Its is hard to think of titles all the time

Well it is another pictureless day, for once again I was either in too much pain going up or going to fast down. It was a good day though all together. Spent 5hrs on the bike in the mountains riding off from the main group with one of the top local guys. It may hurt, but I can definitly feel that I am getting stronger.

Time to get ready to head off to a New Years Eve party, so I hope everyone has a great night and have a happy New Year.

Dreaming of a White ...

It was a beautiful day here today, at least in the foothills, the mountains were a little rough. For a normal rider coming across roads like this would make them turn around and go home, but do you think it stopped me....Hell no; should it have stopped me.....Hell yes. It was an out and back route, going up on the ice wasn't that bad, but coming down was a different story.

Past the ice and around the corner you look out onto this house, great view, but it looks like it belongs on the set of Star Trek.

And I thought Texas weather could change quick

Well, there went my day. I was planning on hitting the road bike at about nine this morning and it was clear and sunny. Within ten minutes, a storm came across the mountains and began to dump rain, which then turned into snow.


I guess that's what happens when you live in the north, you can't have nice days all the time. This means it is going to be a trainer day. 

I thought I ran away from the wind

Well, it has been pretty quiet around here. Just got the last stuff delivered and put away (a washer and dryer, now I will be up all night doing laundry). It has been pretty windy up here the last few days so I have been sticking to the mountain bike for fear of being blown off the top of the mountain on the road bike.

I have set up a coach and a dietician here and have my first meeting next week to set up a program and to get all my tests run to see where I am at physically. Hopefully this will help give me that little extra edge I will need this year while racing the NORBA series. So far my racing schedule looks like this:

February 17, 18, 19 Valley of the Sun Stage Race AZ
April 1, 2 TMBRA Waco, TX
April 9th Golden Crit
April 21, 22, 23 NORBA #1 San Dimas, CA
April 29th Deer Trail Road Race
May 2nd Mead Crit
May 19, 20, 21 AMBC Chili Challenge Angel Fire, NM
June 9, 10, 11 NORBA #2 Sugar Mountain, NC
June 16, 17, 18 NORBA #3 MT Snow, VT
July 7, 8, 9 NORBA #4 Deer Valley, UT
July 20, 21, 22, 23 USA Cycling MTB Championships Mammoth, CA
August NORBA #5 4, 5, 6 Brian Head, UT
August 11, 12, 13 NORBA #6 Snowmass, CO
August 20th Longmont Crit
August 26th Berthoud Road Race
September 1, 2, 3 Old Tascosa Classic Stage Race Amarillo, TX
September 10th Englewood Crit
September 22, 23, 24 TMBRA Rocky Hill Classic Smithville, TX

If anyone out there is planning on doing any of these too let me know. Actually, if you are reading this click HERE and hit send (or write a message if you want) just to let me know who all out there is reading this.

First big day on the bike

Today was my first day trying to ride with the local badasses, and it was a painfest. There are no pics for the ride because I was either suffering too much climbing or going waaaay too fast downhill. It was not that bad of a breaking in ride, I was able go with and stay with just one other guy, unfortunately he happened to be the Rocky Mountain Cup Best All Around Rider winner, so I hurt but it was a good hurt, the type where you know you are going to get better because of it.

He suggested I talk to his coach and get him to coach me also, I will probably look into it during the week. His coach recommends no base but constant high intensity. Things like climbing in the big ring to build strength, I guess I will give it a shot tomorrow; damn, more pain to come.

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas to all.

Now, recapping my last two days. Yesterday started out with a trip to Keystone.

And to Dillon.

While we were there I got set up with the whole ski equipment package (lets see how long it takes me to break them in, or them to break me in, one or the other). Then that afternoon back in Golden, I went on a mtb ride on a trail that is literally right outside my backdoor. On top of Tabletop Mtn. along the trail I came across these mule deer, I think I was more scared of them than they were of me, since I rode by them only 10 yards away and they really didn't even seem like they cared.

Then this morning, I finished putting some of the last touches on the new apt.


The rest of the day was spent on the road bike, just mile and miles of this.
These last few days have let me see just how lucky I really am to be able to pursue my dreams in such a beautiful place as Colorado. Now, only if I could get some friends to hurry up and move here with me so that I am not alone, that would be great too.

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Still no riding :(

Well today was just another errand day, no riding. Of course my dad's dog went along for the ride.


Went and got studdd snow tires on the all wheel drive car. So now when the weather is too bad to ride I can make sure I can still make it to the slopes to ski.

Drove to the top of Lookout Mtn., and let' just say my mom is deadly afraid of heights, it was an interesting drive to the top.

Buffalo Bill's grave is at the top of the mtn.

And on the way down we saw some bull elk.

Tomorrow will hopefully be the last day of running errands. Then on Sunday the parents will be heading back to Texas and I will get back to the bike, just looking at all of the awesome roads around here is making me drool for the bike again.

I'm Back

Damn, I know its been awhile but I just now got my internet hooked up in Golden, CO. Lets just say that it has been a long last six days. So I will photo blog it to shorten the story up some.

Friday was a packing day back in Lubbock, TX.


Saturday was spent entertaining the relatives during graduation. Then Sunday came around, which was supposed to be the day we drove all the way to Golden, but we only made it 120 miles to Amarillo. The roads were pure ice.


However, it only took 40 miles until my parents jack-knifed the uhaul trailer on the ice. Not only did it mess up the uhaul, but also the contents, and my dad's new truck.

So we were stuck in Amarillo on Sunday, and the only food choices close were Waffle House or McDonalds, the decision was which is the lesser of two evils, my dad chose Waffle House.

The parents had a rough time walking on ice.

Well, Monday came around and it was still pure ice on the roads, and we only made it to Dumas, another 40 miles, for a grand total of 160 in two days. So after two days in hotels, the sun came out on Tuesday and we made it all the way into Denver, past Invesco Stadium, and on into Golden.

The new home, Camden Denver West.

The new empty apartment.



So six days, no exercise, and eating like crap, by the time I get back on a bike this next week (a total of two weeks without exercise) my heart is going to want to explode in the mountains, but at least I will have decent scenery for once while I suffer.

So Much Crap

Today is a pretty full day. Got up early to get in a two hour mtb ride before I had to run some errands and be back at my apartment by the time my parents arrived in town from Fredericksburg. I have thrown away so much stuff that I collected over the last year that it makes me feel like a pack rat. The apartment has to be completely cleared out by tomorrow, then graduation on Saturday, and driving to Golden Sunday. It is going to be some rushed next few days so this will be the last blog until next week when I get interned service installed at the apt in Golden. Lets hope everything goes smoothly, and that my parents drive faster than 60 on the way to Golden or I will go insane.

I Hate Packing

Riding around in what West Texas people would call the closest thing they get to a winter wonderland, a field full of cotton.

Seeing that these are the last few days that I will be spending in Lubbock, we thought it would be nice to have some pictures of the campus light up with Christmas lights.



It's nice to see that our tuition is going to something worthwhile, I would hate to see that electricity bill.

Most of today was spent getting rid of all my old college furniture, but it is harder than you would think, people at Goodwill are picky. "Oh, there's a spot on that couch", "we can't put that computer desk together"....... I mean damn people its free, I am donating it, take it, someone will buy it from you for a few bucks. We finally got rid of most of the stuff on the ghetto side of town; they know good shit when they see it.

Last TTU Final

Well its hard to believe, but after four and a half years today was the last time I would have to walk down this walkway to the Business Administration building. Its about damn time.

The days are going by fast and the move day is now only five days away, and I have so much crap to take care of. Its amazing how much crap some one can accumulate over the course of a year, but most of it is going to goodwill or the trashcan. But the packing process is still going to have to take a back seat to riding.

I am know for putting the most ridiculous stuff on my bikes, such as the zebra striped bar tape, but this is a little too far, even for me.

Saturday Finals

I really want to meet the idiot who had the bright idea to have finals on a Saturday at 7:30 in the morning. So needless to say the day started out early. I got half way through the test before Senioritis kicked in big time, I said F it and turned in the test skipping a number of problems, but I am sure I got the 15 I needed to at least pass the class.

After the test Stephen and I went on a ride out to the canyons north of Slaton, pretty much the only place around Lubbock to get any decent climbing workout.
The ride wasn't in that bad of weather, but it was still cold. Just look at the fountain, that thing has been frozen for over a week now, just makes me feel cold just looking at it, sometimes I wonder if I will survive in the cold of Colorado.

Road Trip

What a road trip, Erin, Chelsea, and I left Lubbock on Tuesday afternoon and drove through the snow storm to get in to Denver at 1am.

Erin
Chelsea

We were met with some cold temps on Wednesday morning, it was 8 in the morning and temps were still only -7 w/ wind chill, the low during the night was -11 w/ wind chill. But we got out and about in Denver looking at apartments for Erin and picked up my keys to the apt. Damn, it's hard to believe but in a week I will be calling Golden home. Later that night we looked around the bar scene for a while finding a little place called The Front Porch. Erin got hit on by a weird looking dude, whose opening line was, "I've been working out. No really, I have.....see just feel my stomach." The sad thing is, I wish I was joking, but it really happened. After a few hours there we headed back to the hotel to catch some sleep for the drive home the next day.

We caught the last glimpses of mountains before we hit the plains of West Texas. Long trip, total of about 20 hrs in the car within a 48 hour period, but well worth it.

CO or Bust

Pretty busy today and in a rush. I am doing some last minute packing and getting the car ready to drive to Denver tonight, and it will be a late night, probably getting there around midnight. So check back here on Friday for a recap of all the crazy sh!t thats going to happen.

Surprise

All throughout this last year I have done an occasional road race, just for fun and to get some good off the mountain bike training. Therefore, I never really paid any attention to overall rankings, but I knew I had been doing okay since the few road races I did do I got first. Well today had a surprise in store. In the mail was a package from Texas Racing Association, and inside was a plaque and the champion's jersey.....well what do ya know, I got first in the overall series.

 

A cold day in December

Okay, so today was a little better, there was very little wind for once, but you can never have a completely wonderful day. No wind, but the temperature was at 18 degrees when we started out this morning. It was a good ride though, just Stephen and me out in the flats of west Texas. Stephen

Me
This was an interesting sign; on the way back into Lubbock you have to ride through the ghetto to get back to our apartments and we have ridden by this spot for years, but today I just happened to read the sign. I don't know about you, but it looks like a cube to me, not a diamond.

Damn CU got their ass kicked by UT

Well, I have only had the bike for about a week now and the guys at the shop have already found some stickers to deface the bike; the main feature would be the "cookin" sticker on the back. They have a "truckin" sticker too but it is too big to find a decent place to put it.The days just get windier and windier here on the caprock, but tomorrow should be a calm day so Stephen and I plan on taking advantage of it with a long ride. It will be good to get out of the apartment for a while, especially since it has started to look a little bare with all the packing I have been doing. 

Vandalism on the Trail

Today was a very busy day, ran a bunch of errands, went to class, lunch with Chelsea, Kate, and Erin, and then jumped on the bike for a while. Lubbock trails have a big problem with vandalism, usually people string weed eater wire across the trail and other things like that, and today was no different. I didn't get to the trail until three this afternoon and found a dozen or so areas with logs laid across the trail, so I wonder if it just got place there, or no one else during the day took the time to remove the hazards.

The thing is, I am always on the look out for this type of stuff because I know it happens all the time, but one day someone is going to not be paying attention and get badly injured. I brought these incidences up to the parks department and their response was pretty much we don't care. At least I only have to deal with this for a few more weeks, but unfortunately some people will have to deal with this forever. 

Picturesque Landscapes

If you thought driving through this type of landscape was dull, try riding through it day-in and day-out.

Usually I don't mind, but this winter the winds here on the plains of west Texas have sucked. The wind speeds have been around 25mph daily with gusts above 35mph, and with no natural wind breaks provided by the landscape, it pounds you all the time. Oh well, only two more weeks, but then you will hear me complain about the bitter cold and snow.

After a long day yesterday, I decided to go out and have a beer with some friends. However; Lubbock still allows smokers to smoke inside and create a thick haze in all the bars, it sucks. I could only handle about thirty minutes of it before I started to feel physically ill. I think its time for all public places to be smoke free; don't screw up my lungs just because you want to.

Back in Lubbock :(

I hope everyone had a happy holiday this last week because I know I did. Here is a summary.

Wednesday I drove home to my parent's ranch in Fredericksburg and helped with some chores around the house.
Thursday (Turkey Day) I did a short road ride to get my appetite going to chow down with the family.

Friday I was supposed to ride the new mtb with Mike, but he never called me back, so it was just another road ride but a long one through the hill country. Then that afternoon drove to SA and went to the Spurs game with Brad (Team Solar Eclipse Director), unfortunately they lost to the Bulls.

Saturday was the Ride to Save Your Hide charity ride but the weather had other plans and rained....hard. 12 people still showed up and rode in the rain but only did the short route of 25miles. That night was lets say....very interesting. Brad, Jimmy, and I, along with some of their friends went out to eat to celebrate Jimmy and Billy's birthday at Ruth Chris Steakhouse followed up by going to Silo (a bar in SA). At Silo I was working on my second beer when a guy proceeded to push Jimmy in the back, well Jimmy turned around and they both started sizing each other up waiting for the other to throw the first punch, well before any fists flew the bouncers separated everyone and threw us out of the bar for making trouble that we didn't even started. But the funniest part to me was the fact that this was the first time I was ever thrown out of a bar and it happened to be with other cyclists who were all over the age of 40.

After sleeping in on Sunday, I drove back to Lubbock. At about Sweetwater I was met by a dust storm.

But closer to Lubbock it cleared to show off all of the beautiful scenery of west Texas.