DClog

50+ Start at KCCX Nationals

Just found this little clip of the 50-54 and 55-59 start at KCCX nationals.
Less than 15 seconds after the back of the 50-54 group, my group, the 55-59 appears.

You can see me in the lead at 1:11 on the video and teammate Torre is 1:13.

Buckhead Club

Tonight I had a gig at the Buckhead Club, it was a private party and the event was first class all the way.

This is the very spot where Mack and I first met each other on November 4th 1999. Mack was playing with Sam Skelton and Duane Norman, and I was downstairs playing with Swing Factory which was a 12-piece band that featured many top Atlanta musicians.

I got there a little early and took this photo around dusk with the room reflected in the 19th floor window and Atlanta's most affluent and elegant district, Buckhead, outside.

5-Hills Loop 12/29

A good group of pretty strong and experienced riders rode around the 5-Hills Loop today.

(L-R) Marshall, Greg, Tracy, Theron, Dan, Wojtek, Julie, Kirby, Gus, Greg, Hans and Mark

Christmas Day

This holiday was celebrated with gifts, feast, music, games and a fun time was had by all. Grandma, an experienced crossword puzzle, Cribbage and Bridge player, barely remembered how to play Scrabble but proceeded to beat all three college graduates.

For those who ride bikes with me, here's a look at the front of my new jersey, just in case you don't ever get to see it again ;-)

Coy Family Christmas Eve

Coy Family Christmas eve congregation...

La Primavera Piccolo

La Primavera Piccolo, a classic GTC route with some shorter variations. It was a decent group of riders including Steve S. (visiting from Rock Hill SC), Clay, Mike, Bob, Marshall & Brad. Due to the tailwind and mostly flat roads we easily averaged over 20 mph for the first half of the ride, but the ride back was a different story and the average speed was about 18.7 when we completed the 54 mile jaunt.

Marshall, Brad, Clay, Steve S.,Dan, Bob, Mike

12/23 BlackJack Loop

It rained all night and right up until the ride start at 11:00 AM, so the roads were wet. The sun finally did come out and since I seem to be solar powered, my spirits were lifted. We traversed about 33 miles and encountered some traffic on otherwise very quiet roads - must be the holiday shoppers.

Doug, Wojtek, Dan and Grant

GTC Winter Ride

GTC club ride: easy paced off season 51mi/82km romp through Walton and Barrow counties. A little hike-a-bike was required when we got down to Jack Pittman Road and discovered it was missing - about 100 yards was totally dug up and under construction. Photos and video by Marshall Millard.

Marshall, Bob, Ben, Wojtek, Mike, Dan, Theron, Ming, Clay, Carlos, John also Tracy and Mac met us on the road later.

Russell Comes to Town

So last night I'm sitting there playing my usual Tu-W-Th gig and suddenly I'm in a big bear-hug... it must be Russell Malone. Oh yeah, with his rare and pristine 1970's Gibson L-5 CES slung over his shoulder he's come ready to play.

The room was treated to about an hour of amazing artistry on the guitar. After the session we sat down together and he played some of his new arrangements for me. I got a preview of what's going to be on the next recordings. One new arrangement was a jaw-dropping beautiful interpretation of "Unchained Melody".

Here's one of the many videos of Russell you can find on YouTube.

Informed Voter

"So what do you know about Ron Paul?"

"He's that female impersonator, right?"

"...uh, no he's campaigning for president. You must be thinking of Ru Paul"

"Oh yeah, right. No I never heard of Ron Paul"

There are so many uninformed voters, who vote for whoever their husband/wife tells them to vote for, or for a party, gender, age, religion, ethnic group or simply toss a coin. I decided many years ago that the voting system should be weighted and include a brief test of the voters knowledge of the issues and the candidates. Informed and educated voters should have more weight or value, and those who are clueless should not carry as much weight.

Maybe that's not a very democratic concept so again, I will refer you to a quote I have posted previously...

“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.” - H.L. Mencken (1880-1956)

I don't care much for Glen Beck but I was hoping to catch his interview with Ron Paul on TV. Missed it, but found it posted all over the 'net...
http://ronpaul.meetup.com/boards/view/viewthread?thread=3954393

Trebon's Head-on Collision

Contender crashed out by riders out of contention. This was the scenario several times at this year's US National Cyclocross Championship.

Watch the YouTube video of Ryan Trebon, the defending US champ, meet an unlucky end to his race.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32q1oJtNDrQ

Frozen Ruts

The bike was sliding where ever it wanted to go...

The Road Trip Adventure

Besides the 'cross racing last week there was an exciting and fun road trip with Rachel. We bravely traveled into the Midwestern prairie lands and extreme winter weather conditions. There was fun, conversation and some good time spent together. Probably could have done without the Saturday night-time driving in a winter storm across the state of Missouri, that provided several tense, white-knuckle moments but otherwise all was fine.

We have lots of cool, cold, freezing photos and I'll post the links as soon as I get them uploaded.

KCCX - long story, short

My trip to the 2007 'cross nats in KC.

The elements that I had influence over like training, equipment, travel, funding, support, logistics, etc. went alright - I could not have felt better and more ready. The elements which I could not prepare for went all wrong, such as the course conditions and lots of randomly swerving and crashing riders.

On the day of the race the course was frozen solid, badly rutted and covered in snow. I lined up in the second row but got to the front no problem and was leading in first place at the top of the road. After we turned off the pavement I got hit hard and slammed sideways into a fallen 50-54 rider (they were started 30 seconds before us and we were on them in less than 30 seconds) and then got hit from behind several times also. By the time I got untangled and made it to the pit for a bike change (thanks Shey and Jim) the leaders were long gone. I did get back in the race and started working my way through the chaos of swerving and fallen riders only to get knocked off the course a couple more times by riders sliding on the ice.

The race with all the age groups on the course at the same time, and many of them having no business being in a national championship event, caused a lot of problems and as a result more than a few riders were victims of random carnage.

KCCX News

US Championships draw record numbers

Despite a severe ice storm that has coated the state of Kansas in a thick layer of ice, record numbers of cyclo-cross racers are ready to brave the wintry conditions in order to contend for the coveted stars and stripes jersey.

A record 2,045 entries over some 40 races were received for the 2007 USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships in Kansas City, Kansas, which begins Thursday at the Wyandotte County Park. The entries topped last year's participation in Providence, Rhode Island by more than 100 entries.

Race Forecast

Race Start at 3pm
Snow Shower (expected 4-9 inches)
24°F feels like 10°F
Wind From N 18 mph

Wondering

I am now packing the rental car and getting ready to leave the sunny near 80-degree weather here in Atlanta to go race bicycles in Kansas City, KS where the governor has just declared a state of emergency due to and ice storm and extreme weather conditions!

Kansas City, KS Weather Forecast

TUE DEC 11 2007

..ICE STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT...

TODAY - Freezing rain - rain and isolated thunderstorms in the morning - then freezing rain in the afternoon. Ice accumulation of one quarter to one half of an inch. Highs in the lower 30s. Temperatures steady or slowly falling in the afternoon. North winds 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.

TONIGHT - Cloudy. Light freezing rain with light sleet likely in the evening. Little or no sleet accumulation. Ice accumulation of less than one quarter of an inch. Lows in the lower 20s. North winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.

---
I have a feeling the next few days are going to make one heck of an interesting blog entry.

ConGRADulations Rachel Jean

Another UGA Alum in the family.

GA CX Wrap-up

The Georgia Cross finale was in Dahlonega on a unique course that included two sets of stairs and a dirt run-up. Gerard, myself and Wayne took the 45+ podium spots on this day. It was a good season and a fun race series. GTC did the three-peat and won the team competition award again this year. Next week is the National Championships in Kansas City.

Gerard, Dan and Wayne take a well-deserved break after a full season of cyclocross racing.
Photo: Trish Albert/southeasterncycling.com

Elderly Athletes

Georgia's Geezer Jocks of the cyclocross sport.

Dahlonega CX race 45+ podium: Dan, Gerard and Wayne. Photo: Marshall Millard

Hillbilly's bike-cam video...

Overall 2007 series winners 45+: Gerard(4), Torre(2), Dan(1) Lamar(3), Jim(5) with Shey and Everett presenting the awards. Photo: Marshall Millard

Band of Buds

A holiday party at the Atlanta Athletic Club with my friends. Keith, Chuck and I played together in various bands starting back in the early 1970's. John has been a regular featured guest artist at Violette for a couple of years now.

(L-R) Keith Runfola, Chuck Harvey, John Snellings and Dan Coy

Colnago Ferrari

The model COLNAGO for Ferrari 60th is born to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the house of Maranello, Ferrari.

Bike porn.

Purple and Pink

Shari rode with me today.

A master in the art of living…

A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play; his labor and his leisure; his mind and his body; his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing, and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both.

— Francoise Rene Auguste Chateaubriand

Blue Ridge CX 45+ Video

Hillbilly productions presents...

It's a fun video with some good racing action but the camera doesn't quite show the severity of the hills on this course.

Masters 45+ Podium

Team GTC/YKK sweeps the podium again!

Torre Smitherman, Dan Coy and Gerard Remery. Photo: Marshall Millard

Blue Ridge CX Race

After last night's episode with one slightly intoxicated driver smashing into my car, causing a 4-car wreck, Bev's trip to the ER and my run in with Forsyth county's own Barney Fife... it's safe to say my 4 or 5 hours of sleep was less than peaceful.

Made it up to Blue Ridge GA by about 8:15 AM for the 6th and penultimate race in the 2007 Georgia Cyclocross Series. Pre-rode the course, crashed hard once and decided it was way too hard plus I felt terrible and the whole thing was going to suck. But it's only 45-minutes so I'll just hang on the best I can. Staging for the start I noticed my rear tire was soft and it was too late to fix it so I ran to the pit and switched to my back-up bike.

I got a decent start and made it to the top of the hill at the front. Wayne (aka Hillbilly), who lives in the area and I suspect had practiced the course in advance, made a great move over the top coming around me and opening a big gap. I chased and didn't catch him until the end of the lap and took back the lead.

Miraculously, I stayed at the front of the race, uncontested until the final lap when Gerard came charging hard. I was riding as strong and smooth as I possibly could but he kept getting closer. Fortunately for me the finish line came just in time.

That was a surprising result and with so much good competition present I would never have suspected it was possible.

Check out this course profile (data graph below). The Masters race was six laps, each one started with a long brutal climb followed by a screaming fast descent highlighted by a lot of gravel, some grass, mulch, pavement, a few technical turns plus some high-speed barriers sections.

Fifty-fourth Birthday Celebration

In a nutshell: High Museum, dinner, wreck and ER. Snapshots of the evening and aftermath