Yes

I was on the wagon for about 4 days, and I'm now happily enjoying a pumpkin spice beer made by the O'Fallon brewery near St. Louis. Mighty good, I'd say.

Not drinking because of bike racing was generated by a fantasy, in my mid-20s, that drinking did not go hand in hand with being an athlete, which is BS to me anymore, to be honest.
Cx practice was fun this week--Ethan and Nolan set up another good course out at Reactor field, and it was perfect Belgian cross weather.

Yes

I was on the wagon for about 4 days, and I'm now happily enjoying a pumpkin spice beer made by the O'Fallon brewery near St. Louis. Mighty good, I'd say.

Not drinking because of bike racing was generated by a fantasy, in my mid-20s, that drinking did not go hand in hand with being an athlete, which is BS to me anymore, to be honest.
Cx practice was fun this week--Ethan and Nolan set up another good course out at Reactor field, and it was perfect Belgian cross weather.

Columbia cyclocross folks.

Reverend won yesterday. Kevin and Thomas from Walts scored big top 3 finished in the "B" race. Nolan would have been up there too if not a few mishaps. Pam Hinton won the womens race in both KC and STl. Josh did very well on the first day of the UCI series in Cincinnati.

Columbia cyclocross folks.

Reverend won yesterday. Kevin and Thomas from Walts scored big top 3 finished in the "B" race. Nolan would have been up there too if not a few mishaps. Pam Hinton won the womens race in both KC and STl. Josh did very well on the first day of the UCI series in Cincinnati.

Bummer

I missed Grindstone practice because of work related stuff today. Reverend and I are going out to practice pain and suffering tomorrow after work. That is, he's probably going to lap me on this cyclocross course we figured out down near the ROTC tower.

Reverend has a new bike, he's focused, and I really think he's going to have a break through season this year. I can't tell you how cool it is that my SHS colleague, good friend, and one of the smartest guys out there is also a cyclocross fanatic. Columbia is like that: this place is super hip and I hope the rest of the world doesn't find out too soon. More and more I realize that I never want to leave this town.

I was just reading how on December 11, 1987 Husker Du broke up for good here, at the Blue Note. I remember that show--or do I? Did I come down with Ed Verso from Greentop MO (yes, that's just south of the IA border) with his greaseball restaurant worker friends to see that show? I'm still not sure I was there . . .

Bummer

I missed Grindstone practice because of work related stuff today. Reverend and I are going out to practice pain and suffering tomorrow after work. That is, he's probably going to lap me on this cyclocross course we figured out down near the ROTC tower.

Reverend has a new bike, he's focused, and I really think he's going to have a break through season this year. I can't tell you how cool it is that my SHS colleague, good friend, and one of the smartest guys out there is also a cyclocross fanatic. Columbia is like that: this place is super hip and I hope the rest of the world doesn't find out too soon. More and more I realize that I never want to leave this town.

I was just reading how on December 11, 1987 Husker Du broke up for good here, at the Blue Note. I remember that show--or do I? Did I come down with Ed Verso from Greentop MO (yes, that's just south of the IA border) with his greaseball restaurant worker friends to see that show? I'm still not sure I was there . . .

Belgium, 2000

I spent over 3 weeks in Belgium in the spring of 2000. My brother and his wife Kristen lived in Brussels at the time. Kristen had a Fulbright, Michael rode 300 miles a week (and raced in at least 2 kermesses a week) all the while ostensibly "working on his dissertation." The one kermesse I saw him race, there was at least one kid in there with a rainbow jersey, who cares if it was probably a junior cyclocross world championship jersey. They were B races, but you know what? It was by far the most aggressive racing I've ever seen--constant attacks and utter shatter 1/3 into the race.

After every ride, we washed bikes. It was a ritual. We washed bikes, then ate some hot food. The next day we'd do another rainy, classic ride in the Flemish countryside. It was surely the greatest cycling experience of my life. I'm sure he would agree.

Belgium, 2000

I spent over 3 weeks in Belgium in the spring of 2000. My brother and his wife Kristen lived in Brussels at the time. Kristen had a Fulbright, Michael rode 300 miles a week (and raced in at least 2 kermesses a week) all the while ostensibly "working on his dissertation." The one kermesse I saw him race, there was at least one kid in there with a rainbow jersey, who cares if it was probably a junior cyclocross world championship jersey. They were B races, but you know what? It was by far the most aggressive racing I've ever seen--constant attacks and utter shatter 1/3 into the race.

After every ride, we washed bikes. It was a ritual. We washed bikes, then ate some hot food. The next day we'd do another rainy, classic ride in the Flemish countryside. It was surely the greatest cycling experience of my life. I'm sure he would agree.

the early season

My buddy Josh just scored his first win of the year up in Iowa. Kudos, my man.

Also, I noticed in the results that Iowa Cat. 3 extraordinaire, overall good guy, and someone who I swear couldn't normally even run a block when I knew him back in the day, Tracy T., placed 9th! Goes to show you that running doesn't really make or break a race at this point.

I also have my 3rd cold in almost as many months, which is really beginning to torque me out a bit.

the early season

My buddy Josh just scored his first win of the year up in Iowa. Kudos, my man.

Also, I noticed in the results that Iowa Cat. 3 extraordinaire, overall good guy, and someone who I swear couldn't normally even run a block when I knew him back in the day, Tracy T., placed 9th! Goes to show you that running doesn't really make or break a race at this point.

I also have my 3rd cold in almost as many months, which is really beginning to torque me out a bit.

My Brother--Taking care of Business

Micheal Smith scoring points in the A race in the upstate NY cx series. Notice Dan Timmerman right behind him.

His son, Samuel, won the 2 and under category and has smooth barrier style.

My Brother--Taking care of Business

Micheal Smith scoring points in the A race in the upstate NY cx series. Notice Dan Timmerman right behind him.

His son, Samuel, won the 2 and under category and has smooth barrier style.

I love cycling

Just got back from a cx training session on an incredibly beautiful early fall day. It was brutal--I do ten to sixteen minute intervals with barriers and a run-up included. The course is down near the ROTC tower, about 6 minutes from my house. I felt really good today. I mean--I just love to ride my bike hard, and I'm definitely thinking of a spring road campaign as a very good possibility.

Above is another good reason--a nice new road bike with pretty much all new components on it. My last race as a Cat. 4 after I downgraded just gave me a taste of how fun it is to race in that category again, even though there are usually more wrecks: Result . I would have gotten top ten if I hadn't gotten caught behind a crash. Which is a bullshit excuse both coming and going in the Darwinian world of criterium racing.

Also, after 6 or 7 tries, I want to finish Snake Alley, and probably my very best chance to do it would be as a Cat. 4.

I love cycling

Just got back from a cx training session on an incredibly beautiful early fall day. It was brutal--I do ten to sixteen minute intervals with barriers and a run-up included. The course is down near the ROTC tower, about 6 minutes from my house. I felt really good today. I mean--I just love to ride my bike hard, and I'm definitely thinking of a spring road campaign as a very good possibility.

Above is another good reason--a nice new road bike with pretty much all new components on it. My last race as a Cat. 4 after I downgraded just gave me a taste of how fun it is to race in that category again, even though there are usually more wrecks: Result . I would have gotten top ten if I hadn't gotten caught behind a crash. Which is a bullshit excuse both coming and going in the Darwinian world of criterium racing.

Also, after 6 or 7 tries, I want to finish Snake Alley, and probably my very best chance to do it would be as a Cat. 4.