new commute

just gave my 6 year job the 2 week notice! all the stress, drama, etc. have disappeared.

my new job is in Molalla. that means my commute went from 12 miles round trip to around 60+

very hilly, some narrow roads, country-folk who like to buzz you when they go by, and oh, did i say hills?!

i can use the arrowhead facilities like golf, fitness room, pool, etc.

emailed OBRA to get the best commuting roads possible. alot have responded. here is one possible way.

 

Take the Springwater through Oaks Bottom to Sellwood, 17th to Milwaukie, and River Road to Oregon City.  (There are a few tricky spots I can help with, but they only make the ride better.)
Go up Singer Hill in Ore City, and then up 5th (Linn Ave) to the top. 
Catch Central Point Road to New Era then Haines toward Mulino and turn right on 13Th into Canby
Left on Ivy, and ride out to Kraxberger, then straight on Dryland which turns to Tolliver and into Molalla.
 
This is one hell of a ride.  It is a bit hilly, but avoids all the traffic on 99 and 213

 

for alot, most know I’ll be doing RAAM next year. I’ll be sporting the IRA RYAN kit for sure! this new job/commute is what I’ve been looking for! so i hope to find the best routes possible for the long commute.

plus adding my training list to this commute will really get me strong for RAAM!  i just watched the RAAM this year and let me tell you, anything and everything will, and does, HAPPEN! it’s a crazy race for sure!

 

 

 

RAAM!

yes yes,

Race Across AMerica has begun!     just click on  RAAM over to your right and watch it yourself —>

this gives me 365 day’s to be ready. i’ll be watching David Holts progress during the entire race! gooooooo David! 

is it still fall? the weather will not change for some reason.

Hugh Gapay!….congrats on your Davis 24 hr solo win! i’m wondering……..you going to be at RAAM next year? along with kenneth, saunders, ect.? hmm, i dunno, but it seems it’s going that way. i know it’s all pretty much about money, and to tell you the truth……..i’m not rich at all! but it’s something i’ve been wanting to do for a very long time. time to make sacrifices! and just do it!

well, works been rough lately and i just don’t want to be there, 10 hrs in the kitchen 5 day’s a week is really draining me. maybe i need to ride more?!  

my  IRA RYAN Bike should be done soon! very excited here!

soooooooo……..Hilary pulled out eh?   sounds kinda fishy……..

 

 

nice weather…

 

well, it’s been awhile since i posted and things are going a little rough.

i went to the 24 hr of adrenalin in monterey and had a blast. cold, windy, and COLD!

hell, i can get that here in portland.

thing’s were looking good when the race started. i was 7 min behind the leader and all was good until, i couldn’t climb on the last hill grind.

50 miles later and i had to bag it. so pissed off and not knowing why my knee was not working for me.

went the the doctor and had it looked at and found out i have “runners knee”.

so besides that, i’m still on the bike and training. i guess what really matters most is the race across america! that happens for me next june so……..plus i’m getting another road bike from IRA RYAN CYCLES!

thing’s are good and i think i have enough sponsors to carry with me till next june! it’s going be good!

 

 

the other day i was heading home on interstate road and a van of kids flew passed me and egged me!?! wtf! sigh…..

the thing’s that have been tossed at me during my 21 yrs of commuting.  anyway, i still plan on doing the test of endurance and a few more races this year. just need to heal quickly and everything will be fine!

 

 

just like old times

mtn biking….the one and only resason i moved here in the first place. http://www.24hoursofadrenalin.com/ 

so that’s the plan. may 3rd i’ll be in monterey at the 24 hr mtb race. leguna seca raceway!  i’ll be at the 24 hr events as much as i can and my only sad regret is that i will not be doing race across oregon. the solo rider at RAO is filling up fast!

if i can finish within 25% of my class, hopefully i’ll get to go to the 24 hr mtb worlds in canmore, alberta!

i still hope i can get in the furnace creek 508! regestration starts april 1st!  plus i’ll still be doing ring of fire!

mountain biking……so refreshing!

sponsorsors this year

MOTOR TABS	SockGuy	sixsixone	Fiber Wise Pasta
Dedicated Athlete

[http://www.youtube.com/v/cbvQqssD_jI&hl=en]

awareness test

cars, birthdays, team ira ryan…..

now i might be wrong, and I’m sure you’ll let me know. your in a residential area and you come to a four way with no stop sign……………do you yield to the right? or left?

I’ve always thought it was the right. and so yesterday this car is coming to my left and i start to carry on thru……….then the woman plows through, flips me the finger, and screamin some rather choice words! too close for comfort!  road rage sucks! and i no cause i used to have it bad! i would chase cars on my bike downtown and hit cars, then get chased by psycho’s, so i learned my lesson!

it’s my son’s birthday and we’re up early, eating chocolate cake and playing need for speed and being very loud! he’s 10 and i can’t believe how the time has raced by! damn, i wanna be 10 again!  he told me that all he wants for his birthday is a road bike. so i talked him into a cross bike and so it is.

well, Team IRA RYAN CYCLES have some good racers! Ira - 2 time winner of the Trans-Iowa, Matt, cyclocross stud and all around great rider! Zach - track, world messenger king, and has lots of potential(he hasn’t a clue yet) and me….works in a corporate hell restaurant and hates everything about it, but, loves the money! oh and RAAM qualified. Life is good! ok back to chocolate cake and the “NEED FOR SPEED”! i’m 10 all over again!

Team IRA RYAN CYCLES

Leaving Guinness Cycling Team.  Going to wear the Ira Ryan Cycles kit from now on! team issue road bike is in progress now and I’m pretty excited. Ira is a good friend of mine and this guy can ride! Two time winner of the trans Iowa and also a great ultra rider but he wouldn’t admit it. he has this thing for gravel which i can’t comprehend. oh and he’s a awesome frame builder!Found out that David Holt, race across Oregon and furnace creek 508 ultra stud is doing RAAM this year! holy crap! this dude is 50+ years and can rock! i think everyone better watch out for this guy. (scary) i wish him, his family and crew the best of luck! I’ll be watching it via Internet.Hurt the knee snowboarding and I go to the doctor Friday. (figures)Feb 17th was my 21st year as a bike commuter! haven’t had a car since. been through countless commuter bikes, farthest commute was 45 miles, shortest, 7 miles. once had 13 bikes for different occasions and now i have 3. everyone tells me how much money I’ve saved over the years. i see it as……….It’s the only way!

crazy weather…

tommy’s coming over around 7am, hugh winds, pouring rain, typical oregon day! So i dress warm. really warm. after 1 hr with tommy, i’m soaked, and to top it off……it’s fricking sunny and warm out like it’s spring! so 15 miles later i tell him i’m off to the house!

lesson learned!

i never learn i swear. Oregon weather changes so frequently it’s so……. bipolar!

i remember the good ole day’s back home…..on the porch with friends, drinking bud, smokin, ahem! i mean…yeah ok well…..you know, watching that funnel cloud go over your house then running for the basement! hell, i can’t even get any lighting or thunder here! sucks.

but, oregon does have the best summers any where, plus the road riding here and the mountain biking is better than anywhere i’ve been!

riding/training seems to be going good for now.

hurt the knee snowboarding and that’s it for that!

a good friend of mine IRA RYAN is at the  actually, every builder is there from north america and i can’t wait to go! check out some builders here in portland,

Ira Ryan Cycles

Pereira Cycles

Sweetpea Bicycles

Vanilla Bicycles

time for king burrito!  late…..

training, upcoming races, & sponsors

Well, the training is going slow for me at the moment, but all is well. I’ll be back at it very soon!

as for my 2008 race schedule

Davis 12/24 hour road race - April 12

race across Oregon - July 19, 20

the ring of fire - Sept 19, 20

furnace creek 508 - Oct 4, 6

i talked to Hugh Gapay a couple of weeks ago and this guy is an amazing cyclist. he beat me by 1.5 hrs. in the race across Oregon and took 1st rookie and 4th overall. anyway, not really sure what totem I’ll be in the 508, and registration’s not till April. Hugh will be at most these races also, and well, I’m going to give him a run for his money this year!……well, we’ll see.

as for sponsors

Guinness cycling team

fiber-wise pasta

and hopefully hammer nutrition

I’ll be out on the road tomorrow at 8am……fabulous

20 degrees….

once you get out it’s all good.

work is so dramatic!…….with 70 or so cook’s, dishwasher’s, sushi, ect….let me tell you….there is alway’s something (everday) that is just too much to deal with. i mean really, all i think about when i’m here is, just 8 more hours and i can ride home, get up early, go ride, then home again. Eat, shower, then ride to work again.

well, for now it’s just base miles from hell, and what people i can find to ride with to kill the time.

thank god for the johnny G trainer at home! it’s time to lose the weight and get my ass rolling.

hell, right now i’m here at work typing this and i’d rather be on the trainer watching the aus open!

shit, i can’t wait to ride tomorrow!