Panther Kit

Excited about these.

No Words

So apparently the frats and sororities are competing for a sponsorship from Vinyard Vines (a clothing company from my understanding) for Little 5 and have to submit videos and other things. It is pretty ridiculous in my opinion. However, this is the most embarrassing thing I have seen. Hard to watch but hilarious at the same time. Post comments, this is great! Watch here!

I have a feeling they are going to remove this video once they realize how terrible it is, so I wanted to ensure it lived forever here.

Please post your thoughts!!

Quick Update

I know it has been awhile so I figured I would update all of my readers on what I have been up to. (Haha)
Unfortunately, my cross season was not as successful as I had planned on. I missed the last 4 races due to a separated shoulder. It happened on Combs road while I was doing some recon for the Gravel Grovel. It is kind of surprising that of all my crashes this year that the one that finally sidelined me was suffered during an easy training ride. I had designs of attempting to win the OVCX overall and at the very least win at least one race. I failed to to accomplish both of these goals which was very frustrating. However, after a lot of racing his year I was beginning to feel the effects of packing up the car every weekend; so in the end, it may have been a blessing in disguise.
As most of you already know I will be riding with Panther p/b CompetitiveCyclist next year. I am very excited and have big hopes for the upcoming road season. I cannot wait to get started. I have been spending a lot of time on the trainer due to the limited daylight. I will ride in the cold but it is tough to find enough hrs to get outside due to work. C'est la vie. I just have to keep the big picture in mind and it will be spring before I know it! Whenever I think about skipping out on a trainer session I think back to the awesome piece of reading that I found on gymjones.com Check it out, everyone should read it here.

I need your help

Please go to facebook and like this video for me. I appreciate it!!

Click here (video of the zipp barriers at the Louisville USGP)

And We're Off!

Well cross season is officially in full swing. I have raced a few times since Kings CX with mixed results. (to see awesome photos check out shrugsmugs.blogspot.com). I ventured up to Madison, WI for the Planet Bike Cup, the first round of the USGP. These were my first UCI races and I now fully understand why these guys are the best. I got a lousy start both days (59 out of about 65) but moved up to finish 38th the first day and 39th the second day. It was about what I expected, but I would like to get a top 25 in a UCI race before the season is up. I have 4 chances left with the Cincy UCI weekend(the Friday race is presented by Panther-my road team for next year! http://www.podiuminsight.com/2010/09/16/ride-fast-its-a-panther-stampede/) coming up and the Louisville round of the USGP.

In other news (photos by Caitlin coming soon!) round 2 of the OVCX series was yesterday and I was privileged enough to get a front row seat at the Ryan Knapp cyclocross clinic. He obviously won. Kersting was second and Andrew Dillman and I battled for third all day. He eventually won. This kid is a stud! He is 16, remember his name he is going to do cool things. I need to minimize technical mistakes. It is a relatively short but very intense season and I still aspire to win the overall. It is definitely going to be a battle though. I am currently 2nd overall and will probably drop to 5 or 6 after the Cincy UCI weekend because most of the guys are doing all 3 days while I can only do the last 2. I am not too worried about it. Blooomingcross is the following weekend with a clinic by the awesome Barry Wicks on the Saturday before! Come check it out.

Its CROSS Season!!

Apologies for not posting anything for a while. I ended the road season on a so-so note with a "solid" 9th at the Indy Crit. Since then I have been preparing for the cross season! There have been some awesome developments. I am fortunate enough to be representing BikeReg.com for the season and could not be more excited. Check it out it's the best race registration website out there. The season has not gotten off to the smoothest start with a DNF at Huber Apple Cross and a not as good as expected opening weekend at Kings Cross.
Day 1 at Kings Cross I ran over a bike and flatted my front tire when 2nd wheel went down on an off camber section. I had to ride 1/2 lap on a flat front before I could get to the pit. I ended up back in 13th but put my head down and chased to end up a respectable 5th.
Day 2 was the first race of 15 in the OVCX Series presented by Zipp and BikeReg. Unlike my previous 2 attempts I got a decent start and was 4th or 5th going onto the cross and was second shortly thereafter. I took the lead when the leader crashed and tried opening it up. I was struggling with allergies and breathing and was not feeling like myself. However, I managed to shake everyone except for Josh Johnson (the eventual winner). I bobbled with a lap and a half to go and he never looked back. Congrats to him. He rode a great race. I ended up 2nd. It was nice to get an incident free race under my belt. It is going to be a great season and I am hoping to step onto the top step of as many podiums and possible.

Next up is the USGP in Madison, WI this weekend. It will be my first UCI race, I am stoked.

Pics from this weekend from my beautiful fiance, Caitlin Coar!

Contemplation

Took another spill at Elk Grove on Day 1. Landed in the grass but ruined yet another tubular and was enough to really bother my back that was not 100% yet after the superweek incident. I am looking forward to CX but want to finish out the road season strong so I am taking a week to rejuvenate and hopefully have a turn of luck at the Mass. Ave crit on the 14th. However, I have also been thinking and I have been fortunate enough to have a good couple of seasons, despite the recent string of pavement surfing. Like Mr. Churchill says..."If you are going through hell, keep going."

So here is proof of my hard work. I have a long way to go to get to where I want to be but the reminder of progress is nice.

3/7/2010 1st -Sumantanga RR Training Series (Birmingham, AL)

03/21/2010 – 4th-Brown County State Park Road Race

04/10/2010 – 15th- 9th Annual Hillsboro Roubaix

05/01/2010 – 3rd-Winona Lake RR

5/2/2010- 4th- Winona Lake Criterium

5/22/2010- 10th-Urbana Grand Prix

06/26/2010 – 14th- Hyde Park Blast Criterium

06/13/2010 -20th- Tour de Grove

6/4/2010-1st-Time Trial- Tour of Red River Gorge

06/05/2010 – 6th – Tour of Red River Gorge Stage 1

06/06/2010 – 5th-Tour of Red River Gorge Stage 2

-2nd Overall in Omnium (Tour of Red River Gorge)

7/10/2010-4th-Bloomington Criterium

7/14/2010-1st- Firecracker 50 Circuit Race

7/17/2010-5th-Troy Classic on the Square

7/18/2010-1st- Cat ½ Indiana State Time Trial Championships

-40k in 52:44

7/20/2010-9th-Bucyrus Classic (ICC Superweek)

2009

6/28/09- Proctor Cycling Classic (Peoria, IL) 2nd

6/21/09- Tour de Winghaven (O'Fallon, MO) 6th

6/14/09-Men's Health Awareness Crit (richmond, KY)-6th

6/13/09- Tour de Olmstead (Louisville KY)-3rd

5/17/09-Nortons Commons Crit (Louisville KY)-2nd

5/09/09-Eagle Creek Traditional Crit (Indianapolis, IN)-4th

4/26/09-Brown County State Park RR-5th

4/26/08 Brown County State Park RR 3rd

Cyclocross

10/04/09- 6th- Tour de Louisville

10/10/09-1st- Java Johnny’s-Lionhearts International Cyclocross UCI (Cat 2/3)

10/11/09-1st-Cincinnati UCI 3 Harbin Park (Cat 2/3)

10/18/09-2nd- Bloomingcross

10/24/09-1st-USGP Cyclocross Derby City Cup (Cat 2/3)

10/25/09-4th-USGP Cyclocross Derby City Cup (Cat 2/3)

11/01/09-5th- Gun Club Cross

11/21/09-5th- Southeastway Cyclocross

11/22/09-5th- Brookside Cyclocross (State Championships/2nd in Indiana)