Whilst others are out there suffering/enjoying 206 miles in the saddle from Logan to Jackson, I feel quite pleased with myself for getting out there and accomplishing a whopping 13.95 miles (but twice up Big Cottonwood Canyon Road past the Old Mill.

I seriously think this has been more of a wasted season than last year … how depressing is that? But at least I haven’t given up on the bike completely. We’ll see what I can accomplish tomorrow. But starting next weekend, I’m about to be very busy … most of my Saturdays from now through December are going to be spoken for.

Climber’s Trophy next week. The First Annual (Not) The Season Opener Cyclocross at the Canyons on the 20th … possibly the Ogden Twilight on the 26th … and then the UTCX season starts in full swing on the

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Obligatory “at-speed” blurry shot of T-Bird on the finishing climb of Stage 4 of the Tour of Utah.

Tyler Hamilton

Tyler Hamilton, a little closer.

I had to step back after this last shot, afraid of pulling a bonehead move like the guy who knocked down Giuspeppe Guerini on l’Alpe d’Huez several years ago. Funny thing, while the other riders in Tyler’s group followed the curve of the road right towards the finish line, Tyler just kept coming straight at me.

Maybe there was something about me that just screamed “Flahute”, and he was thinking “I’m gonna get that bastard that keeps knocking my team …”

I may have to change at least some of my feelings on the Rock Racing team … while I was wandering around the finish area after the race, the Rock Racing area was completely mobbed by people, and everyone seemed to be handling it with a lot of grace; posing for photos, signing autographs … the whole 9 yards.

Listening to Michael Ball talk to some of the people around, he came across as a lot more humble than he does in print.

And Tyler is still one of the nicest guys in cycling; and he’s certainly a human rider again … although those are some of the ugliest sunglasses I have ever seen. They’re even worse than the Oakleys that George Hincapie wore for the past few years.

T-Bird was in the middle of an interview … kicking back in a lawn chair and relaxing. Right now, he’s sitting in 4th place overall, about 1:07 behind Louder.

More of my photos of the Tour of Utah can be found on Flickr.

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Made it to the top of Emigration Canyon/Little Mountain for the first time this season … had to stop a few times to get my HR under control and catch my breath, but I made it to the top, which is all that’s really important. Had to take it easy on the descent because there seems to be something goofy going on with my front wheel … it keeps on a-knock, knock, knockin’, but when I try to figure out what the problem is, no one is home.

It’s frustrating, and can be a little scary when descending. Time to swap out for the spare wheels and take this one in to be overhauled; hopefully that will resolve the issue.

Now: Food. Shower. CarboRocket. Beer. Not necessarily in that order.