Thank You - 2008

While thinking about or starting to put together my year-end summary, race, ride, miles counts of all my road, crit and mountain bike races, I thought it would be premature, since I just finished my last race of the year on Nov. 23, making my 2008 season complete.

When I think back to all the races, all the riding, I almost have a little memory of each one.
Our success’s can be defined by the people we choose to have in our lives. One’s success can be defined by the ability to make personal change. When you change your thinking, you change your beliefs. Change your beliefs, you change your expectations. Expectations change your attitude. Change your Attitude you change your behavior. Change your Behavior - change your performance, and finally change your performance you can change your life. I would certainly say, in 2008 I changed my life.

One of the things to inspire this post, was a public shout out to those that inspired, helped, motivated, challenged me in 2008. Hence ‘ Thank you ‘2008.

The largest humble Thank You to my wife. She supported (let me) take my cycling this year to a new commitment level, with more investment, more work, and more hours than any year prior. She knew it meant more ‘quality’ hours and less time ‘noodling’ for hours on the bike. She also put up with me not being home for a few hours after work and time on the weekends training and training. We did however get to spend some quality time together at the Gym working out together for the first four months of 2008. When time permitted she traveled along to race after race, in the car, listening to sometime hours of bike talk, to as many of my races as possible, took photos, waited around, handed me bottles, yelled, screamed and shouted at me like a rabid orange fan on Alpe du’ez. And I cannot forget the hundreds of photos she took at my races. Oh, she let me take my road bike on our 5-year wedding anniversary vacation, to the beach. I can’t believe she still likes me. I hope to run and workout more with her in ’09 and take hundreds of photos of her when she runs her next 5k, 10k or marathon. I need her there so I can finish in the top 10.

RG - Joe Friel - Andy A.- Velo/A2 – Thank you for the inspiration, for listening, the motivation, the insight, the resources, the time and making me a better athlete at my ripe age. Hats off to not looking back – but forward with another year ahead of us and some dartfish.

Scott Moro – Thanks for letting me be involved with the team/club all these years, for cheering me on when your not at my races, for all the bike love and for being the biggest hubbard ever.

LP - Thanks dude! You've been a bit of a bike mentor for me when it comes to many things bike. Always around for bike talk, training talk, rides and more rides. Always pushing me to achieve more and keeping me in check for all things we have in common and not. LP: Thanks for keeping me pointed in the right direction (sometimes literally) and for putting up with me in the car. There are only so many nut bags in life that are willing to go out and ride in 30 mph winds on Ohio flatlands when it’s 40 degrees. Thanks for all the miles. After you kicking my ass this cross season, I am sure I had no role in motivating you at all this year! Props on one of your best racing seasons - thanks for always pushing and pulling with two wheels.

Tim – thanks for being a great brother in law first, for joining the ranks of the bike-racing world. I know you could go pro. Cheers to getting married and thanks for letting me sit on your wheel, since you will always be faster than me in the woods.

Andy Johnson – for bringing more cross racing to the Columbus area. For putting on a great racing series and giving up so much time for the sport. I still remember Andy showing up at the Tuesday Night Crits talking about putting on some cross practices – now look where you are!

Ben Bonney – A formal thank you for being a carrot and my “arch nemesis’’ this year and last year. You are a great competitor and I guess a better cross racer than I [we all have a few good days]. It was great having you and your wife at the races this year and certainly, what makes racing so fun. Lets get to those 100-mile mountain bike race’s in 09!

Rish and Jon - http://crossbus.blogspot.com
Mason said it best, “props, high-fives, handshakes and beverages” to you guys for putting these well-attended ORGANIZED practices every week. I know I was not the only one to look forward to the social aspect, new courses, and workouts and training. I couldn’t wait to get off work and pedal to practice.

Thank You – BikeSource and Specialized and Ridley – I love my new 2008 Tarmac. I love my new 2009 Ridley Crosswind. It would be nice to have a power tap, Garmin 705 and a carbon cross bike late in ’09 for moi? Who’s giving them away?
Special Thanks to BikeSource and all those employees that had to ring me up, listen to me yak about whatever, help me with parts, and see me in the shop sometimes weekly. Thank you Ryan Callahan, Mark (owner), Frank, Joe, Kurtis, Dan, Mike, Scott and anyone that helped me this year.

Asheville, NC - To everyone who went with me on my Annual trip in March to Asheville this year – thanks. It was one of the biggest turnouts in 4 years. BA, LP and TS thanks for getting us going each day and keeping us going in the right direction – my sense of direction stinks. Joe thanks for talking so much, Anthony, thanks for calling us fat and old, Dan, thanks for showing me how to play Wii tennis. Jillian, thanks for bringing balance to the group. Tom D., Jason M., Jon W., Gary W., thanks for gutting it out. And big thanks to Rachel Horn, for coming to our hotel and treating us to amazing massage’s. Lets get it going for 2009: http://ashvillecyclingcamp.blogspot.com

I am sure I forgot to thank someone - Thanks everyone.