Big News!

So I have a lot of big new since my last real post. I will list them in order of importance (to me at least).

I have a new bike. It is a Superfly Elite 29er hardtail that with my own personal touch weighs in just shy of 21 lbs. I will dedicate another post to breaking the build down and adding some photos to boot.

I have a coach. I have been working with a cycling coach since early December and am seeing some amazing results. It is going to be a good year on the bike.

Jess and I got a dog. Her name is Daisy-Mae. She is a 4 year old beagle/lab? mix who has enough energy to power our whole apartment (at least it feels that way when we walk her). She is an amazing trail dog that can hold 25 mph for at least 2 miles (decided to slow her down when she almost slid off the gravel road we were on). Her other favorite hobby is falling asleep with Jess.

I proposed to Jess yesterday while on a trail ride with her and the pup. She said yes (talk about butterflies in the stomach) and the ring fit, so we are now officially engaged. Let the wedding questions begin!

I will have some more big news in a couple of weeks and a first race report in 3 weeks. I hope you all have had an awesome winter and spring. Bring on 2012!

Off to Frost Bike

Hi All,

I am heading out tomorrow for Minneapolis, MN for Frost Bike. This is a 4 day long trade show put on by the largest vendor of bicycle parts and accessories in the US. So, in other words, I will be ogling all the new toys and technologies while freezing my butt off in the colder portion of the Mid-West. The night I get back to Cincinnati I will turn around and drive to Cleveland to hit up Ray's indoor park for a day. Then a day of work and Jess and I head back to Roanoke.

I will try and post some pics and some of the exciting news that I have been keeping the lid on over the past few months.

Catch you on the flip side.

Damascus, VA: Help us win Coolest Small Town!

Hi all,

Just found out that my adopted home town of Damscus, VA has been nominated for the Coolest Small Town in America award. And has made it to the final 10! Now it is up to us to raise the votes needed to win this  award. Bellow is a brief description of the town.

Damascus, VA

(Population: 1,066)

It calls itself Trail Town, USA, and the title is no hyperbole. In addition to the fact that Damascus’s main street runs on top of the Appalachian Trail, the town serves as a crossroads for a half-dozen wilderness and cultural pathways. The town commemorates its unique location with an annual Trail Days celebration in the spring that gathers hikers and other outdoorsy types for three days of free concerts, film screenings, and, of course, guided hikes. For tired travelers looking for a touch of comfort, the 12-room Damascus Old Mill overlooks Laurel Creek and is a stone’s throw from the Virginia Creeper Trail—no one rests for long around these parts! For an extra pick-me-up, there’s always Mojoe’s Trailside Coffee, whose “trail magic” drink mixes espresso, ice cream, and caramel into a sweet concoction for a burst of quick energy.

So get over the following link and vote for Damscus!

America's Coolest Small Town 2012

Happy New Years!

Just wanted to say Happy New Years and a big thank you to everyone who has supported me over the past season. Everyone who reads this blog, encourages me at work, pushes me in training, keeps me awake on the drive to races (Chris, Luke, Jess, Jacob), and supports me in any other way... Thank You!

Also if anyone is interested in a great photographer, Dave Witt, one of my coworkers took this shot at the Harbin Park UCI race. 

Winter Hibernation

As you all have undoubtedly noticed... (or not)... I have been quite delinquent in my posting the past few months. I have had a few races (more on that later), a little travel, a cold, an injury, sold a bike, bought a new one, and completely procrastinated on this whole Christmas shopping thing. As usual.

First off- racing. I wrapped up both the DInO and OMBC series. My last race in the DInO series was a giant blowup. We ran flat out for 21 miles with no let up. Halfway through the second lap I was running second when I just ran out of steam. Had I raced more conservatively I could have held on for a podium, but instead I went for broke and wound up one step out of the prizes.

 My last OMBC race went much the same, except for the fact that I didn't eat breakfast before the race. And my left foot and calf cramped. And I wound up two steps off the podium. The good news out of both of these races is that I preserved my finish in both series. 1st in CAT 2 19-29 for DInO. 5th in CAT 19-29 in OMBC. Not bad for my first real season of racing.

I have also jumped into a few cross races. A ton of fun, but no results worth mentioning. That's what cross is for me though, the fun of racing without the stress.

As usual, for my sisters birthday. Only this time, I came back home with a sprained foot and ankle. From stepping in a hole. While spinning my cousin around by her feet. And dropped her on her head. She's ok. I am still limping around two weeks later.

And I still need to do my Christmas shopping. So with that I am leaving you all for a few weeks. At least. I'll have some exciting news on the other side of the holidays tune back in.