RIDE......RACE...AND..RACE AGAIN

So here it is my new ride the Scott CR1 and I gotta tell ya ....I love it, it is a very smooth riding bike and stiff on the climbs which means it does not feel like you are riding a piece of 1" PVC pipe.
Well training continues as does racing..I raced in the Rockhill Omnium this past weekend . It was a 45 mile road race the route was nice.... but the road was terrible pot holes and gravel everywhere. I managed to bridge 1minute 20second gap on the peloton in a 3 man breakaway that I felt very comfortable with ...I really thought we could widen the gap and bring it home but all of a sudden POW!! I flatted leaving me standing on the side of the road having words with my tire as the break moved on and the peloton caught up, but that's racing and it's time to get back to training for the next one. So yesterday my teammates Matt, Ronnie Dean and myself decided to join one of the group rides a 31 miler through the Catawba County country side, around 70 degree's or so, everything was going good at first were staying together 24/25 avg then the hills came and the group broke up and I blew up did not take in enough water... the heat had zapped me my left calve and quad started to cramp...needless to say probably the worst ride I have had this season. But anyway the team is headed to Spartanburg this Sunday for a 50 mile road race. I hope my performance is pays off this time. Later!!

Life.......In the blink of an eye!!!

Whew!!! Where has the time gone? It seems like I was just breaking the news about my child day or two ago, but as you can see above he's only about 4 weeks away, it's been an awesome experience the doctors visits and the ultrasounds watching him grow it has been truly amazing....I just can't wait to hold him. Let's see what else has happened my bro Rob ditched me....again......I 'm supposedly an elitist or something.....my record for friends is pretty bad I guess. Anyway I joined the MotoVelo cycling team a great group of guy's and sweet bike shop. Hopefully I will be racing this Sunday in Rock Hill South Carolina in a 40 mile road race. I really want to make something of this....I think I have the ability but convincing yourself is the hardest part. I'll continue to train my butt off to achieve my goals. Being a good husband and father comes first and making a good showing as a cyclist second. Oh yeah riding a new steed...we'll talk about that next time! Later.....gotta train!

Hey Rob , that's for the "TRI Geek " Comment

LIFE, BABIES AND BIKES

Life: The period during which someone or something exists. Would it not be great if it were that simple, fill it with all the joy's and leave out all of the complexities. Well my life in general is going great there have been a couple small set backs in the past day or so....but hopefully they will work themselves out without having to use too much time or energy.

Anyway....Sullivan is doing great I got to go back this past Thursday to hear his tiny heart 151bpms holding strong. I am just ready for the little rascal to get here. He is where my mind is at these days, I rush home daily just to rub my wife's belly in hopes of feeling him kick or pedal. And I really don't like getting to far from home... It's one of those feelings I have been waiting for for a long time. If that didn't get you teary eyed then ur not human!!

Bikes.... Well that's the butte up above finished except for some Black Carbon Fiber bottle cages and a tune up. Great bike porn!!! I am not sure how long I will have it so drool now!! Well training is coming along, Rob and I did 45min on the trainer Saturday while rocking out, 15 miler on Sunday in the 38 degree "Rainy" weather and I did another 15 miler yesterday. Rob and i have picked out some rides/ races for our 08 calendar which will be goals for the year to include Rob does not know yet "The Assault on Mt. Mitchell" and "Bridge to Bridge Incredible Challenge" so we have some pretty big events coming up. Training will differ this year, last year I had two training partners....one of whom bailed on me after Brett's Ride so I guess it will be just me and Rob this season, which is better anyway. If your training partner is not dedicated or goal oriented then you are setting yourself up for disaster trust me i know.

It's a BOY

Wow, what a year... But the year with the Best ending of all time. On January 31st at 11:43 I got to look at my son up close for the first time Sullivan Norfleet Hogan what a moment, it was at that moment i felt like I was on top of the world. It's funny how life works you spend half of your life searching for the real reason you are here. But it was at this particular moment while I holding my wife's hand that I realized that these two beautiful people, my family, friends (yeah Rob this means you and Nancy) are the reasons for living, not to be a millionaire or famous but to simply make a difference in each of their lives. I guess I have my wife & son to thank for that, so thanks Missy and Sully. OK enough of the tear jerkers. This past year was a constant roller coaster for me, I achieved some major goals and did not quite finish others, I worried constantly about my job , what people thought of me about being accepted and all the baggage. This year all of this is going to change. As I said before i have a wonderful wife a child on the way a supportive family and a couple of great friends and a new set of wheels for my bike, what more could you ask for.... that's a perfect life time to appreciate it for what it is !! So that's basically my New Year's Resolution or better yet evolution is to be Healthy, Wonderful father and friend and Hero to my wife and child.

Yesterday was another great day Rob and I did a 2o some miler in the high wind and 40 degree temperatures it was great to be on the bike again and we also got to share a brew in the "Man Cave" felt like old times again. Oh yeah thanks for the beers and company on New Years Rob. Hopefully we will be ready to conquer some big Cycling events this year and keep the "Man Cave" busy.

The Sorry Decline of Man kind

Well it would be nice for this to be a blog about my training but did not train on Tuesday instead I attented a "CHRISTMAS" Parade with my family expecting to get into the Holiday Spirit. This seems almost impossible to do with all of the rediculous name changing paraphrasing going on in order to take the meaning out of the Holiday , as not to offend certain groups. So as I am at this parade with my 3 year old niece on my shoulders waving and cheering her little eye's a glow at all of the beautiful floats some her favorite cartoon characters and others that tell the story of the real meaning of Christmas and I hear crude comments made that this should not be allowed and that should not be allowed because that is not my belief, so I turn too them and say simply leave go home and beat yourself with a rubber hose if that will make you happy . Then I see a small group of Civil War Reenactors marching through, some of them I recognize and of course they are carrying different flags and one of them happens to be the "Confederate Battle Flag" or to some the symbol of hate but still very much part of history all though I don't always agree with the way it is used sometimes. So of course this causes a huge commotion in the crowd groups are yelling at these people cussing them all in front of thousands of small children trying to incite a riot at a Christmas Parade, sounds like hatred as well or hypocrisy. I guess what I am trying to say is that these groups who hate the word Christmas or these groups who hate the history or heritage of others or just HYPOCRITES in general keep your thoughts, ideas and ridiculous bashing to yourselves. If not for me, at least for the children who still deserve the right to believe in something. I for one along with my family will be celebrating CHRISTMAS just as always, So Merry Christmas and God Bless you all!!

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE

Welcome to my Blog or series of misadventures and My Quest to become a Great Father and a Superb Cyclist . So you ask why is it A Wonderful Life well here we go. My beautiful wife of five years is due to give birth to our fist child in May, I think I have a pretty good future in the Cycling world (Rob if U disagree let me know). I justed started a new part -time job working in the best Athletic Club there is working with some really great people to include my best friend Rob who is also my cycling mentor and ride partner. Oh yeah and it's Christmas time in the Mountains and foothills of Nc home to some of the toughest rides and most beautiful scenery on the planet. so there it is in a nutshell family, friends, a stable job, and an awesome hobby.