Where the h-e-double hockey sticks is it!?

Come on now! Really, where did it go? I was so looking forward to watching Stage 4 of the Tour of Ireland, because being the lad I am, I love Ireland; but I got home today and went to the DVR to bring it up and it wasn't there. Was it on today!? It had to be! Why didn't it record? Oh the drama! Ah well, I believe it was the TT today anyways and while I'd watch it, I like the RR's better. Sarah and I were talking while watching yesterdays stage and it has been confirmed. We are definately going back within the next two years.

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A kinda cool thing happened this evening on my training ride. As many of you know Harley is celebrating its 105th Anniversary this week and there are motorcycles everywhere! Thousands and thousands of bikes all over the area. Well last night I was doing some intervals and a biker passed me and a short time later he turned around and came back. He passed me again but then slowed down and his passenger started to take pictures of the scenery (barns, cows, etc.). I cranked it up for one last interval, caught the Harley, drafted for a few seconds and then went around. The chick on the back of the Harley gave me a "that was cool" smile as I passed (or at least that's what I want to think!). They caught back up to me quickly and we road nearly side by side for a couple tenths of a mile before we parted ways at the next intersection.

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My bike is still better. Ha.

Flatlandia

So Sarah and I just got back last night from a few days of visiting her folks in Minnesota. It was a nice time visiting and what not, but I tell ya the cycling sucks there. I thought the Flatlandia team was from Illinois, but I really think they are secretly from south central Minnesota. Everything looked the same, acre after acre of corn, soy beans and beats. Windy as all get out because there were no freakin' trees to be found because of all the farm fields. The roads were long, straight and boring. The "hills" consisted of false flats, nothing less, nothing more. Oi. Her parents have to drive over an hour just to go to the grocery store. That's ridiculous!!! *I know not all of Minnesota is this boring! The Cities were pretty cool when we strolled through and some of the towns in between. I'm thinking the am races at NVGP next year so Sarah's parents can check it out.*
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Enough ranting about that already. I'm glad to be back home in time for the local festivities. Several special rides this weekend for the team and OBC that I will be partaking in as well the cookout Sarah and I are hosting on Sunday. Sad to say I really don't have much more vacation time left this year; it has been really nice doing whatever at a whim.
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Oh, and another goal accomplished for this year. Successfully climbed Holy Hill. I set out last Sunday morning to ride down to the shop for a group ride, but no one else showed (except Tom and Collin, but Tom forgot his cleats - so both of them did not ride). I decided to continue on my merry way wondering where I was going to go. I started making my way towards the Holy Hill area and kept getting closer and closer. I said to myself several times, "ah, I'll just turn off and head home on the next road." But the allure of the climb continually peaked my interest and I did it. Not nearly as bad as what I thought it was going to be. I took the main entrance to the church, which most of the climbing was the switch backs before the church. I've heard there is a "back door" route to the church off of Caramel Road, but I'm not that familiar with the area to galavant all over on my own. I'm now going to try to incorporate this area into my training plans much more often after giving it a whirl. I love to suffer.

"The Brocket"

A few funny things these past couple days:
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Today I drafted some chickens on Highland Road. That was interesting... riding down the road and all of a sudden I'm getting clucked at and look to my right and there's two chickens running aside me. They flew in front of me and started running again. I just couldn't get aero enough to get a good draft off of them!
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My teammate, Grant, gave me a new nickname: "The Brocket" after my attack on the Level Valley Creamery route. Well he actually gave it to me before the ride started, but said that I definitely earned it afterwards. I must continue the legacy of The Brocket!
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Oh yea, (more awesome than funny) I saw Kate and some other HPC girls on Versus' Cyclism Sundays for the Nature Valley Grand Prix. I guess Versus just got to airring this last weekend, because it magically showed up on my DVR. It's awesome to see someone you know on TV and cycling! I'll save it for ya 'till you come next year Kate!

"Level Valley" Creamery Route

Last night was a special training route for the Ozaukee Bike Club (OBC). Special as in treacherous climbs and a killer race pace. Anyone that has heard me talk knows that the OBC rides are tough with varying skill levels throughout the field from Cat 2's down to enthusiastic roadies. I had set a goal early this spring to be able to hang with the 'A' group on any particular route this group does on Wednesday nights, but I had no idea that I would accomplish this task on one of the toughest routes known to the OBC.

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I wasn't feeling the greatest from the get go as my wisdom teeth were bothering me. It seems as though once a week they really hurt -like a 6 out of a 10. Last night was a definite 6. It's a dull pain though so I can withstand it. Anyways, we rolled out and Brian Petted and I sat on the front for the warm up and up the first climb. This was key as there were two bitchin' climbs about four miles up the road and we were able to reintegrate about six riders back to recover before the climbs. Climb #1 went well and I was one of the first few up; Climb #2 is a 15% 1/4 mile wall of pain that you cannot get any momentum on because of the short 2/10 mile 5% just before it. I was not far back off the couple leaders once again, but I was severely hurting. I was soon passed by the remainder of the 'A' group and was in no mans land. Grant and Tom shot up behind me about a minute later and the train was on the way to catch the group. Our train caught the 'A' group just before the next grinder of a climber. Somehow I found the legs and muscled up it second wheel. Unfortunately this surge caused Tom, who had just caught back on the 'A' group, to be spit out the back in no man's land. Sidebar: Tom and I have both been struggling all season to be able to hang with the 'A' group... Keep pushing it Tom!

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The next 10 miles we set up a decent rotating pace line at about 27-28 mph until the descent down Paradise Drive (Rustic Road section) and onto Washington Drive where everyone was saving up energy for the final sprint a few miles down the road on Pleasant Valley. I was feeling well recovered just before the first little hill on Washington and spring boarded off the front and launched a full fledged attack......that only lasted until the base of the second hill. Didn't have enough in the tank to keep going, but softened up some legs for the final sprint which was growing imminent.

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We turned from CTH Y onto Pleasant Valley and I was smelling the finish, but I didn't have anything at all left in the tank to contest the sprint. The final 1.5 mile false flat and two small uphills killed me and I trickled in six wheels back. Rolled into the lot in sheer pain. Nauseous. Wisdom teeth killing me, causing so much pain that it affected my hearing.

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Despite all the pain, suffering and misery, I felt damn good. Another goal accomplished. I can't wait for the ABR Fall Fling Series. Bring it!

Ride....Work....Ride

No overtime this week so I've been getting in some good riding. About 7 hours of training time in through Friday with a three hour spin slated for this morning after I finish my coffee and let things settle.

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I received my approval from USAC for my Cat 4 upgrade and e-mailed my coach with the news. His response was "Cat 3 next year?" Which makes me start to evaluate my goals for 2009. Do I really want to shoot for the 3's? Yes and No. I think I would like to get some good race experience in the 4's this year, that being I haven't really been able to mix it up at the end nor put in a lot of attacks during the race. I want to be able to apply the tactics that I've been taught and I don't think the 3's is the place to try them the first time around. I'll have to see how next year goes and re-evaluate then should I have the upgrade points.

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The racing season is really dwindling down. Only one WCA race in August and it is moderately hilly. Ugh. I suck in the hills. Good thing I'm not doing this race. I'll be doing the Cream City Century ride the day after. It'll be my first century. Should be interesting and I hear it is a good time. I will be racing the ABD Cycling Fall Fling in Illinois however. I'm excited for this two weekend series. I feel that I'm getting stronger with the coaching and I think I figured out my sprint now too. I'm ready to mix it up baby!