A Lead Role In A Cage

"Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them."

(Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Hammerfest Haiku

Fast out on Sunday

I start believing my hype

Monday...not so much

Aw, C'mon...Really?!

Get used to it boys...the Bandito ain't messin' around this year. I assure you, Mellow Johnny wants no part of this action.

BTW...For you VDV haters out there, the reason he finished 142nd is because he crashed. Mongo's team, Garmin-Slipstream, continues to be a strong force in every race they enter.

Possibly The Greatest Jersey Ever

The winner of Paris-Nice will be one of these guys.

1. Wheelsucker

2. Vandownbytheriver

3. Frito Bandito

4. Sideburns McSpain

5. Roman Candle

6. Sylvainia

7. Fleck

Mongo's Ride For '09

FRAME...Specialized Allez Sport Aluminum (58cm)

FORK...Easton EC70 (Carbon fiber)

SEATPOST...Specialized Pave (Carbon fiber)

HANDLEBAR...Specialized S-Works (Carbon fiber)

SADDLE...Specialized Phenom Pro

SHIFTERS...Shimano Ultegra (9 speed)

BRAKES...Shimano 105

F. DERAILLEUR...Shimano Ultegra

R. DERAILLEUR...Shimano Ultegra

CRANKS...Shimano 105 Triple (52/42/30)

CASSETTE...Shimano Ultegra (12-25)

CHAIN...SRAM PC991

WHEELS...Mavic Ksyrium Equipe

TIRES...Specialized S-Works

PEDALS...Look Keo Carbon

TOTAL WEIGHT...19.4lbs w/pedals

(I have a two to three pound disadvantage with everyone I ride with that has a carbon fiber frame)

Diver Down

This coming weekend and the following Monday represents the official and unofficial beginning of the 2009 cycling season for Mongo and the UCI Pro Tour. For the pros, they have Paris-Nice starting on Sunday...and for Mongo, Monday marks the first Smyrna Bicycles Front Derailleur Covered Bridge Twelve Gap Hammerfest of the season...and I am most certainly not ready for it.

All one has to do is look at the above Biorhythm chart to see that Mongo is doomed. It's my "actual" chart for 03/09/09...the day of the Hammerfest. My readings are bottoming out faster than a Madoff ponzi scheme. Though I'm not much of a conspiracy theorist, there are three things in which I firmly believe. They are, in no particular order, the Chupacabra...Ghost ships...and Biorhythms.

To The Place Where Blind Men See

The Water Has Passed Beneath Us

“Can’t complain…Look where I am today
Can’t complain…I have lived several lifetimes in the search for my own
Can’t complain…I am charming and handsome and eloquent and false
Can’t complain…I have postponed the future while running from my past
Can’t complain…Look where I am today”

Prisoners Of Technology

"Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind."

(Henry David Thoreau)

Mama...The Italians Are Coming

Be Careful What You Wish For

Mongo is constantly amazed by how far reaching my "juice" actually goes. It's one thing that my little blip of a blog has been viewed in sixty five countries and over seven hundred cities around the world (Thank you to all who have stumbled in the door)...but now I have the ability to affect the weather with my words. Imagine Al Roker as one of the X-Men.

A little over a week ago, in a quip, I lamented my wish to go snowboarding...but due to a lack of snow and the fact that I don't know how to snowboard, I went skateboarding instead. Well, guess what? Yesterday, after years without anything substantial, it snowed like a mofo here in Atlanta...and I went snowboarding...kind of.

I have an 8.5x32 blank deck that I'm waiting to build up...eventually...but I used it as a snowboard on my driveway. I was ripping!

Big Fish Small Pond

It's no Tour of Qatar, but Tom Boonen claimed his first non-Arabian win of the season at the Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne.

These Belgian mini-classics all kind of run together and team dynamics are often thrown out the window in favor of hometown interests...but somebody's gotta win.

BTW...Jeremy Hunt is a crazy(literally) looking f****r!

Black And White Gnar

Leonard Oglethorpe was putting in a strong second run until his tasseled loafers slipped off the pedals while attempting a Rodeo-Air.