LegoLand

I've taken the weekend off from my pre El Tour training rides for a long awaited trip to San Diego. I made a promise to my oldest son that we would take him to San Diego to see the beach and visit Legoland. The timing couldn't have been any better it was Star Wars Days!! We planned our trip to coincide with a special attraction during the month of September. For two days there were legions of stormtroopers roaming the park. Darth Vader, Boba Fett, R2-D2 and Jedi's were among the other awesome characters that patrolled the area. In between photo shoots with clone troopers, Jedi's and Bounty Hunters we rode biplanes, pirate ships and jeeps. Another awesome highlight was witnessing the different emotions Aidan went through to ride his first roller coaster. Thanks to Aidan that medieval dragon coaster had to be one of the most exhilarating rides I've ever been on.

Training Rides

Last week I started my pre El Tour training rides and to my delight I handled it with great aplomb. On Sunday the group and I tackled a very scenic 30 mile ride around Saguaro National Monument West. I try to do new rides as often as possible so I was really excited to explore this route. As expected the park did not disappoint, rather it exceeded my expectations. There were lots of fun downhills, swooping turns and challenging climbs that weaved through communities of giant saguaro. The legs felt great! For not having done very many rides during the off season I performed pretty dog gone good.

Now today's ride was a very different story. Still floating on the high from last weeks ride I figured today would be just as scenic but faster. My thoughts of a speedy ride went bye bye with the 10-15 mph wind. No matter what direction I was headed that wind seemed to slap me around the road slowing my every effort to gain some sort of speed. It didn't help that physically I wasn't all there either. Yesterday I didn't fuel up as I normally do, the wife and I played nine holes of golf in the afternoon sun and ended up going to bed late. Not being in tip-top shape and sparring with the wind isn't going to make for a very enjoyable ride. Not to mention my phone bobbled out of the rear pocket of my jersey on a 35 mph decent and ended up getting dropped from the group because I couldn't find the dumb battery and cover. Big deal, Motorola is sending me a new cover, I was on the bike doing what I love on one of the most spectacular rides in Tucson!

Hittin the streets

El Tour de Tucson is Saturday, November 22nd and I shall be one of the ciclistas turning up the wattage to conquer the streets. I haven't decided which mileage I'm doing yet but I'm leaning toward the 80 again. I'd like to challenge myself to beat last year's 5:08:18 time.

I'm Rick James!

Chappelle's Show
True Hollywood Stories - Rick James Pt. 1
www.comedycentral.com
Buy Chappelle's Show DVDs Black Comedy True Hollywood Story

Go Cipo!!

When all the teeth have been brushed, all the books have been read and everyone is falling asleep I get to finally stretch out my legs and watch the Tour of California. It has been nice to get back into the cycling season and what better way than the TOC. I don't have a favorite team to cheer for but I do favor the US teams specifically Slipstream/Chipotle, HighRoad and notably Rock Racing. Three years ago Mario Cipollini, The Lion King, retired from professional cycling but has recently hit the road by storm riding for the Rock Racing team. What's PRO about Super Mario is that not only is he putting up respectable times, taking third in stage 2 against the likes of Tom Boonen, the guy is 41 years old! I for one am inspired by his physical health, performance and his passion for cycling.


(Quickstep's Big Tom Boonen out front, Gerolsteiner’s Heinrich Haussler and The Lion King - right side in black/green kit)

Toddlerhood

Saturday my 15 month old got a haircut. He had long curly brown hair that I wanted to let grow out so that I could pull back into a ponytail like Antonio Banderas. It was also my way of prolonging his transition from babyness into toddlerhood. Unfortunately my wife didn't see the humor in have a little mariachi dancing around the house so she had it trimmed. At first I didn't like it, I'm losing my baby and all his "baby" hair. I had all day Saturday to acclimate to the new look and by Sunday I had fully embraced his new locks.

Fall rewind

The holidays are behind us and a new year is just beginning. October, November and December are my favorite months of the year and I am really sorry to see them go. Words can't express the feelings that come over me during the fall. There are loads of sights, smells and things to do that capture me every year. I love it, enough said.

With the Tour de Tucson under my belt there's another thing that lights my fire in November. I tackled the 85 mile route and punched it in the mouth with a 5 hour and 8 minute time. There was still some gas in the tank too! Not bad for my first road race. This year I'm not sure what to do, thinking beat 07' results or go full out and do 109!

There are couple of events that are coming up in April that I would like to do. The Tour de Phoenix (April 5) and The Tour of the Tucson Mountains (April 27). They're both 70ish mile events and should make for a couple nice jolts into these soft legs.