Happy Friday!

As I look outside to the dark rain clouds, lightning and stiff headwinds, I lament that I will be spending a few hours on the trainer this morning.  But also I'm thinking of the awesome cycling action taking place all over the world. 

You've got the Giro de Italia heading into its 3rd week.  The Amgen Tour of California has been interesting as well, with Peter Sagan dominating the first 4 stages and Captain America Dave Zabriskie taking the 100 degree TT in Bakersfield.  I love California, but Bakersfield has to be one of my least favorite places.  I can't imagine the difficulty of a 28 km TT in 100 degree heat amid the mixed scent of dairies and oil rigs.  Hopefully with things turning uphill the GC favorites will start to shine.  Fan fav Chris Horner lost some time in the TT but last year DZ lost 15 minutes on the climb to Mt. Baldy, so the race is far from over.

There's lots in store this weekend locally as well.  While my wife will be taking in her first marathon, there's crit racing in dowtown Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake Century and the best bike shop around, The Bike Shoppe in Ogden, UT is having a big grand re-opening sale celebrating their beautiful store remodel.  And, you'll find me at the UTA Bike Bonanza this evening in SLC as well.

You'll also want to check out a great blog:  Utah Tri Girl.  Rachel Butterfield writes some great stuff and she has a contest going om right now to win 2 entries to the Tour de Park City.

For today's video, we switch gears to autoracing.  But not just any racing, but the grassroots, downhome kind, Pikes Peak!  Last year, Jeff Zwart drove his brand new Porsche GT2RS from L.A. to Colorado Springs then broke his own Time Attack record set a year earlier in a Porsche GT3 Cup, truly defining "run what you brung".  Sure, what he brung was a $250,000 thoroughbred track car, but its cool to see privateers making headlines regardless.  I hate when people diminish the value of great achievements because the person making the accomplishment spent a boat load of cash to do it, but sometimes thats what it takes.  If anything, it makes for a great couple minutes of video and makes me want to get out and race...bicycles, cars, marathons, whatever...just get out there this weekend and and do it!!