Up up and a way…

So here I am about 24 hours from departure to the world track championships. It feels pretty good to be representing Canada again. I know that there are all kinds of people that make this possible every year. I also know i will need even more support as I head into the next season. See this is competition is the RESET button. After this everything counts to the olympic games. I remember speaking with my coach just after the start of the athens games… and hearing “you better start thinking about Beijing”. and now it is almost on top of us.

So back to the Worlds. They are in Mallorca spain on a brand new track. Gina and I have been trying to optimize our situation day to day as we head into worlds. All little things but it feels like it is making the difference. She put up a cold emersion pool in the garage…it is made of a garbage can. I gotta say this has been a great off season in terms of training and general effectivness. Now it is just a matter of turning that into somthing. Wish me luck…if you haven;t allready…thanks to to all those who have allready written in with good luck wishes. When you have so much support you have to ride for the country…cause it feels like the country is really behind you.

Oh and the contest will end April 30th…if there are even any entries.

Off to Worlds…wish me luck.

I”M FREAKIN OUT!!!

Did I just get a round house kick to the face by a guy in pictured pants? (they still make and sell these and other varieties apparently…www.damagewear.com/ clothing/workout-pants.html) I think so…I am sitting here watching the news and in the last 20 minutes 2 stories have occupied my attempt to become better informed.

1st much music VJ RICK “who the heck cares” spoke for 15 minutes about how Shalaila (or whatever), some rockstar supernova girl who talks through her nose, had some meltdown and broke a glass and a shard cut some guys head. BOOO FREAKIN HOOO. I mean I will admit I have watched an episode of that show…but they were singing, you know being talented and some what exceptional. I am sure Brittney Spears dropped a dish in the last week and it broke…someone may have even cried…but it should not be on the PRIME TIME NEWS. There are people dying in wars, starving to death and stealing from each other in public…we need to re evealuate our priorities if this is what people feel they need to know.

Speaking of talent…the next story pretty much pushed me over the edge. The topic in question…when will video gaming be in the OLYMPICS. All together now…

!!!ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!

Props to all you gamers out there, you have mad skills…oh wait should I use web lingo…U got >:( sklz. U B gr8 wit dat [!].
(that last one is joy stick by the way, I think I may have mixed some eubonics in ther too)
But come on…the olympics is the ultimate athletic competition. I think it would be great to have a gaming olympics, and not just video games…get all those board game nuts from the 70’s and 80’s, as well as every winner of the poker games happening on every channel of espn to join in. That way they will all stop trying to con there way into the most celebrated event of athleticism in the history of the human race. If you can smoke and/or drink and/or save your progress for a month and come back and be at the same “level” as when you left then it is not a sport. Not to say that there aren’t thousands of people in the world doing it, and yes, some one is infact the best at it. But the olympics is not called “The Giant Contest of Who is Best at Any Damn Thing in the World…Games”.

The Olympics is a Celebration of athletics and sport…and the news is about relevent things that people need to know in order to get there asses off the couch and say, “What the hell thats not right, we need to do something about that.” and not to hear about some stupid “emotional break down” that some ya ya rock star had because she was drinking to much and finally realized she talks like a man. If you don’t hear about that crap, your life, and her life will go on, and both probably for the better.

There…I think…I may….just….be done freakin out………………*sigh*
Check out the cool pics my main squeeze brought back from greece (in the pic section)…they have a lava lamp like calming effect…imagine the woshing of the ocean while you look at them and you will……be……lulled off ……to ZZZZZZZZZ

On The DL

Well, things could be going a bit better. In the last week I have found myself on the disabled list. In other words, I have been having some knee issues, but the good news is I have been smart enough and have had enough help from doctors and physios around me that I have at least remained day to day. The bummer part is the races that I am missing because of it. Captech was like our teams home base race; CSC is, well its CSC - one of the most intense crits in the US. And today I will be missing Lancaster. It is unfortunate because I have been riding quite well but I guess that is life as a cyclist. I believe I have made the right decisions though. My knee is near better after only one week and starting anyone of these tough races could have put me further back. It is still hard to sit out what is one of the major peak times of the season. But it is for the greater good.

On another note, The Super hero Contest is over and SPIDERMAN has made a late surge from behind to nip the paper boy Robbie MC style at the line. Congratulations to the winner your prize pack will be mailed out mid month when I arrive back in Canada. And thanks to all who took part. I will try to cook up more interesting things later on. Better prizes too.

Anyway I leave for Pan Ams tomorrow so todays recovery of the knee will be crucial. Wish me luck.

The Finalists

After many late nights, careful drug testing and general non-sense our panel of judges have selected the final five. These finalists have a little something special…not to say the others here are not good entries but the strengths of these finalists are undisputable. Some we just want to hear how they will win it. Thank you for all of your entries. Voting is officially open on this page.
Let the Race begin….

Racing for Team Enviro Clean Presented By thegreenmullet.com…Captin Planet

Riding for Reading Rainbow Presented by yellow bus…Miss Frizzle

Riding for for Dailynews.net…The Paper Boy

Riding for Oscorp…The amazing Spiderman

Riding unattached …the Silver Surfer

Vote TODAY

Voting closes JUNE 1st

“…the chiseled, tree-trunk legs…”

The following update will be in visual form only. The pictures below taken by Bill McCarrick at buffalo2step photography (http://cvillebike.com/photos/v/2006TOS/).

We done good…Two of four sweaters, 1 win and 2 podiums in 7 days…none of it would have been possible with out the team. The skinny pro road like an ox when I needed him.

I leave you with this humorous referance found in the stage 7 update on cycling news.

” Over the past six days, Brent Bookwalter proved his mettle as an all rounder. He succeeded in the gruelling Blue Ridge Mountains. He excelled in the time trials. And in the finale, he took on the chiseled, tree-trunk legs of Rite Aid’s Zach Bell, one of Canada’s top track cyclists.” On of the mor interesting media references I have ever incountered…

I have lots more coming down the Z-Rail so stay tuned for films, contest updates and other tantilizing tubular titalation over the next week.

Contest Closed

Track Worlds completes what I consider to be a successful track campaign. It also starts a whole chapter in the cycling year of 2006. Now I am back in Virginia, back at the monastery…it seemed to work last time right. Over the next couple days I will be riding when weather permits (there is major thunderstorms in the forecast right now…and racing my first road race this year at the tour of Shenandoah. I am looking forward to it.
The Contest is officially closed…Christoph and I will be locking ourselves deep in the monastery cloister for some meditation and deliberation on your submissions and when smoke rises from the monastery BBQ the final 5 will have been selected for the final stage.
Also I will be working on a video from world championships that will include but is not limited to footage of mini super bike riding so stay tuned.

Judges, Journeys, Jokers and Jet Lag

The contest is looking good, keep the entries coming. In my opinion we have some strong competitors. However I believe some of the favorites are yet to be claimed. The entries will officially close on the 18th of April (that’s when I am back from worlds).

Right now Favorites: (In my opinion) include the Flash, and firestorm…but contestants like James bond and the $6,000,000 man are bound to have secrets up their sleeves.

One last contest note: I am proud to announce the guest Judge for the contest. Many of you have seen him on the site before, none other than the bishop of bike, the guru of gears, direct from the Charlottesville Monastery, always a humanitarian and fraudulent veterinarian; MR…….CHRISTOPH HERBY whaaaaaaa yeah the tens of people go wild.

That’s right ladies, the superstar himself, from 2skinnypros.com. His resume includes but is not limited to:
- Most jacked cyclist on 2skinnypros.com (excluding the CAT 3 corner)
- Voted most aerodynamic at the Rite Aid Camp
- Film Star Ultraordinar (that’s right beyond Extrordinar and absolutely NOT Ordinar)

Finally, on the docket today we have a new video available for your viewing pleasure. This is a good one, an energetic film about the Commonwealth Games experience…I had so much material that it was hard to edit…so enjoy…and remember…its not over till its over.

So keep your contest entries coming…with the entries thus far I will guarantee a prize
with some commonwealth games schwag in it for the winner so now it is really worth your time to get in on the action.

The Ultimate Showdown of CYCLING destiny…CONTEST (Reader Interactive)

So a friend of mine recently sent me this funny little song called the ultimate showdown of ultimate destiny. It got me thinking, what if these superheroes/villains, settled there differences on the bike like responsible masters riders…who would win?

Well now is their chance…Allow me to introduce the opening of the Zerailleur Ultimate Showdown of CYCLING Destiny Contest. I am asking all of you readers out there (how ever many 5’s that might be) to submit your contestant (by adding a comment to this article). Please provide the ONE most significant reason you think this superhero/villain rider could win the Tour de France (Super Hero Edition). In approximately 2 – 4 Weeks (or when I get to it)…I will select a top 5 from the nominations (providing there are more than 5) and post a web poll to the readers to choose a winner. If your Super hero wins…hooray…you are the best super hero cycling coach ever…BUT you also may or may not be eligible for a prize valued in the ones of dollars (It depends on how much interest there is, I will try to put something cool together for your efforts).

Here are the Ground Rules and fine Print:

Race Details: Tour de France style race, with all available individual jerseys and time bonuses. The rider you select is racing for the Yellow. His/her strengths and weaknesses will be pitted against those of the other finalists. NOT AGAINST ORDINARY CYCLISTS, so choose carefully. (i.e. Superman would loose to a kryptonite toting weekend warrior)

Eligibility: Entrant may be any fictitious character you deem capable of riding a stock, commercially available frame size; some riders may be scaled somewhat to fit (i.e. the hulk could ride a 62cm frame). Entrants may come from be but are not limited to comic books, film, radio, literature, or any other realm of pop culture appropriate to a PG audience that you feel you can make a convincing and hopefully entertaining argument for.

Limitations:
- Your rider must not be of Theological origin (don’t want to argue religion with anyone)
- Your rider must be a pre-established character…I don’t want to find a super hero entered called “super amazing bike guy” made up by me. If I can’t find it by entering the name in google it won’t make the cut.
- Your rider must have innate NATURALLY GIFTED ability. Any potions, injections, or performance enhancing race apparel (rocket packs, strength potions etc.) will be viewed as being in violation of WADA regulations and will result in an immediate ban from the contest.
- Your rider must be submitted SOLO, i.e. Mr. Stretch would NOT compete as a member of the Fantastic 4. (maybe we will do a team contest if this goes well)
- Riders will have to ride within the rules of the UCI, no maiming, killing, melting of others person or equipment. All superhuman powers must be used to advance ones own cycling.

If your rider is selected for the final 5 you will be given an opportunity to write a brief blog describing the point in the race where he/she took it all. This will be your chance to sway other readers to vote in your characters favor. This will be edited to an appropriate blog length before I post it so no novels. This would be totally optional if your hero is selected.

Hero’s are on a first submission first dibs basis so if you’re hero or variant of your hero is taken you are out of luck. (i.e. If you want superman and Clark Kent has been claimed, better ask wonder woman what she is up to).

If you add a hero in the form of a comment I will have your email I think so I will let you know if you make the final 5. One hero per person.

Good Luck

Here is a Test Poll to see if I can actually do the real poll at the end…please try it out…I am not sure if it will work?