Hot and a cold,

As I was getting off the plane here in Las Vegas for Interbike, I though: "Hmmm, am I getting a scratchy throat?" Sure enough over the next 12 hours the truth be known. Yes, whether it was a post-exercise-induced ailment, or just a regular cold, or a reaction to the forced air on the airplane I did come down with a cold. Damn.

The good news is that the worst part was Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning....now by Friday I'm feeling a great bit better, and this trip was not a time for feeling down on one's self. (the Debate just finished and I'm writing this at the World's Largest Super 8 Motel, pretty cool huh?)

I won't post a bunch of photos here, you'll have to go to www.fixedgeargallery.com to see some of the (eventually) 500+ photos from Interbike.

Last evening there were two major events:
1.The Finals of the US Criterium Series in the parking lot behind Mandalay Bay. Ten thousand people screaming...local Michigan man Mark Hekman from Grand Rapids at or near the front throughout the 60 lap race including taking a $500 Prime with about 8 laps to go. Nothing like a 6'5" red-bearded viking-lookalike to put some fear in the peleton.
2. Next up was an Alley Cat sponsored by Mash. 5 miles straight down Las Vegas Boulevard with a finish at Mandalay Bay. No brakes allowed, no brains a requirement. Sorry if I'm coming along a bit strong about it, but putting people's lives in danger for a winner-take-all $1,000.00 prize is, well, irresponsible. Want to force municipalities to outlaw alley cats? Here's the best way. Gallery advertiser, Rich Craig from ProWheelBuilder competed and finished 10th (or so, he thought) by taking a little traveled industrial drive that added a mile or so, but allowed this Cat 2 road racer to put the hammer down on a 53x16. What Rich didn't count on was having to ride right through a casino because there was a Boulevard checkpoint for which he missed the sidestreet (local knowledge is always a bonus in any alleycat.)

a shot from the women's race..........


and the last 2 laps of the men's crit filmed off the big screen.....