Jingle Cross weekend

The second half of my vacation was spent in Iowa City, biking and enjoying the Jingle Cross Rock

I have never seen a cross race, so I was excited to see what all the kids were talking about. Knowing what I do know, Jingle Cross may be the best race in Iowa, trumping even snake ally.

On Saturday, Kim West, My sister, and I woke up, had some breakfast, and a run of bad luck with Kim's hot water heater. Apparently, the water that he put in the night before had all boiled off, and as a result, blew the fuse on the heater. This lead to all sorts of confusion, and two hour later, 6 phone calls to Julie(part owner of coffee bus) the problem was solved...with a reset switch.

It was chilly so Kim, being the good friend that he is, decided that it would be best if he(and his bus) take the brunt of wind. He motor paced me out to the fairground with his VW. However, there was a dilemma. I need to ride 4 1/2 hour and would also like very much to watch the races. Solution, spend the rest of the ride Kim's training. People though a number of things, but mostly that I was some elite race that just needed a really long time warming up for the elite. race.

Speaking of races, Troy Krause won the first day in the 3/4 race. I have race with Troy quite a bit. Once he had the hole shot, things were over. He has good 'cross skills and can motor. Plus, he had a beard. This made his approach to racing a triple threat. Congrats troy.

Tell me a story - Thankstaking

Today I will enlighten our readers with the story of a the real Grinch.
Not a Grinch in the traditional annuls of Dr. Seuss, but one with a evil plot to destroy thanksgiving for a few cyclist and some dentist, too.

It was precisely one year ago that members of Team Kaos and Creighton Dental School united forces to battle hunger, sobriety, and vegans (not really, but wouldn't that be nice).
Anyhow, back to my story. We had food, booze, and attendees from all walks of life. And then there was the Grinch.

At a time in my life when I am in(and more so out of) relationships, there was a changing of the proverbial guard. For lack of a better word, I had been seeing a fourth year dental student (and for anonymity's sake she will remain nameless). Whatever the case, I though she was a good person, head screwed on straight, athletic, cute...well, you know the type. For a multitude of reasons, it did not work. And it just so happened that with this falling out, a new Floridian came out of the woodwork and up to Omaha for the weekend.

This is where things get messy. That summer, fourth year dental student went to the Dominican Republic for the summer. Not knowing on which terms things were left, I decided to spend the summer hanging out with/befriending some of fourth year dental student's friend. And why not? they were all nice people that didn't think cycling was outrageous and as a plus, they all despised Nebraska football. After a summer of Taco rides in Iowa, parties, and bar hoping they were obviously candidates for invitation. Now, having foresight as my ally, I knew full well that I could not invite fourth year dental student to the party with Floridian there. It would have been awkward, rude, and things would have got violent.

One day prior to Thanksgiving another invitee called and asked if fourth year dental student was invited. I said no and explained the details of the situation. Invitee said that things would get ugly. Apparently, fourth year dental student had confided in other invitees. Although I was not privy to the conversation, I got the gist. Allegedly, fourth year dental student issued an ultimatum. Other attendees were to not come to the party, or they would be cast from her good graces and banished from the land of friendship. As outlandish and laughable as this situation maybe, we were all concerned. Had fourth year dental student gone of the deep end? Had she reverted to some sophomoric high school tendencies? At any rate, she was not invited. Her friends came. We got drunk. We stuffed ourselves with turkey, stuffing, yams, and no doubt some bacon fat. Point in fact, fun was had by all. She threatened to end our good time. Instead of give... take. That is why Landen, Team Kaos and Creighton dental school invented the holiday of Thankstaking to commiserate the day that some bratty girl with entitlement problems tried to ruin our fun.

If you are in omaha next weekend, please feel free to celebrate the second instalment of Thankstaking. Hopefully, no Grinch will try to ruin our fun.

Turkey day - the aftermath

I survive the week riding, visiting my family, and napping in Charles...Del Cedre and have since migrated south to warmer weather...Iowa City to be specific.
I am at a lovely establishment called the Java House waiting for our dear old friend Rev. Dr. Kim West, proprietor of theorphanageandyou.blogspot.com
I have no idea what the night has in store, however, I do know what treasure this weekend holds - Jingle Cross and 9 hours of biking and a coffee bus.

I you do not know the legend that is the coffee bus, pull up a chair, some hot cocoa and listen, children.
Since it's inception circa 2005, the coffee bus has helped countless tired and wiry souls ward off fatigue, cold, drowsiness, and the like at sporting events, statewide cycling tours, and Kim's backyard.
No doubt a legend in its own time, the coffee bus will make the trek across the state to serve and protect our taste buds.

Weekend predictions:
Men's 3/4 - Nolan Froese kid has and engine and is only 18. Problem may be handling. He said it himself... he handles a bike like a recking ball . Troy Krause top 3 both days. I hear he is pretty good at cycle cross.
Men's 1/2 - David Wells national champ 2005, Steve Tilford day 2.
Women - Sydney Brown She is pretty fast. I've race her in 1,2,3 combined field and was surprised how long she hung in there.

Day 4 Bend

November 19 - Kristin's(my sister's) 24th B-Day.
Oh, and also the day that it continues to rain in Oregon, the day that we were delayed two hours in Portland and Almost missed our flight in Denver. The day that every crying child in the USA decided to fly PDX, and the best part, the day the airport lost our luggage. I think Kristin will probably celebrate her birthday today instead of yesterday.

Fact - High desert = rain all the time

So, the last two days in bend have been great. Except the rain. All of it.

Saturday
I awoke from a 10 hour sleep (kristin slept 12) and went on a ride. I stopped for some quick coffee and a piece of pumpkin cream cheese bread, and then low and behold, a flat. Flat number one of three to be exact(one the weekend). Got that repaired and I was off to Phil's trail. Apparently, there is fifty different trails in Phil's trail system alone. Nice. I did a couple of different numbered trails with some great climbing, and then the rain started to pick up. It wasn't that bothersome, since there was tree cover throughout the trail system. I went back into town, and picked up Kristin and we went back up to the trail system. 4 hour total, freezing rain the whole time. I saw some old lady skate skiing. She seemed happy to be out. Tricking herself, perhaps. We crossed paths twice, and on the second passing, she said "hadn't had enough, huh? I said I didn't know any better. I am from Iowa.

We went out to eat that afternoon, at the Deschutes brew pub. I had fish and chip, kristin a salad.. typical on both ends. We also check the Deschutes Beers of the list. We had 6 four ounce samples of some different beers. Jubleale, mirror pond, and The stout were the best. That night, I took Kristin out for here birthday at a resturant called Cork. It was good, we had a bottle of Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley. The food was delicious. I had pistacio? crusted canadian sea bass. Not as good as the fish and chips from Deschutes, though.

Bend - Day 1

Rented mountain bikes and road the Deschutes River trail. A 9 mile out and back with some great climbing. It was 50 and sunny when we started and than began to rain. Luckily, the tree cover protected us from ANY of the rain.

My sister, Kristin and I then went to dinner with my friend Gina. We went to a med/lebanese resturant called KABABA. this was my second visit. It is owned by a man named Eric. He is originally from lincoln and is brother in law to one Kevin Wilkins (team Kaos). The hummus, pita, chicken kabab, rice, and salad were all great.

The plan tomorrow, meet and hand out CV to every dentist in bend. Next ride, four hour ride, Phil's trail. Possible one, maybe two mirror pond pale ales following ride.

PS don't try to check Vita shade guide or dental butane torch through carry-on. The do not think that is funny.

T-Minus two days

Two days until my trip to Bend, Oregon.
My sister and I are flying out thursday morning and will be staying
until Monday. The activities for the weekend will be as follows:
1. hand out resume(CV)
2. rent mountain bikes and ride the famous trails in bend with Kristin
3. Celebrate Kristin's birthday
4 get job
5. drink mirror pond/jublee ale
The next two weeks coincide nicely with my training. Bend for five days, one day back
to see patients at CU, five days off for thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving

Once a year, thanksgiving comes around and reminds up how fortunate we are. I was reminded of this today on my non-epic 4:05 ride today. I would just like to give thanks for the following things:
1. my bike(s)
2. coffee
3. sam adams seasonal sample beer pack
4. stealth miles
5. Guitar(heros)
6. Eric Johnson
7. my 16:05 hour week
8. my 18 hours of riding next week
9. my 20 hours of riding the following week.

Cheating

Every time I turn around, there they are...
Cheaters. Now the newest of all cheaters has been exposed.
Nathan O'Neal. He won pretty much every big time trial or stage race this year in the USA.
And why? Cheating. He raced in the Olympics in 2000. Won Australia National TT championships 7 times.
And me would probably bend me over backward in a TT.
But at least I didn't need to cheat to make a living.
Oh, and congratulations to Phil above.
He would have won Ht Hood if it wasn't for the cheater.

Eki

tough guy points

Typically, cyclist throw the word epic around...a lot.
In fact, John Lefler(at lincoln plating this year) used the word 7 times in one sentence.
In my short time as a cyclist, I have maybe only been on one such ride, and it was on my first ragbrai.
you can decide

It was the forth day of ragbrai three years ago.
For some reason it was 30 degrees in the summer.
don't ask me how.
We bought some coffee from the coffee bus
and dave baxter wanted to go on the century loop.
I thought, why not, it will make me look tough.

We proceeded to the start of the century loop
and dave showed me how to take a "pull"
when riding in a group. We averaged 34mph
on the way out.
Stiff tailwind? yep.

then we took a wrong turn that
took us extra 8 miles
funny Dave
108 mile, 5:26 hrs later
we were back.
I don't even remember how many pork sandwiches I at after that

Oh, If you really think you earned some tough guy points today
look at the above picture
In the lead up to the 2000 olympic games
V. Ekimov Road 38,000 kilometers or 23,700 miles or 475 miles a week
or 80 miles a day...In russia.
He may have had one or two epic rides.

Brad White

This guy was on Einstein's Bagels last spring. I don't know him. But he is good. Through the grape vine, he is an ex-triathlete turned pro cyclist. He got the memo that riding bikes is way more fun. All you have to do is win Joe Martin Stage Race... And you get a pro contract. Sweet. Congrats on the Tour in China fifth place in the prologue 3.5 seconds back.

Winter training

I just completed my first week of training. The following is a list of things that I accomplished this week:
1. 14.5 total training hours
Accomplished with bike, weights, and stealth miles. The week was great, I road my tt bike 5 times.
2. broken durace derailler
my extra clothing decided to jump out into my cassette and break my derailler. Luck would have it that Landen had an extra sitting around. Thanks man!
3. broken front drivers side window
Oh, the broken window...someone decided to throw a brick(or something) through my window. thanks guys.
4. uploaded cyclingpeaks software
Only took seven nerds from Bust buy, the apple store, and school. But it is done. now I just need to find out how to use the dam thing.