Greetings!!!

Thank you for the welcome and smooth transition to Team 53X11 Coffee. Evan and Owen are doing a great job! I look forward to racing with/for you all. I am also excited to be able to contribute to the Team 53 X 11 Coffee blog. What a great way to share results, experiences, and knowledge. I currently have my own blog where I provide race reports and other cycling/life related topics which is accessible through www.GamJams.net. GamJams is an everything cycling site that started out with a focus on bike racing in the mid-Atlantic region. However, they are now attempting to spread across the country so if you would like to be a GamJams ambassador and share your blog with the rest of the cycling blogosphere then consider doing it through GamJams. BTW, 53 X 11 Coffee has just reached a sponsorship agreement with GamJams (it was just announced today) so you would be keeping it within the "family" so to speak. I better get back to training ;-) Allez, Mike

Click In

Its that sound you hear when you step in and mount that saddle, the feeling you have in your beating chest when drafting on the rear wheel, or climbing that 9% grade and flying down the descent.

It's the click that makes me tick, the feeling of doing something all on our own.
I write to all you fellow cyclist and challenge you this in 2009.

Some of you might have heard a saying "pay it forward"?It s that saying to give something to someone that they might not have been able to do for themselves. Lets start our own for Team 53x11 "Peddle it forward", find someone just one person or kid, neighbor, mother, father, or friend,in the new year to help them find a new way of living "cycling".

Bring them for a spin on one of your rides, share with them the fun and enjoyment with all the true benefits we all get from this wonderful sport, get em off the couch or out of the Car, show them how much fun it is to cycle. My brother & Friend once did the same thing for me and from there I have had the fever, I get excited to click in and peddle, I have really started to enjoy all the added benefits from it, those lbs have melted off, my energy is strong, I sleep better and I am more focused all a result of someone saying give it a try you might like it, so I did, I clicked in.

So if you do Peddle it forward and I hope you do, please share this blog with them so that they two can peddle it forward with someone ells, happy holidays and ride safe.

Willride Out

Saddle Therapy

So here I sit. In a condo (more like a townhouse in a condo complex) in Issaquah, WA that I purchased in May. A vote to increase homeowner dues by 7% was entered 3 weeks ago, the same day I received my lay off notice. I have some money in the bank, and I am cashing in my County retirement to help, and my live in girlfriend has some money, but things aren't all that great. My mother also died on December 23, 2003, and that has been on my mind. I have been more than close to tears these last few days, and have been an internal emotional wreck even when my exterior was a nice calm. But get me in the saddle, whether on the road or on a trainer in my garage, and all that disappears in a blink of an eye (or turn of the crank). I rediscover what I was made for and what life is for-to push myself to the limit, and beyond To go where I never thought possible. My existence comes down to so many seconds spent turning the pedals. One of my favorite novel series deals with Haven Pharmeceuticals, and explains what I feel every time I clip in. No matter what is going outside, I am all I was meant to be and more than I ever thought possible when I am in the drops, or on the hoods and making perfect circles.
God bless the bike and God bless you all,
Ty (aka saddledancer)

Lance in the Tour of Flanders?!

So as I relaxed in my wonderfully comfortable wooden dining room chair, I was doing "homework" for another online class I'm taking and yes I was drinking 53 x 11 coffee out of my 53 x 11 coffee mug, I wandered over to cyclingnews and found this Lance Armstrong Wind Tunnel. No, it wasn't the Livestrong skin suit that excited, although it was rather fast looking, I was interested in his post wind tunnel interview. Specifically, I focused on one statement he said…"I'm going to ride the Tour of Flanders", (insert screeching tires sound here.) What did he just say? Are you kidding me? Is he trying to be funny?

Of course I'm no pro, but I've ridden the Tour of Flanders, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Fleche Wallone and the best advice I can give to Lance…stay away, there's a reason you didn't race them before you retired. They're body breaking rides and turn the smartest strongest riders into thumb-sucking momma's boys. I know, I was one of them. Oh, I forgot to mention the freezing rain and 25mph crosswinds. But, I'm not even to my point yet.

I live 30 minutes from the Kappelmuur in Geraardsbergen that is typically 17kms from the finish. I guarantee I'll be on the Kappelmuur the night before, right after I finish the public ride of the Flanders route, for the prime seating opportunities with my rack of Duvel and Leffe and two or three baguettes, a block of Chimay cheese a roll of sweet sausage, and some spray-on EPO repellant.

The Tour of Flanders is unlike any fan friendly classics race in the world. It is a true spectacle that every cycling fan must experience once in their life. I have it marked on my calendar for eternity. It's like a soccer match, car race, beer fest, and bike race all rolled into one. You want to come over, I've got a place for you to stay, and I always have hot 53 x 11 ready.

Onto other headlines, I'm preparing to purchase my first Cross frame later today from the wonderland that is Ebay. I've been energized by going to three local cross races and the beer and food strewn atmosphere. I may even use a 29er frame for cyclocross, unless I get jeered by all the Belgians' wanting to kill me for scarring their sacred sport. I'll stick with the cross bike, obviously you've never seen an angry mob of Jupiler soaked Belgians flailing towards an American who is clearly there to ruin their cycling heritage.

Two friends and I slogged through the mud laden Ardennes forest for an epic adventure through the Houffalize area. We managed to conquer 40+ kms with 30 minute climbs followed by 8 minute descents over and over again. The climbs were ridiculous, if it had not been for the the hours I suffered on the road bike I may not have managed a few of the rutted muddy climbs. It was a great time and surely a ride I'll want to do again as one rocky hiker clogged climb kept me in check and forced me to hike my bike, BOO!!!!!

All is happy and the world is sane except for the Merckx ride I didn't win on eBay.

I did manage to make it to Koksijde to see sage four of the cyclocross worlds. What an event it was, I don't recall who won all I remember is the amount of Belgian beer Idrank and my complete failure to make it to the next days ride. Why can't cyclocross races be more civilized, why isn't there a beer monitor for those of us that can't keep it under control? Why isn't coffee served at CX races? Why can't I win a CX race?

Bring It OrcaPhin

Well Tour De Tucson was awesome we had lots of Sported 53x11 Kits flaring our Team Colors and lots of people expressing there love for the coffee, ride was great except for the short bit of cyclo cross river crossing that was more like a dust bowel!! well done event all 67 + miles, cant wait to role on the next one, Evan props to you and all your support prepping for the ride lets get more people encouraged to ride vs Drive when possible.

Willride out

Happy Turkey day

What a weekend in Tucson

First of all I will apologize right now to you all for being a lousy writer and speller... with that being said I thought I would share the ride of this weekend in Tucson "Le Tour De Tucson" my brother Ill and ridding Buddie Jerry all wen to the desert for the 67 miler on Saturday, there were over 8500 in total participants that followed us to the finish line (right) all kidding aside we did alright for ourselves in that it was fun and we didn't end up under homebody's fender like ten others did, the interesting part of this ride which I wasn't prepared for was the dirt trail that we had to walk for about an 1/8Th of a mile on (not fun) during the ride, we finished in 4hours (unofficial) as reported by their website, my Garmin said (auto pause 3 hours and 46 minutes) the weather couldn't have been better to us with no wind and the temp was about 75 all day long and the ride was completely down hill, really what else could you ask for?

I have been ridding for about two years now and just bought my first expensive toy to my wife's dismay but to me total enjoyment, now I am trying to make time everyday to get my fix. if any of you live in O.C. and have a ride or two we can join you on let me know we would live to join you and try to keep up with you all,.


tahtah for now.

Orcaphin