What is that in the sky?

Final poem, not for you, but for me.

I wrote one. Posted it. Then decided to keep it to myself.

Thinking about growing my tat.

Dating tip #3

Communicate openly.

It was a beautiful night on the hill to watch the sunset.

I hope you like them.

1st...

of next month I'll be moving into the man-sion.

In Texas

Belgium Round 2

So it’s the last race today. I have to look back this time and think I did better. While I didn’t get the top 10s I wanted I was able to race my bike and finish in the money a lot more. In fact I finished more times in the money then I didn’t. So I’m a little more consistent. Which I think is stronger.

The second time around has been a lot better with my fellow races too. It seems they know me and I get a little more respect. No one takes wheels from me anymore because they know I won’t open a gap. The fast guys try and help me out and I have a lot more fans telling me good job and shaking my hand after races.

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Last race report

147 starters and the first race was to the start line… Which I didn’t do, I just hid behind the fans with a Beveren 2000 rider and at the last second we jumped out in front. Okay sweet, I got a good start! I stayed around the top 20-50 the whole race, which was really important because of the rain and small roads with a lot of turns. I would say about 30 min in it was over for around 90 riders. It wasn’t too hard to move up and be towards the front so I was doing really well. Then with 7 or so to go I began having problems. I’m used to racing with a little caffeine in me. Well today I went beyond a point that was safe. I feel a little embarrassed but I think you should know that stuff could kill you. After around 15min of not feeling my legs and having my heart trying to rip out of my chest I had to pull over. I stopped on the side of the road for a min or so and let my HR come down Then I jumped in a small group and finished 48th. I’m kind of pissed because the race wasn’t hard. I was feeling really well. I was walking a fine line and during the race I went over it. I was the last rider to come out of that group. Not really how I wanted to end my final race here. But at least I’m alive and I learned a lot.

This has been a hard trip. I can't wait to be home. :)

7 days.

:)

...

I saw some fool riding a TT bike the other day.

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This guy who got 5th place was racing West Flanders kermesses a few weeks ago.

21st

I got to watch my friend get second. I was in the "feild." about 10 seconds behind. It rained the whole time. It took me like an hour to warm up and I had cow poop for dinner.

The thing is... I'm NOT the team sprinter. I'll take it though, I was cramping the last 20kms.

Next race Tuesday.

28th

I'm AWESOME at mid pack finishes… The race course was an easy 3 turn wide roads slight downhill on one side flat then slit uphill with a tail wind. 75 racers started.

The races was going as planned, kind of. A group of 7 got off the front early. I made the main field split with about 20 riders. But as you know… that’s way too big. I was always rotating through hard and we were catching the front group. I was marking the Post rider and saw he was kind of ready to really make a go. He tried a few time earlier too. After I did a hard pull he went with a few other riders. I though no big deal they aren’t going that fast… all you had to do was follow the wheel in front of you. Well they were gone. The next lap the guy in the below picture went to the front on the hill side and started to pin it in his 53/11. I though he was just pulling though, but when I looked back I was the only rider on his wheel so we gave it a go. I think he was a little toast so I didn’t go that hard when I was on the front, we stayed away for about a round… maybe if we had 1 other rider we could have caught the front. Well our group of about 20 went back to the peloton… LAME. So I sprinted for 15th and got 28th and 10 euros.“The thing is… I’m the team sprinterrrrr.”

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I race again today. I think I only have about 3 races left here. HHH should be fun. ;)

It’s called research

If you want to come to Belgium go to this website and start contacting people. Make friends, learn a little Dutch/Flemish and race your bike lots on a Belgium team or on your own. It really is that simple. No need give thousands to USA Cycling or any other all inclusive “racer houses.”

Anyone can come here. Really, it’s not a big deal. Racers/Trip Organizers/USA Cycling make it out hard to get here (you know only “elites” can come here) so you have to use their services. And with the lack of options that leaves you paying monopoly prices.

Okay?

Dames

Sights

I hope these things are safe to eat... I've had a lot.


I heard a million little voices... think I didn't? This was just a quarter of the dudes yard... creepy!

14 days till...

:)

The power...

to establish a break is unbelievable.

I was in the winning move. I followed a few wheels to get there then had to pull through. It was me, a Post rider and a guy who wins all the time (and won this race) and some other guy who dropped out of it like I did. They were pulling through by me at least 2-3kms faster… I was hanging on for dear life. Sadly I only stayed with them 1 round. While establishing the break we were going F'in hard!

Another small group of 5 bridge up a few seconds after I lost contact. There was no way I could get back on that group. In fact I don't even remember them passing me... I think I blocked out about a few kms of racing.

I was also off the front at the start for a round... maybe if I didn't do that I could have stayed in the break. I think I got it all figured out now.

I got 30th place and 10 euros.

Dear Family,

Skype!

Big gears

Check this dude out in front of me. He’s always in his 53/11 and almost always makes the breaks. But not this time… I was following him during the race because he doesn’t accelerate that fast, he just motors along and is easy to follow. I think he’s some sort of former Mt. Bike national champion.
My first race back will be HHH and I’ll be racing for RBM. I have to work towards my Cat. 1 upgrade too, I've got that win and a few other points but not that much… I just haven’t been focusing on getting points. It doesn’t help I’ve spent more time here (where it doesn’t matter) as a Cat. 2 than in the States.

First I need to find a place to live...

Next couple years should be a fun time. Maybe I’ll graduate in that time frame too! As of right now… I think maybeeeeeee Rachel will beat me to it. HAHA Oh geez.

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Thank you Sean Brown for letting me use your shades all summer! I think I may get some Radars or Split Jackets when I get back.

Congrats Jen!