Heres a few more

Corner #3 and chest hair team!!!
Survivors!
Fenton Road Race, riding next to my friend and teammate Jay!
Thats a good lean to get ready for the corner, look at the far left of the pic!!
The roar of the little beast!

More pics!!! I am OUT!!!

I am back

Eat some chest hair, this race was a scorcher!!! This is whats left of the 68 starters!
Open jersey for extra comfort.
From up top please!
Very early in the race!
Corner #3

Havent had a lot of time lately, actually no fre time to be exact. No updates though, cuz I have to get to work, but there are some pics. I have done a few races since my last update and they were Lansing Common Crit and Fenton Tour des Lacs Road Race. Both ent well and I will give a full update later!

Bien Bien

So I am all moved into the new apartment!!! Giddy up! I am also recovering from a big race this past weekend. It was a crit around the capitol building in Lansing and it was awesome!!! Brutal though, at about 96 degrees there were 68 starters. I ended up in the winning move of about 17 of us as I am told. I guess the rest of the field got pulled from the race because we were about to lap them nearing the finish. It was a good day, but I started to shiver with 7 laps to go, which means I had some heat stroke. BOO!!! I did well and keep improving which is the point of it all. Here is a sweet pic that Kevin Vichinsky took of me on Jays camera, thanks to both of you for this finding it onto my blog. One last note is Matt's wisdom ( roommate and best friend from HS) "Don't make me bite you......... (stern look) cuz thats what I do is bite. I also recently took some pics os my awesome tan lines and bikes for everyone to see. See ya bitches!!! OUT!

New Beginning

So this is my last post from the blast furnace, the hellhole, aka 738 Academy street!!! Matt and I signed our new lease and moved some shit into the new place today. I was going to leave my bikes until the last thing was out of here, but then decided I never want to ride from here again. So all I have left to move out is my bed (which I will finally sleep in), my TV, my dresser and a few other random pieces of stuff that would not fit in my car. So Matt, Adam and myself rented a Uhaul for the excursion tomorrow. So it should be sweltering, but it has to be done. I will not miss this place once I am out, because of the heat and no AC, no TV for one year, and no one to talk to. I guess I really learned a lot about myself over this past year and I realized that people come and go through everyones lifetime, but family and true friends are the ones we should all be happy for. I can not wait to live with Matt and be a stones throw away from Adam. Hell we were like the three amigos through high school and grew apart a bit due to me always having athletic aspirations and them wanting to drink. It all comes full circle and they understand now why I do what I do..... because I love it. So here is to my two boys, sorry we can't have some cold brews tomorrow as I have a race in Lansing on Sunday. Soon enough though fellas. I wonder what the hell Louie has been up to??? I could really use a morale boost from him. The Great Ludwig Charlemagne Kuznia..... Where the hell are you dawg??? Ring it up!!! Sorry i dont have pics of the old place or the new place, I dont want to remeber the old place, but the new place is AWESOME!!! By the way Matt thanks for the help!!

Cant look back

Never look back!!! Memo for the day!! So here is my story.... a bit late as I must apologize for having things to do!!! I am working at the Mart and its 1:30 AM on Thursday morning! Sam and I are outside and he is enjoying his Marlboro Medium TM ( there now I can't get sued for not trademarking the shit). A car of assholes aka "marines" pulls in driving erratically! I realize these are not guys to joke with as they are drunk and being dicks! So I walk in without saying a word. They make their purchases, while still being intollerable. As they are finishing up I realize a group of fellas who are regulars walk in. Well the regulars left their car running in the parking lot and one of the "marines" aka jerk-offs decides to heist it. The regulars walk out 5 minutes later to realize their car is GONE. So the cops are called and they show up to see what the situation is. Sam and I close the store up and we go outside and give the cops our info to see if there is anything they need from us. Suddenly one officer walks away listening to his radio. He then asks, would you guys like to press charges if we find the car?" One responds, "hell yes...... give em the electric chair." Then the cop is waiting for posterity, and lays it down, "well we found your car." "GREAT" is the response. Officer says, "problem is it is wrapped around a tree." "Did the guy just leave it and take off?" asks one of the regulars. The cop waits for suspense factor and says, "Um no...... He is still inside and we have to pry him out." So needless to say the jaws of life were used and as I hear the gentleman who stole the car is in a coma. So live everyday as it may be your last, because you never know when you may get too drunk and heist a car and go joyriding, haha. OOPS not to funny!!! But alas life is Great and I move out of the shit apartment today. I said good day!!!

Anger

Waiting for a move to go!!!
Dave acting like I usually do, hey someone had to pick up the slack!!!
Ada Break!!!
Dave again, which is nice!!!
Driving it on the front, look at the gap forming!!!

So Lindsay sasy my blog gets angrier every week, HAHAHA!!! I am not angry, just mad at the world. I have a good post later but here these are. OUT!!!

I dont wanna

I'll never fall in line, become another victim of your conformity. So I haven't been on this thing in a a few days due to work and trying to fit in rides when I can. I just haven't been very pumped about life lately. Fuck it. Have been too busy to care about shit. But I decided to wipe everything from the past...... clean slate. I am not gonna wonder why or how shit happened, it is a complete waste of time. So this week I am working my ass off, building a new cooler at work and such. Riding as much as I possibly can, and finally moving into a new place with Matt. Got the OK today to move in on Friday and I am jazzed about that. One thing that pisses me off though, I try to be a nice guy when I am riding and wave to recreational cyclists, cuz lets face it we both are riding bikes, but I look cooler with my team gear and sweet bike. So I wave at this old man today and the faggot doesn't acknowledge me, so I turn around and ask him whats the deal with the no wave. And he says "I hate you young punks and your team gear." So I ask him wow am I going to suck as much as you when I am old and decreped? He got furious so I turned around and continued on my merry way. If you see me out riding don't even acknowledge me, because I am done being nice. So yeah this Lansing crit should be fun. I was also just informed that we are going to have a "sweet living room". Cant wait for Saturday night to have some beers and hang out with my best friends, hell we are living in the same building so all is gonna be great!!! PEACE.

Coffee

As I sit here with my delicious white chocolate mocha, I am pondering life and why I am enjoying so much of it lately. Here is the playback dawg!!! Wednesday night ride was a semi-go, I really did not want to do it because this is my "off" week, but I went out and after the second sprint, in which Jeff led me out perfectly, I slipped back and headed home. Got some hours in though. On my way home I decided to ride up "the Beast" or 6th street hill. Which has become much harder with the damn chip and seal everywhere in the area now. That would have been an interesting race had it not been cancelled. Then I wanted to watch the Tour but got bored and left Sacks place at about 10 PM. So today we started the new cooler at the Munch and it is coming along. I was told by a regular that my "chops" aka sideburns look pretty bad ass. HAHA, I was gonna shave them off but hell might as well keep them now. Got home from work via my bicycle and went out for a cruise with Dave, and it was nice and easy, a perfect ride actually. On our way home we met up with an old pal, EMIL IS BACK IN TOWN BABY!!!! He returned from Norway earlier this week and it was awesome to see him. He said he drank way too much beer while he was there, right on Emil. On the ride Steel called and invited me to a party at his place this weekend. I hadn't heard from him in a long time, since I lived with him, Stine, Cuttitta and Sacks. But it was good to hear from him nonetheless. Now here is where it gets interesting, I called kelly back and somehow we started talking about what you would do for money. Swim in a pool with diarreha or vomit??? Enough said there, I was off my rocker laughing so hard. What an awesome girl, hahahaha. Thanks for making me puke Kel. So how much would it take for you to swim in poo or vomit??? So yeah I have a big day of building a cooler tomorrow. I am working extra hours so I can purchase those guns and needles for the mass suicide I plan with the Al-Qeada later this summer, so wish me some luck. And if you would like to donate to my cause send me a check or call me. Thanks for becoming less intelligent by reading this, and you all thought I had something to say!!!! Fooled!!!

Wednesday- 5 Hours
Thursday- 1 Hour 30 Minutes. Road to and from work today. Saved some $$$$!!!

A few more for the kids!!!

Shit Dawg, nice ass!! I mean Nice Bike. Big gear there Jer!
I have no idea, what the hell is that????
My mind was saying boo for the wind!!!! Still a hardass though!
Ok, this was when Doug was in the bushes...... literally

Its all about the kids, our future!!!
Thanks for the pics Doug!!!!

I always come through....well eventually

Pulling hard into the wind, I eventually dropped Tim Saari a lap or two after this pic!!!
I told you I saw you lurking with the camera ready, spot on Doug!
Look at that magnificent bastard go!!! Those legs can deal out some punishment from time to time!!!!

Mike Rabe Stage Race pics. These are from day 3, and if you are lucky you may even see the toothpaste that was on my hand from the bee sting during the race. Idunno though I haven't really looked.

Clear the head!!!

So I still have been on my bike, big surprise huh??? I rode a bit in the delicious sunshine today and it was nice. I actually cleared my head of all the shit I have been thinking about and I came to a conclusion. Don't worry about what anyone else thinks of you, as long as you are happy with yourself then life is great. I found myself enjoying every pedal stroke these past few days and I have to say its remarkable. I also can not wait to move in 10 days, but Matt and Adam are already packing. I think I will go with what served me well last year, pack and get everything together on the day I moved, it took 11 hours last year. I mean I almost passed out because I was so busy moving I forgot to eat, but hey you gotta do what is necessary. Other than that I did nothing for my 4th of July. Went to Roadhouse with Adam and Andy and ate the wet burrito meal and a side of freedom fries. Other than that I did not get to see le Tour today but I read the live updates and Matty Kessler did what he could not do yesterday, a late attack and hold on for dear life. That takes some balls, but it worked. Anywho, no pics yet from the races this past weekend, Doug must be slipping at his old age. Finally I hate lil punks from Kalamazoo, I kicked some black kids out of the Munch yesterday and I saw them walking in today as I was riding. I called Erin and told her to tell them to get out and one said, "I am gonna punch that guy in the mouth." Needless to say they waited by the road for me and confronted me, but I turned the tables on them by pre-empting the situation and being the aggressor. "So you want to punch me in the mouth I say." And they just looked at me scared, ah it feels good to make people feel stupid. Oh well, damn kids. Here is to living for me and why are you such a comfortable liar???? Some questions are best left unanswered. P.S. watch out for rabid squirrels, I hear they are on the prowl feasting on cyclists as they ride. HAHA. And look out for that huge saddle sore that oozes green puss. EWWWWW!!! Its ok now, but it looked freakishly nasty at first inspection. OUT!!!

Monday- 2 Hours
Tuesday- 4 Hours, no chain..... you cyclists will understand this one!!!

Waterford Hills without the thrills

Ah so I am finally coming off the peak form I had obtained, and it sucks. This weekend I did the Mike Rabe Stage race, which was a 3.4 mile prologue and a crit on Saturday and a "circuit" race on Sunday, and I rode like a woman. The best part of the weekend was hanging out with the new teammates. I have to send a huge thanks to John Rigdon for letting me stay with him Saturday night. I owe him a big one. I felt very welcomed and the guys are pretty funny chaps. Here is how the races went:

Prologue: As this did not count for too many points I went into it thinking if I could not put a good first lap in I would relax and cruise the second lap. The first lap went OK, but I just did not have it. I ended up 11th out of 13, so lets just say this cements the fact that very short explosive efforts are not my thing.

Short Course: Felt good at the start and attacked on lap 2 to try to put our name out front. Big mistake, because soon after I was fighting to stay on. I realized I have a lot more fight in me than last year. I should have dropped, but I can not find it in me to drop if I am feeling at least OK. Finished 12th out of 17. BAD DAY!!!!

Cricuit race: This one exploded from the gun. The ole clip in and attack took all of us by surprise. I got with a few guys (Danny Klein and Tim Saari) and we rode together for a bit until I accelerated on the climb and Danny got dropped. Then all of a sudden rounding a left hander I feel a zap on my hand. Stung by a bee. I rode by where the team was and still had my wits about me to ask for some toothpaste to put on it. I am very allergic and I have to thank Caswell and Rob's wife for being so quick with the help. I took my free lap and got back in with the guys I was with and then proceeded to feel good. I eventually dropped Tim Saari the same way I dropped Danny, vicious drive up the climb and I was solo. The main group caught me with 5 laps to go and I sat on until the end. Rob actually put a very impressive attack in on the last climb and almost shattered the field. I ended up 7th on the day out of 13. Needless to say not many guys raced this weekend. Overall in the stage results I got 7th out of the 13 guys who did all 3 stages, so not that bad, um yes that is bad.

So now I am resting this week and I am going to enjoy not even looking at my bike. At least 4 days in a row off and then I will build back up slowly for the remainder of the season. Again thanks to the guys for an awesome weekend, even though I did not show how I can really ride. There will be other races and I will be there in full force. Later!!! Oh yeah, I will have pics soon too from Sunday because I saw Gatto hanging out in the bushes taking a few shots. OUT!!!

Dopers!!!

Sad day in the world of cycling. Check out cyclingnews.com and you will see why. I just read that Ullrich, Basso, Mancebo, and Vino among others are not racing the Tour this year. More saddening is that in light of this Paco Mancebo has chosen to retire over this affair. All I can say is if you cheat you will be caught........ someday. Thats all I have. I will not watch the Tour this year unless I find a true reason to believe in cycling. Other than Floyd, Zabriske, Julich, Hincapie and any other Americans I could care less. Later!

Tubulars, Mufflers, and Stuart

So I have had a good few days. I glued my own tubular on with no one elses help and wouldn't you know it I succeeded. Bet I had a few people who never thought I could do that. Second, I took my car into Tuffy yesterday and today received a brand new exhaust, the price was steep though, nothing. It was under warranty. Last I had a run-in with "Stuart" and he brought me a book from his bookstore, which was "600 tips for better cycling". He also mentioned he had looked me up on the internet and I was a little creeped out, but it did feel good saying he was impressed. Lastly, I received an email today from a student who wants to be a sports psychologist and he wanted to pick my brain a bit. Here are the emails contents.

Hi my name is Ben Devries and I am pursuing a career in sports psychology. I was asked to pick an elite athlete who is relatively new to a sport and want to see what drives athletes to suffer and why they are pursuing certain goals. I picked you because I knew your name and I am a big cycling fan and I always see you around Kalamazoo riding. Anyways I hope I receive a reply and I thank you for your time.

1. Why did you get involved in the sport?
I started with the whole Lance craze to be honest. I was sick of running and realized I was not very good at it so i gave cycling a shot and I am happy I did.
2. Who or what challenges you to perform at a higher level?
I challenge myself everyday to do something that I consider worthy. I have had ups and downs like every athlete or person, but you will always remember the ups more than the downs.
3. What is your mindset before a race?
In the past it was go out and have fun, lately though it has been all focus, focus on maintaining good position and not riding stupid.
4. What would you say is your biggest asset?
Aggressiveness. Sometimes it plays against me, but i would rather try because that one time it works it will feel so good after it is said and done.
5. What would you say is you biggest flaw?
I tend to care way too much no matter what I do. I am a very giving person and can go overboard, but I am working on that.
6. What is your average training week?
Really depends on the race, I try to focus on things and play races out in my head. When you know the courses everything is easier to consider. But I train hard and I train a lot!!!
7. What would be your ultimate goal in your sport?
I would like to say racing up one of the giants of cycling. Ventoux, Galibier, Motirollo, and seeing everyone around me suffering because that is what its all about.
8. Do you consider yourself to be a confident person?
I have my doubts about myself, sometimes daily, but I have realized I have a lot more to offer as a cyclist than being a champion. I am confident that I am taking the necessary steps to better myself everyday.
9. Do you ever race against anyone who "scares" you?
I used to be scared of some guys, but now I realize everyone is human and no one can do anything I can't do, well sort of. But no I am not scared of a bike race or anyone there.
10. Would you ever resort to cheating to acheive a goal?
HELL NO, I do not cheat. I hate people who cheat. Anyone who cheats has a lot to hide, or they are not truly happy with who they are.
11. Finally, what truly drives you?
What drives me is my urge to be better, better than the day before better than the last minute even. I used to get complacent when I was running. I found with cycling that you can never be the best unless you are willing to sacrifice a lot, sometimes everything you hold very close. So what drives me, knowing that when I am not out training that someone else is and I am losing out because they are getting better!

Any other questions that you have Ben I would be glad to answer.

I am talking to Chris Boer currently and he says the Tour is gonna suck, but I want to read it for myself, but I hear Jan, Basso, Mancebo and a host of many prolific names are out of the Tour. WOW!!! Go take it Floyd!!! OUT!

Thumbs up for the crowd

Look at the Ada boys at Grattan, I am the one obscured with the white shoe covers, stay on wheels kids, and keep your nose out of the wind!!!

A big thumbs up for Chris and Danielle before the race, although I thought I may vomit at some point, but you race nonetheless. Boy am I a handsome devil....don't ya think????

Here are 2 pictures from a few weeks ago, at Grattan Raceway. I believe I got in a break and ended up 7th, but I felt like hell. Anyways off to the ride I go. PEACE!!!

The doping world

So a lot of this has been going through my mind and I am gonna scribble some shit down about it. How do you race 100 days a year and recover so well? How do you race for three weeks straight and recover? It is my contention that a lot of bad practices are going down in the pro cycling field, guys who will do anything to win or keep their contract. So they turn to EPO, HGH, or steroids. If you are out of the loop, there are a lot of people who have been implicated in "operacion puerto" in Spain and it makes me doubt a lot about cycling. Hell what if guys that I race against are not clean, then I am being fooled into believing that these guys are better than they really are. For me though, it is a sport and a passion, and I am not willing to throw away my health and love away for a drug. To say i won a race I want it to be pure, not tainted. But as my buddy Alvin puts it, EPO doesn't make you smarter. Thanks Alvin and good luck in France this weekend. Send me some pics from Le Tour too. OK, thats all I have to say about that. I could write a book but I am not gonna even get started.
Second I read a friends blog, Bill Canfield, and he mentions a lot of points about peple who touch our lives. To those of you who know me and consider me a dear and true friend, thanks for everything. For those of you who have been passers by in my life, thanks for the good times. Here is how you know if we are friends or not: A) If we talk on a regular basis, and not on AIM, or some stupid website. B) If you race bikes or work with me and know what I am really about. C) If you have been in my life and you realize that we are talking less and less, then you probably get the point. I know who my true friends are and I try to regularly contact them. I also thought I had some friends that I tried to contact, but they are "too busy". If you are someones friend you are never too busy to call or attempt to see how people you value are doing. There that is my schpeel for the day. So call ur friends and tell them how much you truly do value their friendship. If not then be happy for those friends that you do have. Off to the Wednesday night ride to punish some tourists. OUT!!!

Pardon my Interruption

If you are reading this then I have succeeded in interupting your life for a few moments, so I win. Feeling really swell after my 9th place in the State Time Trial Championships. I keep proving myself and my detractors wrong. I knew what i could do on a great day and I went and did it, but it was not even a great day, I actually felt bad, but as recent winner of the Rochester Crit said sometimes when you feel bad is when you have your best results. So I took it very easy yesterday and did a DB easy ride, a very easy 2 hour spin. Then I decided today to throw down some monster efforts and worked on some hard long sprints. Did 60/90/120 second intervals x 2 with 10 minutes in between sets. First time all year I actually did specified intervals. The 120 seconds hurt like a bitch, but I felt good on the ride as a whole. Actually almost bit the dust over by parking services taking the corner way too hard and hitting a bump and my rear tire came off the ground, but I saved it, and I am getting good at saving possible wrecks. Onto my last weekend and why home is boring now.
Algonac, or as I like to call it heaven or hells waiting room. Anywhere in Algonac is very low key, and you can only ride 15 minutes either way before you hit a hick town and have to turn around. Why you may ask??? Hicks do not like men in spandex. Nuff said. I also feel really tired when I am there, maybe because of the atmosphere or maybe because it will always be home. Needless to say I will not go back the day before a race anytime soon. But it was perfect to see the parents and eat some aspargus, prime rib, and stuffing. Thanks for the meal mom. Other than that I have no complaints about life or anyone in general. Oh wait I always have a complaint. But I will let it boil and simmer inside for a bit, it makes me get out and want to tear legs off. I would also like to extend a very big congrats to Jay Rafeld who did an 8 hour endurance mountain bike race at Pando I believe. He got second and I can't wait to get in a race with him, Jeff, Gary, Andy, Rob and any other Cat1/2's I may have missed, oh yeah Derek, because I have not had the chance to do a team race with them yet. This weekend I know Rob and I are doing Mike Rabe stage race, so we will see what we can do. Until then keep your chins up and keep the legs tan. OUT!

Monday- 2 Hours. Super easy, I felt like a touring cyclist and I loved it.
Tuesday- 3 Hours. 60/90/120's 10 mins between sets. Felt uber fast!

State Time Trial Championships

So today was the State Time Trial Championships race, and honestly I woke up at home in Algonac and really did not feel like doing it. After laying in my huge bed at home for an hour I got up and packed my stuff and said by to mom and dad and I was off. I got to the race without getting lost this year and got a warmup in that was decent. Honestly I did not feel good at the start, but after a few miles I was off and rolling at a good clip. I actually turned around too early and had to turn around and go back which cost me 10-15 seconds, but thats life. I had my I-POD on and I saw a lady waving so I assumed that was the turnaround. Well I realized very shortly my mistake and I continued on. Halfway through I looked at my time and I was around 28 minutes flat and I think that got into my head, I was going way too fast for a long effort. I slowed down quite a bit the second half, but was still strong. My head was begging for forgiveness and my glutes and hamstrings were as well. I pushed so hard through the pain and I think my lactic threshold is way up from last year. I suffered like a dog as there was no true tailwind, but crosswinds the entire time. So I look down and my time was on for what I had wanted to do and I crossed the line in 57:51, a HUGE beating of my previous best of 61:37. After the race I had a super effort headache and needed a nap, but had to drive back to the zoo. I could barely keep focused on the drive so I just pegged it at 74 MPH and cruised. I got home and jumped into bed and I could not sleep because my legs were throbbing. So what do you do in that case, well I go for hour and a half rides to get the lactate out. So overall I got 9th in the Pro field and Brian Sheedy was there, the true Michigan pro, and he blazed everyone. I am happy with my performance and placed better in the Pro field then I did in the cat 3 field last year. Seems to be a recurring theme. I have a lot of shit I would like to write, but this has already became a book, so I am out. I will vent on why going home is boring later.

Friday- 2 Hours 15 Minutes
Saturday- 1 Hour 30 Minutes in Algonac on the TT bike.
Sunday- State TT- 9th 57:51, 1 Hour WU, 40 k TT, 30 CD, 1 Hour 30 Minutes spin. 4 Hours.

It has to start somewhere, It has to start sometime

What better place then here, what better time than now. I have that Rage song stuck in my head and it is ringing true. Road really hard tonight although I shouldn't have. Got some efforts in on the TT bike and an easy ride on the road bike. I felt weird after switching bikes due to the different positions. Regardless, I just got a call from Brad, an old WMU track buddy and he is coming to kalamazoo tonight and he says, "yeah we are gonna get fucked up." I am gonna pass on the drinking, I have got a dragon to slay on Sunday. I also talked to Kelly last night for the first time in a year and she is doing very well for herself. She is working at a hospital as a dietician in the ICU and just bought a new condo so that is awesome. It was weird after not hearing from her in so long and then she called and immediately I recognized why we do get along so well, not gonna lie though, it felt a bit weird. So I am gonna roll Sunday and see what I can do, a 4 minute improvement isn't too much to ask is it??? Last year I went 1:01:37, this year I wanna go under 58 minutes and I know I can do it. Just focus and push some monster gears as best I can. OK, I am gonna go pack for home and then go out with my boys for a bit. Later Dudes!

I am a no talent pussy!

This one is for the boys not doing the TT in Ohio!
And I AM OFF!!! This one hurt a bit!

So I am super pumped for a new adventure. I have chosen to go back to school, undergrad that is, to become a high school math teacher. We will just say that I was not happy with what I saw my life becoming over the next few years. So I am gonna go back and try to get this thing done in 2 years. No general education classes or B.S. like that, just the classes I need and I am done. Second, I met a lady and she is gonna come watch my race this weekend. Honestly I am gonna not try with this one, every time I try to be a nice guy and make everything perfect for a woman it blows up in my face. Women are the fuckin rake man. OK, I got in some solid training today, even though I felt like a pile yesterday. State Champs TT this weekend. Concentration and focus is all I need, but it is just a bike race, it is not the end of life if I do not blze the world. Hasta Luego.

Wednesday- 2 Hours 30 Minutes
Thursday- 3 Hours