The Saturday Shootout!

A group ride that's harder then a race.

We were up at the ass crack of dawn with Kevin only getting one hour of sleep because he worked all night, but it was worth it.

The ride clean studs, Jon and Kyle, ready to rage!

Pat on his mountain bike, Scott, and Renee heading to the front to show them who's boss

The front!

The back

And everyone else

Mel and Judy having fun, we met at the top of helmet peak and rode the TBC course for the race next weekend. Mel's back from knee surgery hammering. Judy got a new bike and can't stop smiling or riding.

The group I rode the course with after 4.5 hours and 70+ miles still smiling. What a great day.

Beans, Beans, good for your heart, the more you eat the more you fart...

The more you fart, the better you feel so let's eat beans for every meal...

My friend Bonnie, introduced me to Anasazi Beans, one of the few crops cultivated by Anasazi Indians in NM. She said I would crave them, which I do, she also said you don't fart, which we do. The house is like a big covered wagon:) Anyway, Kevin and I actually both had the day off today and did the group ride and then rode up Mt Lemmon, our first over 3 hour ride in months. We were rocked, we had to take a 3 hour nap to function again. Racing has been fun, I have a great team that teaches me the road tactics and we have alot of fun together. Kevin gets off of the midnight shift this week and is finishing up one of his classes for his Masters and I love my new job forecasting weather over Colombia. So our schedule will hopefully start meshing together soon. Next race up Tucson Bicycle Classic the first weekend of March, should be fun!

Another weekend of racing in the books, Spring had a double header again with Estrella on Saturday and the ASU crit today. I had to do the crit to qualify for the Collegiate Nationals in May. Spring's fitness is coming along well but mine is another story. One more week of nights then I can start training like a normal human being. Winter seems to be quickly fading away here in southern AZ with two consecutive 80+ degree days. Before you now it we'll be riding at 6 in the morning trying to beat the 100 degree temps.

We're finally recovered enought to make a post from this past fun filled weekend. Spring decide to race the skinny tired bikes with her new D4W team and I decided to head out to one of the best events in the country, The 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo. If you've never done this race before your missing out on a good time, its highly recommended even if you just go to drink beer and hang out. Spring tore it up with a 6th in the road race and a 12th overall, that's impressive for her first Pro, 1, 2 race. Team Hosie Cow threw down a 2nd for the Corporate class, just wanted to thank the guys at Cirrus Visual for letting me ride on the team, awesome people and good times! We'll be back for more this weekend with Spring doing the mtb race at Estrella and a Crit in Phoenix, I'll be hitting the Crit also racing the Collegiate Class, the plan is to go to Collegiate Nationals in May in Ft. Collins Colarado.

Mandatory post-race shot of Tequila.

Team Hosie Cow on the podium!

Valley of the Sun crit.

Sunday morning lap.

Team Hosie Cow/Cirrus Visual Command Central strategification night time operations!

Team Hosie Cow/Cirrus Visual command central preping for battle.

Part of 24 Hour Town. Instant city, just add bike race.

24 Hour expo area.

First local Pro race!

As a Meteorologist if you forecast rain all weekend and it is sunny then everyone appreciates a beautiful day so much more. Saturday was perfect weather for the race up at McDowell park. I ended up third after chasing Jen and Sara for a while. I realized I have one speed, with not doing much top end workouts. But I had the most fun racing that I have had in a while. I was confortable the whole time, meaning I probably didn't push my self as hard as I should of. The rain finally came Sat night and into Sunday morning just in time for the Crit that our team put on. I was so amazed people were showing up to race in a torrential downpour. In my later years I have realized the difference between hard core and crazy. But it is nice to see new riders like the juniors get the most excited, weather never phases them. I raced the Cat 123 race with the closest race of the day being me and this girl Sabrina hitting the line at the same time for first and second. It was alot of fun to get some sprinting efforts in before Valley of the Sun next weekend. I got to hang out with all my new teammates on the Specialized D4W team and they were so much fun. It is going to be a great season. Sunrise at McDowell!

Good friends, riding, and food...what more do you need?

Last night we closed the bar hanging out with some of our great friends in town. Bonnie, Jesse, Vic, and Steve, they are friends we love hanging out with and don't get the opportunity very often to get the whole group together. We rode our cruiser bikes down to 4th Ave, one of our favorite things to do. While Kevin's voice got louder and louder with every pitcher of beer, it was alot of fun.
Today we did Bug Springs and Prison Camp, it was perfect because Kevin was a little hung over so he didn't rip my legs off, and we worked on switch backs.

Kevin showing me how the switch backs are done.

Last night for dinner, I made homemade Alfredo Sauce it is way better then the can and easy.