Duathloning

I was worried about the knots in my calfs, normally a crippling pain. I found that even though slow, and dangerous behind the wheel, that my bike can still serve a purpose. I did some average running on an average course with some average pain. Hit the bike section and made some time then put in some more for good measure. The knots where hitting me in the bike, and I thought the 2nd run would hurt, but luckily I thought about running a heif marathon later, so it made it easier. I ended up in 1st overall. Pretty cool, I've never won one of these before.
Now all I have to do is get ready for Jason's 4th Degree test/ceremony, and the Texas Dare...in the Same DAY!
Funny story time. So while in my car,I have lots of appiphany's, or whatever, so I write them down in a book, I call it my 'to do' list. One is to Sell Bikes on ebay. Well, when writing when driving I guess the handwriting got sloppy....so bikes, kinda looked like bibles. So when a friend glanced at it he saw Sell Bibles on ebay. And inquired about my doing so. Jokingly I said YES! And then he wanted to know 'where' I got the bibles. And I answered, with pure genious, "From my church....they have them at the end of every pugh!"
So imagine this new way to make money...selling stolen bibles...possibley to the church that needs them the most b/c they keep running low on them.

Life

Life is super busy, but at least you can get a great deal on a great bike: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=004&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&viewitem=&item=140059142423&rd=1&rd=1

I'll give anyone who mentions this ad a 5 dollar discount.
Basically, I hope you don't laugh at my non-ebay self too much. or should that be anti-ebay.

it's munday

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Tuesday

Dumb people, with funny...ah, just watch! http://ebaumsworld.com/2006/11/dumb-crook-full.html
It's official, I signed up for the 1/2 marathon, Jan. 14! Now I just hope I don't laugh to much with my running buddy to derilict and not finish!

JAILBREAK!

Mindset, set to win. I went into the race today thinking that NOBODY would beat us, not even our heroes in the event which we looked up to them in. Adventure racing is a pretty greuling sport, and few do it better than Doctor Dave and Shaun. I knew it would be a tough day, but it was better than going to basket weaving class while wearing my pink and purple Tu Tu. And Toninator thought I was gonna talk about his flamingo socks.
A hard faught 2nd place, and a few scratches, on top of scratches, that were on top of more scratches.
I think I'm doing a half marathon sometime in January....but I don't know, lets just pray that oneday they'll clone one of these hotdogs.
And the other big news, is I finally got a doggy, we think it's a Boston Terrior, but maybe he's just a Terrior from Boston.

WHAT?

Not much time to post, but lots to post about.
Sager got naild, and all I can say to the haters...well, just rap to that T.I. song"what you know"...what you know about that? I know all about that. Like forest gump say's "shit happens"
I've been getting ready for my off season, and an adventure race seems like a fun thing, so I've been paddling, running, and NOT riding! Ah, it feels good to not have to dress up for 20 mph winds.
I treated myself to a massage, McDonalds and some lay'd back fun times with Jason. And I have to say each one of these seems to have mixed feelings.
The McDonalds is SO tasty, but I notice that I put on the poundage.
The massage FEELS so good, but I hate the fact that they push and prod on you and, well, lets face it, you build up pressure....and it's not like you can release it while she is near your rear.
Then hanging with Jason, it's always fun, like going to a cage fight...er, really it's the Lonestar Beatdown! With tons of people there you can release your build up and nobody knows, it's great! But the bad part is I can now slam dunk a basketball, from doing calf raises to see the fight.
I'm hitting the renassance festivel tomorrow, with the fellas, and lets hope I can make it home after Pancho's!

ROCKY 6!!!!

I have footage of ROCKY 6!
http://ebaumsworld.com/2006/11/boxer-falls.html
Maybe not.

hometown

Huntsville, home of the worlds best mountain bike trails! They are so much fun, just place your chain on the big ring and zip zop zoobity bop you'll be riding through the woods!
The race was pretty rad, a couple of sections that were different, but the same philosophy....try to get ahead of everybody else.
The normal suspects were there, Fawley and Heming....the main front runners lately.
Marcus Torres did what he always seems to do in the east Texas races, ate it on a bridge section...scaring everyone around him. I got to the front two guys, but somehow doing the testing of 40 min tests, then hitting that 40 min. mark during the race, I kinda lost it. So I soloed in for 3rd place.
I was most happy with that though, the last race of the year, and mark my words, next year will be a much better year for Winkelmania!

Halloween...what a wonderful time of the year. I spent my time in Austin. I actually hung out with some folks too! Ben was cool enough to let me stop by his pad, and his gal tryed on my running shoes....the 6" lifts. She walked around as tall as Ben and I, and was like a newborn girl that was brought into the world, everything was so 'small'. I guess when you go from 5'1" to 5'9" in a few seconds, things do look small....but the fridge???















6th Street on Halloween. It was a time. I saw this guy, and it made me laugh, because if you can't laugh at this, what will you laugh at?














Tyron Biggims....as Dave Chappel would see him.














White from GloboGym....loved it!














Dave Boyd...watch out, this is MY new rig














Apparantly I'm lucky this guy was on probation, or I'd have my ass kicked.

Soul to Sueeze

This past week has been traveling upon traveling. And this week doesn't look to be much better. After the Woodlands I drive direct to Austin, for a couple of days, then a quick jaunt home and luckily I do the Huntsville race, the hometown race. I'm looking forward to seeing all the guys one last time before they beef up and get fast for spring.
In Ruston, louisiana, there is this awesome course, and I missed it this year...grrrrr. I headed over to LA to visit my bro and watch him in a little karate tourny....then maybe sneak over to the trail and do some riding.


Jason got screwed...multiple times, but hey getting DQ'd is way beter than flat out losing.














Then there was this Jimbo. This guy was the coolest cat around, we called him the blind guy, but was suprised of his karate abilities. Soon after I took this picture, he was looking at me.....I guess he can sense the flash!















Leaving is hard to do, especially when you see your family doing what they have to do for training. Jason only gets to ride to and fro work....what a champ.










The drive home was a daunting task. Not only was the lookout for cops super high, but this pound and a half saMwich was just asking for me to eat it.










Free time in LA...Guitar Hero.


















After returning home, I decided to go and ride Hville...since this IS my home course and figuring I haven't ridden it for a couple of months now. It's fast...as always...and not just because I was riding chill, it's gonna be a leg breaker of a race to say the least. Pulling a sub hour lap riding a flat rear half of the lap is descent, I would say.....or would I?

Waiting for home

Check this video out, the last part is not suitable for young audiences, so watch with out your parents: http://ebaumsworld.com/2006/10/theassumptionsong.html

I'm planning on posting some pictures from this weekend tomorrow, until then...

Kook-ook a choo!!!!

Borat in movies next week! I'm not promoting the movie, I'm just promoting funny! I think it will be a direct travisty if this movie doesn't make you laugh.
















You wanna zip zop a boobity bop?
http://www.zippyvideos.com/9970099661032736/family_guy_bill_cosby/

Violated

Most people figure Huntsville to be a prison town...and that it is. That doesn't mean I have any affiliation with the inmates. While doing the study at UT Austin, I have heard many many stories of "The Probe". I was be-boping along just doing the hard rides they told me to do, Probe free.
And after the happy post from yesterday, I was violated. Thats all I'm saying about that.
The drive home from Austin is always fun, it goes by faster, I'm in no hurry and can eat whenever, and you see more jackasses on the way home.
The rain was pouring, and while catching a white pickup truck who was swerving all over the road. It first appeared to be a sleepy/or drunk driver. Then as I approached the vehicle I noticed that a shirtless mexican had his head out the window, WHILE driving! And I hypothisised that his winsheild wipers did not work. Hey, do what works!

Good morning.

Play this song every morning and it just seems to brighten your day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsw_rbjMKgE&mode=related&search=

I like how the chinese version makes you laugh because it's like an old movie, without subtitles!

24 hour anyone?

For the past 40 hours, I've gotten about 3 hours of sleep. I only rode 50 miles in the solo divison, but got the fastest 1st and fastest overall lap. The intensity training is kicking in, or was it those little pills I found in that EPO container? Thanks Floyd.
By the way, thanks to little D for inspiring me! Even though you come up a little 'short' in life, I can still make something of something or something like that.
Working the timing was a thrill, it's amazing how I single handidly can make a team go faster just by writing whatever time I want. Noel, Harrison and Claire were my support for keeping me up, and while Claire never came through with her pizza promise, or her '15' minute break we still all enjoyed the company of my ipod, and next year the dance floor will be roped off. We encountered a few problems, that I dealt with direct, and all the people had to hear was one word to make themselves feel at ease: "Nathan Winkelmann". Then the cold came, and cold is my natural enemy, that and emu's, but the cold was bitter and harsh, just like Noah does to his compitition. I'm starting to think that the gypsies rolling all that hash out there was probably the reason for the bootleg copies of that golf movie that the little kids didn't want to watch, Caddyshack.
By the way, I'm recruiting riders for a team, or two for next years endurance races, if you have the following names keep your datebook free: Champ, Crazy Bain, Dr. Pain.

some testing

I went up to Austin for some LT and VO2 max testing, numbers weren't all that impressive, but I figured out I need to do some interval training. Either that or I need to hit the gym....but I never found tan lines and 12 inch pythons don't go over too well there.
Hopefully the rain will stay away for the 24 hour race, nothing's worse than doing, another, slogfest. I would love for some of the XC guys to show up, because endurance racing is a bit different....where interval training doesn't help all that much!

Here's my life lesson for today: When being waited on at a restaurant, don't say that your waitress should lose weight. Or better yet, you can say it, just not so she can here you! The service really goes downhill.

Museings

I fear I might have hit a low in my performance. This weekend was 'supposed' to be grandure, but it turned out to be nothing more than a failure....and yes I said it, "now my failure is complete!" But at least I was out of the house, seeing live people and not stuck on a computer game that gets me nowhere!
I seriously didn't like Copperas Cove, or any of the guys that made the race that hard...'cough cough' STEFAN...WENGER....WIKOFF. I hooked up with TJewel after the first lap, and ended up riding back to the truck in the feedzone.
So what all I've learned this week: When sick with allergies, or any other disease, cancer, or broken self, just relax and call off thinking you will have power in the race. That and don't write on TMBRA about how you think your gonna beat a Winkelmann in the next race.-wink

It's that time of the year

Jason portrays how 'starting over' doesn't work with me...play where the ball lands I say.

The weather is getting cooler. The days are getting shorter. The racing is going like the dodo. After deciding to do one last long ride, instead of the cross race, I figured when I got to my turnaround and only had 2 hours to get home, and it took 3 to get there, that I was in some trouble, since riding in the dark and frigid cold isn't really my idea of fun. I had to call Mom for a pickup. Today must've been the reaction my body had, to the lack of sleep and the constant work I put my body under. I don't know if it's allergies, or if I'm actually sick, but I feel like a spoiled bag of potatoes.
Oh, that picture was me at the batting cages....I suck at baseball...apparantly I'm supposed to keep my eye on the ball, but I didn't want to be all gay like that.

Sandan=pain

Well, it was a good weekend, hopefully I can keep some form and use it this weekend, for the 200 plus miles of racing that I'll be doing. I figured out, my new shoes must be a hair off, and so my muscles work differently. So after the road race, I had a strained shin bone muscle. Riding around hurt it before the MTB race, but once I started it wasn't even thought of.
Jason did a good job, breaking the front derailer and losing 5 minutes, but still finishing well.
He stayed home monday and taught karate, and made me do 5 million pushups, and I'm sore today from it still. I feel pretty crummy today, probably not enough rest, but I still need to figure out if I'm gonna just do a ride around here, or drive to Houston to cross it up in the mud.-with my semi slicks!

Guitar Hero is probably the funnest game to get your bud's together and play, and laugh at each other! It's like Dusty Dinkelmann has 10 fingers! Well, Shamrock finally quit, and I'm kinda glad b/c I hated seeing him get torn up every fight now. Tito Ortiz and The Iceman should be a good fight, but I'm hoping Jason gets in a local boxing show....FightNight, Nov. 2, so if he does it and you see him at the Huntsville race all tore up.....in the knuckles, you'll know.

ICKTER!

Friday nights Comedy club was a ball. Every single comedian wanted to do a bit on us. Just because my phone rang in the middle of his bit. Then some old guy wanted to 'be with' us or something, he was a fag...or as we call him nowadays, metrosexual. Josh Sneed was the main honch, and was quite funny. Making fun of white trash must be hard to do...don't get me wrong, I do it all the time, but not to an audience with white trash carnies in it!
Today's Age based State Road race was tough. The old College Station loop, 80 miles or so, done with fewer people than a normal P12 race. This meant that I was on the front more. I ended up bringing home the silver for the 23-29 group. Much props to Zach Fiocca, a strong ride, and a well deserved championship. I'm not really looking forward to racing the MTB race course without riding it first, but hey, what could go wrong? I might get lost but at least I ain't got no money!

Eureaka!!!!!

I solved the problem that people in cycling seem to crave. The spectator viewings. It is said that other than family and friends, there is no spectators. And I gotta kinda admit, that cycling isn't all that appealing to the public eye. BUT, I think I came up with a solution. While talking to Danielle, she said that the TOUR was boring to watch.....hmmm, what can we do to out do the tour? Well, I used my college degree for this one. What does our audience like? Well, take Baseball and Football....the sports aren't all that fun to watch....BUT they have something that draws people to the game. Americans like two things......Sex and beer. So we'll just sell them like that:


Of course these are rough drawings from my head, BUT you get the idea.....Team Smackers would love this idea I'm sure!















And who doesn't like cheering for their team? Why, I know I do! Go Woodlands!!! And the riders would surely appriciate all the jumping up and down that they recieve!












If I have to personally put on a race, in Huntsville, and show others how it's done, I might just do it! Frat guys would show for beer, sorority girls would follow....and the cheerleaders, well lets just pray I can think of a way to get them there!

HI, I'm Kenny Rogers and this is the funny blog trick.

Jackass number 2 was in theaters when The Muffin Man, Deisel and I went to go see it. It was either laughing or try not to puke. The stuff they do is so funny. Then if you parody it with a guy like Kenny Rogers, it just makes it more funny....notice how the tricks are performed. http://youtube.com/watch?v=VV6In1K8zKk

When we weren't making jokes up on our own, we used this little thing, called the internet to plug us into a social pipeline with one click of a button. A certain Kazachstan, however you spell it, is getting to have some serious funny material....and even a movie coming later. Yes I'm refering to Borat! http://youtube.com/watch?v=uFiSjiEb6Yg You know you got pizzaz when you make Conan speachless!

Then in the response to laughing at Jackass 2, we started to watch various videos of Jackass. Then the thought of no Don Vito in the movie led us to ponder to view him. Don Vito is one crazy fat man, and when he gets angry, you can't understand him....and I love when they translate for you....sometimes, if you pay attention, you can find that he's not even saying what they're typing. http://youtube.com/watch?v=PHKuN2gXWv0

So if you call me and get a 'weird' voicemail, you will at least get the joke now. Bikers are an unsavery bunch and I'd rather opt out.-wink

Friday

Todays ride was superb. 115 miles with no bonk, the last time I did this, I hit the wall HARD at mile 70. Headwind the whole way home though, not a well thought out plan.
Here in Austin, Nnamdi is showing Mark and I a time of our life. Mark and I already laughed so much it hurts. We got in the car, and laughed at a mini van parking in a compact car spot, it hit the truck next to him becuase there was NO way it was going to fit. Mark and I were laughing contagiously, making each other laugh more and more, while Nnamdi was trying to tell us something, but the fever spread to his car as he started laughing at us.
I'm going for the core training right now, and not so much 'on the bike time'.

Realignment

I've been trying to keep the back from going WHACK! Doing little things differently will hopefully help it to not hurt during hard races/rides.
And for all the people that think all I do is ride, I didn't even have a chance today. Yoga, work, and yes, even more work. It's amazing how little people know karate, and then they depend on Winkster to teach them.
So I'm planning on a 5 hour plus deathmarch tomorrow, Huntsville-CollegeStation and Back. Anyone interested?
Take a little recovery time, then head to see Nnamdi and Mark in Austin again. I need to ride Saturday so I'll be making last minute calls Friday night to meet with a groupo.

And just a personal note, get out and Cross it up, it's hard as hell, but the Houston Wed. Night cross races course is Saaaaaweeeeeeeeeet! -wink

I promised!

RHR CX. Maybe that stands for Royally Hott Race! I've never learned the 'proper' way to do this, but this is how Wankster X does it!













This kid was in Greenville, chasing that chicken. All I could think about was Mick in Rocky, "If you catch this chicken then you'll be like greased lightening." "NOW YOU GOT SPEED!"












This is from the cracks in the 'cotton patch' RR, some guy did this to his wheel, also notice the fork broken.

I'll try to get more photos later, it took 33 minutes exactly to get here!

mercy william, mercy

Lordy Lordy Mary! It's just been one of those weekends. I've had SO much fun, and it just goes to show you, that racing is about meeting with friends and getting out in different parts of the country. Austin is home of lots and lots of weirdos. And then you have Nnamdi. Nnamdi is one of the rare people from Huntsville that went to Huntsville School of Karate and graduated with a black belt by the age of 15. Which he goes on to fight at World calibar fights. THEN, not only does he get a 'second' degree, but also beefs up 55 pounds...and that's PURE muscle here.
So Jason, Nnamdi and I all get together in Austin to watch a Chuck Norris feature...the WCL< World Combat League. A full contact, intense fighting show. This was a real FUN night, lot's of fighting and some guys getting knocked the hell out!!! One guy in particular got knocked out so bad, that after 30 seconds on the ground, he got up, only to fall again. So, the trainer is summoned to help, but only to jump on the mat wrong, and break his leg. So not only does the guy who DID the knocking out get his glory taken away, the guy that NEEDS help doesn't get any, and the trainer is getting help first! haha, talk about irony. At midnight the fights ended, and we had to move our car, so it wouldn't get towed, but we somehow ended up going to the famed 6th street, unfortunatly just to walk around, as I forgot my wallet. We really didn't even get on 6th street, it was more like 6 and 1/2 street, and this Drunk as a Sailor on vacation girl came up and asked to walk with us.....we laughed and were able to accomodate her to some more bars. An hour of walking around and watching the scene is plenty for me. We headed home, so I could sleep before Saturday's cross race.
While Nnamdi was in the shower, Jason and I killed a whole bucket of cookies. Then I heard some neighbors and went to meet them. We spent the next 2 hours in the room next door, watching fights and talking. At 3 and heif hours in the morning, I called it a night....er morning and hit the hay.
The next day's cross race, was very hard, it was held at the time I normally took a nap, and since I was sleep deprived already, I was really tired. I think my 7-D last night was gonna cause much pain. Will Black and Cornfed were preped and ready as always, and I hung on to a very hot and hard 3rd place. Thanks to Dave Boyd for the ride...yet again.
Jason did his first cross race, and he too got 3rd.
That night we hit DADDY'S GRILLE, a whole slew of us, the folks(mom AND dad), Jason, Nnamdi, Doctor Dave, and myself. Daddy even remembered us!!! We engulfed the food, and then listened to Dave tell storys about 7 day adventure races. Nnamdi was floored, and made a great comparison....."He has more story's about 7 days than most people have about there whole life!"
The XC race, I lined up in the back, and was just hoping my legs would have some normal power. Once we started racing, I didn't find it too hard, but I just couldn't go any harder...the power wasn't there. So After doing 2 hours, almost getting DQ'd, and having no lube on my chain, I finished in 11th.....worst XC race in Texas EVER!
It wasn't all bad though, I got to see everyone again, and I know what I missed in training...so next time won't be so hellatious!
But I think I'm heading up to Austin again this weekend, to have a little bit MORE FUN!....and I know, I'm gonna post pic's, just give me some time to download them!

Just a normal couple of days.

Tuesday...yoga...ride...sleep...work...then hang out with friends. Andy didn't want to come play FIFA on the PS2, but we had 6 guys all playing on the same team. But playing on a 12" tv screen is kind of difficult, the colors get mixed up, and while I yell at Cesar for not passing, Chris would start laughing at him because he didn't pass. It was a great night that ended rather late....or early. Wednesday is always difficult for me, because I have to 'wait' to ride. It's all worth it though, the drive down to Houston at 5 o'clock is a haul. I would estimate, 100% of the Houston population was driving to the exact point I was. I showed up with just enough time to, put on clothes, air up the tires, pay entry fee, and preride just one lap. I've raced enough races to determine that I shouldn't go out balls to the walls if I haven't had a good warm up. So I decided to ride into the race, with a bit slower start, and the laps being AWESOME, and long, I could warm up easy in 10 minutes or so. BikeLane had 5 guys out and the return of Dave Boyd is prominate. It's really good to see a bunch of nice guys after a long summer. It just goes to show, that mountian biking(and some roadies) IS the reason to show up to some races.

Sorry for the lack of pictures, I'll try to upload some and post them for the last couple of blogs.-wink

Texas Road Racing

So it was a plan of mine, two or three years ago, to start road racing to help bennifit my mountain biking. I always said, and continue to say I'm a mountain biker. I just so happen to be able to do pretty well at the road as well. Although, for some reason I've never really 'liked' it, and I always determine reasons why, but either it's too boring, or too gay.

I don't mean to offend anyone in anyway, but in Texas, we have tons of fast guys, some real strong guys. The only problem is, every one of those guys can win the race. Therefore, they WANT to win the race, ergo the problem ensues. When your able to win a road race, there is no reason to sit at the front and pull back the break that WILL win the race. And you get a few guys that try hard to work, and others sitting in to 'win'.

I'll always try as hard as I can, because in the back of my mind, it's all a game...training if you will. And if I happen to do well, which I WANT to do, then I just beat guys at their own game....very few will come play with me in the dirt.

This past weekend, the cotton patch in Greenville, was well, tough. The begining, I felt great...the roads were rather dangerous with 2 foot cracks wanting to eat wheels. I did lot's of work, and probably shouldn't have since I slept 2 hours the night before. By the time we got to the end 20 miles, with the ONE feed zone, it was attrition, the last bit was ALL head winds. It was a super tough 85 mile race, and ended up 6th....should've been 7th, but some guy thinks winning by holding on to a motorcycle is ligit.

The next day was a crit is Denton, I was already signed up but woke up to HEAVY rains and scary thunderstorms. I was mentally OUT of this race. I would line, up just to say I did, but wasn't looking for more. It just so happens, that the 'winner' of the RR, who was DQ'd, was in line right ahead of me. And I hear him talking to a teammate, talking sh!t about me....then about my mom. Any red blooded Texan whose met my mom knows how good a person she is. So when you talk about her like that, it's your life at risk. Of course I asked them if they had anything personal against 'Nathan', as they called me(only real folks call me Wink). "OH, no, we know him"....what a wussy way to back out. This fired me up, and I decided to do something in the race.

The race was a 3 by 1 rectangle. A slight hill, and my legs felt GREAT. I hardly saw my HR over 170. I was in a break that I thought would stick until Seagrave and mates pulled it back. The problem though was when we got caught, the 'real' attacks went, and I knew this, and wanted to go....the problem was the 3's integrated in our feild....one gets in the way and you have to wait until after the next two turns that were taking people down left and right. Then it was too late. So as not only ONE break gets away, a second grows, and the work I do on the front is to bring it back, but the Texas racing applys and all the winners behind me find themselves losing yet ANOTHER race. I ended up 9th....in a crit....in the rain. Is road racing supposed to be this easy? HA!

My philosophy...or WAF(Winks Awesome Filosofy)....winning is all that matters, you better bust your balls to do so.

Some funny things to show I still got it.

Random, creative Wink.













You have to check out this video of a fat kid....well, watch how the mother reacts!:http://ebaumsworld.com/2006/09/fatty-fall-out-of-ride.html

I guess this shows that I'm not cut out for being an operator:http://ebaumsworld.com/2006/08/911-call.html

WIN!

Win's spawn other win's. After the hard race Sunday, I had some real good naps and rest days. Tuesday I woke up for Yoga, tired and groggy, I would try and ride after I yoga'd it up. The only reason I get up so early is to yoga, normally I'd be sleeping in. But this day was different, I was trying a new radio station, and if you don't know, I really like music, like lyrics and knowing the name of the song. Well it just so happens the radio station gave me this lyric: "How can a person like you bring me joy. Under the pale moon, Where I see a lot of stars". The guy said it, and it took me a minute to put into context to sing it, but I thought to myself, I KNOW THIS! The guy on the radio that called in was like, Uh, I don't know, what a retard, I was yelling the answer to him. Well, it just so happened that the DJ gave me a number and I called in.....they picked up, I won a free CD, and got entered in a grand prize drawing! It made my day, I was happy to have gotten something for free...by winning it.
The ride on Tuesday was lull at best, the legs were still tired, even after all the rest, and only got in 2 hours. It seems as though my heart is begining to get like Sager's, riding at 140 beats going 22-25 mph. But you still feel the legs.
Wednesday was going to be my first cross race of the year. I headed down to Houston for a weekely cross series, more of a fun race in my perspective. The course was pretty rad, really made a choice between a hardtail or CX bike difficult. Some sections were tough on the CX bike, while some were wide open flats....CX advantage. Young gun Bennet Brown got the whole shot, but was riding a XC rig, I bridged up to him on lap 3 and eventually got past him. Taking my 'win' on Tuesday a bit further to spawn another W.

So how many people can tell me the name of that tune above???--no googleing.

Green party

Old San Jose got the best of me today....let me re-phrase that, they got the best of the whole P12 field today, sweeping 7 or 8 of the top 10. I myself went on to try to fight the odds and rode with every break that went. The good thing is, 100% of my team was there the whole time, supporting me, and riding "together"-as if we were one. I seemed to have had difficulty the past week with stomach problems, and eating only one honeystinger bar in an 86 mile race probably didn't help much either. I just couldn't see myself outriding 10 guys from the same team, playing great tactics non the less. I was SURE that the first break was sticking, an early attack, two San hosers, two Velossimmissmmmooo's, and two brains and a spine's. (and me). Half way through the race, Robbinette told me Willis wasn't feeling too hot, and he looked GONE! Adam 'Ozzy Osbourne' G.-was also giving lots of energy, while his new cat 2 teammate and a guy feared in the 3's, Tha Professor Eric Benz wasn't pulling too much for the groups taste. The BS guys were really helping me drive this break, Sol the most aggressive rider on the day, and his teammate Nathan helped get the break up to 2:20...or thats what we heard. A couple of miles later, some group, I don't know if it was the peleton or a break overtook us and I had to dig to make ANOTHER break stick. This break was SURE to go to the end, Sol, Robbinette and myself from the first break made it again, with a THSJ guy, Minturn and Annuutttteeeee. Riding hard got Anut dropped and we were going up the last climb's home, 10 miles or so, when Carlos Vargas(THSJ) and Scotty Vegeberg bridged up, we also heard the pack was over a minute back. Little did I know, that would be the beggining of the end, I was fine at that point with not winning b/c Vargas is pretty strong, esspecially when your uber tired. But after Robbie and Vargas went, and the chase was begining to look grime, a whole heard of San Jose guys bridged up out of nowhere, each one looked to be fresh and ready to attack. While I got stuck with guys that wanted me to pull as much as them....yes I know, even AFTER all the miles I spent off the front. But hey, I wouldn't have Texas racing any other way. Winding up for the sprint, all I had to do was beat ONE guy I was with to get 10th....that is until a flying Zach Fioca took 9th...and a black truck impeeded a would be sprint to the end. By the way, who lets a pack of 5 guys draft off of you in the last mile anyway??? I ended up 12th....a secure 4th...to a possible 6th....a hopefull 10th to a hard 12th.

After a hard ride like that, I found that my lower back gets "stuck" in the hunched over position. Causing various amounts of pain trying to do the simplest of things, such as walking, bending over to pick up things, or riding a shopping kart with one wheel wobbling down a Wal-Mart isle.

NICE....REAL NICE!

So on the way to his Championship run, Jason said he had some "mishaps", and it just so happens that Freeze was there to capture the moment. NICE!!!















I was just planning on doing some training this weekend...but it looks like there is a race close by...Good ol' Chappel Hill Road Race. I think I might try to make an appearance on Sunday, Shake and Bake!

If anyone is ever in H-ville, PLEASE call me up so I can ride with someone! I started Yoga to be around people...I've already increased my lung capacity 42%, and my flexibility 87%! Not only that but the new karate school opens tonight....and I have a personal invitation to go work out. I think that's a must, seeing that Jason isn't here to break my nose before a race.

Jason show's what Winkelmann's are made of. A certain expression was said like this, "Mexicans eat chips and quesso...Winkelmann's eat bread and BBQ sause!"
It's true, it goes with EVERYTHING. I highly recomend it.











The costume crit was done by these two critters. Somehow, Spider-Man is doing the 'racing' part, WITH that cover over his mouth! -notice the cycling shorts under the suit....I'm not CRAZY!

Jason's costume is SpongeBOB...for the layperson, it's a kid show, and I'm telling you from 5 hours of work, that it is AWESOME!












How do you sprint on pedals like this? Apparently the pedal can't handle the 2500 watts I throw down during my warm up....that number above was pulled out of the air and have no corrilation to my real power.

Camp Eagle and what not....

Didn't go quite as well as the 'plan'...thats one reason why I never make plans, you have no expectations that way and don't get let down when something doesn't go your way. Friday was more or less, a travel day, no preride, no ride, no nothing. No biggy, I'd just get up and do the preride in the morning.

RaceDay1. Super D, the course was pretty cool, short, but better than Sonoma! Started off with a real open jeep road that had a few pedaling spots...then "BOMB" down this huge hill, hit some single track and then pedal it home. Now when I say BOMB down the hill, I say this with no sarcasim, the descent was rocky, and uber fast, easily hitting 30 mph...and I wouldn't be surprised if we hit 40.
So on the start line, they call us up...and we're facing this jeep road...ON the bike. No lemans style start, or a run to the bike. The start was crazy and I found myself in the position that I was in, in many of the NORBA XC races....2nd from last. By the time I got around everyone, the race was over. I did have a pretty cool excuse though, my eggbeater pedal broke at the top, giving me only half the clip in surface...ergo when I unclipped inadvertatly I had major problems getting back on track...or sprinting out of the pedal itself. A 2nd place finish.
Jason had a bad ass race, finishing 1st, in his 1st ever super D. And he wonders why I call him CHAMP!

RaceDay1.2. Costume Crit. Spider man returned. Jason was there again, and being the fun guy he is, he took my advice and while at the Dollar Store for some last minute costume ideas, I thought....DUDE, be SpongeBob Square Pants!!!! And so it was concieved in my mind what the costume would look like....and the uneventful Friday night was spent making a costume with tons of sponges...Using my creative side of me is time consuming, as it has to look like what my mind see's, and it actually turned out pretty sweet if I don't say so myself( 5 hours later ). I ended up getting the fastest time, after a hard breathing effort trying to catch 'banana man'. Jason's costume hit it with the kiddo's and won the costume part.....SWEET!!!! Jason...thats 2 1sts!

RaceDay2. XC. The course again was pretty rad, some technical sections, long climbs, and a river bed section that was as bumpy as a fat woman eating curds and drinking marmalade.
The start was good, hit the climb and was caught out by a couple of guys that didn't want to go the pace of Fawley. By the bottom of the first downhill he had 30 seconds, and the chase began. I easily kept the gap to 30, but after the first creek crossing my left grip started 'motoing' on me. Brap turned into CRAP. Every downhill was slowed because of a non-stable steering device, and I soon found that climbing was hindered too. Everytime I turned the grip to go back to it's original spot, I would hit the shifter....concordinly I would shift OUT of my big ring, slowing momentum, which being a 'heavyweight' doesn't work out very good. Freddy Moore was rocking and caught me and had a go or two at it, before I finally got the best of him. Another 2nd place. I'm fixing the problems, and next time I think I'll try and avoid anymore....I seem to race better that way. -wink

Camp Eagle or bust.

We leave today to get to the race, I have to preride in the afternoon...I much rather like riding in the morning, when I have tons of energy to do stuff. Riding in the afternoon for me is "forcing" myself to ride. Oh, but I'm sure I can coax myself to do it just this one time, I mean Jason will be riding with me and he motivates me to just go do stuff and have fun.
Hopefully the Super D will go my way, with a good showing in the XC race....after the mishap I did at the Wed. Night Crit, I will be mentally prepared to hurt people! I know the legs are there.

I've been working on a 'dirty' little secret, and hopefully will get to reveal it later. Oh and if you get to watch a new release...The Benchwarmers is a funny flick! C y'all a the race-wink

Just a Good Ol' Boy

Saturday was a preparation for what I have to do after cycling life. After the 80 mile jaunt around Huntsville, hitting some of those old school base miles. Old school for me is, 4 years ago, when I had no clue what I was doing, but it felt good, and I got faster. Train like you race...kinda. I just big ring every thing no matter what...just like races.

I saw an old friend whose from Dallas, Andy. He has a wife, Job, and house now...it just goes to show, that no matter who you are, IT can happen to you.

Work is something a lot of people don't want to do...hell, some people don't do it because it's 'boring'...but I know money is what gets you through life, and I've been fortunate to have jobs that are flexable for my riding. Unless it's for my dad, who cares nothing about the 80 mile fatigue in my legs.
I at least get to ride around....using lot's of muscle tension for the balance. Hey this is FUN work though!




Walking behind a horse is tough work, it's basically speed walking while pulling and tugging the reins....the NEW full body workout....ask your local gym about it!




I capped off the night by going to a horse sale, and eating some late night nachos and chicken sandwhich!-wink

Esquilax

I know you guys are thinking I'm slacking here, but living in Huntsville isn't all that it's cracked up to be, finding funny things to write about all the time, while NOT having hi speed internet is difficult.
Now I'll remind you of your question you thought to yourself earlier....whats the title mean? I'll tell you. NO I won't, I'll SHOW you, using my highly sophisticated computer skills!


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What you are looking at is an Esquilax!

A horse with the head of a rabbit AND.....the body of a rabbit!

Laugh on that until next time-wink

Crit racing is F U N!

Well, not "fun", more like pain and fear rolled into one....the cool, "fun" part, is when you survive a wet course and get to hang out with a team.
I headed up to the Wednesday night crit series last night, the first one since I was a cat 5 a couple of years ago...and not much has changed, great racing, good people, and a wicked fast/scary course.

With all the talk of Kremke winning all the time I was hoping to put an end to his monsterous power. I didn't win the race though, instead I won 3 of 8 primes. Anybody need an XL Liquigas jersey? T-Rav was on the front the whole race, I hate to admit it, but that kid got the skills...if only he'd wake up to do something in the morning.

After riding a 70 min crit, 26.7 mph, I'm deciding against hotter-n-hell...240 min, at 25mph. I'm still getting used to the new bikes postion...or the road for that matter. Good news is they found my Colnago in Utah, two months late, but hey it arrived there!
Now if you excuse me, I gotta go ride to learn how to ride solo!-wink

Road bikes are funny.

I figured I would come back to riding super strong, but I don't think so....well not on a road bike. Because while leaving for Park City, oh 2 months ago, we used Sports Express to ship my road bike out there. Not only did my fitness never show, neither did the bike! I lost my road rig, Colnago Dream plus B stay, Powertap, and road shoes. So I'm now riding mountain bike shoes on the road....so beginner like.

The wind is the biggest change, 25mph seems like nothing, but then the wind and consistant pedaling burdens you and your legs are seeming like a vice squeezing an orange and the acid really burns. The good thing is, I seem to recover really fast...at the moment.
Tommorrow I'll think I'll hit the dirt again.

Back on track?

I doubt it, those mormans took me to the level where I have no computer access, and getting back in the groove is kinda tough...about as tough as traversing a mountain carrying your friend who weighs 100 pounds more than you while trying to eat a handfull of skittles in the 100 degree heat!
I've been back for three days now, and I just now thought about writing a blog....not that I ever really feel like writing a blog. Some people actually got mad at me because they keep checking nathanwink.com and it's still the same ol' thing. Well, I moved here now and I'm gonna try to make it just as happening as the last site!
Not to much to say other than I've been riding in the heat, and I'm trying to keep training hard for a while before getting a real J O B. I'll hit some funny issues later, but until then, do what you do, rather it be pray, hope or just wish for those going to worlds...TUhl, Danae, Shonny and any other of my posse that is going. GOOD LUCK!-wink