A Soaked Venture Into 2014

What a start to 2014. Excuse me, what a WET start to 2014. Last weekend, I left the sunny skies of Fresno and followed the dark, disquieted clouds to race the Cherry Pie Criterium in Napa. Good thing my dad and I made an investment in storm venture water proof jackets, or we might have been sopping from the long walk to sign in. I was the lone ranger, standing out in sparkling blue. My plan was to ride, follow the right wheels, and try not to get worked over. It took me a few laps to really get comfortable at taking the water-logged corners at speed. The race was hard, and fast. Many getting worked over in the first twenty minutes. I stayed unruffled and let the race sort itself out. I ended up getting in a group of ten behind the break of two off the front, after a grueling forty minutes. The wind was punishing, and continuously strong, making any advance a struggle. I ended up seventh place behind an array of Mikes Bikes and Hagens Berman. I ended up placing seventh. I was content with my result, and I was happy to be representing my team colors. I am looking forward to the many races to come, wet, or dry, I can not wait for the upcoming weekends.

I Ride For Me

For as long as I can remember, I have always loved riding my bike. I can remember watching the 2005 Tour de France, the grimaces on Armstrong's and Basso's faces inspiring me to race myself around the block until my mom forced me in the house. Cycling is a huge part of my life. As I have grown with it, it has become an emotional outing for me, it is what I would describe as my "Happy Place". If I have a rough day, or wake up in a bad mood, I can jump on my bike and have that feeling completely disappear. I can ride, with no destination, I can just ride, with a clear mind, and focus on the things that matter. It is like entering my own world, where I can truly think, and explore my own mind. No other sport has done this for me, cycling is my therapy. I ride because I LOVE to ride, no one pressuring me, I ride for me. This sport has truly blessed me, and molded me into the person I am today.

To A Year Of New Experience & Adventure

The off season flew by way too fast. It felt as if just yesterday I was grinding gears (& some skin) in Europe. It feels like I have not done enough group rides, although my list of attendance to the Saturday Group ride is off the charts. This off-season has treated me well, and so has the winter weather in Fresno, never unbearably cold, thank the Lord. I got to spend time with good people, while riding, it was really the best of both worlds. It made me forget about racing, and just enjoy riding my bike. 

A few highlights from 2013 before I start to talk about 2014:

Winning the Madison event at Track Nationals with Matt Valencia, my best friend, and ex-teammate.

My first win in Europe, as a team we went 1st, 2nd, & 4th that day. 

We won the Team Time Trial at the West Vlaanderen Tour.

A bittersweet moment, my last race with my Specialized teammates.

A lowlight of the year, this is me crashing in the 3rd Stage of the West Vlaanderen Tour.

2014 will be a new year for me. For those who do not know, this year I changed teams from Specialized to Hot Tubes. Although leaving was bittersweet, I can not stress how excited I am for the new experiences I will partake in this year with Hot Tubes. I also can't wait to race with my good friends on my new team. The opportunities seem endless on this team, and I am so excited to be apart of it. As much as I loved this off-season, I can not wait to race my bike. I am ready for crunch time, I am ready for the pressures and stresses this year will present to me.

In 2014, I will be apart of multiple International Races. With Hot Tubes, as a team, we will be traveling to race the infamous race "Axl", and also in late summer we will race in Tour of Ireland. On top of the International Races I will also be doing more east coast races, as Hot Tubes is based out of Boston. It will be fun to race with different people on the other side of the continent. Another thank you going out to Hot Tubes, thank you for the experiences and opportunities to come.

Also, a HUGE shoutout to Illest (AKA Tselli) and Fatlace for their generosity by sending me a Tselli cycling kit. You guys are awesome, the kits looks and feels great.

Oh and not to mention something totally utterly cool, and rad; here are some pics of Jove (one of my group ride friends) after he hit a deer descending down to Pine Flat Lake.

Happy Racing Everyone, and Happy New Year!

Jack Maddux

Off-season Escapades

Last weekend, my friends and I took the road less traveled. We did a ride, many refer to as legendary, and not just legendary because it was Curtis Eastin's fiftieth birthday, legendary because we trekked across a few mountains, and logged some solid miles into our chamois'. The scenery so beautiful, the six hours felt more like a normal two hour ride. It is probably some of the most climbing I will ever do my whole off-season, and probably the most mileage also, 95 miles, 11,000 feet of climbing. [Don't hate me too much Felicia ;-)]

I felt as if I was in the Tour de France, seeing the road extend for miles, the switch backs, the snow-capped mountains, and the rocks assorted along the mountain as if they were placed by the gods. I am sure if there were a patch of water along the climb, crazy-man Jove would have jumped his bike into it, and still caught us all on the ascent of Black Rock. The ride was nonetheless special, and exhilarating, and something I would do again in a heartbeat. These are the joys of living in the central valley, I never even knew there was a ride of this caliber in my backyard. The best part of it though, was spending the day with good company. What's the plan next weekend fellas, the whole Climb to Kaiser route?

Skeletore Joey tearin' legs off on the dirt section of the climb.

Trying to maintain my "cool" while climbing.

Top of the dirt section, beautiful views from the top.  

Section of the dirt climb near the crest, reminds me of Strade Bianche.

Majestic views near the top, near Wishon Reservoir.

Just near the top, starting to get a change of scenery, venturing out beyond the brown scenery in Fresno.

Just near the start of the climb, awesome road, with awesome company.

Taking pictures with the birthday man himself! Happy Birthday Old Man!

My "manager" and good friend George "Armstrong" Ciordas.

Jack Maddux

Getting Bored With My Off-Season

I can't help but become bored with my off-season. We all try and spice it up, by getting our arses kicked out on a cyclo-cross course. Just thinking about next season just makes me want the racing to start up again even more. But for now, all I can do is enjoy the long base miles, and enjoy the conversations of the slow group rides. Although the riding becomes boring, it only makes me inspired, knowing this benefits me for the 2014 season. So when you start to become bored with your off-season, just remember what it benefits.



Jack Maddux