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.