Looks like like you're on schedule to peak in February

"Looks like you're on schedule to peak in February", now when your coach tells you that you might get a bit worried. But I'm really not since it's the end of January and I know that my free time is going to end soon. It's the slowest time of the year in a bike shop and as a mechanic there just isn't that much for me to do, so I've been trying to get out and ride every day. That's a big difference from last year when I slogged away on the trainer for a hour every day and basically wasted time. So now that I'm in trouble with my coach it's time to get more focused on weaknesses that I know I have. Adam sent me my new training schedule so I guess it's time to get back on a structured plan.

Right now I'm sitting here waiting for the coverage of the men's Cross Worlds coverage to begin and thinking about Masters Worlds and then Elite worlds coming to the US in a few years. Pretty cool! I did manage to get up in time to watch the last few laps of the women's race, Meridith got 12th, how awesome is that!
















Finally getting out on the MTB, it's cold but worth it to get in a few hours in the woods.
















Getting out on the road a bit with these guys. Getting behind Choch is like motorpacing some days.



















Meridith getting 12th at Worlds this morning. How crazy is it that you can watch a race half way across the world, live, on your computer. Meridith, I wore my California Giant Strawberries hat in support!

Chris and Cody, Jr's at Worlds. Great race for the boys in their last round in the Jr's. Next year they move up to race with big boys in the U-23 race.

gotta go, time to watch the Men's race.......

Ride, wash, lube, repeat

If you ride this time of the year it seems like you spend more time cleaning your bike than riding it. At least you should be cleaning it if you want it to treat you well this summer. But, the snow is all most gone and with it the sloppy roads.......yea! Now that the bike is clean I guess I'll go start on the laundry.........

I went to the boys school today to watch Pinky present his report on Zebulon Pike. Pretty amusing watching the kids do their presentations, some were pretty comfortable, and some were obviously not comfortable at all. Pinky had no problem getting up and speaking, even though he later told me his legs were shaking the whole time!

Good day today, watching Pinky, out for a ride, and then hanging with the boys.

The week in pictures, I saved the best for last.

It's been a busy week, on the bike quite a bit everyday and some type of event with the kids kept us hopping. With the shop pretty slow I have the time to get out and ride but it's been cold, messy conditions. I guess I can't complain, it's been a much better workout than I would get on the trainer.
















Skate party for the kids during the week. Decided to skip this part of my recovery and just watch. Curly is getting the hang of rolling the little wheels. Pinky, he's off with his buddies terrorizing the girls.
















Went to Snowcreek ski area in Weston, MO to take the boys skiing on Saturday night. Just what I needed after a 5 hour ride! Decided not to ski to save the knee so I spent 5 hours walking from slope to slope. It was fun to see the boys get better as the night went on. Time to head for Colorado and let them try the real deal again.
















Not sure what's going on here. Really, I got nothing........


Yea, there's a story to go with this one..........
















I'll give you the readers digest version....Rolling out of town Saturday and Choch has a tire issue. We stop and Bill assumes the position with the punp and begins to stroke away. We all notice that Bill looks like he's done this before and about then a SUV pulls up at the light. Joe notices the woman sitting in the passenger seat looking at Bill and smiling. She can see Joe looking at her and she busts out laughing. About then the window rolls down and the guy driving says something like, "I can tell you that looks mighty strange". Haven't laughed that hard in a while..........

















Can't forget about this guy, 15 year old kid with grandma in the passenger seat harassing Bill. The same day Tilford and Stolte get threated by a guy with a snowball, and Joe all most got hit by a lady running a red light. Must of been a full moon...........

Time to get back on the bike......and suffer.

Finally decided to get back on the bike today. It's not like I didn't want to ride. I just didn't feel the need to HTFU and ride outside. What can I say, after the cross season I needed a break. But last week while I was watching the cross race with Mathgeek I came to the conclusion that I'm ready to race again.

So it begins again, got out on the bike today with a starting temp of 28 degrees, not too bad and of course, I overdressed. Still, I'd rather sweat than freeze so it was all good. At least it was good for the first hour, then it started to get ugly. So I did what any bike racer would do......I sat on for a while, and after a while it got hard to sit on. About then Bill suggested we go a bit longer, and I'm sure my pause made him think, but then I told him that I had to head back or he was going to have to push me in. Funny, I almost got Burked in KC! Anyway, after a good a hamstring cramp and finger tips so cold I couldn't shift, I did finally make it home.

I do so love those first few rides of the new season. When you have no idea what your legs have in store for you on the ride. But tomorrow is another day and it's going to be warmer so I'll give another go and see what happens.

Same style, different rider

You can tell that I was hanging out in the pit today as this is the best I have for pictures. Chris and Shadd are just about in the same spot on the course. Can you find what is different in the two pictures? It's not too hard.

Snow cross in Shawnee

Not much grass showing through today.

The Iceman cometh

Chris doesn't need no stinking gloves! Must be that euro hardness.

It's 5 outside but it's 75 in here

What cold.......it's pool time! Lesson time for the boys for the next 4 weeks. Good timing since I'm just starting to ride again and the weather sucks.

Is this Snow ever going to end?

Now I like snow as much as the next guy but shoveling the driveway is starting to get old. I guess it wouldn't be so bad if the temps weren't so cold and you could actually get out and do something. I wouldn't mind getting out for a short ride but with a few snow days at school it's a good time to hang with my boys. Oh well......
















We did get out and try a new sledding hill yesterday. Since the kids were out of school with a snow day it was good to get out for some exercise.

















We went to SMP and met up with Bill and Will. Someone built some killer jumps out there. Check out the air Pinky and Will got. Let's just say the landing was a little rough!

















Pinky getting some air!


















Managed to get home in time to get set up for Mathgeeks birthday party.


















Making a wish and blow out the candles.

Another day, another snow day for the kids. Might have to head out for the OP community center for a little indoor swim action to burn a little energy.

New Years Ride and a pic of Joe....finally!

Finally found a picture of Joe racing in Europe, Yeaaaaa.

Ok, now I realize that I'm a dork who doesn't like to be cold. Add that to the fact that I have no style and really don't care, if it's warm I'll wear it. But before I even got to the door yesterday I heard,"Yo, Todd Wells called and he wants his UGGS back". Yep, the 2010 cycling season is going to be a interesting one. Rolled over to Bill's place for a New Years ride and due to the cold temps it was a fairly short one. Still it was good just to get out on the bike again and it actually wasn't bad after a while.

Yea..... it was that cold. Brrrrrrrrrrr

Missed the memo and forgot to wear my KCCX jacket. What can I say, I went for a something a little thicker. While we were all grumping about the weather Alex was smiling as usual.

Looks like more snow for the cross race tomorrow, should be fun to watch.