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

Thoughts

So I have had a lot of time to think.... more time on the bike in the cold inspires that.

1.) In most action movies, the said attacker (such as neo, the punisher, etc) packs all of his guns and weapons into a duffle bag. Now, I am no pro on guns or other stuff of that nature, but... a DUFFLE BAG? REALLY? I mean these are like deadly things you are dealing with; bullets, grenades, etc., I have some knowledge of these things and a duffle bag is most certainly not the way to go about storing said devices. I would go with a plastic case or a aluminum case like a photographer. Not a piece of cloth that has been sewn together in some factory. I mean in most of my duffle bags, my stuff gets all jumbled and bangs together and stuff.... Not sweet! I mean usually when you buy a gun don't you get a free carrying case that is functional yet fashionable. It's like putting all of your fine china in a grocery sack, but these plates explode and stuff.

2.)Segways - Seemingly a new popular way to move about campus as of late. By that I mean there are two people who have them. The other night, I saw a student segging the way (if you will) in a full face motocross helmet. REALLY? Those things have a max speed of like 12.5 mph (I looked it up) I mean that is comparable to falling while running (or sprinting) and by all means said student was not carving the sidewalk on a two wheeled leaning wonder. SO was this helmet really all that necessary ... maybe she offroads with it? OR MAYBE, there is some underground circuit of pimped out segways... like hondas. But!!! There is hope... Ferrari makes a segway!



There's more to come.... I just need to study chem

change is like saddle position.....

Well as many of you know... well you might, I have made some drastic changes as of late.

First and Foremost, the biggest and most drastic! I am moving home - no longer attending Indiana University. Planning on attending Heartland - complete my associates and then transfer to ISU

"Oh Chris Why?!" (say it out loud!)

Well After a year and half here, I have come to the realization that I don't belong here... Sure I do well academically - I got all A's, excelled in all of my classes - Go every day, do all the homework, do all the reading... so it is definitely not an academia issue.

The thing that drove this the most is that socially I am failing. I have tried being everyone's friend, probably looked a little desperate on some occasions, but I really tried - calling, texting, facebooking, IM'ing, face to face. I guess people weren't interested. I don't really know, I mean I think I am pretty likable. Tried fitting in with the bike racing guys.... guess I missed that gravy train. Tried the frat thing... LAME!! Tried finding my own group... EPIC FAIL!! Tried being BFF's with the guys at the shop... they are all older, I get that. I guess the biggest limiter is my lack of desire to get hammered/high/etc. I guess that is a major aspect of college.... Not mine. Too much riding on school, training, my life in general. So after all that, I think it's time I go home, get back to my friends, my family, the girlfriend. So all in all its not like I didn't try, I just felt like a QB with a team full of receivers with no hands....Doesn't matter how hard I try, the team can't seem to get it.

I guess my biggest thing is that like when I did get a chance to be with certain people... all they did was text, call... etc. Yet they couldn't seem to figure out their phones when it came to me... maybe I am overeacting but just frusterating.

Sure the riding is great here and I will miss collegiate racing. But I got a lot of things to look forward to. Racing with Get a Grip, havin' a girlfriend within 15 minutes (going to be strange the first night I don't have to spend on the phone). Having time tested friends. Being close to family - This is kind of important right now. I feel like I have really shirked the grandparents out of opportunities to see me. I feel horrible, because they, like my parents have always been there with nothing to offer but unconditional love... What more can you ask for?

But how this relates to the title? Change is like saddle position... You know when it's wrong, you try changing it, and you will continue to do so until it's right... and only you know when it's right , no one else can tell you that.

ALRIGHT!!! I think you get the idea no more sappiness

Exciting times are coming.

Have to get a new fork for the addict. Something ate through the clear coat and put a hole in the carbon fiber.... REALLY SWEET! Oh well, I sold those wheels for a reason. But mark my words, this is the last Scott I own.... Been on the phone about ten times and still haven't gotten this problem resolved... You call specialized, etc you get about 5 people diving to answer your phone call... Like I totally respect the product, great stuff can't beat the stiffness but man waiting two days to find out if they have the fork I need... DAMN thats annoying... considering selling the addict once the fork is fixed and getting an SL2 or something like that. Maybe a GaG team bike (if they happened to get extras).

Been working with Jonathan "Chip" Gray to get sponsorship stuff together for Get a Grip. We are making some headway. Talk about a great guy, overall just really friendly and fun to chat up.

Thanksgiving is coming.. That means Jameson (Jamie) and I are going to Buffalo, NY... WOOT WOOT! going to meet her dad, and the rest of her family. Hopefully check out his muscle cars, go snowmobiling, and Four wheeling.... Too bad there is probably going to be a ton of snow down. Will be nice to get away from the bike for a little bit. If it's not there... I can't ride it.

I have no focus right now... I need an apartment

Hopefully Scott calls back tomorrow.......will be pissed if they don't

Need to type a paper.

Later on

More time to train.... more time to blog

Well it has been an exciting week... and it's only Tuesday.

Had a pretty good weekend:

Saturday - went out to Brown County - solo - and shredded the country side for 3.5 hours. It was pretty chilly, but once I got into the woods it warmed up and blocked the wind. Overall just a gray day due to cloud coverage. It is getting pretty cool out there, all the leaves have fallen so it is super easy to lose the trail and get off the trail. Oh well, makes for interesting rides. The leaves also make it pretty slick - loading the suspension into a corner and then coming out, the rear end has a tendency to kick out and not go where you need it to go. I felt kinda awesome - drifting stuff. Chicks dig it. Came home, studied a bit, slept a lot. Word. I will try to grab some pictures of the beautiful country side next time I go, but for now this will suffice.

Sunday - Got up, it was even colder than saturday... LAME. I had to take on the road. 4 hours of pavement pounding. Went out for a short noodle, where I was almost wrecked - couple of lady riders decided that randomly turning around in front of me was a good idea. They saw my coming, for some reason moved to the left - so I could pass right? Don't know what the logic was there, so I kinda went left - you know like I live in America, right? Well I get past the british bicyclist and am about to pass her compadre in front of her, when suddenly U-turn Yolanda made her debut. With my impecable (bahahah) handling skills, I did a little dodge dip duck dive and dodging, and kept the new rig upright. Came back from my ride to meet up with Chris and Kirk so finish off my four hours. Well Chris decided that 3 hours at tempo was not for him, instead we were going to do intervals.... EW! Fortunately nothing major, but definitely a good preview of what kind of power I have available. Looking positive, but it's way too early to make that kind of statement. I think the weight lifting has definitely helped. But we will see where all that goes. But we were fortunate enough to get rained, snowed and winded on... IT WAS wicked awesome. But came home, studied and slept.

For some reason - maybe the weather, maybe I am just tired - I have been sleeping a lot. Grab the comforter from the bed, turn on the discovery channel and hit the couch. It is epic. Usually just an hour or so but enough to feel quite refreshed.

But, the biggest news is....... (HOLD YOUR BREATH)













I got on to get a grip racing for the next year. WHAT WHAT!! I am so pumpt! Raced all last summer with/against them. Super cool guys that acutally race. What's that A racing team that RACES? CRAZY IDEA I KNOW! But I got the call monday night from chad saying he passed on my information to chip and like 15 minutes later, got a holler from Chip. DUDE I am soo excited! Lot of stress taken off of me - some of you knew I was trying to put together a team - nice to have everything taken off of me... JUST RACE my BICYCLE! Dude I can't wait. Should be a good racing season, get my early season racing done with IU, and the kentuckiana series to beef up and be a BAMF for these guys.

Plus I'll look cute in that kit... DUH


Alright well ladies and gentlemen, that's it, my latest updates. Riding the fixie today. You know the anti-shift party.

Take care

Time for a post

Happy Birthday Jamie (November 10) if you know her, give her a hug for me and wish her happy birfdays

Well life is starting to slow down, so I figured it is time for a post, to let all of those who read this know I am still alive.

Driscoll - Sorry I never got back to you. Just so much typing to do and so little time. But I really appreciate your interest and I will do my best to cover all my bases through the glob.

The last weeks of the regular person's cycling season, I attempted to rack up as many hours as possible at the job so as to keep my head above water for the next few months. See, I got laid off until January due to a lull in sales. But come January, I am hoping that I can get some hours and begin wrenching on little 5 bikes and do stuff like that. So, that has kept my free time pretty devoured.

Been flipping a lot of product recently, sold the time trial bike, traded the CR1 for some cosmic carbones, and plan to flip those pretty shortly to hopefully the same guy who bought the TT rig. Then hopefully I will get to build my own wheels ; dura-ace or ultegra hubs to a DT swiss RR 240 or a mavic open pro. We shall see. Use those as back up wheels, then flip the mountain bike and get some nasty race wheels. Can be stressful, at times, but more times than not, it's a lot of fun.

Newest Toy of the Day -

I GOT A SCOTT ADDICT R4.... OH LOWERED!!!!

you want to talk about a nasty frameset. SO LIGHT. SO reponsive... SO STIFF. Beats the crap out of you though. I'll deal with that to have the lightest frame mass produced frame on the market right now.

Say it, it is disgusting.


But at the same time. I need to hawk some stuff... shamelessly

I have in my hands and ready to ship

A set of sub 1000 mile cosmic carbone SL's perfectly true and ready to make you go faster

Also, I have a Kona Queen Anne Frame only, Velo Bella Team edition, blue and pink 56 cm.

Want something? Speak up.

Training is starting to ramp up. Kinda makes me excited. Gonna get my skinny trim on. Can't wait to be racing again. I need to be able to look forward to something every weekend, cause right now, homework just doesn't cut it.

Oh well, I need to get back to the books and the ebay, to sell some stuff.

Adios mi amigos,

more to come when the racing season kicks it up

Chris

Word up mountain bikes

Well things have gotten super exciting recently.

Took a bunch of time off the bike. Lifted a bit, swam a lot, ran a couple times and worked a bunch, just had fun.

But let's see, Coach Chris had me lifting... hated it. too many people there, fighting for machines, couldn't focus on my work. just not enjoyable. I want to be outside if I am being physical, not sweating and being eyed up by every guy in the gym.

So on top of the lifting, I swam a lot. About a mile a night. boring, but a super good total body work out. Only could keep my captivated for so long.

Ran a few times.. had the endurance, the strength. My body just hated the impact. IMPACT SUCKS

Kept up work at Rev. I am learning all sorts of things; wheel truing, derailler tuning and other aspects of the bike business. Gets a little crazy, but it is awesome to finally have a job I care about and don't mind doing; hanging with my friends, working on bikes, selling bikes. Just sharin the love.

But the latest training thing that I love the most, Mountain Biking. I got a Specialized StumpJumper FSR. super awesome stuff. going out to brown county every other night with brad and kyle. Upping the handling and riding skills. Brad is an insane rider. He hits lines that are just crazy nuts and most people would vomit at. It's a lot of fun; really puts the fun back in riding - it's such a huge challenge.

Had a nast spill last night hit a rock bridge, slid off went into a ravine.. Major slippage and the bike came tumbling after.

well it's time for bed. took the night off of riding and just studied and relaxed... Good times eh boys?

Overview

So since I have posted lasted, pretty much last eon, I have moved back to Bloomington, started work at Revolution and started up that damn school thing.

Let's cover the easy boring stuff

SCHOOL:

Chemistry - real basic class, nothing too special just reading and lab work

Psychological Behaviorial statistics - pretty easy data analysis

Sociology - eW

Environmental Science - kinda gnarly kinda deep, kinda cool to havea jamaican professor with a lisp

Latin Medical terms - kinda cool, cool professor, word up latin

Bloomington-
good old b-town, got an apartment on the East Side. Nice place, low theft, no parties, super cool.

Revolution -
never have i loved working until now. Just fun to actually care about thing, and being nice to customers cause I want to be..... CRAZY


Training:
Kinda given up on that whole let's ride with other people thing... Lots of drama happening that just take the fun out of cycling....

Sorry everything is boring, not much going on when I don't race, you know.

May be getting a mountain bike and go shred with B-Rad and Kyle in Brown Country. Little Specialized Stumpjumper FSR action

Might get a turbo for my car..... who knows