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I just resigned with Intense Cycles for the 2008 season.  I am excited about continuing the relationship that I established last year.  I'm still waiting for a response from Crank Bros. and Camelbak.  Getting those two on board would be sick.  Now all I need is for Fox Racing Shox to put up a listing...



Speaking of Fox, Santa brought me some new Fox goodies.  I will post pictures as soon as I get my bike cleaned up enough to photograph....

Yes it is folks... it's December.  When mountain bikers around the world wish for a merry surprise under their tree.  Hopefully my merry surprise will be a Fox F100 RLC... put probably not.  Whatever it is, I'd like to send seasons greetings to all my two wheeled friends out there.  Have a happy holidays and ride on!



Something I found online a while ago:



THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS




'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the Dale

Not a creature was stirring, not even a snail



Except for the Wheelers out cycling the tracks,

With halogen lights and battery packs



In spite of the cold, and the tracks slick and rooty,

The riding was bold, the men did their duty



When out of the North an icy wind puffed

And all of a sudden their lights were out! Snuffed!



They came to a halt all bump and a clatter

With nary a clue as t’what was th’matter



Surrounded by blackness, and no flaming lamp

A thick fog descended, a trick of the damp



An owl shrieked, a dog barked, and something said “pisss!”

They instinctively knew quite a lot was amiss



Ay up! Oh No! Cor blimey! Good Lord!

Wassup! Dunno! …kinnell! They all roared



“A puncture”, one cried, “Well that’s a relief,

We’ll soon have it fixed” his initial belief



But down in the dark, and murky wet mire

There was no way to see what caused the flat tyre



The woods were real scary, with bikes out of action,

They slipped and they stumbled and they couldn’t find traction



With panic now rising this was a to do

When out of the gloom they heard a “yoo hoo”



A fat bearded figure, in red and fur trimm’ed,

Came upon them, as the moon rose, and now brightly glimm’ed

“Ho Ho now my boys” his merry refrain

“What’s up? What’s broken? A spoke or a chain?"



“A bike has a puncture and our lights have a short, we’re really fed up” was the Wheelers retort.



Ho Ho now my lads no need to feel sick

I’ll soon have it sorted or I’m not St Nick!



And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen



The Wheelers were puzzled for to be so directed

In a minute or two they clearly suspected



This bloke was a nutter, and not the real Santa

His robes seemed authentic but not his mad banter



They rallied and jeered! Then ran like the wind

Those Wheelers were spooked and weren’t listening



They galloped and jogged all night at high speed

Oblivious to darkness and absence of steed

Arriving “chez nous” they jumped into bed,

Just glad to be home and not to be dead



And there it should end this story of warning

Were it not Christmas Day, the very next morning



On rising to see what was under the tree

Each Wheeler did find a new MTB



A card was attached by Santa who wrote

Hope you like the present I’ve stuck to this note

Sorry to see you were so jittery

Next time in the woods take a spare battery!

    Even though I recently got a light for night rides, I have not been on a ride in a while.  First it was my final exams and projects that got in the way, then it was sheer laziness that stemmed from staying up all night working on said final projects.  Hey, I guess it's better to get the lazy out now than in like two or three months when I will be training regularly.  Speaking of training, I will hopefully be finializing a set-in-stone training schedule once the next semester starts up and I know how much time I will have to devote to my classes (school starts up January 22).  I'll update everyone on this once I finish it.



    Until then, I have a month off to work and ride.  Once January comes, I'm going to get back into the gym regularly (something which I haven't done in a while).  I will be continuing to work on my "cycling physique" (quoth Brandon Drugelis) with a strength and conditioning Phys Ed class between the start of classes and spring break in March.  This should get me nice and buff again for doing more 100 milers and lots of other endurance races next season.  I will enjoy every minute of it.  Anyway... I'm going to go back to spending time with my family and some strange kids that are visiting my sister from Virginia... weird high schoolers...

I would like to announce the inclusion of Ergon Bike Ergonomics to my 2008 sponsorship team.  They will be keeping my hands, wrists, arms, and shoulders super comfortable and in control throughout 2008.  I am super excited to work represent them and ride their great product.  Here is a link to the news story they published on their website about their 2008 sponsorship, and here is a link to the grips I will most likely be using.  Again, I am really excited about this new sponsorship and I can't wait for the 08 season to start.  4 months can't go bu fast enough!



On a completely seperate note, I just finished up with my exams today so I am officially on break.  I'm not heading back home until saturday through because I have some work to get done in the lab.  And I'm sick so between that and all the work I have had to do before finals I have not ridden in a few weeks. Poo.....