Tour de Nez

Reno Casino Lights

Back tunrning the pedals in the races again. I'm Out in Reno, Nevada for the Tour de Nez that began tonight with a casino crit. 4 more stages to come. More soon. Thanks for the support!

The Peak to Peak Daze

I'm finally getting in some good solid blocks of training. The fitness is coming along well and now maybe I can start focusing on some key events in the weeks to come.
Got through last week with some good rides, almost a few epics.... and one of the days Winnie and I got caught in serious hail storm, while about 2hrs from home.
The Peak to Peak Highway still puts me in a daze, trying to sort that out. I'll just be patient in getting used to riding at 9,000-10,000ft for now, then bump it up some more in training for Mt. Evans.
Well, all in all happy days here getting in to form and getting some good rides in.

The road was all nice and clear...

But it was the End Of The Road at Just over 10,000ft. Have to wait a few more weeks.
A Cola fix in Ward.
The Mountain town Ward offers some scenic Mtn. Views...

Turning The Pedals

I started turning the pedals once again just a short 6 weeks ago. Maybe the nicer weather was a bit of a motivator, or just a strong desire to get back into some racing again. I'm beginning to map out some sort of season for myself, where I will include some NRC races for some race training and a select few to seek a good result. There will be quite a few nice races here in Colorado which will help with the form, down into the summer I will be keen for the Mt Evans Hill climb race. A type of race that I have never done, which excites me. I'll try to get up there a few times and sort out riding in thin air, the finish line is just above 14,000ft. OUCH!

Mostly, I am being patient as I am late in training and dont want to rush things, I have a few composite teams that I can join for some of the bigger events, but mostly will be riding under SRAM sponsorship as a privateer, which recently was the case for the Joe Martin Stage Race in Arkansas. Sarah and I headed down there rather last minute with some new friends Kat, and boyfriend Chris Winn, an Aussie rider who is on a 6 month racing sting here in the U.S. He's just given a break on the mountain bike scence and now giving it a go on the road. SRAM helped me with some new threads and support while down there. The weekend of racing went rather well for me, for my first races and not having many miles in my legs. Friday's 110mile road race was my longest ride of the year and sneaking into the breakaway, though brought some publicity put in a serious hurt box! Thanks to the guys in the break who let me skip quite a few pulls. And big thanks to Jose, driving neutral Sram car to feed me while off the front. Besides the cramps and pains, it was great to be back in a race and see some of my old mates. I enjoyed doing the race with Sarah as she's getting really good at the feeding routines and keeping on top of things, mostly just nice and making it a family event for the both of us. I took the rest of the race from the rears and moto paced behind HeathNet's 3 day train. Even though boring, with the GC sorted out on stage one, it made the next three days very, very controlled and the reason I managed through it with out much form.

I'll be ticking of the k's now and sorting out a way to get to the next race.

Thanks for the support and Encouragement!

A dedicated Bilko

A recent job for Sram led me to a quick posting on this old thing. I guess the West is the best. An Ice storm in Missouri and just a few days later was rolling down the window for some fresh air in sunny California. Also, our new member of the family, Charlie. I am on the bike again and seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. I've recently been using my language skills at the Boulder Hospital as one of they're Interpreters. The job has been good and rather mind expanding.

More to come from the Raby camp.

Thanks for the support and encouragement.

Nerja, Spain

Overdue

I have been trying to enjoy spending time off the bike, the constant travel that the season had, training etc... But with the bad news of our team's sponsor Kodak Gallery pulling out, its hard to relax with an insecure future for next season. It is seeming a bit of a nasty trend though as we're not the only ones.
Tour Of Missouri was rather rough on me, early on in stage 2 I took a nasty crash that cracked a few ribs and sliced my chin open. I managed to finish the stage where later that night I got 8 stitches. From then on I took it a day at a time, focus on our teams objectives and finish the race. It made a complete wreck of me, but we were rewarded with my teammate Dom Rollin finishing our jobs by sprinting his big Boonen arse off and getting on the podium for the overall.

Coming home felt fantastic, where the couch and TV became good friends. I still was not sleeping much at night, as the ribs we're not getting better. After a week, I was slowly up and about again and headed to Vegas to work for Sram during outdoor demo and celebrate Sarah and I's one year anniversary. Johnny Sundt(Kelly Benefits rider)and I along with Sram Techs led demo rides. Sram decked out sweet rides with the new RED gruppo for bike shop owners and industry folk to test on their own. We got in about five 45min. rides a day. Johnny entertained me, while I was in my Vicodin haze. We got fantastic feedback from those who signed up for the Ride RED Demo and for myself its the best gruppo out there. Sarah and I enjoyed a desert resort with all the fixings and we're able to relax and spend sometime away from Boulder, this time together.

Now. I'm still recovering a bit, the ribs feel almost healed and the soreness is manageable. Of course, as per not being able to fully relax during my off season due to bit of stress about what I will do for next season, I guess time will tell.

Thanks for the support.

US Pro Criterium Championships, 6th place/

@ 70 psi.