As 2009 is nearing an end and 2k10 is on the horizon I'd like to wish everyone a happy holidays! I'd also like to thank each & everyone for coming and visiting this past season, because what would a blog be without readers? and don't worry. Just because it's winter don't think I'll forget about you, I haven't. So stay tuned as 2k10 promises some new and exciting things...

For Sale

Obviously it's that time of year to start unloading some goodies...This was my "B" bike for 2 seasons so it saw more pit time then course riding.

(Medium 545mm T.T.) Giant TCX framset
Frame: ALUXX SL- Aluminum
Fork: Carbon with allow steerer, overdrive 1/8 to 1 1/4" headset
Seat collar has integrated brake hanger

$350 if your interested. Just leave me a comment with your email & I'll get back to you

Yeah it's official. I'm in the first stages of withdraw, denial that the cyclocross season is actually over for me. The truth is I can't remember a season where I had as much fun racing then this year. I may not have won the most races that I have in season's past but that just goes to show you that wining isn't everything. I have to credit my new team with keeping my interest sparked all season long. It was fun to teach the guys much of what has taken me 13 years to accomplish and see how excited they got when they had a great result.

So, this will be the first year that I'm intentionally missing CX Nationals since my first trip to Kansas in 2000. I really wish I could have headed up to Bend for Nationals but the cost outweighed the result. Luck would have it that the course looks right now to be snowy and icy, my kinda stuff. I'm missing not going so much that I can hardly contain myself by not checking out the cycling sites hourly for updates on what's happening out there. (oh, I'm back) I'm already thinking that next season I'll be back to Nationals no matter what the job situation is because it's just too painful to watch. I guess this is why when people retire from sports that they don't go watch. I just hope one of the Michigan boys or girls brings home a jersey for me to stare at all season for motivation, or I could just stare at the one in my closet instead! I've got to give a big THANK YOU to CXmagazine who has posted up a video lap of the course. They are doing a great job updating what is happening with full results from all classes, even with photo's. I can tell you in years past it was like the search for Chin to try and find results even weeks after the event took place. Thanks Andrew and the gang...

Reality check...So it's time to put off the inevitable which is getting to all those house project's that I've had on the back burner for the last 4 months. I'm sure in between projects I'll try to find time to fit in a few mtb rides and even get out the CC ski boards if the snow stays around. Also on tap for winter is figuring out what brand of cyclocross bike I want to ride next season? I guess that's going to keep my cyclocross juices running till spring...

Wow, I can finally take a breath...Phew! This morning my lungs are still feeling the effects of the race by spewing chunks of brown crud from my bronchitic lungs. Since I took the whole week off prior to States I laid down a good game plan, the 5 & 1/2 rule. I've had bronchitis enough to know I had 30 good minutes at 100% in me but not much more so the plan was to race 30 minutes and if I'm not top 5 to pull the plug. Lucky for me the course was fast and slick, which suited me fine...and there was a Championship on the line. I've got my name on that trophy 4 times and I'd like to put it on there again.

The start was pretty fast and a bit of a selection was made coming out of the off camber section. The next thing you know I'm on the front & were in a group of 3 for the first part of the race, Wissink, Sarri and I. The first few laps we played around a bit and a few guys stayed close. I think Burke hit the ground a few times behind us after getting close more then once. About 25 minutes after trading pulls with Mike, we attacked each other through the woods. Next thing I know Tim and Mike detached me in the road section into the wind. Burke put in a few good laps chasing behind me and bridged the gap up. Once he was there he blew by me as we went under 3 to go. I caught him a few turns later before the off camber, then he crashed in front of me and I opened it up on him again. I fought hard the next 2 laps holding a small gap until he bridged it back near the finish where we battled & fought to stay in front of each other up & over the flyover. Then he passed, then I made another move and got through the last turn first by a few bike lengths. I railed the last corner and he hit the deck to give me 3rd place by myself.

I guess I can call the weekend and season for that matter a success of sorts. I'm still wondering this morning what would have happened if I wouldn't have been sick this weekend. But that's something we'll never know... Congratulations go out to Mike Wissink for wining another State title and the first undefeated season since I did that back in 2000. That put's him in some rare company in the state rankings with multiple State titles.

I'd like to go on record & say we may only have 11 guys lining it up on the weekend in Elites but you can take any one of those guys & they could hold their own in any region of the county. That speaks volumes to the talent that we have in this most underrated state. Also a big thanks to Robert and his crew for 13 years of cyclocross...

In honor of this weekends World Cup race in Spain, plus the State Championships at Springfield Oaks were going to take a look inside the mind of a young champion to find out just what it takes to rise to the top...