Raced yesterday in Arlington Heights, Illinois and the team did well. Karl won, Rich got 3rd, Wes 4th, Frank 9th, Sacko 12th……..etc. We pretty much cleaned up as a team.

How did I do? Well, first let’s go back a few weeks to the start of superweek. Before the first race of superweek I got a new saddle on my bike and if you know me that is quite an ordeal. I like to have things perfect and it takes me many weeks if not months to get a saddle how I like it. However, by the end of superweek I had the saddle dialed to the point that riding my bike was like chilling in a lazy boy. That definetly made me sleep well at night!

Fast forward a week later to Arlington Heights, Illinois where I participated in a local criterium. Five laps into the race I get my front wheel taken out, superman it over my bars into the grass, and break the saddle on my bike. SHIT! I had to ride the rest of the race on a broken/bent uncomfortable saddle. Miraculously, I was able to finish but solely for the good of the team! GUTS I tell you!

Seriously though the saddle thing sucks and now I have to get a new one. By the time I get it comfortable the season will most likely be over. I forsee a few restless/sleepless nights ahead!

I was unable to get a replacement saddle today so Pipp and I went mountain biking at Kettle Moraine. It was the first time I rode my mountain bike in sometime. Needless to say five minutes into the ride I took a corner a little too hot, almost hit a tree, and flipped over my bars. I ripped off all of the scabs on my arm from the crashes I had at superweek. Poor me!! I did look tough though with all of the blood running down my arm. Yes, it is possible to look tougher that I already do! My shoulder is sore and showering is going to suck again but I think I will survive.

We ended up riding for three hours and the single track was awesome. Frank fell over a bunch of times because he could not unclip from his pedals………very funny and so not pro! We rode pretty hard and I sort of forgot how tiring mountain biking is. I really don’t want to admit it but I am sort of tired. I, at least, can take comfort in the fact that if I am tired Frank must be completely hosed!

Tomorrow we are mountain biking again but this time with Tom Schuler. Tom said he was bringing his A-game which is nice to hear. Hopefully we won’t have to wait for him too long!

Then Tuesday the team is hitting the road again for Charlotte, North Carolina. Saturday is the Bank of America Criterium which has a prize list of $125,000…….HUGE! I think we will be gone for a week and then I am not sure where I am going?

later,
g.