The Robert Randolph concert from last Thursday in St. Louis is online and absolutely incredible. It can be found on Archive.org. During the show you can hear him say that it's the best concert of the tour. I believe it. Download and enjoy!
This weekend was some much needed rest and relaxation. The first four weeks of base were done. I had friends in town. Everything came together for a nice, relaxing weekend. Unfortunately, the superb weather we were enjoying here in St. Louis has left. It's just a few more weeks of training before I can start to move south for the winter!
That said, if you have a lead on a good place for a cyclist to stay in a good place to train, let me know. I'm still looking.
Went to the Robert Randolph show at the Pageant last night and it was amazing. Best friend and former roommate Nat Felder came into town an hour before the show. Which only sweetened the experience. It was a great show with TWO encores. I was exhausted by the end of it all. There were lots of people taking pictures, so I'll post them once Google finds them online.
You gotta love the weather we're getting in St. Louis. I actually got a tan yesterday, and if I can actually turn the pedals over after I lift, I'll be back out in this beautiful weather!
It took 3 hours, but I cast my vote yesterday night. There were "problems" at my polling place to say the least. Even though it took way too long, I'm glad I did it. I get to continue to complain about public policy!
Found some new sunglasses that I really like: Oakley Whisker. Too bad I'm not gonna see the sun for a while...
After some recovery Sat. afternoon, Erin and I decided to do dinner and a movie. Mmmmmm. Canyon Cafe for dinner:
PANCHO’S ENCHILADA PLATTER
Roasted chicken, Monterey jack cheese and green onions in flour tortillas. Topped with a 3-pepp
All I have to say is that it was real good. We saw The Departed at the Moolah later in the evening. For those in St. Louis who haven't been to the Moolah, it's a great place to go for a date. I wouldn't do it for a first date, as the couches could be intimidating, but it's a great change of pace.
Today was another long ride with lifting for dessert.
So I had planned on doing a ride with teammates this morning. It was going to be a long but relaxed ride. Problem: one teammate had to take care of his sick daughter and another had to work. 4-2=2, too few for a long ride.
I get a call 45 minutes before I had planned to get up, telling me the ride is two hours earlier than I had planned. I rush out of the house with only a cup of coffee and a bowl of oatmeal. The two of us had to haul to the meeting point of a different weekly group ride. We got there just as the ride was leaving. Now, we were hoping for a relaxed pace, but we got nothing of the sort. We were dragged around for 2.5 hours before we couldn't take it any longer. I haven't been put in difficulty like that since the last time I raced. These guys are still in gear for cyclocross, so there's my excuse.
I'm still glazed over at this point, so I'm just gonna sit here, watching some Simpsons.
So, I have been informed that my team from last year, the team I was kinda hoping I would continue with, is not going to be the same team. Business decisions have been made. Decisions that have lead to a down-scaled elite program. Let me sit and think on this for a minute.
Well, I have only respect for the decision made. I would like to continue to follow my goal of being a professional athlete and therefore seek to expand my cycling team/involvement. Mesa has always been a great shop to me and after two years it'll be sad to see it go. I have no idea where or who I'm going to ride for next season. If you're interested in becoming a team or personal sponsor please contact me.
Well, I'll update when there's updatin' to be done.
Today I open this blog to the public. For first timers, the history posts are my history, and provide insight into just that, history. Enjoy.
