I know it looks like I'm Smiling...

But the reality is that I trying to breathe through my eyeballs at this point. Thanks to Ed Collier and www.cyclingpix.net for this shot from CX Nationals...

Matt White has Skills This was Matt White on Fiordifrutta...He has skills. When Cannondale asked him where he wanted the cables routed on his new CX machine, he replied.."I don't care where you put 'em, cause I'm never getting off the bike."

2006 Cyclocross Nationals, Providence, RI

I'll start by saying it wasn't cold enough for Cross Nationals. I will follow that up by saying the weather was f'in beautiful, and I had such a good time. Me, Bruce-dawg, and Baz were representing the Sakonett Squad for the weekend...along with an appearance by Robbie G. for the Elite Race on Saturday. Then event come off with out a hitch. 1900 participants, and I barley had to wait in line to pick up my numbers. There were tons of vendors displaying there wares, and it gives all the bike geeks (namely me) a chance to peep out what's out there. I love that shit. Also, being from the bike industry in a former life, I got to see all of my old friends from Indy Fab (www.ifbikes.com) and Dirt Rag Magazine. (www.dirtragmag.com) Couldn't have been better. Well maybe...I guess I could have won my race, but that just wasnt' realistic. So Bruce and Baz were first up in the Masters 35-39 Category. Bruce was in good form having just won the California State Cross Championships (Sweet! State Champ!) so he was aiming for a top 20 goal. (keep in mind like 170 people lined up in this category) Baz was just back from NY State Champs where he road to a strong 4th place, so he was ready to mix it up as well. But..Alas...the course was a nice fast course with some tricky technical bits, that caused massive chaos. Baz went down, and flatted, so he was out..Bruce was on his way to his goal, and I think he would have finished in the top 15, but crashed once...then again in the same spot, and wrecked his thumb...but still finished the race in a respectable 67th. Rkelly up next. DISCLAIMER TIME! I had grand hopes of a full cross season. Work got in the way. So...Cross Nats was my first Cross race of the season...ooof. I picked a good one. I lined up with 150 of my closest friends, and off I went. I got my ass handed to me. Techinically I felt great..run-ups, barriers, and the slippery bits were no problemo...I just wasn't fast enough. Finished 61st...crash free. (The real motivation was to keep the skinsuit clean..) Saturday was spent watching the Elite riders, drinking beer, and eating Redbones BBQ. (www.redbones.com). Ryan Trebon is freakshow fast. He got the hole shot and never looked back, putting time into the field on every lap. He won with ease, taking the National Title 40 seconds ahead of the next rider.. Jonathon Page, and third went to none other that Timmy Johnson. Great Race. I want to be like those guys when I grow up. Sunday, and it was time for me to race again. Long story short. Lined up with 211 riders...there were tons of crashes due to some light rain the night before, but we were still flying...doing sub 9 minute laps of the 3K course. I finished 85th...A little muddier than on Friday.

Full results at www.cyclingnews.com and great pics at www.cyclingpix.net. All in all...a fun time. Hung out with my boys, Bruce and Baz. Did some serious bike geekery. Drank some beer, and oh...yeah...raced at Nationals. See you next year in Kansas City.

Beer+Bikes = Spillage

"Spillage in the Village" to be exact. So on December 12 NY Velocity (www.nyvelocity.com) and St. Pauli Girl, with the help of some other sponsors organized the first roller race of the off-season. Last year all of the roller races were held in the Brooklyn Brewery, but this year...no go...we were in a tiny bar in the East Village called 169 Bar. For 20 bones, spectators could watch skinny bike racers fall off rollers, and have all you can drink St. Pauli Girl...and for those racing that night...all you can drink for $10...plus the chance for public humiliation and possibly broken bones...all whilel have beer thrown on you by the carnage hungry crowds. It came off without a hitch. Dan, Andy, and Alex pulled it together nicely, and it was better organzed than some road races I have been to. Also, a big thanks to out USA Cycling Rep. Alan for officiating the whole biligerent deal. Peer pressure is a powerful force. Much more powerful than crack I have determined. I have never smoked the crack rock, but I can anly assume based on what I learned from "New Jack City", and in bike racing..its all about ego... So...I decided to race. I was scared shitless, but it turned out OK. My teammate David Wiswell raced with me along with my friend/arch enemy Kevin Molloy. My boy Bruce was in town from Cali, and came along as designated spotter and beer drinker. It was fun. I raced, I fell once, actually won one round, and drank heavily. My man Kevin got third in a crazy close race with Hungry Aaron Wolfe (2nd), and the bohemoth, Andrew Cupcake LaCorte. On the Women's side. Arone  Dyer...took it to Tara.,..with style, grace, and toe clips.  Doesn't get much better than that.. Wiswell made it to 6th place, and I managed a 9th. Yeah so there were only 15 people...but...top ten is top ten. So there.

Full report, mores pics, and even videos, can be found at www.nyvelocity.com The REALLY fun part, was the ride home. Me, Molloy, and Bruce had gotten ourselves summarily drunk, and were off to get some pizza. Bruce and I were getting ready for Cyclocross Nats, so Bruce decided to do a few dismounts in the middle of Bleeker St. They ended badly...He almost lost his jewels to his rear tire. Scary. But oh so funny. Pizza at Two Boots, a piss in Washington Square Park, and we made it home safe. Bruce tried one more re-mount in my hallway, an nearly ended up a permanent fixture of the wall...but all in all...we made it safe, and had a hell of a good time.

Turkey Race!!!

Yesterday was the last CRCA race of the year...The infamous Turkey Race. It was a normal CRCA - Central Park Race...6:30 AM start time. 6 laps, the only difference was..you are racing for Turkeys. Top 15 finishers got a turkey. There was a great turn-out...I would say 75-80 people started..44 degrees..good times, good times. I was there with two teammates, David Wiswell, and Mike "Margaritaville" Margarite, and all of the usual suspects showed up. I had gone out the night before with my friend Karl who rides Axis, and he had an attack planned in his head, so I was keeping an eye on him and his teammates Molloy and J.Lo waiting for something to happen. I chased down a few attacks...really for no reason other than to ride faster. (Lets keep in mind I have been traveling for 6 weeks, during that time I might have ridden my bike 5 or 6 times) Gabe from ReMax was kickin it at the front, and Mike Sherry and Ken Harris were mixing it up too. Jeff King wins the prize for "off-season attitude"-He showed up after only 3 hours of sleep, with a football jersey on and a 16oz Budwieser King can in his Bottle cage...well played Jeff. About two laps in, som Upper East side bitch let here little cocker spaniel off the leash, and of course the fucker ran right into the peleton. The dog was immediately squashed. Bikes went flying, the owner was screaming like someone took away her credit cards, and all you could smell was burning break pads. I grabbed a handful, and narrowly missed running dead into one of the bodies strown all over the pavement. I looked around just in time to see Karl sliding across the street on his ass. We regrouped, and I checked with the Axis boys to see if they wanted to go back and get him..nope, and off we went. Anyway. J.Lo, and Mike Sherry made a hard effort with 3 laps to go, and got a good gap. I was casually chatting with Molloy, when I saw Ken Harris out of the corner of my eye. He was hard charging up the right hand side, and so I jumped hard to grap his wheel...I got on with Molloy in tow, and we brought the break back fairly quick. (I should NOT train more often...I was feeling pretty good!) So it was to be a sprint. Not my forte. I picked a strong wheel, and spread out to hold it, and just waited. Wiswell was in good position on King's Wheel with Molloy behind him, and mid sprint, some guy botched the line, and Wiswell and King had to sit up to miss him. Meanwile, The Visit Britain boys were out...Ricky Lowe got first, Anthony second, and Kevin Molloy just got the Evil Matt Howard at the line for third. As for me...I think I just made it in turkey range of top 15 or so. We didn't wait around..Me and the Axis boys went for breakfast, the yardbirds that we didn't retrieve would be donated to the local homeless shelter. So there...we did our deed. West Side Jackson Hole, #10, eggs over easy, and yes...we need more coffee. Full results and more pices here: http://www.nyvelocity.com/content.php?id=1139

In Excess

I just got the IWC Big Pilot...It is the definition of excess...47mm case size. Its HUGE! I have always wanted one, and recently they changed the dial, making these older version very hard to come by. One came my way...I originally bought it to flip, and make a quick buck, but I couldn't help but wear it...and this morning, I just noticed my first scratch. You know what that means? I can't sell it anymore! I gotta just keep on sportin that big bitch. That's fine...I like it alot..... This is the superluminova markings in the dark...

All killer, no filler...

Rsl

What the F!@#!

I found the article below on NPR's website. This world is fucked up. Wow...we live in a society where people think that being healthy and living longer is a bad thing... I am going to become a Radical...burn all my suits, and protest. Protest what you might ask? EVERYTHING. Ride a Bike, Ruin the Environment July 31, 2006 · Things that on the surface appear to be environmentally sound may not be after thorough analysis. The so-called life cycle costs of an intervention may turn a winner into a loser. A debate currently rages over whether adding ethanol to gas actually saves energy. Now comes the disturbing news that bicycle riding may be an environmental loser. According to a paper authored by professor Karl T. Ulrich of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, there is an immediate energy savings by bicycle riding, since a cyclist is between six and nine times more energy efficient than a single occupant automobile. But Ulrich calculates that cyclists increase their longevity by 10.6 days for every year of cycling. And by living longer, they also stand to consume more energy over their lifetimes. Therefore, cyclists harm the environment more than they help it. Ulrich acknowledges the paradoxical nature of his argument. "As a society, we value longevity more than long-term environmental impact," he writes. "If we did not, we might provide incentives for risky behaviors such as smoking, drug abuse and driving without seat belts." That might be an enticing idea for the beleaguered tobacco industry. "Smoke Marlboros and Save the Environment." Full article is here.. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5595169 Down and Dirty, RK

Less is more...whatever

I am sitting on an airplane right now at 30,000 feet. I’m having a bad scotch after finishing an even worse sandwich, and I am starting to think about what makes me the way I am. Now keep in mind that I travel a lot for work, and largely this time is spent alone. All this time inside your own head lends itself to self-dissection, self-deprecation, hell…even self loathing. Mostly, it just makes you evaluate where you are at in life. I am a cyclist. For eight months out of the year, I drink, eat, sleep, and breathe cycling. I obsess about bikes, bike parts, races, and training. When the racing season is over though…I always turn to all the other interests that I have in my life that have been neglected over the past ¾ of a year. I love music, watches, fashion, food, wine, sneakers, art, etc. The common thread that pulls all of these things together is that I only like the hard, even impossible to get. The more “limited” the better. Limited release, limited production, limited edition, a good vintage. Is this to say that I covet? Yeah, I guess to some degree, I do covet. If a friend of mine has something hard to get, then I’m super happy for them. I don’t want their stuff. I want my own version. My own end to the hunt. All I know, is that if I can’t have it, I want it that much more, and it sets the wheels in motion to find it. The hunt is on. A few examples come to mind. I like guitars. Acoustic or electric doesn’t matter. My playing ability is just OK, and half of the guitars that I am looking for I don’t deserve in the sense of musical accomplishment, but who cares. Mostly I look for hard to find Fender Stratocasters. This one in particular has always gotten to me. It’s a Stevie Ray Vaughn Signature Edition. I have always looked for a 1996, because it was the Stratocaster Anniversary edition. It is no different than any of the others, save a tiny hidden sticker on the back of the headstock. But that’s the one I want. You don’t see them that often. Largely I look for these things on Ebay, and last year I found one. I botched the bidding, and got outbid at the last minute. I didn’t sleep for a week. The last one a saw before that one was about 3 years ago. Then I just couldn’t afford it. Now, I can, and low and behold, there is one available. I’ve got it all worked out, a good price, all the specs are good, and the guy will even end the auction early to sell it to me. Now…my interest is gone. Now I want the first production year of this version…the 1992. I must be fucking sick. Sure, I’ll find a ’92, and then I’ll only want the ’92 with the Brazilian Rosewood fret board. So goes my life. It’s the same for clothing…It always has to be unique. Hard to get, and sneakers…don’t even get me started on sneakers. I could be called a closeted sneakerhead. Oh yeah…Limited Edition Nike Dunk, LE New Balance, Alife, BAPE, you name it. The crown jewel has been a pair of VisVims, and yes I just found them today. In Italy. I paid way too much for them. But they are cool, thereby making me cool. At least that’s the rational. Stupid I know. So there is the question. What makes some people completely happy once they reach a certain point? A certain job, a certain amount of money or stuff, a certain woman? And more importantly, what makes people like me constantly search for the next best impossibility? This I do not know. It is the question that keeps me up at night, and it’s the answer that keeps me looking.

Tour De Roxbury '06

I have a greater respect for my friend and teammate Stephen Badger. (www.skntcycling.com). Not because he is the promoter of one of the best events of the year (Tour De Roxbury...duh) but more because he has not gotten his ass kicked out of the house by his wonderful wife, Belinda. Belinda, how you do it, I do not know. You are indeed an angel. So the NYC crew drove up ffrom the city on Saturday, Oct. 21 for the big event. Tour de Roxbury...Badger's 63 mile offroad, cyclocross purgatory. Yeah, Me, Johnson, Baz, and Tracey piled into my car, stacked the bikes on top, and off we went. The idea was dinner with the Badger's hacienda, then beers around the campfire until we were all drunk enough to make the ride that much more horendous the next day. When we arrived, Belinda had a PHENOMENAL Meal prepared (Thanks again to the Badger houselhold) Chicken, Pasta, Salad, Wine..you name it...that girl can cook! We ate like crazy, and then out to start the fire, and start drinking and YES...OH YES...SMORES! I mean...what good is a campfire without roasting marshmallows right? Tracey proved to have the optimal roasting technique...Just brown enough. I, on the other hand tend to just set them on fire. The drinking continues.... Next morning, Belinda has an equally impressive breakfast waiting for us...we eat..ALOT...and off we go. Turnout was great for the TDR. 25 riders...meeting at the local Starbuck's. We roll out. Weather was perfect...started out cold, around 35 degrees, and the sun was out. 2 and a half hours in and Belinda and Tracey meet us with water, gatorade, cokes, oatmeal raisen cookies, and yes...Fig Newtons. We finished with everyone in about 5 hours including the stop, and yes...it was brutal. Gravel roads, long climbs, short steep climbs, paved sections, single-track, and yes a grass runway of the HUGE Woodbury Airport. After, pizza, beer....coma. No seriously , we had the Pizza and the beer, then some espresso, and back to NYC. I haven't had that much fun on a bike since I was in Colorado last Thanksgiving...that says a lot. Badger...Thanks again, and Belinda, thank you for putting up with the Badger...Its a full time job...I know.

Please pass the Xanax

I travel alot for work. You might even say that traveling IS my work, largely because I spend more time actually travelling to see my clients than I actually spend WITH my clients. For what? To shake their hands, take them out to dinner, pressure them to spend money they don't have to spend. Yep. That about sizes it up. My territory is the entire East Coast of the US as far west as Detroit, Canada, and the Caribbean. Its a big territory for one guy to cover. I keep telling my boss that, but he doesn't listen. When I am talking to my friends, or just random people I meet, and the subject of my work comes up, I always see that same wide-eyed look of excitement on everyone's face when I say "and the Caribbean". Everyone assumes that this is the perk of covering such a large territory. "Well at least you have the Caribbean", they say. I would rather go to Pittsburgh than the Caribbean. In the last month, I have been to: St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, St. Maarten (and St. Martin), San Juan, Aruba, and I am right now in Barbados. Next week, I am in Grand Cayman, and Jamaica, the week after, the Bahamas. I have been to all these places before. I'm sure I will go to them all again. But... be it known, it will be against my will. Let me back up.... I can see how a nice vacation on a beautiful island, with someone you love (or even just someone you like...to see naked) can be a wonderful experience. Romantic island requiring very little clothing, alchohol flows freely, and hotel sex. How could it be bad? Right? Resorts make everything so easy for you, and you have the vacation induced, care free, spend-it-all attitude that makes these experiences memorable and fun. When you are a single guy, traveling alone....for work, to some of the most romantic destinations on earth, the vacation scenery makes you naseous as you order room service for the umpteenth time. That's why I say I would rather travel to Pittsburgh, or Duluth, or any other place that you don't mind going to alone. Its not because I like these places, its precisely the opposite. Work is supposed to be WORK. Going to Duluth, MN in December when its -22 degrees, is WORK. My trips to the Caribbean are work, but it fucks with your head to be trying to get shit done while everyone else is on the beach with fruity fucking umbrella drink in their hand. I also believe in fate, and that you have a limited number of Take-offs and Landings alotted to you in a lifetime. Especially with today's cut-rate commercial airline situation. Iamusing mine up rapidly... Its a lonely existence out here...on the road. Don't kick me in the nuts by throwing a beautiful island in there, complete with utopian happy couples that agree on everything, and gaze into eachother's eyes as the sun slowly dips into the lapis blue fucking ocean. I fly back to NYC tomorrow. I can't wait. 7 hours of flying, with an additional 2 hour layover, and I'll be back where I know what I can expect. Gray, and unforgiving...the way I like it. Where I won't be the only guy wearing black, and wear depression is a welcome part of life. not to mention some decent fucking sushi. So like I said. Until then. Pass the Xanax.

Johnson got a new toy...

Lact Sunday Angela (Johnson) got a new toy. We built her pimped out Gorilla of a cross bike. Specialized Tricross. Nice. It might be the smallest bike that I have ever seen, apart from the ones you see the parrots ride in those carni side shows. Now to race that beast. I finished building up the Planet X. I have not named my bike. Johnson coined the "Gorilla" monequer for hers...or "Monkey" for those adorable times...me...I never keep them long enough to name them. If I did, I might have to actually deal with the separation anxienty of watching another one go. Or...If I were to personalize it with a name, I might just keep the damn things longer. Whatever....everything is replaceable, except the stuff that's not. Put that in your vaporizer and smoke it.

Today was good day...I didn't have to use my AK

My Friend Eric..

Is a pervert. Eric lives in Alabama, and Andy Shen from www.nyvelocity.com happened to click a photo of him at Interbike. ( what are the chances?) Eric was in rare form for this one. Nice job E, you have made me proud.

Booyakasha,

RK

I never thought I would...

But...I miss NYC right now. I travel alot for work, and this is the busy season for me. So, I guess I could consider myself lucky to make it home most weekends. (It still feels weird to call NYC "home") Even though I am traveling all over the US, and to exotic tropical islands, I can't help but think about how great this time of year is in the city. The weather is perfect...fresh and crisp. The feels clean. The temperature for riding bikes is the best, and the road race season is over, so I can just ride for fun instead of hammering out intervals and weighing my food. Its Cross Season, Its Sweater Season, Its Wine Season, Its Mushroom Season, and I feel like I am missing it all. This is my favorite time of the year to go on long rides with friends, stop for coffee, and pastries, lunch at the Hungarian Pastry Shop after... When I moved to NYC, I guess you could say it was against my will. I was living in Boston, and my employer wanted me in the Jersey/Connecticut/NY area. (Read: New York City, because I wouldn't commit social suicide by living in 'burbs) So I moved. And ya know. I'm glad I did. Now I am addicted to it. New York City is like gambling, in more than one way. Of course there is the addictive quality, You can lose large sums of money just by participating, takes money to make money to make money, and all that jazz. But mainly, when you are up, you are WAY up, and when you are down, its the worst place on the planet. I'm WAY up right now. I'm "All in" for New York. the bitch may drop me on my ass in a week, but right now, I am riding high, and what better time: Its Apple Season. I'm a sentimental sissy, RK

Post Italy Depression

I am officially back from my 10 days in Italy. Well, at least physically I am. Not to mention the old body clock is still set for +6 hours. What an unbelieveable place. What an unbelievable wedding! I will update more later, but here's a taste.

More later...

Ciao,

RK

Arrivederci Bruce...

I am leaving in just a few hours for Italy, to watch my boy Bruce get hitched. Pictured above on the cover of Bicycling magazine. I race with Bruce on the Sakonnet Technology cycling team (www.skntcycling.com), and when we happen to be on the same coast (Bruce splits his time between LA and NYC...He's a model...they can do that shit) we have a helluva good time hangin out. His fiance, Laura, is super cool...she rivals me in coffee addiction, and is just super chill. Bruce and Laura are lucky to have one another. So I'm headed to Rome, and then onto Tuscany....Brunello, Proscuito, Espresso, repeat... We've got a great group going...Baz and Tracey, John Podesta, Barry, and Tom Wicus...from the NYC crew... This trip respresents my official BREAK between road and cross season. I'm gonna put on a couple of pounds, do some running, and cycling...largely between cafes... Check back for updates from Tuscany... Stay gold, RK

Indy Fab Double Feature

OH YEAH! My new cross bikes arrives yesterday...SWEET. A match pair of Independent Fabrication Planet X's. (www.ifbikes.com) Yep, you heard me right, a pair, as in 2 bikes...as in Race bike, and pit bike. It could also be read as obsessive compulsive, or over indulgent, but this is my story, and I'm reading it like this: P....R....O. Pro. The downside of rolling up to a cross race with a match pair of bike is that people will assume that you are fast. I....am not that fast. If speed were the measure of the level of bike I deserve, I would get like half a bike. But I have fun, and my boys at IF (Matty B is the man) got 'em together for me, so it's hard to only get well...one. It's like the last 2 puppies in a litter. You wouldn't want to take away the other ones sister would you? So, for those who don't know, Independent Fabrication is an Employee owned artisan bicycle manufacturer. HAND MADE...start to finish, in Somerville, MA...the heart of the US cross scene. They just celebrated their 10th anneversary last year. They rose like a phoenix out of the fire of Fat City Cycles. Fat closed their doors and left everyone out of work, so four guys, Mike Flannigan, Jeff Buckles, Steve Elmes, and Lloyd Graves, with the help of a proper businessman (John Barmack) Launched Indy Fab with the first frame at the ledgendary Redbones BBQ (www.redbones.com) in Slummerville (I can only degrade Somerville because I used to live there...keep it straight) Then in triple ought, (the year 2000) When Merlin was purchased by Litespeed, they grabbed some unemployed Master Ti welders, and that is what made IF what it is today...check out the site. Buy a t-shirt, or a beer glass, or a Ti/Carbon Road Bike. These are good people that work for a living, and just happen to produce some of the most beautiful bikes on the planet...without the use of robots. Anyway...the Planet X has been ridden by a number of guys to a number of Championships (Tim Johnson, Johs Huseby please stand up) I am super stoked to have them. I have had tons of cross bikes, Aluminum , Steel, Ti...and the Planet X is my favorite...these 2 = my 4th and 5th Planet X's... Coming to a cross course near you I'm done typing now RK

Road Season is DONE...Bring on the Beer.

So yesterday (Sunday, Sept. 10) was the Nancy Morgenstern Memorial Bear Mountain Fall Classic Road Race. They do this one twice a year, Spring and Fall. As if once wasn't enough...Its put on by Mike Green and the CRCA (www.crca.net) and I have to say, it is one of the nicest courses I have ever raced on. Its a 14 mile loop with a nasty 50 mph downhill into a 180 degree turn in to an even nastier 2 mile-ish climb, followed by a section of rollers, a nice flat section...yep more rollers, feed zone...vomit...repeat. Its tough..brutal. I might have cried a little...somewhere on the third lap. I was in the 3's..we did 70 miles (5 laps) the P/1/2's do 6 laps. (poor bastards) The weather was the best...65-70 degrees, and sun. Bear Mountain notoriously has horrible weather. In the spring, it was 45 degrees with a nice British misty rain. I made it 2 laps in the Spring before curling into the fetal position and sucking my thumb in the feed zone. This Sunday was a little different. I felt pretty good coming into it. I took an easy week of training, and Saturday had an awesome ride with my friend Angela...followed by lunch and coffee at the Hungarian Pastry Shop. Sweet.. I even had a beer on Saturday night. I mean screw it...its the last race of the season, and my goal was just to finish the damn thing. (It was a Dogfish Head 60 minute IPA for those who care, and yes, I'm drinking one right now) So, I ate, I warmed up, and rolled to the line. Craig Abrahms (CRCA/Jonathon Adler) and I were discussing our strategy at the start line...we both had the same idea: DON'T GET DROPPED. Off we went, and vefore you know it...I felt OK...breathing out of my eyeballs, but OK. In the peleton, I caught up with my friend Gabe..(CRCA/ReMAX) He just got back from a month racing in Belgium, so it was good to catch up...while gasping for air. He took a flyer for a lap and a half, and when he came back...he said,"Its not this hilly in Belgium" (Chimay, Saison Dupont, Strange Ghost...Brilliant Belgian Beers..sorry...I have beer on the brain) Anyway...On we went. Some breaks got away, and we brought them back. We caught the last break about 5 miles from the finish...then we caught the P/1/2's...and passed them. Yes, it was fast. My teammate, Mike "Margeritaville" Margerite's girlfriend Audrey hooked me with an awesome feed..but my dumb ass didn't drink enough of it...with 2 miles to go, I was in the front group, and I got a crippling cramp in my hamstring. We were all together...I was in good position, but had to soft-pedal to try and work the cramp out...it let go, so I started making my way up for the sprint...when it went, I stood up, and that cramp grabbed me by the balls, and sat me right back down. I got 19'th...80 people started. I'm OK with that...especially since just a few months ago..I didn't finish the race. My boy Gabe got 5th...nice. In the P/1/2...Navigators...yep a few of those knackers showed up to punish the boys. My teammates did Great....Lee Rosenthal got 8th, and Margeritaville got 11th. Local hard man Will Riffelmacher (Westwood Velo) got 6th. (Will was a Cat.4 at the begining of this season. Just so you know) He made a massive solo effort on the first lap only to be caught on the last lap, at one point putting 6 minutes on the field. Of course Bernard Van Ulden (Navigators) attacked and won...the Best quote was from race promotor Mike Green to Will....about him putting 6 minutes on the field he said, "Van Ulden raced Univest yesterday, and went clubbing all night in NYC, So, don't feel like you did anything out there today" I thought there were going to be fists a flyin'....Margeritaville, Audrey, Gabe, Will Riff, Will's girlie Sarah, and I went to this Diner.."The Ivy League of Diners" it said on the 20 page menu...and we ate...TONS...it was 3:30 PM. Mike had Pancakes, Will had a waffle with ice cream on top...and a milkshake...I had a Turkey club with a double order of fries, and yes I dipped them in mayonaise... So, all in all...A great day. It was a good safe race. This is most everyone's last race of the season, and the mood in the peleton was...well...fun. All year long, we talk shit in the pack, but this race, was different...we won't see alot of these guys all winter...we've all spent hours in the hurt locker together...its a little sad. Like your last day of school..happy, but sad at the same time....I sound like a f'in woman... Aw Hell...the hard men race cross...they're the cool kids anyway...I'll see their asses all winter. Scratch all that sentimental shit. Over an out, RK Full results here: http://www.crca.net/races06/harrimanfall.htm More pics, courtesy of Marco Quezeda here: http://www.nyvelocity.com/content.php?section=2

Approaching Boulder

Tomorrow is my last road race of the season. Bear Mountain...(www.crca.net) is a fitting end. Or demise, I should say. I have been done with this season in my head for a couple of weeks now... I have started bulding cross bikes, watching cross videos, and for god's sake...running. The true sign of me flipping the mental "switch" is BEER. I have been drinking it...ALOT. I mean, how can you not this time of the year. All if the great small batch brewerys out there start coming out with limited release, fall, Octoberfest type stuff...and its all that. But really what I'm looking forward to...Yep...Boulder. I spent Thanksgiving last year in Nederland just up slope from Boulder, CO with some great friends of mine, Josh and Megan, and wealth of people from their hood. The weather couldn't have been better. There was snow on the ground, but the trails were clear, so we did an average of 3 hours of single wide dirt bike trails on Single speeds...and when we finished, we drank beer, and ate Megan's homemade pumpkin pie. (Not from the can either...straight up pumpkins)

So, I booked my ticket already...5 sweet ass days in Ned at the Harrod compound...and this year, I've got a new SingleSpeed...vintage Michael/Jessica Spot Brand 29'er (those who know...know) (www.spotbikes.com) Last year I brought a nice Single Malt...Lagavulin 16...oddly enough, its cheaper hear in NYC...this year, I'm gonna step it up...Josh, Timmy, Mr. Fitness, Megan...get ready...think small batch, limited release, and really old. I have been trying to move to Boulder for the better part of 10 years, and I can never quite get it together. I have always been the cautious guy that tried to find a job before I move halfway across the country...call me crazy, but I could never quite get it together. Now, as I get older, and my career gets more involved, it seems even more difficult. One of these days...maybe not too long from now...I will say to hell with it all. Pack my car, my bikes, and head West. Leave all this bullshit furniture, the suits, the ties, the shiny shoes, and take it to the mountains. Work in a bike shop again, and just make enough money to feed myself, and to have some fun along the way. Do we really need anything more than that? Who knows, this year, maybe I won't come back...

Fight the power,

RK

Shellac just pisses me off...

But in a good way. I should probably start by clarifying things a bit. Shellac is a band. What? You thought that I was going to go into some rant about how volatile refinishing furniture makes me? If I had any experience with that, it could be the case, but sorry, no Bob Villa here. So back to Shellac.... Shellac is a band. I band I happen to like and respect a lot. I have been trying to see them live for the better part of 10 years, and in combination with their spotty tour dates, and the whole wrong place wrong time thing, I haven't been able to. Until this last Saturday night. I thought I was going to be out of town (again!) so I hadn't bought tickets. So when my travel plans fell threw, it left me scambling. I made phone calls, e-mails, searched the beloved e-bay, and finally I posted on craig's list. HA! I found a ticket! Friday before the show, I had arranged to meet this guy who had an extra ticket, and pay him an exorbenent amount of money for it. Last I heard, he was going to be at my place in 15 minutes. 5 hours later, I still had no ticket. In the mean time, I had gotten a call from someone else who saw my post. I thought I was taken care of, so turned him away. Lucky for me the trusty cell phone saved his number. I called him back, and he had one ticket left. I felt like Charlie and the friggin' chocolate Factory... I met him Saturday, in the rain, and paid him even more money. But...I got my ticket. I was finally going to see Shellac. The show was in Brooklyn, at the Europa Club in Greenpoint. I took the opportunity to have dinner and this great place in Williamsburg called Diner, where my friend Angela works (www.crankyankers.org) I fueled up with several Chimays (the Devil's work), a kick ass steak, and chatted with Johnson before I headed out. At the club, Uzeda opened...Whatever. Then the show started....HOLY F!@#! This is what I have been waiting for. Brilliant show. I would do it all over again tomorrow. Every song sounded just a little better live than on recordings, mix that with the Shellac's interaction with the crowd, and it ranks as one of the best shows I have ever seen. So now a little background: Shellac is a three-piece made up of Steve Albini, Todd Trainer, and Bob Weston. Albini was formerly in Big Black, and his day job is producing hit records for people like Nirvana, PJ Harvey, Liz Phair, and oh yeah..the Pixies. Bob Weston (formerly from Volcano Sun) does some kick ass productions as well, Like Archer's of Loaf and June of 44 ...and Todd, well he's just a skinny guy that can play the shit out of some drums. Shellac has been described as the Harley Davidson of the underground music scene. An American version of British punk rock, bred from baseball and heavy metal. Its raw, its angry, and it sounds really good. They are on Touch and Go/Quarterstick Records (http://www.tgrec.com) Check 'em out...or don't...I don't care. Needless to say, I have been listening to them non-stop since, and I have started to build in my brain, a soundtrack to my Cyclocross season. To be released via my I-pod, while on a trainer in some cold parking lot, just before I cough blood for 45 minutes in a 'cross race. So there, RK

Cross Season!!

So I bought new running shoes this weekend. That can only mean one thing. Cross season. I love racing cyclocross. Its fun, its technical, its short and intense. Kinda like my past relationships.. I like it because I can train sporadically, and still do OK, and crashing doesn't hurt nearly as bad as the road. The one thing I don't like like about the whole deal is, you guessed it: Running. Mentally running might be one of the hardest things for me to get jazzed up for. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate it, and I'm not that bad at it, but that whole "runner's high" thing has never been the monkey on my back. I have been hanging out recently with several people who run marathons like its their job, and I tried having the discussion about my mental block on long distance running. Keep in mind, I had had a few beers. They were saying that its not any harder for them to run 18 miles than it is for me to ride my bike 60 miles. Yeah, O.K.....BUT WE CAN COAST! Cyclists stand up, sit down, stop for coffee and muffins....whatever, anything to distract ourselves. To me it seems like a long run would be like locking me in a room with myself for 5 hours. Yeah, exactly...Brutal. There is only so much time I spend in my own head. So. It works out well. I race bikes, and cyclocross only requires a minimal amount of running. So I'll do my hill sprints, High Knee lifts, and Stairs, and leave the long distance business to the mentally stable. Out, RK

Laughing Why?

Alright...So here I am in Blog world...And when I was trying to come up with some creative topic that could be interesting enough to write about day after day, this is what I came up with. First, I am a cyclist. I like bikes. I race bikes. Second, I like to have a good time. I like beer. I like music. And I like people that aren't dumb asses. Third, I like to do both. I like to ride and race my bikes, and have a good time all at the same time. Sure, that is not always the way it goes, but in the world of competitive cycling, we sometimes take it too seriously, and more often than not, we forget about why we started riding bikes in the first place.... When your a kid, its the only freedom that you have. You have to be home by dark, and you need to maximize your universe, which at that point in your life is equal the furthest point from your house that you can travel, and still make it home on time. (or relatively on time) That's where the bikes comes in...Its all about getting out of the reach of the man (represented here by you parents). Some of you out there never looked at your bike again once you got the old driver's license, and some of us...Still don't want to grow up. So why "The Laughing Group"? You cyclists out there know what it means. For everyone else, here is the definition as posted on a great website: www.dailypeloton.com : Laughing Group - Group of riders not contesting the front of a race but trying to stay inside the time limit or just finish the race. Used like "came in with the laughing group". So there. Look, I'm not saying I'm not competitive, and I'm not saying that I don't try and win every race I enter, but what I am saying is, It its not fun, I ain't interested. That's it. That's all I got. Check back for random BS. If you like cycling, single-speeds, cyclocross, beer, and music. I'll talk about that some too, Over and out, RK