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