One big A-hole

Stick a fork in him, he's done. This dude just won't go away. You got popped, go home. Facts are facts and you thought you couldn't get caught for taking an illegal substance, but ya did. Why does this guy keep going with this crap of "I didn't do anything wrong, I'm going to race next year and why would Quick Step ever want to cancel my contract." You got caught not once but twice during a race where you dominted Fabian Cancellara in the TT and climbed the biggest mountains with the best when the only thing you've ever done in the past was be a pretty good classics guy. Everyone who watched the tour this year knew you were doping the second we saw you race. Give us all a break from the doping courts cases that are strung out over many years, go back to beer fest for two years and then maybe you might be good to race again. Everyone on your team says you were taking these drugs, your own teamates are ratting you out. The UCI and ASO should sue you for defamation of their name.

Flanders - Koppenberg?

Intense. Looks like a good place for a cat. 4 race. I'll look into it.

Ridiculous

I had always heard from people that the classics races were intense and the cobbles were ridiculous, but I never really knew how bad. I heard Randy Owens down in G-vegas, SC talk about his trip to Belgium and France. He was talking about these cobbles and how they were insane. I've watched the Paris-Roubaix on TV and watched all those crazy dudes crash like it was their jobs. However, I just thought these guys were just a bunch of pussies and complaining about a few bumps in the road. I mean, I've gone over the cobbles down on Freemason in downtown Norfolk and they weren't that bad. I was bored just a minute ago and found this picture, all I can say is damn. How can anyone possibly ride over these things at race pace and not eat it hard? This is the kind of thing that makes a man; if you can ride this and not crash you are one of the best bike handlers in the world slash a cyclocross racer, who are also some crazy dudes. That being said, best of luck to big George this year in Paris-Roubaix. He's had the worst luck in this race while probably being the strongest rider in it about 6 times.

warm weather please

Today was a break from the really cold stuff, I know Jim you're from Alaska and I don't know what cold really is but whatever. Its only gonna make me colder tomorrow when it goes back to 35 degrees. Pretty stoked on racing, looking at pics from the summer and can't wait to get there again.

Uno mas

one more exam and done.

I'm Fin tired of Marketing

I saw the revenge version on Tkarnes blog and I pretty sure I gotta have em. Probably won't get em soon since its not really the season for white, gotta wait to pull the white sidi's back out before I can be rocking white bibs.

The Trophy!!! Get Ready

Now I hope everyone can see my vision, the only cost necessary is to purchase a really really big trophy like this one that apparently went to the creepiest marching band tuba player ever. Guys and Gals if you intend on winning this race leave some room on the roofrack for the trophy. This thing just screams F you! just try and fit me in your undersized SUV.

Truly up all night

Yeah, I didn't studder, I'm pulling the all-nighter for exams. Jim it must suck to do this every night in smart people school. I miss racing right now, winter base miles by yourself suck. Getting out to ride with Tkarnes in C'peake is a mild consolation due to its high entertainment factor and doing his workouts makes me feel like I've got some sort of training plan. Considering dropping off drinking next semester for the purpose of grades, riding, and money. I can't see that being a bad move, maybe I'll make it a new year's half year resolution, perhaps. I saw on Tkarnes facebook he's ready to race, I don't know who isn't ready to go racing again and forget about winter. I'm thinking some sort of 757 midwinter's crit might be in order to break the monotony of long slow distance. Perhaps a middle of nowhere location with no entry, no payout style. Maybe a contribution from Mike at East Coast in order to purchase an entirely too big, hanously oversized trophy for the winner. A perpetual trophy would be legit, anyone interested in this shenanigan? Speaking of Mike he just got in four new 09 Madone's in the shop, those rides are hot, got one rigged up with Sram Red and carbon clinchers at 14.1 Lbs. Not as light as my bike fo sho, but still a light bitch. Hot US of A styling, gotta respect the waterloo peepz. Jim I'm thinking operation buy R&R white bibs is a go, can't decide which one though, maybe I'll just get all of em and go broke. I just realized that this post has absolutely no plot, direction, or structure. Perhaps this is a reason that I suck at school, F it two semesters to go! Anyone want to hire an overconfident, college graduate who rambles in blog posts at 5 in the morning while stalling on getting work done? I can work on bikes, kind of.

Mountains

Hit up the mountains of NC this weekend holiday for some skiing with the pops. Not to toot my own horn but toot toot I'm pretty damn good. Spent two days up there hauling down some hills, I've gotten pretty good at going fast straight down the hill; this is mostly due to a lack of ability to turn. This has inspired me to be the next Bode Miller. Since I suck at racing bikes I might as well pick up something new. All in all, good weekend with the parents, don't get to hangout with them very much anymore due to school and other bullshit like racing that arises so any time I get to spend with the fam is treasured.

Bike FS

2005 - Trek 2100

Last of the aluminum/carbon frames made in America. OCLV chainstays dampen the ride while the aluminum portion is stiff as shit for the crits. Size 60, which runs relatively small due to Trek's sizing. Comes with Sram Force shifters and derailluers with rival brakes. FSA SLK mega exo crank. Pictured are Mavic wheels but will sell with BRAND NEW Race X Lite wheels, zero miles. Vredstein Race tires and bottle cages are included, pedals are not. If your interested gimme a call (919)4234428.

vagitarians

New Presidential Bumper Sticker

Obamanation

It is with great restraint that I don't spend the next paragraph cursing over and over again at watching political commercials for the last 6 months. This sucks, we can't even watch monday night football without crap commercials. The polls open four hours from now, seriously if you have not made up your mind as to who is the right choice you should not have the right to vote. Its not as if these two candidates are similar in ANY way. They are polar opposites. You are either for or against the other, if you don't know now you never will. Please do the country a favor and stay at home tomorrow if you haven't made a decision yet, your vote is not needed.

Lance's debut TT

Lance is doing a TT this weekend at some local event in Texas. That's kinda cool in the fact that a smalltown race can get some big coverage, but nevertheless is it a great idea to beat up on some locals Lance? Its cool and all, we all need the confidence booster sometimes but your up against some random Cat 1's. Be careful though, if Jeff Brandon shows up Lance is going down, fo sho! That would be pretty weak if Lance lost to JB, or Jdub for that matter. Either one could take lance.

Yeah, I'm a storm trooper

So I'm pretty sure michael ball would approve of this rock out symbol I'm throwing up here. Either way I got kinda bored for a bit today at the shop so I borrowed Mike's storm trooper helmet and rocked out on a trek trikester.

Mid semester freak out

So its pretty much the middle of the semester here where I start to realize that I gotta get my stuff together in classes so I can pass and/or make the grade that is necessary to avoid problems. On top of that I just bought new crap for my bike, meaning that I have to spend more time working at the shop so I can pay for said purchase, and in turn limiting the amount of time I can enjoy new buys.
That being said SRAM red is some BA stuff, light as hell, crisp shifting, and an unrivaled chi (say chee) factor. I built it up yesterday afternoon before putting on Tkarnes SRM and was pleased to see 13.5lbs with pedals, bottle cages and computer. Pretty light for a 61cm frame, hopefully I'll get to ride it, J-dub I'll get a pic eventually.
On to other things, I rented the new hulk movie tonight and was more than disappointed. I assumed since I had heard good things and Ed Norton was in it, it had to be good. Personal opinion, grade F, hopefully my finance class will go better than this movie did.

Cleaning up for the season

With greenville over, it is officially the off-season. This is somewhat depressing for me in that I don't really want to stop. I would race all the way through the winter if there were races, and no I'm not gonna do the cyclocross shenanigan, I want to ride my bike not carry it around over a ridiculous set of barriers and sandpits.
So I've spent a little time getting all my race gear cleaned up and ready for next year. Stripped down the carbon wheels reglued em and ohauled the hubs then cleaned the nasty cassette.
However, what I'm most excited about is selling my Dura ace group to a guy and throwing some red on that bitch. I didn't have time at the shop last night to throw it on so I completely put the time in on makin sure the frame is ready. I put a little love in and got all the marks from the white shoes off the frame. Yes elliot my frame does have some dirt and marks on it, hard to believe but I miss some things slash I can't get to em when the frame is built up. Monday it'll all get put together and weighed up to see what its at.
As well The guy who bought my group is selling his Ultegra SL group that was stripped off a brand new bike, anyone interested let me know, you get special price through wicknasty.
Kblogg, you got the kids looking pro up there on the cross rigs!

and oh yeah

he's not wearing a helmet, looks like a pretty smart guy to me. He could prob get into berkeley MBA fo sho.

luckily greenville ended up better than this

What I like about this is not that this BMX rider (probably gay) is about to eat all kinds of shit but rather the expression of everyone watching. It just says,"hey guy, not only are you eating it hard here, but there are 30 dudes here who recognize just how F'ed you are."

Greenville downtown crit

This weekend was pretty awesome, long but awesome. I got to chill with some pretty cool dudes, from smelliot and tkarnes to big george hincapie. All around an experience that I wouldn't trade for the world, good way to end a long season. That being said I can't wait for next season of racing, more to come on the weekend and how excited I am about next year.

comeback annoucement

In the spirit of lance and others coming out of retirement, I have created an exploratory committee on the ramifications of a comeback. After the end of summer crit I retired for an extended period of time. Now that I have spent much time away from the ranks of the pro peleton, I have decided to return to the bike and take advantage of the fitness that I may or may not have at this point in time. I would like to announce that I have set a tentative schedule where my first race should be greenville this weekend in the cat 4 race. I want to take my campaign on shitty educations nationwide and would like to take my campaign south of the border to SC. My only setback is that I have to enroll in the UCI's passport program for 6 months before my re-entry into the peloton. I'll have to pull a cipollini on that one. Here's the good news though, Trek has made me a special bike for when I'm in NYC, right hurr-
That being said, Tkarnes call me back, I need a ride to greeneville.

JW's mom

JW i'm a little concerned with the fact that I haven't seen your mother leave a comment recently on your blog. Just checkin, makin sure moms is still checkin the blog.

School is a waste

School should just be a series of internships, real world experiences set up through your "university." This would be a much better use of time rather than classes that are set up for the least common denominator of student. More and more classes seem to have less and less to do with actual business practices. I was under the impression that the education you would receive would be knowledge that would help you land a job. I don't know maybe a class or two about what you can do with your degree and what areas of work to enter after school.
I know that there are placement programs and other such offices at school but they just reccomend that you go to the insurance companies and sell insurance, F-that. Why should this be an extra-curricular activity on top of all the crap that must be done. I figured this would be a package deal with the ridiculous sums of money that are being forked over every semester.
Perhaps this little baby rant that I've just written will be enough bitching for the evening that I can go back to writing this paper and concentrate until its done.

Also likes seeing 77 finishers out of 205 starters in the world road race champs

Ballan WC

I don't really know much about Ballan other than he won Flanders a year ago, but I think its cool when the underdog wins. Being that he was on arguably the strongest team in the race, he was supposed to be a helper so Bettini could have another world title laid at his feet. Something about when the unexpected wins that makes things more interesting. I am a huge fan of Lance, but after the third or fourth win it was somewhat expected that he would win, yeah it was still cool when he won but nevertheless pretty boring. I expected to wake up this morning and see Bettini, Valverde, Friere, or maybe Boonen has won, Ballan winning meant the race report would actually be interesting. Not to mention, how bout Bruseghin pulling for 8 laps to single-handedly bring back the break from more than 17 min out. Thats a tough bitch. Almost as tough as Keith.

WTF

I found this on Dave Zabriskie's picture roll, he says its his favorite. Now I've been looking at this thing for a few minutes now and can't exactly figure out what it is, other than the most overthought bike I've ever seen - tight.

ODU football

The ODU football blue / white scrimmage is today at six. What's cool/not so cool about this is that it is four now and already filled up, way to go ODU on being ready. It woulda been cool to have that somewhere where all the people who want to watch can, instead of the gayass highschool stadium that'll fit 1/10th of the senior class. This has been hyped up for the last four years that ODU is gonna have a football team, anytime someone in the football program here farts its front page coverage on any media outlet in the area, ODU sailors place two in top three at nationals, back page four lines of coverage. Bobby wilder names his 777th recruit and its front page above the fold. So with all this coverage do you think that this would be a well attended event, abso-frickin-lutely. My take on the ODU football program so far, grade F.

Interbike, what I'm missing

I had plans to go out to interbike this year with J-dub and check out Vegas, but plans were derailed due to many factors. I now realize that I should have found a way to get out there even though I have six tests this week. This is because your friend and mine Smelliot sent me a pic of him and this 10 next to him.

Band-aids suck

So, let it be known that shaving your legs does in fact make a large difference in healing time when involve in road rash related incidents. It reduces the actual injury as well as healing since there is no hair to interfere with the process or get stuck in the scab, not to mention that bandaids stick to hairless legs a billion times better than legs like that of say, I dunno who fits here best, oh yeah that would be g-lover. HOWEVER, it still hurts like a bitch when you pull a band-aid off hair or not.

So, um crashing is not cool.

Just did the monday night ride out of east coast and found the pavement, that sucked. Everyone was nice enough to stop and check the kid out, ensuring that my face indeed (the moneymaker) was ok. Also thanks to mike the guy who was kind enough to ride back with me and make sure I made it. Future reference to those who may not know, when stopping you cannot be loud enough in stating that you are in fact stopping. Its a good peice of information to have when riding close to someones wheel.
JW I would post pics but once again I don't have a camera, as well now that I've washed myself the wounds don't look as hardcore.

End of Summer shenanigan

This was shortly before I blew up spectacularly, twice. End of summer crit was cool, kinda crap course but there are worse out there and I was stoked to race somewhere else other that the ring of hell at the sportsplex. I should probably quit working at the shop so I could actually ride my bike, then maybe I could do well in a race. If only our crits included an hors category climb I'd probably be more likely to get a W. Goal next year, don't be a bitch.

Word up to the Rat

all I can say is check out buckles blog milesofseparation.blogspot.com for details on the rat press conference, too funny.

Here, Pics, you happy!!

Due to me being a cheapass, i have not bought a camera and the one on my phone works about as well as bender with a hernia. Thats right guy, I went there but I bought heroes season 2 so its cool.

This pic is one my pops took down at crossroads; that was an awesome series, too bad I had class and couldn't stay the whole week. I raced three days and had two top fives so I was pretty pleased.

ineptitude testing my patience

It blows my mind how some people get into college and make it past first semester. Today in financial managment class was one of those times. Part of what frustrates me about college is that we are supposed to be more knowledgable on a subject than the average person such that the instructor can teach everyone revolutionary ideas that the understanding of will require critical thinking. Now it pains me to think that these classes are being paid for when some asshole is holding up the other 25 people in the class from being productive because they do not grasp the concepts developed in basic mathematics. Not algebra or trig (god forbid the calculus to come later in the class), but such topics as the identity property and simple multiplication. Now would that have been long division I would have been more tolerant since long division is some tough stuff. I hope this person either drops the class or figures some stuff out quickly because I don't know if I can sit through another one of those classes much longer.

Lesson Learned

Don't think drinking leads to great fitness, it doesn't. Explanation to come after I leave the pain cave, get my head out of my ass, and then go ride my bike.

End of an Era.

Some may know that sailing has been a part of my life since I was a little fat kid. I started sailing at age four with my dad. It was awesome, just kickin it with dad on the boat enjoying the day while probably winning due to what I know now to be no part of my own. Since then I have grown up and we have moved onto bigger and better boats, progressing nationally into a contender for the championships. While we never won a national championship, we came close finishing second many times and top five in too many to count.

I moved on from catamarans to dinghy boats when I came to college and developed into a pretty good sailor after a few years of getting my ass handed to me, but my college career ended last semester as riding got in the way and in general I lost interest in sailing at that level.

This weekend was the last time that I get to sail competitively, it was just that time that we decided to sell the boat as our oppurtunities to sail grew slimmer and slimmer, while also having to travel farther and farther away. The amount of fun that can be had on the boat we sail is tremendous, the potential for speed and the "on the edge" feeling provided by the boat is like no other. But having to travel long distances to sail against fewer and fewer people takes its toll. Dad and I came to the conclusion that it was time to hang up the spurs after 17 years of sailing together.

The weekend was great as we won four of five races to take the overall; but pretty sad at the same time since we had to say goodbye to many people that I have known since I was a kid and have been a large part of my life. I will miss them.

addendum

there will be no Trek madone in my stable, I was told to wait two months before it shipped and it would only ship if they had any left? This guy is not cool with that so I guess thats a few less g's im spendin this year

The kids back

I wouldn't really call sunday's ride a reentry to riding from my 3 week hiatus since it was 5 hours of ridiculousness with a few batshit crazy kids, so today's three hours will be ride one. Pretty happy about it, got to see some vanity liscence plates that made no sense and got yelled at by some pretty awesome dudes for being in their way...whatever, thats riding in hampton roads. I acted like a real joker as well by forgetting to bring any food or money so that after two hours when my stomach was about to turn inside out I had no ability to eat, sweet life. Anyways time to clean the ride, its lookin kinda rough right now and elliott knows this kid can't be having that.

Ships Sept 22

The new Madone is hot, bottom line. Mine will be here three days after Sept 22, I'm not good at math so you figure out when that is. This hot little thing is the 6.9 PRO, pick yours up at East Coast Bikes.

Superman dat ho!

So I get a call a couple days ago from Tkarnes saying get off your ass and come ride at the beach with the kids. After much complaining about having to ride at 8 AM in pungo I obliged and drove out there for 5 awesome hours of the slowest ride I have ever done. Which was fine by me, three weeks of beering and sitting on my ass have relegated me back to cat 5 status.

Long story short this was the well worth the drive as I got to kick it with the kids and their extraordinarily overexaggerated stories, this snapping turtle that was a tougher bitch than Jeff Brandon in the field sprint, and watch smelliot craddock pull off this legit superman move. enjoy

WHO DAT NINJA!!!!

bikes been in the same spot for ten days now, kinda likin it that way right about now. Maybe I'll hit it up in a couple weeks just to show it some love. Thought about gettin the new SRAM red group since big mike at East Coast was gonna hook a kid up but now I'm just thinkin to save the money so I can blow it in a couple weeks out at interbike. Saw some serious "who datt" walkin down colley ave today. JW, missin havin you out here guy. No one gets it when I bust out a "WHHHOOOOOO DISSSSSSSS" anymore.

Camera is coming

I have been instructed that pics are necessary so I guess I gotta go get one. Big ups to Tkarnes on killing it up in PA!

Fresh Stock

So school is getting back in session on monday, making this week and next are the best that life has ever seen. Be it a cliche or not, freshmen ladies are awesome. They have not yet been tainted by the freshmen 15 and are just coming into freedom from leaving the shroud of parental protection. Next week is the continuance of craziness since every click in the college arena attempts to throw the biggest parties to show how awesome they are. All of these will be attended due to the fact that the first week of school is a joke and there is no excuse for not going out.

This (insert some synonym for ludacris) combination leads to the best parties of the year.
As well their is a new group to chill with. It is kind of ridiculous how this school is made up of 15,000 students but by the end of the year I seem to be going out with the same people and no one is ever new.

Elliot "Flava Flav" Craddock, this week coming up is the reason you must go to college! You have two weeks of greatness with no rules and non-stop "WHO DISSSSSSSSS."

perspective

Its kinda funny how when your a kid and your parents tell you how much better it is to give then recieve and you call then jokers for being so wrong. But when you grow up (and by no means does this imply that I am growing up/maturing) you start to realize more joy in the giving because you know that you have done something for someone else.

I have been extraordinarily fortunate in everything from oppurtunities I've had to resources (money) that may or may not have been provided by my parents. So there isn't really much that could be given that would really make me happy. I mean should someone happen to turn over a 48" plasma, I'd shit my pants but nevertheless I find much more joy in the act of giving.

As well bikes are my escape from reality, I absolutely love riding and spending time talking about racing and all the cool crap I'm getting for my bike that will make it 6 pounds. So when I get the oppurtunity to mix the two by giving time or parts of bike stuff to friends, I relish the moment. A few years ago I was able to put together a project bike for a roomate that took a ridiculous amount of my time in researching cheap parts and great deals such that someone else might have the choice to participate in what I consider to be such an awesome sport.

Tonight was such an occasion, your friend and mine TKarnes has just gotten back from the west coast were he blew it up hincapie style at Nats. Being that he flew back and left his bikes with the team he would have been without a ride for the next three or so weeks. Being that I have two bikes that are indeed ridiculous to have for the purpose of training I knew that I could help him out and put him together a ride so he can go destroy the heat of the summer training crit tomorrow night.

The kid had a great time out in chesapeake throwing Tkarnes bike together while we got eaten alive by bugs in the garage and his mom made brownies and cookies for us, which were ballin. An hour and a half later he's back in business, can't wait to get out there tomorrow night and race . As well to watch Tkarnes and see if he figures out SRAM quick enough to sprint in a race. A word to the wise is not to be on his wheel since a likely ghost shift or two will not bode well for putting down power.

apologies to G-lover

I must apologize to glover, I don't in fact speak for him. My intention was to stick up for the carolina fan. I don't know who the hell jeff lebo is because he played before my time of existence. Jim spent time hating on Carolina fans so something had to be done. Either way UNC crushes Navy. Apparently, due to the comment, he has great hair so I must relegate him into the category of awesomeness and will spend mucho hours on researching the greatness that was Jeff Lebo.

I have ESP

So in my last real post (not counting history is for losers) I make some bold predictions as to how things go down for me in races. Well I must have ESP because that is exactly what happened. Down at the Chesapeake crit today I found myself in a great position on the starting line and got a great clip in which leads to being on the front. I didn't really gun it hard or anything but on the backstretch I look back only to see that I am by myself, alright time to go I guess. So two or three laps later I get brought back which is kinda a bummer since I felt pretty good up front and all doing a strong pace but no no, not to be had. The race itself was pretty boring, no real slowdowns or searing acceleration, just a steady 26.5-28 ish pace that allowed for four wide in tight turns and some jokers par-taking in said activities. Which leads me to wonder why "teams" of 10-15 riders in a race do not do more work to clean up races like this, I mean what's the point of wearing the same goofy ass jersey every race if there is no assemblance of team racing action. I digress, this race was asking for a crash being how turns were taken and the number of jokers that were red-lining the piss outta themselves while not riding wheels. This simple fact made it difficult to grow a pair of balls and move up. With one to go I was chillin about 20th ish goin into the second turn when a sweet move was pulled a couple wheels up, some baller status rider has learned to go through turns without looking while riding in the middle of the pack. Sweet move until he realized that it would be easier for him if he did look at the turn. This change of heart caused mayhem in the pack that resulted in the dude in front of me eating a curb. I got checked up and then sprinted back on to the group finished somewhere back of mid pack. Later on in the 1-2-3 race I got to watch Keith "BAMF" Johnson bridge up to one tough bitch who had been by himself for 10-15 laps. These two guys just rolled on through to the finish while the field kept attacking each other, pretty cool to watch, must suck to sit in on. Anyways, tomorrow is sleep day, prob sleep til like 3 pm then get up and pretend to study for the final on monday, sweet life

History is for losers Jim

So I did in fact google Jeff Lebo in order to indulge Jim and his anti-semitic comments towards g-lover geno and myself. And my response to this is who the hell cares who jeff lebo is, does this in fact determine ones allegiance to the university? I think a resounding NO is in order, in fact I would like to add in that a knowledge of the universities academic milestones are more appropriate for determining one's fanhood. That deing said Jim who was the first student to attend UNC, for which the oldest dorm on campus is named after? HA! and no google for you either!
By the way Jeff Lebo was a nobody in Carolina's history, he played from 86-89 so really that was like the dark ages for carolina where the team was stuck between the end of the Jordan era and before the ballin 1993 team that won THE championship. In Chapel Hill if you don't win it all you are a joker, besides wikipedia didn't even list him as a notable, so that solves it. DONE

Chesapeake Crit

CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH!!! after racing without my head on straight wednesday night I'm ready to get back on the bike and crush it. Then again being that it is my first race as a 4 I am trying to decide what approach to take. One part of me wants to play it conservative and sit in the whole race to watch things unfold, but that is a terribly small part of me. I am more inclined to go from the gun and blow up spectacularly. This thought process has been more akin to my season so far, I mean I would rather have five laps of glory off the front by myself (slash half a lap at 5 seconds up) than sit in, something about it just gets me everytime.

Oh yeah I realize that at this point J-dub is prob the only person reading but if anyone else is there I gotta SRAM group fo sale, hit me up.

Finals Exams? no way let's start a blog

So I'm blaming J-dub for this shenanigan. I should be studying for finals tomorrow, but F that I've always been one to delay this kinda crap as long as possible. Why study anyways, shouldn't exams be about what you know from the information that you retained from class discussion directly and not what you wrote down and crammed into your head only to be discarded at a later date? I've always been a big fan of the pop quiz on class discussion cuz I always nail that shit! Anyways, off to go not study