Unsure

What a day I had. Woke up drank some coffee went for a short ride thru Butler and then got a call from TJ @ ToP. He rings me to ask if I'm coming down and begged me to bring coffee. I got cleaned up and headed down first stopping at Cummings Coffee Shop in downtown Butler for 2 pounds of the House blend. Got to the shop made the bean and then got caught up in the busy sales floor. Next thing I notice its 6 o'clock and we're locking the doors! I really never had time to relax while visiting and by the way "Don where is my pay check?"
Now I sit here in front of the computer looking up the weather for tomorrow. Rain here in the Pittsburgh Area & rain in Ohio where the mountain bike race is. So where do I go? Its always hard to start the season and I really don't feel like driving 3 hours to race in rain and high winds (warning listed on weather.com) but its a mtb event so I should go. Now a little closer to home there is the Mingo road race but come on I don't know the first thing about road races or how to play the strategy. My first mtb race of the year is always relaxed and I hold my expectations low. I like to get out and get a feel for the trails and my bike during the first event. Its also good to size up the others and look at their performance coming into the start of the year.
So I'm not sure I'll have much to tell tomorrow night but check back
later
stork

The Hunting of the White Stag

Ok here it is, a fine photo of the Fisher 29er Team Jersey! These things are hot, hot, hot. Since the announcement of the Fisher team (which TJ and I are part of) these jerseys have been requested by almost every shop that sells Fisher Bikes. Sorry to say that at this time only those of us involved with the actual Team will be seen wearing them. Thanks to TO

This was Our first ride around Butler/Cranberry wearing the new stuff. We went unnoticed by the everyday person but we felt like royalty hunting the white stag in Narnia wearing our new threads! Although TJ was just getting over a nasty cold, that I'm probably just getting, and our buddy Tim was missing from this Thursday morning ride, it still turned out to be very relaxing and we got the chance to catch up on stuff happening in our lives. Tim, Tim are you there? We missed you, maybe next week?
So its finally official, We are two of the six guys on the Fisher 29er National Grassroots Team. We have all our sponsorships lined up, bikes built or almost built, jerseys, shoes, helmets and such in hand... all left now is to get out to the races! They're close so check back soon. stork

The Ape in its Glory

So what gives with these lazy a** (aka butt) people around Butler? Are they only in my town? Take a look at the photo! Look close, real close & you'll notice that there is more garbage off in the distance too.
This is a local road through Alameda Park in Butler. The 5K run uses this route and more than a few runners train on this fairly level stretch of road from the YMCA into the Park.

You can imagine my irritation when rolling through and seeing all this crap thrown on the road. I started taking notice of the wrappers and the funny thing was that they turned out to be mostly fast food. Not Whole Foods or GNC or anything remotely healthy for you. Just the normal crap food, soda, and run of the mill sports drinks from the local convenience store! Then I started thinking about the costs of these items $3.50, $ 1.99 and so on.... which eventually brought me to thinking:

Some moron,
who could afford a car,
afford a license,
afford insurance,
afford gas,
afford the Micky D Value Meal (super sized)
COULDN'T AFFORD GARBAGE PICK UP!

Come ON? If I knew who did this I would have gladly picked it up and taken it to their house leaving it plastered to the side of their home! To add to the insanity here is another photo taken on the same stretch of road. No Kidding a Dumpster! If even the lazy a** had stopped and dumped his/her garbage in the Dumpster. Still a cop-out but better than winging it along the road. Seriously folks $300 for Littering? You deserve to be beat in public! There is No excuse for dumping bags of garbage out anywhere. If you can't afford pick up at your house or find a public disposal then keep it in your car or at your house NOT along the roads that I and others use to enjoy running, walking and biking along!

Since the snow has melted I notice beer, soda, and whiskey bottles and cans everywhere. Really what the he11 do people think? Is it really ok to do this? No its not so stop! Oh yea I hear you, the cigarette toss from the window.... yea that's Littering too! Just maybe someday I'll get the chance while stopped at a light to pick the damn thing up and toss it back into the morons car while saying "dude, you dropped this".

Example of a proper place to dispose of garbage!
Kind of reminds us the we evolved form apes... well at least some of us evolved


stork

Across the Desert

Happy Birthday to my brother!

Chad lives in CA and was married just several months ago so he returned here to PA in march to visit family and introduce his wife Lora. Since we wouldn't be seeing him at the exact time of his birthday we had cake a few weeks early.

Enjoy your Birthday day there in Bakersfield and take a bike ride little bro.

love

stork

At the Gates of Tashbaan

The first day of spring arrived and I took the morning off to get a ride in with TJ and our friend Tim Lyons. We meet early at the ToP cranberry store where we enjoyed a little coffee while suiting up for the ride. Tim Races for the Freddie Fu Road Team so TJ and I had prepared for getting worked over a little today. Previously we have ridden with Tim on the trails with single speeds where we felt in our element so this was a complete turn around for us today. This would be only my second ride on the Lemond Bueno Aires Carbon. Since the last ride felt a bit stiff I made the choice to lower my pressure from 100 to a softer setting at 80psi. Tim thought this to be a little on the low side but I assured him that with a little finesse 80 pounds can be pulled off. He gave me a look along with a small laugh while muttering something about crazy mountain bikers. If anyones crazy its them roadies and I was preparing to get schooled.As it turned out Tim actually treated us pretty fair for the day, he kept everything at our level and never did punish us by pushed the pace. The 3 of us did little drafting and managed to maintain a level where talking was capable. The ride took us from Cranberry thru ConnieQ rolled out around Butler and the Community College past the outskirts of Saxonburg and back around Mars, Evans City to our return. It was a really good steady paced ride and I was lucky to have been invited along. When you get a few guys all at a fairly equal fitness level riding together it's amazing how much fun you can have. I haven't ridden with anyone but Michelle a few times & myself in over 2 months so I can't say it enough how much I enjoyed this ride.

A departing Shot of Tim, Stork & TJ just after their "1st Day of Spring Ride"!

Once we got back to the shop I hammered down a pint of Deans Ultimate Chocolate Milk that I had chillin in the frig and then Tim & I went next door to Moe's for an early lunch. A little talk about how great the ride was and back off to work I went.

Thanks to TJ & Tim

stork

Little Something

Here is a little something about Scott Daubert (Treks Team liaison to the Discovery Channel Professional Cycling Team)! He will be at the Trek of Pittsburgh Shadyside Location on Monday April 23, 2007 to talk about the Tour de France and Trek product developments. If interested please RSVP to info@trekofpgh.com

This posting is dedicated to my friend Mike (the official ToP liaison to the Storktorq not so Professional Cycling Team)

Official Trek of Pittsburgh support vehicle. Look for it on the courses this year

stork

The Wrong Door

Friday Evening I managed to ride in yet another snow storm which proved to be very tricky with the steady snow coming down making traction a little difficult. Somewhere between Tuesaday and friday I went out the wrong door and eneded up in winter again! Never the less I made the ride & finished up by swinging past the local farm for a few pounds of ground beef. With the extra 4 pounds I finished the last couple of miles in the blinding snow and fell exhausted on the couch for the evening.

As spring & the 2007 race season gets nearer I should be training, concentrating on my skills and improving my weaknesses but hey we all need some time to relax. Yes I rode the bike more than a couple of times over the weekend but Saturday I spent most of the day with two of my favorite girls. Hannah & Jill. We took a ride to the Trek Store to talk with TJ about Training & Coaching. These girls come from a Family that lives for Sports. My Aunt Mary & Uncle Steve have always been educators to the younger ones in the family when it comes to Sports. This is clearly visible in both Hannah & Jill as neither girl is afraid to sweat alittle when it comes to running Track & Field.

After having Lunch with them and hanging out I returned home to ride. Sunday I got out early for a "quick" ride before going with Michelle and her "workmates" to Bowl for the Big Brothers & Big Sisters.

stork

Crossing out average.

Cross training is a very over-used term. I prefer, "doing something different." It is time to start doing something different on my days off the bike. Hiking with Alex is going to fill up a better part of that time. Last week we scouted out the natural trout waters of Blue Knob. This week, weather permitting, we're going to hike the top section of the mountain. It is a hell of a workout to haul him up over that hill with him on my back, he is almost 30 pounds now. This Wednesday also marks the first Power Test on my road bike on the flat course just outside the house. Some interesting data should be learned from it, I'll post more on it later. I guess some serious thought should be put into training for this season, Stork and I are on some sort of team again. Sounds like a good one too! Ooh yeah. Thursday, road ride with Tim Lyons. He is one of those fast road ride guys, it will be intimidating. I never ride my road bike other than on the trainer, usually just one leg at a time as well. More to come. Enjoy the cute pictures of Alex. He is as cute as Hanna and Jilly, in a different way. Got it. Good!

Beginning of the Next Story Chapter 2

Just to clarify a few things.. and to be historically correct

Mr. Jerry Bliton 71 years young

Married to wife Kathryn 50 years

Started racing in his 50's around 1989/90 @ Hidden Valley PA

1992 started norba racing

Several top 3 finishes in the 65+ class

2003 Worlds 3rd place Masters

Kathryn had a 1999 1st place AMBC Nationals Female Finish

She continues to ride and supports Jerry and all of us whenever she's around.

Hum! Whats this? Jerry passing along his love for cycling! One of his Grandkids (Kiernan) bikes hanging with the grown-ups. Makes you wonder if the elder are telling Jr. of their travels and adventures? Note: the race numbers hanging on the wall, yea they're Jerry's.

stork

Spring? Not Yet!

What's this? Shorts, no toe warmers, knee or leg warmers! It was a glimpse of the weather to come, but I sit here this morning listening to it rain with my cup of coffee while the local weather woman Rebecca Hower tells of the cold weathers return and possible snow this evening. I was lucky to have gotten in the 70+ mile ride on my new Lemond Buenos Aires. I built this all carbon fiber frame up a few weeks ago but have never ridden it until this week. Michelle also enjoyed the mild temps on Tuesday evening along with many other people who where out walking cycling and running.
stork

The End of This Story & The Beginning of all the Others

OK have you figured out who this guy is? Alright, alright.. for those of you outside the bike world, and for those inside it who wouldn't take the time to talk to anyone over the age of 25 that doesn't look like Lance Armstrong, I'll tell you! This is none other than Jerry Bliton. So what you ask? Well you just want to start something don't you?

2001 Norba National @ Snowshoe Mountain West Virgina. A skinny 30 something guy shows up to a house full of strangers to share the expenses of the weekend. Shortly after arriving he is introduced to an older gentleman and his wife. Hand shakes are exchanged, as all good men do and it was at that moment the skinny guys life became a little better. Better you say? yea better because I was the skinny guy who had the honor of meeting Jerry & Kathyrn Bliton and I will tell you what made my life better.Jerry started telling those that had just arrived about the Norba course. He explained it in such detail that I would have guessed that he had actually helped lay the course out. Those of you that attended this particular weekend will remember just how muddy the new course had gotten because of the relentless rain the area was getting. Jerry sat around the table in the Chalet that evening telling of the climbs, turns and descents as all of us quietly sat like children listening to a bedtime story. I wondered for a moment, who is this Jerry, really? A man more than twice my age yet he fit the group of young people better than myself.

Later in conversation Jerry told us of something he keeps in mind during a race and I'll tell you but it may not be exact so here goes "tenths turn into seconds which add up to minutes" It may not seem like much to let a tenth or a second go during a race but when its over you'll see the results of those in minutes and minutes are the difference between winning and losing in mountain biking. Very true and I've never forgot this very sound advice from my now good friend Jerry.

Fast forward a few years and I'll tell you how Jerry invited us over to his house to see his training area and photos of the magnificent bike trips that he and his wife Kathyrn have taken. Afterwards he saddled up on his bike and rode a few miles with our small group. Or let me tell you how Jerry has driven all the way down to Seven Springs (more than once) to stop by our 24 hour camp offering support mentally and physically. Then quietly slipped away only to return with food from the nearby town. Oh I won't kid myself and make believe that he had only come to see us but the way he talked and treated us when in our camp made you feel like no one else matter to him.
To this Day I have the up most respect for Jerry and I cherish the the surprise moments when he shows up at the shop when I'm there or when you see him before a race only to watch him stick around for hours afterwards just to clap while you receive your award.
Exactly how old is Jerry, you ask? 25, 31, 43, 56, 61? Nope, he's 71. In my eyes Jerry is as young as he feels and I would hang out with him any day over allot of other people. He has Kids & grandkids yet he can talk bikes and racing with the best of you. He's sponsored by Kenda Tires and is also inMonth of Mud Hall of Fame http://www.gorocket.net/ , so look for him out on the trails and do yourself a favor... stop and introduce yourself. You would be lucky to have him as a friend.

So this story may End but someday you may meet Jerry and create new ones for you to tell. Until then I'll start writing the next chapter and I'm sure Jerry will show up somewhere within it.

stork

The Bell and the Hammer

Waving goodbye to the snowy weather! This may very well be the last pictures to be taken in the snow for this winter.


I've been riding in some sunshine & rain for the past 3 days, which is a pleasant change from the snow seen above. Michelle managed to get a few hours of riding in on Saturday morning before her and a friend settled in for "bake fest 2007". Since there was a family gathering Sunday for my Brothers recent marriage (he lives in CA) she decided to bake cookies for it.

Julia (seen here on the right not smiling) will be upset to see this pictures posted. She expressed her feelings quit frankly about the photo session but I couldn't pass on it!

Anyway my rides where atop the new Lemond Poprad Disc which I found to be an excellent winter road bike. When there isn't the need for the full fenders and a extra pack, that's all a part of the Portland, this bike comes in handy. More go and less extras. It's a little lighter than the Portland, which hits the scales around 40+, and this makes traction a little harder but that adds to the fun of the ride.

I found some time to hang out @ the Cranberry ToP on Saturday evening while "bake fest 2007" got started at home and you wouldn't believe the faces I saw there. In fact here's one for all of you to guess. I'll let you in on this guy and his wife in my next post but until then do you recognize him? He's in the MOM "Hall of Fame" and a great great guy!

stork

What Happened at the Front Door

Good morning all! Last night after getting in a small bike ride on my new Lemond Poprod Disc (love it) i traveled to Shadyside for the opening party for the newest Trek of Pittsburgh store. All that know me understand that I usually avoid "parties" but this seemed more in line with me. Bikers in a non smoking environment surrounded by new bicycles and bike gear. Don even made sure there was water there for those of us who pass on the beer & wine. Thanks Don I feel the love! Everyone was having a good time and for a moment I thought this was a travissaeler.com party because all five of my site readers where here but who am I talking to... you know that. Also Bob Myers from Trek, Micheal Browne (Trek), Maurice (Dirt Rag), Josh Feazell (Bianchi) and many many others whom I really didn't know where attending.

What are these guys talking about? No one knew but this group was spotted several times whispering about something. Come on guys let us in on the scoop?

Now this group was overheard talking about the Road Nats at Seven Springs. I believe they are looking at one of the road courses on the laptop. Thats Jimmy, Dubby, Terry and Fred.
You know these guys right? Dubby & Terry! They where seen at almost every finish line of the MASS races last year. Millennium Sports Timing in the house!
These guys are great friends and hopefully I get a chance to race with them this year since they won't be timing all the MASS events. Later in the evening Dubby paid me a huge complement by comparing me to Gunnar Shogren when telling someone of me riding through the finish lines during races. He said he would see the first several guys coming through on their first laps with their heads down and a serious look on their faces... then I would come tooling around the corner waving while rolling around the cones and through the finish line tape singing something that was playing on my mp3. He said it was straight up Gunnar style! I'm honored, thanks Dubby!

Well it took me all night to get out of here and I finally left around 11 p.m. for the drive home. Thanks to everyone there and I wish Josh all the luck managing his new store. Make sure you check this store out if you're in the area, very, very cool! C-ya all later

stork

Country Egg, City Egg

Why can't all intersections have signs like this? Lately I've been adding a few extra miles to my current loop by heading out a few unknown roads in Armstrong County. After coming up on this intersection I started wondering why all intersections don't have a sign like the one seen here. Look at all my choices and each way gives the mileage!

This was the scene as I came around the bend on Fenelton road during Saturdays ride. This truck came slugging thru the overflowed Buffalo Creek. Thanks to full fenders I managed to cut thru the 8" deep water without getting wet.

Other than this roadway being flooded the rest of Saturdays ride was bright and beautiful. I actually saw 52 degrees for the temp and was able to dress for riding without my signature winter jean shorts. Another sign of the warm temperature was all the dogs I encountered. It seems that since the day was nice everybody sent there mutts out into the yard and most of these areas see very little car traffic so the dogs felt free to chase this skinny biker up the tarmac.

stork

Super Sale Event

Here's a shot of the ToP warehouse on this past Sunday. Since I'm new to this shop I've heard about this yearly sale so I thought I would go check it out after getting in a ride. All the employees have treated me like family since signing on as a racer for them back in October so I showed my support by going. ToP closes all of its other locations and all employees report to the Robinson location for this 9am to 6pm sale. Let me tell you that anyone who rides owes it to themselves to attend this. There where 100s of fabulous deals. Several scratch/dent Bianchi frames ($100 each), Wheelsets w/Dura-Ace hubs ($349 a set)

Seeing the amount of merchandise and the hearing about the number of people that where waiting at the door before 9 leaves me thinking that this warehouse will be to small for next year.

While visiting the sale I was offered a spot on the Discovery Cycling Team and made a gentleman's agreement to race for them. Later I found out that this guy was really just a bike rep and had no authority to offer me a deal, oh well maybe next year. I even tried to leave wearing this cool jersey but they made me give it back along with the hat.
GW built up this fixed gear ride and convinced me to try it out. Its not for me! I would most definitely not for me, I would more than likely hurt myself riding. Those that do ride fixed gear bike have a whole different set of skills that i do not posses.

The happy face as seen on all ToP employees during Sundays sale.

Even I found something to buy at this sale and I highly suggest to catch it when it rolls around next year.

stork