A friend of mine passed away in a collision with a truck yesterday morning.

Brett had the skinniest fucking roadie ankles in Portland. He was one of the old school Veloshop racers and helped my shop out when I was just getting started. He has dropped me on more climbs than I care to remember.

I’m having a rough day with this and all my thoughts are with everyone back in Portland.

This is totally fucked.

Serious.

I totally forgot to put my booties AND my chamois creme on this morning. I should have known I was doomed. Damn! I met up with Doug, Timmy, Dan from hardCorvallis and Carl H. at Stumptown and we started a ride up Saltzman and out the West hills.

Damn it, I have not been so cold in a while. My feet and hands got all numb. I did 2 hours and turned back with Dan. Which ended up being a smart thing. We battled a crappy headwind and freezing rain the entire ride back.

End whine.

Belgian ex-cyclocross pro Ben Berden exclaims “keep lying!”. Doh. The article does not mention why his suspension was lengthened. And, he’s got a contract waiting the second his suspension is up. With all the recent examples: Filip Mierhage, David Millar, Berden, it is making more and more sense to dope, get super fast, get some results, admit it (or get caught), and feel pretty confidant about getting a contract when your suspension is up. It is a win-win deal apparently.

Mmm. I ate 6 cookies yesterday. I wonder if EPO does anything for that.

Mark Blackwelder won the Kings Valley road race today. Our new teammate Kim Mullen placed 12th in the women’s race at King’s Valley. Robin Calver got 4th in the cat 4 race too! Wow, a team victory gets me all pumped! I think I may have a new cat 2 teammate racing with me soon. I hope. Then I will have someone to work for in road races. We’ve got to get Jess back on the road too.

Mark came by the shop with poor shifting and low morale yesterday. “just go ride your bike, let the race happen and see how you feel.” I said. Sometimes you have the best ride when you least expect it. I remember flying to the east coast last fall for a cross racing weekend. I was getting sick, and I scheduled my flight so I got in 3 hours before my race start. (risky, I know.) After a shitty flight, Dan Langlois met me at the airport with Emily and my bikes, we drove straight to the race, I ran out and as Dan put my bikes together, signed in and went to the line. I went on to have one of the best race weekends of my season.

Matt Hall is one of my teammates I am scared of. He knows it too. He taught me everything I know about mountain biking and will out-descend me any day. You keep your friends close and your enemies closer right? I’ve got my eye on you Black Markwelder. And on that flexy thing too! I’m impressed. Please tell me you had the powertap wheel on there.

Tomorrow: 6 hours, then we get to watch L’Enfer du Nord and eat cookies!

I don’t think I ‘ve gotten any more than 6 hours of sleep a night this week either. I’ve had a lot of stuff on my mind. Been spending lots of time with Pete and the Veloshop has been super busy. Been riding a lot too with the weather being so reasonable. That feels amazing for once. I can tough it out in the rain and put in some crappy miles but, it had gotten old forcing myself out in the wet and dark 4 hours before work. Big shout out to the person who invented the time change. Spring forward.

Stuff on my mind?

First: Wish the best for Saul Raisin. Heal up. Soon. Same with Dean Tracy, wrecked his car and was in the hospital last weekend.

Next: The “stiffness” test in Velonews. The article is in the print version. Basically the 3 racing bikes I’ve been hott for are rated the highest. The Scott, Lapierre and, Cervelo. Tests like that don’t define how a bike will ride but it still feels good reading about a fancy bike you have rating high on some goofy test in a magazine.

By the way, Veloshop is officially a Lapierre dealer, come get your carbon on. I’m stocking a women’s specific entry level road bike and you may see some of the Veloshop team on carbon Lapierre frames this summer. I’m also working on a Veloshop “shop” blog. I figure, I can easily upload photos and product updates and shop info on a blog. Here is the new address, I’ve got to work on it soon.

Adam Craig killing it on a cross bike during the Sea Otter Super XC. Look at the results. Sea Otter is like a World Cup! All the reports say it is muddy as shit. Sounds super fun.

Damn. I started this post Friday morning and have been screwing with it all day. Lost my train of thought. More later.

The Piece of Cake road race was today and I got dropped in the last lap. Felt ok most of the race but once I was off the back I was in the cross wind and had nothing to catch back up. Thats cool, I’ve got a long year ahead. I feel really good. I don’t even feel like I rode my bike today, that is a good feeling.

Cary Miller and I are hanging out at Stumptown.

Molly: “Cary, what are you thinking about?”

Cary: “Girls.”

Yeah…