105 and counting

Training doesn't stop just because it's 105 degrees today. No, we're all out on the road while looking forward to the cold front coming through next week. Here's something I don't understand; how can it be a temperature of 105 with a feels like of 103? After breathing down poor air quality for a few weeks now it will do our hearts some good to see a 10 day forecast that includes scattered showers and, wait, dare I say mid-90 degree highs!

One disappointing thing I have noticed lately is some tree leaves are already falling as if fall is already here. The lack of moisture has dried everything out and the colors are already turning. We still have two weeks to go in August and it's time to get the rake out in some cases. Today after washing my bike I poured buckets of water over some dry sections by my house and you'd have thought the Earth was literally smiling and licking its lips at the taste of something wet.

It will be nice to race the last race of the criterium series on Wednesday and not feel like we are literally baking while pedaling at full effort. Last night it took me until past midnight to get my body temperature to a point where I could fall asleep. Maybe that's what I get for not having chocolate milk ready for recovery. Although, here's one tip given to me recently that I should have thought of earlier, and that is to soak a towel in a cooler full of ice water and put it on your neck and head after a race. Well duh! I always have a towel handy and most times I have a cooler full of drinks, but I had never put the two together. Ahhhhhhhhhh, you cannot fully appreciate this until you've done it after a race in 100 degree temps. Once you're done cooling off use the wet towel to wipe yourself down with.

Ok, now it's time to move on to other things.....

Japanese Biker Unknowingly Loses Leg, Continues Ride
He rode for 1.2 miles before realizing?!

Price has $11.25M arm - Vanderbilt pitcher signs with D-Rays
A lot of that is guaranteed money. I have read and heard nothing but good things about David Price, good for him. Moms and dads here are some tips if your kid is showing interest in baseball. First, when you put a bat in his hands have him hit left-handed. Secondly, if he's showing real promise and advanced coordination then put the ball in his left hand and the glove on his right hand. Then put him on the mound if he's left-handed, but on short-stop if he's right handed. If possible, teach him how to switch-hit. Half-way decent left-handed pitchers have many more opportunities to succeed than right-handers.

O'Neill hangs on for victory at Elk Grove
$152,000 prize purse. That's a lot of freakin' cabbage! Scroll down to see how well Healthnet is replenishing the bank account. Ivan Dominguez of Toyota-United is having a solid season here of late. After suffering some early season injuries he's now back to his old self, which is knocking down sprint victories.

Junior World Championship Time-Trial
American Taylor Phinney takes home the rainbow jersey. Yes, he's the son of Davis Phinney, the former professional who was the first American to ever win a stage in the Tour de France. By the look of this picture of him celebrating on the podium I think we may be seeing him wearing that jersey more often.

Junior World Championship Road Race
Two Americans in the top 11, three in the top 14 and four in the top 18. Remember these names for the future: Danny Summerhill, Taylor Phinney, Nick Bax and Benjamin King. Taylor Phinney comes through with another great result.

The National Criterium Championships
Downers Grove, Illinois hosts the USPRO and Elite Crit Championships this weekend for both men and women. I considered going to this, but the forecast hasn't looked great to this point. Racing a crit on wet roads with over 100 other guys is a bit too sketchy for me.

Six to be Inducted Into U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame
The October 20th ceremony will take place in New Brunswick, NJ and will be hosted by cycling commentator Phil Liggett.