Update

Hello everyone. For those who heard my audio update I posted a while back, and are wondering why i did not post another one, when I said I would. That is because Blogger has discontinued that particular service. Yes, I know that is a bummer.

Today I wanted to tell you guys about a program down here that I am pretty psyched about. There is a group of athletes here in Corpus Christi call STARRS (South Texas Area Runner, Riders and Swimmers) that every year they donate bike and helmets to needy kids that would not otherwise get a chance to have a bike.STARRS


Matt

Many things have happened since last time I updated my blog. The picture here was taken about a week ago in Colorado Springs Colorado. when I went to visit my sisters, and watch the Air Force versus Notre Dame football game.

Cool Air

I am in Austin for the weekend. In order to get things in order for next season and visit some friends I have not seen or trained with in a while. I rode with some friends down to San Marcos and back. Another thing I have not done in a while is city limit sign sprints. Which we did today. This means that I had Todd "the buffalo" Gerlach as my leadout man. Since it has been a while since I have done this I did not remember where all the signs were.
On another note I have a new recipie for peach cobbler that I will have to give you guys. Ok I will just give it to you now.

1 cup of flour
1 cup of sugar
1 stick of butter
1 large can of peaches with juice

melt butter then mix in flour and sugar.
Mix all the above together, then add peaches
put in the oven at 350 degrees
bake until top get caramel brown.

when done put ice cream on it then eat. When done get up and put more in your bowl or on your plate. This is not meant to be eaten as left overs.

Hello

This weeks has been different. I have not spent as much time on the bike, since the season ended for me a week or so ago. I have however been spending more time in school. The different part about that aspect of my week is that I have been playing the role of teacher, not student. for a couple of days this week I will be or have been a substitute for a first and second grade class. Also Today I was invited to speak to a class about energy. In its various forms and how it relates to my life as an athlete. I have to say that the week has been a really cool experience.

On the cycling side of my week. I had my first ride yesterday when I rode, when I rode to the shop (The Pedal) where I work when in town. I was happy to be back on my bike since the day before I was getting the itch and beginning to miss my bike.


Till Next Time

Matt Seagrave

funny stuff

I had to post what I just saw this morning. There was a guy in my neighborhood that was walking his dog. The funny part is that the man was on his bike and the dogs leash was tied to his seatpost. So when ever the dog wanted to run somewhere else he almost knocked the man off the bike.

Matt

Slow down

Click here!

Cool video

Must See (click here)

More Belgian team pics

One more update

You are probably wondering why are there so many updates on my blog lately. The answer would be that I am finally living in a house where I have internet access. Which means that my feet are firmly on Texas soil, more specifically, I am in Corpus Christi.
I want to say I am happy to be home for a while and look forward to seeing you guys on the road either training or racing. I have plenty more stories to share with everyone.


Matt "everything here is so far apart" Seagrave

More Pics.

Trying to bridge across the gap.

Europe Pics.

race photos

This pictures are some friends on the team
Just few pictures from this year. I will add more over time

The last race.

Good Day

I finished on the Podium again today. This has been a good week. I will fill in the details a little bit later. I will say this I attacked in the first 1.5km and was gone for the rest of the race. So it was a very hard race.

Cheers

Matt

Details

Ok, well the race in Baldagem was interesting. A majority of the guys caught a ride out to the race, something that is not usually an option. Myself and a few others decided to ride out that way we got a solid hour of riding before the race. Once we arrived we went to inscription then to the change room to put on the clothes that we were going to race in. On the way to the race it began to rain pretty good. The temperature was cool so the rain made it cold. So once dressed everyone was looking for newspaper to a under the jersey wind guard. I pulled out the flash Compliance Depot shoe covers. The race started in the rain and continued to rain pretty much the whole time (cant complain this is what the weather is like here). There were some spots on the course where the puddles actually caused enough drag on the bike you felt it slow down. This course had one short and steep muur at the start and finish of ever lap along with a long 1km climb which played to my advantage. The race was 13 laps.
Now with all needed info the races played out like this. On the first lap the group split and all nine of the kingsnorth riders where in the group. Later on the second lap everything came back together. We had a rider off at all times for the first few laps. On the 6th lap I was descending down the very narrow road after the star/finish and said to myself if I want something to stick I will have to attack from about 100 meters after the long hills begins to rise. I was sitting fourth or fifth wheel, while the whole group was strung out on the right side of the road and then jumped as hard as I could and did not look back until I was at the top of the hill to see if anyone was on my wheel, because there was a sharp right then left down hill series of turns at the top and did not want to cause a pile up if someone was there and pulling through. There were two guys. One former CSC professional and a rider from the Sean Kelly Cycling Team on my wheel. We now have 6.5 laps to go and need to work to get a gap that will not be brought back after 4 laps we had over three minutes on the field. So all we had to do was stay upright on the cobbles and other slick turns on the course. Coming into the start/finish there is one last prime. I grab it and then am attacked by the other two riders and the fight is on. We are all just doing everything we can to stay with each other and then weardown each other. I come across the line 3rd. Pretty happy, since before the race I really could not wrap my head around racing that day. O yes, I forgot the lead vehicle was playing music through a loud speaker the whole race so we had that as a motivating factor during the race. I had a smile on the face a couple times because they played some old Janet Jackson and some of my favorite beach boys tunes. There were some faster beats also.
The next day I lined up for another race in a small town just outside Evergem. Just sat in and played the waiting game once we got one of our guys in the front break. I was able to pull 15th out for the day. The best part of the race for me was when I got a lead out for about 2km for a prime. I got the prime I was pretty excited. The racing here has made me have to learn to sprint and move around in such scenarios.
Today is a day off from racing, and will be going again tomorrow. This race starts about 1km from the house and comes down the street where the farm is. I have done this course earlier this season and in 22 laps there are something like 300+ turn (17 per lap) on a 5.5km course.

Matthew

Race Results

I finished on the podium yestarday. I will update again in the next day or so with all the details of how it played out.

matt

Rain Rain go away and just leave

Get this I rode in the rain again today. Yes, that is correct, rain is falling in Belgium. All joking aside, it has been raining pretty much everyday for the past almost two weeks.
I have some new things to add to this blog. My must read list. No I am not stealing this idea from Oprah. My list includes the John Grisham books "The Bretheren" and " The Last Juror". I have some other books to add to the list once I get the proper name of the authors I will post them.
Updates on the farm. We received a clothes dryer today, which comes in very handy when trying to dry thermals and jumpers, since they take so long to dry on the line. There are now about 50 baby chicks, which are really cute to watch try and navigate the tall grass. Along with more baby ducks. The baby rabbits are now pretty big and roaming in their very large pen. Also there are now only 7 guys living in the house. There were 10 for a while. I am the only American with the rest being from New Zealand. So I will probably come home with some new words in my vocabulary.
On a whole other note. Inspiration can come at odd times and sometimes from people you would never suspect. For instance the older gentleman in about his 80s riding on the canal road when the group ride came past him. As we passed he got a smile/look of determination on his face and began to hop on the back of the group, which happen to be doing about 23mph. Now, this gentleman was not on a road bike but a town bike (heavy beast of a bike) with a rather large basket on the back with stuff inside. So I think to myself, man no matter what happens, I really love riding my bike and I can do it for a very long time. While I sit here writing this I am again listening to my brother Andrew Seagrave. His music seems to touch something inside me when I listen to it. For some reason even though it is pretty slow, I can listen to it before a race and get just as pumped but with more determined mind set than if I listened to something more traditional (i.e. eye of a tiger, or rage against the machine). Probably because I know that his music is a direct product of hard work and determination.


Till Next Time
(Something that gives you good goosebumps is worth chasing)
Matthew Seagrave

Cobbles and Mud

Well yesterday we raced in Lovendegem (low-ven-dehem). This was a really good course. With the final 1km or so of each lap being solid cobbles (22 laps). There was also the rain factor, which is not such a problem since we have had this factor off and on all season. The team got a couple guys down the road and in contention within the first couple of laps. So from that point on it was my job to just catch rides across or help split the group and make it difficult for anyone to chase our guys down. The group split and I ended up bridging across to a chase group and then came across the line 16th. I tried to attack with about 1.5 km before the finish, since I knew my sprinting on cobbles was not great and that usually I can ride over the cobbles a bit better then the rest of the guys in my group. My attack got me a gap and was caught just at the line, since somehow three cars ended up on the finishing straight with about 200 meters to go and pretty much shut me down. I still don't know quite what happened, but I was happy with my ride in that I was a little more conservative in the race.
I am planning on trying to take a few days off from racing since I have not really had more than three days between races in the last 4 months. On the note of off the bike happenings the team had a party for the sponsors and friends at the farm. This was good. I ate way too much sausage and other meat with potato salad and bread. I did get a chance to meet Willie Plunkard. A gentleman who won the green jersey for the tour de France back in the seventies and his brother Eddy won it in the 80s.

Matt

sorry for the delay

Well, I am sitting here writting this entry with two things that I missed. One being my little brothers music in my ears. If you are interested go to

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=27113912

the other being the keyboard with the key configuration from home. The only problem being that I am having to get reaccustomed to it. I ended up at the computer cafe this evening because I was going to ride to the track and watch some of the New Zealand junior track riders get ready for junior worlds that starts here in a couple of days, but got about 2km from the farm and it was raining and thought, that you guys had not heard an update in a while so I diceded to stop here. So I did it for you not so I didnt get wet, but so you would not have to wait any longer for an update. Some other non cycling related news. My older sister Jill and her husban just had there second child. No you dont understand this means I am an uncle again. This is a good thing.
Ok, so you are wondering just what I have been upto in relation to cycling. I raced in Holland a couple of days ago and my final placing was not what I wanted but I was able to pick up three primes. So I am pretty happy with that. I will be racing tommorrow in a town called Deerlijk (deer lick). O yes, well the ksyrium front wheel saw its last day of action for a while. That is I broke a spoke about 17 minutes into the race in Holland, changed wheels and got back in.
Enough about racing back to other things I have seen and experienced here in Belgium. I saw a lady the other day with a fully packed down mule walking along one of the canals, this is something I would picture in the grand canyon style hike. Also the other day I got a chance to ride with a former wold champion for cyclocross. O yea, he accomplished this three times. Some of you know that when I left I was working on a mohawk. Well that has turned into a Euro-mullet. Yes, you read correctly, the work mullet was in there. In the world of food, since I have been asked that question a few times by some of you guys. The food is really good. Waffles that tastes like dougnuts. also beer, now those who know me well, know I dont drink. Since being here I have tried one or two different beers, just to say I have had Belgium beer. Kriek (cherry style beer, no wheat) Leffe (good dark beer) Augustijn ( team sponsor). The Frits (fries) here are pretty good, but I have not had many of those either.

Till next time

Matt

Racing with the big boys

I have some good news, I now am in the process of doing all the paper work to begin racing with the full fledged professionals. So in the next couple of weeks I should hopefully have some stories to tell you of racing with some of the riders and or the teams for which you see on television and in the magazines. Cross you fingers everthing worksout. I will be representing the same team I am on now just doing the bigger races available more often.

Till then

Matt

Exploring

Steve and myself went out exploring yesterday evening. Since it does not get dark here until almost 11pm, this means that we had plenty of daylight to use. We had heard of a place where the locals go swimming, so this is what we went in search of. After not looking too hard we found this small lake type body of water. Along with a zipline that was made for kids of a slightly lighter weight than myself, but don't worry I did no harm to the ride. There is a trail going around the lake so we ride it to see what all the park had to offer, there was a putt putt course. On the way into the park there was a few signs for athletics fields etc., along with a sign for a velodrome with Eddy Merckxs name on it. After a little bit of looking we found the building which housed the track. The front doors were even unlocked, so we made our way inside and had a seat and watched some smaller kids riding. I have to say for kids of about 12 they were very good bike handlers and quite quick. Next month the Junior World Championships will be held there so I am looking forward to having a look at those races. I have also been told that there will be a post Tour de France Criterium, that will include the yellow jersey and other riders from the tour in it, talking place on Monday. This should be fun. Even if the results are staged.

Till Then

Matt

Rest and sight seeing

I have taken the past few days to recover from the last few months of racing. I went into town to see a castle, but did not get in. So I walked around some more and ended up going into Sint Baafs cathedral. I have to say if any of you come to Belgium and end up in Gent. One place you have to visit is this cathedral. There are some world renowned paintings that have been around since the 1500s. The Architectures is unbelievable. There was even a man playing a harp for the visitors. After this I strolled around to find a bakery (brood and banket), since the usually have some really good food to snack on (i.e. chocolate croissants, £1 pizzas).
Now that my self imposed break is coming to an end tomorrow, I will be racing again. My legs have been feeling better over the past couple of days and should be back to feeling good.

Matt

Second Interclub (UCI) Race

So we pull up to the parking lot set aside for the team cars, of the teams that will be participating in the race. What do I see the Davitamon Lotto car parked next to the Quickstep car, which just happens to be a little way down from the Unibet team car. In all there were about 6 pro teams involved in the race. This was probably the most difficult terrain I have raced on. when we were on traditional roads they were good, but when we were on cobbles they were bone shaking. I raced over the MUUR which just happens to be included in the Tour of Flanders along with some other long rough sections of cobbles. The Muur is really steep and windy. The scene was just like on television when you see people lined on both sides of the road cheering and trying to keep the riders moving. I have to say that I was more worried about not getting caught on the wrong side of the split, but I did not have any luck on the part so I went on a solo mission on the other side of the climb to make it across to the front group. Luckly the team car came past and handed me two fresh bottles and a coke to keep me going. I only had a couple of swigs of the coke and ended up just throwing it because I was trying to chase and could not with the coke in my hand. After a little bit a few guys came across to me and we made it to the caravan just behind the frong group. With a little daredevil riding we made it to the middle of the caravan then the next few cars did not want us to pass. Now you are thinking how is that the road should have plenty of room for both the cars and riders, and I chuckle saying no the road was barely wide enough for just the car. Since the cars were blocking up and a gap was opening up between the cars they excellerated and we lost the caravan. So once we got on the next cobble section they just disapeared out of reach and our official bid for bridging across was gone. Which was not so good because I was feeling really good and just sat in the wrong place at the wrong time and missed getting a really good result.

Till next time

Matt

Still cool and raining

Hmmm. I am sure you are curious about what experiences have occurred off the bike here in Belgium. Periodically someone will get bored and want a haircut, so one of the guys will usually volunteer to cut hair. Well one guy was getting his haircut and ended up with some bald spot on the back of his head. The even funnier part was that he did not want it to be fixed and has left it for the past couple of weeks. I am not sure if I have told you this yet, but four wheelers are legal to drive on the streets here, which can look quite funny when you are accustomed to seeing them on the road. I have had a chance to make a trip or two into town to see different sights. I have to say I have never been to a place where there are so many churches and very large and artistically designed. Sint Barths Cathedral has one of the oldest and largest oil paintings surviving today that is made up of I believe 13 panels. Due to my trip getting extended I hope to see more sights in my down time.
Now to the racing. I have had some good rides lately. Yesterday everything was panning out to be a good result. This was until we came through the roundabout and I hit the ground pretty hard and slid, due to the fact that it has been raining for hours and the surface on the roundabout was slick. I got away with scrapes on my hip, knee and torso. The only real damage to the bike was the cap on my left shifter cracked and came off. I have today and tomorrow off from racing and then on Wednesday I will be racing in an interclub. This is supposed to be a brutal race with more cobbled climbs and roads. I thought having done a race called Rouge Roubaix in Louisiana I would be a little prepared. Man was I wrong. The first time I raced on cobbles my hands were tingling for about a half hour after getting done. I will give you guys an update when I get back from the race on Wednesday.

Matt

Whats new

Here goes the last couple of races. Two days ago I raced in Holland again, which was not so bad because the ride from the farm to the start line on the bike was only about and hour or so. The race was quick and windy. The race schedule says it was a criterium, well I beg to differ. Since the course was over two miles long. The next day we had another race that was optional, but I rode to the race just to see how I felt and decide if I would race or not. I rolled to the pub where you sign in and decided that I was probably not ready to that days race, but Staf Boone decided that I should have a strong coffee and see how I felt after abit. I ended up feeling pretty good in relation to the previous thirty minutes, which was probably not 100 percent. I went ahead and entered the race and had an agreement with Staf that if I started to feel under the weather I could pull out. The race was 16 lap and 8 euro primes on every lap well after a couple laps I found myself off the front and with about a minute gap. I ended up with 4 primes. I ended pu getting reeled back in by two guys Patric and Mario. Patric who rode for CSC and finishe top ten and top twenty in races like Paris Roubaix. When they caught me with the rest of the peleton I expected a counter attack so I prepared and was luck because the whole group went with them and I jumped in the middle, then they attacked on the cobble section and my scewer came loose to they are off the front and I am losing contact with the main field since I am laying on my bars and trying to adjust my front scewer. I tried to get the guys on the team to slow the field downe for one minute and I would get back on, since I was still feeling good, but they did not get my signal and rode away. I ended up 15th on the day.
Matt

Whats up?

Well; I did my first interclub two days ago. The race was 160km with cobbles sections that rattled you to the bone; there were broken wheels and flat tires all over the place. We go one man in the lead break and I was in the chase group. There was a 70+km loop with a 10km loop that we did 7.5 times to finish the race. The pace was just as fast as the kermess races, but this lasted for 4hrs. So I was pretty tired by the end. My placing was 35th, not the best but I am happy for my first interclub. I have been told that they tend to be harder than some of the pro races just because a large number of the guys are bidding for a contract or are ex-division one professionals.
Yestarday I lined up for another race, with 11 laps (rondas}. My plan was to just sit in and roll with guys but not put in my own attack and use the day as a solid training session. About 2/3 of the way through the second lap, I found myself off the front with 6 other guys. This break ened up staying away for the whole race and I crossed the line in 6th. Just did not have the snap needed to close the deal in the final 250 meters, but I think my sprint is getting better.

Matt

Late Update

Everything is going well right now, I am racing againg later today. I have had a few races in the past week. They have gone well in that I am riding stronger and more intellegently. The last race I finished 13th and finished 3rd for the bunch sprint. This was good because we got two of our riders down the road. I got nipped at the line by about half a wheel. The race before that was a hilly race in relation to Belgium. Still even with the hills all the guys here still ride in the big ring. On Sunday there is an Interclub race with some cobble climbs, should be interesting.
Sorry for a short update, but I need to get ready for the race.

Matt

Evergem

well I raced yestarday in Evergem. The race was not real long, but still a good race. We; the team had been told that one of the riders needed to win. So this we were able to do. The course was really windy, and only had one corner you could not pedal through. The guy who on the team who ended up winning did so in a sprint off the front a little bit. I was able to pick up a prime (intermediant sprint for money} wich helped to aid in the food buying process for this week. I was very pleased that the whole team worked together to pull a break back pretty quickly whe Staf Boone gave the order. I ended up 24th on the day wich would have been ok, but i was much further up when i was nudged off the road and on the sidewalk so i sprinted down the sidewalk until i found an opening and jumped back in just before the barriers started and i would not have been able to get back on the road. Depending on the weather we may race tomorrow or not until thursday. We were supposed to race in France on thursday in a pretty large Criterium, but the race director backed out of giving us start money and taking care of expenses, which he had orgionally promised the team. I had a chance to go on a new ride today out to a town called Brugge with a few guys on the team.
Other than racing, everythingis good the farm is now full with 8 riders. I have had a chance to see some of the historical Cathedrals here; which are really ornate in design.

Matt

First Flat

I raced in Ter Hand yesterday and got a pinch flat (hit a hole in a corner @ about 30 mph) with about 5 laps (18 in the race) to go. This would not have been so bad, but I was in a break wich would have guaranteed me a top top finish at least. No worries, there are many more races to come seeing as we race just about every other day.

Matt

Wondelgem

Races yestarday, in Wondelgem. About 1km from the house. The course was 5.4km with 17 turns. The race had a hand full of ex pros, the FDJ development team, Marco Polo cycling team amongst others. So the race was fast. When it was all said and done the top speed was 48mph. We started with 100+ riders and finished with about 40. the course had pretty good roads. I race again Sunday, so the number of races has picked up quite a bit. There is a race on the schedule for the 25th of May in France. This is a pretty big Criterium, so it is a good place to be seen, also a race in June that has a prime on ever single lap. So I am looking forward to what is to come.

Matt

Hello,

Well I had this week of from racing because the only people who are allowed in the races this past week are Belgium nationals. I will race again tomorrow; wed, then sat. So far things are going good still. we finally got our heater and hot water back today, it was off for the past 6-7 days. not so bad, since the shower is in the kitchen {keuken}. So when someone is cooking this helps a little bit. Also found some hair clippers left over from last year, so i can keep looking clean cut. I am really liking the fact that the bikes have right of way over cars and there are real bike lanes everywhere ane the bikes have there own traffic lights also. Cars will literally stop at a corner to let you go by before they turn and will back away from the exit of a parking lot etc. when you are coming down the street so you have enough room before they enter the street. So there is a much different feel to things here. Emily no i have not had time to go to the museums but plan to on my next complete day off. There is also chocolate everywhere, and the good stuff. Also the other day a friend and myself found a baker that gives us bread baked that day that did not sell, so we get fresh baked bread daily for free. That goes well with the farm fresh eggs every morning.

Yesterday was another race essentially this one was like the Joe Martin Crit, with the big hill and everthing, along with the 40mph {60kmph} speeds just to stay with the race, there were a couple of times where we tried to get away and one of the guys was pulling at those speeds and then shook his elbow to singal for me to pull through, I first smiled then gritted my teeth and began to move through, luckly the next guy pulled though shortly after. Divitamon Lotto had one of there scouts out watching the race, so that is very exciting to know these guys are showing up for the races already. I race again tomorrow, and this race goes past the farm where I am living.


till next time
Matt

Dronger II

The detqils for the race. The course was about 10km from the "farm", so the ride to the race was not so bad. Other than the fact that it was raining. We found the pub where registration (inscription) takes place. For this race the change room a little different, in that it was a boat hanger. Once I got dressed and ready for the race the rain stopped but the thermometer did not get higher. Once the race started everything was good. After about three laps there was a break with two guys that have won 12 of the races so far this season. So I jumped and got in, after about 7 laps or so in the break we gained such a lead the main field was pulled from the race, and our break was left to duke it out for the win. When everything was sqid and done I came across the line 9th. So I am happy with how things are going so far.

Dronger

Last night we raced in Dronger. I was able to get into the winning break in the first three laps of twenty. I was able to pull out 9th, so my first top ten here in Belgium. Also the first cold and wet race.

Matt

more racing

well I had another race on sunday and was able to finish 17th so that was not so bad, my legs are coming around, the race was in Merelbaker (sp). the race was pretty much single file the whole time. I ended up in A two man break with some lithuanian continental team rider. Then last night again we raced? I finished one or two spots out of the money, just to keep my spot in the line a few times I had to ride at 36mph. Just missed the winning break, but still had a good ride and getting accustomed to the racing here

Holland

holland race

holland race

first race

well I had my first race in europe and it went pretty well, how does it compare to races in the state? Well it was 80km, 50 laps, we averaged 31mph. It had a little sting in it since I had not toed the line in about a month. I almost pulled out a top 10 but let q guy push off the road with 3 laps to go. That ok, just the first race, and I had been dive bombing under many riders to move up and I think one guy just did not feel cofortable with me do this at such speed, since we did not slow down for the corners.
there were some pictures taken and i will try and fin them for the blog

Matt "I am learning the metric system" seagrave

New Rig

countdown

Well, it is just about that time, for me to get on the plane and make my way to Europe, more speciifcally Ghent, Belgium. For those who read this blog and live in Corpus Christi, at the wednesday ride the Channel 3 news will be there to film parts of the ride so the more people who show up the better for the cycling community.
On another note I will post up pictures of the new rig and its saddle in the next few days. The saddle will be something you will want to see. This is because there is a gentleman who lives in Corpus that makes custom carbon saddles.

Till then

Matt Seagrave

Funny Stuff

You thought getting hit with a regular sized rubber band hurt!!


Seagrave

Whats been going on

Whats up? Well I came across a bit of information. If you were looking for Nathans race reports just click on these words.
Well I have some news to share with everyone. Now the team riders have been informed. At this time it appears as though Compliance Depot will have three of its riders racing in Europe for part of this season. Ryan who is already there with the U23 National Team, Shannon with the Womens National Team and myself with a Belgium based team. I will be leaving in a few weeks to go try my hand at Euro racing and hopefully come back stronger and ready for Elite Nationals on the road. I will keep everyone upto date via my blog here. So at this point I would like to Thank everyone that has backed the team upto this point. I have greatly enjoyed racing with everyone and look forward to racing whith everyone again once I return home.

Matt

Pace Bend

I apologize, I currently done have a laptop so I really only get a chance to update my blog once I make it back home, where I am now.
Well, we did. The team put together a good race and took the "W" on the Texas turf. After multiple attemps by our riders along with other teams to make the race come down to a solo victory. The race ended in a sprint. So that means one of our sprinters got a chance to shine and cross the line with his hands in the air. I have to say this was only possible because everyone worked together and made the other teams have to work.


Segrave

First Trip

You will be able to read all about the actual races so I will only breifly touch upon that aspect of our trip and tell you about the other situations we got ourselves into during the past week or so of being on the road.
Everything started out in New Braunfels. Everything went well during the TT. The road race did not go as well, this is because I ended up doing more work during the race, due to the fact that there was a little mix up on what I was supposed to do. The Criterium went a bit better and the team was able to pull a top ten finish for the day. On the Girls side, they were able to pull a 1, 2 finish in GC. After all the racing was over Shannon, Stephanie, Shane, Nate and myself climbed into the van and began to drive towards Arizona. This is when all the interesting stories begin and interesting photos from the Arizona part of the trip will also be appearing on the other blogs from the team. I will add the Arizona parts tonight when I get back from work.

Matt "got to stop on the freeway" Seagrave

Pics on Sock Guy

Check this out and this this is from Rouge Roubaix 2005

Something New

someyhing different

IT'S A GIRL!

That's right. There I have a new addition. My parents are even cool about everything, they said we could share a room. So I am pretty excited I get to see her every morning when I wake up. Her name is Lapierre for now, until I come up with something a little more permanent.

Police Escort

Yes, I did get a police escort today, no I did not get to wear any fancy matching bracelets with the nifty chain that connect them. I was out doing a ride today and a police officer rolled up on me. I looked over and recognized the face as a gentleman who has come into the shop where I work. Since it was raining the whole 6hrs that I was on the bike. He ended up being my follow car and then proceeded to block all the intersections so that cars would have to stop and I did not. This did not last the whole ride so while I was in his patrol area, but was nice while it lasted. The only thing that could have made this better would to have been able to get some motor pacing off the squad car.
On another note I would like to welcome our new rider tracks Akerhielm.


Matt "I got the law on my side" Seagrave

feeling good

I have finally made a full recovery from the illness I caught at training camp. We (the team) are about two weeks away from our first team race and about three weeks away from out first race out of Texas. For those racing this weekend I say good luck.

Update

He might not have told you guys, but Troy is in the top 3 for both division I and II rankings for TXBRA Cyclocross Cup Points.

State Cross Race

My boy Troy was second at the State Cross Race yestarday. So Good on ya.

update kinda late

Sorry for the fact that my update is kinda late. Well, you see I got back from camp and got back into the swing of things and something started to make me feel not so well. So ever since then I have pretty much just been in bed and on the couch.
Other than that the week prior to this one was pretty good getting all the new and some of the old riders together to see how things are possibly going to be. I have to say that I have a feeling that there will be more togetherness this year. All the riders seem to have a common goal in mind. I will goin into various other stories later. Just wanted to stop in and say that I am still here.

Matt

Training Camp

I just arrived home from training camp. i will update the blog here tonight and tomorrow. Trust me there are some stories that you will not want to miss.

Matt "how am I getting home" Seagrave