Benjamin's Banter

I've moved...come on over!

2006-10-14T16:56:00.000-07:00

http://web.mac.com/usvihook

Game Over!!

2006-10-08T19:19:00.000-07:00

So, I made it - the 2006 season is officially over! Yea! Track natz wound down yesterday with a 6th place in the scratch race after a semi-suicidal move that saw me lose vital position when the "Hammer" train went speeding past with three to go. All in all I feel really good about how the races went, especially the mass start test, so I am happy to end my season this way. Now - a little rest and some down time before hopefully getting the opportunity to race some track world cups in the coming months. Ciao!

Points Race Podium

Bill and I out on the town in Redondo Beach

Points Race

2006-10-07T09:05:00.000-07:00

Managed to scoop up the last podium spot in the points race - very painful with sarah hammer around. by the way have i mentioned what a stud she is? fifth in a really fast national points race - i'm happy for now...

So Close...

2006-10-05T16:06:00.000-07:00

ugh...what a heartbreaker. today in the mass start test in l.a. i missed the time standard for the u.s. talent pool by 4 tenths of a second. my 500 time was under so i was good to go but i floated the fourth lap a little too much trying not to blow up and then rode like hell the rest of the way. that test was one of the hardest things that i have ever done but i know that i can improve and make the standard with some more practice. only one girl out of 18 made both time standards -500 and 2k - and then i had the second fastest time just barely missing the final 2k time cut. i think i would have rather missed it by 10 seconds than to come so close and not make it. anyway, i'm pretty upset but happy that i rode so well and i also proved alot to myself toda. so, i will get my mind right over the next day to get ready for the rest of my races. thanks to everyone who helped me out along the way - sorry that i couldn't seal the deal but keep your fingers crossed that something really good happens in the next two days. time standard - 2:34.4 - my time - 2:34.8. ouch!

The Big Show

2006-10-04T11:45:00.000-07:00

Well, here we go - Track Nationals. After all of the training, traveling, timing, preparing, whining, blah, blah, blah it's finally here! I start racing tomorrow with the mass start test in the morning and then the keirin, scratch and points races on friday and saturday. The track is very nice and feels fast to me so hopefully it will still feel fast to me tomorrow.

Turn 1

Heading into turn 3

Superdrome

2006-09-29T07:35:00.000-07:00

Home away from home for the last 2 weeks

Too Funny!

2006-09-27T19:15:00.000-07:00

"Maybe I should start bike racing again so I can have an affair!!" Actual words out of an ex-racer's mouth. (After several glasses of wine of course) I of course spit out my own wine because I was laughing so hard at her! What is this world coming to?

Yea!

2006-09-26T10:39:00.000-07:00

From Cyclingnews.com 9/26/06:

Cheerwine apply for Women's UCI Pro Status

Cheerwine Professional Women's Cycling Team will apply for UCI Professional status for 2007, becoming just the third US Women's team to do so. "By filing for UCI status, the riders will be able to work towards their goals for 2008 in both the United States and abroad," explained team owner Anne Bolyea.

The outfit is expected to announce over coming weeks the professional riders and sponsors which will front its campaign in road events in Australian, Canada, Europe and the US. "I understand the importance of rider's UCI points to USA-Cycling, I also think we need to support the races put on in the US," added Bolyea.

Cheerwine has also appointed a Team Director in Thad Fischer to head the team as it expands in 2007. "Thad is exactly what we are looking for in a team director," said Bolyea. "He has the passion for women's cycling needed to take our program to the next level."

Fischer is excited about the challenge ahead having left men's outfit Team Nerac/Outdoorlights.com to join the tema. "The team is at a great point to transition from being a top five NRC team to a competitive UCI team," explained Fischer. "The more US women's teams we can take to the international level the better off women's cycling in the US will become."

Thank You

2006-09-20T19:22:00.000-07:00

So while I have been down in Texas killing myself twice a day going around in little circles, I have had alot of time to think about all of the people who love and support me in all kinds of different ways and this little blog is just for them. Just for those people who believe in me even when it's hard and who show me all kinds of crazy love and support. I could never list them all because there are too many of you out there but chances are, you know who you are!! But I must recognize my entire family for their constant love and support - yea mom, dad, brother, sister, grandma, aunt, uncle - that means you! Also I have to give a very special thanks to Rich Stephan for his unbelievable support and belief in my track potential. And of course, could I ever forget slick Willy and my crazy dog Speedo who both love me no matter how fast or slow I may be at any given time!! And also for my "special" teammates with nicknames - you guys rock - thanks for the support lately! You too green hair lady!

Reality Check

2006-09-17T12:59:00.000-07:00

So if ever I thought that bike racing was hard work, I have a whole new perspective now after traveling with my bike racer friends this weekend who have two little boys - a 1yr. old and a 2yr. old. Try racing a keirin with breast feeding as your warm-up see how that works out for ya. Or try spending nine hours in a shammy because you don't even have time to change, or just for fun, find someone else's crying, snotty kid and try to hold them, console them and clean them while filling up your gatorade bottles and changing out your chainring with one hand! Sound fun? Well it doesn't look like much fun to me nor ideal race preparation so the next time that I have a Prima Donna moment where I can't possibly fill up my own water bottles or pump my own tires, I will have to remember just how good I have it with no kids to worry about and a loving husband to take care of my every whim! Whew, the racing in Houston was actually great training and we had alot of fun too. I'll be loading up some pictures of classic Texas as soon as I get the cord for my camera! Peace!

Bigger is actually better in Texas! Yee-haw!

Frisco Superdrome

2006-09-12T12:07:00.000-07:00

Had my first track workout this morning - this is going to be a hard month. i feel good but my legs aren't used to the track yet so i am pretty sore already. it's going to be good though cause i have alot of really cool people helping me out down here. thank god cause i still don't know much about training on the track!! ok, must recover. later!

Morning Ramblings

2006-09-08T07:23:00.000-07:00

So, I'm sitting here at my desk just thinking how life is good. The road season is over, the weather here in Kansas City is beautiful with nightime lows in the 50's and daytime highs in the low 80's, my mom is home from Germany and found a great teaching job that she loves and best of all - I am healthy, fit and ready to take on the track for the next couple of weeks. I'm getting ready to go down to Texas for two weeks of track training and racing in preparation for track natz and will get to see lots of friends that I haven't seen all season. A million thanks to my friends, Tim and Suzie Goodwin , for making it all happen for me down in Texas!

10K Classic

2006-09-04T13:24:00.000-07:00

Celebratory PBR in Chalice

2006-09-02T19:27:00.000-07:00

Somewhere on I-80

2006-08-30T19:20:00.000-07:00

Who's measuring?

BamBam, this is for you!

Nice bling girl!

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...

Going fast in the dark

2006-08-27T09:51:00.000-07:00

So I raced in Sedalia, Mo. in a nightime crit yesterday - great course, lots of cool people. It was really fun to get to race locally for a change and see all of my buddies in K.C. Thanks to the promotor for putting on a great race - I'll try to get some pics up soon.

BALCO Drug Mix-up

2006-08-22T07:48:00.000-07:00

Looks to me like someone got their performance enhancing drugs mixed up in the lab - OOPS!!! Floyd gets testosterone and Jones gets EPO!

On Marion Jones:
"If the only thing she was taking is EPO, that would be highly unlikely. It would enhance oxygen uptake for her ability to run a 5K, but she's not doing anything close to that." Everything about this makes no sense,"

On Floyd Landis:
"Also testosterone does not do anything in a single dose as you say (fixing or helping muscle tissue) it takes multiple doses over time to make a difference. This is what makes the Landis situation strange why would he knowingly take a synthetic testosterone when he knows it would do him no good? I think there is foul play afoot."

What's in a name? DOWNER'S Grove!

2006-08-21T19:26:00.000-07:00

What a weekend. Hectic, nervous, whirlwind...yep that sounds about right for downer's grove. Saturday's race was non-eventful with the cheerwine ladies just sitting in and opening up the legs for sunday - scooped up a $100 prime and called it a day. Sunday's race was typical downer's grove - nothing serious stuck off the front and we all set up for a field sprint. my girls had worked really hard for me the whole race and i was fresh but somehow got tangled up in the last lap hoop-la and only made it out just before the last turn to see lvg and tina tangled up in a frightening crash with jen mcrae getting caught up in it as well. i eased my way around it and limped in for 9th. not the result i or the team were looking for...but it could be a lot worse - at least i am not hurt. want to give a shout out to my boy brad huff for besting all of the american boys out there on sunday - you rock! Up next...hmmmmm not sure yet...maybe thater maybe 10K???

Calm before the storm

2006-08-17T06:52:00.000-07:00

So it's that time of year again - the National Crit Championship in Downer's Grove. I have a love/hate relationship with this race but am looking forward to it all the same. The team is ready and excited and I have prepared as well as i can so..........that's about all we can do. My mom, brother and bill will be there to watch us so it should be a great weekend. I'll keep you updated on how it goes, wish me luck!!

Speedo and Jasmine

2006-08-14T19:33:00.000-07:00

How cute are these little munchkins?? Speedo is our dog and Jasmine (the little one) is Brian and Michelle's weim - they are pals!!