New year, new shit ...

But first ...

2009 cycling highlights:
- Winning the Tour De Syracuse ... and throwing up the worst, yet possibly justified, victory salute ever (Yeah, it was a Cat. 4 race. But there were 70+ racers. And it was only my fifth road race ever. So, yeah, lame in retrospect, but still kinda cool)
- The beer hand-up at Rolling Thunder in Missoula, 50 people chanting "Chug!" … then getting lapped by this dude
- My two-day, 138-mile journey dragging Cody and gear in a trailer from home to Eureka to Whitefish and back home

And now, 2010 ...

Montana is no hotbed for road cycling and even less so for road racing. Especially where I live. Road racing is a solid fourth following mountain biking, mountain climbing, and beer drinking. But I’ll make due with what I've got until I move. If I move ...

I'm working hard to get ready, though: getting my January base miles in (weather permitting), riding the trainer a lot (Movies watched so far: "Breaking Away" twice, "Bruce Springsteen: The Making of 'Born to Run,' "The Graduate," "Hell on Wheels," "Election," etc.), jogging (including a six-miler), cross country skiing (five hours this past weekend), trying to eat better (by not eating), dieting, and worst of all, starting Monday, only drinking light beer. I've gained about 15 pounds in the last six months. I'm blaming it on all the $6 Deschute's six-packs ... and the school lunches ... Cycling weight is atainable!

I've got a lot of races lined up already, all prior to April 15: two Missoula training races, a road race in Portland, a crit. in Hood River, Oregon, a two-day road race/time trial/crit. in Spokane, Washington, and, most importantly, Montana Roubaix. I'll say it now: I want to win Montana Roubaix ...

I'll be riding with the fine gents at Great Northern Cycles this season.

It's going to be a good year! Already off to a good start!