MORE COKE PLEASE!

Well. My favorite ride done it again. I guess my former favorite ride.
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From Velonews.com

Quick Step’s management said Sunday that it would not beg the Tour de France to include Tom Boonen in this year's race.
Boonen, a 28-year-old one-day specialist who was crowned world champion in 2005, is facing up to what could be a premature end to his impressive career after testing positive a second time for cocaine.
He tested positive for cocaine two weeks ago, after winning his third Paris-Roubaix. It was barely a year after he first tested positive for the drug, in May 2008.
That incident did not lead to criminal or sporting sanctions. But Tour organizers, despite Quick Step's pleas, gave Boonen's presence the thumbs-down over concerns of negative publicity.
This time, Quick Step company chief Frank De Cocksaid said the team would not ask the Tour to allow Boonen to race.
"Last year we went to the Tour de France organizers to plead Tom's case. This year there is no question of us doing that. We will not embarrass ourselves again," De Cock told the Sporza television channel.
Boonen, one of the biggest cycling stars of the past decade, was in such demand in Belgium that he fled the country to live in Monaco several years ago. He only recently returned home.
As well as winning notable races like Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders, Boonen has also won the Tour de France green jersey, for the sprinters' points competition, in 2007.
News of his latest positive test led prosecutors on Friday to order a raid on his home.
Boonen has since faced questioning and despite the unlikelihood of a sporting ban — cocaine is not forbidden outside official competition by the sports authorities — he could now face criminal charges.
He avoided charges last year only on the condition there would be no repeat of similar incidents inside three years.
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De Cock said Boonen's future with the team was uncertain, but he admitted it would be hard to see the former world champion end his career on such a note.
"I put all my weight behind Tom last year, and told him I would forgive him, on the condition it did not happen again," said De Cock. "Now, he's gone and done it again.
"He needs help. It would be a real pity for the sport of cycling to lose Boonen like this."

BABY JAKE

This Jake. he was one of the foster kids he got in December. We still get him about every other weekend. He is 18 months and around 40lbs. "BIG BOY!"

Rubber side down

Out where the rubber meets the road I worked out Sunday.
More rain.
On the Soloist. Cap under skid lid keeping water off the lenses.
Did just over two hours on the hills.
And one thing I noticed is that after you ride in it a while, you just forget about the water and ride.
Sunday morning and not much traffic except when the churches let out and the congregants headed out to the Hungry Heifer (Golden Corral), Wal-Mart and the flea market in that order.
Went across Buffalo to P.H. Young to McWhorter. Took in a gel. Reversed and hit Bufalo again.
Buffalo is one long climb heading north.
But it aint too steep. You can hit it hard. Flame out. Recover. Then stab it again. It's good work and stretches out for maybe 2-3 miles.

Got home took in some cold Rotini with olive oil.
Sacked out a while.
Got up.
Washed the bike and oiled it up again.
That was my weekend of 5--6 hours of riding in the rain with the rubber side down--just barely.

Singing in the Rain

Not much singing actually.
On the bike at around 930 yesterday and it was raining gobstoppers.
Got back home two-and-half hours later in the rain.
Saturday was a good day to be riding in the hills if one is going to be crazy enough to get out on the road on a bike. Very few cars and the dogs were on the porches--or under them, depending...
I just got out of an asslyum anyway, so I rode.
Went across Mt Zion into Jackson County through Letterbox, Asa Flats and Seven Pines to Peoples. Jumped from here to Pigeon Roost, then on to Moore's Creek where I did two six mile loops before heading over Buffalo to McWhorter to Greenmount.
Despite the conditions I had a good workout.
Crazy to think it was good?
Yes.

It's Sunday.
It's still coming down.
Riding?
Why not.
Bike.
Cervelo or Giant?
You decide.
Tomorrow I to return to the nervous hospital anyhow.

?????????

Nothing really going on just looking forward to a good weekend of riding. Put in a good 2 hours Wednesday,"jelly legs" after workout. I would like to get in 7-8 hours Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Hottedup!

On the bike Saturday and Sunday and we never had spring. Heat both days. Sunday it seemed to be extreme.
Saturday I put in three hours beginning early just past 10. It was cool and became hot by the time. But the heat is easier to contend with when you roll into it, so to speak. The ride involved quite a bit of climbing, but none easy.

Sunday, Keith and Robert and me left Burning Springs at 12:30. We did just over 31 miles averaging 17 mph.

We had a good paceline going up 638 toward London and Oakley Climb after leaving Terrels Creek into a blistering headwine. Robert got off the back somewhere around Buffalo and Keith and me traded work all the way to Slate Lick.
At the turn around Robert was back with us and we headed back toward Burining Springs.
Robert attacked on the hump at Taylor School Road and built a good lead.
Keith and I began chasing.
Sharing the work we nailed him back just before we got to the Jackson County line.
Keth sprinted.
Robert sprinted.
For the county line.
I was in the red trying to recover.
We turned on Terrels Creek Road and started fighting the humpers that go all the way to the Clay County line.
Keith is on the front.
Robert is off the back.
I'm stuck somewhere in the middle.
I fianlly catch Keith in Clay County and we have to slow for horses with 7 riders.
Not far from there we are sailing down hill all the way to Buring Springs when, here comes Robert, who passes leads the way to the finish.
Good ride. Lots of heat and speed over varing terrain. Best training of the year so far.

HOT STUFF

Rode Tuesday mid 50's. Rode today 85............weird. 12 hours of training this week 1 1/2 in the gym, 10 1/2 on the bike. 12 hours is the most I've done in a long time. It didn't seem like that much since I'm riding with no knee pain. I'm looking forward to the races in May and June.