May bee

Writers Block.

Here Look at a Pretty Picture I took this morning.



jR

Why Me

I often check in on my buddies blogs and wonder what the hell am I doing in Baton Rouge when I could wake up to this?

I guess I am a little jealous of guys like Jason, Eric and anyone living the life of a pro cyclist. I imagine that it is a good life full of amazing views and plenty of hours shooting the shit in the car with your buds. Hours in the car scheduled just to escape the vehicle and shred some sweet ass single track in the mountains vs waking to humidity so high that even my hair frizzes. Well news from the enlightened guys at USA Cycling is the plan to remove my racing category of Semi-Pro and ask us to upgrade to the ranks of Pro. I am in support of the decision to change the categorization labels that have been ambiguous at best for a numerical system. However, the word PRO has in the past been left to the ranks of those bad enough to prove how fast their kicks were. Jedi mind tricks aside I anticipate that us lowly locals wonder kids that have grown accustom to kick'n a little "A" will wake up next year to an awakening so rude that even Andrew Dice Clay would have a hard time swallowing this bitter pill. You can eat wonder bread till you shit a brick and you still won't be able to keep up with the pro men. So what do we do? We need to train and make the sport and the competition better. We the next batch of neo-pros will all have to log lots of hours or accept the fact that we will be pack fodder at best or DFL.

So this coffee's for you. See yawl on the road and trail.

jR

LSAT

All to frequently we loose track of time. Like when you walk out of your front door late for school and you forget to toss on your trousers. I have neglected to study sufficiently for my next attempt of the LSAT. I hate to speak in cliches but it is time to burn the midnight oil and force the consumption, digestion and eventual excretion of test taking skills long since forgotten. Since my last days of school years ago I rarely have had opportunities to really work out the ole brain muscle. I guess I have come to a crossroads. One can go through life and be a beach or ski bum, but those that are truly successful at this endeavor worked hard to find out that it was there true calling in life and not the life of an attorney or pH d. I need to work hard for a few weeks both on the bike and in the books. So a temporary leave of absence is necessary from my social life in order to complete my preparations for a date with destiny. Another opportunity to smudge a finger print and totally think I aced this test awaits me. So good by cold beer and hello coffee and aspartame.

Gustav

Big Buildings
Little Buildings
Trees
And People

Have all succumb to the power of Gustav. I just want a few days of something like normal with a cup of coffee and another day clad in spandex v.s. This


But just as people are malleable and quick to fix things that are broken soon enough my home town shattered by this storm will rebuild. I will be back on my road bike riding in the early mornings cool air whilst daydreaming of past trips to Tahoe, Colorado, or many of the cool places cycling has taken me. I will ride and spend more time managing my thoughts, arranging and rearranging scenarios, situations, analyzing and reanalyzing and double checking the cover page on my TPS reports. Soon enough we people of Baton Rouge will be back to normal and all the great things that people have done for us will be forgotten and the ass holes that have temporarily been hesitant to lash out will show their faces again. But until then, drink up and have a toast, to the good will of mankind.

Ouch!!!

I have been quite lucky in my life to not be accident prone. That all changed this week. I don't know how I managed to go so long without hitting the deck. Tuesday Morning, I came to heads with a straight section of Highland Road within the boundaries of LSU's campus. I don't know what happened or how it happened. All I can say is that I hit the ground at a rate of speed high enough to get knocked out and to completely destroy the Right Rear side of my helmet. Out Cold!!! I was so lost and confused when it was all said and done that I forgot to tell the LSU Facility Services Guy "Thanks!!!" He informed me that I hit nothing and simply crashed on my own. I would tell you what happened but I can't remember. All I remember is OUCH!!!!!!!!! And Yep That is going to leave a mark!!!




Well hurricane's effen with my racing again. I am going to sit out the Fall TX Season opener near Kerrville. Thanks Gustav!

Wear Your Helmet.

jR

No Training Today...

One day it started raining, and it didn't quit for four months. We been through every kind of rain there is. Little bitty stingin' rain... and big ol' fat rain. Rain that flew in sideways. And sometimes rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath. (Forest Gump)


Shortly, the racing will begin.

2008 Texas Fall Cup

Camp Eagle August 31, 2008 Rocksprings, TX

Huntsville Classic September 21, 2008 Huntsville, TX

Palo Duro September 28, 2008 Palo Duro State Park, TX

BTU Power Pedal October 12, 2008 Bryan, TX

Piney Hills Classic October 26 2008 Ruston, LA

Rocky Hills November 9, 2008 Smithville, TX

Dodging Flashlight Cops and Horse Flies

I wish that there were some way to get a weather report with respect to life's little nuisances. We had a late start the crew of (Jason B, Red Dude, the Effen insane Cajun Tre and I.) Well after telling war stories of getting pulled over by the cops, doing all manner of things illegal and simply put shooting the shit with the boys we arrived at Clear Springs. We are all competing next weekend in Birmingham and one of the best trails within 4 hours of here is located about and hour and a half drive (if you are going the limit and I'd recommend going the limit trough the wonderful town of NORWOOD, LA) from BTR.

So we get to the trail and end up talking to the park ranger for half and hour or so. I don't mind banter but how much time should you spend talking for the sake of talking. I was the guilty party today so when the boys gave me the cut off sign I stopped as abruptly as is comfortable. So we had initially planned to ride a smooth 40 miles on the trails and something happened that I have not experienced in a long time. I have always had a gradual acclimation to the Southern heat. I am used to it, Right? Wrong!!!!!!! I just about died today. The temps soared to 94 deg and we were rocking about 80 % humidity. I am curious to check the heat index on this one. I want a mosquito/horsefly weather report to tell me when I should just stay at home. I don't know why but mosquitoes love me and horseflies will chow down on anything in site. Those damned bugs I hate them. They have an ability to ruin any and all outdoor gatherings and occasions. No mosquitoes got me today but I was definitely assaulted by the kamikaze aerial maneuvers the horse flies where using to latch onto clothed and bare skin. These were some really aggressive bugs today. Tre was bitten at least 20 X I suffered 5 attacks and the rest of us accounted for at least 10 more. So the motto of this story is beware of the horse flies at Clear Springs they are out in full force. Well when Angry Red (Patrick), through sheer force and power dislodged his non-drive crank arm from his bike. (Impressive) we decided to call it quits. We licked our wounds and packed up to come home to even more heat but @ least no damn horse flies.



Peace out,
j

No More Slacking.

I have neglected my baby far too long. I have had plenty of great material to post. Dealing with the issue of how much information is too much information has most definitely made me consider to reconsider what data and information I am willing to post. Well the truth be told everyone knows everything so I may as well give the people what they ask for. Expect Bi-Weekly updates from this day forth till I deem my life so boring and mundane that I force myself to reduce the output to a trickle.

Peace Out,

jR

The 9 Horsemen

Well first off there were no horses. Only two wheeled steeds in our group.

I just made it back from a 2 day excursion into the woods with 9 XC peeps from BTR and H-Town, TX.

We were ripping up the trail today. Lots of great miles of XC heaven. Till the ruler came out. The hammer was dropped and the after effects of a bottle of 25 year old single malt Scotch and countless beers wore off the pace became quite brisk. But not as brisk as the Air. Ambient temps were ~ 40 deg. Which for my skinny arse was cold. The great thing about the peeps I was riding with is they are all really smooth on the trail. I could tell they have all dirtied their MTB shoes more than I this year. It was still a blast though, cruising some of the best single track avail within 6 hours. Except Tre' was ohh soo bragging about his DH skills that he was bombing down everything. That is till he needed to make the most elementary of left turns then. Bammmm!!! Dainbramage, he ate a tree. Luckily for him only I witnessed his folly. The only thing he could say was "That is not professional." I could not agree with him any more than I already did.

Well back to reality.

LAE,

JR

YUmmmmmmy

So yesterday I ended up doing a great training ride instead of heading off to TX to race again.

I wonder how much road kill I consumed from the roster tails off of other bikes.

I have competed in 3 races in the last month. Now with Easter around the corner and a solid 7 weeks of racing following that it is time to really start to hit the road hard.

April 15
Athens, GA

April 20-22
Mississippi GP

April 28- May 6
South Easter Crits

May 11-13
Joe Martin Stage Race

May 17-20
Tri-Peaks Stage Race

June 3
Bump N Grind

June 16-17
Park City, UT NORBA National

July 17-22
NORBA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Mt Snow, VT

July 28
Banner Elk, NC NORBA National

One Day.

I witnessed the most amazing act of self sacrifice in a bicycle race I have ever seen. During Saturdays road race at The Rocky Mt stage race one of the guys from Team Compliance Depot, Kolt Bates, showed a lot of moxy. This guy was projectile vomiting about once every 5 miles after I caught up to him and one of his teammates. He was working his ass off for only one reason. That reason was that so he might help one of his teammates in the Crit on Sunday. For ~ 40 miles he could not hold down water, food, Hammer Nutrition's HEED or anything. It all came up in a flu induced act of purging. Gross you might say. What was the most impressive about this feat was that he never, not once stopped pedaling to vomit. He did so while on the bike.

THAT TAKE REALLY BIGGGGGGG BALLSSSSSSS.
Balls that would even make Chuck Norris jealous.

Full report later this week.

LAE,
JR

Time for an Update.

Welcome to Copland.

I am in Shreveport for a road race at Rocky Mt, LA. There are no Mountains nor Rocks here only false flats a a couple painful uphills.

















What I love about LA are the five O. We must have seen 40 citizens on patrol on the way up here to Norte Louisiana.

Update to be posted tomorrow.

LAE,

Seasoning

So the season is here.

I am going to wipe the dust off the ole MTB for a race this Sunday in Biloxi, MS.

I will admit that I have not been riding my MTB at all. I tooled around on the trail last weekend with a bud of mine. I felt ok for a little while and then I felt like crap so that means that this race will be difficult for me. I am not all that fond of the trail as it is really flat. Flat like a pancake, flat like pita bread, flat like a pizza, What the H. is up with all the food references.

So I just figured out that I have worn out my der.s on my MTB both front and Rear. The bike game is wearing on my wallet more than I like. Anyone want to give me some money? Just kidding on that one but if it makes you feel better to give then keep the STD's and mail me a check now that is what I call asking politely.



Well anyway time to sleep.

JR

OG

This past weekend I did something that I haven’t done in a while. I went home to North Louisiana. The familiar faces and way of life were welcomed till I realized that this place is boring. There is nothing to do. By nothing well I actually mean that there are a couple of things one can participate in. In almost any place on earth one can drink and the other shall remain unnamed.

So after going to my cousins wedding I started driving to Oak Grove. Two lane highways with twist and turns that progressively get tighter as one gets closer to Oak Grove reminded me of where I was heading. It is a place that has remained largely unchanged for my brief 26 years of life.

After I pulled up to my house in el norte I noticed a couple things that is one that is always missing and one that ever present in my daily life. Number one: in the country the only ambient noise is the wind; my house in North Louisiana is well over a mile from the nearest highway. The other is that when I got out of my car I was greeted by a black sky filled with little stars, not just the big ones that you can see from most urban places but the little ones that are drowned out in the ambient illuminations of the city lights. The small ones that are like specks of dust as you stand in front of a window that the sun warms you through, these are the ones that you miss in the city. I remember as a young child my love of the stars on a clear night. My father would take me outside and share all his knowledge of constellation names and folklore that he learned in college, through his traveling and his life. Orion, Little Dipper, Big Dipper, Scorpio and many others flooded my mind as I was reminded of a small fraction of my childhood that still remains innocent, pure and quite vivid in my memory.

There was no cycling this last weekend. I was tied up with the FAM and driving 8.5 hours there and back in two days. But the cycling miles will start to tick over again starting on Monday. Next weekend is my inaugural race of the year. Walberg on Saturday and then on Sunday, Pace Bend will be the ground breaking weekend of racing this year. I am optimistic that I will have descent legs thought I don’t think I will have great legs.

Till next time,

LAE,

JNR

My Stupid Mouth

It appears that I opened my big mouth a little early.

Welcome Back Winter.

Weight Loss

A little.

I have to thank whom or what ever is in charge of the weather for giving me and all us little cyclist here in Louisiana an opportunity to ride our bikes uninterrupted for a whole week.

That is amazing. We have had some crap weather for the previous month.5 it was either cold or wet but more likely than not, twas cold and wet. So the previous week I have been logging 2-3+ hours each day and loving it. Too bad I don't have access to all the cool mountain passes or even big hills that guys like j. has or Eric M. Soon though, I shall have my own little race/ride vacation in the mountains.

So I have decided what my first several races shall be this year.


February 24 Walburg, TX
February 25 Pace Bend, TX

March 3 Lago Vista, TX
March 4 Lago Vista, TX

March 11 Rouge Roubaix, LA

March 17 Fayetville, TX
March 17 Fayetville, TX

MARCH 31 ( TOOL the river center in Baton Rouge, LA)
I know this is not a race but it is an event that I will not miss.

April 14 The Warda Race, TX MTB
April 15 The Warda Race, TX MTB

April 21 Waco, TX MTB
April 22 Waco, TX MTB

May 5 Cold Spring, TX
May 6 Cold Spring, TX


So for all the races other than pacebend, walberg and lago vista I am looking for company for the trip.

Hollar at me if you are interested.


JNR

A man once claimed Chuck Norris kicked his ass twice, but it was promptly dismissed as false - no one could survive it the first time

Chuck Norris doesnt wear a watch, HE decides what time it is.

When Chuck Norris plays Oregon Trail, his family does not die from cholera or dysentery, but rather, roundhouse kicks to the face. He also requires no wagon, since he carries the oxen, axels, and buffalo meat on his back. He always makes it to Oregon before you.

Soon We will have some good updates.

JNR

When will it stop Raining?

So it appears that we will finally get a break from the bad weather on Wed.

A-Town

So I did the Austin Tri Cyclist ride this morning. I don't know when the last time I rode that hard was. This ride was as hard as many of the races I have done. These guys don't play here in A-Town. So I ran into the regulars on Robbie and some other THSJ people and even a guy with the discovery crew. This town is made for cyclist.

I will update later tonight.

jnr

Comite MTB Race

Just a friendly reminder that there is a MTB race at Comite park on Sunday. See you there.

jnr