Hey guys, I’m finally I’m outta hibernation, been doing tons of stuff, lots of writing, a lot of music playin, house projects, catching up with old friends and family since I got back from Europe. My favorite project was a hole I cut into my kitchen wall with my friend and contractor to the best, Rich. I went up north with my friend Mukunda and after hours of mulling around and studying, I came home with an awesome piece of honey locust (thats a type of treeee). It’s been fun to watch that project come to life and I’ve been pouring a ton of energy into making that perfect. Still some work to go, but rewarding and fun none the less, Started base this wk. Also got my racing schedule, which isn’t packed to my surprise, but more on that later. The Northampton – Brattleboro loops will start very soon, maybe even tomorrow. March 10th, everyone is invited on those rides, drop me a comment and I can give you all the info if you’re interested in coming along. Okay, thats all for the quick update. Be safe out there. Spring fever is starting for everyone, people will be drivin like looney toons.

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It’s been a little bit crazy coming back and forth from the USGP / Nationals trip out west in December, then over to Europe, now back home, then back to Europe again in 6 days. It’s been worth it this time around to help save my mind from the numbing feeling of being out of place and trying to cope with the fact that while I had decent form, I had a lack of results in Europe this past trip. So I’ve been home training my buns off. Throwin up a hail-mary to get my technical skills where they need to be, train like a mad-man and also sleep my brains out and relax a bit before I head back to the cross’ centrum. I think I’m doing a decent job and deep down really want a solid result at the world championships in Tabor. I did a VeloNews journal entry about all the funny stories that came and went in 2009, which you can read here: Journal And Colt from cyclingdirt.org come over and filmed what a day in the life is like! Stay warm and talk to you all soon!

Cycling Videos on CyclingDirt

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Yeah it happen’d. I crashed and ate crap during the big race of the year. It happens, I’m putting the cyclingdirt videos of how it went down for anyone that didn’t it see it or hear my reaction…in the video I’m clearly hurtin’ afterwards. I’m not a machine and that hit home for sure. On the the flip side, my teammate and friend Timmy J rocked it and it’s great he was able to win his third title. I’m truly happy he did it. Between the three of us, we won 22 races this season and it’s been amazing to be part of that. I’m off to Europe tomorrow, extremely motivated and I plan on keepin’ everyone in the loop! I’m doing weekly podcasts with Lyne from Podiuminsight.com, My VeloNews diary filled with my current musical tastes are going to be back in full effect as soon as I land in Europe and I’m also possibly doing a video blog, which, If I pull it off…You’ll see! I’ve updated my calendar for all that emailed and asked which races I would be doing. Check out that tab at the top of the site and hopefully I see some of you over there!

Cycling Videos on CyclingDirt

Cycling Videos on CyclingDirt

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The title says its all. I’ve been training like its goin outta style. Sometimes I wish it would go outta style so I could chillax a little bit. (yeh right…) It’s been gooiinnn DOWN, my coach, Rick Crawford – AKA: The crawfeeze was out for a training camp here in Massachusetts two weeks back and we unfogged the spark plugs…. I was feelin pretty good last weekend in Long Island, New York and I’m hopin for those hard days to catch up with my legs in the coming weeks. Besides that I’ve been a little MIA doin house projects and also gettin’ in the 8’s at night. If you race bikes and you don’t get in 8 at night. Your just shooting yourself in the foot. Remember that if you’re a new rider coming up. Kevin Monohan told me when I was 20yrs old on a training ride that when he stopped being a ‘night owl’ (hah) he started winning nat’l titles. 3 of em for the record. Get familiar with Kevin Monohan if your not already- I raced in Sterling, Massachusetts this weekend, I got wins both days and I’m feeling great heading into this trip west as the most important two weeks of the US cyclocross season loom in the horizon. On Thursday I’ll head out for the 12day trip. If your anywhere near Portland or Bend these next two weekends, you better be there. It’s going to be crazy.

On a totally different note, I recently tweeted / facebook’d about a topic of having the US cyclo-cross season run into January. I think at this point it’s essential for the USA to have races up into the world championships. I had a 100 emails, tweets, comments etc. on the subject, which I’ve saved and I’m gonna put to good use in making a case for it. I think around 75% of the people who replied to me were in favor of having the season continue on through January. A lot of people asked me WHY I wouldn’t want to go to Europe December through February? I DO want to go to Europe, I love Europe and I want to keep doing trips there! But wouldn’t it be awesome to spend the holidays home and do some racing there in maybe November instead of January? It would continue to grow the US cross’ scene, help venues that don’t have dates, get a date on the calendar and create new venues for cross’ in say a little bit warmer places in January… We’re lucky to have a HUGE country and I’m certain we can find somewhere amazing to put on good races in January. A lot of feedback also said they wouldn’t ride in the nasty weather. I disagree’d with that, because this is cyclo-cross. Cross’ is the bad ass discipline of cycling that is raced in all conditions. Cyclo-cross races continue on in whatever conditions mother nature decides. Warm, cold, snow or sun, when its cross’ season we throw our rationality out the window and get to it. My last thought on this that I think is important. Wouldn’t extending the season help promoters respect the current venue dates? If we extend no one would have to step on each others races. Which is two-fold, not only does that suck for the promoter, but it’s something that keeps the top talent from racing against each other every weekend and again hurts the development of being the best cross’ country! Not to mention, What spectator wants to see races where only 3 of the top 10 show up? No one. We all want it, head to head, every weekend September until February.

Alright, I wish you all a safe holiday season and if hope to see many of you before that. Seeya!

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Yes! Finally the travel that began after the Tour of Missouri has ended and I’ve got a break coming to me.

For the month of November I don’t need to step foot on an airplane and I gotta say, that feels like a fresh cup of delicious french press coffee on a cool autumn morning on your deck watchin’ the leaves fall off the tree’s!

Even for someone like myself that has a hard time shuttin it down usually. I’m outta energy, It was a ballistic two months. People that travel know how hard it is to get motivated and deal with the little things that come up at the airport. I missed flights, got delayed, slept in a bunch of cities unexpectedly. It’s just how travelin’ is. Ninja or not! Then you catch the flu and you gotta keep your head up and make the best of it. If you give in and rest, say sayonara to that form you worked hard for…

Besides the travel, the racing was a blast. I got on the podium every weekend since the season started, I won a couple times and I’m ranked #1 in the USAC rankings which…is awwwwwwwesome!

That brings me to how many cool people I’ve met in these last months. Every single person I’ve met this season at a clinic, shop, talk, race, whatever. leaves an impact on me and I appreciate anyone that follows my racing. If you stuck around a couple extra hours after one of your races to see one of my races and cheer me on or drove a couple hours and blew a sunday afternoon to watch the race, this is my thank you. If your a fan of mine, your a friend of mine. Send me a message on facebook, twitter or come up and hang at a race in person.

Speaking of things that are awesome and being a fan. My teammates and I were super fans on Sunday after the races in Boulder. We ripped it down to Denver for a Denver Nuggets game and got to go VIP and meet the new Dennis Rodman AKA: “The Birdman” Chris Andersen. If you’ve seen this guy, he’s 6 foot 10. He’s a friggin’ Sasquatch in person. Also got to slap hands with Allen Iverson! We checked out all the cool facilities, trainin’ courts, work out rooms etc. We watched the game, got a couple pictures with the guys in their locker room afterwards AND even got a shot with the cheerleaders, YES! Really cool experience, we had a blast. Also my first NBA game ever…Thank you Dixon for making that happen!

Alright, we’re barreling down into the 2nd half of the cross’ season. On tap this weekend about 5 minutes down the road from my house is the cycle-smart international. This year I couldn’t stomach missing a UCI race minutes from my front door. Jamey Driscoll, Adam Criag and a couple other friends are coming out to race. It’s going to be a great show and venue. INFO

I’m only going to be able to do the Saturday race, On Sunday I’m going to do a ride in Mystic, Connecticut (which is very close to where I grew up) In conjunction with The Mystic Marriot Hotel and Spa, Jelly Belly Candy Company and H.A.B.S (Helmet Awareness & Bicycle Safety) We’re putting on a ride for fun and for helmet awareness!

So if your from the area and you want to come out and ride Sunday November 8th, Lets GO! The information on the ride is here: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-deals/gonmm-mystic-marriott-hotel-and-spa/?offerInfo=460663

Also check out the flyer and see you there!!!

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