Grand Rapids Update - BISSELL VICTORY

This trip has been a blast so far. My bro Tommy and I have been exploring the Grand Rapids night life (which is killer) and riding daily. Friday was the BISSELL company ride. Basically, all the BISSELL pros in town met at the BISSELL HQ for a meet and greet with the employees and all sponsors that felt like riding. We rode out of town and were greeted with a nice warm rain. It felt pretty good actually :-)

Saturday was the race. I met Beth at the Tannery Row apartment to watch Tom race. Then ate lunch and the rest of the boys came over for a pregame talk. Then it was GAME ON!!

From the gun, I launched an attack. Nothing too crazy, but enough to get the adrenalen going. Then Sheldon attacked, then Grammo attacked, and so on until Big Zirbel struck when the pack was weak. He ended up getting away with Jake Rytlewski and winnig the race.

In Grand Rapids Again!!!

Back to Grand Rapids for the last time this racing season.

Last night was the Graton Wednesday night throw down. The race is around a race track that is normally used for race cars. It is about a 2 mile circuit and I think we did 25 laps. It started out pretty tame. Then the local BISSELL boys decided to get aggressive (MY FAVORITE!!!!). Attack after attack came and we ALWAYS had the numbers. at about lap 12, Nathan (BISSELL) got away with his brother David (Priority Health). Then an chase group formed with me and 3 other guys. I did my part and waited till Nathan and David were clear of us before rotating through. The guys I was with appeared to be knackered from establishing the break so I figured attacks up the back side hill were appropriate. I ended up attacking 3 times in the last 10 laps or so but every time they did what was necessary to pull me back. So at 1.5 laps to go, I just sat on them and won the field sprint for 3rd :-) Not sure who took it, David or Nathan, but BISSELL got 2 guys on the podium!

(Picture not from Wednesday, but I thought I'd add one anyway)

New York!!!

So here is the skinny on NYC =-)

Absolutely AMAZING. I thought I was more of a country boy then a city boy, but this little trip changed that quite a bit. Staying in Jersey City just across the Hudson River from Manhattan was breath taking. Seeing the city all lit up at 3AM is quite the sight. Then a couple days IN Manhattan sealed the deal. So much diversity in so little space. UNBELIEVABLE! Plus, everything was on a scale that I had never seen before. Bars that took up whole city blocks, restaurants that were so classy. Stores that Paris Hilton would have to save up for before going on a shopping spree (OK, maybe not Paris, but me fo sho).

Really, it is inspiring. I am about ready to sell all of my possessions but my bike and move to San Francisco.

For those who care about racing in Sonoma County

The Committee met last night to prepare for the upcoming City Council meeting on August 11th, at 4:00. I know it's early for all that are working, but we really really need you there. We will be in/out of the meeting in most likely less than a 1/2 hour (our presentation will only be like 9 minutes total). And we are first on the agenda.

Also, I need a setup and tear-down crew for August 18th, 25th and Sept 1st. Since it's a new course I'm not sure how many people I'll need but at least for the 18th, the more the better. Please email me....or call.

Lastly, to all those that so graciously donated primes for the past races, we're calling out to you again to help us with primes for the next 3 dates. It's soooo appreciated and of course you'll get kudo's on the TNT website with links and logo's if you like.

Oh, and I need caution tape for one of the course corners if someone could make a donation, email or call me.

Thank you,
Ronnie

Evanston Update

The last race I did in Super week was the Evanston Criterium. As mentioned in my previous blog, the goal was to sit in and relax. I was able to do that pretty well. Went the whole race only having to cover 3 moves. Nothing too difficult though. As we were coming through the line at 2 to go, I was sitting 10th wheel and a chase group had just been caught. Noticing a sudden decrease in pack speed and seeing a clear line out of the pack, my instincts kicked in and I went for a suicide manuver. Looking back around corner 2 I had about a 5 second gap. Then going around the finish line at 1 to go I still had a gap, not sure what the time was, but the announcer was pretty excited to see the solo move and the crowd was loud enough to get the adrenalen surging through my veins. At this point, I knew it was do or die... don't look back till it's over.... tuck the head and ROLL!!!

The feeling was great. Either I would win the race or I would walk away knowing that I took a risk, had some fun, and entertained the fans for at least 1 lap. In the end, I got caught as I was lining up for corner 6 (of 7). Falling through the pack in the final sprint was not how I was hoping it to end, but no regrets.