Mtn. Biking Bliss!

This past weekend I was able to head up to Truckee and do a little mountain biking. I headed up and spent the day kickin' around enjoying the cooler temperatures and the general laid back atmosphere that I have missed. In the afternoon I rode a nice mellow trail since I was on my single speed and just enjoyed the out and back trail and nice scenery. I was going to take some more pictures where the trail gets more scenic and gnarly but I was having too much fun and didn't want to take the time to stop. Next time.

Tour de Leelanau - Results from the road race in Traverse City, MI (my hometown)

This past weekend was not only the Memorial Day weekend, but also race weekend in Traverse City. Some good teams showed up again this year to race "the hidden gem of american racing." By looking at the pictures above, you can imagine why this statement is true. The area is beautiful for biking and general summer time enjoyment. Hopefully this race continues to grow from the race that my big 'bro and I raced ten years ago (winning prize by the way was a fresh loaf of bread) to become a mainstay in U.S. races.
I was happy to see some people I rode with, when I was living there (and my big 'bro still rides with), placed decently considering they were racing with some of the best american riders.
Check out some of the race details at Cycling News website http://www.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2008/may08/leelanau08

Tour de Nez Road Race and Bike Festival

So in a few weeks is the annual Tour De Nez road race/bike festival. The Tour de Nez is a multi day road race, criterium, bike festival and general good ol' time held in Reno, Truckee and Tahoe. It will be nice to be back in the area to spectate the carnage of the Criterium and the road race. If any of you people reading out there are interested, you should definitely come check it out......fun will be had by all.
Check out the Tour de Nez website for all the information at http://www.tourdenez.com/

No Mas en Las Vegas!!

The title pretty much says it all, this kid's movin' back to God's country. Hilary has to stay for a bit longer until she's done with her residency in L.V., but will be following before too long.

No more 120 degree days, no more waking up at 4:45 am to be on the bike and back in by 8:00am, no more uppity wanna be's drunk driving aiming to hit "the goofy spandex wearing guy" on the road at 5:00 am (nope I'm not bitter). Back to Tahoe and more inhabitable climes. Back to SNOW! Whooo Hoooo!

Anyways, I will miss the people that I've grown to know and hang out with (you know who you are) in Las Vegas, but the standing invites to visit are open to come and enjoy the best skiing, mountain biking and road riding around. So please take me up on the offer and often.

Hasta until then.

My Dogs.......Gretchen & McGee

What a Garage is Supposed to Look Like!

First of all I would like everyone who is looking at this page to take note.........this is what a garage (&/or house) is supposed to look like. And no, this is not our (Hilary's and my) garage.......ours has more bikes than this, but that's beside the point. My point is simply, BIKES ARE GOOD! Don't make your bikes be subjected to the loneliness of hanging out by themselves all the time, get 'em a friend........sheesh. In the words of a wise man (i.e. C. Kushman) "the number of bikes you need is equal to the number of bikes you own + 1."

That's all.......Good Day!

The soap opera known as professional cycling

So if you don't follow cycling, or haven't at least heard (or care for that matter), the organizers of the Tour De France (or Tour 'Day' France as interpreted by Bob "Bobke" Roll) is not allowing team Astana, which includes 2007 Tour winner, Alberto Contador, and third place finisher, Levi Leipheimer, to compete in that, or any of the races they organize. You might ask.......why would they do that. I might respond.......that's a good question. Their para-phrased response is essentially "they can't be trusted ."

Well, the story leading to this banning begins a couple of years ago with a rider getting caught doping when the team name was Liberty Seguros, next if you think back to last years' Tour you will remember that a rider known as "Vino" riding for the newly named Team Astana had some doping complications, in that he got caught. Well after the team completely re-structured, hired all new staff, directors (i.e. Johan Bruyneel from the Armstrong era) and re-configured the roster of riders on the team (i.e. adding Alberto, Levi and most of the other Discovery riders and subtracting all of the questionable doping characters) it seems, suddenly, "they can't be trusted." So I guess my question is do they not trust the team sponsors (Astana) or the riders (i.e. Alberto/Levi/Kloden)? Hmmmmmmm...........so I don't know whether I actually care or not but I thought it was kind of interesting, albeit illogical thinking, to fight doping in cycling.

Check out Levi's website, http://www.letleviride.com/ if you want to show your support.