the little peguin Sam Krieg

Auto Pilot

2011-06-28T10:28:00.001-07:00

At our Peaks Coaching power summit last month in Bedford VA, my riding life came full circle. Many years earlier, I visited the same place thinking I knew everything there was to know about training and racing. It has taken many years and countless experiences to confront my hubris and realize how little I really know. I used to think it was all about wattage but, as I’ve grown in this sport, I’ve slowly digested the fact that, while power is key, it doesn’t guarantee success on race day. Bike racing is just too dynamic to be dominated only by big watts and a gigantic set of lungs. At the coaching summit I remember coach Tim Cusick talking about “the thousand intangible things” that we consciously and unconsciously subscribe to in our coaching and in our lives that make us successful. I remember almost screaming bingo; that’s it! “One thousand Intangible things.” That was the answer I was looking for to describe success on race day. The more you race, pay attention, and surround yourself with successful racers, the quicker you can learn these 1000 things. I often call it “AUTOPILOT.” It is when you have the skill so mastered that you don’t have to think… you just execute. It’s like learning how to ride a bike. It takes 100’s of attempts to keep the bike upright and stable. After a few weeks or months, this task becomes mundane and you begin to push your luck and limits and try to ride with no hands, no feet, and eventually with neither. The once relatively complicated skill of just keeping the bike upright gets mastered and we are able move on and become more proficient at riding a bike. Bike racing is just another extension of our original goal of just learning to ride. Racing is a bit more difficult than just riding with no hands, and winning races takes mastering an infinite number of tiny skills. It is these small intangible things I learned that started making the biggest difference in my race results.

The tangibles in our training and racing are the easy ones to wrap our heads around. Training plans and using power effectively for feedback are the backbones and foundation of being a successful bike racer. I remember Hunter repeating a quote from one of his athletes who said, “If we can’t measure it we can’t improve it.” This is so true. This is why we train and race with a power-meter. I call these the “tangibles” because we are conscious of them at all time and, in fact, bike racers talk about them all the time. What is your 20-minute power or FTP? What is your watt to kilo? However, using only power as the sole metric of success sometimes leads us to forget about all of the other details involved in being a great bike racer. These other details are the intangibles. The intangibles are the skills that help us dominate and eventually win bike races. The intangibles can be learned and mastered, but the only metric we have to define these intangible things are race results and hopefully the 3 steps on the podium. The racers you see winning regularly have more than just incredible watts to kilo; they have mastered hundreds and possibly thousands of skills, which enable them to cross the finish line in front of you.

These intangibles are a little harder to pinpoint. They are not easy to teach and sometimes very painful to learn. They come from our experiences like surviving epic races, getting painfully dropped, being off the front, finishing demanding training sessions, surviving hard group rides, going to local time trials, having conversations with your coach--all of these are great opportunities to learn and experience these elusive things. So pay close attention during every training ride or race; there is always something to being taught you just have to observe and learn it.

Last week, at the Mount Hood Cycling Classic, these thousand little things became very clear to me. I was racing some of the stronger Masters in the country and suffering accordingly. I noticed my brain running at 5000rpms during the race. It was calculating everything. It was keeping me safe, and keeping me aware of everything from the most basic skill of maneuvering my front wheel out of trouble to conducting a cost benefit analysis of the energy I was using so I was only spending my valuable wattage when it was absolutely necessary. Again, this sounds so simple, but we all know that racing is dynamic and it is almost impossible to do everything perfectly. I have lost a ton of stage races in dozens of different ways. My brain was trying to keep me from making those same mistakes, whether basic or complicated, again. There were constant voices in my head screaming advice. I want to share a few of them that I believe helped me find the podium.

The first one is so simple, but almost impossible to master.
“Be patient, wait until everyone is tired before you attack” (Hunter Allen aka Yoda)
On the first stage, I was antsy. I was ready to show everyone my BIG GUNS (because if you’ve ever seen me in my jersey, you know I have them). We started off…horses out of the gate…ready to rumble. But, something kept running through my head…a voice of reason…saying “Sam, be patient, don’t attack until everyone has load in their legs.” My legs felt stellar…. I was hopped to the limit on espresso and I could hardly contain myself. I responded to this mysterious voice, “Yoda…how will I know when everyone is tired” Yoda’s response was clear as a bell, “1500 kilo joules minimum… and then you can attack!” And so I was patient…patient…patient…until I felt the momentum shift (at about 1500 kjs) the pace lulled, the impending doom of the climb hovered, I swear I saw a door open and I just stood up and attacked. I had a huge gap before I had even looked back…. I was calm and backed off for 1 minute to make sure they were not motivated to chase…I looked back and noticed they had slowed down again… I grabbed the throttle and pinned it for 30 minutes at threshold…. I was solo for 50 K…I could almost taste the yellow jersey and with only 3K to the finish I was caught. I didn’t panic; I knew I could stay in and get the same time…perfectly situated for an upcoming jersey with a sunny disposition. While I didn’t win this stage, I used this piece of advice during almost every race. It isn’t as simple as just being patient and waiting for 1500 Kj’s of work before you attack, but this incredible piece of advice mixed with about 100 other calculations about your competitors, the wind direction, terrain, group dynamics, and a few other variables can be the difference between a successful attack and just wasted energy.

2. “Unroll like a large ROLL of carpet…in a Time Trial”
( I don’t remember the actual source of this information, but I am sure it was a rider with a jersey full of national champion stripes)
It almost seems too obvious to say, “Start easy in a time trial.” But the next time you’re at a TT, go to the start line and count the number of people who EXPLODE off the line only to start puttering within 5 minutes. During the TT at Hood, I witnessed many riders in front of me going off the line as if they were being shot out of a cannon. I kept thinking to myself “do they really think they can roll at 500 watts for the next 20+ minutes?” When it was my turn to roll off the start ramp, I eased into my effort. I could feel the slight tailwind and, with a very small amount of force, I began my 20 plus minute journey no different from any other successful 20-minute test that I’ve done over the last 10 years…with respect for the effort. Like pouring a glass of fine wine, I uncorked, sniffed, gently swirled, and then, and only then, began to guzzle with fury. After the first few kilometers, time trialing is very simple. You ask yourself “can I go harder?” and, depending on the answer, respond accordingly. You hope the answer is “YES” and often it will be if you haven’t blown yourself up in the first 2k of the race. If you unroll like a carpet you will build up momentum during the entire time trial and finish on absolute fumes, but you will be flying. Time trialing is an amazingly simple task that requires incredible self-regulation to not mess it up.

3. “First you attack, and then you attack your own fricking attack, and if that doesn‘t work you attack again.”
(Kent Bostick, a man with so many striped jerseys he probably uses them for wallpaper.)
Again, this sounds so easy, but it hurts so much more than you could ever imagine. Attacking your own attack is like eating a Habanero chili instead of a gu in the middle of a race…or hitting your thumb with a hammer on accident and then, immediately, doing it again intentionally. Attacking your own attack is something that is so unpleasant it sounds repulsive (and, actually is repulsive in the moment). It is your ticket to ultimate glory or ultimate failure. It is the only way to honestly force your way off the front of a competent and fit field. So, how did this happen for me? Halfway up the second climb, I was totally on the rivet, and well into the red zone; I was having emotions and thoughts that should not be shared. I felt myself drifting backwards and only a few pedal strokes away from calling it a day. As I was drifting backwards and having these super negative thoughts, a light came on and I remembered this quote from Kent Bostick. I realized that if it was this ugly for me, it was probably this ugly for almost everyone around me; I had nothing to lose. The grade of the road changed to about 10-12%, I felt the momentum shift, I lightly attacked only half conscious of what I was doing, immediately another rider attacked, I jumped on his wheel and, a few hundred meters later I came over the top of him one last time, we only had a 5 second gap but it quickly turned into several minutes. It was literally the last bullet in my gun and it worked perfectly.

So when one of my athletes asks the question of how I won last weekend at Hood?…..the answer is 1000 intangible things. Over the last 8 years I have raced my bike hundreds of times and trained for several thousand hours. I have been patient through tons of failure and learned tiny things every time I race or train. All I can recollect for certain is that every experience, good or bad, I have learned literally thousands of intangible things that keep me safe, impact my ability to stay in when I am getting dropped, attack with reasonable precision, pace my time trial appropriately, conserve energy, and exploit my strengths both mentally and physically. I almost race on autopilot. I don’t think about all of these things consciously; I know many of them instinctually. Riding a bike is relatively simple, but racing a bike successfully takes years of patience, great pacing, a few hard punches, and at least 1000 other fantastic but intangible things. by: sam k

“Perhaps the single most important element in mastering the techniques and tactics of racing is experience. But once you have the fundamentals, acquiring the experience is a matter of time” -Greg LeMond

Best Cycling Save Ever

2010-10-11T19:03:00.000-07:00

Those who master themselves have strength.

2010-10-07T12:42:00.000-07:00

by: sam krieg peaks coaching group

Evolved individuals know without going about,

Recognize without looking.

Achieve without acting.

TAO TE CHING

There is a 1 in a MILLION chance you are going to have the perfect cross season!
I like those odds.... but if you don't block a few PUNCHES you are going to get your fricking HEAD KNOCKED OFF! If you think you can get in the RING and not get hit... you are crazy. If your not careful you'll be talking about "NEXT YEAR" before this year even has a chance to get started.

The first few minutes of every race is DEFCON 1. You will want to quit. You will doubt everything about your entire existence. I want you to be ready to get hit and hit hard. The first few minutes of every cross race... I find myself screaming at my inner self.... "COVER-UP" dude "COVER UP".. The attacks and hard accelerations are like boxing's equivalent to body shots that are breaking ribs. Early in a race there is always someone that can hit harder and faster.

My advice to all racers is to get your head ready for the MENTAL JUNK SHOW of Cyclocross. It is a roller coaster of a season. You are going to have some killer days and some where you get crushed. It is a beautiful sport, but absolutely vicious. Get to every starting line you can. You just don't know when you will have a killer day. You are going to flat, wreck, and just plain make some stupid mistakes. The season is short and will probably make you a bit bi-polar. You can't wait for it to start... and by December you will barely want to clean your bike. Don't worry about places. Don't pick random NUMBERS for results. Don't say I want a TOP 5. That is insane. If you want to pick numbers go buy a lottery ticket. Top 5.... think about that. What if SVEN, COMPTON, TREBON, PAGE, ALBERT, STYBAR, .... show up.... Are you getting top 5? Don't think silly crap like that. You are a mature adult with a college education. It is BASIC MATH. I know in our own heads we are all ROCK-STARS. Destined to be discovered. SHOOT for the damn MOON.... but don't worry about where you are going to land.... BEFORE YOU GET THERE..... FIRE THE DAMN ROCKETS AND GET OFF THE LAUNCH PAD FIRST! Just put the pedal to the floor. Don't pack a parachute. Just crush it. See how long you can survive.

Just race your brains out. Places don't mean a thing. Try and race an honest race.......where you get a good start.... race patient... then push yourself to the limit. Race for the PLACE right in front of you. That is the only place you have control of. Race to not get caught by the racer behind. Tons of riders including myself have ruined a good season looking for some random number or result. I have won some races and ridden awful. I have lost tons of races where I have ridden stellar and performed to almost personal perfection.

My only other advice is to give your RIVAL's the credit you want them to give you. They trained hard this past season, and it was probably with the sole purpose of kicking your ass. They love to suffer.... and if they beat you... they must have gotten pretty good at it. They probably secretly almost hate you... and you secretly almost hate them. (NOT REALLY BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT) They want to beat you.... YOU want to beat them.... Some of them will sell an organ just to finish in front of you. They bought CARBON THIS... and CARBON THAT... You matched their Carbon and RAISED them..... with a new Coach & 5 a.m. workouts. It isn't just a race ....it is almost a war.

THOSE WHO CULTIVATE POWER,
IDENTIFY WITH POWER.
TAO TE CHING

Everyone you are racing has probably gotten faster. If they SMOKE you... be glad they figured out how to beat you. NOW you have the chance to figure out how to turn the tables on them. That is how the game works.

You don't deserve to beat people if you can't take a good beating. As racers we have all had those miserable car rides home after a bad or humiliating race. So when it is your turn to be STOKED... be STOKED.... when it is your turn to be humbled... be humbled. Next weekend or Next season you will have a chance to do it all over again.

Nothing makes me happier than to have a killer race. But nothing has made me improve like getting my EGO totally mud-stomped. The beat-down is what I need to get my sh*t together. I find more motivation when everything is going wrong. When someone has me pinned to the floor and is just pummeling me. This is when you wish you could pass out or just quit. But you made the mistake of training hard enough to ENDURE the violent beating, but not enough to win in the exchange. You are taking it... and not giving it. These memories are quite vivid and very UN-forgettable.

YOUR MANTRA NEEDS TO BE THIS!

I couldn't have gone 1 second faster. Not 1....... Not ever.........

If I could of... ..............

I WOULD OF...............

Those who master themselves have strength.

TAO

Do you want to get faster? http://cyclocrosstraining.blogspot.com/2008/04/cycling-peaks-bio-sam-krieg-2008.html

be water if only i could do this

2010-10-07T05:39:00.000-07:00

I remember I saw this a few years ago. It is a stellar idea but making it happen? We all read and hear things that we immediately think...."holy crap" this is going to help me take it to the next level. Well it has been a few years and I haven't become water yet. I honestly believe that HAPPINESS is Expectations divided by Ability.
So if you can lower your expectations.... you can be happy. Or maybe even water.

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Moose Cross this coming weekend

2010-09-27T10:16:00.000-07:00

So this coming weekend is MOOSE CROSS. I suggest that most local promoters take a TRIP to VICTOR and learn how real MEN and WOMAN put on a cross race. This is not some local junk show where they take your cash and give you nothing.

This is one of the best cross races of the entire season. This year I have heard rumors that the course will have a real beer garden. http://www.moosecross.com/

They have moved the course to go right next to the LOCAL Brewery. The BEER will be so fresh you will feel like you are in BELGIUM. I remember a few years ago they had a KEG tossing contest after the CX race.
I know the Victor crew has put in a ton of hard work to make this event a "don't miss" event. Last year it was one of the funnest weekends I had racing all season!

The VICTOR CREW takes cycloross to a totally NEW LEVEL. The course is sick. They have built every turn by hand. I am not kidding. They have a permanent cross course. They have a rad DIRT park with HUGE jumps for you to ride after the race.

They have a real AWARDS CEREMONY.... Last year they showed a MOVIE and had a LOG PODIUM in an old theatre in down town Victor. The PRIZES were some of the best I have ever seen.

The MAYOR.... of VICTOR is a cross racer and also owns the local bike shop in Jackson. His last name is FITZGERALD.... I am not kidding.

This is not your normal cross race. This is a race worth every mile of the drive.

If you haven't raced Moose Cross before my advice would be for you to get in the car and start driving right now!

one more lap (old Post)

2010-09-07T09:52:00.000-07:00

ONE MORE LAP… (written in the middle of cyclocross season 3 years ago)

As the CX season unfolds I realize how quickly the cyclocross season comes and goes. Months of hard work and it is almost time to start thinking about racing on the road bike again. With only 4 weeks left in my cyclocross season I must remind myself to race every moment of every race before the season ends. It is so easy to back down… damn every race I want to quit at some point. I always think of what I heard Kent Bostick said to my friend John Hart… "Little buddy...Your pain is not special." I live by these words during the hardest part of the race. Sometimes as I am gasping for air & my legs hurt so bad I want to cut them off… I just remember that “my pain is not special.” As I spit on my top tube unable to see straight…. I remind myself again… “Your pain is not special”I hurt… damn do I hurt. Every day I train… I hurt.
This past year at masters nationals I was standing on the curb yelling at my wife with 1k to go in her time trial. She was 3 seconds back on my time sheet. I noticed she was crying when she rode by…these were not tears of sadness… dude these were tears of insane pain… pain I don’t know if I have ever felt. I go hard… damn sometimes I go so hard I can’t feel my hands or feet…but have I ever gone so hard I cried! Never…not yet… And I guess that is why she as a stars and stripes jersey and I don’t……….. So this year that is my new goal… To race so hard that I either pass out or cry… Pain and failure is 99% of this sport. So why every time I am suffering do I feel pain and usually fail? You would think I could ignore the pain and grab success by the nads….. It is at the moment when it hurts the MOST….I start to think “my pain is special”…. But I know it isn’t.. We all feel it… we all want to quit.

Every minute of every interval I think about it for at least a few seconds… It is like beating your head against a concrete wall. Each time you slam your forehead into the wall it hurts, but the wall doesn’t move. The crazy thing is………. I have been repeating this process for 6 years now. So this must not be failure. I didn’t LOSE... I raced my brains out and went as hard as I could... each year I get faster…..the guy in front of me must be stronger … so should I just quit and not chase him? No way!!! There will always be someone faster… The struggle is what I love the most. I think to love any sport, and especially to survive racing you have to enjoy getting (beat down) as much as you enjoy “giving the beat down.” I just want to be out there suffering… it always feels so much better when I am making others suffer…but I learn more and grow more from being on the receiving end of a good ass beating. Motivation comes from failure for me. I think about the NIKE commercial….
”my better is better than your better”
…. If you haven’t seen it go to YouTube… and check it out. But really… is my BETTER …better than your BETTER…. Damn if that was 100% true I would win a ton of races. I don’t win very often so I think there must be some guys out there whose BETTER is BETTER than my better. So if Kent Bostick is correct that my pain isn’t special… and others are better… why do I bother to suffer and race? 99% of the time I know I can’t win. There are always several riders who are a bit stronger. In some cases a TON stronger. So why do I spend thousands of dollars racing and 100’s of hours suffering each year? That's a great question. With probably 100 different answers. I have my identity so wrapped around cycling what would I do if I stopped? I would probably have a terrible drug problem or gamble my life savings away. So suffering for hours on end might just be a bargain. So now that we have an idea of the consequences if I stop suffering daily and quit riding. The new question becomes: how can I suffer in some sort of bliss? This is a trick I am getting better at each year. I love to watch Chris Horner suffer… the guy is always smiling… Try it… for me it works…. For the first time I have started to invite the pain in… I don’t run from it like I used to… I don’t start to question why I hurt or think “I must be having a bad day.” What I have learned is when you go HARD… it hurts. It always will. I always hear riders talking about “bad legs” most of the time it makes me chuckle. Bad legs usually just mean the race was hard. If you ride with a powermeter I want you to try to ride around 600 watts for 40-45 seconds… that is the start of a cross race. DO it every day… If you ever have a day where that feels easy and your legs don’t burn…Go buy some lottery tickets. So when it hurts…. IT IS HARD!If you are in shape…and have trained a decent amount… and your legs hurt and burn…it is a pretty good sign you are going hard…not that you have bad legs, but that you have fit enough legs to suffer. Somewhere along the way we have come out with the idea that going hard…..should feel good. That is crazy talk.
If you feel good = You are not going very hard (at least not hard enough to get benefits from training or to be successful in a race)If you feel bad = you are probably pegged and on the rivet-this is actually a good thingBad legs = people in your race are “Better than your better”Good legs = you need to upgrade99.9% of the time I think the above is correct. We all have bad days every once in a while. But if ½ of your races are bad… then you are not being realistic. Your training either doesn’t match your goals…. Or your goals don’t match your pedigree.Now that we have solved a pretty serious math problem let’s get back to the fact that most of us are not very good. What do I mean? Most of us suck. Yes we suck. Hard to stomach but the sooner we all figure it out the more credit we can give to the riders who don’t suck…….. Now this isn’t very nice, but what I mean is that the guy who beat me last weekend sucks a little less than I suck. The guy who finished behind me isn’t better than my Better. Every week the goal is to suck a bit less and try to bring the best effort I can manage to the race. Each week I have new excuses as to why I am going to suck. I try to hide them under the bed in a shoe box, but I always let a few slip. Usually I talk about how hard I trained or didn’t train. That is my favorite. But the bottom line is when we walk up to the starting line we are very vulnerable. It is how you learn to deal with the insecurity of sucking that makes you a great warrior.
Dude…. win or lose if you bring a great fight you should be able to pat yourself on the back and be amped about how you raced. Most of the time we just beat ourselves into a pulp during the race, and then continue to do so for the following week. The key is to ask yourself several times during the race “can I go harder?” If the answer is yes… then get on the gas. If the answer is “no” then stay the course. So next time you are out racing at Defcon 1...try to smile… you should be amped that you are killing it. If you are crying then you know you are pegged. Pegged is pegged. The guy in 10th is just as pegged as the guy who won. Neither effort has more value. Like Kent said “your pain isn’t special.” So don’t run from it… invite it in…and next time you are racing and the race is finished... I challenge you to race one more lap… why not… it is what we do and who we are. Cross season will be over in a blink of an eye. Enjoy every painful minute of each lap…. Soon there will be no more laps to ride and no more cross races till next year. My guess is that all of us will spend the next 9 months getting ready to do it all over again!

Deck of cards

2010-05-07T08:58:00.001-07:00

Deck of Cards

sam krieg

A deck of cards is built like the purest of hierarchies, with every card a master to those below it, a lackey to those above it.

Ely Culbertson

Training in the winter for bike racing is a brutal activity that very few people can comprehend. Hours spent suffering quietly so you emerge in the spring ready to race and brawl against all of your rivals and your mental demons. Our past racing results and failures are what motivate us daily on our winter-long pilgrimage of torture and torment. Living here in Idaho I have the choice to either go outside and brave the elements or suffer for hours on the trainer. Neither are very pleasant but both are essential. Each and every one of my winter training experiences builds a foundation for the coming road season. The one thing I know for sure is that the harder and longer I train the more indestructible I become. Recently while surfing the internet I came across a cycling blog that had a great quote "train so you can make yourself harder to kill." On my way down into the basement to train the same day I picked up a new deck of playing cards from a shelf. I opened the box and took out the promotional cards from the deck. I easily ripped them in half and tossed them in the trash. There were 54 cards left. It struck me that this particular workout which I was dreading was just one card in a deck of many. That doesn't mean that the particular workout didn't have value. What it meant was this workout was one opportunity for me to "stack my deck" for road season. Today's training might create the 1 second gap I will need later on the top of a climb or to win a TT. Today's workout might also crush me and make we re-think why I do this sport. To be completely honest most of my workouts do a bit of both.

I was now sitting on the trainer and I tried to tear the entire deck in half. It was impossible for me. I have seen a You-Tube video where a guy ripped a phonebook in half so I know it is possible. But, I have also seen Fabian Cancellara time trial at 50k an hour and I can't do that either. The 2 promotional cards I threw away were easy to tear. They took a few watts at most. To destroy the deck was going to take some power that I do not yet possess, and to time trial at close to 50kph is going to take a bit more work. Both the phone book ripper and Cancellara the T.T. ripper could literally destroy my personal deck of cards.

Thinking back to last year's road season I realized that the epic winter of training I had done allowed me to do the same thing on a different level. I certainly didn't become world class or star in my own You-Tube video, but I did have a few magical days on the bike. My deck of cards was definitely more robust than some of the guys I was racing, and in a few cases I was able to simply destroy a few others who in the past have destroyed me. I had moved myself up in the hierarchy and created a few lackey's along the way. If you think of a field of bike racers like a bunch of playing cards this starts to be a valid training theory. As a whole the field is a vicious monster. Just like a full deck of cards…. It is hard to rip it in half. But during the race you have many opportunities to play the game and manipulate it in your favor. If you can't climb and the race finishes on a hill you better get in a break, if you can climb don't panic you can win from the break or the field. Just like in any form of gambling if you want to win, you have to be prepared to lose. The great thing about bike racing is you can win even if you are not the strongest; you just have to know how to play the game to optimize your strengths. Here's the trick: don't handicap yourself by not coming to the race prepared. If you were dropped the year before on the climb you better show up lean and ready to rumble. You have all winter to prepare. Don't waste the opportunity. Every time you train you have a chance to "stack your deck." If you do it right you will eventually be strong enough to survive even the most desperate of moments.

We train hard "day in and out" with the goal of becoming a winner. In the short run you might lose a ton. You will have some terrible workouts and results. These losses will test you more than any good workout or race you have ever had. Bad wattage during a workout or test is the best medicine in the long term. Training hard will make you more consistent. The more consistent you become the more durable you will be. I don't have the highest 5 minute or 20 minute power. But I race well almost every weekend and I can sustain my peak wattages on a regular basis regardless if it is at mile 10 or mile 100. Just like everyone I struggle early in races when everyone is fresh. But after a few hours I start to feel like a beast. I often can make up my own rules late in the race. It is like ¾ of the deck is gone. Now I am playing with just a few racers and that is when the real game begins and I know there will be 4 face cards and a joker left. All 5 have a shot to win, but often it is the rider who pulls the ace from his or her back pocket who wins the race. Last year I remember racing to the KOM against a particular racer who I for sure thought I was going to beat. We had gapped almost 100+ racers and I was definitely riding at a new PEAK 5 minute power. We were 10 meters from the KOM line. He stood up and humiliated me. In just 10 meters he shredded my deck of cards. That experience is definitely one I will not forget, I didn't have a bad day or bad legs….his (better) was just better than mine.

This makes me think about the past 7 years of training and racing. Over those 7 years I have had a ton of good and bad moments. I have 2000+ power files and every one of them tells a story, and they all make me a bit harder to kill. I realize now that my current fitness is a sum of those 7 years. They enable me to survive hard training sessions day after day. At times they have allowed me to ride the break into pieces and occasionally they have dealt me the sweetest hand.

A racer doesn't have to look much further than Cadel Evans to find inspiration to fight for an entire season. Evans came up short all season for every one of his goals. He had an awful Tour de France and Vuelta. I am sure his team was about to fire him! But, he his deck was so stacked that he knew he had an ace left in his pocket. Evans won the world championship by holding his cards close and playing the game until the very last deal. He could have easily packed it in for the season and stopped racing. But, like all good addicts, he couldn't stop gambling. He knew that he was ridiculously fit and just needed a few things to go his way. That day at the world championships is proof that you can't win…if you don't play.

Even the bad workouts and races have a place in my deck. If you notice there are a lot more plain cards with numbers than ones with pretty pictures. The pretty pictures are the rare cards. They can win you tons of money in Vegas or in the back room of a smoky bar. They are the cards you wish you were dealt every day. But to be honest what fun would gambling be if you won every time? It is in the losing and stress of losing that makes winning such a cool experience. Training is just like that. If your goal was to always feel good on your bike and to always win you wouldn't have gotten into bike racing. You would have just done "tours" and your local group rides. You would search out events where you were the strongest and just crush people. That would be like going to Vegas and betting a penny.

So as you sit on your trainer or ride in the freezing cold I want you to think of your ride today as just one card. This one ride will not make you a PRO or win you a national championship. This card is just one in a deck of many. The larger you make the deck the harder you will be to destroy. This one ride is part of what will make you the beast in the breakaway that rides everyone's legs off. This one card is the 1 second that will win or lose you a time trial. Don't expect every ride to be perfect. Don't be shocked when the watts are awful. Be excited when things go your way because you know that the cards will be against you at some point and this success will help. Think about riding hard 54 times before you expect to see great fitness gains. That is 52 hard training sessions and 2 jokers before you expect to improve. A few good workouts will not win you races. You need tons of good and bad rides before you truly become an excellent bike racer. You will learn how to play and win with a poor hand. The longer and harder you train will enable you "stack the deck." Eventually you will be playing with 5 Ace's and a few jokers up your sleeve. From the outside your stellar performance will look like a damn magic trick but, like all magic, it's the hard work put in by the magician that makes it look real.

A short rant….

2010-05-07T08:55:00.001-07:00

I attribute my success to this - I never gave or took any excuse.

Florence Nightingale and JENS VOIGHT

This is a short rant… by Sam Krieg

This past weekend was my 4^th weekend of racing so far this season. Race after race I constantly overhear the same bull shit excuses from riders. No one wants to take any accountability for sucking. They lay their groundwork before they even turn their pedals 360 degrees. In the past I was annoyed … now it just pisses me off. All winter we knew bike racing season was coming. Most of these racers are riding $5000 bikes and worry more about bike weight and how cool they look than how hard they should train. If they spent just 10% of that energy and money on moving forward as an athlete they might just find some personal success instead of catastrophic failure. Most of us are completely lost and don't search out the people that have the answers. We will spend thousands on bikes that make us only seconds faster when a good training plan, coach, or just some good old fashion hard work is the answer. Most racers can rationalize why they suck and don't mind swimming in the vomit pool around them. They have become so use to their own excuses and others excuses around them that you never hear anyone speak positively before a race.

Before the time trial this past weekend one of my old team-mates dads asked me how I felt. I said "I am ready to bleed to win this thing" I meant it. I respected the crap out of the other 60 cat 1-2's that were there and my ego wasn't about to give an inch. I knew I had a fight on my hands and I wasn't certain about the outcome at all. I was scared as crap, but I was 100% all in. I was prepared to suffer mentally and physically the entire effort.… I was going to earn a good or a bad result…. The entire time trial I pictured myself as a rat in a rat trap trying to eat the damn cheese that was just out of reach of my broken neck. I kept trying to nibble and lick the piece of cheese. I was going to win or lose this damn TT with the best possible effort I could manage. I even shoved my time trial bike at the finish line to get an extra .01 seconds. I had gone as fast as I could. That is all you can ever do.

After the Time Trial ………I had a rider ask me what my power was. I told him I averaged 305 watts… he was shocked… he said he had ridden close to 400 watts for sure!.............. I had finished over 1 minute in front of him. After a few sentences he implied that he was stronger than I am and just happened to weigh 40 more pounds. According to him I guess I didn't win the TT or have the fastest fucking time of the entire day. So I guess finishing ½ a mile behind me makes him the next Fabian Cancellara? I should have told him to go look at the damn results again. They post them in black and white and from first to last. This is the way it is, and always will be. I almost suggested that he should calibrate his damn power meter or go on a diet. He was insulting me and didn't even know it. 3 days later and I am still a bit tweaked when I think about it. He has the same disorder that almost every racer has. Why can't athletes realize that every race is an opportunity to gain knowledge and increase your skill. Instead of pointing out he was obviously much stronger than I was…………. He should have been critical of his effort, his training, equipment choice, anything instead of telling me how fast he was for a big guy with an over eating disorder. Don't hate on me for being skinny… Hate yourself for being what you are not. Bad results are an opportunity to trim the fat and get lean and mean.

A real failure does not need an excuse. It is an end in itself.

Gertrude Stein

Last season at the GILA… I was with a good friend and I woke up in the morning dreading the coming stage. He quickly pointed out that I should be stoked…. "You get to race your bike today." We train so we can race. Then on race day we forget that racing is why we ride. Racing is the gift. Racing is what you should be stoked about..……. not a new set of carbon wheels… or a cool new cycling kit…. We ride so we can race. We train so we can crush people…… then in the race when we get crushed… we should figure out how to train better, harder, smarter. etc……. instead we make up all sorts of crap…..ignore the gift of racing and never improve upon our past performances because we are blind to what is holding us back.

It isn't flat tires and heavy bikes that slow us down…. It is our FLAT SQUARE MIND….. Leaking air and spewing crap all over the place. When you show up for a race and people ask you how you are doing… Tell them you are ready to rumble… ready to hurt… and hopefully you can end up on top today. Don't tell them about how hard your work week was, that you have been sick, that this isn't an "A" race… that you haven't started your V02 block of training yet…. Blah…. Blah….. Blah…. If you are going to spew excuses then I suggest you take up a different sport. My good friend Jason has more legitimate excuses not to train than anyone I know. But he rarely ever uses any of them. At 4 a.m. almost every day that dude is on the trainer or out on the roads 350 days a year crushing it. It doesn't matter if he is sick, didn't sleep, or if the damn sky is falling. He has missed very few days of training in 7 years. His hard work is what motivates me. I can't quite live up to his standards but I try. He was the first rider I knew that had a CTL of 100, 110, 120. It didn't kill him and made him stronger… I gave it a try and I can't put into words what it did for my riding.

For the most part bike racing sucks, hurts a ton, and training sucks even worse. If you are lucky you will have a handful of great races over several years. So for every 1000 times you ride your bike you might just have 2 or 3 incredible days. Most riders never actually win a race. So you have to endure the bad… I went 100 races without a win…..but during that time I learned a ton. I learned how to lose…I learned how to train… I learned how to want to win…. I thought I wanted to win… but winning is almost impossible. Go look through anyone's race results and see how rarely even the best local riders win. It takes time and tons of attempts to make a race go your way. I had to learn how to "shut up" and pay attention to the details. I had to learn to stop throwing out excuses and start looking for answers. I have found that if you can't compliment yourself… compliment someone else. Seek out the racers who win….. pay attention to them…. Do what they do…. and give credit where it is due… when you fail go back to the drawing board and come up with a plan on how to improve, and try not to make the same mistakes again. It takes an honest rider to realize that every time you race you probably gave it your best shot and your best just wasn't good enough. Don't use this as an excuse but as an opportunity to learn and make changes. You can't improve if you are not critical. If you think you are doing everything right you need to probably look in the mirror a bit closer. Bike racing is definitely a journey with a very abstract destination.

"I find my greatest pleasure, and so my reward, in the work that precedes what the world calls success."

– Thomas Edison

I respect my limitations, but I don't use them as an excuse.

Stephen R. Donaldson

10 days till cross vegas

2009-09-11T08:16:00.000-07:00

10 days... if you haven't done your homework I have a feeling you are going to fail the test. For the first time ever I have road fitness for cross. I have always been curious......

DAMN I WANT TO DELETE THIS POST>>>>
BUT I WON'T.

CROSS VEGAS didn't go as expected. I was silly fit and things just didn't roll for me. The entire cross season just went all wrong. UCI cross in North Carolina went great for actually going very bad. I ended up top 10 both days for having bad wrecks early and having to move from 3oth all the way back up. I am proud of those rides. I think CROSS is dead to me. I love it... but am not that great at it. Next year I think I will cross country ski instead. It is still CROSS... and you wear tights.... so it is close. I listed all my junk on EBAY and no one bought it. So maybe I will return... maybe not.....I admire the racers that get results in cross. It is hard to be consistent and get results. The riders that kill it every week are SPECIAL. They have a gift and are to be admired. Every year I try and every year I struggle for most of the season. I want it... but can't get it....I want to be able to turn in the mud....I just can't.... I want to ride up steep hills in the dirt... I just always fall off.... I am not as good as I want to be and that is hard to deal with. Cross is a test... and I am a "c" student. I keep trying for a B or an A...and I just can't get it done. I still love it...I still have mad respect for the people who crush in it...but I might just watch next year.... it is a killer sport... i am just not a killer in it.... I am the prey....

Back in the saddle

2009-08-24T21:53:00.000-07:00

What a killer road season. Heck the best I have ever had. I went to the Laboratory mixed in a few new ingredients and WHAM... some great things happened. I have been riding a ton and am more amped than ever.
I am almost done riding 23c tires for 2009, and have started gluing up some DUGAST, fango, and a set of file tread Grifos. Cross season 2010 is here! Damn I am stoked. I have been killing it on the bike. Yep.. I just said it. I have been training like mad. So if I suck... i guess I suck. No excuses this cross season. I am going to have the highest damn CTL I can handle. I have 1 goal. Masters Nationals CX. I have gotten Top 10... 4 times. This year I want to win it. I have no idea if that is going to happen, but I know I will have the fitness and if everything goes right... I will have a shot. I have never had the fitness to close the deal. The year Pieterzak almost WON... I was 6th but I wasn't even close in my mind. Last year 4th.... but heck it might as well have been 40th... I couldn't get across to ALI and BEN Macaroni was a ringer. That course was perfect for me and I still couldn't make it happen. So do I even really have a chance in BEND this year? I guess we will see. It won't be for lack of effort. I will bring a big stick. Normally I always find someone shows up with one that is bigger. I can hardly wait to see.
I was surfing the net and found a link to a post I wrote a few years ago... read this! http://samkrieginpocatello.blogspot.com/2008/11/one-more-lap.html
I finished reading it and did a few sit-ups and ran around the block a few times. Damn... 10pm... I want to ride now... but i need to sleep... so I am off to bed. I will be up at 5... on the bike at 6-9.. so if you want to come crush it in my basement on the trainer feel free to stop by.

garden creek gap this weekend

2009-05-26T07:17:00.000-07:00

http://new.sportsbaseonline.com/events/index.xhtml?categoryId=6371&conversationId=174087

should be a rad race. 200+ racers last year. Weather looks stellar. Come out and race on a great course, good roads, stellar climb!

2009-02-18T07:42:00.001-08:00

2009-02-05T11:47:00.000-08:00

elite nationals cyclocross

2008-12-15T11:01:00.000-08:00

What a race!
Started 42nd....... moved to 26th...
I don't really remember the first 2 LAPS. All I remember was being in traffic. So many people and so many wrecks. It was a blur of bikes and jerseys. I just tried to stay up-right. I had a to run a few sections early to avoid a few wrecks. I must have been in the 50's or s0. By the end of the 2nd lap I was flying. Trying to get across to riders that had huge gaps. I felt great. I was leaping by groups of riders on the climb. After another lap I started to look around and notice I was catching some pretty good riders. 1 lap later I saw a ton of good riders coming backwards on the climb. I started to get pretty motivated. I was going hard but felt great. Near the top of the climb I was close to the top 20... and took a nice over the bars wreck. By the time I got up and shook it off I had lost a few spots and a ton of momentum. I re-grouped on the downhill and was ready to start killing it again. I jumped on my bike around 35 minutes into the race and felt my seat crack. Bummer. I wanted to pit, but I love my race bike more than my pit bike. The seat felt OK... and didn't feel to bad and was just sagging a bit. I sucked it up and climbed out of the saddle when I could and jumped on the bike softly. I was riding in the TOP 30 and wanted to stay there. By the final lap I was with Carl D. and Bart G...... Both riders I was happy to be hanging with. I nailed it the final time up the climb to get a bit of a gap before the downhill. It worked. Bart caught me on the final run-up and passed with class. I was happy to follow him to the line. This was one of my better results and I felt great the entire hour. I would have loved another lap 0r 2. It would have made up for the awful first 2 laps.

masters nationals cyclocross 2008

2008-12-13T14:42:00.000-08:00

..Master’s Nationals has come and gone. In some ways it is a relief and in others I can't wait for next year. It was killer… everything was perfect. I fell in love again with cross.... tons of cow bell... my dad made the trip from Iowa... my wife was there... Ken Lefler....from Iowa city and tons of other...friends were screaming.... it was rad!

First... I must say if you had to a design a course that screamed my name.... well Kansas did. Tons of climbing. TONS... Not very technical.... the way cross should be.... and DRY....( just my opinion) I love the mud...but race better when it’s tacky. It was super tacky.... you’d could have ridden road tires and been OK. The day before it was so muddy you had to walk most of the course. Today the WIND picked up to 30+ MPH and dried it out fast. IT was perfect. ALMOST like riding SLICK Rock in Moab.

So standing at the start..... I wanted to make some excuses ……but had none. Front row... Perfect course and weather.... Ok I was super sick this week.... but felt great... I took a Z-Pack... and felt like a crisp $100 bill.

The start went well... not great.... I was off the LINE fast, but didn't get on the gas hard enough and went into the first corner in 10th... I needed to PANIC and didn't. I knew there was a ton of climbing coming up and thought I would be OK.... Big mistake. It was the only thing I did wrong. I normally think it is best NOT to PANIC.... BUT when Andy Macaroni & CHEESE.....
is there and the wind is blowing 20+ MPH.... I needed to be in the front group... I was 5 meters back. I felt great... I was in 10th or something.... I jumped on the gas on the climb and moved up a few spots but was on the tail end of 3 0r 4 guys. We were riding hard, but they were riding harder and faster. I topped out solo in our group but just couldn't get across. They hammered the downhill..... and opened it up a bit.... I soloed down and got caught by a group of 3. The next time up the climb I hammered it hard. 100%.... I was able to ride away from the riders that came across….. and catch and drop one of the guys from the front but was in 4th.... over the climb and was 15 seconds back.
Yankee Doodle dandy… was way!!!!!!!!! off the front…….2 guys were in front of me…. And 4 chasing. I did everything I could to get across the gap…. I just couldn’t. I was in limbo for 30 minutes…. I felt great … the problem was that the guys in front of me…..were just as fit as me. Ali Goulet made the split early and wasn’t about to give me an inch….. I literally threw the kitchen sink at it and I couldn’t close it down. The last time up the climb I BROKE myself. Everything.... I brought it down to 12 or so..... Not good enough.... They were gone. I wasn't going to catch them on the down hill... I had a huge gap.... I enjoyed the last 1/2 of lap and gave myself a huge pat on the back.... I had a great ride.... I gave it all I had. Congrats to ALI... he road a great race. Congrats to Weston... He killed it also... See you guys next year.

How do you close a gap to riders that are just as good or better? I sat at 12-18 seconds for the entire race. I was able to open up a nice gap on 5th…. but I really wanted to get across to the Weston and Ali… I sold my SOLE several times ..But I just couldn’t get across.
Overall I felt great and raced great. .........I was certainly in the hunt today and it felt great. If you get rid of the Noodle I was right there. It felt great. Tons of hard work and I could tell it paid off. To be only 15 seconds back most of the race from 2nd…. For me is incredible. A small part of me wishes I would have gotten across on the first lap. But to be honest... if I could have.. I would have..... and I didn't....

BUT damn…. Today was a great day…Oh how I wished I had my A.K…..

Nationals in 5 days

2008-12-08T19:38:00.000-08:00

I can hardly believe that cyclocross season is coming to and end.
Months of hard work.......... all boil down to a few hours of riding this coming weekend. I ofter feel like the skinny guy in the picture. Standing at the line in Kansas...I will be looking around at the super stars of our sport. The past 365 days have been spent getting ready. I am prepared to throw down 2 of the best rides of my life ......the question is where will that put me. I have to be honest and say that is one of the hardest parts about our sport. Cycling is pretty cruel sometimes. We all have a ton of excuses why we didn't do better. The problem is almost every weekend we have an excuse and rarely a result. That is when our personal expectations might not match our ability. When I was a kid my parents didn't tell me I was the best or the fastest. I appreciate their honesty. If you look through my results you can see I am not the fastest and certainly not the best. For some reason at 32 years old I am still heading to races all over the country to prove this exact point. So if I am not going to win... why do I go? I think the answer is I like take a good beating. Every once in awhile I get a chance to hand one out. The other 99% of the time I have to take it. There is something great about getting your ass kicked. Not during the ass-kicking... that is when it hurts. But sometime shortly after I start to feel great. Not just great... I feel incredible. This is when I start to plan for next year in hopes of getting my ass a little less kicked. I don't think you can appretiate how hard something is until you are out there on the recieving end. We are involved in one of the few sports where you can actually stand on the 50 yard line with some of the greatest riders on the planet and see how bad we actually are.

A few days back someone(non racer) was talking to my wife about a cyclocross world-cup they saw on the internet. They mentioned the riders looked slow and didn't have the best handling. I got tweaked. To judge Sven Nys.... that is insane. If it looked slow .... then I can't imagine what a mortal would have looked like on the course. To critique riders with a VO2 max of almost 100 and say they look SLOW.... that blows me away. If Sven is jogging you would have to CRAWL...

I think I am headed to Kansas so I know "how good..... I am not."
The crazy thing is I am completey OK with that. And I know I will train for 365 more days just to do it again.

UCI points and racing NATZ

2008-12-05T10:47:00.000-08:00

So I am headed to kansas next week for masters nationals....... This will be my 4th trip to Masters Cyclocross nationals and I have been lucky enough to make it in the Top 10 each year. The field is insanely strong. Looking through the UCI list I noticed:

JACQUES-MAYNES Andy
USA19790922
USA
216 POINTS.....

ranked as the 7th FASTEST American... good enough for a front ROW in the ELITE race... is racing masters also.....damn.... yeah that pretty much says it all. ...maybe its time to start drinking heavily....
OR
This Looks like a good time to restructure the goals. Top 10 is the goal... Top 5 is the SUPER goal... making the PODIUM will take the best day of my life.

The one thing I have learned racing my bike... you have to show up to have a chance.

So Mr. Jac MAYNES...................I will see you in KANSAS.... and in 2009 again.....2010... again.... 2011... probably....

.................. I noticed that Tim Johnson, Jonathon Page, and Todd Wells all are in there early 30's........looks like they can race masters also... It may be the easiest way for PAGE to get the jersey back.... So here is the invitation... if you see PAGE... tell him I will pay for his registration if he races 30-34.... heck I will pay for all 3 of there registrations.... so WELLS and JOHNSON... If you sponsors are hurting and you need the cash... come race 30-34.. I bet you have a great chance of winning form the back row.

Heck the rule is just 30-34.... So I guess it is game on...
I also nocticed that Sven Nys is 32... I wonder if he races masters nationals in Belgium?

Jingle cross rock 2009 cyclocross

2008-11-30T20:02:00.000-08:00

Day 1
JINGLE CROSS ROCK
A kick ass day…..

Heading to the start I had a plan for top 15… There were tons of fast regional guys looking for UCI points and I wasn’t 100% sure who was who. Tons of individuals decked out in different kits. I guess if you put a UCI race in IOWA….just like field of dreams….They will come.

Everyone looked fast… I wanted to PUKE.. I was Nervous as a virgin on prom night.

I hade a solid start. 2nd row behind WELLS, TILFORD, Jac MAYNES. And tons of other guys that are faster than me. I wasn’t quite as aggressive as I needed to be off the line. I don’t think I gave any spots up, but I didn’t really move up. I hesitated a bit… WE were going so fast into the first turn moving up just looked like a bad idea. I was in 12th or 15th??????? Not really sure. After the first few turns it got super strung out. We were flying down a long straight into a slight head wind. The path was smooth and the grass was SLOW. So trying to move up was pretty hard. Going into the barriers I had a pretty clean line and moved up 3-4 spots. After the barriers I was about 6 meters behind the leaders. We went uphill into this off camber section. Someone went down. DAMN…. Slammed on the brakes… jumped off the bike…. My mind was just screaming… I could barely see…..5 maybe 10… but it felt like 50 riders went by … I jumped on the bike only to jump back off and run a bit more then JUMP back on….. I felt pretty silly. There was a HUGE run-up coming so I knew I had to put down the hammer and try to get back in the game. I dismounted early so I could avoid and chaos at the first LOG… It worked… Several riders were grabbing there bikes and I already had mine on my shoulder. I moved to the right and had a clean line on the hill. I think I took back most of the spots I had lost, but the leaders were GONE…… completely gone…. Now……. I don’t think I could have HUNG with the WELLS brothers………. but I was amped to try my hand in the 2nd group… They had 10 seconds easy and I wasn’t strong enough to jump across a gap to riders that are stronger. I topped out the hill and was in a group of 5-6 riders. So there were 5 guys up ahead and were going to battle it out for the scraps. I felt great. I don’t know why but I felt calm and super relaxed today nothing felt that hard. It was an incredible feeling. After a few laps it was down to ME, TILFORD, and a CLIFF Bar U-23 rider… I tried a few times to get away but they were to strong to just let me ride away.. I felt faster on the flats and the runs… but the technical spots they would just close the gap…..
Long story short…. I wanted TOP 15…. I was dreaming of a top 10… I ended up 8th… If I hadn’t gotten shoved into the tape on the last corner ………..I would have had a great shot at 6th… a killer ride for me regardless. Normally, Tilford beats me by a few minutes, I felt strong the entire hour. It felt great… The course kicks ass for me. Lots of grass and a huge run.
I love cross…damn I really loved it today… I hurt a ton on the hill and smiled the whole way… It sucked… but damn I really love it………… Today was one of those days that you realize how lucky we are that a few weird EURO’s invented cyclocross.

DAY 2
EPIC… SNOW yeah… snow….. winter weather watch was in FULL force. It was 33 degrees so the snow made just the right type of SLOP…. The good thing was,,, it wasn’t sticking to the bike or tires……… so at least it didn’t jack up the bike.

Today I had a better start. I gave it just the right gas before going into the corner……. …………but DAMN I took myself down coming out of it……… Bummer ……… I went from 4th or so to 15th pretty quick…Definitely my fault. It was so slick I just needed to slow a bit more than I did. The corners were just awful all day…. It was snowing hard and the mud was a few inches deep. You couldn’t hook up because the ground was hard underneath. At least I couldn’t. The great thing today was the long “RIDE up” turned into a “RUN up”… I felt great running again today. The hill felt easy… The problem wasn’t the climb…. The decent was epic. It was so slick and fast………. I was gripped. I could survive it but couldn’t let it fly…..I moved up to 6th after the first big RUN….. I felt great. But the rest of the day was about survival for me….. the guys that were riding fast in the slop would kill me on the technical sections. I could close the gap on the RUN…. Then it would open up again… I only drifted back 3 spots so that was pretty good. I couldn’t even hang with the guys that came around me. I tried but they were INCREDIBLE…. I have incredible respect for the riders that can just hammer on that crap… The second I try to ride that fast I end up on my ass…… so survival was the key… by the time I got to the finish line I was so damn cold I couldn’t feel any parts on my body… I dropped the bike and ran to the shower… The hot water was more painful than the cold…. For the first 5 minutes it hurt worse than the race. It was like an extra lap of PAIN… I wasn’t even moving and I hurt more than I had the entire hour. I curled in the corner of the shower till my hands stopped throbbing…. I felt like hammers slamming into them….I invited another rider in as I sat shaking… he had to think I was freak…. Here is a guy in full kit… sitting in the corner covered in MUD curled into a ball…. It was all I could do to not stay conscience.

So the weekend pretty much kicked ass……. 8th and 9th are just great rides for me... I can imagine a few spots higher....but I also can see where I could have gone back a few spots had things not worked out also. So I am amped at 2 top 10 rides.... It is hard to put 2 good days together under totally different conditions. Just being consistent makes me realize I am fit and riding the bike well.

I had a blast…the course is incredible and the IOWA crowd is just rad. I can’t wait for 2009….. I will be back….
Thanks to the guy who lent me the pit wheel and thanks to the entire staff who made this race incredible. It is the highlight of my year…..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSXXc6hce3k&eurl=http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=jingle+cross+rock&hl=en&emb=0&aq=f&feature=player_embedded

HERE IS some video I took while running the course and watching the first LAP of the womans UCI race. This gives you an idea how SLICK it was. First lap and people could barely stand up or ride. These girls are bad asses and most of them KILLED the downhill.... It was impressive. I only wish I could have ridden the downhill like the first girl in the video.

One more lap

2008-11-13T10:51:00.000-08:00

ONE MORE LAP…

As the CX season unfolds I realize how short the CX season really is. Months of hard work and it is almost time to start thinking about racing on the road again. With only 4 weeks left in my cyclocross season I must remind myself to race every moment of every race before the season ends. It is so easy to back down… damn every race I want to quit at some point. I always think of what I heard Kent Bostick said to my friend John Hart… "little buddy..Your pain is not special." I live by these words during the hardest part of the race. Sometimes as I am gasping for air or my legs hurt so bad I want to cut them off… I just remember that “my pain is not special.” As I spit on my top tube unable to see straight…. I remind myself again… “your pain is not special”
I hurt… damn do I hurt. Every day I train… I hurt. This past year at master’s nationals I was standing on the curb yelling at my wife with 1k to go in her time trial. She was 3 seconds back on my time sheet. I noticed she was crying when she rode by…these were not tears of sadness… dude these were tears of insane pain… pain I don’t know if I have ever felt. I go hard… damn sometimes I go so hard I can’t feel my hands or feet…but have I ever gone so hard I cried! Never…not yet.. And I guess that is why she as a stars and stripes jersey and I don’t……….. So this year that is my new goal… To race so hard that I either pass out or cry..

Pain and failure is 99% of this sport. So why every time I am suffering do I feel pain and usually fail? You would think I could ignore the pain and grab success by the nads….. It is at the moment when it hurts the MOST….I start to think “my pain is special”…. But I know it isn’t.. We all feel it… we all want to quit. Every minute of every interval I think about it for at least a few seconds… It is like beating you head against a concrete wall. Each time you slam your forehead into the wall it hurts and the wall doesn’t move. The funny thing is I have been repeating this for 6 years now. So the truth is…it is not a failure. I didn’t LOOSE.. I raced my brains out and went as hard as I could.. the guy in front of me is just stronger…should I just quit and not chase him? No way…. The struggle is what I love the most. I think to love this sport, and survive racing you have to enjoy getting beat down as much as you enjoy giving the beat down. I just want to be out there suffering… it always feels so much better when I am making others suffer…but I learn more and grow more from being on the receiving end of a good beating. Motivation comes from failure for me.

I think about the NIKE commercial….my better is better than your better…. If you haven’t seen it go to youtube… and check it out. But really… is my BETTER …better than your BETTER…. Damn if that was the case I would win a ton of races. I don’t win very often so I think there are a ton of guys out there whose BETTER is BETTER than my better. So if Kent is correct that my pain isn’t special… and others are better… why do I race? 99% of the time I know I can’t win. There are always several riders who are a bit stronger. In some cases a TON stronger. So why do I spend thousands of dollars racing and 100’s of hour suffering each year? That's a really good question. I think there are a ton of answers. I have my identity so wrapped around cycling what would I do if I stopped? I would probably have a terrible drug problem or gamble my life savings away. So suffering for hours on end might just be a bargin .

So we now have an idea of the consequences if I stop suffering and quit riding. The new question becomes: how can I suffer in bliss? This is a trick I am getting better at each year. I love to watch Chris Horner suffer… the guy is always smiling… Try it… for me it works…. For the first time I have started to invite the pain in… I don’t run form it like I used to… I don’t start to question why I hurt or think “I must be having a bad day.” What I have learned is when you go HARD… it hurts. It always will. I always here riders talking about “bad legs” most of the time it makes me chuckle. Bad legs usually just mean the race was hard. If you ride with power I want you to try to ride around 600 watts for 40-45 seconds… that is the start of a cross race. DO it every day… If you ever have a day where that feels easy and your legs don’t burn…Go buy some lottery tickets.
If you are in shape…and have trained a decent amount… and your legs hurt and burn…it is a pretty good sign you are going hard…not that you have bad legs, but that you have fit enough legs to suffer. Somewhere along the way on the delusion train we have decided that going hard should feel good. That is crazy talk. The only time racing and training feels good…is when you are not going hard enough to make any gains or to win.

If you feel good = You are not going very hard (at least not hard enough to get benefits from training or to be successful in a race)

If you feel bad = you are probably pegged and on the rivet
-this is actually a good thing

Bad legs = peoples in your race are Better than your better

Good legs = you need to upgrade

99.9% of the time I think the above is correct. We all have bad days every once in a while. But if ½ of your races are bad… then you are not being realistic. Your training either doesn’t match your goals…. Or your goals don’t match your pedigree.

Now that we have solved a pretty serious math problem lets get back to the fact that most of us are not very good. What do I mean? Most of us suck. Yes we suck. Hard to stomach but the sooner we all figure it out the more credit we can give to the riders who don’t…….. Now this isn’t very nice, but what I mean is that the guy who beat me last weekend sucks a little less than I suck. The guy who finished behind me isn’t Better than my Better. Every week the goal is to suck a bit less and try to bring the best effort I can manage to the race. Each week I have new excuses as to why I am going to suck. I try to hide them under the bed in a shoe box, but I always let a few slip. Usually I talk about how hard I trained or didn’t train. That is my favorite. But the bottom line is when we walk up to the starting line we are very vulnerable. It is how you learn to deal with the insecurity of sucking that makes you a great warrior. Dude…. win or lose if you bring a great fight you should be able to pat yourself on the back and be amped about how you raced. Most of the time we just beat ourselves to a pulp during the race and then continue to do so for the following week. The key is to ask yourself several times during the race “can I go harder?” If the answer is yes… then get on the gas. If the answer is “no” then stay the course. So next time your are out racing at Defcon 4..try to smile… you should be amped that you are killing it. If you are crying then you know you are pegged. Pegged is pegged. The guy in 10th is just as pegged as the guy who won. Neither effort has more value. Like Kent said “your pain isn’t special.” So don’t run from it… invite it in…and next time you are racing and the race is finished.. I challenge you to race one more lap… why not… it is what we do and who we are. Cross season will be over in a blink of an eye. Enjoy every painful minute of each lap…. Soon there will be no more laps to ride and no more cross races till next year. You will spend the next 9 months getting ready to do it again.

KIng and Queen of cros results

2008-11-09T16:15:00.000-08:00

Working on results NOW...
Great race!!
Thanks for coming....
Photos also by Monday.

King and Queen of cross in 3 days COME RACE

2008-11-06T08:43:00.000-08:00

http://www.pocatellocyclocross.blogspot.com/
REGISTER HERE
http://kingandqueenofcross.athlete360.com/

I have been out working on the course. Can't wait to see who makes the trip to race.
FELDMAN? BART? RICO? CURRY? BOISE RIDERS? Montanna CXr's? TONS of JACKSON and VICTOR riders!!! 2 years ago BART showed up and killed it. Last year ALI GOULET smoked it. 2009.. I expect a great race... and have HOPES of building this race into the WESTERN STATES CHAMPIONSHIPS! This is your chance as a racer to race guys and gals from all 4 states. Don't run and hide..... Get in the car and drive.
I am personally inviting anyone that loves cross to make the drive. There is a race at NOON in Rexburg SATURDAY... called the CUBE.....so you can make it a double.

Sunday in POKI will be a great race. NOON start so you have plenty of time to DRIVE up! 1 oclock for the A and B race.

Racing at ROLLING thunder cyclocross 2009

2008-10-16T19:57:00.000-07:00

PHOTO by Tom ROBERTSON

The family(K, and our 2 pups) and I are making the trip to race Rolling Thunder. This should be a great race. The enthusiasm of the MT racers is incredible. I am sure some super strong guys and gals will make the trip. Looks like a ton of local power and the national mountain bike star Sam Shultz will be racing. The course looks pretty cool on google maps... some sort of a BMX track!!!

ROLLING THUNDER ROCKED!
OK I have to be honest... I was nervous driving 5 hours for a 60 minute race...But we loaded up the car and make the trip on pure faith that the MT' crew were going to put on a killer event...I have to say.......... as we rolled into the parking lot... I wasn't sure if I was in MT OR Vegas....
They had brought in LIGHTS....BEER TENTS.... and tons of spectators... Some in costume and tons of cow bell!

After a few pre-laps I was a bit nervous about the technical parts of the course ...which included 10 FULL sized WOOPS on the BMX track and a HUGE Banked turn that you could just ride like you were on rails...
The race went great... I pulled out of me pedal at the start... and ended up going through the first turn in 5th or something... I sat back for the first lap trying not to wreck to early... Everything about the course felt different at FULL speed. Some of the easy corners were super hard when you double the speed. About 4 laps in I was pegged and could feel the elastic stretching a bit... So I pinned it and opened up a small gap. The MT' riders were not easy to shake.... they were tight on me for several laps. I noticed that once the gap opened... Sam Shultz was getting SICK air on the WOOPS... I could see the flashes out of the corner of my eye. It is odd to be racing FULL out and see the guy chasing riding the BMX track like he on HELL track... I spent the next 30 minutes trying not to wreck and riding as hard as I possibly could. When the dust settled I had a small gap at the finish and WON my first race in almost a year...I have to say it felt great. I have to say thanks to the ROLLING THUNDER crew for making this a destination event. From the shots of Yeager to the Bottle of Champagne I got to spray....It was just rad.... OH yeah... A huge thanks to GREAT NORTHERN CYCLES and FELT for coming through with the raddest prize I have ever won... A new FELT F1!!!
To see a shop and company support cross this strongly makes me want to support them. So if you live in MT... go buy a bike from Great Northern Cycles.... if you are thinking of getting a CX bike, Road bike, or a great cruiser... take a look at FELT... I checked them out at Interbike last month and all of there new bikes look great. Karen and I were thinking of picking up some cervelos for next road season...but were on the fence about the new FELTS.... so Great Northern and Felt made the decision super easy... We will be rocking a NEW FELT TT bike for Karen and I am going to get one of the new FELT aero road bike... I will be sure to give you a report in the spring.

CROSS 2008 Cross Vegas Lance

2008-09-21T17:38:00.000-07:00

WELL it is ON. Moose cross has come and gone, and the 2008 cyclocross season is off.
Moose cross pretty much ROCKED..Victor just might be the next BOULDER. First off they built a COURSE that had Woopie DO's.... No clue how to spell that... KEG tossing after the race!
A great event! SEE you next year.

yeah cross in victor rocked!

Then it was off to VEGAS for interbike....
After some afternoon beer drinking I was informed that LANCE was racing Cross Vegas!!
So I had 3 hours to get hydrated and figure out how to get a BIKE, Skin SUIT, SHOES, Licence, and a ride to the race. I was operating on 4 hours of sleep and had just spent about 12 hours standing up..... This was a great PRE-RACE strategy....

So I made a few phone calls, and put all my friends to work so I could get in the race... This was no easy task... I didn't have shoes! My licence! And wasn't officially registered because a glitch in the website... (Long complicated story)... BOTTOM line is the race director deserves a medal of Honor for getting me in the race! I LOVE HIM... Thanks to Dr. Walker for taking care of that... just bill my insurance... ALI GOULET downloaded and printed my LICENCE about 1 hour before the race( I LOVE YOU TO).... Shimano sold me a pair of shoes at the show ( thanks) And John Scarfiotti lent me his MOIST & DIRTY skin suit to race in... Thanks JOHN...

I made it to the race and tracked down all the needed pieces to the PUZZLE... As I was warming up... I was also sobering up..................... and realized this might not be the best idea... Every rider I saw was a "NAME" Trebon, Wicks, kabush, Craig, Cruz, johnson, Schriver, PAGE!!!!
(PIC OF LANCE AND ME! IN THE BACKGROUND)

DUDE I had no buisness in this race.... but I was pinned up and given a 4th row start from some UCI points I had from last year.... This was my only chance to race with LANCE ..... SO I TOOK the LINE with the best cross racers in the country....

The start was NUTZ.... it was so fast.... I don't even remember the first lap. 15,000 screaming cyclists lined the course. Coming up the run-up is was so loud.... Then right as I hit the TOP...Lance must have hit the bottom and the VOLUME went through the roof.. It was like a wave of screaming girls at a Beatles concert... He was right behind me.. I could feel him catching me with every pedal stroke. After another 1/2 lap he came around me... I jumped on his wheel.. For 1 -1/2 laps I rode with the Legend. It was incredible. Coming on to the finishing straight a rider from behind me.....hit my rear wheel and knocked me sideways... I rolled my rear tubular... BUMMER I lost Lance. I jumped off the bike and rolled it back on... I didn't have a pit bike and only 1/4 of the tire had rolled off so I just kept riding.. I was super cautious on the corners and just drilled the straights. I held on to 3oth which is one of the best rides I have ever had in a field this stacked. The course was perfect for me... Tons of grass...LOTS of pedaling.

With 10 weeks to nationals I don't have much planned as far as racing... I will train...and pray for a super MUDDY... SLOW day... IN KANSAS...

Belgium trip KILLER

2008-04-30T09:52:00.001-07:00

I can't take a punch..

2008-04-03T08:13:00.001-07:00

you should see the other guy !

First off..... I am fresh off watching the "UFC" fight night so I have to say I am a bit more jacked up than normal. I love to watch the fights even though I have never...never...never...thrown a punch before. My future as a fighter looks pretty bleak...now that I know I have a glass chin.

So I headed off to the dog park to get the pups a little exercise when "WHAM"... I got slugged...My knees buckled and I fell to the grass. I am not kidding. I just collapsed.

I couldn't see for a few seconds. It was crazy... At first I didn't even know what hit me.
I have never been punched in the face before. For those of you who haven't either, take it from me...DAMN it hurts. I had water running out of my eyes and nose, and blood running down my chin.
As I was picking myself off the ground a car stopped to ask if I was OK. I had a hard time just speaking to the driver.

At this point you have to be asking yourself "who hit sam"

I know I was!

What is funny was that I had no idea. I had some Rocky flashbacks...of when Mr. T just leveled him...

I solved the mystery pretty quick.

THE "CHUCK IT" I had it loaded with a SOLID rubber tennis ball that my dogs can't destroy.

When my big arms let it rip....The ChuckIT pivoted in my palm...the solid ball didn't release.... so with my arm fully extended, and at full power this seemingly safe toy....pivoted in my hand and hit me square in the jaw..... like a 5 Pound RUBBER mallet....at full speed.
The ball was frozen into the ChuckIT. I had left it in the car overnight and the slobber must have frozen it to the plastic.
The leverage of the Chuckit and the ball...just slugged me!
I have to say I have never felt anything like that before. The taste of the dog slobber and blood is still embedded in my taste buds.

Just when you feel you are safe in Pocatello, ID "The Smile Capital of the World"
You end up getting assaulted by a dog toy.

POKI CX RESULTS

2007-11-17T15:35:00.001-08:00

http://kriegcycling.com/sams-blog.aspx

Vegas CX and Intebike

2007-10-04T06:40:00.001-07:00

What an epic week. Interbike was 7 days of travel...little sleep... and a small little bike race call Vegas Cross. Now that Cyclocross season is in full gear it was pretty cool to KICK it off in vegas. Elvis was at the race turning the LAP cards and giving podium kisses. The field of riders looked more like the red carpet of celebrity bike racing. The TOP 20 riders were a solid mix of D-3 Pro's and a few riders ranked Top 10 in the world. My chances to get a Kiss from Elvis were slim to none. I did manage to grab some cash during the race from the crazy race fans. When the dust settled I was SOAKED in beer from head to toe. Every lap they were tossing it on us on the Run-up. After the race I headed to the craps table and by 3 am I had won more money than Trebon for his win of the race. I guess I have to take it when I can get it.Notice the K seat bag.

NEW KRIEG SKINSUIT

2007-09-06T14:22:00.001-07:00

SUPER HERO or CX Racer???

Well I am still not fast but the KIT looks FAST. It will debut in VEGAS at Interbike. I have heard the Ryan Trebon trembles at the sight of this KIT. When he laps me in VEGAS, Lousiville, Iowa and Kansas...... I will be sure flex a BICEP and give him a scare.

Hey we have 20-30 new bags at www.kriegcycling.com check them out. REI has picked them up for 2008 and we just added Posion Spider in MOAB as a dealer.

BACK TO SCHOOL (CX SCHOOL)

2007-08-27T09:05:00.001-07:00

LINK TO NEW BLOG

http://www.kriegcycling.com/sams-blog.aspx

"ALL ABOARD"Gas Prices coming down and still out of Gas

2007-08-05T11:24:00.000-07:00

With gas prices falling.... I find that my tank is still empty.
Huntsville 100 and Chalk Creek have beaten me down. So hard..... I find myself wanting to list all of my cycling STUFF on Ebay again. Watch for the ad!!! I have to take my hat off to "NORM" for just riding a stellar performance at Chalk Creek. He was the only guy really driving the break away for 50+ miles, and then just dropped us who were sitting in to solo the last 40-50 miles. In ended with a puke fest on the side of the road(BUT that took a huge set of balls)

Now on to Huntsville. With Gardie on the SUPER "Jacky D" solo effort early, and IRA in the early move. "All" we had to do was SURVIVE the LOUDER ATTACK, and all would be OK. I found myself unable to hold on and was quickly popped out the rear. Sorry for opening that gap.
I (was/am) truly bummned. I felt I had dropped the ball. I was pegged.. No excuses here .....that is all I had. I wish I had more, but I just couldn't ride any harder.

The rest of the climb Alex Rock and I were able to pick up and pass some of the carnage from the train wreck ahead on the climb. As the steam engine rolled on we were able to see the puffing smoke and small explosions ahead as riders jumped from the train. It looked like Jeff put on the brakes a bit to slow down as he approached the summit. We got within 30 seconds...... It might as well have been 30 minutes...we didn't have tickets to the Louder Express....

The rest of the race was spent in LIMBO. We had 2 guys up the road. .............it was silly to chase since we obviously couldn't hang with the Engines up the road. Some guys wanted to chase... and others of us just wanted to get back to the car. To me the race was up the road. No real way to get across...Because if that was possible I/WE would have hung on the climb. Now the race was for best of the rest. It made sence to me to just do some work and get Bryson and Turbo to the line. THE MONEY was only 3 deep and that was already decided. It was a pretty FUN last 10 K. Lots of attacks. Ryan ended up taking the sprint...I was impressed I could hardly turn the pedals at the finish line.

Overall it was a great ride...I definitely have some training to do before CX.

rock revenge for road rash

2007-07-06T13:42:00.000-07:00

here is the ROCK THAT took me down
I tracked it down and will destroy it slowly
If you have any ideas let me know.

Gate City Grind 2007

2007-07-03T18:13:00.001-07:00

It felt like a street fight. Right out of the Ultimate Fighting Championships. It was like having Tito Ortiz and Randy Couture kick your a**.......

Just like West Side Story....... Actually I have never seen it but I think it had gangs in it. Ok more like Boyz in the HOOD.

We had the West Coast represented by BOB's and Matt Weyen(also known as Slayer) He had brought of crew of thugs with mad skills..... to take revenge on Sienna for their win a few years ago. There was the Porcupine Crew straight out of the Valley with Dave Harward(also know as B.A.M.F) I heard someone stole his wallet...unlucky them....

Sienna brought a SIX shooter .38 revolver with enough ammo to bring peace to the middle east. From the slums of Park City.... a tough old street Kid came solo representing the Binghams crew. ... Hang Man was vicious in bringing back move after move.... using the same skills that have kept him alive in the vicious streets of PC.

I have to say I still can barely walk after the beating I took the past 2 days.
Check out my NEW Time trial bike and position.. Think I can get a bit lower and more aero but it is a start.....

19th HIGH Unitas Classic

2007-06-18T18:17:00.000-07:00

High Unitas 2007

The AUTOBOT(BURKE aka Optimus Prime) VS. the DECEPTICON(Louder aka Megatron)

A peaceful day in Kamas was blanketed in a cloud of fear and doom as the Utah/Idaho bike racing galaxy was threatened with extinction from the vicious battle between Optimus Burke and Megartron Louder. As mortal humans our battle as bike racers was simply for survival against these two Immortal Machines. With an early break hammering away to a 9 minute gap at the base of the climb, the racers still in the field knew it was going to be a slug fest between the non-human Autobot and Decepticon. All we could hope for was minimal blood shed. From the base of the climb we were running scared…….. as we were gunned down from behind by Optimus Burke and Megatron Louder. One mortal (Jrad) was forced from his bike by Optimus Burke to aid the Autobot on his mission of complete anhialation of the earthlings (later Jrad would say "I gave up my wheel in hopes that Optimus Burke would, someday, extend immortality to me"). Legs were ripped off and eaten like hot wings at Hooters. Within minutes the dynamic human slayers had devoured enough human fuel to close the 9 minute gap to the earthlings in the break. This destruction continued thoughout the weekend of racing finished off by an epic criterium that saw the 2 bots battle once again leaving nothing alive in their path of destruction. Every prime was swallowed alive. With nothing left standing in their way Optimus Burke and Megatron Louder turned on each other. Megatron with one last round in the SIX shooter brought home the win leaving Louder with just enough money to put gas in the car and get home.

Louder was defeated this time but will return to fight again. Us humans can just pray that the upcoming NRC races will keep us safe from the wrath of the bots!

This story was inspired over a few beers with Marc Yap.

A TRUE CONFESSION

2007-05-27T10:19:00.000-07:00

COMING FROM A MAN OF THE CLOTH:
FATHER BRADY SENT THIS TO US FROM HIS TRAINING CAMP DEEP IN THE MOUNTAINS OF MEXICO WHERE NO UCI OR WADA OFFICIAL COULD FIND HIM.

Brady wrote......
In the current wave of confessions, bravely being led by former member of Telecom and T-Mobile, I find myself challenged to make my own confession. I too have doped. In my break-out season last year in which I had many good placings and wins I was participating in a regimented doping program. Although I trained hard, I was taking HGH, EPO, Cortosoids, Sudafed, some sort of female fertility drug, Cialis and Viagra, cocaine, meth, Flintstones Vitamins, Rogaine, Peptobismal, Ex-lax, Vodka, a little mere Viagra, inhalers and various other stimulants. I accept full responsibility for my decisions. No one forced me to dope. I heartily apologize to anyone whom may be hurt by my actions.
However, unlike those who have recently made confessions I find it necessary to also bring into the light those who assisted me. Being that they are characters of such low moral character, I believe they cannot be trusted to make their own confession so I will force the card. Adam Boyce, known in doping circles as "The Missionary" is at equal fault. It was he who organized my doping regiment and in doing so, promised me results and local fame. Many people only know one side of Adam, it is important they know the other. Dave Hachey is guilty of supplying all of the controlled substances and most of the uncontrolled substances with the exception of the Flintstones Vitamins. Those came from my twelve year old brother. Both of these individuals is of the lowest quality. Dave "the Hatchet" Hachey is not taking a sabbatical to Africa he is taking a long trip with the profits he made from me. He, in short is a scumbag. Finally, it should be noted that Karen Appleby is the leader of Pocatello´s doping community. Her academic position affords her a disguise and the quick respect of others. It was her manipulative sports psychology that broke me down and led me to where I am know. She repeatedly told me I was nothing if I didn´t win and told me she will kill my little brother´s dogs and kittens if I did not yield to her will. She also demanded half of the winnings I earned totaling the incredible amount of $10.00.
I may be ostracized for naming others but if Pocatello is going to race clean a change has to be made and questions have to be asked. For example, why is a certain spouse of a certain terrible professor, who recently broke his back, riding so damn well? Why is an Irishman who has no accent riding just as well? Who is he really!?! Why is it that, despite the aerodynamic hindrances of his mustache a person with the initials RVK, is still so fast when he is only 3 years younger than Moses? Dr. Kris Walker? Perhaps she is a Dr.of Evil Lies! I ask these questions but the answers must come from somewhere else.
I again apologise to all I have hurt, except for the French because they suck and no amount of doping will help them anyway.

Sincerely,
Fr. J

GARDEN CREEK GAP RESULTS!! 2007

2007-05-26T22:24:00.000-07:00

WHAT A great race! thanks for coming!!! I hope to have the race in 2008 even a bit better!! Here are the results.
http://www.kriegcycling.com/Garden-Creek-Gap-2007-RESULTS.aspx
I WILL HAVE A VIDEO AND PICS IN A FEW DAYS!!

Snowskate Snowbird

2007-05-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

May 2nd Ben's B-Day

2007-05-02T12:45:00.000-07:00

My bro's birthday is today. Damn I miss that guy. Last year I sent him an email... but this year it bounced back as "undeliverable". I guess emails don't last forever. It would be his 32nd birthday today. I turn 31 later this month. Growing up most people thought we were twins.

Ben just had a smile that I will never forget. Almost a grin that said

"don't worry about it.....It will all workout"

I don't care if he was on the Titanic or on the roof of the World Trade Center. He would have had that grin. It was infectious...... and sometimes his optimism made me so mad. He would be broke, and literally running on fumes......But in his mind he was only a few days away from the next big thing................. The guy just never quit.

I remember last year on his birthday I was sitting on a curb watching a crit at the GILA in New Mexico, and this guy walked up and said "Hey, are you Ben Krieg's brother". I almost started to cry. It ended up being a college friend of Ben's who learned to ride and race from him. Here we are in southern New Mexico, and a fraternity brother from Iowa picks me out of a crowd. Maybe it was the grin?

Ben W. Krieg 1975-2006 http://benkrieg.blogspot.com/

2007-04-27T08:08:00.001-07:00

TaX DAY CIRCUIT RACE

2007-04-21T21:51:00.000-07:00

Damn.... That was a great day and a great race. We had a great turnout with tons of fit racers. I was nervous from the gun but was super happy to just get out and do some racing. I survived a few laps and had to call it a day and let the real racers get to it. After 4 or 5 trips up the climb a few local super studs crossed the gap to the break with Mark Santa took the win. Pretty stellar. Please check back i hope to have some images and video tomorrow.

STILL Waiting for images to do the video of the race. Here is the view from the finish.

14 days NO brace/ (Check your junk)

2007-04-18T10:32:00.000-07:00

Well I have been out of the brace for 14 days. Sweet. I can touch my toes and just started riding outside 3 days ago. I am having delusions of racing soon. Just finished up my taxes and didn't have to pay to much $$$ this year.

OK here is the serious part of the BLOG. CHECK YOUR JUNK!! I had a pretty big scare with the fatty tumor and some groin pain. I had to see some doctors about testicular cancer. It was not on the fun list of things I wanted to do. But the bottom line is.... we all need to do self checks. Get a good idea of what is going on so if you ever have problems.... you will know what "it should" feel like. Just my 2 cents. I was calling friends all over to ask what the boys felt like. So I know this isn't the topic we want to read about but I think it was worth a mention. We have a local race this weekend "Tax Day Circuit Race" I hope to see a ton of racers ready for 07'

Fatty Tumor removed!!

2007-04-13T14:22:00.000-07:00

OK this is how I spent Friday the 13th. I had a small fatty tumor removed from my peck. Dr. Kris Walker busted out the scapple and removed a lima bean sized growth(with legs) under my nipple. Pretty crazy and a bit graphic so sorry for the post. Its being tested and I will have the results in a week. I am sure I will be just fine. But for now I won't be doing any topless modeling. I thought about having her make me a "D cup" but I decided to stay natural. I never thought I would find a lump in my chest, but 2007 has thrown a few curve balls my way. I really wanted to watch but I didn't have the nerve. I took today off the bike but hope to be back at it tomorrow.

20 MINUTE EFFORT DAY 1

2007-04-05T15:11:00.000-07:00

Does cross training work....

I have to think it sure doesn't hurt if you do it hard enough.

I can't really believe that the stairmaster can cross over this well but damn. I am jumping up and down at the moment(figuratively)

68°F 4500 ft
Indoor 20 MINUTE Effort/TEST ON TRAINER Fluid 2 (330 5.1wkilo)
Most of effort was standing I couldn't sit very comfortably so I rode probably 75% out of saddle.. while in the saddle I sat up like "No hands" i was scared to bend.
Well 84 days off the bike in a TLSO....and here it is. 6 weeks of Elliptical, Stairmaster. All was done low cadence at 150-155 hrate. 8-10 hours a week for 6 weeks. The 6 weeks before that was all pretty much walking and sleeping. I rested the past 2 days so I would have some legs. I had a CTL of 60 on Tuesday and an ATL of 90 TSB of -31
Thursday.
Today I had ATL 56 CTL of 54 and TSB of -10
I was pretty nervous so I was very controlled and held back from
Def con 4. I just road controlled and tried not get sloppy. Don't get me wrong I was pegged... spitting on the SRM.
I started to feel my lack of cycling fitness at minute 12. I could tell I haven't pedaled a bike in 3 months. The legs felt Strong. I struggled with spinning so I just mashed 60-65 cadence.

Super excited. I think it will be 2-3 weeks before I can train but this is a good start.

one more day

2007-04-03T21:54:00.001-07:00

Here is the other guy besides Jesus who walked on water.

Well tomorrow will be my last day in the TLSO brace. 12 weeks ago I didn't think I could pull this off without going crazy. I have to admit that I have had my moments...but for the most part it hasn't been that bad. I had a goal of getting my taxes done, but I still haven't started them. I did 60 hours of StairMaster and elliptical. And I will finish Atlas Shrug tomorrow. 47 hours of a book on tape. I spent a ton of time loving my dogs over the past few months. So here I am at 83 days! Wow that went fast. Scary how time flys. It is time to get back up from getting knocked down.

A NEW STAR IS BORN STAIR MASTER WORLDS

2007-04-01T12:18:00.000-07:00

6 days I WANNA GO FAST!..ricky bobby

2007-03-30T21:43:00.000-07:00

Just finished the Ricky Bobby movie. If you haven't seen it..... Well you are missing probably the best movie ever...Except Highlander.
79 DAYS DOWN!!!!!! 6 days to go..... not sure how many hours or minutes that is, but I am definitely ready to get out of this brace. It really hasn't been that bad. In some ways it has been pretty cool. I have been killing the StairMaster(level 17-20). I pretty much just ramp till I have to close my eyes and spit on myself. I am not sure if the Olympics in Beijing
will have StairMaster as an event, but if they do I will certainly be ready to bring home some some serious medals. Seriously if you haven't tried level 20.... give it a rip next time you are at the gym.
So Thursday is the DAY. 9:30 am............. That is when I get to pull off the brace. I think the only bummer is..... I don't really get to stop wearing it. I get to begin phasing it out slowly. Alex Urfer takes over on Friday for the Physical Therapy. I haven't bent my core in 79 days. That is going to be weird.
check it out.... http://www.kriegcycling.com/Products.aspx we are finally making and selling bike bags. The bags look pretty rad.

21 days to go

2007-03-14T22:12:00.000-07:00

It should be 19 days but my doctor will be on vacation for 2 days past my due date. 48 extra hours of healing!!!!!!!

I almost cried. So the date is now the 5th of April. So after 63 days as a NINJA turtle I still have 21 to go. Not so bad.

I did get the thumbs up to kill the stairmaster at the GYM so watch out. I have been doing 60 minutes of climbing on it and can barely walk home after I fry my Quads.

It feels good to sweat and with the Jet Fuel from the JURA I can roll. Getting excited about getting out this spring with my dogs for a run. I don't think it will be fast..... but...... if I can go fast enough to feel like part of the pack "that would be just fine"

the road back

2007-02-27T08:07:00.000-08:00

35 days left... 35 more days of Elliptical machine.... So almost 35,000 more calories to burn and 210 miles to travel on that machine.

My back feels great ......and sleeping is just rad. I really don't like getting up and putting the brace back on, but how rad that I can get up at all. I have to say that I feel very lucky how great this whole process has been. My wife has been incredible and my friends are been so supportive. I can't believe how fortunate I am that this injury will end on such a good note.

105 shots of espresso will fuel my return over the next 35 days. Look for me at the gym, walking my dogs, or maybe at the first Time Trial just 6 days after I take off my TLSO brace.

6 weeks down 6 weeks to go

2007-02-22T13:24:00.000-08:00

Is the cup half full or half empty????
Ok 42 days on the couch sleeping.....on my back....... and now I get to sleep in my bed with no brace! I thought it was going to rock......Well it sucked. The couch with the brace was way better. I don't have an ounce of core left to even lay flat on a bed. It was a long first night. The last few nights have gotten way better so don't sweat I am getting my beauty sleep for the first time in 42 days!!!!

6 weeks my doctor has removed the leash and let me go to the gym for some cardio. I was the guy on the elliptical wearing the plastic cooler for a shirt. When you are at a college working out you spend half the workout trying to look cool and messing with your new 1000gig ipod. Well I don't have an i-pod(yet) and I certainly did not look cool. I am a skinny guy, and after 6 weeks off I am really skinny. The kind-of skinny that makes me look like I might have problems.... I was the guy in the back just rocking the elliptical machine trying to see how many watts I could push while trying to stay in control. I have gotten in 1 hr each day so far at about 145(heart rate) The goal is to get to 2 hours each day by Week 10. This might be a bit ambitious but we will see. CHECK OUT THE SWEAT AFTER 60 minutes!!

NEW Jura e8 espresso machine. If you don't have one you are missing out. Not sure why Iran is spending so much time enriching uranium. The Stuff that comes out of this machine is way more powerful.

3038 close calls "1 strike"

2007-01-21T08:36:00.000-08:00

Life goes on……It really does. The sun came up and my dogs still lick my face.
So far… most days start about 5 hours after I fall asleep. So the key is staying up as late as possible. What is great is that I fall asleep pretty easy and sleep pretty darn sound till about the 5 hour mark.

I saw a Neuro-Surgeon this week and he pointed out that I am pretty darn lucky.….But it could be so much worse. All signs at the moment are pointing to a full recovery. April 5th is “D-day”
I can take the TLSO brace off at 12 weeks.

The first few days I was all smiles and jokes. I have to say I was probably trying to cover up how scared I was. I was a few millimeters away from some damage to my spinal cord that would have been hard to repair. I cried several times the first week mainly out of fear. I got a great card from some climbing friends back east. Inside it just said “congrats we heard you can get an errection.” Thinking of you, Adam and Angie…
Sometimes it is the small things that make the difference.
So far I don’t miss training on the bike or riding the snowboard. I really miss running with my dogs and spooning my wife at night. Those are the 2 things I would certainly miss the most if this was permanent.
Yesterday while out walking it really hit me that for 30 years I have always bounced back up after every fall. This time I couldn’t say the words “wow that was close” so I think I was given a 2nd chance or sorts. Really this is about my 3038th chance if you ad up all the close calls. But unlike the other times I will remember this one for a long time. If all goes well I will back in some way or another by summer. I don’t see me catching big air or diving into a corner at full speed for awhile. 3038 chances so far and I am not in a hurry to see what 3039 will be.

L1 Burst Fracture Pictures CAT SCAN

2007-01-17T07:11:00.000-08:00

AGAIN all is well. Nights are brutal! At the moment I am not taking anything for the discomfort. The days are just great I wish they never ended. Here are some images of my spine. Dr. Blair has really put my mind at ease that I will be just fine in 12 weeks. I can walk and that makes all the difference in the world. 30 days ago I was racing at Cyclocross nationals.... that is hard to believe. Enjoy the pictures I wish they were of me doing something cool and not hurt.

Burst Fracture Compression Fracture L1

2007-01-14T07:30:00.000-08:00

Scared is about the only word I can use to describe how I feel. "Mortal" has crossed the my mind a few times in the past few days. Thursday I landed hard on my right side while out snowboarding at Grand Targhee. Last run of the day I hit the last jump in the terrain park with a bit to much speed and landed with a solid thud and compressed a vertebrae in my lower back. The bone burst and sent a few pieces of debris into my spinal cord column but nothing that my doctor is worried about.
I am wearing a pretty serious brace for the next 12 weeks 24/7. I am stable and Tuesday we will do a few more x-rays to make sure we are on track. Surgery in my case is a last resort. They would come through the front and remove the vertebrae and fuse a chunk of bone in the place where it was. Sounds pretty ugly so we are going a different route that has better results.

CX nats what a ride

2006-12-19T08:43:00.000-08:00

CX nats.. The course was perfect and I didn't have any mishaps. I had great legs and had just stellar rides both days. All the guys in front of me were just better. I had a bit of struggle in a few of the corners but overall I just couldn't have asked anymore or myself
The elite race on Saturday was just mega!! One of the coolest hours of my life. I raced a lap with Horner!! So cool. I even thought of passing him on the run-up but the dude was flying. I started back in the cheap seats 60th.. Moved my way up to 30th by the end! That is a great ride for me. So many great riders and so many great spectators. It was just so cool to take part in the event! To just be on the course with that many great riders was Richter. I can hardly wait till 07' TONS of Utah/Id riders killed it. Kris Walker was 2nd, Chris Piertizak pulled off 2nd and almost was the mail man. Art Oc' had a solid ride but after his 2nd last year it is hard to top that. Richard Feldman won !!! That guy can roll.

I have to say that UT and ID have some great riders.
We are all chasing a dream...I am sure we will all be back next year.

Jingle cross rock

2006-12-06T08:07:00.000-08:00

John the next "Cutter"

$13,000 in cash and prizes for cross!! What a great race weekend. Only a few big hitters and a ton of local talent. I flew back to race in Iowa and see some family and friends. I raced in Ben's old skin suit and had Lefler Schwin racers from years past screaming on the huge run up. I had a blast. my dad and brother got to see me race and I was able to pull of a 6th and a 5th. My oldest brother John took a lap on the course in his jeans and I thought for sure we were watching the birth of a new Cutter. Wait till next year when he brings is bike with a snow blower motor on it."not kidding"
Can't wait to go back next year.
Gina Appleby( my niece) came out for her first Kids race and took 6th in an impressive field of what looked like 100 kids. They even had to do the barriers. She loved it. First female across the the line!!! I have to say another cross racer was born.

Race Report from Cyclocross world

http://www.cyclocrossworld.com/News.cfm?Action=Edit&MenuKey=940&theKey=940&back2=home

ogden cross

2006-12-04T16:17:00.000-08:00

well i got smoked! but had a fun time in the snow. nationals in 10 days hopefully no ice ..just some good mud and grass and I will do OK

Riding in Idaho in the winter

2006-11-15T09:25:00.000-08:00

Riding in Idaho in November. Well its definitely not Florida but great practice for Cross. I was as frozen as the bike when I got home. I think I will ride inside for the rest of the winter.

2006-11-09T11:03:00.000-08:00

50 Killed 20 Injured...Lawsuits and Animal Rights..Sam's CX season(P.E.T.A)

2006-11-09T07:47:00.000-08:00

Photos BY DAVE ILTIS

Looks like the Democrats took over the Senate... NOT sure what they can do for me this cross season. With huge social issues to address, and what is going on in Iraq.... I hope they can take some time on capital hill to amend the constitution to stop riders from bunny hopping barriers..... I will have P.E.T.A at the next race. The casualties were high this past weekend at Wheeler. My numbers aren't official but on Average I have Bart and Sagar killing 2 bunnies per lap. That is almost 40 total over the course of the race. This doesn't include practice laps. Rumors are flying about this coming weekends race. With all the "big hitters" back in town for the state race the casualties could go into the 100's. Ali, Bart, Chris, Sagar, Thomas, and all other hoppers ....you have been warned. The camera doesn't lie. And the Bunnies are Armed!
Many lawsuits are now pending on behalf of the injured and the relatives of the dead. This weekends race will be attended by the "Black Hairs" the bunny version of the Black Panthers. Race Promoter be warned...The body count is in his hands... he can stop it now or live with the countless body bags of our little friends. I hope Matt looses a bit of sleep over this...I have a feeling he has a soft spot in his heart for the little fuzzy guys.

FEAR THE BUNNY

Photo's by Dave Iltis.

2006-11-07T06:44:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJnYVm4iaqc

Sun Valley State CX's

2006-11-01T11:09:00.000-08:00

Ok that was some Cross this weekend.
Cody Peterson Killed it.BOTH DAYS!!!

Chris Pierterzak and Feldman were right up there both days. I was a far back 4th just trying to eat the scraps. Great EVENT!! We had 35 guys in the A's on Saturday and they had like 49 in the B's That is huge for CX in Idaho.

CX SNOW AND SNOW

2006-10-25T15:44:00.000-07:00

Hey Winter is here! Last weekend at RMR I got dusted by some great riders. Time to train more. I have to say I thought I was going fast and the guys in front of me just kept pulling away. Well... Sun valley.... this weekend maybe I can find something special and get a good few races under my belt. Here is the snow in POKI.

cx on sunday

2006-10-15T18:10:00.000-07:00

Sunday Poki CX

2006-10-15T17:12:00.000-07:00

Cross race #2 Ft Buen Ogden

2006-10-07T20:49:00.000-07:00

Ft. .Buen Cross race #2 in Salt Lake

A cross race you have dreams about. Tons of mud and tons of riders. It was exactly why I love cross. So much fun. You pretty much ruin your bike, but heck you can hardly sleep the next day you are so tweaked. We had 6 Poki racers in SLC a new record for sure. Kris Walker won the A's and I was able to have my best finish ever in SLC with a 3rd. Bart was out of town so we will call that a 4th.

Performance Manager chart Cycling Peaks

2006-09-21T10:50:00.000-07:00

K-runs performance manager chart. Pretty sweet. With a 2 minute faster TT at HOOD, a Great TT at Gate city, and One Great PR TT test unfortunately 1 week earlier than she wanted it. Well the human body isn't perfect,

Cross and training

2006-09-18T13:13:00.000-07:00

back at it
4 by 10's at 330 watts not bad for first time on the road bike in 6 weeks
still riding the mtn bike and getting ready for cross. I have to say I have lost sleep thinking about racing again. A few months off will do that. Just loving it. Out riding Sat. got caught in some snow pretty cool for Sept 16th. Bike bags are ready to roll.. here is a pic

FROM www.raceclean.org

Tip of the Week
Ok, so Joe Friel's training bible has a few written "tests" to help a person evaluate his/her strengths/weaknesses on the bike, and regarding motivation. They are probably worth your time, as they give a little more insite about yourself. But nobody is prescribing this written exercise to racers. This is a good one. Read it all the way through before starting.
Get a pen and a piece of paper. Sit down.
Write out everything that you would do if you quit being a bike racer today. You should write down anything and everything that you would do if you just said, "To hell with it!"....and never ever pinned on another number.
Would you remodel your house? Travel? join the peace corps? Rob a bank? Get a high paying job? See your family? Party more?
To take the pressure off your mind, you have to see all the alternatives available in life.
I went through this process once, and my head is so crystal clear now. For me, we are just little creatures on a very big planet, in a very big universe. Does it matter if you're fast on your bike? Probably not. But is it a helluva lot of fun to push your own limits and constantly seek out more training knowledge to see major gains in watts year after year? Yes. This is a fun sport. It's a fun process. It's like zen. You improve every detail you can easily control in your training, because once the racing starts there is really very little within your control.
If you want to quit cycling, quit. There are a million other wonderful paths you could choose in your life. Cycling is a fun one. But so is joining the peace corps. So is learning about things that are interesting.
If you can quit cycling for a day, and write down everything that you would do otherwise - and STILL come back to it - you know you are ready to be a bike racer. If not, then don't be a bike racer - or take a year off. We live in a big world, and there are countless amazing things you can explore in your life.
Cycling just happens to be an engrossing hobby, but there is not a law or decree telling you that you must race your bike. Don't forget that. And don't put too much pressure on yourself - you'll race better and feel better. .

Sunset riding

2006-09-09T06:50:00.000-07:00

6 weeks till cross

2006-08-27T18:09:00.000-07:00

Cyclocross

2006-08-24T10:17:00.000-07:00

cross is coming. Wednesday nights at barts 5:30 cross practice till the sun sets or until we head to Buddies to have dinner. Call up Rob's and get a bike or bring your mtn bike. Cross is the best part of the biking season.

14days 14 cheese burgers

2006-08-01T12:03:00.000-07:00

14 days 14 burgers!

Season is OVER!!

I have had 2 weeks off and didn't touch the bike or run. Wow actually went rockclimbing. Pretty funny I don't think we got off the ground all day. After 4 years "off" I decided to start on a 12a at the city of rocks. 8 bolts in 150ft. A few gear placements in there somewhere. My feet barely left the ground before I retreated to the car for a drink and a long hike with Karen and the dogs. Yeah that didn't go well.

OK now its time for cross build the bike and get some legs.

Krieg banned from Racing Fire Danger!!!

2006-07-26T14:17:00.000-07:00

I know the world is concerned about North Korea and Iran. But I have to think my bike racing has raised some eyebrows over in Washington. The flames and smoke have been intense at times. When I "BLOW UP" I really "BLOW UP."
I have to think the heat waves sweeping the nation have been triggered by the flames coming from under my hood during most crits and road races. The letters DNF have been synonymous with Krieg as of late. Still riding great just can't keep the radiator cool. Smokie the Bear stopped by last week and asked if I would consider ending my season. With fire danger at an all time high, and most of California covered in flames I might just have to hang up the bike and wait till cyclocross season starts.

KAREN wins Yellow and Mark and I get stuffed@nats

2006-07-25T14:41:00.000-07:00

Well Karen won MT. HOOD. Pretty darn COOL. The only Jersey I will ever get that is yellow I will have to buy. She won the TT by over a minute with 50 riders in her field. SICK.

I was in the hospital racking up a $2800 bill with food poisoning. It was splendid! I was so skinny I would have just ripped legs off for at least 2 minutes before my glycogen stores would have been depleted.
Well Mark SANTA pulled off top 3 at Elkhorn and I limped in for 8th. Justin Mayfield went on the JACKY D.. Break away. DAMN almost made it. 92 miles before they got caught. It was like 100 degrees they must have been in hell.

After getting dropped at Gate City TWICE.... Which my wife won by the way.

I went on to nationals and got in an early move that actually stuck and ended up 2nd with mark coming in for 3rd. I had a great TimeTrial but the guy who started 3 minutes behind me caught me. DUDE he was so fast. 3 minutes Just when I thought I was riding well he had to stuff in my face I am not that fast.

ICE wins at T-Point

2006-05-26T07:39:00.000-07:00

With ICE in most of the Moves at T-Point and Mark Santa almost taking the long break to the line, it was Poki local Stu taking the sprint for a solid first day at the 1st annual T-Point Stage race.

Holt Crit season Begins

2006-05-25T09:08:00.000-07:00

2006 Local Crits
Huge turnout tons of riders and FAST. Pretty cool night. I have to say the "B" race took the cake for action. Tons of moves and it was strung from the beginning to end. The last corner looked like it was almost time to call the ambulance but Justin Brady through some divine intervention kept it upright like a PRO. After his tire blew and the dust settled we all were quite happy that no one hit the ground. The "A" race saw Jason Montgomery and Justin Kline house the others riders with an early attack that lead to almost a 1 minute gap. Fear of being lapped crept in and we all started taking some pulls. Great rides were had by most and excuses pretty much took care of any other poor result.

Here is K-RUN closing down a gap in the STRUNG out field

Bear Lake

2006-05-20T20:38:00.000-07:00

100 miles and 2 laps of racing. CONGRATS TO MARC YAPP THE DUDE FLEW IN AND WON THE BEAR. What a great result.
Wow that was a hard 100 miles. Nothing would stick. I didn't try super glue, but I used a whole role of Duck Tape and damn. At about mile 70 or so a break finally got up the road and never came back. Just 48 seconds at first and then we beat eachother to a PULP and nothing else went up the road. Some riders went back but nothing went up. WIND! 2nd lap was a head wind on all four sides(can't explain it) I have to say that Chuck Collins(ice) ZAN and Gary(autolive) just impressed the heck out of me. They raced there brains out and kept the field rolling fast when no one wanted to pedal. CHUCK just killed it all day. He was the man on the 2nd lap just rolling. He made a small spit and stayed away for a top 10 I think. I laughed as I got dropped rolling to the line. I had nothing left. I left every watt on the course and I can say I haven't raced that hard for long time.

Not much snow left

2006-05-15T11:04:00.000-07:00

Jason M. rippin it at the end of a 20 minute climb on scout. Local TT series is over and no Dave Z from Salt Lake. i thought he would come up and take the crown. I guess the Giro started. Better places to be. FInally summer is here and we can ride without leg warmers. Everyone is doing Hunters "cyclingpeaks" Spring Plan so its pretty fun to go out and train as a group. Uphill TT start on WED. Should make for some BIG hurt.

GILA

2006-05-09T13:03:00.000-07:00

2 bad days and 2 long breakaways (2 many good riders) lead to one really hard stage race. THANKS TO SCARF FOR THE YO(11)! ON THE WCS Stem> no joke I can't look down without wanting to go off the front. Here is ART killing me on the climb... I am the guy in BLUE ZIGGIN AND ZAGGIN BEHIND> LOOK how far the VALLEY FLOOR about 4000ft below. Pete K(ogden one) climbed like a angel and Art brought some horsepower to this stage!

Well the GILA GOT ugly. To many good guys showed up and hurt my chances of a decent GC. I was pretty upset that so many good riders want to come and compete. What is going on here.. I know they call it a race and give out $$$ but damn. SO fast ...so hard.... I wanted to end the season after the 2nd Stage. Listed all I own on Ebay but no one took the bait. People thought it was joke. It was my cry for help and all they could do is laugh and Chant Ebay as I rode the climb in the CRIT. Every Lap I heard it from the Vitamen Cottage riders"Go Ebay" It didn't help but I survived the next few stages with 2 mega escape attempts both about 100+ minutes of riding into some pretty un-forgiving wind. About 1.5 miles from the line on Stage 3 we were brought back and at the TOP of the GILA monster on Stage 5. Well heck I tried. I didn't have much to loose and I certainly felt like a bike racer .

Spring racing

2006-04-30T12:40:00.000-07:00

Hell of the North Brutal. So cold I saw Eric Flynn hitting his hands on the Top tube so he could shift. I couldn't see by Lap 9... no joke I stopped following wheels for fear of crashing out another rider. i just wanted the day to end. Spent the next 5 days in BED. Being 6ft and 140 pounds doesn't lend well to riding in the cold. Burke and Dave Great job for making that move stick and riding us all silly.
The rain/cold came back for Tax Day Circuit and again I saw the fear in riders eyes that we would have to relive that horrible day just 2 weeks before. What a great race. Thanks to Adam Boyce and Rob Van Kirk for all is help and skill for putting on yet again another great ICE event. Great Job to Kris Walker for winning the Womans race after a Flat and a mega bridge.
Emmett roubaix wasn't as epic as the previous year and again we rode great 3rd, 4th, 6th. Not to bad for some Cat 3's with 2's on their licences.

East Canyon saw 4 ice riders in the TOP 10!! Cat 1-2
JUSTIN Brady. THE "HOLY ONE" WON THE 4's. I can't belive a priest is winning bike races that is just nuts. dude I bet the service the next day was just raging. Great job Stu for getting last in the break but still a nice 4th and Craig Kidd for sticking it to everone with 1K and getting 7th. They didn't know the Old man could hit so hard. When that guy realizes how strong he is things are going to get ugly! Again Dr. Kris Walker showed the ladies down in SLC that she can climb with the best of them.

What A Spring.......... Every break I have had the honor of being in has had Craig Kidd just chilling right there. And every other move has had Stu up the Road. If only Jeff would come out of retirement we might be able to get a wild card into the TOUR.

Spring in Pocatello

2006-03-06T08:34:00.000-08:00

Well spring is here. Diesel and Rufus will miss the snow.

Nationals LOng Course Profile

2006-03-03T22:03:00.000-08:00

Nats Long Course 2006

2006 race starts in Vegas Jan 31st

2006-01-25T11:09:00.000-08:00

2006
Well racing starts on Friday. Ben would want me to go race and "Fill R UP" So the plans stay the course. Cross just ended 6 weeks ago and now we TimeTrial Friday morning. I will defintely go play some craps for benny and swing by the Vegas Strip to drop some flowers for Allan Butler who passed at Interbike in 2005. Another great guy who I wish I had gotten to know better. I have no real Point just that they would want us to keep spinning. So with a huge smile I will race my heart out and I hope they are watching. sam

I think Ben was there for sure. I hit a $25 YO late Saturday night at the craps table and Got 2nd in the Road Race. Not a bad start to the 06' season. It brought me to tears not to be able to call him and tell him his little bro had a great day on the bike. Not sure if he would have been happier about the Yo bet or the race.

MY BRO BENNY JAN. 18th

2006-01-22T09:12:00.000-08:00

January 18th I was out riding some of the best snow of my life when I recieved a call that my Big Bro Ben(30) had passed away. I don't think at the time I realized what I had lost. The guy had so much energy and optimism that it couldn't be harnessed. He was a character for sure. Please take a look at some pics of Ben to remember him one last time. I will miss him more than he will ever know. sam k
http://benkrieg.blogspot.com/

CROSS NATIONALS 2006

2005-12-13T13:55:00.000-08:00

Well 9th place in the 30-35s and 3rd in the Sandbaggers B's race with 160 other slackers. It was just sloppy and cold. So much fun. The weahter made the trip worth it for sure.

MORE BACKSIDE

2005-12-05T20:56:00.000-08:00

bob knee deep

THANKS JASON FOR THE GUIDED TOUR

RON WATERS KNEE DEEP BEFORE X-mas

backside Dec 5th

2005-12-05T15:26:00.000-08:00

RON AND STU ON THE BACKSIDE DECEMBER 5th

Snow in Pocatello Winter 2005/2006

2005-11-27T13:48:00.000-08:00

Well the day after T-Day we were hit with 14 inches of snow in town. I guess winter is here. Diesel and Rufus just loved it. Pocatello is a pretty sweet place in the winter. I am going to post as many Pocatello shots as I can. Stay tuned.

Cyclocross Season 2005

2005-11-20T14:17:00.000-08:00

WOW! 12 races later and I am still getting my butt kicked. I have had some solid days and have managed not to have as many wrecks as last year. Still tons of flat tires. For those of you who don't race cross.... i don't blame you a bit. Running a biking don't mix but for some reason Cyclocross has taken the U.S. by storm.

BIKER STU HEADING TO EUROPE

2005-11-20T09:46:00.000-08:00

STU, is off to Belgium to drink beer and and ride cobbles. I think Stu will return as a super hero or in a body bag. I have to admit I am a bit jealous but at the same time racing in the cold and wind for 3 months doesn't sound like much of a vacation. Enjoy and be safe.

Back in the Day Rock Climbing

2005-11-18T15:30:00.000-08:00

How can I blog with out a few climbing pics. Greg(big-H) and Bentley still climbing hard. After seeing their Blogs I just had to fire one out. Two of the nicest guys you will ever meet.

BIKE RACING FRIENDS

2005-11-18T15:11:00.000-08:00

Jason J. and Lance

Kris W. Winning Nationals!
Mark about to break his bike!
BAD BOB!!

POCATELLO IDAHO

2005-11-17T14:11:00.000-08:00

BLOG #1
Karen and I moved to Pocatello Idaho just a little over a year ago. I thought posting a blog might be a great way to stay visible to a few close friends. I will try to let the pictures tell the story, but I will be sure to ad some text for your reading pleasure.
Here is Karen @ city creek bike trail. The white speck off in the distance is the ISU Dome just a few blocks from our house and the HUB of the Climbing Universe Krieg Climbing.