Can you believe it? Filip Meirhaeghe is back on a Belgian racing squad! He rode for Landbouwkrediet before, it makes sense that a team director or coach that you have known previously would take you back.

All these riders getting second chances. I would probably want one too but, the Meirhaeghe thing was such a scandal, such a high priority doping scandal. Like David Millar. Both World Champions. Crazy. Has it already been 16 months? Geez.

Oh, found this bit of Filip info. Seems he won a little road race in California that I once got 4th in. Can someone give me some clarity on this. Was he stripped of his XC world champ win and all the XC wins previously? Or ANY of his previous XC wins? Anyone? Anyone? Bueler?

Taking New Years day off, enjoying the lovely company of Pete and an Americano.

I got really freaked out about racing this morning. I was all pumped to do a few hours on the mountain bike, but then it turned rainy and I decide to just get le coffee and ride tomorrow. I was reading stuff from this years euro cross camp and then I was looking over this year's domestic cross season. I got that really guilty feeling you get when you skip training. Maybe you don't, I do. I've gotta beat this rain and seasonal depression crap and put in a few hours a day. Everday. (this is my little daily affirmation I'll be reading to myself to get pumped.)

I was going through results, I gotta get fast. Faster than I have been riding. I've got to be riding like Shannon to achieve the little goals I have set for myself next season.

It is raining like crazy the last few days.

Had a chiropractic appointment this morning and got my ribs and back adjusted. (after Pete pretty much guilt tripped me into seeing the doctor) Looks like I fractured my rib the night before nationals afterall! It is not getting better quick. It has been 3 weeks since I hurt it and will likely be 3 more before it really heals up. Hurts like hell and now I have this big lump on my rib where it is healing up. Serious, it hurts to sleep, breathe, laugh, whatever.

After the appointment I got back on my bike and headed up into the park and there was flooding everywhere! Lots of erosion too. People were out doing emergency clean up and repair to the little streams and ditches that have now become rivers. I was pedaling up the trail and passed a jogger who turned out to be one of Veloshop's sponsors: Jim from Broadway bagels. It was pleasant to run into each other on such a crappy day and we split off after a little chat.

Took Pete out to dinner and a hot tub last night. We went to The Farm on Burnside. I figured she did not each there too often but, turns out she knows like half the staff, they all wave and smile when she walks in. hehheh. While we are waiting for tables I notice Jay Graves (owner of the Bike Gallery) come in with a pal. I should have gone up and introduced myself but, I was feeling shy and on a really good date. Contrary to popular opinion, I don't really hate on the Bike Gallery, or any other bike shop in town.

I was talking with one of the mechanics from River City Bicycles and he mentioned that "everyone hates on River City bicycles" and I was thinking how I feel like everyone hates on the Veloshop and I realised that every bike mechanic, shop owner, or manager probably feels like everyone hates on the bike shop they work at. Our profession is really bizzare. Our customers are so damn picky and sensitive and demanding. Seems like a lot of the kids who come into my shop think I am running a scam on them or judging them or something. I wonder if part of it is because I am so young, like people cannot handle taking my word cause I must not seem like I have been around the bike industry for that long. Or maybe it is just because you just truly can find everything cheaper on the internet.

I had a customer (and old friend) call me up about a pair of Assos gloves that were coming apart in the fingers. "No way, sew that shit up." my reply when he asked if he could warranty them. Not that it was stupid for him to ask but, Assos is NOT going to send me a new pair of gloves and I would just take some thread and stich that shit up. All of the bike shops in town do not have "Walmart" or "REI" type money where we can just blindly take returns and exchanges. And most of our distributors are just as small as we are. Often, our distributors are smaller than we are.

Lost my train of thought there... maybe the point was (subliminal message to follow) come into Veloshop and spend your money. I'm broke, the shop is broke, gotta make rent, pay the bills, blah blah blah.The winter is keeping us busy but, not well funded.

I met with Sacha last week, first time we had talked since Nationals. We hung out for a couple hours and had an awesome conversation. Really awesome. We talked about racing this fall and next season. About his bike company, and my shop. We talked about gender and politics.

I cannot express how good it feels to ride for someone (note: an actual individual, NOT a person working for a bigger company.) that I believe in. There are trade offs riding with a smaller business (less funding and support, etc), they are worth it. We talked about how in 3 years one won't remember getting those free socks from whatever company and how I will remember the fall of 2005 for the rest of my life. Riding for Sacha means something. Not that I am cool or special or even a great bike rider but, that I am worthy of representing his business and bicycles.

When I turn the tables and think about having employees it is a similar deal. I am so damn picky about the quality of work the Veloshop does that I will only accept really high standards and professionalism. Of the large handfull of volunteers and coworkers I have had in the last 4 years only a couple met my standards, and so far only Keely has surpassed them. It makes me proud to have her working with me.

Word.

I think Sacha feels similarly. He wrote a really sweet blurb about me on his website. Made my day. I also got in a photo in Velonews, made my day too. Y'know that Rhonda, Shannon and I are the only Vanilla team cross racers? That is some heavy company. Three or four years ago if you asked me who my favorite local racers were, I would have said: Rhonda Mazza, Alice Pennington, Shannon Skerrit and Kent Johnston (I'm serious, I have a thing for Kent. The first few races I saw him at he showed real class. Plus, he uses the euro leg embrocations which is admirable.) So winding up racing with all of them is like a dream come true.

The Brian Ellin is back in town from an extended east coast family-holiday trip. He got 4th place in some Virginia cross race on a borrowed bike. We've got to get him off of those GT triple triangle bikes he keeps ripping the derailleur hangers off of and let him have a solid cross season and finish a local race for once! He did however purchase a new Gary Fischer 29er last night from the Bike Gallery. It is pretty awesome. We are going to go ride tommorow morning.

Well, I'm off for now, I'll be updating this thing at least weekly.

Oh, Eric Tonkin posted a couple race reports to the OBRA list. They are really, really good. Worth a read. Tonkin is the "real deal" regardless what he thinks.

I even stopped shaving and let my leg hair start growing out, I think it will make me faster...