California Dreamin' 96 - 97

With frigid temp's approaching all I can do is reflect back upon warmer times. My first trip out to Cali was a quick weekend. I was living in MI back in 96, racing for the Devo Team, and flew in to Ontario, CA to do the Big Bear Norba. No camera, no pictures, results maybe around 22nd.

My first real stay in Cali was in 97 at the Cabin in Nevada City. It was pretty awesome. Derek Prechtl, Skyler and I loaded up the Caravan and hit the scene. From VT to Cali we did it all. Including this Norba in Mammoth where I again finished 22nd but this time in the Sr. Expert cat.

The stories from the cabin are endless but the best is the morning of the Deathstar at North Star training race in Tahoe. We went for a little cruise on the bikes to loosed up the legs in the morning. When we got back it was time to clean up. The Yuba River runs through the back yard of the cabin and it was daily ritual to go down for a swim after each ride.

The water was raging that day, but for some reason Derek Prechtl wanted extra lube on the rock slide to the pool at the bottom. As he is standing on the top of the slide with his bar of Irish Spring (it floats) in hand, lubing up the top of the slide he goes down. His feet got a little too slippery, he fell back and cracked his head on the rock. As he was sliding down the flume of water I watched his eyes roll back into his head with a look of blank death as he disappeared under the water. It was the first time, and hopefully last, I will ever have to hold another grown man naked, but when Skyler and I pulled him out from under the water and I inserted my finger an inch and a half into the back of Derek's head it was the last thing in my mind.

After he came back to life we walked him up to the cabin and did some old school doctoring....nothing a shower cap and a pack of ice couldn't fix up right?

It seemed to do the trick as Derek was lined up 4 hours later for the local training race in Tahoe.

He did complain of some wooziness after the race....something about the elevation...can anyone besides Skyler name the ultra fast pro in the black w/ yello jersey?

Stay tuned for the California Chronicles......

MY DOWNFALL

We just got wireless internet at home.....this could be the end of all training known to Matter-kind.

LAX

Heading back home to Wisco tomorrow. I'm really bummed that I'm missing the Packers game. I might get to catch the first hour at the airport. We are leaving SLO bright and early and going to hang with Skyler for a while before we leave.

We crammed in a lot the before having to head back to the tundra. A sweet hike yesterday afternoon followed by a nice dinner out on the town. We hooked up with Matt Kelly, his girlfriend, and Rebecca Much. It was pretty nice. Our host and his girlfriend also joined us for some steaming Zen Green Tea Martini's nice presentation.

This morning we busted out a 2.5 hour 45 mile ride up to Lopez Lake. It was a pretty nice ride. Rolling through the vineyards followed by a 6 mile climb up to the lake.

After the ride Andrea and I couldn't resist the nice weather and had to go out for another little walk around Laguna Lake in SLO.

Tonight is veggies on the grill and a movie. See ya back in WI and Go Pack...

WII

PCH

Today after a little "recovery ride" we took a short drive up the PCH just north of Cambria to watch the Elephant Seals give birth to their pups. The things are huge and the noises they make are pretty intense.

After being there for a few minutes we spoke with a volunteer who knew everything plus some about the Elephant Seals. He then pointed out a pup who had just been born an hour ago.

Then it got crazy....it was like a scene from National Geographic

The mom was moving around trying to position the pup away from the water and away from the other adults. Then I saw it.....the afterbirth.

Next thing I know there is a boat load of seagulls flocking towards the bloody mess of the embryonic sack. We caught it on video...check it out if you want.....

It was nature at its finest and we were lucky to catch some real action taking place. Here is a photo of one of the bigger males.

The drive home was relaxing and we saw an awesome sunset over Morro Rock

Wii bowling score of the day 239

No Matt Kelly sightings, but contact has been made.

MDO

One of the great parts of vacation is sampling the local cuisine. Mmmmm Ribs

After last nights killer dinner it was time to get down to business. Time to load up the 5 inches of plush Full Floater Suspension and actually use it all!

Montana De Oro is a sweet trail system....but it starts off with a lung busting climb.

I was slightly scared for a while...I'm not sure if I was scared of how much Andrea looked like a Cali Free Rider or this....

But after we crested the climb the fear left as I was ripping on of the nicest descents I've downed in a long time.

We finished off the ride with a bowl of Clam Chowder in a Sourdough Bread Bowl while looking out on the ocean....mmmmmm....aaaaaahhhhhhhh

ps. Bowled a 207 on the Wii today....

SLO

We arrived in Cali Saturday...it was a long day of travel and it was pretty much straight to bed after watching the Steelers lose a heartbreaker. Sunday it was right back to the airport to watch the SLO runway preseaoson crit series. Our host was doing the race so we thought we would check it out. We ran into Matt G from Trek at the race and had the hook up for bikes for the rest of the week! Thanks Matt....Demo Ken now has some serious competition as the best Demo guy around.

After the race it was off to the local coffee shop where Elicia ER Hildebrand might have had one too many cups of Joe. It looks like her boyfriend Bennet knows he's in trouble for the rest of the afternoon.

We spent some time at the Foothills Cyclery shop. Josh our host is the owner and has a pretty nice place right near Cal-Poly Campus. No Matt Kelly sightings yet....

We also spent a lot of time playing Josh's Wii....I think I got my first Wiijury after an intense game of bowling last night.

This morning I need to take a day away from the Wii and head out for my first real ride in over a month. We wasted no time in finding a sweet 10 mile climb up Prefumo Canyon. I think it kicks up to above 15 percent a few times. It's great to be back in the Mtn's. Even better mid way down the descent it turns to gravel. I love taking the road bikes down the gravel to see how they really perform and the new Madone stood up to the test just fine.

Stay tuned for more Cali updates....

Goin' Back 2

Cali.... you tube killed the embedded file now you have to click cali....

New Year, New Team, New Do

A lot went down since the last update....My best friend Andy and his wife Jill from MI came to visit during the last few days of 07. With a ton a fresh snow we took advantage.





















We went out for a night ski when they arrived.


























The next day we went out to the kettles and did a 2.5 hour snowshoe adventure.

Thanks to Paul Weaver and UPS Glenn we also went to see the last regular season game at Lambeau.




















We saw the Pope and Elvis...it was an awesome game and we had killer seats.


























After a relaxing New Years celebration Andy & Jill hit the road and it was time to get on the bike for the first time in 2008....The New Years Day Brian Matter 2nd Annual Retro Ride...




















It was a tight race for the podium...Krazy Karl had the fleece Look winter jacket, Bell Helmt w/ temperature control, and white Blades....Dittrich went big with the Mullet, the mirrored Aviator shades, and the classic Bike shorts, Andrea and I went with the Denim theme, Blades, Look helmets, and a touch of Duck Tape!


The ride was good...we went down to the North Beach and watched the Polar Bears take to the Lake. If you ever want to see a showcase of Sheboygans finest this is a must see event....check it out for yourself....




















The new team....















more to follow....

And yes the mullet is gone...

Y.I.R.

2007 is almost over....as I begin to make plans for the 2008 season I have to look back one last time....the reason why you ask? Everyone knows the results....I reflect back every season to determine what went wrong....when I trained too much when I trained too litte. When I raced too much and when I didn't race enough. Most importantly in my opinion is the race that got away that will give me motivation for the entire year. This year I can think of 2.....Sheboygan WORS and Chequamegon. Two races that I had the fitness to win, but for different reasons I didn't make the top step of the podium. I will use that knowledge to fuel the fire for motivation and those races next season. I already used the fire from Sheboygan to win the Iceman, but losing that race will motivate me for a long time to come. Every year it seems there is a race that gets away....back in 98 I was winning Iceman attacked off the front. but I was young....I was afraid to be winning...I backed off then finished 4th in a 5 man sprint....in 2003 I was attacking in Iceman and broke a chain...Tristan ended up winning...I used the fire to come back and win in 2004. Another race that really gets me is my 2nd place at the Road State Championships 3 or 4 years ago. I was in a group of 3 made a tactical error and lost the sprint by a mm. I need something to motivate me as this will be my 15th season racing.

2007 was a great season and I feel I am getting faster and faster....baby steps in the right direction. Triple Crown races - 2nd - 2nd - 1st. 4 out of 5 WCA CX wins. 2 out of 3 WORS Marathon Wins.

2008 will be another exciting year. I am going to put more of a focus on the CX scene and hopefully go race some cross in Europe....it looks too fun to pass on and I'm not getting any younger. A little less on the WORS scene and a little more training. A month long training camp in Tucson is in the making for the month of March. Hopefully a little more action on the road early on...maybe a Tour of the Gila or some longer road races.

With a new team sponsorship I am very excited about 2008....Happy New Year

Santa

Santa was good to us this year!



























Watch for Gerta the Green Machine at the races in 2008!

The neighbor also dropped off a bike the other day....lucky!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

I hope everyone enjoys the Holiday Season with Family & Friends

Rosco says the same.............

Mountain Biking Rulz

Athens Christmas Vacation w/ the Griswalds.....



Sometimes I think my dad could be Clark W.....check out this photo from our Christmas morning in Athens

Rosco made the trip too!

Our trip south was awesome. The relaxing vacation I needed after I long season of racing. I take time off of work pretty often, but it is to go pound myself into the ground at a bike race and come back to work Monday more tired than when I left. It was nice to get away a not worry about training and racing.

We spent our time eating good food, going to the movies, and I even helped my dad with his Kayak. I was thinking about Doug and his chairs in this photo.
























We mixed sawdust into an apoxy to form a peanut butter like consistency for seal the seams...after that we laid a fiber glass cloth sheet over the seems to waterproof the bottom of the boat. It was pretty fun. We also watched some football and even hooked up with the gang at Athens Bicycle to ride some of the best MTB Trails in the country. I almost forgot what real MTBing was like after racing WORS and riding the trails in Sheboygan all the time. The trails in Athens are superb and definitely worth the 9 hour drive!























After my interview with Skyler I was inspired to show of the Mullett.....I better stick to bike racing rather than modeling!

Interview with a model!

I'm down in Athen's OH visiting my parents for Christmas and had a little time to catch up with an old friend...

From Hometown to Hollywood:

Interview w/ X-Pro Mountain Biker Skyler Reeves

B - What’s New?

S - Hey Brian!! What the hell is going on? Its been cool reading your blog all the time lately, reminds me of many great times we had in the Midwest on our bicycles. Things are good out here in Cali for me, just opened a new lounge in West Hollywood. I have opened many bars/nightclubs/restaurants out here but this one has meant a little more because I have been a lot closer to the nitty-gritty of starting a new business.

B- When was the last time you rode a bike?

S - Bueller…..Bueller…. Bueller….

B- What was your last race and how did you finish?

S -My last race must have been where-ever the finals were in 2001, I think. Maybe Mt. Snow?... or was it the Tour De Dewey in Boulder?? To be honest I have no idea, the last half of the last year of my racing career I wasn’t exactly, um, focused.

B- What was your best result in your career as a racer?

S - Well, I remember being particularly proud of finishing the Red Zinger, the road race that went from Boulder to Breckenridge, I think I was top 20 and there were over 200 starters and very few finishers. As far as pro mountain biking I think I was top twenty a few times. It is funny going back and trying to remember because what seemed so important at the time has all blended together. The important times I remember as I look back on it now were the extra long and hard training rides, car rides to races, the camaraderie that you build with fellow racers.

B - What was your first race?
S - I’m gonna have to say Addison Oaks. I think I was 12, and if I remember correctly Jeff Buerman drove us to that race, and it was super muddy. I think I still have the t-shirt..

B - What was your first bike?
S - Well, my first real mountain bike was definitely the Peugot, it was grey and black, and had “shocks.” Then I got the Nishiki which I remember well, and I think my Dad still has it!

B - How is the pay in the modeling world compared to that of a pro cyclist?
S - Well its actually kind of similar in some ways. Meaning that you might not make any money for a while and then you might have a good week and make a killing.

B - What was your favorite modeling shoot? Can you provide a photo?
S - I got to travel to a lot of cool places, Sun Valley, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, and even Paris. But I never really enjoyed shooting, just traveling and meeting interesting characters in that business. And no, no photo will be provided thank you very much.

File Photo provided as Skyler was not willing to provide his fav...

B - Can you do a quick comparison of the “talent” on the norba scene compared to the modeling scene?
S - Wow, there are SO many ways I can interpret that question! As far as actual talent, as in being a talented person who works hard and has skills, Im gonna have to say that the norba scene wins hands down. As far as other talent, what do you think?

B - Will we ever see you in spandex again?
S - Only on Tuesdays and Sundays here in West Hollywood, and if that tape ever gets out…..

B - Anything you would like to say to the old school mtb gang?
S - I truly miss all of you guys. So so so many great memories. From Thursday night rides on the “Poto” to rebuilding our bikes in Jeff Beurmans Basement, to traveling the country eating “gravel” and getting flat tires, to living in Colorado and going on endless training rides in the most beautiful scenery there is, all of it will always be looked back on as some of the best times of my life. And to those of you still doing it; you know you’re crazy right?!