....You do. And that's what really hurts.

Up yours Thom.

Hotel room. SF. I am so nauseous I want to call my wife like a child would call out for his mom. I can't sleep. It feels like I am being squeezed around my stomach and chest with a vomitous death grip. God help me if I have to cough.

9 days. WTF. Lots of plans sullied. I need to listen and I am clearly not hearing.

You have more power at your fingertips than those dudes who sit in those high-tech chairs at NORAD with key codes and access to annihilating the world.

That is, if you are a parent.

We have massive responsibility to ensure these kids see a path through the junk that life seems to be laying in front of them these days. And no, I'm not going to posture here and say how to do it, what kids should have their brains planted with to 'turn the world around', what the 'right' method of parenting is. You are all doing a fine job I'm sure.

But man, what a responsibility. They want to be us. They observe and absorb everything. From the manners you display with the person taking your order at a restaurant to, in my case, how I have my Oakleys jammed in my helmet when I come home shattered from a ride. It's all the little details and they have the power to read those nuances more prolifically than you take them for.

And I love it. And I live for it. And I digress....

Enforced rest this week.....mercifully as I overcooked myself with Dubba, Von and Andy today on the undergoound Sunday cross ride. I am not healed. I am stupid. I literally had to take a nap for the pain was out of hand. Challenges are funny things, no? I seem to fabricate them for myself quite effectively. But I can not stand not being there. Always afraid of missing something....

But, again I digress.

I'm late late late. Typhoon's still stretching on my RD-488's but a second set still need a home to get them selves glued on to. very late this season.

Look left. Tree Farm's set up. RD800's and Typhoons Light and super strong. I'll be running it this year. Mmmm.

There is rain like you wouldn't believe here in the Republic. Cold too. Belgie style. But I can not see getting out there and risking a fat cold which is going around with the kids having that awesomme booger nose syndrome....and school hasn't even started. So intervals on the rollers today instead in the garage. The ribs make me feel like I need to vomit when I am laying down but riding it seems OK as long as I do not take in huge volumes of O2. Wrist is healing like a champ. I wish it were the other way around.

Nothing's been perfect for this year's lead up but I am still psyched for the changing of the leaves. I need to be an opportunist this year. No goals but smiles. Sincerely.

More news forthcoming.

Oh, and if I see you on the road, RAISE YOUR HAND TO SAY HI. You are not some PRO in the middle of an interval on Broadway. You get a hall pass if you are liquigas guy.

Photo credit: Jeff C's awesome photog wife.

So I CrackBerry pic'd this Ducati a few months ago and rolled my eyes (but still, thought it kind of cool). Yesterday on my lunchtime ride, I spied this baby. Complete with RockyMounts Lariat tray. Sick.

You've gotta love Boulder....

The movie was a success last night. Pretty darn good little flick! Hearing Henk Vogels talk too was great. The man has some stories about Roubaix. Love that guy.

What also was cool was setting up a table for the Valmont Bike Park and inviting the hoards of movie goers to come in close and hear about the good stuff they are about to have at their disposal for off road riding...all for FREE. We had quite a few folks Buy Bricks as well right there on the spot...which was SUPER cool. Bliss had his laptop and aircard set up and we literally took orders! SO COOL. The community was pumped to hear about it.

Moving on, the wrist is healing but the ribs are giving me a horrible time. Ironically, I can ride OK without taking in huge breaths but sitting and sleeping are still tough. But alas, like a sick child home from school who's mom brings him a toy, so the White Sex have arriveth. Lance and the TRP gang provided me with this most unbelievable set of TRP EuroX Magnesium cross brakes. I have lusted these for some time....since I hear that they had taken all this consumer feedback and implemented SO MANY features to really move the ball forward. SICK! First, the weight is surreal. One would expect carbon to be this light. These, yes, are lighter. The adjustments are many. Barrell adjuster for micro adjustments to the straddle cable when you change wheels to accomodate for rim thicknesses as well as TOE IN! All the little things...

These babies will be going on my black Rock Lobster and I'll be moving the EuroX Carbons to my white one.

More stuff to do to get ready for cross in terms of body and bike. First, get healthy.

Just a note to say thank you thus far to all the rad folks who have bought merchandise from the M & C e-Store! I'm nearly at a point where I can cut a $100 check to Valmont Park with the first chunk of profits (and yes, I now realize how tough it is for retailers to make a buck!).

Thank you:

• Bobby
• Cindi
• Cat
• Ed
• JBall
• Chris
• Longman

I've had like a zillion emails come in about this old post asking where it is, so I guess it's time for a re-run! You can always use the Lijit or Blogger search engines on the blog itself to search for things you are looking for as well!

Proceed to: How to build your own Port-o-Barriers

You know when you are riding single track and you say to yourself on a particularly nasty section strewn with immovable boulders and other trail furniture: "Holy crapnikov, that would be a shitty place to crash."

Well, I yardsaled on exactly that on Saturday. Nick, Bobby, Jr. Sam, Jason V and others all grooving up in Ned until a trail gremlin reached out and grabbed my bar throwing me into this rock garden like a giant piece of cheese over a grater.

Not good. Confirmed broken rib which made itself known to me Sunday when I sneezed and I about passed out. Wrist is annihilated too as is the hip. I know the ribs can't be helped and the wrist will heal too, so I've got to sit in on this and suffer.

HA!

Awesome timing, huh? But...finding the silver lining nonetheless: My S-Works helmet worked like a champ against The rocks!

And yes, I'll see you at Amante on Wednesday AM.

There's a killer movie promo event on Wednesday the 13th at the Boulder Theater. Info below...

MOVIE: ROAD TO ROUBAIX
Plus VeloNews TV TdF Bloopers premiere, Q & A with filmmakers and Paris-Roubaix Top 10 finisher Henk Vogels

Masterlink Films and directors, David Deal and Dave Cooper, bring you a film that goes beyond the limits of what broadcast television can offer. Road To Roubaix tells the story of the riders, mechanics, fans, and the brutal, unpredictable landscape that is the stage for Paris-Roubaix. The film combines rare, behind-the-scenes footage, stunning panoramic views of the race, and a collection of contemporary photographs, as well as rare historic archival photographs that most people never see. The film features the 2007 edition of Paris-Roubaix—the hottest in over 100 years—but the main character of the film is without a doubt the cobbles. Featuring: Tom Boonen, Fabian Cancellara, Sean Kelly, Stuart O'Grady, Marc Madiot, Juan Antonio Flecha, Peter Van Petegem, Lance Armstrong and many more...A pre-registration table for the local epic, Boulder-Roubaix, will be in the lobby.

There will also be a lot of discussion regarding Valmont Bike Park so do what you can to come and learn more!

Go to the Boulder Theater Site HERE to learn more.

Because you know you're man enough to have a heart on your shirt. Now you can have some Dutch to go along with it. Wear it with pride! Plus bumper stickers and mugs and stuff...

Buy before August 22nd to help us achieve our needs for the GOCO grant for Valmont Bike Park!

Click on the image below to take you to the store....