K. Todd Storch

Eddie Van Halen's New Guitar Company

I've recently met an EVH fan that is more of a freak than me. Paul "the Van Halen" guy is probably what I would of become without my parents getting me off to college. He is a rep for Charvel and he let me know about this about a month before it happened...

Paul's band, XES Whiskey kick serious arse. Check them out live. Paul's love of the guitar and all things Van Halen is on display around D/FW!

Anyway, Eddie signs on with the '80's shred machine company Charvel. Anyone that wants to know what I want for Christmas, my Birthday or any other reason....check this out!

For more fun, check out the pictures of Eddie building limited editions from his kitchen (go down and click on Guitar Building Photo Gallery)!

River Cities, here we come!

One of the most anticipated Triathlons each season is the River Cities Tri in Shreveport, LA. Want to know why? The goodies you get at packet pick up!

It will be my first year to participate, but to give you an idea about this tri, it sold out 1100 slots in 11 hours. I signed up at midnight the day registration opened to guarantee my slot.

I've heard stories about the awesome $100+ backpacks, shoes, tri-shorts, etc. you get. So off Tara and I go this Saturday with Matt and Beth.

Course will be fast, but very competitive as people come from all over to race.

I'll post the results when they are available Sunday afternoon.

Check out the website.

TdF - Lance Creates History

Day 23 - Stage 20, 7/25/04 (Montreau - Paris-Champs-Elysees, 163 km)

What a ride. An unbelievable feat winning 6 Tour's in a row. I'm almost sad its over. You will need to read the full story and see the results, but I will miss fitting in 3 to 4 hours of OLN each night. Lance, I sure hope you will be back for #7 next year, but I do want you to ride the Giro d'Italia as well!

My top 10 moments of this year's TdF (in no particular order):
1) My almost 4 year old daughter, Peyton, saying 'George Hincapie' and 'Floyd Landis'
2) Lance zipping up his jersey before sprinting to the win on Stage 17
3) The Blue Train spread out across the road on Stage 20 with LA right in the middle
4) George Hincapie blazing a trail across the pave
5) Voeckler nearly crying as he fought to keep the Yellow Jersey in the Pyrenees
6) Lance thrusting his arms in the air and to his side as he won Stage 15 to take the Yellow Jersey
7) Seeing USPS captain Johann giving Jan Ulrich a sip of champaign during Stage 20
8) Listening to Phil and Paul describe Voeckler 'dipping into his bag of courage'
9) Sitting in my chair with my 8 year old daughter, Taylor, to watch the TdF on a Saturday morning
10) Explaining team race strategy with Tara on many a night watching the Tour

TdF - Armstrong Strikes!

Day 15 - Stage 13, 7/17/04 (Lannemezan - Plateau de Beille, 205.5 km)

Lance takes on Basso again on a hard mountain stage today and almost takes the Yellow Jersey as well. Everyone thought this would be a 2 man race, they just picked the wrong second man...

This was textbook Lance and you can count out any chance for Mayo as he struggled most of the day. Could Basso be the one to spoil Lance's sixth? It will make for an unbelievable TT up Alpe d'Huez!

Bad news for all of the Tyler Hamilton fans...he had to abandon the race today after the feed zone. His earlier crash and bruise on his back was too much to deal with this year. Come on 2005, Tyler!

Selected GC:
1 Thomas Voeckler (Brioches La Boulangère) 58.00.27
2 Lance Armstrong (USPS) +0.22
3 Ivan Basso (CSC) +1.39
4 Andreas Klöden (T-Mobile) +3.18
5 Francisco Mancebo Pérez (Illes Balears - Banesto) +3.28
6 Georg Totschnig (Gerolsteiner) +6.08
7 Jose Azevedo (USPS) +6.43
8 Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) +7.01
14 Levi Leipheimer (Rabobank) +10.47

Read the detail and see the full results.

I'm headed out for vacation tomorrow, so don't look for the recaps. You'll have to keep track on your own. More on Thursday.

TdF - The Stage You Have Been Waiting For!

Day 14 - Stage 12, 7/16/04 (Castelsarrasin - La Mongie, 197.5 km)

Basso takes the stage, and Lance is right on his wheel at the finish line. The Big News is that LA made quite a statement today. Lance moves up to #2 in Tour's GC today, only behind Voeckler.

Here's a quick run down on the damage Lance puts into his main competition today:

Mayo: +1.03
Ullrich: +2.30
Julich: +2.28
Heras: +2.57
Hamilton: +3.27

Selected GC:

1. Thomas Voeckler (Brioches La Boulangère) +51.51.07
2. Lance Armstrong (USPS) +5.24
3. Sandy Casar (Fdjeux.com) +5.50
4. Richard Virenque (Quick Step-Davitamon) +6.20
5. Andreas Klöden (T-Mobile) +6.33
6. Ivan Basso (CSC) same
7. Francisco Mancebo Pérez (Illes Balears - Banesto) +6.43
8. Jakob Piil (CSC) +6.53
12. Leipheimer (Rabobank) 8.50
16. Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) +9.01
17. Bobby Julich (CSC) +9.11
20. Tyler Hamilton (Phonak) +9.46
26. Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) +10.42

Click here for results.

TdF - The French love this tour!

Day 13 - Stage 11, 7/15/04 (St Flour - Figeac, 164 km)

Another French rider takes the stage. Cofidis rider David Moncoutié takes the stage. His family is from the local region and what a feeling to win in your backyard.

Lance and the other favorites sprint in at the finish to keep their times pretty much the same.

Big day in the Pyrenees on Friday!

Click here to see the details and the full results.

GC:
1. Thomas Voeckler (Brioches La Boulangère) 46.43.10
2. Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) +3.00
3. Sandy Casar (Fdjeux.com) +4.13
4. Richard Virenque (Quick Step-Davitamon) +6.52
5. Jakob Piil (CSC) +7.43
6. Lance Armstrong (USPS) +9.35
7. Erik Zabel (T-Mobile) +9.58
8. Jose Azevedo (USPS) +10.04
9. José Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) +10.09
10. Francisco Mancebo Pérez (Illes Balears - Banesto) +10.18
11. Tyler Hamilton (Phonak) same

TdF - Viva la Virenque!

Day 12 - Stage 10, 7/14/04 (Limoges - St Flour, 237 km)

The longest stage of the tour and the toughest day so far. Quick Step's King of the Mountain machine (he's going for a Tour record, 7 KoM jersey wins), Richard Virenque blows through the stage, picks up his 7th career TdF stage win, picks up enough KoM points to put him in the lead and makes a very good jump in the GC today.

Lots of struggling today as there were virtually no flat stages throughout the day. Virenque will set his French "God" status in concrete today with his stage win on Bastille Day.

Six straight days of Yellow Jersey for the French golden boy, Voeckler. He better enjoy and appreciate it...its only a matter of time before it will be off his back.

Select GC - Place/Time:
1. Thomas Voeckler (Brioches La Boulangère) 42.42.14
2. Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) +3.00
3. Sandy Casar (Fdjeux.com) +4.13
4. Richard Virenque (Quick Step-Davitamon) +6.52
5. Jakob Piil (CSC) +7.31
6. Lance Armstrong (USPS) +9.35
7. Erik Zabel (T-Mobile) +9.58
11. Tyler Hamilton (Phonak) +10.18
15. George Hincapie (USPS) +10.26
17. Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) +10.30
18. Bobby Julich (CSC) +10.42
19. Levi Leipheimer (Rabobank) +10.50
20. Ivan Basso (CSC) +10.52
21. Floyd Landis (USPS) +10.53

Yellow Jersey (Leader): Voeckler
Green Jersey (Points): Robbie McEwen
KoM Jersey: Virenque
White Jersey (under 25): Voeckler

Check out the final results for the day.

Check out OLN.com for video and live feeds!

TdF - Great Recap through Stage 8

Need a way to get caught up with the TdF?

Read this great article posted by Cyclingnews.com.

TdF - The Chase and The Sprint!

Day 11 - Stage 9, 7/13/04 (St Leonard de Noblat - Guéret, 160.5 km)

The peloton chased down the leaders in an incredible finish today. Robbie McEwen overtook a 125km escape duo today with an agonizing sprint finish to win the stage today. He becomes the first rider this year to win multiple stages.

Voeckler keeps the yellow jersey and Lance, Tyler and Jan all keep the same time as they finish with the sprinters.

GC - Place/Time:
1. Thomas Voeckler (Brioches La Boulangère) 36.36.31
2. Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) +2.53
3. Sandy Casar (Fdjeux.com) +4.06
4. Magnus Backstedt (Alessio-Bianchi) +6.27
5. Jakob Piil (CSC) +7.09
6. Lance Armstrong (USPS) +9.35
7. George Hincapie (USPS) +9.45
8. Jose Azevedo (USPS) +9.57
9. José Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) +10.02
10. Erik Zabel (T-Mobile) +10.06

Read the details and see full results.

Summerbridge Triathlon - Ft. Worth

I was happy with my overall time, but definately could of improved at least 2 minutes today. The swim was slow due to the amount of people that put down a 5:30' swim time. Had to walk around 3 people today in the pool. Also, need to improve on my transition times. Could of shaved 30'' overall with T1 and T2 today.

I was happy with the 7:02' average mile speed for the 5k. That was a PR for a 5k Tri!

I won't do this triathlon again, unless its the best choice for my race calendar. It was a disorganized race (there were 2 areas on the bike I had to do a U-turn because volunteers didn't point out the right path...) and like it or love it, the first mile is in the YMCA's 3 story parking garage.

Check out the full results.