Everybody loves to party, you should come do it with us this friday!  Orange 20, Moth Attack Cycles, and the beautiful men and women of Ritte Racing!

Awesome interview Peter from @readyforplanb just finished up with me.

Thanks for reading, and check out the rest of his site, it’s very interesting and informative!

This year started off with me sporting a brand new custom kit from the awesome folks over at Primal, designed by the Director Sportif Spencer Cannon at Ritte Racing.  This is, without a doubt, the best looking CA state championship kit I’ve ever seen, so rad!  I know what you’re thinking, Primal?  What, no Pink Floyd or Grateful Dead bears?  Yup, they’ve changed the direction of the brand, and have some really great, high end cycling clothing.

Moth Attack Cycles also paired up with Ritte Racing to put together the stiffest, and sexiest track bike I’ve ever had the opportunity to ride. It is, without question, the jam. It was left unpainted to make it look that much tougher for my trip down to Trinidad for the Southern games.

Down in Trinidad I was fortunate enough to race with another American track phenom, Daniel Harm, and former Olympian and World Record holder, Erin ‘Erv’ Hartwell (pictured above with me watching Dan win the 10km scratch race) looked after us and helped out with some race strategy.  We killed it, and I had a really awesome time.  The people in Trini are amazing, their hospitality and enthusiasm about cycling was mind-blowing! I really hope I get to head back in 2012.

After the trip down south, there was some road racing, and a lot of training with Jamie Staff and the rest of the US National Developmental squad.  We worked really hard, and all got super fast, so fast that we then dominated the West Coast summer track racing circuit fondly known as Summer Camp.  The Far West Championships at Encino Velodrome, Testarosa Velodrome Challenge at Hellyer Velodrome, Alpenrose Velodrome Challenge, and the FSA Grand Prix at Marymoore produced track records galore, tons of fun, and amazing track racing. For good measure, I also went out to Minneapolis for the Fixed Gear Classic, where Franco Marvouli touched my butt, check it out, I’ve got proof!

Amid all the awesomeness, Ritte partnered with Levi’s to produce some really cool custom Commuter Series jeans and Jackets. These pants and jackets not only look fabulous, they’re cut in such a way that allows, even encourages perhaps, riding a bicycle while wearing them.  The jacket has sleeves cut a bit longer over the back of your wrist, a little more material covering the lower back, and 3 cycling jersey pockets across the back.  The jeans have a u-lock holder, stash pocket, reflective bits on the ankles to keep you seen, and both pieces feature an anti-microbial and water repellent treatments.  Fit, form, and function.

After summer camp, and some more intense training, we headed out to Colorado

Springs, for the US Grand Prix of Sprint, at the AMAZINGLY FAST 7-11 velodrome.  This was my first attempt at world cup level racing, so I was a little intimidated, but still raced well and had fun, so it all worked out. While Megan (of Moth Attack) and I were out there, we were put up by another amazing custom frame builder, Eric Baar of Ground Up Designs.  Eric is a great guy, has an amazing cat, a pump track, and a dirt velodrome.  A little much, but take it in, he’s real.  I also had the awesome opportunity to ride the Boulder Velodrome, and set the standing lap record.  Thanks Colorado, I’ll be back, promise.

Back in LA, it’s time for the final training push before track nationals, and Interbike. Now, for those who know about Interbike, awesome, for those that don’t, you better aks somebody. I would recommend Google. This year, Ritte brought some of their locally handbuilt custom bikes, from Moth Attack and Russ Deny, highlight their booth, as well as the amazing carbon bikes made in our factory in Eastern Europe.  My track bike made the trek, complete with a new paint job, it stole the show. Seriously, I think it was the most photographed (and touched, much to my chagrin) bike there. Prolly did a sweet write up on it, as did a bunch of other folks, mentioned in an earlier post.  While there I also got to hang out with the awesome VEGAN folks that run Handlebar Mustache.  Super rad stuff, too much standing, a lot of hanging out, not enough time to spend with friends that I don’t see enough.

Back in LA again, and the crew arrives for nationals.  We usually have 3-7 people stay with us during this week, which is pretty exciting, since we only have 1 bathroom in the house, but it works out.  Zak Attack and I had an eating contest, because what else would two elite vegan bike racers do right before their national championships?  It’s nicely chronicled here.  The next week was full of hard work, and awesome racing.  I ended up medalling in the team sprint with Daniel Walker and Sam Milroy, and finishing in the top 10 in keirin and kilo. This was, without a doubt, the fastest nationals in a few years, and I performed better, raced smarter, and had WAAAAAAY more fun than I ever have before.  This was totally an amazing finish to a year filled with hard work, great people, loads of improvement, and a lot of fun.

In closing, I’d like to give a heart felt thank you to all of the people that have made this year possible. Moth Attack Cycles, Ritte Racing, City Grounds, Hold Fast, Rotor, 3T, Vittoria, Jamie Staff, everyone that put me up at their house when I was in town, and my amazing girlfriend Megan Dean. I am truly lucky to have such an amazing support structure in this endeavor.

isn’t ready yet.

It’s 2012, and as I’ve said, it’s all about that PMA. Rough day in the gym, my shoulder injury from 2 years ago acted up, at a most inopportune time. I fell on my (substantial) butt with about 185 lbs on my shoulders. As a result, my back and neck are feeling less than fantastic.  I think with some ice, and a little bit of rest I’ll be back in the saddle again (Oh Yeah!).

To everyone that trains, rides hard, or pushes themselves past where the rest of the population feels comfortable; if it was easy, everyone would do it.  Don’t stop, slow down, or doubt yourself, you are what makes it happen. 

I’d also like to thank everyone that takes the time to give a little of them self to help an athlete train to reach their potential.  Whether it’s a bike shop giving a local junior a tube, or the US Olympic Committee providing funding for a Paralympic athlete to travel to their respective world championship.  Without people like you, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.

also…

my friend Mike came up from Orange County to hang out before racing cross this weekend in Griffith Park, and had his Podium Legs, so I obviously had to try them.

Having used a couple of similar products (NormaTec and Recovery Pump), these totally cut the mustard.  These very durable and stylish orange boots are legit, and the control pump isn’t super loud, so you can have a conversation while you sit there and be PRO. There is no longer a need to pay through the nose to get the same recovery elite level athletes have come to expect, and you don’t have to get rubbed down by this guy either!