I smell the roses!

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Ducks!

Some National Pictures

Our home away from home. It worked great! It just needed heat.

Tanner killing it. Little did he know that a crash had left his rear brake engaged.

Tanner trying to keep it upright on a tricky descent.

Stair climbing anyone?

Daren hopping a bunny, great skills!

Daren's in there at the mad house first turn, crazy!

I'm nervously awaiting the start.

Not my best start. I couldn't get clipped in and needed to be three bike lengths up.

This is what the course conditions were like.

The course was icy, snowy and challenging. You make a 180 at the bottom hoping to keep it upright.

The ledge ride up. The ledge was bigger to my left.

My 5th place podium award ceremony! I was pretty happy. We are all home now and unpacked. It was quite an adventure. I don't think I have been that nervous for along time. Not just for the race but packing the right gear, getting things packed, driving, weather, course conditions, not crashing, bike breakdowns, disappointments, freezing and also alot of fun and personal satification. It was great to be with my brother and nephew and Rico and Jana. We met many great people, and maybe we'll do it again? Ride safe. Doug

CX Nationals

Just a quick update from nationals. Daren Tanner and I arrived yesterday, in Bend Ore, after a fun 10 hr drive. We left tue. afternoon and drove to Burns, Ore. It was -12 degrees when we got into town, and our motel was a dive. It was 46 degrees in our motel room when we first arrived. We got to Bend, thursday, in time to set up, and ride the course for about on hour. It was like no other course I have ridden. It is twisty and frozen with about 4-6 inches of snow. It has alot of run ups and crazy downs, with a big stairway climb. After my first lap and thought I can't ride this stuff, but as we road more laps I got more comfortable, but my expectations had gone way down.



Tanner raced first this morning in 4 degrees and frozen course. He was in the under 30 B race. He did great and kept working his way up and ended in 6th place. This was his warm up race for his age group race on Sat. He was strong today.



I next raced my age group championship race. I was nervous and didn't know quite what to expect. I did know I needed to get a good start to have any chance. I was on the second row and didn't get away as well as I would have liked but was in the top 10. I thought we were ice skating for alot of the lap. It took me a couple of laps to feel better about things and start to work my way up. I went as hard as I could, but after awhile it is hard to tell where you stood. On the last lap I pushed hard and caught and after a hard fought section passed a guy. He wasn't to happy, but I was. I all most caught another guy as we finished, but I didn't know for what place. I thought 10th or so, but as I checked the results I finished 5th! My goal was to get on the podium, so I was very happy to make it. I was a very hard, nerve racking race.



Daren raced after my group and was in the 30 plus B group. It had 160 riders and Daren started about 40th. It was a mess! The start was crazy with everyone trying to get to the first corner. Daren got through OK but with so many riders it like just stopped as people tried to get around that corner. Things stretched out over time and the course was full. Daren rode a great race and battled hard for a 10th place finish, amazing.



I am done now and can relax, Daren and Tanner have their big races still ahead so I'll keep you update. Pictures will have to wait til we get back to down load. Check out Cyclingnews.com for results and pictures. It will give you a great idea what conditions were like. Ride safe. Doug

DZ in the house?

As I was looking at the last post I came across the pictures and thought they looked great. Then I came to one of them and had to do a double take. For a second I thought that Daren had dirt on his face from a crash, but after zooming in the photo I saw that he has the DZ inspired stache growing. It must be that Sutt and I's talk about the stache power finally rubbed off on him. Hopefully Daren shaved the rest of the goatee off for the true power. Good luck all at nationals. I will see you up in Bend Friday night.

True Cyclocross!

My number one fan, ringing the cowbell. Thanks Betty!

My grand kids were there to cheer for me. I think they found something more exciting.

The start of my race, pretty cyclocross weather.

I was racing hard to get back to the front after my broken derailleur.

I was passing on the crazy corner.

Eric and Tanner on the tough river bottom section.

After Tanner's break down Daren had caught son, who now had a front flat.

Daren and Dr Cx going over the barriers.

In about ten feet Daren goes down on this crazy corner.

Saturday was the first bad weather cx race of the year. It was freezing and snowy when my race started. I started well and after about a lap one other racer and I had gotten away from the group. I was really feeling good and was plotting my attack and when to go. After about three laps, on the back side of the course I attacked and got a gap and was flying into this left hand corner. I was down shifting front and back derailleur's and I hear the crack and my chain is off. I tried to spin it back on and it wouldn't stay, so I stopped and put it in, as I got passed and started again but off she came. I had to run to the pits and get my back up bike, and was passed by four guys by then. I went as hard as I could and after two laps got back to second. I didn't have time to make up any more ground and I was pretty discouraged with my finish. The crack I heard was a broken rear derailleur arm, and with nationals only a few day away it was a little pressure. After the race I took the derailleur off my tarmac and put it on the cx and then got it adjusted in time to be back to Tanner and Daren's race. By the time there race was on it was really snowy and slick. It wasn't a question of if you were going down it was how many times were you going down. T was coming around a corner and I saw him stop and then start running with his bike. He was along way from the pits so I went a got his back up and rode it over to him and he got going again. I looked down at his rear derailleur and it was broken and mangled. Not a good mechanical day for the fam. Daren had a great race and it was good to see him going well again. He had third, but went down on this tricky 180 turn, and got passed and gaps are hard to close down with so little time left in the race. Daren finished fourth and it was good to see him racing so strong. We are leaving today for nationals and it is a snowy mess, so hopefully we will get there in time to race. I feel like we are packing for a move to a new town, nine bikes and every peice of cold weather clothing I own. We'll keep you posted. Ride safe, and try to stay warm. Doug

I smell roses!

I smell roses! Was that a great game or what? Sutt I am with you - No orange and black. The game was really intense and I didn't sit down the whole second half. Mesoli is the man! The only reason OSU kept themselves in the game was because UO had some turn overs in the first half. I was glad to see that Blount didn't punch anyone either this time after the game.

Bring on the Buckeyes!

I'm finished

I now have my MEd degree (Go Wildcats) and I'm officially done with the higher educational system (although I don't walk/ graduate until the 11th). If you are wondering if I'll head back to get my Admin certification, the answer is NO (I'm done). If you are extremely bored you can read my Masters Project at http://blog.weber.k12.ut.us/asuttlemyre/.

I have no bike related news (haven't been on the bike much) to tell you about, but I hope to soon. Although basketball is now taking up a big chunk of my time now.

Bub, I too want the Ducks tonight. I'm not a real Duck's fan, I'm more of a anti-USC fan and I just can't cheer for any team that wears Black and Orange.

Good article

This is a link for a good article about Goulet.

http://velonews.com/article/100214/from-snowboards-to--cross-bikes


Go Ducks tonight! It's the Civil War - bring on the Beavers.

New Moon

Sorry Sutt, no man date this time. Brooke couldn't go to the premier with her friends, so she toted me along. Fellas I don't recommend you seeing it - pretty dramatic.

This is pretty funny though. We went early so that we could actually sit by each other in the movie theater. So we got to the mall and the line was already pretty long. Brooke decided she wanted to go look around for a little bit at some of the stores. That was fine with me because I had planned ahead and brought my book along. I pulled out my book and started reading away. I was reading one of the OBOB books that is required for our middle school competition. I didn't think much of it. After a few minutes of reading I look up and realize that I was a lone man standing in line to watch New Moon, surrounded by all these excited girl "tweeners", all while reading a book titled, Wild Girls!

Turkey ride?

GC Connection, are we going to try and ride on Thursday? I was thinking around 10:30 or maybe we ride down to Peterson's after Turkey around 2:45. I'm in, but I'm only in if we take it easy (I'm out of shape and up a few pounds).

Out of shape justification- I'll be getting my masters on the 11 of December (Yea!!!!!! I'm almost done) and early morning basketball (starts at 6 am every morning). I hate to ride in below freezing conditions.

P.S. Bub, I was wondering if you went on another man date to NEW MOON? (I'm still laughing from your last man date).

Cottle Cross Weekend

This is a couple of weeks ago at the Weber Fairgrounds race. I was going great until the last lap and I crashed into one of the log barriers. It wasn't very pretty but I finished OK.

Tanner was going to take some pictures of the State Championship races this week, but my camera had a dead battery. I took a few with Daren's camera so go to his link and you can see a few pictures. The State Championships were at the Heber Fairgrounds this year. It isn't my favorite course but it was set up very good and favors power over technical. I got a good start and three of us got away from the rest of the field. I knew the one would attack, and in the past I have been fearful of going with him, but this week when he attacked from behind me I went with him and we gapped our third. It was a fast course and I was hanging in ok and had decided to hang on til the last lap and then attack, but he had a mechinal and I just attacked as hard as I could. When I came to the finish line there were four laps left and I thought, can I do this. I just rode hard and tried not to make any stupid mistake. I was able to stay clear and really buried myself on the last lap, I didn't want to be caught. It was great to win and I was going to raise my arms, but I was afraid I would crash. After an on sight interview it was time to cheer for Daren, as a Cottle sweep of the first two races would be nice. Daren was off the front and raced hard. He slid out on one soft turn and got gapped. This CX racing is hard to close gaps as you are red lined most of the time. Daren thought he got back to the leader and so did I as I watched only to find out that the leaders brother who looks like him and rides the same bike as him was in a different catagory, was who he had caught and passed. Daren ended up second and rode a great race. The announcers got our names mixed up all day but it was cool. Tanner then rode in the very fast A group and took 12th. If he had raced his age group he would have won also. Later that night when I called Brady to tell him about the races he also won his first cross race of the year in Oregon (read below for details). It was a great weekend and the GC Connection did great. Two more races til nationals so the excitment and pressure are building. I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and looking forward to being with many of you. Ride Safe. Doug

Finally

I finally have something to write about other than my Duckies (even though the Oregon v. Arizona games was one of the best college games I have seen - go Ducks). I was able to take my cyclocross bike on its first ride of the season. I really didn't even ride it until the race. I had a worn out rear cassette that I had to swap out of my rain bike before the race.

Before I could leave for the race I had to finish some household duties so I could got the pass out the kitchen door. I pulled up to the race with only a few minutes to spare. I didn't even check my tire pressure or pump them up, I just went. With a this lack of time I didn't get to pre-ride the whole course. I did manage to get almost half a lap in though.

It had been raining all week, so the course was a mud whole - all the way through. I got a bad start, but quickly caught and passed the leaders. I was gaining a good lead when I hit a corner to quick and went down hard. I got up quick, jumped on my bike and noticed my chain was off. I got off again and put it back on while watching three guys pass me. I was able to pass the first two pretty easy. As I barely pass the leader I was climbing up a hill and my chain falls off again. I watch the one guy go passed me again. Darn luck I was having.

I caught the leader and passed him by the end of the second lap. I was getting a good gap on him again when he crashed and didn't finish the race. I ended staying on the bike without my chain coming off in the final lap to win the race. Good times.

I love my Ducks!

Good laugh - great team! What a great sight to see the "O" in the background. Love those Ducks. I get to ride by it every day on my way to work. Go Ducks!

Seagull crap!

Yes, I titled this seagull crap. Last week Liam and I were going to ride over to Autzen stadium, where the Ducks play, for ESPN's college game day. I was pulling him in the trailer while I was riding my old mountain bike. I haven't traded out the tires in a while, and infact the tire in the back is bald. It is done for. While I was riding I got a flat. I got off the bike, reached down to check the tire and put my hand on some seagull crap that got stuck to my tire. Nasty.

We had to bail on our strong desires to see Kirk Herbstreit in person and go home. I didn't have a spare tube or patch, so I knew we were in trouble. The tire was leaking out quickly. I felt like Lance riding the last 7 miles of the Leadville 100 on a flat tire. I was trying hard to pull a four year old on a flat tire. We almost made it home before we had to stop. Unlike Lance I don't have sponsors to get a new rim if I destroy mine, so I walked the rest of the way. I quickly got home and washed of the bird poop that was still stuck to my hand - priceless.

CX updates

Jill getting sworn in as an official Lawyer in good standing with the Utah Bar. We have converted my old dental office into the new Cottle Garrett Law Firm. It has really turned out great and it is all official now. Congratulation Jill, and family. All referrals are welcome.

These past two weeks we have raced in Heber and Draper. The pictures are from the Heber race as Betty came. I didn't have any pictures at Draper, but check with Daren's link he has some good shots of all our races. Daren has been out with a cracked bone in his hand but got to race Draper this weekend. Tough race to return to, but a fun course. I have alot to learn in my bike handling skills. I went off course on to many over cooked turns. My tires were full of goatheads. Luckily I made it through the 55 race OK, but in the 45 the tires gave out and I had to run a few blocks with my bike to get Daren's back up bike and continue the pain. Thanks Daren. I'm in a second place rut. Tanner and Daren both had great races at Draper and it has been fun to race together and understand the pain bond.

Cyclocross starts are pretty crazy. My group in the back waiting to start.

Finding the fast guys, and then hang on, or in this case, try to.

Daren saying "having fun yet?" That hill kept getting longer an steeper as the day went on.

Happy to have two races done. I finally get a Porcupine/Specialized invite and the team folds.

Hope you are all going great. It seems we all have less contact since lotoja. Thanksgiving is at the Peterson, don't miss it. Ride Safe. Doug

Pumpkin pics

Cool pumpkins

Mindy carved a CG Connection for the team.

Now, I just need some pumpkin pie to go with it.

The fight for the Tandem

Team photo

Noah was so excited that he just road 24 miles

Noah in Mindy's kit

I already need to do another kit order

(Noah might not fit in Mindy's kit next year, he has LONG ARMS)

In an effort to not mess with Mindy's seat position I put Noah up on blocks.


The true power behind the tandem.

Chase lane was a great training climb.

A ride with your son: priceless

Can't get better than this

I didn't think it could get better than a hanger. Boy was I wrong. I got my 1,000 mile club ... whatever you call this thing.

Power of the Stache!

Tommy sent me this. It is pretty funny. The power of the stache lives! (I would probably be the guy at the end because I can't grow one)

Hard to Believe

This is the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon last week on our way to Park City.

Betty and I ran into this little fellow going over guardmans pass last week looking at the leaves.

Alot of nerves here for me, not knowing what would happen, or how I would do in my first cyclocross race of the season. I didn't do any races last year and only two in my whole big bike racing career.

My great barrier technique, most were bunny hopping on the low end of the log. Where I am going over is where Daren tried to bunny hop and hit his back wheel and endowed. He finished his race very strong, but his wrist ended up being chipped in the fall. He has a removable cast now for a few weeks and will be out of racing.

Trying to get around some traffic. The course was twisty, dry and fast.

Going as hard as I can for the finish.

Happy Grand kids, and a surprised and happy Grandpa, I won. I had a lot of fun in my first cx race of the year. It was a good course, fast and dry and its always good when you win. Daren and Tanner raced later in the day and both had great races with great results. Tanner was riding with the big boys in the A's and had a top ten finish. He looked great. Daren really had a great race and took 5th in the 35+ group. His crash happened in the first lap but when you are deep in the pain cave, what's a chipped bone anyway. Sorry he will miss a few weeks before he can get after it again. I'm thinking about retiring? GC sister Mindy was the star in the Ogden Standard Examiner today. They have a weekly insert called the Explorer, and did a story about Lotoja and its three time winner. They had some great pictures in the article and one was of Mindy stuffing a sandwich in her mouth at the Preston feed zone. It also had Glen Adams in the picture next to Mindy. He has help all of us GC'er one time or another. Glen went on to win the 45+ cat. Ride Safe

Beautiful Fall!

I took 2nd in the 55 cat. It was a fast and fun race. If it can be both of those things.

This was the start of the 45-55 Cat. Not a huge field but alot of fast guys.

The finish of the 45-55 race at the Harvest Moon Crit. I had a good race and no crashes.

Daren, Tanner and I went riding up the Alpine loop. This is Timp from the back side. I have never ridden up here. We had a ball and the weather was unbelievable.

Hanging around with these two I usually break something.

Brother bonding up the Alpine loop. A few days later I went up by myself for a 4 hour ride.

This is looking back at Snow Basin from the Maple's climb.

This is the view from the ridge down into Ogden and our house.

The Olympic downhill finish without snow. Still beautiful.

This is where I was heading, top of the ridge.

This is what the Maple's trail out of Snowbasin Ski resort looked like. What a day. It has been a great fall and I have really enjoyed riding in the Mountains and racing a little. I hope you are all well and riding. Be safe. Doug