Guess I’m heading down to Tulsa to most likely do circles in the rain this afternoon.  I intellectually know that isn’t the best choice, but after skipping yesterday and seeing that it didn’t rain, I pretty much have to at least drive the 3 1/2 hours to go.  And when I’m there, it is almost given that I’ll race, even if it is raining.  I’m feeling a little antsy and even though I’m not feeling that great riding the last couple days, this race is one that is very hard to pass up.

Today’s race on Crybaby hill is pretty great.  A very hard course with an incredible crowd.  I wasn’t that thrilled to see the the a bunch of United Healthcare guys showed up yesterday, after winning the Air Force race on the East coast the day before.  They got 4 out of the top 6 places and sweep the podium in Tulsa.  Ball hogs! (My mistake.  Those are the results from 2014.)

It was easy to skip yesterday’s supposedly rain race, because my friend, Matt Gilhousen, and main sponsor of our team, had an impromptu gathering at his house in Lawrence.  Matt’s parties are always super enjoyable.  A collection of really interesting people and always good food.  I wasn’t really in the partying mood, but it turned out to be a nice change of pace, super low key and fun.

I still had to put a new Vittoria tire on my front race wheel and mess with my bike a little when I got home.   I put new decals on my Eriksen frame, blue to match our new team colors.   TradeWind is also doing solar projects, along with wind farms, so they needed a new look I guess.   I would rather have raced the front tire once before, but these tires are a million times better in the race, at least for me, than the clinchers I raced on last weekend in Wheat Ridge, Co.

You can watch the race this afternoon live if you want.  Cyclingnews is streaming the race live here.  Woman’s race at 3:30, I think, and then the Pro/1 race at 4:35..  Okay, might need some luck today .

Matt manning the grill. He has the best screened in porch I’ve ever seen. It is wonderful.

Lots of different choices of meats.

The new decals makes my bike seem new too. Easy peasy.

Forecast for this afternoon in Tulsa.

‘Today is Eddy Merckx’s birthday.  He is 70.  Pretty incredible.  I never raced against Eddy.  He was just a tad before my time.

He is uncomfortable being labeled the best of all time.  He said, “I don’t like it when people say I was the best ever. It’s silly. I am not the best ever. I was the best of my time. You cannot compare generations. There was Fausto Coppi after the war, Anquetil, Hinault, Indurain, Fignon. I never rode for the glory. I rode because I like cycling and winning. But not to say I am the best.”

He might not think it, but he didn’t convince me much with that statement.  He won 5 Tours, 5 Giros, 7 Milan-San Remos, 3 World Road Championships and set an hour record of nearly 50km, on a “regular” track bike.  He won 525 professional races during his career.  Doubt that is going to be repeated anytime soon.

Anyway, Happy Birthday Eddy.  You are the best.

I have one of Eddy’s special edition books. 525, one for each of his professional wins.

Merckx with Tom Simpson, Jacques Anquetil and Rudi Altig in 1967.