And Myles to go before we sleep.......

........dedicated to my friend, Myles, who lost his life today. Let the air always be fresh and full where you are now buddy........we'll miss you!

Love,
your friend,
The General

And up top......

.....at the finish. Ed's the other clipboard dude......and the timekeeping guru! Watching him work his numbers magic is like watching Harry Potter play quidditch.......controlled chaos.

What a fun event this one is.....the Forest Ranch Time Trial has been going on for 25+ years or so. When I first started out riding, I remember this event - the early morning, the pain of the first incline, and the relief I felt seeing the finish. It's definitely a classic.

Forest Ranch Time Trial start.......

.......riders queing up for their blast off up the hill. 11.4 miles and 2200 feet of climbing. What a fun way to spend a Sunday morning - uphill time trialing. Uugghh. Makes me glad I was the clipboard dude.

And Kerry Kelly was so fast......

.....I could hardly get her picture at the registration for the time trial this morning! Next to her is local guru-cycling-mechanic Mike Trowbridge - way to go out there Mike! And, of course, Eric with his cup of Peets.

And this post.......post #756.......

.....goes out to Gary Fowler - he requested that I update the blog this morning at the Forest Ranch Time Trial - and I agree! This thing needs updating.

The picture above was taken after the time trial this morning - this is of Cat. 2 racer-stud Aren Timmel - the winner of the event this morning with a time of 38:24.....or some crazy time like that. I think he was the only rider to break 40 minutes out there too! That is just sickening fast up that hill.

And then Roy's secret time trial machine.......

......the Rambouillet! And although it may look like it's from the Nixon Administration era, it's a beauty! And Roy is fast uphill on that thing! 4th place overall at the Cohasset Time Trial.

Yeah, I love these bikes.

Mike Cordova's secret weapon......

.....for uphill time trials! Hey, it works - did you see how he was riding this past spring??? Like a man possessed! Gotta get me one of those bikes!

Okay......

.....who's next to come out with a confession???

The gurus!

Geno and Tom talking post-race at the Cohasset Time Trial this past weekend. And let me tell you.......I feel very fortunate to know both of these guys. Not only are they the best friends you could have........but they're both cycling gurus as well! Yeah, I feel lucky to know 'em both.

What a difference.....

......six months can make. Top picture is the finish line of the March Cohasset TT. Bottom pic is the same finish line from this morning's Cohasset TT.

Cohasset Time Trial this morning......

Thank you all for making this another great event! We had 24 riders this time around.....along with great weather! When we held this time trial back on March 12th of this year, it was pouring down rain.......and snowing at the finish line. Today, well......it was a bit warmer. LOL. A special thank you goes out to Geno, James, CJ and Mike for helping out with the timing, registration and finish. Without your help, this event would not have happened. Thank You!!!

Okay, here are the final results of the Cohasset Uphill Time Trial #2 held this morning:

1. David Albrecht 21:14
2. Jim Roberts 21:16
3. Walter Lohse 22:18
4. Roy Steves 22:45
5. Kris Blee 23:07
6. Tom Tucker 23:23
7. Mark Bloom 23:50
8. Rob Bishop 24:31
9. Mike Thorpe 24:37
10. Weston Crumm 25:00
11. Mike Trowbridge 25:37
12. Lau Ackerman 25:45
13. Michael Crumm 26:06
14. John Touchette 26:58
15. Gary Fowler 27:44
16. Nathan Coy 28:46
17. Jerry Molnar 29:33
18. Jim Mensching 30:06
19. Brian Oppy 30:18
20. Grace Twedt 30:34
21. Laurie Gallagher 34:03
22. Joel Garrett 34:14
23. Jeanne Oregan 34:52
24. Jay Coughlin 37:39

Thank you all again. We'll see you at the Forest Ranch Time Trial on September 24th - see http://www.chicovelo.org/calendar.html for more information. And also, don't forget the Jack & Jill Time Trial on October 8th!

I am distraught.....

......found out tonight that Alto Velo rider John Peckham was killed by a drunk driver today while out on a ride. John is the rider on the right(in green) getting 3rd place in the 2005 West Sac Criterium in the picture above. It's the only picture I think I have of John racing.

John and I had communicated numerous times last season about his rise to the elite ranks of northern California racing. We talked, via e-mail, about training and racing techniques.....and what it was like to dominate in our Cat. 3, 4, 5 ranks. He was truly a giving person who didn't mind sharing his knowledge and know-how. And I loved watching him at the races - waiting for the right moments to attack, almost toying with the field.......then layin' it all out there in the final sprint.

Hearing about his death today really hit me. I want all you guys to be safe out there - ride aware, be cautious, keep your eyes and ears open.

Drunk drivers suck.

You will be missed John. :(

Cohasset UPHILL Time Trial......

.....this Sunday - September 10th - registration starts at 8:30am, first rider off at 9:00am. And no, I don't think it's going to rain(like this one in March), and there shouldn't be snow at the top......well, I don't think it will snow this time around.

Above picture is Geno, on the left, and Roy Steves on his Rambouillet at the start of the Time Trial back on March 12, 2006. Rain at the bottom of the hill........snow at the top. Fun. Best time to beat - 23:10 set by Jim Roberts. Roy was 2nd at 24:47.

Hope to see you guys out there!

Had one of those days........

....yesterday. You know, the kind where the faster you go, the behinder you get. Things just aren't in focus and your exposure is just completely wrong. Yeah, it was one of those days. Almost felt like a caffeineless day.

By the end of the work day, I had had enough. Solution?

What else - a bike ride! And let me tell you - as if I have to - it's amazing what a simple ride can do to the soul. Got done with the ride last night, and everything was better - like the pieces of the puzzle were all put into place. I just felt........well.......better! This is one of the million reasons why I love this sport so much. It's one of those things that really makes life better.

So, as we're going in to fall now, get out there and ride! (Yeah, like I have to tell you to do that!!)

So, last year I bought this book.......

.....and I pretty much just flew through it.......you know, read half-assed every other page, looked at the pics, tried to get what he's saying in a glance. Then, the book sat on a shelf. That is, until this past weekend when I decided to take another look at this book.......a much more thorough and closer look. And my question to you other readers of this book is this: How can you read it without laughing your butt off???

What am I talking about?? Well, yes, I admit Chris Carmichael is a coaching guru.......and his star pupil really was a great champion. No no, I'm not talking about who they are or how they got there......I'm talking about the book. And man, I just could not stop laughing after reading it again.

Here's an example of what the book......uh.........sorta looks like.......but with a Chico Cyclist slant:

My name is Chris™Carmichael™ and I am a cycling™ coach™. I train™ some of the best cyclists™ in the world. When you pedal™ your bicycle™ or mountain™ bike™, you must train™ right™. It's what I like to call TR™. When you TR™, you will win™ bicycle™ races™. You can train™ all you want, but if you don't TR™, what will you accomplish™ on the bike™?

I have found that the best™ cyclists™ ride™ their bicycles™. Many of these riders™ ride™ their bicycles™ quite frequently. Some do sprints™, some do hills™, some pedal™ with slow™ cadence™, some pedal™ with high™ cadence™, some do intervals™ and some just pedal™. However, to TR™, you must incorporate™ periods™ of each component™ of cycling™ training™ to improve™.

.........

Okay, I have to stop - I am laughing hysterically here and can't breath anymore. My point is, dude, Chris, do you have to trademark everything? And what's up with all the TR, CS, SOS, RIP, CC and all the others I can't remember?? I had to keep going back in the book wondering, what the hell was SOS again??? Do I SOS during the Preparation™ Period™ or is that a Specialization™ Period™ training technique???

Damn it Chris, now you got me using that stupid ™ all over the place!

Uugghh. Yeah, I love the cycling books......even with all the ™s.

Yep, more TT pics!

....from last Saturday's TT.

And there are more to come!

September 10th is the Cohasset UPHILL Time Trial.

September 16th is the Bidwell Bump mountain bike race.

September 24th is the Forest Ranch Time Trial.

October 8th is the Jack & Jill Time Trial.

Events galore here in Chico this September and October.