Birthday Gifts Acceptance is now open.

I turn 32 next Saturday. Although I struggled a little when I turned 30, getting older doesn't seem to bother me. I know I'm still young. There are still plenty of races that don't even have Master categories for my age. But nonetheless, my birthday is February 23rd and I am now excepting presents. Confused what to get me? Here are some ideas:

Time Trial helmet. (Brand not important).

Dura Ace Shifters. Time to upgrade from Ultegra.

Dura Ace Derailleurs.

Anything cool for the bike. Sometimes the gift that someone else picks out the best one.

Cash always converts well to bike parts.

My wife and I are planning our next trip again. October will be our 10 year anniversary. We are taking a cruise for the first time. We will be doing the Land and Sea vacation through Disney (we have heard from people who have taken many cruises that the Disney cruise is the best regardless if you bring kids...we are not bringing kids). So for my birthday I will take gifts on our registry card. Just click here: Disney Cruise.

Or you could just let me ride away for a victory at Snowball Crit #1 on the 24th.

Never been so sick.

I think I have only had the flu once before in my life. The first year as a professional firefighter in Franklin. That winter I got the flu and I remember how bad it was. Well I don't think it compares to the way I have felt over the last few days.

Wednesday afternoon I started getting a headache and sore throat. I went home and started taking Vitamin C and zinc. The next day I felt worse, but we were burning a house at work and I couldn't miss that. Probably a bad mistake. Friday, even worse. Body aches, cough and just overall feeling like crap. I skipped the ride Saturday morning, figuring I would give myself a little longer to recover. Starting Saturday evening my fever started. It got up and stayed between 101 and 102.1 for two days.

So he it is Monday. Last night was still a terrible night sleep. I still have a bad, productive cough, chills, sweats, the fever is gone, but the body aches are still here. Today is the first day I felt at least a little better. We'll see if it last.

New Lid

Our team's new helmets came in today. The Uvex Boss helmet is a German helmet that is probably the most comfortable thing I have had on my head. Very adjustable, even has a ratcheting chin strap. And a cool bee guard on the front.

I didn't actually get a chance to ride with it. I am still feeling pretty bad today. Tomorrow is looking pretty iffy for me as well.

All About Bikes has these helmets in stock if anyone was interested. Just thought I would pass on the 411.

Bad Timing

Why is it that when the weather is cold and nasty I am motivated and able to ride. But when the weather turns to spring in February, I get sick. That is what has just happened. I started feeling bad on Wednesday and took off that day and Thursday (although we burned a house at work so it wasn't a real rest day, just off the bike). And now its Friday and I am full fledged sick. It was hard to stay off the bike when the temps were in the 80s. Hopefully this will pass quickly and I'll be able to put in some good weekend miles.

Its Official

Jenni and I went to the level "C" officials clinic yesterday. So its official, we're officials. Now are team meets its requirement. I'll be honest that was the reason for going, but I think it will actually be fun. Also it opened my eyes a lot and will make promoting races a little easier. Well anyway I'll give it a shot and we'll see. But I am excited and really looking forward to getting even more involved in the sport. I even thought about getting my coaching license. Maybe next year.

On another note, I have to mention this or Jenni will rat me out...she scored higher than me on the official's test.

Good weather ahead.

Just checked out the weather for the next week. I'm excited. Hopefully I can find an or more each day to ride in the near 70s.

This morning I got up and road the Saturday morning stage race starting at Hilltop. It was a good ride. 20 degree increase in temperature from the beginning to the end of the ride. I felt pretty strong today. My hamstrings are real sore right now. Mainly from a hard weight workout I did yesterday. But I'm feeling it now.

Tomorrow looks like a nice day, but I will be at the officials clinic, then I will be watching the Patriots make history. Go Pats!

No Sleep.

Why no sleep? Not because I have been training too hard, or even working to hard (well maybe the second one), but my children won't let me sleep. Madelyn (age 3) got her tonsils and adenoids taken out last Thursday. I have never had this done but I hear it is very unpleasant. Since then, she has not slept longer than 2 hours at a time. I think her pain is gone, but she got use to us babying her for the 5 days she had pain, and now she just wakes up and whines 5 times a night. Its like having a newborn again. Maybe I'll start taking naps at work.