I saw yesterday that the Garmin Team isn’t going to be riding SRAM components, but Shimano next year. I’m always interested when the big teams switch back and forth between equipment manufactures. What was interesting here is the Velonews article states that Shimano isn’t sponsoring Garmin. Cervelo, their co-sponsor is purchasing the equipment upon the riders request. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen something like this stated publicly. Shimano must be grinning from ear to ear. This is much better, publicity-wise, than sponsorship.

The main headline of the Topeka paper yesterday was that the United States was sending troops to Australia to counterbalance the growing power of China in the region. The article says that “we” are sending 250 trooper to “buffer China’s increasing power” . Okay, this is bullshit. I just looked it up and China has around 4,500,000 troops in its’ armed forces. About 1,500,000 more than the United States. And lots more people that aren’t in their army, but could be. I don’t think the 250 marines we send to Australia is doing anything other than make the 250 US Marines that get stationed there extremely happy. I don’t even think it can be construed as a statement. It is disappointing.

Cyclingnews had an article on Alex Rasmussen not being sanctioned for missing his out of competition doping controls. I think the out of competition controls are sort of useless nowadays, but at least it keeps everyone on their toes a little more. Even Alex and his Saxo Bank team mate, Jakob Fuglsang, stated on record, less than two weeks ago, that he should be given a suspension. Since he got off, then Jeannie Longo’s case should be a slam dunk for her. We’ll just have to wait and see how that plays out.

And on a brighter note, Stefan Schumacher, finally, thank god, found a team this next season in the professional peleton with Christina Watches. I’m sure he and Michael Rasmussen can help each other out greatly. It is great that all these guys like Valverde, Schumacher, Deker, etc. are so readily accepted back into the Pro ranks, since most of them weren’t using actually, really using drugs to start with.

We’re loading up and heading south to Tulsa in a couple hours. Racing at 9 pm tonight and then again tomorrow afternoon. I’m going to get trounced down there. I have no power sitting on my seat. And not a lot standing, but sitting is a problem. I don’t know why that it, but it is. It is kind of disappointing because I’d like to think I would be competitive if I was just riding like I was a couple weeks ago. I do think that it would be nearly impossible to be holding any kind of good form all the way from Thanksgiving until the 2nd week of January, so that is a upside. But not being in great form is a lot different from where I’m at right now. You never know, I might surprise myself. If not, it is going to be a painful couple of days.

I ride by these guys all the time heading west. They are really into watching their sheep.

Bill riding near sunset. He baled on going to Tulsa. Sore throat.

Trudi moving all the strawberries into the new planters in front.

Front page of the Topeka paper yesterday announcing our new military plans.

A friend and local racer, Jeff Unruh, brought us some honey that he and his wife, Julie, got from their bee hives in their yard. I'd love to get some. I wonder how much trouble they are?

The race last night was great. It was on a driving range in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Pretty really flat with a couple small hills. All under driving range lights. It was pretty windy and not warm. Not super cold, but it seemed colder than it should. Probably the wind. That all said, the course was super fun. Super fast grass and lots of corners that were pretty technical. A really good course.

Anyway, the race went alright. I’m not riding any better than I predicted. Actually, that might not be exactly accurate. I am riding pretty pitifully, but usually when that is the case, I am suffering like a dog. I wasn’t last night. I’m not sure if that was because it was a tactical race and there was a fair amount of drafting, thus rest. Maybe I’m not going as bad as I think, thus not an over abnormal amount of pain.

The race was pretty tactical. Probably because of the wind and open course. It was much easier sitting on than being in front. The front group kept fluctuating from 3 to up to 8 guys. We’d get going pretty good and it would get down to 3, then we’d sit up and everyone would eventually attach back on.

I put in a few digs here and there, but had no desire or ability to ride the whole way in the wind by myself. The last lap it was actually racing. It got down to 3 of us, the same three that had been splitting off the front the whole race. I lost the lead in a pretty important spot, when Jacob Lasley, Team Soundpony came through on my inside in a corner that I had predetermined as the spot to take control. Adding to that, I folded my rear tire over twice in the last 300 meters. So, I ended up third of out a 3 man sprint, which didn’t thrill me much.

Brian Fawley won the race. He won both days last year by miles. This year he seems more human, so the race this afternoon should be interesting. Today is the big $$$ race. A few more guys are coming in I’m sure. I’m usually quite a bit better on the 2nd day. I can only cross my fingers.

On a side note, I was the worst finisher in my van. Catherine Walberg won the women’s race handily. And my team mate, young Ben Stover won the 3’s race, making it look pretty easy too. He’s gonna have to start racing with the big boys after this.

The were plenty of places not to be seated on this course.

Brian Fawley, the eventual winner, leading local Tulsan Matt Ankeny.

I felt pretty okay going over the barriers last night. That was a good thing.

Podium.