Chocolate, waffles and ‘cross (’07) – Discount airfare

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By Brandon DwightBoulder Cycle Sport

All the heavy hitters were out for the kid’s race in Ohio.

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A couple weeks ago I ventured to Ohio for the UCI double-header weekend.I hadn’t planned to attend these races, but three days prior an email fromUnited Airlines offered me affordable flights to fabulous destinationssuch as, the Caribbean, Europe, South America and Cincinnati.

With no major events going on in Colorado, I thought to myself ”Whynot?” and booked the flight. I quickly got the lowdown from promoters,Mitch Graham of BioWheels and Doug Dobrozsl of Queen City Wheels and thetrip was set.

After arriving in Cincinnati late Friday night – well, actually earlySaturday morning – I checked into my hotel and got a dose of some desperatelyneeded shut-eye. After dragging my sorry butt out of bed in the morning,I sourced some breakfast at the local super market, grabbed my Mapquest.comdirections and made my way to the race.

Now, that’s one way to get over the barriers.

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As I approached Sunset Park in Middletown, Ohio, my quest for a strongcup of pre-race coffee began. I zig-zagged my way through Middletown’ssuburban streets for nearly 20 minutes and could not find a coffee shopanywhere.

Being an independent business owner myself, I try to support small,local operations as often as I can, but after passing nothing more thana gas station, I would have been very happy to see Starbuck’s big greenletters plastered to the side of some wanna-be cool building.

I threw in the towel and went back to the gas station I had passed earlier.As I looked bleary-eyed at the gas station’s coffee machine I cringed andthought, “Yuck, but it’s better than nothing.” and poured myself a largecup. After paying my eighty-nine cents, I walked out of the store and thenit hit me. The title sponsor of today’s race was a business called JavaJohnny’s. Java means coffee, right?

Is Java Johnny’s a coffee shop or a brand of coffee? I didn’t know,but as I pulled out of the gas station, I looked to the strip mall to myimmediate left and there it was: Java Johnny’s Coffee Shop. Jackpot. Imade a quick illegal U-turn into the parking lot and excitedly walked intoJava Johnny’s. I handed the barista my cup of weak, gas station coffeeand asked politely, “Would you please throw this away? And, I’ll take alarge coffee to go, please.”

Barry Wicks was already halfway through his post-race massage as I crossed the finish line.

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The racing in Ohio was incredible. The courses were on smooth, grassyparks, which featured plenty of elevation changes, tricky off-camber turnsand more than enough short, punchy, leg burning climbs. Having raced allover the country and a bit in Belgium, these courses were up to par withsome of the best I have raced.

Everything was very well organized and the promoters did their bestto make sure everyone had a great time. They even brought in local internetcelebrity, John Gatch of TwoJohns Podcast, to announce both races. The only bad part of the weekendwas watching Kona’s Barry Wicks easily, and I mean easily, ride away fromme at both races. I guess that’s why he gets the big bucks.

In other news, it turns out fellow Boulder bike shop owner, Peter Chisholmof Vecchio’s is anavid fan of the Cleveland Indians. Since I am a Red Sox fan I offered upa friendly wager. The loser of the bet has to wear the winner’s bike shopt-shirt to work for an entire day and get his picture posted on a futureChocolate, Waffles and ‘Cross article. Peter, see ya soon with that t-shirt!Go Sox!

Up next are races one and two in the Crank Brothers Gran Prix of Cyclocrossin Louisville (pronounced Lou Vull), Kentucky. I’ve never been to Kentuckyfor anything, let alone to ride my bike around in circles, so it shouldbe a good time.

Thanks for reading.

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