US Pro Road Championships = Awesome (Part 2)

Sunday was the road race. The day started with a fairly large breakfast at the Holiday Inn Express. It was a continental breakfast, with plenty to choose from. I went with cereal, a bagel with peanut butter, banana and something else that I can't remember right now. Either way, it was too much, as I would later find out.

Lisa and I decided to go for a run, and it was clearly not long enough after breakfast. I was still stuffed to the gills and running with what feels like a stuffed, distended stomach sucks. We ran pretty fast and went 5 miles. It was pleasant. The trail we ran on was called the Swamp Rabbit trail, kind of a funny name, but a very nice place to run.

Once we got back to the hotel and I was able to take care of the gastrointestinal issues I was experiencing, we got ready to go to the road race. Our hotel was right at the end of what you might call the "downtown" area. Nicely done Mom! So, it was just a simple walk from the hotel to the race course, well, the part that went through downtown.

We got to the course and started figuring out a good place to sit. We had a map, and we were trying to figure out where to sit. There was a spot on the course where the riders would come through twice on each of the circuits through the city. We figured out where this spot was and went to get a coffee and snack down by the start/finish. This race had a pretty sweet set up. There were these VIP tents that had TV's in them and there was a big screen TV by the start/finish line.

After our snack, we waited by the start/finish line as the riders were coming through to sign in. We saw Matthew on his way to sign in and he came back so we could talk to him before the race. We also got to see some of the other guys riding to the sign in, like George Hincapie, Levi, Jason McCartney, Chris Horner and pretty much all the other guys!

After a quick word with Matthew, he got set to go as they were calling up the riders. We made our way to our spot to watch the beginning circuits. In the first few laps the main field was looking pretty relaxed. I am sure the first lap was mostly for the fans as they came by quite slow. There was a break right from the get go. The eventual winner came from this break, but, we wouldn't know that for some time. After the three circuits, they went out on the big loop which included 4 trips up Paris Mountain. I have no idea what the climb is like, but, it is roughly 2 miles long, averages 10% and I believe is close to 15% the last few kilometers. It isn't a piece of cake, this is for sure.

The breakaway started as 4, then quickly dwindled to 3. They were able to gain an advantage of close to 17 minutes. In bike racing, that is HUGE! There were various reasons for the huge gap, however, it would seem the most consistent reason was the fact there were no radios allowed in the race. Many people, well racers, have said this was the reason. There are some good aspects to not having radios, it brings racing back to the old school, however, things like this happen. Either way, Team Radioshack wasn't going to chase the break. Ben King, the eventual National Champion, rides for Trek Livestrong and will ride for Team Radioshack next year. There were other teams in the race though that could have chased...BMC, Garmin, etc. I initially thought Kelly Benefits should have chased, but, I see in the picture they had a guy in the break, which would mean they wouldn't chase.

Before the race, Lisa got a text from Matthew with the plan for the day. It went something like "Chris and Levi are protected riders, I am going to attack on the 3rd time up Paris." We were hoping to be able to see the TV, so after they went out on the circuits, we moved toward the start/finish line. The TV was showing the race, but, because of the break, they were only showing the break. Which was cool I guess. They did only have the one camera, and you can't just forget about the break.

The break stayed together for the first lap and a half. We later found out that the 2nd time up Paris Mountain, Ben King just rode away from his companions. Once he was on his own, he was still able to keep a good gap. Ben King continued to rock the course and apparently Team Radioshack's plan still went as scheduled. We were getting updates about what was going on from a lot of people, Lisa's parents, Eric and my buddy Luke. We were told Matthew attacked, got a gap, caught the two dropped breakaway guys and was closing in on Ben King. We later found out this was completely false.

We were confused when the group came through the city. First it was Ben King, about 6 minutes later the two dropped breakaway guys and shortly after that, the main field. Matthew was in the field and we were totally confused as to why. I had thought the plan had worked: other teams were forced to chase because Matthew went off the front, they would eventually catch Ben and it would leave room for Levi to attack on the last time up Paris Mountain and bring it home for the win. Not so, however.

After all was said and done, Ben King won with a super human effort. He was out from the get go, and was on his own for 50 miles! It was crazy hot and his ride was extremely gutsy and very impressive. Congrats to him!

After the race my family, Lisa and I got to meet Levi, Chris, Jose Acevedo and Jason McCartney. All very nice guys who are quite cool and seem to be some cool people to be around. I was pretty set after this point. I had hoped to meet Levi by the time we left so I was good to go. We went back to the hotel, I downloaded my pictures and we hung out for awhile.

A short while later Lisa got a text from Matthew inviting us to dinner with the team. What? Really? The team? Awesome! So, I decided I should take a shower and we got set to go. We walked down to the restaurant to meet them there. We got to the restaurant plenty early so they wouldn't have to wait for us. Eventually they got there and we went in.

I have to say, sitting at a table with the team was cool. Not only is it cool that my brother is part of the team, but, cool that we were able to see who he "works" with out of the "work" environment. It was a great time and I am very thankful for the fact we were able to be there with them. Thanks Matthew! I got to hear some pretty cool stories from Levi and found out that there is no one right way to set your cleats. I also learned that even pro cyclists have similar problems to what I have when I ride. Clearly, their problems are a little more important than mine, but, it is still interesting to listen. Ben showed up and we got to toast him and his win. He is a great guy and definitely a future talent.

All in all, the trip was very awesome. I was very happy to get to see my brother and hang out with him for a little while, as well as my sister-in law! It was an awesome time with the family too! I am extremely grateful to meet Jose, Levi, Chris and Jason as well as Ben King. All super cool guys!

It sucked to leave, mostly because I won't get to see Matthew and Lisa for awhile and I miss them. I won't miss the heat and humidity of South Carolina, this is for certain!

Picture 1: Matthew
Picture 2: Matthew and Lisa
Picture 3: The initial breakaway
Picture 4: Levi in the field
Picture 5: Matthew in the field
Picture 6: Ben King on the way to his win.

US Pro Road Championships = Awesome (Part 1)

I realize I probably have a lot of blogs to post, but, it's not going to happen while I sit here in the airport. I owe one with pictures of the new house...you'll get it eventually. Today is going to be a post about one of the best vacations I've had in some time.

I took a small and short trip to Greenville, SC. The reason is simple: to finally get to see my bro race in the US Pro Road Championships. This really is where it all started last year. He finished 5th, while riding in relative anonymity. He was clearly talented and riding for Kelly Benefits. After this race though, a man by the name of Johan, who manages this small team known as Team Radioshack, called and made an offer my bro couldn't refuse. A year later, he returns to where it started.

My mom flew down a day earlier than my dad and I. To be honest, I was tired the first day. I worked a regular shift on Friday, so the 5:55am flight on Saturday morning came fast and I only got a few hours sleep. I tried to sleep on the plane but had no luck. The plane was delayed from Milwaukee to Atlanta (insert Ludacris song "Welcome to Atlanta"). Thankfully the plane from Atlanta to Greenville was also delayed. We made it to the gate just as that plane was boarding. We got to Greenville as scheduled and were picked up by mother and taken to the US Pro Time Trial Championship.

This was the first time I've been to the National Championships the pros really care about. After all, with a win you get to wear the "Stars and Stripes" jersey in your discipline for the next season. Which is a pretty big deal. It was quite awesome to see 3 of the biggest names in cycling throwing it down on the time trial course. It was a very close finish between Levi Leipheimer and Taylor Phinney. Phinney won by a narrow .14 seconds, or maybe it was .15, I don't recall, you can find that information on Cyclingnews.

Here are a few pictures:

Picture 1: Taylor Phinney
Picture 2: Levi Leipheimer
Picture 3: Mr. Awesome - Matthew Busche

Matthew finished 5th, which is pretty sweet considering he's not a super great time trialist, yet. His time will definitely come, this is for certain.

After the TT, my parents, Lisa (Matthews wife, duh) and I went back to the hotel. We weren't there long and got word we should go chill with Matthew at the team hotel. We went over and hung out with him. There were several teams staying at the hotel, so we saw a few riders walking through. It was cool to feel closer and more involved in the tight-knit community that is pro cycling. Matthew left with the team to go to dinner, but not before we got to meet Allan Lim, arguably one of the greatest minds in cycling. Lisa, the parents and I then went out. I was tired, and dinner wasn't anything to write home about. After that, we stopped at the Marble Slab; it was similar to Coldstone, but, the ice cream was way smoother and way more delicious. We walked back to the hotel, I took out the pull out couch from hell and went to sleep for the night.

I guess I own a home...??

Well...it has been some time since I have written an update. In that time, a good friend from Texas came to race his bicycle, I took a lot of time off my bicycle and my brother has kicked some serious ass and put up some sweet results. I think in about 3 or maybe 4 races, not real sure. One of those was a stage race, so if you are going to be picky, it could be way more considering it was 6 stages.

In any event...things have gotten quite interesting. As is well documented, I have been looking for a home. I found one...way back in July, probably about the 15th or so, maybe even earlier in July. For those not familiar with the process it is a lot of hurrying up...and then waiting.

After I decided this was going to be the one I wanted to put an offer in on, and after a few others didn't work out...the games began. I worked with a friend of mine who works for the Wauwatosa Fire Department. Great guy...good at a lot of things and has a background in building and construction, bonus. He has a tendency to be a little retentive and so he likes to do a lot of things himself...so he decided to get his real estate broker's license last year and started a real estate company. He also sells guns...which is awesome.

Anyway, back to the story...the offer was put in and after about 6 counter offers, a deal was met. I signed the final paperwork and off to the races we go. Sort of. Did I mention the hurrying up to wait? After the offer and price was agreed upon, I have to get an inspection done. The person/company that did the inspection was great. Very knowledgeable guy and really easy to talk to. Plus, he is also a contractor/builder/master carpenter...so he knows his stuff. The inspection was good with the exception of a crack in the foundation wall. He didn't really seem too concerned, however, because of his profession he has to make a note of it and make suggestions. He suggested we get an engineer to determine whether or not the wall would need to be repaired/braced etc.

In the meantime, the mortgage broker stopped by my apartment with about 100 pages of legal documents relating to this home purchase. They were all loan application documents and a disclosure of the costs associated with buying a house. And there certainly are some serious costs. I signed my life away and moved on. The mortgage broker then took the paperwork to the appropriate people and the application was off to the lending company.

I went to get insurance on the place so that when it came time to closing on the house, I had insurance and we could proceed. Because of some regulations or something, it is required that you have insurance. I am guessing that is because a majority of Americans don't have the funds to buy a home outright in cash and are borrowing money. This then creates the issue that a bank has an interest in the house and what happens to it. Regardless, I got it taken care of and was all set to close on the house on August 13th.

In retrospect, I think I am happy it didn't happen on the 13th because if you were to look at a calendar you would have noticed that just so happened to be a Friday! However, I still think it turned into more of a nightmare than it needed to be...

I had talked with the mortgage broker a couple days before Friday and he mentioned the possibility the closing may not happen on Friday. A day before the closing he told me it WASN'T going to happen on the 13th and had no idea when it would happen. This set forth a chain of events that will still be unclear to me...and will remain frustrating and confusing.

Apparently, government regulations state that a mortgage broker (ie. the person working for me) cannot have contact with the lending agency for fear of a conflict of interest. Simply put, the person whose reputation is on the line to the client has zero ability to make sure things are done in a timely manner. A lending company (ie. bank) also has 48 hours, at a minimum, to review the loan application conditions. Keep in mind, there is no maximum, at least that I have been made aware of. One of the loan application conditions is the insurance and the effective date of the policy. The original effective date was 8/13, but because the deal couldn't be closed on the 13th, a new date had to be set. The new date was today, the 18th.

So...because of a new closing date, the conditions have to be resubmitted...and apparently ALL the conditions. NOTHING else changed, except the closing date which would in turn change the effective date of the insurance, but EVERYTHING has to be re-reviewed. Did I mention the hurry up and wait?

Well, the new conditions were submitted on the 13th, I believe, which then gives the lender, at minimum, 48 hours to review it. So...being generous, as I always am, we'll just say that the final conditions weren't submitted until late on Friday, the 13th. Being that it is a Friday, I am sure people need to get home early, or don't want to work all day, or whatever, and so we'll just say they will get to it Monday 8/16. 48 hours from there would be...TODAY, the 18th.

So, I am all set for today, the 18th, at 1pm. Well, at about 11:30 I got a call that it won't be until 2. Then at 2 I got a call that said it looks like it will be about 2:30...then it was 2:45! At this point I am getting a little nervous because I have to go to work at about 3. At about 3, the paperwork arrives that I finally get to sign...well, some of it. The real stuff didn't get in until 3:45...a full 2 hours and 45 minutes after the original appointment, all because the date on the closing had to change and be reviewed by the lender...who was too slow in reviewing the application...which made the date change...!!??!??! Yeah, I am too tired right now to even come up with an applicable analogy.

In any case, I signed a bunch of paperwork, which boiled down to, "Make your payments and you'll stay in the house. Make sure you have insurance on the house, and don't continue to store the waste from your nuclear energy research in the basement, that stuff is dangerous."

At this point, usually the buyer gets the keys...but not for this guy. The lender now has to re-review, the re-reviewed loan paperwork...which is now officially signed...to then release the bank funds to the sellers. Yep, hurry up...and wait.

So, I am hopeful that today, I will be getting the keys to the joint. There are lots of projects in my head, but as a wise man (father) told me, "there are needs and wants...take care of the needs first."

I am thinking if it isn't much of an inconvenience, I will take some pictures and post them for your viewing pleasure. Until then...Peace.

Oh...and go see the movie "The other guys." It is kind of a dumb movie, I'll be honest, but I didn't stop laughing literally the whole time.

MTB - Part Duex

Day two of mountain bike riding. It was much sweeter. Courtesy of one Dr. Mantel, the front brake issue was completely resolved. To the point that there was no more rubbing...it worked perfectly!

I was actually introduced to the true Tosa trails. The one other time I had ridden them, it was at night...and on a cross bike. Not a good idea. These trails are slightly rocky and have a lot of roots.

Overall though, the second episode was quite good and I enjoyed it. To the point I will do it again...and again...all the way up until the Epic.

All I got for ya.

CONGRATS TO MATTHEW ON AN AWESOME FINISH IN THE TOUR OF AUSTRIA!

First MTB ride...

Today I put in what will hopefully be the first in a number of mountain bike rides prior to the Unnamed Epic mountain bike race in August. I am hoping by that time I will be a little better on the mountain bike...to say the least.

I did the Tosa trails today, which are not to far from my apartment, which is nice...really nice. I am borrowing a good friend's bike and it is quite nice. The Gary Fisher Ziggurat(?) or something like that. Front suspension, sweet components...its a good ride. The problem I am having is mostly due to my unfamiliarity with mountain bikes. This bike has some awesome Avid Juicy disc brakes, which are super nice and work well...when they work. The problem though is the front brake is completely stuck...ON. So, I rode for two hours with a disc brake on. While trying to fix it, I hit the disc and ended up getting a burn on my finger.

So, that was that. I continued on with the ride and was frustrated the entire time. Such is life though. Sadly, I managed to ride 9.5 miles in just shy of 2 hours. I am pretty sure that is pitiful as hell.

In any event...it is the 4th of July...so Happy Independence Day.

AB.