Hey if you surfed by check out some music. I wrote, or co-wrote most of the songs. Please sign the guestbook.
I'm a pretty happy guy right now. I miss riding with the Hub guys, but I've been getting rides in with other people. I'm going to miss the Gateway Cup this year for the first time in a while. Have fun if you're there.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Next Year on the Bike
It all good. I'm lined up to do RAGBRAI. I'm out of shape right now, but as soon as the weather gets okay it'll be train, train, train. I've always peaked in August, this year I'll try for earlier. It's going to be humbling getting started. It is every year.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
The Road Less Travelled
After riding quite a bit over the weekend, I wasn't sure if I was going to do the St. Charles ride. Todd stopped by and said he was going to do it and the weather was perfect, so I decided to go.
I loaded up the ride and headed out. I got there a few minutes early. I saw guys that I rode with before but nobody seemed too chatty. At exactly 6:00 we rolled out. It was a pretty big group, maybe 50 or more. It was slow at first, as usual. After a mile or two it bumped up to 18-19. I came out on to the front expecting somebody to attack and nothing happened. Pushing it up to 22-23 before the turn a few guy took off but didn't get big gaps. I decided to hang out around to first five.
After the first right Todd took a flyer and Glenn and I chased him down. We spent a few minutes in rotation about 10 yards off the front. It seemed like we were going about 24-26 for a while. Finally we went back and took a break.
By the time we got to the tailwind part the usual guys started taking flyers and we chased them down. We were strung out at 29-30 some of the time. Shawn took off at one point and a few of us caught him after a long slog.
I was doing a lot of work. It wasn't a super fast ride, but I felt good about how I was doing.
We were heading north and I was leading the entire pack, taking a pull. At an intersection I heard somebody yell something. After a second I turned around to see the entire group turning.
Great! I said a few choice words. I didn't know how to get back to start so I had to turn around. Needless to say, the huge group was way ahead at that point and there was no way I was going to catch up.
After soloing in I headed back to car. I picked up a pizza on the way home watched the Tour Stage. Another experience for the record books.
I loaded up the ride and headed out. I got there a few minutes early. I saw guys that I rode with before but nobody seemed too chatty. At exactly 6:00 we rolled out. It was a pretty big group, maybe 50 or more. It was slow at first, as usual. After a mile or two it bumped up to 18-19. I came out on to the front expecting somebody to attack and nothing happened. Pushing it up to 22-23 before the turn a few guy took off but didn't get big gaps. I decided to hang out around to first five.
After the first right Todd took a flyer and Glenn and I chased him down. We spent a few minutes in rotation about 10 yards off the front. It seemed like we were going about 24-26 for a while. Finally we went back and took a break.
By the time we got to the tailwind part the usual guys started taking flyers and we chased them down. We were strung out at 29-30 some of the time. Shawn took off at one point and a few of us caught him after a long slog.
I was doing a lot of work. It wasn't a super fast ride, but I felt good about how I was doing.
We were heading north and I was leading the entire pack, taking a pull. At an intersection I heard somebody yell something. After a second I turned around to see the entire group turning.
Great! I said a few choice words. I didn't know how to get back to start so I had to turn around. Needless to say, the huge group was way ahead at that point and there was no way I was going to catch up.
After soloing in I headed back to car. I picked up a pizza on the way home watched the Tour Stage. Another experience for the record books.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Knucklehead
I did my first Knucklehead ride yesterday. Actually, I did only part of it. I thought it started at the Schnucks in Ladue, when it actually started at the Scnucks in Clayton (which isn't there anymore).
I figured this out after talking to a cyclist near Ballas where I drove trying to catch the group. I decided at that point to change out my flat tire and jump in when the group got there. It almost worked. I wound up chasing them down just past Topping. The group was taking it easy. I knew a quite a few people in the group so we all chatted.
There are two rides, a short and a long. I wanted to do the long ride because I haven't been doing any hills this year.
We headed down Clayton across Clarkson. The "short" ride went right and I kept going straight up a long hill. I started getting passed right away and wondered if I would get dropped. I finally got my motor going and as we crested the hill I caught the front three riders. I had heard that they regroup after the hills and it turned out to be true. We head down 109 and jumped on the bike path and started riding the Marquette ride route. After the turn on Pond Road we made a quick right on Rieger. There was another tough climb.
It was climb and recover. The road was wet so I held back on the descents. I recently cleaned my chain and the degreaser got on my front derailleur and dryed it out. I had trouble downshifting. At one point I felt good and was riding on the front. We hit a steep hill and I couldn't get on to the small ring in the front. I stopped for a couple of seconds and got it working again. I worked with the lady in green for a while to pace back up to the group.
The hills started to take their toll. On the long Six Flags hill I got dropped. I knew they were stopping for water at the top, so after a long slog I finally got to meet some of the other riders. It was mostly guys my age or younger. There were several very strong women riders, a medical student, a Colorado U grad, a guy named Ted who I raced with in the past. All nice people, maybe 15-20 overall.
We did the Melrose climbs backward to Rockwood and climbed Wood. I got dropped again on the climb. We regrouped and started heading back. There was a headwind, but we kept up a good pace. I was starting to cramp up a little bit. When I got to the car I was pacing with two of the women riders a couple of hundred year off of the lead group.
They had about five miles to go. I was done. I loaded up the bike and listened to the new Paul McCartney CD.
I definitely need to do more climbing. This ride is a great way to spend a Sunday morning and get a good workout.
I figured this out after talking to a cyclist near Ballas where I drove trying to catch the group. I decided at that point to change out my flat tire and jump in when the group got there. It almost worked. I wound up chasing them down just past Topping. The group was taking it easy. I knew a quite a few people in the group so we all chatted.
There are two rides, a short and a long. I wanted to do the long ride because I haven't been doing any hills this year.
We headed down Clayton across Clarkson. The "short" ride went right and I kept going straight up a long hill. I started getting passed right away and wondered if I would get dropped. I finally got my motor going and as we crested the hill I caught the front three riders. I had heard that they regroup after the hills and it turned out to be true. We head down 109 and jumped on the bike path and started riding the Marquette ride route. After the turn on Pond Road we made a quick right on Rieger. There was another tough climb.
It was climb and recover. The road was wet so I held back on the descents. I recently cleaned my chain and the degreaser got on my front derailleur and dryed it out. I had trouble downshifting. At one point I felt good and was riding on the front. We hit a steep hill and I couldn't get on to the small ring in the front. I stopped for a couple of seconds and got it working again. I worked with the lady in green for a while to pace back up to the group.
The hills started to take their toll. On the long Six Flags hill I got dropped. I knew they were stopping for water at the top, so after a long slog I finally got to meet some of the other riders. It was mostly guys my age or younger. There were several very strong women riders, a medical student, a Colorado U grad, a guy named Ted who I raced with in the past. All nice people, maybe 15-20 overall.
We did the Melrose climbs backward to Rockwood and climbed Wood. I got dropped again on the climb. We regrouped and started heading back. There was a headwind, but we kept up a good pace. I was starting to cramp up a little bit. When I got to the car I was pacing with two of the women riders a couple of hundred year off of the lead group.
They had about five miles to go. I was done. I loaded up the bike and listened to the new Paul McCartney CD.
I definitely need to do more climbing. This ride is a great way to spend a Sunday morning and get a good workout.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Webster Crit
I'm excited to be announcing at the Webster Crit. I did the announcing at the ICCC Crit and it was a lot of fun. I'm collecting music and thinking about what to say all the time. I've raced in it twice, so that will be a nice perspective.
There is a lot more to be done to get ready.
There is a lot more to be done to get ready.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
St. Charles Ride
Monday was my first trip out to the St. Charles ride this year. I was hoping for a large group and I'd say we had 40 or so riders.
It was very windy as we rolled out of the soccer park parking lot. I jumped in toward the front and we took it easy for the first couple of miles. The inevitable surges hit and soon we cranked it up. Todd cruised by on his time trial bike and he and Shawn O'Neil pushed up the pace while we had a horrible cross wind. There was very little draft to get.
The group strung out on the tailwind sections. I drifted back and popped off. I found some guys to work with and we finally got back on at a stop sign. A few surges later and it was over for me.
I really wanted to get a workout so I went as hard as I could solo. There was a good sized chase group behind me and I decided to see how long I could hold them off. It took a long time for them to catch me. After the catch there were lots of attacks out of the group, so I worked on chasing them down. Everyone was going hard, so it was fun.
Eventually we started passing lots of the riders who were off of the front group. Our grupetto was great to work with, everyone knew how to ride in an echelon so we kept up the speed. People were taking huge pulls at 27-30MPH. Toward the end a guy in a red jersey zoomed by and said something like "nice pull" and that he would give me the lead out for the finish. I tried to chase him down but he was too far ahead. When we got to the finish the group was gone. We must have gotten a little gap in the last mile or so.
I found Glen and Todd and they said we were just a few minute behind to first group.
The St. Charles ride is dead flat and lots of fun. Monday night at 6:00. From the Lou take 270 > 370 > right on Elm > right on Mueller. The start is about 1/4 mile down on the right in the soccer park parking lot.
It was very windy as we rolled out of the soccer park parking lot. I jumped in toward the front and we took it easy for the first couple of miles. The inevitable surges hit and soon we cranked it up. Todd cruised by on his time trial bike and he and Shawn O'Neil pushed up the pace while we had a horrible cross wind. There was very little draft to get.
The group strung out on the tailwind sections. I drifted back and popped off. I found some guys to work with and we finally got back on at a stop sign. A few surges later and it was over for me.
I really wanted to get a workout so I went as hard as I could solo. There was a good sized chase group behind me and I decided to see how long I could hold them off. It took a long time for them to catch me. After the catch there were lots of attacks out of the group, so I worked on chasing them down. Everyone was going hard, so it was fun.
Eventually we started passing lots of the riders who were off of the front group. Our grupetto was great to work with, everyone knew how to ride in an echelon so we kept up the speed. People were taking huge pulls at 27-30MPH. Toward the end a guy in a red jersey zoomed by and said something like "nice pull" and that he would give me the lead out for the finish. I tried to chase him down but he was too far ahead. When we got to the finish the group was gone. We must have gotten a little gap in the last mile or so.
I found Glen and Todd and they said we were just a few minute behind to first group.
The St. Charles ride is dead flat and lots of fun. Monday night at 6:00. From the Lou take 270 > 370 > right on Elm > right on Mueller. The start is about 1/4 mile down on the right in the soccer park parking lot.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Parrots
I had to rush to get there on time. I couldn't find the right shirt to wear at first, I finally found my old pepper shirt. A couple of ladies at the bar liked it, so I guess that turned out okay. On the way there I missed the exit.
So I quickly rushed in, past three very sweet choppers. The bar was about half full, which was a lot more crowded than last time. We got a hooked into the PA and found out that Brian's monitor didn't work. Oh well.
Brian went in to "Mean Old World" to get it started. His vocal and slide sounded good. We didn't use a set list this time. Over the course of the show we hit all of our styles and it was pretty fun. Toward the end I sang my original "Emily" for the waitress and her daughter. The little girl kept grabbing my hand and asking me to sing it again.
At the end of the night, which was only 8:30 I played "Don't Let Me Be Lonely" dedicated to Pat Collier. She was the lead singer of the next band. The funny thing is I wouldn't have known who she was if she walked up and said hello.
One table of people was supposed to leave and have a party, but I wasn't in the mood. Brian was distracted so I slipped out right after we got paid.
I drove straight to Fortel and ordered a pizza. I can't believe I ate the whole thing. It was another one for the record books.
So I quickly rushed in, past three very sweet choppers. The bar was about half full, which was a lot more crowded than last time. We got a hooked into the PA and found out that Brian's monitor didn't work. Oh well.
Brian went in to "Mean Old World" to get it started. His vocal and slide sounded good. We didn't use a set list this time. Over the course of the show we hit all of our styles and it was pretty fun. Toward the end I sang my original "Emily" for the waitress and her daughter. The little girl kept grabbing my hand and asking me to sing it again.
At the end of the night, which was only 8:30 I played "Don't Let Me Be Lonely" dedicated to Pat Collier. She was the lead singer of the next band. The funny thing is I wouldn't have known who she was if she walked up and said hello.
One table of people was supposed to leave and have a party, but I wasn't in the mood. Brian was distracted so I slipped out right after we got paid.
I drove straight to Fortel and ordered a pizza. I can't believe I ate the whole thing. It was another one for the record books.
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