Tuesday, March 24, 2009

hmmm..Team Columbus...

So...my good friend Patrick sent me this link (posted below) this morning about the infamous Tym Tyler and his Team Columbus now known as TacoRacing or something like that. I have been very out spoken about Tym Tyler and his races...he never pays out what he is suppose to..err...ummm what he says he's going to and a laundry list of other unsafe practices and do I mention his constant race date changes??

I'm still mixed about going to another one of his events. I don't want to penalize the sport...only the bad apple that is taking advantage of it. He allowed us to race knowing there was no insurance for the race..isn't that the main reason we pay entry fees? He then did not pay out his advertised payouts...again, entry fee? WHERE DID THAT MONEY GO??

I only have one of his races on my calendar this year....other than that I'm not going to race his events. Why should I? I'd rather support a responsible race promoter.

39x12andcounting

Monday, March 23, 2009

3-23-09...original huh?


This weekend included some great riding....I got in some race pace efforts which not only hurt but classicly felt good at the same time...the irony of cycling. We had our TLE training clinic on Saturday, and then a team ride on Sunday.

I was a bit worried though because of my knee..oh yes my knee. Last weekend it was nice out and my son Easton and I were out playing kickball...well one thing led to another and before I knew it I had "damaged" my patellor tendon. I rode the next 3 days...in pain. It felt like it was on fire. Then I took Wed and Thursday off completely and then rode Friday after work, it was just an easy ride, but my knee was pretty much pain free. So I'm ready to roll!!??

Today's the only day its really "bothered" me sense, it doesn't hurt, but just feels annoyed. What to do?? I'll see how tomorrow goes, if it bothers me, I'll take Wednesday off, maybe. I just don't want this to linger around all season...
(i stole the pic from Bill Marut)

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Lake Effect colors run deep

Its been awhile since I've posted...nothing much going on except the day to day grind. I've been getting in some great miles and most have been outside. Yeah! Four days straight outside! Which leads me to my posting today.

The red and black of Team Lake Effect. In my mind as a racer, ever since I started racing, these colors have always brought butterflies to my stomach. Even while on opposing teams I know we always counted the LE riders in the peloton and kept a watchful eye...whether we could do anything about them or not.

Now that I am on TLE, for year 2, I still get those butterflies. Its different though. Its about expectations and the idea of knowing what goes through the other riders minds when they see us wheel the line. Its also the respect the colors give us as individuals. I'm not a great rider compared to some on the team, but I have had my moments. I see myself as one of those riders that nobody counts as a threat and that none of the cat 1 riders see me as significant...but I have a purpose in the peloton. Somehow...

But my experience last night on my ride made me a believer in the power of the Red and Black. Two words...Paul Martin. I was riding on the Parkway and he was going the other way sporting his old Texas Road House kit...but we exchanged waves and a nod. In general this is nothing big. To me, coming from Paul, this was in recignition of the colors I was wearing and representing, not so much me as the rider. I'm sure he has no idea who I am. But he knew the LE colors. I'm proud to be wearing this uinform. It has a long tradition of greatness. I hope to be a valuable member of my team.

oh yeah...
Here is my race calendar!

April:
4th Malabar Farms
25th RATL
26th CVCRTS – (covered bridge race)

May:
2rd RATL
3rd CVCRTS – (covered bridge race)
9th RATL
10th Chippewa
30th Mohican 100 MTB (tentative)

June:
14th State Road Race
21st State TT (tentative)
27th Raccoon Rally – Salamanca NY

July:
Westlake

August:
15th Shreve RR
29th – Valley City RR