The Old Days

The first time I saw the Tour de France was on TV in 1987. CBS managed to cram a 3 week race in 3, 60 min segments. Looking back that was one of my favorite Tours. The way Steven Roche climbed the L'Alpe-D'Huez was unforgettable! He climbed his way back to Pedro Delgado, who attached earlier, and left the mountain in an ambulance due to oxygen debt. He didn't pull on the "golden fleece" that day but he managed to get himself into position to take the win in the Time Trial. On that day L'Ape-D'Huez lived up to the hype. Roche had a amazing year in 1987. He won the Giro, the Tour, and the Worlds.

Meet Donald Trump's Family

The Child

The Pup

Biking Wedding!!!!

Words have allured me.

What have I been up to?

So far this cyclocross season, for me, has been spent working on our cabin in the Zuni Mtns. However, I have still tried to keep a minuscule amount of fitness just in case I wont to toss my hat, or cookies for that matter, in the cyclocross arena. Here is a brief outline of my stringent training regiment: --ride bike

--ride bike

--ride bike

--go on bender, because I rode for three days

--sit in the barcalounger and nurse hangover

--eat a burger-cure for the above

--feel fat and lazy

--ride bike

--ride bike

--take a week to ward off burnout

--ride bike

--ride bike

--wrench on bikes

--work on cabin

--get back to the bike

--ride bike

--procure hangover

--eat a Chile cheese fries

--feel fat

--and repeat

Actually it is all pretty scientific stuff. If anyone needs a coach, give me a shout. I can guarantee your season result will end up something like this:

Pushin' Buttons

This is sprit week at school and today was scarf day. Its nice to have sprit!

the unit

Well, this is the cabin that has been consuming most of my free time, but its worth it. Winters coming and we need a wood stove, so if anyone has any ideas or leads I would appricate it.

That Ole Time Feelin'

Ive been spending a lot of time at the cabin lately and my clothes are starting to get that camp fire smell to them. But, I kinda dig it. That earthy smell makes me feel grounded. Like I am of the Earth and not living in some sterile climate controlled box. We had a Navajo teacher at school and he used pinion to heat his hogan. I used to like to sit and talk with the dude because you could always smell that comforting aroma of wood smoke that surrounded him. I would get that old time feelin' that Guy Clark sang about and worldly problems seemed to lose all their potency. I recon the same thing happens with the Navajo kids I teach. They dig the campfire smell too. According to their belief system they actually emerged from the earth into this, the Forth World. The connectivity of man to the Earth and nature is certainly a big part of their culture. It almost seems as if our cultures kinda wear off on one another, for the benefit of all concerned.

LABOR DAZE

Miles ridden-----45
beers drunken---28
children awoken--4
foot down wins----2
sprint wins--------1

I was able to put up some good numbers this year because I focused my training regime on this event. I wonder what Brett and Bonnie are doing??

Back in the saddle again!

Im so sorry to leave the millions of readers of "yeplloyd" in the dark for so long. But, I have returned to the blog-o-sphere with a brief photo summary of my summer break. The first thing I did was a San Juan River float.

Then, I headed up Ophir pass on my way to BLUEGRASS!!!! This WILL be the last time the old Chevy sees 11,000 ft. She was rather upset with me.
Then, I caught a few fish in Pagosa

Then, I saw an actual Olympian washing his own bike. I figured they had people to do this. That is Todd Wells and he will be riding in the MTB event in Bejing.
And finally I did a the Hermosa Creek Classic. It was an awesome race with some great photo opps, but, this is the only one that I took. That dog should be the offical mascott of NPR's Car Talk.
Wow, I managed to write a whole blog with out one single picture of a bike in it. Thats all, now get back to work!!

Yep ---trickle down works

When hillbillys get sports cars---look out!!!!

Hang in there

Im coming back I swear-------kepp readin's School starts soon and that gives me a bunch of blogin times. Anyhoo, hold on for a couple. -------And in the sprit of Todd Wells, I wonder what nick and jack are doing?? Its almost cross season!!! Will Albert defend his 10th place in the KHS cup---only time will only tell!

Buffett

"I Love the Now" That is what jimmy buffett said way back in the cocaine crazed 80/90's and I feel the same way! I love the NOW. I have the best friends in the world and its summer. What more could a person ask for? I wonder what nicks doing???

Team yellow jacket rides again!

This day team yeller rode with a honorable goal in mind---the tie dye party!

Jackson has started his secret training------lookout!

Under the Banner of Moab

Last weekend I headed up to Moab for a little camping. It was great trip! I always increase the threat level up to red when I enter the church state of Utah. However, we somehow spared from those that "serve and protect." They were too busy pulling over cars with tinted windows and left wing bumper stickers to notice our group was having more fun than Hunter S. Thomson on a Vegas binge.

However, we almost ended up in a survival situation after a midnight hike went a little long. But we managed to find our campsite after wondering aimlessly in the wilderness for a spell. I was starting to feel a little like the Hebrews that followed Moses around the desert for forty years. Its a good thing I wasn't rolling with Moses because I would have started bitchin' after about the first 6 hours. I would have surly been offered up as a sacrifice pretty early in the trip.

Levi is in the Giro!

Somehow I doubt Levi will rise to the level that Hampsten did in 1988(I think), but we can only hope. Here is a shot of Andy on that decisive day.

Now, thats PRO!

Vuelta a Bosque

Last weekend was a little three stage race over in ABQ. The race was sponsored by Tom Danielson and it was part of a larger junior racing series. The were a bunch of kids on bikes everywhere! There were some impressive jr teams from the Front Range including one team that was sponsored by Bobby Julich (they all had biospace chainrings). Most of the kids were sporting loose fitting bike shorts with their saddles jammed all the way down on the top tube. But, then you had some of this going on as well.

Talk about PRO. That kid must of had to mow a lot of grass to pull off that setup. I remember spending many a summer afternoon behind Dad's snapper while dreaming of a REI Novera road bike. It was $400 and decked out with a sweet Suntour grouppo. Once I finally saved up enough scratch my brother and I headed to Little Rock to pick up my new steed. When I got to the shop we passed up the Novera, walked past all the Schwinn Le Tours the the sexy Schwinn Paramonts until we saw one of these.
I took it for a quick spin and instantly fell in love with it. It had aero levers, downtube shifters, but it lacked Biospace rings---you cant have it all. No more akward stem shifters for me I had a race bike!! I slept with that bike right next to my bed for at least a month.

Murder??

What do you call a herd of Crows? Thats right ya call it a murder. For some reason these Ravens were all hangin out the upscale neighborhood of Chiaweita the other night. I dig 'em. I swear these birds surf on the windy cliff faces.

YEP SPRING BREAK

I dig it!!! Two weeks are ya kidding????????

A three hour tour, a three hour tour

Over the weekend Jackson, YNFO, and Sweet William headed up to the forrest for some secret training. The gravel roads were nice and dry but the trails still need some time. There is a lot of water up there now. So much water that Billigan made a appearance!! It was almost tropical.

Operation Puerco

It has come to my attention that our WINNING 4 man Dawn to Dusk team has come under suspension of doping allegations. Furthermore, Sweet William (race director), has entertained the idea of stripping us of our hard earned title! I can assure that the performance of our team was in no way enhanced by anything we consumed expecially the Amgen-burritos. We are still awaiting a positive result from the B samples. However, in the meantime please go to http://www.freeteamsteadybuzz.com/ to sign a petition. As for sweet william, this image is for you....

Last of the Snow----hopefully!

Here are a couple pics from the Zuni mtns. There is still a bunch of snow!! So dont put your skis away just yet. The meadow sking is off the hook. It is super fast hard crusty snow! I tink it will be about mid May before these trails see any fat tires.

No comment

After depleating all of my sick leave I finally come down with a winter cold. I kinda feel like this poor little cat! I wonder what Nick from Ohio is doing----Can we get a shout out from Kuhn's Korner?

Get on the Bus!!

This picture from last season makes me laugh. Its the charge of the Clydesdale train!! The heavy breathers have settled in the rear of the pack and it was an all out battle to avoid the latern rougue position. Who says the race is at the front?

Bikes ARE Hazardous !

You have to be extremely careful with these bicycle contraptions and "KEEP YOUR WEIGHT BACK"---(jackson 2003). However if you do go arse over teacups, it is important to show good form. Keep in mind "YOU CANT GET HURT IN THE AIR" (big dad 2006). The fellow in the pic completely ignored rule #1 which is why he got put in this position to start with. If thats not enough---- He has horrible form! It looks like he is paying hommage to the Great American Hero flight plan. I would of at least thrown down a hell grab fakey or another cool sounding trick. Please.


Road cyclist have a little more to digest concerning hazards on he open road as the following sign deplicts. Notice the passenger getting ready to wack the unsuspecting cyclist wupside the melon with a blunt object. Is anything safe! Perhaps, we should just stay home and eat hot cheetoes and watch Nascar.

24 HRS of Old Pueblo

Young Nick corresponding form Old Pueblo-

Gallup Trails 2010 journeyed southbound to the middle of nowhere Arizona for 24 hours of "endurance" race action. The riders on the team, all ten of them, had a seemingly insurmountable task ahead of them. They had to complete at least one lap each. This meant each rider would have to race about two hours or less a lap on a grueling 16 mile desert trail. Actually only the first two miles were grueling then it was wide open pedal to the metal single track. The team did finish 25 out of 31. Thanks to the very competitive time of Young Nick From Ohio. If Young Nick is pedaling this fast now, just wait to the Dawn til' Dusk race where him and Ottman will probably dominate the duo category. Anywho, the real story at old pueblo was traversing the treacherous dirt road to the event. The day before the event it rained, snowed, sleeted and hailed making the road way more heinous than the single track. Some of the team members and other Gallupian racers turned back and got hotels--lame.
Sorry for the lack of quality pics. I bet our buddy Bill has some fantastic photos.

Bikes with Lights! Is there anything Specialized can't do?

This event supported Pedals for Prisoners.

Harmony Ride??

Here is my friend Bill on his new '08 carbon specialized. He is awful proud of it!

Jack leads the way through the snow----but there were no followers. I wonder why?

Snow---AGAIN

Well we got a bunch of snow here in bueatiful Gallupia. I was feeling good about getting out to ski early in the morning. Ya know the feelin'---like a secret training mission, so you can drop your buddies later in the season. Then, I saw that these three guys we already out enjoin' the artic like weather. The Navajo are tough enduring people. Notice the guy with the cane---he didnt get trapped inside by a little snow.

A little later I got out and skied in the desert with a couple of friends. Its not everyday that you get to ski in the pinion trees and sage brush. Enjoy it while it last! The wind is on the way.

Long Cold Winter

After living in the desert for a spell, one yearns for the sight of a little water. If that water has DUCKS on it -im there. I could watch those critters all day--they love crappy weather and Arkansas has a bunch in the winter. But, nature tends to pull ya out the house in one way or the other. Pleasure comes to those that endure the conditions.

A little further south the weather was kind and the doves were flyin'. That's my Dad and my uncle in the pic and the debts I owe them are unmeasureable. They always took the time to take the kids outside and encouraged us to follow in the family traditions such as hunting and fishing.

Now that im back in New Mexico, I find my motivation lacking with all the white stuff around. But, im managing to get out every once in a while. I never regret it when I do. Last year I got into crosscountry sking and it has spared me some serious cabin fever during this long hard winter. I find my motivation increasing with every minute of sunlight added to the lengthing days. Id better or I might end up like this guy.....

Which would be cool. LOOK OUT CLYDESDALE CATAGORIE! Have you ever wondered why the Tour De France lacks a Clydesdale group? I have. Teams could be sponsered by companies like KFC, Nintendo, or even Jenny Craig. It would be sweet! Oh well I better get outside and enjoy all the efin snow before the spring winds come and blow it away. It never really gets warm enough in Gallup to melt it.