Bike Race Story Hits Newstands!

Check out today's Northwest Weekend section for my story about bike racing. (Or click here:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/2003763942_nwwbikerace281.html; whatevuh. Iss all gut.)

Above is Cat 4 criterium in Enumclaw in mid-May. Olivier, who owns the Mount Bakery and rides for Fanatik, is the one in the RunningShoes.com gear (?) taking the inside line past the curb. Maybe an hour after this shot, I was whistled off the course and told to go home in what was my second ignominius attempt at a criterium. And I thought, that's it. Bike racing ain't for me.

But a couple weeks ago, I did a road race in the Methow, and had great fun. Brutally tough winds, a wipeout right in front of me, I fell off the front pack and had a solo ride from Winthrop to Twisp (with 30 mph tailwind), but I quite enjoyed myself. Laid in bed in my room at Winthrop's beautiful Chewuch Inn (http://www.chewuchinn.com/) exhausted, vegging out while watching the Yanks beat the Mets. (I think they've won maybe once since then). It was a good day.

Next up: STP in one day. (I'm pretty sure.) Two hundred miles from Seattle to Portland.

PS: CONGRATS TO GLENN GERVAIS WHO FINISHED IRONMAN COEUR D'ALENE LAST SUNDAY IN 13:16!