For immediate release

Today, while on a training ride, I was hit by a car. While traveling North on Ryan road, as I approached the 18 mile road intersection, a car on Ryan traveling from the West drilled me in the process of making an illegal right turn. Luckily, I suffered only minor lacerations and a damaged shoulder. I would like to thank the Sterling Heights fire department for their care and hospitality.

Now, I have limited range of movement in my left shoulder, and merely putting on a shirt is very painful. Unfortunately, this is going to greatly hinder my training and effect how many/which races I choose to contest in the near future. I hope to be back for the Stony Creek t.t.. If nothing else, I promise to be back, and in my finest form, for Ore to Shore. Look out.

Additionally, I will not be selling my Schwinn any time soon, as I will be needing it for legal purposes. It suffered from only a bent back wheel, by the way. :-)

laid back post

What I did today and other ramblings

It's a pretty boring day in mountain bike blog world, so I decided to make an entry.

I just did some upper body and core strength training for the first time in a couple months. It wasn't bad but I felt kind of weak. Once my strength is back up, I'll be climbing like a billy goat, or a sherpah or something. I rode for about three hours today at a moderate pace. I left my house and headed up the road, through River Bends to Stony Creek, where I rode up and down the hills that lead into the park. I was really loving it. I had so much fun that I'll probably do that ride again tomorrow. They closed off one of my favorite hills at Hamlin and Ryan road. Hopefully they will open it again soon.

Tomorrow is going to suck because I will have to wake up, immediately eat, train and then hustle to work where I'll build bikes, change flat tires on BMX bikes, and probably be forced to listen to 89x (BOOOO) till 8p.m. But it's really not bad. I've been having fun at work and loving my time on the bike. I really can't complain about anything at all. I could probably use a girl friend though. 'Any hot singles out there?

I'm going to hit the sheets now. I've been sleeping like a log lately.

Homegrown pictures

Here are some pictures of my Schwinn Homegrown for those that are interested in purchasing it.

Dr. T.K. Lawless t.t.

I headed out for Vandalia Saturday afternoon. I wanted to get out and pre-ride the course the day before, because much like Yankee Springs, I could hardly remember the trail from six years ago. After that I went out to a little restaurant and ate a veggie pizza.

Before the race I decided to do my warm-up on the trail to get one more ride in on it, which I think was helpful. There was kind of a small turn-out but it wasn't too bad. I was the first one out (the racers are sent out one at a time every 15-30 seconds at time trials) and took off with a pretty good pace. I kept up a hard effort for about the first 4 miles and then backed off going just fast enough to not get caught. I was saving it for the last 4 miles where I knew guys would be tired and loose time. It worked out nicely because I won. I felt pretty good doing it too, as I wasn't very tired afterward.

Today I felt pretty good on my recovery ride. Now I'm going to go into a phase of hard training to get ready for my next set of races. For these races, I want to show that I can demonstrate the same quality of performance at the longer cross country races that I show in time trials. I will have the perfect opportunity with Ore to Shore just around the corner.

-Randy

For Sale

I am selling my Schwinn http://rlaprairie.blogspot.com/2006/04/my-bikes.html

$600 with newly installed headset and rear wheel. It has an Easton EC90 bar as well.

Bloomer cross country

Well, I think my lack of experience really came through like a champ today. My plan was to get out behind Justin Desilets and hold that position until it was necessary to do otherwise. Unfortuneately I had some bike handling oopsies on the first lap that quickly ruined my plan and cost me quite a few positions, putting me out of the lead pack. This on top of some other novice mistakes made for kind of a lame ride on one my home trails of all places. 6th place for me today.

Anyway, moving right along, I am going to get ready for my next race now. See you next time!

QUOTE: I always assumed when you line up, you line up to try to win the race. - Craig Mottram

Pontiac Lake t.t.

June 3rd was the Tailwind Pontiac Lake time trial. Pontiac Lake is one of my favorite trails so I was really excited. I was so giddy during the first few minutes that I rode off trail into a bush! I had a good result finishing second place.

I felt pretty good over the two ten mile loops even though my legs were a little tight. Then, after hearing what some of the other racers thought their time was, I didn't think I was going to do as well as I did in the results so I was surprised to see myself in second position.

So far, I think I'm doing fairly well but the season is still very young. Next weekend will be my first cross country style race. I know this race will be challanging because I will be racing against every one through the tight single track of Bloomer.

Nice work to everyone who raced at Pontiac Lake yesturday.

And oh yeah, it's a long shot but if anyone happens to be riding at Pontiac, if you find my sun glasses I would appreciate it very much. In the heat of the moment I whipped them off my face into the tall grass on the right side of the trail just as the trail comes out on to the look-out about 2 or 3 miles in. They are silver Tifosis. Ha.