1. I continue to rediscover my love for the bicycle, even though my lungs continue to rebel … and I’m looking forward to my “training camp” in Arizona.
2. I still have a good job, which I still generally find satisfying, even with the ups and downs inherent in any work situation.
3. Another Utah Cyclocross Series is almost in the books; only 2 races left this year, and even though it can be tough to give up my weekend days to work, it’s always good to see people enjoying themselves and knowing that I help make it possible.
4. Another season on the slopes at Solitude begins shortly. Perhaps even this weekend if we get another decent storm on high as anticipated.
5. And yet again, last but certainly not least, I have many good friends, both old and new, who all seem to genuinely care in one way or another.

Thank you Mom & Ralph, Ben & Doris, Geraly & D.J., Art, Richard (atmo), Matt & Melissa, the crew at Revolution, Rachel, Scottie, Burke & Tiff & the town of Beaver for allowing me to be a part of the Crusher in the Tushar, Kirsty, Jennie & Joel, Darrell, Theresa, Marit, Gigi (whose constant smiles remind me that life is to be enjoyed), Steve & Amy, Ali, Brian, Tyler & Nick & the Jamis team for their hospitality during the Tour of Utah, Chris, Dave, Sarah K. (whose constant smiles on the bike have made me a fan), Sarah N. (who needs to write more often), Critter Bug (with whom more movies need to be seen) and pretty much everyone else with whom I’ve spent quality time over the past months and years.

HOME

I didn’t know I was grateful
for such late-autumn
bent-up cornfields

or like a needful boy. End
Lonely days, I believe. End the exiled
and unraveling strangeness.

— Bruce Weigl (b. 1949)

Keegan Swenson & Jason Sager in a dead heat.

The FinishLynx camera we use at the finish can detect time differences down to about 1/2000th of a second. That’s 0.0005 seconds; and yet in this photo finish, to the pixel (even at highest resolution), this race was too close to call as anything other than a dead heat; a tie for first place.

I don’t think it gets any more amazing.

Another video from the inimitable Sam Ray from this past weekend’s penultimate UTCX race for 2010, held at Fort Buenaventura in beautiful Ogden, Utah. You could tell which riders weren’t going super hard, because they were the only ones that managed to stay semi-clean. Everyone else, especially Kevin Hulick (the eventual winner), was caked.

And that’s the way we like it.

From cyclingdirt.org:

Word came in early this evening that the VERGE New England Cyclocross Championship Series and the North American Cyclocross Trophy Series (NACT) would be “banned” for the 2011 season. Other series around North America similarly face an uncertain future based on a little known rule put in place by the UCI and USA Cycling. NECCS director and all around cyclocross wizard Adam Myerson sheds some light on the situation.

Visit cyclingdirt.org for more Videos

via North American Cyclocross Series Face Uncertain Future: WTF? | The World According To Adam | Cycling Dirt.

And from cyclingnews.com:

Code 1.2.026 retroactively enforced for 2010-2011 season

The North American Cyclo-cross Trophy Series (NACT) and the Verge New England Championships Cyclo-cross Series (NECCS) are facing suspension for not following an obscure and previously unenforced International Cycling Union (UCI) rule.

Adam Myerson, the NECCS promoter and former member of the UCI Cross Commission, and Brook Watts, the promoter of Cross Vegas and race director for the NACT series this year, were caught by surprise by the ruling. The rule (1.2.026) requires each series to apply for UCI inscription, but was housed in the general rules of cycling and not in the cyclo-cross specific document, and to their knowledge has never before been enforced.

“Kelli Lusk of USA Cycling informed us yesterday as soon as she got the notice from Peter Van den Abeele [the UCI's Cyclo-cross Technical Director -ed.] by email,” Myerson said. “I was given one sentence that said these series were banned. They said they would make an exception and allow the individual races to continue but the series were banned.”

With the compromise, the ten races in the NECCS series, those in Green Mountain, New Gloucester, Northampton, Sterling and Warwick as well as the NACT races in Washington, Gloucester and Boulder can continue, but it leaves the USGP as the sole remaining national series consisting of UCI races.

via NACT And VERGE Cyclo-cross Series Face Suspension From UCI | Cyclingnews.com.

Other articles and reactions from around the interwebs:

• Thoughts on Verge Series and UCI « Close The Door!.
• Myerson – “What we needed was communication and an opportunity to comply.” | podiuminsight.com.

If you missed the ride, but still want to donate money … or even if you just feel like donating more, head on over to the Utah Cyclocross Series’ donation page at Livestrong.org and DONATE!

I love watching women racing ‘cross … and even more so on Halloween … it’s late, but it’s fun.