Ouch.  4 days off the bike for sickness.  I never get sick. Stress.  I'll explain over time.  This one even included a doctor visit, and I haven't seen him in years.  Rides were rough, and I'm still 150 miles from the 5K mark for the year.  When I'm struggling mentally to keep cranking the pedals, I summon up a lot of thoughts.  Bob Roll (whom I briefly met this year before having to dash off for another kids' sporting event) for concise, sometimes whacky comments.  Phil Liggit takes over when I'm within 5 miles of my destination.  Throw in a few rabbit chases for Coach Neal , a few looks like a rabbit, and I'm easily entertained on long lonely rides.  You wanna chase a rabbit, Babe?   Huh, Babe?  Chase a rabbit, Babe?

But what really kept me thinking was the upcoming 2009 Garmin-Chipotle team introduction , and if I could ask David Millar, who hasn't posted for a few months and seems at a loss for words, 3 questions, what would they be?  Here's my first draft: What was your biggest disappointment of 2008... was it the chain?  What are your hopes for 2009 to fix any disappointments?  And lastly, have you considered taking bike throwing lessons from Anatoli Bondarachuk?  A bike does weigh less than a 16 pound hammer, and I think with just an extra spin or two after your next broken chain, you might be able to chuck that bike to a distance you'd be proud of.  Sorry, David.   "Going Nowhere" from Oasis is not the song in my head at times like these. I'm more of a Boston guy.  "I'm gonna take you by the hand...lebars up to the stand, Floyd Landis....".  Ouch.  That needs some works.  Feel free to contribute / improve the lyrics here.