Whatever You're Doing

Congratulations to all TBRA Road Series Criterium State Champions from the races this past Sunday at Signal Mountain! Tennessee residents were going for the glory of the gold medal and state champion jerseys in the criterium discipline. Without a doubt they had to earn it as the course naturally selected the super strong from the rest of the pack. Many fields were shattering from the fast pace. I saw some amazing crit riders being slapped around on the short difficult climb, and I'll be honest, it certainly had my anxiety up before our Pro1/2 event. It was a day when the smallest of gaps were costly and potentially leaving you OTB!

Selfish excitement includes the NashvilleCyclist.com racing team holding on to the Category 2 jersey and adding the Category 3 jersey to our list of accomplishments; congratulations to Dave Worth (Cat 2) and Brent Mahan (Cat 3) for their beast like skills on the bike!

Music City Triathlon & Coliseum Criterium - 7/26
I have received a few emails about these events since both are to take place at LP Field, home of the Tennessee Titans, on the same day! I was ahead of the curve and secured a meeting with all of the parties involved, just yesterday in fact, and we worked out the details so nobody is stepping on one another. While there will not be any conflicts regarding the courses for both events we do suspect there will be a lot of people in the area, which could add some confusion, albeit exciting confusion with so many athletes and spectators present.

I will post map information and details for criterium racers very soon. It will be important to know where to park and where you can warm-up because some of the roads around the stadium will be in use for the triathlon. Some of those areas will be blocked for traffic, which I think is great for safety for their event. Personally, I am very excited the Music City Triathlon will be next to our race since it will give both groups a chance to see each other in action!

Feud Sends Cycling World Spinning
I look forward to a day when Armstrong and Lemond are only talked about when it comes to racing accomplishments and not their legal or personal issues. There are aspects to both men that are admirable and worthy of emulating, but then there are other public characteristics that I simply wish would disappear. If it were an Etch-A-Sketch I'd shake it and have them start all over.

Tour de France to conduct extensive doping tests
To target 50 specific riders more than others for testing seems too discriminating. If some have already raised suspicion then let's address it now. Why wait and allow it to blow up during the Tour? Moreover, I think it's appropriate to force the UCI to play their cards and not hang this suspicious 50 over the heads of the entire peloton. I am all for privacy but I also value transparency, so address the 50 one-on-one and let's move on.

Report: Sosa tested positive in 2003
Sammy Sosa's name is apparently one of the 104 names on the list of baseball players who supposedly failed a drug test. This list also has Alex Rodriguez on it, who quickly admitted it, but one can only speculate who else may be on this list. The lawyers and/or people responsible for providing this information should be held accountable. Transparency is only fair when everyone involved agreed to such parameters, but when everyone involved in the testing process has agreed to keep the information sealed then it must remain sealed. It is despicable to me that anyone involved would "out" any player, no matter if they did test positive.

I struggle with understanding how a lawyer can offer information about court sealed documents to a reporter. What is with all these people hiding behind their information? These people, for whatever personal goals they have, want to see the athletes harmed with the release of the information. Why else? They certainly don't gain notoriety by remaining anonymous. If your only power in life are these moments then you have your priorities horribly upside down. I cannot put into words why this irritates me so, but it does. If I am unable to release information due to privacy laws or a legal constraint then I do not release it. It really is a simple concept.

Which brings me back to those 50 cyclists. In my view they are following through on their end of the bargain, but those involved with implementation and policing the testing arena are performing dishonorable acts by sharing sensitive personal information. So far none of these 50 have been "outed", but the story is still being played out. How or why athletes are not winning cases in court with verdicts against the transgressors is baffling to me. By no means do I condone the actions of athletes who dope and fail a test, but that information should be guarded and made public only at the appropriately legal moment.

Lance Armstrong fan faked cancer to marry girlfriend
Did this guy get his idea from the Seinfeld episode? I think we all have a little Walter Mitty in us on occasion, but this is going a way too far. There's even more to it than faking an illness, and I'd argue it could be considered diabolical to those directly affected.

Lance Armstrong pic gets a Seabiscuit boost
It looks like a film is back on with Matt Damon even mentioned as a potential lead.

House OKs $4 billion 'clunker' bill
I won't get started on all the bailouts and government takeovers, but if there can be a bill like this then why not a bill that allows for a trade-in of a ragged bicycle?!

Breathing new life into old bikes
Since we don't have a clunker bill for bicycles then maybe take your bike to this guy, or you can check out your local option at Halcyon Bike Shop off 12 South!

Police issuing kids ice cream 'tickets' for bike helmet safety
Get those clunker bikes off the road, provide more helmets, and don't forget to add investments into the free ice cream program. Oh yes!

Not-So-Naked Bike Ride
No Nashville, do not get any ideas. Though I do have some tight boxer briefs and a cool Indiana Jones hat ready if it happens!

PoBronson.com
If you're a fan of his writing like I am then his upcoming book release should excite you! Bronson's publisher Twelve Publishers has an interesting business philosophy and several other books that appear worthy of buying.

Tour de France for the jailed
This photo is classic!

Drunken driver gets 5 years for vehicular manslaughter
It's not often we hear about a vehicle driver getting prison time for killing a bicyclist, but this tragedy goes beyond our imagination.

Cyclingnews.com launches brand new look
This has caused quite a stir in the online cycling news world. They still have a long way to go before streamlining the content into an easy to read form, but this is definitely more polished and professional. However, we cycling fans drive a site's readership based on the content and not its level of slickness.

Having said all that, yours truly is seeking to overhaul NashvilleCyclist.com. Stay tuned!

You and I collide

As you can tell from the website I have been quite busy putting together several events for your racing pleasure. Getting all the paperwork completed and making decisions on how to structure an event is more mentally consuming than anything else. Frankly it's easy work I believe, but every promoter over thinks details before settling on final decisions. There are many considerations when making those decisions, and while I'm usually a quick decision maker it's still a situation where one must analyze all associated risks.

What do you have to look forward to? For starters, there's the criterium series starting up on Wednesday, July 1st. I fully expect every racer in Nashville to attend to begin the hunt for the championship title belt! I think it's worth noting how the criterium series fills the racing calendar gap during the months of July and August. As I stated previously, having the chance to race locally so often should save everyone a ton of time and resources! Moreover, there's no better training than actual racing.

I want to highlight the crit series sponsors for 2009 because they are some of the driving forces making it feasible to happen. Smoothie King of Belle Meade, Murfreesboro Outdoor and Bicycle (MOAB), and Gran Fondo Bicycles are the local businesses involved for 2009. Please support these businesses and let them know how much you appreciate their support of the criterium race series!


Smoothie King of Belle Meade

Murfreesboro Outdoor and Bicycle

Gran Fondo Bicycles

As if that's not enough there is the Tennessee State Individual Time Trial in Lebanon on Saturday, July 25th. The following day, July 26th, there is the NashvilleCyclist.com Coliseum Criterium in downtown Nashville at LP Field, home of the Tennessee Titans. This full weekend of racing should encourage crit riders to also do the TT as well as TT specialists to do the crit! The flyers for all three events are located on the main website of NashvilleCyclist.com.

I never dreamed back when NashvilleCyclist.com was hatched in 2004 that I would be so involved in race promotion. I saw an opportunity to offer relevant bicycling information online while also helping to pull a fragmented community together. I recall the first meeting I ever sat through involving myself and many others to organize a race, and I remember feeling like it was overwhelming with such huge personal risk. Nowadays it's not so overwhelming, quite easy really, but the risk is still there. Either way, it is very rewarding to be able to contribute and offer these racing opportunities.

With all those public announcements out of the way it's time to clean out the IE favorites folder.....

The Ocean Cycling World of Yvon Le Caer
Just when you think you've seen and heard it all. Imagine you're on a relaxing vacation cruise, not even thinking about the bike, and you look over the deck to see some dude pounding the pedals!

French prisoners get their own Tour de France
By now you may have heard about this, but leave it to the French to allow criminals race a Tour while not inviting suspected dopers. I am curious as to how those guys will be able to finish a single stage, much less a whole Tour. Have they all been doing some serious endurance training leading up to this?

How Green Is Your Morning Coffee?
For the record, The Breakaway Blend is 100% Organic and Fair Trade certified.

Dumb

Do you want to know what it's like to be involved in a crash? Here's a bird's eye view!

Two cyclists killed near Tulsa
This could happen to any of us on a group training ride. It's another reason why there is greater safety in numbers, and why I stress solid re-groupings after critical junctures on a ride. There's no way we can eliminate all the risk of course, but who knows, maybe a larger pack is easier for a drunk driver to notice and avoid.

Miss Martha’s Ice Cream Crankin’

I am really bummed to be missing this awesome event! I'll be in Chattanooga for the State Criterium Championship instead. It's a tough choice between the state jersey or delicious homemade ice cream. Oh the sacrifices I make for this sport!

Dean appoints pedestrian coordinator

Wow, the date on this news item is proof I'm woefully behind. Nashville Mayor Karl Dean is on the right track with his walk and bike initiatives, which are capitalizing on his predecessor's achievements. Yet, still so much more to be accomplished.

TwoWheelTales.com
A one stop shop of blogs from professional cyclists in the US. It's a great mix of names you'll recognize while also hosting quite a few up and comers like Nick Frey, Mara Abbott and Colin Cares.

Slowertraffickeepright.com
The same could be said for a group training ride!

Cycling Enters the Electronic Age
Personally, I am not ready to make this transition even if I could afford the huge cost increase. I disagree with Bill Stapleton's comment that most high end bikes will have this within three years or less. Unless if he considers just professional teams riding "high end" bikes because they'll be the ones sponsored by Shimano and their Di2 product. In other words, it'll be provided for free as part of their sponsorship package.

Jeremy Powers, talent scout

This is a cool story about how he came across a strong talent on the bike. I think we have all had moments on various rides where we thought, "who in the world was that?" Those are great opportunities to follow up, keep tabs, and maybe even help further their development like Powers is doing.

Hulu - Cyclysm Sundays
Imagine my excitement when I stumbled across this link, only to find the videos dated and not full of current race action. Grrr, uh, oh well, kind of like my blog postings huh?! Unlike Hulu I will do better!

Dirt Sweat & Gears - Photos
Some locals get face time on CyclingNews at the muddy event!

Show Me Up, Show You Up
I love reading Doug Glanville's op-extra pieces in the NY Times. This one brings back a lot of memories, and he's speaking the truth - an unwritten rule in baseball about showing one another up. Glanville uses some basic ones to illustrate the point, but the situations are endless as to how someone can show disrespect either to a player or the game itself. He's dead on right, players and managers do not forget, ever. Just when you least expect it your comeuppance will arrive, usually at the most inopportune time. I remember my first professional manager saying after a game late in the season, when presumably we would not see that player again, "I have his name written down in my book. Sooner or later I'll get him back for that." I cannot recall what the guy did, but knowing that manager I'm certain he meant what he said.

I could offer up a bunch of cycling examples where this same rule could (should?) apply. I'm not sure cycling is ready for such unwritten rules though. Moreover, I'm not sure what would be an appropriate response. It certainly does not involve physical retaliation, but I'm creative enough to think of something that would get the point across. Surprisingly, more often than not I see these situations happen between teammates instead of people on different teams. My personal rule is you should always respect your competition, respect your teammate, and avoid saying or doing anything that's going to negatively impact the moment. Easier said than done of course, but if you give respect then you earn respect.

NashvilleCyclist.com Criterium Race Series 2009

We are proud to announce the NashvilleCyclist.com Criterium Race Series is officially back! Nashville's fastest bicycle races will continue for a fifth straight season in 2009 at LP Field, home of the Tennessee Titans.

Agreements were recently finalized between the Tennessee Titans, NashvilleCyclist.com and associated sponsors that will allow for the race to begin on Wednesday, July 1st, 2009. It has taken a lot of discussions, meetings, number crunching, compromising, hand wringing and most of all patience to get the criterium series back on track. For 2009 we have nine races planned on every Wednesday in July through August.

It is our hope this news will send a much needed positive jolt into the bicycling community since many were quite disappointed at the possibility of no race series. We believe this is an exciting moment for the entire bicycling community of Middle Tennessee. The event had previously been taken off life support and left for dead, but a miraculous turn of events developed to assure its continuation. Countless racers, enthusiasts and fans have enjoyed the Wednesday night series since the summer of 2005. The 2008 series garnered over 750 in total participants alone, which is obviously a difficult thing to walk away and give up on.

We came to an ugly fork in the road back in the winter that appeared to derail and end the popular series. Due to many administrative changes affecting the various authorities involved with the LP Field/Titans facilities it meant the stadium would not be economically feasible as a race venue. The details of why or how we overcame obstacles is not a matter for public consumption, but it is important everyone give thanks to the Tennessee Titans organization for their willingness to make sacrifices in order for this series to work. In other words, I encourage you to let the Tennessee Titans know you appreciate their generosity towards the bicycling community!

When you read the flyer you will notice several big changes from past years. Instead of detailing all those changes here you can read them from the flyer posted HERE. The changes you see were absolute requirements in order for the series to be viable. It was either institute changes to the entry fee and payouts or not race at all. Yes, we could have dropped the payouts, but that would defeat other goals we seek to accomplish. Even if we did drop the payouts the entry fee would not decrease by much at all. We understand there potentially could be some financial disappointment, but allow us to remind you:
1 - It's still cheap!
2 - It's local and convenient!
3 - You save on gas, hotel and food!
4 - July & August lack nearby race dates in Tennesse!
5 - You want to stand on the top of the podium wearing the title belt or tiara!

Since we put it that way how can you resist? We thought so!

One other change this year will be the enforcement of potential rain outs. If the promoter feels the weather is going to greatly negatively impact the event then that night's race will be cancelled. A severely low turnout cannot be afforded, ie if you play you pay, and the numbers must work week-to-week for this to be feasible. The promoter will keep a close eye on the forecast and rain clouds throughout each Wednesday leading up to the 5:45 PM start time. Rain outs will try and be communicated by 5:00 PM, but we reserve the right to make a decision later. As you know rain storms are unpredictable and blow through quickly in Middle Tennessee. Rain out information will be communicated and posted through the NashvilleCyclist.com Twitter account, which you can follow HERE.

We will be honest, we are going out on a limb here. You can probably deduce from the flyer and this news item that this event takes jumping through some serious financial hoops. However, it is our hope you will continue to support the series by showing up each and every week. We realize it requires a deep commitment and sacrifice on your part, but realize it is a shared experience that none of have the luxury of avoiding if we want the series to continue.

When we began NashvilleCyclist.com over five years ago we were at the forefront of creating shared experiences through our passion for the bicycle. For most of us that passion is what we think about when we wake up, and the last thing we think about before falling asleep. We say let's continue to build that passion, let's continue our shared experience, and let's continue to express ourselves athletically for all of Nashville to see!

Now, let's see some bike racing!!!

Backwards to Forwards

Ride of Silence Nashville
Another Ride of Silence Nashville is in the history books, and it was another huge success! Slightly over 100 riders attended the solemn event to honor cyclists injured or killed while riding their bikes. We also had NBC's WSMV Channel 4 there reporting for their 10pm and morning newscast. It's awesome to see cycling get this greatly needed exposure. It can be strange to ride along so slow without saying a word, but I didn't hear a peep out of anyone behind me. We had riders of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. Young, old, fast and slow, everyone was represented. Go ahead and plan to attend the event in 2010, and this time I challenge everyone to bring at least one friend with them that didn't attend in 2009. Let's set a goal to reach 200 riders!

Giro d'Italia, or Giro d'America?
I think this compare and contrast is pretty funny. I don't agree with Caple's overall GC though!

Giro d' Italia - LIVE video
In case you are unaware you can watch the Giro live online at UniversalSports.com. They are about to do battle in the mountains for the final week of the Tour. Can Levi pull it off or will Menchov or Di Luca end up with pink?

Bodybuilders flee drug testers; event canceled
Not even one stayed to take the victory solo? I'm not sure it was even an option, but it sure would have made a big positive statement if just one bodybuilder could have tested clean to win alone. A nice model to point to and aspire to be had it happened, but is that even possible in the bodybuilding arena?

Ted King reflects on collegiate cycling
As a collegiate cycling coach I loved reading this article. It's important that young juniors and their parents realize that collegiate cycling is an option for their future. The sports is bigger at the college level than you think, and USA Cycling along with other key universities are placing great emphasis on its development. At road nationals a few weeks ago Mara Abbott of Columbia-High Road spoke at the awards banquet, and I'd give anything to have that speech on video or audio. Mara led Whitman College to multiple national championships and had many individual jerseys herself. If we could bottle her passion for collegiate cycling then many more kids would go that route.

BMC's wild Roubaix wildcard ride
Speaking of collegiate riders racing professionally, check out Brent Bookwalter with BMC and his Paris-Roubaix experience. Brent raced for and graduated from Lees-McRae College in North Carolina where he won well over 10 individual national championship jerseys. It was just a couple of years ago he was terrorizing the SECCC Conference. Congrats to Brent for finishing the race coming in 88th!

Interview: TIBCO’s Kat Carroll
Nashville's own Katharine Carroll fills you in on what it's like to be a professional bike racer and US National team member. I think Kat is due for a NashvilleCyclist.com diary post!

Seven Cups of Coffee a Day May Lead to Hallucinations
I swear I haven't been hearing voices.

Beware the perils of caffeine withdrawal
What a vicious cycle I have created for myself! Then again, I haven't tried something so crazy as not drinking several cups of The Breakaway Blend everyday! Because if I were to not drink my fair share in the morning then I'd better have one of these twelve amusing excuses for being late to work lined up.

It’s Time to Make a Coffee Run
Alright, I better find my triple shot espresso before today's criterium!

Cyclists at risk for bone loss
This is a good reason for everyone to get into the weight room for some strength training. Not only does weight training help promote strong bones, but it also helps to prevent injury. To add on to this study, I have read recent information that indicates the bone density of cyclists should be looked at in their arms and legs, not just their spine.

Ride of Silence Nashville 2009

Nashville will host a Ride of Silence ride starting from Centennial Park in Nashville on Wednesday, May 20. The ride will depart Centennial Park at 7:00 PM CST. Join other Nashville cyclists in this silent slow-paced ride (max. 12 mph) in honor of those who have been injured or killed while bicycling on public roadways. Visit www.RideofSilence.com to learn more about this world wide endeavor.

Why does this ride exist?
To HONOR those who have been injured or killed.
To RAISE AWARENESS that we are here.
To ask that we all SHARE THE ROAD.

Cyclists across North America will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.

In 2003, Chris Phelan organized the first Ride Of Silence in Dallas after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was hit by the mirror of a passing bus and was killed.

The Ride Of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph and remain silent during the ride. There are no brochures, no sponsors, no registration fees and no t-shirt. The ride, which is being held during Bike Safety month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for those who have been killed or injured.

Everyone is invited to ride, but they must wear a helmet. If they do not, ask that they not participate. Since it is a no talking ride, hand signals will be used. In controlling the ride and pace, you want to think “Funeral Procession.” That is, in fact, what we are recreating.

Armbands are strongly encouraged. Black for everyone (solidarity in mourning lost cyclists). Red for those who have been injured by motorists. Please send any questions or comments to us at NashvilleCyclist.com.

WEATHER UPDATE: Partly cloudy with a high of 82.

WHAT: Ride of Silence
WHO: Anyone with a bicycle and a helmet
WHERE: Centennial Park main entrance off West End Ave in Nashville
and at over 200 other locations throughout the United States
WHEN: Wednesday, May 20 - roll out at 7:00 PM sharp
WHY: To honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways

ROUTE:
1 - Begin at main entrance to Centennial Park
2 - Go RIGHT onto West End Avenue
3 - Go LEFT onto 31st Ave South which turns into Blakemore Avenue
4 - Cross 21st Ave South as Blakemore becomes Wedgewood Ave
5 - Go LEFT onto 16th Ave/Music Row East
6 - Follow 16th Ave/Music Row East all the way to the roundabout
7 - Go RIGHT onto Demonbreun Street after entering roundabout
8 - Go LEFT onto 2nd Ave. South
9 - Go LEFT onto Broadway
10 - Follow Broadway until the road splits
11 - Veer RIGHT at the split and follow West End Avenue back to Centennial Park Entrance

View a map HERE of the 2009 Ride of Silence - Nashville
Total route distance - 6.51 miles

Everything Rides On Hope Now

I am here in sunny and mild Fort Collins, Colorado waiting for a Cumberland University Cycling team ride later this morning. The Collegiate Road National Championship begins this Friday with the road race, followed by the criterium on Saturday and team time trial on Sunday. There are a lot of nervous kids walking around the host hotel anxious to tackle the demanding road course, which is compounded by being at high altitude.

Fort Collins is about one hour north of Denver, which is better known as The Mile High City. There are a lot of physiological affects that altitude can have on an endurance athlete such as a cyclist. When you aren't able to come out three weeks in advance your only choice is to show up just before the event and minimize the associated risks. Eat more carbs, drink more fluid, get plenty of rest, stay off your feet and keep your pre-ride efforts to an easy to moderate pace (no threshold efforts). Something as 'simple' as less oxygen to breathe can have dramatic effects on performance. Honestly, for an event of this stature I wish USA Cycling would stick to sea level venues. Especially for collegiate racers who are not doing this for a living.

Let's remember, these kids are racing for a stars & stripes jersey! When I look into the eyes of my Cumberland kids I see exciting energy, determination and anxiousness with the wondering look of "what's on the other side." When you're around kids every single day it often reminds you they have not yet experienced a lot of what life has to offer, so you must remind yourself to keep stoking those fires of big dreams along with the idea that anything is possible! I learned quickly they are like a stable full of horses ready to roam at an all-out pace. The key is to know when to gently pull up on the reigns while not squashing any hopes. I still must get better at this, especially after coming from a ball sport background. I assure you the mentality of young cyclists is nothing like that of ball sport athletes, at least from a coaching perspective. All that to say, young kids racing for a championship jersey should not be impacted by high altitude.

Race updates on Twitter
As cell phone service permits I will give live Cumberland Cycling race updates throughout the weekend at the NashvilleCyclist.com Twitter account at http://twitter.com/nashvillcyclist. The weekend schedule is as follows, all mountain standard time:
Friday, May 7 at 2:30p - road race, 70 miles
Saturday, May 8 at 9:15a - criterium 75 minutes
Sunday, May 9 at 8:00a - team time trial, 17.5 miles

Cumberland Cycling on Channel 2
The CU Cycling team was fortunate to have the sports crew at Channel 2 Sports to visit the campus in Lebanon to interview the kids and learn about the program. The kids had a blast answering questions and posing for the camera! A short spot ran for a couple of days earlier in the week. The cool part is you can expect a longer segment about the team this Friday, May 8th. They will have updates at 6:20 PM and then a longer portion during their sports only show that starts at 10:15 PM.

I want to give my friend Joe Dubin of Channel 2 a big thank you for the coverage, as well as to Dawn Davenport for coming out to film and ask questions. Anytime we can share our story and experiences as cyclists we must embrace it and be thankful!

Training with Rick Crawford
I always enjoy reading Crawford's articles on VeloNews, and this one is no exception. Whether it involves cycling or life in general we must surround ourselves with good people. I believe this is crucial to our growth, and sadly the opposite is true if you're surrounded with people consistently making bad decisions. Instead, we must surround ourselves with highly talented people who enjoy helping others succeed. In other words, people better than us and ones who will lift us up. Sure, in most cases those helping others are benefiting occupationally, but deep within is a motivation to help another be successful. It is through this symbiotic relationship that we lift one another up to unimaginable achievements. Your success is my success, and vice versa. I realize I fail at this goal more than I should, but it is what I strive for at all times.

Yesterday, it was my pleasure to meet Rick Crawford for the first time here in Fort Collins. I have seen him countless times at collegiate nationals without introducing myself, but this time I could not let it pass by. Actually it was he introducing himself to me at a conference we both participated. He and I have been following one another on Twitter for quite some time, great sense of humor he has. Follow Rick at http://twitter.com/rickcrawfish.

Crawford is the former coach and director of the Fort Lewis College Cycling Team, and is one of the owners of Colorado Premier Training. At Fort Lewis he guided them to more national championships than you can imagine, and has a testimonial list of clients that is the who's who of US cycling. I hope to have many more conversations with Rick in the future!

Just Ok Is Not Enough

Hello stranger, yes, it is me again. A lot has transpired between now and the last time I blogged. Instead of going through a timeline of the past few months I am choosing the path of least resistance, which means I am sticking to the relevancy of today only. I have a lot of cycling material saved up to chatter about too, but for now I think it’s more important to address some local issues that are likely on your mind.

2009 Criterium Series?
There are a lot of questions coming my way concerning the 5th Annual NashvilleCyclist.com Criterium Series for 2009. This is a topic I have worked on quite a bit over the last few months, but my results are falling well short of a best case scenario. It’s not important I share all the details of how and why with you, but suffice it to say yours truly is being priced out and unable to afford the cost of the Tennessee Titans facility.

There are some scenarios which would allow for the use of the parking lots, but they would require big changes to how the series operates. I am curious how you all feel about the following: 1) would you be willing to pay a $20 entry fee? 2) Can you also live without the payouts or at least a big reduction? 3) Will you give the series your devotion and commit to showing up each week? If the answer to all three questions is a big fat “Yes!” then the series is possible and affordable.

After all, we are racing for the championship belt, right?

The reality is I can neither afford to keep entry fees at $10 nor survive on a turnout on less than 70-75 riders each week. Maybe survive is a harsh word, so let’s go with “risk” instead. I may still be able to continue some type of small payout, and that would mainly be done in order to be able to award upgrade points. However, if I do that my insurance to USAC goes up dramatically. In the end what I must avoid is having a small turnout, and end up stuck with a large bill from the Titans hanging over my head. Also, any hint of rain and I would definitely have to cancel to avoid a low turnout. (The NashvilleCyclist.com Twitter account will come in handy there!)

I have looked at the potential of other venues, but right now those are not developing too quickly. I will continue to explore all my options, Titans included, and hopefully within the next few weeks come to some conclusion. I will do my very best to offer something to you, so please be patient and understanding.

Having said all that, I am curious what you think and want to hear from you. Please email me at info@nashvillecyclist.com to share your thoughts. If enough people respond favorably to my suggested changes then I am inclined to take the associated risks. I look forward to hearing from you all.

2009 Ride of Silence Nashville
This event will take place again on Wednesday, May 20th here in Nashville. I will have details soon regarding the starting spot and route, so please stay tuned for that information. Last year was our best turnout ever with well over 100 participating, and this year I suspect it will swell in numbers. Those attending in 2008 will hopefully spread the good word to more of their friends, and in the end each of us will honor those who have been injured or killed by a motor vehicle while riding their bicycle.

Moreover, this is another great opportunity to showcase cycling in a positive light. We will be able to congregate and ride together on the streets of Nashville in an honorable manner, which will help to raise awareness for our cause. We hope to once again have a Metro Police escort and attract the attention of local television stations and print media.

To learn more about the Ride of Silence please visit http://www.rideofsilence.org/.

Hammerfest is on!
Straight and to the point - it is time to ride and train hard! Back by popular demand the annual Hammerfest training ride will begin next Wednesday, April 29th! Due to sunset restrictions we will have to start this at 5:30 PM for the two hour loop.

The ride rolls out from the entrance of Percy Warner Park at the end of Belle Meade Boulevard. Hammerfest is not for the faint of heart as there are quite a few intense race pace efforts involved. There will be some instructions laid out in advance about the route, everyone’s responsibility to safety, and the general expectations of a ride of that nature. Nobody is discouraged from attending, but it is recommended you have some racing experience in your legs.

This weekly training ride will replace the criterium series on an interim basis, so hopefully don’t get too used to it! More information will be posted on the website very soon as well as an email from the BToGS list. Be there and you are guaranteed to get faster!

Twitter - Yes, follow!
I have been on the Twitter wagon for quite some time now. It's another communication tool allowing very timely and targeted messages to be sent to your intended following audience. I have found it to be very effective and can see where in many cycling situations it provides valuable info. Of course it can used to communicate non-useful things as well, which is what it's primarily doing now. However, I have used it to post "live" collegiate racing action on the weekends, which if you're a father living in Guatemala or Texas or Louisiana it's pretty cool to visit a website with updates about your son's race in real time, right?

To follow NashvilleCyclist.com on Twitter simply visit this link - http://twitter.com/nashvillcyclist

You can either go straight to that link whenever you want or you can create your own free account and then choose to "follow." I realize the name is missing an "e", but Twitter gives you only so many characters to create your name. Oh well, close enough.

Adios for a few days as I am off to Athens and Roswell for some recruiting and fast racing action!

You'll shoot your eye out kid

Fans Celebrate 25 Years of 'A Christmas Story'
I can't wait to watch Ralphie shoot his eye out again.

Lance Armstrong Expecting a Baby
Did I read that right? So far this news hasn't been reported on the usual cycling sites, but this one is from the Associated Press. Several other news sources are picking up the same report too. This is another head scratcher for me.

Drug testers pay regular visits to Armstrong's home
Lance has obviously been a busy man. Find him on Twitter and you'll get these updates faster than the news outlets.

Ivan Basso is using Twitter
Your favorite Italian is using it too.

Versus to broadcast the Tour Down Under
The Lance effect is already happening. No matter what anyone thinks of his decision the one really good thing is we can expect more cycling to be on television.

Cyclysm Sundays
Stay on top of the schedule here.

Have you seen this guy?
If so, let Danish authorities know because he embezzled $85, which resulted in.....

Saxo Bank squad loses co-sponsor
Just when you think you have doping under control and your sponsors smiling, along comes an executive to ruin the party. Bjarne Riis has proven his ability to go out and secure sponsors when needed, but it's not how you want to be spending your time going into this time of year.

Making the Grade: Carla Swart
I have seen Carla race up close for a couple of years now as Cumberland University regularly competes against Lees-McRae College. This past year she has really taken off and dominated. The goals she has on her radar screen sound doable to me. What I didn't know is she has been running cross country this whole time too. Wow. On the one hand I am glad to see she's taking the spring road collegiate racing season off, but on the other I'd like to see her stay in school.

Commentary: Why we need an obesity tax
Just another reason not to live in New York, which has a huge hole in their budget to balance. Taxes such as this are not the way to go about funding a stable government. This strategy will likely spur the economy you think? You and I both know this is not about curbing obesity, but rather all about dollars and cents to fund the giant. Coca-Cola and Pepsi must not have contributed enough to the Democratic campaign coffers. Oh, and all you 'heavy' people out there had better watch out. The slope is being built to push you down it and require you to pay up or shape up. Buy a bicycle now!

Tinkov breaks with Team Katusha
Who is in charge of this team anyway? Tinkov owned and funded it, but he's the one stepping out. How does Andrea Tchmil wrestle away the decision making process and direction from the team owner/funder? I wonder if looking back on his decision to turn over the leadership reigns to Igor Makarov if Tinkov sees that as a smart move. I am looking forward to the upcoming interview with Cyclingnews were he'll hopefully address this murky situation.

Switching sides
World Champion Jakob Fuglsang makes some comments that I think are very telling about joining Bjarne Riis' team. Says Fuglsang, ""What I really look forward to is that the team will have a lot of structure....." Start reading that quote within the article and finish off that paragraph. What he's talking about is what I believe is what is hurting the growth of mountain biking across the board. Yes, it's wonderful that the sport is more laid back and relaxed, but what makes it fun is also what's contributing to its demise. People want to be a part of something bigger than themselves and not out there entirely on their own week in and week out. More mountain bikers make the switch to road than road makes to mountain biking. Therein lies the answers. Structure. Teammates. Professionalism.

Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams
I highly recommend taking the time over the holidays to watch this lecture. You are in need of the head fakes.

Cycling Brews Up "The Breakaway Blend"

Fans of coffee and bicycling have one more reason to celebrate this holiday season. Portland Brew Coffee and NashvilleCyclist.com have partnered to develop a unique blend of coffee to promote bicycle racing in the region and help foster the development of a future Juniors racing program. The special blend is roasted in Nashville by Portland Brew Coffee with premium beans from Africa and Indonesia, and is appropriately called The Breakaway Blend.

“We are honored to have our own locally roasted coffee blend to promote the sport of cycling. Our goal is to appeal not only to cycling enthusiasts, but to all coffee fanatics as well. The true natural blend is found through the partnership between NashvilleCyclist.com and Portland Brew Coffee, both local organizations seeking to make a positive difference,” says NashvilleCyclist.com publisher and team owner Tim Hall.

The proceeds from the sale of The Breakaway Blend will further strengthen the current NashvilleCyclist.com team and event promotions, but more importantly to develop a Juniors racing team. Says Hall, “One of my goals has been to create and develop a young kids racing team. Our sport’s future success will depend on recruiting young kids, cultivating a pipeline of youth into cycling, and that must be done at the grass roots level. I am committed to making it happen, but it will definitely require a lot of resources to be successful.”

Coffee blends appealing specifically to the bicycling community are not uncommon. Examples include 53x11 Coffee and Jittery Joe’s Coffee, who formerly sponsored a professional cycling team in the US with great success until the team ended in 2008. NashvilleCyclist.com and Portland Brew Coffee hope to capitalize on the concept of those brands while also having a broader appeal beyond the cycling community.

“Portland Brew Coffee is a 100% locally owned business that believes in investing in the local community. As the father of four small kids I see the value in supporting youth oriented athletic programs, especially when the leadership involved at NashvilleCyclist.com cares about the future of kids,” says Portland Brew Coffee owner Brandon Stakelbeck.

The Breakaway Blend is a great value as a 12 ounce bag sells for just $10. The bags will be sold by NashvilleCyclist.com team members as well as inside all three Portland Brew Coffee locations in Nashville. Future plans also include selling the blend through the retail “buy coffee” section on Portland Brew Coffee’s website. Coffee aficionados will also appreciate the blend is 100% organic and Fair Trade Certified.














Stakelbeck & Hall posing in front of the roaster.

Stakelbeck continues, “Each person who buys a bag of The Breakaway Blend accomplishes two things. First, you get the highest quality and freshest beans available, and second, you get the privilege of investing in kids who may go on to become the next Lance Armstrong.”

Portland Brew Coffee has three locations in Nashville - 2605 12th Avenue South, 3431 Murphy Road, and 1921 Eastland Avenue.

For more information about NashvilleCyclist.com and Portland Brew Coffee please visit http://www.nashvillecyclist.com and http://www.portlandbrewcoffee.com.

Rock Racing & coffee wars!

My blogs lately have coincided with crappy weather. It's not like I sit around looking at the forecast deciding when to type, but that's the way it has gone lately. I have wrapped up the semester at school, got my car fixed, cancelled Christmas, done some training, worked out, and worked on various racing topics for 2009. I'm sure there's more, but that's all my mind can remember because it's filled with everything below. A little bit of Rock Racing and coffee wars!

Rock Racing moves some big names off its Continental squad
One could "rock" the racing world with the missing 10 riders from the official pro roster. Imagine you've been a pro all these years and then all of a sudden you've been demoted, without warning (so it seems). Bahati and Creed have at least not heard from Michael Ball, and if they haven't then who would have?

BAHATI RACING
What does he have to say about it? Well, read for yourself, but he's still without answers. While Rashaan is without answers from the team it's not preventing him from sharing his "My Two Cents." His observation about a quality product being demoted to the lines of mediocrity hit the nail on the head. Despite this setback Rashaan has kept a very good public attitude towards it all. He obviously has a lot of respect for Michael Ball and the team by not thrashing the situation and pouting.

Rock & Republic tightens its belt
However, if you have this problem then why sign so many guys in the first place? Jeans costing over $250 aren't in as high of demand, go figure. Domestic professional racing needs Rock Racing and Michael Ball's continued investment into the sport.

Ivan Dominguez heads to Europe
Dominguez appears to have jumped off the Rock Racing boat just in time. Did he have a contract or did he not? Ivan says no. From his words it sounds like he's well aware of what he's up against in Europe. The longer races appear to be what will limit him the most, but he can train to overcome those necessary adaptations. I wonder if he's spoken to Juan Jose Haedo about what 2008 was like for him with CSC-Saxo? Haedo already had the punching ability at the end of a long road race before going to Europe, so it would be interesting to hear his thoughts on his 2008 experience.

Leogrande doping case proof of cultural shift
I got the link above from Joe Papp's blog site. It has a few more details pertaining to Leogrande's suspension, and from the look of it this could another one of the reasons Frankie Andreu left Rock Racing as Team Director. By the time he left Rock Racing he was aware of the Leogrande doping problems and likely did not want to be around when it all hit the fan.

Back to Joe Papp, read his post from December 13 titled "ya basta." Kids at home, this is why you must be fully aware of all the ramifications of any decision you make. Something may make you feel powerful in the moment, but what kind of harvest will it yield years down the road?

I have actually thought more about my comments in the last post about Leogrande, and I think I may have come across as too harsh. I don't know why I feel that way, but I do. I can only guess it's because I see someone who obviously had an opportunity that many young cyclists are desiring, and that person purposely disrespected the opportunity and destroyed it for selfish reasons. It is obvious that Leogrande does not and has not had enough good influences around him to help him make better decisions. Fortunately, in my life I have had strong positive influences that kept me in line, and for that I will be forever grateful. I could easily rattle off the names of men who gave of their time unselfishly to lead countless young men and women. In my line of work I can easily spot a kid who has had those same influences over someone who has not. Those who haven't tend to stick out like a sore thumb.

What I worry about more than anything else is who out there will help lead people in the right direction? Will selfishness prevail even at the leadership level, or will true leaders begin to take a stand? Not only that, but demand those they lead to live up to the challenge.

Nathan Brown on the deck
I'm sure that's the last place Memphis native Nathan Brown wanted to find himself at Cyclocross Nationals last week. Nathan ended up 19th on the day. I'm sure we'll see him on the road next season throwing down the gauntlet and making us all suffer like dogs.

Tim Johnson's Cannondale
Sticking to the cyclocross theme, even though I don't do cyclocross this bike makes my mouth water. I suppose now he can transfer the stars and stripes over to Ryan Trebon though.

Fifteen pounds of 'cross bike goodness
Bow and drool. Having an aluminum road Scott frame that I raced on in 2008 has helped me to appreciate how good their bikes are built.

Superprestige #4 - Hamme Zogge, C1, Belgium
I don't think either of those primo cyclocross bikes would have powered me through these epic conditions! When you race you want to look like a snow man coming in for the win. Unforgettable for sure!

Biking should be encouraged, not taxed
"The most green of our population." Yes, that's probably true in Seattle, but not quite here in Nashville. Not enough of us use our bicycle for something other than training. Personally, I use my bicycle to run errands and go places, but not everyone lives close enough to their favorite in-town destinations to do so. Plus, there's the whole family to worry about. Regardless, it should still be our goal to become the greenest of them all!

Sweet Shops in Three Cities
What's the benefit of riding all over the place instead of driving? Well, other than the obvious savings in gasoline and the environment there's the ability to go to a sweets shop and indulge! San Francisco, Atlanta and New York are highlighted here, but that's a little too far to drive. I think I'll pedal to Bread & Company instead.

Couple eats on $1 a day
This is taking frugal to all new heights. Watch the video and hear how they did it. He's right, losing that much weight in one month is not healthy. Maybe they should have started at $2 per day and worked their way down. If you threw in much if any exercise with this food budget plan you'd definitely whither away.

Unsnobbycoffee.com
However, if you did eat on $1 a day then it would give you more to spend here! McDonald's is coming out swinging against Starbucks, and I have to say "I'm lovin' it!" This marketing strategy and website is ingenious. You can perform an intervention or play pin ball. They've been developing the McCafe for some time now, and with the current economic downturn this has the potential to be a huge hit for McDonald's.

Starbucks won't slug it out in ad wars
They won't because they can't since they realize they would flat out lose that war, and I would also say they're right to keep quiet. This is pretty aggressive marketing by McDonald's though. Starbucks is taking the high road because it's the only road they can take. Sure, McDonald's customers are less likely to be Starbucks customers in general, but there are millions more McDonald's customers than there are Starbucks customers. Starbucks can be credited with being the pioneers of creating their customer base, but that base is dwindling in these hard times.

If McDonald's taps their current customer base alone with this new menu strategy then I put them in the "buy" category. Throw in the potential for winning over less dedicated Starbucks customers and a boom could follow. Even before this marketing strategy went into effect their same store sales were already up 8.2%. Starbucks cannot come close to matching that figure, but the most troubling comment was by the Starbucks chief marketer saying they weren't going to respond and keep doing what they're doing. Yeah, you do that chief. How many stores has McDonald's closed recently?

The trouble with Starbucks
First quarterly loss ever, closing over 600 stores, stock price has dipped to $9.21 from a 52-week high of $21. Shultz has some soul searching to do, and doing things the way they've always done them will continue to get them the same results. Marketing 101 will teach you that, the 4 P's. If that marketing chief really feels that way then he should be fired. Starbucks can only hope they haven't built this incredible customer base only to lose them to McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts. I am a fan of business strategies, case studies, SWOT analyses, accounting correlations, etc., and all this just fascinates me to no end.

You all know how much I love my mochas, but I have cut back on those significantly. Plus, I haven't put all my espresso drinking eggs in the Starbucks basket. I do my best to support local coffee shops too, and soon you're going to here big news along those fronts! I cannot wait to announce that news.....

NashvilleCyclist.com Criterium 8/22/07
To cheer you up in this dreary weather I refer you to this video. I'm gonna make that thing go faster in 2009!!

You are an obsession

Today is a good day to stay inside and blog right? Not entirely so since I did squeak in a one hour workout of one-leg drills before the rain started pouring this morning. Then I showed my bike a little love and gave it a thorough washing with soapy water. The Scott is looking pretty shiny I must say. This is about all I could do anyway since my car is in the shop. The tally? A new radiator, all the hoses replaced, something to do with barometric pressure-fuel line-turbo, and an oil change. Next I have to pass emissions and get new tags. I have officially cancelled Christmas this year. See you in 2009!


U.S. registered Continental teams for 2009
Rosters were released yesterday, and there's been a few guys changing teams as you can imagine. The one that jumps out at me is Neil Shirley, formerly of Jittery Joe's, going to Kelly Benefit Strategies. A few local names going to Kenda Tire are Matt Winstead and Bennet van der Genugten (also former CU Cycling rider) from Inferno, as well as Tyler Stanfield from Myogenesis. A name missing off the list is our good friend Trent Wilson. I haven't heard word yet on him signing with anyone, so let's hope there's good news to report that we simply haven't heard yet.

The teams to obviously watch are Ouch pb Maxxis and Rock Racing. Those two teams are stacked with guys like Floyd Landis, Karl Menzies, John Murphy and Ivan Dominguez, Fred Rodriguez and Oscar Sevilla. It's not to say those other squads won't be able to compete, but they lack the depth that Ouch and Rock possess. Soon we'll be seeing Landis and Sevilla as well as Tyler Hamilton going toe-to-toe.

Leogrande suspended
Here's one guy who got scribbled off the Rock Racing list at the last second. First, here's this from Leogrande, "It could have gone either way, to be honest with you." Just flip a coin huh. Next, I suggest reading the section where Leogrande feels as though he was targeted. With all due respect, if in fact Leogrande is deserving of respect (?), are you really this ignorant or are you just, just, .....I can't even think of a word or words to describe it. I can actually understand the doping part of this story, but what amazes me is the lack of ability to communicate a coherent message of innocence. My gut tells me he is relieved it's over because now he can relax knowing the gig is up.

You're right Kayle, most people shouldn't have to deal with this, but the fact is most people don't. Do you know why? Because most people don't dope. Maybe somewhere this guy is protesting his innocence and saying "I did not dope", but I have yet to dig up those comments via a news search. You'll probably guess correctly as to the lawyer's name handling his case - Howard Jacobs. I haven't seen a follow up to the lawsuit he had previously filed against the soigneur and Matt Decanio either.

Says Leogrande, “Now that it’s finally happened, in a way it’s a relief, and a weight off my shoulders." Yeah, us too. Bye bye.

OS Performance Nutrition
Local nutritional company was recently promoted nationally on VeloNews. I have personally been using OS products for about three years now, and I assure you the product is worth every nickel. It doesn't matter what you're doing; long training ride, 85 mile RR, one hour crit, post-event recovery, it all works!

Zipp recommends
Of course it's nice to be a professional on Garmin-Chipotle and have your pick of the best and hottest cycling products on the market. I suggest reading the section on Zipp wheels and their recommendations on which model to use for various types of terrain. The bottom line is go with an aero wheel over a climbing wheel unless there's sustained climbing over 8 percent. Now if I only had a pair of Zipps!

Powercranks xLite Adjustable crankarms
This reminds me of a conversation I had recently with someone about some of the cool gadgets and equipment they have to train. One is a Velotron with all the bells and whistles, and the other was Powercranks. Among other things we talked about training and the muscular balance the cranks potentially can promote. Then I find out this guy has all these nice toys, but never rides outside on the road! His bike training is indoors all year round for the simple reason that he's concerned about his safety. It doesn't blow me away that some stay inside due to safety, but it did surprise me he has invested quite a lot in equipment yet doesn't venture out. It takes all kinds I suppose.


Garmin launch: Winning is the word
Two words jump out at me from this, culture and victory. If you haven't built the right culture and "work" environment then you're making it harder to achieve success. I much prefer the word victory or victorious over winning. Of course they went out and played the obligatory cowboys and Indians paint ball game, but somebody tell Steven Cozza to keep his shirt on next time!

Team Columbia training camp
No crazy welts there. Bob, don't spend too much time patting yourself on the back for 2008. Why? Cause "Bruyneel brings Astana back stronger for 2009." After a year of getting uninvited or told to stay home you can bet Astana is looking to prove their worth. My guess is with the stars they have in their lineup that race organizers will want them because it's going to ensure greater publicity and attention. With Contador and Armstrong together in the same race you may as well have Barry Bonds and Babe Ruth in your lineup. All four are going to perform as well create a bit of chaos around them, which is just what the organizer ordered!

Astana camp: Armstrong rolls out
If the cops are too busy taking photos then who can we count on to keep things under control?

Starting the season right
Columbia and Astana had better be ready because I think this guy may have something to say before it's all over. Basso's training advisor is excited about his recent test where he tested just 1.5 milliliters below Armstrong's reported 85. Still though, you had better have some power in those legs and put out the wattage. I don't think power can be found here, can it?

Cyclingfansanonymous
A very good read that mostly centers around doping. My interest level in pursuing doping as a conversation or blogging topic isn't what it once was (Leogrande notwithstanding!), but this blog has lot of short commentary on various articles that may interest you.

Cat3Phenom
I have no idea who this guy is, but man oh man can he throw down some hilarious smack! (Thanks to a NC.com rider who shared this site with me!)

No Stretching on the Grass
Please, let's not give the city leaders of Belle Meade any more crazy ideas. Browse around and you'll notice the people are now stretching in the street. Smart move on both sides right?

Everything Maddux wasn't
Don't expect to see another athlete like him come along in our lifetime. He was a wizard. An artist. What's amazing to me is that there aren't young pitchers coming up emulating his throwing style and mechanics. His delivery was balanced, deliberate and simply put, flawless. Not only that, but Maddux has the career numbers to back it up. First ballot Hall of Famer.

What Is Rickey Henderson Doing In Newark?
It's strange to think he'll turn 50 on Christmas Day. I believe I have read this article before, but what I don't remember reading is this section here where he talks about struggling to get back to the Major Leagues. Henderson says, "But that's life. And I digest it. Because I believe the Good Lord has put me here for something. And He never tells me that road I'm going to put you on is always going to be gravy." Amen brother.

The Dutch call them 'Sinterklaas and Swarte Piet'
Here comes Santa Claus here comes Santa Claus.....

Sowing the seeds

New Year, New You: Cycling Weight-Loss Stories
I love this series of stories! You have to see the transformations some of these people have made, the before and after photos. As I clicked through them I thought about my own transformation, and what the bicycle has done for me. I will never forget the moment when the thought came to me about a bicycle. In the 'winter' of 1997 I was driving north on US1 in Stuart, Florida and saw Pro Bicycles on my right. Ding! I immediately thought I should get a bicycle. Just like that it popped into my head.

By that time I was pushing 235 pounds, which for me was my heaviest ever. I was still working out in the weight room and running a little bit, but nowhere near as active and competitive as I had been during baseball. I was only two years removed from playing, but I had already packed 30 pounds to my playing weight of 205. Odds were that I was going to keep adding pounds instead of subtracting, unless I did something dramatic. My logic was I enjoyed riding my bike as a kid and remember riding a lot, so surely I would enjoy doing it now. I remember the freedom my bicycle gave me as a kid, but I had no idea the freedoms it would eventually bring as an adult.

After my visit to Pro Bicycles I saved up money for a few months and went back in early spring for my first road bike purchase. Right away I fell in love with riding with people at the Treasure Coast Cycling Association, but soon I moved back home to Nashville. I kept riding more and doing all kinds of organized rides and charity events. As each year passed I began noticing transformations with my body. I went from 235 to 220, from 220 to 205, from 205 to 195, from 195 to 190 to 185 to 180 to 175! I have been in the 175-180 range for the last two years, which is lower than when I was in high school! The weight loss and body transformation process took years to happen. I kept getting smaller and smaller, and my friends I have known for years kept shaking their heads in disbelief.

I will say that it wasn't just riding that did the trick. As I kept losing weight I incorporated other better habits to facilitate the process. I ate better foods more regularly, stopped drinking so much Coke if any at all, turned away from alcohol completely for five years at one point, started practicing yoga and pilates, and with each new change (sacrifice!) I saw results. There's nothing more motivating to stick with something than when you see your actions helping you to get stronger and faster on the bike!

What once was considered a sacrifice is now a way of life for me, a joy to do. I went from 235 to 175, which if you're counting is 60 pounds or 26% less than who I used to be. As you can imagine I feel great!

I tell my young athletes and students all the time, the decisions you are making today are shaping your future beyond your imagination. Making good decisions consistently is what will distinguish you from everyone else, but you must be aware of them in the moment and realize that each decision is important. Even if you aren't sure what that seed will produce you still must make a wise and well thought out decision.

So in my life I look back and think.....

I am thankful I accepted that job out of graduate school and moved to Florida. Out of hundreds of miles of Atlantic Coast to choose to live I am thankful to have chosen that spot near Pro Bicycles. I am thankful that cycling club gave me encouragement. I am thankful I had an unsupportive boss who did not help me to succeed, and corporate business strategies that accelerated that lack of success, thus prompting me to realize there were better life opportunities back home here in Nashville. I am thankful to have immediately found riding friends when I moved back home to Nashville. I am thankful for a good friend in Tupelo who encouraged me to race. I am thankful to have eventually found the Model Airplane Field on Saturday morning. The list goes on and on.

Now look where I am at.

Some day I want to go back and visit my old friends in South Florida and tell them all I have done and am doing in cycling. I bet they won't recognize me. I will thank them and let them know it was their encouragement and nice words about the ability they saw in me that kept me riding. They planted a seed not knowing the outcome. Through their farming it helped produce a bike racer, a website, racing events, a racing team, a cycling coach and development of a collegiate cycling program. In the end I can only pray it has earned the respect of everyone. Do you think they had any idea of the crop they would produce?

You too have seed sowing abilities. You too are planting seeds and impacting the lives of others wanting to ride their bikes to become better people. You too have words of encouragement that somebody needs to hear. You too can make a difference.

How is your harvest coming?

It's a slow fade

This time I have a pretty good reason for being late. First, it was Thanksgiving and I led two very successful days of "Burn the Turkey" training rides on Thursday and Friday. Each day I had other obligations besides the rides that kept me from posting, mainly eating! Second, as the Friday ride was completed I was unaware my immune system was already in battle mode in what turned out to be a losing proposition. I woke up on Saturday morning with that dreaded feeling of a slight chill and some body ache. It was not from the previous three days of 8.5 hours of training, but from the most dreaded three letter word of winter - flu.

The remainder of the weekend was spent mostly wrapped up in covers and knocked out cold. I put down a whopping 14.5 hours of continuous sleep on Saturday night alone, not including naps before and after! This year has been the first once since I can remember when I haven't received a flu shot. Well, there you go. If there ever was a good time to have the flu it was now. I did not miss the Thanksgiving meal and dessert, and I did not have to miss showing up on campus. Sure, I missed a little training, but this time of year for me it's not as structured as it will become shortly. The sickness did put a dent into some things I had planned to accomplish, all of which centered around the business class I teach. I was able to get most of it done, but it was impossible for me to grade 58 research papers with my head in the clouds.

So there you have it, my excuse and I'm sticking to it. I was going to write about a bunch of cycling news, but I have changed my mind. Instead, I think I'll write about random thoughts that I have not shared. Wait, I guess some of this is cycling news.

As it stands now the NashvilleCyclist.com racing team is without a sponsor for 2009. The last couple of years we've had the financial support of Bike Pedlar, which helped tremendously in getting our squad off the ground. I feel it is important to say that I know some questioned if this relationship would work, but our sponsor followed through on all that he said he would do. Both parties are walking away with smiles on their faces, which is what I expected all along. We'll be forever grateful and thankful of Bike Pedlar's support in 2007-2008.

Despite Bike Pedlar not moving forward with us we are still adding talent and reloading for 2009! We've got a couple of extra strong Cat 3s joining us as well as developing a women's team. Next on the list in the near future is a juniors squad. Just hide and watch us!

This brings up a unique opportunity for our squad, which is to be a bike shop neutral team. I know when I started the team it raised some eyebrows because of the perceived bike shop neutrality the website had generated. I have always seen the racing team and website as two separate and distinct operations, but I can understand how others see it differently. Now that we're back to square one the team and I are all in agreement to go it alone, and I do not foresee us changing our mind. I will only seek out and entertain opportunities that allow that neutrality to thrive. Which, if I think about it much, is pretty exciting!

One sponsorship gem for the NashvilleCyclist.com team to be announced soon may catch you off guard. Think local and think coffee. Stay tuned for that news within the coming days!

Oh, and about the website. I recently spoke with a website builder who specializes in the cycling industry. NashvilleCyclist.com is in need of a fresh look and complete overhaul to meet current technology. There are too many benefits to list here, but suffice it to say I was pleased with the conversation and subsequent quotes. It will be a worthy investment that you and I both will enjoy, but first raise or earn the capital!

Have you heard about the new used bike shop opening up on 12 South? Check out Halcyon Bike Shop.

I cannot remember if I mentioned this before or not, but I was re-elected the Road Director of TBRA for 2009. We are still working on the schedule and have most of it complete, but there are a few local and regional events we're working around. The schedule should be posted soon, so stay tuned to TBRA.org for information.

I was reading an article the other day (see link below) about how our connectedness is really creating greater disconnect, and something called Second Life was given credit for helping to create the wedge even wider. I had never even heard of it, have you?

Along those lines, awhile back I thought to myself about our progression in communication and how it has only driven us farther apart. Follow me here as I try to recall my thoughts:
Face-to-face turns into.....
Sending handwritten letters turns into.....
Telephoning turns into.....
Television viewing turns into.....
Personal mobile video devices turns into.....
Mobile wireless telephones turns into.....
Internet emails turns into.....
Internet websites turns into.....
Internet instant messaging turns into.....
Mobile telephones with voice, video, email, instant messaging and website management.....
Turns into.....what?!?!

What is the next big thing? We have proven to ourselves we get bored pretty quickly with any technology that allegedly makes forward progress. Every step in that progression we walk farther away from one-on-one in person contact. What will our minds conjure up and make available next? What other form of communication can exist which will exceed our current abilities and time stamps?

Those Who Watched Internet Suicide Have Problems Too
Focus less on Dr. Keith's comments about the suicide issue (although they're important), but pay closer to attention to his last four paragraphs. My thoughts above were before reading this article, but affirmed what I have been thinking lately.

I would argue we are not connected, but rather more isolated than we have ever been in the history of the world. Could it be that all that's crumbling around us is nothing more than a reminder to go back to square one? It may not be a bailout of business after all, but rather a bailout of ourselves and all our lost souls.

I wonder.

Fears & Feats

Lance Armstrong worried about attacks by French fans
Why is his level of paranoia rising continuing to be reported, and what is his basis for believing it could happen? Yeah well, that and al Qaeda could launch an attack too. Believe it? I don't. You know who should be worried about their safety? A President or Prime Minister, not a bicycle racer. So, you won seven Tours de France and climbed countless mountains with fans running alongside. How many attacked you?

The only instance I can think of where violence took place was against Eddy Merckx in 1975 at the Tour de France as he attempted to win his sixth. Merckx was punched by a fan up a mountain, later suffered a broken jaw in a crash, and subsequently finished in second place that Tour. The punch to Merckx was because he was about to break the Frenchman Jacques Anquetil's record of five Tour victories. Lance meanwhile broke the record without incident and went back to win another.

You know Lance, you've had less success with vehicle drivers in Texas. Maybe that's where you should pour your concern. I'm not naive enough to think or say violence is not a possibility, but I'm a little tired already reading about his diversionary discussions on safety and his indecision on races he's going to do. I'd think differently if we had a history to draw upon filled with fan violence, or maybe, Lance is foretelling the future filled with violence? If you believe it and will it to happen then it just might happen. It used to be we'd hear a man focused on his goals, but now we've got someone throwing darts at a board. This is not a recipe for success.

Armstrong says 'emotions' could put his safety in jeopardy
It seems the Associated Press is wondering the same thing I am.

Armstrong to meet with Tour officials
Even Johan Bruyneel has succumbed to the paranoia about anger and grudges. Geesh guys, it's almost as if you've never won and are fabricating these thoughts to have "something" to prove. This Lance comeback situation is prime material for one of those "they said we couldn't do it" moments. Get ready because that's coming within the next year. As if "they" care what "they" think anyway.

Michael Barry's diary: The story of a cyclist
Again, this guy is good. In this diary Barry talks about his friend Craig Lewis' comeback and success of late. Lewis is one tough guy to have overcome the horrific accident he sustained at the 2004 Tour de Georgia. Physical pain and suffering has a unique way of making us stronger and better. You can read about Lewis in this article from Outside Magazine.

Twelve wins away: Don Meyer's hard road back from the brink
Speaking of becoming stronger and better after a major accident, it is hard to believe that Coach Meyer could become better than he was before. However, I'm certain this man can make it happen. Those of us who have been in Nashville long enough to remember him pacing the sidelines as men's basketball coach at David Lipscomb University know he's as tough and demanding as they come.

Just when you think God has run out of ways to use you to influence others for His glory.....along comes the unexpected. We can only hope to get that opportunity and rise to the occasion when it does.

Annual cyclocross competition draws young and old 'off the beaten path
A little publicity down in Memphis for the Tennessee State Cyclocross Championship.

Developing a U.S. Bicycle Route System
This is pretty cool, especially if you're into touring.

U.S. Bicycle Route System Approved by National Transportation Authority
We have Greenways growing and connecting us here in Nashville, and now we can look forward to great connectedness at the state level. Sweet!

Underground Railroad Bicycle Route
Another great route that goes through Tennessee.

Bread Delivery Bikes / Only In Egypt
This takes mad bicycling and balancing skills. Oh, and maybe a flat head.

The Bobby Julich Chronicles
It looks like Cyclingnews is the new home for Julich's diary journals. In his first installment he talks about how a neo-pro gets his start in contract dealings, and finishes it off with his rest period and when he knew it was time to start training again. I agree with him, our bodies and minds will let us know when we're ready.

Best seat in the house tonight

Study to test Nashville's carbon footprint
I found this interesting considering I have significantly lowered my carbon footprint on the environment. In my book it's irrelevant whether you buy into the whole global warming rage. Frankly, it's a moot point. What's more important to me is how we are conducting daily business and routines, and how can we make sensible changes within that to make ecological improvements. I'm no tree hugger, but trees and other natural resources are vital to our existence. In fact, I have three new trees planted in my yard! We should strive to do anything and everything we can do at the daily human existence level to preserve our planet. Imagine the creativity and productivity that can arise from such an endeavor.

Personally, I have been riding the train and my bike much more than ever back and forth to work. Moreover, I am driving significantly less and taking less unnecessary trips. At home I'm using less electricity and throwing in some energy efficient bulbs. I recycle every possible thing I can and create the least amount of trash possible. Heck, even when I fish I'm catching and releasing!

Pentagon Clears Flying-Car Project for Takeoff
This news has to make George Jetson happy right? Here's George behind the wheel, and he looks pretty thrilled to me. No word yet on his review, but you can see the similarities between George's previous ride that easily held the whole family. I'm still searching for evidence of George on a bicycle, so stay tuned.

Next-O-Meter : David Price
Murfreesboro native and former Vanderbilt pitcher David Price is the real deal. If he can stay healthy he's going to have a wicked career, much like that of Randy Johnson. Gas-O-line!

Tour de Georgia off for 2009
We may want to get used to these sorts of headlines. In today's economic environment more and more sponsors will have difficulty pouring cash into large bicycle races. If a race like the Tour de Georgia can point to its economic impact on the state and sponsors not see the value then the red flag is rising. Sure, it was struggling before, but now their perceived value is far outweighed by their sense of urgency to survive.

I think it's a cop out to say their failure is due to Lance Armstrong not choosing the race on his 2009 calendar. Organizers obviously lost credibility with race stakeholders by not paying their bills and doing what they said they would do. I don't care what business you're in, if you say one thing and do another you may as well put a bullet in your foot.

Transfers for 2008-2009
I always enjoy checking out the transactions list to see where riders are moving to for 2009. This year we are seeing the end of an era as quite a few amazing professionals are retiring. Paolo Bettini, Erik Zabel, Bobby Julich, Paolo Savoldelli, and Tom Steels (yes, that Tom Steels!) are all saying goodbye. Then again, some are reversing course from retirement back to racing. I hear some guy named Armstrong tops that list.

Yaroslav Popovych signs a two-year contract with Astana
Strangely enough Popovych was listed as retiring, but it looks like Bruyneel and Armstrong are reuniting the family. Too many chiefs and not enough Indians? Despite all their strong personalities, which I think is a weakness, Astana is going to have one heck of a roster.

Black Sheep won 'Riders's Choice'
I am deciding between this sweet looking ride, and.....

World's most expensive bike
.....possibly this one, which only costs about $118,000. I'd say about the only place to put it is where they have it, HERE.

Bikes in the city
I'd rather choose from these any way, the women I mean.

Jens Voigt gear
Then again, maybe I should consult with Jens first. WWJD?

How far Oscar Pereiro fell
Jens would have told Oscar to keep away from the ledge. He's a lucky man.


Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
I'm trying to figure out who has bottomed out worse - Pereiro or Buffet's stock price? At $94,000 and some change per share it's a steal. I'm down for 1/1000 of a share. I'll be rich soon and be able to afford a bike I can hang on the wall.

One in five youth in China obese
Lastly, this falls into the category of "headlines you thought you'd never read."

Blowouts, redemption & Greenways

Ok, getting back on track.....

How to Fix a Flat
Imagine my excitement that Thomas Friedman would write about fixing a flat, but instead he vents about his frustrations with auto makers in Michigan. The title really ought to read, "How to Fix a Blowout." I would say most people are more than frustrated with the Detroit model of business and have been for a long time. Every CEO and industry leader sees their economic bailout opportunity and believes it will be their saving grace if awarded. A successful bailout ideally not only includes the actual funds awarded, but in this case of taxpayer funds being used it has to ensure a successful rescue.

Let's all go take an honest look in the mirror. Do any of us truly believe these bailouts will prove successful? .....(tick, tock, tick, tock).....

Yeah, that's what I thought; hence everyone's reservations. Need proof? Just look at the volatility of the New York Stock Exchange and the fact that it's not far above 8000 now. It's yo-yoing like a rider about to be dropped off the back! Why? Pretty good club rider, but not quite ready for fierce competition. Cash (power/wattage) is king. Liquidity (speed/mph) is queen. If you're without either you're toast.

My prediction - it's not going to take long before we the taxpayers begin an economic revolution against every company seeking or receiving a government bailout. This bailout madness has got to end soon or we are setting ourselves up for some serious soup lines. Has it helped the auto industry before? After all, we are where we are today. The airlines? Bailouts are band-aids. When CEOs are more concerned with stock price and less about net income or dividends to stockholders it's a slippery recipe that will eventually spell the end to good sound business decisions. Unsuccessful bailouts spell the end of.....well, just about everything.

Moreover, despite Chrysler's CEO stating the bailout will promote innovation, giving handouts will have exactly the opposite effect of creating innovation! A multiple billion dollar bailout check will flatly send the message of condoning past business decisions, but more devastatingly it will destroy creative thinking. Future innovation won't exist because the bailout seeker isn't forced to figure it out on his or her own. Sure, their future will be different with or without that bailout, but creativity goes out the window when one is allowed a sigh of relief. No, I believe they all should figure out a way to fight their way out of the corner they chose to paint themselves in.

It means that some companies should close their doors. We've always been looking for a way to end our dependency on foreign oil, so imagine the outcome if there are significantly less automobiles being sold. Yes, I realize all the implications with such a dramatic result. Toyota, Honda and Nissan executives are looking at Detroit and realizing they were right all along.

Don't even get me going on the thought of huge bonuses still being paid out to Wall Street executives. Don't misunderstand me, I am a capitalist and want to see these businesses succeed. My bigger concerns are with those affecting small businesses. If your ideas and strategies are good then you should be rewarded for hard work, but if they're bad then you should also be rewarded with failure. Either way you earned it.

Disclaimer - these thoughts and opinions DO represent those of NashvilleCyclist.com.

Berkshire Hathaway Profit Falls 77% on Investments, Insurance
Warren Buffet only made a billion in the third quarter. He took it on the chin huh. However, he has performed his own bailouts with the hopes of huge returns later. It likely instills confidence and stabilizes things when it comes from a man like Warren Buffet, but when it's Mr. Government making the "investment" the market sighs and sinks.

Stretching: The Truth
No, this doesn't address sketchy politicians or CEOs. This article addresses what I've known for some time through the research I have found. I have blogged about this topic before, but I feel it's important to keep bringing it up in order to disprove previous notions about stretching. I am more flexible than most and I'm a big believer in stretching playing a role in your training program, but it's important to understand the when, where and why of it all.

European Support for Bicycles Promotes Sharing of the Wheels
Hardly a week goes by without a new article being written about a new bicycle program that's been implemented in Anywhere, Earth. These kinds of programs should become more common here in the US considering gas prices and the automobile market failures. One, it should be grown just because it's a good thing to do, and two because I think the free market sooner or later will seek it out.

24 Redemption
If only Jack Bauer could tame the business world like he does international terrorists. Get your calendars out and mark it for November 23rd, the return of 24!

Kentucky boy embodies the power of one
None of this economic nonsense matters to Adam. In fact, this little boy forges ahead and finds a way to succeed. Many times over he could have accepted the easy way out. Instead he wants to be not just like everyone else, but even better than them. I'd choose him for my team any day!

FRA - Student Profile
I am imagining building a team with Adam and Max. Oh, we would kick some butt! It's great to see Max get recognized by his school. Congrats on a great season Max, and stay away from those Coca-Colas!

You can't keep a good Cipo down
Brunette? Blonde? Brunette? Whatever, he'll take all three.

Nostalgic Julich hangs up wheels
The wattage doesn't lie does it? Interesting how it demotivated him though. Joining CSC and Bjarne Riis revitalized his career, and Julich is right, "'you know what, I've had a good run." To think he went without a coach for such a long time and was as successful as he was is pretty amazing at that level. I think every rider at every level needs someone to hold them accountable, and as a cycling coach that has a coach himself I see the benefits firsthand.

Brighter days ahead: The Ivan Basso Diary
Julich's former teammate at CSC is back from his suspension and ready to redeem. I'd say after his third place finish at the Japan Cup last month the Euro peloton had better get ready for some pain. I am big believer in everyone getting the opportunity to redeem themselves, so I am hopeful Basso's return is successful not only for himself but for cycling as a whole.

Walk/Bike Forum
Here's a great new resource for Nashvillians to "allow for an interactive exchange of ideas, news, information, and general thoughts about walking and biking in the greater Nashville region."

Today's post highlights the incredible progress made regarding Greenways in Nashville. Just eight years ago only 5.6% of us in Davidson County lived within a half-mile of one, but by 2007 there was 36.4% of us near a Greenway. The exciting end to our Greenway projects will see a whopping 95.3% of us living near a Greenway. Wow! Imagine how that is going to impact our communities and improve our quality of life. Moreover, think of how much our habits will change as well as our perceptions about daily activities and routines. One prediction is we bicyclists should receive tremendous goodwill as bicycling will be much more mainstream than today. Our perception is our reality, and it's being reshaped before our eyes!

Everything I keep missing

A lot of nothing has been going on lately for me when it comes to cycling. My attention and focus has been elsewhere as I have finally taken just a little bit of time off the bike.

I recently attended the Tennessee Bicycle Racing Association annual meeting between the TBRA board and club members to hold elections, cover some items, and to put together the 2009 racing season. The election news item can be read HERE as yours truly is once again the Road Director for 2009. Stay tuned to TBRA's website for the tentative racing schedule to be posted soon. There are a few new races for next year, and a couple of tweaks that should really excite everyone.

Time to move on.....

Before Hustling to Finish, Relaxed Is a Good Way to Start
Maybe this is why I haven't blogged in awhile. I have too much built up tension in my IE favorites to write about and I feel like, "what's the point?" Now I'm facing a relevancy issue; one, the site in general, and two, the news item I'm going to write about. Oh well, I'll relax my facial muscles, focus my breathing and type away.

First, to help me relax I've been doing a lot of this, seriously.....All About Fishing


East Tennessee Junior Cycling Team Wants to Go All the Way
I love reading about Jessica's ambition up in Bristol. Dream big, really really big!

ESPN.com's exclusive interview with Lance Armstrong
I'm impressed that Bonnie D. Ford asked some good tough questions that are on the minds of a lot of people. Am I the only one struggling to envision a happy ending with his latest adventure? I want the guy to succeed, but now more than ever I sense he's trying to force a huge square peg into a small round hole. Times have changed, but has he sufficiently changed with them?

Ride the tightrope
This is my new off season training to work on handling skills.....

Bike Idiot
.....while this is not part of my plan.

Did you know? Chicago 2016
How awesome would that be? Elite and USPRO crit nationals typically are held in the middle of August in Downers Grove, which is near Chicago. I wonder if the two events would coincide?

Blood-boosting drug a threat to cycling's Olympic future
News like this is a cold shower on the excitement of a possible Chicago 2016. To the IOC Vice-President who suggests pausing cycling due to doping - are you also willing to suspend track and field too? I'm speculating here, but I would bet a lot more Olympic athletes in track and field are getting busted for doping than Olympic cyclists.

Cyclists caught doping face 4-year ban next season
To make cycling even tougher there's this on the horizon for 2009. I sat through a USADA presentation a few weeks ago at the Olympic Training Center. They are tightening the reigns and only have plans to make it more difficult for athletes. Four year suspensions are reserved for "aggravating circumstances", but aren't all cycling doping offenses portrayed in that light? They're all aggravating!

Tractor Supply tops estimates
Believe it or not there are a few companies still making a profit. Same store sales up considerably.

Obama Presidency: Stricter on Trade
The Outdoor Industry Association sees tougher global trade policies on the horizon, but does note that Obama has promised to invest more in cycling and pedestrian projects.

Bicycle Retailer - Earnings/Financial Reports
Headlines are pretty rosey at this time.

Suppliers Rally Retailers, But Caution Reigns
Trek and Specialized have solid balance sheets and appear to be able to supply their retailers. I saw another report that Cannondale has a huge backlog of orders as well. In today's economy business owners are leaning heavily on all stakeholders. All it takes is one or two hiccups from a major vendor to have a seriously negative impact at the retail level. This is good news for now, but I'll keep an eye on this in the coming months.

Exxon Mobil: Biggest profit in history
This was a complete shock when you heard about this I'm sure. Shell is up 22% too.

With Free Bikes, Challenging Car Culture on Campus
Brilliant idea! More college presidents should offer this to full-time students. Though the kids are mistaken if they're getting them for free. Just because there's not a line item on their tuition bill that says "bike" you can rest assured that cost has been factored into the overall cost structure by the school. Regardless, it's a smart move and one that ought to take hold at more universities.

Commentary: A letter to the losers
This opinion comes from Donna Brazile of CNN, a Democratic strategist. If you have ever been on the losing end of a hard fought endeavor, one you poured your heart and soul into, then you owe it to yourself to read her recommendations on bouncing back. I believe even those who are victorious want their defeated foes to get up off the mat and fight back when it's time. I know I do. It is in our spirit as Americans to live on and fight another day.

Sooner rather than later

Long time no type my fellow pedalcyclers. After taking a little break from competitive cycling I am still doing some training, but turning my attention more towards the collegiate side of life. Mountain bike races, teaching classes, giving mid-terms, grading papers, yadda yadda.....then lo and behold it's been a month without blogging. Felt great! Ha, but now I'm back to antagonize.

Right now I am at the Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Colorado Springs, CO for a coaches summit. What an amazing place! Not only are we sitting through some great presentations on altitude training, tapering, USADA and doping, cycling science, track cycling, etc., but there's also athletes from boxing and gymnastics here working out. Tomorrow I'm going to watch our Junior National Boxing Team do some sparring before their international competition next week in Guadalajara, Mexico. Oh, and don't even get me going about their cafeteria facility. Our Olympic athletes eat like kings, rightfully so though.

Enough about that already. Let's talk a little cycling. This shouldn't be too difficult considering my IE favorites has three times the saved links as normal.

Bicyclists push for specialty tags
Looks like the drive to get a Tennessee "Share the Road" specialty license plate is back on the stove. The deadline to get 1000 pre-commitments is June 30, 2009. To find out more about signing up please visit http://www.jeffrothcyclingfoundation.org.

Floyd Landis & the red-neck race
Pretty soon I suppose we'll see Floyd lining up for real, but this picture really is worth a thousand words.

Pedal-Powered Delivery Methods Save Big Bucks
Are you an out of work cyclist looking to earn some money while also knocking out your training? Hey, it's an idea.

Nude bicyclist drawing stares
She's trying to draw attention to peace. I mean, what's wrong with that right?

Paralympic Athletes Add Equality to Their Goals
This is fitting considering that I am at the OTC right now, but the USOC should step up and make the equitable investment to support our Paralympians. You would think by walking around the OTC they do get equal financial respect based upon how this facility recognizes Paralympians.

Pedal Classifieds - see for yourself.

Ike-battered Texans find comfort, help over coffee
Cause you know it would be the first thing on my mind during or after a hurricane.

Nashville Ultra
You up for a little running race? Ok, good, cause your options are 50k, 60k, 70k or 80k. People think cyclists are crazy?

Biking lanes used as parking lanes is Messed Up!
No kidding, so pay attention. Some day in our lifetime cyclists will gain the respect they are due. Granted we may be out of petroleum at that time, but at least cyclists have the potential to be the superior transportationists

Jennifer Lopez Finishes Triathlon
It's cool she tackled this challenge, but she lost some cool points (and time!) on the clothing and toe clips.

Spectacularly Distilled Sarcasm
A bike racer's blog with a content warning to enter, nice.

I'll be back sooner rather than later.....

Daily Dose - 9/13

Wow, a week flies by pretty quick when you aren't racing and focused entirely on work. Just when that happens the cycling world gets a jolt with un-retirement of a legend. I'm still scratching my head over that one. Of course my IE favorites is building up again with content, so I'll move on to more interesting subjects.

USA Cycling Pro Championships, day one: A Ben Ross gallery
Nashvillian Ben Ross was in Greenville taking shots for VeloNews.

Here are some David Byrne bike racks that I'd love to see in Nashville. He's got this one that would suit our town.

Nashvillian Robin Farina mixed it up at the front of the US 10k in Atlanta on Labor Day. She's right on the wheel of Laura Franges of Tibco. Robin finished 18th on the day. Can you imagine a 10k road race? Actually, many of the Pro12 road races around here are that because the field is small, and it's a slugfest at the beginning to establish a break.

Jerry Reed was right when in 2007 he said, "“For 50 years, all I’d done was take, take, take. I decided from now on it is going to be giving. And I’m way behind. We’re all way behind. We live this life like what’s down here is what it’s all about. We’re temporary, son, like a wisp of smoke.”

Danny Pate of Garmin-Chipotle made two great points after the USPRO road race recently. Scroll down to see the news blurb. Pate is correct to point out nothing is stopping teams competing in USPRO to hire American riders, and in fact they should in order to help the growth of US cycling. Moreover, he's placed in the top five at USPRO multiple times without being tested. In my opinion, every person and organization indicates their true priorities through their actions and not their words. Pony up USAC and USADA.

Top reasons to date a cyclist. I have yet to find the counterpoint of top reasons NOT to date a cyclist. I'm sure it exists, and if not you can probably ask around to get some great ones pretty quickly.

Want to be a movie star? Max VO2 is looking for you to be an extra in their movie. The filming actually starts today in Virginia, but there are other dates in September you can choose from.

Manolo Saiz is returning from the shadows. No, no, no. Let's hope not. This isn't to discredit his ability to truly mentor young riders, but those shadows surrounding Saiz are from huge clouds of darkness looming overhead. The sport of cycling has moved forward far too much to let its dirty past weasel back into leadership.

Not all runners kick the habit.....cough cough. The Tennessean poses the question; does it make you a healthier smoker or an unhealthy runner?

What is with all the news stories about cyclists and bears lately? I have t-boned a hound dog once, but never had the chance to take on a bear. Is it even possible really to t-bone a bear? Plus, how do we know it was really a bear and not Sasquatch? Or a chupacabra?

Oil's fall to $100 won't change frugal energy use
You all can do the math here. Previous high was $145 a barrel and now it's down to just over $100. Highest gallon price was around $4 per and until yesterday it was down only about 50 cents. The percentages are not adding up. As if that's not enough the wholesale and retail gas industry is gouging customers by shooting up prices in advance of Hurricane Ike. Last night on my way to Asheville, NC most of the gas stations had raised their prices up to $4.49 per gallon. Most of those were Pilot stations actually, but there were a few that only went up to $3.99. It was very odd to see that type of disparity while checking out the billboards along I-40.

Grand Slam for HOW 100

Last night I had the pleasure of meeting with the Sisters United for a Cure to present them with all the money we raised for HOW 100 and The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation. I had been anxiously looking forward to this moment as it wraps up all the work and support put into this endeavor, but I realize there is still much more work to be done for breast cancer research.

When I showed up at Gran Fondo Bicycles in Belle Meade I was greeted by a full team from SUFAC and Katharine Ray, the Director of Communications with The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation. Through the encouragement and financial support of all my friends and family I am excited to announce that together we raised a total of $1,445!

Here I am above presenting the envelope full of cash and checks to Sara Moore and her teammates with SUFAC. Each one of them were excited about the moment and looking forward to the actual HOW 100 ride this Saturday. The Orbea bike in front of us is a model they are giving away to the top fundraiser of the event, so let's hope that Sara and her team ride away with a victory!

When I began this fundraising adventure I had no idea what the outcome would be, but the one thing I knew I could count on was the support of my family and friends. Of course I had hoped to hit a lot of home runs to raise as much as possible, but in the end I believe we raised much more by me not hitting a single one. Thanks to each and every one of you for contributing to this cause and for encouraging me to swing away!

It is the only time in my life when I am thankful to have struck out because in the end we all hit the ultimate - a grand slam!

Get on board - 9/1

It appears we on a record breaking streak here at NashvilleCyclist.com. Last month we set a new record for visits to the site, but August comes around and breaks through the 12,000 barrier! In July we had 11,867 and in August we barely inched ahead to 12,088 visits from 3,528 unique visitors. Not bad hey? Thanks for reading and regularly stopping by!

I'm still in St. Louis for more racing in the Gateway Cup as well as the Tuesday Night Worlds held by Big Shark. This Tuesday night racing series in St. Louis starts in March and doesn't end until the day after Labor Day for a whopping 26 weeks of racing! I hear the turnout is awesome, competition good, but they lack a little bit of aggression. The NashvilleCyclist.com boys are in town to inflict some change, so we'll see how they like our style! I am also anxious to see their organization, how they operate the race, and to hopefully learn a few things to help with our series in Nashville.

Going back to the Gateway Cup; it was with a bit of awe and wonder as I was about to start the Friday night race around Lafayette Square. I stroll up and see a Toyota-United kit waiting to get a good spot at the line. I didn't notice him right away, but then all I had to do was look on the back of his jersey to see the name. Vogels. Yeah, the one and only Henk Vogels from Australia who has ridden the Tour de France, the Giro d' Italia, Paris-Roubaix and other great cycling classics on teams such as Davitamon - Lotto, Navigators, Credit Agricole and Rabobank.

Check out his palmares HERE.

We had a good chat with him before the race, and he asked if we knew Nashville's adopted Australian Trent Wilson. I replied yep, just rode with him the other morning on the Greenway. Funny guy he was. Later that night racing around Lafayette Square I was having a good night and able to race in the top 20 of a field of 150. With about 10 laps to go I am right on Vogels' wheel for a few laps and I thought, "stay here and don't let go." I knew if I didn't get wedged out then he'd put himself in great position the remainder of the race. Sadly, the pack dynamics and flow wouldn't allow me to stick on that precious position, but I wasn't that far off from making it happen. Fun, that's the only way to describe it, very fun.

Vogels isn't the only professional here making life a little tougher for us all. This event always draws a few individual pros looking to have fun and make a little coin. There are riders from Successful Living and Jittery Joe's among others. Personally, I love it when professional riders show up because you are assured to be put through a challenging experience. Of course it's tougher to get a top result, but that type of racing experience always make you better (that is if you can actually hang on!).

A few other tidbits before I have to get back to the recruiting booth.....

Were you as surprised as me with this headline - Hamilton edges Caldwell to claim pro road crown. A photo finish does not get any closer than this HERE. Tyler has surely paid his penance and then some, but one has to wonder how the powers at USADA and USA Cycling feel about him wearing the stars and stripes jersey for all of the 2009 season.

Michael Ball Interview - the Rock Racing team owner has a lot to say, and I'd say after Tyler Hamilton winning in Greenville he's got even more to shout out. Sponsors everywhere could learn a thing to two about promotion and brand awareness. Who knows, maybe in five to ten years he'll be long gone from the scene, but right now people should be picking his brain instead of brushing him off.

John Eustice; Looking backward and forward - this is one of the most informative articles I have read in awhile. It has been awhile since we have seen or heard him announcing for a major tour, but Eustice has the racing and commentary pedigree others can only dream about. I'm not sure what his reputation is in the US cycling community, but his experience and historical perspective is one that everyone top-to-bottom can learn from.

I like to consider myself a pragmatic realist, so this is appealing - Be Oddsitive, Not Positive

For all you fixie freaks out there - No brakes, and they like it

Post-Olympic bike race video - Cracknell vs Hoy: The street race

I broke down and joined Facebook. I think you'll be surprised at how many of your friends are using this to stay in touch. I think it's much more manageable than MySpace and worth the time to setup and maintain.

Get on board.