Germany so far

For those of you just tuning in and a recap for those who have short memories, I decided to make the epic puddle jump and head over to Europe for Christmas with Bri.



Not a bad idea at all. But here are my impressions and experiences so far:

1. I have missed Bri so much. I know, I know, no one ever says long distance is easy. But if it were easy, everyone would be doing it. RIGHT?! It's been surreal to have her back in my arms, waking up to her, and just being dumb with her. And it's so awful that that I have to give it all up for who knows how long in about 3 days. The one thing that amazes me though and gives hope for us to get through this and any peril is that regardless of the time, distance, etcetera, Bri and I are still, if not more into each other than ever before. But whatever, mushy mushy mushy - you don't care... MOVING ON!
2. It is gorgeous here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean seriously it is. Totally different. You walk around Chicago, New York, Las Vegas, etcetera and there is constantly new construction of some sorts... New condos this, new buildings that. And I get that, by all means, job creation, better products, etc. But something about the fact that I am in Hamburg - one of Germany's big cities (think Chicago) and there are buildings dating back to the mid 1600s, still in use... WRAP YOUR BRAINS AROUND THAT!
3. If you die, its your fault! besides just the city, the nature itself is mesmerizing. We spent 5 days in the Northern Alps - so lush, so green, so unprotected. Think of any national park in the U.S. - guard rails, tourist signs, benches, etc etc. here.... no guard rails - kinda a big middle finger to the insurance companies - "yeah it's dangerous, we don't care" - I dig it.
4. Bri's host family is the GREATEST! Seriously, I have never been greeted with such hospitality and care from a host... much less someone I have never met in my life. The Millas - Jorg, Petra, Julia and Florin - are an amazing family. Jorg and Petra have been patient with me and Bri and given us our time to be on our own, while still maintaining the family interaction. They have been more than accommodating to my workout schedule and my diet. Jorg has taken me on several bike rides through the Hamburg countryside - which like I have said is absolutely gorgeous. The list is endless of how much I owe these people but it is simply summed up that they have treated me like a true member of the family - AWESOME!

That's really all I can come up with right now. Just got home from a theatrical production.... I just kind of looked around and watched people... occasionally listening to my ipod (rude I know, but what are going to do for two and a half hours.... To try it, get yourself a good foreign film with no subtitles, in a language you don't understand at all, and has no resemblance to any American film/book/theatre and watch it. See what you do after the first 30 - 45 minutes.




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I'll wait



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SEE! You are back at your laptop reading my blog.

But until next time, good night America, I'll see you soon.

NONONO, Blogspot, please don't delete this account

Well, here I sit in O'Hare Airport (ORD, for you travelin' geeks) hoping I can finesse a ticket taker into letting me take a flight that is 3 hours sooner than my original flight. It's a possibility, I mean, I am just heading to London, there are 3 flights in front of me. So I figured I would get to all my mega-fans who want to know the low on the C.K..

(I should fly planes)

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!!!! (you are screaming at the computer screen..... I can't hear you, sorry)
So before you get all willy nilly, and lose your mind, I am en route to go see the the most amazing girl I have ever laid eyes on... NO, not Taylor Swift! Although she is kinda cute. But Bri could put her in the hurt-locker in the looks category and in a fist-fight...
So Bri for the win. That's right folks, me and Brianna Coleman get to spend the majority of the holidays together. I am so excited, I didn't hink I would get to see her until she came home... which is May??? But her and I totally jerry-rigged a little Christmas Vacation for yours truly. So here's the story.

December 16 -
I leave 'Murrica. LATER!

December 17 -
Land in Hamburg. PARTY!

December 31 -
I go back to 'Murrica. Peace German Homies!

That's all I know, I'll keep you guys posted... But it's gonna be the gnarls



K Ok, Enough of that good American Boyfriend stuff. Time to cut you in on the latest, greatest, meatiest and neatest of my life.

So, I can honestly say this is my first rest season.... So foreign to me. But methinks, it will only help me in the long run. That's what Lisa says and that's as good as getting a sign from God.

I tried the cyclocross silliness everyone has been ranting about... Meh, it's like mountain biking, only it the tires are skinnier. I think a lot of people (cyclists) are just bored during that time of year and are just looking for something (ANYTHING!!!) exciting to do, and Cyclocross is there (to suck your off-season dollars)!

During that time of the year the average cyclist is sitting on their couch watching, anticipating, for the latest Cyclysm Sunday on Versus, but then they realize "HEY! instead of this, I can go to a park, ride my bike, jump off it, jump over something, and then jump back on my bike." I understand the attraction, I mean you can only watch the 1998 Liege-Bastonge-Liege before you have it all memorized, and you start inviting your friends over to watch it, so you can impress them with your knowledge of Euro-cycling strategies (they don't care). and you are like "DUDE DUDE! CHECK THIS OUT, He is going to pedal his bike really damn fast, DUDE, LOOK!" Meanwhile, "Dude" is practicing the drum solo from Moby Dick by Great White on your counters.... DUDE!!!!!!


So instead, you buy a bike with goofy brakes and give it a go at the local cyclocross circle... One of three things happen.

One, the least likely, You rip the heads off of everyone and pretty soon you are saying "forget road season, I use that as cross training for cyclocross", soon you and Sven Nys are throwin' 'bows --> Mike Sherer, Jason Knauff, Scott Mclaughlin, Ben Popper (local legends).


Two, you suck, so you buy more stuff based upon this simple equations:
Carbon = Fast
--> Hats off to these guys, they keep the bike industry alive.

(FACT: if your chainrings aren't carbon, you will suck)

Three, you do, OK, you have some fun, but when that first race at 10 degrees (Fahrenheit) rolls around, you say "eff it" and you now have your latest road bike...Surely you won't notice the long wheel base, the super raked out fork, the silly brakes and "baby" gearing.... Whatever it will make you stronger. That or really make you realize how much you took your road bike for granted and how bad of an idea it was to spend this kind of money on this bastardization (hahah, that passed spell check) of a bike.

I understand the attraction, it is something to do, but then again so is knitting and antiquing......Don't get me wrong, I totally respect the badasses out there who can rip your legs off on a cross bike (see names above). Just tired of all the hype it gets - I was that guy for a while. "Dude, Cyclocross is the most epic thing you can do next to slaying dragons or riding a Unicorn (Einehorne - that's the german word of the next two weeks). If you don't do it, your testicles will recede and you will grow cleavage." Ok, I may not have gone that far but the whole "it puts hair on your chest" (It doesn't, it puts hair on your legs cause you're so damn cold and wet) is a little old. So next time you are trying to sell cyclocross to your homies, just be honest, it is just another way to stay fit without running.

ALRIGHT ENOUGH OF THAT

Cameron and I got an apartment... We call it the Gnar Castle.... But when I tell all my cycling buddies about it, it is the wattage cottage. Regardless, we like it - you should come check it out. But in the meantime, here is a video I made for Bri, I know it is a little cheesey, but whatever - who else lets you be laundry and dirty dishes? NO ONE





And yes, I am aware it is sideways, deal with it, just turn your head to the side.


WHAT ELSE?!?!

Hmmm, well Burnham is getting super uber new bikes and stuff... BUT I can't tell you or Eric Goodwin will sick his daughter on me.

But you can bet as soon as I can tell you, you will know all about it!

But I need to go see if i have the right Terminal, probably need to find dinner too.


Things to come (I promise I won't fall off the face of the Blogger Earth):

German stuff (obviously)
Wattage numbers up and workout analysises...so you can fear my power output (SUPER SIKE!)
Collegiate cycling stuff
Burnham Bikes
USCF racing

'Til next time, I wish you all an incredibly safe and wonderful set of holidays. You know where I'll be

Down and Out

Well that's it there went the ending of what was supposed to be a good season.

Let's Review:
- Got on to Get a Grip
That, as we all know it, failed. The 1/2's disappeared and well the team kinda ate itself from inside out. Everyone on the team was super great and supportive... but racing 1/2's with no teammates is kinda a uphill battle.


-Hired Lisa as a coach
I could honestly not ask for a better coach. The lady is a professional, she knows what she's doing 100%.

- Jumped ship and moved over to Burnham Racing
what a great bunch of guys. They acccepted me with open arms and total support. Great Great Great Guys - know how to rip it up on two wheels and then take it easy and have fun. Next year should be a trip having all of us in the 2's.

Sounds like I should be one ragin' mamma jamma on a bike, right?
Well I was, in the early season, I could hold my own and even do some work in the early season - put the hurt on. But that has quickly faded and I have become the weakest link. I think I can honestly pin point when this happened to the O'Fallon Grand Prix Road Race. I pinched my Sciatic nerve and it was just a downward spiral. And I just haven't been able to pull it out of that slump.

Let's examine why I am sucking:

1.) I am currently at the bottom of the pit known as the P/1/2. Not really and excuse, knew that going into.... but I didn't know I was at the waaaaaaayyyyy bottom

2.) Stress - I know I know, I am 20, what on earth could I be stressed about? I wish I could tell you honestly I think it's just an accumulation of things really.

• Bri left- I know I know, everyone told me she was and I should have been ready, doesn't make it any easier to say goodbye to someone you really care about. Surely some of you have been there
• The Job - it's stressful, that simple. It is something I have always wanted; more responsibility but it is stressful. I am one of three employees.... makes things, well tight.

3.) Burnt out- I am, I guess. I am just not mentally into racing right now. I go through the song and dance and I think I look cute in spandex, but I feel the slightest twinge of pain and my brain just says NO. I haven't really been off a bike since November... I know, I know sew it up. But the mind gives out before the body and if I just don't wanna push the pedals mentally, then physically, it ain't gonna go down.

4.) I am just tired. ALL THE TIME! Like I will sleep 8-10 hours and still feel like I could sleep for more. I wish I didn't wake up every hour.

The worst thing is that there is no one to blame but myself.

So People I ower apologies to:

1.) Burnham - I am sorry guys, you brought me on at the worst possible time for my physicality, I promise next year will be better. Totally new training plan.

2.) Lisa - well I attach my name to your coaching services and well I am a lemon

3.) Bri - sorry for making your first month in Germany hard.

So what's the solution? What's my plan? How do I fill this hole I dug?

1.) Training plan - Well this year, I will be continuing my coaching with Lisa through the winter. Her and I have something whipped up so we don't experience this this time next year. We have decided that previous coaching plans put too much load on too early... hence, BURN OUT!!

2.) Have Fun - Everything from here on out is going to be about fun - mountain biking, cross racing, group rides, etc.

3.) learn from mistakes- I have made a lot of them this season, every race is a chance to learn.

4.) Lose weight - use the off season to shed some pounds - running, cutting severe calories, get skinny pretty.

But that's a load off my chest, thanks to all those who have supported me and I appreciate your belief. I will not let you all down next season, I will come back stronger, faster and way way way cuter.

Keep believing in me and I will keep training harder and harder.... I hate me failing as much as you do.

I'll get it, I promise

But I did see a big ass boat (the picture does this hog no justice)

who needs tanning beds when you have race days?

Hey Blog-
Long time, no talk huh?

Totally.

Anyway, things have been crazy for me, but in the greatest way I could ever imagine.

Between school, training and the shop, by the end of the day, I am totally whooped.

But I decided that last weekend was totally the weekend to start the racing season and get out the racing legs. So Rodney Hill and I threw the bikes on the roof rack and headed down south to do some shreddin' at Great Forest Park in St. Louis.

Before I get to much farther into this, I love being a Cat 2, no more getting up and leaving before the sun rises.

Anyway, we loaded up and shipped out at 10 am. Got down to the park by 12:30 pm, our race was at 1:45. So we had plenty of time to pin on numbers and handle other business.

Went out did a pretty simple warm-up. We had a 70 +5 crit, so I didn't need to be super hot at the very beginning. So I meandered around the park... Super gorgeous park, I must say. All the information said it is bigger than central park - I believe it.

Anyway, race started; about 50 guys in the peloton. Nothing major, but not small either.

The course was super phlat, super phast and super phun. Absolutely no real turns; literally pedaled through every corner. As a result, it was safe. We only had one crash, and it was on a straight away ... dumbass. Oh well, he suffered the ass rash - ruined his kit.

I was pretty pleased with my performance; I used this race as a training race - getting amped up for Hillsboro... So I made quite a few attacks to try and thin the pack out, get a break going, stuff like that. But no avail, so after I blew myself apart for the first 45 minutes, I tucked back into the pack and just sat in and enjoyed the ride.

Like I said, the course was too flat and too fast to really get anything to stick. I got one break going that was promising, everyone was represented; mesa, dogfish, big shark, gateway. But it jsut got sucked back in... by some one's own teammates.... Awesome!

We averaged 27.4 Mph and an average heart rate of 184...No slouch of a race.

But back to the drawing board for training, Going to head up to Kenosha this weekend - do some ABR Hard X Core Racing.

Take it easy

HEARTLAND....WHOA slow down

Funniest comment of the day:

Bio Professor: "What is something you are doing right now that you don't control?" (referring to body functions)
left fielder: breathing
me: digestion
Bio Professor: reproduction

HOLD ON!!!
I don't control my reproduction and I was doing it right then?
NO EFFIN WAY!
ok ok, maybe I am being a little immature, but to me it was a little funny. But the baseball players in the back of the class got a larger kick out of it and took this opportunity to let the class know that they have full control of their reproduction...dumbasses.

Okay so here I sit in Biology kicking it in week 5. Here are my observations/questions about and from heartland:

1. Did everyone from highschool go here?
2. Are the teachers/professors/Chris Sweet told to babysit the baseball team? I swear it - in every class every teacher was making exceptions for "athletes". "Athletes" = Baseball players. Well, I am an athlete, so if I decided to head off to a training camp or a hyper big stage race, does that mean I get the same treatment? I bet not. Would probably be told to deal with it, and that I can't go. I don't know, I guess it is a peeve, cause it is a community college...not big ten, not even small ten (if that exists). Community college. KINDA garbage. Not to mention they totally power trip and feel like they run this place. FALSE!
3. Make up tests/quizzes. Yep they do them here. This is college - shouldn't that not be an option unless your eyes like melted out of your head?
4. "Athletes" get grade print outs to take to their coaches.... uhm? I wonder if they also get notes to take home to their parent...."Today I used glue"

I mean there are tons more, but that is what is coming to mind right now.

I am above and beyond ready to move over to B-Cycle. Something about getting very little respect - turn off.

But the riding here has been excellent. Things are starting to warm up and be where it is super enjoyable to be outside to be wearing full winter gear and not freezing. It only gets warmer from here... WEE

On that note, we have had incredible turn outs on the weekends. It's been pretty amazing. I thought for sure I would be slogging it out alone, but seeing all these people out is awesome and they are all riding incredibly well. Makes me happy.

Getting a new bike - Scott at the shop really wanted me on a Speciarized and after the most recent tango with SCOTT USA, I was more than happy to oblige. Specialized Tarmac with full Sram Red - gonna be gangstar. Gets here on the 27th - gotta hock that Addict


This is my career once I hit retirement

Time ta hustle

Bio in Bloomington

WELL HELLO HELLO

Welcome to the New Year. On my behalf I hope everyone had a great holiday season - travels went well, family was okay, etc..

Well it has been a while since I have blogged it up.

So what's new?:

Moved into my apartment

See the pictures below... sorry it's a bit messy. But it cleans up nice

The Grid and The Jeff and I so lovingly call it - if you are familiar with the B-Normal area, it is in Downtown Bloomington on the corner of Gridley and Jefferson by the old Bloomington Junior High

Not necessarily the nicest area, but I haven't had any problems (knock on wood), and everyone in my apartment building seems mature, nice and keep to themselves... I mean I haven't had a neighbor complain about my rollers yet or my sound system. That's a success in my book.

It's a one bedroom apartment that my bikes let me live in with them. Bedroom, kitchen / training room, office... It works

Working at Jewel- Osco
Yes I know, I swore up and down I would never go back... But it's really obscene as much as I thought this place was the pits. It is really not that bad... It's kinda like intervals, as much as you hate it... you still love it.

But I am back in the dairy section, stockin' the milk, facin' the frozen. It's no fun fest, but it pays the bills, no fear of being fired, and it is a stable job that works well with my schedule. So all-in-all I can't complain. Not to mention I have my family of coworkers that I have had since High School.

Got hired on at Bloomington Cycle and Fitness
wait wait wait you say, a shop in Bloomingtonormal that you will work for? Has the Appocalypse Occurred?
Don't worry, you can stop looking outside. There aren't any dark horsemen, Centaurs or Unicorns on fire (or whatever your appocalypse is)
Lehr finally sold the shop to Scott Davis. Which means there is going to finally be a shop that doesn't offer screw ball service and competitive product.... Again, Sit down, the appocalypse is not happening. So come March, I'll be wrenching and selling bikes again... Can't wait.


Started School at Heartland
Yet another thing that I swore I would never do. But I guess it is just that time for biting my tongue and taking back what I have always said I would never do... BUT I guess that's life. Today is currently the first day, Bio at 8:30 in the morning and Math. Tomorrow will be a whole other slew of classes. Can't hardly wait. Have to honestly say that it doesn't feel to insanely different from being at Indiana. Pretty disconnected from everyone. No real desire to reach out and connect with people. But I guess that's just the way it goes. But as we currently speak, no class is going to be insanely hard more of a review of everything. Kind of feels like a waste of money. Once again, knock on wood. But I guess I should be great that I am fortunate enough to enjoy this luxury.

Training has kicked into effect again.
It's been a super long base period (since November is my bet) and it is time to kick up the intervals... WHOSE EXCITED?! ME! That's who. Feelin' alright. Doesn't matter... only matters how everyone else feels