Saturday, December 31
Friday, December 30
Fear, Complexity, Environmental Management in the 21st Century
Fear, Complexity, Environmental Management in the 21st Century
good old Michael Crichton...
but hey... T3.. just watch T3... you cant stop the future you can only survive it...
good old Michael Crichton...
but hey... T3.. just watch T3... you cant stop the future you can only survive it...
Wednesday, December 28
Tuesday, December 27
Salton Sea
Salton Sea
this is a nice site about the salton sea.. its near where i live and i drove by it on my way to san fillipe mexico where there is no war on chistmas and i can get 2 grubbin good shrimp tacos, beans and rice, and fixins for 2 dollars... on the gulf of california...
the salton sea was a dry lake bed that served as a natural overflow for the colorado river over the centuries... it was most recently filled when poorly built irrigation canals carrying water from the colorado river over ran their levies and flooded the basin...
this is a nice site about the salton sea.. its near where i live and i drove by it on my way to san fillipe mexico where there is no war on chistmas and i can get 2 grubbin good shrimp tacos, beans and rice, and fixins for 2 dollars... on the gulf of california...
the salton sea was a dry lake bed that served as a natural overflow for the colorado river over the centuries... it was most recently filled when poorly built irrigation canals carrying water from the colorado river over ran their levies and flooded the basin...
Friday, December 23
NPR : Update: Congolese Refugee Joshua Dimina
NPR : Update: Congolese Refugee Joshua Dimina
this is a really nice story... and i was really touched by his appreiation of peace in america... i cant imagine what really it would be like to live in a war zone... but it must not be fun... i have heard that it in fact sucks...
they do live ordinace testing here and even though the bombs explode 20 miles away on the other side of a 4000 foot mountain range i can hear and feel them like its next door... there also is the sound of low flying military helicopters and jets too every now and again... to me its not scary.. but i can imagine... at superweek there was a big airshow and the blue angels flew their f-18s really low over the the city for 2 days... it was cool.. but then it got annoying... and then it dawned on me that to some people that was the sound of death... frightening... it wouldnt be fun to hear that sound for days on end and then hear the bombs with it that i know from living here...
in the congo though.. you dont get those sounds i wouldnt think... probably a lot of small arms fire and smaller explosions.. and probably a lot of screaming and yelling... i saw a movie on pbs about the congo and the types of conflicts that they have had... some guys come to your villiage one day and dont say much.. then a week later they happen by again but kill everyone... and the kids they dont kill they carry off with them and force them to become soldiers at 8 years old...stuff like that...
well.. merry christmas!...
this is a really nice story... and i was really touched by his appreiation of peace in america... i cant imagine what really it would be like to live in a war zone... but it must not be fun... i have heard that it in fact sucks...
they do live ordinace testing here and even though the bombs explode 20 miles away on the other side of a 4000 foot mountain range i can hear and feel them like its next door... there also is the sound of low flying military helicopters and jets too every now and again... to me its not scary.. but i can imagine... at superweek there was a big airshow and the blue angels flew their f-18s really low over the the city for 2 days... it was cool.. but then it got annoying... and then it dawned on me that to some people that was the sound of death... frightening... it wouldnt be fun to hear that sound for days on end and then hear the bombs with it that i know from living here...
in the congo though.. you dont get those sounds i wouldnt think... probably a lot of small arms fire and smaller explosions.. and probably a lot of screaming and yelling... i saw a movie on pbs about the congo and the types of conflicts that they have had... some guys come to your villiage one day and dont say much.. then a week later they happen by again but kill everyone... and the kids they dont kill they carry off with them and force them to become soldiers at 8 years old...stuff like that...
well.. merry christmas!...
Wednesday, December 21
sack up activists- MALCOLM X
this guy was seriously a sack up guy in a lot of different ways...
he was the face of the nation of islam from 1953 to 1964.. but more importantly he is an icon of the black nationalist movement and he was known as the "angriest man in america"...
just in general the enormous sack that you had to have to go out in public calling BS on the status quo in such a dangerous time must have weighed a ton.. he probably had a bad back...
this big sack was swung in the face of the nation when he refused to show the requisite sadness and hopelessness over the assassination of JFK.. he let his disdain for a racist american state be known... "chickens coming home to roost" he called it... and it was true.. the conspiracy, secrecy and violence of the state and american society came back around and bit it in the ass... its true that you reap what you sow... and malcolm x had the sack to call it...
an ongoing sack up of his early years was the call for a separate black nation... rather than begging for a piece of your pie, we will just go ahead and bake our own... we dont want any of your handouts thank you... SACK folks.. thats sack...
even though he mellowed the rhetoric later on, he never abandoned the "do for self" mantra of personal responsibility and empowerment...
so obviously he was a guy that didnt give a flying fuck cuz he knew he was right... but as if all this other mess wasnt enough he began to make efforts to call INTERNATIONAL BULLSHIT on the racist policies of the USA... he was rallying international support to bring the case of american black folks to the united nations... this is at the same time that apartheid is being internationally condemned... thats like having nuclear balls...
Malcolm X is an inspiration to many americans because he was unafraid to speak out and organize people who previously had no collective power for political action or for self-preservation against an openly racist, insecure, and aggressive society who used state power to instill fear in the black population and to subjugate its own citizens...
he was a man for his times with a huge sack...
he was the face of the nation of islam from 1953 to 1964.. but more importantly he is an icon of the black nationalist movement and he was known as the "angriest man in america"...
just in general the enormous sack that you had to have to go out in public calling BS on the status quo in such a dangerous time must have weighed a ton.. he probably had a bad back...
this big sack was swung in the face of the nation when he refused to show the requisite sadness and hopelessness over the assassination of JFK.. he let his disdain for a racist american state be known... "chickens coming home to roost" he called it... and it was true.. the conspiracy, secrecy and violence of the state and american society came back around and bit it in the ass... its true that you reap what you sow... and malcolm x had the sack to call it...
an ongoing sack up of his early years was the call for a separate black nation... rather than begging for a piece of your pie, we will just go ahead and bake our own... we dont want any of your handouts thank you... SACK folks.. thats sack...
even though he mellowed the rhetoric later on, he never abandoned the "do for self" mantra of personal responsibility and empowerment...
so obviously he was a guy that didnt give a flying fuck cuz he knew he was right... but as if all this other mess wasnt enough he began to make efforts to call INTERNATIONAL BULLSHIT on the racist policies of the USA... he was rallying international support to bring the case of american black folks to the united nations... this is at the same time that apartheid is being internationally condemned... thats like having nuclear balls...
Malcolm X is an inspiration to many americans because he was unafraid to speak out and organize people who previously had no collective power for political action or for self-preservation against an openly racist, insecure, and aggressive society who used state power to instill fear in the black population and to subjugate its own citizens...
he was a man for his times with a huge sack...
Tuesday, December 20
Slove and Nad-Boy, Part II - the WTO Protest
Many will remember this picture of Slover (and his sidekick Nad-Boy) fondly:
But what many do not know is that Slover and his pard were rockin' the protest at the WTO this past weekend - where they're so big they need their own posse of armored bodyguards to beat off the nubile young fans:
Slover's still trying to figure out why the saftey goggles weren't working for him though...
But what many do not know is that Slover and his pard were rockin' the protest at the WTO this past weekend - where they're so big they need their own posse of armored bodyguards to beat off the nubile young fans:
Slover's still trying to figure out why the saftey goggles weren't working for him though...
i race ALL bikes
i now am a racer of ALL bikes... i will race mountain bikes this year in addition to road and track bikes... and i am doing cross on some pro cross team on 06-07...
i race ALL bikes...
and BMX too in NC in the summer
i race ALL bikes...
and BMX too in NC in the summer
sack up presidents- THEODORE ROOSEVELT
first in a series of sack up americans...
theodore roosevelt was a sack up president... he saw the president as a "steward of the people" and that guided his executive philosophy... he was an ardent believer in the idea that the strong were morally obligated to protect the weak and bring about peace in the world... he put his personal stamp of authority on things with his style... he sacked up and took executive power in new directions.. if the law didnt say he couldnt he figured that it meant he could... and he did so in the name of the public good...
old teddy sacked it right up and broke up big business trusts and reigned in the power of big business by creating the dept of labor and pursuing anti-trust law suits aggressively... he brought us also the the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act for consumer protection, and the Federal Employers' Liability Act for Labor... not to mention the national parks system which I personally enjoy every day...
he is recognized as the original sack up president... "yeah.. i'm teddy and i can do that... watch the fuck out..."
he was so tough that during a speech he was shot and exclaimed "he pinked me!"... teddy refused to go to the hospital and continued to deliver his address... with a bulet in his chest...
theodore roosevelt was a sack up president... he saw the president as a "steward of the people" and that guided his executive philosophy... he was an ardent believer in the idea that the strong were morally obligated to protect the weak and bring about peace in the world... he put his personal stamp of authority on things with his style... he sacked up and took executive power in new directions.. if the law didnt say he couldnt he figured that it meant he could... and he did so in the name of the public good...
old teddy sacked it right up and broke up big business trusts and reigned in the power of big business by creating the dept of labor and pursuing anti-trust law suits aggressively... he brought us also the the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act for consumer protection, and the Federal Employers' Liability Act for Labor... not to mention the national parks system which I personally enjoy every day...
he is recognized as the original sack up president... "yeah.. i'm teddy and i can do that... watch the fuck out..."
he was so tough that during a speech he was shot and exclaimed "he pinked me!"... teddy refused to go to the hospital and continued to deliver his address... with a bulet in his chest...
Monday, December 19
i love moutain biking
i went last sunday mountain biking and now i am going to ride a mountainbike all the time... i can go right out of my house and never touch pavement for hours and hours...
Maxim sports nutrition is a dutch company...
not like that jive ass magazine... which i think is stupid...
Friday, December 16
ok...
i could talk about what team i am going to be on and all that stuff... but i would rather talk about how the President has authorized the NSA to illegally spy on thousands of americans (check the NY Times)... seemingly benign?... but in view of recent developments concerning other seemingly benign elements of the patriot act, the rise of fundementalism and the general comportment of the executive branch and the right wing kabal, i just have one thing to say... BEWARE THE INCEPTION OF THE SECRET POLICE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA... freedom isnt free my friends... it costs time and vigilance against THE MAN...
the bottom line is that i dont trust authorty... i wonder what the hell happened to the good old-fashion republicans who mistrusted government authority and were more libertarian than they are the days... people have just gone crazy...
there was a good debate about related issues on TO THE POINT a few days back... it was more about torture regulation.. but the ideas also could be applied to holding folks responsible for secret police type actions- which, by the way are contrary to the tenants of a free and open society... duh...
the bottom line is that i dont trust authorty... i wonder what the hell happened to the good old-fashion republicans who mistrusted government authority and were more libertarian than they are the days... people have just gone crazy...
there was a good debate about related issues on TO THE POINT a few days back... it was more about torture regulation.. but the ideas also could be applied to holding folks responsible for secret police type actions- which, by the way are contrary to the tenants of a free and open society... duh...
Wednesday, December 14
sound familiar?... seriously.. i so called this shit in france a long time ago...
NPR : French Rap Musicians Blamed for Violence
this story came up on NPR and its so funny to me.. its in the music for sure.. its a social barometer...
but i am a little dissapointed that they didnt mention NTM one of the greatest rap acts ever on any continent...
this story came up on NPR and its so funny to me.. its in the music for sure.. its a social barometer...
but i am a little dissapointed that they didnt mention NTM one of the greatest rap acts ever on any continent...
Monday, December 12
sarah hammer is my favorite girl biker...
so congrats to her for winning the points race at the world cup and getting silver in the pursuit after posting the top time...
sweet revenge after she had been dumped and ignored by the feds... it all began at nats this past august where she won the pursuit with a time that would have been a silver medal at worlds...
sweet revenge after she had been dumped and ignored by the feds... it all began at nats this past august where she won the pursuit with a time that would have been a silver medal at worlds...
the tire damage is unimpressive... so i wont bother with a photo
and the rim isnt toast... so i just have to buy two new tires...
yeah... new today...
i didnt really quit... i was going to but then i decided not to... so i officially am not quitting... i am training and everything right now and my legs hurt as per usual... cant stop wont stop hip hop...
Sunday, December 11
ok...
i borrowed my mother-in-laws's jeep...
so i am driving off road up this canyon to get a bunch of rocks for my yard and on the way back i see this trail that goes up and off over a rise and i think... cool... i'll check that out.. so its a good crawl over the rise and then it goes down into a valley that looks pretty boring so i make a u turn at the top... at this point i realize that something ist right with the truck so i stop and get out and the right rear tire is mangled pretty good and off the rim.. and the rim is gouged up pretty good too... the trail was full of sharp ass rocks and i figure i must have torn the side wall...
so i go to change the tire and the spare is flat too... last month i told her that her spare was low and she said she would put air in it.. but i guess she didnt, or maybe the spare had a leak... she goes driving on these trails all the time so i didnt think that she would let it slip her mind... its pretty important to have a spare with air in it... i should have checked it myself...
so i have to unload all the cool ass rocks that i got so i can drive home on the flat tire... its sort of getting dark and i think that this would realy suck if i had to do it at night... i am looking at a 20 minute drive home with a flat tire the first 500 feet of which is down the rock strewn pitch that i just came up... but this time its on a flat tire... i am thinking that i just have to keep the tire on the rim and i will be fine.. so i go down as easy as i can and i adjust the right mirror so that i can see the tire and make sure it doesnt go off the rim.. if it does i will just have to stop and walk because i dont want to destroy the rim as i probably already destroyed the first one...
so yeah... 500 feet of rocky crawling on a flat and then i can drive the wash almost all the way home... the sandy wash will be easy on the flat tire... so i make it down to the wash that runs the narrow canyon- i am relieved.... but i forgot how far it was out of the canyon and there were a few serious cataracts in the wash where i had to get out and move some rocks and try to smooth out a path that was less dangerous for the flat tire.. but i got that done and made it out of the canyon into the wide soft sandy wash that goes almost all the way to my house... there is maybe 800 meters of pavement to my house after that...
when i got home i took the tire off and took it to get air and it held... so yeah... she didnt ever put air in it when i told hger it was low... i was worried that i wore through the side wall but i didnt... but i did put a nice ring around the sidewall that shows through to the threads... so tomorrow i am going to take the busted up rim and see if its toast or not... i am for sure going to need 2 tires and maybe a new rim.. so that was a costly trip...
photos tomorrow...
so i am driving off road up this canyon to get a bunch of rocks for my yard and on the way back i see this trail that goes up and off over a rise and i think... cool... i'll check that out.. so its a good crawl over the rise and then it goes down into a valley that looks pretty boring so i make a u turn at the top... at this point i realize that something ist right with the truck so i stop and get out and the right rear tire is mangled pretty good and off the rim.. and the rim is gouged up pretty good too... the trail was full of sharp ass rocks and i figure i must have torn the side wall...
so i go to change the tire and the spare is flat too... last month i told her that her spare was low and she said she would put air in it.. but i guess she didnt, or maybe the spare had a leak... she goes driving on these trails all the time so i didnt think that she would let it slip her mind... its pretty important to have a spare with air in it... i should have checked it myself...
so i have to unload all the cool ass rocks that i got so i can drive home on the flat tire... its sort of getting dark and i think that this would realy suck if i had to do it at night... i am looking at a 20 minute drive home with a flat tire the first 500 feet of which is down the rock strewn pitch that i just came up... but this time its on a flat tire... i am thinking that i just have to keep the tire on the rim and i will be fine.. so i go down as easy as i can and i adjust the right mirror so that i can see the tire and make sure it doesnt go off the rim.. if it does i will just have to stop and walk because i dont want to destroy the rim as i probably already destroyed the first one...
so yeah... 500 feet of rocky crawling on a flat and then i can drive the wash almost all the way home... the sandy wash will be easy on the flat tire... so i make it down to the wash that runs the narrow canyon- i am relieved.... but i forgot how far it was out of the canyon and there were a few serious cataracts in the wash where i had to get out and move some rocks and try to smooth out a path that was less dangerous for the flat tire.. but i got that done and made it out of the canyon into the wide soft sandy wash that goes almost all the way to my house... there is maybe 800 meters of pavement to my house after that...
when i got home i took the tire off and took it to get air and it held... so yeah... she didnt ever put air in it when i told hger it was low... i was worried that i wore through the side wall but i didnt... but i did put a nice ring around the sidewall that shows through to the threads... so tomorrow i am going to take the busted up rim and see if its toast or not... i am for sure going to need 2 tires and maybe a new rim.. so that was a costly trip...
photos tomorrow...
Saturday, December 10
why does kool and the gang suck now?
they should have never gotten a singer... they just should have kept jammin their instruments... they jammed so hard that they even put out some disco songs and they didnt suck... but as soon as they started doing lame songs like "too hot" and "ladies night" the wheels just fell right off... "celebration" was the sound of the kool and the gang funky bus grinding down on the axles and transfer case then bursting into flames killing all abord...
Friday, December 9
Thursday, December 8
Tim Johnson...
so.. are you going to win nats or what?...
I'll try my damndest. It's going to be a wide-open race and I really couldn't tell you who's a shoe-in.
JP is really good in bad mud i hear.. and i guess you are good in the snow... so does snow beat mud in the dry?... or is wells or somebody like that gonna wipe the floor with all you guys?...
JP is totally at home in the bad stuff. He's always been really good in deep, dark mud. He's a powerful rider that just rips it up. Snow beat Mud? I'm a big fan of snowy racing where it really makes a difference whether or not you can handle your bike and put your power to the ground. I'm out gunned by a lot of other riders and I need to equalize things to compete. Wells is a huge threat on race day. He's got really good skills, good power and he's motivated. Those three things make a good cross racer.
i like that you have the kind of mental approach where you take into account your weaknesses and look for ways to turn the race to your strengths... thats the key i think.. and its something that big riders think of that other riders dont... when you are thinking of winning any race at any level where things are competitive you have to think that way...
i asked trebon this also...is cross financially viable as a specialization yet?... it looks good and there is a lot of coverage.. but i wonder if its all hype...
Cross is not financially viable as a stand-alone discipline in the states. It's great to make some cash in the (off)season. I hate to put cross in a phrase like that. It's so much more exciting than so many races that we do on the road all year, so I hate to denigrate it. It's not all hype, there are companies realizing just how much exposure that they can get by sponsoring a good cross rider. Our sponsors like Louis Garneau, came in to support Lyne and I and have only be blown away at how great it's been for them. We've given them pictures in all the mags and online the entire fall. To try and buy exposure like that would cost a ton of money.
If Brady(Kappius?) wants to be a cross rider only, then he needs to spend a few more years getting older(physically mature, mentally mature) here in the states racing anything that he can get his hands on(mtb, road, track whatever). When he's about 23,24 or 25 he can start learning how to do it. The only advice that I really want to give any young rider is that while he's a junior or U23, staying in the sport is the only important thing. To win or lose, 1 race or a whole season doesn't really matter. It's a hard sport and alot of his peers will be done racing by the time they could actually expect to compete with the best in the country and world. Patience is the key and have fun.
good answer... i think people tend to expect too much of younger riders... and its true you dont get good until later...
in cycling news you said: "there were a lot of things that made me think that I didn't want to ride anymore"... what things were those?.. you have always struck me as a guy who is just giddy with joy to ride a bike... you sound like me when you say things like that...
You're right. I love to ride my bike, as hokey as that sounds. The reason why I got into this sport is that I liked to challenge myself and I also liked to be around my friends in the sport. When you're racing at a super-high level, like Div 1, where the only thing that matters 24/7 is how
strong you are, then it's not all that much fun. Plain and simple. I'm not talking about riding like crap and not giving a shit if I or my team wins, it's the luxury of being able to switch back and forth. Needing to have fun, might be considered a weakness, but it's one of my necessities. I know I'm not the only rider out there who feels that way. I also know that racing in the US on the NRC circuit or at our biggest races (Georgia, California) it's possible to switch back and forth. That's why I'm psyched to race here.
also... i wanna interview ceslav too.. whats his e mail?
WHo??? Czeslaw? The little Polish guy? Lives in Canada? Don't know his email or if he has one!
I'll try my damndest. It's going to be a wide-open race and I really couldn't tell you who's a shoe-in.
JP is really good in bad mud i hear.. and i guess you are good in the snow... so does snow beat mud in the dry?... or is wells or somebody like that gonna wipe the floor with all you guys?...
JP is totally at home in the bad stuff. He's always been really good in deep, dark mud. He's a powerful rider that just rips it up. Snow beat Mud? I'm a big fan of snowy racing where it really makes a difference whether or not you can handle your bike and put your power to the ground. I'm out gunned by a lot of other riders and I need to equalize things to compete. Wells is a huge threat on race day. He's got really good skills, good power and he's motivated. Those three things make a good cross racer.
i like that you have the kind of mental approach where you take into account your weaknesses and look for ways to turn the race to your strengths... thats the key i think.. and its something that big riders think of that other riders dont... when you are thinking of winning any race at any level where things are competitive you have to think that way...
i asked trebon this also...is cross financially viable as a specialization yet?... it looks good and there is a lot of coverage.. but i wonder if its all hype...
Cross is not financially viable as a stand-alone discipline in the states. It's great to make some cash in the (off)season. I hate to put cross in a phrase like that. It's so much more exciting than so many races that we do on the road all year, so I hate to denigrate it. It's not all hype, there are companies realizing just how much exposure that they can get by sponsoring a good cross rider. Our sponsors like Louis Garneau, came in to support Lyne and I and have only be blown away at how great it's been for them. We've given them pictures in all the mags and online the entire fall. To try and buy exposure like that would cost a ton of money.
If Brady(Kappius?) wants to be a cross rider only, then he needs to spend a few more years getting older(physically mature, mentally mature) here in the states racing anything that he can get his hands on(mtb, road, track whatever). When he's about 23,24 or 25 he can start learning how to do it. The only advice that I really want to give any young rider is that while he's a junior or U23, staying in the sport is the only important thing. To win or lose, 1 race or a whole season doesn't really matter. It's a hard sport and alot of his peers will be done racing by the time they could actually expect to compete with the best in the country and world. Patience is the key and have fun.
good answer... i think people tend to expect too much of younger riders... and its true you dont get good until later...
in cycling news you said: "there were a lot of things that made me think that I didn't want to ride anymore"... what things were those?.. you have always struck me as a guy who is just giddy with joy to ride a bike... you sound like me when you say things like that...
You're right. I love to ride my bike, as hokey as that sounds. The reason why I got into this sport is that I liked to challenge myself and I also liked to be around my friends in the sport. When you're racing at a super-high level, like Div 1, where the only thing that matters 24/7 is how
strong you are, then it's not all that much fun. Plain and simple. I'm not talking about riding like crap and not giving a shit if I or my team wins, it's the luxury of being able to switch back and forth. Needing to have fun, might be considered a weakness, but it's one of my necessities. I know I'm not the only rider out there who feels that way. I also know that racing in the US on the NRC circuit or at our biggest races (Georgia, California) it's possible to switch back and forth. That's why I'm psyched to race here.
also... i wanna interview ceslav too.. whats his e mail?
WHo??? Czeslaw? The little Polish guy? Lives in Canada? Don't know his email or if he has one!
Wednesday, December 7
Ryan Trebon... he is a nice guy i think...
in the begining it seemed like you were just doing cross for something to do after the norba series... but now you are more known as a cross rider than a mountain biker... you are in europe and devoting more than it seems you put into the norba season... are you now a full blown cross specialist?...
It is funny it seems not matter how good results I have Mtnbiking I never seem to get the same coverage as I do for CX, and that is why I think people associate me more as being a Crosser than a mtnbiker, which is fine with me because I am starting to put more cyclocross than I have before and I think it is an area where I want focus on.I went to Europe this year because I felt that is what I need to do to develop further as racers, and I belive it paying off big time. You cant subsitute the experience you get over there
you for sure have made a huge impact on cross in the US... much more than on the mountain bike side... i am sure that in the begining it had a lot to do with the smaller level of competition in cross, but these days it seems like on the high end the level in cross is even more competitive than in norba... it seems like you got in at a time when cross was more open and you rode the swell and developed along with the cross scene to now being an A rider in this current time when things are much tighter and tougher than 3 or 4 years ago... maybe you are just suited to cross but also you have had a nice scene to develop in as a rider.. respond
This is only my 3rd year racing CX and the same competitors that were racing then are still racing now, I dont think the level overall has gone up much, I think there are 2 to 3 people that are now focusing more on CX, but if you look at the results it is still the same 5 people finish on the podium everyweekend. So I dont think there is the depth of competition yet. But you know the sport in general is growing fast but I dont know why more top-end MTBers, and roadies dont do some cyclocross during the winter, I mean who needs a break from sept 14- Feb. 1. Lazy folks
is cross in the US viable?... can a young rider commit to cross and specialize and expect to support himslef?... or is there only room for a few full-time crossers and the rest have to race road or mountain as well...
The honest answer is no. I wish more younger riders would focus on it, but to do that you have to race in Europe there is no way around it. Take for instance Jeremy Powers, not many people now about him here because he races cross solely in Europe during the winter. But Jeremy has 10X the experience as many of the top riders in the US because he has done things the hard way and raced in Europe and the experience is gonna pay off so much when he starts to develope more as a rider. But it is like taking 3 steps back to take 1 foward. But the sport is growing fast in the US, so maybe in 3-5yrs it will be at a level where it is viable to make at living at.
after racing over in europe are you getting the kind of experience that is gonna pay-off big time?...
definetly, nothing else compares to do the biggest races and battling it out with all the best riders in the World week in and week out. I am starting to feel more confident and comfortable racing over there
so how about that brady?... digging up a photo of you falling on your ass like that.. are you gonna ball him up when you see him?... this is one of the kids that wants to give it a go in cross... what do these guys need to do to be good?
That shit makes me laugh man, I love it when young rider talk shit with and to older riders, because I was the same way. But yes, he is still gonna get kicked in the nuts when I see him this weekend for that. If Brady and others really want to improve, they have to start focusing on cross and work on CX specific stuff, and continue using the opportunities like Geoff Proctor camps to the fullest and really try and learn and absorb all they can while they are there.
asses yourself vis-a-vis your competition for nationals this weekend.. i think this is important to do when you are at a high level... what does TJ have that makes him dangerous?... McCormick?... Page?... in what ways are you better than them?... how can you contain their strengths?... how can you make them race your race?
you know I feel Ten times stronger this year than I did last year, not only physically but better mentally prepared. There are some good racers coming this weekend, but with a little luck(I havent had much lately) I don't see any reason why I couldn't win on saturday. With that said I think it is gonna be a 3 man race this weekend, but I wont tell you which 3.
obviously you are a top rider anf i think you can win nationals... but what ambitions do you have in europe as a cross rider?... do you see yourself becoming a big rider against the world's best?
I really want to focus on racing CX in europe, I think I have the fitness to compete with them, but I really lack the experience and the technique right now to consistenly be at the front of the races. But it is coming just you wait
will you continue also road racing?... what would it take to get you to drop mtb and do road and cross?
Yes, I am definetly racing on the Road again next year with AeroSpace again, as far as the future.. That I dont know right now. I am trying to figure out what is best for me, but one thing that I am thankfull for is that I do have options right now and support by some awesome people.
Tuesday, December 6
Sunday, December 4
Brady Kappius...
ok...
brady kappius.. you are one of the TIAA-Cref grommets... and you are on
your way to ride two world cups and maybe worlds too... you are a rider
for the future...
so what is your schedule going to be like day to day?.. are you gonna
live in noel's garage?...
Yep, I'm headed over to Europe in a few weeks. I will hopefully be able to race in the World Cups. There are only 5 spots and there are 7 U23's headed over, so if I'm doing good, I think I will get to race. Its all up to Geoff Proctor (The US cross team coach and the man behind the euro camp). If nationals goes well next week, I might even go to worlds. Not something I was really thinking about at the beginning of the season being a first year U23, but I would be ecstatic if I went.
Here is the race schedule:
12/24/05 Sat
1hr 30
Belgium
Diegem
Cat 1 SP
Juniors; U-23; Elite Men
12/26/05 Mon
Belgium
Hofstade
WCS
Juniors (but we probably won’t do this with juniors); U-23; Elite Men (WCS for Elite Men only)
12/28/05 Wed
Belgium
Loenhout
Cat1GVA
Juniors; U-23; Elite Men
12/31/05 Sat
Belgium
Hooglede
WCS
Juniors, U-23; Elite Men
01/02/06 Mon
Belgium
Sint-Niklaas
Cat 2
Elite and U-23 Men together
01/04/06 Wed
Holland
Surheisterveen
Cat 2
Elite and U-23 together, Juniors
I get to the USA Cycling house in Izegem, Belgium on the 22nd. It is not really Noel's garage, it is actually a pretty sweet deal. Each room has some bunk beds in it and a TV. There are a few crazy European toilets and a bathroom with a series of showers.
It looks like I will do up to 6 races. The days are pretty routine.
Wake up around 8-9 am, grab some breakfast downstairs in the kitchen. Usually some cereal, yogurt, banana, and a rice pudding. Depending on the race time and location, we will leave sometime in the morning. We pack up our lunch and head off in the caravan to the race. Once we get to the race, we pick up our number and suit up to go ride a few laps of the course. If the course is muddy we will grab our other bike and finish warming up on that one then switch back at the start. Then we race against all the crazy euro dudes. After the race we head home, clean up and eat some dinner. In the evening we usually screw around, watching the euro trash music videos. Then repeat.
where did you come from?... why are you a cross racer?... do you have any ambitions on the road or do you only think of cross?
I started racing when I was 4. I did all the kids races at the MTB races my dad did. I never really took it too seriously until about 5 years ago. I would usually just go screw around on my bike, doing jumps and sweet stuff like that. My roots are in mountain biking, and I did the cross races in the fall on my MTB.
In 2002 I was still racing cross on my MTB. I placed 3rd in C's race as a 15 year old. In 2003, I started racing in the B's with my first cross bike. By the end of the season I upgraded to the A's. 2003 was my first year going to cross nationals. Because worlds is in January of the next year, they take the next years racing age, so I raced in the 17-18's. I ended up 4th in the super muddy conditions. I was amazed at how well I did. It was one of the best races of my life, I was just in the zone.
I was hoping to go to worlds that year, but USA Cycling's crazy selection procedures left me out. They expect juniors to go travel the country collecting UCI points, but at the race that everyone is at, nationals, they only take 2 of the top 5 to worlds. Last year, I had my sights set on worlds. I was able to travel to all the US Grand Prix races (the worlds selection series) with the help of my team - TIAA-CREF / Clif Bar. I ended up 4th in the series then took 3rd at nationals.
I went to the camp last year and had a great time over in Belgium. I learned a lot about racing in Europe. I earned a spot on the worlds team with my strong season. Worlds was a great experience, but the race itself sucked. I had a lot of bad luck including a crash in the first 10 meters. This season I came with the goal of making it to the euro camp again. With some awesome races in California a couple of weeks ago, I earned my spot and ended up 4th in the USGP series. So here I am.
I also race on the road and mountain bike too. Right now, I would say that cross is what I excel at, but I am not kicking road or mountain biking out the door yet. I still love riding my bike, no matter which one it is.
as a young kid do you respect the top US riders?... obviously they are faster than you.. but are you the kind of bad ass kid that looks right through those guys like they are nothing because you have your sights set on Nijs?...
I have a lot of respect for guys like Trebon, Wicks, and Page. I got to spend last year in Belgium with Trebon and Wicks, they are super cool guys. For Page and Trebon to dedicate themselves to cross and living over there and racing deserves a lot of respect. That is something I hope to do when I get older. The difference is I want to be fighting for the win, not fighting to get a top 10. We will see what happens, I still have a lot of time to get there. I have 6 years till I'm Trebon's age
and 11 years till I catch up to Page. That is a lot of time to get better!
Also, if anybody wants to help my teammates and I pay for the trip to Europe, you can donate here - http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?EventID=2869
am i paraphrasing or are you saying that tree farm and page suck and that they barely make the top ten and when you are elite you are going to be fighting out the win?...
I am not saying that Tree Farm sucks, but he needs to work on those technical skills. like what the hell is this shit -
http://www.printroom.com/ViewgalleryPhoto.asp?userid=abbiorca&gallery_id=297305&image_id=31
You building a frickin sand castle?
So... i'll leave it at that.. and we will see what tree farm has to say about playing in the sand box... so if anybody wanted to follow your exploits do you have a website or something?....
Here is the site for our blog - http://eurocrossers.blogspot.com/ It will be up and running soon.
Friday, December 2
oh yeah...
i got some good interviews coming down the pike...
and a new website too...
back to work...
and a new website too...
back to work...
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