Well, Xmas has come and gone. This Xmas was pretty cool. All I asked for was a kitten. Had to be very specific though. Solid grey with male kitty parts. I would have been happy with just a kitten but somehow I still got gifts from people. I named my kitten Elwood. No reason for that name. Just like it.

Last time I posted I had one race to do down in South Jersey. That race was the most fun I've had on a bike in a long time. Imagine how much more fun it would have been if I'd done better than 3rd place. I won't get into the details only to say 1st place was easily within my grasp but I didn't have the sack to go get it. 12 seconds. Great day of racing though. All day long was totally entertaining. Can't wait 'till next year.

I have a couple days left in the year to add to my total but as it stands today, December 27th, I have 2001.5 miles on my road steed and 1375 miles on my 'cross/commuter rig. Last year those numbers were 1005 and 1350 respectively. Obviously the road miles are the big difference. I want to at least do the same in '05, maybe more. My plan right now is to do some Mtb racing in the spring and summer to sharpen my fitness and get me in a race frame of mind for 'cross next fall. The schedule is already up for 'cross. Looks pretty similar to this years sched. Nationals are in Boston so I'd like to at least spectate. If I tried to do a race at Nats I'd be up against a SUPER hard age-group. 35-39. The USGP 'Cross series won't be hitting South Jersey again this year. That race in Bridgeton was unbelievably cool. The USGP will be out in NoCal for a weekend in mid-Nov which would be fun. My friends Josh & Beth are living out there. Maybe wrap a trip out there to see them up with a weekend of NoCal 'cross. I love Cali.

I just set both of my bikes up with 10speed Dura-Ace drivetrains. Amazing the difference. I thought Ultegra was nice. Wow! DA is way smoother plus it's a bit lighter and an extra gear to boot. Nice stuff.

I still don't know what we're doing for NYE. The last couple years we just stayed in and played Monopoly and watched the Three Stooges all night. That doesn't sound like a terrible idea for this year again. We'll see.

I need to find a winter athletic endevour that gets me excited. I plan to ride when the weather permits. Hopefully the winter won't be as brutal as last year. As long as the roads stay clear and it doesn't get too cold I think I'll be alright. Lately the big problem hasn't acually been the temperature but the wind. The past few days I've had a chance to ride have been very windy also. 20-30mph winds aren't all that much fun even if it's 80 degrees outside not to mention 30.

Thats it for now. Updates will come a little quicker in the winter. Out. dk