Black Gold

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What does this mean? The Cullman Spring Classic will be massive energy expended for the BLACK GOLD. Here is a cheat of the trophies, prediction is an epic ride for the coveted trophies.

Prospect Mountain

This a quick video of some Cullman Cycling Club members including Austin Oliver climbing Prospect Mountain. Austin just finished 2nd in the Crit in Chattanooga, he survived the carnage very respectably in the Cat 4 race.

Word is that a flotilla of cyclists will be passing over Prospect this weekend.

Tracy McKay Races Heart of the South 500

I have known Tracy for a long time, we met about 20 years ago when I was doing alot of racing and he was just getting into endurance sports. My career wound down and Tracy kept going full tilt. He now runs an endurance and coaching company, Transitions Multisport. He does personalized coaching on all levels from novice to world class athletes. I enjoy going by his gym over in Homewood just to escape and touch base with whats going on in the multisport world. Tracy is an incurable optimist, I am not sure I have met too many more dynamic and creative.

What possessed Tracy to compete and finish RAAM (Race Across America) tells you something about him. He also attempted the world 12 hour distance record on the Talladega International Racetrack. This year he is back in the mix having raced and finished the Heart of the South 500 mile bike race (that's 500miles in one stage!). Here are some excepts from Tracy's website. You can read his blog/recap of his race that ended up with Tracy in the hospital after the finish. http://www.transitionsmultisport.com/

"My knees are very sore, my tongue is ulcerated, my ankles hurt and my toes are numb, my ass is cut up pretty good and my eyes are swollen partially shut.....things couldn't be better! really!!"

The Heart of the South 500 is actually 517 miles,starts in Bham, Al. and travels north east into Ga. and back to Bham for the finish

We raced for about 390 miles straight in the rain

We climbed 2600 feet in a 7.3 mile stretch

I was wet and cold during the entire time

The crew told crude jokes and played various IPOD favorites to help pass the time

The "FLYING J" truck stop was a little slice of heaven, it provided warmth, civilization and coffee!!!!

As the night went on and into Peidmont, I acquired double vision...

I found myself with rollers that would lead me to Mt. Cheaha

Then the epic climb! We hit Cheaha at the 400 mile mark...

Every pedal, stroke was accounted for

We reached the top in dark of the early morning

The Buddy Bike

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Now this a good change of pace, The Buddy Bike. While stumbling around one night in Villefranche I had to do a double take. I know I had a couple of Kronenbourgs but this bike has two riders side by side. I just starred for a few moments to try to figure out how you ride it. Sometimes the drawback to a typical tandem is someone has to be in the front and someone in the back, enough said. Maybe this makes sense for a bicycle made for two.

Goldweber Pipped for the Podium

Tour de Tuscaloosa 2008

Hard charging Adam Goldweber gets pipped at the line. Goldweber is on the far left front wearing the blue kit of Cullman Cycling Club.

Goldweber e Oliver che Forza!

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Adam Goldweber and Austin Oliver rode very impressive races in the highly competitive Tour de Tuscaloosa.

Austin worked hard in the chase pack to finish 3rd in the junior 14-15 class, qualifying for the Lance Armstrong Junior Olympic Racing Series training camp later this summer.

Austin's class was won by Tuscaloosa VeloCity Cycle Team's Logan in a very impressive solo breakaway.

Recap of Adam Goldwebers race:

The Tour de Tuscaloosa Road Race started on a cool, humid day. The field was a whos who of the Alabama cycling scene. Adam Goldweber, donned his "snug" CCC Kit and represented it well. He rode a smart race on the 40 mile technically difficult course. Biding his time until the last hill, he rode to the front, staying on the 2nd and 3rd wheel. With a little more than 1K to go, Adam went to the front and set the tempo. Riders were moving up and Adam was getting boxed in, nervous but not panicked Adam was on the wrong wheel and moving back. At the 200 meter to go sign, the road opened up, and while Adam got a later start on his sprint than others, he was nipped at the line and finished 5th. Yes Adam Goldweber represented the Cullman Cycling Kit with Forza!

Nissa Socca

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A few years ago I was in France preparing for the Nice World Triathlon Championships and while wandering through the "Old City" section of Nice, I discovered Nissa Socca. In the daytime its a garage door at night its an incredible gastronomical adventure. Buried deep in the old city of Nice, its on the ancient rue Ste-Réparate. The restaurant is run by two Corsican Brothers who combine traditional Corsican cuisine with Nicoise of the region. Did you know that pizza was invented in this region of southern France? From what they told me much of the region was originally part of Italy. In Nissa Socca they have a huge brick oven where they do all the cooking. I was amazed that they even boil water in it. The menu is very simple they have a couple of seafood dishes which are fresh depending on the catch, the Nicoise salad which is a specialty of the region, pasta and of course pizza. The locals are there for the chick pea rossoles, stuffed vegetables and ratatouille. On the beverage side the only beer was of course Kronenbourg, the wine is served in large recycled bottles from the caverne de vin a couple of doors down rue Ste-Réparate. Its been on my intenerary many times now and if you are ever in the region you have to go to Nissa Socca.