fast brad

I’m a writer! Really. Well, sort of…

A short story I wrote for Bicycling was just published in their Jan/Feb issue. Now, to be clear, I don’t really think I’m any kind of journalist, but it is a pretty good feeling to see your name on a byline for the first time.

For many of my friends it isn’t a big deal—they’re on the creative end of “the business”, journalists, writers, authors, and editors, publishing stories, magazines and writing books. My editor on this story is one of the most talented writers I know and I wouldn’t dare to suggest—or believe—that my name belongs among the pages with his, but it’s a start. Hopefully I’ll be able write another story some time.

If you happen to see a copy of the Jan/Feb issue, check it out—on page 54. My story accompanies six pages of fantastic race photos by Charlie Samuels.

The PA State Championships were last week followed by the final race in the PACX series. And today concluded the last weekend of the local cross season with Phillipsburg Riverfront Cyclocross. While everyone else raced P-burg, I stayed home to get caught up on my growing list of things to do. I am fried. It’s been a long year full of ups and downs. I didn’t really accomplish any of my goals, but I did have some memorable races.

Now it’s time to regroup, set a course for next year, and enjoy some fun rides between now and then. I’ll also be spending time on a project that’s been brewing for the past few weeks—embrocation. Yes, that sticky, gooey, slimy, oily, waxy, smelly, hot stuff cyclists put on their legs. I’ve been cycling most of my life, but only started using embro a couple years ago. Now I look for excuses to use it.

The thing with embro is that it never seems to perform exactly the same, some days burning from the moment you put it on—other days waiting ’til the post ride shower to light up your legs. So, as I pondered the possible reasons for this, I began to develop theories why, which in turn got me thinking I could make my own.

As it turns out I can. I am in fact making my own embrocation. Some of my friends are already testing it and I’ve been getting some really good feedback. Right now I’m working on the performance issue, trying to get the burn started earlier and tone down the shower firestorm. I’m also developing some complimentary products designed to enhance the “embro” experience—so far with good results. There are four different products in the pipe and three of them are close to ready.

Watch for them in the coming month.