Here it is, the official announcement, I'm riding for Bissell Pro Cycling next season. Yeah, I probably should have asked you to sit down first, sorry.

Here's the proof. There's no photo so it could be some other Paul Mach, like the chef, so you're just going to have to trust me.

The funny thing is that the page says I turned pro in 2008. This is kinda my fault because I thought, "Pro Since? Well, since right now, 2008." After looking at other people's responses I think the correct answer was actually 2009. On the up side, it helps to accurately portray my relative coolness to this guy.

For those of you looking for a job, sorry, I've already put together my staff. Sara will be the Executive Editor for my blog and Jason Eiserich has taken the initiative on press relations. Please don't bother sending a resume.

And EOB, when needing to refer to me with an acronym you can use AMPM. In the past it may have amusingly stood for AMateur Paul Mach, but now it is clearly AlMighty Paul Mach, as it was originally intended.

Over the past year, this blog has reached superstar status among a small number of local cyclists.

On the right you'll see a rotated graph that shows blog hits vs. time (days). I've highlight some of the most critical moments.

1. San Dimas, the juniors reload the blog to see if I'd posted an update yet, from the other hotel room.
   
   
2. Phil yells "Paul Mach dot com" all weekend at conference.
   
   
3. I send an email to the Aggie mailing list claiming updates on nationals will soon be at paulmach.com.
   
   
4. Mt. Hamilton, riders are forced to go up a hill. I luck out and my blog goes up hill too.
   
   
5. Nevada City and Tour de Nez. Zteamers flock to the site to find out who this dude is that now rides for them.
   
   
6. I spend 3 and a half weeks in Bristol Bay Alaska scouting out future vice presidents.
   
   
7. The blog gets the Hernando Bump right after the District Road Race.
   
   
8. I ride for Bobs-Bicycles.com at the Tour of Utah. The blog finally taps into that much sought after "Idaho" demographic.
   
   
9. Keith Williams gives a shout out.
   
   
10. My own rap lyrics double as the title for the Mt. Shasta post.

So that's the journey of the blog, glad you could be a part of it. There is no scale on the graph, props to the first person to guess how many hits that first line actually represents.

If you're experiencing link overload, I apologize.

I ride my bike fairly often on the roads west of Davis. Every once in a while I'll pass some dude and he'll get on my wheel for the free ride. I'm totally okay with this, it provides a bit of motivation, but sometimes they get in a little bit over their heads.

Take last Tuesday for example. I pass a guy going 25 on my TT bike. He accelerates from his modest 18 and gets on my wheel. But, he's forgotten a couple important details.

1. I'm on a TT bike and he's not.
2. My bike is way more expensive than his.

Needless to say, it took only about 15 seconds for him to realize that my Dura Ace drivetrain was just too smooth. Maybe he and Jim Mansoor should start a support group. OOOHHHHHH Snap!!!

Also last week, Sara showed that she is finally picking up the cycling culture.


Yes honey, that's why I need it. Now if I could just "borrow" half your paycheck, that would be great.

Rode the legendary Foxy Fall Century yesterday. A 7:10 ride time for 106 miles.

To the masters guys who all seem to have the same joke: I rode it with the wife, okay! We were only going 85% of about 85% and we went home to change before the dinner. That is why we didn't get there till after 5. But the dinner was good.

The ride really wasn't that bad. Clare even had time to pick her nose. I really enjoyed the wooden valley part, but the long flat sections leading up to it really got old, especially since I ride most of them regularly.

The bigger drama was that Sara also ran a half marathon this morning. She claims it was a scheduling mishap, but it won't take long for it to become my fault. Especially after the lactic acid sets in.

Figuratively and literally. First, no training, so no racing, so nothing to write about, sorry.

Slow week literally because I've been riding my campus bike to get around. A long time ago this Peugeot was top of the line, now it's not.
At one point I was taking this thing on the race ride and to the top of Mix Canyon. Now I'm just one of those guys on campus with the noisy powertrain and wobbly wheel. I used to make fun of those people!!