Art O’Connor

Nope I wasnt blown. Sly was trying to drop me but I think he had to many M&M’s last nite. People always writing crap on their blogs that just isn’t true. Kind of like Bucky saying the 29er ruled the railroad tracks at La Ruta. The real story is that the plush suspension of the Scalpel rode away from those 29 inch wheels.

I don’t have a blogger account.
Ohran

Hard hitting journalism here at artoconnor.com, telling the truth online since 2005.

1. I have never voted in a presidential election. Our founding fathers were scared to death to let the poor vote so they created the electoral college. Since the 801 is about the strongest Repubican state there is, there is really no point in voting here unless you vote Republican. Also, we have a resident of the White House now that proves how useless your vote really is. For the record I would have voted for Clinton and Bush the first time.

2. I saw “Titantic” in a theatre.

3. In the summer of 2001 I turned $5000 into over $60k trading options on the OEX. In a single trade the week the Iraq War started I lost it all. For what it is worth I have been profitable ever since.

4. Even though I make fun of them, even the hipster dudes in capri pants are cool because they ride a bike. At least they are riding (even if it is just to the coffee shop to smoke and talk about Bergman film’s) and probably some of them will continue to do so after it is no longer “cool”.

5. In the 8th grade I went to see Loverboy in concert. It was the 80’s and I did grow up in Maine so cut me some slack we were lucky to get any concerts.

Hopefully everyone got what they wanted for Christmas this year, I know I did. We had planned on skiing but I got a nice little infection in my chest that had me on the couch hacking all day. No worries though Rachel went for a long run and we watched “A Christmas Story”, “Elf” and some bizarre Mexican variety show. That evening was a kick ass dinner with kick ass friends. Merry Christmas indeed.

Anyone want a puppy? Rachel’s dog had 7 beautiful puppies about 12 weeks ago. She has magaged to sell 5 of them for over $600 each. These are pure breed Labs with champion bloodlines on both parents side. They are AKC registered and guaranted to not have hip and eye problems. She has one white female and one black male left, at this point she would give them away to a good home. If you would like one or know someone who would contact me ASAP in the comments section.

Ok I like Christmas and I like giving gifts. That said, here are a few things I would like to get some people:

- Mitt Romney: Either a conscience, spine, or an opinion. Hell I should get him all three. Seriously dude way to discredit yourself more than any smear campaign could ever hope to do. Who else did you see marching with Dr. King, Ann Coulter?

- George Bush and Dick Cheney: A couples suite at Guantanimo. It will be good prep for the circle in hell that no doubt awaits them.

- Pro Cycling: A dope free 2008.

- Katie Compton: A rainbow jersey. Actually I don’t need to give her one, I have a feeling she will take one all by herself.

- The Federal Reserve: A copy of Capitalism and Freedom: Fortieth Anniversary Edition

- Scott H Biram: A plane ticket to SLC so he can play a show. Anywhere but The Depot please.

- Utah Cyclocross courses: A hill.

- Owners of possible Utah ‘cross venues: a bag of grass seed and a copy of Grasses and How to Grow Them

For everyone else Merry Christmas!!!!

Being the full time cynic and grouch that I am it will probably surprise you to know that I actually really like Christmas. I have an extensive list of Christmas music on my iPod, I watch all the classic Christmas specials (Charlie Brown, Rudolph, Frosty, etc). I grew up in Maine which is a pretty good place to be a kid at Christmas time. Back before Al Gore invented the internet and global warming we got tons of snow and being Maine you are pretty much surrounded by Chrstmas tree’s anyway. Also my Mom is about the biggest Christmas geek you will ever meet. Crhistmas in Maine also meant parties. Christmas Eve was at the Pellitier’s house which was fun because Norm was a teacher so lots of teachers from my school were there and I got to see them drunk and it seemed to buy me a little more slack in school which was pretty sweet. Then Christmas Day my parents had what seemed to be half the town over for a good old fashioned blow out. Maine is the only place in the world that I have ever seen coffee brandy, which is as nasty as it sounds. Regardless, Mainers drink that crap like water. Nasty.

Now that my brother has a kid, it is fun to buy toys for Christmas. Hopefully next year I can make it back and play with them. Luckily Rachel’s son Canyon is the same age as my nephew, same color hair (toeheads!). The only difference is that my nephew, being an O’Connor is 6 inches taller! So at least I get to play with some toys on Christmas. I got him a kick ass dinosaur set that I can’t wait to get my hands on.

Anyone that knows me knows that I train super hard and any results I have ever had is because I work damn hard at it. Everyone also knows that I have about the worst diet imaginable and I have the flexibility of 2×4. Hopefully those things will change. Rachel has been making me some really amazing dinners for me to take to work and it has really helped me in terms of keeping me super lean, healthy and mentally clear. She agreed to not do anything too radical until after Cross Nationals because I didn’t want to make extreme changes as I know there will be a bit of lag time as my body purges 40 years of junk food and assimilates whole nutrient rich foods. Well Nats are done and I am ready to take the plunge. I am excited to see how my body performs with quality fuel instead of the processed junk that I am accustomed too.

Flexibility is something I have completely ignored since I ran track in college. I have a degree in exercise physiology and I should know better but no, I have been completely slack in that dept as well. I never had many problems until this summer when I decided I wanted to do an Xterra. I started running again and as I increased my mileage my narrow range of motion got even narrower and I was barely able to walk. So I have some work to do. i know that I absolutely have to get more ROM if I am going to run and I also know my riding performance will be better as my muscles get more supple. Time to do the work.

I am so lucky to have someone as talented as Rachel to help me with this. She is doing so much for me. I am excited to see where we both are this time next year. Hopefully we will be sitting on a beach somewhere swapping stories of all of our wins the prior season.

Rock On.

Another cyclocross season has come and gone. Kansas City served up a healthy helping of classic cross weather and courses this weekend. My race was a frozen slippery test of skill. My skill was good enough for 9th place. I got a good start and was right where I needed to be to make a run at the podium but the guys in front of me simply out rode me. The fat TuFu tubulars (thanks DrX) were giving me a sweet ride and they are way faster than clinchers, my bikes were dialed to perfection (thanks Spin Cycle), I went fast and stayed upright but those dudes were just better than me, good job guys. 9th is not what I was hoping for but in the end it is just a number. After the season I have had I will take it and I had a ton of fun.

As I said the race was really fun. It was all about relaxing and letting the bike flow. My start was pretty good I missed the crash and was in 4th wheel until the guy in front of me got tangled in the tape. No worries i got going quickly and was in 9th by the time I passed the pit. It is funny I was in 9th pretty much the whole race. I would pass someone and then someone else would pass me. I was a constant in a sea of chaos. On the last lap I was taking this sweet line right up against the tape near the Expo tent and there was a course marshal standing almost in the track totally not looking my way. I caught a frozen rut that put me right into her blindside. She was about 100lbs I weigh 190 and am going pretty fast. Don’t need Stephen Hawking to do the math on that one. She went flying. I got tangle in the tape for a few seconds and she was still not moving, I said “sorry and was back in the race. I got passed by another rider (Brent Prenzlow) and was determined not to lose a place. On the stair section I made a big effort and used every inch of my long stride to put him away. I was afraid to even look back when we hit the pavement before the finish. When I did I was happy to see a good gap. Ya, saved my 9th place. Looks like I need to spend some time in the dirt this summer and polish the skills. They are ok but I didn’t have that little bit extra to be a factor. People were sayin that the winner of my race (James Coats) didn’t even look like he was going hard. Yup, the guy is smooth when you are smooth you make it look easy. There is a reason he has 2 other Stars and Bars in his closet.

Despite only doing 5 cross races ever. Rachel lined up with the Elite women ready to give it a go and see how the big girls do it. Since as of 2 weeks ago she had not even considered racing nationals she was number 93 of 99 and lined up at the very back. A huge crash gave the fron half of the race a 20 second head start 10 seconds into the race but she stayed calm and started moving up through the field. For being a tri geek and supposedly not having good handleing skiils she was looking pretty good in the ice and mud. I am super proud of her for the way she has ridden all season. On the hardest Nationals course I have ever ridden she picked good lines and showed a lot of veteran racers her heels. Being the hyper competitive driven person she is she was hoping to do better but this race was really just about going out and getting the experience, seeing how the best in the world do it, and building on that. Next year when she has her own bike (thanks, V and Momma T), has better skills and confidence she will be killin’ it. Fo shizzle.

The Elite mens race was without question the most exciting bike race I have ever seen. Johnson and Page were ripping lines like it was dry. Bartman and AliG started well off the front row and went through the field like a couple of Bush Hogs .

It was a good showing for all the 801 riders. Utah Cross is the real deal. If you rip here then you can rip it anywhere. Everyone did great but Lou Rollins brought home the title. I am sure he will look good wearing the jersey on Jan 5.

Rachel and I added a little drama to our trip this morning. For some reason I never noticed that our crappy rental car locks its doors when you start it. So I am out there at 4am to load up the car for our 6am flight. I start the car and shut it the door to scrap the windows and load the trunk. I go to open the door again and it’s locked! Good hell! So I go to the front desk to call a locksmith. I called 2 different places that guaranteed 20 minute service 24/7, both said it would take at least 40 minutes so I told them both to come. Meanwhile I got a coat hanger and went to work. I guess I might have a career as a felon if all my other plans fail ‘cuz I got the door open and saved $50. We made it to the airport in record time and made the flight by the skin of our teeth. Never a dull moment.

Made it to KC in one piece. Lots of ice and not a mountain in sight. Husla drove all night fueled by Red Bull and fat neats to deliver $70k worth of bike to the 801 contingent. All we need is B-Horn and Gardie on the PA and it would feel like a Utah race.

The course is covered in half frozen peanut butter like mud and we are supposed to get 8″ of snow tonight. I am drooling like a mongoloid right now. Ya! Actually the snow will help as the course right now is actually pretty stupid. At no point are you going over 10 mph. There is are 2 stair runs right next to each other that even if it had been dry would have been dumb. Anyway, I rode a lap on each bike and they are both wrecked. Tomorrow will be interesting.

What a day. Two of the most incredible, beautiful, and talented women I know are celebrating birthdays today. Rachel is turning 28 today so head over to her page and give her a spanking. Lorrita, aka Mrs. Ride Trash is celebrating a big one today as well. Both of these incredible women deserve awards (and possibly psychiatric evaluation/shock therapy) for being the way better half of two freakishly tall 40 something man children. Much love ladies.