UPDATE / IMPORTANT THINGS

Hey all!!! (recommended listening “Foggy Dew” by The Young Dubliners)
Hope this finds everyone doing well. If you live in my area, you already know that the spring snowstorms are hindering any real outdoor riding from occurring. While this is unfortunate, it has allowed me to reflect on what is important.
Snow, first of all, sucks. This is important because those of my readers in the south and east probably haven’t fully experienced the disappointment that comes along with waking up to a white blanket in April, on a day that you had planned a ride.
Second, family. Its not that I didn’t know that family was important, or even that it wasn’t the most important thing to me already. But given the time I have spent staring at a wall on a trainer and/or a set of rollers, I have pondered where I might be if I didn’t have the loving support of my family. I know for sure that I would not be involved in cycling (or more than likely any sport) if it weren’t for Dad, Mom, Toni, Dave, Tiff, Cala and Neek. It is they that provide motivation in times of lacking whether they know it or not. My sisters, who are 10 times the athlete’s that I am, keep me striving to be the best, training hard, and riding fast. And what young man doesn’t want to make his mother and father proud? I can say without any doubt in my mind that my parents are my biggest fans and this is always in the back of my mind whatever I may be doing.
And third, slang. That’s right, made up words if you will. I find using slang is the single best way to secretly communicate between friends. For instance, cyclists can say things like “bonk” or “pinner” and few know what it means. Medical specialists can say things like “code” or “NPO” and it’s a fun secret language. This is most fun when tossed around between friends when no one else around know what is being said. I invite you all to try it. It is truly entertaining.

Thanks as always for the support guys, and for reading.


-Austin

Frostbite TT Report

Hey guys,

The Frostbite Time Trial was this weekend in Wellington, Colorado. Conditions were good, but the wind was atrocious. On a borrowed bike, I set out to ride in the first race of 2010. The start was great. I knew the first half would be fast, so I gave it 100% and flew through the first 6 miles in roughly eleven minutes. At times I thought the bike might actually get airborne because it felt like I was going so fast!
At the turn around, I caught the guy in front of me, and started towards the finish line. It was then that I began to feel as though there was a Mack truck tied to my bike. The wind was so strong that my average speed quickly dropped to around 14 mph whereas before it had been near 35. I could see that the rest of the field was in equal distress. As I crawled to the finish, I was passed by the racer that had started behind me and followed him to the end of the race.
Despite the wind, it was a fantastic race. The company was great, and Cheyenne was represented well. Official results put me in 11th place, which I think is an acceptable result so early in the year, especially in a discipline in which I do not specialize.
Thanks for reading all, I appreciate all the support and look forward to writing about all my adventures in the upcoming racing season! (Recommended listening “I’m Shipping Up To Boston” radio on Pandora.com)

Frostbite Time Trial

Ok, the "Frostbite Time Trial" in Wellington Colorado is set for this Saturday. I hope to do very well and hope you can come out to watch it if you have time. I will give you a play by play soon after the event.

Getting ready for 2010

2/16/10

So guys it’s been awhile since I’ve had a chance to sit down and update but I’m here now so here goes!
Under the tutelage of Jesse Anthony, I’ve been doing ample amounts of winter training. Unfortunately, due to the local weather rides, outside rides have been limited. This of course is made worse by the fact that I despise the cold. Riding into the wind has never been my cup of tea. However, I have put lots of miles on the trainer and rollers. Some weeks have been light, 5-8 hrs, while others I have ridden up to 13 hours. All in hopes of being faster and fitter for the upcoming racing season.
I recently heard from one of the sales reps at Jamis that the new team clothing should be in soon, so with any luck I’ll have a fancy new kit to race in for 2010! Some of you may not share my enthusiasm but for a cyclist, new kits (jersey and bibs (lycra not spandex)) are like cake for fat kids. Don’t ask me why, it’s just nice to mix up the wardrobe and look freshy fresh!
In other news, I’m going to rebuild my mountain bike. I had been considering a whole new rig, possibly a carbon fiber 29er, but I don’t think the funds are going to be in favor of that this year. Between school and other things, I think it’ll be best to put a new bridle on the old pony. I test rode Cary Mead’s Gary Fischer Superfly, which had a superb ride and stuck to the ground like glue, but the steel frame did me well last year with the exception of Crested Butte, where the single track is way too rough for a hardtail. In research I found that pro mountain biker Julien Absalon rides hardtail 26” bikes almost exclusively and he is one of the most successful riders currently on the world circuit. So the decision is a new cockpit and mostly new drivetrain. Ritchey and SRAM? What do you guys think?
Well that’s all I have to report for now. I’ll be more frequent with my post from now on. SORRY MIKE

-Austin