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.

do what BIG PAPA tells you

What is in a nick name…is there any truth to it…as a new team member the team is, inevitably, looking to “label” the new guy. I have cycled through a few, and as with every men’s team I have been on, the names have gone progressively south. First I was the Canadian Cannon…one that I was hoping might stick…and it might have if it wasn’t for some meddling cycling news report that referenced certain softwood lumber like features of my anatomy, giving me the name TRUNK (get your mind out of gutter, its trunk as in tree trunk legs…not tripod) but now I have been deemed “Big Papa” which according to goggle puts me in the same category as this guy.

As a cyclist, this is not comfortable company…unless he could pull of a 13th on GC at Joe Martin, with teammate help. (there, there is your race update) which I doubt. This has led me to believe that big papa has very a very limited coolness factor for a white boy cyclist from northern canuckistan. Therefore I must shake the scourge upon my character lest I be forever deemed the “big papa”. A name suitable only for the questionable movie industry, and over sized novelty pickles (see Photo).

Huh…well I guess that is something I am already involved in (see videos above). I mean those are defiantly movies, and are certainly questionable at best. Maybe all they lack is proper promo. Well maybe this next film will do better, check out the two pieces of promotional material for my next ridiculous submission to the world of weblopidia. Click the poster to see the exclusive preview.

“…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 MOST ANTICIPATED SHORT DOCUMENTARY TYPE MONASTIC CYCLING FILM OF THE YEAR

Check out the NEW VIDEO….wednesday, WEdnEsday WEDNESDAY

Ha ha..the people here in the plesantville that is the Commonwealth Games Village are kind enough to provide us with high speeeeeeeed interweb free of charge…and I, the ever concious blogtastic master of my own domain name have passed the beauty of it all on to you. The Charlletsville Documentary has recived excellent reviews with blog goers saying it is “nearly the best short documentary type film under 3 min set to monastic chanting they have seen all year.” and “Christoph Herby is the best cyclist in a monastic roll in 2006.” “he delivers a confusing and moving performance that leaves you laughing on your side and wondering what date it actually is.”

If you see only one short documentry type monastic film all afternoon make it this one….

Reviews may not be actual quotes, infact reviews are likley entirly made up…but the fact that I went to the trouble should make you want to see it even more…

Quick and Dirty Briefs…

SO I am sitting the Richmond Airport, using the free internet and preparing for my 36 hour trek across the globe for the world cup and commonwealth games. The last few weeks have been and interesting and exciting time for me…I met up with my team at a mini camp in Virginia. After a week at the monastery (video coming soon) with Christoph Herby (www.2skinnypros.com) , I spent the remainder of this last week setting up, training on, and tweaking my new team bikes… A Merlin and a Quintana Roo TT frame(Pictures also coming soon). It has been like Christmas, we even had the snow. As I set off I am feeling fantastically optimistic. The training has been great, and the idle time I have had here in the airport has really let me reflect and revel in the situation I find myself in at the moment in life in general. Maybe I am just elated at the fact that the wireless internet here in the airport is free…correct me if I am wrong but that just doesn’t happen in the real world does it? Good on the people of Richmond for providing something of convenience for no charge. It makes up for all the temperamental K-9’s that have nipped at my heels here…the rides have been beautiful…you just have to enjoy them at high speed in order to outrun the obviously athletic dogs who clearly make regular meals of local cyclists…they seemed to pursue me with extra vigor…I suppose they don’t see beefy track cyclist, all you can eat, meal on wheels too often. When Christoph and I where riding together it must have been like making a choice between celery and steak (or modified soy protein vegan burgers for you class 7 vegan cyclist out there, although I think Christoph does still cast a shadow??)
That’s all I have for now…but here are a few of the things here in Virginia that have put me in such a good mood. All the below come highly recommended…

Hedwig and the Angry Inch – Fantastic, Google It to find out more
Moxy Fruvous – Cunuckazation at its best
Chinese desserts and Cycling Trivia

Watch for more visually enticing hot and cold media coming soon….