Not the best year on the bike. Worked my ass off on the house and the bike suffered from it. I have had some down time and we have decided no more big stuff on the house till next fall. So, with the help of an ex pro and very smart friend who is helping me next year should be awesome.
Shawn is getting A and B's at school. Completed cross country running and trying out for basketball. Kellie is right there keeping us in line and doing good.

Busy as usual

Bought a house in Sept. and have been working on it. Got thru the holidays good and training as usual. Can't seem to loose the last few pounds but working on that. I am racing for Chainheart Masters this year with 8 guys who know what they are doing so hopefully we will do well. Kellie and Shawn are busy and good. He is racing with they DIY team again and Kellie is doing spin classes and starting to ride outside. We are working on the yard right now ever chance we get. We also adopted a new kitten (Turtle) who has voices in her head. Turtle and Tom are getting along good. That's all for now, gotta go pack and head to Greenville to race.

What I think about

“IN CASE OF DOUBT, JUST GO…
IF YOU TRY TO WIN, YOU MIGHT LOSE. IF YOU DON’T TRY TO WIN, YOU LOSE FOR SURE…
WHEN YOU’RE AT THE START LINE, AND YOU KNOW YOU’RE NOT REALLY GOING TO TAKE YOUR CHANCE, YOU KNOW YOU’RE BEATEN AT THE START LINE. HOW FRUSTRATING IS THAT? I COULD NEVER BE A BIKE RIDER…
IT’S BETTER TO TAKE A SMALL CHANCE IN YOUR HAND, MAKE YOUR OWN DESTINY THAN TO WAIT FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO DROP YOU OFF THEIR WHEEL”
OH JENS, YOU’RE BRILLIANT.

Ready for spring

We have been thru alot the last couple of months. We bought our house and six days later the contractors started the roof re shingling and did not cover it. It rained and ruined the inside of the house. Long story short they fixed it and we are settled in. We had a good Thanksgiving at home and are getting ready for Christmas.
I am riding for Chainheart studio masters team next year with a group of guy I know and that know how to race. I finally have a solid team and a shot at winning.
Shawn has made new friends at he new house and is doing good in school. I am afraid he will not pursue racing any more but we will see.
Kellie is good and trying to get back in the gym and on the bike. I hope she can get back to it she was feeling better and I enjoyed riding with her.
The cat has turned into a girl and won't go outside but other than that just working on the house and training hard for next year.

Hurry up and wait

Racing season is pretty well over. I am still training but will be off the bike soon to work on the house. Kellie and Shawn gave me a good birthday last week and Saturday is Shawn's. We are just waiting to close on the house at this point and then we can get to work on it before we move in. I will try and do some cross but not sure when. Hopefully we can do some cookie rides this fall so Kellie can see how nice it is to ride in the fall. Shawn is loving 6th grade and his new school. That's all for now.......

Buying a House

Still trying to train and race. Got 5th overall this past weekend in Oak ridge, TN and Shawn got 9th. He did his first time trial and said he didn't want to do any more. He later changed his mind. The big thing right now is buying a house and trying to have repairs done before we move in. It is not finalized but is happening and we get to pack and move and unpack. My training and racing will be hit and miss for the next couple of months. Maybe a break will do me good.

Not much going on

Haven't race in couple of weeks and it will be two more before my next one. I am a little aggravated with racing right now. We are focusing hard on buying a house so that is the hot item. Shawn is enjoying summer and driving Kellie and I crazy. We are to go to Steve and Jennifer's cabin for the fourth of July weekend and I will get a lot of motor pacing in. Kellie is still riding and I am trying to find our next cookie ride. For now back to surfing the web for a house........

Racing and Resting

Last week was the SC state RR Dave got bronze and I was taken down with one lap to go. The only thing I broke was the helmet and rode back. I finally feel better so I hope to do well at the NC state RR this weekend. Shawn did his first road race down there and came in 2nd to last but had a good time. Kellie has been riding good. Next weekend will be a break with camping with the scouts.

Motor pacing 101

Kellie's first cookie ride

We did the Tour de Blount this past weekend in TN which was Kellie's first organized ride. She did the 42 mile route and we had the pleasure of having Kenny ride with us which between myself and him made for entertainment. She did great and never complained, we even had a little rain. I am very proud of her and she proved a lot to herself. She is already asking when our next event is.

Shawn is fired up as well. He is now racing with the Asheville youth cycling/ DIY team. He raced in Dilworth and once at the track so far. The big thing right now is when is his bike going to be done. Thanks to the folks at Cane Creek they hooked him up with a Ridley frame and it should be finished this week. He can't wait to ride it and is talking about nationals.

This weekend will be motor pacing and our anniversary on Sunday. Shawn is going camping with the scouts so Kellie and I can have some quiet time and get some riding in by ourselves after she trys to kill me with the scooter.

Tour de moore / brick city crit

Dave Hall and I raced the 1/2 road race on Saturday. We had 86 at the start and 110 miles to go. There was a 10+ mile straight that took us to a loop for 8 laps. We had a break go in the first 20 miles and everyone else was content to mark each other. Dave started cramping on the first lap but was in it for the finish. The group caught the break with 1.5 laps to go and as the Field was coming in to the final 10 miles it got crazy as usual. 5-6k out I was moving up with Dave in front on me. With multiple close crashes I was fighting for a spot. With 1k to go I was in the money and so was Dave, we made a left hand turn at 500 meter when a guy 3 spots to my left pulled his rear wheel out of the frame, everybody pushed right on me and a rider blew up in front of me at the same time. I was pushed out in some body's yard got around the guy, bunny hopped back up on the road and lost 15-20 places ending up 44th. Dave was in front of the mess and got 11th.

Brick city crit I raced 40+ with everyone marking each other and no break aways. In turn 3 on the last lap got a bad spot and ended up 11th.Right after that was the 30+ which Dave was in. 3 laps in a rider rolled off the front and a half a lap later Dave rolled away. Everybody was to busy watching each other and they got 15 seconds and held it there for the next 15 to 20 minutes. With 10 to go I went to the front to keep the pace under control and marked all the attacks. With 3 to go Dave and the other rider were right behind us and Metro put a massive attack in putting me last. I fought my way back and ended up 13th but Dave made it stick and got ABRC another win.

Congrats to Tim with 11th and Adam, Brian, Marcus and Marios in the masters and Brendon from Chainheart with 9th in the 1/2 at the Tour de Moore

Wide open

Racing season is on and busy as usual. This weekend headed to Southern Pines and Sanford. We officially registered Shawn and he now holds a USCF license. He will be riding for DIY Asheville youth cycling and is fired up. One problem though, he doesn't have a road bike. Everybody is helping find him one so hopefully soon he will have one. Kellie is riding well and we do her first big ride in a couple of weeks. Shawn does his first race next weekend in Charlotte. Gotta go to work now...........robert

Still busy and glad to see spring

Raced river falls in Greenville in the cold rain. I help get a team mate in the break and he won. I did a omnium in SC in the pro 1/2. The 2 mile TT stank, I almost ran off the course 2 times. The crit was good and with 3 to go I jumped in the Mountain Kackie teams lead out and got pushed out from a crashed and was gapped. The road race I just screwed up and did not start fast enough. I fell back to far and chased all day. I am happy with my fitness I just need to work on speed. Kellie has been riding good. We did 21 miles yesterday and her charity ride is next weekend. Shawn is glad to see spring. He went to Western Carolina University yesterday with the scouts to a merit badge midway. He completed his first merit badge, first aid.

Busy

Raced at the Donaldson center last week and finished 21st. I am riding strong but the whole family had a virus earlier that week. I cramped bad half thru the race and had to sit in. Shawn is crossing over to Boy Scouts tonight so we are working on that. Kellie got a full time job with the Gov. and is still exercising. She is still preparing for her ride in March and it looks like she may have a friend riding with us. Heading out the door for 3 hours of climbing so got to go.....

Here we go again

We have already had one snow storm at Christmas and now it is dumping again. We have 8 inches as of 8am and it is suppose to snow all day. I went to the UWBL in Greenville Saturday for 4.5hr/83 miles with about 80 people and 30 mph winds. We only had one crash but it was tough at times. I survived with the leaders and felt okay Sunday. I just need more long rides to get comfortable. Kellie is doing well and keeping up with working out and dieting. Shawn is happy he is out of school finished up all his requirements last night to become a boy scout.

The day after

We stayed home and enjoyed Xmas this year. My coolest gift was from Shawn. He made a real painting on canvas at school and did a wonderful job. I am very proud of him, he is growing fast. Kellie got some pj's, clothes, and bed bath and beyond. Shawn got a skateboard park, clothes, hat, shoes, games and Santa brought him the biggest present . Two Guinea pigs that I have to say are pretty cute. Mother nature brought all of us 12 inches of snow at this point and it is still snowing. I will be on the trainer for a while. I'm so happy!!

Very Busy and cold

I was asked to be the Masters 35+ team captain for ABRC a month or so ago. There have been some big changes and I am now the 1,2,3, leader. I have also been involved with making the kit designs. I got my new road bike and it is bad. It is a 14.2 lbs Trek madone 6.9 ssl It has already snowed and today was a high of 18 degrees. Back on the trainers ....yeah.
Kellie is staying with riding and exercising and doing good. Shawn is ready for Christmas.
Dave called today and got his test results from the doctor and has found out why he has been feeling bad. It looks like a simple fix so hopefully he will be back to 100% soon. I hope I can step up my training enough to keep up with him........

Kellie is kicking butt

Kellie has been working out now for 2 months or so and been riding her MTB bike. I have been trying to ride with her for support and one day she looks at my bike and says that looks like it would be more comfortable. WELL that just opened up a whole can of worms. Do I get her a carbon bike, aluminum, carbon wheels? So I calm down and told her before we make a purchase I would feel better if she shows that she is serious. She has and then luck would have it a friend of mine had a new bad ass Bianchi his girlfriend never used and it fits Kellie. She tried it for a week, climbed a huge hill and did 2 15 mile rides in Charleston. That following Monday she bought it. I am really proud of her. She is riding it on the trainer and going to the gym and has lost 18 pounds so far. She has even talked about trying a cookie ride this spring. Shawn is doing great to , he has been right there with us the hole time putting in the mile.
We had a great Thanksgiving and are trying to get through Christmas. Winter training is the usual.....stupid cold. The road team is a mess and will hopefully be worked out in the next two weeks. Other than that all is well.....robert

Who would have thought

I just got the email today and have been upgraded to a cat 2. Here I am a 42 years old husband and father. I have grown up being the fat kid, wore out half my back bounced off stuff from Chicago to South Carolina and broke more bones and bikes that I can count. With all that behind me and a will that won't give up doing what I always dreamed of, I am succeeding. I can not thank enough my beautiful wife and wonderful son for their support. One of my best friends Dave Hall and his family. He has helped me in so many ways and coached me to win. The wonderful people at Cane Creek. If they had not given me the comp entry to the FBCC in 2004 I probably would still be doing cookie rides. All the sponsors and people I have met along the way.
My plan for 2011 is to go to Nationals in Bend Oregon but first and most important is I am dedicating myself to Dave to get points to be a cat 1 so he can go to Elite Nationals and win it !!!

How do you like me now?

I was going so hard I broke it off!! In October