Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Four days of riding..

Well, as the year approaches an end, thank goodness, it's time to think of 09.. As for training, I actually started on Monday and so far so good.. I did a 1 hour ride on my cross bike Monday and a MTB ride with Eric N. last night.. Today I will rest and recover from the last three days of riding..

I'm off the rest of the week and going to M'ville through Sunday.. While there, I've got some great rides picked out.. I plan on riding my road bike Thurs./Sat. and the cross bike on Fri./Sun. Should be a really good block of riding.. Thurs. route is a 30 mile loop with some killer hills, with the cross route being a good dirt road route that is about 5 miles, but it's a good circuit, with one really long hill that is pretty much all sand.. So, cross your fingers and let's hope the IT band holds out.. I've been stretching all week and have a new tube of Icy Hot!!

My goals for the new year are to lose some wt., I'd really like to drop down to 170 and of course go into cross season in much better shape next year with my goal to do the USGP in Ohio in October.. I'm also thinking of doing just the Bs next year in the Ga. series.. Should be interesting..

Happy New Year everyone!!

Monday, December 29, 2008

Anyone know..

How to post videos?  Here's a great one!!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNVKeDfQuOk


Sunday, December 28, 2008

A little rain to make it complete..

So, I got up this morning expecting to find fog and drizzel, but to my surprise it was SUNNY!!  Ah, SUN I've missed you so..  I quickly got up, got ready and was off to meet the group..  Having a half a pack of oatmeal isn't a good way to prepare for a ride, but it was better than nothing..  Great route picked out today and by the time I got home I had 53 miles..  

Leg felt good, but I used about half a thing of icy hot, it's still hot now even after a shower..  We'll see how Tuesday goes, that'll be the day the pain would normally set in.  I stretched real good before the ride and after, so I hope to be good to go..  Should get in two really good rides on Thurs. and Friday in M'ville..  I hope it doesn't rain anymore so I can go ride the dirt road loop there..  

Great ride today though, I felt comfortable the whole ride and managed for the most part to keep the HR in check..


Saturday, December 27, 2008

Zolder World Cup


Zolder World Cup
Originally uploaded by Estebon Buncier
You just have to wonder what the team kit looks like that goes with this bike...

Weather..

Anyone ever notice when you get time off of work the weather sucks?  I did three hours on the FATS Forest Service roads and am whiped out!  That's some great riding without even touching the trails..  It was a good work out, but the IT band is telling me about it today..  I've been stretching and doing the roller.  I can't let that thing creep back up on me or life will totally suck!!  Last time it got bad I could only ride for 45 min. at a time and that was spinning lightly..  Totally sucked.

Hope to do the group ride tomorrow although the weather looks like it could be a crap ride..  Of course Monday it'll probably be sunny and beautiful..  

Anyone ever look at facebook?  WOW, now that's a cool site..  I feel like I've reunited with half of my high school class and friends from college..  

Diegem is tomorrow, be interesting to see if Page races..  Dude's gotta be hating life right now, but hopefully everything will clear it self out..  Hopefully it'll be on the internet..

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Sven Nys


Sven Nys
Originally uploaded by Enirel
If I could only have his legs for one race...

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Nice roads..


IMGP3074
Originally uploaded by MollyCameron
Just imagine miles and miles of this.. Video courtesy of Molly...

Video from Molly in Belgium..

This is funny.. Wish I was in Belgium.. NOT FREAKING AUGUSTA!!

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Windy day = GREAT ride...


Great day for a ride..  Windy, cloudy, sprinkly, and sunny..  Robert and I decided to bag FATS and go out to Ft. Gordon..  I think it was a good call.. I'm sure the trails were wet and I like to think those guys at SORBA would appreciate our respecting trail use common sense..  

We decided to do the big loop and decide from there..  We did the first one and with a nod of the head quickly took the split to the left as not to think to much about our decision..  We chose correctly, at least that was what I was hoping..  Robert was riding strong and I felt like was holding my own..  Robert did a mtb ride the day before with Dan and Jake, so I'm sure he was a little tired, but he wasn't showing it today..

Overall a great ride..  Wind was really rough, but we both rode with no drafting as to get the best work out possible and we did!!  We're  doing the same ride Wed. if anyone is interested..  Two big loops, no compromises!  



           Robert tightening up the shoes getting ready to dish out some pain.. 
Me responding the pain dishing...  I suck at climbing... 
Fueling with for lap 2
Obviously before the beating started..

The days steed..  Heavy, but will pay off in the long run...



car 2.jpg


Now this is a monitor

Friday, December 19, 2008

Tired legs...

Not much going on this week, so I've had some time to ride..  I did Tues and Thur. SS bike on my 1 hour loop..  Legs were pretty tired from Tuesday, then Wed. I went out to Ft. Gordon and did 37 miles...  Thursday legs were dead, but I got the whole work out in..  Didn't ride today and won't tomorrow..  Hope to go to FATS on Sunday..  Need to get in some off road miles to get ready for Southern Cross..  

Hope I can go out there twice next week..

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Cut, It's a wrap..

Let's hope we see more of this next year!!  
Jake warming up in Blairsville...
Kyle climbing in Blairsville..
John Allison killing out out of the "circle of death" in Conyers..
Kyle hitting the barriers in Dallas..
The dynamic duo..  
Dan, the rider formally known as ____,  climbing in Rome..  
Kyle, Dan and Jake cking out the goods trying to decide if they've got enough crap..  
The Wii wiz..  Genoveve (I can't spell) is a Wii and Pokeman machine!!    


Well, the season is finally really over..  I think most of us really didn't know what to do today..  It's usually that way right after the season ends..  It's the first Sunday in eight weeks that we weren't getting ready for race day at 8:00 am or waking up in a strange bed that isn't nearly as comfortable as the one we have at home..  I for one was up and riding at 8:30 in the slush at Bartram Trail getting ready for my next big event that will come up in January..  I hope it's good weather, because this morning riding in the wet and cold sucked...  I can't imagine doing it for 3+ hours, 1.5 hours was long enough for me today..  

We had our season end party tonight..  I think everyone had fun..  Kyle and I gave Chad a jersey as a going away present and we all enjoyed just visiting..  It's funny, you go to practice and to the races week in and week out, but you never really get to know the people you bond with until the season is over.. 

Thanks for coming over everyone..  Michele and I enjoyed having you over and Ian's so worn out he practically passed out when put in the bed..  

Have a happy and safe holiday season..  

Till next year..

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

The withdrawal begins..

Here's to you guys, thanks for a great season..  Can't wait till next year!!   
Chris with Loose Nuts hooking me up with a vital feed during the race..  PBR actually goes down pretty good when your heart rate is at 177 bpm..  Thanks guys, you made the year and races the much more entertaining!!  (Photo provided by Ben of Loose Nuts)  

So it's Tuesday night and no practice..  So, to settle into the "no practice" zone I went for a ride on the SS bike..  I've got to ramp up endurance now to get ready for the Southern Cross race in Ellijay next month..  I've got about six to seven weeks to get ready to get ready for a 60 mile cross race!  What was I thinking???

So back to Sunday..  Ben posted on the comments that we rock, but put an address of fotos that won't work.. Ben, please post the link again..  I need those fotos..  

Here's a few pics from Sunday.. 

Team party this Sunday, so that should be fun..  What will we do the next Sunday though.. Hmm..  Dirt road ride anyone????  Hell no Kyle we ain't riding at 6:30!!!  

Last race of the season and I was so feeling like crap..  It's amazing what a little cold can do to you in just three days..  
Our new comer Chad getting on the podium for his last race of the season and probably last Ga. race..   I told Kyle at our last practice that I bet Chad would podium before the series was over..  He was putting 110% efforts in at every practice to learn as much as possible and make the most of his time..   Chad came to us via California via the military and  heads back next week to sunny and I'm sure warmer California....  Thanks for joining us Chad, it was fun having you around and you'll be missed..  
Super B on top and in charge!  Next year should be REALLY interesting..  I'm confident she'll still be on that podium...
Bob, you are the man..  Guy has serious calf injury two weeks ago, comes back to take the series' final race..  Good luck at nationals and I'll see you in January for Southern Cross..

Matt pushing it up the run up..  That leader jersey looks nice..  How many of those did you get Matt?
The boys sucking down some cold ones after the race..  Thanks to Loose Nuts for sharing the brew, I have to admit, taking a beer feed works a lot better than you would think..  I highly recommend it..  
Ah, soaking in the tub the night before the race...  30 degrees outside, 104 degrees in the tub!!  Don't worry, we did a "hand check" every few minutes..  Probably should've done a "foot check", but we won't talk about that..

Till next time!!      






Sunday, December 7, 2008

DALLAS: THE FINALE!!

Loose Nuts team bike...  
Men's B podium.. 
Single Speed Podium
Dude, when you come out of retirement, you're supposed to shave your legs!




Kyle in the early going in the Master's race..
Kyle and Robert discussing the chill in the air and Melissa telling Becca about freak show she missed the night before with four white guys in a hot tub..  


Wow, it just seems like yesterday we were getting ready to start the season and today it's over..

   What a GREAT year we have all had..  This is only our 2nd year as a team and we rocked the house!!  2nd place in BOTH team categories, TWO 1st place series category overall wins,  Becca in the women's Bs, Matt in the men's Bs.  TWO second place category wins, John in the men's Cs,  Kyle in the SS and a lot of podium positions..  We were on multiple podiums EVERY weekend!!  WHAT A HUGE YEAR!!  All I can say is we will be one of the most talked about teams coming in to next year and are going to have our hands full with so many riders moving up a category..  But that is a positive thing..  

Hat's off the Phelan clan for their one two punch in the B and C races,  Matt for his dominance in the B category and to Kyle for his dedication in the SS category..  Many of us have had HUGE performances and at least one of us come out of retirement ;)...  I don't know where to start except to say thank you all for making this the best season ever..

You guys all rocked the house through the lows and the highs you stuck together as a team and all pitched in to help each other, whether it was helping someone set up their bike, letting them borrow parts, clothes, whatever..  Everyone pitched in..  If a teammate was having a bad day, you guys encouraged them to hang in there..  If a teammate was injured, you offered your support..  Even if a teammate needed a buck, you didn't hesitate to offer up one or two..  (I forgot my ck book today and didn't think I had enough cash, Jake quickly and selflessly offered to pay my entry)  You don't see that on many teams, if any!  That's what makes us a unique group..  Everyone lends each other a hand...  I've had more than one person notice and mention this to me..  To me, this is what being on a team and having a team is all about...  TEAMWORK!!

I'll post a race report probably tomorrow night..  If you have any pictures, please email them to me, I only have a few..  

Friday, December 5, 2008

The curse..

You know how when every thing seems to be going well and you say..  "wow, first cross season I haven't gotten sick during."  Famous last words..  So, I've been fighting a cold all week and yesterday it finally got me down.  So, I've been in the bed since 9 last night, eating zinc like it's candy hoping for a miracle..  Looks like I'll be a spectator this weekend/team photographer/ supporter..  

Lesson learned..  never comment on your health during cross season!  

Till next time!!  

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Mud and running..


 Jake getting ready for his next wrestling match at Ft. Yargo..
     Kyle finally on the podium..  Shey looks way to enthused...  

The crew..


       Matt hammering at Conyers 2  

                             Spanky totally focused..  


Okay, so I know you are all going to be disappointed, but this is going to be a quickie..  I'm sick, my kitchen is torn to heck and I gotta get ready to go out of town for work tomorrow..  So, here's the down and dirty..

We did good...  Okay, just kidding, we did real good..  Conyers no. 2 was just that..  A race filled with no. 2 all over the place..  Probably the hardest race I've ever done..  The course was hard as it is, but add to that about 2 inches of rain and you've got one heck of a mess..  The team did well however, with Becca making an awesome comeback to win her race, John pretty much doing the same to get 3rd again, Kyle getting 3rd in the SS race and Spanky getting 6th in the B race..  Matt put on a show of force in the B race while Robert dabbled here and there and got 16th..  This was Robert's first weekend back to racing and he did it balls out!  He did three races, something I couldn't quite pull off.. Robert, you da man!!

I had an okay race, but during the SS race, I broke my chain tensioner and my chain went in the wheel, so to insure points, I ran the whole freaking course..  Sorry to those I snapped at near the finish, I can get a little testy sometimes, especially when I've just run two miles carrying a broken bike in the rain, I'm pissed about the bike, my result sucks, my hamstring is killing me and someone's yelling at me telling me to "go"..   I'm working on curbing my explicit vocabulary..  :)  

I think everyone had a good time and we're hoping to have a lot of fun for the final..  Dallas always serves up a lot of pain..  Due to illness though, I'm not making any promises.  I'm just going to give 100% in the B race and call it a year..  

Till I get a chance to update again..