It's been a long time

Oh my my my, I have been a busy boy. This has been one of the longests weeks I've ever had. Switching to second shift has definitely been a tough mental challenge, but I thinks I'm handling it ok. I miss biking sooo much. I have about four and a half hours in the morning before work to do what ever. For this week at least I havent had time to bike. Get up and go spend time with Ashlyn. I'm not really complaining, because I wanted to spend that time with her, Just wish I had more time to bike.

I am doing the WORS Race this weekend (YAY!!!!). I don't know how I'll do, a but I don't really care (just want to get out there). Sometimes in the past I've gone weeks without riding and I do awsome at races afterward. It should be a good weekend.

All I can say is that I'm so thankful to have my job. A lot of luck and maybe a hint of hard work got me where I am. I KNOW I don't realize how lucky I am. That being said I still can't wait to get back on days :). See you all this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice Weekend and Great Success

So I started out my Saturday morning at 5 am to go into work for 6am. I worked an uneventful shift for 5 hours and earned some extra cash along the way. I got home and started packing up the Jeep for the weekend. I was pretty much ready to go and I realized I forgot to pack the damaged pole for my tent. Look for it can't find it, so I head out to Gander Mountain and Plan on heading to the race. On the way remember I forgot the Cooler, Ugh!!!!!. So I purchase my new tent and the money I made that morning is spent :(. Oh well, it turned out to be a very nice tent.

I finally arrive at the camp at about 2:30 and its cruddy out. I hung out with the guys under the Specialized easy up for a while and just wandered around. In a break in the rain I started to set up the tent. I did it by my self, which sucked a little in the rain but overall ok.

Ashlyn arrived at around 6:30, set up her stuff in the tent and headed back to town for El Azteca. WE got back and hung out in the tent. the rain eventually stopped. I think we popped out at 10:30 and it was very pleasant out. Got to bed at around midnight and woke up at 2:30 to my myself pretty cold. Ashlyn stepped out and said it was very clear out. Overall I got 4 hours sleep and she got 2.

Luckily our task for the day was course marshalling, so we could relax. The breeze was cool all day, but the sun was warm. Kept my jacket and hat on all day. We had to get back to pick up camp and get Ashlyn to work, so we had a little adventure getting off the course while the race was still going. I waited for a break in the racers and mashed the gas on the jeep. Everyone was going at a good clip. I actually had some racers drafting off my jeep for a short time till I pulled off the race course. So that went as planned luckily and we got out of there in time.

So we both had a great weekend, and I'm very happy for all who made it happen with out any seriuos problems.

Cheers!!!!!

Been a while

Well after spending a week and a half in Alabama, I figured it was time to get back on the bicycle. I went to Refo on Sunday for a good lap to get back into the groove (48'30"). I felt pretty good about that lap time. My goal was under 48, but didn't feel like killing myself. To continue my transition back I went to the Bike Hub ride last night. It was a pretty small turnout initially with Schindle, Mark, and I. Eventually we had eight show up. The first fifteen miles were pretty rough, because the group split in half quite a few times. I'd always end up being the bridge between groups, as I really didn't have the lungs back yet to stay on. We stayed together for a while, but two guys just had to mash it up front and break us apart. The rain did luckily stay away and weatherwise it was very pleasant, although be it a little windy.

Otherwise got Ashlyn a Motorcycle helmet and we've been going for a couple rides. We tried the BMW first and the R6 after. The R6 was definitely a lot more work for both of us, but still fun. I havent had a passager on a motor cycle very much in the past, so I'm still getting used to it. Making good headway with it though and Ashlyn seems to be enjoying it.

Good ol Alterra

I'd really consider the results of last weekend as quite successfull. I'm back in 4th place overall, so a call up was in order. I'm really glad I had it too. I practiced the start 4 or 5 times, and the results were great. I had an awsome start(top 5 at the top of the hill). Shifting worked really well luckily. I remeber shifting up at least 3 times before the top of the hill. I was also very lucky at the start as well. At the first corner two or three guys crashed. It was the first time I had ever seen bikes and people in the air. It looked very nasty and just missed them myself. So I got a good position into the single track and held my position pretty well. Had to get used to the singletrack (Did crash once first lap).I felt pretty good on the switch backs. Icouldn't have gone much faster because of traffic, but I was steadily passing people.

Andy W busted a spoke that morning. Tried to find a wheel, but I didn't see him get one. So second lap half way through, I hear some smart comments from behind and to my surprise there he was. I led him for a while and we were going good.We caught up with traffic and didn't have much trouble. I did go to pass a guy on the right, and then he moved to the right and I was stuck. Andy took the advantage and flew by. Eventually I got back to Andy, and passed several more groups of people. Right before the switchbacks we went to pass and I hooked handlebars and took someone out. So I stopped made sure he was ok because it was my fault. I was still standing after the crash and proceeded to catch Andy again. He was within reach on the switchbacks, but there was too much traffic. So that second crash gave him the thirty second lead. I really tip my hat to him thoigh for quick tactics.

So after some risky and dirty racing I ended up 7th about 30seconds behind Andy. Really I did enjoy the race. Yes, some of the traffic sucked, but I consider myself one of the lucky ones.

EAA AirVenture

I had a pretty sweet week last week. After yet another successful checkout of a machine last week, I had two awesome days at EAA. I went on Thursday with Ashlyn who I've been seeing for a week and a half now. We looked at all the cool stuff and watched the whole air show and demonstrations. I evan got to do a test drive of a ford fiesta, since ford is a major EAA Sponsor. One of the main attractions of the show was two Mustange GT500's and two airplanes racing from opposite ends of the runway. It really was pretty sweet, and boy those GT500's sound awsome.

Check out the Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON_2o7TpwXo

On Friday I went with my Dad two look at all the vendors and exibits. I like looking at all the new tech and gadgetry. I finally got to see my dream airplane, that has been in development for a number of years. It's called the Icon A5. An anphibious aircraft with internal landing gear. It looks like it would be a blast. The wings fold up and you can trailer it. Oh yeah me want, maybe I'll split the coast of a used one with my dad someday.

I'm sure that most of you have heard of the Airbus A380. I got to see it take off and leave for France yesterday. It really is a big freak'n airplane. It looks kind of normal in the air, but up close the engines are bigger than a semi cab. Cool slow speed demonstrations and very fast take off.

Check out the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw5bAqvRDpE

So tommorro is the Alterra Coffee Bean Classic. Planning on being their, did manage to preregister. Only rode last Sunday, so we'll see how I do.

A bit of fun in the dark ages

Last Saturday I went down to the Bristol Renaissance Fair in Kenosha. Wow what a place. So much to do including Comedy, magicians, and Jousting of course. This place is really like disney world quality. The premises is heavily wooded and built to look like a renaissance city. The jousters had really top notch horsemanship.

Up nort last week

It's been busy this last week for me. I didn't start going back to sleep earlier from last week and that bit me in the but. I had two nights this week where I got home and slept till supper(not good). I also had two good ride though. Had a group of five roll out wednesday. Kelly had his helmet cam, and had the opportunity to catch two crashes from me and Brent(Don't know if he got them). I just made a stupid mistake of hitting a big stump at an apex. Brent slid out at high speed right in front of me( a good 3 second crash). It really is sandy and dusty out a the camp. I had my knobby tires on and I was sliding a lot.

Also had a good ride at the Hub. We had a fast ride of 19.6mph average for me. The wind was a little rough, but we had some strong lead riders. Really some of the riders were too strong because we broke apart in the wind along a long strait section(I was in the lead group though).

Here's a couple of shots from vaca last week.
Tradition for the family is to stop at dog n suds in tomahawk.
Off roading fun with gasoline along power transmission lines. I took some of the other "kids" along for this joyride. Only one hard smack to the head for my copilot Aaron.
Went biking with dad.