Fully Committed

sorry for the lack of updates lately - I'm in up to my eyes with the film and writing and travel - next week headed back to Europe. Which means everything from camera gear to travel plans to writing interviews to packing interviews in while I'm there - it's all gotta get done. So first comes Phil Liggett in London, then the mystery man in France, then hopefully Eddy Merckx in Belgium and if luck shines on me, Cavendish in Italy. Sounds like fun? Imagine doing it without any money to spare - fun quickly turns to terrifying.

Haven't touched the bike lately - and I feel it. Totally stressed, grumpy and edgy. On a positive note we will be showing Hincapie's new film "Ride with George" on December 10th at Arlington Cinema & Draft as a fundraiser for our film. Tickets will go on sale soon at the Gripped Store. By then I will probably only have a box in which to live and I'll be sharing the cat food savoring every bite. The days are quickly getting shorter and darkness seems to be my one constant companion. These days are trying to say the least. But I'm committed - like Apolo on the dark side of the moon. There's no going back. So again I say, press forward.

2009 DCCX Cross Race

Quick recap - I lined up near the back of the Men's B Masters (cat 3/4). Start was crowded but it could have been worse. I picked good lines and pushed hard into the red zone on the first lap moving into the top 20. Caught some folks, got caught by others. Held on best I could but started to go backwards. I need more practice with the suffering you go through being pinned at the redline. I think I could have been tougher, pushed a little more. But I did ok and held onto Colby's wheel (who usually beats me). Towards the end I got motivated and surged past him but then the legs revolted and let off a bit. He passed me back. I led into the last few turns of the last lap knowing he'd go for the pass when we hit pavement. As soon as my tires hit asphalt I was out of the saddle sprinting. Having watched so much Versus Tour footage lately all I could think of was Cavendish. Silly, I know. But it must have worked, I beat Colby by a wheel. Then it was beers, frites and hanging out watching the other races on a perfect Fall day. Some photos from the day:
Armed Forces Retirement Home - prefect venue!

Joel cheers on his brother who was rocking it in the top 5

Joe Foley doing his thing

The crowd cheering Fuentes

Loved seeing Chris Scott out there suffering (the man who designed the painful Shenandoah Mountain 100)

Joel and I

Joel doing his thing

some days

I just hate people, being a person in this day & age and contributing to the demise of what must have once been a pretty spectacular earth. Are humans so entitled that they can destroy this planet and all the other creatures on it that lived in equalibrium for millions of years? Not giving a shit about what allowed us to become what we all are and all we have?

Pretty ignorant to think that way.

Hard to view these photos. Harder to figure out what to do about it. We all deserve a solid bitch-slap from Mother Nature.

"I want to teach them a lesson"

I really hope they make an example out of this jackass:

According to Rodriguez, Thompson said, “I just live up the road. I was driving to go to work. The bikers were in front of me, three across. I honked my horn and yelled ‘ride single file.’ The bicyclists flipped me off and yelled back. I passed them up and stopped in front to teach them a lesson. I’m tired of them. I’ve lived here for years and they always ride like this.”

Story here.

Storm has passed

and after a week of rain DC is getting perfect Fall weather. Had to escape the movie for a couple hours to moto around some country roads with Aaron. Precisely why I bought a motorcycle. Days like this.

Hard to not be totally stoked.

And in other news, I saved myself about $2k by robbing the overpriced Crate & Barrel design of a new shaker-style bed frame. $400 in wood, stain and screws and a few days time – VIOLA. I built it JUST so my feet could hang off the end (something my feet have not enjoyed for the 7 years I've owned my current bedframe). What a day.

Crazy Steady

the wind report from this past Sunday

Winds of Change

I love this time of year. Even tho the days grow short and the temperature dips, the winds of Fall are something I look forward to. This past Sunday was the third day in a row of hurricane-force winds at the shore. The rain finally let up and I took off with Emmac to get my fill. It's not often you can pack the truck and KNOW the wind will be there when you arrive.
I knew it would be cold but stripping down in the parking lot was still a rather unpleasant experience.

I was happy to have my new DaKine impact vest.

This was just the Delaware Bay - imagine what the ocean looked like!


The sea was angry that day...

While it wasn't huge the waveriding was fun as hell

This is what it looks like when a 40mph gust hits you

I completely exploded after takeoff here...

It's akin to mogul skiing. Sure the water is softer but with 40 mph winds shoving you around the landings are a bit more unpredictable.

What better way to finish the day than to score dinner at the original Dogfish Head...

Now that is a great day. Thanks for taking photos Em!

Keeping a close eye

on this case...
Link here.
http://velonews.com/article/99398/la-road-rage-trial-begins-prosecutors-play-a-911-recording-

Hope they fry his ass or he f's with a gun-packing cyclist. Then I'd be all for that constitutional right to defend yourself by blasting first and asking questions later...oh the hypocrisy.

: )

My kinda lunch break

sure it was cold. Air temp was 41° without windchill. Sure it was raining - the area got almost an inch today. But man it was windy. Not even huge winds - but enough for me to gamble on a quick trip to the Bay Bridge. Worth the $3 to get into Sandy Point Park tho when I first pulled up it wasn't happening. The rain bands had shut down the wind and I could barely see the water from my truck not 100 yards away. But luckily I didn't leave right away - even with the burden of work calling me back. What a day for playing hooky. And a hot-chocolate break!

Balance

ok, before I get yelled at by me Mum for not paying attention to the teachings of the Bible (I think it specifically says something about "eye for an eye" isn't the best form of justice) I will attempt to balance yesterday's rant with this - the funniest and cutest 14 seconds of video I've seen in a long time.

Tweet this

EYE FOR AN EYE

This asshole, Dr. Christopher T. Thompson should be thrown out of a car into a wall at 50mph. In my humble opinion. IF he lives, he should then be slapped, sterilized and punched quite hard in the balls. Takes a real tough guy to teach cyclists a "lesson" from the safety of his Lexus.
STORY HERE.
If they don't send his ass up the river, I may take a break from editing to visit Sunny California and deliver that punch.

Loving the moto

70° and sunny - few leaves on the road and little traffic. Not too many days like this left, nice to get out and meet a buddy for lunch. New clutch, cables and grips - the moto is super fun.

Live by the sword

die by it. (that's a link to the story)
No pity here. Idiot Amurican - how's that constitutional right treating you now?
Maybe their daughter won't be such a gun-lover...

Here's something to consider - if these gun nuts are so worried about being attacked & being able to protect themselves, citing the constitution in one hand and the bible in another (which if we all remember is topped by the notion that to take another's life is one of the most cardinal sins, ahem), I really don't see why such folk don't learn how to fight with their hands, a stick, hell even a knife. All of which can protect you very well yet none of which kill as fast as a gun. Why not then?

BECAUSE it's a LAZY person who takes solace in buying a gun! Why get off your FAT ASS and get fit? Learn something? Engage your brain and body in something healthy? Because that takes too much time AWAY from FOX REALITY TV. And while they are bitching about health care reform, take a look in the mirror. If they are overweight they are the reason our country is so weak. Rotten from the inside out, hiding behind guns and huge SUV's made to accommodate their hugh jasses. Pathetic.

Fools. Be glad I'm not a law maker.

Chasing Dreams

feeling absolutely overwhelmed with the movie right now. Getting shot down for sponsorship isn't fun. Getting shot down by Lance's people isn't fun. Getting shot down by ASO isn't fun. Having my raid hard drive not recognized by the computer - then getting shot down by tech support isn't fun.

Basically this day sucks large.

Jeff Schalk & Anna Kelso - one fast couple

A few shots from the wedding this past weekend
The bride & groom

Bork, Poz & myself, Poz obviously enjoying his wine

It was a "Who's Who" of mountain bike rockstars. Jeremiah and Erin Bishop

Sue Haywood, Chris & Allison Eatough - like "Eat off a plate"

Chris & his wife Kate

Poz & Bork like their wine.

Beck's wife is about to pop...

Me & m'Lady who had a stunning new dress

At the end of the night, our table nameplate had a playing card in it - highest card won the sweet center pieces Jeff had made - I was stoked not just to win but to beat King Poz!

Harlan Price showing the kids how to cut loose. Turns out Harlan is not just super fast on a bike but he also surfs - clearly an eclectic guy with style to share.

Cross Season!

raced my mtb last year.
Have a legit cross bike this year thanks to Cannondale & Conte's.
Now to find some races...