The clock is ticking

Nationals is around the corner and my world has come unglued. Kellie lost her job and I had to close my office and am wondering if my company is going to file bankruptcy. I found out that we are being bought out soon. The good news is I have a solid offer from another company. This is not the kind of stress you need before the biggest race of the year.
Last weekend we went to the Hall's at Cosco Estates and I raced and Kellie and Shawn went to the beach. I got a 9th and 16th in the crits and 8th in the raining road race. Nathan, Scott and Dave all rode with me so it was good to spend time with friends and forget about life.
This weekend Zack and I are going to the NC road race championships on Saturday so we will see. I feel like the stress is becoming less ever day, especially since the job thing has been nailed down. Now if we can get Kellie's schooling worked out we will be good.
On a high note Shawn is out of school and made the A/B honor roll for the whole year and we are so proud. He drives us nuts at home but it doing great in school. That's all for now.........R

Tour of Atlanta

First and for most the GA cup has not changed. They changed the start times , did not have a overall GC for the threes, did not have enough course marshals for the RR and put the wrong address for the start of the RR on the website. Four days and 7 races with no loss of skin or broken bikes. Day one was the TT of 1.24 miles which I got a 10th in the rain. That night a circuit race I waited to long going to the line and pulled out a 24th. Day 2 first circuit race the feel for the group was coming around. There were a couple of teams who were serious about trying to keep it together so attacking and chasing was the way it was going to be. I pulled out a 15th in the first race and 16th that night in the rain. Day 3 The first circuit race 10th and that night was the fastest so far and the group never got organized and it was a weird vibe but pulled out a 16th before the rain. Day four was a 65 mile RR with almost 4000 ft of climbing. I tried bridging across to the break away but the stomach problem I had been fighting since the weekend before at the GA state RR kicked in and the legs were tired. I was back in the pack and on the second time up the climb I could not respond and got gapped. Got over the top and myself and one more went on the chase and I dropped him and could not catch the group. Hooked up with one rider and set tempo to the line picking off several on the way. I should have been in the top 25.This weekend Gafney and Walnut Grove and the next will be headed to Port Royal/Beaufort races. A quick thumbs up to Natan Smith who did the Tour of ATL also. He had his hands full with the pros but was happy with his performance.A quick thanks to Dave Hall for the help. If you want a coach who will shoot you straight he is you man!!! Now I go home and sleep....... .....Robert

Back on Track

Since the Tour de moore I did the Masters and A race at the local track. I was not concerned with the points race just the overall. In the Masters missed first by 18 inches and in the A race got 6th. I went to GA and did the State RR championship and was pushed out coming to the line by some of the wost bike handlers I have seen. I ended up 32nd, never got to open it up and did not go down. The crit the next day had all the good riders and it was fast. Three got up the road, then 2 more and myself and 2 others went after them. We caught the chase group then the field pulled us back. The last 2 laps where all out with everybody attacking. I got the group to pull it together and coming to the line we where racing for 4th. With 200-300 meters to go a guy pulled his foot out hit the guy next to him, they kept it up but caused me to hesitate for a second and I pulled out 8th overall and 6th in the 35+. That would be one place out of the money. Now I rest for a couple of days and the family and I head to the Tour of Atlanta.
Tonight Shawn will be crossing over to the Webelos and we are all excited, he is growing up fast. He is also hanging on the the A/B honor roll and has testing coming up next week. We are keeping our fingers crossed. For now work, rest and prepair for the Tour...........Robert

Back to Racing

I did the Tour de Moore this weekend and am glad to be back racing. My goal was to survive and get the system shocked back into racing. I was able to hold on till half a lap to go and was pleased with that seeing how we had 60+ in the Field and some heavy hitters at that. We split the Field and I came in around 30 or so. Yesterday I wasn't sure how the body was going to react and hit the local group ride. I got in 4 hours and was one of the two strongest guys out there. With that kind of performance I think my training will be good. My next race will be Highland rim classic which is all hills. It will be a training race so there is not any pressure. Then the Tour of ATL which I hope to do well in.
This weekend I am on call and we will be spending the day with the Scouts Sat. at a Boy scout camp. That will be a good time for sure and hopefully the rain will hold out.

ION Classic in the books

What a good weekend. I got to meet and greet the team, get my kits, and have team pictures Friday. Sat. I worked a corner for two races and drove the pace car for the rest of the day. Sun. I got to announce the race for the first half of the day. The weather was beautiful and the racing went good with over 300 riders. It was a long weekend but well worth it. This weekend I am headed to the Tour de Moore to race. It has been 6 weeks and I have to get serious now if I am going to make to nationals.
Shawn is still doing good and glad to see the spring coming. He made the A/B honor roll so mom and I could not be more proud. Kellie is solid as usual and trying to keep up with Shawn and I. The cat is still getting in 22 hours a day in the bed, so all is well.

Breaking the rules

The doctor never clarified how long I am suppose to wait to ride again. So technically there is a lot of grey area, right? I have been on the trainer doing a lot of tempo riding and hit the road this weekend for about 6 hour without any problems. Dave and Alex came up to go backpacking and got snowed out but hung out at the house putting the smack down on the video games with Shawn. My new training bike(aerocat) came in yesterday and I rode it on the computrainer last night. It feels pretty stiff so we will see. We may go camping this weekend which will give me an opportunity to do tempo rides up 276. For now back to work.

13 weeks to go to KY

Went to the weight room Sat. and two good hours on the trainer Sun. The legs are doing okay,collar bone hurts but I can get my hand on the bar and the ribs hurt. The staples where removed yesterday and the xrays looked good. I was told to take it easy for 2 more weeks and come back for xrays. I think maybe he said 2 more days, yeah that's it!? ( I hit my head you know so I forget things )
Shawn got his Bear badge last night along with some more awards at scouts. He was fired up about that. Last week he went to his science teacher and asked to make up a test he missed while being sick. He made a 100% and brought his c up to a B which got him back on the A/B honor roll. Heading to the gym today and putting the power tap on the bike tonight.