Here I go Again on My Own

Recently I was able to take part in the national team track trials in Burnaby BC. As a result of that I was able to qualify for the world cup team for the first world cup of 2006 in Moscow. I have been selected for 2 events, the Individual Pursuit and the Madison. My partner in crime for the Madison will be Martin Gilbert. This is a big event for both of us, our performance at this and a later world cup will determine if Canada will have representatives in our events at the 2006 commonwealth games in Melbourne Australia. I leave this Friday for the week-long trip. Watch for results on the usual web sites and check back hear for a video about my trip and experience. Wish me luck.

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goodbye Andrew

It's a natural evolution of any team to have riders come and go. But, with the exception of one little blip, Andrew Randell has been a major part of the backbone of the Jet Fuel team for almost a decade. Andrew has been responsible for the team's biggest wins, notably the 2002 National Championships and stages in the Milk RAS and Ringerike GP. As a team we wish he'd stay, as his friend, we know he's gotta move on. Andrew thanks for all you've done, have fun with those guys from BC, they have a great team, and we know you'll be great as part of it.

So what does this mean for team Jet Fuel? Well, if any one rider comes close to being irreplaceable we'd say it was Andrew. Andrew did much more for the team than just ride, his leadership, mentorship, contributions behind the scenes to the team’s organization-- logistic operations and communications will all be missed. However, we will move on. We are currently wrapping up negotiations with riders and sponsors and will soon map out the plan for 2006. We will release a statement when those negotiations are finalized.

Here are some of his highlights from over the years:

Andrew's Jet Fuel Highlights

1st 2002 Canadian Championships
1st FBD Milk RAS, Ireland, 2002, stage
1st Ringerike GP, Norway, 2002, stage
1st Atlantic Cup, NRC, 1999
1st CHIN Picnic, 1999 + 2004
2nd 2000 National Championships TT
3rd Wendy's Invitational, NRC 1999
Member 2003 National team - World Championships

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New for 2006…what am I, a car company?

So I pulled the R 2.5 out of the box for the first time since our trip to San Fran. I feel like a new rider. I am living and training in Kingston for the fall so the first order of business was to find the routes and the riders. But before I even got on to the road I encountered a bit of a problem...

I began preparation for my first set of base miles for 2006…yeah I know there are still a bunch of you out there cyclocrossing your un-mentionables off...but I am a track guy and for track guys everything turns upside down and backwards at this time of year. I discovered just how true that is when I got to the sock drawer. I had a full blown identity crisis…I cracked it open and there staring at me, my long nearly knee high Jonny Jet Fuel’s that had only had one ride all year (San Fran)…right next to them the pinnacle of trackie’s fashion existence…the short sock…ahhh my head started to spin…I have just finished a huge road season spending hundreds of kilometers in breaks…riding with brakes…and to top it all off I had the best big and tall socks just staring at me. But the ankle sock, it had been in my drawer all season never seen the races since who knows when…it would be like disowning my track brethren to put on those Nancy Nearly knee Highs when starting prep for the upcoming trials. I closed my eyes my hand went in and BAM I had made my decision…

“Damn you Miller, this is your fault.” I thought as a stared at the long neck of the knee highs that sat in my hand…

I told my self when I pulled them on that it was to protect my heels from a relapse…it was 25 degrees outside…the seed is sown…the roadie is gaining power in me I can feel it…hmmm…I can see it now…I will show up at trials and the council will say…”yes the boards are strong in this one, but I sense a dark side…or maybe more an asphalt colour.”

Ha…only time will tell. I hope the price I have paid with the death of my short socks will, lead to bigger and better thing this year on the track…it all starts over again next week at trials wish me luck.

- This blog is dedicated to the death of all the short socks lost in the 2005 road season.
RIP…and become the rags from whence ye came.

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