So Long 2007!!!!!!

This is it. The last day of my 2007. How am I celebrating? By doing nothing of course. Went to my dad's with B-Man, hung out, ate some spaghetti and trucked home to do more nothing.

The way I see it, yesterday's ride was too damn good and no ride today could match it. So I'll just take the memory of yesterday's 23.5 miles of sweet ass, North Park single track with me as I start 2008's training Monday.

So with over 3300+ miles and 400+ hours of training & racing I say farewell to 2007 and hope that I can kick it up a notch in 2008 and get to the upper end of mediocre.

Here are some of my 2008 Favorites...

Race- all of them were cool for one reason or another. I can't pick. At everyone of them I saw friends, and had a good time even if I didn't see any time on the box. The hundies are the most fun. Hands down, but the lap solos are going to be the focus in 2008. I THINK.

Bike- My Dos Niner. I know, I know, you would have thought after ALL the panting, drooling and bike porn self gratification I did over the Mamasita SHE would have one. But nope. Don't get me wrong, it's a GREAT bike. Fast, quick handling, a 29" XC racer's wet dream and I love riding her (I love saying that!) BUT for hundies, solos and long rides the Dos Niner just can NOT be beat. THEESE I SWEAR TO YOU! Plus the orange '07 version that replaced my '06 green one (thanks to Jason at Salsa) is stiffer and basically "the ballz". Thanks Salsa!

New Component- My Ergon grips. God damn they are good. I only wish I would have had them for ALL my races this year. Since using them hand pain is a thing of the past.

Race Food/Nutrition- 3 Way (I love saying that) Tie between Carbo Pro/Universal Carbo Pro, Hammer Gel, and Hammer Heed. Carbo pro stepped up and delivered calories when Perpetuem made my stomach heave gobs of vomit. It's tasteless, can be mixed with anything and it plain works for me. Heed and Gel from Hammer Nutrition is just the best at what it they do. Drink it up, shoot it down and ride!

Photo- This one from Leesburg....

Thanks to Bikeman.com (Big Al & Davis), all of our team sponsors, Ergon (El Jeffie!!!), Brent & Ryan at Twin-Six for THEE absolute coolest duds in cycling, Jason at Salsa, all my friends and bloggers at the races who supported me and lent me a hand- (J.B., Fernando/Loretta, Rich B., Rick N., Jeff W., Andy S., Fat Marc, Buddy, Matt, Fitzy, (all the other Henry's/T6 folks), and Pedro.

Big extra special thanks to Tom H. for all the wrenching and bike building he does for me. (I owe you blood and more!!!).

Last, but not least- Wifey and B-Man. Wifey for letting me drive all around the Mid Atlantic, blowing coin we don't have racing for 5th place and B-Man for not hating me (yet, I'm sure there's time) for riding my bike more than he rides his and for thinking that riding a bike is cool (little dude you have yet to see how cool riding and racing a bike can be!). I love you both.

Later.