Here's the thing that makes life so interesting: The Theory of Evolution claims that "only the strong shall survive". Maybe so, maybe so. But the Theory of Competition says "just because they're the strong doesn't mean they can't get their asses kicked". That's right. See, what every long shot come from behind underdog will tell you is this: The other guy may in fact be the favorite, the odds may be turned against you. Fair enough... But what the odds don't know is this isn't a math test. This is a completely different kind of test. One where passion has a funny way of trumping logic. So before you step up to the starting line, before the whistle blows and the clock starts ticking, just remember: out here, the results don't always add up. No matter what the stats may say and the experts may think and the commentators may have predicted, when the race is on, all bets are off. Don't be surprised if someone decides to flip the script and take a pass on yelling "Uncle". And then suddenly, as the old saying goes, "We got ourselves a game"

Conor rolled out of Seattle yesterday in the RAD van.  Or as I like to call it a Party on Wheels.  Mike "Big Cat" Smith was driving the Big Red Van to Bend Oregon for two weeks of good times and great racing.  Mike handles the wrenches for RAD Racing NW with great ease and vigor.  You would think that keeping the rolling stock tuned and in tip top shape was where he contributes the most to RAD.  In reality that's not the biggest impact he has with the junior racers. He's 'been there, done that'. Mike provides the juniors with valuable insight in being prepared to race.  He also keeps the Pit light and chilaxed before the races.  Mike is seriously one of RAD's secret weapons.

Anyway, Mike rolled out of Kirkland, WA with Ian Terry (IT), David Kirske jr. (jr.), Conor Klupar (Consuelo), Austin Clevenger (AC).  There was a mess of bikes from Kona on the top of the van.  Most of the bikes are the carbon Zing Deluxe which has proven to be a great platform to race from.  Tight and stiff in the spring and solid performer in the TT.   Every rack appeared to be full of TT and Road Bikes.  There were bags of Mavic Wheels and loads of Aero and Road helmets from Giro.  This van was locked, loaded and ready to go.

 Tammy, Kelly, Sydney, and myself will be leaving on Saturday.  First stop will be to pick up our neice Ryleigh in Hillsboro, Oregon.  We'll spend the night there and head to Bend, Oregon Sunday Morning.

http://vimeo.com/5469319

 

This weekend is the Junior State Championship.  It should be an exciting day.  THe Tour de France starts the same day as well.  Lots of great bike racing all over the globe this weekend.

The velodrome is hosting the Flying Wheels Challenge this Saturday, June 13th. This track race will be run as part of the finish line festivities of Cascade Bicycle Club's Flying Wheels Summer Century. Racing is open to Cat 1,2,3 Men and Women as well as elite juniors.  It self seeded catagories like pre-season A,B and C.

Highlights:

• Fat Tire Cruiser Races – Open to anyone that came with a helmet.  The velodrome provides a Fat Tire bike for you to race.  Register early as there are only a few bikes.
• Keirin Race – Motor paced race.  The motor gets you going up to about 30 mph and pulls off.  Lap and a half later … winner, winner, chicken dinner.
• Miss n’ Out – Each lap the last wheel across the line is pulled from the race.  Until there are 3, one free lap, then a sprint.  Some call this the Devil Takes the Hind most.
• Marymoor Crawl – All the racers line up on the rail.  The official starts the race.  BUT … you can’t cross the finish line for 3 minutes.  You can’t hang on the rail or put a foot down.  So you have to track stand for 3 minutes.  You get heckled by the beer garden for sure.  Then you have a one lap sprint for the win.  The trick is to hold your position so that you can hit the Start / Finish rolling pretty fast.  
• Wheel Race – The promoter handicaps the race.  The slower riders get a head start.  The fastest riders start at the start/finish.  If done right you finish the 5 laps with a sprint that is 8 wide across the track.  The slower riders try to drill it from the gun, the faster riders have to step up their game to shut it down.

Race #	Category	Description
1	C	Keirin Heats
2	B	Keirin Heats
3	A	Keirin Heats
4	A,B,C (seeded)	WHEELRACE
5	C	Keirin Final
6	B	Keirin Final
7	A	Keirin Final
8	Spectators	Fat Tire Cruiser Race
9	C	15 Lap Scratch
10	B	Miss n Out
11	A	Miss n Out
12	OPEN	Marymoor Crawl
13	Spectators	Fat Tire Cruiser Bike Race
14	C	5x4 Points
15	B	5x5 Points
16	A	30 Lap Scratch

 

 

I’m sponsored by a sports drink called NUUN.  It’s a tablet that you drop in water.  It’s great because it has 0 calories.  I lose a lot of fluid riding.  However, I lose more fluid than I do calories.  If I drink a sports drink like Gatorade I’ll actually put weight on. NUUN is great because it replaces your electrolytes with zero calories.  It also has a crisp taste.  The tablet fizzes like Alka-Seltzer and the company is from Seattle.  It really is a great product and no one is paying me to say that.  Well, they kinda’ are.  But, I’d say it just the same.  (I hope they didn’t hear that).

I'm wondering if Klutonium is a renewable power source.    I acutally blogged.  It's my first time.  Maybe I'm not such a gma. 

I've been working to get down to my race weight.  I like to think that's 175 but, the reality is that I get to 180 and get tired losing weight.  But, I digress. When I lose weight I like to get to be hungry for just about every meal.  I have smaller portions so, I choose to eat REALLY good food.  What I find is that just about everything I have is delicious.  I savor even a granola bar.  They taste so good.  You can taste each ingredient.  I had some pasta Tammy made.  I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Hunger is truly the best sauce that any chef could make.

 

I commute to work by bicycle sometimes.  Currently it is on the back burner because I'm training with Conor.  After a couple of hours doing of hard training it's kind of difficult to get on the bike for another 1.5 hours.

But, as the season progresses I'll likley start commuting again.  When I started commuting by bike I did it becuase it was actually quicker than the car.  It took me 55 minutes to drive and 45 minutes to ride my bike.  In the mean time the state widened the Fall City - Redmond Rd.  My driving commute dropped to 25 minutes.  Still in 1.5 hours I get to work and a work out.  Where as if I drove it would be almost an hour round trip and then another hour or two working out.  Still saves time.

"What about the rain?" you may ask.  I get wet.  I'm not made of sugar.  And if getting wet is a problem for you well, princess I think you may need to learn how to "Man up".  Some times it's uncomfortible doing the right thing.   The temperature in Seattle ranges through the year between 50-70.  We get a couple months of cold.  But, it's never really that bad.

It's really pretty relaxing to ride in.  I also listen to music or podcasts on my Zune.  Not really recomened.  I don't turn it way up, I can still hear cars from about 1/4 mile. 

Here is a funny little video about a bike competing against a Motorcycle in a commuting challenge.   It was made by Nike and it's Yogurt vs. Gas.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHbRu6XXsDg

Big day getting my Haircut so that I will look wonderful in the stacks.

 Tax day Big Fun.