Perspective

It gives me chills when I found out about a death, especially from a kid from this town.  Pretty scary to think about how short life can be.. It's sure an eye opener when it's someone who's not even as old as I am.  Fortunately I have not lost any close friends of my own, I cannot imagine what it's like to lose someone dear to me..  It really puts things in perspective.  I come home and see a "C" on the O, almost shrugging it off since the O has been changed numerous times over the years.  Then I find out that the C is related to the initial of a young boy who went missing in a fatal car accident Saturday.

I try not to think about this topic much, but I've wondered what it is that intrigues us about death.. It seems as if we take interest in seeing headlines like "Two dead, one missing in Highway 70 crash", just as we might be drawn towards a lightning storm, but then too terrified when it hits uncomfortably close.  As if it's "them, not me", as long as it's at a distance we're fine.  I don't want to think too much and put myself in their position, saying "it could be this or that", I could be riding my bike on HWY 70 and anything could happen.  Regardless of age, death is not a pleasant topic.

What I want to take away from such sad news is the fact that I am still here, living life to the fullest, glorifying God in every way I can.  It's important to keep things in perspective, and tragedies such as this are a painful reminder that we are quite literally only human.  With that in mind, I will cherish every waking moment, realizing that I'm blessed to be alive.

R.I.P Cody and your brother and father, my sincere condolences go out to the families.

Update!

Alright folks.   I'm in Hood River, Oregon. The weather is fabulous (for Oregon), not a drop of rain yet!  I'm stoked about that, plus we have this wicked view of Mt. Hood from our house.  The last few days we've been chilling here at the house, enjoying some down time before the real racing begins.  Tonight we start the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic with a three mile prologue to panorama point.  It's going to be fast, despite the brutal headwind.  I just ate lunch and found a computer in the Best Western luxurious complex here at registration.  There's no wifi at the house, but I like it actually, having the chance to chill out and now worry about other things aside from eating sleeping and riding bikes!

Tonight's race will be fast.  Tomorrow's race is going to be brutal.  I found out that most all of the racing involves hills, so that's going to be pretty dang brutal if you ask me.  I'll sure let you know how bad it really was.  I couldn't switch my cassettes to my race wheels, so for the mountain stages I'll be running the non-race wheelset which has my 11x27 cassette compared to my 12x25 cassette. 

I've been picking up on a lot of cycling related stuff, as well as food related stuff.  They like to pick on me here since I'm the youngest.  But Jeff said if they weren't picking on me that means they don't like me, so it's a good thing I guess to get picked on a bit.  Just wait till the Cat 4 riders show up tonight, then we can pick on them!  So tomorrow's course has some small hills in them along with a fatty hill that we have to do twice.  Real fatty.  Not looking forward to that.

As for now, I chill till my start time at 6:19:30 tonight. 
Lots of fun up here, I'm having a blast!!

Peace out folks!

Oregon Road Trip!

Today six of us Corsa riders piled into Jeff's Dodge 3500 and drove up to Oregon!  We managed to fit all the bikes, wheels, bags and food in the back (not to mention the six of us in the front).

The drive was great.  Long, but great.  It rained off and on, fortunately not raining in Portland for our Tuesday night criterium on the local Portland International Speedway.  

Entering Oregon, greeted by fog. 

Very beautiful roads here. 

They have triples here! Insane!!

Scott getting fresh air. 

Portland

We left early just to make it to this race, which turned out a huge success!  Jeff met up with his old college instructor who had introduced him to cycling.  Jeff was also pumped about the race because it's on the Portland International Speedway which is as smooth as butter!  I soon realized that this wasn't a NASCAR type of race, it was the race track that was weavy and had lots of sweet turns (with the red and white cautionary bumps on the insides).  I ran my carbon wheels, not daring to pass up the opportunity to ride my tubulars on this wicked course!  Sure enough, we had a game plan and the race was on its way.  Dave, Jeff and Mike C. got in a sizeable break (10 riders) and the rest of us (Scott Mike P. and I) did what we could to block.  Blocking was somewhat difficult because all the riders wanted to go really fast on the speedway so they'd just cruise right around us since the raceway was so wide!  It was windy, giving us sweet tailwinds on the backside and brutal headwinds on the straight finish/start runway.

Scoping out the course.

Wheels galore! 

Lots of riding, lots of laps. (24 total?) On a 1.9 mile course, we did about 45 miles.  That was a lot more than I was expecting!  I decided to "take it easy" by coasting to the back in the last 5 laps since we were not in the points range (thus not needing to sprint for anything).  This was a bad idea because sure enough, someone's wheel got taken out in the headwind and down he went right in front of me.  I was hoping he'd roll towards the wall but it was an unlucky roll and I ran right over him.  I never thought I'd be in this situation.. but when your bike gets stopped (when your wheels hits someone), your momentum sure carries you with or without the bike! I hit the deck pretty hard but didn't bust anything up.  Skinsuit in tact, elbows hands and knees all good to go.  The wheels, THE wheels got untrued, but I think that's fixable.  Just my luck with those wheels.  Good thing I brought the backup pair just in case.

The PIR, such a smooth course.  Quite an experience to ride on the speedway!

Food was great today.  We ate at a nice Diner in Ashland for breakfast, then finished the day with some good food at Shari's.  Now time to sleep. It's 12, but this day feels like it's just started! Our race didn't even get over till sunset!  I'm off to bed, see ya later!

Be the best

After a long, hard week I'd like to take a moment to share with you a few thoughts.  Along with my own personal thoughts, I'd like to pass along some words of advice I received from teachers and family.

Advice #1) Always look out for number 1. 


That number one is yourself if you were wondering.  My grandpa told me this tonight.  Grandpa's smart, I should hang around him more often.  He's into that fairness game, which is awesome in a basic sense. (Like for example:  How to split a candy bar the fair way? Have one kid split it, the other kid choose which side he wants.)  I have felt like I haven't been looking out for my best interest sometimes lately, accepting offers to things that I should have said straight up "no" to.  I'm working on that, and so far so good.  It's important to not be selfish, that's the one thing grandpa pointed out to me (in respect to always looking out for #1).

Advice #2) Genius is simplicity.  Follow bliss, your challenge is to be the best. 


This advice was given to me by my beloved Economics teacher.  He was explaining that it's not all about the education you get, the high paying job you attain, but it's about following what you love.  And once you find what you love, it is your challenge to be the best.  It's pretty simple once you think of it.  Take any path and trace it all the way to "being the best", they've got it made!  Artists, cyclists, engineers, optometrists, teachers, musicians, the list goes on.  If people are calling you crazy, you're on to something.  That's something my sociology teacher taught me, and the more I think about it it's true.. I've been called crazy before, so maybe I'm on the right track.

I don't think it's about "fitting in" to the mold of society, but pursuing what you find of interest.  Then make that work for you.  It's pretty mind blowing once you think about it.  Say for example, you work backwards.. imagine seeing your life unfold (or close in this sense), seeing where you ended up and then how you got there.  I'd imagine there are plenty of "life changes" along the way.. For example, getting a job you hate.. well sooner or later you realize that there are more interesting things out there, more suited to your lifestyle and interests.  Hopefully with that change, you begin to pursue being the best at whatever it is and somehow ultimately give back to others through your works.  (Don't be selfish.  Look out for yourself, but don't be selfish).  If I love cycling, then I should pursue being the best.. Seems pretty simple.  I've heard the saying "if you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life". (or something to that effect).

I'm getting off track, but let me make my point clear.  In one way or another, you should always be doing what you love all while looking out for your own best interest.  With that said, I'm looking forward to the next "stage" of my life where I get to pursue what I love and see where I take myself in life.

Thoughts.. about cycling, life and WRESTLING

Today, Wednesday, has been a great day.  It's mid week, but I feel surprisingly great considering the loads of school and other work related tasks on my plate.  I'm pumped for this weekend's racing.  TWO chances to have some fun and stomp some pedals down in Sac.  From what I recall, the Golden State Series was one of THE funnest races I've done.  It was my first P/1/2/3 race (which was a doozy!).  I remember the circuit race being so long (in length and time), as well as the left right swooping turns of the course, that I felt like I was on a roller coaster. (almost getting a sick sensation 3/4 of the way through the race).  I am super pumped to return to that course with some confidence, having raced P/1/2 this season (getting the hang of things now).  No broken cleats this time around, and I've got my carbon wheels ready for action and I feel quite fit right now, both mentally and physically.

I just watched Chris Horner smash the field as he won the mountain top finish to Stage 4 of the Tour of California.  I saw him alongside Levi and Lance in the 2009 Nevada City Classic.  His nickname is "Smiley".

As for the non-cycling part of my life, I'd have to say I am pretty darn happy with things.  I have a great girlfriend that's fun to hangout with and spend time together, and I really appreciate that.  I've got great friends, including one of my good friends who I in fact just helped "hook up" his own blogging profile! (heck yes!) I think it's totally awesome that more people are blogging.  It's really awesome to hear from other people and see what's going on in their life and find out what's new.  Here's Tyler's blog if you're interested in reading for yourself, and actually that first post he wrote about was about our friendship! (http://diamondtyler34.blogspot.com/2011/05/true-friendship.html?showComment=1305770261951#c5388639330362246917)

  I feel like a star or something, man he gave me so many props but I've got to say he deserves just as many himself.  A fine athlete, dedicated to the sport of wrestling.  An all around great person, lots of class.  Since he brought up the "old school" days of wrestling, I'll add to it saying that those days were great.  Quite a life change when I began wrestling.  It was right in that time of my life when I discovered the "not-so popular" sports such as wrestling, cycling, cross country, etc.  The sports that aren't mainstream like football, basketball, baseball.. Who knew that my very own grandpa was a wrestling legend himself!  It was quite a great deal because I could learn wrestling moves at practice, then go to grandpa's and have him teach me more stuff and reinforce those moves that I had just learned.  

I'll never forget him showing me moves in his living room (which is full of antiques), and he's bumping me around, slapping my hands and what not, teaching me the "wrestling" stuff that I would soon learn more of.  I will admit, I was never a real aggressive kid back in 8th grade, and most of my wrestling was technical (and defensive).  I was not the one to "brute force" things or be the one doing the double leg take downs.  It was probably my junior/senior year that I actually started doing take downs.  Whatever, that's all in the past, but my point is.. I learned a lot from wrestling over the years.  At first I was quite shocked with the whole "wrestling" thing, yet addicted at the same time to the winning aspect.  That ability to beat someone up on the mat and know that you're better than your opponent.  I should dig up some journal entry that I wrote stating "why do I wrestle".  Because there were times when I asked myself why the heck I was wrestling.  I wasn't one of those kids who had been doing it since age 5, who's parents were the "wrestling type", who wore the rattler sweatshirts day in and day out supporting their love for the support.  

Now when I look back at wrestling, a few things come to mind.  Randall, Tyler and Lawrence.  And of course, Butch, Glen and Tamori.  

Randall pops into my head because he was the crazy squirrely-ass kid who you'd never trust.  I never found out his "nice" side.  I knew his bouncing-off-the-wall side, the side that loved to whoop on kids and make fun of them.  He was SO small yet so good! That was very frustrating.  He would always win no matter what, and I thought being paired up with him was a good thing because I was bigger, but he'd always whoop on me.  He was a classic example of the training parter you DON'T want.  My grandpa taught me that in wrestling, you're only as good as the partner you train with.  Randall was the type that would NEVER let you get a move in.  And that may contribute to the fact I hardly perfected ANY of the moves my first year of wrestling.  

Tyler on the other hand, Tyler was just good.  He had talent.  He was strong too.  I remember wrestling him in practices my first year.  He was the first kid to give me battle wounds.  Busted lips, bloody noses, bit tounges, bruised eyes, the works.  I started realizing "this is what wrestling is, you get jacked up!"  Sooner or later I learned how to return the favor (to other wrestlers initially), giving people bloody noses, etc.  I think I broke Randall's nose more than once, and I do remember elbowing someone in the face once when I was doing a standup (the right way).  Tyler taught me moves, and he always went 75% on me so I could work my moves and gain some confidence.  I never quite had the talent to match his skills in live wrestling (6 minute man, etc), but I sure got the feel for getting my limits tested.  If it weren't for Tyler, I wouldn't have been half as good as I was in high school.  Getting my butt kicked day in and day out by him was sure somethin else.  At first I used to try to line up a few people away from him in the weight line, but sooner or later coaches stuck us together and there was no fighting it, I had to get beat up by him and learn from him, but it was a good thing when I look back on it.  

Lawrence, now Lawrence is quite a character.  We go back way back too.. See the funny thing is, me and Lawrence were on the same level.  We BOTH got cut from the basketball team 8th grade, and we both found our love for wrestling.  He did wrestling in high school, and I always tried to partner up with him because I was better so I could boost my confidence by practicing with him.  Plus I knew that he wouldn't try to kill me, so it was all good.  I could do my double leg take downs without feeling like I was getting judged every time. etc,.. Lawrence was and still is one of my best homies in the sport, we've had plenty of good times together, lots of laughs.  The bummer was, he was one of those kids that had to choose work vs. sports.  See, I've never faced that problem before.  But for Lawrence, it was reality.  He got the job at McDonalds, and his hours wouldn't let him wrestle.  We lost him for the last two years, however he got into Jiu Jitsu, so his love for martial arts (kicking people's butts) is still there.  Glad to see that.  He was the one who'd show/practice wrestling moves on me in class.  I think Tyler and Lawrence both got a kick out of my grandpa and his "old school-ness".  Calling people donkeys or jackasses or shit hooks, you name it.  Too funny, he always taught us to control the hands (and man he can grab your hands HARD let me tell you).  It's like grandpa doesn't sense his level of power so he goes all out and he doesn't realize he's hurting you, so every time he'd do a demonstration he'd call over Randall or Lawrence and Randall would run off.  

I could go on about the coaches, but first off, Butch is crazy.  In a good way.. I get a good laugh when I think of him and all the wrestling tournaments and practices we've been through.  Glen, Glen's the man because he always loved teaching the wizzer to me (idk to this day if it's wizard or wizzer), And Tamori is awesome in every way.  He's like Yoda.. that explains everything.  Oh, and he had the same shoes as I did, that's bonus points in my book.  He would own Randall in demonstrations, SO funny, and he even knew it.  (If any of you knew his laugh, that evil laugh when he'd put the hurt on someone and make it look so easy).

Man oh man, those were the days.  Wrestling, sure taught me a lot.  Everything in life is easier once you've done wrestling.  Nothing has taught me to appreciate food and clean, crisp cool air than wrestling and wrestling practices.. I always was envious of the basketball players with their air conditioned gyms, when we'd walk in to get a drink of water it would be like "AHHHHHHHH, FRESH AIR!!"  Then now that I cycle, I've realized there's a pain to every sport.  In cycling, it's the "pain cave", and that's a place I've entered many times in the past 3 years of racing.

Pure Happiness

This is the first time I've watched a bike race and had that "connection".  A professional cycling event is currently in California, and today is the third stage, heading South from Auburn to Modesto.  I don't have much time these days to watch professional sporting events on T.V. or the computer.  Things such as baseball, basketball (oh and apparently it's the playoffs or something), football, and even cycling for that matter.  Oh, the Giro's going on too, but for me I'm more focused on that History packet due tomorrow, or when's the next time I'll have the chance to ride my bike.  Tonight my family went down to the folks house to watch an hour of the Tour.  Throughout today I saw Facebook status updates about the stage, and I also showed Ashley some pictures to explain more the "significance" of this race.

On a more personal note, I explained to her that I've raced with some of the teams competing in the Tour of California!  It's pretty unreal to think that I've had the chance to compete alongside (well, not quite alongside, more like behind/in the back) of these domestic professional athletes.  Teams like Bissell, Kelley Health Benefits, and team Jelly Belly!  I get to see these athletes in races from time to time, and it's really exciting to see them along side the professionals that have traveled from Europe to take part in the Tour of California.  It's quite unreal, and this is the first time I have "connected" with the whole "professional cycling" scene, watching it on T.V.  It's quite motivating, and it's really cool to feel like "hey, I can picture myself in that"..

Years before it used to be the "oh, if I had that bike, oh, if I had those cool wheels, or if I had that kind of cool jersey, etc"  I mean for real, I've got nearly everything they do if we're looking at it from a material standpoint.  I've got blingin' carbon fiber wheels, a rad Felt AR 4, SWEET team gear and an awesome team. It's really awesome to have the chance to compete in the P/1/2 level alongside some of the pros that also compete in larger races just like the Tour of California.

Really really cool if you ask me, I'm super stoked to race my bike, super stoked to watch these folks race their bikes.  It's a great moment for me in the cycling world of things.. (:

(School, finals? ehh, no biggy.  I've got cycling to keep me sane).

Respect the Name.

Despite having homework to do, something has been on my mind for the past two days.  Someone wrongly created a Facebook profile page under the name of a deceased individual, who was a friend to many in Oroville.   What angers me the most is the fact that someone had the nerve to use not only someone's name, but the name of someone who's passed away?  One who can't "defend" his name.  Honestly, it seems a bit low.  This person has absolutely no respect for the person's name at all, let alone the person and family, friends and the community.  Furthermore, the "profile" was maliciously created, seemingly intended to attack friends of this deceased individual.  Everything down to the wall posts, favorite quotes, religious views and favorite movies. 

My first reaction was anger, and that's probably the reaction this individual was going for.  Great, you're getting what you wanted whoever you are.  Then I started to think about this whole situation,  and I'm praying to God that this person thinks twice about this and takes responsibility for his/her actions and gets rid of the profile.  One should settle "issues" with others NOT by creating fake profiles.  I really am praying for this person's safety.  I didn't even know the individual personally and I have to fight the urge to want to "get even" with this disrespectful individual.  I know for a fact that if this person's name gets out, there will be more people than you can count headed straight for this person.  It's natural to want justice, but how does one go about doing such a thing?  It's hard to not "stoop to one's level" and fight online about this, but I most definitely want to see something be done.  I have already reported the profile, yet who knows how long Facebook will take to remove the fake profile.  Numerous REAL friends have already given this individual an ear full through wall posts. 

This made me think for a second, trying to find some good out of this horrible situation.  Going from a "powerless" feeling, not able to do a thing as someone hides behind the computer causing harm, abusing the name of a friend who's passed away.  I realized that there are a whole lot of people who cared a lot about that individual, and not only that, but they care enough to stick up for him years after he's no longer with us.  I sure want friends who are going to defend my name after I've passed away. 

Furthermore, I realized something important.  One will be remembered by what they've done in their life time, for who they are, for all the lives that person has impacted.  This individual had one HUGE impact, and I can guarantee you that, and there's no way that one fake profile can "ruin" his name.  There's no way, not possible.  I do hope that Facebook removes the profile in a timely fashion, and that this person is rightly put in their place.  I also hope that this person realizes what they've done and has a change of heart.  There are many ways to settle disputes, but one should never stoop to a low like this, ever.

I couldn't agree more. -"To the person who made this profile, you obviously didn't know David at all. He was truely a great friend and a great guy. To really make this about any one especially someone that has passed away is awful...Have some respect please and grow up....this is still a big deal to alot of people who are still hurt by this!"

I'll be praying, praying that God changes the heart of whoever created the profile, that this whole thing gets resolved and we can all move on and live in peace, letting David's name be left alone, truly letting him rest in peace. 

David, you've got a lot of friends, I want you to know that. Real, true friends. 

-Anthony