B is for the burn....Burnside!

Well...the big guns showed up Sat. and well...the glory goes to local fast guy Levi. The pond's gotten bigger and so have the fish. With aggressive racing from Dillon Beach on, everyone got their ticket punched. My story is only one of many; picked my battles, some I won, some I lost. Thanks again to Kim and Cameron for helping sort out the finish. Got a story to tell, let's hear it!
Mig

Putting it all in perspective....again!?

I know there's not a local cyclist out there, perhaps in the nation, who are unaware of the tragic death of two Northern California cyclists this week. Their lives were taken from them in the presence of friends and training partners on their local training route doing what they love to do.
They will be in our thoughts on the ride this Sat. Be safe, be smart!

"My life has been the poem I would have writ,
but I could not both live
and utter it."

Henry David Thoreau

If cycling is your poem, athletics your art, then know it. Be it. Appreciate it.

Public Enemy #1 and....#2?

Decided to take Z for his first Annadel ride this weekend. Told him I'm taking him to one of my favorite places. After toughing out the traffic on our way to Channel Drive we saddled up the rig, strapped on our helmets and were off! He's so much fun to ride with and it's great to hear him giggling on the descents and telling me to go faster on the uphills. Chatting with him we casually rolled through the stop sign next to Ranger station. I must admit that at this point I always look for traffic....if you can call it that. One driveway and the Ranger's office. We must have been going about 9 m.p.h. Two other cyclists ahead of me did the same but he called to me to return. What did I do? What would you do? He left a mtb. biker who he was lecturing, jumped in his Ford V8, chased me down and wrote me a citation. He of course took the time to lecture me about being a bad father and accused me of teaching my son to run stop signs. Those of you who know me would be proud the way I took the little lecture and got on my way. Reminds me of the time I got kicked out of traffic school...that's another story. We had a great ride! Can't wait to show Z where all the secret trails are! The moral of the story, run the sign if you're on your road or mountain bike, he's written all single riders off as "unteachable" but be careful if your kids on the back. Don't know about tandems on couples, you'll have to try it out and report back. Mig

The Burn

Did the Burn yesterday a couple of times. Roger told me to do it ten but I won't tell how many
times I made it up or how long it took. No,
I'm not in the closet any longer..(just once a week Jason, I swear!) .FUERZA, right Yuri? Did it on Sat. with the Zman attached to theback; dinner at my dad's on top of the hill. The little rascal didn't even let his dad take a break. So it's on, right?
When local bragging rights are bagged first by the Super Seven Duo one year and then by the Crushing Canadians the next, we know the anti has been upped. I remember learning the expression "Big Fish in Little Pond" from Geo "I'll-Mooch- a -Goo- Now-and- Rip -Your -Legs -Off-Later" Hope in early Gianni years. For those of us lucky enough to be dragged around by some of the World's fastest in our backyards and backroads I think the expression "Big Fish in Big Pond" would be more appropriate. I remember being in the winning move with Jim Moser,Duncan Meyers and Steven Cozza on the Old Caz loop years ago, a "muuussselly" pace up Duncan's destroyed most. Who is this guy we asked....and how old is he? His dad called me the week before to get the scoop and I described the climbs and the overall challenges of the ride. Good he said, my son likes to climb. (We've seen that lately)How about the inaugural missions of Mike A. and D.Vigus, weren't they in the main break and ended up walking the paved section of Willow Creek? Lucas E. is now racing Paris Nice, Yuri is lifestyle athlete for Marin, Dan H. has the nicest legs around and Leo Autuori has a beard! Gavin even showed up to take the win a few years back and Mark H. has flown solo on K Ridge more than once. Let us not forget the "Palacite" B. Anderson who crushed everyone on last years King Ridge in the rain before riding home to S.R.The winning time of 3:01 by Erin Timel will be hard to beat, but I predict a winning time of 2:54. We all know that for this to be true bragging rights there are a couple of key players missing in the line up. If they sneak it in as one of their "training rides" expect a fast hard day. If not....plan on a fast and hard day.

We're gonna what?

Shane, Duncan and Timmel astride their bikes of choice: Mtb with 700c wheels. Isn't that technically a cross bike with flat bars? Does it matter? Yes. Did it matter, No! Saturday's race was won by the "surprise" favorite, Rocky Mountain's Max Plaxton. Who's that, some asked... check last year's Pro results from the Sea Otter or World Cup races. And don't forget Kona's Chris Sneddon in 2nd. But what about this new Nor Cal guy in third? Some say he looks a lot like Ex-Gianni superstar Roger Bartels. Last week, I rode the Willow Creek section and was talking strategy with Duncan, and I think he summed it up best. Perhaps his plan paralleled yours: "I'll work like hell to get over Old Caz with a fast group and then make it to Willow Creek. From there on, it will be damage control."
The helicopters were grounded, motorcycles couldn't get around the locked gates and Paul, Phil and Graham Watson were busy so... what's your story? Anyone have cool photos? Send 'em in. And thanks again to Kim!