This past weekend. We made the trip to Rochester. Stayed with an ex(he's the cute one on the right) from 27 years ago. It was a time warp. I also got to see Rick and Sharon. I think the weather kept Annie at bay. That ot the "Chilluns" either way we chatted. So the "old gang" Hit the hot spot "Mex" for dinner. Very good and way too much food. We headed over to the Old Toad for a drink. A cask conditioned Blue Point Stout was set in front of me. Tasty.

Bob and Duffy watched baseball as I nodded on the couch. Bedtime. Then I couldn't sleep. Technically this was a weekend to gain points. Ride hard move up. The course was "early jungle " cross. But It grooved in nicely and was fun. I got a good start,second. The diesel was working. A couple passed me in the woods but hung tough. I liked the hills so gained there. Fianlly got a gap in 5th, closing on fourth and Rich comes out of nowhere. I felt I could hold him off and attacked hard out of every last corner. But he came around me just near the end. I was tapped. 6th. Mikey had his best race for ninth.

Rode the moto to work today. 30 degrees. Bundled up and enjoyed the ride.

But I digress. My passion for Kross disguises a fearfulness. I'm pondering the shrinking of life,due to aging and injury. I fear the boredom of not taking chances. I worry about the dying that goes on inside you when you don't take chances.

I seek the joy of drifting two 700c wheels at speed. The continuity of hitting the line lap after lap. That feeling of all your faculties firing at full force. The challenges of mind,body,spirit all at once. My goal now is to keep racing Kross forever. Then sit down,contented that I've done my best. Knowing there's nothing left in the tank.

Lots of loose strings to tie up for the race this weekend. "Im 18 and I like it". Crazy 18 years I've been promoting.

The pic on the bottom right. Is the best pic of Kross this year. This was a Halloween Kroos. So my bikes had Bert and Ernie on them.

Ride fast,have fun. Smile

OGQ

I thought this year was it for racing. Done. Have fun. Ride my bike. Try new rides. Don't get caught up in racing. learn local trails. Just get back from the broken leg.
Then I rode my Kross bike. All bets were off,or on depending on who was betting. Then I raced.
The signs were good. Progress each week. Not enough to hit the big races of last year. But good.So now here I am second in the standings. Looking forward to this weekends race. A new venue. As is said by many. Just have fun. OK. Fun for me is riding my best. I want to do this.
The double hurt me. But I could feel the legs coming back. Two practices on the SS KX rig. Go easy ride work on technique spin. Stay away from the big gears I tend to use. Let the diesel idle.

Race promotion is coming together. The strings are being pulled in. The DPM could be huge.
That would be great. Our little band of CNY Krossers should go home happy.
Our weather has been amazing. That report will follow.

Enjoy life. I am.

More later. OGQ

Sunday was the SyraKuse Gran Prix. This when I do double. The morning dawned cool and wet.
Our first real Kross weather? But off to the west a blue hole appeared. The weather got batter as we got closer. But I still needed an undershirt and armwarmers.
The course had a few changes and their killer sand run-up. Some mud and gravel.
Call ups keep me on the front row. I line up next to Glenn. My teammate Gregg rips a killer holeshot with me in tow. The diesel isn't ready,but the mind is willing. I cling to the top 5. This is some serious horsepower. Chris Tirone has returned with a serious carbon Ridley Kross rig.
Back and forth as riders slip forward and backward. Suddenly I'm fighting for 8th through 12th. Come on legs. So I tuck in and try to rest a bit and see where who's stronger and or where I'm weaker. Two laps aof shuffling covering attacks. But I figure out when to go and move into positon just before the corkscrew hill turn. Power up it and hit the road ,I have a gap. Slowly it grows. I begin to gain on Gregg. Then he heads for the pit. With a crank arm dangling from his foot. Bummer for him. This opens the gap more. I can do this. 5th place. Turns out this moves me into 2nd in the series. Consistency pays off here. Chris even laid the hurt on Glenn. OUCH.
Race two. I try to suck down the recovery drink and a gel before the start. I'm on row two.
So so start. But in this group alot of guys go aout way to fast for themselves,then blow and fall back. I'm in this race for training. Long story short with 3 to go I un out of gas and begin tearing out the lining of the suitcase of courage. A lowly 37th out of 56. But the doulble always makes me stronger!
Now for the food part. Empire Brewing has re-opened. Hurray. Good beer and good food returns. I had fish tacos a hefeweizen and then a Black Magic Stout. MMMM beer.
The Ithaca Kross Mafia was there too. They want to know how to join the Ommegang team.
If they jump ship we'll have the dominant Kross team.
So this will be a rest week for training.
Enjoy life. OGQ

Blogger is being grumpy about pics,sorry.

This was the team weekend. Mills and I headed to Ommegang to help set up the course. I was in charge of the front section and Jeff helped. It had my "signature" on it. We made a road start that followed the curve of the brewery. Then tied into the course. Out back we decided to have the riders u-turn in the big tent for that Belgian flair and help the scorers. In the end the course was technical in the front and big power loop in the back.

Sunday dawned misty and warm for the drive up. A few touches to the course,straighten up some loose ends and calm Gregg's nerves. Bobber rescued the day with his mastery of scoring. As I suited up it started rain lightly. Hmmm.

The bikes had the muds on and slightly higher pressures to offset the possibility of pinch flats on the bumpy course. Rain stpped. Time to race.

The masters,Jrs and women went off first. Some Jr took the holeshot sprinting out of saddle for three turns then augered himself into the ground. Then the SS guy and I took off. Chuck vame by on the climb,then some Kelly guy. But the game was on. I was better in the front. But it just stayed the same. Felt good in the end. Hemmed and hawed about doing two races. Then did. I told Tami I wanted beer on the second lap. My plan was to just go ride the second race. No bury myself in the red. There she was on lap two. I took the handup. The announcer Rob picked up on it with the "King is taking on the sponsors product". So it went a beer, a lap. Then they handed my a full Witte. Rob was announcing each flavor on hand up. I couldn't waste it so I rode around in circles,then took off. The odd thing of all this was I was still in the top half of the race.

The line of the day was when we had three Ommegansters in a train and Rob says "Here come the Three Philosophers" . (After the Ommegang of that name). That was pretty funny.

Phil crashed in front of me and I said "Gangsta down!" that cracked him up. I'd had it at 3 to go. Probably could have finished. But I wanted to get some cheering in too.

Larry really kicked down the prizes for the races. People were buying product left and right.

We had live music. People settled in and had picnics. What a day! Sunshine a tough race and great beer.

Here's what to do with your Ommegang corks.

Enjoy life. OGQ

Some more pics at http://www.centralnycycling.com/ some videos too of the beer handups.

So you're thinking what do kards have to do with Kross? Bobber graciously taught the rag tag bunch of us how to play Texas Hold'em saturday night. The game started out just like my first Kross race. I couldn't get a break. Nothing. I get face cards,2 and 3's would turn up. Then near the end it happened I was running out of money. Bang a pair of Aces. I played it hard. Just like the last two laps of a kross race. I won big,then won again. Played smart and it was down to two of us. I had the option of all in. I took it. Read'em and weep. No two to you or toodle -loo. Venus and I threw down.I pulled a straight and it was winner take all. Perhaps beginners luck? A win is a win. A number of fine ales gave their lives for this event.

Sunday came sunny and clear for the Swandrome. Usually it's subfreezing at this race. The course was groomed and fast. It demanded you stay off the brakes and on the gas. We had top ten call ups. I'm on the front row and holeshot the first turn. Some guy on a MTB sneaks by. Jeff augers trying to pass. No Ernie or Glenn yet. I can do this. I've been here before. They get past in the uphill. I think OK hang on,they've been racing all summer. I catch and pass Jeff, we go back and forth. Then I have my "bad lap" he gets a gap. Paul is closing. He's had a great summer.

Third in the Mid Atlantic 50+ Expert. I'm not going to give this up. The leaders of Open men come through. I'm determined to hang with them. I get half a lap. Riding the ragged edge. Gives me the gap I need. With Ernies mechanical I get fourth. Mission accomplished. I did better than the week before. Much better. I'm starting to feel like me. The double at Cuse" is in two weeks.

The other Kingdom Krossers rode well.

Ommegang race this weekend. Course sorcery on saturday. I'll be a busy man.

We then took a boat ride in the "Kids" boat. Blue skies, the leaves turning, sun on my face. Lunch at O'Malleys a fine panini and nice wheat beer.

I am the luckiest man alive. Enjoy life. OGQ