So here's living proof that I'm serious about training and posting.  That is an actual photo from today's ride as I contemplated life while riding through the vineyards in Livermore.  Averaged 220 watts for three hours with an average heart rate of 130.  Yawn.  Anyway, this ride was dedicated to Aran Watson, dedicated blog reader and fast as crap bike racer.  I think about most of you when I'm out training and it keeps the pressure into the pedals mostly.  Tomorrow I'm supposed to ride easy.  Do you think the Myrah goes easy?  Has Kramer ever taken a day off?  Do you think Brij comes by that smile easy on race day because he takes a day off?  Do the work and reap or not.  It's up to you and me.  I'm choosing pain during the week to make the races what I want them to be.

Totally cool thing happened when I was about 10 minutes from my house.  I'm cranking along, all barn sour and what not, when I pounded through this intersection when I hear the obligatory "road fag" yelled at me by some fat tired slob in a peloton (not sure what a group of Mtb riders is called but certainly not a peloton--maybe critical massholes? but let's go with peloton for sake of brevity).  I chuckled and then realized that the guy doing the yelling was none other than my brother.  Turns out he was just getting done with his ride (mostly legal) up on Diablo.  They were headed to his buddies house and as it turned out, I got invited to join them for a post ride bevy.  The host has a pretty hot wife, so it didn't take me long to re-route and join them.  We caught the end of the Niner game and hilarity ensued.  No wife spottage though.  Post carb load, I made it home with fading light.  Good session and good sensations.  More to follow.  Hope you are well and be excellent to each other.

Johnny GoFast

So where have you been? Maybe that's a better question for me. Anyway, maybe I've been lost in the fog. Maybe, I've been dealing with a calf injury or a drinking problem or a lack of focus on what matters.

There is no doubt that I love you and I can get back to the excellence that you've come to expect. Today, I got my head kicked in. There is no doubt that I race against the best competition in the country. Maybe in the world. And when you are going well, it's easy to take that for granted. And if you slack, there is always somebody there to take your spot. Chop your line and ride away and leave you wondering why you are going backwards. And in that moment, when things aren't falling your way, it's easy to wonder what the hell is going on. I mean after all, I'm one hell of a big deal. I love racing my bike and I love that no one will ever give you quarter. Go fast or get out of the way.

But I'm tired of getting beat. I'm tired of the competition getting younger and the courses getting tougher and the fact that I can't throw my leg over the top tube and fall into line and get my podium without a fight. I haven't done what it takes to earn what others have taken from me. People have been working and I haven't. Fuck that. New Johnny is coming out. I've got a month and a half and I'm going to get my shit together. Let's look at the assets and liabilities:

 Liabilities:
-Somewhat disgruntled calf
-Weight
-Beer habit  

Assets
-Calf is healed thanks to Jeff Johnson and Dr. William Workman (who is a kick ass cyclocross racer)
- I can quit beer
-I'm only 185lbs and that shit will come off if I get serious
-Wilcher's girlfriend
-Cal Giant is super supportive
-Kovarus/Wells Fargo haven't kicked me off their team
-I have a kick ass mullet
-Laurel Green
-Court Austin, more than just a bike to the chodes bike exchange pit guy
-Jake at Styx and Stones bike mechanic
-Henry Kramer whom I'm sure will pay me for Iowa
-Hans Kellner and his smile
-Ceasar Chavez because he is the coolest guy on two wheels
-Tim Cannard because he's not
-Because we all want to ride like Scott Chapin
-Because sooner or later somebody will feed Brock Dickey
-For God's sake, can somebody set up a parade for Tom Simpson?
-Zipps
-Specialized
-Country Music

Anyway, I'm fully prepared to blog my journey to Nats and you are coming along. Reluctantly. Sucks to be you but I'm about to get a shit load faster.

Thank you.

Johnny GoFast It's nice to be back