Happy Holidays

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

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

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

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...

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

“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

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

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

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"Flip Flops"

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

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...

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..."

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...

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

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...

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

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...

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

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

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...