Ode to the Off Season

This is the official first week to the off season. On the one hand it is sure nice to not have to ride my bike right now. On the other hand, it sure is nice outside and I would love nothing more then to go for an early morning stroll to the Sonoma coastline. But alas, it is the offseason. What to do... what to do... Anybody want to go for a MTB ride? Oh wait, I would need a MTB for that... :-(

If rappers raced...

Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now


Yeah
I could use a dream or a genie or a wish
To go back to a place much simpler than this
Cause after all the racin' and smashin' and crashin'
And all the glitz and the glam and the passion
And all the pandemonium and all the madness
There comes a time where you fade to the blackness
And when you're staring at that phone in your lap
And you hoping but them people never call you back
But that's just how the story unfolds
You get another hand soon after you fold
And when your plans unravel
And they sayin' what would you wish for
If you had one chance
So airplane airplane sorry I'm late
I'm on my way so don't close that gate
If I don't make that then I'll switch my flight
And I'll be right back at it by the end of the night


Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now


Somebody take me back to the days
Before this was a job, before I got paid
Before it ever mattered what I had on my resume'
Yeah back when I was tryin' just to find my way
And back when I was racin' for the hell of it
But now I gotta win to stay relevant
I'm guessin’ that if we can make some wishes outta airplanes
Then maybe yo maybe I'll go back to the days
Before the politics that we all call racin’
And back when ain't nobody heard of E P O
And back before I wasn’t racin for that dough
But this is for that contract, what's up Holloway
So can I get a wish to end the politics
And get back to the race that started this sh-t
So here I stand and then again I say
I'm hopin' we can make some wishes outta airplanes

Pre Greeville Thoughts

I am writing this before the US Pro national championships. In a couple hours I will be lining up with some of the biggest names in peloton. King George is out to defend. Brent is out to take it away. BISSELL is here to upset. I am here to give 'em all hell.

So here I sit in the hotel room reflecting on the season, past couple years, and ths sport of cycling. It sure has been a long and fun journey. I guess it started talking to my dad and my Uncle Jeff about buying my first road bike for a staggaring $1,000. Then my first race in Minnesota with the University of Nebraska's cycling team. My first win as a category 5 at the Capitol City Criterium, then watching Marco Vasquez and the Lincoln Plating crew batteling it out in the Pro/1/2 race. 5 years later being introduced to Glen Mitchell at San Dimas and then later on that day winning the road race in a field sprint. I would have never thought 6 months later he would call me while I was sitting in my office at 3M to race for BISSELL. There was Philly... oh my... one adventure after another. This sure has been a fun ride!

I wish I could properly thank all the people who helped me along the way. From the family to my coach, team managers to teammates, shop sponsors to manufacturers... you know who you are!

Now I got to go. Put shoes on my feet and air in my tires.

Stars and bars baby! Time to suffer >:-)

Post 10k meal!!! :)

Early edition specialized bike, Fabian edition