Drawing is Done, I got stitches!

WHo's the IF frame and Fork Winner?
Kerry Combs: A very deserving and bad a** rider.
The Villin was taken home by Earl White! a long time philla courier! He seemed happy and it actually fits him.

Combing Death's Hair, and Raffle News

1. Push the crosswalk button.
2. Wait for the signal.
3. Make sure the cars have all stopped.
4. Start to cross.
5. Hear the distinct sound of locked up brakes.
6. In a split second, glance left, unclip one foot, and step back just enough to have the skidding truck only hit the rubber on the front wheel.
   
7. Watch the truck drive off.
   
8. Straighten the stem.
   
9. Go on my way.
   

That truck came around 5 or 6 cars, in a non-existant lane. All this in front of a major bus transfer station.
So watch yourself out there.

Yes, Raffle Time!! Some things have changed! I'm a little embarassed about the flier. I love the design, but the fact my name is so big makes me feel as if I've become an industrial logo. I didn't make it.
So what is it. Well, I have had problems finding a spot for the bike show-off. At one point a couple of weeks ago everything was falling into place perfectly, then it all kept falling straight to Mordorf. Then the day my world disappeared, my friend Rachel called to say she wanted to put on a messenger race, and charge the purchase of a Raffle Ticket as the entry fee.
Holy Heck!
That ruled, and best of all I have to do very little to prepare for it. Since I felt bad that there was a possibility that ally-catters wouldn't win the IF frame, and I hate to see disgruntled messengers, I called my friend Alexis Dold from Villin Cycles to see if he would be interested in donating a frame to the prize list for people at the A-Cat. Sure enough he was happy to pony up a sweet 55cm orange track frame. Thanks Alexis!
So you know, there will be some biking games and you don't have to race to be qualified for the days prizes. You can come, hangout, drink beer and buy a raffle ticket for the IF Frame and Fork and the other goodies.
Location is Lemon Hill. Across from the boat row houses in Philly.
Find and come on over!

Also,,,my friend Sam is having a raffle of her own this weekend at the Granogue race. She also has some great Independent Fab Stuff as well. Sam is a recent Cancer survivor, and boy is she pissed. So if you want a sticker that says "FUCK CANCER", or "CANCER SUCKS" or "Team Bury the Dragon" go to the above link. Proceeds go to HERA, an organiztion for fighting ovarian cancer. I like the Dragon sticker the best.
Do it now!

Michaux Maxxximus, New Blood

Between last weekend and this one, I'd say I'm over flunking out at the Cohutta. The UCI race at Greenbrier got me a 7th place finish and some very valuable UCI points for my 2008 Olympic bid. If it comes down to the wire I'll be auctioning them off later in the year. It also means I can go fast and short, instead of just long and steady.
Then this weekend was the first of the Michaux Endurance series. For those uninitiated, Michaux races are considered more agonizing than negotiating through the movie Brazil. Which I love and totally relate to at this moment in my life.
Speaking of another film I saw recently that we should all relate to,,check out Punishment Park. An oddly timely movie made in 1971, but could easily be updated to today. How come no one makes political commentary like this anymore? Here is a picture of a rainbow, in Granada, to balance out Punishment Park's angry angry image.
The Michaux race was a great 50 mile loop through the woods of upper Adams County, PA. I feel like I achieved something besides just a 2nd place finish. Mainly the knowledge that a racer I respect had enough respect for me to not attack from the gun and leave me gasping. At first I thought Mr. E was just giving me TV time at the front of the race but that might have not been the case. Whatever, a mark of success when I race a person like the E. is not if I beat him but by how little I get beaten by. THis time only ten minutes with a flat. That is improvment!
I felt great most of the day, and the guys at Gettysburg Bicycles, (Jess, Rich, Heath and all the moto folk) did a great job of pushing the race to a new level of difficulty, while at the same time making it welcoming for and enjoyable for the racers.
I was sort of worried about all the people I had talked into coming who had never been in Michaux. I just wanted them to have a good time, and in the end they all had big fat grins. Like dogs at a dump.
I managed to harrass enough people to sell a few Raffle Tickets after the race. I feel kind of weird going around and asking people to buy some. But I look at it like when I used to work for the newspaper. It's an opportunity to meet people, and see how their days went, when normally I just want to sit down and do nothing. To all those people I've met, Please forgive me if I forget a name or two. Actually If I remember 4 names out of the 20 new ones, I feel a little ahead of the game.

Snarling my way through life. 30 Franc fine.

The highlight of the last two race weekends was getting fined 30 francs by the UCI. Ahh coming of age.

Racing my bike. Greenbrier Last weekend and Michaux this one!

http://www.nbc25.com/content/fulltext/?cid=11484
That's an actual piece of cycling news coverage. I'm not in it which is fine, because who want's to see someone snarling at you on TV? Unless it's the WolfMan.
Credit to this guy who took these photos from The Greenbrier Challenge. Last year I thought I looked too calm so now I'm trying to improve my agro image.
We are in full swing on the racing front. This is what I've been waiting for all year. The story on getting fined? Big time pro UCI events require pre-registration. That requires thinking ahead. Not my favorite past time.
This guy is exceptional people. Topher!
Travis's post-wedding bachelor party/ Jim Thorpe bike ride crew.
If you can identify this and most of it's parts I'll send you something.

Churtle the Turtle is a New Trek Regional Rider and has no problem hanging with testosterone.