Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Concord NC day 5 of the Cross Roads Classic. The course was super fast and the turns were tight. Typical attacks which I countered one early in the race but was brought back and was having fun. With 6 laps to go and one up the road I attacked thru the finish line went around the field thru turn 1 and 2 and committed to the experience of my life so far in racing. I was able to keep the feild off till the line. The crowd was going wild and the announcer was fueling the fire. As I was coming to the line they were charging hard and as I threw my bike at the line and looked up and a wheel came into view. I must have held them of by a bike length for my first second place in a crit. All of the hard work and sacrifice was justified in an instance. As I called Kellie and Shawn who were crying and shouting for joy I felt the best I have in a long time. Dave was next to call and totally understood the moment and feeling.
Today there is a chance for rain here in Salisbury. I am going to go spin the legs and rest for tonight and do it again.

Mocksville was super fast and thankfully safe. Suffered the worst I have so far in the series but was getting in great positioning for the sprint with 2 to go. Sitting around 10th coming around on the last lap and exiting turn one the guy in front of me missed a gear and coming out of turn two he had caused a gap. I got around him and caught the group up the hill and made it to the line 18th. Tonight Concord, today rest and an easy ride.

Wrapping up work and heading to Mocksville, Concord, and Salisbury for the next 3 races. This will be a busy week since I will be back late Thursday and Friday unpack and repack grab Shawn and go to Albany GA for the GA cup. Maybe Sunday when I get home I can rest with the family.

Well Morganton was hot, 98 degrees at race time. Had a safe race, did some work to pull back a break and at the end was feeling the heat and did not get in a good position for the up hill sprint. I was able to pull out a 18th place. Glad to be home and spending some time with the family. They had a good time in K town. Tonight will be busy trying to get ready for the rest of the weeks race schedule, feeling good so who knows what might happen.

Sat. night was Lenoir NC and it was fast and at times sketchy. Tried an attack and was brought back. This group likes to stay together. With 4 laps to go was trying to move up and in the final time up the hill for the finish missed a shift which cost me but pulled out a 20th place.
Today in Morganton the course is long and has a 2 block up hill for the front straight away. This one is going to be tough and hot. I'm felling better and enjoying the races but ready to get home to the family!

Today will be the second race of the Crossroads classic. I did not have that good of a weekend last weekend at the French Broad Cycling Cassic. I made it 15 min. in the masters and was putting myself in danger for I had not recovered from Nationals so I pulled out and took a couple of days off. I did get to be the lead motorcycle at Sundays crit and did 200 miles in a circle, what a day.
Last night we were in Taylorsville NC and had a good race and feeling like I am recovered. I played it safe thru the race and was afraid of a crash at the end so I took a flyer with one lap to go and could not make it the line and ended up 24th. Stephen made it with 10 to go and Parker in pro race got 14th.
Tonight will be Lenoir NC and the course looks fast. Getting ready to go for a ride and check out the neighborhood.
Kellie and Shawn are going to K-Town for a B-Day party at the Griffen house since his race may get rained out.
Hopefully we won't have rain tonight!!!!

Last weeks adventure turned out to be a good time for me. Dave came up Tuesday and we got to got to etowah for the Tuesday night smack down. We got a good MTB ride with Kent in Dupont. Put in 100-150 miles on the dual sports. Friday rolled out to KY and stopped in Norris TN for a road ride and was able to show Dave some new country and found some new roads in the process. We decided to soak or legs in the river after the ride and that was the coldest water I have ever been in. Made it to KY safe and the KOA provided the base camp for us with good accommodations. Saturday went for a 3 hr ride on the back roads and found some great country. Sunday I was surprisingly calm and felt the best I have all year. The race was fast and full of attacks which I was able to respond. The winning attack went and I tried to hang but fell of the wheel. I guess the 2 months of recovery from the broken collar bone caught up with me.I tried getting the chase group to organize but with out any luck. Ended up 30th overall and got 11th in the Field sprint. I finally walked away from a race with the feeling that I put it all on the line. Next year pending no injuries I will make the break and be there for the finish.
Dave however had a great race making all the right moves and looking like he would be the guy to beat. HOWEVER turn 3 on the last lap the gentleman from Crank Bros. team decided to lay down in front of Dave who was 4th wheel going into the sprint and D hit him at 40mph and broke his fork off. Other than some scratches he came out ok.............I think it made him mad!!!!!! Next year we have some business to finish in Louisville..........359 days left. Good luck to the competition, we're coming back!

Masters Nationals

Dave and I are in Louisville KY getting ready to race the US National Crit tomorrow. We had a good ride about three hours today. On the way over we stopped in Norris Tn and got two and a half hours in and afterwards got in the lake. That was the coldest water I have ever been in. Have to run so we can get our race packets but will have a story to tell soon.