This is a photo from the Stars and Stripes 2008 article in Issue 5 of Cyclocross Magazine about the 2008 cyclocross national championships. The photo is of the Masters Men 45-50 coming out of the first turn after the sprint start. A nice image for our Team Kaos sponsor Chipotle. It's often said by people in the know, the position you're in at the first turn is going to be close to the position you finish. I can't count all the riders ahead of me #1370, but I'll bet there's close to 62 of them up there. I started in 62nd and finished in 63rd. This was a great race experience. I had Monsignor Tucker as my Pit Man. Talk about serving the flock, wow, I'm humbled and very fortunate be a part of this.

The "D" Streeter's will rock you.

Kicking my can all over the place.

2008 in review

Watts up?

Neal Henderson, coach of budding superstar Taylor Phinney, told us he asked the 18-year-old phenom to unleash an all-out sprint while using his PowerTap watts meter. Phinney maxed out the unit's display with an incredible 1999 watts. When they downloaded the file, it read 2050 watts.

Hmmm . . . .

The Good Life Gravel Adventure

Alright Good Life, that's Nebraska. Gravel - Mr. Obvious. But the whole time I was riding I kept saying to myself, Wow this is just an unbelievable Adventure. From the time I showed, I was impressed not only with the organizing efforts it takes to put an event like this on, but mostly with the quality of people all around.

It wasn't your lolly gag stroll through the park. Once we hit 112th St. it was Game On! Completely dark w/o a front light it was navigate by feel, and for a roadie the sound of gravel getting thick around your tires made me a little nervous. But just like on the road, it's a matter of holding your line,, then let your front wheel float over the thick stuff, and try to slowly move toward the hard pack.

To make a long story short. Exactly nine hours and 135 miles later I finished this event. Those legs up there are amazing devices. This won't be my last Good Life Gravel Adventure. Now if I can just get the flat tire situation under control.

photos courtesy of Cornbread.

Bike Hits Bear

A teacher from Montana escaped with bruising and a big scratch after he hit a bear during his ride to school, the Associated Press reports. Jim Litz was going over a hill at about 25 mph when a black bear appeared about ten feet in front of him. There was not enough time to swerve, so he hit the animal. Litz flipped over his handlebars, and he and the bear tumbled down the hill together. The bear rolled onto Litz's head, cracking his helmet, and scratched Litz once across the back before running away. Litz's wife spotted her husband as she drove by soon after the crash occurred, and she took him to the hospital.

2008 NE State Road Race

Congratulations first to teammate Chris Spence the new Nebraska Road Race Champion. And second congratulations to Chet, Nebraska Cat. 3 Road Race Champ!

Teammate Joe McWilliams attacked on lap 2 at the top of the big hill, before the false flat and last little rise before the turning east. I tried to bridge by attacking at the top of the last rise, but gave it up shortly after being pursued. Joe was away with Chet for about a lap, which gave Chris and I a free ride. After they were reeled in Joe muttered something undiscerning but the gist of it was I'm through. It was a good hard effort.

Half way through lap three at the south end of the dam after the turn a group of five Aaron, Kevin, Jarred Chris and I got away for a brief period, but was brought back at the top of the big hill. We probably could have stayed away if we would have had a complete effort, but there were other motivations.

Just before the dam, teammate Chris Spence attacked hard and Nick went with him. I wasn't in position to go and thought Aaron or Jarred would try and bridge, they didn't and Chris and Nick were gone pronto. At the end of the dam in the feed zone Kevin L. swung over to get a bottle, I was following suite when I noticed Jarred, Chet and Kevin B. cranking it up and getting separation big time. I ditched my idea of a bottle and went really hard trying to catch on. I rounded the corner into the wind and knew it was time to burn a match. I caught this group at the bottom of the next hill, completely spent, if the pace would have kicked it up again at this point I would have been gone. I looked back and there was nobody. I recovered and had another free ride in pursuit of the two leaders. Of the four of us Chet and Jarred were the only ones working. As we came around to the entrance of Liebers Point we had one lap to go. As we came around to the north end of the dam of the last lap we confirmed our suspicions, that Nick was dropped by Chris. At the end of the dam with Jarred and Chet losing ground Kevin B. and I started pulling. I felt safe we wouldn't catch Chris and could possibly catch Nick who like me was a Cat. Three. We caught Nick shortly after we turned onto the Liebers Point road.

As we drew closer to the finish I knew it was coming, I just didn't think it would be quite so soon and quite so fast. At one Kilo to go, I was at the front with Jarred, Chet, and Kevin in tow, at the bottom of a hill before the final short rise and before the final right turn Jarred from All 9 Yards must of floated off the back to gain momentum. When he came charging by I had to jump hard to try and catch on. I came into the final ninety degree corner so hard I didn't think I was going to be able to keep from going off the edge of the road and had to tap the breaks, but not only to stay on the road, but because there was a car directly ahead in what was suppose to be an open road. I came around the car not being able to find a gear. The gear I was charging up the hill in was way to big after the corner, I went down two, but it wasn't big enough, went up one okay, dang, Kevin and Chet are now on my wheel, I'm dying here. Shift up, let's go, ouch can't turn it, I'm roasted, shift back down, try to maintain. Here comes Kevin and Chet, and there they go. fifth in the overall, Second in the Cat. Three's. I got within 10 feet of Jarred's wheel at the turn, but was coming into it too hot, where he was able to pedal through it. Great move on his part. He was dead and slowing at the end like I was, but he was just far enough ahead and was able to hold on to it. Sometimes things don't go as you would like them, but that's life and racing.