The UCLA road race is from hell!  The Pro 1/2 catagory does 6 laps of 14.2 miles and 1500 feet of climbing. That adds up to 85 miles and 9000 feel of climbing!!  The decent was fast and with a mild cross wind. making it scary! Several people got droped and some got away on the downhill. So there was no time for recovery. In the end I was in 9th place, a good start for my first race as a cat 1.

My upgrade to cat 1 road was approved today!

Nothing crazy went on in the crit. I finnished mid pack at 36th, keeping my number 2 in GC. And got best U23 rider.

I ended up 18th, and still kept 2nd in GC.

When I first started talking to people about doing this race I heard a lot about how many crashes there tend to be in the road race. Everything I heard was pretty much true. One lap into the race they stopped us at the start line because of a bad crash in the cat 1 race ahead. We waited in the shade of easy-ups and trailers for over an hour. One rider was flowen out and several others were also hurt good as I undersand it. I hope everybody is going to be ok!

    Once they got the road clear they shortened are race by one lap, and sent us racing again. Not far into the lap I blew my rear tire. Drifted back got off the road and switched it out. Quickly got back on the road. But not quick enough. I ended up chacing for a lap and a half all out solo. It really hurt! But just as I was about to break I cought on to the large back-up of cars behind the race, and was able to work my way up using the cars drafts from there. After that I just avoided the wind as much as possible and thanks to the best feeder in the feed zone… My dad!! I was able to get plenty of food, drink and ice to make up for the energy I spent on my solo effert. In one hand off, without slowing down or a musette (bag), I got two bottels and an ice sock! Thats impressive.

Anyways I ended up at the front of the main pack. not sure on results yet.

So… Here is what I have been up to. I have been living in Big Bear sinse Thanksgiving.Training during the day and working at Blauer’s ski shop at night. About the best set up a young cyclist could ask for! Kicked of the Season with a win at 12 Hours of Temecula in the Duo with teammate and Bear Valley Bikes owner Derek Hermon. After that was Poor College Kids Road Race. Lets just say it was a good workout… The day after was Mothballs Crit. I felt great inspite of my “good work out” the previouse day. I got in the break and attacked or rolled of the front… Let’s say it was a gnarly attack off the front, so hard that nobody could hold on. Anyways there were two laps to go and I had a gap! I still had a gap going into the last turn, but it was closing fast. So I took the turn sharp and at full speed. It was my only chance to win. But my rear tire broke lose. I destroyed my skinsuit, helmet, and bike. And caused a majority of the group chacing me to crash. Now I’m in Phoenix AZ at the Valley of the Sun Stage Race. Today I got seconed in the Time Trial! Tomorrow is a 94 mile road race. Then a crti on sunday.

Today was the last race of the cross at the college. It consisted of two short/technical races this Thursday and last Thursday. Because the race was so technical and rocky I chose to ride a mountain bike, it was certainly the right choice. I Won both races, and a rider with much better handling skills than I went over his handle bars, flatted and bent his chainring on his cross bike. Thanks to Matt Plummer, for putting on all these races that make Bend a great place to be a cyclist.

I got 3rd at marathon nationals. It was a terrible race for me, but I’m happy to have gotten on the podium! Thanks to Jack at Shimano, Bear Valley Bikes, and Village Bike and Ski for making it all happen.