Scorpio Mentality

     I give all to my team when racing and I always appreciate the better rider on my team on any given day.   That being said,  there was a day when I felt seriously slanted and unappreciated by my teammates bc they said I was kicked off the team, at a little town in Delaware ( the capitol actually) So I made it my mission to prove that day they made a serious mistake.  I basically worked with all the other teams and made a serious problem for NCVC to get any progress at all.  In the last lap there was a guy up the road who me and my ex teammate could have easily caught if I wanted to help, but I simply rode his wheel , just desserts.  He was so pissed when he lost he tried to complain to the official.  I didnt gain any love from the group mentality of NCVC.  

Get Some

   The best way to overcome adversity is to tell yourself if you don't mind, it doesn't matter.  A guy I work with always says that.  There are many challenges in life,  the biggest often come from other people.  Remember your mission in the race or time of year and don't lose track because of better results then expected, or worse, or other riders talking smack.  I always take a pull regardless of who is in the move or my status with the team.  It's honorable and forget the motto, your only as good as your last race.  It should go like .. You're only as good as you're word.. If you say you will work in a break then , do so.  I think most riders in a break deserve you're honesty.  If you're a sprinter then that sucks for the break if it's like 20 to go.  Their job then is to dump you if they can.  Anyway,  I have seen guys say they won't sprint after doing nothing and do the opposite.. I guess that just reflects their lack of integrity.  Racing is tough and so is life, so remember.. All deals can be bulls:'t and all people have is their word.  The bottom line is if you don't mind; it don't matter.  This is a philosophy that will help carry one thru the moral quagmire that racing can be sometimes.

Thoughts on Racing

  I have raced since 1993, I sucked at first because of too much juice too early....but I always wanted to get reimbursed for my entry.  ( always broke syndrome ) I have gotten my share in the years but I have yet to shake the desire. ( desire to win the easier prime money ) I realize recently one thing which has been a detriment to my actual success as a criterium racer.  The unneeded result midway in a race.  A preme is sweet but if it puts you out of contentention for the finish in the  long run its a waste of juice.  I have some examples to provide,  such as once in a Richmond pro Crit I attacked Eric Saunders when we were in a breakaway and he easily beat me and I got dropped from the break.  Solely by being selfish for 100 $.  I might have helped close the break which was chasing two up, which I didnt even know....until Eric scolded me as he passed and said so.  I have much respect for him and his buddy John Hamblin.  Both are riders I grew up competing with and we gave each other a hard time to beat the other, Back in the day.
   Anyway,  the point of this post is to give some insight into my mental perspective for any teammates who wondered WTF or any new teammates who did not understand me.  I wish I could have been more composed and chill.  I apologize.  Its just as much the old guys job to impart 100 % as it is the new guys job to be willing to slow down and listen.
     I am impressed with Joe Dombrowski and I always could tell by his results in climbing that he was gonna be a serious mark on this world. If he continued, Which he has , obviously.   Its hard to see the future, but I swear years ago I gave home slice some serious props.  Anyway,  The reason I bring up Joe is not because he was a teammate for a stint, nor because I am grateful that he didnt just join Harley/XO but that he was focused and didnt go for the immediate self gratification....which is to me the most self controlled thing to do.  Anyway, there...I have posted in a year and I am sure you guys would rather read about some deep section rims for sale or the great feeling of simply spinning , but if you could post something to indicate you read, that would be cool.  Sorry for being me. Cat 1 money grabber.

The Sun is the same in a relative way, but youre older

    I love cycling.  The energy of racing and just training is great.  I am convinced that the need to ride is associated with a feeling of freedom.  Freedom from the demands that the office requires or the business       
demands.  I havent raced this year, but I will be at the Apple Cross in Winchester this weekend.  I will suck a$$ but it will be a humble, painfull reminder of the true benefit of racing.  Not the glamour of results but the rendering of ones muscles for new growth and invigoration of life.
    This post is truly a simple thank you, to all my friends.  Plus a nod to the not so great friends that have helped me along the way in developing those legs, and my mindset which says " deal with it ". Thanks . ( I might find an appropriate pic soon, patience is a virtue)

The Fighting Spirit

The theme of soo many sporting events centers on the will to drive on. To push beyond the impossible and to give the remaining fight needed to get the edge. I have seen a lot of this in the sport of cycling and it always reminds me to do the same. I dont need a lot of reminders from others about the spirit to continue on but once in awhile it helps.
When I was given the chance to do the Redlands Classics in 2004, which also was the olympic qualifiers, the glimpse of another persons struggle to win was witnessed. Chris Horner was a fovorite in this event and the other teams knew it. Therefore when he let a group of maybe 6 go he mistakenly expected help from other teams but got none. He waited too long to go after it and the chase was too far to close. Maybe he made a mistake and I am sure he learned from it. The fighting spirit for him was rekindled because out of a huge field there was no help to be gotten. Many lost there chance that day because they thought the whole thing rested on his shoulders. I was given a lesson on how pros will do one another, and I am sure Mr. Horner did as well. He has not raced there since. Earlier he was a regular with like 9 prior attended entrees. Sometimes you just have to move on. He did. I think he might be my favorite American cyclist and his name is cool. Heres to the future of Chris and to the future of cycling in America. May it not look over its shoulder to decide if it should go forward!

Happy New Year to All

The New Year has arrived and I look forward to it. This will be the year where great things will come to be. The economy will improve and it will be reflected in the race scene. Races will not be canceled and turnouts will be huge. Sponsors will offer bigger and better dollars to provide support. The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow will be larger.
Blogging has been postponed for a bit because of working alot and other distractions, but the bicycle has always been a great stress reliever for me. Therefore I am committed to getting out and doing more miles in 2012. My hope for this season is to be more prepared in advance of each race instead of too much last minute pre race preperation. The wish with this post is to simply offer my congratulations to all who plan on entering into this year intending on sticking with the race program and not succumbing to watering down their racing plans. I applaud the effort i.e. Thanks for reading and pedal safe.

Time Trial

I now have a fire to do better in time trials and take them more seriously after the nightmare of going to the prologue of the Tour of Washington county ten minutes late and not havng a warm up. Terrible preparation on my behalf and the disappointment of losing that much entry money was a pisser.


After seeing guys like Art Browne and my friend Paul Lengermann going out to the team time trial and doing an earlier time at church creek and also the team one I am in a state of admiration for said individuals who have the heart and self sacrifice to endure soo much pain. Good pain that earlier in my years as a racer I would accept and endure.. now I wonder if I am just trying to enter what I can do with ease and comparative less pain. An attitude I never admire and I am beside myself for lapsing into such a complacent mode. I was angry at the official who would not give me a new start time last weekend, but I am more than over it and I realize that to accomodate for one is to do soo for all and thats a form of weaness. Weakness is something of which I detest to a degree. Therefore its a contradictory attitude on my behalf to expect or ask someone to display a behavior for which I have little respect. As for the team I ride on this year, I tried to convince them of the value of the team time trial and the individual one congruent with my recent realization, but to no avail. ( granted it was a couple days in advance of said event) I hate having little influence on the direction of the team I ride for and it will sit with me for awhile. I have never liked not being listened to since childhood which to my recollection was the constant with a gifted twin and an older brother. Cest la vie, but one should be aware of the things that one can change. Anyway, congratulations to all the riders who faced today the most honest challenger out there; the clock.