Mind you that he was commenting on live poker… or at least live to him. It was the world heads up poker championships.

I have always stated that he was not so good at his job of commenting on cycling. I guess now I know exactly why. He is “a commentator” for versus not just for the cycling part, but for the entire network and he will talk about anything he is asked to. Very professional of him, but not very credible.

If you do a quick search on Craig you will see that I am not alone.

That guy ripped everyone a new one today and it was really cool to see him put a nail in the coffin and solidify his first TDF win.
I was hoping that he would win the tour and had him as my pick. Of course I did not write it down so that I can prove it, but the guy is a tough cookie.

I think he was a world champion mountain bike rider, world champion on the road not too long ago, placed very well in all sorts of grand tours, probably australia’ TT champion at some point, truly remarkable.

He deserved the win, awesome to watch the guy.

Got most of my stuff ready, now just need to dial in all kinds of suspensions. Onto some reading and hopefully I can figure it out and set it up correctly.

Installed a command post, which should be pretty nice to ride on. I have always ridden MTB with the seat height extra low, but I always got killed on the climbs and on flats. Hopefully this addition will cure all my issues… except the weight one.

The ONLY thing that I am not looking forward to is the fact that we will be riding in bear country. I have to say that I am scared shitlles and this is definitely not what I wanted for a relaxing MTB “vacation”. Apparently “we have to” carry bear spray.

I am looking forward to riding, but I will be very happy if I make it home safe.

Stay tuned.

I got busted with a friend for entering the Del Mar Ecological reserve. We were coming back from black mountain and entered a trail behind a neighborhood way out in the Rancho Peneasquitos area…. I mean MILES from where we were not supposed to show up. We kept going on the trail and this is where we might have messed up. There was a gate, but there was a CLEAR path and no signs for these LITTLE FUCKERS. We kept going, passed a bunch of people (family people, kids, grandpa, etc, etc).

Miles later we come out by the eucaliptus trees and there they were. Two Park Rangers. They were very nice and we followed proper protocol and went our way.

2 months later I get the citation in the mail.

$475 dollars!!!!!!!!!

I was shocked. I have been busted for driving with no insurance and that was only $300.

Well yesterday was court day and the line was pretty big. A bunch of criminals, DUI people, tweakers and US (regular people, busted for riding with the Fairy Shrimp).

Lines and more lines, waiting and waiting, but we were finally in the room and our strategy was to plead no contest. After watching 10 people go ahead of us (mind you, REAL criminals) we chit-chatted a bit more, then they called us to the front bench and right there and then I started to ask my buddy if our plead would go OK and when I was about to hear the answer I was called up.

I cracked: GUILTY your honor…

She read the charges, shrugged and asked me WHAT EXACTLY I WAS DOING. She had no idea these fucking shrimp existed. I explained everything, the fee got reduced to $400 and waived if I do not get another citation in the next 12 months.

Relieved I left the room without spending a dime. I learned my lesson (i also learned not to get busted for having pot in the car – automatic 3 year license suspension).

So next time I go mountain biking and someone had the idea of entering a protected area they will have to hand me $900, because that is the fine for the 2nd time.

On a side note, these vernal pools look disgusting. I am not sure why people would want to ride through that huge green pool of what looks like horse semen. Just foul stuff.

What a nightmare riding with these idiots on the ride today.

I really have to say that these guys have no respect for ANY traffic laws. Something bad is going to happen because some knucklehead calimax rider crossed the double yellow (ON A TRAINING RIDE!!!!) and killed himself. After what I saw today I would actually keep riding, it was that ridiculous.

On another note though, great week riding. 350 miles in the last 8 days, which for me is pretty good.

We talked so much about this guy and I committed to write so much stuff down that I think I forgot half f it.

I will try to touch on all of our topics, but just a quick brush over the main discussions points are bellow:

- Arnie Baker’ ride (by invitation only)
- Arnie Baker’ disc wheel crit riding
- Arnie Baker’ Floyd Landis defense
- Arnie Baker’ not allowed in France
- Arnie Baker’ alleged involvement with confidential documents
- Arnie Baker’ alleged knowledge of science

and the list went on and on and on.

Its crazy to see how that whole circus came about a couple of years ago. The EXPERT and the famous powerpoint. I wish I could dig that up, but I am too lazy.

I do remember the whole website thing too. Give money to Floyd for his defense. Jesus, people got cleaned on that one…. at least the ones that donated. That money is as good as the brand-spanking new PANDORA stock – GARBAGE, gone…..

I personally don’t have anything against the guy, I just always thought he was a bit full of shit. Its kinda when you meet someone and you are not allowed to look him/her in the eye…. so you kinda look at the top of the shoulder… you know what I mean?

In social settings it was always Dr. Baker and if you wanted to do his ride you had to go ask permission even though the fucking streets are for EVERYONE. It was considered to be such a big deal to be invited to ride with him. My gosh….

Anyways, that encounter just set off an avalanche of thoughts and hopefully I will explore a bit more on each topic… you know elaborate. If anybody has any good Arnie stories, please feel free to chime in.

JH

I have picked all my scabs and now there is nothing more to scratch… kinda bummed out. No more scab scratching stories to share with fellow crashed riders.

So the ribs… not sure what is going on, but they have really been hurting me and the breathing is just really hard. Maybe its because i went mountain biking 1 week later and ended up eating shit AGAIN! Or maybe its because I hit some serious drops bearing all the weight onto my arms (consequently end up anchored (weight) in my mid-section, WHICH just rattled the ribs even more). So stupid. It actually got to the point were I refused to go down these stairs-type trails… just too hard of impacts even with full suspension. Anyways, I am pussy.

So now back to the good part. Phil. BUSTED! Man, that is too bad. I think that the US peloton will slowly start to come out. I look at results locally and all the guys that were kicking ass last year no longer can handle it this year. Something is going on and I would love to know what exactly.

On a final note, i got word that a certain someone will start racing for a LA team. This guy was somewhat of a high profile rider in SoCal and now he is back – allegedly.

BTW, tomorrow is mountain bike day…. i better hold it together tomorrow.

There is just too much Clean Water Bottle and Lance ass-kissing going on. I understand the y need to make a living, but they have gone too far in commercializing themselves.

If that isn’t enough, these guys are having senile moments much too often. It is funny once in a while and you can understand, I mean, there are 200 cyclists in a race and there are at least 7 other guys that are in the same gear, but by now you figure they would get it right.

Please guys, get the shit right. Drop the fucking Clean Bottle stuff and just call it like it is. Come out with the doping and talk about it. As Suze Orman would say, you have to stand in your truth. <— I know, super corny.

So here it goes….

First one, yesterday on my way to fiesta I bit the pavement pretty hard. Almost got ridden over by traffic. That really sucked. My tire entered a big rut, it grinded until it popped and over I went the handlebars. Not sure how I landed, or exactly how it all went down but my brand new kit has a tiny tini hole by the hip… thank goodness.

On the other hand, my knee, elbow, hand and ribs took it. fuck that hurt. First big blood bubble right on the knee cap…. then severe ringing in my head – could not hear what was going on… blindness set in, at least peripheral and it got worst and worst. I sit down, things clear up a bit. Some guy helps me to the next intersection. I sit there and wait for my ride. The berries start to ooze blood and water…. shower… severe headaches for the next 3 hours. I wake up in the AM and my ribs are done. Cracked for sure, dont know how many, but I know the feeling.

Right now, ribs and gash in hand hurt the must. All other stuff will heal quick. The bike? I am not sure… fuck it!

One impressive thing though. I landed on my computer… AGAIN! It was in my backpack… MacBookPro’s. They are great!

Now on to Lance. To me, this is it. If they cant take him down now it will be irrelevant. Having George backing up his doping stories is just too much for him to handle. I honestly thought this day would never come. More on this later… tired of typing.