Lucky Chucky

I have never been to Ireland, in fact, the only country I have been to outside the US is Mexico. The last few weeks have been pretty focused, with training, planing and getting things in order. The Armed Forces Cycling Team offers a great amount of support, but even then when opportunities are so important I find myself working out tons of details and putting out small - and in some cases self created - fires.

I have been taking my pedals on and off so much for traveling that I sometimes get lazy in re greasing the threads. Well, my pedal and my crank arm became one inseparable piece of medal. That would be fine if I never had to remove it again, but I do to pack it for the upcoming flights. I scrounged up enough money for new pedals and Bill Jacobus from the Armed Forces Team spotted me a set of cranks. Things like this only seem to happen before big events, but live and learn.

To save up a little money, we cut back on snack foods and quick eats around the house. I never realized how much I "graze" until I started bonking on rides. I thought I could get away without the steaks before long rides and just eat the normal 3 meals a day. I was wrong. I need to eat constantly or I run out of calories and then the misery starts. When the 1st of Sep hit, I was so glad to have a full fridge!

Tomorrow I leave from Boston to Vermont and do a time trial on Friday. No TT bikes, just straight road bikes - with the exception of disc wheels and areo helmets. Pretty cool I think, a more even playing field. We are using the Green Mtn Stage RAce in prep for Ireland, but who can line up at a start race and not race? If I get 5th, 59th or 70th, it is not because I didn't try, it is because that is what I have earned - I just can't help but race.

I did not really take a break last winter because I felt I needed to keep pushing forward and up my level of fitness. I kept hearing that I would burn out, or get flat, but I felt I needed to keep training to be competitive for 2009. This year I am taking a few weeks off around when it starts freezing. When I get back, I am going to enjoy riding in the wonderful fall weather here, but when I can't figure out the right glove combination to keep my hands from hurting in the freezing cold, I am taking my (probably well deserved) break.

Last year I was 2nd in 5 different Jersey events. That means I was the first guy to cross the line or be in the standings that was not going to get a jersey, 5 times! I used that as motivation to train through the winter, I wanted to win a jersey this year. There are not enough events left to be over taken in the MABRA Senior Men or Masters BARs, and Greenbelt, although it was a training race series, is done. I lucked out at Page Valley and got 2 jerseys in one race, the MABRA road title and the Virginia Road Tittle. Getting 2nd didn't end last year though, I still got 2nd at the MABRA Crit Championship and the Masters TT Championship. Wow, this was a great season, and it is still not over. I leave early next week for Green Mountain Stage Race and then to Ireland! I am lucky.



MABRA BAR Senior Men
208 Charles Hutcheson Battley Harley-Davidson
115 Dave Fuentes Battley Harley-Davidson
110 Ken Young Clean Currents p/b Don Beyer Volvo
95 Brian Butts Battley Harley-Davidson
87 Jeff Brandon LSV/Kelly Benefit Strategies
86 Todd Hesel LSV/Kelly Benefit Strategies
85 Mike Githens Immediate Mortgage - Artemis Elite
80 Jose Escobar Battley Harley-Davidson
76 Keck Baker Battley Harley-Davidson
70 Todd Hipp Battley Harley-Davidson



MABRA BAR Masters Men 35-49

185 Charles Hutcheson Battley Harley-Davidson
90 Chris Hayes Haymarket Bicycles
89 Stephen Robinson Squadra Coppi/IM Saab
76 Ramon Benitez Immediate Mortgage - Artemis Elite
68 George Opria Evolution Cycling Club
64 Chip Hoover Team Latitude/ABRT
64 Dave Osborne Immediate Mortgage - Artemis Elite
61 Ralph Muoio LSV/Kelly Benefit Strategies
57 Michael Bradbury Evolution Cycling Club
56 Arthur Brown Team Latitude/ABRT
54 Dave Fuentes Battley Harley-Davidson



Greenbelt Park Training Race Results
Series A Standings
76 Charles Hutcheson
63 Evan Fader
50 David Bozak
25 David Osborne
14 Ralph Muoio
13 Kenneth Young
12 Brian Butts
11 Timothy Brown
10 Chip Hoover
8 donald brew