Todd Wells

Finally On My Way

I'm finally on my way to winter. I managed to avoid the winter for almost all of last year and now I'm headed right to the heart of it in Australia. Well, it's not winter like Colorado, no snow and temperatures in the 50s and 60s but still. I have 4 flights to get to Worlds, 2 are in the books and 2 more to go. I would almost say the first one out of Durango is the most important, it's easy to get stuck there when things go wrong. Now that I'm in LA, even the plane breaks they will fix it or we will just get a new one. There are flights every hour to Canberra and worst case it's only a 3 hour drive from Sydney on the wrong side of the road. 

I was checking out, Outside mag on way here and there was an article on Single Speed World Championships which got me thinking about the upcoming race. How cool would it be if you were a freshman at Fort Lewis College, into mountainbiking, and just arrived at school today for your first college semester. In less then 2 weeks Durango will be hosting the SSWCs and using some of the trails that go right behind the dorms. You would be so pumped. I rode some of the new single track climb up to the ridge the other night and it was awesome. I am really bummed to be missing the race since I'll be at WC finals. 

I also missed the first ever MTB World Championships in Durango but have attended the Collegiate National Championships there and the World Cup when it was held right in town. I also got to do the downtown prologue for the WC that went through Steam Works and MBS so I guess I shouldn't complain too much. It is nice to be able to compete in your home town thought at a big event. 

For now thought I just need to get through this 15 hour flight down under. I have all the essentials for such a flight at least; noise canceling headphones, lunesta, ear plugs, sunglasses, melatonin, tryptophan, compression socks, 2 books(1 Louis Lamour), gum, Ipod, computer and most important a great seat. The hardest thing about traveling first or business class when everything goes smooth is not eating too many warm chocolate chip cookies, not drinking too much wine and not staying up too late watching too many new movies.

I was worried all week about staying home for too long now I'm wishing I could have stayed one more day. I finished my last day of motorpacing until possibly November yesterday behind the scooter, the weather has been incredible and Winston was even starting to like me more then Meg. I'll be starting over from scratch when I get back home with Winston at least. 

With Worlds 5.5 days away I'm looking forward to the race. I hope they kept all the jumps, berms and decision maker sections of the course from last year that made it so much fun. I'm also hoping it's dry like last year so it's super fast although wet wouldn't be too bad as long as it wasn't super cold. 

 

I wonder what this guy is doing right now.....

A Few More Days

I finally downloaded some photos off my phone tonight. I usually get stuff done in the morning when I'm getting on Euro time, now I get things done at night getting on Oz time. Here's a shot of the dirt road climb from Purgatory to Hermosa Creek trail head. That was a nice day. 

Gilby and Rebecas dog Mavis, looks just like the dog from the Travelers Insurance commercial played everyday during the tour. Ever since she came over, Winston has been asking where "Trouble" is. 

The trails here are so rad and such a huge part of the community. I don't know if I've seen something like this on any trails I've ridden anywhere in the world. 

There weren't any flaggers out there or anyone working but it goes to show how serious they take the trails around here. 

My last picture is of the new cross rig. It's not a sexy picture but the bike is sweet. It's nice to have it all built up and dialed in before I leave from this last MTB trip. I'm loving the carbon and the new Zipp wheels. 

I have been logging in the time behind the scooter lately. It is a love, hate relationship. I love that it makes me faster and gives me better leg speed but I hate how much it makes me hurt. 

Just found out that Hawaii MTB Stage Race isn't happening this year. Bummer. It was great prize money but I was really excited to go to Hawaii at the end of October. I'm not too disappointed though since the Boulder Cup CX race is that weekend and one of my favorites of the year and I won't have to miss it. 

I have one more set of wheels to glue up for cross and I'll be done for the year, as long as I don't flat. It's nice getting them glued up early when it's still warm out and I can open the garage to get rid of the AquaSeal and glue fumes. I still feel a little strange after a long gluing session in the garage. 

I wonder if USADA will test me again before I leave for Worlds......

Aussie Time

I wonder how many times I have been in different time zones in my life and if it will ever get any easier. I'm currently working on getting on Australia time, 9 hours behind actually, but not sure about the day thing. That doesn't matter though. I have been staying up late but haven't been able to sleep in as much as I would like. I'm definitely making myself tired though so I have that going for me. 

I also managed to ride in a rain shower today and the temperature was probably only in the low 60s so I'm getting use to the cool weather also. Susi and quite a few other guys are already down under. I don't even leave until Sunday so I won't be there until Tuesday. That's way earlier then I went to Worlds last year. I think I got there on Friday and raced on Sunday, in and out. 

I'm also getting some good altitude training in staying home until the end of the week. I usually feel like I have best altitude adaptation after being home for 2 to 2 and half weeks. Winston thinks I need at least a month or two with most of that time spent at the dog park or on the river. Today we went out to HBs and roosted at the Ranch. Baxter was putting Winston through the paces and now he's sleeping with his tongue hanging out. I wish I was sleeping but have to stay awake for at least another 2 hours. 

I took the cyclocross bike out on it's first trail ride today and it was awesome. I have been a tire gluing machine lately and they held up to the test. File tread for Vegas ready to go. The new TRP brakes are awesome too with the adjustable barrel on the cable. 

I busted out my fastest ever Aztec loop yesterday but can't seem to get my PowerTap to download the ride. Why do I care what the numbers are anyway if I know it's the fastest I've ever done it? Sometimes we get so caught up in the training technology we forget that the actual reason we're training is to ride faster. 

I finally made it into RGPs today for a Southwest turkey wrap, as good as ever. 

I wonder what time it will be in Australia tomorrow when I wake up...... 

Christmas

It looked like Christmas in the driveway yesterday. I received all my cross wheels for the year from Zipp. Yup, Zipp is my new wheel sponsor for cross. I tested them a bit this summer and they are awesome. Now I am pumped to have so many sets of great wheels but am dreading gluing them all up. I started a set last night but it's going to be a long process. I need to get 2 sets glued up in the next 10 days for Vegas. 

In addition to the big shipment of wheels, my upgrade went through on my trip to Australia. Instead of having my knees slammed into the seat in front of me for 14 hours and 45 minutes, I'll be testing out the new business class seats that go completely flat. I even reserved the one that faces backward. 

Winston hurt his leg yesterday running up Hog's Back with Rude. It didn't help that I took him to the river afterwards. 

Gilby and I got out and hacked it up a little the other day in Cortez. Well I hacked it up, Gilby played OK. 

This was the scene at Burger Nite on Monday at The Palace. I don't know what this guy was up to but it was entertaining. 

Last night we ate at Steam Works and WIllow came down to hang out. They have a great patio and the weather has been incredible here. Not a bad view

Good luck to Susi this weekend at Marathon World Championships. Last year him and Roel collided in the sprint, they both went down hard and they gave the jersey to Roel even though Susi crossed the line first. Here's the video of the finish.

I hope the stock market keeps rallying today. I'm off to finish dialing in my new cross bike that Barthel just built up at MBS. Thanks. 

I wonder what the Dart is doing.....

Tad Elliot Fundraiser

We need to have a fundraiser to get Tad Elliot to Worlds. We are still working on details but we'll keep you posted here.

US PRO XCT FInals Complete

Phew, it was hot this weekend. In the 90s with just about 90 percent humidity. Steep climbs with no shade and hardly any clouds. You know it's hot when you feel the thump in your head and you start to feel cool when you're dripping sweat and beat red. 

The XC went pretty well, wound up 3rd, was off in a lead group of 3 with Sid and Max for part of the race. Was off solo by about 10 seconds for the 4th of 6 laps. It doesn't matter how easy I go in the beginning, I always blow up at the end. The race was only 1:40 too. Jeez. 

The first lap only took 16 minutes, the course was really cool with tons of bridges, fast, rocky descents and some gradual climbing. 

I wrapped up the series overall for the short track this weekend, first time I've ever won it. I didn't have a very good STXC today, took it easy to make sure I didn't blow up and hoped to be able to nail it at the end. I tried to hit it on the last lap but didn't have any bunch and got popped out of the group. Settled for sixth but it was enough for the series. 

I'm so tired of hearing all this banter about the marathon race in Colorado this weekend that none of the top guys even did. A guy who retired 10 years ago has won it for the past however many years. Not to take anything away from Wiens, he was a great rider when he was competing in the early 90s, too bad he didn't get to win his local race again this year. 

I am looking forward to getting back to Colorado tomorrow and drying out. I think my shoes have been growing moss since I left, not to mention my chamois. 

I wonder what Winstons' doing right now....

Performance

Iphone

I can't believe it, Rude got an Iphone before me. He got it today and he even can keep his normal number since it originated in an area where AT and T has service. He had to register it our parent's address but other then that he's dialed.  

The STXC went pretty well at Mt. Snow. I was suffering like a dog off the front with Sid for 2/3s of the race before Sid blew up and Kabush bridged across. Couldn't hang when Kbomb attacked on the climb the last time but didn't completely blow. Had to settle for 2nd, not a bad result but not 1st. 

The Little Bellas were out in force cheering for everyone, especially Lea D, their local hero. We all got invited to a Lemonade Social at the podium, here's my invitation to prove it. 

My Dad, Rude and I tubed the Esopus on Monday. It was the first time I've tubed it when it didn't thunder storm and I wasn't freezing when we got out. The creek was running high from all the rain lately. We all scraped our butts a few times but the rapids were worth it. 

Tuesday Meg and I went to Woodstock for lunch. It was another nice day, we've been having a lot of them lately. The training has been going well too, getting some heat training in for the winter World Championships. 

Rude has decided to call it a season on the mountain bike after trying to race with a busted thumb the past few weeks wasn't working out so well. He's resting up now and will start preparing for the cross season which is getting closer everyday. I think cross shouldn't start until there are leaves on the ground but I'll be jumping on the skinny tires for Vegas. I will have just flown around the world for the final few World Cups and World Championships. I'll be going from winter Oz to rainy Switzerland and Austria right into Vegas baby where it will probably be 100 degrees and zero humidity. The Dart and Susi killed it last weekend with the Dart winning SA Marathon Champs and Susi getting on the box at the H.C. race in Bern. 

I wonder if our plants and flowers are completely dead from not being watered......

Red Neck Durango

I bet I've been buzzed by a few of these guys: 

Can you believe people still have these confederate flags. 

Mt Snow XC

Another Mt Snow XC is in the books. I finally finished the race with out flatting yesterday, which is more then I can say for the last 2 years. Rode in a group with Sid and Kabush for most of the race. Tried to attack a few times, Kabush attacked a few times but the group didn't blow apart until the steep climb on the 4th of 5 laps. Was feeling great until then but couldn't respond to Kabush or Sid. The legs started to load and that was it. I was also sucking on the descents. I don't know what happened between last weekend and this one but I was like two different people on the descents. I had a strange get off while training on Friday and seemed to lose all confidence for the race. Oh well. 

The weather here in Snow has been crazy. It's been really cool, temperatures in the upper 60s and no humidity. It is looking like rain though for today's short track. There's some Trek Women's triathlon going on here this today and the place is packed. You wouldn't want to swim in the lake they're swimming in though. Last night there were a bunch of fire works, better then 4th of July in Durango. They are really pushing this Mount Snow Festival. 

The men's XC was listed as starting at 11am on the internet but actually started at 2pm. I know a few people that didn't have anyone at the team manager's meeting and spent the morning sitting in their car waiting for our 2pm start time. That's a bummer. 

Looks like TommyD and Pate had a great TTs yesterday in Spain. How many races is Pate doing this year anyway? He did the Cali, Giro, Tour and another stage race now and I'm sure a bunch of other races too. They always have him in breaks or on the front at the end trying to help with the lead out. I hope he's getting paid a lot of $$$$. 

Rich Freeze is here this weekend announcing. He has to be one of the best announcers ever. He makes the races so exciting for the spectators and the racers too. Him and Dave Towel are our Phil and Paul of US racing. 

I wonder what Winstons' doing right now....