My weekend riding pretty much sucked. More specifically, more lack of riding sucked. My early morning Saturday ride was rained out and then when it dried out, well, I didn't want to ride. Sunday was rainy early and then I was called into work at 11:30 and got home at 6pm. Forty-five minutes later I was trying to call I.T. people to let them know we were having problems at work again. At 9pm, everything was pretty much fixed but companies were calling looking for their files.

At midnight, I finally fell asleep. At 3:45, the companies were calling again looking for more files. AAAARGGHH!!! I spent 40 minutes dialed-in from home, trying to resolve the problem before saying "Screw it". I drove in to work early so I could more easily work.

I was tired by the end of my shift. I had been up for 30 of 34 hours and naturally I had to stay an hour of overtime to fix one more problem.

Enough of my griping. I went to the Tuesday Worlds because I really needed some riding before Gateway Cup. For the most part I just sat in the pack but the first 17 minutes seemed really quick last night. Then it settled down and became a standard Worlds race. With three laps to go there were still a couple riders up the road. I was mid-pack approaching the hill and nothing was happening so I tried to liven up the field. I attacked on the right along the curb. A Clubber must have been on the front and began drifting back. Unfortunately, he was also drifting more and more toward the curb. There was no braking at that point. I gave a little "Hey!" and flew by, bumping elbows and shoulders along the way. He wasn't too happy with the bump but there was nothing else to do. Trust me, brother, I dislike contact as much as you.

Anyway, my attack did pick up the action. Miguel was gapped but pulling the strung out pack hard, back up to and past me with 2 to go. I blew myself up with that move but was glad to see the leaders got caught and Joe H leading everyone up the hill. He took 2nd in the sprint but it looked like he sat up a little.

The Vuelta started this past weekend and today the climbed the first of the mountains. So far, DiLuca is having the race he didn't have at the Giro. He won today's stage and leads on GC. Discovery appears to be having the race they didn't have at the Tour. Danielson and Beltran have been solid but THE guy for Discovery today was Brajkovic and finished 2nd today and is the same on GC. This guy finished 5th at the Tour de Suisse, too. This might well be Discovery's man of the future. I'd never really seen Brajkovic before but he is a tiny twig and somehow makes Danielson looks semi-big.

Thursday I went for a rare ride immediately after getting home from work. I went to the Bottoms and did a series of 5 minute intervals. Got a little better each time. I like that. My warmup was on the short side so I'm not terribly surprised that I got a bit better as the ride went on.

I give props to Phawley for catching this story before I did. I'm a VDB fan for some unknown reason and continue to root for his return to the top of the peloton in the Spring Classics. The guy has gone off the deep-end, I fear, as this story reveals...

"The latest story on Frank Vandenbroucke, once an exceptionally strong talent in Belgian cycling, truly makes one wonder. After the pro peloton waited in vain for his come-back this spring, VDB is now reported to have participated in several amateur races in Italy. Not under his real name, of course, nor in the colours of Unibet.com.

Italian Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday published photos of Vandenbroucke racing in an Italian 28-32 years category race wearing an ordinary blue jersey, and claims that he used a license under the name Francesco Del Ponte showing, moreover, the photo of... Tom Boonen!"

That story almost leaves you speechless. Couldn't VDB have found a more anonymous person Boonen? Good Lord, what are you thinking Franck! Did the drugs kill that many brain cells? This reminds me of Michael Vick and his "Ron Mexico" alias.

Since I am, ashamedly, a VDB fan I am declaring this the Unofficial Franceso Del Ponte website. If you should happen to spot Francesco at your local race, at the grocery store or banging a hot chick send your photo or story and your humble blogger will post it here.

After missing the last couple Tuesday Worlds I figured it would be good make an appearance and make my donation. I've been racing for a good long time. After a while you learn what you can do and what you cannot do. One thing that I cannot do is start races quickly. Especially at a World's race since I usually finish eating about 45 minutes before we start. My insides don't appreciate going aerobic on a full stomach with 5 minutes of warmup.

Despite my lack of interest in a fast start there always is some testosterone-infused young buck full of vim and vigor that decides there is no better time to attack than the starting horn. Normally the attack means nothing and everyone gets reeled in a lap or two later.

Last night was no exception as three guys opened up a gap on the pack. As we approached the hill, Marbarger began to make his attempt to bridge up to the leading three. I sat on the outside of the pack and watched as Jay made his move. I clearly remember thinking "It's the first lap. Don't do anything." The pack looked disintered and set a normal tempo. I, however, went into a full on Cat 5 panic mode and accelerated up the hill in an attempt to close about 40 ft on Jay. No problem.

Half a lap later I am gasping for air and all those years of experience came flooding back to me. Sometimes it is good to re-learn an old lesson.

This weekend I continued my cycling seclusion, away from prying eyes, as I reach a peak physical condition that will crush all opponents in a couple weeks. Or, maybe not.

Saturday was thick with humidity. Thankfully, it was not terribly hot. I flatted down on the Bottoms as I headed to Arnold. After crossing the river it was all about practicing my sprints. I figure I'm about as fit as I will be for Gateway Cup. There will not be huge gains made this close to Labor Day. So, I've been keeping the rides on the shorter side and working the sprints which I have neglected pretty much all year.

Sunday I left the house just after 10 and got maybe a half mile before the rain started. I was in no mood and headed home. If the radar had not looked so uninviting I may have continued riding but there appeared to be a good amount of rain rolling in. The rain seemed to fade away, though. I snuck back out around 4pm for another attempt. They sky was threatening but it stayed dry for the hour and a half that I rode.

Looks like the Cat 4's at Downer's Grove was a rock'em sock'em affair. Big Shark shows the proper way of going over the handlebars... land on somebody else.

Photo ©: Matthew Moses/www.moses-images.com

Not to be outdone, the Pro Women said "We don't need to land on anystinkin'body". That's gotta hurt.

Photo ©: Dave Schneider/www.wheelandsprocket.net

Weird things happen in crashes. Afterward, you inspect your body or bike and wonder how a particular scrape or ding happened. I bet if you looked at Tina Pic crash in person you would not have realized that her body contorted the way it did. She probably didn't realize it either.

Photo ©: Dave Schneider/www.wheelandsprocket.net

Dear Mr Crotchety Old Man in a Scion,

Allow me to properly answer the question that you yelled while passing me on Schuessler Rd. No, sir, I do not live on that road. Do you want to know something else? Schuessler is a public road. In fact, I think I will ride on "your" road even more in the hopes of annoying you. Drag your fat ass out of your house the next time you see me and let's have a little talk. Or better yet, yell at me from your car again. Let's see if I stay as calm as I was this evening.

Let me address the other issue you raised as you pulled into your driveway. I did not harass you after you passed me. I followed you. It is not my fault that your rubber-band powered Scion Box does not have the power to stay ahead of a bike after passing it. If I wanted to harass you I would have rode up alongside you, as I easily could have done, and began yelling, pounding on your door and mocking your shoebox vehicle. Instead, I dutifully followed your putt-putt-mobile until you began to pull off the road.

Have a nice day, ass-hole.

Sincerely
Your new lycra-clad nightmare.

It's sick that Alejandro Valverde broke his collarbone just over a month ago and finished 8th at San Sebastian this past Saturday.

How exactly do you pronounce the final climb at San Sebastian? It is spelled Jaizkibel. My HS Spanish classes would make me guess "highs-KEY-bale". Although, Spaniards pronounce Z's like TH's so is it "highth-KEY-bale"? But, I think that is the Catalan that pronounce Z's that way and not the Basque. Hell, I don't know. Anyone???

It's official: Iban Mayo is allergic to July. Race well in June. Win races in August. Look like a Cat 5 in July at the Tour.

Way off topic: The Women's US Junior Amateur golf champion was crowned this weekend. The winner was a 14yr old named... Kimberly Kim. C'mon Mr & Mrs Kim, put a little thought into the baby names.

Since there was no going to KC I spent Saturday and Sunday doing my own thing. Saturday I just rode around with a few harder efforts. I was out for 3 hrs but a good portion of that was goofing around in Minnie HaHa and Fenton Park and finally Winter Park as a family of five hooked up this contraption they called a boat. It was two canoes attached with a platform, a small motor and a canopy covering at least half the length of the canoes. Normally I wouldn't have watched but the daughter was nice looking. They took much longer than I anticipated but it was good viewing before heading up Corisande Hills. I wasn't in a great gear going up but dang that sucker hurt. Then down by 141 I did some exploring and checked out Fiedler Rd. It is a dead end road so I never checked it out before but it goes further than I expected and is a pretty good hill.

Today I went to the Bottoms and and did some sprint intervals before crossing the Meramec and taking Old 141 and Corisande (the opposite direction) into Winter Park. Nothing much was going on there so I headed to Fenton Park before heading back to Old Gravois. I went up the hill in a good sized gear, 53x17 I think. It wasn't a hammerfest up the hill but a nice tempo. I like the way it went. The sprint intervals, though, were probably the most needed part of the ride today.

Normally I would be in KC this weekend for the Tour of KC. This month, though, I need to dial in to work occasionally and make sure everything is running smoothly. And if one of our customers happens to call, guess who gets to respond to that call? Yep, you guessed it.

I never race good in KC but I like going there. It is a good race weekend and I have other reasons for wanting to go. But, it just wasn't going to happen this year so I am left slumming it in town and doing my own thing.

The weather broke a little today and made for a reasonably comfortable Worlds race. The race was shortened by 5 minutes because of a late start caused by the city's tree removal trucks being on course. Once the race started it turned into a pretty lively tussle. No one was able to establish themselves as small attack after small attack tried to make a go of it.

I covered a couple 'clones one time. I was gasping just trying to hold their wheels. They looked back occasionally like I should do something but I was in no condition. The air seemed heavy tonight and it didn't suit my lungs. Beyond that one effort, I yo-yo'd around the pack and finished 15th. Not bad but I didn't work all that much.

Jeff City was an oven Sunday. Along Hwy 50 we saw a couple time/temp sign showing 93-94 degrees and that was a little before 11am. Those same signs were reading 103 on the way home so I think they were reading a little high. Still, at 1pm, must have been at least 95.

The team rode okay. Joe got himself in an early break of seven. It was the move of the day and stayed away for duration. Kudos to the group for staying away. The pro/1/2's almost always have an escape group but that was the first time I remember a group staying away in any of the races I have been in. Joe finished a solid 6th. Good to see an unselfish worker earn a good finish.

The rest of the team was decent. Ted put himself near the front for most of the race and was a terrific policeman and finished 14th. Jose was up front a good amount of the day. Aaron made a valiant attempt to bridge up to the lead group. Chris hung in well for his first time racing on the course. I marked the first move of the day. Beyond that, I tucked myself in the pack for most of the race and finished 22nd. Unspectacular, but solid.

Rode out to Kirkwood today in case anyone showed up to the Saturday ride. Even if they had, I was not going to do a usual ride. All I wasnted was some miles and I got that. Some hard and some casual miles but enough work that my legs know they rode. When no one showed up (thank goodness) I was undecided about where to go and finally settled on riding through Kirkwood and Webster.

By the way, whats up with the little place at the corner of Geyer and Rose Hill, one block north of Big Bend? That place has been a couple things. It has been a little store, a deli/sandwich place, etc. I went by today and it has been fancied up with some nice landscaping and what looks to be a nice outdoor dining area. Inside were some nice tables and some small chandeliers. There is no sign out front yet so I guess it's not open yet but I give the owners some credit for making the place look good.

After going through Webster, I turned south on Elm to make my down toward Grant's Trail by Grant's Farm. I see that they have paved the new extension. I'm not sure how far it goes but it was as far as the eye could see. The only thing was the sidewalk section by the street still needed some concrete poured.

I set out to take it easy along the trail and take in the "scenery". Down by Teshire, I passed Mark going the other way and yelled. Both of us were semi-incognito with only Shark shorts on and we didn't recognize each other right away. He was doing a couple out and backs to spin the legs. We chatted a bit and went our own ways.

As I started up Mr "Big Dude In Obnoxious USA Jersey and Shorts" settled in behind me. I didn't pay any attention and was not sure just how far back he was but I could hear that he was reasonably close. A little way down the path, I come upon some walkers going my way and some bikes coming the other way and I slowed in a gentlemanly manner. Those coming the opposite way went by and I was about to pass when Mr Big Dude came blowing. Okay, Schmuck. That was unnecessary. We may not be racing but dammit you will not stay ahead of me. I closed down the 100+ ft lead easily enough and went by him. It may be my imagination but after I went by he seemed to make an effort to stay close in comparison to how easily I caught him. I stopped at Union for the crosswalk and he pulled up. Forget it bud, I'm not acknowledging you.

The light changed and I acclerated pretty good and down the path I went at a decent pace. I stopped at Reavis and a few seconds later he pulls up again. He had to be working to stay somewhat close. The light changes and off again I go. I should start crits with such aggression. He must have cracked a little because I circled around at the end, by Orlando Gardens, for a good half minute and still didn't see him before heading off and exploring some stuff on my own.

After my exploration was done I headed back on the trail so I could go up to Clydesdale Park and back home. Lo and behold, just after crossing Reavis I see Mr Big Dude again and that god-awful jersey. Again, I gained ground pretty quick proving that he was trying to keep up before. With great pleasure I eased up from behind and with a 100 ft gap I downshifted and motored past him. Even better was when I reached Union again the light changed and I kept on rolling.

Anyway, enough of my pettiness. Sunday is the State Crit in Jeff City. This is a fun course and I feel pretty decent. We'll see what I can do at crunch time. And after the race I plan on indulging in a sandwich or wrap at Cafe Via Roma, just across from the Capitol. I've gone the last couple years and had a tasty chicken wrap. Good stuff.