T-Bird's Roost

What's that you say? My social security doesn't kick in for another 30 years? D'oh!

2011-02-13T09:48:00.000-08:00

Hey kids, Long time no see!
No, your eyes do not deceive you. The earth has made a full rotation of the sun and, thus, signals not just the painful realization that shortly classic rock stations across country will soon exhaust every known version of "taxman" from Stevie Ray Vaughn to Tom Petty, but also my annual contribution to the nearly-dead form of expressing oneself on the Interwebs in more than 140 characters.
I know, I know, you've all been holding your breath and I apologize. So, take that collective deep sigh of relief (in through the nose, out through the mouth) and all twelve of you get ready for a whirlwind outpouring of the senses much like Kerouac's frenzied Benzedrine-fueled marathon that became On the Road.

Or, you can settle for this.

Where to begin?
Well, as you may know I chose the final stage of the 2010 Tour of Utah to be the Swan song of my professional road racing career.
After 13 years of having the unique privilege to carry on like a perpetual 23 year old, I finally stared in the mirror long enough one morning to realize it wasn't just a permanent layer of salt crust that had been accumulating in my hair, but was actually that "salt and pepper" people had been referring to for quite some time that I had deftly turned a blind eye to. Yep, time to face the facts. As Phil told Gardner in Fandango, one of my favorite movies of all time, "We're not youths anymore, Peter Pan!"
Indeed. I can tell you that sleeping in a race car bed with rubber sheets at host housing has a decidedly different effect on the psyche of a guy in his mid-30's than it did on the guy in his mid-20's.... like sheer terror vs. mild amusement.
Nonetheless, it was a good run and I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to get paid to do what I'd surely have done for free for so many years.
This is where I would like to give one of those "Academy"-style speeches where I thank everyone who helped me along the way, but if I went down that road we could be here for days.
I'll just summarize it this way: I had so many people help me out over the years that I feel like I played a very tiny part in my cycling career compared to all those who believed and invested in me over all the years. It truly does take a village to raise a child.
All I can say is thank you.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
You know who you are.

So, what now?
Well, that's the $24,000 question, isn't it?

It feels a lot like being a new graduate. You have some "world is your oyster" kind of days… Other days you find yourself asking aloud to no one in particular "Hey Mav, you have the number of that truck driving school we saw on TV? Truck Masters, I think it was?"
Luckily, I have more days of the former and not the latter.
Which brings us to what I am doing.

Well, I still get out on the bike 4-5 days a week, though instead of logging 3 to 5 hours at a go as was once mandated, it's more in the hour to hour and a half range.
I've also embraced what we in the profession call "Fred Speed"… meaning I no longer train. I simply ride as hard as my legs can carry me.
When you find yourself strapped for time and your bicycle is (now more than ever) above all else a therapeutic tool, you simply want to do nothing more than rip the cranks off in what little time you have.
I know, I know, welcome to the club, right?

Which brings us to a question I seem to get all the time… Am I still going to race at all?
The short answer is a firm "maybe".
I definitely have ambitions for turning up to the local MTB series now and again and my long-time friends and supporters at First Endurance have been kind enough style me out with enough kit and product to ensure I can still look professional even, though I may not be raising my arms aloft much as I cross finish lines anymore.
Speaking of First Endurance, they have been generous enough to offer another discount code for 2011 that I can pass along to all of you; good again for 20% off any of their products at firstendurance.com. Simply enter "burke11" in the discount code box before checkout. I know a lot of you utilized the code last year and passed it along to friends. Feel free to do so again and look for some great new products coming down the pike from them soon!

On the professional front, I've got many an iron in the fire. I figure now's the time to start throwing things against the wall and see what sticks.
To that end, I've accepted a position as Assistant Director with my alma mater the Bissell Pro Cycling Team. I'm really excited to have the opportunity to stay involved with the sport and still get to hang with The Boys to an extent, although I'm aware that I'm now on the other side of the staff equation and I'm sure I'll have many a moment when my heart starts to race and legs twitch as I watch a race from behind a windshield. Should be interesting... Let's just hope I don't have any "Don't make me take this bike off the rack" moments!

One race I won't be working behind the wheel of the Bissell team car will be the 2011 Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah as I have also accepted a position with this event as the Course Director. The long and short of it is that, although riders will no longer be shaking their fists at me as I try to animate the race from within the peloton, they'll still curse my name as they tackle some of the new routes I have designed that ensure the race will still live up to it's billing as "America's Toughest Stage Race". I can't elaborate too much here as the official route announcement will be this Wednesday, Feb. 16th at the Utah State Capitol. But this I assure you, there are going to be some tired legs when the race concludes. That's a promise.

Last, but most definitely not least, is the new event I'm working on. I can't divulge too much at this point but I will tell you that my passion for both road and mountain biking will converge for one huge day in Utah's back-country this Summer in an event the likes of which has not been seen before. I know, that's a bold statement, but one I'm willing to make. My ambition is to assemble riders of all stripes for an event that will encompass both competition and camaraderie with the stunning beauty of a little known nook of Utah that has been my "happy place" for many years.
I'm working hard and hope to have the full details ready for prime-time here in the next month or so.

Well, that's just about it from here in the SLC.

Stay tuned and as always, may the wind be at your back.

Until next year,

-Tbird

Interview with a Twi(s)t: Part D'oh

2010-05-17T13:01:00.000-07:00

Ok folks, it's time for part 2 of my "Interview with a twi(s)t.

Moving right along here..

From @amyjoswanson "when/how did you decide you wanted to ride for a living? What keeps you motivated to keep doing it!"

Another fantastic question here, thanks Amy!

Well, obviously when I started racing at 15, I didn't really think much beyond my simple blossoming passion of bike riding and racing. I knew I want to "be a pro" but never did I think of it in terms of a means to feed and clothe myself. I just knew I wanted to be competitive at the highest level of my abilities, whatever that turned out to be. That was the case until I was 19 and married my high school sweetheart, Tiffany. As you can imagine, my perspective shifted dramatically and I soon found myself working at the local bike shop and scraping by thanks mostly to her student loans and a sponsorship from Discover Card, which they eventually wanted repayment of at a 19% interest rate!

That's when the economic reality set-in and I was faced with the proverbial "sh*# or get off the pot" scenario.

Luckily, I was extremely fortunate to have a (very) long list of extremely generous sponsors and individuals who believed in me and helped me make it through those early days until I finally reached the point of being offered my first paying gig by Team Saturn in 1999.

As for what propels me now , I have to say it's still that initial little flame that was sparked some 20+ years ago. I still get those feelings of euphoria on a beautiful Spring day (such as this one!) to go out and pedal my bike, feel the sun on my skin and the wind in my face. I still love to challenge myself and others. I love being fit and (presumably) healthy and I wanna look good naked….assuming you're into stick figures ;)

From @ZoeRochelle "what/how many injuries have you sustained and how do you keep going despite any fear, pain, etc. that came from those injuries?"

Injury. That old nutshell.. Yes, I've been injured many times, many ways. From those tedious overuse issues to the inevitable "high-speed get-offs" that have resulted in 2 broken wrists, 3 ribs and a toe... I've certainly had my share. In fact, I was informed by a teammate of mine some years back that I was "a bit notorious" within the pro peloton for having knee injuries that would plague me for weeks and sometimes months.

Well, I assure you, I didn't want those injuries nor do I want any more in the future, but I'm sure I haven't seen the last of them, nor will anyone who rides a bike with any frequency.

So, what keeps me going? Well, I suppose it's the same thing that keeps anyone going…I don't really have a choice! I'm certainly not gonna cry "uncle" and hang the bike up for good because I had one too many spills. The truth is, my health and sanity would surely suffer more if I didn't ride bicycles. The other key to longevity in this sport is "Selective Memory". I think most elite cyclists develop this talent out of necessity. We have a way of mostly only remembering the good times, because if we stayed cognizant of all the suffering, pain and danger involved with our jobs, well, let's just say it'd be pretty tough to get out of bed in the morning. So, we think about that race we won or that incredible day of training and stay tragically optimistic that every day will bring another one those… and, you know, sometimes it does.

One other thing about injuries and setbacks. I've found that after every injury I've ever had, once I do rebound, it's almost always to a higher level than before the injury. I think this is due to several factors. For one, you generally give your body a much needed rest, so that when you do return to training and racing your energy and motivation is usually ramped up significantly from where you were before.

From @cachedout "What's your fueling strategy for multi-hour races?"

Excellent question here….In helping friends over the years who race recreationally, I've found that the single biggest limiter to their success, almost without exception, is their fueling. Or more precisely, lack of it. They usually do a great job of topping-off the tank the night before and the morning of an event, but once the race starts they generally don't eat or drink nearly enough. The simple answer here (and I'm sure you've heard it before) is "drink before you're thirsty, eat before you're hungry".

Typically, if I'm doing a race that I know is going to last 4-5 hours, I'll go through 2-3 full gel flasks, such as First Endurance's EFS Liquid Shot, which contain about 400 calories each in addition to drinking in the neighborhood of 1 bottle of their EFS drink mix (which contain about 100 calories, plus electrolytes) per hour in addition to water to help wash down the gels. I also usually have some sort of solid food as well. I like to have something that resembles "real food" when I'm on the bike so I'll generally pack along something like a ProBar, which contains around 450 calories from not just simple sugars like the gels, but also some fat and bit of protein.

Bottom line is there's only so much stored energy in your body and as such, you need to stay on top of your caloric and fluid intake so don't get to the point where you're actually drawing on those reserves, because once you do, it's usually not too pretty!

*By the way, from the "shameless commerce" division here at The Roost, be sure to check out my coupon code on the right for 20% off of First Endurance products on their website!

From @cyclepath55 "Did you start as a cat 5, and what was the most difficult category to transition to?"

Well, when I started at age 15 there actually wasn't a category 5. Back then, category 4 was the starting point. This is where I began, like everyone else. By the time I reached the Senior ranks I had made it to Cat. 2 status, so my first year as a Senior I was racing in the Pro,1/2 category. To answer your second question, that was my most difficult transition, from the Juniors to the Seniors. It was the distances that I had the most trouble with… I had chronic bonking issues (going back to the previous question) because as a Junior I was racing much shorter distances, so I hadn't really learned how to fuel for events that were over 3 hours and suddenly I was doing races that were nearing 5 hours. I had some incredible "Burke-splosions" as they came to be known! I eventually upgraded to Cat. 1 my second year in the Senior ranks and spent the next 4 years trying to grab the attention of the Pro teams. I finally did this after I had won the Pro,1 GC at the Tour of the Gila in '96 & '98. As such, I was already competitive at the national professional level for several years before I was able to actually draw a true paycheck to race my bike.

Now, I don't want to diminish the difficulty of what today's young riders must do to make it onto a pro team, but I'll tell you what, I would have died for some of the opportunities I see now with the great development programs and such that are available today. So, to those kids out there, and you better know who you are, take those opportunities and ride that bike like you stole it!

Yeah, I know, I know…uphill both ways in the snow…blah, blah, blah…

From @Sabotage619 "Who is the 3rd best American cyclist ever?"

Well, speaking strictly subjectively, I think that would certainly belong to Andy Hampsten as he is only the 3rd American ever to win a Grand Tour and his ride on the Gavia stage in the '88 Giro and stage win on L'Alpe D'Huez in '92 is the stuff of legend, so for my money....

From @Windmills "Regarding your see-through bike: How is the ride quality? What do you like about it? What do you dislike?"

Ah yes, the "see-through bike"… The Delta 7 "Ascend", to be precise. A little background info on the bike…it's made right here in Utah, which I think is really cool. For more information on the bike and the unique technology it utilizes, click here.

To answer your question, the ride quality of the bike is incredible. I can't pretend to know how or why, but this bike seems to turn even the worst chip-seal and rough roads into plush carpet, yet still retain incredible lateral stiffness. It's also likely the most unique looking bike you've ever seen.

Which brings me to what I don't like about it… It's such a conversation piece that I often find it nearly impossible to get ready for an event if the bike is visible and people are around. At Sea Otter for instance, I was so busy fielding questions about the bike that I nearly missed the start of the one of the races! That being said, if you like attention, then you'll certainly not be of want with this bike!

From @_Fred_Marx_ "Why become a pro cyclist? We all know about the requisite lack of sanity, so seriously how did you come to your chosen path?"

Hehe…lack of requisite sanity aside, I'm not really sure I had much of a choice. I've always been one to follow my heart regardless of wether or not it makes any sense (it rarely does) so, I don't know if I chose this path as much as it chose me. If there were any forks in the road, I didn't see them. Of course, now that I'm getting older things don't seem to be quite as simple (imagine that) and I'm certainly starting to pin my eyes to this here path a little more closely and I'm praying it doesn't lead to a cliff around the next corner!

Alrighty then, I'm pretty much shot for today.. I guess that means there'll be a part 3…

As ever, may the wind be at your back.

Interview with a Twi(s)t

2010-05-12T09:26:00.000-07:00

Arlighty.. after much neglect of this blog, I have decided to open up what may be a Pandora's Box here and do an interview, with you, my Twitter followers as the interviewer's and me, the interviewee.

Within just a few minutes, I'm already asking what I got myself into. There are some very loaded questions here!

Anyhow, I have no idea just how many of you are going to respond, but I'm going to try and answer each and every question (within reason) and it appears it may take more than one entry here to do it.

So, let's go with the "first come, first served" approach.

From @jardedeborn "has anyone ever tried to get you to use PED's? If so, who and what was your response?"

Aw, c'mon Jared… seriously. This is interview an interview with @tbirdslc, not @vinokz.

I know the reporter in you likely couldn't resist, so I'll cut you a little slack here...

Let me preface my answer by saying this…I hate talking about doping. I feel there's been WAY too much made about it and as a clean cyclist I personally find it somewhat insulting to be forced into discussion about something I have no use for and has somehow come to overshadow the sport itself.

But, to be fair, I did say this was a "no holds barred" interview, so I will answer your question.

No, I haven't been offered any PED's over the years. Despite what the (increasingly) common conception is of professional cycling, I assure you that there aren't random doctors and drug dealers roaming the racing circuit handing out blank prescription pads and syringes. I'm pretty sure that's something that a rider would have to seek out on his own.

And, no, I'm afraid you can't have my legs at the next race, either. My wife is very possessive of them!

From @VO2Max91 "What kind of training tips do you have for someone new to racing"

This is quite a broad question, but I'll answer it looking through the lens of what I see as the biggest stumbling block to the newbie, and it's very simple: Don't take yourself too seriously! Cycling is very time, energy and money intensive pursuit. I always thought the focus should be on the process and not the outcome. Living in the moment, and whatnot. Enjoy your training rides for what they are at the time, not just what you expect to get out of them in the future.. As they say, stop and smell the roses from time to time. Take in your surroundings and remember the more you try to force something, the more likely you are to break it. If there's an incredible sunset or mt. view, by all means, take a minute and drink it in. Bike riding shouldn't be all intervals, numbers and result pages. You'll be happier for it in the end, and you just may find yourself going faster at the races too.

From @Michaelhutto "Who are your favorite cyclists and why?"

I love this question! My favorite cyclists have always been those who have carried themselves with class and shown respect for their competitors and fans. No trash talk, no flashy bikes, no fiery car crashes. Their legs did the talking. Guys like Michael Engleman, Ned Overend, Andy Hampsten and Big Mig . Oh, and they could climb like the dickens.

From @ahoulne "Hate to say, but your aren't 18 anymore. When will you retire (roughly) and what will you do then?"

Cripes! I'm not 18 anymore?!! Waitaminute… when did THAT happen?!

But, right you are. At 37 I've already pushed my shelf life as a professional athlete past what most do. And I'll tell you right now, it's wrong what they say about it being all downhill from your early 30's.. I've found it to be mostly uphill!

Seriously, though.. I've always maintained I would do this as long as I was still having fun, making a livable wage and could still contribute in some way to the sport.

As for what I'm going to do afterward, I haven't the faintest! I'm open for suggestion and offers..

One idea I have toyed with is putting on training camps and adventure tours which highlight my favorite rides and places in Utah with an emphasis on good food, drink and bunks. Maybe do a favorite road ride one day and MTB the next. Perhaps throw in a hike and repeat.

Who wants to be my first client? :)

From @jaowen "what is your favorite bike maker and why?"

I gotta plead the fifth on this one, Jeff. You understand I do have sponsors and I'd hate to give an answer that would smack of self interest, no matter how sincere it may be. Damned if I do, damned if I don't.

Ask me in person and I'll give you a personal answer ;)

From @anitabfranklin "Tell us about your earliest races and if you ever got discouraged. What made you decide to continue cycling?"

I love this question Anita.

My earliest races were a weekly criterium series in the parking lot of the BYU football stadium, around cones no less…Talk about discouraging! Yeah, I got my arse kicked every Wednesday night for well over two years. I don't know if I could put a finger on what exactly kept me going, but if I had to point to one thing, I would have to say it was the camaraderie I found in the sport and the willingness of a few individuals who took the time to encourage and support me.

I'd say that still rings true to this day for me.

Ok, I'll get to one last question here and save the rest for next week.

From @sabotage619 "What are your favorite rides, on and off road? Best young talent today? Are you racing Leadville?

My favorite rides…hmm.. I'd say my favorite road ride would probably be up Kolob Terrace Road which starts in the town of Virgin, Utah near Zion National Park and goes up to Kolob Reservoir. The scenery is unmatched as is the climbing. If you go, pack your 27 tooth cog or a compact crankset and a camera! Much of the ride affords views which look down into Zion Canyon and the road itself winds in and out of the park, which is signaled by the tarmac turning from standard black to red.

My favorite MTB ride is actually not too far from my favorite road ride. It's about an hour up the road near Bryce Canyon National Park. It's the Thunder Mt./Casto/Cassidy loop and, again, the scenery is out of this world. The singletrack ranges from flowey and fast to picky and technical. Again, take your camera and be prepared to stop often and take in some of the most incredible panoramas and vistas you'll likely ever see in a lifetime.

Best young Amercian talent today? I think there's definitely a lot of great talent coming up through the ranks right now. There's that hot-dog loving Alex Howes (@alexhowes), Peter Stetina and Salt Lake City's own Chase Pinkham (@chase196126) and Robbie Squire (@robthesquire) to name just a few.

The future for American cycling is definitely bright, and they're are good eggs too.

As for Leadville, I'm afraid I wasn't one of the lucky few to be chosen through the lottery process (don't get me started on this!).

The good news is, I'm going to get up to Canada for the Trans Rockies TR3 instead, which I'm really excited about it. I've always wanted to ride in the Canadian Rockies and the timing of this event works out much better in terms of participating in the Tour of Utah later in the month.

Ok, I can't resist to answer one last question…this one from my buddy of 20+ years, @chriswherry "Are there any bar tricks you can do with your body?"

I got two words for you Wher-I. Fruit Basket.

And there you have it…until the next installment, keep the rubber on the road.

The condition my condition is in...

2010-03-11T07:58:00.000-08:00

You'd think after 20+ years of doing this one would find a way to gracefully resign yourself to the inevitable and live with consequences of your actions.

You'd think.

But then again, we're dealing that most unreasonable, illogical and, yes, mystical of creatures.

The Bike Racer.

The Bike Racer believes in miracles.

The Bike Racer believes in illogical outcomes to logical problems.

The Bike Racer believes in magic.

The successful Bike Racer learns to observe brutal reality and yet balance it with a sense of tragic optimism.

He's a Romantic.

Which brings us to my current condition. A condition which the aspiring bike racer must learn to embrace and the seasoned veteran learns to call home.

It's one of pretty much only 3 conditions that The Bike Racer will find themselves in.

This particular condition is known as Mr. Illness

Yep. Like it or not, once you aspire to become a bike racer you will know Mr. Illness. He lies menacingly in wait around every bend. Crouching in the bushes and anticipating your folly.

And he's holding hands.

His best friend and partner in crime, and thus our second condition, is there and often along for the ride. He's a mean bastard too. Markedly more cruel than this buddy. At least you can often wait Illness out. Give him time. Feed him some chicken noodle soup. But this other cat, well, he's a bit more sinister.

No big surprise here...

Well, hellooooo...it's Mr. Injury!

Oh, never mind me Mr. Injury... I see you've made yourself right at home in my tensor fascia lata.

Not that I know what that is.

Or ever wanted to.

So, here I am. 3 days after Mr. Illness made a quick tour of my lower intestines for a day and now is taking more permanent residence in my respiratory system.

Now, don't get me wrong. I pretty much invited him right in, as is almost always the case.

He usually knocks. Most often quite softly and you'll often not even check the peephole to see who's there.

In my case, he rang the doorbell.

A lot.

Loud and clear.

He was a sore throat on Saturday morning.

I knew if I took it easy, decided not to race and went back to bed that chances are pretty good I'd be feeling just fine right about now.

But The Mystic whispered in my ear. He said something like "maybe you just slept with your mouth open!"

Here's the thing about The Mystic. He's mostly a liar.

I knew full well that if I hauled myself down to the race and let er rip I'd be exactly where I am now.

So why?

Why'd I invite Mr. Illness in for Tea and Strumpets?

For the chance to win.

You see, the Romantic has been trying to cultivate a relationship with the 3rd of our conditions lately.

Mr. Form.

Ah...the most elusive of them all.

You spend 95% of your season giving eviction notices to the other two so you can make room for his pleasant, though always too short, stay.

He's a much better house guest.

He makes his bed.

He lights matches in the bathroom.

He makes dinner.

He tells the best jokes.

Chicks dig him.

Anyhow, I enjoyed his visit...fleeting as it was for a brief 2 hours on Saturday.

Now, I'm back to making tea for Mr. Illness.

Not just any tea, though.

I may have laced it with echinacea.

Everyone wants me Lucky Charms!

2010-03-02T08:31:00.000-08:00

Alright, alright...My first event of the year is officially in the books. The Callville Bay Classic, a fantastically fun event located in the stark and stunning desert around Lake Mead was just what the doctor ordered.

Here a coupla photos I snapped off as I left...

This first one is of the fading light touching the mts. above Callville Bay and the houseboats most of the peleton called home for the weekend.

And here is one that forced me to pull over while driving and just gawk. The cloud is being lit by the city lights of Vegas. Unfortunately the camera in an Iphone can't quite capture how ethereal it was in person, but trust me, it was a show stopper.

Ok, now here's a disclaimer for readers who may be new to my style of blogging...

* I despise bike race rehash-recap writing by bike racers.

I'll leave that for the good folks at the various online and print outlets.

Personally, I find it boring, often overly self indulgent and usually narcissistic. Who needs that?

I'm hoping you, dear reader, have more interest in hearing about the life of a bike racer outside of the the actual bike racing...

Anyhow, back to our story. I had a great time down there, sleeping on a houseboat, putting in extra miles before and after the events and enjoying the reunion-esque atmosphere that accompanies the first few events of the season.

It also provided an opportunity to meet new and interesting people who often become lifelong friends.

This is why I love bike racing and why I continue to after more than 20 years at it.

It was also refreshing to see up and coming riders and teams step to the plate and start swinging hard. After all, you'll never have a chance at that home run if you don't aim for the fences. Strike outs are common, but man, when you do connect, it's thrill enough to make all the pain and suffering worth it.

Mostly.

So, next up for me is the Red Rock Rampage in St. George, UT this weekend. It will be my first MTB race of the season and it promises to be quite challenging as it normally draws a stacked field from around the Intermountain area of riders who've been jonesin' for months to get out on the knobby's and play in the dirt after months in the freezer.

I'm particularly excited about this event since it will also mark my first race on the big wheels of my new Orbea Alma 29er.

I was able to put it through the paces a couple of weeks ago in training down South and I really feel that the larger wheels are going to suit me.

Finally, I have a gift for you all...

If you're like me, you miss certain things about being a kid... things like sugary cereal with a prize in bottoms of the box...well, my fantastic nutrition sponsor First Endurance has enabled me to give you a little something and you don't even have to flirt with adult onset diabetes to enjoy it..

Use this coupon code "burke2010" (all lower case) and enjoy 20% off of any and all of their product line through First Endurance.com at checkout. Feel free to query as to my product recommendations through the comment box.

So, there you go... and save some milk for me!

Left foot, say hello to right foot.

2010-01-25T14:12:00.000-08:00

Ok, I can admit I've been quite the slacker when it comes to this blog, but trust me I've been ridonkulously busy lately, what with the whole One-Man-Band thing..

It seems if I'm not at the computer, I'm on the phone. If it's not the phone I'm attending to that pesky bike riding thing.

Then there's the Husband gig.

At the very least I can certainly say I have a newfound respect for Bob Log III. I mean, singin', strummin' and stompin' your feets all at the same time can take some serious coordination, concentration and edumication.

Anyhow, enough with the excuses and on to business...

There has been some talk recently about me getting even more creative in terms of fundraising for this new project by installing a paypal widget or the like to essentially enable anyone the opportunity to become a sponsorship partner in my new venture.

It's an interesting idea and I'll be honest, fundraising has been not only challenging, but humbling.

Now, as much as I'd love to wake up one morning and find my bank account brimming with resources from the kindness of you, dear reader, I don't think I can abide it.

Call me an idealist, or just plain prideful, but something about it smacks of "hand-out" to me.

That being said, the argument has been made that I am, after all, representing a very worthy cause in advancing the awareness of teamgive , my title sponsor for the season, and this should be enough, right?

Well. maybe.

But, I want to do more.

I intend to do more.

What I want to do is give people the opportunity to contribute but also get something in return.

The idea is still in it's infancy, but I envision a "membership" along the lines of what public radio does. You give me something of value and I give you something back.

I hope to have something along these lines available by the 1st of March with some nice perks, so stay tuned and I'd love your input as to what you'd like to see.

Finally, a lot of you have been asking for my calendar of events to be posted, so here's my tentative schedule, bearing in mind that I will be adding events here and there...and I'm open to suggestion : )

2010 Events Schedule:

Feb 24-28 Callville Bay Classic, NV Road Stage Race

March 6 Red Rock Desert Rampage, St.George, MTB

March 13-14 Moab Skinny Tire Festival, Moab UT

March 27 US Cup, Fontana CA, MTB

April 3 Cholla Challenge, UT MTB

April 15-18 Sea Otter Classic, CA Road and MTB

April 28-May 2 Tour of the Gila, NM Road Stage Race

May 8 Bikes for Kids ,Charity Event, UT

May 29 Iron Horse Road Race, CO

May 30 Gunnison Growler, CO MTB

June 3-6 Mt. Hood Cycling Classic, OR Road Stage Race

June 17-19 Tour de Nez, NV Road Stage Race

June 20 Nevada City Classic, CA Road

July 4 Firecraker 50 National MTB Marathon Championships

July 9-11 CTS International Classic, CO MTB

July 20-25 Cascade Classic, OR Road Stage Race

August 8-10 Trans Rockies TR3, Edmonton CA

August 17-22 Tour of Utah, Road Stage Race

September 11 Tahoe Sierra 100, NV MTB

Unfortunately, the U.S. racing calendar isn't ideally suited to riders looking to compete in multiple disciplines and there are a lot of scheduling conflicts, so I've done the best I can here.

And yes, I'm going to try and do Leadville and The Tour of Utah.

Indeed, The forecast calls for pain.

Anyhow, in the meantime I'll try to keep stompin' my feet and playin' in time....

Now, could somebody turn the helmet up?

Tbird out.

I've found the cat, but where's the bag?

2010-01-01T07:08:00.000-08:00

Good morning and Happy 2010 people!

I suspect if you're reading this, you're probably expecting some news from me... specifically, like which team I'm riding for this year, and it gives me great pleasure to disappoint you.

Huh?

You might want to re-read that.

No, that's not a misprint.

It's true, I am not riding for a team this year.

Well, technically that's not entirely true either, but more on that later.

What I am doing is embarking on something I've been dreaming and subsequently scheming of for quite some time. The nuts and bolts can be summed up by the following sentence: One Rider, One Jersey, Multiple Disciplines.

As many of you know, I have a passion for not just riding and racing my road bike, but I like to play in the dirt too. Now, I've been lucky enough over past 10+ years of doing the "pro roadie" thing to have had some great Team Directors and Managers who have been sympathetic to my need for indulging my inner dirt-bag a few times per season, but it's always left me wondering, "What if?"....

What if I was so bold as to try and collect sponsors that were interested in supporting a rider whose intention was to do equal parts Road and Mt. Bike racing over the course of a season?

What would happen?

Would I fall flat on my face?

Would I be laughed out of the offices?

Well, it did and still does raise a lot of questions and unfortunately I can't answer them all now, but I can tell you that I have found some great sponsors (and friends) who have gotten behind me to make it possible.

In the meantime, I anticipate speaking to some of my favorite peeps in the cycling media who I suspect will bring some Insight into some of the lingering questions that I know many of you have....questions like "road racing without a team? Can you do that?!!?"

Viable questions all and ones I will answer, one way or another, over the course of this year....

So, without further ado, I'm proud to announce that for the 2010 season I will be riding for Team Give/Blackbottoms fueled by First Endurance.

Yes, I'm excited....Yes, I'm scared.....Yes, it's going to be a challenge and I'm hoping you'll all continue to join me for the ride, right here.

-Burke

Soapbox time... let's get clean!

2009-12-23T07:32:00.000-08:00

Alright.

I'm in the mood for a rant.

I hope you're ready.

Amidst the news and hoohaa surrounding the latest climate change initiatives and the ensuing and ongoing lines being drawn in the sand by "the left" and "the right", I'd like to offer up my (humble) opinion.

I couldn't give a flying @#%& at a donut hole whether or not human activity is responsible for the warming of the earth and resulting climate change.

Yep, you heard me.

Furthermore, all the Glen Becks, Al Gores and whomever else have decided to turn something so simple into a hot-button political issue can also get screwed in the nose.

For me, this issue is very simple.

Cut and dry.

An open and close case that goes back to a concept I learned a looong time ago back when I first learned to read.

Yep, there I was about 5 years old headed with my best buddy to go swimming at the local pool.

As we arrived and got our first whiffs of chlorine I see this baffling riddle on a large sign and it reads:

"Don't ee in our ool. Notice we left out the "p"!"

Indeed. How simple a concept is it that it's just common sense not to trash up the place?

I mean, who cares if by everyone peeing in the pool that it gets a little warmer?

The real issue is that it's just plain disgusting, no?

Does it really matter what the long term consequences are of taking a dump where you eat?

Seriously, who does that?

Ok, apparently we do because since the industrial revolution human beings have been doing just that and it's starting to show.

Want some proof in your pudding?

Did you know that it's no longer safe to eat trout caught from ANY stream in the U.S. (no matter how remote) because of the unsafe levels of mercury found in the fish as a direct result of pollution from coal-fired power plants?

Don't care for seafood and need something a little closer to home? Look no further (out the window, in fact) and you'll see that the air out there is not fit to breathe. Furthermore, you're not supposed to SEE air! Cripes!

How about the fact that in the very near future the only glacier you'll find at Glacier National Park will be on the inside of the nearest RV's refrigerator....

And don't even get me started on our drinking water.

Okay, so I've been raving along here for a bit and some of you might be asking what my point is?

I guess my point is this: Why is this an issue that we allow politicians to use to manipulate us for their own greedy agendas?

This isn't a political issue.

It's a very simple and basic issue.

It's about being a good guest and washing the sheets for the next person who comes to stay.

It's about not just wiping off the toilet seat when your aim's off, but lifting the seat in the first place (and putting it back down when you're done!)

Now, I'm not going ramble on here and give you a list of things you can do to make a difference. We should all know by now what they are.

We simply need to start exercising some discipline.

I know when the pool's cold it can feel good to just let it go, but that's a fleeting comfort.

And it's gross.

Indomitable Snowmen

2009-11-24T06:04:00.000-08:00

"Say what? Come again?"

Yes. You heard me right. I do spend the majority of my winter in Salt Lake City.

Yes. I do ride my bike outside year-round.

Yes. I am crazy, but that's neither here nor there.

Alrighty, now that we've got that out of the way, I'm going to fill you in on the why's and how's of being a professional cyclist in a town that's best known for "The greatest snow on earth."

Indeed, it's getting to be that most wonderful time of year.

That generally portends frigid temps, plenty of the white stuff and from time to time, days when the air quality can be less than, shall we say, desirable.

What's a too-skinny wannabe-speed merchant to do?

As it turns out, plenty.

Being a Utah native and entering my 8th winter in the SLC, I've come up with some ways to not just survive winter on two wheels but embrace it.

And since I'm getting generous in my old age, I'm going to share some of my infantile, err, infinite wisdom.

You're welcome.

Tip #1. Cover your neck.

Most people know that the first thing you need to do is keep your head warm, but once you've got the egg covered you need to look after the stick that holds it up. Covering your neck will not only protect a large area of skin that's exposed to the elements, but it also helps keep all that cold wind from barreling down your chest and super-cooling your perspiration. This will keep your core warmer and you happier. A good fleece neck gaitor works magic and won't break the bank.

Tip#2. The slower you go, the warmer you'll be.

The last few years I've invested in a cyclocross bike, though not to race (much to the chagrin of some!) but to enable me to have a bike that I can put full-coverage fenders on. This not only keeps me dry, but creates extra wind resistance, thus slowing me down and reducing critical wind-chill.

Add some super-beefy tires and thorn-resistant tubes (changing flats in frigid temperatures sucks!) and your new-found snail's pace will keep you warmer and provide a great workout to boot.

Tip#3. Quality over quantity.

Doing shorter, more intense workouts means that you're not only working harder (thus staying warmer) but you're also limiting your time outside braving the elements. Instead of slogging along at endurance pace for 3 or 4 hours and numbing not only my extremities but my brain as well, I'll do rides of 1.5 to 2.5 hours at "tempo" pace, accumulating a similar workload in less time.

Tip# 4. You've heard it a million times before, but I'll say it again one more time with feeling. LAYER, LAYER, LAYER!

Layering can serve several critical purposes. Most importantly it allows the ability to unzip a jacket for ventilation and prevent all that ice-cold air from hitting bare, sweat-drenched skin. I generally wear a zippered-long sleeve undershirt and jersey under a windproof jacket allowing for fine-tuning of airflow. Speaking of sweat, a little venting also helps to prevent build-up of perspiration on the inside of wind and waterproof clothing that can quickly lead to that awful cold and "clammy" feeling.

Tip#5. Stop being such a Bike Homo!

For my final tip, I'm going to suggest something that is often difficult for the die-hard cyclist to digest.

Don't ride.

It can be hard to imagine, but sometimes doing something other than riding your bike can pay big dividends and in the end make you faster. When the dreaded SLC inversion rears it's ugly head, I often choose to grab the snowshoes and head for the hills. I've found that snowshoeing is a great way to not only get an incredible workout, but get me off the roads and into the woods where I can get down with my natural self and renew my zest not just for the bike, but life in general. Never a bad thing.

So, there you have it!

Now get out there and ride.

Or don't.

Either way, I've got you covered.

Watch that you don't choke

2009-11-21T07:42:00.000-08:00

Did he?

Didn't he?

I want to believe him, after all, he seems like such a nice guy and he loves kittens!

If you're anything like me, when someone vigorously proclaims their innocence your first instinct is to give them the benefit of the doubt.

But...and I say that with a big BUT, it seems that nearly every single athlete convicted of doping these days categorically denies wrong-doing and cries foul at the top of their over-developed lungs.

Who to believe?

And furthermore, doesn't it stand to reason that if someone has gone out of their way to cheat, they're gonna have no problem whatsoever lying about their transgression if and when they do get caught?

To further complicate matters, what of the athletes who might actually be innocent due to a faulty testing procedure or having unwittingly ingested a product contaminated with a prohibited substance?

Though, these cases might account for less than 1 in 1000, I assure you they do exist.

Yes, there is the arbitration panel these athletes can appeal to, but trust me, this process is inherently flawed as well.

Now, I've heard it all when it comes to ideas on how to deal with the issue of doping in sport. Everything from Lifetime Bans for the first offense, regardless of the severity of the infraction to those who think we should abandon testing altogether and let the athletes do as they please.

Well, after reading the latest news of so and so vowing to "fight on" or "clear their good names" it occurred to me that the real problem is athletes are ultimately judged by everyone EXCEPT their peers.

Why not set up the system so that the ultimate decision of punishment or leniency be given to not just A jury of peers, but The jury of peers?

After all, it's the other athletes within the given discipline that must ultimately pay the price of having to compete with those who cheat them out their ability to make an honest living as clean athletes.

I posit this: Why not continue to allow the Governing Bodies to test athletes for doping as they currently do, but once it's been determined that an athlete has committed a doping violation, give the athlete the opportunity to either a) Accept the Governing Body's sanction as an admission of guilt, or b) Make their case of innocence or an appeal for leniency and let their peer group of fellow athletes decide their fate.

What I envision is essentially the equivalent to a special election where the athletes are given the means to anonymously cast their vote and as a group decide the degree of punishment.

Maybe "Joe Blow" got caught for using an illicit means of blood-boosting and has had a reputation for quite some time within The Peloton as a cheat and general scumbag.

Conversely, perhaps "John Q Public" was found to have a particular prohibited metabolite that likely found it's way into his system through a tainted supplement and not through malicious intent and it just so happens that this individual has a stellar reputation within The Peloton as a stand-up guy and good sportsman.

Oh, and he loves kittens.

Why not leave it up to his colleagues to determine the severity and duration of punishment?

Now, I'm sure there are a variety and wealth of inherent flaws presented in the latter argument and I'll acknowledge right here and now that this is what you could call an "off-the-cuff" posting to this blog.

But, what I think we could probably all agree on is that the current system is not working optimally.

Food for thought.

Chew thoroughly my friends, and don't be afraid to spit out the fat.

I ain't superstitious, but....

2009-11-19T06:11:00.000-08:00

Well, well, well.... here we are again.

Some of you may already be familiar with my previous exploits in the blogging world and some of you don't know me from Adam... or Eve.

Nonetheless, here I am, back in the Nest.

Why?

Good question.

Well, for one, I really enjoy writing.

Two? Probably what you'd call a dot-commie sort of thing. Shameless commerce and what have you.

Alright, alright... you're wondering about the commerce part. Back to the question of what team I'm going to be riding for next season? And to answer that question, yes, I'll be racing bikes again next year.

Woot!!!

Details will be forthcoming as soon as I am able...You see, I'm nothing if not superstitious and I'm doing my best to steer clear of them Black Cats.

I will tell you this. I'm as excited (and scared) as the season I first turned professional.

But enough of that and back to this blog.

I will be chronicling my adventures (and I assure you, there will be many) in the coming year as I continue re-define myself and my relationship with bicycles.

I hope you'll join me.