A KICK START!!!!

At the request of others, and not many, I've decided to kick start this blog again. I haven't had much to blog about. The kiddos are keeping me busy as is the wifey.

I know I'm going to burn some ears when I say this "I'm going back to my roots of multi sport racing next year." You can uncover your ears now roadies!!! Honestly I just miss it. Also, I had an easier time making the podium in multi sport. In my years of road racing the closest I've come to the podium is 5th.

I may make my return to bike racing when I can race Masters 35+. I always enjoyed racing masters 30+ before it was changed to 35+. I'm 32 so in the meantime I'll fill the void with some duathlon and triathlon.

My training is going well. I'm up to running 30-35 miles per week with long runs on the weekend. Bike wise I'm only riding tues - thurs. My running schedule goes Friday - Monday. I'm still trying to figure out where to fit in the swim schedule. If I can get 2 swim sessions a week that will work. I feel that with the running mileage, I don't have to put as much time on the bike right now. I feel pretty strong on the bike at the moment and would like to just ride for maintenance at this point.

I'm going to make an attempt to race 3 multisport races before the end of this racing season. Here's the schedule, August 16, September 13, and October 11.

that's it for now...I leave you with some training photos from Hanes Pt.

Self Portrait

The one and only Puerto Rican at the Pt., Jose

Matt B, winner of the Hagerstown CAT 4 championship

Mike C motorpacing us the pt. last week Wed.

Buell 1125r - new D&D Slip On Exhaust

Been meaning to post this for my southwest readers. Here is the new D&D slip on exhaust on my Buell 1125R. Let's just say I'm not making to many friends in my neighborhood. It is obnoxiously loud in a good way. F*ck em!!! LOUD PIPES SAVES LIVES!!

Happy Early Cinco de Mayo

For those of you going to celebrate Cinco De Mayo, celebrate hard but safe my amigos. God knows this mexican is. They don't call me "EL CARNE" for nothing.

Diggin the new HD 2009 Iron 883

For the cost of a new decked out Trek madone, you can buy one of these instead. Hmmmm, I may have to sell two of my bikes to get this bad boy. I like the old school vibe on it. Maybe this video will help you understand:

Haines Pt. REVIVAL !!!!!

After contemplating with myself whether to go to Hains Pt or not for fear of tourists, I decided to go scout it out anyway.

I figured screw it, it's Monday, I'll just roll easy and get in a recovery ride after Sundays training ride. Well it didn't turn out that way. There wasn't the usual large noon crowd but enough guys to get in a nice tempo ride.

Then the "Muscle" appears!! You don't see the Muscle very often at the pt. I'm sure most folks already know the Muscle but for my southwest readers, its Russ Langley of Harley Davidson Batley cycles Team.

It seems the Muscle didn't show up to just tool around. He was actually there to get a work out as was Harley's Sean Barrie. On one of the laps they (Sean Barrie and the Muscle) were off the front. It took me about half a lap with the rest of the group to tow them back, but as I made the final bridge, the Muscle decided to counter off of Sean Barrie's wheel.

At the start of the next lap I decided to go with the Muscle for a lap. We broke away for the entire lap with the rest of the group in chase. Let's just say I was a bit out of my comfort zone, while he looked calm and collected.

I would say I need more days like that at the pt, but the Muscle isn't always there, Oh yeah, wait I forgot!! That's why we have Chuck Hutch. Game on then!!

The moral of the story is that Hains Pt is almost back to normal.
Bye for now

Walkersville and Tysons

I can truly say it was an eventful weekend of racing. The weekend started off with the Walkersville road race. The Pro 1,2,3 race started with a crash about 5-8 minutes in. I got stuck behind it as did a great number of the other riders. We tried like hell to chase back on but with the wind gusting anywhere from 30-50mph we were unsuccessful.

I decided my day wasn't going to be done. To far of a drive to throw in the towel plus I needed the miles. Our little select group started with about 10-12 guys. By the end it was just myself, Eli Hengst (harley), Uncle Pete (NCVC), Eric Obergfell (NCVC), and this other kid with a cannondale kit (sorry bud, I can't remember your name). I should though, I spent the better part of the day with him.

We continued riding keeping a steady tempo. The Masters 35+ race eventually passed us. As we chugged along we came up on the master's field who were stopped on the side of the road due to a crash from our Pro 1,2,3 race. Eventually the pro 1,2,3 field who survived that crash ended up coming around again to where we were all stopped.

Once the accident had been cleared they restarted the pro 1,2,3 race ahead of the masters. Our little select group of five jumped back in the 1,2,3 field and sat in the back as to not disrupt the natural order of the race outcome. Funny how I felt fine riding those last 7 or so miles hard again with the main field. Had it not been for that initial crash 5 minutes into the race I may have still been in that group. As we backed off the 1,2,3 field in the final 200 meters we watch the sprint unfold. We rolled in a few seconds after them and we still got scored. With the field being 75 strong at the start only 25 finished. I was 24th, Uncle Pete was 25th, Eli was 21st,Eric 23rd and cannondale kid 22nd. I really wouldn't call that a result for myself, just a windy ass day on my bike getting some miles.

As for Tysons, I did the CAT 3 only. My legs felt like dog shit from the day before. I went to the front once to see if I could put in a hard effort and my legs just did not agree with me. So I melted back into the middle of the pack for a mindless pack finish.

Below are some pics courtesey of Kyle's wife Amy from the walkersville road race. Solid evidence of our walkersville training ride..haha. I'm in the hammer nutrition kit with the white arm warmers.

7 pound face off !!!!!!!

Yesterday while doing the hill ride in Arlington I realized I can stand to lose an extra 10 lbs. I don't want to start sounding like that anorexic Kyle Jones, but it needs to be done.

So in order to get the motivation to do it Matt B. (haines pt regular) and myself made a bet. The first to lose the most weight by May 1st, wins a Jug of Hammer Gel, $19.95 value. The bet starts today April 1.

Here are the quick facts. I'm at 199lbs. Matt is at about 182lbs. I want to be at least 190lbs and Matt is shooting for 175lbs. First to lose 7 pounds or nearest to it by May 1, is the winner.

I may have the advantage though. I have the weight to loose, Matt on the other hand, is a slim fit 182lbs. That douche is already playing dirty though. He knows I'm a sucker for pumpkin scones so he sent me this picture via e-mail yesterday.

Jokes on him though. Pumpkin scones are out of season.

I've never been one to ponder on my weight. I'm always around 200lbs and I feel comfortable there. The last time I weighed 185 lbs I was doing Tris and training for IRONMANS.

I blame my heavy frame on all the weight lifting I did during my college baseball days. I was around 230lbs of solid Burrito eating Mexican. I had to beat away the honeys with a fungo bat. By the way, fungo bats are not very effective on the big girls.

So Matt, its on. BTW Matt, I like the banana flavored Hammer Gel.