while watching my servers

Posted on February 11, 2014 by tRoPpMaNn

I read a lot…don’t let me romantic nature fool you.

“Love is where you find it. I think it is foolish to go around looking for it, and I think it can be poisonous. I wish people who are conventionally supposed to love each other would say to each other, when they fight, ‘Please-a little less love, and a little more common decency.”

“What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.”

? Kurt Vonnegut

goals…it happens every year…gibberish

Posted on February 8, 2014 by tRoPpMaNn

Whelp, it’s been a while and it is time to get back into all that is the glory of what I do, I think. Really need to get off Facebook, that medium is spent.

Anyway, last year was a wash in so many ways in my racing and personal life that I just wish it didn’t exist.

So, let’s start with thank yous. Sarah (whom I cannot express to you how grateful you are on this adventure with me and how awesome you are for being so positive), Marcus, Jon (for being a great friend and coach), Tony (motor pacing god), Adams Avenue Cycles (for bringing me on when I needed it love you guys), Psimet, Rob Curtis (for giving me a home locally), Ian, John Casey, Eric Blankenship (secondary coaching) and all those who were there for me from May onward.

You all rock.

For my old team, I told you so and you should have listened. I will always cheer for you guys. Stop being the bridesmaid and win some shit (although the Psimet women are going keep your ladies off the podium, trust me on that one).

Moving right along…this is the team plan for 2014.

Adams Avenue is my road team. Yep, I am back to road racing. Two years away from it? Time to sandbag the 4s. Starting with the Kenosha crits with no repeats of crushed shoulders.

Psimet is my track and cross team (sporting some new tubes for track a la Psimet and Rob and will be getting the track wheel name out all over the country). Red army…these guys are really a great group and I am very happy to be riding for them.

Still a CAT2 (track) and looking to give everyone in that group a headache. Last year? I was blocked so much by other teams it was sick. What are you scared of? Oh, yeah, that.

So, 143 races last year. It is not going to get as high this year. Maybe…I love to race.

Short list, kind of:

Barry Roubaix
Kenosha Crits (March 16, 23 and 30th)
Gapers Block Crits (I really should be racing this for free for the amount of work I put into it over the years, but I digress)
San Diego Velodrome Opening Night (April 8)
Lincoln Park Crit (maybe)
Joe Marten Stage Race
Matrix Track Race in Dallas (UCI event)
Fixed Gear Classic (June 6-8)
Major Taylor Midwest Challenge (June 13-14)
Thursday Night at Northbrook
Tuesday Nights at Kenosha
Couple of TOAD races and Prairie Series races to be determined (great series each of them)
Mayors Cup Top five finish (8th last year and REALLY pissed people off)
Top 15 in the Roger D race at Northbrook
Masters Track Nationals (maybe) – may have to get a kickstart going on that one.
Cross, and not this half assed cross I did last year.

Blamo.

Feeling good and already at race weight (under 170) and killing it on the trainer right now. Shoulder and ribs are healed. Peace is being found and zen will happen.

Six weeks till racing starts…bring it.