I'm here

I've been enjoying reading everyone's blog posts. The weather and work has been wearing on my soul a bit. I feel like I'm in a rut. I want to get out riding more but there's always stuff going on. Maybe someday I'll be able to focus on riding instead of a bazillion other things.

On a lighter note I signed up for the NEO Power Series Big Valley Race at camp Manatoc!!! If I can find time to ride I'll force myself to buy paying entry fees upfront for races! lol

Congratulations Kevin!

Let me jog your memory about my little brother Kevin. He was 19 years old, diagnosed with a very aggressive form of cancer called Ewing's Sarcoma. So aggressive they started him on chemo roughly 24 hours after diagnosis. (BTW if we had universal health care I may not be coming to you with all of this great news about my brothers recover, but that's for another time and day!)

After successfully completing intense chemotherapy and massive surgery to remove and replace the upper 2/3 of his femur and hip with titanium he began the process of learning to walk all over again. Just what you want to do at the age of 20 (he had is birthday roughly 1 week after his surgery which was probably the hardest part for me) happy birthday, now call the nurse to come wipe your ass. Walking can be difficult after having your bone removed and replaced, 3 of your 4 quads removed and a hamstring removed as well. But he didn't give up, I would see him religiously doing his ankle pumps and other exercises and stretches to get him back in the game of life. After a few minor set backs due to some slow heeling of the incision that ran from his knee to the bottom of his rib cage he was off. First is was a wheelchair, shuffling from couch to chair to toilet to chair to couch. Weeks of it. Then it was the walker, 10 feet, 50 feet 100 feet, from the parking lot to the store, parking lot to store and shopping in the store. The the cane, it was a quad cane at first the one with 4 prongs at the end. Then the regular cane. The, finally, Jamaica for my sisters incredible wedding! Finally, after many different prognosis about the future of his leg use or whether he would have a leg to stand on at all.

MY BROTHER PASSED HIS DRIVING EXAM!!! HE FINALLY GOT HIS WHEELS BACK!

One more step towards recovery and normalcy. He is a stronger man than I am and has suffered more than anyone ever should but he came out on top. Like Lance Armstrong says, what's your bike? Well my brothers bike comes with 4 wheels and an engine too!

Love you buddy, take care and never give up!

Your big bro

Douche Bag Friday

Here's my rant...Chad Ochocinco, better known as Chad Johnson of the Cincinnati Bengals. As if it were bad enough that he has stated he will not play by the rules and WILL twitter to all of his loyal douche bag followers while playing games, he changes his last name to Ochocinco.

Now I don't see many Super Bowl championships in the rafters of the Bengals stadium, so maybe Chad 85 (shorter version) should worry more about playing football than his last name or twitter. AND that's not even the douche bag part!!!

The Spanish translation of 85 is ochentacinco! Now every Spanish speaking person has another reason to make fun of "dumb Americans". Thanks Chad. Ochocinco means 8 5, I think the Bengals should make his jersey match and put a big space between the numbers. lol

Happy Friday!!!

1000

What does my blog mean today??? It's official, I've finally ridden over 1000 miles this season! I hit up West Branch, the local MTB hot spot last night. I figured it was only fitting that I turn the quadruple digit on my new bike! The course was dry and awesomely fast! I saw some of the guys from CAMBA out and about as well. I would say there were probably about two dozen people or so out on the trail which is awesome.

The trail follows the edge of a lake which looked beautiful as well with all of the water crafts rocking out and fishing. I've given up worrying about the ridiculous amount of poison ivy back there, if I get it than I get it.

Look for updates to my race calendar as we move into shorter days and the second half of summer!

What a beautiful problem to have!!!!

GO LANCE!!! Go team Astana!!!

I may have found some motivation!!! :)

Rank	Dossard	Name	Country	Team	Time	Gap
1	033	Fabian CANCELLARA		SAX	10h38'07''	00''
2	022	Lance ARMSTRONG		AST	10h38'07''	00''
3	021	Alberto CONTADOR		AST	10h38'26''	19''
4	023	Andréas KLÖDEN		AST	10h38'30''	23''
5	024	Levi LEIPHEIMER		AST	10h38'38''	31''
6	058	Bradley WIGGINS		GRM	10h38'45''	38''
7	029	Haimar ZUBELDIA		AST	10h38'58''	51''
8	076	Tony MARTIN		THR	10h38'59''	52''
9	059	David ZABRISKIE		GRM	10h39'13''	1'06''
10	056	David MILLAR		GRM	10h39'14''	1'07''
11	026	Sergio PAULINHO		AST	10h39'23''	1'16''
12	051	Christian VANDE VELDE		GRM	10h39'23''	1'16''
13	034	Gustav LARSSON		SAX	10h39'29''	1'22''
14	077	Maxime MONFORT		THR	10h39'36''	1'29''
15	093	Roman KREUZIGER		LIQ	10h39'38''	1'31''
16	079	Michael ROGERS		THR	10h39'39''	1'32''
17	074	George HINCAPIE		THR	10h39'43''	1'36''
18	027	Yaroslav POPOVYCH		AST	10h39'43''	1'36''
19	095	Vincenzo NIBALI		LIQ	10h39'43''	1'36''
20	031	Andy SCHLECK		SAX	10h39'48''	1'41''

Sorry Everyone

I've had a serious lack of motivation these days. More stories and rides to come. Please bear with me while I search for my motivation.