little bit, allowing Aren to get a 5 second gap. The other two Yahoos caught me on the final descent, but I managed to pull it together to surge one last time, caught Aren at the pavement, but ran out of room to pass for the finish sprint with the other two only seconds in arrears. It made for an exciting race right up to the finish...something that rarely happens when I normally finish further back.

With the US National Championships in my backyard this coming Friday at 2:00 and Sunday at 2:30 up at Infinion Raceway things could get real interesting. My form is definitely coming around. We will have to see what this weekend brings, but if Deer Valley is any indication, it should be another great ride. Stop on by the Luna Truck and say Hi if you are in the neighborhood.

Enjoy the ride...

Happy Birthday Seth

2006-07-08T09:57:00.000-07:00

To a great friend who for the first two months of knowing me in college thought my name was "Simon." Seth, "My name is NOT Simon."
Seth is the kind of great friend that inspires you to be better than the best. He has seen me at my worst, and has pushed me to be my best. And throuh it all, his friendship has never wavered.
Happy Birthday my friend.

Mom Always Said...

2006-07-06T07:25:00.000-07:00

Never trust somebody with ankle weights....

...and a bad-ass adult size Razor skooter.

Anatomy of a Group Ride

2006-07-06T07:08:00.000-07:00

Step 1: Ride to San Anselmo Coffee Roasters, and rack your bike in a prominent position for the quick get-a-way.Step 2: Step on inside and order a cup of whatever you wish and a bite of whatever you want...and wait for your crew.Step 3: I don't care what everyone says...If there is more than one person on the ride, it's a race. We just hide behind words like zone 1 or soft pedaling...Yeah right. Go ahead, it's alright, size up the competition. Step 4: Get on the cellie and hunt down some more bodies that said they would be there. You have every right to get mad...You said 9:00 and it's 10:30 and you have spent all of your lunch money on coffee. Step 5: Moto Envy...Step 6: Keep waiting...and while you're at it, work on the tan lines... Step 7: Be prepared for a flat...or three. It will happen when you least expect it...probably early in the ride just to slow the progression even further.
Step 8: Stop for coffee at Bovine Bakery.Step 9 : Get the Blueberry wedge too...they're GOOD! Step 10: Try to do something new and different everytime you ride..like ride that dirt road that has always tempted you.

Enjoy the ride...Always.

Say Hello, Wave Goodbye...

2006-07-03T10:39:00.000-07:00

Friends, Family, Customers and Colleagues,

There comes a time when one must look for the next challenge. Now is my time. On July 12th I will lock up the shop for the last time as General Manager of Paradigm Cycles. On July 17th, I begin my next adventure with Clif Bar in the Specialty Retailer sales department in Berkeley, CA. I will remain living in San Anselmo.

In April of 2003 I took a position with Paradigm Cycles as a Retail Development Consultant. Julia, the owner, and I set out tackle some ambitious goals. At the time, the company was in its first year as a start-up bike shop in an already saturated market. We wanted to establish the shop as the leader in the custom bikes and wheels, customized bike fits, and pro level service. We also wanted to develop the infrastructure to support those roles as well as an online presence and ultimately become profitable. Looking back on the last three and a half years, I can say that despite many seemingly insurmountable challenges, we have accomplished all of our goals that we set out on. I will leave proud to be part of such a great organization with incredibly talented people at the helm.

I am sad to leave my family of colleagues and customers for they are what made my job so rewarding. I have had the pleasure of spending every day living vicariously through each and every person that I have come in contact with in the shop. I have watched many of you set foot in a bike shop for the very first time to make your first bike purchase. Everybody there has dreams and ambitions to do something on a bike whether it is riding to the store to buy groceries, a metric century, the Death Ride, national champion, world champion or an Ironman. I have had the pleasure of being a part of that quest through sharing of knowledge, training tips, fitting advice or merely moral support on a rainy day. I will truly miss you all. I hope that you will continue to support Paradigm Cycles after my departure. I cannot think of a better bike shop in the Bay Area and I only see them getting better. They are all very passionate about the shop and the people they work with.

My new position at Clif Bar in the specialty retail sales department will provide me with new challenges and the chance for career growth with another great group of people. Clif Bar has been my title sponsor for the past six years racing bikes. I am already great friends with many people in the organization, so it should come as no great surprise that I will find my new home there. My new position will keep me in touch with many of you in the bike and ski industries and I look forward to future meetings.

Clif Bar has graciously agreed to allow me to finish out my final year of racing professionally as I still have high ambitions for the remainder of the season. These final two months promise to be exciting with so many important races so close together on two continents.

As always, enjoy the ride and be well. Peace, out…

Happy (Belated) Birthday Mark!

2006-06-28T09:33:00.000-07:00

Due to factors completely out of my control like my computer crashing, my dog eating my day runner, my PDA going on the blink, multiple leap years and the Coriolis effect, I failed to remember your birthday by four days. For that I am sorry, there really is no good excuse. SO Happy Birthday a few days late. So I don't reveal your REAL age...let's just call it 21 and change.

Happy Birthday Mark!

He's Come Unhitched

2006-06-26T09:12:00.000-07:00

Pescadero Road Race (skinny tires) Pescadero, CA
If I had a picture to show you, you know I would... but I was too busy racing to get anything worthy of sharing.
One thing I love about racing bikes...you never really know what's going to happen until it happens. Sometimes you are surprised by you abilities and other times, like yesterday, your inabilities. Yesterday's race went terribly. Training-wise, I was all set up to have a great race on a course that suits my riding capabilities. Lot's of climbing, some false flats, and some twisty descents. All of which I have dramatically improved on this year.
I knew first thing Saturday morning when the alarm rang at 4:00 am that I was not in the zone. As I got out of bed, my body just felt wrong...all up tight and sore. I had a tough workout on Wednesday morning, but I had ample time to recover from that.
When I started warming up before the race, I knew something was up. I was feeling fatigued at even low power-outputs. No need to alarm myself yet. I have had some of my best races feeling like this in the warm-up. I started to feel a bit better by the last ten minutes of the warm-up.
I have never ridden this course before so my plan was to just sit in the first of three laps and get a feel for the course. That is unless I see a formidable break happen...and of course, I did. I went with it.
Chris Barry from Team Spine and a guy named Jan (he claimed) went up the road. I have ridden with both guys enough to know that there was some serious horsepower between those guys. We were working well together. We had a good 30-40 second gap. I was hoping we could get at least two more guys to bridge up to us, specifically a couple of strong guys. To no avail. After ten minutes, we were not gaining any ground and the group was coming back up to us. Our break-a-way group was going to get swallowed up. Once we did, I was ready for another jump if the right guys went.
We rolled into the big climb as one big group and that's when it hit me. Attacks started happening and I could not cover them. I had NOTHING! I was kicking the dashboard, flicking the dials looking for anything, but NOTHING. "Scotty, take us to warp speed," but nothing.
My stomach was feeling a bit off in the morning, but on that climb, it turned inside out. I was afraid that I might, "ahem", purge myself, but I could not tell which direction it might go, up or down. My game plan went from trying to win this thing to just surviving it.
For the next two laps, I was suffering an internal dilemma like never before. Sick to my stomach and legs of Jell-O with shards of glass sums up my physical status, but you never know how it will turn out. I was still in the main group, and nobody was going up the road...I may be able to make this happen.
On the second time up the climb, I managed to get to the front at the beginning and drift backwards through the group so I didn't have to surge just to stay in contact. I was in the back of the group by the top, but in contact still. All I had to do was sit in for the last lap and gun it with all I had on the final climb.
Bad luck can strike on bad days too. Just as I neared the top of the climb with the last five guys still in contact, a car decided to try and pass us on the blind hill at the crest. He managed to nearly get into a head on with an oncoming car at the top and then stopped in our lane at the start-finish line as the race officials were yelling at him to get out of the way. Meanwhile, us five are yelling at him to get out of the way as the group sped off without us. Passing was not an option without risking life and limb as cars are coming at us head-on and there is no room on the right side because of the ditch. We were screwed. Finally the car sped off with us in tow behind him. We could descend far faster than the car, but this guy was NOT letting us around. A few guys made life threatening passes around a blind turn and nearly paid the ultimate price for it. This is just a race for training and nothing more...so I sat patiently and waited...and drafted behind him. Finally he pulled over, but I was so far behind at this point it was pointless.
Another guy caught up to me. I informed him that I was going as far as Pescadero and if we did not catch the group, I was pulling as my stomach was now a a quagmire. I set myself on the front and pulled. I was essentially in time trial mode. Head down and on the gas. We ended up catching the group of 5 guys a mile from Pescadero. I wanted to turn in so bad, but now I had to finish. I managed to sit in on the group and take an occasional pull. I had just buried myself for 30 minutes trying to catch them, so they understood why I was not pulling every rotation. Besides, we were out of the main group, so we were riding tempo, not racing, but anything could happen...
By the time we reached the bottom of the last climb, we had reeled in a few stragglers and moving pretty good. I made one last pull to the base of the climb and thanked them for the pull, I was checkin-out. I wanted to just ride tempo up the climb, they could race if they felt so inclined. Mentally I knew I would catch them without punching it at the bottom. They took off, gapped me pretty good as I settled into a 300 watt tempo (about all I could sustain today, far below what I am capable on a normal day). Just as I predicted, those guys faded and I caught them and passed them as I stayed at my steady tempo. I was passing others that had blown-up from the main group. We were closer than we thought.
With 1k to go my group jumped me again...sort-of. I decided to let them know who was boss here. I got out of the saddle passed them all, pulled away and then shut her down 30 meters from the finish because again there were cars in the way. Come to find out we were very near the main group at the finish as they kept surging and sitting up as they were posturing for the finish climb. I am glad I decided to stay with it instead of taking that oh-so inviting turn to the cars in Pescadero. I really suffered, but I also managed to fight through it an make good on it even if I was not in the mix. This will pay off later, I can assure you.
I guess the lesson here is even if you think you are having a bad day, it can get worse. You have to keep on trying with all of your might because no matter how fruitless it might seem, at least you are trying to improve yourself. It's either that or just surrender and become a victim of your own circumstance. I prefer to stay and fight.

Unplugged

2006-06-16T09:26:00.000-07:00

Monday was a tough day. I was coming unglued. I had dealt with a few tough customers over the weekend plus I went on a blind date that I thought went well, but she didn't agree. I needed to get away for a few days. Luckily I had two days in a row planned off of work. My plan was to head to my cabin near Pinecrest Lake and ride Sonora Pass on the road bike one day and Pinecrest Peak mountain bike trail the second day. I needed to just get away for a few days where there is no e-mail, no cell phones and where I can just unplug. My cabin is the perfect place for that.

Tuesday morning, I awoke to the sound of rain on the roof and thunder in the valley. Failing to have any desire to submit myself to inevitable hypothermia and possible elecrocution up on Sonora Pass, I rolled over and went back to sleep. Riding the pass requires not only every ounce of desire you've got, but some luck with the weather as well and I knew better than to be up there at nearly 10,000 feet in a storm. I'll save it for some other day.

After a hearty brunch, tons of coffee and a good nap, I decided that I should probably do something active so I headed to Pinecrest Lake to take a hike at sunset. In my 33 years of going to the lake, I have never seen it as full as it is right now.

Little did I know this would play a significant role in Wednesday's ride (more on that later). With the rain finally stopped and the clouds finally clearing, it made for a great sunset.

Wednesday morning I awoke to clear skies and warmer temperatures. Not wanting to risk riding the pass with the freshly fallen snow, I decided to go for a mountain bike ride on Pinecrest Peak Trail. I had never ridden this trail before so I had no trail knowledge. I stumbled on one of the best trails I have ever been on. It starts out climbing up a Forest Service Road along Herring Creek with a ton of great scenic views along the way.

One spot I stopped to dunk the legs in the creek just to cool off as the nine mile gradual climb was getting quite warm under the high Sierra sun.

As I reached the 7200' mark according to my GPS, I hit patches of snow and finally constant snow. My ride was turning into a push. I must have trudged two miles through the snow. Luckily I wore some wool socks and despite that, my feet started to turn numb. There was so much snow that the road signs were all but buried. I managed to find my way, traveling somewhat on instinct.

I finally reached the peak to find an amazing bird's eye view of Pinecrest Lake and the surrounding Sierra peaks of Tahoe to the North and Yosemite to the South. The trail literally dives off the peak onto a very faint singletrack on granite shale. Down, down, down the trail dives. Quickly it reaches into the trees where the trail is quite a bit more distinguishable. As if the granite shale and boulders were not challenging enough but the pine cones were a whole new challenge.

Clearly I was the first person to travel this trail this year. I saw no other tire or foot tracks on the snow above, and in places the trail was covered in so many pine cones, downed branches and boulders that I was really the first for sure. There were many times where I had to hurdle downed trees as well, which all made for a great adventure.

The trail ends up along the creek that is downstream from the Pinecrest Dam. As I noted earlier, the lake was full. So full, in fact that the creek was a raging river. Normally, you can ride through the creek, jump onto the fire road and you are five minutes from the trailhead. Not today. I was now at the greatest challenge of the whole ride. It was not scampering across desolate snow fields with little or no evidence of the road I was to follow with frostbitten toes. It is how to ford this creek turned river by all of the overflow from the dam which is near flood stage.

I hiked upstream with my bike till I found this downed tree that looked like it would work as my bridge. Carefully I hoisted my bike onto my back Cyclo-Cross style and balanced on the fallen tree. I made my way over the 40 feet of raging waters to the other side where I had to now climb up and over the roots of the downed tree. This probably looked funny to the fishermen on the banks of the creek. Some skinny lycra clad dude carrying an expensive carbon mountainbike across a creek on a log and having to scale the roots of the tree and crawl up the boulders on the bank to reach safe ground. I managed to avoid any dirt naps in the pine cones and any scrapes from downed branches all day till I climbed over that last boulder. So I guess it's not a great ride till you bleed.

I gotta get back here and ride.

More pictures of the trip can be found on my new Flickr site.

Happy Birthday TNW if you are reading this.

A Teaser

2006-06-15T14:23:00.000-07:00

Cabin031, originally uploaded by patbush.

I went away for a couple of days to unplug...here is a photo teaser of my forthcoming blog entry...

Yet Another Birthday!

2006-06-08T23:13:00.000-07:00

For the better part of my short but sweet cycling career, Forrest and his wife Anne-Marie have been with me nearly every pedal stroke along the way. Recently both Anne-Marie and Forrest decided to retire from the pro ranks and chase other endeavors. That was a sad day for me.We have had some amazing experiences while chasing the races all across the country. More times than not, we ended up driving their van which had so much room that we could fit 6 comfortably plus all the bikes. We ended up driving in shifts in order to get to where we were going, fast. Often for 20 hours + at a time as we all had jobs we were playing hookey from and had to expedite our trip and minimize the expenses. We had it down to a science. Two sleeping, two eating, and two sharing the driving/navigating/DJ responsibilities. Despite all of this time cooped up in confined spaces and nearly running out of gas in the middle of the night in the middle of wherever it was (It was too dark to know), I enjoyed every minute of it. I could not have shared my time with better people.Without Forrest at the start line and in the race, I am not sure I would still be here. It never mattered who beat who because we both reveled in the experience and not in the results, both on and off the course. These past few years I have missed lining up with one of my best friends.Happy Birthday Forrest. Just because it's your birthday doesn't mean you're getting older. See you in Tahoe and Yosemite again soon.

A Hot Lap Around Tahoe

2006-06-05T08:54:00.000-07:00

Friday night, Nick D. and I loaded up the car and headed for the hills. Our destination was again, Tahoe. This time to join a group of friends from all over Northern California to ride around the lake to celebrate our good friend Shannon's birthday on Saturday.

Happy Birthday Shan!

So, we could not have had better weather for the ride. As we all met at Java Hut in Kings Beach to top off the caffeine buzz, the cool morning temps quickly rose to a comfortable level. No jackets, knee warmers or long finger gloves for this kid. Just sunscreen, Clif Shot Blocks and full waterbottles. Quite a contrast to my usual ensemble this winter where I was usually covered head to toe in multiple layers of lycra and neoprene. I must say, summer is a more humane time to ride your bike. Winter is for skiing!

Ummm...waterskiing anyone???

The plan was to start in Kings Beach and ride clockwise around the lake. (For all of you NASCAR fans that happen to stumble onto this site looking for "Patrick 'Swifty' Bush," NASCAR racer...that's reverse direction).

Forrest (a.k.a. "Off the Couch") informed me that he was relieved to find out we were going clockwise. He reminded me that this was shorter by a couple of miles of the two directions as we are always on the inside of the turn. The theory holds true. The GPS on my bike that the guys from Motion Based provided me with recorded 70.22 miles, while America's Most Beautiful Ride Claims it's 72 miles.

Eleven of us started the ride...and only one did not finish. Josh H. (a.k.a. "The Hitcher") decided to run into the back of Nick's bike while both were watching some Chucklehead laying in the road on the other side cause he couldn't get unclipped.

So... Hitcher hits Nick's rear cassette, blew out his front tire and took an "asphalt nap." He had multiple small cuts and one deep one on the side of his knee. He was going to need stitches. Living true to his nickname, Hitcher hitched a ride into South Lake to get stitched up and call for a ride home. His day was done...but we had miles to go before ours was over.

With an unending supply of some of the most beautiful scenery, the ride ended too quickly. We managed to avoid any more victims and rode at a reasonable pace back to Kings Beach. A few crazies, including Shannon "It's My Birthday, and I'll ride if I want to" decided to go for another lap. No joke, they gobbled down a burrito and headed out for another lap. I was tempted to join, but I promised Dario, my coach, I would take it easy (which is hard for me).

Forrest, Anne-Marie, Nick and I decided to head to the lake to soak the legs and take in the sights before we headed home. It was great to just sit at the lake and catch-up with good friends...if only we could have stayed longer. Next time...

On our way home, Nick and I stopped for coffee at Wild Cherries in Truckee and to meet up with his friend Tau. Instead of his usual burst of psychosis where he starts chattering like a chipmunk on crack 20 minutes and 30 seconds after his first sip of coffee, Nick passed out. Good thing he was driving...

Next time...I am staying another day and I doing two laps...

Enjoy the ride...

Sonora Pass

2006-05-29T10:10:00.000-07:00

Great news...Sonora Pass is open. That means it's time for a serious ride on the hardest, steepest pass in the Sierra's. I am thinking sometime in the next few weeks. Just need the weather to warm up a bit.133 Kilometers round trip from my cabin and the promise of great Mexican food at the finish.Anybody care to join???

Happy Birthday Shonny!

2006-05-29T00:46:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my good friend and teammate Shonny V who is celebrating her annual 21st birthday today.
Check her out in this old SoBe commercial with Bode Miller.

Peaks and Valleys

2006-05-28T23:07:00.000-07:00

I've kinda been in a funk lately. I can't explain why really. I just am.

Life is like that. Peaks and valleys. Luckily, I do not suffer from manic swings like some people I know. I am usually an upbeat person, and when I get down, it is usually not that far and it usually is not for long. And right now, I am not really down, just in a valley between peaks.

While I have the liberty of riding my bike nearly every day, it provides me with big blocks of time to get some thinking done. So that means it's time for a long solo ride. My destination: an old training route, Mount Diablo. But yesterday, I had a lot on my mind so I rode it a couple of times (plus, it's what the training called for, lots of climbing.)

Mt. Tam from the summit of Mt. Diablo

When I get like this, I start evaluating the important things in my life. It usually gets me back on the upswing. Still, there are things that get me sad from time to time. While I managed to ride Diablo multiple times in personal record time both times while not even trying, I still left bothered by something...but what???

Mt. Diablo from Mt. Tam

So this morning, I rolled out at sunrise on my mountain bike with no real destination in mind, just ride for 3 hours, easy. I drop into deep concentration and find myself at the top of Mt. Tam, looking over at Mt. Diablo. That's when it struck me. All of it.

Yesterday I was atop Mt Diablo, an old training route for me and a goal so to speak. And this morning, I find myself looking over at Mt. Diablo from the top of Tam, but I had to descend Diablo and travel the distance between in order to reach the top of Tam. It was that journey that answered why I am down, figuratively speaking.

In order to achieve great things, to live your dream, we must travel through the valleys as it's what separates and defines the peaks. The key is to let go of those things that keep us in the valleys. We have to let go of those things that prevent us from reaching the peak. Even if it means letting go of other dreams.

I figured out after eight hours of riding on two mountains that it's letting go of the things that have held me back that saddened me. Ironically, I am sad about letting go of old dreams that have, long ago, let go of me.

What's holding you back?

Why I ride...

2006-05-25T20:12:00.000-07:00

There are a multitude of reasons why I ride my bike. Here are a few...There are very few if any places in the country that you will see a sign like this:I have ridden this loop a thousand times...and I love it more each time. Like an imaginary tightrope through the forest...
a pre-emptive shhhhhhh....... Any questions?

Off The Hook

2006-05-25T09:51:00.000-07:00

Okay...so there is talent...and there is David "Off the Hook" Hasselhoff.

Mt. Tam Intervals

2006-05-24T09:28:00.000-07:00

12 Step Program

2006-05-19T21:22:00.000-07:00

Tonight, after work, I had a self imposed intervention. I showed myself that I have a bad drinking problem. I walked around the studio and pointed out where I hide all of my drinks from the rest of the world and myself. I probably have three to four bottles a day. I easily polish off two while at work. The empties were everywhere.
In my own defense, I pointed out to myself that I am bored with plain old flat water. I drink copious amounts of it while riding and racing so it's no wonder I go for the bubbly stuff when I'm off the bike and just working or hanging at home. I don't go stunt car drivin' or get stupid violent and start shootin' guns. I just chill and enjoy a bottle or two. Sometimes alone, but hey, I'm okay being alone when I'm sippin the bubbly...it just means more for me.
And another thing...it's not like I am drinking that import stuff. I just stick to the domestic stuff. It's gotta be less severe...right? It has less sodium.
I'm going to be okay. The first step is admitting I have a problem. So there...I said it. I have a problem. I am addicted to Sparkling Mineral Water.
I am going to get help...It's just..."Once it hits your lips, it's so good!"

Range of Light

2006-05-18T07:23:00.000-07:00

Lake Tahoe, CA
This is the second week of low intensity rides to recover from a big block of training and racing. I have literally been on my bike training or racing at a building intensity since November 1st. I think in that time, I have worn holes in the pavement around Marin. To abate some of the impending boredom and to find some inspiration, I put Mt. Tam in my rearview mirror and I headed to Tahoe.

It was hard to know whether I was doing the right thing, going to the right place as the weather in Marin has been extraordinary (finally). I was leaving my training security blanket and heading into the snow laden unknown.
To my surprise, despite all of the reports of an abundance of snow, Tahoe was warm like it should be this time of year. With the change of every season in Tahoe, there is an electricity in the air. This excitement is indescribable, one must experience it to understand. So, especially this spring, after an unheard of snowfall, Tahoe was abuzz with the arrival of warm days and cool nights. The Lake is full, the river is running, the creeks are at full tilt and everything is green. I love this time of year in the Sierras, and especially in Tahoe. The tourists are gone for the most part and the weather is great. There is still snow on the higher peaks to add to the visual impact. I was even lucky enough to get an afternoon thunderstorm, characteristic of late summer, but rare this time of year.

In the past few years, I have been to Truckee a lot for bike races and to visit good friends, but I have secretly avoided going to the lake when at all possible. When I did head over to the lake, I did my best to not look at it. In a sense, I avoided eye contact with Tahoe for fear of feeling that deep seated passion I have for it. The lake gets me all choked up. You have to understand that the lake has been a significant part of my life through my formative years and a fair part of my adult life as well. It holds a lot of great memories. It represents a few happy periods of my life. So to visit it brought some resentment for I could not stay. I can recall one of the saddest days of my life was when I was driving down Hwy. 89 in a 30foot moving van headed to Long Beach. You want to talk about culture shock... I can just recall that it was early in the morning, the sun was just coming up and touching the peaks of Squaw and that's when it hit me...with tears welling up and a knot in my stomach I realized moving away from Tahoe is a BIG mistake. Twelve hours later, I was rollin' by Snoop Doggz place in the LBC. But back then, I had no idea who I was or what I should do, let alone trust my instinct. Live and learn... So on this trip, I abandon the whole avoidance tactic. Life is too short to carry regrets and grief. There are no mistakes, just decisions and their consequences.

I hit a lot of the old hang outs and a few new ones like Mamma Sake in the village in Squaw. I ran into a ton of old friends, acquaintances and co-workers. It's like I never left. I have forgotten how therapeutic the lake is. It has this calming effect a lot like the ocean in Santa Cruz has.

I managed to ride my bike more than I should have, but when in Rome...
Enjoy the ride.

Tuesday Night Ride: a photo blog

2006-05-09T20:28:00.000-07:00

Every Tuesday evening the fellas get together for a ride. Normally, I ride in the morning, but today was special...I had the day off of work and no serious training ride planned, so tonight I joined them.

The view from inspiration point was...well...Inspirational.

The group was unusually large tonight, but perhaps it has to do with the awesome weather we are having. 7pm and 75 degrees...I'll take it.

Phoenix Lake, ideal for waterskiing...if only it were large enough...

San Quentin Prison has some of the best waterfront real estate in the Bay area...too bad it takes a lot to get a room there.

It's hard to believe that this creek was a raging river only weeks ago.

Bike Gangsta's Paradise

2006-05-08T08:44:00.000-07:00

First off, I must apologize to my frequent readers. I am sorry that I am not as quick as some of my Bike Racing Blogger counterparts with the race reports. I usually am traveling all night on Sundays to make it to work on Monday mornings. My mornings consist of hoisting my spent body out of bed, figuring out where I am, and somehow getting a cup of coffee and some clothes on in order to make it to work on time. Anything beyond that is unthinkable...so updating on Monday morning is just not possible.
This weekend was round #1 of the NORBA National Mountain Bike Series in Fontana, CA. Think Southern California, smog, Inland Empire, California Speedway, endless industrial parks, urban jungle, and home to the Hells Angels. All of this became abundantly clear as I rode my bike from the hotel to the venue. I was like a fish out of water. Everyone was looking at me funny as I was dressed in my lycra superhero costume rolling through miles of industrial warehouses south of I-10. Like they have never seen a bike racer (a mountain biker none the less) in their hood...I mean jeeez...come on...I'm TOTALLY normal.
I plugged the numbers into a logarithmic equation and decided that it would be most cost effective to fly down rather than drive based on the cost of gas, distance, time, and the moon alignment on mars. Besides, the venue was a mere 6 miles from Ontario International Airport. If only gas were this inexpensive...(that's 49 cents)

Once I got a couple of laps in on the course on Friday, Cinco de Mayo...It dawned on me that this was no destination resort race like Aspen or Deer Valley. We were really riding through a city park, some back yards, a deserted industrial complex turned Hobo Village, a flood basin and a new housing development. Somewhere in there we actually rode through some desert type hills with a couple of trees. I am not sure if they were fake trees or not, but they made for some nice shade. I am just glad to be racing my bike.

For dinner, a bunch of Knuckleheads from Trek invited some of us to an Italian Dinner...great Carbo loading opportunity I'm thinking. It ended up being Olive Garden at Ontario Mills Mall. The comedy was that while we waited, we watched a Christian Rap and skate Expo. At first I was a bit nervous as here we were, a bunch of skinny, predominantly white country bumkins walking into a rap concert, IN the Inland Empire. Once I got a read on the crowd, I was back at ease...no violence here. I didn't have to throw down and bring out the guns...

Saturday, race day, Mathieu Toulouse from Maxxis told me that he got food poisoning from the "authentic burrito" that he had in celebration the night before. Bummer to race sick like that. The race started out at a good clip, but not outrageously fast as it can be sometimes. I was unfortunate to get caught behind a pileup in the first corner and went from top 30 to last 5 of the record field size of 100. I had a lot of work to do, which meant taking a lot of calculated risks to move up. I did what had to be done to move up. The part that made me most nervous was while on the first lap of the race, I was passing a group of people and as I swung out of the draft, I was going head on with a gang of "Thugs In Training" wielding GUNS. (Okay, so they were paintball guns). When you're going hypoxic, you have a tough time making that sort of distinction. It freaked me out...Needless to say, I didn't make the pass...

Later in the race we encountered them in a mock battle in the HoboVillage. While I never encountered any hostilities, Jeremiah Bishop claims to have been struck on the ankle by insurgent stray fire. The report has been unconfirmed.
Nathan (my brother) drove over from the LBC to watch me on Sunday in the Hurricane of Pain. He couldn't really see much (nor could I). Imagine throwing a bag of fine, dry dirt into a blender on max speed without the top on and that will give you an idea as to what it looked like from my perspective. I am still coughing up dirt almost 24 hours later. We hit Chevy's before I hopped on my flight home. That's one thing I am going to miss when I am done, is my mobility and ability to see so many friends and family all around the continent.

Luckily, Jason Sager didn't discover this skate park or he might have missed out on his first top 10 finish in a NORBA National on Sunday. Congrats SEGA.

I ran into Cowboy. His booth was right next to the Luna truck. He hooked me up with another sweet pair of Fuzzy Duds. Last week, at Bogg's, he was out on course cheering me on and was surprised that in the heat of the battle I could not only recognize him, but give him a shout out at the same time. Thanks for the goods Cowboy.

Sunday night I realized while my legs were screaming at me while standing in line waiting for the "B" line cattle call on Southwest, I am one lucky person to experience life like this. Monday is just another day at work, but after experiences like this, it is hard to stop smiling...even though it is just another Monday.

Enjoy YOUR ride...

Cinco de Mayo

2006-05-05T08:31:00.000-07:00

My most memorable Cinco de Mayo was spent here...
However...
Today I'm on a plane to Fontana, CA (Fontucky) for Round #1 of the NORBA National Mountain Bike Series. Given that Pacificos and Fish tacos are probably not the best pre-race food, I can safely say that this years Cinco will not be celebrated traditionally. I am sure that there will be a big party at the Chevy's next to the hotel, but you won't find me there. I want the real thing...

It's amazing, I have spent two Cinco de Mayos in Mexico. We Americans celebrate it here (or shall I say "Market" it) way more than the Mexicans do in Mexico. It is really quite tranquillo there with the exception of the American tourist bars that make a big deal out of it. You would think that it would be a bigger deal down there. But maybe it is not because the marketing powers that train us to be consumers for any occasion does not have the same power in Mexico. That's one great thing about being there.

Sure you have your cola super powers and your beer battles, but you are not so inundated by marketing everywhere you turn from sun up to sundown. If you find yourself walking along a street in a tourist part of town you will be asked to look at time shares at a local resort.

And sitting on a tourist frequented beach at popular snorkeling spot you will be asked if you want to buy a poncho or some jewelry. Sure, it can be bothersome sometimes, but at least those are real people with real voices and questions and not some impersonal gimmick designed to irritate you so you will pay attention like here in the states. At least you can kindly decline the offer of people. Or better yet, learn some Spanish and strike up a conversation. If you are the adventuresome type you can get away from it all and just sit on a beach away from those tourist spots, and just enjoy the sun, the sand, the tranquility and a couple of beers with your tacos. I will...

Feliz Cinco de Mayo.

My next gig...

2006-05-02T20:03:00.000-07:00

I appreciate the concern for my happiness that many of you have shared with me when I finally retire from racing my bike in September. To be honest, it will not be easy, but I know that it is the right thing to do. It's time. I WILL land on my feet...I always do. But don't fool yourself...it is all part of a bigger plan. I'm not stopping cause I'm tired. I'm simply switching gears. I have seen the future. I know I am not the most gifted athlete out there. Sure I have honed my talent...some may argue to excess. I have proven to myself that I can go out and hurt myself and suffer like no other with the best of them. So What's next???
Something that takes no talent or skill...just some creativity and a bit of humility...

That's not me...but I imagine I could do this too with some practice (and some longer hair). I think I would wear High Tops too...so I don't blow out an ankle...but some Van's checkered slip-ons might really get the votes too...tough decisions.So me and the boyz at the shop have been planning this for a while (as you can see by the date on the pic)...prepping...and training. So now that we got the skillz and the sweat suits (Thanks Jelly Belly), we can announce our official entry in the US Air Guitar National Championships. If we win, we get to go on a NO expenses paid trip to Finland for Worlds. Look for us to become the "Air Supreme" in SF on May 11th. We're taking any suggestions on a group name.
If this doesn't pan out...I've got more ideas...

International Waffle Report

2006-04-30T18:33:00.000-07:00

On my recent trip to Europe, I managed to hang in my old stomping grounds of Annecy, France for a couple of days while I was working. While I was there, I became quite fond of this little local waffle stand. Of course, they served them with my favorite topping, Nutella. I frequented there so much, that I not only had a frequent waffler card, but I filled it. So when I return there in September, I have a free waffle coming my way...perfect post ride food after a long day in the saddle I'm thinking.
Because of my "habit," someone on our trip coined the nickname of "International Waffler" for me. So now, amongst other nicknames I am expected to answer to like "Pat in the Hat," "Wee Man," "Gun Show" and "Pedro,", I now have the pressure of not only answering to "International Waffler" but I must also live up to that name.
To help in my new found appreciation of oddly yet symmetrically shaped cooked batter, Patrick and Debbie Kelly sent me this lovely professional grade waffle maker. I am now complete (almost). I can hang my head high and with great pride when I hear the words "International Waffler" uttered, for I have on, I am one and I have the card to prove it. This morning, I woke up and decided to make myself some waffles and enjoy the sunrise before I jumped on the bike to spin out the legs after yesterday's self inflicted pain-fest. I was thinking it would be easy...I make pancakes all the time. All I need to do is make the batter a little bit thinner...pour it into the iron...hit go and wait the programmed 4 minutes...Right?
WRONG! I failed to follow ALL of the directions. In tiny print at the bottom of the package below the nutritional facts the mix calls for a tablespoon of oil for making waffles. So after 20 minutes of prep, reading the waffle maker directions, making the batter up, pre-heating the machine, Blah, blah, Blah...I am left with a mess, a grumbling stomach and no time to now fix anything if I want to get out on the bike. So I forgot about my leisurely Sunday morning breakfast and settled for this...
Luckily, I managed to make myself yet another cup of coffee during the whole Waffle Massacre. So I had that going for me. I have many options when it comes to making coffee (five to be exact) but recently I was informed that I was not really a coffee aficionado until I owned one of these...
So my quest for the perfect waffles and cup of coffee continues...
Enjoy the coffee...

Somedays you're the nail, somedays you're the hammer!

2006-04-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

Today, I HAMMERED! Yup, that's gold, and yup, I'm happy.
While just about everybody I know that races was either up in Redding racing phat tires or down in Madera racing skinny tires, I decided to forego the ten hour round trip for three hours of racing up in Redding for a small local race, which also happens to be one of my favorite courses in the country, Boggs Mountain. It is a small race just North of Calistoga in the mountains above the Napa Valley. The drive there is spectacular, and the course is a real mountain bike course with plenty of climbs and singletrack. The weather was a comfortable 81 degrees, a far cry from the two feet of snow they had just weeks ago.
Sure we had a small field, but there was definitely some worthy competitors there. Besides, it's a race...ANYTHING can happen. So my plan for the day was stay with the lead group and hope my legs would survive the 2 plus hours of racing the four laps would render. At the start of these small races, I like to get out in front and stay out of danger of someone crashing and ending my season. From the word go, I dropped the hammer, brought up the speed to the point of pain, throttled back a small bit and held it there. At the top of the first climb, I glanced over my shoulder and to my surprise, I had a gap of 15 seconds. I was feeling great so I put my head down and got to work. So much for plans of holding on...
I held that same pace all race long and never surrendered the lead. I managed to steadily increase my margin every lap, though I never felt comfortable and let up. My legs managed to hang in there and I was pleased with the results...mostly with the sensation of finally putting together a great ride where the body responded well.
This could not have come at a better time with NORBA Nationals round 1 next weekend down in Los Angeles and after my Sore Loser attitude I had last weekend with the Chuckleheads. My training is finally starting to show in the races...not just in training. That's good considering how much training I have put in over the winter...in the rain... and how many BIG races I have coming up in this, my final season as a full time professional. Again, it was a bit of an emotional day, knowing that this would be the last time I would race Boggs at the top of my game. I certainly made sure I enjoyed the ride regardless of the results on paper, but victory sure is sweet. Hopefully this is not my last...

I think this had something to do with my performance today.

Race report: Dance of the Chuckleheads

2006-04-24T10:11:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a great example of how attitude is everything. I had a road race in the green hills surrounding Livermore. The terrain and scenery is beautiful this time of year, but give it a month or so and this place becomes a whole different world, hot, dry and windy. Evidence of this is the windmill farm in the surrounding hills. Yeah, it's pretty much a wind tunnel most of the year, but Saturday, we were spared the wind and the forecasted rain. You could say it was a nice ride in the countryside.

I will spare you the details of how the race went down blow by blow for two reasons...First, it's like trying to describe in detail and with great enthusiasm the act of drying paint. And second, NOTHING of significance happened. In the opening minutes of the race, one of my fellow pro mountainbikers went out on a solo attack. I knew it might be crazy, but then again, he knows how to go hard from the gun and never let up...it's just how mountainbikers race.

On the beginning of the second lap, three went up the road on the attack, one, yet another pro mountainbiker, and another a close friend of mine. I was in the wrong place on the road to join them (my bad) and if I did, I risked pulling the whole field with me, killing the attack and my legs in the process. My plan was to spare my legs for three of the four laps, sit in and just patrol the front and hope that it would come back together. I had two teammates to help me do this, Joaquim and Harry. Both of them were stars in my mind for keeping me out of the wind.

So with four up the road, at the beginning of lap two of four, the race was effectively over. Sure we had two laps left, and if the cat 3's had any racing sense, the teams might have gotten together and pulled the break back, but they didn't. It was us 100 vs. four of them...simply they had no chance on a flat race like this, but then again, the cat 3's are a bunch of selfish riders, only concerned about themselves. I sent Harry and Joaquim up to the front and try to organize a chase with some other teams, but all that was happening was them slaying themselves and a bunch of clowns tagging along doing nothing.

So, I was riding with a bunch of chuckleheads. I realized that I missed the move, and the race was over, and my attitude went from great to frustrated, riding around with all of these selfish little CHUCKLEHEADS. They won't do anything to help, yet when you try to do something, they squelch it. ARRRRRGH! I sat there, trying in vain to make something happen and killing my legs in the process, but nothing came of it. At that moment, I HATED road racing. I was in no mood to ride smart and stick to the plan or open up a can of mountainbiker whoop ass and ride away from them at the finish.

I gained some composure and realized I had bigger fish to fry later in the season, and this was "just a training race". The race came down to the huge group beating each other up on the final climb to the finish (as usual). I finished in the group in around 15th or so. I am not really sure (and didn't really care).

I lived to fight another day, and I will. I got some great intensity training in. I learned more about how the selfish Chuckleheads won't race smart, just for themselves. Yet all I could think about was fish tacos, mariachi bands and sunsets in Mexico as I rode back to the car. That put me in a better mood. Baja Fresh would have to suffice for now, but you will find me in Mexico, enjoying the real deal, soon I hope. Wanna go?

Addendum: here is the official Tam Racing race report. FYI, I was just clowning around for the photo. Little did I know I would be riding against a bunch of clowns.

Wear Your Sunscreen...

2006-04-21T08:52:00.000-07:00

Sea Otter got the best of my spirit. All the grains of sand and mud crushed me. I am still finding piles of sand in random bags and mud stains on clothing that I swore I washed three times. My poor bike needs hours of work to get in racing shape for next weekend. And still it rains so I tried something new this week. Starting on Monday, I decided winter was done with me. On my training rides I will no longer wear all those extra clothes, the wetsuit gloves, plastic rain jackets, the winter shorts, the heavy duty leg warmers, the neoprene shoe covers and the cumbersome fenders. In fact, my new bike came in and it does not have room for fenders, so by default, Winter is over. I am in control of the weather and I did not even know it. Part of my defiance of winter included the liberal application of Sunscreen. Instead of the warm clothing to cover up every square inch of exposed skin, I was trying reverse psychology, and it worked. To accentuate my sheer defiance, I busted out my new Smith glasses and did not select the standard clear lenses I have been riding in all winter with Rain-X on them. Nope, I decided to rock the lenses that most resembled something you would wear on a bright sunny beach in Mexico (the lenses, not the glasses as they only look good under a helmet).

Without even checking the weather, I decided to run with it. I would ride as long as I could take it, but I was NOT going back to winter in my mind. I was ready for summer riding, sunscreen, summer clothes and all.

With the roads still covered in water from the rainstorm early that morning, I was questioning how long my ride might actually be. I was not totally foolish, I did wear some arm warmers and knee warmers as well as a vest (standard early morning attire even in the middle of summer). As I headed down the driveway, I got a whiff of the sunscreen as I caught a glimpse of what appeared to be clear skies and I couldn't help but smile. My plan worked. It's amazing what a little sunscreen can do for your attitude as well as the weather.

It's been warm, clear and sunny ever since. Farewell to my good friend Winter. See you soon enough. Bring on Summer!!!

Clear as Mud.

2006-04-12T19:12:00.000-07:00

I am happy to report that we (the Shop) did not flood again last night as predicted. We did have substantial rain (4") and the creek did get close to going over (19' is flood stage, the creek was at 16'), but we got lucky.
I have been doing laundry continiously since I returned from Monterey. After three nights now, I am an expert at getting the mud out of my cycling clothes.
Seth just sent these photos from the Otter in case you failed to understand how truly muddy it was.

Mission Complete

2006-04-11T01:34:00.000-07:00

The name "Sea Otter"sounds innocent enough, and perhaps too innocent to describe a bike race of this magnitude. It is the kick-off to a season of bike racing of all kinds. The biggest race on North American Soil. So big in fact, that many Euros come over to race. For many it is a spectacle, and an excuse to party, but ask any cyclist who has dared toe the line on Sunday afternoon to even utter the words "Sea Otter," and you will see their eyes glass over, and their upper lip start to quiver as they struggle to get the words out.

My week started out great. I arrived at the "Pink Palace" on Tuesday night after a drive down from work. The "Palace," as I have alluded to before, has been my Sea Otter home since I first attended in 2000. Every year, I have had a mix of friends come and stay with me and race or just jeer...I mean cheer for me. Two of my best friends, Mark and Seth have been there with me every year. This year was no exception. As this being my last year racing in the "Big Show", I was moved by their showing of friendship and support in such dreary conditions. No matter the weather, they were there for me. Thanks you guys, for being there and taking part while I was living a dream. You can stop ringing the cow bell just as soon as I cross the finish line in Schladming, Austria in September.

Wednesday was a prep day of sorts with the inevitable registration nightmare. I swear, if there is a way to screw up, race organizers will figure out how to. It's Wednesday afternoon, a day where most people are WORKING, and they have, I counted, 12 people there to register the amateur athletes whom don't start racing till Friday, and they have 3 people working the 1 line of oh...200 Pros there to start racing Thursday morning. I guess it was a great time to catch-up with a lot of folks I have not seen since US Nationals last September. In fact, I got most of my initial hellos out of the way while I waited...and waited...and waited. So I had that going for me. I finally got out on the brand new cross country course for a pre-ride. Two things came to mind...first, what an awesome course it is. It is so fun and challenging with all sorts of stuff to keep your mind in the game. and the second thought, "Oh my...this sucker is gonna be L-O-N-G." Thirty-eight miles is a long race distance. Typically on the circuit our races tend to run about two hours or so or about 24 miles give or take. To be on the throttle for three hours, "givin'-er" is enough to blow up those that attempt such a feat without ample preparation. Thankfully, this year, I have done my homework. But I still had three days of racing to get through before I can even think about the X-C.

On Thursday was the Super-Cross and as I reported previously, it was crazy to attempt to "Race" in such conditions, but the show must go on...and it did. One muddied memory from Thursday, while I was mentally struggling to keep my head in the game and not stopping to just sit down and laugh at myself, it occurred to me how fortunate I am to be here, in this moment, in the mud and everything, suffering like no other, living a dream. I may never get another lap. I may never have this moment again, but I have this moment, and this, I can assure you, I will never forget. (And the stains on my once white socks will always help remind me).Thursday night I am a bit on the sad side as I did not do as well as I had hoped. That and I was looking at two more days of racing in that mud pit before I can get out on the real XC course. My phone rings and it none other that Haven, Tyler and Deirdre, just calling to check in. They were up at Beaver Creek, CO at some ski race or something. So they could tell I was a bit bummed with my day. Each of them gave me their best wishes and told me to just have fun...and the rest will happen. As I hung up the phone, I started to realize what they were saying. I was getting caught up in the results and not enjoying the ride. I could tell as I was talking to Ty that he was a bit mad at me for being bummed. He would give anything to be able to race his bike, and so I changed my attitude right then and there. Enjoy the ride, for others are not as fortunate as I to have this opportunity.

Friday was the Time Trial, and I had a whole new attitude, and it worked. I had fun despite the mud, and my results showed it. A little redemption for Wee Man.

Saturday was bound to be fun despite the mud. Big crowds for the "Hurricane of PAIN" (short track) always make me kick it up a notch. I love the event because I really get amped up with the crowds being inches from you, yelling at the top of their lungs for you. That, and Marla gave me a Red Bull right before I left for the start. I managed to start in the back row of 50 and after the first 100 meters and my ninja skills, I moved up to around 7th or so. I held on to that position give or take a few spots due to, shall we say, the humid dirt sections. It was carnage everywhere, and I managed to avoid it all except on one lap where I again rode into the hole that swallowed my bike on day one. I wrestled my bike out of the hole that now reached to China and managed to pass the two guys that passed me while I took my second mud nap of the weekend. Seth counted 9th place as I finished. Results are still not up on the website. I think the computer fell into that very same hole.

When I woke on Sunday, my body was telling me that I had been abusing it for three too many days. This is to be expected, but my back was a concern. I have had this nagging back problem since I broke it way back in the ski racing days. Well, it just happened to be aggravated by my super puddle jumping, bike extracting, ninja numbchuck skills that I have displayed in previous days. I worked on the two muscles that tend to be the root of the problem, my QL and my Psoas, basically, my hip flexor and my lower back on the right side. They were totally blown out. When this happens, it is difficult to produce any power on the right side, placing the onus on the left...which fatigues quickly, and then it is like someone sticking a knife in my lower back. By the start of the 3 hour tour, I am feeling good, but not great.

Photo Courtesy of Paul McKenzie-Clif Bar

Despite my back thing, I have an awesome start. I get into a good position in the field before we hit the dirt, which is important because it makes passing much more difficult. Rolling onto the dirt (not mud) I am sitting about 25th or so. I manage to hold this (my best to date) for a good 30 minutes or so...but then...it hits me. My back is not responding well. I fought for another ten minutes with a machete stuck in my back and I can't take the pain any longer. I decide to back off the throttle and into survival mode. My "race" is over. Now I just want to finish and get some good training in. I managed to lose my waterbottle on a bumpy section, so now, my back is killing me and I start to dehydrate. Great! and did I mention...it's now RAINING? I bury my pain somewhere in the back of my head and concentrate on just getting through the race. Every time I had to get off the bike to run through yet another mud bog, the pain would come back to the front of my consciousness. I find it most helpful to think of a motivational song to concentrate on. Today it was "Folsom Prison Blues," by Johnny Cash that got me through. By the second lap, my itch to ride my bike had been thoroughly scratched. I had lost yet another waterbottle, and my blood resembled the mud more that the oxygen rich fluid that flowed merely hours before. Dehydration was evident now, as my body was refusing to work hard at all. I had Johnny Cash rocking the pain away, and thoughts drifted to memories of a friend to inspire me to reach the finish. I wanted it to end, but not before I crossed that finish line for my final time. Despite my balancing on the edge of implosion, I did manage to reel in a couple of people before the finish, which was a good indication of what I am capable of if I was healthy. I can't wait to race again...just give me a few days to clean up and rest.

Photo Courtesy of Paul McKenzie-Clif Bar

It wasn't pretty, and it did not go as planned (it never does), but I managed to pull off my final Sea Otter. Four days of slogging in the mud and sand will go down as my most memorable Sea Otter and perhaps my toughest. It is something that I will always look back on and recall what it took to reach the finish, what it really means to believe in what you do, how you do it and most of all, who you do it with.

You know who you are. Thanks for inspiring me to go the distance.

"Success is often persevering when others have packed it up and gone home"

Enjoy the ride.

Like A Herd of Turtles

2006-04-07T18:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday and today were in S-L-O-W M-O-T-I-O-N. We raced (and I use that term loosely) in, no kidding, 4-6" of mud. Yesterday the race was 1 hour long and I spent 3 hours cleaning the bike afterwards just to get ready for today's muddy festivities. Today was a 4 minute Time Trial and it took me 1 hour to clean the bike for tomorrow. So the good news is, it started to rain this afternoon. I am so psyched for tomorrow. The Short Track has been called many things, some of which I cannot mention here, but for lack of a better nick name, we shall call it the "Hurricane of Pain." Yet, in slow motion, it will look more like a herd of killer turtles.

Photos courtesy of Paul Mckenzie-Clif Bar
After the Sunday and the 3 hour Cross Country in conditions like this, my bike should be reduced to a pile of rubble. Nothing like kicking off the season like this.

Sea Slaughter!

2006-04-03T22:15:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update:
I raced on those skinny tire road bike thingies this weekend up in Sonora, CA. I had a great time despite yearning to be mountain biking. It was a tough race with nothing but ups and downs (just the way I like it). There was nary a flat section except for the promenade from the start to the course. I managed to enjoy a reprieve from the rain, though it took me driving 3 hours Southeast to find it. I was duly rewarded for my efforts both in the drivers seat and the saddle as I finished "in the money"...$5 for fourth place. (So you wanna be a bike pro, eh?)

On tap this week is Sea Otter! I will be traveling down to Monterey tomorrow and down there all week. If you want to come out and hand me a waterbottle (or just squirt one in my face), you can find the directions to Laguna Seca on the Sea Otter website. If I'm not racing, I'll most likely be hanging at the Luna Bar truck with my teammates. (I'm the luckiest guy on the circuit to have them as teammates!) No, I don't wear the same uniform as them... I am in this kit:

Once again, my accommodations will be in the luxurious Pink Palace beach cottage in beautiful Pacific Grove, compliments of the Loher family and my great friend Mark Hanson. If you can find Arena Ave. in Pacific Grove, you can find the Pink Palace, as it's the only pink cottage on the street (and if I'm not mistaken, it's the only pink building for 50 miles). So swing on by and have a couple of shots of water and an energy drink with me. If you want to jump in the ocean, be my guest, It's a lovely 54 degrees (perfect for the sore legs) and it's only feet from the front door.

Here is my race schedule for this week:

STAGE ONE: SUPER CROSS Thursday, April 6, 2006 (A.K.A STUPID CROSS)
The Super Cross will include additional off-road sections as we invite the world's best mountain bike racers to challenge each other on a 5-mile, half-dirt, half-road circuit. Starting and finishing on Laguna Seca raceway, the course climbs pavement to the top of the corkscrew, then exits back into the infield near dual slalom and short track. After some dirt descents, climbs, and twin track, racers re-enter Laguna Seca Raceway for a 1-mile paved return to Start/Finish. Time bonuses for the top three finishers. All riders in danger of being lapped will be pulled; receiving a finish time, plus a penalty (to be determined by the Chief Official); pulled riders will be allowed to continue in the event.
Pro/Elite Women: 10:00 am, Stage length of 60 min., laps TBD
Pro/Elite Men: 11:30 am, Stage length of 60 min., laps TBD

STAGE TWO: TIME TRIAL Friday, April 7, 2006 (A.K.A. The Race of Truth)
Ride as fast as you can on a 2-mile course within the confines of Laguna Seca. The Time Trial start/finish is on the Short Track course as in years past. The shorter, faster course is designed to keep General Classification times closer leading into the final two stages on Saturday and Sunday.
Pro/Elite Women: 9:30 am
Pro/Elite Men: 10:30 am

STAGE THREE: SHORT TRACK Saturday, April 8, 2006 (A.K.A. Hurricane of PAIN)
Due to popular demand, racers will race the same Short Track as in years past. Time bonuses will be awarded for the top three. All riders in danger of being lapped will be pulled. All pulled riders will receive a finish time, plus a penalty (to be determined by the Chief Official), but you will be allowed into the cross country on Sunday.
Special note to Pro/Elite Men: Due to your field size of 160 riders, a two-heat system will be incorporated as in years past. The top 50% after stages 1 & 2 seeded in heat #2, racing for Stage and G.C. time and prize money. The bottom 50% will be seeded in heat #1, racing only for time in the G.C.
Pro/Elite Men, Heat 1: 12:30 pm, 7 laps (More than likely I will be in this one, I will update)
Pro/Elite Women: 1:15 pm, 7 laps
Pro/Elite Men, Heat Two: : 2:00 pm, 7 laps (If I'm fast, I will be in this group)

STAGE FOUR: CROSS-COUNTRY Sunday, April 9, 2006 (The REAL reason why we're here)
We are pleased to announce a new course for 2006! In partnership with the Bureau of Land Management and as part of our responsibility as stewards of the Fort Ord trails, we have designed a new course to include all of the features you love about the Sea Otter Cross Country. Have no fear - you will still ride several 18-mile laps with about 2400 feet of climbing each lap, fight your way up short, steep climbs, enjoy singletrack of rocks, sand and other challenges, thrill through tight sections in the trees, and ride new open fields of scenery. Line up and ride clockwise on the track this year!
Pro/Elite Men: 1:00 pm
Pro/Elite Women: 1:10 pm

I hope to see y'all out at the races. I will try to update from PG if I get good cell reception.

Whew...that was close...

2006-03-30T09:50:00.000-08:00

Critical situation resolved...Temporarily. My old stand-by crepe place shut down back in December. A new place just opened up this week across the street from the old. So, on my morning lobotomy, I remembered that they serve Nutella crepes. I wonder if they will sell me just the Nutella. OH...and by the way...Rain-X does NOT taste good with Nutella.

Enjoy the Nutella...

New Sponsor...

2006-03-30T06:24:00.000-08:00

"According to the National Weather Service, Wednesday was Marin
county's 21st day of measurable rain so far this month, with two more days to
go. The previous record was 18 days in 1975, said forecaster Bob Benjamin,
citing records going back to 1947."
In Light (or dark) of the weather this winter, I have taken on a new sponsor, Rain-X. Truth be told...I LOVE this stuff. I have taken a bath in it all winter long. It is great. It keeps me seeing straight even in the worst of conditions. I used to just put it on my glasses to shield the rain, but now I just squeeze a few drops into my eyes every morning and voila', I can see clearly no matter the weather.

Situation: CRITICAL!!!

2006-03-29T21:20:00.000-08:00

Uh...Houston...WE HAVE A PROBLEM... It seems as if we are experiencing a Nutella shortage here in Marin. I have been to 4 grocery stores now and the view is the same...empty shelves...

Normally this would not get me all wound up, but upon my recent return from Europe and a rekindled love for the stuff, I can't seem to find it anywhere. What do I need to do? Does ANYONE know where I can get my fix? I need to get hooked up in a bad way. HELP!

True Love.

Brilliant!

2006-03-27T06:26:00.000-08:00

ALPINE NATIONALS: Daron Rahlves wins super G, his final race with the U.S. Ski Team.

Nothing like going out on top. Nothing but pure class. See you in Tahoe Daron.

"On the road of life..."

2006-03-26T05:42:00.000-08:00

"...There are passengers and there are drivers" or so the VW ad reads. I should know, I was in a VW Sharan (Europe model) for the better part of eight days driving around the Alps in Switzerland, Italy and France. I spent equal amounts of time driving and being a passenger as well as a fair bit of time riding my bike. All of which give you varying perspectives of the world around you. A few thoughts rolled through my head while taking in all of the sights and making notes for the MS Global ride this summer.

Somedays you feel like you're riding a stallion, and somedays you just make an ass out of yourself.

As I noted in previous entries, I have spent a fair bit of time traveling around the world but never really appreciating where I was for one reason or another. In other words, I was a driver with tunnel vision. I never was really comfortable being a passenger. It's just who I was. Most of my trips involved some sort of work or racing or both (they still do to some degree). So I had objectives. Wanting to do or be the best I could be, I failed to see the forest through the trees. I failed to really enjoy the ride.

Most of my trips have been solo so I had to be the driver figuratively and literally. If I didn't, nothing would happen, nobody was going to take me where I needed to go. On the rare occasion where I had traveling companions, it was a treat, though I usually ended up driving. Rarely was it a mutual thing. I sometimes wonder what would happen if I stopped driving...

Way back, I once took a vacation. A true vacation. No work related meetings, no racing, no real agenda. An honest to goodness vacation with sandals, boardshorts, a book and a snorkel. The goal was there was no goal...just relax, explore and enjoy. And that is exactly what I did. I ate tacos at Rossy's, I swam in the pool, the ocean and in the companionship I had on that trip. It was the first and relatively only time I can say I was totally relaxed. It had such an impact on me that I bought a silver bracelet the day before departing as a reminder of the feeling I had. I wear it to this day to remind myself of that trip and how good it felt to relax. I look at it daily and wonder when the next time is when I will feel that relaxed. That bracelet has taken on a greater meaning to me now. It not only signifies a desire and need to relax, but to appreciate my surroundings, wherever that may be and those that I am fortunate enough to share time and space with. And without exception, I do this, and it has made all the difference.

One thing that became evident to me while touring around Europe this week is that many beautiful surprises are beyond your peripheral vision and you might need to turn you head and squint to gain perspective. Once I began to catch on to this thought, I started to see many more things than I would normally, and it gave me a much greater appreciation for even the simple things around me no matter how far away they are or seem. Distance is insignificant when it comes to meaningful things. By happenstance, I glanced out the window while driving through Montreux and way up on the hill I saw this Chateau. Quickly I grabbed the Zoom camera and snapped off a photo. This became the norm for the trip. The thing that amazes me is while I have new eyes for seeing things that I normally don't see, what about all the things I still miss? I will be in these parts again, and it will be interesting to see how much more I can appreciate the next time. Life I guess is a lot like that, failing, learning and applying those lessons to the next time. I need to work on my squinting...

The THF photos are on Smugmug. E-mail me and I will send you a link to my photos on Kodak.

"Opportunities fly by while we sit regretting the chances we have lost, and the happiness that comes to us we heed not, because of the happiness that is gone." ~Jerome K. Jerome, The Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow, 1889

I think the travel gods are trying to tell me something... I keep seeing this ad for Cabo on my flights to far away places.

Maybe I will return...till then...

Enjoy the ride.

Just Checking In...

2006-03-21T12:16:00.000-08:00

Annecy, France

We have managed to cover the entire route in car. I have ridden a bit, but it has not been easy. I have been sick and the weather has been...well, let's just say, not so good. Snow has been closing some of the passes...which makes it hard to ride. Despite these minor setbacks, I have managed to really enjoy the sights of all the locations we have traveled.
I have decided to stay in Europe. I love it here. Especially the "smoke anywhere you want" policy. I have adopted the "if you can't beat em, join em" attitude. NOT! I can't wait to come back here. I could spend an eternity here exploring the towns, the people and the FOOD! I can assure you I will be back...wanna come along?

I will have lot's to tell later, but here is my view from the bike the other day as I rode into the Alps on my way to Italy from Switzerland.

Enjoy the ride...

Au revoir

2006-03-15T07:43:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow morning, my bike and I are taking another journey. This time it requires a trip across "the pond." Somehow, with all of the recent snow both at home and in Western Europe, I feel like skis might be the better call...

The most important trip you may take in life is meeting people halfway. ~Henry Boye

I am returning to foreign yet familiar places for a third period in my life, experiencing it perhaps for the last time or so I thought the time before. That's the beauty about traveling and life, you never really know if you will ever return to places you have been and certainly they will be different when you do. Upon returning, if I am so fortunate, no matter how long it has been since I last visited, I tend to have a much greater appreciation for them. And each time, I can assure you, will likely be the last time, so I best make the most of it. Unless...I never leave...hmmm.

I always make it a point to never leave without saying goodbye no matter how hard it may be, for it may be my last words you ever hear. Life is short, too short sometimes. Definitely too short to hold back from those that matter most. I plan on returning, if I don't fall in love with Switzerland, Italy and France again. So for now...Au revoir, arrivederci.

Always, Enjoy the ride...

Chains Required

2006-03-11T08:40:00.000-08:00

Uhhh...Something is wrong with this picture...Mind you, this is not Tahoe...this is Marin, you know, coastal town...Why are people putting on chains???

I awoke this morning to find not only measurable snow on Mt. Tam, but that New England was warmer than Northern California for the first time that I can recall in the dead of winter. I can already hear it..."it's warmer than single digits in New England AND sunny California is under snow and COLDER. Ha!" (Well...okay, I know it's March and all, but technically, it's still winter and I can call it the "dead of winter" because there is snow in my front yard, which NEVER happens here).So I loaded up on food, dressed in everything I own and headed out on another four hour journey. Fearing for my life, I opted to stay off of the road bike and the skinny little tires. I have lots of skillz; numb-chuck skillz, bow staff skillz, taking photos from my cellie while descending Mt. Tam AND taking a sip from my waterbottle skillz, but I don't care to test my luck with all of the above on ice and snow on skinny, bald tires. That's a skill I don't think I have mastered...Yet. So Mountain bike it is. My plan was to climb to the top of Tam, check out the sights and snow, drop into Mill Valley on some single track, grab some coffee at Peet's, then turn it around and do some intervals back up Tam and return home. I was greeted with some substantial snow about half way up (1000ft). Just when the trail gets a bit tricky, it gets SLICK! By the time I got to the fire lookout at the summit, there was 5cm of snow, and it was good snow. My tires were squeaking on the snow it was so cold. I wish I had some skis.
I jammed into Peet's after a seemingly forever descent where minor hypothermia was inevitable. Ordered my standard Americano, and jumped back on the bike, just to warm up. Luckily, the sun started to warm me up a bit, because it was fixin for a long miserable 2 hours if I didn't warm up. Back to the top after the intervals, and down the North side into the shade and cold for the long descent home...which meant freezing one more time. Nothing that a hot shower couldn't fix. Mission accomplished.
So today's deep thought went something like this: Recently, I was told that way back in the day, before I ever fathomed racing a mountain bike (in fact, I despised MTB racing back then), that even then, you could have predicted that racing my mountain bike was something I would end up doing.
"Really?" I am kinda tripped out by that. I am searching my memory of my past and trying to see the same thing...but I can't. Especially since not only did the idea of suffering like no other for hours on end NOT appeal to me, but I was tricked into doing it in the first place. I guess, since my primary career as a ski racer was ended prematurely, then I still had something to prove to myself or something.
As I have recently alluded to, I am about over the athlete at all costs thing. It is out of my system (thankfully). I want to end it on a good note...which is what I am doing. Give it everything one last time, enjoy every moment, and then hang it up and call it a chapter in my life. There are so many other things to life...Next.
So the question is...since the past prediction was somewhat accurate, what would you predict now? I am intrigued. I have a few of my own predictions...

Just Kidding...

Enjoy the ride!

The Surreal World: Austin

2006-03-08T10:02:00.000-08:00

At 4:00am Saturday morning I picked Nick up to drive us to the airport to make our 6:00am flight. He was not his usual caffeinated self. Dazed and confused, I had to tend to his lack of attention and dozing. I don't think he would have made it otherwise.

Once we finally made it to the hotel, we quickly unpacked the bikes, and got out for a little spin. I found what looked like a sweet route from the Hotel to the race venue on Google Earth. I also checked out J-Dogs site to see if he was in Austin...and it looks like he was here the week before and took a similar picture to this on on our route to the race venue.After our abbreviated ride where we made it just a few miles from the venue and turned around on account of time, we arrived at the hotel to find many gifts from THF. Nick and I decided we needed to check out the new threads and see if they might work in a variety of social settings. I think we got the inner-city thing wired, so we're good to go (just not in Austin). Here we needed a big belt buckle and some SH*T Kickers if we were gonna fit in.

So Sunday morning, we rode to the venue for warm-up. I run over a big ass nail 10 minutes before my start, and I am riding tubular tires...not an easy fix. Luckily, my Boy Scout skills come in handy...I brought a spare tire. I remove the tire and replace it with a spare with minutes to spare. I missed my chance to inspect the course...so I am going into this race blind. I jump into the start chute, and I'm off.

I ramp up my effort and kick it into overdrive on the steepest section, where my strength to weight ratio is to my advantage. I knew I was having a good ride when some of the racers that started ahead of me were cheering for me as I passed them. I spy the finish, dig deep and put in everything I have to finish strong. THF rider, Mike Z is waiting and cheering for me at the top as he went before Nick and I. He had the look on his face like he had conquered the world, and he had...

5 years ago, Mike was diagnosed with MS and wrote himself off. Then he decided he was going to live life better than ever and do the things he wished he had done but never got around to it before he was diagnosed. He has logged more miles on his bike in the Alps and Pyrenees than most anybody I know. He is my hero of the weekend for sure. Helmets off to you Mikey! Don't stop! It's people like Mike Z that that could teach us all a lesson about how important every day is.

So we're waiting......and waiting.......and waiting......for awards (pretty standard for a bike race). When the awards finally happen, I come to find out that second place award is the lovely horse. Since I don't think it's going to fit in the overhead bin on the plane, let alone get through security, I decide to leave it for next year...cause I'm coming to win...

If I had won, I would STILL be driving home in this sweet first place ride. I wonder if it has 8 Track???

Nick and I ride home from the venue sans horsey. Along the way, we get to talking about how Austin is supposed to be the live music capital of the world. So we figure we should see some sights along the way and hit the capital building to listen to some of this "famous" live music. It must be an off week or something cause all we could find was this guy and his Casio singing some weird song about closing the borders, especially the Mexican border...whatever...

Upon returning to the Hotel, we have a glass of wine and some cheese to drown our sorrows and celebrate me being the first loser. At dinner, we find out Dee has never had Tequilla. So we order a round, and then another of some tequilla...I don't know, but Dinner was becoming a hazy blur to me at this point...and we have to get up at 4:00am for our flight...I'm getting worried. We later find out that Nick has this reaction to Tequilla where he goes ballistic. So this night he thinks he is a either a frog or a base jumper...we weren't quite sure, but by the time we get him home...he is jumping from bed to bed and cackling like a chicken. Finally he calms down after a conversation with Clare, his girlfriend, on the phone. I can FINALLY get some sleep, for we have 4 hours till we have to get up and fly.

Monday morning, too bright and WAY too early, we drop Dee off in Denver along the way, and upon landing at SFO, I head straight to work...like nothing ever happened. I couldn't handle it if every weekend was like this...but it sure was fun.

All the way home, the screen in the seat back kept reminding me that there's always Mexico. Maybe I should go...

Solo...

2006-03-06T15:20:00.000-08:00

Austin, Texas King of Jester Hill Climb Time Trial...(Another skinny tire race)

Isn't it strange, the way certainty always comes before shatterings?

I crushed the record time by over 10 seconds and sat comfortably in first most of the day. The race organizer and announcers were blown away. I didn't feel comfortable believing it was over...till it's over. I knew that there could always be somebody, like some local 2002 US Pro National Road Champion to show up and let me know this was their backyard. He tried, but my time was sticking. I started to let it sink in. Maybe for once...I had won. (Fool) That is... till a 90 pound, 19 year old beat me fair and square by 15 hundreths of a second....What is this a ski race??? I guess I should have ridden the course before the race instead of the old "Show and Go." I guess this another chapter about Live and learn...

Now I am on a plane home and just have time to post this before I have to listen to that speech AGAIN. Something about oxygen masks and exit doors behind me for a water landing...
I will post more when I don't have to type this out on my phone.
More to follow soon...In the meantime, here are some more pictures

Changes in Lattitudes, Changes in Attitudes...

2006-02-28T19:55:00.000-08:00

Today's training ride would have been a lot more fun if my water bottles had Captain-n-Coke in them, a spinnaker rig on my handlebars and some Jimmy Buffet on the Ipod (I don't even own any Jimmy music). It reminded me of my days at Long Beach Yacht Club and all of the Catalina Island races I had been in. At one point I looked down during an interval and I was going 9 miles an hour upwind, not uphill, and I was anaerobic. If I took a swig of Captain-n-Coke at that point, I would have chirped for sure. As I rounded the corner way out by Nicassio reservoir where the wind really rips, it was just like rounding the upwind mark in a boat race...I started my downwind leg of the ride. Next interval, I am doing 50mph, and below my target effort, just like popping the chute on a boat, high speeds and little effort. Now, hand me that Captain-n-Coke...
I miss sailing. Living in Long Beach, I had it good all year long. Palm Trees, a boat to sail almost any day of the week and some sort of race just about every weekend if you wanted it. Being good at foredeck got me a ride on some of the great boats in the area, as anybody can grind a winch or tail a sheet, but running foredeck took a bit of brainpower, and some courage (or stupidity). Going up the mast when the boat is ripping along at 10 knots, swaying to and fro to retrieve a line was not for the faint at heart. I was always scared, out of respect for the boat (and the person hoisting me). It made me forget I was living in a town of 12 million. I'll be back on a boat...just as soon as I finish this one last interval...
If I could just win the lottery....

Timing...

2006-02-25T20:04:00.000-08:00

4am...on the road to race in some cow poke town in the central valley. I need coffee...

My good friend Seth occasionally reminds me that life really comes down to a few defining moments. I know this is one of those times...

It is wondrous how life twists and turns. You arrive at these moments where your life can take a turn, and your mood or your desires at the moment will determine the new route you take. Timing is everything, what once did not seem right, now is poetically moving in how right it is so you move in that direction. And timing makes all the difference.

Today was a matter of luck. Bad luck turned good all because of a seemingly insignificant, yet painful decision...
Today was my first race of the season. A road race. A flat, fast road race. Not my strong suit. I prefer the dirt, and a lot of vertical. So today, I was out of my comfort zone in many ways. My goals were simple, to get a good workout in, reaquaint myself with the pain cave, and stay upright. My tact...to attack early, get into a break and ride it out as long as I could for the workout then fight to the finish but stay safe. To my amazement, I executed my plan exactly as I had anticipated. I followed an attack as soon as we rolled out of the neutral zone and onto the course. That didn't stick for very long. Our group of 5 was absorbed into the main group. Soon thereafter another group of people attacked. I waited till they were clear, did a headcount to see who was in there, then I attacked and bridged up easily. This was perfect. We had 8 strong guys and we started to work together pretty well. Some better than others. We were flogging ourselves for most of the day to stay away. I don't know exactly what our gap was, but I estimated it to be somewhere around a minute or so. This could be the winning move I am thinking, and I am sitting on some serious horsepower from all of my training thus far in to the season. I was riding conservatively. As the kilometers rolled on, people started to get tired, the pace slowed some despite the efforts of some of us. With 30k to go or so, the chase group behind started to get anxious and turned up the heat. We were doomed. My own time checks were telling me that any severe effort now would be fruitless. Myself and Garrett from Olympic Club sat up and wished them well. We chatted for a few minutes before we were once again caught by the main group. Now I just have to stay in the main group (easy) and finish upright, avoiding any crashes. I was nervous. There are 90 guys hurtling down a country farm road inches from each other with tons of potholes and cow manure with only a thin sheet of lycra protecting us in the case of an "inadvertent water landing." ( ...ummmm I have one question for the airlines when they say this over the intercom during pre-flight instructions. How many "inadvertent water landings" has the pilot successfully executed???) Something didn't feel quite right. Images of friends and loved ones pop into my head...but I push them out, I have to focus if I want to survive this.
The road gets abhorrently bumpy to where you can't really focus, just pay attention to the blurry image in front of you and gauge your distance based on the size of the image. Suddenly, I hear a pinging noise...it's me...something is wrong. I try to look down at my bike to quickly diagnose, but fearing for my life I look ahead again. the noise gets worse. Okay, something is broken. I look down one more time and notice that my bike computer head is dangling off of my bars and inbetween the fork and the wheel. I manage to reel it in and place it back on the mount to only have it jump off the bar again.

Okay, quick decision time. Do I let it dangle and risk it jamming and causing a much bigger problem or do I pull out of the race, so close to the finish and fail my objective for the day. I opt on the safe side and slowly roll to a stop. A wave of anger, then sadness comes over me. I sat on the side of the road for a moment to gather myself. I slowly roll to the finish line to watch my teammates finish.

"CRASH, CRASH, CRASH" over the race radios. I turn to look down the course to see my group in a heap 500 meters from the finish. My bad luck and subsequent decision to drop out was a stroke of good luck. I avoided a season ending crash. Everyone was alright, despite the massive amount of road rash on some poor folks.

Sunrise over the Sierras

Today, like many times in my life, I made a choice that was hard to make, and initially was tough to handle, but in the end, it was the right timing that made it so significant. Just when it seemed wrong, it was right.

"Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today. " Mark Twain

Go Time!

2006-02-24T19:42:00.000-08:00

Sorry I have not written...I have been preoccupied with lot's of good stuff. I am busy putting on my game face for tomorrow's race. More news upon my return...

Procrastination 101

2006-02-22T22:51:00.000-08:00

This morning was a true treat. It was so great, that I had a hard time focusing on the training goals for the day. Everytime I did an interval, I paid myself a reward and stopped to take in the views.

It was from this very spot on Alpine Lake that I decided to move to Marin. It is hard to believe that you are only 12 miles from San Francisco. This is a mere 20 minute ride from my house. Ridgecrest Rd. is famous for all of the car commercials...and you can see why. It's also one hell of a climb on a bike. Part pleasure with the endless vistas of the Pacific on one side, and today you could see the snow capped Sierras on the other. And part pain, with the "7 Bitches". Seven nasty pitches along the ridge as you climb up the Northern shoulder of Mt. Tam.
And finally, my favorite roadside creek on Bolinas-Fairfax Rd. Everytime I ride by, I want to stop and take a picture...so today I did.

I'm doing everything I can to make it happen, including enjoying the journey.

Enjoy your ride...

Why?

2006-02-20T00:17:00.000-08:00

Someone dear to me recently asked me ...Why? Why didn't you give up?

I often ask myself that same question and many more...Why hang onto a dream for so long? Why become a professional bike racer so "late" in life? Why give up so much to do all of this? There is no simple answer.
I did not live a "Normal" teenage life. No, I lived an extraordinary life as a teen and a young adult. Growing up in Santa Cruz, the norm for a kid was soccer, baseball, football, volleyball and surfing. All of which I did, and well. The extraordinary part was I was fortunate enough to also be a ski racer. (Thanks mom and dad!) Instead of sitting at home on weekends and getting into trouble, I was on the first lift ride Saturday morning for training. I was most likely to be the last one off the mountain on Sunday afternoon, getting in one last run, before the four hour car ride to my normal life in Santa Cruz. It was a privilege to do what I was doing, and I did everything I could to maintain that privilege. It took discipline to get to the levels I did. Upon graduating from high school, I deferred college to move to Lake Tahoe full time to chase my dreams. I was fortunate. I raced on some of the greatest mountains in the world. Unfortunately, my dreams were cut short by compression fracture in my back. It was pure perseverance that took me to such heights in the ski racing world, especially coming from a surf town. It was that perseverance and focus that were to propel me through my next challenge.
Quickly, I shifted my laser focus on school and the ensuing career. I powered through college at US Santa Barbara "with great vengeance and furious anger." In typical fashion, I took as many units and as many pre-reqs as I could. Just like skiing, I focused on the goal with blinders on. I struggled hard, persevered, soldiered on and made it. I did manage to enjoy a cold beverage or two, and make some life long friends, but my drive to settle in on a career outweighed everything. I never really enjoyed those beers...I just gunned them maybe cause I was in such a rush . Months before I graduated I was recruited by Salomon Ski Company. I managed to take my finals early so I could attend a sales meeting and get to work. No summer in Europe like a lot of friends did. I couldn't wait to get to work.
I was on a roll. Green lights and open road. I lived in Tahoe, I was a ski rep for arguably the greatest winter sports company on earth, and I was moving at the speed of light. I was going places. What I didn't realize at the time was it was going to take me places, places I never intended on going. It also took me away from places and people I never intended on leaving. One January morning in 1999 I woke up, staring at the ceiling and wondering what happened. Where was I? Who was I? Where did "I" go? That day, I got a life altering call unbeknownst to me at the time.
Ring-Ring...Hello?
Seth- "Dude, a couple of guys from my office and I are doing the 24 hours of Moab in October and we need one more, are you in?"
Me- "Dude, of COURSE I'm in."
Seth- "Great, I'll call you later, I gotta go."
I sat there for a minute or two, wondering what the HELL is 24 hours of Moab, then I called him back to ask.
Me- Ah, it's a relay mountain bike race...okay...I guess...yeah, hell yeah, I'm totally in. I will put together a training plan and e-mail it to you."

And with that I was on a new focal plane. The bike was my vehicle back...

My bike became my therapist. It allowed me to slow down and think about things like where I was and what was I doing there. Where did "I" go? How do I get back??? Eventually I started to realize that my perseverance and determination are what got me lost. The sad lesson from my quest for Olympic glory as a ski racer was not: 60 MPH body vs. Tree; tree wins every time. Nope. The lesson was; I was so focused on the outcome, that I lost sight of the true value, the journey. I don't remember a thing besides the race courses and the finish lines of the greatest downhills on earth. Same goes for School. I never slowed down enough to soak in the education in and out of the lecture hall. When it came to work, I was even worse. I ruined friendships and ditched love because career took precedent. I found myself a long way from "Home" with nothing to show for all of the effort because I failed to open my eyes, and my heart to the experience of my journey.

Now the first thing you are probably doing is looking at my schedule on the right side there and saying, "Well, he has not changed. Look at all of those races. He'll never slow down." Well, I gave up a lot things that I worked hard for, yet had no meaning to me. I created a second chance for myself. A second chance at a meaningful journey, a second chance to do it right. They are not races to me, they are part my journey back to "Me".

This time, when the journey as a Pro Mountain Biker comes to a close, and it will, soon, I will not be left with empty memories and disappointment. This time I will ride away from the venue once and for all having enjoyed every second of every kilometer on and off the bike and everybody I have ever come across along the way. I will take with me life altering experiences and a sense of fulfillment. I will never stop riding, but there is more to life now.

So when you ask "Why didn't you give up"? Well, it is because it is more important than everything I gave up to get back.

Enjoy the ride.

Wake up and pay attention...

2006-02-13T09:18:00.000-08:00

So, as most of you know by now, Ty lost his Appeal to CAS to overturn his two year ban. CAS informed him that the decision would be rendered this past friday the 10th, and would go public at 3:00pm Swiss time on the 11th. So, I jumped on a plane after work on Thursday night to be there (in Boulder) for him on Friday, good or bad. No panel of arbitrators could ever influence my loyalty to friendship or my wholehearted belief in Tyler's innocence.
I have read the entire 34 page decision a few times now. I have also read a document that capitulates the facts of the case that are MAJOR points of contention. I realize that I am by all means not a medical expert nor an attorney, but I am an educated person, and after fumbling through the two documents, I have come to my own conclusion. Tyler Hamilton is innocent. Read for yourself and come to your own conclusions. But I warn you to not just read the decision without reading the facts sheet as well. Each of those points of contention were raised in the proceedings, yet most were completely ignored in the decision. Almost like the CAS board had selective hearing and random reasoning.
Ty and Haven were saying that in the proceedings, the CAS board had asked USADA a lot of tough questions of which they had no concrete answers for like why were they using a test in August of 04 with admittedly accuracy and validity problems of many sorts, while the lab did not receive certification for the test till 5 October 0f 2005. Hmmmm....That's a tough one...what say you USADA? (enter silence.......a cricket chirps...darkness falls....still no answer) and it was like that for an entire day of cross examination. In the decision, the CAS board was willing to overlook this fact stating that eventually, the lab did receive accreditation and that was satisfactory. So, in this logic...say you get pulled over for drunk driving, it's okay, because later, in the drunk tank you will eventually sober up and no longer be a drunk driver. At least that what the CAS is saying.
Or how about this one...How is it you (USADA) can explain that your accuracy is even remotely reliable when originally the lab technician MIS-TYPED the blood? Okay...STOP...this is killing me...Come on...that's a rookie mistake. (after reading all of this stuff, I even know how to type blood...) Yet, in the decision...there is no mention of this...hmmmmm. Is somebody asleep at the steno machine??? Instead, the board claims that there is no reason to believe that human error is any explanation for the mixed population of blood. Yeah right.
Ty felt like during the proceedings the board was fair and the onus was on USADA to prove their Swiss cheese case and they were failing miserably on multiple accounts. Yet when the decision was written, it was like someone else wrote the opinion, someone with an interest in building a greater precedence for future cases despite all of the obvious reasons to clear Tyler Hamilton of any wrongdoing. Again, I urge you to read the opinion and the case facts sheet and decide for yourself. Pay close attention to the facts and how the decision either skirts them or dismisses them altogether with some whacked crack pipe logic.
One final note, I find it interesting that USADA receives it's funding from WADA. Additionally, WADA funds the labs that conduct the tests. WADA is headed by Dick Pound who is very vocal about his contempt for cyclists, especially American Cyclists. Maidie Oliveau, one of the three CAS board members in Ty's case, was Associate Vice President with the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee. She managed the Corporate Relations Department which handled all of the 1984 Olympics' sponsors, suppliers and licensees. In 1984, Dick Pound was responsible for delivering NBC as the major TV sponsor for the Olympics, key marketing engine for Maidie Oliveau's Corporate Relations Department. It just makes me wonder who is doing what for whom?
The foundation for the anti-doping movement hangs in the balance on this case. If Ty won, then clearly, the system is flawed and Boss Man Dick Pound loses his funding and his integrity. So Ty loses, WADA catches the big one (and some more hefty funding), and a little American cyclist with a big heart is left with a tarnished medal, and without a race to ride in. All because someone made a little mistake in some lab in Switzerland. Dick Pound better man up and admit that there were mistakes, because you don't want to be caught in a Hamilton Hurricane, just ask some of Ty's fiercest opponents on the road.

From Sun to Snow......

2006-02-11T01:19:00.000-08:00

Boulder, CO- I'll explain why I'm here later. Nick and I went for "A little training ride" up Sunshine Canyon to Ty's place to get some fresh air and to shake the legs out. I have a new found respect for those of you FOOLS that train in Boulder. You can have that. It was so cold! And the icy roads and lack of pavement...forget it. I'll take the warm rains, mudslides and floods of Northern California any day. 18 degrees...forget it man. Silly rabbit. Snow is for skiing.

It just made me wish I was here

Going Home

2006-02-07T21:16:00.000-08:00

Something has happened!!!

First thing in the morning I usually check the weather forecast to see how much rain is going to fall and if I need to even consider bringing water bottles or not. To my astonishment this morning, the weather was supposed to be nice. REAL nice. We're talking 70 degrees nice. I immediately am thinking, somebody is pulling a prank on me and set a dummy weblink on my browser. So I checked a second website out at one of my favorite riding areas, Point Reyes National Seashore. When it is clear and not windy, this is the ultimate place to ride. It is so beautiful with nary a car. Well, the webcam picture that came up was this:

So now I am pumped. I start fixing food, bottles, and getting dressed. I'm thinking, "Hey, maybe I can start tanning my poor legs that have not seen the light of day since the THF ride in Arizona, WAY back in mid December." I throw on a pair of knee warmers instead of the compulsory winter leg warmers. I'm for sure going to get a head start on the leg tanning today...

Then again...Maybe not.

So I head off into the still dark morning with newly exposed skin. At first it's COLD...but as the sun starts rising, sure enough, the air gets remarkably warmer. My plan is to follow the route of Stage 1 of the Tour of California which commences next weekend. Of course I have to get to work so the entire route will not be possible, but the most beautiful part will be, Highway 1.

Once I get up and over the hill from Mill Valley (and away from the constant attraction to stop at Peet's Coffee for a quick top off), the temperature soared. I was out of the shadows of Mount Tam and into the great wide open. For me there is nothing more therapeutic than a large body of water tempered by a dramatic mountain backdrop. Maybe that's why I love living in California so much. You can't go wrong with the California coast and the gem of the Sierras, Lake Tahoe.

I was recently reminded by TW of a rather embarrassingly pretentious statement I made ten years ago. "There is no reason to leave California. It has everything anyone could possibly want." Back then, I was trying to talk TW out of moving back to the East coast, back home.

So the whole morning, I am trying to tame my enthusiasm for the awesome day I am fortunate to have on the bike. The weather and the surroundings has me amped. I am riding harder than my training plan calls for today. I need to settle down, but it is hard...because it feels so effortless and easy. My eyes (and camera) are taking in the sights all the while, TW's recollection of my statement ("There is no reason to leave California. It has everything anyone could possibly want") keeps resounding in my mind. I thought about it most of the day.

A day like today makes it hard to believe that anyone would ever want to leave such a beautiful place...but I can think of many reasons...about 35,893,799 reasons to name a few. Well...minus one or two... but I know now that just because I love this place and it represents home to me, does not necessarily mean that it was or is the same for TW. I came to the conclusion that I was being an immature, ethnocentric idiot with selfish intent. And with that, TW, I am sorry. I just wanted you to stay around. I don't blame you for wanting to get back to where you felt at home, because there is nothing like that feeling. I too moved away (just to Southern California, not across the country), only to find myself wanting to do everything I could to get back home, despite leaving a life behind. I made it back, but I know there are other places I could go and feel AT home while not being HOME...I just have to be better at selecting those places.

But Damn...I love this place!

(addendum: I was reminded that TW returned to Tahoe two additional winters and is currently planning on returning to Tahoe permanently.)

Believe!

2006-02-02T22:48:00.000-08:00

Believe... ...That you can make a difference every day...

"From: Deirdre Moynihan [Tyler Hamilton Foundation]
Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2006 9:59 AM
To: 'Nick Damner'; 'Patrick Bush'; Patrick Kelly; 'Andrea
Collette'; 'Sarah Holmes'; Terry Fina
Subject: FW: good morning!
Hey All,
I thought you would enjoy this – James... was a great local racer and strong rider –
successful real estate – but MS has taken it’s toll – he is still spirited and still rides but no racing...
Deirdre Moynihan
Executive Director Tyler Hamilton Foundation
PO 20727
Boulder, CO
80308
303-443-8THF (8843)
www.tylerhamiltonfoundation.org

From: James ...
Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2006 6:33 AM
To: deirdremoynihan
Subject: good morning!

Hi D!

...The[MS Global] route? Well it's the dream of my lifetime come true. I have always said that this is exactly what I wanted to do, tour route, with a tour rider like Tyler, but never really thought I would for some reason or another. Just between you and me, it made me cry a little bit this morning.
Thank You for bringing this amazing opportunity into my life.

Love James

Hello My Friend...We meet again

2006-02-01T21:05:00.000-08:00

TW, It was great catching up with you last night.

To all of you waiting to hear some news on Tyler...hang just a little longer. I think we should know something next week. As soon as I can, I will let you know EVERYTHING. I promise.

Since I am sure you all are getting pretty tired of pictures of rain...(I know I am) I figured I would take us on a little journey South of the border to Puerto Vallarta. It's all I could think of the last hour of my soggy ride this morning. Not just PVR, but Cabo San Lucas too. I wish I could click my heels three times and be there. Especially when about the third hour in the rain, your shoes are about as full as they are going to get and the water comes gushing out of the tops with every pedal stroke for the next hour or so. Sorry...we were talking about Mexico...The fish tacos at this little stand in San Jose del Cabo called Rossy's Taqueria...oh those would have been good when it started to really rain out in West Marin when I was doing my third interval through Samuel P. Taylor Park. It's crazy what rambles through your head out there. Wait, STOP! Mexico...remember? There was this one time in CSL when all we did was wake-up...jump in the pool...on the way to the beach. Swim in the waves. Jump back in the pool on the way back from the beach. Grab some pesos. Get some Chips and Salsa and beers at the bar...IN THE POOL. Return to the condo, take a nap, grab a book, and sit by the pool. Swim. Nap, Repeat. I have worn out another drivetrain on my bike. My chain nearly exploded within 10K of my house. I think all of the rain and the mud and sand on the roads are really wreaking havoc on the bike, not to mention the body....One night in CSL we awoke to the sound of a Mariachi band seranading a couple outside the balcony of their condo. They played my favorite mariachi song, Guadalajara. I will never forget that night. It was a warm night, with a full moon shimmering off the water...Typical for Mexico. I should have eaten better for my ride. I brought plenty of the new Clif Shot Bloks but because of the inevitable hypothermia setting in, I could have brought the whole box and still not had enough. Trying to eat late in the ride while weaving in and out of traffic and trying to preserve the final bit of my chain that was about to break made for a grand finale...Snorkeling at Santa Maria Cove in CSL and Los Arcos in PVR was pleasant. The water was relatively warm and the views were spectacular. On the contrary, the times I have been out to Lands End, I could sense the Pacific's cold waters intruding. Not to mention the crowds of people and all of the water Taxis. CSL and all of the tourists just does not appeal to me nearly as much as San Jose del Cabos and PVR. So, the workout wasn't pretty, but I got'r done. I can rest up for my next adventure tomorrow morning. Till then, have an ice cold one waiting for me in PVR Aunt Kathy and Uncle Joe. I'm already there in spirit.

Update: Good News/Bad News

2006-01-28T10:26:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I have been out on the bike a few times since my rib crackin' good time on Monday. Thanks to everyone that has called and written their well wishes. Being the eternal optimist, I am convinced that there is always something good that can come from anything bad that happens. So the bad news first:

Because of my recent rib injury, I have suspended my training...to be a Cage Fighter. Yes, it's true. I have been in a double top secret program to be a cage fighter. I figured with the right training I had a chance at the World Title. I have decided that that goal is no longer possible. So don't go running out to REX-KWON-DO DoJo to catch a glimpse of my secret training regime, because I have scrapped that plan. I would like to thank my coach Rex and my sparring partner, Kip. You guys are the best. Yup, I've hung up the gloves. (well not actually, cause in cage fighting, there are no gloves. At least I think. Truth be told, I never really set foot in a ring.) So now the good news:
Training on the bike has resumed after only missing two days. Incredibly, my ribs feel the best when I'm on the bike. Maybe it's the endorphines, I don't know, but all is well. Sleeping is still a struggle, but hey...you can sleep when you're dead, right? I think the Mountain Bike will have to wait a week or two for now, but I am just itching to get back out there and ride the trails again.

So now that I am freeing up some of my time by suspending my Cage Fighting career, I have some free time.....hmmmmm....I wonder what other possibilities are out there to experience...
Stay Tuned....I have some ideas...
Speaking of free time, I just posted my race schedule for the season (See right sidebar). If you have some free time, come on out and hand me a waterbottle. (It's a lot like watching the grass grow, or paint dry, but hey, it's better than doing the dishes.)

Muddy Buddy

2006-01-25T09:26:00.000-08:00

When I worked at Salomon, we went through this major shift from marketing products to marketing the brand. We noticed that our customers identified with our products primarily through emotion and sensation. Afterall, raging down a hill at 65MPH on a pair of skis balanced precipitously on the razors edge of control is a bit more emotional and sensational than say...I don't know....doing the dishes. Now, doing the dishes, while emotionally scarring, and scalding your hands can be sensational, the act of washing dished does not illicit the same response as skiing, snowboarding, adventure racing, fruit booting, and all the other sports Salomon designs products for. So we labeled this emotion and marketed it as an "Epic Moment". That is when the body, the mind, and most importantly, the equipment became synergistic. Where you almost become a third person observer, or and out of body experience of sorts. I know, it is a little far fetched, but if you have ever experienced an "Epic Moment" you know what I am talking about. So the point of this little diatribe is this...Yesterday I had an "Epic Moment". I got to finally ride my new Mountain Bike on my favorite trail , Tamarancho, here in Marin. (By the way, there is very little "Legal" singletrack here in Marin, and as a professional, I do not condone riding closed or illegal trails)

It's Good to be back on the Mountain Bike. I have not clipped into a mountain bike since November 1, 2005. Not that I didn't feel like it or that training has prevented me from doing so. Nope, it's because I didn't have one. Can you believe that? A pro mountain biker without a mountain bike???? Well my story goes like this. Originally my new frame was to arrive in mid-November, so I sold my old bike to a local racer. I was sad to see the bike go. I had many fond memories and successes on the bike. Most notably my fifth at Masters Worlds. But it was staying local and in good hands. (Besides, I had lots of year end racing and medical bills to pay). So mid-November, no frame... Finally, in the midst of rebuilding the shop, my frame arrived. I had the time this past weekend to build it up.

Monday I went out for a workout on my new bike. The sun was just coming up. There was a bite in the air from the cold temps. Not a cloud in the sky and you could see forever. It was like a dream. Everything was working perfectly, including the body. With some great tunes on the I-Pod, I was in heaven. Pure mental bliss. I was just floating on the imaginary tightrope through the trees. Two laps with nearly perfect conditions for this time of year. A few patches of mud here and there and some slick sections, but nothing like I have raced in or ridden in a thousand times before. I was whole again.

On my last interval, my front wheel washed out on a wooden bridge. I flew off the bike into a ravine. I landed seven feet down on a log, on my ribcage. I got the wind knocked out of me and I either bruised or cracked some ribs. Having broken many ribs before in my past life as a ski racer, I know the drill. It's like a broken toe...there's not much you can do...just grin and bear it.

The GOOD news is, The bike is fine, and the rider will live to fight another day...just not today. I resume my training tomorrow...it is just going to hurt a bit more than usual.

Having the past two days off the bike has given me some time to work on the route details for MS Global. I have been working on Google Earth which is amazing. You can cruise around anywhere in the world, zoom in, zoom out, pan the view down to ground level, spin, dip and dosie-doe. It is a serious TIME SUCK. I have managed to mark all of the major towns and major climbs of our route this year.

Classic Victory! Bravo D (Again)

2006-01-14T10:40:00.000-08:00

I will never get tired of congratulating you Daron! It is great to see your years of hard work culminating in DOMINATING the world of Ski Racing!

WENGEN, SUI: MORE CLASSIC RAHLVES: AMERICAN WINS LAUBERHORN DH

Are you ridin'? Or are you hidin'?

2006-01-09T21:57:00.000-08:00

For the better part of five years now, I have had the privilege of riding with some of my best friends. Every morning, rain or shine, before the sun rises often times, at least one of these guys has accompanied me on training rides. I ride because of them. Without them, I would have flaked on myself a lot of those cold, rainy, windy mornings. I went because they were going. We rode regardless and they were some of the greatest moments in my life.
Each one of their strengths challenged me in different ways. They were my self proclaimed punching bags. Every morning I would tell them my workout, and for the next 30 minutes or so it would take to warm up, they would always lag behind me, conspiring on who was going to do what to me and when. In fact, one day I showed up for a climbing workout and Seth arrived with two 20 pound bags of kitty litter and some backpacks. He wanted Josh and I to know what it was like for a larger, Sprinter like rider like himself to ride in the hills with two spindly little climbers like us. So we gladly wore the backpacks while he attacked us on every steep climb. My legs still hurt...three years later. But I would not have missed it for the world.
The pinnacle of our training season each year was a retreat to my family cabin nestled in the Central Sierras on the West side of Sonora Pass. We would ride the 88 mile round trip to the top of Sonora Pass climbing arguably one of the hardest, steepest roads in the country with sustained one mile stretches of 26% grade in two places on the last nine miles to the top.
All the while we knew that these great times on the bike together would not last, which made the times that much sweeter. And so it is that those times have passed, happily.
Seth and his wife, Heather brought a beautiful girl, Eleanor into this world a couple of months ago. Just mere moments ago, I got word that Josh and Nicole gave birth to healthy twin boys, Baby "A" and Baby "1". As they have yet to choose names, Seth and I are lobbying to have them named after us.
Seth and Josh, you guys mean the world to me. I am riding because of you. I would not have accomplished the things I have on the bike if it were not for your support. There is not a kilometer that passes that I don't miss you. I miss the morning coffee sessions, and the city limit sprints. I will miss looking over my shoulder on Sonora Pass just to make sure that you are hurting as much as I am. If I find myself standing on the box one more time this season, just know, that it would not be...without you. That being said, I could not be happier for you guys. Thank you for the gift you have given me, and congratulations on your new families. I can't wait to watch them grow up. I dedicate my season to your lovely children.
Enjoy the ride!

One Final Look

2006-01-06T19:32:00.000-08:00

Downtown San Anselmo 12.31.05 7:15am

1 block "Downstream" from my Bike Shop

Shop Update: We're OPEN (Sort of)

2006-01-06T06:35:00.000-08:00

After 6 days of non-stop cleaning with endless help from everyone (Thank you again), the shop opened for business yesterday. It is a bit rough without our point of sale system and credit card machine, but we managed to sell a mountain bike yesterday. The shop is getting a new set of walls today as the water is all dried up and we have been treating the wood with bleach to kill bacteria. The big blue thing in the middle of the picture is an industrial grade room dehumidifier. In two days, the thing has drawn almost a full size trash can of water out of the air. Working in the shop is like stepping into a wind tunnel. Between the three dehumidifiers and the six high output blowers, it is loud, windy and DRY. We have a long way to go till things are normal...

Speaking of "Normal"...

I am considering bleaching my hair as the rest of me and my clothes are covered in bleach. When I left last night, I looked at my Levi's and realized that I looked like something out of a bad Glam Rock Video. The jeans were nearly white in front from the bleach with holes starting to develop, I had a wicked cool black Def Leppard tee shirt on and long, flowing, spiked blond hair and a headband on. Eighty-two was a good year. As a group, if we all start pulling out our coveted 80's outfits and started rockin' them on a regular basis, we could re-ignite a trend that died WAY too early. What do you say???? We can do it...

I think I inhaled too much bleach last night...never mind. Besides, the leopard print just doesn't look good on a bike.

Enjoy the ride.

Enough already!!!!

2006-01-02T22:06:00.000-08:00

The Storm's Most Powerful Images

So...I have spent the better part of three days now shoveling mud, washing bike parts and ripping out water soaked walls. The shop is a small disaster, but in a surreal way, it is starting to look good...maybe even better than before. I figured, hey, may as well make changes now while we have the place all ripped apart, so we are. And, I have always wanted to reorganize the way we store parts and such. So there is a silver lining to this whole muddy mess....I just wish it was not so ...muddy. Mud is EVERYWHERE! You would not believe how turbulent the waters were. It must have been to do this kind of damage. It is in everything we had below four feet. Every nook and cranny of every part. Argh...I close my eyes and all I see right now is mud.

So, I missed two days of training because of this fiasco. (No big deal...life is more important than riding ANY day.) It is important though that I stay on track, afterall, I have come so far already. I took the early morning off and rode in the hills for four hours. As luck would have it, it POURED on me the ENTIRE time.

Shhhhh....can you hear that? I swear I have frogs growing in my shoes. I think I saw an alligator today sitting on the side of the road laughing at what a fool would ride his bike on such a day. I may have been delirious, but it was such a privilege to be out on my bike on a day all to myself. The road was closed due to numerous mudslides, and the rain turned everyone away. So I had the entire Alpine Dam road to myself. I felt kind of lawless in a way. I could ride on either side of the road with no consequence (I did find myself habitually riding on the right shoulder though). I just need it to stop raining and all would be great. It has rained every day since December 17th at 9:00 am. I remember because I forgot my rainjacket as I was rushing to meet somebody for a ride (JP).

I am so thankful and grateful to everyone that has rallied to help whether it was coming down to the shop, rolling up their sleeves and getting really dirty, or those that brought by delicious snacks and tasty beverages, and all of the overwhelming support from friends and family all over the place just checking in and talking me down out of my tree. It gives me great hope to see so many people friends and strangers alike come together in a time of need. The world is not as evil as some make it out to be. Thank you all.

One final thought, I cannot begin to describe how heart wrenching it is to see business owners all around us, losing everything they have. It puts a great big reality check on the new year for me. Be thankful for today and live it like it is your last, for tomorrow it may all change.

more pictures here. (Thanks Deirdre @ THF) and here

Shop Flooded...Happy New Year!

2005-12-31T19:32:00.000-08:00

"But my lips hurt REAL BAD"

2005-12-30T23:13:00.000-08:00

So I was J.R.A. (Just Riding Along) when this 18 Wheeler (Big Truck) was passing me in a rain storm (yeah, the one that started December 17th, 10 inches and 13 days ago...but I'm not bitter about it...things could be worse) when he hit a pothole RIGHT next to me. The tire of the truck kicked up this rather large piece of asphalt and hit me on the lip. I was so numb from the cold I did not really pay attention till I stopped at Peet's Coffee to get some food. (Yup, can you believe it, I was HUNGRY!) I had my favorite Blueberry/banana muffin. As I am mowing away at my new source of energy to get me home (all 2 miles), Meg (the Barista) is looking at me kinda funny. I am thinking what's wrong? Is it the fact that I am all dressed up in lycra from head to toe including the neoprene booties and the skull cap under my helmet? Nah, it couldn't be that. Is it the fact that I have been standing in the same place for...oh...two minutes...and there was a puddle around me ten feet in diameter. Nope, I know those looks (believe me, I KNOW those looks) this one was different...this was of genuine concern. Then it strikes me as she is motioning to her lips...she wants me to kiss her...no...not that...I put my neoprene gloved hand up to my mouth and there is blood. That truck drew first blood! I finished my muffin, waved goodbye to my new pseudo girlfriend/barista Meg. Who, by the way, REALLY wanted me to kiss her all dressed up like a Lycra Superhero with a bloody lip, dripping wet in front of everyone in there.

So now, I have a bloody lip and a bruised gum, a bruised ego, and it's raining...still...So I got that going for me. Otherwise, it was another great day on the bike. I just hope that it stops raining before ALL of the roads are flooded. I've got 6 hours to kill on the bike tomorrow so we'll see what did not flood tonight.

Enjoy the ride...

Bravo D!

2005-12-29T23:23:00.000-08:00

Bormio, ITA
Daron Rahlves celebrates his eighth World Cup downhill win and takes over the World Cup overall lead.

AFP - Paco Serenelli

"Pedro offers you his protection"

2005-12-27T20:19:00.000-08:00

Yo! T, You sent me a lovely card touting your "Pipes". You know the score. Did you get your tickets???? To the Gun Show???? How about a veterinarian? Do you know where one is? Cause these Pythons are sick! "Now bow to your Sensi. BOW TO YOUR SENSI!

You can't take me, but I know you own this guy.

Lucky!

2005-12-27T11:39:00.000-08:00

The National Weather Service report reads:
A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTH BAY COAST AND MOUNTAINS
BEGINNING AT 6 AM TODAY. SOUTHEAST WINDS TO 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS
TO 45 MPH ARE EXPECTED. THE ADVISORY CONTINUES TONIGHT.
A SERIES OF STORMS WILL BEING OCCASIONAL RAIN TO THE REGION DURING
THE COMING WEEK. PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN ARE LIKELY...ESPECIALLY FROM
TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY AND AGAIN FRIDAY INTO EARLY SATURDAY.
RECENT HEAVY RAINS HAVE SATURATED THE GROUND AND ANY ADDITIONAL HEAVY
RAINFALL WILL RESULT IN RAPID RUNOFF AND THE POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING
IN LOW LYING AREAS OR FLOOD PRONE AREAS. GIVEN CURRENT RAINFALL
PROJECTIONS...MINOR FLOODING IS POSSIBLE ON THE RUSSIAN RIVER IN
SONOMA COUNTY ON WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. A FLOOD WATCH HAS
BEEN ISSUED FOR THE RUSSIAN RIVER AT HEALDSBURG AND THE RUSSIAN RIVER
AT GUERNEVILLE FROM 6 AM WEDNESDAY THROUGH 6 AM THURSDAY.
HIGH SURF CONDITIONS WILL EXIST ALONG THE COAST WEDNESDAY INTO
THURSDAY.
At least it's not snowing or scortching...just a little wet and windy.

Dinner Rolls!

2005-12-25T14:38:00.000-08:00

Check the rolls on the bike...

I can only say that you had to be there....