If it rains....it pours! And I had to start with the pic above as it shows the backdrop from the small mtn town of Ouray where Heather and I stopped on the way back from a trip to Durango.

This analogy kinda suites several things since I've been living in Colorado. If you didn't know the transition out here was a bit of a mental teaser as I struggled finding a niche and comfortable job offer for the 1st 3 months. Whew glad that is over as in one week I started personal training 5 mornings a week and working at a really cool bike shop around the corner from my house 4 or so days each week. I must add for the native Nashvillians (??? if that is a word) that it is very similar to my old bike crew that I found in Nashville of Gran Fondo; as MOB cyclery here specializes in high end road, but still doesn't have the feel of the good ole Wave in Grand Rivers as my one and only home stomping grounds. Only big difference is MOB has an in-house Endurance Training Center with 8 compu-trainer set ups with a big screen to roll the course and data for you to see how bad you are suffering and for others to watch you mash out those pitiful watts. The warehouse at the Wave still does the job with the CTS dvds running back to back.

I guess that is the pouring after the dry spell of unemployment all summer. It is nice though because the weather is the same way; mostly dry sunny days and an occasional afternoon gusher that slips over the front range that torrents for an hour then clears right back up. I must say I'm getting very spoiled.

I also would like to add that I have officially added a new discipline to the arsenal of racing talents that I would like to think I have. (Com'mon just let me believe it!) I actually jumped in head first to cyclo-cross racing since there is actually a great racing scene in the fall/winter here. I stripped the road bike and built up a sweet Dura-ace Scott CX bike. (Check out the pics with the sweet red tubies and fresh CO Red Rocks dust from the race on Sunday below! Nice scenery in background I must admit although I couldn't focus on it.) I must say I was a bit nervous as I finished building my bike on Friday and raced it on Sunday without it ever touching dirt and not ever owning a cross bike before. Must have done something right as I finished 12th of 25+ crossers in the Pro/Open field in the race last weekend. Whew it was a painful 12th as I was overgeared to make hills with my single chainring, so I found myself running a bit more than planned. Oh well, lesson learned.

Besides taking up cross, which has offered a new source of motivation; there is also word of racing for the Einstein Bagels Elite team next year. I have been riding closely with some of the team members and managers and this might be my chance to get on a good squad for the coming year. We'll wait and see as the proposal comes in! Cross your fingers for me!

The new steed...check out the Dura-ace with carbon chainguard!

I know with the sounds of cross and racing for a road team next year, you might be wondering about mtn biking. No worries, still in the blood (sorry Johnny). I raced in Breckenridge in August on a Wednesday night training race and got chicked and passed by a 14 yr old twice. Wait it was for good reason since I road 3 1/2 hrs that morning with the Einstein boys....sorrry had to defend myself. I also raced that next weekend in Winter park on a 28 mile pt to pt race that had some sick amounts of climbing and even better descending. I luckily pulled 20th in the Pro race as I still hadn't adjusted to racing at 9,000 ft. Now the light weight XC race bike is hangin up and the 5" bike with 2.35 DH tires is ripping in full effect. I took it last Wednesday to ride Bergen Peak where I climbed from 6500 ft to almost 10,000 ft while it snowed on me the whole time. I wish I had some pics of that for you. Anyways, just unique to be able to ride in snow now while 20 mins back in Denver it is warmer.

And one final remark is for all to wish my sister and hubbie, Tina and DJ, congrats as of 9/11/06 they had a 6 lb 13 oz Brayden Mitchell to make me a fifth time uncle. He is a cutie and is following in his uncles footsteps.

Ah Heather, Brayden, and I in hospital!

Later for now as the next 8 weekends again hold doublehead cross races.