You ridin...I'm ridin...

More lunch ride info for the 2 readers of this blog.........

Monday: This is a “do anything day” which really means that anyone that raced over the weekend or ended up putting some good training miles is in trouble. The fresh punks who have been lounging around all weekend think its fun to get one up on ya early in the week. We usually do the crazy 8 around the International Center and watch out for an attack from The Snake. Some attacks before Bangerter Hwy from Joe P will long be remembered.

Tuesday: The almighty “Sprint Day”. This usually turns into a sprint for the building day in which we are all at our threshold for the entire 40 minutes. On a good day with some structure we hit the crazy 8’s course. We sprint for most road signs. The duck sign is a classic but the final sprint on Gladiola for the railroad sign is the biggest prize. Look for a attack from way out to shake the cling-ons over the railroad tracks before the overpass. Splinter Wood and GA love to attack you early and leave you with nothing to finish. We have had some classic battles to the final sprint. With more to come………

Wednesday: “Small chainring Wednesday” was called to action this last winter after a lot of us were tired of riding alone when we wanted to take it easy. Of course 20 minutes into the ride 98% of us are in the big ring looking to push the pace. We have been known to head out to the billboards that are on the way to SaltAir or head south through Discover card to mix it up a bit when the South wind is blowing hard.

Thursday: “Water Tower Day”. Stevo and I got this route of the ground this year after much speculation from the hill haters. So now we have a good hill to test who is really riding well and who is just sitting in. El Jefe lets his wings fly on this day unless chicken skin decides it’s his turn. The decent down 5600w is very fast during so keep it safe and watch for Philo D to make an attack.

Friday: “Peleton Friday”. You can’t say that with a straight face around here because it is usually anything but an easy group ride. We extend the crazy 8 route to give us a few more minutes in the junkyard.

DMV tonight with a warm up pre ride so a good 2 hours with that lovely hill mixed in about 25 times. I am going to run the Carbon Tubulars for the first time. Race report later……

TGP Done

It was a great weekend overall especially if you like wind, rain, hill top finishes, and a TT up Suncrest. My wife said it looked kinda funny when they brought up the top 5 finishers and I was the shortest and fattest guy up there. Thanks babe! No really I race with a bunch of 140lb 6 footers. No chance in hell chasing them up South Mountain. But I got to see them hurting on the circuit race and crit. I finished with 3rd GC, which is a great finish for me being my third Cat 3 race. My legs are worthless today.

Its Sprint day at SBC but I will not be joining the fun. But I know this guy will be there!!

TGP Stage Won

Great night at the Miller Sports track last night. I could have used a little less wind but it allowed myself and JP from the Tour of Utah to get off the front with 2 laps to go. Remember these are 4.5 mile laps with 20-30 mph winds so I was uncertain we could stay away but it was worth a try and we both gave it everything we had. Coming in to the finish I knew he would sit on me because he has seen my sprint at the weekly crits so I just did my own thing and went when I knew I could go all out to the finish. This is by far the biggest win for me on a bicycle to this day! AMAZING. The rest of the boys in blue destroyed the 30+ group. They killed it on the first lap and AJ took the win.

The weather looks like its gonna crap on us today so that should make things interesting. I get the leaders jersey before the race so I will be a marked man. I will just race like its not there. I am thinking about hitting them hard with one to go and hang on until the finish..... we will see. I will take some pictures today and post them up.

Lunch anyone?

So here is the blog entry “little E girl” zapped yesterday. The daily lunch ride at the big S is like a really good soap opera(if there is such a thing). We are always looking for some fresh meat so come join us some time in the junkyard. Here are the Major characters:

GA- the baddest, fastest guy in the group. This guy has more miles and muscles in his legs than anyone I know. He is our leader most days and we can only try to follow.
ChickenSkin- a new addition to the ride this year but has made the ride much harder since he came on. Look for him to disappear with “Spencer” on hill day.
The Snake- Old Mr. 22+ MPH. If you were hoping for an easy day with this fella in the mix forget it. He won’t let up until half the group is falling of the back. And I think he has his favorite people to drop.
Splinter Wood- I am trying to get this train to break his contract with Milram so he can lead me out at the RMR on Tuesday nights.
P-Man- if you can picture a NFL linebacker on a Tarmac SL that is the P-man. This guy will never give up and loves the punishment. This is a great wheel to find in the wind, but good luck.
Ephbalm- another diesel engine in the group, Ephbalm’s head is the best spot to pour out your water bottle on a hot or cold day.
Stevo- This guy enjoys beating up on the young guys daily, but he will deny it if you ask him. You can catch him and me on Thursdays nights puking out by Salt Air.
El Jefe- This guy has one gear 53x12. He is probably the fittest boy in the bunch, getting in 4+ hours of riding daily.
The White Dove- This mysterious rider comes and goes, but he has one hell of a sprint when he wants to let it loose.
Slappy- a veteran rider and employee at the “S” compound. This guy’s antics and hair after the rides are legendary.
Philo-D- “what was that all about” says Philo-D after he drops the hammer on the group trying to place the blame on others. I like seeing this guy suffer if he hasn’t dropped me by then.
Con-Air- finally living up to his potential. If he can get out of Ogma -Vader hell, he will be mixing it up with the big boys soon enough.
Porkchop- a new addition that has been using his off-road talents to tackle the junkyard daily in his retro attire.
The Throttle- coming from a neighboring business he adds some drama to the group while he is pushing out the mega-WATTS. We catch him dreamin of racing single track while sittin on GA's wheel.
Socks- a newcomer to the whole road biking thing. Dont look directly at his back wheel it may put you in a trance or the dirt... Socks may just be P-mans arch nemisis.

You should hear a lot about these characters and others that join us on occasion in coming posts. I will lay out our scenic junkyard routes one of these days. Friday is “peleton Friday” and rumor has it water will be wasted.

Riding out with GA to the Circuit Race at 3:30pm. The course looks like fun with some elevation changes and lots of turns. There should be some good opportunities to get away from the group. Wish me luck….I need it!

Official Mechanics

HERE ARE THE TEAM RICO OFFICIAL MECHANICS. IF YOU CAN CATCH THEM SOBER THEY ARE THE BEST WRENCHES THIS SIDE OF THE JORDAN RIVER

GRRRR

SO I just spent a better half of an hour down here typing the best blog entry of all time outlining the lunch ride at the big red S when "little E" my one year old thinks the power button on the computer looks pretty cool and gives it a little push. Kids ......gotta love em.

I am off with the rascals to do some carbo loading at the Fazoli's for the TGP Classic which starts tomorrow. Team Rico is feeling ready for this one.

So I hope I can write that blog of all blogs later tonight or tomorrow after Stage 1.

Stay tuned...........

Does this thing work?

That was just too easy! I am by no means an internet/computer genuis but they have made this stuff non-tech geek friendly. Well this should be fun, I have been reading others blogs for a couple years now and thought it would be fun to have my own. Why Team Rico? I dunno the boys at work like to call me that because I am often on my own at the local road races here in Utah. A good budy of mine who also works with me that I look up to as a cyclist and a dad gave me the nickname a couple years ago and it has just stuck around the office. Back soo with more nonsense..............