I call New York city a sewer. If I was 25 and single, partying every night it would be interesting. Now, I don;t see anything redeeming about it.All I see is sweltering heat, sidewalks and subways with sticky surfaces and running all over Manhattan with a suit on, 85 degrees between meetings.

I decided to make the trips more interesting and retrofitted the Serotta with S&S machine couplings. I am told I can do some fast 20 minute loops around Central Park, no stop lights on road surface. So, I am bringing the bike and we'll see how it goes. Underneath this clothing is a bike withinan S&S softcase. I'll stay at the Parker Meridien overlooking the park which should give me a good vantage point to enter.

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It had to happen that I would eventually hit someone on the bike path. Rode yesterday afternoon out there and it was not that crowded. I big woman walking against traffic, decides to just walk right in the middle of the path. I was not going that fast but I had not time to react, skidded and went right into her followed up by a face plant on the concrete. The helmet cracked and I put a nice gouge below my eyebrow and blood was everywhere. The first question is always, how is my bike? It only had a couple of small scratches on the chain stay and some tearing on the shifter hood and bar tape.

She was a big woman, about 6 2and easily over 200. The force still knocked her backwards. I literally bounced right off her, atleast that is the way other described it to me. People agreed she had no reason to just suddenly walk out into traffic. Luckily she was OK. I rode to the next bathroom and applied some kleenex and the bleeding stopped and I rode.

The only way I can get rides in is 500am. You get all kinds of people out there-kids and dogs running around with no supervision, punks that throw rocks, Lincoln Park Triathletes out for the first summer ride (including the helmet sticker from last year's Accenture race), and of course shitheads that want to sit on my wheel that nearly crash into me if I soft peddle. Most of these people don't have a clue or pay attention and I am really sick of this shit.

So, if you're out there doing your ride, be careful.

On a more positive note, I noticed Wednesday night races in the Soldier Field parking lot. I wanted to check it out after my ride but I think the blood may scare some people from jumping into a crit race. The sign was posted on the bike path advertising races for every Wednesday now through July between 4-9. http://soldierfieldcycling.com/sfc/?page_id=87

I thought about trying one. I wish they used the full oval of the parking lot.  

Another great weekend. While there was some rain, it managed to hold off for the 12 hour of John Muir. I teamed up with Matt for the 6 hour as a great way to get some fast laps in. I was second guessing that maybe I should be doing the 3 hour since the laps they got in were about the same in terms of total saddle time, the difference a 11.5 mile versus 9 mile loop. It would have been cool to compare to some of the fast guys to see where I stand fitness wise. My objective was really a fun atmosphere and a chance for fast laps, like a super duper long interval workout.

Alot of rain the morning of and the 12 hour riders were covered with mud. We started at 1 and luckily had the right mud type of tire, Michelin AT. They hooked up well but found myself keeping the bike upright in corners and coming in and out of corners much slower. I hoped for straight aways and hills to use power to make up time. Second lap was much better and 2 minutes faster but had too much traction so went to the Hutchinson Python and the laps was 30 seconds slower than the second. Matt did the final lap "a parade lap pace" since we were both pretty well spent. Matt and I split the payoout money and I hgave him the Heed container since he did the extra lap.

Holly and Lori sable rode the 6 hour solo together and I came upon them one lap, just chit chatting away. So no pics since we're both riding but hopefully I can find some since guys were snapping photyos throughout the trail. All in all, great course with Blue, then part of orange then blue again.

Though not a real race, I started realizing how hard it is versus a fast ride, always pushing out of corners out of saddle and trying to keep things smooth to not over ride corners. It's a reminder of what's ahead. I am going to skip Mt. Norris but I think I am ready to hit some WORs venues starting with Sunburst Show Down. Just not up for shitty hotel and 3 hour drives to bike races just yet and the next few races will be close.

Holly and Lori sable rode the 6 hour solo together and I came upon them one lap, just chit chatting away.

We had the Stanleys and Scott McLauglin over for some post race grilling and beer and finished up with a 10am recovery ride on Sunday on the connector. Scott is still ridingan early XX gruppo and wondered if thy would put the stuff in a museaum or something. Awesome day.

I heard from Aaron and it sounds like they are done welding our cross bikes and they're now at the painter so I am pretty excited about that. Not too far away now. Still waiting to see what we'll be doing with Edge Composites.

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Saturday, Sunday and today where supposed to be rain outs, yet I was still able to manage a solid, 3 day weekend. Saturday, I went out and rode Kettle for 3 hours with my ipod listening to 80s mettle mix grooving the trails. It didn't;t rain until the last 30 minutes of the ride and when it did, it made the traction better. I came across Ron Stawicki working on the connector trail that bypasses Bluff road and just crosses Route H back to the Blue Loop. I was the first one to ride on the new trail. They asked me to tear down a few fences but I must have went the wrong way since I only found one fence to remove.

After my ride, I had to finish installing a harness system in my car for track day at Autobahn on Monday. Mike and Britt Stanley came by and stopped over and decided to spend the night after hitting the Margarita Mix. Fortunately for me, what was a plug and play job to install factory Euro seats and and harness bar, was a two man job. I never would have made it to Monday's event without Mike's help. It still took me through the afternoon Sunday to finish.

Sunday, I met up with Jason Mathis, Mike Hemme and Matt Silvia for a replay of last week. Rode a solid 3 hours with some hard effort on Emma hills and the Blue loop. We came back again to due a Blue Loop but rode pretty much recovery pace as we were pretty shelled. The trails were wet in corners but the second Blue Loop was bone dry. We all picked our spots washing out in various sections of the connector and had all kinds of arm tattoos to show for it. I was pretty much shelled after that ride. We had no rain.

So, I am going to go on a segway regarding  my track event. This morning, the weather forecast also called for more rain and thunder and I almost bagged the Drivers Ed event. Last minute, I get in my car at 630 and drive to Joliet. Upon arriving, we had one rain shower and the first session, track  got a little greasy so I finished the session early and went back to the paddock. After that, the sun opened up. I drive the next 2 30 minute sessions with a friend of mine, Dave, that's an instructor to help me find the line (and my errors and bad habits) on the track. Some people in the cycling community probably have a dim view of race tracking cars but the vibe is very similar to ridding out in the trails. A lot of cool people, pretty humble that are willing to lend a hand and give advice about technique, the "line" as well as some safety advice to keep you and the car intact. Like the trail, you can push a little harder, except the results of finding your limits can be expensive if you find a guard rail. A day at the track is always a humbling experience but you really learn the limits of driving technique, especially on every day roads. I will always find a way to crash on the trails, but a humbling day is riding with Nathan Guerra.

On my last run, my car started sputtering on the track. I thought it might be the clutch. I was sure I did not over rev the engine on a downshift "money shift". It felt like I was out of gas but the tank was half full. I pulled off the track, one of the mechanic/driver guys looked at it and the oil pressure was good and no engine leaks (kiss of death). I took the car to Eurosport and we determined that the fuel line disintegrated, a $4 part. Close call. They fixed it in an hour and a half and I still drove home. I find the track events almost as addicting as riding and racing.

This week, no work travel. I am hoping that we can keep a date with Mike and Jonathan at Hopleaf for some beverages. I think I might ride with Matt and do a duo for the 12 hours of John Muir but will probably opt for the 6 hour.

I have been going back and forth with beer tastes. I was on a Belgian kick lately with OmegangFarmhouse or 3 Philosophers as well as the various trappist ales, but now I have been really enjoying the Magic HatIPA, which is probably my favorite of that style. 6 packs go down very easy.

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It's been a while since I have posted anything due to some recent, personal events and the craziness with work, I kind of lost some interest in posting blog happenings and reading up on what other people are doing. Outside of that, the cycling stuff has been very busy, just pretty much solo as well as some new bike projects. I have been pretty focused on following the training program while dealing with work travel and the non stop rain.

Last weekriding with Matt S., I snapped the tip of my FSA cranks. "I've never seen that before" is a comment that used to apply to Matt, but I think I get equal honors. If there's a way to break something that goes on a bike, I will find it. This is the 2nd time they've broken, first time they were warrantied for a cracked spider. This seems to be a common problem but they company seems to stand by their products. That said, I threw on some XTRs sicne the rings are alot less expensive to replace these days with standard configuration. Other than single legged drills home, Matt picked me up on the connector after riding back.

What else...week ago, got a sinus infection spreading throughout my respitory. I figured something was wrong since I was feeling unmotivated a couple of days before. So that week was pretty much off the bike except for a couple of Kettle rides on the weekend, real easy.

Just this last week, finally came back again. Brian told me to ride an hour last Tuesday and put a ? by the workout notes. I went out in theevening on the lakefront path since the cool, wet weather tends to dry out the triathletes and wheel suckers. I decided I would ride the hour at effort. Went pretty well, hit the hour for 354 watts and the last 2 minutes over 400. I think I am ready to start racing but I have a track day down at Autobahn on the 8th so skipping Wausau. That said, I love Wausau. May check out the Suburu cup if I really feel like it, not because I think I need to.

Matt, Mike Ben and I hit the Kettle on Sunday. Instead of racing at Rhinelander, it was great to get a good ride in and enjoy the camaraderie of friend. The new trail on Emma is fantastic and it working itself in real well. After the ride, we all talked about racing and kind of came to the same conclusion...4 hour drive for WORS with same old shit or riding Kettle and having a good time and enjoying the rest of the day. Pretty easy conclusion in my opinion. Besides, alot of racing once September hits-double weekends and some extra travel with some more regional series and Nationals. That will be an intense fall so I think it's best to soak in some fun and a balanced life style for now. I still plan on fitting in a few WORS races around July August as a primer; a reminder of what racing feels like.

I spoke with Aaron ,last week and finalized my fit kit with him. I based everything on the Wobblenaught system which Kevin Wilson has helped me with the road and the mountain bike. The objective to maximize power by centering the hips directly over the BB and making sure the level of comfort is there. Our cross bikes should be getting welded right about now; can't wait to see it all decked out with Edge, Sram and King bling.

I'll throw up another update on the raod and MTB bike builds.