KCSprints season opener photos

Some photos are going up from the KCSprints season opener Saturday night.
Capt'n Coco took some shots for us.
Check'em out here

Music + Bicyles = Goodness

I had heard somewhere about this music video being made.
I haven't heard of or heard any of 30 Seconds to Mars music before.
I wasn't sure if I was gonna like this song but I do.

Miscommuntions

So I am up early today. Real early.
I was supposed to be on the KC Sprint Campus set up and ready to work on 130 bikes at 730 this morning. As part of their week long Earth Day celebration they were having a bicycle race around the campus. Weird idea especially when you take into consideration that they decided that for the safety of the participants to not allow standard road bikes to be used. All around on the road are huge speed bumps and apparently they worried that some one on a skinny tired road bike would get hurt. Err… OK.
Yesterday an email came through about how the race might be canceled due to weather but they would call us and let us know.
So I get up at 545, do my normal morning stuff, get dressed, hop in the van and head to the shop. After a quick stop at Dirty Ron’s I was clocked in at the shop to start loading the van at 645.
So begins the first problem of the day.
Miscommunication #1:
I wasn’t doing this event alone, one of our wrenches was supposed to meet me at the shop to go with me. At a bit after 7 the van is loaded and ready, my Dirty Ron’s is in my belly and I am ready to go… still no 2nd man so I gave him a buzz. I think he was still in bed.
z- Dude. You are on your way right?
#2 - On my way where?
z- Dude! We have talked all week about meeting at the shop so we could be set up and ready to work this event in 20 minutes.
#2 – I never got a call saying it was happening
z- Ugh… just meet me there.
Some how he had gotten the impression that we would get a Yes or No call compared to just a No call if the event got canceled.
I headed to the event and it started to rain so I called him back and told him not to hurry and I would call if I really needed him to show up.
So I get to the Sprint Campus just before 730. I don’t really have any idea where on the campus I am supposed to be so I go to the only place I know of for sure which is the small visitor’s lot by the “Relaxation Courtyard”.
Miscommunication #2:
I went inside to the front desk and asked where I was supposed to be. The guy had no idea so he called down his supervisor who had no idea so he called down his supervisor who had a general idea of what was going on. He knew where I was supposed to be but not when. So after they tried several times to contact the person in charge I got back in the van and drove across campus to the spot where they said the race started.
Miscommunication #3:
I called the only # I had which was for security. According to them SET UP didn’t even start for this race until 930. 930? Why in the hell am I there at 730?
Well according to the info I was given there was going to be 130 riders and each bike had to be safety checked before they could “race”. So getting there early made sense if the race started at 930 like I was told.
I got another call while I was sitting there and it was my contact person at Sprint. He explained that the race was cancelled. Not because of the pending rain but because not enough people signed up to do it. Of the thousand of people that work on the Sprint Campus they couldn't find enough people to take time out of their day for a bike ride? Really?
Nice. So I have been on the Sprint Campus for 45 minutes for nothing.
“Oh, you’re here? With all your stuff? Shit.”
Needless to say I was back at the shop by 830 digging in to my regular work.
I split out of work early figuring I had been on the clock for my 8 hours sufficiently
Maybe tomorrow will go better.
Not that today wasn't fun but it defiantly didn't start out the best.
I am supposed to be at the Sprint Campus again Friday for a Earth Day Expo of sorts... as long as it doesn't rain.

Sprialing into depression but I think we have made it to the other side

Sorry there haven't been many post as of late.
The only topic I seem to have on my mind as of late is my disappointment with how things are going with my job.
Not the kind of dirty laundry really I want to air here (especially since I know people in my company read this).
I will say that I am having serious doubts that I will be employed by my current employer (I have worked there the last 8 years) by this time next year.
I will either be fired or I will quit.
I certainly hope I am wrong. Most days I like my job and I would like to believe that I am good at it.
I think the most frustrating part is that store policies and regulations are set by people that don't even work in our store or even live in our state. They are trying to make everything the same here as it is there.
I don't know if this is a good idea. Our market is different than the market in Colorado, or Ohio, or North Carolina.
But what do I know? I am simply a poorly educated schmuck who should consider himself lucky to work there at all.
Maybe its just simply bad timing.
Dropping new store policies on us right as the season gets rolling. As if there isn't enough going on dealing with the fresh rush or customers and product, training new people and getting our ducks in a row. Tack on these new rules and store policies that supposedly have always been there and everyone is in a tizzy.
For me personally this is compounded with the realization this last week that I am not really friends with any one I work with.
Some of them were my friends but now they are simply co-workers.
I don't hang out with or even ride with anyone I work with anymore.
Not that they aren't fine people or they have changed since we work together.
Mostly the problem is me.
It never used to be this way.
When I started in the bike biz it was with old college buddies. If we weren't at work together we were riding, drinking, or simply hanging out together. Our little group of guys all met and rode together in college and then all ended up at the same bike shop. We like to believe that it was us that spurned out shops growth here locally.
We were all so excited about bikes and our excitement excited other people to ride. I just remember having so much fun going to work.
But times change. We all get older, grow apart, move on to other things.
I find myself wondering more and more what it would be like if I could afford to quit, pack my stuff up in a van and move to a new life and adventure in a new city.
But...
This thinking also comes with its own set of problems.
Where do I go?
Where do I live?
What would I do for a job? I don't think of myself to be very employable... I don't have very many if any job skills. I believe I only have a job I have because of the friends that used to work there.
Then there is the whole meeting new people thing...finding a place to fit in... I am not good at that either.
I have been told most of my problems all start with me.
I am my own worst enemy.
I am plagued constantly with self doubt and insecurity.
I have been this way most of my life. I am not sure why. I am told that I am like able enough and I do have friends. But its been some time since I have had the kind of friendship with anyone similar to ones I remember from my past. Or maybe it isn't that those friendships don't exist as much as it is that they don't exist here.
At least not anymore.
Maybe I spend too much time alone.
Maybe I need a woman.
Maybe I just need to go for a ride.
Maybe I need to ride more often.
Maybe I should stop thinking so much.
Maybe if I just relax it will all be OK.
Maybe I should stop this rant because its only making me depressed...

OK.
I had to walk away from this post for a while.
Take a break, make some dinner, do some reading, flip some channels.
I was starting on the downward spiral of depression and that is not where I want to go.
And I certainly don't want to take you with me.
I wasn't intending to start a pity party when I started this post an hour or so ago.
Besides, I need to hit the bed in a good mood tonight.
I plan on getting up and out early. Motoring out east to Landahl where the trails are finally dry.
I haven't been on my 29er yet this season. The trails have just been to wet.
HSP's Spoke Pony Showdown 3/6 has been rescheduled for this Saturday the 29th.
I plan to "race" provided that I don't get sucked into working the store (oops there we go again... slowly back away, slowly back away...).
I say "race" because with my poor fitness and lack of riding as of late I will be lucky to do more than a couple of laps. Let alone doing laps for 3 hours or 6 if I do the Duo.
But we shall see
I can't wait to rip it up tomorrow for a couple of hours.
Here's to hoping I don't over sleep!

*Ya know... I wasn't sure that I was even going to post the first part of this.
But ya know what?
I feel much better now that I have vented.
Sorry to take you though all that muck.
Its more for me than for you.
Thanks for reading*

RAGBRAI route released!

Friday night Bike race/ride/party

Tonight at 7PM come 'race' your bike and wish Blair and Jevon a happy Birthday!
I have no idea what the 'race' will be or who is actually hosting it. I just know that I will be on hand.

Is it 2008 yet?

I started out thinking that I was gonna write something about 2007

and how it ended.

A recap if you will.
But looking back...

Over all 2007 wasn't nearly as good as it could have been.
Too many conflicts with work, racing, weather, and attitude problems... mostly mine.

Combine that with the recent loss of a few friends over *differences of opinion (*the polite version of what happened) and 2007 can suck a fat one.

So....

What is on tap for 2008?

That would be nice to know... I don't and I did I wouldn't tell you, at least not with out cash up front.

As for day 3 of the new year... so far so good.

I haven't ridden, worked out, been drunk or been on a date...

But I did order a new Surly Cross Check frame set today.

I don't NEED it, but I do WANT it.

It will be the more all purpose rig than the Jamis Eclipse it is replacing.

It will be a geared:

gravel road banger

commuter

training tool

CX pit bike

I couldn't decide for a while what to get.

I started out with the CC but then started considering other options.

But I came back to the CC.

I couldn't think of a good reason not to get it.

Steel (good)

Color (good)

Geometry (good)

Price (good)

Versatility (good)

This would be my 4th Surly Cross Check (my 10th Surly overall).

I know how they ride and I know that as soon as its built it will be comfy and familiar.

I won't have to re-learn how the bike handles etc.

Good stuff.

Speaking of this being my 4th Cross Check.

In May of 2002 I destroyed my very first Cross Check. It was Bean Green and set up as a fixed gear.

I hadn't had it for very long and had already decided that it was my favorite bike.

I wrote a write up about the crash at the time and sent it along to Big Jonny at Drunkcyclist dot com.

At this time Drunkcyclist had only be around for a few years and Jonny was gaining readers daily.

The posts about bicycles, beer, racing, riding, politics, beer, and drinking along with a healthy does of porn got the attention of people in the cycling community.

I was checking the site almost on a daily basis.

These days the porn links are gone but Big Jonny is still cranking out the good stuff.

He posted the below for me on Thursday May 9 2002

From: zeke
Subject: Bike paths are safer than the streets?
Check this shit out...
So Saturday night I was on my way home from work on a local suburban bike path. I was just about dusk I was still cruising along with my sunglasses on. At a little less than the half way point the path crosses under eight lanes of highway (435 west). I was cooking right along when in the semi dark of the tunnel I suddenly found my self flying off my bike and slamming face first in to the concrete and skidding along on my forearms and chest for about 10 feet. Ouch!
As I lay there attempting to suck air into my crushed lungs I noticed a couple of positives...(1) I managed to keep my head (and my scared yet pretty face) off the concrete...(2) for the most part it appeared that my forearms (or what is now left of them) sucked up the brunt of the blow.

What caused this horrible crash you ask...apparently some worthless FUCK (sorry mom) decided that it would be cute to set a 2'x3' 300lbs boulder in the middle of the tunnel. This rock was huge!! When I finally got up, and Schuster finally stopped laughing, we attempted to move it off the trail. It was so heavy that we had to slowly scoot it off the trail.

Now the real down side... my bike died that day. The favorite of my stable. My bean green Surly cross check set up as a fixed gear died at the moment of impact. the head tube is basically separated from the top tube... and the down tube/head tube connection is crushed. Damn!

So much for the idea that the bike path was safer than playing with cars.
zeke out



Zeke, my man, I don’t know how you do it. You never cease to amaze and astound with your trials and tribulations. You’re like the fucking Barnum and Bailey circus for Christ’s sake. I’m glad to hear your still alive after that one.

And if anyone from Surly is reading this and feels like throwing ‘ol zeke a little lovin’ go ahead and email me.

*The comment at the end is the best. "You never cease to amaze and astound with your trials and tribulations." I don't recall what else I had told him about before then but the comment strikes me because it was a full 3 years before the bike VS car accident that created One Eyed z. Nutty eh?

Big Jonny even posted the follow up:

Saturday May 11 2002

Remember a couple of days ago I posted a letter about a guy trashing his Surly by running into a rock someone put out on a bike path like a big "kill a cyclist" trap? Well, he’s getting some lovin’ from the fine folks at Surly. Just one more reason they fucking rule.
Here is the word from Zeke.

From: zekeSubject: RE: Bike paths safer than the streets?

Hey man thanks for the listing on your site. the dudes at Surly fucking rock! Dave set me up with a sweet deal on a crash replacement frame and fork. I built it up last night and rode it around. it kicks serious ass. And here I was worried that I wouldn't have any wheels for ragbrai. No longer a problem. I got an Underground race and a ping owe (pub crawl/derby) Saturday night and I am stoked to put the new machine through its paces. Great new color too...blood red.

Surly makes a great bike. My man the slugster Casey rocks one and the gnome is gonna get one. I’d ride one myself, but I’m about balls deep in Kona right now. Or, are they balls deep in me? I can’t tell anymore. Like most things in life, it is better to give than to receive. That included pipe.

*Some where I have a disc with photos of the damage to the original Bean Green Cross Check. Somewhere

Oh man, its all been down hill from there. My Cross Check has done everything. RAGBRAI, Cross racing, fixed gear, single speed, commuter, and single track ripper. It will be nice to have another one. The ol' BFM (Bloody Fucking Mess... name given to the Cross Check due to the color and how I always seem to ended up like on it) has seen lots of riding. It is high on the list to pull out of the stable for a ride. Heck, I rode it a bunch over the holidays. Fenders, fat tires, fixed gear. Good stuff.

Alright enough. Time for dinner

Trebon knocked out of KCCX in head on crash

Defending Champion Knocked Out Of Race

At the midway point of the Men's Elite race, it was clear the winner was going to emerge from a group of three: Page - the silver medalist at the 2007 World Cyclocross Championships - Wells and Johnson.

Defending national champion Ryan Trebon was gone, having been knocked out of the race with five-and-a-half laps to go when he collided with a rider who broke through the barrier tape on a portion of the course where it doubled back on itself.

"He hit me head-on and I landed on the ice on my back, shoulder and arm," Trebon said. "It hurt like hell."


Even local favorite and Masters 45-59 champion Steve Tilford of Topeka, Kan., was out of contention, the victim of a pair of double flat tires.

Johnson said he switched bikes twice, though it might have only been once had he not had a slight mechanic mishap early on in the hour-long race.

"The first couple laps I went into one of the dips and my bars slipped down so they were pointing towards the ground and my hands kept slipping off the shifters," he said.

But Johnson looked to be in full control when he attacked Page on the second-to-last trip up the hill to the finish line. The gap he opened up was only a slight one, though, and it remained a handful of seconds until Page crashed near the pits, dropping his chain. He quickly grabbed another bike and was on his way. But the momentary bobble cost him valuable time and Page would never get any closer to Johnson again.

"I was in control except for one little bobble, and that was the bike race," Page said. "I just ran out of real estate. That's 'cross, I guess."

Johnson said the victory puts a cap on a season that started with what he called a "weak" showing at the inaugural Cross Vegas race at Interbike in September.

"(But) it got better and better and I was able to win a couple races like Granogue and Portland," he said. "But going into this race, it's a lot of pressure to have everybody say, 'This is your kind of race. This is your kind of course.' I tried not to let it affect me and weigh me down."

**Thanks to Trailhead Marketing for the words and Team Skin Cycling for the YouTube video**

One Eyed z is spreading...

...Like a bad rash it seems
Links to me connected to KCCX in several places as of late
How to Avoid the Bummer Life dot Com
and
gwadzilla
Guess I need to get a recap posted sooner than later

I think I am still cold

Boss let me have the day off today
I think I really needed it
I am beat after the weekend
probably should have gone for a bike ride since it was so nice out but didnt
slept in, ran out to the shop, had lunch and watched a movie
thats all I have done today
I feel pretty torched
don't know if its a combo of the last 4 days
OR
purposely getting D-runk last night
Probably both
Need to get the few photos I took up on the Flickr page and some thoughts put together for here
Roger has a ton of photos from the weekend up on his Lanterne Rouge Racing page
Spoke to another guy (who's name I don't remember) who told me he had burned though something like 6 rolls of film... and that was before the Elite races
There were BKB brothers in attendance
Saw them racing but never got a chance to speak to any of them
The Darkness picked up first in the Single Speed race Sunday morning
Need to do a recap post but don't currently feel up to it
Maybe by tomorrow night my brain will be rested and defrosted
Til then check out the reports on the KCCX blog

2007 Cyclocross Nationals in Kansas City!!

www.kccrossnationals.com
info@kccrossnationals.com

U.S. NATIONAL CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE

TOUGH ON COMPETITORS, GREAT FOR SPECTATORS



Kansas City, Kan. ( Oct. 17, 2007) – The course for the 2007 U.S. Cyclocross National Championships promises to be challenging for competitors but perfect for spectators. The nearly two-mile-long course through Wyandotte County Park in Kansas City, Kan., was unveiled today on the race’s official website, www.kccrossnationals.com. Online registration for the Dec. 13-16 National Championships continues through Dec. 8, 2007 Race Director Bill Marshall of KLM Marketing Solutions had a solid blueprint for the national championship course design, having staged several UCI races in the 360-acre park, which features rolling terrain in the scenic setting of hillside oak and lakeside sycamore trees.

“We wanted to make the course very hard,” Marshall said. “Cyclocross is tough, no matter what. Our

intention was to make this course both technical and fast.” The signature element is a pair of back-to-back stair sections, each 40-feet in length, which come about a quarter-mile from the finish line. “You’ll run up the first set of stairs, get back on your bike for a brief time, then dismount and run up the second set,” Marshall said. “This is going to be crucial as we found out in Providence last year at nationals. They had two run-ups close to the finish and it makes it very interesting if it is a tight race.” Another crucial element of the course design was to make it as spectator-friendly as possible, Marshall said. Nearly the entire course is viewable from several vantage points. A barrier section, positioned between a pair of heated spectator tents, will also be a prime viewing spot.

Special attention was given to the start area to ensure that competitors who do not have the most prime starting positions have the opportunity to move up quickly before the course narrows. “That first grass section is extremely wide open and slightly uphill as it leads into the first sweeping right-hand turn,” Marshall said. “We tried to make it as close as possible to the start you would see on a UCI course. Eventually, though, there are a few turns to slow it up and create opportunities to get away.” Where the course doubles back on itself in several places could also prove particularly tricky, he said. “This course has some decent hills – not the steep ones like you saw in Providence for nationals last year but, ones that are going to be tough in all conditions,” Marshall said. “They’re long uphills so if it’s icy, they’ll be particularly treacherous. If it’s dry, the course will be rippin’ fast.”



Racers will also have to negotiate a section of the course that passes close to a pond – one that was

covered in ice when four-time national cyclocross champion Steve Tilford crashed into it during a race last year. Incredibly, Tilford recovered from the frigid plunge to come back and win.

“We’re officially labeling that pond as the ‘No Tilly Zone’ this year to recognize that feat,” Marshall said. Racers will have the unique opportunity to preview the national championship course on Sunday, Oct. 28 at the Boulevard Cup. For more information regarding this race, go to www.kcbike.com There is no admission fee for the U.S. Cyclocross National Championships. Parking is also free, but only in designated areas. There is no fee for pit access. Official race apparel is on sale through the event’s official website, www.kccrossnationals.com



ATHLETE REGISTRATION: www.kccrossnationals.com/NEW_SITE/Registration/index.html



About The U.S. National Cyclocross Championships



The best racers in American cyclocross will fight for the right to wear this year’s stars and stripes jersey at the U.S. National Cyclocross Championships December 13 – 16, 2007 in Kansas City, Kan. Four days of epic racing will take place on a technical, challenging and fast course for junior, collegiate, master and elite athletes from all over the country. The event venue will offer spectators multiple vantage points on the action, an Expo area, kid’s activities and beer garden. The event is sanctioned by USA Cycling and hosted by KLM Marketing Solutions