Back to Racing, ye yaw!

This weekend included two local races including the Eagle Creek Fast Crit and the Zionsville GP, each of which have their special flare. Eagle Creek is a course that is basically a perfect circle. Then Zionsville has it's famous bricked street home stretch. I'm finally starting to feel a part of the Indiana racing scene as much as I feel a part of the Michigan scene. I'm starting to know more of the guys as I am making it to a few more races now then in the past. Basically a great group of guys. Well the racing went well and I was able to get in a couple of good days of riding with riding to and from the races. I love being able to do that.

Up next of course is Fitchburg. I'm feeling pretty good and I see that my teammates are posting some good results out east, so we are ready to go. Only a few more days.

So I have a bit of free time here and there and I one thing I do is spend sometime on ebay looking at different things. Well one interesting thing I found out with two auctions is that I have a headbadge and a saddle on the breezer that are worth more then the bike frame itself.

The headbadge that goes on the Breezer that I have went for $75. The white flite saddle that I have a few of went for $182. So if I ever were to sell it, which I never will, I would at least know to sell everything separate. Good to know.

Breeze On

Kids meal anyone?

Kids meal anyone?, originally uploaded by breezermerckx.

Went to a wedding this past weekend. We all were served a delicious chicken, mashed potato, and veggie dinner. Well that is everyone, but children under 12 and Vanessa's husband who opted for the chicken fingers and chips.

Do what taste right.

Breeze On

I don't know how long it's been since I went somewhere which either 'A' it didn't include something to do with cycling or 'B' did I even bring my bike. Even though it only lasted one brief morning/afternoon it was a fun relaxing time, and I can't wait till the next time.

Katie, her sister and myself headed up this morning to northern Indiana for a fun time at her Aunt/Uncle's cabin on a lake. Once we arrived we jumped right onto the boat with them, her cousins and their kids and headed out to a local sand bar for some sand castle building, laying out in the sun and swimming. I even took my shirt off which of course prompted to some much anticipated and much deserved teasing and laughing at my farmers tan. Once the laughing came down to more of a dull roar I smartly had Katie help me lather up with the highest SPF I could find and help me put it on nice and thick.

After a few hours it was time to get down to business for some good ole tubing. First Jeff and I had to flex our muscles to get the boat off the sand. After the first heave which didn't move the boat an inch we waited for the laughter to stop before we could gain our composer and show them what we were made of on our second and successful attempt.

Check out the sweet air my wife and Krista got. Good grief. To bad we ran out of time before I could get out there.





Even though I didn't want to ride my bike up north some others wanted to.

After that it was time for a good up north barbecue lunch before we had to head back and get back to business. For me that included a ride with Paddy which actually was quite enjoyable, especially with the awesome lightning show off in the too close for comfort distance.

Let's see, Fitchburg is approaching a little to fast for me, but I feel like I'm as ready as I will ever be to defend. A few tune up races this weekend near by should get me back to a racing mindset. I know this is old news, but congrats to my teammate Bobby Lea who will be apart of the US Olympic team this August. Awesome!

Breeze On

Some habits are so hard to break!



Breeze On

I think I'm going to try to conquer a feet that may just be to great for me, grow a mustache. I know your saying that I'm just trying to join a trend of some of the other great cyclist out there with mustaches right now, but no this is more of a personal thing.

I have never ever had very much facial hair, heck what does come in not only takes a long time, but it comes in patches. The last few weeks though I've started to notice that I am having to shave every other day as opposed to every 4th day. So as of today I figured I'll shave everything but my mustache and see what happens. I'll be sure to post pictures.

If I could only grow a mustache like I grow eyebrows I'd be all set, and even visa versa.

Breeze On

Isn't that beautiful? And Katie ain't that bad looking either. For the first time Katie and I went on a bike ride. We rode out to her cousins house, and back for a grand total of 5 miles. I'm so proud of her. Although I have to teach her a thing or two about not coasting. Pedal, pedal, pedal, coasttttt............ Anyone who has ever ridden with me knows how much I'm against coasting. She's lucky I didn't have my powermeter on.

While we were there we were talking about their son Alex learning to use the bathroom and it reminded me of the last few weeks of trying to finally learn how to pee off the bike. His problem is one of the same problems I have which is, when its ok to go and let it out, you can't or don't. For myself I sit up, get my shorts down and just sit there saying to myself go. Come on you can do it. Apparently Alex does the same thing. It's tough.

But of course my problems don't end there. I have to worry about not peeing on my leg, my shoes, or anyone else. During Philly I finally got it perfect, almost, I got to cocky towards the end. So the race slowed I went to the right side of the peloton, pulled my shorts down, sat there for a moment or two telling myself to just and go, and finally I started. Miss the leg, check, miss my new shows, check, miss everyone else check. Ahh sweet relief. I glance up for a sec to check on the peloton and the road and look back down to find myself peeing on the ends of my handlebars. Good one dumbass! Ok well at least now I know to look out for that one next time.


Maybe I should go back to diapers as well just to be on the safe side.

Breeze On

Marathon Bike Race/Drive

Another 250km Philly is in the books. Our team rode fairly solid as Richard made the main break of the day and we had representation in most splits that were break away attempts early on. We didn't have much to loose but everything to gain and my hats off to Rich for riding hard up front for a long hot summer race. My boy G did good to bring me up to the front before the wall on a few of the later laps so our race was going perfect. That was until we hit the wall the 10th time when I just lost all energy and power. I was feeling pretty good, but I just didn't have that little extra humph to get over with pack. It's hard to do 6hr race without eating. I just couldn't stomach any of the race bars I had. Like the doc said I was one pancake short. HA.

As my routine I hopped in the car with Katie straight after the race, went to G's to pick up Lucy and made the trip back to Indianapolis. It is a little crazy sounding, but I just enjoy not having to spend that extra day of just driving. I now have a whole perfect day in front of me. Which I will spend much of it recovering. Besides I had a second driver to share a bit of the work load with as she took a solid 2hrs of the 10hr drive.

Well up next is some serious training to prepare for defending my title at Fitchburg. I have a bit of work ahead of me, but I feel pretty good about my chances. With the team riding better and better and now that we are in the full swing of race mode I personally feel much better.

Ok I think I'll have some breakfast, followed by a nap, and follow that up with some lunch. What a day!

Breeze On