I love 360. 60s and drizzle this morning. Amazing.

The alternative becomes the real deal...

So when D and I (mostly D) starting knocking around this idea of holding home grown cross races, the idea was to provide a replacement for when the Derby gets canceled.

A funny thing happened after the first two weeks of doin' this 'thang...

I started hoping for the derby to get canceled.

We've got some serious cross fun and racin' going on here folks.

Thy Neighbor's Alleycats are amazing.

Where to start?

Location! It has been actually possible and safe to "ride to race". I have much fun meeting up and riding out to the courses.


Straight chillin' atmosphere. Im the type of crosser that likes to drink beer before (and maybe even during) racing. Thats just me.

Heres a biggie... Ability to ride in the rain/mud. You know, I think its kinda goofy that races have been canceled because of rain. I kinda thought that was part of the game/fun, or thats what the internet has tricked me into believing. Hey, I know it is the characteristics of the venue, but maybe its time for a change.

The mud makes for so much damn fun and creates some real technicality. Last night, the mud pits (yes multiple...like THREE) were changing character every single lap. You really had to be on your toes to make it through there with speed.

Cost: 5 bones or donation of a bike related item to the prize pool. Thats some serious value.

Competition. The spectrum is run out there. It is amazing. It is the most sweetly painful 35 minutes of feeling very alive.

I just feels right.





keep checking or bugging Thy Neighbor for his rundown and amazing pictures.

Thy Neighbors AlleyCross IS Austin cyclo-cross

I said it.

Old Saddle, New Saddle.

I have been not looked forward to this day.

I am shelving a old friend.

Even worse, it is an old friend gifted to me by an old friend.

Here it what it looked like just after picked:


Selle San Marco Aspide Arrowhead gel

Mr. MA, my bike wrench/philosophy sensei, gave me me this saddle quite a few years ago. Man I hate to think, but maybe 4-5. Thanks man, she has served me very very well.

It was my first real deal well made race worthy saddle.

I loved it from day one.

It has been on 3 bikes. Two road bikes and a cross bike.

I was impressed how it held up to my cross remount learning curve.

I have progressed much on this saddle, put thousands of miles on this saddle, suffered on this saddle, and been filled with joy on this saddle.

Call me a weirdo, but I kinda have a connection with this saddle.

Big thanks to D-Bone for his photo skills.
Plug: He is now doing quinceaneras.




She is not dead yet. I've rubbed through some sections and gel is starting to peek out.

I figured she should go out in style. Maybe a long/foreign bike tour. Maybe She will make an appearance for a big race, if they ever allow me in one...

Here is my new throne:

Sometimes cyclists are seen as opponents/players/challengers on the roads. They are lifes. Lifes with important connections. yieldtolife.org

This girl no longer has her most important connections.


Photo by: Tom Reel/Express-News

http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/veronicaflores/2009/10/bicyclists-on-the-road-treated.html

Don't waste time arguing amongst the choir. Engage your non cycling friends. It does not need to be cycle-centric, it should simply be people-centric.

Giro extras

Cool pics from a friend.

Now that I can count my chicken, I'd like to share why this helmet is important to me.

This bad boy came back with me from Sorrento Italy. Me and my brother spent a day hunting down a bike shop. We did this with four Italian words and a sense of adventure. We hopped on a city bus, got help from nice folks, and walked endlessly, but we found it.

I knew before the trip, my one big ticket item would be a helmet. I saw this guy and it caught my eye. It is a Carrera, a Italian brand I had never seen. It incorporates aluminum somehow in its construction. And its got spoilers just like those cool fast and the furious cars.

Here is the catch. We were on a serious time constraint. We were in Sorrento as a day trip as part of a cruise. So to get back on the ship, we had to be back for the bus.

Seeing as how we got lucky with the bus situation, we figured our best bet was to walk it out.

Well, it was more like a power walk. The nice thing about the place was the intense signage. Most corners had a ton of arrow signs, and town center was always there. We made it back quicker than it took to get out there in the first place.

So ya. I was pretty bummed till I found out she was safe.

I hope I dont forget this lesson.

Giro d Ghetto - Stage 6 - FIN!!!!!!!!

Stage 6 - Flat TT

So...

I start getting my things together for the final race, and I cant find my helmet...

I realize that I must have left it at the bar after stage 5. I was kinda bummed that I got drunk (enough) to pull some beginner stuff like that.

I call Liberty and see if they have it. No dice. I even went by to go look under the tables in the back. No dice.

I call thyneighbor and ask (through tears) if he has a helmet I could borrow. Yes dice.

I go out there pretty early after cruising by the liberty. I sit and finish drying my eyes.

Soon enough, the big W shows up to my surprise/horror.

I relay my helmet saga to him. I managed to hold back the tears, and W offered me a brew which also helped.

W is a class act and offered some awesome help. Thanks bud.

BD shows up. I ask him if anyone we were hanging out with mentioned a lost helmet. Yes dice!

A sweet samaritan saw it and picked it up. Thanks!!

Turns out the drinky drinky had nothing to do with it. I left it outside after race, but before the relaxin.

Now to the racin.

It was a good course that started out east near 183 and ended at creekside.

Lady luck wasnt on my side, and I dont even know what I placed in the stage, but I somehow managed to win....

2nd Place in the 2009 Giro d' Ghetto!!!

I am really really very very happy with this.

W simply murdered. The great thing is that he made everyone elevate their game. He did for me at least.

The variety and class of racer of this year's race was impressive and just awesome.

This race series has proved to be one of the coolest things I have done in this city.

Anyone who did all the races should feel a good amount of accomplishment. It was hard. It took commitment. We had fun on the bike. We had fun off the bike. Good stuff.

In talking to BD I learned he got some help making this great thing happen. Thanks folks!!!

This series has me feeling strong and has stoked the fire. This is good. I have a serious(ish) road race ill be going to when I visit my parents soon.

What a week.