tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91497429322517719102023-11-16T07:48:36.702-08:00BIO-DYNAMIC BACONMy ego, Poor grammar, even worse spelling,
Ef'ed up syntax...and bike racing....pieces of my life..have fun and eat bacon...I don't really touch the stuff.Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-22122577173556061512011-09-03T20:26:00.000-07:002011-09-03T20:26:08.017-07:00Masters National Championship TT<br />
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 570px;" id="attachment_3243" style="width: 570px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/09/04/marc-pro-strava-and-a-national-championships-tt-title/masters-nationals-tt-podium-008/" href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/09/04/marc-pro-strava-and-a-national-championships-tt-title/masters-nationals-tt-podium-008/" rel="attachment wp-att-3243"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-3243" data-mce-src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Masters-Nationals-TT-podium-008-560x420.jpg" height="420" src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Masters-Nationals-TT-podium-008-560x420.jpg" title="Masters Nationals TT podium 008" width="560" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">The podium, the Jersey, and the Medal.</dd></dl></div><br />
Bend OR, a modern efficient town sitting on the threshold of an arid tumbleweed desert, and the base of the Cascade Mt range. The perfect place to host Masters Nationals, Bend is burgeoning with Ponderosa pine, the Descutes river, and cool looking rocks. One of them is named the<em> Monkey Face </em>and I hear its a pretty sweet rock climb. I'm not sure what kind of rocks they are but maybe we can get the famous<em> Phil Mooney</em> to chime in with a little geology lesson when he gets a break from racing as a Pro. Phil? At any rate moving away from the rocks, where else can you find the <em>roundabout</em>? You may not believe it but these simple creations completely eliminate the need to sit at a stop sign or stop light. They send motorist and bikers alike on a daily journey of smooth flowing traffic ensuring peace, safety, and enjoyment for all. Marin soccer moms, if there is one thing you deserve, its the roundabout.<br />
OK, I'll get down to it. The TT course is one that I've done many times only on this occasion its shortened from about 35 km down to 25 km. From the start it snakes out of the High School and heads up an innocent looking climb. The innocence is lost pretty quickly as the road soon pitches up and becomes steeper the farther you travel. After about 8km you turn around and head straight back down the hill reaching speeds of over 50 mph. Then at the 16km mark, you make a sharp turn right and head up over a rolling bluff with with a few power climbs, roundabouts, medians, winding descents, tumbleweed, and some pine forest. There is a golf course in there at some point but between the sweat in my eyes and the snotty drool splattered all over myself I couldn't see a thing. I set the fastest time of the day as I crossed the finish line and then anxiously listened to Dave Towle announce the time of the riders that follow. In the end I won by about 35 seconds. Its a great feeling.<br />
Now some people may call me a sand-bagger, and that's pretty much what I'm secretly calling myself. However I didn't call Lance a sand-bagger when he showed up at the Tour of the Gila and I was 47th place 1:47 behind the TDF champion. I felt privileged and stoked that I made it to a level that allowed me to even line up against him. In respect to my competitors I'm obviously not Lance Armstrong and have no grounds to compare my performance with his, but you hopefully get the picture.<br />
As a 31 year old amateur racer, I fit into many different categories. I may race as a Masters 30-34, a Category 1, some races pit me against the domestic pro teams, and occasionally I'm lucky enough to line up against a big name UCI Pro rider from the TDF. I am the in between rider without a true home.<br />
The way my season has gone I'm just happy to be riding my bike. But I'm obviously elated to walk away with a national championships jersey and super fat gold medal. Even if it was masters category 30-34. I know some riders that would pay a large some of money for the chance to wear one of these and I won it fare and square.<br />
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 570px;" id="attachment_3244" style="width: 570px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/09/04/marc-pro-strava-and-a-national-championships-tt-title/masters-nationals-tt-podium-003/" href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/09/04/marc-pro-strava-and-a-national-championships-tt-title/masters-nationals-tt-podium-003/" rel="attachment wp-att-3244"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-3244" data-mce-src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Masters-Nationals-TT-podium-003-560x420.jpg" height="420" src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Masters-Nationals-TT-podium-003-560x420.jpg" title="Masters Nationals TT podium 003" width="560" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">How do I put this thing on?</dd></dl></div>Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-82519984226309109542011-08-30T14:49:00.000-07:002011-08-30T14:49:52.984-07:00Vacaville Grand Prix and Pack Fodder<div class="mceTemp"><br />
<dl class="wp-caption alignnone" data-mce-style="width: 402px;" id="" style="width: 402px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/08/30/vacaville-grand-prix-pack-fodder-and-teamwork/my-one-good-effort/" href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/08/30/vacaville-grand-prix-pack-fodder-and-teamwork/my-one-good-effort/" rel="attachment wp-att-3180"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/my-one-good-effort-560x420.jpg" height="294" src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/my-one-good-effort-560x420.jpg" title="my one good effort" width="392" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Just saving face</dd></dl></div><br />
I love this race its fun. The Vacaville Grand Prix has a bit of everything. A power climb, a kinda fast descent, a straight away to get things established, followed by a narrow pinch your ass cheeks together and hold on tight for your life hairpin, and lots of 90' corners that require you to turn your head in a direction other than to the right. Thirty laps and super hot. At the start line it was Justin Rossi, Nate Freed, and me (Mr. Pack Fodder). My fitness has been lacking to say the least but, little do the masses know, I broke my Collarbone 7 weeks ago. Currently, my legs are like whip cream on shit, no matter how I dress them up they still stink, but at least I still have a presence about me that makes people uneasy. As such, I used my rancid reputation to my advantage and attacked like a ravenous turkey vulture vomiting missiles aimed for destruction. Lacking my usual voracity and velocity, I was lucky to go half the distance falling short on every occasion. Its was all I could do to perform a solid attack and avoid the inevitable slaughter house. The meager strength of my legs forced me to latch on to any available wheel with my head hanging low whimpering all the while for a draft. Ya know I'm Just trying to save face and sell the decoy.<br />
Luckily "Fierce Freed" was doing a more convincing job of being a hoodlum and still holding his position at the front.<br />
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 570px;" id="attachment_3194" style="width: 570px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/08/30/vacaville-grand-prix-pack-fodder-and-teamwork/nate-going-for-gold/" href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/08/30/vacaville-grand-prix-pack-fodder-and-teamwork/nate-going-for-gold/" rel="attachment wp-att-3194"><img alt="Fierce Freed" class="size-medium wp-image-3194" data-mce-src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Nate-going-for-gold-560x420.jpg" height="420" src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Nate-going-for-gold-560x420.jpg" title="Nate going for gold" width="560" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Fiece Nate</dd></dl></div><div class="mceTemp mceIEcenter"><br />
<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 570px;" id="attachment_3193" style="width: 570px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/08/30/vacaville-grand-prix-pack-fodder-and-teamwork/freed-on-the-front/" href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/08/30/vacaville-grand-prix-pack-fodder-and-teamwork/freed-on-the-front/" rel="attachment wp-att-3193"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-3193" data-mce-src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Freed-on-the-front-560x372.jpg" height="372" src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Freed-on-the-front-560x372.jpg" title="Freed on the front" width="560" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Nate enjoying the action</dd></dl></div><br />
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 570px;" id="attachment_3199" style="width: 570px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/08/30/vacaville-grand-prix-pack-fodder-and-teamwork/rossi-giving-it-a-go/" href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/08/30/vacaville-grand-prix-pack-fodder-and-teamwork/rossi-giving-it-a-go/" rel="attachment wp-att-3199"><img alt="Rossi giving it an early go" class="size-medium wp-image-3199" data-mce-src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Rossi-giving-it-a-go-560x420.jpg" height="420" src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Rossi-giving-it-a-go-560x420.jpg" title="Rossi giving it a go" width="560" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Rossi giving it an early go</dd></dl></div><a data-mce-href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/08/30/vacaville-grand-prix-pack-fodder-and-teamwork/rossi-giving-it-a-go/" href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/08/30/vacaville-grand-prix-pack-fodder-and-teamwork/rossi-giving-it-a-go/" rel="attachment wp-att-3199"><br />
</a><br />
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Eventually about 15 laps in Veteran Norc-Cal hero James Mattis took a flyer and Rookie Rossi was soon to follow creating a duo that worked well together.<br />
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 570px;" id="attachment_3201" style="width: 570px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/08/30/vacaville-grand-prix-pack-fodder-and-teamwork/the-duo/" href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/08/30/vacaville-grand-prix-pack-fodder-and-teamwork/the-duo/" rel="attachment wp-att-3201"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-3201" data-mce-src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/The-duo-560x372.jpg" height="372" src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/The-duo-560x372.jpg" title="The duo" width="560" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Rookie meets Veteran</dd></dl></div>Old boy Fierce and yours truly Mr. Pack Fodder promptly set ourselves to the act of patrolling the front and neutralizing anything threatening so as to let the gap grow like a hormone fed pig.<br />
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 409px;" id="attachment_3200" style="width: 409px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/08/30/vacaville-grand-prix-pack-fodder-and-teamwork/riders-on-patrol/" href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/08/30/vacaville-grand-prix-pack-fodder-and-teamwork/riders-on-patrol/" rel="attachment wp-att-3200"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-3200" data-mce-src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/riders-on-patrol-399x600.jpg" height="600" src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/riders-on-patrol-399x600.jpg" title="riders on patrol" width="399" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">MarcPro-Strava on patrol duty</dd></dl></div>Fat Bacon!...........The move stuck and I watched it from the sidelines. My job was done and so were my legs so why not?<br />
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 570px;" id="attachment_3207" style="width: 570px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/08/30/vacaville-grand-prix-pack-fodder-and-teamwork/rossi-and-mattis/" href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/08/30/vacaville-grand-prix-pack-fodder-and-teamwork/rossi-and-mattis/" rel="attachment wp-att-3207"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-3207" data-mce-src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Rossi-and-Mattis-560x420.jpg" height="420" src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Rossi-and-Mattis-560x420.jpg" title="Rossi and Mattis" width="560" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Rossi feeding the gap</dd></dl></div><br />
The conclusion, poor Rossi took second again.<br />
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 409px;" id="attachment_3202" style="width: 409px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/08/30/vacaville-grand-prix-pack-fodder-and-teamwork/rossi-on-the-podium-again/" href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/08/30/vacaville-grand-prix-pack-fodder-and-teamwork/rossi-on-the-podium-again/" rel="attachment wp-att-3202"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-3202" data-mce-src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Rossi-on-the-podium-again.-399x600.jpg" height="600" src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Rossi-on-the-podium-again.-399x600.jpg" title="Rossi on the podium again." width="399" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Second..........Again!</dd></dl></div>Rookie boy Rossi has so many podiums this year and has been a factor in almost every finish of each race he has entered, yet he just can't seem to win. Trust me its not because of his legs. I am actually unsure of Rossi's true origins but I think it began somewhere with an ox, a horse, and 30 hours a week in the pool as a collegiate swimmer. He also lives and trains at altitude then races at sea level. The coefficient of all this add up to deliver a powerhouse of a cyclist. However, its his determination that always bites him like a double edged sword. Despite having the best legs and making it into the decisive moves, his opponents just don't feel as ambitious when it comes to setting the pace. I'm sure you don't hear them telling Rossi to go faster or take longer pulls. They're just stoked to sit in his mega draft and conserve. They don't care if the move gets brought back, they have more teammates ready to counter-attack. But Rossi, he worked his ass off to get in this move, he worked his ass off to be able to push the watts, and you can bet your ass that he is going to work to make the move stick. My critique of Rossi is also praise. In just one season he has emerged as the best all around rider on our team and Nor-Cal. We all can count on him to be there when we're not. I think Rossi has amassed 98% of the tools and knowledge in one season that riders struggle to gain in a career. The seeds therefore have been sown and next years harvest looks to be very promising. If I've learned just one thing this year it has to be that I'm glad to be on the same team as Rossi and the rest of the MarcPro-Strava athletes.<br />
Bacon.<br />
Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-27794100427610917292011-06-13T16:26:00.001-07:002011-06-13T22:06:23.562-07:00Universally Speaking...................a rant.<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgsMbaJENALzQA9Cgx8pwk3oIf-AuaoF7VSYnnLieFObgCRgb7gSpXBdFVnGdEtRYZ8UmoLvij_FYyApx7JZ3Z_hnzYRBJtJ83xe7bO4e6Aic2aZFEwqGhDd80kxsEi5cMSLGP5ACdEk/s1600/sattley+TT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgsMbaJENALzQA9Cgx8pwk3oIf-AuaoF7VSYnnLieFObgCRgb7gSpXBdFVnGdEtRYZ8UmoLvij_FYyApx7JZ3Z_hnzYRBJtJ83xe7bO4e6Aic2aZFEwqGhDd80kxsEi5cMSLGP5ACdEk/s320/sattley+TT.jpg" width="213" /></a><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;">meditate on this. <b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>5:30 am Truckee</b></div>The morning air presented itself refreshingly brisk yet cool and calm, like a Buddhist meditating with a pine cone in a tranquil forest of wise ponderosa. Well actually It was Jesse Miller Smiths guest bedroom with a balcony overlooking a quaint mountain town neighborhood. That said, it was peaceful, even if at 5:30 in the morning his dog Ziggy was at my feet beckoning fervently with wildly anticipating eyes, drool oozing from both sides of his young fuzzy mug with only one thought on his mind. I want to play fetch throw me the ball. Just like Ziggy, we had one thought on our minds........District TT championships, and of course coffee.<br />
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JMS, Frank Spiteri and I left poor Ziggy in front of the TV. I have never seen a dog watching baseball drooling and following the ball as it moves across the screen, obviously dreaming that he may someday be given the opportunity to chase that dream. Truly a site to see. Ok, Ok, ok.........Bike racing....yup, we lined up for the TT........pushed as hard as we could.......two of us made the podium....I was third again, just like last year, and then we piled into Franks Car and the two of us began the most epic race of the day. The drive from Sattley to Benicia to do the Taleo criterium.......It was epic...........We were told by a local, I can't remember his name, to take the hypotenuse. I always thought the hypotenuse was a straight line but apparently to the local it meant driving 80 miles at 40 mph on the most meandering roller-coaster of a road on earth. Rafting down the Yuba river may have been faster. Any rate, after our stressed for time journey we arrived in Benicia and had an epic time finding parking. Locating registration was like a rat finding cheese in a maze with no sense of smell. Then on the way to the start line I managed to crash in the grass, land on my back and have my coke explode all over me in front of 50 spectators. My warm up consisted of 2 hours on the MarcPro while driving and in the end we made it to the start line with 4 min to spare. To boot, I was covered in sweat and sticky, caffeinated, overly GMO fortified corn syrup from my pre-race antics.<br />
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The universe was speaking......we weren't listening.<br />
<br />
The race started and was going pretty well. Nate Freed, Frank, and I were taking turns tearing it up, counterattacking and having a blast. With 9 laps to go.....I was taking some big digs, and after rounding a corner at mach speed, drilling it off the front, my bike mysteriously started skipping every other pedal rotation........suck balls!.......I pulled into the pit. Dripping with sweat and frustrated I struggled to find the problem. It ended up being a bent chain link that kept jumping every time it when though the derailleur pulleys and around the cog. My race was over........and shortly after Frank joined me on the sidelines. However from the looks of it, things did not play out as well for him. <br />
Frank was involved in a crash but he was patiently and calmly walking to the chief referee with another rider who looked to be berating Frank with every word in the book. This other rider was accusing Frank of acting like a criminal that premeditated a scheme to run him into the barriers causing him to crash and consequentially break his <i>Specialized</i> frame and <i>Zipp</i> wheel. <br />
Now Frank has to be one of the nicest guys on our team and he tends to race in what I would call a very ethical, conscientious and graceful manner. He also has great awareness for other riders in the race and I have never seen him do anything like this other rider was describing. I feel sorry for the other rider but bike racing is dangerous. I fully except the fact that shit happens and I have no one to blame but myself for my own predicament. This is the reality that I have chosen and created. If I had placed a high value on my bicycle and my body then I sure as shit would not be racing a criterium in my underwear and blaming other riders for my misfortune. I race my bike for the experience and accept the risk. I would suggest that other riders do the same. If the universe speaks you better listen. If you want to stay safe, well, I got news for ya.......Just meditate on what the word <i>safe</i> really means and what an illusion the idea of <i>safety </i>really is. When its your turn its your turn. <br />
<br />
Bicycle racing is fun, its very dangerous, its exciting and its very unpredictable. In the end its your choice. Stop whining about it. Embrace racing for what it is and enjoy the people and experiences that weave its fabric and display its energy. Take a lesson from Ziggy.........just be stoked, and get even more stoked when someone wants to play ball with you.Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-44101546783666150622011-05-16T19:06:00.001-07:002011-05-17T10:04:22.254-07:00I don't realy want to WRitE anything at the moment..........but<div style="text-align: center;"> I won my first pro 1/2 race on May 1rst, The Auburn Downtown Criterium............And there was actually one pro athlete present, but he had chicken arms, so I crushed him.<br />Sorry Max.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">In the beginning.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUx54WsXgD6dHI5Vg5fLQWACVsyZmbT7z4kf1sLO5MlTkp8tLtUoqjOgR972a8Ra1PVGwueYchkWC6SVAaPWkcgjlEaKm4kQUoC9hE_mZsCLoYEnd6qA7_wrxA4gCQqMy88_KPNk25I00/s1600/in+the+begging+there+were+many.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUx54WsXgD6dHI5Vg5fLQWACVsyZmbT7z4kf1sLO5MlTkp8tLtUoqjOgR972a8Ra1PVGwueYchkWC6SVAaPWkcgjlEaKm4kQUoC9hE_mZsCLoYEnd6qA7_wrxA4gCQqMy88_KPNk25I00/s320/in+the+begging+there+were+many.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607509882215186402" border="0" /></a><br />Shortly after<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypbxwXSzWyYB6VZRqZ1ygyXNt-tedPoV0oUnCA07p_698MH9PnVSd4FHslwOlFA7SDgupZGIp_2MFtaLrj5vYw6v-eXE6uhzaxY8ZaLp8EpJ6LLwTcMJ7_osVpijKyUtgYcN_EpeIdSQ/s1600/more+auburn+crit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypbxwXSzWyYB6VZRqZ1ygyXNt-tedPoV0oUnCA07p_698MH9PnVSd4FHslwOlFA7SDgupZGIp_2MFtaLrj5vYw6v-eXE6uhzaxY8ZaLp8EpJ6LLwTcMJ7_osVpijKyUtgYcN_EpeIdSQ/s320/more+auburn+crit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607509886533758882" border="0" /></a><br />Then I was alone<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJXBAZWZFr1_xnW6ibvavvRlJUxcRJflRS2o-eQcXA2WPCfo_qOD_nhmtwqCaVg-jSlNC4Vr2IK9NykH87Rgr6vkYeMocl-_2PvF-tkEsZZiw2QmI8l6Hw23lxrfj_FIzN8IDazgRKww/s1600/check+that+gap.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJXBAZWZFr1_xnW6ibvavvRlJUxcRJflRS2o-eQcXA2WPCfo_qOD_nhmtwqCaVg-jSlNC4Vr2IK9NykH87Rgr6vkYeMocl-_2PvF-tkEsZZiw2QmI8l6Hw23lxrfj_FIzN8IDazgRKww/s320/check+that+gap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607509888657215618" border="0" /></a><br />For a long time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrJbFc5K8ugT8rydAELUTLVkC7_xu8HuaHO51oLdvIXRvw459ZVxouhTV4RrQgBkWRswe9cB5bL24N8DbSnZ2ZG6jzt9eZg9XgdPh-cFrgQxVqyHgMHIAUY_ObEOyHwqYfnIah50MH5M/s1600/all+alone+on+the+way+to+a+win.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrJbFc5K8ugT8rydAELUTLVkC7_xu8HuaHO51oLdvIXRvw459ZVxouhTV4RrQgBkWRswe9cB5bL24N8DbSnZ2ZG6jzt9eZg9XgdPh-cFrgQxVqyHgMHIAUY_ObEOyHwqYfnIah50MH5M/s320/all+alone+on+the+way+to+a+win.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607512765183849730" border="0" /></a><br />After 35 min alone I found some friends, or maybe they found me, but at any rate, we had to leave a few of them behind.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIoueKMFnmneaN5LkCKH1IrOQ_1MaBGiC-ypXzdmP3hsZs-qzLFlaH3aJsWO2d7DU4yatrrjxAkHtPUPwqcUo9MbpFwWrcawjFxwfX4AJveosepx1tG9e0DNH9sIEZs8IhQaTpOpg5OE/s1600/midway+selection.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIoueKMFnmneaN5LkCKH1IrOQ_1MaBGiC-ypXzdmP3hsZs-qzLFlaH3aJsWO2d7DU4yatrrjxAkHtPUPwqcUo9MbpFwWrcawjFxwfX4AJveosepx1tG9e0DNH9sIEZs8IhQaTpOpg5OE/s320/midway+selection.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607509890831898514" border="0" /></a>The final selection of four.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzPMs8Ksb_8P44PAghIAW23_ZUt4hAV4VXYie08_S3B0R4yOyLMvcvH7ssnrXFhDoxYX8NWKrw78JySqPxsnHa8YIhmirCuIbnWUlt-7KNqhyXPE7fDUMg-WYM4L8q7dyAYLJJ2OehwI/s1600/the+key+players.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzPMs8Ksb_8P44PAghIAW23_ZUt4hAV4VXYie08_S3B0R4yOyLMvcvH7ssnrXFhDoxYX8NWKrw78JySqPxsnHa8YIhmirCuIbnWUlt-7KNqhyXPE7fDUMg-WYM4L8q7dyAYLJJ2OehwI/s320/the+key+players.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607509902765284034" border="0" /></a>Still cruising near the end.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTLd3nWtl1G8GzmoI1LETAvgEt2BgnASiIeH3AAd0H_RqZ17_rDtjKnAflTr-RiAWN8VZlPy8Yjy4l4yyis-eMVeTm-S-RO1OMjpSZXSp22AeRXo2czBtNKfwyLFqp0t3z-vUDc5lNbg/s1600/the+break+away+group.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTLd3nWtl1G8GzmoI1LETAvgEt2BgnASiIeH3AAd0H_RqZ17_rDtjKnAflTr-RiAWN8VZlPy8Yjy4l4yyis-eMVeTm-S-RO1OMjpSZXSp22AeRXo2czBtNKfwyLFqp0t3z-vUDc5lNbg/s320/the+break+away+group.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607513987136028066" border="0" /></a>Oops, I did it again. Just can't seem to keep friends these days.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1T6gdeCVyu6u_3EpNjPjnziDcIUQDfD6YyKHOhbxt2YC2hsdXt8ZPqEldPhcJijMGn0WNA855febd-JE3Itkti2AnvjsEExaORnMyLMuS6gdbXUR9Ro5sx5avTYFmV8P6jRe2OwGEKA/s1600/just+holding+on.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1T6gdeCVyu6u_3EpNjPjnziDcIUQDfD6YyKHOhbxt2YC2hsdXt8ZPqEldPhcJijMGn0WNA855febd-JE3Itkti2AnvjsEExaORnMyLMuS6gdbXUR9Ro5sx5avTYFmV8P6jRe2OwGEKA/s320/just+holding+on.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607512768296734370" border="0" /></a>I soloed the last two laps and crossed the line alone.<br /><br />Freaking Introvert!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVG8-6L2w8PbnzqIQwJUN1pgFbysNMCoIhDtl_WP_GQUB-e7o6q17G8lRrQ2D-lJh6soly0ctoRDwYF7Z78J-BcqYTJDS1riX_1v5uSj536vmYxjDumfDl6UhWWMruRzqNgo-PiEXEN_U/s1600/auburn+crit+solo+black+and+white.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVG8-6L2w8PbnzqIQwJUN1pgFbysNMCoIhDtl_WP_GQUB-e7o6q17G8lRrQ2D-lJh6soly0ctoRDwYF7Z78J-BcqYTJDS1riX_1v5uSj536vmYxjDumfDl6UhWWMruRzqNgo-PiEXEN_U/s320/auburn+crit+solo+black+and+white.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607512782275884034" border="0" /></a>Gave my first interview!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cXMwcpDeuvBygmkSncjgokIbkrLNI2cA07OGfuI9orWcxwNRuGQpe54q8v5tK01DcPvwScoeULdScxm18X0QcKh7PAzYV67Q3nIFzdLM_bsK9RqL1Ayt_3lx9njV1AWf6hwKlDW1zg4/s1600/look+mom+I%2527m+famous....interview.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cXMwcpDeuvBygmkSncjgokIbkrLNI2cA07OGfuI9orWcxwNRuGQpe54q8v5tK01DcPvwScoeULdScxm18X0QcKh7PAzYV67Q3nIFzdLM_bsK9RqL1Ayt_3lx9njV1AWf6hwKlDW1zg4/s320/look+mom+I%2527m+famous....interview.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607513981072969714" border="0" /></a>It was a rough interview. Turns out the reporter, Todd, had a brother named, Trevor, that was a friend of mine back in the high school days in Idaho. Small world, or maybe we are all connected..........eat bacon.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXcb3bW_ykIvUbmV73gMhxDXtB6yW-AfLSJ6Fbt42qR2DKhVPc3yXUBMPzE-fwnSeyEUbdzG-fsd73RdGUyWhp11-1o-r4WjUMC0nqZLZVa89np4uNf-Dt3fZNzydwCXleTb4QwYZGf8/s1600/IMAG0023.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXcb3bW_ykIvUbmV73gMhxDXtB6yW-AfLSJ6Fbt42qR2DKhVPc3yXUBMPzE-fwnSeyEUbdzG-fsd73RdGUyWhp11-1o-r4WjUMC0nqZLZVa89np4uNf-Dt3fZNzydwCXleTb4QwYZGf8/s320/IMAG0023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607512778223673266" border="0" /></a>At least the payout was better then the ghetto folding chair for the podium.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Another race report is found here<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/05/07/auburn-downtown-criterium/">http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/05/07/auburn-downtown-criterium/</a><br /></div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-69793722352452356952011-04-10T15:16:00.000-07:002011-04-13T11:07:36.840-07:00The Dumbo Helmet at the Calaveras TT<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;"><br /></p> <div class="mceTemp mceIEcenter" draggable=""><dl id="attachment_1903" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 410px;" _mce_style="width: 410px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a rel="attachment wp-att-1903" href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/04/10/the-dumbo-helmet/nats-tt-2/" _mce_href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/04/10/the-dumbo-helmet/nats-tt-2/"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1903" src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/nats-tt-2-400x600.jpg" _mce_src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/nats-tt-2-400x600.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="600" /></a><br /></dt><dd style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);" class="wp-caption-dd"><span style="font-size:85%;">Still looking for pictures........but this is the dumbo helmet.</span></dd></dl></div><p style="text-align: center;">Not sure why I came up with the name dumbo helmet?</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">One look at the picture and I'm sure you can take a guess.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">Anyrate, when I slip the dumbo helmet over my greasy mop of gnarled hair, I dumb the senses down and just focus on the moment. My universe becomes as narrow as the space between my temples and I meter the pain by holding my effort on the fence of agony and indifference. The effort is brief, as if I'm rushing through a schizophrenic fit and I must fuse the supreme forces of love and anger, frustration and appreciation, and turn the raw explosive violence of my legs into a dance that's as smooth as a babies ass fresh from a Mill Valley spa and treated with the likes of shea butter, rose oil, coconut wax, flax seed oil, Anica and Vitamin D.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">How long can I hold the throttle wide open? How long can I endure the pain? How strong am I? What is the freak'n point anyways and why the F#$%^ am I doing this?</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">get my drift?</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">I can't even answer my own questions. Maybe that is why Its called the Dumbo Helmet. Maybe its symbolic of our short lives on this planet and what we choose to do with them. What ever the answer...I love time trials and I love my Dumbo helmet.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">Today at the Calaveras tt, I was the first looser.....that means I got second. I got second for a couple of reasons.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">Roman Kilun is a paid proffesional....and I have a full time Job, therefore he beat me by 33 seconds.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">I broke my ribs a month ago and missed out on a bunch of training.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">I was a complete sissy in the last 4 miles and said this is good enough.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">It hurt and I did'nt want to hurt that bad.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">I'm working on it.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">Just wait.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">One by one I hope to recycle these excuses into pure brilliant speed....and sooner or later....win a god damned race..</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">until that time.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">stay dumb....its better that way.</p><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX972Agj_LcYCwcQ7mYyc5FOqf8-DDsY5yNPqPSzQvWunbF-ZEVFd5xAtIq4WCBgCHiBV6o6KwI3GtSEyro09C1pWHjJUzAsz_zrrs-lNKNj8STPBracbp0LX1u6vK7e3kuBw7xp4StC0/s1600/calaveras+tt+Las.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX972Agj_LcYCwcQ7mYyc5FOqf8-DDsY5yNPqPSzQvWunbF-ZEVFd5xAtIq4WCBgCHiBV6o6KwI3GtSEyro09C1pWHjJUzAsz_zrrs-lNKNj8STPBracbp0LX1u6vK7e3kuBw7xp4StC0/s320/calaveras+tt+Las.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595130941206371122" border="0" /></a>The dumbo helmet at the half way point.<br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-50180914922818676562011-04-07T09:22:00.001-07:002011-04-07T10:40:46.118-07:00The Criterium<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBHhyYtLPrGkU_JGHG_Rwo6sFtBxn_XPmKsJwMsvfTDKdIvLQFzQnT-Ftv0OVC_MCycfq8PgEAbGvyogTtRa0qdqhGbP21nTlDAccHnVNqwp_lwmeiJEKL7xQFn2bKJVdulcsfRX_UPs/s1600/in+the+thick+of+it..jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBHhyYtLPrGkU_JGHG_Rwo6sFtBxn_XPmKsJwMsvfTDKdIvLQFzQnT-Ftv0OVC_MCycfq8PgEAbGvyogTtRa0qdqhGbP21nTlDAccHnVNqwp_lwmeiJEKL7xQFn2bKJVdulcsfRX_UPs/s320/in+the+thick+of+it..jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592890740121767826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204); font-style: italic;">Sticking my nose in it.</span></span><br /></div><div class="mceTemp mceIEcenter" draggable=""><dl id="attachment_1838" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 510px;" _mce_style="width: 510px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><br /></dt></dl></div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">We all rode hard.....</p> <p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">It was an L shape course.</p> <p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">It Hurt.</p> <p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">I'm not there yet, but I'm glad my teammates, JMS, FS, the infamous NF and Professor AR.......were having a good ride. They all finished safe and sound, getting in some great crit training with the pros and watching each others backs.</p> <p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">I for the most part felt like a rat in a hamster wheel engaged in a perpetual dash from the start to finish. Each lap was a barbarically obstinate display of wasted energy. My fragile moral was teetering on the void. If I dared to focus on the entire 90 minute task that lay in front of me I might run off into the bushes and cry like a feeble child. My sole purpose it seemed was to complete a lap and do it again as fast as I could without a moment of respite in between. I guess that's the way it should be......surviving the moment and embracing it all at once.</p> <div class="mceTemp" draggable=""><dl id="attachment_1849" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 360px;" _mce_style="width: 360px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/987-vi31.jpg" _mce_href="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/987-vi31.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1849 " src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/987-vi31.jpg" _mce_src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/987-vi31.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="234" /></a><br /></dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd">hanging in perpetual motion.</dd></dl></div><p><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">The peloton was alive and I focused on its movements. I visualized it as one giant organism allowing my peripheral senses to guide me into magical lanes that opened at just the right moment. If my senses failed me, I would most likely end up wrapped around the metal dividers, stuck in the gutter, or shredded by the mob of rabid riders behind me and I didn't want to ruing another team kit.</p> <p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">At some point near the end of my obstinate journey I found the <em><strong>path</strong></em>....I saw the <em><strong>light</strong></em> and I went for<em><strong> it</strong></em>...I shot in front of leaders and then rocketed away from them as if they carried the plague. Nirvana, I told myself, lay just around the next corner and my life now finally had meaning. And then, my legs just failed. 150 yards in front of a enraged peloton I cratered like liquid elephant dung with lead sinkers as balast. Then a rider bridged up and passed me..I suffered trying to grab his wheel....and then I suffered even more as I <em><strong>failed</strong> <strong>to grab his wheel</strong></em>. Two more riders bridged up and past me they went. Then In a full sprint of whatever worthless strength I could summon I threw in a last ditch effort to catch back on to this select group...Head down, standing and stomping on the pedals, I smacked into a glued on raised reflector in the middle of the road and just about ate asphalt in front of the announcer on the finishing straight. I racked my ribs in the process. The ribs that were ailing from when I broke them a few weeks ago......I proceeded to die on my bike suffering for two more laps. Then without hesitation I threw in the towel and resigned myself to the first aid tent.</p> <p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">My lungs were not punctured. So it was just pain. I would live.</p> <p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">I hope to be healthy soon.</p> <p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;">The guys all finished......and finished well.</p> <p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;"><strong>Jesse Miller Smith</strong> had an outstanding race. Finishing 36 in the GC not bad considering this is a pro race, and we are a first year amateur team. Good job team.</p> <p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;"><strong>Frank Spiteri</strong> a respectable 47th</p> <p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;"><strong>Art Rand </strong>72nd</p> <p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;"><strong>Nate Freed</strong> 99th the <em>Lanterne Rouge</em></p> <p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Me DNF......</strong>I was in it for fitness.</em></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a rel="attachment wp-att-1838" href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/04/07/san-dimas-stage-3-the-criterium/989-vi-3/" _mce_href="http://marcpro-strava.com/blog/2011/04/07/san-dimas-stage-3-the-criterium/989-vi-3/"><img class="size-full wp-image-1838" src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/989-vi2.jpg" _mce_src="http://marcpro-strava.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/989-vi2.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="334" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;" _mce_style="text-align: center;"><em>Nate at the wheel.<br /></em></p>Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-28505938642192963982011-03-16T08:23:00.001-07:002011-03-16T08:49:41.278-07:00"No Wood in Madera" a Madera Stage Race Report<p>This year I am required to write occasional race reports for<span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"> MarcPro-Strava</span>. In the past I have not been keen on race reports........they tend to be boring and filled with "I did this" and "I did that" and "then I was feeling like ____ _ _..so I"...bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla............bla-ed all over myself.<br /></p><p>Here is my account of the Madera Stage Race from last weekend.......try not to puke on yourself.</p><p style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">Warning...I have no Pictures</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">So if your that type.......just leave.</span><br /></p><p>Madera is Spanish for wood which is funny or maybe its just plain sad, (I'm still debating on the selection). No matter where I set my gaze, I didn't see a stand of timber, a lot of trees, or wood of any sort while racing in Madera, CA. For this simple reason, I believe <span style="font-style: italic;">Cow Shit</span> must be synonymous with <span style="font-style: italic;">LSD</span> and the Madera city founders must have lined up at Cosco in force. Stocking up on the fibrous freeze dried patty variety for later consumption at town council meetings. Either that or the trees have all been chopped, reaped from the ground, and or are currently for sale in the lumber department at Home depot.</p> <p>At any rate the Mardera County Sage race presented by Velo Promo and all their ambiguous Re-neck-er-y is a bright pink circle on my yearly racing calendar. The race has a hill climb TT with cows, a flat TT with bees, a Crit with railroad tracks, and a road race with organic pavement imported fresh from the obliterated streets of post European WWII. Soft crosswinds were available to caress our freshly shaven legs throughout the rolling country side and neutral feed zones satiated our endless thirst as we quenched out gullets with soapy plastic water from re-used, under rinsed water bottles. Truly, I love this race!</p> <p>MarcPro- Strava made up for its lack of numbers with the brute force of Justin Rossi's calves, Dustins Hann's unique style, and my cracked ribs. Our bright green and pink Jerseys abducted the fields presence and Dustin's yellow Mavic shoes helped hypnotize riders into the gutter where they belong. Needless to say we were well represented and packing heavy artillery.</p> <h1><strong>Day #1</strong></h1> <p><strong></strong><em>Ben Hur uphill individual tt</em>, (Ben HURT). 10 miles total with 6 miles rolling and 4 miles uphill...shit pavement was plentiful.</p> <p>I brought my freshly busted torso, a skin suit, a fancy carbon bike, and to cap it all off a dumbo helmet. Rossi did the same minus the ribs. Rossi is my teammate and obvious nemesis and I plan to crush him throughout the season just as I crushed him by 12 seconds today. Mr Hahn decided to limit his shifter to only one gear by clamping his aero extensions on top of his cables and busted it single speed style for a top 20 seating...just wait till he has all his gears. The wind was especially brutal this year and times were appropriately much slower. Boo Hoo!</p> <ul><li>Lunner 6th 33:12</li><li>Rossi 10th 33:24</li><li>Dustin 19th 34:37</li></ul> <h1><strong>Day #2</strong></h1> <p><strong></strong><em>Sharon TT</em> ,10.4 miles flat and breezy.</p> <p>I was stung by a bee, Justin got his power meter to work.....and it worked......he crushed it and won. Dustin brought his Wal-mart base layer skin suit complete with see through nipple windows. We all had fun.</p> <ul><li>Justin 1rst 21:22</li><li>Lunner 8th 21:56</li><li>Dustin 13th 22:24</li></ul> <h1><strong>Day #2</strong></h1> <p><strong></strong><em>afternoon criterium</em>, complete with railroad tracks and safety cones.</p> <p>We had a plan.......wait 30-40 min and then be aggressive as possible. Attack simultaneously and sail off into the sunset for the win. Well we got away together.......tore some legs off and then sat back in for the group finish saving some fight for the next day since the sunset in Madera is not really all that noteworthy. Of note, however, was that I broke off the front with 10 min left, noticed the legendary Eric Wohlberg fighting to grab my wheel........I held up, let him grab it, and proceeded to show my acknowledgment by extending my draft around the corner. Then the fucker just countered me and bridged up to the escape group alone and won. Last time I wait for him..........sneaky little shit, guess he's in it for the money.</p> <h1><strong>Day #3</strong></h1> <p><strong></strong><em>Daulton RR</em>, 85 miles.</p> <p>5 laps with a roller-coaster finish, 4 to 5 miles of death pavement per lap, and a heaping garnish of crosswind. Still no Wood. However erratic boulders left over from the last glacial ice-age or maybe unearthed from the loamy hills , (who knows I'm no geologist), peppered the countryside. The cows and almond trees congregating around the boulders combined with the green grass flourishing in the overly bovine fecal fields and glistening in the morning light made for the utmost beautiful course ever. Game on.</p> <p>We lined up for the start, with Justin in 4th in the General Classifications, myself in 8th, and Dusting dangling but still in the mix. The plan...let Cal Giant do all the work to protect their overall. It worked great, until on the end of the 4th lap Dustin asked me if it would be Ok to "start attacking." I said "yes." Then he attacked immediately. I should have been more clear that its "Ok to attack when we have a good opportunity to do so...not just right now because I said yes." After Dustins attack the field went buzzerk and we just didn't have enough riders to cover attacks......duh! And Little Vinny Owens got himself up the road with race leader Evan Huffman of Cal Giant.</p> <p>Now we have the race leader and 13th place up the road with a few unknown riders left over from the days break. This spelled Danger for our GC hopes! So, instead of pulling the whole field I did what I do best....pick a good moment and blast myself up the road....solo. I was reeled in after a hard chase by the bunch. Then I literally rejoiced to the gods as Rossi blasted immediately off the front countering my move. He dug hard, but after another strained effort by the field he was pulled back...so I gunned it again and this time I was gone. Two riders bridged up with another in route....We we're sailing away less than 40 seconds from the leaders and then........Psstsss!!!!!........Flat!.... WTF!....this is the smoothest part to the entire course. "Madera!"</p> <p>After a wheel change and a gallant chase with Dustin crushing it like a super domestique.... I was back to the group...Crisis averted...Opportunity gone.....screw that!....the field was sitting still and the break was gaining time. "We can't have this" I said to myself, so as soon as I caught on I went directly off the front...and we started the process over again no bullshit style. We continued attacking and then halfway through the rough section I gave it all I had. Cal Giant chased me in vein and then gave up. I kept going but then someone else drug the remnants of the group up to me. Gasping for air, I looked back hoping to see Justin and Dustin countering...and to the dismay of my slurred profanity they were no where to be seen...Uh Oh! They F..ing flatted as I was attacking, that's just sweet I had no Idea. Now I'm roasted and these guys are all racing to the finish which is only 2-3 miles away. I wanted to puke but I had no choice other than to dig in, latch on to the back, and calm down. I had to regain myself for the finish. I knew Justin's hopes were over. It was up to me to preserve our top 10 in the GC.</p> <p>I took 5th in the field sprint while Rossi time trialed it in with Dustin. Hearty time bonuses were available at the finish and thus Vince jumped from 13th to 2nd overall with some of the other breakaway riders leap frogging up in the standings as well. I stayed in 8th, Rossi fell to 11th, and Dustin 24th. The end.</p> <p>We had some bad luck. Surely without the <em>demons of the forgotten madera woodlands</em>, we would have had at least one podium, maybe two but regardless, I left this race in good spirits. As the saying goes "that's bike racing" and I couldn't be happier with the way we rode our bicycles. I had these sensations that we were a super power on the last lap and a force to be reckoned with....I think the highlight for me was Rossi countering my move and riders just scrambling to get on his wheel as if he were that Ben guy from that Bissel team? It was the perfect 1-2-3....with my next attack sticking. Perfect teamwork. When the whole is united and starts riding like this we will have so much fun...wait that was fun.....we'll just have more fun.</p> <p>Look Out!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-427255913339534542011-03-04T12:10:00.000-08:002011-03-18T09:17:42.649-07:00My helmet, a cave man, and a broken shifter.<div style="text-align: center;"><span><span></span></span><span><span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7XVcJfO6h6Xyeyu7NCPfGJE4omie3JT3F1vi_NDUzrLRTZcqpj7AqQKp9TWIGHme2WN5Dz06lAEI3MmcY-bO6kPz96yd3jWEU_4gfA7gZ4u3KJ9COXFzw1yNe7tGJTc2siy9lF5KUfw/s1600/33+min+of+merco+madness+025.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7XVcJfO6h6Xyeyu7NCPfGJE4omie3JT3F1vi_NDUzrLRTZcqpj7AqQKp9TWIGHme2WN5Dz06lAEI3MmcY-bO6kPz96yd3jWEU_4gfA7gZ4u3KJ9COXFzw1yNe7tGJTc2siy9lF5KUfw/s320/33+min+of+merco+madness+025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580320300573249362" border="0" /></a><br />My Helmet<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_Tmcu5L87RyiROPpaSkoRMEObWR9iylWT1C5w7QEWo-P7FoedEdxbdNS7MnIRCd5uCcIJJSxWxx65h8-p1Mtjr-jCvaWI_O-zSpcsOTgLncbWgreWqHnv1hj8SSw8ylSp9AoC7YLfwk/s1600/33+min+of+merco+madness+020.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_Tmcu5L87RyiROPpaSkoRMEObWR9iylWT1C5w7QEWo-P7FoedEdxbdNS7MnIRCd5uCcIJJSxWxx65h8-p1Mtjr-jCvaWI_O-zSpcsOTgLncbWgreWqHnv1hj8SSw8ylSp9AoC7YLfwk/s320/33+min+of+merco+madness+020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580320291804090178" border="0" /></a><br />My Face <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRio3pBu-UQ6xkW1q86kMMZcSz6zWWRk-LS_LCw5YWMdplZh_1esNmc65GokWnc9shT4DuyYkr-iBGg69EXEJatetTxhcVOZcPsjKjNyHomnkVgFav_eey99VoaZhS2V3tY7AAKJJa9_0/s1600/33+min+of+merco+madness+023.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRio3pBu-UQ6xkW1q86kMMZcSz6zWWRk-LS_LCw5YWMdplZh_1esNmc65GokWnc9shT4DuyYkr-iBGg69EXEJatetTxhcVOZcPsjKjNyHomnkVgFav_eey99VoaZhS2V3tY7AAKJJa9_0/s320/33+min+of+merco+madness+023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580319940138668834" border="0" /></a>A cave man<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dH0J8LL3HIoxfDxssISudb1PWV9oPURzTFO7xaQGtCmay7IvmAiv7KvltAGJmo708vueF8JcN0Hi-U4MMKb0R1qe3hfWcJ1hcX84xLZ_cZshaa5NfllEuME4nkefrfzjEGC-92S3XyE/s1600/33+min+of+merco+madness+015.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dH0J8LL3HIoxfDxssISudb1PWV9oPURzTFO7xaQGtCmay7IvmAiv7KvltAGJmo708vueF8JcN0Hi-U4MMKb0R1qe3hfWcJ1hcX84xLZ_cZshaa5NfllEuME4nkefrfzjEGC-92S3XyE/s320/33+min+of+merco+madness+015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580320286910186498" border="0" /></a><br />My shifter<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoq0f4REJCnIipbl6P8CO-GrOhBuioapaf4YMqd90DppnUVTEBWiv_e9xurRNzMBHu55RZJpxCpdkA8ZiDxg3hj0_pXWD6gEjFtcfhGJbHVahP1F2iBwNwbprWf1Evt2tbrcnM59UrRE/s1600/33+min+of+merco+madness+017.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoq0f4REJCnIipbl6P8CO-GrOhBuioapaf4YMqd90DppnUVTEBWiv_e9xurRNzMBHu55RZJpxCpdkA8ZiDxg3hj0_pXWD6gEjFtcfhGJbHVahP1F2iBwNwbprWf1Evt2tbrcnM59UrRE/s320/33+min+of+merco+madness+017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580319950458457682" border="0" /></a><br />Oh, my brake.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRio3pBu-UQ6xkW1q86kMMZcSz6zWWRk-LS_LCw5YWMdplZh_1esNmc65GokWnc9shT4DuyYkr-iBGg69EXEJatetTxhcVOZcPsjKjNyHomnkVgFav_eey99VoaZhS2V3tY7AAKJJa9_0/s1600/33+min+of+merco+madness+023.JPG"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfx4CfhbfsXQ_hStq1L3tILIg3AG0KKAC3c_ISgl4ytM7PpQcrsy1tACeqpxlyzFmMeHfhsJo8UDZ0_V8qA9eyZOu6kjoxWKR8i2wzgJjrfQPHXQgD1YisTBqKXI7H9i5uyr4ZlRw9fP0/s1600/33+min+of+merco+madness+012.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfx4CfhbfsXQ_hStq1L3tILIg3AG0KKAC3c_ISgl4ytM7PpQcrsy1tACeqpxlyzFmMeHfhsJo8UDZ0_V8qA9eyZOu6kjoxWKR8i2wzgJjrfQPHXQgD1YisTBqKXI7H9i5uyr4ZlRw9fP0/s320/33+min+of+merco+madness+012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580319936572328322" border="0" /></a><br />And my bike.<br /><br />How did this all happen?<br />Well, first of all, I decided to race my bike and needless to say, it comes with the territory.<br />Secondly, I sometimes ride a bit fast, and on this occasion I rode casually past some riders into a corner at 39.7 mph. I was chasing the back end of a break away group. The corner had a radius that decreases as it almost doubled back on itself........Nothing new, but it was right before we tied into another road and there just happened to be a large white truck shining in my face distracting my eyes from the corner. I have to say that I have no mental image of the actual path the road took which means I never had a chance to turn my head and look. Contaminated with some sort of pixie dust, my eyes directed their full attention on the truck. The gaze was powerful. It was as if I had encountered the most beautiful naked woman glistening in all her nakedness. Speeding under the influence, I commenced to launch off the road Jan Ullrich style. Luckily I hit a rock the size of a 40lb dog and face planted digging a trench into the dirt before I hit the gleaming goddess.....uh truck.<br /><br />That was it....pretty standard stuff.<br /><br />One of my favorite things about bike racing or just bicycle riding in general is that it allows me to let go of certain perceptions of society that I allow to blind and numb me. The tepid, convenient, and comfortable illusions of society just fade away. Instinct takes over. The senses scream mutiny at the illusions and I'm planted right in the middle of life blooming around me.<br />Sure there are other ways, but at this point in time, while my body is still a tool, this is mine.<br /><br />For this reason, I don't mind that my face is smashed up and my ribs are fucked. Or that my left pointer finger looks like a German sausage used as a dart jammed repeatedly into a dartboard with sheer determination that for obvious reasons failed.<br /><br />I am, however, really pissed that my faithful, lucky, hand made bicycle, a made only for me Pegoretti....is pretty much ruined for life. I can't just go buy another one.....Its fucked.<br /><br />I'm also pissed that I'm not racing my bike today, tomorrow, and the next day. Nope, I'm sitting here in pain. Every movement is like somebody is jamming a shredded metal coat hanger into my lungs.....and all I can do for some sick reason is to laugh at it. Then it hurts more...fuck! All the while my teammates are out racing and I can't join in the fun and help them out. So I sit here and say....."you fucking idiot" to myself when I know fair well that I would'nt do anything differently next time. That's just the way I ride my bike and I don't race to practice being conservative. I do that every other day of the week. Maybe this makes me<br />"not so smart"........maybe next time I'll ride an entire lap before I follow my gut...........Maybe a little balance is what I need. Maybe it just keeps the fire stoked. Have to wait and see.<br /><br />Better luck next time.<br /><br /></div>Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-70749812323734693182011-01-24T10:52:00.000-08:002011-01-24T12:43:40.330-08:00New Shit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkOGrdmWE9sXjCIZobYrZKu3FWY6BpFVcInJwViNGt_CxVxMseA7VH6ILfbQ8hcCa8uX5COvbw2F42W6uqbO9q9kHrnpf5WgPrhzkSrqE5WpsJ5S2qgHr7CSee-h8pXHSVIxv6FxTojM/s1600/my+young+pompus+ass.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkOGrdmWE9sXjCIZobYrZKu3FWY6BpFVcInJwViNGt_CxVxMseA7VH6ILfbQ8hcCa8uX5COvbw2F42W6uqbO9q9kHrnpf5WgPrhzkSrqE5WpsJ5S2qgHr7CSee-h8pXHSVIxv6FxTojM/s320/my+young+pompus+ass.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565851318245799938" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">First new post in two months, how sweet is that?............Its my tri-monthly journal entry.<br /></div><br />To start the ball rolling, Happy new year!.........and...........I've joined a new amateur cycling team called Marc Pro-Strava. I'm super excited to be racing with some new personalities and for once in my cycling career have a full team to work with. In the past I played the solo nomad I'm gonna dominate and crush like a barbarian role, but now I've found a full team of barbarians.<br /><br />Hailing from the mountains of Truckee, none the less, these covert firefighting Mongols have been preparing a small army. To put it frankly, I am fearful for the riders that line up against us. These guys are hungry, unknown, and unpredictable. They remind me of fabled mystic animals from the mountains possessing a ragged and raw energy that can only be expressed as though it were legend. An unearthly energy as such cannot be contained. They are un-tapped engines and once ignited will combust like a volatile organic fuel swept down from the mountains obliterating and no doubt scaring the living shit out of the competition. Try to in-vision a bomb blowing to pieces any type of organized structure in the peloton. That is how I would present Marc Pro-Strava. Over the last weekend I witnessed in full force this destruction as they freak'n shredded me to bits and drug my remains over my home turf here in Marin.....Today I can barely walk.<br /><br />On the roster we have two high altitude firefighters, an ex winner of the amateur adventure racing series, an organic vegetable grower, ex pro baseball player, a professional chef, a ton of unrefined talent, a collegiate football player, and my crazy ass self. The most important component of this team is the enthusiasm that it exudes and the support from the ground up. All of these guys purely love riding bikes and have no greater goal than to have fun. Its just too bad that they are a bunch of beasts and the rest of the field will suffer as the by-product of our fun.............I am sooooooo........stoked.<br /><br />This brings me to my next obvious situation........and that is....I've left the Above Category Elite Racing Team of which I was the solo member. This makes me very sad, however I still greatly enjoy my occupation as a bicycle aesthetician at AC and the wonderful opportunity I have to share my love of bicycles with others. A Big thanks goes out on my behalf to Above Category for supplying a sweet Parlee TT bike, a set of <span style="font-style: italic;">Lighweight Ventoux's</span>, Pinarello KHOB, Moots RSL, Parlee Z-5 and every other ounce of bad ass cycling gear that comes my way this season. (Chad, please review that list....hint, hint...especially the part about the <span style="font-style: italic;">Lighweights</span>) ....Ha! Really I can't thank AC enough as none of this would be possible without their loyal support and passion for cycling. Also, I'm pretty sure, at the rate the AC junior squad is progressing there will be a new AC elite team next season..........so keep your eyes out.Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-25524476727001754092010-11-30T20:39:00.000-08:002010-12-01T10:46:30.425-08:00The Vita-Mix<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">I Live in California.......I can't ski here<br />These are my Freshies.<br /></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;">I'm not one to <span style="font-style: italic;">Dweeb Out</span>, but this is one contraption that I've gotta preach.<br />The Vita-Mix Variable speed blender.<br />Best $500.00 you will ever spend...........!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XrYvpx6ONwNLeQOvsX77HlnYHx-5em4_Fb4iwDbSJ2-iCnC3UsUIPDTn7cxf3BQZKCKgyDkXXgUUyMJA_7OzrpRA8CVCaq7gDcaCoyGCoabkZOAi1RSKyx_ndHFMdkdPKSIL98wlSO0/s1600/vitamix2+004.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XrYvpx6ONwNLeQOvsX77HlnYHx-5em4_Fb4iwDbSJ2-iCnC3UsUIPDTn7cxf3BQZKCKgyDkXXgUUyMJA_7OzrpRA8CVCaq7gDcaCoyGCoabkZOAi1RSKyx_ndHFMdkdPKSIL98wlSO0/s320/vitamix2+004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545574380858309058" border="0" /></a><br />I think everyone would agree that fruits and vegetables are insanely beneficial. The vital nutrients they contain help ensure us a long, healthy, and prosperous life....<br />If you don't feel that way...go hang out at the feed lot with all your fast food friends and piss off! Or....get inspired and educate yourself!<br />If you like it fresh......consider throwing...4 large kale leaves, 1 banana, a handful of peach slices, a bunch of raspberries, two large cave man size handfuls of spinach, some mango, a chunk of ginger, an entire apple, and some grapes......on the table in front of you.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQw6oneReMsY0EsRQyi_P12h4S6dH0DXo1_L8PXPN6XknNPaV29Qgj-zSqryMV2UI4Jf_pxcLOq8NQTRN2AudhnP_VnofjKIE-u8aKpPsq9qwc35-0q8ZquFMK15O5mbjo5AIlHmrUKU/s1600/november+farmers+market+011.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQw6oneReMsY0EsRQyi_P12h4S6dH0DXo1_L8PXPN6XknNPaV29Qgj-zSqryMV2UI4Jf_pxcLOq8NQTRN2AudhnP_VnofjKIE-u8aKpPsq9qwc35-0q8ZquFMK15O5mbjo5AIlHmrUKU/s320/november+farmers+market+011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545581641479796450" border="0" /></a><br />How would you go about eating all that.?<br />Chewing only gets you so far.<br />If you ate them uncooked, individually...how much of that would just pass through your gut as fiber and go straight down the drain as wasted goodness and hard earned cash?<br />Throw it all in the Vita-Mix and you'll get a pretty sweet raw green smoothie that tastes better than half the expensive shit that's been stagnantly rotting on the shelf at Whole Foods.<br />Better yet, its blended smoother than <span style="font-style: italic;">Yo pimp daddy peacock</span> and goes down with all the pleasure of a freak'n milk shake, without the dairy gut bomb, gotta sit on the couch while this shit metastasizes for an eon feeling.<br />Get your moneys worth.........and get a Vita Mix.........If you feel the need to pack away food for end of the world, couple it with a dehydrator and seal that shit up for future consumption.<br />Also makes tree limbs into wood chips....just say'n.<br />stay fresh.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-90445900562059505932010-11-30T20:33:00.000-08:002010-11-30T20:38:21.539-08:00untitled<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79kyfZE5UXtSlnrfiyWVaf0Mj5SoXu5I7G5oVdni5b_w9cooAZxL7c8pnrVwC111Ie6NAI50lokAD-fk_auWqqmXt1AehFyR9yJTTuMSPpdvP7B_1A-80tfV3fKF3sKpV-tv6hHjAMTo/s1600/alpine+dam+004.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79kyfZE5UXtSlnrfiyWVaf0Mj5SoXu5I7G5oVdni5b_w9cooAZxL7c8pnrVwC111Ie6NAI50lokAD-fk_auWqqmXt1AehFyR9yJTTuMSPpdvP7B_1A-80tfV3fKF3sKpV-tv6hHjAMTo/s320/alpine+dam+004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545568171216563602" border="0" /></a><br />Good Feelings.....Alpine Dam and my Pegoretti on a sweet late November afternoon.<br /><br /><br /></div>Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-20407401409542803532010-11-21T15:32:00.000-08:002010-11-21T16:47:41.562-08:00Californina Farmers Market ...gotta love it.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRRxyslzl_ssdK_wPohjpN6B7gk07j_WQyQgcfvfiFrQTkxodQSGUIe3MdVumx5bl1NhdfSdpjgYXumyXp-SHuMop04PRk5s8hJlYCbE2QIG-8ll23EVsDbvNQ2nWgM6ahO4AaOgI_o4/s1600/Vitamix+008.JPG"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypmvifejPtUTLcOAp1G0zrPZV9SMvC4tXB0ocN-XMrESRlsyp4pjs6gEALYORORayTWLLs1zQtiAsYBNDwJixXmguOSFTAfz6uxW8NIwWbrewtqtHOsroyIpSuI8SOgZVdArtWMO-2xU/s1600/november+farmers+market+011.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypmvifejPtUTLcOAp1G0zrPZV9SMvC4tXB0ocN-XMrESRlsyp4pjs6gEALYORORayTWLLs1zQtiAsYBNDwJixXmguOSFTAfz6uxW8NIwWbrewtqtHOsroyIpSuI8SOgZVdArtWMO-2xU/s320/november+farmers+market+011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542150742825420466" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How sweet is this?<br />November freshness.........<br />Kale, peppers, Dates, Serrano's, tomatoes three different kinds, spring mix, potatoes, shit ton of grapes, green been sprouts, Basil, onions, and apples.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRRxyslzl_ssdK_wPohjpN6B7gk07j_WQyQgcfvfiFrQTkxodQSGUIe3MdVumx5bl1NhdfSdpjgYXumyXp-SHuMop04PRk5s8hJlYCbE2QIG-8ll23EVsDbvNQ2nWgM6ahO4AaOgI_o4/s1600/Vitamix+008.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRRxyslzl_ssdK_wPohjpN6B7gk07j_WQyQgcfvfiFrQTkxodQSGUIe3MdVumx5bl1NhdfSdpjgYXumyXp-SHuMop04PRk5s8hJlYCbE2QIG-8ll23EVsDbvNQ2nWgM6ahO4AaOgI_o4/s320/Vitamix+008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542167549619010786" border="0" /></a>And a green juice/smoothie....compliments of the Vita-Mix blender.<br />Kale, spinach, broccoli, green grapes, frozen strawberries, pomegranate seeds, lemon, apple, and pear......all in this glass......no freak'n waste.!<br />Throw away the corporate vitamins!<br />Alive and Raw.<br /><br /></div>Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-3486595140184471242010-10-24T20:40:00.000-07:002010-10-24T20:51:52.568-07:00Day 1 of Season 3 starts tomorrow<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLpPD5U45hMJzOi2ibY8JocQ-_oD91tZQxZzGN33M2_vHzjgc-cKzsnaf03ddp1B9dLtEgo0dUDyAuZpC2uYUBUT-1Vd1lh24Jr-IcgqV9JEqHL7Y65CG9DKb5mxuzqPoomkQ3rYNCAiM/s1600/random2+053.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLpPD5U45hMJzOi2ibY8JocQ-_oD91tZQxZzGN33M2_vHzjgc-cKzsnaf03ddp1B9dLtEgo0dUDyAuZpC2uYUBUT-1Vd1lh24Jr-IcgqV9JEqHL7Y65CG9DKb5mxuzqPoomkQ3rYNCAiM/s320/random2+053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531824550410468850" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Lately I've been embracing the introvert within myself.<br />Haven't clipped in for a month<br />talk about withdrawals<br />got sick 3 days after I hung it up and lasted 2 1/2 weeks<br />Coughed up a lung and then some.<br />Time to put the wheels in motion.<br />And feel human again.<br />Escape the mundane, wasteful, consumeristic, mind numbing bull-shit that surrounds me.<br />and just pedal my bike<br />more to come<br />someday.<br /><br /></div>Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-82650130076915715772010-09-19T12:09:00.000-07:002010-09-19T20:02:12.658-07:00Mt Tam hill climb<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2x9Ag2k0a4tURrIS-r5PiV8Qcd7cNKM8IRMx0r-6dEz8jVangXgL5iDorrraM97Vp706LROTGxNpYBfU77s0tZw3qqhz8XiuXXn5BmntGrHtOiCzDXtOXXIoM0B9aKi0X7maXLkgYz5E/s1600/5001714317_02063fb441.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2x9Ag2k0a4tURrIS-r5PiV8Qcd7cNKM8IRMx0r-6dEz8jVangXgL5iDorrraM97Vp706LROTGxNpYBfU77s0tZw3qqhz8XiuXXn5BmntGrHtOiCzDXtOXXIoM0B9aKi0X7maXLkgYz5E/s320/5001714317_02063fb441.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518704301309829586" border="0" /></a>The only local race of the year and what a better way to arrive at the start line than by riding your own bicycle. At 7:00 am I rendezvoused at Peets in Mill Valley with Spence and Alex from the AC junior team.<br />45 min and '1500 of climbing later.....the three of us pull off at the pantol ranger station on the shoulder of Mt Tamalpais, contemplating the slew of automobiles driving by with cycles and passengers warm and toasty inside. Moments later we dove into the redwoods and carved the drizzly, rain soaked, descent to the coast.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I arrived at the Stinson Beach registration soaking wet....White socks blackened with road grime, toes swimming in shoes masquerading as aquatic sanctuaries, bikes that want to be boats and two junior racers looking like they just swam out of the ocean with their bikes.<br />So Began the ill timed cool down as I headed toward the start line.<br />Through chattering teeth I heard the whistle blow, and we were off, but all I could think about was my bladder about to burst and how warm it would be if I just pissed myself. I was planning on peeing off the bike, but by the time I was warm enough to do so, we were at the base of the climb and I was fish tailing across the cattle guard trying to keep it upright. I guess no urinating for me.<br />The bottom of Bo-Fax is a steep twisty kick in the face. I ride it a lot and these guys don't...so when they hit it at 500 watts I was just fine letting myself dangle off the back. About 6 min later the entire field simultaneously imploded and dropped off the face of the planet, leaving only six of us still able to ride a decent tempo...out of which I was last.....The two leaders were about 20 meters ahead and pulling away gradually.... Behind them were three riders, the heaviest being maybe 140 lbs and that was before his pre-ride morning 3lb miracle plastic porta john-weigh loss program, were attacking each other while I rode steady. I was gaining ground biding my time, waiting for one of them to crack. When one of them fell off the pace...I picked it up, and by the time we crested the 6km climb to the ridge I was hot on his heels only about 3 seconds back....then he had a mechanical or forgot how to shift. ...... poor timing, but hey Ive been there myself on more than one occasion this season and it sucks. That was pretty much the end of him as I was sure to keep chasing the riders in front of me....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIX0hDj6FYNnvrCW8Xs-v9Imns0h7h8z2hubIuTuRG9oTrhl_EJkhuiv3dR7HkXfV2Vh7p4KDWtclntY1yGqT7Vueszivmx4mjfQx197CbytklpRS6FLpHO40o2S044-qkHCqbdKESCc/s1600/5002316412_8841b2b093_b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIX0hDj6FYNnvrCW8Xs-v9Imns0h7h8z2hubIuTuRG9oTrhl_EJkhuiv3dR7HkXfV2Vh7p4KDWtclntY1yGqT7Vueszivmx4mjfQx197CbytklpRS6FLpHO40o2S044-qkHCqbdKESCc/s320/5002316412_8841b2b093_b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518734474286295634" border="0" /></a>The chase was on but with visibility low and legs whimpering...I fell into the trap of having no one to push me but, well.......me! It ended up being a lonely and painful ride for fifth, up and over the sisters, into the mist...Pretty sure I was going fast.....but Its hard to chase people you can't see...I ended up losing a little over a minute to the winner and a lot less to the rest.<br />Congrats to Jesse Moore, of Cal Giant, on the win.............super ride.<br />Thanks to Chad at Above Category for letting me rock the Moots RSL and Lightweight Ventoux's. The Moots was an obviously choice for my 168 lb mountain ape figure to bash on while still remaining the most supple and comfortable bike on the planet up the rough and tumble famed B0-Fax climb. This sub 15lb masterpiece is constructed entirely out of earthly metal and as far from China's resin filled cookie cutter molds as you can imagine...It comes in any color you like and looks best nude.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljBJ_1uKydhUXwjkSyHQx2leK-6VIOj1kubLA-rMxJyD7hHilcq_oo6CfnLm7dE9vY6jkzs8sWGqVqpaY-SAt_glshgUiJI26iXC1PXe-kqF3AP2h1yhoQ1FCtbaLcEzY-kRtW4FKRNs/s1600/5002317946_3c50588e45_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljBJ_1uKydhUXwjkSyHQx2leK-6VIOj1kubLA-rMxJyD7hHilcq_oo6CfnLm7dE9vY6jkzs8sWGqVqpaY-SAt_glshgUiJI26iXC1PXe-kqF3AP2h1yhoQ1FCtbaLcEzY-kRtW4FKRNs/s320/5002317946_3c50588e45_z.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518747584356316594" border="0" /></a>And thanks for the sweet photos.....Anthony Little gets the photo credits.<br /><br />The AC Juniors represented as well, I think they all had top 10 finishes in their respective categories.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFf9uD-2FeXQYmkoEeFDrHO7R83ZSoszOqPSKptQStGFq4A1Z35d6-SR-RWVYK2Lc5bkl12q5pMvCUMjq51O_lSLLn6cg1oeW2eQ6rxzc4gFPNoZrZdt80lcVnMbU-0JbdkQCC-KmODEQ/s1600/5001745727_b7f4c1f990_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFf9uD-2FeXQYmkoEeFDrHO7R83ZSoszOqPSKptQStGFq4A1Z35d6-SR-RWVYK2Lc5bkl12q5pMvCUMjq51O_lSLLn6cg1oeW2eQ6rxzc4gFPNoZrZdt80lcVnMbU-0JbdkQCC-KmODEQ/s320/5001745727_b7f4c1f990_z.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518751625536211938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Spence</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWuMOyFMDOsoHgvAU66cp8zsS0dw6XIncn7RMpRVKACn1_m34WIdOIyEkwzCgu1peCmeROBhh_zzMeHrXLwysqv7I_-pT8xfNARVEiMwz9KnO1rhnjhv4ydaha__11ffRhV-O_do3SaK8/s1600/5001748427_ff29380e60_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWuMOyFMDOsoHgvAU66cp8zsS0dw6XIncn7RMpRVKACn1_m34WIdOIyEkwzCgu1peCmeROBhh_zzMeHrXLwysqv7I_-pT8xfNARVEiMwz9KnO1rhnjhv4ydaha__11ffRhV-O_do3SaK8/s320/5001748427_ff29380e60_z.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518751637719783042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Jack<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVma5aHZl2AkI1R-yFHgRXlSuYI0Ua07-X8n7x6P84XNwcn36pFdw8P98R8gsz0ufbdNIQEBQqGqC6uEDaG46klxuc11jcsA0c9YdJsAqNQLsILED4gu8lepzXAtDzvssoeHDPUPbzy-g/s1600/5001750697_79bc982f40_b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVma5aHZl2AkI1R-yFHgRXlSuYI0Ua07-X8n7x6P84XNwcn36pFdw8P98R8gsz0ufbdNIQEBQqGqC6uEDaG46klxuc11jcsA0c9YdJsAqNQLsILED4gu8lepzXAtDzvssoeHDPUPbzy-g/s320/5001750697_79bc982f40_b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518751638867876834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Alex</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZcxHjUx7e1Y3zTfsurvrAFiqILJLj5xvmiaiB2JvX4qdAO6uEERPV-24-4CbjaxZWVclYDtQv5vQq0NU7m1ooUvGrDLxY2TiJcpiz4-tFk5x8qRgRyht5BzuPqbekf5lPMvJZi9bgm4/s1600/5002345496_d85724e285_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZcxHjUx7e1Y3zTfsurvrAFiqILJLj5xvmiaiB2JvX4qdAO6uEERPV-24-4CbjaxZWVclYDtQv5vQq0NU7m1ooUvGrDLxY2TiJcpiz4-tFk5x8qRgRyht5BzuPqbekf5lPMvJZi9bgm4/s320/5002345496_d85724e285_z.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518752501661005618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Skyler</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WDp-H0hQBwI-x8MfvpApO5DeqHNh1c6h3nGYZXa2hWplblT9A0-5xCDkDtpYL9xYMoZYDgv8onUWVYRtOrDvAa3S00-e0Ls16xDVWfCUv2pirRGCO5T4aG1UC-iCyFBC8nNXdKp5twI/s1600/5002331476_c8808bba0b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WDp-H0hQBwI-x8MfvpApO5DeqHNh1c6h3nGYZXa2hWplblT9A0-5xCDkDtpYL9xYMoZYDgv8onUWVYRtOrDvAa3S00-e0Ls16xDVWfCUv2pirRGCO5T4aG1UC-iCyFBC8nNXdKp5twI/s320/5002331476_c8808bba0b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518752500259415074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Bjorn</span><br /><br /><br /></div>Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-26238334925710610022010-09-15T07:54:00.001-07:002010-09-15T08:15:07.434-07:00test blog<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkOdRx3A6SqNblraBogEhiZNV2TCfFr_B5iWH6ktyhGi9zjJsYRoSfT7W6GoRIwN2fTZx7pXraf9k8caO-TY8llQpynffDDbGTgyS4kjQ-gk-mpEVn7l6hD-2Oo1EWTl5XHhrs7wSmYY/s1600/VacavilleGranPrixPromen082910-3571.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkOdRx3A6SqNblraBogEhiZNV2TCfFr_B5iWH6ktyhGi9zjJsYRoSfT7W6GoRIwN2fTZx7pXraf9k8caO-TY8llQpynffDDbGTgyS4kjQ-gk-mpEVn7l6hD-2Oo1EWTl5XHhrs7wSmYY/s320/VacavilleGranPrixPromen082910-3571.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517157880610810034" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKeztgal2Mru1S6NtlyAptEr0DggV5jQAKP9nJqM2ZFp_2vLiCipq1FCTo8PhHdMrnONACfiqlkKuANg00dTMleY9xUPaHklQxeVTjIOyHhAvr105A498ufvrPKS3litJW_Fv_ZnQp9k/s1600/palousebikejump.jpg"><br /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br />I'm just testing this blogger....crap out.<br />for the last two months, I have not been able to post.<br />either I was too smoked from work and racing<br />or<br />my computer was being eat'n from the inside out by a self cannibalizing virus.<br />the girlfriend must have been looking at to much porn....er...something.<br />or<br />I was climbing out of my truck window after being locked inside when all the door handles simultaneously quit working....for real.<br />or<br />I was to busy bumming rides to races, cause my old rig was beyond my comfort zone for driving on the freeway.......and I don't need much.<br />but mostly<br />Every time I tried to log into, or post on my account this disposable HP dv2000 computer would freeze.<br />How's that for an excuse?<br /><br />Seriously.<br /><br />Or, ya know, maybe I was taking my time scraping my ass off the pavement after getting tag teamed by the entire Yahoo cycling team....I beleive they keyed into me as the perfect launchpad before I became aware of it...<br /><br />Any rate I've got a bunch of pics and race reports from cal cup that I need to post soon......<br />should provide some form of entertainment in the off season<br /><br />cheers.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-5448893852873372692010-07-12T12:52:00.000-07:002010-07-12T12:52:15.120-07:00Elite Nationals, Bend OR, 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6JfNA8YW2Y25GIcyo9EUYEl9Q8zuwPLQekGRskBgm2Vv9LZdFsteZ_blCOw6uP46abX9YwZNU4Kb8wGt0_CFuyMXfHHjIs9dQ2M-BLDPKR44MHMZWvHfX379WDrTa8MUf9n3ytai1ow/s1600/nats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6JfNA8YW2Y25GIcyo9EUYEl9Q8zuwPLQekGRskBgm2Vv9LZdFsteZ_blCOw6uP46abX9YwZNU4Kb8wGt0_CFuyMXfHHjIs9dQ2M-BLDPKR44MHMZWvHfX379WDrTa8MUf9n3ytai1ow/s320/nats.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasioDdZeIFyiV4VymQfqx7K3VcI5RVoZZST7uO_UyZ1CycbgAmf3xUAGEM14nH35A0p7DVv2iag60iSZZ7xJa9BZxAzxb7Xh_fhrzkchn4ll7hO6uvpEp1LZq_nFzYpC2wUmhAW6l9Ws/s1600/nats+tt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasioDdZeIFyiV4VymQfqx7K3VcI5RVoZZST7uO_UyZ1CycbgAmf3xUAGEM14nH35A0p7DVv2iag60iSZZ7xJa9BZxAzxb7Xh_fhrzkchn4ll7hO6uvpEp1LZq_nFzYpC2wUmhAW6l9Ws/s320/nats+tt.jpg" /></a><br />
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A first time experience for me.....I had no Idea what to expect.....going head to head with what is supposed to be the best amateurs in the country.......Here are few photos from the TT....and road race........I ended up 12th in each........about 31 seconds off the podium in the TT, and 4 seconds in the road race.......Next year I know what to expect and will have much higher expectations.......should be fun.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohmmDJ1P4KgobvGw83SzjHaMi7RzvqOpnZp-5Iutfn-v28mz5mGw4gGjXneS3PWq0uQQHMCDdLIW3luHvk8SglhjscWBldbm3ZaYT19aToGACv0XkakRzt4KGGp-6yxqHgoGx9XpfyeY/s1600/nats+tt+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohmmDJ1P4KgobvGw83SzjHaMi7RzvqOpnZp-5Iutfn-v28mz5mGw4gGjXneS3PWq0uQQHMCDdLIW3luHvk8SglhjscWBldbm3ZaYT19aToGACv0XkakRzt4KGGp-6yxqHgoGx9XpfyeY/s200/nats+tt+3.jpg" width="133" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Q2zYQJybFwY0XTey4uAtGc2C9Abd6O4ZmII0DbKx0INzJNpE9SSM7Kaixrs8cdwRDjnWXTWDR__28S157J9HidwmTjaDExvNkTIiKzTWrQUP0TUhzEZvZVN5RJacVHoBl6CdH7kAJsM/s1600/nats+tt+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Q2zYQJybFwY0XTey4uAtGc2C9Abd6O4ZmII0DbKx0INzJNpE9SSM7Kaixrs8cdwRDjnWXTWDR__28S157J9HidwmTjaDExvNkTIiKzTWrQUP0TUhzEZvZVN5RJacVHoBl6CdH7kAJsM/s320/nats+tt+2.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />
Crushing the last bit to the finish......Dumbo helmet in the not so aero position ...that's my 30 second man behind me......we battled the entire 35k for position leap frogg'n each other and...passing 3 or 4 guys in front of us...This jerk pushed me to my limit......and I scored a pretty darn good time because of it...I was really hating him by the end...We gave each other a big pat on the back...!<br />
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The top of the climb up Archie Briggs road........a steep 3-4 min power climb that we scaled 6 times over 100 miles of racing.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UaPkfrcXbrVEi2fpIt-qP50PDrDHqCXfiKRiy4p80h3CxEsnElMbUEVXmyuLc8KtSx72J9pSHOh0YsCuE5edmElnlP7Yd_ab6TxGaS_gye_XAHM0YVaW6suJVdKZJKCj-opdwocO6Ow/s1600/nats+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UaPkfrcXbrVEi2fpIt-qP50PDrDHqCXfiKRiy4p80h3CxEsnElMbUEVXmyuLc8KtSx72J9pSHOh0YsCuE5edmElnlP7Yd_ab6TxGaS_gye_XAHM0YVaW6suJVdKZJKCj-opdwocO6Ow/s200/nats+3.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3smkMKiFk-rONjL5V3WoWCDOACb8jcVsnCs5r1mPmjCX1hVnDkWCriE4CecoSoiR4J831c_GScVnySEUCyQaJOddWUVhyiC9UG2NnUCyOiMR4EM6XweTrtOg_FKmzdUL2I3Q-e3z4kSI/s1600/nats+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3smkMKiFk-rONjL5V3WoWCDOACb8jcVsnCs5r1mPmjCX1hVnDkWCriE4CecoSoiR4J831c_GScVnySEUCyQaJOddWUVhyiC9UG2NnUCyOiMR4EM6XweTrtOg_FKmzdUL2I3Q-e3z4kSI/s200/nats+10.jpg" width="200" /></a>Entering one of Bends many awesome round-a-bouts...</div></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwssaK7SE6JTqDnnPxBPUt6Uo_Xkis8gIYFgj6yCOMJEYfOaPncPz33ENQjbGGFvT9iSp_r2GhaJ3-GXIW8wgheLvyOZ5KXe2ae194Aa-6Xyto70omyLsAB_5nLdMG0eT71Zw5J0HlW34/s1600/nats+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwssaK7SE6JTqDnnPxBPUt6Uo_Xkis8gIYFgj6yCOMJEYfOaPncPz33ENQjbGGFvT9iSp_r2GhaJ3-GXIW8wgheLvyOZ5KXe2ae194Aa-6Xyto70omyLsAB_5nLdMG0eT71Zw5J0HlW34/s640/nats+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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The finish was a tough one.....I chased down a move with 3k to go.....and then got counter attacked by the eventual 3rd and 4th place finishers.....Blew it big.....and then pulled the 5th place guy to the line...He proceeded to torch me in the sprint....awesome...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OIAMI-x2wwVsNbrjtkxXnw2ALfO9i2y_ebTCzmaW9ppYOQak3ltExVckWN-CTTThAu52vayH3jk5mAKCTRuq1ujcASjT5qr6EupWWfVc2QT4tzqHjtyZHf3fUUSiKO_wt1DKI2f9zQA/s1600/nats+finish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OIAMI-x2wwVsNbrjtkxXnw2ALfO9i2y_ebTCzmaW9ppYOQak3ltExVckWN-CTTThAu52vayH3jk5mAKCTRuq1ujcASjT5qr6EupWWfVc2QT4tzqHjtyZHf3fUUSiKO_wt1DKI2f9zQA/s320/nats+finish.jpg" /></a></div>That would be me on the far left.....by the barriers...just plain blew it....!!!!!!!!Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-91058316159842305322010-07-12T12:08:00.000-07:002010-07-12T12:08:50.147-07:00Fill'n N the blanks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYT2TAEKlN_8D1F6d4DnR8wvw_TCIA3i6T7D3FF6XKMoZMuamHfulyT1Lz8-5nnLluPuo48QG65AuUc0LNC5lRBj1an0922t8vKp8oHnengaTE7vyTnRcphSTYa3-8y9DyXZIQfCTE2Q/s1600/elkhorn+stage+4+083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYT2TAEKlN_8D1F6d4DnR8wvw_TCIA3i6T7D3FF6XKMoZMuamHfulyT1Lz8-5nnLluPuo48QG65AuUc0LNC5lRBj1an0922t8vKp8oHnengaTE7vyTnRcphSTYa3-8y9DyXZIQfCTE2Q/s400/elkhorn+stage+4+083.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Just a quick update since I left everyone, well at least...(all two of my followers) hanging after Elkhorn....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqljdZZrpfjy_E8qbaYmHqbclRthd4IY7xdFEpskCh8xhlNbW3oMEbAM3tjhM_zCILkgCL5uA4o-ZT4NzVdtSUR1lHofxBcpcQoVCcmpepcLKT6aoLr4wGQrZk15iF35BLy9udW2inVI/s1600/elkhorn+stage+4+078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqljdZZrpfjy_E8qbaYmHqbclRthd4IY7xdFEpskCh8xhlNbW3oMEbAM3tjhM_zCILkgCL5uA4o-ZT4NzVdtSUR1lHofxBcpcQoVCcmpepcLKT6aoLr4wGQrZk15iF35BLy9udW2inVI/s200/elkhorn+stage+4+078.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Quite a rainy day in the saddle......about 75 miles into the race.....this is all that remains...except for a group of 6 riders about 2 min up the road.....Jesse Moore played the role of Crazy Horse, giving up his overall and pulling the break back to within a few minutes mostly by himself............then the rest off us raced our wet spandex to the top fo Dooley Mt......about a 2000' climb..mostly 5-6%, beautiful and in the trees......I blew a gasket with about 3 k to go......and came in seventh........Thanks Mom for the warm hug.! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQw_5jBZeoLP_VjGfZR3eSNvuZecwovdVwDAoaq0iVs38sjAXWhyphenhyphenqeJAECeM12bbbFKAqZ1slv4IIJO-FQyZP0FGOLnTuieWHpmRnDvPTDB9CeQWhh9sx5qI2tZ-4YpC44FWv6WP-nnw/s1600/elkhorn+stage+4+091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQw_5jBZeoLP_VjGfZR3eSNvuZecwovdVwDAoaq0iVs38sjAXWhyphenhyphenqeJAECeM12bbbFKAqZ1slv4IIJO-FQyZP0FGOLnTuieWHpmRnDvPTDB9CeQWhh9sx5qI2tZ-4YpC44FWv6WP-nnw/s200/elkhorn+stage+4+091.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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coincidentally I ended up 7th on GC....for my efforts I was awarded a $100.00 bill.......don't I look stoked!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDokLFEunJ0N8uvUGUeaHOxL0uIrSLT2lEpgFQu5SR9jde5JEgkO0h_RVqpv5mecGRJGH5Qrt2iQ2Ia0ZnENlw-DmOT2rqrkemyM38dJJvOHfhfCgqXesWcE1LcZNPD-_Dw365LoV6Yok/s1600/elkhorn+stage+4+114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDokLFEunJ0N8uvUGUeaHOxL0uIrSLT2lEpgFQu5SR9jde5JEgkO0h_RVqpv5mecGRJGH5Qrt2iQ2Ia0ZnENlw-DmOT2rqrkemyM38dJJvOHfhfCgqXesWcE1LcZNPD-_Dw365LoV6Yok/s200/elkhorn+stage+4+114.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
Not a great way to make a living......this would help subsidize my greedy portion of our planets dwindling liquid dinosaurs supply....and a scarce amount of food on the way to nationals immediately after the stage........ ! <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM83rVfH3rrcx9eD7qoE5OKfexid4d_NBOLjOiUb0UNTbLhDAp1p5FWkcZgJnijk1jxmNne06fTgUkA6Q1y1xvmgL8mUrNHXC2A5i096w8QeFYjTrXaBAmxETMc3EiW9_IuFKKE4Gw5o0/s1600/elkhorn+stage+4+110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM83rVfH3rrcx9eD7qoE5OKfexid4d_NBOLjOiUb0UNTbLhDAp1p5FWkcZgJnijk1jxmNne06fTgUkA6Q1y1xvmgL8mUrNHXC2A5i096w8QeFYjTrXaBAmxETMc3EiW9_IuFKKE4Gw5o0/s200/elkhorn+stage+4+110.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Check out the winner of the stage, 90lb Chris Hong, made us look like a bunch of Apes....... He put almost 5 min into us on the last climb...and swept the GC.<br />
Before heading to Bend I made sure to tank up on the free locally brewed beer and pizza. The volunteers put out a huge effort to make the rainy, cold, 40' finish a sweet place to be. Always a fun stage race........most likely I'll be back next year...!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNjTUcMiRkpfJZ9wpgS5AqwQa1mmZ9JuSwFOyIqskyWTgfxeD8YA2wiEpH-gap9r8yFgwUQFn38_nL3sCZ9UtSoK6otqgXfM7gsr1hP-7a4yldDf9Tk4ToIGzhU42WSsfFnpyiVnqCRo/s1600/elkhorn+stage+4+097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNjTUcMiRkpfJZ9wpgS5AqwQa1mmZ9JuSwFOyIqskyWTgfxeD8YA2wiEpH-gap9r8yFgwUQFn38_nL3sCZ9UtSoK6otqgXfM7gsr1hP-7a4yldDf9Tk4ToIGzhU42WSsfFnpyiVnqCRo/s400/elkhorn+stage+4+097.jpg" width="400" /></a>Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-63514083601199716602010-06-22T12:50:00.000-07:002010-06-22T12:50:31.274-07:00Elkhorn Day 2<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwhaTN_mjJB7tluc72BZH-99ExiZbUde9yKMfcZwBICieRBOLHkxYbFIS418_uclZb5yOOUL2vZ_z4zQY6AoTwOMGKHFLOsU47104x4vFSFbU0aUdOsto8J09l5BAv6eMZxbcRkZE01E/s1600/elkhorn+stage+4+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwhaTN_mjJB7tluc72BZH-99ExiZbUde9yKMfcZwBICieRBOLHkxYbFIS418_uclZb5yOOUL2vZ_z4zQY6AoTwOMGKHFLOsU47104x4vFSFbU0aUdOsto8J09l5BAv6eMZxbcRkZE01E/s320/elkhorn+stage+4+032.jpg" /></a><br />
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10:52:30......start time for an 11mile time trial.<br />
Pretty straight forward out and back....tailwind out....headwind back...<br />
Finishing downtown after snaking through a residential area...<br />
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<i>Dumbo helmet heading for the finish in downton Baker </i><br />
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After taking 3rd at the NorCal state tt championships....and having two guys that whupped me in Cali line up next to me here at the Elkhorn.....I knew I was fighting for 3rd at best.<br />
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<i>NorCal state championships 40k tt</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmq62pMScW8hjZOBW3N_ltD_l4Q9eU70dte2noMNjbZBT5XXbaJuOW5mCqPWm9I6y8fZKg8KZhi5zyud5b-ocabbdqzEHmFKx0zViZfiJopwPY1hQ6Zx1DZ2X31Pd4verQBmnVut8FEMo/s1600/state+championship+tt+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmq62pMScW8hjZOBW3N_ltD_l4Q9eU70dte2noMNjbZBT5XXbaJuOW5mCqPWm9I6y8fZKg8KZhi5zyud5b-ocabbdqzEHmFKx0zViZfiJopwPY1hQ6Zx1DZ2X31Pd4verQBmnVut8FEMo/s320/state+championship+tt+2.jpg" /></a></div>Always foaming at the mouth ready to play the hungry rabid underdog.....I threw down my best effort and ended up a sort of disappointing 9th....Jesse Moore and Chris Lyman put about 24 and 44 seconds respectively into me. Two sleepers stole the show, and the rest of us in the top 10 were within seconds.<br />
Going into the Crit I was down 50 seconds on GC and in 7th place.<br />
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After a quick catching up with my old Jackson Hole friends between stages, then a few wheel bearing adjustments and derailleur tweaks .....I was taking a short nap back at our rural mountain retreat..Actually somewhere in there I found time to eat a gel, a Hot dog, and Thai rice bowl..not necessarily in that order....<br />
I awoke at 5pm.... just as I was starting to fall asleep......go figure.<br />
I made a coffee...ate some banana bread...a few cookies, threw my feet up, then calmly watched as the sky darkened and puked gravel sized hail for 15 minutes....<br />
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<i>View outside our lodging 1 hour before start time </i><br />
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It cleared 6 minutes later and stayed that way as I cruised into town for our 6:40 pm crit start.<br />
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Now, I'm not one to play it conservative...so as the whistle blew and the riders took off I jumped straight to the front of the group....at the start of the second lap a bunch of guys forgot how to ride their bikes and slid like slippery fish across the concrete. Tires blew, exploding like gun shots, and carbon snapped as it ground its way to a halt....Guess it was still a little wet in spots. Riders were cowering in the unpredictable conditions. Eighty Lycra clad timid racers were spread single file across the course trying to figure it out how to ride their bikes or catch up, or who knows what. They definitely were not paying close enough attention... I decided to take advantage and kick it up a notch. See what happened..stretched it out even more...maybe snap it and take a select group with me<br />
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<i>Off the front with a sack-less group of wheel magnets</i><br />
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Nope...I stayed off alone while the only team of 8 (Team Exergy) massed at the front and brought me back....I managed to score two $20 gift certificates in the process...and then latched on to the counter attack for a few more rounds....but it eventually came back also.<br />
The rest of the crit was pretty slow....almost to slow...sort of got fast the last 5 laps..I waited to long to get into position and ran out of road......came in 10th...super exciting...that would have been an easy one had I been 5 more spots up in the line.<br />
Surprisingly there were time gaps and I came away with for the most part a 10 second time bonus...The main GC leader also managed to lose 5 min. This would put me at the start of the 102 mile Dooley Mt road race in 6 place...34 seconds down.<br />
Put the gift certificate to good use on a mushroom BBQ burger and fries...<br />
The double day over. It was time to head back to the pad and pack it up....No late check out...so everything has to go to the start line...8:20 am sharp..<br />
Lucky for me I was in bed at 12:15 am....then up at 6:oo am......ready to hit it like an 85 year old porn star that ran out of Viagra 10 years ago.<br />
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<i>"Jesse....you should seriously consider getting yourself a pair of Assos bibs"</i><br />
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</div>Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-15306006369531576712010-06-21T14:33:00.000-07:002010-06-21T16:32:48.648-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">Back in Baker City OR, for the Elkhorn Classic.....for what must be my 5th year of attendance.<br />I love this little town, and the sweet little stage race that lies nestled between the Wallowa and Elkhorn mountain ranges,. Being here reminds me of my little house in Teton Valley....The mountains..I want to climb them all and run along the ridge lines from peak to peak bounding from boulder to boulder, free as the wind away from the gravity of life below....wait....did I say run....oops....this is a bike race...sorry....getting carried away.<br />Lots of snow in the mountains still....I could probably still go skiing....Ok...OK!<br /><br />On with it.<br /><br />If your curious about the profile check here <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.elkhornclassic.com">www.elkhornclassic.com </a><br />The courses are challenging and beautiful...and the support from the people and business's of Baker are second to none.....I look forward to it every year. Over the last 5 years, mother earths cerebral weather station has thrown everything from brilliant blue to impending strike you dead lightning doom. Then for a complimentary garnish spewed a scorching dose of heat exhaustion and brain freezing snow for good measure. This year had a dash of everything including marble sized hail.<br /><br />Stage one was under almost perfect conditions. Felt pretty rusty, this being my first road race in over a month...lets just say by the end I was happy to make it over the power climbs and super rollers and hold good position for the sprint....It was no surprise when I uncorked my fast twitch kick yourself in the balls drop dead sprint skills that my legs froze. First locked in the extended position and then ratcheted back, stuck in the compressed ready to pounce pose.<br />I was pounding on the pedals like a rusty tin man binding at one extreme of the pedal stoke and then lunging with all my might only to bind again at the other........It was a case of "Fast Twitch Miss Fire" not pretty but I managed to hang on for on for 7th...<br /><br />Saturday would prove to be a fun day...with a time trial in the morning and criterium in the afternoon.<br /><br />report to come.<br /><br /><br /><br />view from outside our rural rental<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislUFjfqvj_cgDGO2UjrxKTtd3HZ9dfLZrvhbh-aIYRrSGYlokTGvjFGCXU_l1o8MNiN1rokPrTzmHo6hXkwLDav_dK_GUFZ0QWxr_sPPX8mWWKkLzJFEGm12ULUUVZUDAJR3mnOtoRhQ/s1600/elkhorn+stage+1+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislUFjfqvj_cgDGO2UjrxKTtd3HZ9dfLZrvhbh-aIYRrSGYlokTGvjFGCXU_l1o8MNiN1rokPrTzmHo6hXkwLDav_dK_GUFZ0QWxr_sPPX8mWWKkLzJFEGm12ULUUVZUDAJR3mnOtoRhQ/s320/elkhorn+stage+1+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485364063330446034" border="0" /></a><br />Sort of have a lack of pictures from stage 1<br /><br />try to post some tt and crit stuff soon.<br /><br />I'll keep ya all waiting for the overall results.<br /><br /></div>Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-42122546824382884232010-06-01T23:37:00.000-07:002010-06-01T23:51:01.845-07:00Never Die<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYS9pHJpH48WiAcGmkEeT_6yXAEKcElMu3pjZQXkd-IVf4SGnMqXBgRvzz8SzpiH7DNyHQl1nnmJj8cJyNW4KXjW8nX5MgaDDf97voq-v9Swst3mtIkCWtQcz1iouEQTS7ggv762GVJY/s1600/124.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYS9pHJpH48WiAcGmkEeT_6yXAEKcElMu3pjZQXkd-IVf4SGnMqXBgRvzz8SzpiH7DNyHQl1nnmJj8cJyNW4KXjW8nX5MgaDDf97voq-v9Swst3mtIkCWtQcz1iouEQTS7ggv762GVJY/s320/124.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478062976695560162" border="0" /></a><br />Waking up in the desert.....<br />A vintage bungalow retreat.<br /><br />This is where you sleep..after a 5 hour race against some of the worlds baddest bad ass's and a 8 hour drive...pull over throw everything out the back...climb inside and sleep.<br /><br />In the morning find the nearest starbucks...fill up and drive 10 more hours...home.<br /><br />sweet....<br /><br />And keep your fingers crossed that the bearing doesn't go out in the transfer case....lie to yourself that its going to be just fine even though it leaked 2 quarts of gear oil...in the past week.<br /><br />more sweet..<br /><br />Its been a month and I'm still driving it..<br /><br />just can't let go.<br /></div>Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-35106726196875958902010-05-06T22:54:00.000-07:002010-05-06T23:27:08.540-07:00full of _ _ I T<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">The best biceps jersey goes to Kris Lunning stage one Tour of The Gila<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxae0-2G48FtMzfG4woSwbUHUl9efXh-gQfpkvgdz_kr6zmfoL1g2UBCXwXHpMObt_uYGO2s_szOrggrIP776qQSNCooHo-Dg9HXqAIgSz4y9LRnY_QvUNupFScoA-DLgmpw7TdVAulZo/s1600/DSCN1030.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 322px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxae0-2G48FtMzfG4woSwbUHUl9efXh-gQfpkvgdz_kr6zmfoL1g2UBCXwXHpMObt_uYGO2s_szOrggrIP776qQSNCooHo-Dg9HXqAIgSz4y9LRnY_QvUNupFScoA-DLgmpw7TdVAulZo/s320/DSCN1030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468406201560040178" border="0" /></a><br />Previously, at Sea Otter, I received the best Triceps Jersey.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4qrmNZ3HH7kSQkte_KrycfikZ5fjoG-tF6XqxUFpzkaF52aglcTXfyI4Q1oV1zyCHtvHOA9TACNDBy_8-cv2mOnStm-bj1N7TqKuKfPgxS2snVb3SLWFGjSKRuvMvdKNgVQmTa__skY/s1600/26029_1261788945006_1238163634_576666_4758273_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4qrmNZ3HH7kSQkte_KrycfikZ5fjoG-tF6XqxUFpzkaF52aglcTXfyI4Q1oV1zyCHtvHOA9TACNDBy_8-cv2mOnStm-bj1N7TqKuKfPgxS2snVb3SLWFGjSKRuvMvdKNgVQmTa__skY/s320/26029_1261788945006_1238163634_576666_4758273_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468410704495557778" border="0" /></a><br /><br />FUll of It.<br /></div><br /></div>Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-67299844981630907102010-05-01T09:05:00.000-07:002010-05-01T09:21:32.074-07:00Thanks<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKM_J9bR4yPD5vtfs-7O9EuUGzkLK9KN4lLBDh1W5ECHkNvjEoKcKZJOx0qRKwErxmA0HEYTmyRuZYnoN6joeDGXCP2ebZoJXk1lXbLQVqW90MDkPxhAZmHekzFq821L7UZ8MvdvINhY/s1600/31071_1185161089153_1832045689_356318_3214308_s.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 98px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKM_J9bR4yPD5vtfs-7O9EuUGzkLK9KN4lLBDh1W5ECHkNvjEoKcKZJOx0qRKwErxmA0HEYTmyRuZYnoN6joeDGXCP2ebZoJXk1lXbLQVqW90MDkPxhAZmHekzFq821L7UZ8MvdvINhY/s320/31071_1185161089153_1832045689_356318_3214308_s.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466333902002091794" border="0" /></a><br />This is Henry.....my biggest fan....and new captain of the ACR Toddler, ride before I can walk program.<br />He does 6.2 watts/Kg with his heart crushing smile.<br />Keep it up Henry!<br /><br />Thanks to everyone cheering me on and offering support.<br />I hear people all over the course shouting at me, wait a minute, UH?.... what did I do this time.?...just kid'n..... Thanks it keeps me stoked for sure.<br />And of course thanks to all of you that are checking in daily, I hope I'm providing at least a meager source of entertainment.<br /><br />Thanks.<br /><br />Looking forward to the crit this afternoon.<br />And tomorrows Gila Monster Road Race.<br />My goal is to make it over the first big climb with the leaders.<br />and hang on for dear life up the next two ginormous climbs.<br />almost '10,000 in the last 30 miles of this 105 mile epic.<br />I should probably take it easy in the crit today.....but I'm here to have fun...so we'll see<br />Snow is forecast for tomorrow.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://icons-ecast.wxug.com/i/c/a/snow.gif" alt="snow" class="condIcon" width="42" height="42" /> <div class="b">Sunday</div> <div>Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain showers...thunderstorms and snow showers. Windy...warmer. Highs in the 60s. West winds 15 to 20 mph increasing to 20 to 30 mph in the afternoon. </div> <div><br /></div> Sweet.<br /></div>Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-71726788399478939102010-04-30T17:30:00.000-07:002010-08-03T09:41:14.597-07:00Gila stage 3......the rae of cold truth.<div style="text-align: center;">Today's sweet ride.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And the dirt-bag that rode it.<br />Notice the not so above Category upside down AC.<br />Sorry Chad.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBDSETfNUp7AXVrWBNxX3Js8tlfrnqp5RU_lhxBaEEfILiRfzKWIS2QkyYnx27R5b6L0wEMLVD-i6zUPB5ZD8j9DrFki0WomxJCJnxVtQjGAkRegMdViDSvdg64ddoUzyBYB3pWdYB5o/s1600/gila+tt+050.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBDSETfNUp7AXVrWBNxX3Js8tlfrnqp5RU_lhxBaEEfILiRfzKWIS2QkyYnx27R5b6L0wEMLVD-i6zUPB5ZD8j9DrFki0WomxJCJnxVtQjGAkRegMdViDSvdg64ddoUzyBYB3pWdYB5o/s320/gila+tt+050.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466110102503891698" border="0" /></a><br />The 56 tooth chainring was spun out on the descent today<br />and the tail wind allowed me to use the 56x23 on the 4 mile climb<br />that's ripp'n fast....<br />I heard rumors of 58's being used.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKw4ZPRyMy292kJgqWccmuMF8oOAcCO331CvkKNdJugNURVXsiEOpHg0uhI8Ld0VtjKaK5cOAyTL9t8rbitv78-e_DQK-4jC7zq4DKgn8dHGRTAQFrs_0LE7QnHv_nwMPu04JvyXTw4k0/s1600/gila+tt+056.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKw4ZPRyMy292kJgqWccmuMF8oOAcCO331CvkKNdJugNURVXsiEOpHg0uhI8Ld0VtjKaK5cOAyTL9t8rbitv78-e_DQK-4jC7zq4DKgn8dHGRTAQFrs_0LE7QnHv_nwMPu04JvyXTw4k0/s320/gila+tt+056.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466098908612137890" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Roman?...Dude?.....don't you know Kuota's are for tri geeks.!<br />Waiting in line to get our bike's checked.<br />Everybody was eyeballing the Parlee.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjUOVsOpVUl70x87SZHz0d70cYsc5JZvP8WDqlJ4Y8fdPPYBo_ePz3yTL_Krm-7vbuXQtImDEfiEOpBkO5rV9OGDLaEI1-G0_SUccRZfq5V9yXlYvrUBYNTsQwU_vCSVmTkzDcZAyImk/s1600/gila+tt+024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjUOVsOpVUl70x87SZHz0d70cYsc5JZvP8WDqlJ4Y8fdPPYBo_ePz3yTL_Krm-7vbuXQtImDEfiEOpBkO5rV9OGDLaEI1-G0_SUccRZfq5V9yXlYvrUBYNTsQwU_vCSVmTkzDcZAyImk/s320/gila+tt+024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466101964107360658" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Getting the Parlee weighed after placing our bikes on a rickety metal stand that is held together with wing-nuts and blowing over in the wind. Obviously a very scientific UCI measuring device.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidb2TEbYf2LskRUvrGMa73GQEl2_M4Gn64qKcSM1v8vXPTT6kMCYqIwgyX-msspN-UuSyDmWvxrBKf5-xFQviCqG6sDvgfvohZ_nXa5PPQAGPqoHFrPihIbQqRLLiMYgxqEs5XzDvsqDo/s1600/gila+tt+030.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidb2TEbYf2LskRUvrGMa73GQEl2_M4Gn64qKcSM1v8vXPTT6kMCYqIwgyX-msspN-UuSyDmWvxrBKf5-xFQviCqG6sDvgfvohZ_nXa5PPQAGPqoHFrPihIbQqRLLiMYgxqEs5XzDvsqDo/s320/gila+tt+030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466102881102166850" border="0" /></a>This is called the morph test and if your bike is outside of the rickety measuring device a referee cups his palm on your ass, that's what it looks like anyway, and then they measure the angle of your arm at the elbow.....I passed, but that is for sure an awkward looking shot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJ8KZi2cFBwPOXhkfrgkhKuK9FM3qjAPfjGxs33U5vWF4cYre5ATuWCN2NquIN5cXJWukp_quARtnjy-rpzXs8xTmUbegWX37zizVF3YPhFyGvYyAv3gCV4It8sEmc32fuXojrwXZVo8/s1600/gila+tt+moms+camera+017.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJ8KZi2cFBwPOXhkfrgkhKuK9FM3qjAPfjGxs33U5vWF4cYre5ATuWCN2NquIN5cXJWukp_quARtnjy-rpzXs8xTmUbegWX37zizVF3YPhFyGvYyAv3gCV4It8sEmc32fuXojrwXZVo8/s320/gila+tt+moms+camera+017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466149533204045682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Hello<br />We are from the galaxy aero<br />check out our dumbo helmets.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHBf-8gIbbbRQguc7DLWLxWfICt7MiqgsCQLFyWHOlJ1Dp5iFFIivB5t1a_FzOIeqIDQRSLXxX3PJwxktMEGjr9Yb5iDRVBmjUGxBfz2VM_PvWXZ54Cv6R_3OPUug9gbaRB5zGMS7QD8/s1600/gila+tt+021.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHBf-8gIbbbRQguc7DLWLxWfICt7MiqgsCQLFyWHOlJ1Dp5iFFIivB5t1a_FzOIeqIDQRSLXxX3PJwxktMEGjr9Yb5iDRVBmjUGxBfz2VM_PvWXZ54Cv6R_3OPUug9gbaRB5zGMS7QD8/s320/gila+tt+021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466093714365638130" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">In the start house.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-Nh1krPbs3fG3x4vC3Qvkd1_Y7B7s70kB9DegbsyKDrRYRc9W8UemPTV9FYRDp8Ad9zz5KU2E8Ckj4-4KFVWSaj3NgbS1ZAdOyQsYylDCUu9c-YY0w8aWoUY692d4bPeAOWvk6md1g8/s1600/poised+to+attack.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-Nh1krPbs3fG3x4vC3Qvkd1_Y7B7s70kB9DegbsyKDrRYRc9W8UemPTV9FYRDp8Ad9zz5KU2E8Ckj4-4KFVWSaj3NgbS1ZAdOyQsYylDCUu9c-YY0w8aWoUY692d4bPeAOWvk6md1g8/s320/poised+to+attack.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466147162752424994" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The final 50 meters....OUCH!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">After 16 miles of self inflicted torture.<br />The finish line is a beautiful thing.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOrNC-7grsXLkMZhup4p4sStaOhLXbmow88jEpwt7_HTXPlyIR5-ocu5_Fc-hcuw4XvzEJcB9mq6t2N0h9da6MfEi1VOS9yH3qXdnVsm5yU2ckgpXiamgGmRokBau_nl7lls1wITCkNU/s1600/27872_1123598987934_1765890843_235353_1255727_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOrNC-7grsXLkMZhup4p4sStaOhLXbmow88jEpwt7_HTXPlyIR5-ocu5_Fc-hcuw4XvzEJcB9mq6t2N0h9da6MfEi1VOS9yH3qXdnVsm5yU2ckgpXiamgGmRokBau_nl7lls1wITCkNU/s320/27872_1123598987934_1765890843_235353_1255727_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466093728209354530" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Finally a pain free moment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNNtpSdgzd8ADEnF7gLZPn8mha4EFOuzQ5kCPbWYsRiIaW9nLPiIawwqanwwxyBhiMF67njM905Ud-DmCaVCl2JGhfCbJa5ztVayKHFj7Ge4rgaxSxHIhavBmjNjUvsEjEjTD79njOZo/s1600/gila+tt+043.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNNtpSdgzd8ADEnF7gLZPn8mha4EFOuzQ5kCPbWYsRiIaW9nLPiIawwqanwwxyBhiMF67njM905Ud-DmCaVCl2JGhfCbJa5ztVayKHFj7Ge4rgaxSxHIhavBmjNjUvsEjEjTD79njOZo/s320/gila+tt+043.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466097396722418594" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Chill'n with my mom after the race.....<br />Literally chill'n...it was 26 degrees this morning....and windy.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkY4u3csKTvvJ5jljoQOgxHST2AsU2aUDFc0qJWkxSIGYNbJhu2piWO4bPnXw-X6TWNHzcZrXD3IXlWqarKxip874tM-NFjk6fhfFYS5Z5I6H0C3uQSQ3g1JkYsk9Bbii4ytFz8wJC_Jk/s1600/gila+tt+moms+camera+039.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkY4u3csKTvvJ5jljoQOgxHST2AsU2aUDFc0qJWkxSIGYNbJhu2piWO4bPnXw-X6TWNHzcZrXD3IXlWqarKxip874tM-NFjk6fhfFYS5Z5I6H0C3uQSQ3g1JkYsk9Bbii4ytFz8wJC_Jk/s320/gila+tt+moms+camera+039.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466147171464017250" border="0" /></a><br />my time was about 10 seconds faster than last year.....but everyone else's was about 2-3 min slower........so I guess that means my muscles are bigger and badder then ever.<br /><br />The big boys like Levi,Lance, and Zabriskie still put the better part of 3 min into me.<br />Bastards.....<br />I ended up 47th, at 1:47 behind lance...not bad for a measuring stick...I'm actually stoked...all things considered...<br />Beat a few people I thought would be up there and ended up moving into 73rd place in the general classifications.<br />Every day I get a little better, or maybe I just get worse... at a slower rate then the other 92 riders behind me in GC.<br /><br /><br />Floyd Landis..whats up with the sleeve's<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6EcQVoMnilOWmDbR60il2EiYZ2wlfSav4sbFhg58DpxOQkvsW6hkZwiV7qZd9fcTz_CKMM4-QBwIjRhKlGWSEVwFJ-_HA6JqGOCe2otifSRVl3-gQSgKxv0A-lzKGLQLeDLbBHK2erA/s1600/gila+tt+moms+camera+028.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6EcQVoMnilOWmDbR60il2EiYZ2wlfSav4sbFhg58DpxOQkvsW6hkZwiV7qZd9fcTz_CKMM4-QBwIjRhKlGWSEVwFJ-_HA6JqGOCe2otifSRVl3-gQSgKxv0A-lzKGLQLeDLbBHK2erA/s320/gila+tt+moms+camera+028.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466147181847760434" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lance looking a bit meaner than Landis<br />how about a matching helmet?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWdS9WUOxzI9c7LWyA7ufO0sEUJJ6lPiSBbmH0RmuLx23aaKj4XPuusEoKyFv-11BgJBtbnWLjEAaD6o7mgz7ggsgi6aPkjqI8BqIjSRiXiKAmn06o5XGZ18DQuZGrXEzFmfs4t0HkNw/s1600/gila+tt+moms+camera+030.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWdS9WUOxzI9c7LWyA7ufO0sEUJJ6lPiSBbmH0RmuLx23aaKj4XPuusEoKyFv-11BgJBtbnWLjEAaD6o7mgz7ggsgi6aPkjqI8BqIjSRiXiKAmn06o5XGZ18DQuZGrXEzFmfs4t0HkNw/s320/gila+tt+moms+camera+030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466150871471556530" border="0" /></a>Actually looking forward to tomorrows criterium.<br /><br /><br /></div>Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-47752056794364566492010-04-29T15:41:00.000-07:002010-04-30T18:53:44.435-07:00Tour of the gila stage 2<div style="text-align: center;">Today, the moto Ref, who is actually staying two doors down from me at the B&B, was blown off the moto..no shit...he has road rash..60mph gusts..shingles were being blown off roof tops.<br />What an amazing experience.....but glad to be finished with this stage<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNO8StnPwT6j7J_e6Oqp4qAx2LmSyr96Vfmb5fTPNBwYqrBjQPf6Nw9_BW-9iqdfh_sUkdsG0pwTY_KQrFb3M9PwZK3JOpDxTWkAYqwD4TGVOBhs6T3Fg2e5sGK16UVkDpHHrl5VPk3UU/s1600/29160_1123171017235_1765890843_234502_2619931_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNO8StnPwT6j7J_e6Oqp4qAx2LmSyr96Vfmb5fTPNBwYqrBjQPf6Nw9_BW-9iqdfh_sUkdsG0pwTY_KQrFb3M9PwZK3JOpDxTWkAYqwD4TGVOBhs6T3Fg2e5sGK16UVkDpHHrl5VPk3UU/s320/29160_1123171017235_1765890843_234502_2619931_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465697877878346514" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I thought yesterday was tough.<br />Today I sold my soul to make it over the first climb and catch back on the descent.<br />Rough, considering last year I lead the entire peloton down this section.<br />And it just got harder, and harder, and harder...<br />40-60 mph winds...<br />I was popped out the back almost 6 times and left dangling behind the team cars.<br />Don't know how I did it but I eventualy got back on by the last climb and survived for the bunch finish. I think I lost 30 seconds.<br />I'm tanked<br />if you want a real race report<br />look here.<br /><a href="http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/04/news/amaran-wins-sram-tour-of-the-gila-stage-2-leipheimer-second_113709">http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/04/news/amaran-wins-sram-tour-of-the-gila-stage-2-leipheimer-second_113709</a><br /><br />Bridging the gap to the lead group on the pinos altos climb...OUCH!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUDjLOWN0puOdMmsYtCjzBtNfiqZ_GynPqCDjbpQ0t6mQcgiMcI_hVI-WzJqtfgu66Yd2SNwUViwVK50XoErUW3kHMzllYDLTKvGLfjxFxmWk3SfMMVH3k1x8Gj697il3WP2J0Yi6rZM/s1600/suffering.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUDjLOWN0puOdMmsYtCjzBtNfiqZ_GynPqCDjbpQ0t6mQcgiMcI_hVI-WzJqtfgu66Yd2SNwUViwVK50XoErUW3kHMzllYDLTKvGLfjxFxmWk3SfMMVH3k1x8Gj697il3WP2J0Yi6rZM/s320/suffering.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465778739932014290" border="0" /></a>BTW<br />The BMC with edge 2.0 fork is amazing.<br />check out this wind!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN8OmWW-l3o&feature=player_embedded">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN8OmWW-l3o&feature=player_embedded<br /><br /></a><br /></div>Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149742932251771910.post-78049557009787493182010-04-28T21:18:00.001-07:002010-04-28T21:40:30.240-07:00Tour of the gila stage 1No pics yet........I will try and do a recap later............<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />This race is special to me, it's kinda where it all started 6 years ago in the cat 3's.....Its where cycling sunk its addicting dagger into my aging carcass.<br />Still chasing the dream...and still dreaming...<br />life is but a dream.<br />If you asked me 6 years ago If I ever thought I would race against the likes of Lance Armstrong, Levi Leiphiemer, Dave Zabriske, and Floyd Landis all stage winners of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">to</span>ur <span style="font-style: italic;">DE</span> France, and all these other amazing athletes....I would have told you to go blow yourself.<br />Well. I'm doing it.......and I'm having fun......I'm here on my own dime. I work almost full time<br />I even have chickens.<br />The experience of competing at this level is something money can never buy me.<br />Today was F-ing Hard.<br />I felt good for 75 miles but had a hard time holding position in the crosswind.<br />I think like 70 people dropped out or were time cut.<br />I was happy to stay with the main pack....but the work I had to do to stay out of the gutter and not get shelled took its toll, coupled with the altitude, I tanked pretty bad on the last climb<br />a '2794 climb with grades up to 17%<br />I managed to hang with Taylor Phinney, and cross the line for 103rd place out of 194.<br />9min back<br />I guess no one will give a shit when I get in a break tomorrow....suckers.<br />Stage win for me.<br />until next time.<br />Oh yeah, Lance is F-ing ripped....Muscles made of rope....you can see the individual fibers through his skin....<br />I made him look a my ass for a while....riding at or near the front though the feedzone while the field was struuuuuung out....<br />fun stuff.<br /><br />chow-chilla.<br /><br /></div>Kris Lunninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15078466267671685980noreply@blogger.com1