"If You're Not Lifting, You're Dancing"

2010-09-21T20:13:00.003-06:00

I wanted to give a brief recap on my most recent events, before my eventual signing off...

I built my cross bike, love it - I'm racing it weekly at the aforementioned training series, and my actual USAC debut will be on October 16th, at the Mansfiend Hollow Cross Race, which is about ten miles from my house. Very excited on that. I'm racing 4 cross races this year, all in CT. Maybe a few more after those.

My girlfriend and I called it quits after five years of friendship and love. Although extremely unfortunate for she and I, we both now have time to focus on our educations and future workforce-related endeavors.

I'm not sure if I'll be racing bikes next year as I had previously anticipated, as I'll be taking practically full-time summer classes to catch up on prerequisites for dental school, which I will be applying for matriculation in 2013. If I get into a program, I'm going to start a new blog, about the rigors of dental school; hopefully this will help others in college know what to expect.

I have deactivated my Facebook, and now for my complete removal of internet time traps, here goes the blog... for now. Check back time to time, to see if I'm still alive, etc...

Finally, a ginormous thank you to everyone who contributed to my my seventeen-thousand-something views over the years. Even the guy who posts saucy comments!

2010-09-08T20:30:00.003-06:00

So last weekend, I spontaneously did this:

It was to visit Graham and get my party and laziness and tall-tee on. It was very enjoyable. Except for the 800 miles on my car... That part, no good. I went for a bike ride while I was up there, that was fun. Riding in Buffalo is a lot better than you'd think. Today, I went on another bike ride:

Before that bike ride, however, I shaved my regs again - that took probably an hour. The worst part about leg shaving is doing it, except after not. For three months. All I'm going to say - I ruined a nice, clean washcloth. It's in the garbage now.

So now, I'm going to do a lil' weekly cross training series. The best part? IT'S FIVE DOLLARS. Take that, Rick who charges $18 for a Bethel race!!! Want to show up and beat me in the race? Do the race too.

What's more convenient? My roommate, Adam (who's in the picture above), works at the shop promoting the race. He says they give out gallons of beer (yeah, gallons) to the winner of the race. I'm not saying I'm gonna win here, but if it's for THAT much beer, I'll probably try really, really hard.

2010-08-26T21:22:00.001-06:00

Please buy my quality cycling products! Ebay it up!

2010-08-19T21:16:00.003-06:00

JUST NOW in my late-night, internet-fueled boredom, I was going through my bookmarks list and realized I hadn't been on my once-beloved NYVelocity website in quite some time. So I checked it. Oh! What to look at!? Schmalz's stories, data stuff... nah, maybe the hangover. It's generally entertaining.

Now, keep in mind - Although many of you already know, I shall unnecessarily reiterate - I've had quite a history on NYVelocity. Three years ago, I battled back and forth amongst anonymous creepers, as to defend my oh-so-epic junior racing legacy. That was THREE YEARS AGO. Literally. Then, last year, some gracious soul posted my rants to Williams Cycling on an NYVelocity feed. Last year.

Three years later, whaddaya know, everybody. It's evident that SOME people still beat their meat to me. IN LAST WEEKEND'S HANGOVER (8/16/2010), I read the comment, "my ween is huge," by "The Real Connor Sallee." Like... really? Does anyone continue to find that overwhelmingly hysterical?

Now, after the fact... Whilst you whither away within the confines of your cubicle, have you forgotten that three years of teenage advancement can drastically change one's personality and poise? I'm not making an excuse, I'm not blaming hormonal changes, and I'm not asking for forgiveness - I remember what I've done, and perhaps unlike yourselves, I've learned from it.

I'm glad you're repeatedly enjoying your dead horse, everyone. Really.

2010-08-18T23:01:00.002-06:00

I'm contemplating re-naming my blog. It might soon change to "Occasional Posts from a Completely Burnt-Out and Charred Cat-1 Cyclist."

The last time I rode was Housatonic Hills. I think about it a lot, but... There's just literally zero motivation to ride. It's not even fun anymore. I have nobody to ride with whom I would actually want to ride with, and I don't feel like taking it seriously and being disappointed anymore.

I look down, and still see my abs and leg muscles. They're the same. I look at the scale, the numbers are the same. To pass my time, I work, scuba, skim, surf, xbox360, etc... Plus, I definitely don't get pissy because I miss a ride, can't ride, uncooperative weather - things like that.

Although this regular life, which I've never really had (and quite enjoy), is fun, there's a little familiarity missing. I get a twinge whenever I see a real cyclist on the road. I don't check Bikereg for results anymore, but I still look at Velonews daily.

Like my friend Graham says, "I'm not done with cycling. I've come too far to quit for good." I'll just leave it at that.

2010-07-05T21:10:00.000-06:00

So I feel guilty. I haven't ridden in quite a long time. That's not to say I haven't been active, but I really have been neglecting the bike. I suppose it's time for my mid-season break. I am, however skimboarding like a fiend, partying like a drunkard, and quickly building my social structure after my previous life was ripped away! I feel a lot better now, it's going great.

So Graham and I have planned a road-trip mid-season training camp for the usual end of season races. We're going out to see my family in Illinois and Missouri again, just like last year. We may or may not throw in Superweek races, we might just bang out 5 hour rides every day for 20 days or so. Get super jacked like my wonderful, supportive friend Emerson!

So basically, see me on the Wednesday night Class Cycle group rides, see me in a future skim edit, see me in Illinois. I'll be wherever.

2010-06-20T19:38:00.002-06:00

So on Wednesday, I did a nice 5 hours by myself. It was pretty exhilarating. I went through periods of weather, got rained on - it was fine. I started to feel really bad for the last 45 minutes or so, but it was mainly the muscles in my neck. The drop on my bike now is so extreme, that it makes long-distance riding somewhat of a pain (hah, see what I did there?!).

So I rested up good, and then raced Housatonic Hills today. It was hot. It was humid. It was wet. I felt like I took a bath during the race... As I sit in this chair here, sweating my ass off (no A/C, like a broke-ass), I am reminded by the pain I endured today, albeit only for 30 miles or so. Yeah, that's right... I got dropped. I made it up and around, but then got dropped on the second big hill, after Constitution. The weird thing about it, anyway, was that I was feeling really good. The first lap, I felt fine, and I thought I actually had a fighting chance to finish the race in a respectable manner. Unfortunately, as I was telling Pascual afterwards, the steep pitches really get to me. I don't know if it's my weight, my bike's weight, my fitness, etc... but whenever I get to a really, excessively steep grind, I feel like I just can't get enough air in my lungs, and I just hit it and die. I don't know. I'll probably figure that out sooner or later though.

All I know now is that Emerson slept at my house last night, and we had a good time. He won on Saturday. Today, he got 5th. He made money this weekend, and is officially a champion, in my heart at least. Also, Emerson convinced me to get a coach, which is what I shall do in my distant preparation for Univest domination (finishing the road race), given that I find a team again for 2010, which might be unlikely, because everybody thinks I have a bad attitude, which to my discredit, I definitely did. But I'm turning it around, y'all. Please ease up.

In better, more gratifying news (which I probably shouldn't share, but I haven't really told anybody) - my girlfriend of three years (THREE YEARS), whom not only was my best friend that I've known for five years, whom I painstakingly transferred colleges, repeated classes, and moved back from Colorado for, broke up with me on the phone (ON THE PHONE), and is currently enjoying herself by continuously hanging out with the most notorious, open lesbian to ever be discharged from the New Milford High School, whom Kelsey ruthlessly made fun of while she was with me. Perhaps that is the reason why I suck?

2010-06-14T20:16:00.004-06:00

So... I guess I was really flying last year. This year, these two crits were a completely different story!

I did New Britain on Saturday. I left work at about 1:45, it gave me ample time to get ready, etc... It was wet, and not quite raining. More like misting? It was a pretty tough race. There wasn't ever a time where I was like, "wow, it's strung out and I'm dying here," but the length was really draining on me. Even though I sat in the entire time, I still was tired. I was able to float like usual, but there were just too many times that I had to dig for me to be able to stay at the front and sprint it. I started to cramp a bit the last ten laps or so - I made it to the front like usual with a few to go, but just couldn't hold the surge off like I could last year. Totally different fitness level, for sure.

Yesterday, I did the Whaling City Cyclone, which I hadn't done since 2007 when Graham and I stayed at his grandparent's house in Charlestown. Although it might not have actually been, it felt extremely fast. The first few laps, I had to get the turns down and find the good lines, so I was struggling a bit to keep my place in line. I'd say it was single or double file 85% of the time, which was the complete opposite of the previous day. It was real brutal. Then, there was the most insane part of the day, which UNFORTUNATELY, few people actually witnessed.

With about 12-15 laps to go (1KM course...), a certain someone on the CVC team decided that he just couldn't hold his goods together on the fastest, most difficult corner of the course. Me, luckily being DIRECTLY behind him, had to witness said loss of control (and overall loss of category 2 level riding). So, he slips a pedal and slides out all sideways-like, and I have no choice but to ride my line and slam my brakes, regardless of this sliding man in my path. Somehow, I have no idea how, I pulled out of an epic, sideways nose-wheelie while grabbing all the brake I could... I stayed up - didn't even clip out! My man-slice Emerson saw it, too, so it actually happened!

Because of my brake-grabbing frenzy, I quickly, like within five seconds, found myself off the back with some other guys who were behind the incident. I did a lap, questioning whether or not to cry from a wasted $26 entry fee, and then remembered to take a free lap. Booya.

THEEEEN it got fast, the sprint happened, and I wasn't in it. I was deep within the bowels of the pain cave. Also, cool thing happened - I got 27th place on Saturday AND Sunday. Weird, right?!

2010-06-08T09:10:00.003-06:00

Well, that sucked.

As Pascual Caputi says, "if you don't have the tools, don't do the project." I heeded this advice, as promised before, during the TT. I didn't have anything (gear-wise, and perhaps fitness wise?), so I just tempo'd. I borrowed Zane's TT helmet anyways. So that felt okay. At least now I know what it feels like to cruise a TT?

They practically doubled the length of this year's circuit race, which absolutely slayed me. It bent me over, and then violated me. After going up that hill SO many times, I wanted to pull off the road and die. I slid off the back after a few laps, and rode around with Filip (luckily) for a few laps until we were lapped by the field. We jumped in again, and rode around for a few more laps with the field - at this point, I felt like dropping out would be appropriate, but I just really wanted to finish. I didn't care. Unfortunately, I slid off the back again, and rode around for another few laps and finished.

I didn't do well at all, but I finished the freakin race. I came home and bro'd out. The next morning, I didn't go to the road race, because I knew it would be over after about 15 miles... so I'd have to ride around for another 75 miles - not happening. However, although I was so adamant about simply finishing the night before, I'm glad I didn't go - I heard there were some GNARLY crashes, and I HATE crashes. Unfortunately, the crash involved some homies - Evan and Schmemerson went down on an all-too-common cheese-grater bridge. All cyclists know this is easily the worst place to have an accident.

Heal up, bros!

Now time to ride for New Britain and New London! Hopefully I'll get some power for Housatonic Hills so I don't get slain once again!

2010-05-30T13:51:00.003-06:00

Just like last year, I'm at the Rhode Island house for memorial day weekend. I'm getting my tan on - I'm working super hard to erase my tan lines. It's still not perfectly even, but I'm pretty tan. It's not AS noticeable as last year, for example. That was just embarrassing.

I had a some good rides and runs this week, and I'm feeling like I'm in good physical shape, I'm not putting any weight on, and I still weigh under 150... even though I've cut my riding back, and haven't cut my eating back (YAY). I feel as prepared as I'm going to be for CTSR. I still have this whole week to get speedy, but I'm sure it'll be fine regardless.

I'm going to go pretty slow in the TT, because I'm not going to have my TT bike. It's in storage, and I don't have a derailleur hanger for it, because I broke mine and I'm too lazy to order another Orbea hanger, and pay a ton for it. I'm going to try and find my TT helmet though, because I know that makes a pretty big difference. I have to save it for the ensuing circuit race, because after just 24 miles last year, I was pretty toasted. Now that it's 45 miles, I really have to conserve. Plus, with all the SUPER excessive time bonuses practically every lap, as well as sprinting jersey points, it's really important to be fresh.

Essentially, the TT means dick.

For the road race, I'll probably just try to hang on for dear life so I don't have to go it alone. I'll have to pick up some bars and food at some shop beforehand, and hopefully find someone to feed me some bottles in the two zones over the 90 something miles course. Many teams are usually selfish in this aspect, however, so you'll likely be seeing me carrying my own bottles. Emerson, hook it up? Please?

2010-05-21T14:10:00.003-06:00

I'm beginning a new training block for the CT Stage Race. I mechanical-ed out last year because of my stupid SRM and BB. I'm coming back to take it all (or... finish). I'm registering tonight to really "get going" on this training block, because all previous blocks have prematurely ended for lack of motivation. However, by registering for $85 dollars, I'll have a financial obligation to race, and complete my training. Get psyched!

Tomorrow - 1 hour
Sunday - 3-4 hours with Graham
Monday - 1-1.5 hrs
Tuesday - 1-1.5 hrs with speed work
Wednesday - 2 hrs
Thursday - 2 hrs with speed work
Friday - 1-1.5 hrs
Saturday - 3-4 hrs
Sunday - 4-5 hrs
Monday - 1-1.5 hrs
Tuesday - 1-1.5 hrs with speed work
Wednesday - 2-3 hrs
Thursday - 1-1.5 hrs
Friday - 1 hour
Saturday - CT STAGE RACE
Sunday - CT STAGE RACE

2010-05-20T16:52:00.003-06:00

After about 20 minutes in the 57 degree lake water, I found a broken bong. I'm wondering how long it was down there, because it was entirely buried. It was complete luck that I found it!

2010-05-17T18:52:00.003-06:00

I skipped the race yesterday. I'm kind of glad I did - I got to spend the day on the beach relaxing, and I didn't have to spend the ol' $35. I feel a little guilt, but once I was on the beach, I didn't really mind it too much. I think I can make up for it at the CT stage race, which I enjoy a bit.

Today, I also had a great day. We all sat on the beach, but we didn't go swimming - the water on the RI beach is extremely cold. After being deprived of the beach for one day, I decided to don my crinkly 7mm wetsuit, and do some nice freediving. I left the tanks in the car, because I thought there wouldn't be much to see. I had 6lbs on, enough to stay just lighter than neutral. I was expecting just to swim and test out my dive computer in gauge mode, but I saw some pretty serious stuff!

First, just a bit offshore, I found a starfish. It was about 4 or 5 inches across, and he was alive (unlike the dead one I found on the beach earlier). I picked him up, and brought him back into Kelsey. During the venture back and forth, the starfish grabbed onto my neoprene hand, and wrapped onto it like it loved me.

Shortly after I replaced the starfish near where I found it, I saw two horseshoe crabs MATING. First time in the ocean with a mask, I see two horseshoe crabs mating. They passed by, doing their thang. I kept swimming outward, saw a few more horseshoe crabs scurrying by. I then saw a shiny, reflective shell on the ground, and went down to get it. It was a sea-snail, and I picked him up and brought him to the surface for a closer look. He sucked back up into his shell, so I put him back. I went out more, and found a bigger snail.

Shortly after I saw the bigger snail, I realized that I didn't want to get slain by a massive shark, because I resembled a tasty seal. I turned around, and I got to see a rather large crab, probably about 6 or 7" wide. I went down to look, but he saw me and got in a defensive, claw-snapping stance. I left towards the beach, and saw a few more starfish and horseshoe crabs. Max depth 11ft, out for 18 minutes.

2010-05-15T21:22:00.005-06:00

Summer hath begun!

It feels like I've been done forever... some people aren't even done yet! Nonetheless, I'm trying to enjoy myself and avoid boredom. I've been feeling ESPECIALLY guilty lately for not riding as much as I should, AKA. as much as last year. Every time it's nice, and I have time, I'm either "too tired" or I find something that needs cleaning, etc... I haven't raced in about a month, and I have no idea where my fitness is. I went out for a couple rides this week and I feel good. I was feeling a little sick, but I'm over it.

I'm going to the beach house this weekend, and I was going to race at Ninigrit. They want 35 DOLLARS to race day-of. That's more than Wilmington GP, which is NRC, and Kelly Cup. Seriously, Mystic Velo Club has to be smoking crack to expect $35 dollars for a race, especially one that lists "cash" as the prize. Cash? Really? It'd be more effective to list "saddle-bag & a pat on the butt."

So, I'm probably not racing this weekend. I really don't feel like throwing crazy money at this race. I mean, sure... I'll be 4.7 miles away from the race, but it's just a little extreme.

2010-05-06T08:04:00.001-06:00

I've been sitting in the library for over an hour, waiting for my last exam to start. I just took one, it was fine. I went to bed at 2AM - I woke up at 6:30. Currently, I feel like death, and I'd be fine with dying.

I haven't ridden in a long while, but I suppose that is somewhat expected from a college student who actually cares about scholastic merit. Now that I'm done with school, however, my riding will commence once again.

I'm not racing this weekend, unfortunately, because it's mother's day, and my body is burnt to a crisp... literally and figuratively. I fell asleep on the beach the other day! I'll be racing in RI the following weekend, and then Graham and I are doing Wilmington and Kelly Cup.

That'll be my first NRC crit, so I'm just hoping I can finish the races. We'll see, I guess.

2010-04-26T13:33:00.002-06:00

It's really unfortunate that the only good weather in the next few days is going to be the weekend, when I have to be inside studying for exams. I'm not going to be racing for a few more weekends. I might get outside and ride. Maybe, maybe not.

2010-04-25T14:33:00.004-06:00

At 12:45PM, I awoke from my slumber feeling a little tired. Now, but three hours after my awakening, I already want to take a nap. I'm assuming it was from the Thanksgiving-like feast Dan and I partook in this morning. I had 6 eggs left in my carton, and the expiration date was tomorrow, so I cooked all of them. I scrambled two for Dan, then made two fried, and two in omelette form.

We feasted like champions. Note my breakfast face!

After we feasted like the champions we are, I though I'd take a picture of my bike to show the recent additions to make it look ever-so-baller. Once I get my kits, it will look AWESOME. I just hope the leg and arm warmers are sized appropriately. I've been worrying about that often. I'm REALLY hoping Dave didn't order me size smalls or something...

2010-04-24T18:56:00.003-06:00

Spring Weekend is upon UConn like white on rice. Having been to two parties, I'm realizing that it's a little too hardcore for me. There are about 6,000 people at each gathering, several hundred are cops... and I hate cops. It makes me nervous being there. It was fun anyway, though. I'm just mad about there being sobriety checkpoints all on my roads, and having to worry about getting pulled over by some angry, head-shaven, wife-beater cop.

I went on a ride with Graham, who came from Buffalo for the weekend. It was good stuff. We visited some cows and saw some farmland, the usual.

2010-04-20T17:01:00.004-06:00

Quite an unsuccessful day at the Beff. It was pretty good speedage, everyone was on each other's goods to prevent a breakaway. Alas, a break went anyway, and everything afterwards was just stupid preventative tactics, allowing the break to gain like a minute. Oh well, it's okay because Greg won.

Pretty much just had a bad sprint. I got a bit bunched up, and didn't have a good snap. Once again, I'm ashamed to call myself a sprinter with my 13th place!

On to better things. Unfortunately, not much racing in the coming weekends, as "Spring Weekend" winds up the police blotter here at UConn, as well as the ol' final exams shortly after that. The next race I'll do is probably Sterling, which I haven't done since I was 14 - I think that was actually my first cat 3 road race! Unfortunately, it's a 2.5 hour drive. There aren't any other races closer that weekend, so I'll have to try and convince Graham to go. If he won't go, then I'll likely prove to be too tempted into going to Dutch Springs with my Dad. Time will tell.

2010-04-17T09:24:00.003-06:00

Instead of lifting Tuesday night, Dan and I played some basketball for an hour or so. We had anticipated lifting after, but I wasn't feeling up to it. Wednesday, I went for a medium-paced hour or so on my favorite loop out here - that was good. I've been feeling on the 'verge' of sickness lately, likely because of the dismal weather and decline of sleeping hours, for no important reason. This is what I do every week, however, but this week I've felt especially guilty.

So there's the LAST Bethel on Sunday, for which I'm preregistered. I'm really excited for the last Bethel, not only to boost my standings on the final GC, but also to make some money, and have a good training day. I love riding to Bethel, regardless of the danger provided by Danbury drivers.

2010-04-12T12:27:00.003-06:00

I went to the Yale crit this weekend. I didn't expect it to be fast, and it wasn't that fast. It was windy, though. I got there a little late, realized that I had FORGOTTEN MY SADDLE (UHH....), had to drive around, borrowed a saddle from a UVM guy, who happened to be friends with my homeslice Will Cox.

I then filled out a bunch of collegiate forms, got my race numbers, and headed to fill up my water bottles (which I totally forgot about), pin my numbers, etc... I was a real n00b yesterday.

We went to staging, which was kind of dumb, but whatever. Then we started, and alas, it was not fast, as I had anticipated. The course itself was okay - there were some bumpy sections and some man-hole covers that had both risen and sunk over time. The course was a pretty fast one, and after I learned the lines, I was able to calm down and relax. I had two teammates with me from UConn, whom I had told earlier that I wasn't going to do anything until about halfway. After that point rolled around, I started doing leadouts for the point premes for Ben, who needs to secure his spot for nationals. Since I'm not going to be able to go this time around (damn points system!), we figured I'd just help Ben out, since he's going good.

So the last lap came around, I found Ryan, and assumed that Ben would find me. We got caught up behind some Penn guy who did a craaaappy pull and slowed down the gutter, and I weaved my way to about 7th wheel or so. The last turn came around, and I muscled around some peeps, got 5th. Magically, Ben somehow came around the inside and WON, beating that Pavel guy. yeee yeeeeeee for UConn.

2010-04-08T12:41:00.003-06:00

So to add to bad news, I found out today that Collegiate Nationals isn't what I THOUGHT, and I likely won't get to GO.

I found out that only four teams have spots at nationals - UConn is ranked 8th, because... yeah.

5 individuals can go, however, from teams who aren't included in the top 4. My teammate Ryan is 3rd, but has attended every weekend. Ben, who has also had his fair share of races, and is planning on attending nationals, is 7th. I, of course, am not ranked!

Even to be eligible, I have to have three mass-starts, which I don't. I'm racing Sunday at Yale, and then I guess I'm going to have to ruin my overall standings at Bethel, because I have to race both days at Army to do a circuit and a crit. So weak. I absolutely hate missing Bethel, especially when I've already paid for all $14 dollars of it.

2010-04-07T14:14:00.002-06:00

On Monday night, Brendan Shay passed at Stamford Hospital. Brendan was Kelsey's first cousin, and we both saw him many times throughout the year. Kelsey and her family are devastated, and both of our lives will be changed drastically by this experience.

Having spent so much time with the family over the years, I feel connected and am pretty surprised as how things can change so drastically in just one day.

I went on a long ride by myself to think about it.

2010-04-06T19:15:00.003-06:00

I went out to Charlestown, RI for the Sunshine Crit. It was fun, the first real 'fast' race of the year, I suppose... I got to test out the 'churn and burn' function of my legs. Oh, did they churn!

I watched the break go, missed it, tried to bridge a couple of times with lazy moves, nothing worked. Same old story, of course. Came into the sprint a little bunched, old guy came into my line, I freaked out by going on the other side, probably wasting a few spots on results. Whatever, not a big deal.

Kyle won his race after racing in mine too, so Kyle is officially last weekend's "DA BOMB" guy.

Weight session as follows:
Leg press - 160lbs x 20 reps, 180lbs x 20 reps, 200lbs x 20 reps, 200lbs x 20 reps
Quad press - 160lbs x 20 reps x 3
Calf lift - 80lbs single legs 20x each foot, two times each, 100lbs double legs x 30, 100lbs x 30, 100lbs x 40 reps

2010-03-30T18:25:00.002-05:00

Nice heavy lifting session with Dan:

Leg press - 160lbs x 20, 180lbs x 15, 200lbs x 10 (this x2)
Quad press - 180lbs x 20 (x2), 90lbs single leg x 20 (x3)
Bench press - 140lbs x 10 (x3)
Calf lift - 80lbs x 30 fast reps (x3), 40lbs single leg x 20 (x3)
Ham press - ?lbs x 10 (x3)

Tomorrow, a nice 2 hour ride with Rago and Drew, maybe some others.

My english teacher graciously agreed to move my exam, so that I'll be able to go to collegiate nationals. Booya.

2010-03-28T22:07:00.003-05:00

My recent bad Bethel luck has paid off! I won today out of a last-lap move, beating my friend and idol, Chris Fisher! We share the same birthday. Hah!

I paid $20 to race, got $80 for the win, gave $20 to Kyle Wolfe for his stellar 60KPH leadout directly prior to Gregory Olsen initiating said last-lap move. With the remainder (and some more from work), I took Kelsey to dinner. We got steak - she loved it.

I had a good phone conversation with Gabe soon after I rode home from the race. Lately, I've been thinking about the technical aspects of being a cat. 1 - when there are so many riders who specialize in certain aspects of the sport, you kind of have to pick your races accordingly, assuming you want to get results. Yeah, of course everybody wants to be able to slay 100 mile road races, climb like a mountain goat, etc., but sometimes it just doesn't work that way if you're not built that way. Personally, I can't do hilly road races, and I've come to understand that I should choose my races according to my skills. Thus, I'm racing crits, and certain road races that I really like, and know I can perform well in.

I'd like to do these "A level" races this year, according to this mindset -
Collegiate Nationals
Wilmington GP
Kelly Cup
Base Camp International
Sommerville
Richmond Twilight GP
Claredon Cup
Air Force Classic
Tour of the Dairyland
Hyde Park Blast Crit
Tour of Lawrence (or Fitchburg, whichever looks better)
Iron Hill Twilight
Capital Crit
Crossroads Classic
Tour de New York?
Tour of Utah (if I'm ballin?)
Chris Thater Memorial
Univest GP

2010-03-24T12:28:00.003-05:00

I played racquetball last night, and now my forearm is really sore from all the whacking.

That could be a good one-liner right there. It's true, though. Racketball makes you really sore.

I lifted a little last night. Did some quad/calf stuff, and then some bench pressing so I can look good on the beach when I'm diving. I DID (for those who are interested)

45mins of XTREME racketball
15mins watching girl's volleyball, opposite the racketball courts
leg press - 200lbs - 15 reps x 3
knee extension - 100lbs - 20 reps x4
calf lift - ?lbs - 20 reps x2 together
calf lift - ?lbs - 20 reps x2 individual
bench press - 140lbs - 10 reps x2

Today all that's actually sore is my forearm. It's really sore, so I'm trying not to move it. I'm going for a ride at 3PM with Ryan O'Hara, who has been doing really well in the ECCC this season so far. I'm going to sit on while he does his workout or something. Not sure yet.

2010-03-22T14:32:00.008-05:00

I guess I'm just having some bad luck with Bethel. First race, I break my chain. Second race, I get 10th (weak). Third race, well...

So everything was fine throughout the race. There was a tailwind on the backstretch, so the speed was nice and high. Probably averaged about 28. A bunch of attacks went out, but nothing was too significant at 10 or 8 to go, so everyone knew it would be a sprint. All the regulars were there - McGinley, Fisher, Peter, Baldwin, and for the second time ... Bobby Sweeting? Also saw Kyle Wolfe, making an appearance after his training camps in Arizona with his coaching business.

The last lap, I was 5th wheel or so. Everything was fine, but I knew it wasn't fast enough, considering the tailwind. Whoever was on the front did a great disservice to everyone behind him... A surge came up on the left side, the inside. We hit the hill (500 ft. to go), and I go to cross the sides, out in the wind, and SIMULTANEOUSLY, two guys have the same idea, but in opposite directions. They collide with each other. Basically, it was this TargetTraining guy's fault, as he was doing this crap the entire race. He would swerve over like five rider's widths to get an insignificant wheel. So these two guys hit the deck and start sliding, and LUCKY MEEEE, right behind them. I could either bunny-hop these two guys heads, directly in front of me, or just stop. I stopped. People hit the deck left and right around me, but I was just able to stop before I wrecked this guy's dome, got off, walked around the carnage on the grass, and rode up to the finish. Some classy guy was swearing his head off, because he was mad at his inability to get a 15th place finish at Bethel. Real nice! I'd much rather not be on results than get like 18th, after swerving a crash. Unfortunately, results don't say "29th place - avoided crash, got flat, chased back on," or "16th place - bonked." That would be different.

I saw Filip and his family, that was cool too. Also saw Pascual back from Spain. It's a shame he couldn't race, but the UCI requires a lot of paperwork to actually get racing. Oh well.

I got to ride to the race, because the weather was so nice. I got in a few miles - just glad I didn't get a mechanical so I could actually (sort of) finish this time. ALSO, almost got hit THREE TIMES on the way there. Not kidding. People pulled out directly in front of me three times. Riding in Danbury is not so good.

2010-03-20T22:57:00.003-05:00

I was driving home from Kelsey's house, but I guess I left about ten minutes too late. There was a MASSIVE car accident on 84W - I didn't even get to see it. My car overheated, because it's a total piece, so I pulled off the left side of the highway, onto the poorly-cut (and somewhat depth-deceiving) grass meridian. I waited around for about 45 minutes in GRIDLOCK, before people were getting out of their cars, smoking cigs, etc. A couple people went backwards to hit 84E. I waited until my car was tired of being a huge piece of crap, cruised backwards, while annihilating my alignment on the rumble strip. I hauled my Mazda over the meridian where there was a break in the guardrail, and went a back way home to Danbury. It was interesting.

Didn't ride today, I don't care. Bethel tomorrow - Filip will be there, home from college, so I get some Polska in my life!

2010-03-16T18:17:00.002-05:00

I had the usual Tuesday menu today, 9:30AM-5:15PM with fifteen-minute gaps between my five hour-and-change classes. Today, however, was the first day I was able to reap the many benefits of the ol' daylight savings. I got out of my last class early, went grocery shopping really quick, and then got home at about 5:15. I was going to put off riding to the trainer later tonight, but I made myself put the lycra on.

I was able to ride in a long sleeve jersey and shorts. I was a little cold, but it was no big deal - I think it was high 50's. I ventured north to the real Connecticut farm country, in and around Willington. Random pictures from the ride:

... and FINALLY... the NEW TRUSTY STEED!!

2010-03-15T21:57:00.001-05:00

Good luck to Dave Wiswell at the Tour of Uruguay.

Bring back pictures, brah!!

2010-03-15T15:33:00.002-05:00

I did Bethel again. This time, I drove, because the weather was nasty, and I didn't want to get too wet. I found my rain cape, which has been in the closet for a while - this was an awesome find!

So I raced, but I didn't feel too good. I still have speed, but whenever the heat is on for a few laps, I feel like I'm going to ralph, so I have to back it off. Luckily, the speed at Bethel is pretty slow so I could still stay in the front and take it easy. There were a lot of attacks, but it was windy enough that nothing went up. The field started to split during the last few laps and I didn't make the final split of 5 guys, so they got up the road. I got 10th... pretty embarrassing, since I got 5th in the field sprint, and I'm a sprinter.

No matter, I'll just have to work on it so I can make splits. Maybe start lifting weights so I can get my snap power back. I'm not worried at all though, because it's March. I still have plenty of time.

HAH. More time video gaming than riding, and I still get 10th. Whooo.

2010-03-11T12:15:00.004-05:00

So I raced Bethel. Graham had slept at the Danbury house the night before, so we woke up at about ten, ate, and left at eleven. We rode, both of us with race wheels strapped to our backs, out to the Dunkin' Donuts so we could get some coffee. Graham sissied out, so I bought coffee. It was burnt, and tasted like cigarette butts, so I threw it out. Sunken cost.

Graham did his race, basically without training at all this winter. He rode outside occasionally, and rode the trainer sometimes, but essentially - no training. He still got 20th out of about 60/70, so that's fine. I do believe it's the first result for CRCA/Echappe Equipment this year.

During Graham's race, I realized that my chain skipping all over the cassette was NOT due to the new cables, chain, chainrings, etc. I had this problem in many races last year, leaving me unable to use my trusty 21 gear, three down from the top, which I use VERY OFTEN, and when unable to do so, it makes climbing awful... Too heavy, too spinny, can never get a right gear. I thought it was my chain on the Orbea... I bought a new one, but never put it on. Now that I have my new bike (pics soon) from Echappe, I realized that it is, in fact, my crappy cassette from 2005 or something. I now shall ride on a new 11-25.

So, I realized that I had to fix this skipping issue. I took the cassette off Graham's spare wheels to put on my Planet-X 50 rear wheel. Then, I realized that I didn't have a spacer for the cassette (to go between the cassette and inner hub part, ugghhh), EVEN THOUGH I borrowed one from Mark the Mechanic last year, and never gave it back (sorry Mark). So that didn't fly. So I used Graham's Vigor and my 404 front wheel to race.

So now I'm racing, and my chain is skipping. I pretty much suck at putting on chains, breaking chains, connecting chains... So I had a stiff link that was skipping on all gears. It got progressively worse in the first five laps or so. Then, kabooms, on the hill, chain snaps and flies out the back. I wasn't really mad, upset, anything. Just got off my bike (without being hit from behind, thank you Bethel P123 riders!), didn't say anything, walked up the hill, sat on the grass, fixed my chain. Pretty melancholy. Last year, I would've probably punched an innocent bystander in the throat, while swearing uncontrollably. I suppose that's an improvement. Graham and I rode back to the house and played SSX On Tour for the mighty PS2 for a couple hours, and then I went to see Shutter Island with Kelskers.

I went out for 5 hours on Monday, because I didn't really get a big workout in during Bethel. This ride included a nice 'Red Baron' panini in Kent. It was about 55 degrees, and I felt very European.

Yesterday, I went out with Graham. We met in Bridgewater (12 miles for both of us), and we were GOING to do a 50 mile loop down through Bethel and Redding, but Graham got tiiiiired, so instead, we rode back into New Milford, got some EPIC Dominican food at Primo's Deli, chatted with Alberto, the friendly owner, and then rode back to Graham's house. We DJ'd for a while, and then Graham dropped me home in Woodbury on his way to work.

2010-03-04T11:49:00.003-05:00

A couple good things today... and a couple bad things today. Don't get mad at me for the last half, because it IS disgusting. You've been warned.

I have a five page paper due today, no big deal. I worked on it last night, didn't finish, and planned on skipping the class before it's due to finish it. My first class let out early, my second class let out early, and now I'm in the library. I just read my email saying my third class is canceled, AND my fourth class is canceled. So now, I have nothing to do until 3:30, when my essay is due. Great! Now I have ample time to finish this crap essay.

Now the bad half.

It's no doubt that Cheeze-Its make me sick. A few years ago, I thought I loved the 'Tabasco' and 'White Cheddar' versions, but only for a few hours... because I soon found myself sicker than sick, and spent many days at the john. The other night, the Grand Union was having a buy-1-get-1-free sale on Cheeze-Its. I tested out the '4-Cheese' and the 'Parmesan and Garlic.' I broke out the '4-Cheese' the other night, and they were delicious. No repercussions. Last night, I wanted something fresh and new, and tried the 'Parmesan and Garlic.' They were delicious, and fulfilled my craving for something fresh and new!

This morning, I realized that I do not like said Cheeze-Its. World War III is currently being waged within my bowels. I woke up, realized instantly that I had to hit the ol' john (and very fast). Of course, Dan was in the bathroom taking a very nice, long shower.

I stood in my room, with my hands on my knees, in agony... for twenty minutes. It was easily the worst john-entailing experience I've ever had to encounter. Once my cheeks finally did grace the seat, it was a rush! (Get it? Get it?)

Now I should probably inform you that I've recently begun to take EP-NO. I'm probably going to drop that crap, mainly because there was a substantial amount of BLOOD in my POOOOO. So that's great. Of course, this could be because of many things. It could've been because I had to wait 20 minutes and did some fissure action. It easily could've been because of the Cheeze-Its, which obviously cause internal devastation.

Regardless, I think I'm switching to Optygen. Plus, that unbelievable amount of iron creeps me out.

2010-03-03T16:22:00.003-05:00

I got my check from Superweek. OMG.

It took a while but now I have it... and I'm putting it in the SAVINGS.

Also, I thought the quotes from Michael Ball in this article were hilarious. It's AAAALL Landis' fault... but not because of Oscar Sevilla, Tyler Hamilton, or Santiago Botero... Waaaah, Waaaaaah, Waaah.

2010-03-01T16:08:00.003-05:00

Today, I came to realize that I have pretty much the best life ever.

I got out today in this epic heatwave (43 degrees! OMG!) for a great ride that included a bunch of the good climbs in the Housatonic Hills race. I was pretty hungry on the way back, as all I ate was a 'nanner. I was really looking forward to munching whatever was in our house. So I get home, and Kelskers, who has just gotten home, brought me TWO grilled chicken sandwiches and fries to munch on.

So that was pretty awesome. Unprecedented boyfriend appreciation on Kelsey's behalf.

I got out on another good ride yesterday, but it was a bit more hardcore. It was shorter, mainly because I got snowed on, rained on, sleeted on, and skeeted on - I wanted to get home. I was getting some looks from cars who drove by in the snow...

2010-02-27T16:35:00.008-05:00

So I've been formulating a plan for next summer. Kelsey isn't very interested in taking a road trip, as she'd rather save for a new car - she hates her Taurus. I was planning on driving down to North Carolina and driving down the beach, out on that narrow strip. We would hit the notorious wreck dives with various charters, etc... on the way down to the eventual destination of High Springs, Florida. There, we would complete our Cavern/Intro/Basic Cave Diving class, hopefully staying for a week or so. Then, we'd head down to Key West, basically because of its relative proximity - plus, neither of us have been there. Round trip, it'd probably be about 3,500 miles.

But Kelsey doesn't want to do that. And even though my car gets about 30MPG on the highway, it'd still be expensive, and she requires a hotel. So I suppose that trip is out until a later date.

SO INSTEAD, Graham and I will hopefully take another racing trip. Plan is to go mid-June to Western Springs, IL, to visit the family, while doing the Tour of the Dairyland races. Then, we would head down to Columbia, MO, to visit Billy and get run over by Missouri rednecks who hate alternative sports. Then, we'd go to Lawrence, KS, for the Tour of Lawrence, which offers QUITE the payout over three days. Then, we'd high tail it and take the short route back from Kansas, through Columbus and over the more 'lower' Pennsylvania. It would be about 2,800 miles round trip, getting back on July 6th or so to see my cousin Eric, who is taking a cross-country trip with his family, in celebration of getting a job in "extremely specific ophthalmology" in Washington.

Then, maybe we'd go back out for Superweek. That'd be pretty serious.

2010-02-25T15:58:00.004-05:00

It's raining. It has been raining. It will rain some more. Thus, epic trainer rides. Watched 'The Watchmen' yesterday, rode trainer for 2 hours easy/medium. Today, it's a quick hour or so, then off to get my eerl changed - then over to Kelsker's. Then maybe another trainer ride if I feel extra motivated!

2010-02-24T00:35:00.002-05:00

No, no, that's just awesome. I can't have one Wednesday to actually enjoy. So now I'll probably sleep in until about 1 or 2 if I can manage, ride the trainer for about 2-3 hours, and then study for my animal behavior exam on Thursday.

Other than that, I've pretty much stocked up for 2010.

New bike and kits, from my mans Gabe thanks to CRCA/Echappe Equipment
Craft baselayers
New hem-let for flashy good looks
EP-NO Blood Booster
Hammer Chromemate
Gu Gels (a whopping 48 of 'em)
Gu Electrolyte Drank
First Endurance Ultragen Recovery
Pizza from Dominoes (new and improved)
Box of tubes leftover from last year
Sweet frame pump that does a good 90PSI, and sticks to frame without any velcro

Next purchase will be scuba stuff, but AFTER THAT, I'm looking to get some of these, or perhaps these babies - in white, of course. Unfortunately, my ever-so-trusty Sidi Genius 5 Carbons from 2004 are pretty much dead on the floor.

2010-02-23T00:45:00.004-05:00

Got in a good ride on Saturday. I did a bunch of climbing, which I didn't really want to do... it tired me out quick. At 2.5 hours of riding a good pace by myself, I felt like I normally would at about 3.5-4 hours. So basically, I'm riding like garbage. Not really a surprise, but it's hard to admit. I loved slaying Bethel last year, might not happen this year. I've also realized that riding with a lot of food makes riding better. So does riding with somebody else, and not just the ol' ipod!

I was lucky to go out for an hour today in the 47 degrees. It was windy, and I was slow. I'm feeling really slow lately...

But it was good nonetheless. And now, we're having another terrible-weather-fest, beginning tonight. Hopefully it will heavily delay the two exams I have tomorrow, but it probably won't.

The last three weeks in a row, there's been awful weather on Wednesdays, so I haven't been able to ride outside... Every Wednesday, seriously.

2010-02-17T16:42:00.003-05:00

Hey Joe Papp - you suck, soooo soo much. I am very embarrassed for America's Cycling Team, you having been in their jerseys upon many podiums, the results of drug-fueled performances.

It's comical how you published pathetic articles about yourself doping, in a blatant attempt to gain cyclists' pity and support. Nobody cared, nobody cares now. I think in one of your articles, if I remember correctly, you recount upon facing suicide - you must have felt REALLY bad about doping to consider it... so bad, that it was okay to sell drugs to others! Very classy!

2010-02-15T21:25:00.002-05:00

I've been getting good spins in on the trainer, and it feels good. It feels good, because I know I'm doing it entirely for myself. I get to choose what I do, and I'm not upset at power numbers, etc... I'm doing it because I enjoy it. I have found my roots again, and this is why I'll win this season.

Bethel sweep day, what up?

2010-02-15T10:54:00.003-05:00

The thing is, I really want to ride. I'd like to go outside and put in mega hours like everyone else, but it's seriously too cold. For example, right now it's 30 degrees. Who the shit would want to go out riding in 30 degrees? NOBODY, that's who.

I'm still thinking whether or not to book a trip to Florida this spring break. I don't want to spend $400 on a trip, to find out that I'd actually rather sit in the hotel room and watch TV, similarly to the way I sit at Kelsey's house and watch TV...

So I guess I either have to harden up, or go to Florida.

2010-02-11T22:17:00.003-05:00

I am the new owner of a used drysuit. I'm psyched to test it out in real water when I do my solo ice dive before it melts in Candlewood. I'm planning on doing a 30 minute, 150ft. penetration in two directions on a line. I'll have pictures. Here is a picture of the suit.

Now I need some dry gloves and some headgear suitable for ice diving.

2010-02-11T00:09:00.003-05:00

I've been keeping active. Not too much riding, but when I do it's still fun. I ski a bunch now, so that keeps my legs pretty strong. They still look the same, and I still have protruding veins everywhere. I shaved them today for the first time since October or so... It filled the bottom of the shower! I felt bad throwing all the hair away knowing that it could cover someone's entire head... oh well. People don't like afro's anymore ANYWAY.

So I figure since the first races are coming up soon, I'll be riding more. I don't think I'll race until mid-March, so I'll be missing a couple Bethels. I really hate missing the Bethels, MAINLY because I love them, but also because I literally live 8 miles from the race itself. So maybe I will just race... anonymously, with a bandana over my face to hide my identity. I don't want people seeing my fitness deterioration over the winter, it'll be super embarrassing. SO I'll sit in... that's the spirit!

Then it's pretty much going to be local stuff until I get my crit legs back. It shouldn't be too hard, I feel like I still have it. I never was too great at road races - unless we're talking about the 2009 Fitchburg road race, where I stayed away with another guy for an entire lap, I felt majestic that day, no toppers - so it's not a huge deal that I'll suck at them THAT much more in 2010. The first major race will probably be Wilmington and Kelly, if I don't get down to Joe Martin for a rape-into-shape fest. HAH! Rape-into-shape... that's my new trademark!

I'm hoping I'll get the super bug again once I start racing. I really like looking cool, and cycling does that for me, so I'll have to drop some bills to stick with the new 2010 gear. Gabe is hooking me up super extreme this year, so look for epic Team Echappe gear represented seriously in Connecticut and New England. It looks COOL.

Luckily for me, the year I really slack is the year the entirety of NRC's comes within driving distance. Luck, right?

I hereby give myself good luck and a pat on the back to begin the 2010 race season. Hope it helps, LOOOOL!LOLOL!!

2010-01-20T17:00:00.002-05:00

Every single time I ride, I get a flat. No yolk. Every time. Also, every time I ride, the weather magically gets A LOT WORSE once I get outside. For example - today, I look outside... A crisp 37 degrees, with sunny skies. I go inside, put my clothes on, get on my bike, start riding and then BOOM POW SURPRISE. It starts snowing flakes the size of dinner plates. I can't see but 2 feet in front of me, not because it was snowing that hard, but because I had no glasses, and I couldn't look up. It was unrelenting literally until I ran over some broken glass and got a flat. Then, it was sunny again. Since I had but one tube in my bag, I had to turn around. Usually, I have two, and I would've kept going. However, I left my big box of tubes at the Danbury house, and so I have no tubes here at the Willington house.

This is a picture to show how awful the roads are here. You should seriously see the back of my vest... It was nasty black brown spatter, and I had to scrub like hell in the shower to get it off.

This is a picture of my bike, which shows the fiery rage of the weather gods.

2010-01-09T10:15:00.002-05:00

People are still saying "ween" on nyvelocity. In one recent article, people commented FOUR TIMES about their "weens."

Basically, what this goes to show is that I am basically the main source of motivation throughout the winter months for all cat4, geriatric, NYC-based bike racers. I mean, why else would they keep me in mind during the winter months?

Now, one could claim that I am simply "flattering myself," but let's be real. You also read nyvelocity, right? Case closed.

2010-01-01T12:36:00.001-05:00

I've been riding, running, skiing, basically staying active. I feel like it's not enough, however, because of all I did last year. Meh. I'm going to find my trainer in storage so I don't just have to ride outside.

I am psyched for the exit 14 ride. Chris put it on my schedule last year, but I was unable to as I was in Vermont. So now that I'm in CT, I'm going on it. should be fuuuun.

2009-12-23T21:37:00.002-05:00

I'm trying to ride, but my trainer is in storage somewhere, and it's been sub-20's every single morning. Weak.

I found somebody to ride with. It's not huge, but it's still very awesome and I'm excited.

2009-12-18T06:59:00.002-05:00

So that 2.5 hour 'nap' I just took after studying Chemistry from 3PM yesterday was just fantastic.

Also, after monitoring the temperature all day yesterday and somewhat last night, I found a new personal record:

So, that's pretty cold. I'm looking forward to walking in it for like 20 minutes this morning getting from the parking lot to the exam... Should be greeeeaaaaat.

2009-12-13T01:41:00.002-05:00

I've finally seen some progress!!

Steve from Illinois Cycling Association helped me contact Andy, who then emailed me and we worked out a deal. Hopefully it'll all be said and done by the end of finals. I'm glad this is mostly over.

In other news, I'm feeling good and I'm not sick for finals. I guess I haven't been studying hard enough?

2009-12-12T15:30:00.001-05:00

My check is getting more attention - unfortunately, nothing has progressed yet.

In other news, my cat pooped all over himself and rubbed it all over the house, so that took a couple hours to clean up.

2009-12-10T21:07:00.000-05:00

I got my letter on Velonews!! Yeah bwoieee!!

I really hope I get my money after all this crap.

2009-12-10T01:29:00.004-05:00

I found my credit card, it was under my bed.

So now that I have tried both the Powertap and SRM, I feel obligated to briefly review both as a person who has actually tried them both, and is not biased because of only this fact.

Overall, I miss the shit out of the Powertap. You could change the batteries yourself for under 5 dollars, you could recalibrate the power slope every time you rode, it had all the features of the SRM, minus wheel changeability, of course. After pretty much deeming rear aero wheels in crits to be pretty pointless, stupid, and costly, I am no longer hung up on the "which race wheel should I use" interchangeability. Thus, the only downfall of the Powertap is that it looks REALLY, REALLY, REALLY UGLY. Seriously, who likes a big YELLOW (of all colors? really, Saris?) egg awkwardly placed on their stem? This is the primary reason why so many people have SRM's. They just look pro as shit - definitely takes the looks award.

So, the SRM looks pro as shit. It's also generally twice to three times as expensive as the wireless 2.4 Powertap, the one I had. It makes you a LOT cooler of a cyclist if you have one, especially over a Powertap owner. This coolness and proness comes at a seriously hefty upkeep price, at like 100 dollars to change the batteries... god forbid you lose a part, for you get charged ridiculous prices for tiny pieces of plastic. And don't forget, if your slope isn't calibrated properly, all your power is off. So, you have to send it back to SRM, leaving you two weeks without a crank. I suppose SRM's are actually for pros, who don't care and who have a mechanic to constantly update their power slopes.

Basically, if you can afford an SRM, go for it, it's really, really cool looking and makes you feel really really fast. However, if you're like me, and you actually cannot afford it, and would rather have money in your pocket than looking cool, get the Powertap.

So now I have to find a wireless Powertap for like 200 dollars, like I used to have. That would be REALLY, really awesome. Anyone?

2009-12-08T22:54:00.003-05:00

I lost the bet.

Also, I can't find my credit card. I lost it somewhere between 6:00 last night and 10:15 this morning. It is either at the Northwest Dining Hall, on the sidewalks from the dining hall to L lot, in my car, somewhere in my room (most unlikely of all, unfortunately), on one of the multiple yellow line buses, on the walk to Schein Hall, or finally, in Schein Hall.

So up until like 12PM, nobody had made any purchases with the remaining 70 dollars credit. If they do, I believe it's a pretty hardcore felony, so they would have to be very, very unintelligent; for this, I have no sympathy, and I really don't care.

So I'm going to go around tomorrow and try to find my credit card.

2009-12-05T14:05:00.005-05:00

So I recently made a bet with my roommate/good homedog Dan that it wouldn't snow until January 15th. Not only do I want to win the bet, but I really, really don't want it to snow here. So I bet him one dollar.

As I brought Kelsey's clothes into the dryer in the barn, I felt a strange, cold mist upon my bare, oiled, chiseled chest. It was neither raining nor snowing, but I knew there was some foreboding garbage coming from the sky. Unfortunately, after inspecting "the f-ing weather," I see that tonight I might lose... I checked the weather channel just to make sure (I mean... just in case the f-ing weather isn't really a good forecast)... here's what I found:

So I guess there's some sort of "advisory warning," which is for complete girls, obviously. The dopplar doesn't really do it for me.

Also, I compared the weather here in Connecticut to arguably the coldest, most awful place on earth - Cold Bay, Alaska. Here's what I unfortunately discovered:

So that's pretty great... It's worse here than in the most awful place on earth - Cold Bay, Alaska. So therefore, Danbury is now the most awful, coldest place on earth. At least it was sixty-something the other day! From here on out it looks as if it's going pretty far down the mountain (metaphor for this winter getting worse and being really, really shitty).

2009-12-04T02:42:00.003-05:00

Nashbar is having a 20% off sale all orders over $100 until Friday, so I ordered fenders, a new chain, chain wax, and a saddle bag (because the other one is packed) not just because of the fact that I can't help but take advantage of a sale, but also to confirm the fact that I WILL be riding after exams... even though when the time rolls around I'm sure I'll be able to find something I'd rather be doing.

I gotta commit! It was easy in Boulder, because there wasn't much else to do, or really think about, other than getting out and riding. Even the same routes, over and over again! I would reluctantly hop on the ride and do the same route only with Mr. Trusty Ipod. No tubes, no pumps, no money. Ipod and phone - that's the way to roll.

I have a chemistry exam tomorrow, and it's on relatively easier concepts than the previous two exams, so I'm hoping by the grace of god I will be able to pull off a decent grade on this exam, even though it's an unusually, ridiculously large amount of knowledge to master and recall.

2009-12-02T01:26:00.004-05:00

I took a bunch of underwater shots while in Belize, you can view them on my flickr. I've printed some out and I can go up to 'bout 24x30, so let me know if you want to buy some. Very unlikely, yes, but alas, I am broke! I might as well try.

As for cycling, I was pretty dead set on just stopping, cold turks. I tried again and again to find a reason to ride, and I couldn't. The last time I rode my road bike was in early September. The last time I rode any bike was early October. I couldn't really give a shit that I'm not riding, and it's nice to have taken a step back to evaluate the sport and those who participate in it.

I don't like to ride, but I like to race and feel good about myself for doing well in races. I don't like group rides, I don't like talking about riding, etc. because it makes me feel like a douchebag. I'm not going pro, I'm not even on a team, so from now on it's for pure enjoyment in my racing - mostly crits, because I don't have to ride much to succeed in that style of competition. I'm holding to my claims before that last summer my training averaged 5 hours a week or less from late May-August. Dassit!

I'm going to start training after exams and I'm going to give it another go this year to feel good about myself and my image. I won't be traveling far, I won't be going to nationals in late June, and I won't expect anything spectacular. I'm just going to race as a cat 1 and have fun, hopefully.

1st Training Block Schedule - 3 weeks
Dec 21 - 2 hours
Dec 22 - 2 hours
Dec 23 - 1 hour
Dec 24 - 3 hours
Dec 25 - 3 hours
Dec 26 - 1 hour
Dec 27 - 4 hours
Dec 28 - 4 hours
Dec 29 - 1 hour
Dec 30 - 1 hour
Dec 31 - 2 hours
Jan 1 - 3 hours
Jan 2 - 1 hour
Jan 3 - 3 hours
Jan 4 - 4 hours
Jan 5 - 1 hour
Jan 6 - 4 hours
Jan 7 - 5 hours
Jan 8 - 1 hour
Jan 9 - 1 hour
Jan 10 - 3 hours
Jan 11 - 3 hours
Jan 12 - 1 hour
Jan 13 - 4 hours
Jan 14 - 5 hours
Jan 15 - 1 hour
Jan 16 - 4 hours
Jan 17 - 5 hours
Jan 18 - Spring Semester begins

2009-11-29T14:20:00.001-05:00

Back from Belize, I'll update when I get to the house.

2009-11-04T15:23:00.002-05:00

Official Class Schedule for Spring 2010
20 Credits (3 Online)
Calculus I
Organic Chemistry I
General Chemistry II
Genetics
Developmental Psychology
Classical Mythology

... 20 credits, and I still have no class on Friday. See you on the doctor side, beets!

2009-10-31T18:41:00.002-05:00

I think I may have found a team with some really cool guys who killed Superweek last year - I finally have a reason to ride again. I'm getting my hopes up, but I'll have to cool it until I see what the future actually brings. I will update with news.

But as for Now...
Mengoni - DENIED
CCB - DENIED
Spooky - IGNORED
Champion Systems - IGNORED
Land Rover/Orbea - IGNORED
Toby Stanton's U23 Team - CONSIDERED (sort of, but more like 'let me down easy')
Bob's Bicycles - CONSIDERED (seemed interested until they read my resume...)
Bikereg - CONSIDERED (I seriously think I will NEVER get on this team)

2009-10-22T22:28:00.003-05:00

This is my possible schedule next semester:

Developmental Psychology
Social Psychology
Drugs & Behavior Psychology
General Chemistry II
Introduction to Mythology
Introduction to Genetics

... and possibly Organic Chemistry I. I'm not sure yet, UConn offers some WACK O-Chem classes that aren't 100% transferable to the prerequisite list for many dental schools. I have to send some emails.

2009-10-22T17:43:00.003-05:00

Sold the MPC. Next stop Belize! We're staying here, should be sick.

I sent my resume to Land Rover/Orbea last night as the ultimate last cry. I haven't found a team yet, surprise surprise. Indy-Fab is folding, Bikereg is full, Mengoni is full, CCB is full - Spooky and Champion Systems have ignored me. The only team who has contacted me back with some form of interest has been Bob's Bicycles. Honestly, I don't want to quit, but I definitely don't want to be a part of anything that isn't directly correlated with the amount of work put in - I came in 10th at U23 Nationals, was the second amateur, I'm 19 years old, and I'm the Connecticut U23 Road and Crit champion... and I still can't get on a team.

2009-10-20T23:47:00.003-05:00

Kelsey's certification is said and done! She only cried one time, and it was before her third dive in 43 degrees, raining. The water temp was 63.

As for myself, I haven't done shit! I haven't worked out in a long time, and I'm walking to class so much and not eating much, so I'm still keeping weight. Last year around this time I was about 152. I'm about 147-148 right now, so whatever. There's a cross race in Hartford this Sunday... I feel bad not going because it's so close, but I really don't want to get my ass kicked, and I really don't want to race B's. Hard decision. I'm not sure yet, I'll probably just go for a long run. I don't know yet - crap.

I'm accompanying my parents on a refresher SCUBA course pool dive this Saturday, just for kicks. I'll be glad to get some down time anyways (when I say down time from now on, I mean underwater time).

I'm also selling my MPC 500, link here, to buy the Suunto Gekko dive computer, link here, because I want a cheap one to experiment with before deciding whether or not it is necessary to spend the ungodly amount upgrading to the holy grail of dive computers, the Galileo Sol/Luna, link here.

2009-10-14T07:10:00.000-05:00

Uh.... Excuse me?

2009-10-13T21:24:00.001-05:00

Also, today I declared a neuroscience minor. Whoooo!

2009-10-13T17:03:00.005-05:00

I'm pretty mad at UCI trying to ban radios. What makes me even more mad, however, are 40+ year old weekend cyclists and regular schmoes alike who think that banning radios will bring back that "old-school racing."

Without radios, you wouldn't receive any time splits. You wouldn't be able to tell anyone you're hungry. You wouldn't know if your teammates went down in a crash. You wouldn't know where the car was in the peloton. You wouldn't be able to swiftly go back to the car to get bottles, because you wouldn't know what terrain is approaching in the race.

You would, however, have to go around the 180+ man peloton, find each and every one of your teammates, and see who wants to go to the front. You would then have to go back to each teammate, and tell them the news.

If I were part of the UCI, I would leave it ENTIRELY to the teams and the riders to vote - the people who actually are effected by this decision. I definitely would NOT leave it to people who have never raced UCI-level professional in their lives, who have not witnessed the benefits of using radios first hand, nor genuinely care where the sport is going (for example, the recent aero regulations. Really now?)

It's seriously like having the Republicans (and only the Republicans) vote for the next president... who do you think will win? Exactly. UCI voting for banning radios, even though they have no idea what they're doing.... who's going to win?

2009-10-11T17:15:00.003-05:00

I got my AAAAAASSSS kicked. I got to ride the deep Dura Ace tubulars though, so I looked good while getting my ass kicked. It was fine for the first 3 laps or so, but then it turned real bad.

Next weekend I'm going to Dutch Springs, PA to help Kelsey get her SCUBA certification. She passed the written last Friday, and now she has to dive 4 times in a quarry in late October. She's really skinny, so she's going to be very cold and REALLY mad when she comes out!

Then it's Hartford 'cross the following weekend. Local = fun.

2009-10-01T22:45:00.002-06:00

It's official - I'm racing on the Echappe Equipment Elite Team for cyclocross. Whooo!

Link HERE.

2009-09-29T16:00:00.002-06:00

Come Thursday, I will have completed FOUR exams in LESS THAN A WEEK. I am a studying master, and I am very curious as to how much more difficult dental school will be.

Currently building the cross bike. I'll have pictures this weekend.

2009-09-27T15:26:00.002-06:00

Started gluing the Dugasts to the Reynolds today. I'm not racing next weekend because I don't have 90 dollars + gas to race, and I don't want to race with no training for a week. So, I'm using these next 2 weeks to prepare for the Providence races the following weekend, where I will still likely get raped. Sweet.

2009-09-23T21:21:00.005-06:00

This weekend I will be gluing 2-year old Dugast Typhoons to Reynolds Cirro Mid-V's from 2005 (before Reynolds was bought out by cheap overseas garbage), put on a Sram 11-26 cassette, and hopefully be ready for cross. Last time I checked the tires, they held air for a couple days, but I remember the last time they were mounted they leaked air like a mawf. I have no idea, maybe I'll put some sealant in them to keep 'em tight.

Tentative Cross Schedule:

10/17 - Mansfield Hollow Cross Race (7 miles from my house, HAHAH!!)
10/18 - Minuteman Road Club Cyclocross Race
10/25 - Hartford Cross
10/31 - Canton Cup Cyclocross
11/1 - BEER CROSS #1 (Probably going to be my favorite race of all time, going to get a DUI on the way home)
11/8 - Cyclocross at the Hidden Valley Club
11/14 - Mercer Cross UCI (if I feel up to it by this time of year)
11/15 - Mercer Cross UCI
12/12 - Beer Cross Finals 1 (OMG)
12/13 - Beer Cross Finals 2 (LOL)

2009-09-21T20:04:00.003-06:00

In the MTB race, all was well... I was in 6th place, cruising and passing some peeps. I had done 1.5 laps, and about to jump over this massive log, when I realized I was going WAAAY too fast to jump over it on the Trek K-Mart bike, and I hit my rear wheel on it and ate MEGA-SHIT on this root about 5 feet after the 1st log, 6 inches off the ground, directly on my quad. I laid there for about 40 minutes, basically unable to move, and about to throw up the entire time, because it hurt really bad. Some EMT's or Trainers or something came to help me eventually, where they helped me through the woods to their cars, and they drove me to the start. I laid patiently on the table in epic pain, until I felt I was ready to use crutches to get back to my car, 1/4 mile away. It took me about 20 minutes. I then laid on the ground, and didn't move for about 5 hours, until the short track race was done, so I could drive my roommate home. I drove home. That sucked too. I had to pick my leg up, with my hands, from the gas pedal to hit the brake, as I had zero power from my quad. I was basically gimpin'. It's gotten a lot better since that day, but it's still hard to walk around... No more crutches though. No track nationals, either, but I'm not too bummed because I would've had to miss a ton of class, like I said before. No big.

In other news, I just bought an underwater writing tablet so I can express my deepest feelings to Kelsey when I'm diving in Belize during Thanksgiving break. Sick!

2009-09-18T10:15:00.002-06:00

Road is over, track nationals are kind of dumb, not too sure if I'm even going. I was going to drive Leah, but she told me recently that she might only do some race that isn't on Thursday. So, I probably won't go. I don't really have the money, and it's a long freakin drive for 2 races I don't really care about. Plus, I have to miss a ton of class since basically all my classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Leah's racing will decide my driving, no big.

However, I AM doing a mountain bike race tomorrow, just as I did last year. I'm psyched for it, even though I'm racing a K-Mart bike (seriously) in A's and I'm going to get raped. I'm driving my roommate Dan up to New Hampshire tomorrow at 6:00AM, and we're going to race XC and ST, which should be ill.

Also, I recently bought a 6.5mm hood, 5mm boots, 5mm gloves, and some new open-heeled boots to accompany my 7mm farmer-john/LS shorty wetsuit. Now, I shall test my new masks and my oxygen capacity while freediving in Candlewood Lake. Sick! Here are my masks for reference.

They are the Tusa PanoGeo (blue), Sherwood Rona (clear), Scubamax Spider Eye (black), and Mares X-Vision (red). So sick.

2009-09-14T09:13:00.003-06:00

As promised, here are the pictures of my new living spaces while doing undergrad at UConn.

My entertainment center in my room. I still need to put some posters up, because it currently resembles a pedophile's apartment.
Another shot of my room, the shelves and door.
Video game station...

This is the living room, where we chill and eat food sometimes.
Outside of the house, super-raised ranch, lower level duplex.
This is the backyard.

This is the kitchen where we make our food at.
The bathroom, where I do my main business.

2009-09-14T06:30:00.002-06:00

Still not sure if I'll do cross this year or not. I won't train for it like in 2007 but I'm kind of psyched regardless. This should be especially fun, since the old nationals course was da bomb, hopefully it's in the same location. From Aki's Blog:

Interbike East 2009

The quick and dirty:
1. October 10-11, 2009
2. Providence, RI
3. Outdoors, mainly
4. $10

There's a 'cross racing festival at the same time, but since I'm not a 'cross kind of guy, I have no idea if it's something that's part of it. For sure the racing will be separate, i.e. you'll have to pay for that as a USAC racer.

Anyway, as the page above says, it's the first time Interbike has invited the general public.

2009-09-13T18:39:00.003-06:00

Univest was an awesome experience, I loved every second of it... even though I got demolished. Our host house was great - we were kept full and entertained. They had 2 big dogs, a Newfoundland and a German Shepperd, that I liked spending some time with (that sounds pathetic).

Stage 1

I arrived in Allentown early in the morning, greeted by ferocious (not kidding) winds and cold temps. I was feeling a little sick with a cold or something, and I was tired from class late the previous night. I got together with Eugene and the team, and we rode a little bit, rode the course, etc. I was really nervous before the start because to me, Univest is a really big deal. I started the race second wheel behind the ungodly force that is Andres, and took a bigger pull that I should have. We were starting very slow and being cautious, because we didn't want to crash and wanted to stay together. The course was pretty straight forward, but there was one killer hill that was super steep that slayed my poorly warmed-up legs. I was out after 1 and 1/4 laps, and rode it in with decent speed to keep as much time as I needed to not come in last.

Stage 2

I was also really nervous for this race, the main show. After some delays, we go off. Of course, being Univest, it was rainy and basically disgusting. 5 minutes into the race, a huuuuge crash went down, and I was SO LUCKY to have made it through unscathed... I seriously went through a 2 ft. gap in between sliding crash victims and moving peloton on both sides. You can see it on the TV, but I don't think you'll be able to see it unless I point myself out, it's really hard to see. I get kind of covered by a tree from the helicopter. So, the race goes, and I'm seriously in my 13 for 80% of the time - it was faster than Superweek, faster than nationals, super fast. I make it over 1 KOM, and I get off the back a little. I went into the caravan, and followed an Amore y Vita guy through the cars. I was very lucky to have this guy in the caravan too, because his car was a huge asset to us making it back to the field. So I roll the field for another 10 miles or so, until the main KOM. This shit was SO steep, that I was seriously in my 39x25, sliding out and practically falling over. I was doing probably 30rpm's. I got back in the caravan after that, spent about 5 miles in the caravan, got a mini-sticky bottle from my man Ray (who helped me bigtime at the Kutztown USAC Camp in 2005), but eventually fell behind the caravan and rode by myself. I then proceeded to throw up 5 times, 3 on the bike, and 2 on the side of the road. I had a bad/expired GU, and I really thought I was in trouble. I was in the middle of nowhere, feeling like I was about to pass out. Eventually, 2 guys caught and dropped me, and then 3 more (including Eugene, thank god) caught me. I ate a bunch, and stuck with those guys. We took a shortcut that cut off about a mile of the race, and then we joined up with a bunch of other guys, total of about 10. I fell back from this group, but coerced some lady to let me hold onto her car as she brought me the 10 minutes back to the group (uber sticky bottle!!!). We then made it over the last KOM, and finished in town. We were too far back, about 10 minutes or so, as the lead group had already begun their circuits. We got time cut, weak!

Stage 3

Cool course, felt like garbage from the day before. Absolutely smoked. Dropped after a few fast laps before the break went and it got easier (general NRC race style). Too bad, could've been fun.

Jerome did really well this weekend, riding super good in the late season. He was telling me about sending his resume to some good pro team, I bet he'll do some gooood work next year. Alister killed the road race with 11th place, super epic job.

2009-09-10T17:12:00.002-06:00

When I remembered that bike team meetings were in the Hellems building, I realized that I do really miss CU. Yeah, it was a hassle, but I knew the entire city, all the buildings, everything. I knew a lot of people, and I felt free. I'd go back... ugh.

I'm getting ready to leave my house tonight to go back to Sherms, where I will promptly go to bed.

2009-09-09T12:37:00.002-06:00

It's been a little while, and I apologize.

I started school, it's pretty busy with 17 credits, but whatevs. My Tuesdays and Thursdays have me on campus from 9-6, but everything else is limited to 1 or 2 classes, basically leaving me the whole day to party...

I got out for a good ride today, did 2 hours @ 19mph avg, 1400 ft. climbing. It felt a lot hillier than that... MapMyRide.com only does elevation points every 400m, so that could be why. SECRET UNDERCOVER HILLS, EH?!

I feel as prepared as I can be for Univest at this time of the year. It's a shame the race is so late, but everybody has to deal with it. I've been racing since February, so it's been QUITE a season this year. I got some good results, I'm pretty much ecstatic about how this year went (... except for Gila). I got 10th at nationals, I got cat 1, I got top 10 in pretty much every crit I did this year, my ween got huge... kidding.

Mengoni Univest Roster:
Connor Sallee*
Eugene Boronow
Neil Bezdek
Andres Diaz
Amaury Perez
Salvatore Scotto DiVetta
*Guest Rider

I am also living in a small duplex here in Willington. I am excited to grow up a little, and I'll upload some pictures later for y'all to peep and get jealous about my raised-ranch style duplex. Sweeeeet.

2009-08-25T00:18:00.002-06:00

Haven't really been riding much... I'm going to go out tomorrow hopefully and have a nice ride. I just find that I like chilling a lot more than going out and riding the same roads over and over again. I think once I get to Storrs on Saturday I'll be fine. I'm doing a little race in Baltic, CT on Saturday, and I'm skipping Chris Thater because it's a 4.5 hour drive and the race starts at 11:30. Weak.

I'll be all set for Univest though, don't worry bout dat!

2009-08-10T15:12:00.003-06:00

I'm pretty much done for the season. I have really no interest in training, and I don't really feel like challenging myself anymore. As of now, I'm riding and racing for fun (and a little bit of money from crits), because I'm literally able to ride a crit and do top 10 without training at all. Nationals crit? No training the week prior. I honestly can't remember when I've done above 2.5 hours not racing. My usual ride consists of thinking about going on the rollers or the occasional hour ride outside, or 2 hours with Graham.

I'm still doing Univest, and I'm psyched, but I know I'm going to get raped in the road race. I want to do really well, but not badly enough to get on my bike and do something about it. I've had a LOAD of success this year and I'm completely content with that. I believe I've associated with enough people this year that my results will get me on a good team next year where I won't have to worry about paying for everything.

Needless to say, I won't be doing any huge traveling anymore this year. I'm staying local and doing local races. DEFINITELY not doing GMSR, because it's climbing heavy, and I'm just heavy. I don't want to climb anymore, because after Tokeneke, I have realized that I just can't climb in 2009. Maybe 2010 will be better for that, lolz.

2009-08-03T12:55:00.001-06:00

Just caught word - Going to Univest with Mengoni. Hells yeah!! I'm going to do long miles for both Green Mountain and so that I can finish the demonic Univest road race, so that I can do the crit the next day. Can't do the crit unless you finish the road race, unfortunately.

Whooo!!

2009-08-02T22:03:00.002-06:00

Another email from Keith Williams.

From: Stephen Sallee (sesallee@hotmail.com)
Sent: Mon 8/03/09 12:02 AM
To: Keith Williams (info@williamscycling.com)

Thank you for another overreaction email. Now, I've had it.

First of all, Keith, let's not forget that I simply asked you for a derailleur. Not a bike upgrade, not carbon wheels that all your boys receive, I wasn't immature about it... I simply asked you for help a week before my first U23 nationals. You ignored me. Respect? Manners? ... Really?

I honestly cannot believe that you have taken it upon yourself to let me know what my personality is missing, especially since you don't know me in the slightest. It's actually unbelievable. Are you my father, Keith? Having shown your true colors in this LOUSY and immature derailleur situation, I decided to show you the same amount of respect which you had shown me. Please, ask ANYONE on the northeast racing circuit about me, and they'll tell you that I am a homegrown, country boy with fine manners, respect only for people who show it to me, and I'm unsure of this "curtsey" you speak of. I actually believe that showing is for girls.

So, yes. You blatantly ignored me when I cried for help. The FIRST TIME I cried for help. You showed me NO respect as a person, and all I did was tell you I was pissed about it. I'll say it a thousand times - I have respect and manners ONLY for the people who show me the same. Just because you have a company and you think you've hit the bigtime does NOT mean that I will simply grovel to you and show you (now) undeserved respect and manners. I did previously, because you showed me that same respect. Mine ended when yours did, so don't you dare accuse me of that.

My only reputation in this industry is a guy you don't want on your bad side. Treat me with the same respect, and you'll get a lot of it. Everybody knows that.

Now, I've completely lain it out - if you somehow deem it necessary to say anything more, go ahead, but I think what I've said pretty much covers the situation. So now I won't see you on the flip side. You'll see me though, just wait.

Connor Sallee

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: info@williamscycling.com
To: sesallee@hotmail.com
Subject: RE:
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 19:08:15 -0700

Connor,

You need to focus your attention on respecting people. Your career on the bike will be short lived if you do not learn curtsey, respect and manners. Without these basic attributes, you will develop a reputation within the industry. Fast guys are a dime a dozen, it’s the other attributes directors want.

Keith

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Stephen Sallee [mailto:sesallee@hotmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, August 02, 2009 3:47 PM
To: Keith Williams
Subject:

Keith

If any teams happen to ask for my information, can you please send them in the right direction?

Check today's crit results.

Thanks
Connor

2009-08-02T16:53:00.002-06:00

So today was REALLY good. I had trouble falling asleep last night because one nostril clogged up... I thought, "oh crap, maybe I'm getting sick again." But then I fell asleep. I woke up, had a good breakfast, and was actually really pissed that I spent all this cash coming out to nationals when all I did was suck. I got to the race and felt pretty good - I didn't get too good of a warmup going, but it was okay because the race was a little long. It started out fast as usual, but chilled after about 20-30 laps. I wasn't quite tailgunnin', but I was in the back half of the race. As it would swell up at the front, I kept moving up while keeping an eye on Justin Williams, cause I thought he would win for sure. Anyway, 10 to go, I'm up there, feeling pretty good. The last lap, I was 5th wheel or so... Dugan was at the front and pulled off with 1/2 lap to go, and I saw nobody wanted to keep it moving, so I attacked really hard on the left. Nobody followed at first, but then a Garmin guy followed me. This created a 2" split, and I was on the back of that, cause I was pretty busted after that quick attack. It worked out though, I sprinted my ass off to stay away from the field and got 10th, 2nd amateur.

Siiiiiick!! I've been waiting for a top-10 at nationals for a really long time. Now Emerson and I both got top-10's. I'm psyched!

2009-08-01T00:10:00.002-06:00

I feel the need to comment on Kirk O'Bee and his recent 'mistakes.'

First off, Kirk, you're a fucking idiot. Did you forget about this? Well, I know that nobody at USADA did, so now you're done. Lifetime ban. Seeing as how you tested positive in 2001, and then AGAIN in 2009, that goes to show that aaaall of THESE are worth dick. You've shat on American cycling, in a time where American cycling is already in the toilet. So, thanks a lot. You won Kelly Cup, which will probably affect KBS' team next year. I mean... why would Kelly sponsor a race (or team) that was won by a blatant doper? You said in an interview with Neil Rogers that you graduated pre-med in college. So, you would rather get paid nothing, even when you win, barely have a job in 2009, dope the shit out of yourself, cheat EVERYONE behind you in results, shit on American cycling, and ruin peoples' dreams... all when you could be a doctor. You're an asshole.

What pisses me off the MOST is that in 2009, you didn't have a team. Bissell bent over backwards to give you a job, paying you basically nothing, and thus giving you another chance. EPIC FAIL!

2009-07-29T19:21:00.002-06:00

Meh, failed my goal. Didn't finish. Between the heat, altitude, dryness, and being a lazy bastard before nationals, I felt like total garbage. I had little to no fuel in the tank, regardless of my usual preparation. My tires felt like they were sticking to the ground, and I couldn't climb for my life. I lasted 2 whole laps, then met up with Jerome, rode to this river, and jumped in it. It felt good. Then, I hung out at the feedzone to watch my boy Emerson light shit UP. Whooooo!!

I have two more races left. I have absolutely no idea how the TT will go, but I hope that I find myself feeling mighty manly in the crit, so that I can do well. I hope I find my balls for the crit, bigtime.

2009-07-27T19:38:00.002-06:00

Today was my epic travel day. I woke up at 3:45, put my stuff in the car, and then realized that the Envoy was dead. I jumped it with the trusty Maz', and then my mom and I left for Newark, the armpit of America. I put my 70 pound, double bike box on the scale, and held it from behind so that it would read about 50 pounds. I saved my mom 60 dollars. Yay. I got on my flight no problem, slept through every round of drinks up and down the isles (great!), and then got on my 50 minute flight to Redmond. I met my uncle Randy in the airport, and we waited for my bikes, which came through no problem. I got home, built them up, went to Camp Sherman in the car, looked around, and then took a little nap. Since it's a 3 hour difference, I'm DYING. I'm going to ride later tonight after dinner and after it cools down. It's really, really hot here. Tomorrow, I chill and go pick up my packet. Then, I will chill more and await my impending doom for the road race, which is 120 miles of doom and pain, and much embarrassment afterwards.

2009-07-26T16:41:00.004-06:00

I'm cat 1. I just found out via email from Randy Inglis. I've made the bigtime, hells yeah.

2009-07-24T09:13:00.003-06:00

It seems that Keith has found his panties in a bind, because I really never could have imagined that someone would take this shit so seriously. A freaking ULTEGRA DERAILLEUR... come on. It's also humorous to me how the cost on an Ultegra derailleur is about $70, which is a fraction of the $100 dollars that was promised to me for entry fees, which was never received. And also, thanks for the 19's. They are awesome. I bent the front wheel and cracked the rear wheel. In just three months of regular training... and he knows this. Thus, they will likely do me a lot of good sitting in my garage. Let me know if anyone wants the hubs, I'll sell them for $20 shipped. Read this email. I didn't change it in any way.

From: Williams Cycling (info@williamscycling.com)
Sent: Wed 7/22/09 1:12 PM
To: 'Stephen Sallee' (sesallee@hotmail.com)

Connor,

I re-read your email and believe you are serious and feel entitled to more support than I can provide a Cat 2 cyclist.

Effective immediately, you are terminated from the New England Williams Cycling team. You are no longer allowed to wear the Williams kit in any cycling event. The first set of wheels I sent you (19's) are yours to keep per my contract with the team. They second set I sent out to you for Fitchburg is not part of the contract and I require you sent them back immediately. I will email you a return UPS label today. Please put the wheels in a wheel box and drop off at any UPS shipping place. If you do not do this in the next few days, I will have a member of the Williams Cycling team pick them up from you.

I have many frends who will be at Nationals in Bend. They will confirm you are not riding in the Williams kit or racing on Williams Wheels.

Good luck with your future endeavors in cycling.

Regards,

Keith Williams
President
Williams Cycling
www.williamscycling.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Stephen Sallee [mailto:sesallee@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 8:01 AM
To: Keith Williams
Subject:

Keith

I left you a message on your phone and you didn't call me back or email me - I'm really disappointed. I've been giving you top 10 results since March. I paid 450 for Fitchburg, 500 for Superweek, and well over 750 for nationals, all out of pocket. I know you guys are tight, but I've been easily out-performing Fred and Ryan on a weekly basis, no joke.

I'm taking your wheels to nationals, obviously, but I don't think it's right that I have to pay 100% for an Ultegra derailleur, after being ignored, when I'm getting these results and going these places. I can't continue to race if I have to pay for every entry fee, travel, food, gas, and bike maintenance. I really need some help!

Connor

2009-07-24T09:05:00.002-06:00

Superweek was good. It wasn't brutally fast, but it definitely was faster and harder than northeast P12 races. The first day was absolutely miserable, but it was the first time I actually felt like a good bike racer. It was a little longer than a mile circuit, and it was pretty technical with one decent hitting about 45 to a 90 degree right turn and sprint to the finish. I cramped hard the last lap, but suffered and hung in there to finish in the group. I made all the splits and was riding in the front, but I couldn't finish well. I felt better every day. I suppose the highlight was at Arlington Heights, where I was able to get in a lil' break with Bissell, Jelly Belly, Mountain Khakis, and ME for a few laps. That felt good.

I got 20th, 30th, 30th, 33rd, 37th.

OH! And the last race, after 3/4 of the first lap, I accelerated out of the last corner and snapped my hanger, which threw my derailleur into the wheel, snapped it, and bent the shit out of the wheel. I called Keith for a new one, but he decided to ignore me. I then sent him an email saying basically that I was pissed that he didn't email me or call me back, and then justified why I deserved some help, in form of a fucking Ultegra derailleur. I'll post the email for everyone to view the absurdity that ensued.

Now I'm off to nationals, where I will get raped. It isn't really coming at a good time, but I'm going anyway. Hopefully I'll get more motivation when I get out there, cause I'm just in a slump now I guess. Racing since February!

2009-07-06T10:09:00.002-06:00

Fitchburg went pretty well. I drove up with Beth, and we had some good chats. Fitchburg as a town pretty much sucks, and it sucked riding through it. I won't explain the racing, because nothing really exciting happened, but I'll tell of some stuff that went down.

Keith Williams came out to race and meet everybody. We were watching the pro circuit race, and he started to laugh about people's accents and stuff, and how maybe he had one. One USCF official and Will Frischorn's dad were talking with their strong Boston accents, and I said to Keith "Haha, there you go, Massachusetts." Some lady behind me was like "HEY WHADDAYA MEAN, I'M FROM FITCHBURG AND I DON'T HAVE AN ACCENT!!!" I wanted to blatantly say that I was sorry that she had to live in such a dump, but I could only laugh. What do you expect from me? I'm a dick!

I had to ride to the hotel because I needed a ride from Fred Stamm to the road race. It was the 4th of July, and I guess Fitchburg was having this huge parade, which I had to ride through. Immediately as I turned onto the sidewalk to ride up the road, some guy was like "Easy there, easy. There's a lotta kids around." I was too much in a rush to turn around and say, "Oh, holy shit you Fitchburg resident. Thank you for warning me. I'm blind, so I didn't see these kids running around without parental supervision, of course, so that's a big help. Just kidding, I'm not blind, and I can see these kids. Instead of warning ME, who will obviously not be the one severely injured after being run down by bladed spokes, why don't you warn your god damn children, who are running around the freakin street like they're homeless." Two blocks later, I was riding on the sidewalk and some fucking bum shoulders me. I didn't turn around, as I was in a rush, but I wish I could've seen it coming so I could've shouldered the bejesus out of that meth'd up asshole.

15th - TT, 38th - Circuit, 16th - RR, 6th - Crit, 11th - GC

2009-06-30T21:53:00.002-06:00

Wednesday Mental Schedule

9:00 - Wake up
12:00 - Leave for Bristol to meet up with Beth
1:00 - Meet Beth, pack car, leave for Fitchburg.
3:30 - Put stuff in the dorm room, mozy around, take nap.
4:30 - Think about getting ready to ride TT course (drive if it's raining).
5:00 - TT course shenanigans
8:00 - Dinner at Race Headquarters YEAH
9:00 - Sleeps!

2009-06-29T13:42:00.003-06:00

This past weekend was a good'un, which proves that I still can race real good while taking antibiotics and feeling like major shit.

Before the Twilight Crit on Saturday, I was sitting on the beach with Kelsey, looking at the waves. I really, REALLY didn't want to leave, but I knew that I did actually have to leave, as I paid 30 dollars to race. I was really glad the rain decided to hold off for a little while so the race wouldn't be canceled, because if I drove 1.5 hours to hear "it's canceled, thanks," I would've gone on a killing rampage. In the race, 4 guys broke away early. There were only 26 people there, which really sucks, because everyone had the whole "I'm not gonna chase or do anything, but I'll attack the shit out of you for no reason" mentality. One of the 4 came back pretty cooked, and 2 guys attacked. A couple laps later I just so happened to roll off the front (literally... roll) with 3 other guys, 2 of which were on the same team. We caught the 2 guys and dropped 2 I think - we were going really, really hard with Alec Donahue on the front ripping my legs off. He jumped and joined the other 3, who had already lapped the field. A prime came around, and I was dead. DEAD. One guy caught me as I was riding dead, about 3/4 lap up on the field, and we worked evenly. We caught a guy who had attempted to make the gap with Alec, but had also died. Then, one of the people came back from the field (who was lapped already) to help a teammate in our group. So, totes, we have 4 now. We tool around the last 15 laps, keeping about 1/2 lap up on the field. With 5 to go, I start blatantly skipping every pull, and win the sprint handily. 5th place, $80. I was sure glad to get that $80, because I didn't have a single dollar to get home, and my gas tank was on E.

On Sunday, I left Rhode Island to go to the Keith Berger crit, which I expected to be another local CT race with some good guys, but nothing too extreme. 72 guys show up at the start line with (GASP) A PRO!!! Just one, but nonetheless, a pro. It was a bit more than I had expected. I knew I was doomed in the sprint when I laid eyes on Mengoni and Champ-Sys guys, because they're dominican, and fast. I sat in a lot, and became really active in the last 10-15 laps. I definitely went out too early, and was pretty cooked by the end, but I still got 7th, $60. Alec Donahue went to the front again with 1/2 lap to go and really ripped my legs off. I was dying to hold his wheel, but I knew if I lost it I would be f-d in the sprint. The Mengoni guy jumped real good from a couple behind me (I was 2nd wheel, he was 4th), and got me by a lot.

Two top-10's, two days. BYAAAAH. Excited to do my thang at Superweek, even though it's going to be nuts-rageous and I'm going to get demolished.

2009-06-26T08:50:00.002-06:00

So I've been chilling in Rhode Island with Kelsey for the week. Her little brother had strep throat, which I received, GREAT. Now I'm on some antibiotics to clear this shit up and hopefully it'll be done by Fitchburg. If it's not, I'm going to kill everybody around me. This weekend has some local crits, which is good, because I need some cash. I'm almost out of the last cash I made from New Britain. Even though I'm sick, I'm sure I can still hang in there and sprint.

2009-06-19T23:11:00.001-06:00

DEEEEENIEEED

FUUUCK MEEEEE

2009-06-15T21:30:00.002-06:00

Today = Recovery Ride + Coffee + Buffalo Strips (10+ of those bastards)

After seeing that Zack Stein, 18, went to Nature Valley (SOMEHOW) and is a 1 (SOMEHOW), I decided to put in for it. JUST NOW. The majestic cat 1. If Randy doesn't hook it up, I'm going to be an angry, pasta-munching, driven sunnuvabitch to get my 6 points at Housatonic Hills.

I am not posting until I receive feedback from this upgrade request. For clarification, if the post reads something like "success" or "got it," I got it. However, if it reads "denied" or "epic failure," I didn't get my upgrade, and I didn't accomplish my life-long goal of "cat 1 at 18." I will likely cry for hours.

HOOK IT UP RANDY, HOOK IT UP

2009-06-13T22:05:00.002-06:00

Today was a pretty good success - I got 8th behind some super serious sprinters like Danny Estevez, Issac Howes, and Colin Jaskiewicz. Over 100 guys started, so I think it's a pretty legit result.

What SUCKED about it is that I was the SECOND CT guy, so I didn't get my freakin jersey. I really hoped I could get that. Kyle Wolfe won his race and got his jersey, and we talked before the race about how cool it would be if I got my jersey so we could wear them to Bethel together. I couldn't do it... the guy who won just had a baby, and is still beating me!

I didn't get any points today unfortunately, but I think it's a good pusher for the upgrade because it shows that I can hold my own without any teammates in a super fast, sketchy crit with the big boys from the northeast. Booya!

Kelsey's graduation party is tomorrow so I'm missing Whaling City, FML x 3. It's all good, I think there's going to be some really good food and drank there so I'm going to get loosey, baby.

2009-06-12T11:45:00.003-06:00

It's coming down to the wire... Fitchburg is approaching. 3 or 4 races until then because of Kelsey's graduation parties and ceremonies, etc... This is what I have so far, but if I read it, I wouldn't upgrade myself, if that makes sense.

1st - Criterium de Bethel
3/29, P123, 21-50 starters = 5 points
2nd - Plainville Spring Series
3/28, P123, 21-50 starters = 4 points
4th - Plainville Spring Series
3/21, P123, 21-50 starters = 2 points
5th - Bethel CDP Gold
3/22, P123, 50+ starters = 2 points
6th - Wilmington Grand Prix
5/16, 2/3, 100+ starters = 1 point
6th - Connecticut Coast Crit
6/7, P123, 50+ starters = 1 point
7th - Connecticut Stage Race, Stage 2
5/30, P12, 50+ starters, stage race = 9 points

(1st U23 rider in all but two)

Other Notables
9th - Kelly Cup
5/17, 2/3, 100 starters

2009-06-08T23:10:00.003-06:00

I saved a turtle today.

I was driving, about to make my usual left turn, when I saw a turtle shell in the road. I assumed it was alive, so I quickly parked and ran my ass off to the turtle. I was praying that I would avoid a repetition of my previous turtle-saving scenario two years ago - I was doing the same thing, but only mozied off my bike and watched a turtle get run over from 5 feet in an expensive Mercedes. That was miserable and unforgettable, so that's why I was running my ASS off to get to that turtle.

What made me especially happy was the man in the big truck running for the same turtle, which made me think about the overall kindness of people in CT, regardless of their backgrounds, whether it be truck-driving assholes or skinny kids driving Mazda 626's.

We decided that I was closer, so I got it as he returned to his truck. He exclaimed "you're the man" from his truck as I placed the turtle deep in the woods.

Good day.

Also, very psyched for this. Not 100% sure if I'm going to go (likely by myself), seeing as how there's another twilight crit in CT, AND it's really close to Fitchburg to drive like 1600 miles... However, I feel that I should expose myself to other racing locations, as CT, although awesome, is the main thing I've done this year. In this situation, of course, and as Wu-Tang Clan says, I have to "DIVERSIFY YO BONDS, N---A!"

2009-06-07T15:12:00.003-06:00

I spent the whole race worrying about my crank and floated a lot, not really unlike the usual. I looked down multiple times to view my still beautiful SRM (haven't lost the lust yet) and saw we were going 35+ MPH (not kph, this is America) on the flats, no joke. I guess it was fast then, huh.

I got boxed in pretty bad at the finish, and had to explode around some guys. Just a really bad play on my part. That's happened the last few times I've raced. I got 6th, 50 something started.

Upgrade points +1 = 24.