Boise Twilight

If you are within in 10 hours of Boise, you should do this awesome race. The race is really well run, its a twilight crit, and there are always great crowds. Please support a great event! The hubs and I are actually going to make a weekend of it, heading up on Friday and bringing our mountain bikes too. The hubs is planning to make an assault on the road up to Bogus Basin

We are looking forward to kicking it in cool trendy Boise!

I'm piecing myself back together since returning from Canadia. Finally put my bike together yesterday morning and headed to the DMV training crit last night. In melt-y temperatures, I jumped in with the men's B group. While somewhat frustrating (a group of about 6-8 basically rode away from the group), it was a good workout and (as always) a fun and interesting course.

The hubs attended his first kickball game too. While I unfortunately missed out on the chance to be a soccer mom, Team Damian's Gingerballs brought home a solid victory--I think they may actually be undefeated. I was impressed that the hubs *almost* scored a home run but more impressed hearing about a certain team member who had consumed so much "electrolyte replacement" he actually fell down in between 3rd and home base--thereby failing to score. Even more impressive was that said athlete thought he had moved with lightning speed--in direct contradition to ALL observers (even his teammates). Good stuff.

Justice!

In the saddest turned GREATEST news ever, the hubs' NEW bike was both stolen and recovered recently! The hubs called me in Vancouver to let me know that his new beloved Time bike was stolen FROM OUR HOUSE (gross). However, an AWESOME member of the SLCPD recovered said bicycle. Apparently, something looked weird about a dude in a wife beater carrying a 40 and wearing flip flops riding down Redwood. The awesome police officer went to stop the guy and he took off, dropping the bike in an alley. The hubs is reunited with his beloved steed. The only items missing from the bike were the tubes and cartridges in the saddlebag. Said perp filled the saddlebag with double A batteries (for use in his methlab?). In addition to the batteries, the hubs inherited a bike lock with his bike. Apparently this fine specimen recognized that he too could fall prey to the desires of other carbon obsessed francophiles and that securitizing the Time would be essential in the bike stealing warzone that is the 801. The world is right again.

And let me just say how much I *hearted* racing in maple leaf land and hanging out with Mel and Seth in Vancouver. I wasn't feeling like a million bucks (more like a million pesos), but was ok with how everything went. In Friday's 3 k prologue, I was 22nd, 27 seconds behind the leader, Laura Brown. No aero stuff for this kid. Friday night Mel, Seth and I went to dinner at the Nook, an awesome Eye-talian restaurant right in their neighb.

Saturday morning I went for a lovely spin along the water and then Mel and I brunched at an excellent diner in another trendy neighborhood. Everyone in Vancouver has a dog.

At Saturday night's crit, I ended up 9th. The 2 highlights of the race were having Mel, Seth and London lawyer Patrick at the race; along with getting a callup from bestest announcer Dave Towle.




(Seth digs bike racing)



The hubs and Newberry sort of convinced me to try just racing for the finish--and not try to go for primes and cover all the attacks. Jazz Apple had 6 riders and they were VERY active. There were 2 other decently strong teams and a bunch of strong individuals. I was patient and let the teams do the work of chasing down all the Jazz Apple attacks.

I was vigilant about covering all moves with the right people. But I was never the aggressor.







OK I did go for one prime.







After winning a prime, I was joined by 2 Jazz Apple riders. The started attacking me and then there were 2 of us. She wasn't going to work with me so I towed her around for a bit then sat up and let the field catch us. We eventually caught the other rider. As the race wound down, another Jazz Apple rider ended up getting a little gap, in the last half lap they started a little train which I attached myself to. As we rounded the last turn, I just got a little bit sandwiched (sort of like being a little pregnant) and the hesitation totally cost me. I was disappointed with my finish but pleased with how I raced. Lauren Ellis won with Jazz Apple sweeping the podium. They raced a great race.

After the race, we went to a bar in the super chi chi part of town. Though Mel brought me clothes and product for after the race (so we could go straight out)--it was really just lipstick on a pig. It was pretty funny because I felt like I was in a Sex in the City episode. All the girls wore stilettos and super trendy fancy outfits. It was good people watching and a great time. Maybe a little too great. We didn't get back home till about 1am. Oops. I might be remorseful about staying out except I'm really not because I got to witness Mel moonwalk the shit out of the hallway in the bar. Backwards AND frontwards moonwalking. Some guy tried to challenge her but he sucked and the only thing he got out of trying to out-moonwalk Mel was washroom paper on his shoe. It was classic and I think it really helped in my struggle to come to terms with Michael Jackson's tragic death. No I'm serious.

Sunday morning was an 88 k road race. Kilometers are the new miles bitches so convert that. And its all about celsius too. We raced 11 laps on an 8 k loop with a gnarly hill that made me want to cry every time up it. I was literally dropped EVERY time up the hill. I was pretty sure I was going to be dropped but I managed to chase back on every time. I went through all the bike racing grief stages: Anger, self-loathing, pure despair, disillusionment and ....(what am I forgetting?). I felt like complete pooh and to top it off I totally had my head up my ass. I showed up with one water bottle, no idea what the course was like, and no gels. Hello, have you ever raced your bike before? Luckily, Suzy Pryde and her coolest hub (and head honchos of the Jazz Apple team) totally hooked me up with a bottle and some gels. Another Canadian rider and former pro now med student, Lisa Howard, made sure I had someone to feed me. SO COOL! It was so super awesome of these people to be so nice. I kind of knew there was some sort of sprint points but on that general head up my ass theme--I didn't know the details. Nothing was said about it at the start line (read the race bible dumbass). Yeah, I was basically a beater. Though in my corpse-like state--I don't know that I could've really done anything---but it would've been nice to make an informed decision.

Despite thinking I wouldn't finish, I ended up 7th in the road race. Jazz Apple swept the podium AGAIN (they totally controlled the race). Also, despite the heinousity of how I felt, it was a super fantastic experience to do the race. The riders were all really cool and classy and the race was very well run. I wish I could've stayed for Tour de White Rock the following weekend!

And this is where the fun and coolness really began....

I returned to Mel, Seth and the dogs (Stella and Lu Lu the weiner dog). Mel and Seth were working off the previous night. I recapped my race and then we recapped the moonwalking competition. Why god why weren't there pictures of that? After a good couch session, we motivated to go the Granville market. We even took a water taxi to get there. That was cool.





Oh my assault on the senses.











Recovery food.







Home sweet home.








Live music.








We took to wrong water taxi on the way back and had to walk 1000000 kilometers. And Mel is a really fast walker. Luckily we got to take some breaks. We stopped to observe these rock sculptures. I fail to comprehend. They are standing on their own! What?

(p.s. Mel is an AMAZING photog!)

After a DELISH dinner cheffed up by Mel and Seth, the real event got underway.

Let's call it the Epilogue of the Tour de Delta. In this event, there were 5 competitors. Mel, Seth, me and the dogs. It was really more of a team event though.

After dinner and possibly some drinks we took beach cruisers and one skateboard onto the seawall that goes around false creek. Mel and Seth alternated on the skateboard--which was pulled by Stella the wonderdog. The weiner dog donned a green neon band and ran its head off silly. Stella kicked ass and those on bikes could NOT keep up with her as she whipped her passengers along the seawall! I must say this kind of getting dropped is waaaaaay better than the kind I'd been doing a lot of in the road race.

Mel saw a skunk family and some raccoons. She has eagle eyes when it comes to spotting wildlife. She says its from driving and always being on the lookout for cops. We also saw MANY large birds and some more trippy rock sculptures. It was amazing.

Monday morning I did one final spin on the bike path. My final awesome Vancouver experience was experiencing Artigiano's masterful lattes and treats. It was a long walk but I fortified myself with an additional latte for the walk back and Mel was forced to go Italian pace.

It was an INCREDIBLE weekend and so awesome to hang with Mel and Seth. Raise your hands if you want these guys to move back to Utah!!

Bonjour, its a nice to day to be OOTside

Through every possible form of transportation, I finally made it across international borders to Vancouver on Thursday night. I flew into Seattle and met up with old school great bud Anders for a little hippie veggie cafe action. It was f-word GREAT to see you. She is an old friend from the boulderland with whom I enjoyed much snow and laughingtimes with back in the day. We hadn't seen each other in almost 10 years. She's a mom now and is totally into it. Kind of crazy because I never pegged her for that. But what do I know about that sort of thing. She is one of my faves and is a one-of-a-kind goofball. She kept telling me that I looked so much older but somehow she tried to explain it was a compliment. I suppose a person does do a lot of growing up from age 24-34. I think in my case I've probably just spent too much time in the sun.

After a kitchen sink cookie and a doppio espresso, I hit the road to drive up to Vancouver. After making 50 million wrong turns in the trendy but confusing Seattle neighborhood, I finally found the highway. I started fading fast with about 100 miles to go. Not good. Found a DMD (diet mountain dew--the nuke-ular option if you will) and was able to make it to Mel and Seth's place in Vancouver. I passed out in one of the most comfortable beds I've ever slept in--thanks easter bunny! Thursday morning, Seth made us coffee and then Mel and I got to hang out for a while. It was super super great to catch up with her in her SICK pad. Mel is one of my closest gf's and it sucks that she lives far away now. We walked to a local market where I had a succession of heart attacks at how expensive everything was. Did it in any way shape my purchase choices? Hell no.

I finally got my bike put together in the afternoon and headed out for a spin. I'm TOTALLY inspired by how awesome it is to non-vehicularly ambulate around Vancouver. It is a FULL ON city but there are bike lanes, bike paths and custom bike light-changer-buttons everywhere. It is so awesome.

Everyone rides bikes here--even the homeless. I saw a dude riding a bike and pushing his grocery cart full of stuff all at the same time. There are funny dynamics happening too. On today's spin, a girl sprinted by me at an intersection I had slowed down for. She jack-hammered ahead of me till I rolled up to her at a light. Just as I rolled up to her, another (presumably homeless guy) got the hole shot as the light changed and he was really able to hold onto his position with the 2 large trash bags of glass bottles he was carrying in both hands. There was an island to cross in the middle of the street so he was really able to gutter this girl in between his large bag of bottles and the curb. She had to slam on her breaks and as we all made it across the intersection, she really had to give'er (b/c that's what they do here) to chase this guy down. It was awesome. I had to give the guy some props as I passed him. He didn't hear me though because he was wearing a walkman.

The Tour de Delta prologue is tonight. I have no idea to what expect this weekend. I have not been feeling too great lately for some reason--so I'm not having amazing expectations for myself. And I know negativity breeds bad outcomes--I'm just sayin. I've been feeling pretty good lately so if I may be entering into a little slump--well, we'll just have to deal with that. You're never as good as your best day or as bad as your worst day after all. I'm actually most nervous about being able to get my car out of the maximum security prison that is Mel's parking garage. My second most nervous thing is not getting lost and being stuck in heinous traffic. Oh and how the hell do I race a 5k prologue? It should be interesting.

My new Yeti and the hokey pokey....

They are both what its all about (or aboot--in honor of my forays into Maple Leaf land this weekend!)

The hubs and I had a super fun 4th of July in Sun Valley with the Woodies, DB's, JemClems, Rick and Lizzie and Mr. Jowegawa. We arrived on Friday afternoon to some sprinkles. The kids had just returned to camp and were shivering in their tents. I snuggled with Joanna for a good smack talk session before having an awesome evening around the campfire. Porno for Pyros.

Saturday we rode Greenhorn, Mahoney, Imperial or some such combination. It was my 1st ride on my new Yeti 575 and I loved it. To clarify, I enjoyed the ride on the uphill and LUFFED it on the downhill. There were a few sprinkles but nothing major. The hubs and Mr. J single speeded the ride b/c they both=badasses. We cheffed up another yummy dinner and when I say we I mean JEM and I decided to make Indian and the Woodies made it happen. I mixed up some VoDToMs (Vodka Diet Tonics--with fresh mint) because we all have our roles.

Sunday we rallied to ride Fisher Creek. More fun times and delish 1x. We have JEM a ride home through the storm to end all storms and ended up at the homestead in time to meet up with Randypants (in town for a bachelor running weekend).

We've had some good hang times with the pants this week. Miss that kid.

I had a premonition before RMR on Tuesday and decided to do Coach K's sprint workout on Wasatch (or Nonwaving Douche Boulevard as I've decided to re-name it pending UDOT approval). If one more person doesn't wave back, I'm going to lose it. That was one thing about the OC disorder--everyone waves! What's up Utahrds? He/She is just not that into you so give up the 'tude. I'm not saying EVERYONE has to wave back. You know what I mean. I get it that some people are just trying to keep their own world together and don't have the faculties to even doing a finger lift off the bars in acknowledgment of my salute. I'm talking about all those people on their respective missions of lameness who refuse to acknowledge my waving presence! How about just a nod?

Anyway, despite the Nonwaving Douche Boulevard Cold War, I arrived home to dins with the pants on his last night. Abby G and Neal joined us and Richie and Renee dropped by later for some Pants Props. I was up until ungodly hours in ungodly temperatures packing my bike (my least fave activity) and trying to do laundry. Oh and coordinate with MEL who I'm going to see tonight when I arrive in Vancouver!

I'll be competing in the Tour de Delta this weekend in Vancouver, BC. Flying to Seattle then driving to Vancouver. I'm stoked. Mel needs to move back here. She's starting to get werid accents. It has been and will continue to be a whirlwind---but a fun shamble-istic whirlwind nonetheless.

So this weekend, whether you employ wheels on the dirt, feet on the pavement or skin in the water--I hope your experiences are maximally enjoyable. And don't forget to send me speedy vibes--but send them international. Starting Friday.

My new favorite beverage is...

A shot of organic kosher vodka with diet tonic water and fresh mint. Dad--that one's for you!

I've bumped and grinded my way back into life in the 801. I did the RMR training race last night. It was super windy and painful but I hung with the main group and was totally stoked. There was a group of 3 that stayed away (gnarly) and then the main group got pretty shelled down. It was hot and I never thought Gary would say 3 to go. I tried to fight for position to stay near the front on the last lap and I think I ended up something like 15th or so in the field sprint. Like I said, I was really jazzed about it! Headed straight to the gas station after and chugged a large Vitamin Water. Pomegranate for anti-oxidants.

I tried racing the A flite at the DMV tonight. That didn't go so well. It was really windy tonight and the field was REALLY small! I lasted about 5 minutes (and that includes the neutral lap). I jumped back in and could only hang for a little bit. The DMV course is a lot more technical and "hardman" than the RMR--so that means way harder to hide! Its a great course and trying to hang with the fast guys is so good for me.

And I'm bach-ing it this week as the hubs is still in the OC. Its weird to be the one who's home while the spouse is out of town! Its been nice to be a sloppy bachelor---but I'm really looking forward to seeing the hubs tomorrow night!

And talking about things to look forward to, the hubs and I are headed to Sun Valley, Idaho this weekend. I'm REALLY excited for the trip as some of my favorite humans will be there and I'll get to ride my NEW MOUNTAIN BIKE. If I wasn't a lazy p.o.s. I would include a picture here. But I'll give you a thousand words instead. Its a Yeti 575 and it is sweet.

So it will be a mental rejuve weekend. Good peeps, good riding and good eats (Woody is involved after all!) I will also hopefully get to meet up with Coach K too!

Hope everyone has an excellent codependence day.

Racing, bbq'ing and hanging in S. California

Just finished up a healthy full 10 or so hour drive. Car is unpacked, its time for bed, and I'm wide awake. Probably still running on the psyched adrenaline from the weekend, or the evil empire starbucks I had in Cedar City at 7 pm. Either way I'm psyched.

But back to the re-cap:

So the hubs and Erin arrived safely in the OC disorder to round out the team roster for the weekend. On Saturday, Erin decided to get after it and go for a little run with Johnny G and Jen's running group. When the hubs and I rolled up to the post run breakfast, Erin responded to my question about the run with one word: "soul crushing." But it was fun times nonetheless. We did some smack talking over gluten-full bagels before the hubs, Johnny G., Jen and I headed out on a little ride in Santiago Canyon. It was awesome. Capped off the ride with a swim/shower in the local pool. And when I say shower I mean rinsing off in the shower at the pool. No shampoo. No soap. And I stuck with that shower program all weekend. I need a deep condition now. For my hair too.

We finished up the day with ceviche in Laguna and more meat products off the grill back at casa Johnny G. Jen and I cheffed up some serious salad from the valhalla Persian market in the OC disorder. This market ruled. I filled my cart with what would've been $100 of produce and other items at Entire Paycheck--but it was not even half that! I was in luff.

On Sunday, Erin and I headed to the race at Manhattan Beach. I had been planning on doing this race because it was on the NRC calendar. However, sometime in the past few weeks or so, they decided to un-NRC the race. I think it was a money deal. Whatever, who cares. There were still 60 speedy women that lined up--though any real presence by the big teams was lacking.

Erin and I picked up teammate Gwen (who totally rallied to do the race on a borrowed bike) in DISNEYLAND and then spent the next 5 hours trying to figure out how to park in Manhattan Beach. I'm not complaining, I'm just saying. We connected with teammate Lins who provided Gwen with a bike to use for warm up. It takes a laid back person to warm up and race on a bike that is not theirs. Gwen wasn't even able to GET the bike till minutes before our race. Lins and I were sitting on the start line wondering how to stall. Luckily Gwen rolled up just in time for the gun to go off.

The race was decently fast--but nothing was able to stick. Lins and I each won some primes and Lins and Gwen were awesome at covering the moves. With 2 laps to go, Suzy Pryde from Jazz Apple took a serious flyer. Lins totally buried herself to reel it in. On the last lap, I stupidly closed the rest of the gap and then got kind of swarmed on the backstretch. There was a huge crash--I felt a handlebar hit my hip and then I heard a scream and heard that crunch of metal. Major bummer. I didn't get stuck behind it or anything, but it did shake me up a little. Ultimately I just had lame position going into the final hairpin turn and was somewhat spent from closing up the gap. I ended up 12th in the field sprint with Koryn Rivera--a junior rider--taking 1st. I wasn't super psyched with my result--but I had a lot of fun racing with Gwen and Lins and totally LOVED the fan support I got out on the course.

Johnny G and Jen made sure I had some bacon-wrapped steak from the previous night's bbq for good recovery. If you think I'm joking you'd be wrong and if you think I was still wearing my shammy when I consumed said red and other white meat, you'd be right.

After the race, we had a romantic walk along the beach (all 5 of us) on our way to Wahoos for some fish tacos. Since I needed to take a shower, we headed over to the neighborhood pool in the OC while "re-hydrating" with some delicious Brazilian rum-type concotions. More bbq, more yum yums, more cocktails and lots more laughs.

This morning, I went for one final spin in the OC disorder. We had a team coffee session before all the kids headed off to work. The hubs is actually staying in the OC disorder to do some collaborating with Johnny G's company on some super secret important stuff. As Johnny G and the hubs were leaving to go to Johnny G's office together, Jen remarked "Oh look, its bring your buddy to work day!"

Post-weekend thoughts: if things don't work out with science, Johnny G could have a very rewarding thought slight less lucrative career as a soigneur; Erin is an awesome friend and still makes me delicately guffaw like no other; why does Jen come out with some of the best lines ever? The hubs just plain rules in any environment, at any time.

It was an awesome weekend. The best part about racing these out-of-state races is no matter how the racing goes--the people around you always make the trip such a fantastico experience. I feel damn lucky to have such wonderful humans that bounce into my orbit!

Michael Jackson's death is effecting me more than I would've anticipated

While driving from southern Utah yesterday to the OC disorder, I heard on the radio that the man of the moon walk and man in the mirror, one glove wearing but multiple surgeries having legend--Michael Jackson--passed away. As Johnny G said, sucks for Farrah Fawcett to have passed on the same day. She was totally eclipsed by Miss Nasty's brother. That's a big deal--she was an ANGEL after all!

Anyway, I'll admit--I felt some emotions when I heard that announcement somewhere in the Mojave Desert. Sheesh, I still remember how excited my sister and I were when we got the Thriller album. I think we had to do some gnarly chores to earn that one. I don't really remember. Lucky for us we had a dad that liked that kind of stuff too. Oh that Thriller album! You remember, with that huge tiger on the back--COME ON (as woody would say). That was f-word sweet. And I DO mean album! Not CD. That's the era we're talking here.

Well, lucky for me, Nevada and California radio was there to help me process my grief. I think I heard Billy Jean about 3 times, some Beat it--no ABC, that would've been sweet. I'm sure they hit up the early days but I was probably out of range at that point.

So yeah, I did a little more grief processing with Johnny G this morning as he read it in the paper, as he commented "I feel like I need to go on TV and cry about this." If you know Johnny G: scientist, sick runner, and hilarious-in-deadpan-nonemotional way...you know that's some funny shit. But really--those stars of the 80s are when a lot of people my age were actually starstruck. Its when we bought ALBUMS and made mixes and had posters in our rooms. I still get a little swoon-y when I hear Take on Me and think about my A-ha poster.

Aside from that unfortunate event, my trip to the OC disorder went smoothly. I did have some heart palpitations on the toll road coming into the OC--but I made sure I was flush with quarters. I rolled in to casa Johnny G at about 10 pm. Johnny G poured hisself a Manhattan--which drink he and Mrs. Johnny G plan to consume every night in honor of Manhattan Beach Grand Prix (a crit I'm doing here on Sunday). If I end up getting some good luck out of this--he will be forced to repeat this performance before every important race! Now that wouldn't be a big deal before a race like America's Dairyland (you drink milk) or Cascade (you just drink a lot of water). I guess I'd be a little concerend about what he'd do before Gateway. Its a good think I'm not doing Tour de WHITE ROCK in a few weeks.

Over Manhattans, I got to do a little catching up with Mr and Mrs Johnny G. It is always f-word awesome to see these kids. They have been tearing up some 5 Ks and are relatively injury free.

This morning after Johnny G and I had our Michael Jackson grief therapy counseling session, I had another therapy session on their back patio while the house was getting cleaned. I read for a few hours and drank a pot of coffee. After I felt ok with everything, I got on my bike and had an AWESOME ride in the OC--as mapped out by Johnny G. My legs don't feel fantastic but my mind feels pretty dern good. I think I'm pretty mentally rejuved after the 2 week off period (which ended with High Uintas last week).

Part of the ride was a little stroll down memory lane as I had to ride part of the road nationals course from last year which was my first date with DFT team director MH. We've (me and DFT p/b Treads) been together ever since in what I consider a very stable and fulfilling relationship. Fun times! And talking about DFT, there will be THREE of us ready to tear it up at Manhattan Beach Grand Prix. Teammate Lins now RESIDES in California del sud (I believe) and teammate Gwen is going to sneak away from Disneyland (I don't know details--I just know that I'm rescuing her from said haven of Americana on Sunday morning) to come and race. The hubs is flying in tonight, and ERIN will be joining us too! S'looking to be a fantastico weekend--with good peeps, good eats, good drinks and awesome RACING! I anticipate some laughing might be on the menu in addition to some good material for future blog posts. So make sure to check back--and of course- thanks for reading!