Yesterday I joined the PowerTap club cult. My wife snapped this picture of me activating the "Pro" setting. I can't tell you about all the wonders it unlocks because, well, if you're a pro you already know and if you're not, sorry.

I used the wheel for the first time today on the Napa ride and was blowing Staz 08 out of the water. I don't know if it was due to the Prolong Energy I've been trying or just the standard boost that everyone gets once they start using a PowerTap.

I may share some power graphs later. I just need to figure out how to scale up the data by 10 or 15 percent. PowerAgent doesn't seem to have that feature.

Last week Bissell put out a press release about next years team and it got picked up by VeloNews, Cycling News, NorCal Cycling News and Podium in Sight.

While my name was just there to fill the list of additional riders, the official release described me as a "serious climber." I think this was included to let the Phil Mooneys of the world know that when I drop them on a climb, it's no laughing matter (well maybe to the spectators it is).

Since the news broke I've received a lot of questions about the whole situation. To make life easier I would like to answer the three most common ones here.

1. Will you be quitting school to ride full time?
   
   No, I don't make enough to throw away 3 years of normal progress toward my degree. Plus I ride full time already.
   
   
2. Will you be doing the Tour of California?
   
   Odds are that my first race as a pro will not be a 9 day UCI stage race, one of the biggest in the country. However, I sure would like it to be.
   
   
3. Can I get a discount on a vacuum cleaner?
   
   Bissell is one of the oldest manufactures of vacuum cleaners and I am glad you are interested in their products. However, at this time I am unable to give anyone a discount. But do visit the Bissell webpage to learn more about their fine products and to find a local retailer. I can personally attest that their products suck quite well.

I would also like to add that it's rude to ask how much money someone makes. Even if it's phrased as a series of yes or no questions such as, "Do you make more than $10,000? How about $5,000?"

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.

11 Speed? That's one faster isn't it?
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!!

Yesterday, after so many good years together, I had to sell you. I'm sorry, but there was no room in the apartment and Sara is unwavering in her quest to keep the bedroom free of bikes.

While I didn't win my first race with you, or get my Cat. 1 with you, you were there for everything in between.

Do you remember our first win together? I do. It was the Cat. 4 Sea Otter Road Race in 2006. We dominated the field along with Greg's Litespeed and Nils' Felt, see picture.

I will forever hold dear the afternoons we spent on Mix Canyon and the long hours riding at ME on the flat roads west of Davis. During these times we built an unbreakable bond that will not be lost.

I am certain you and Jay will be happy together. And I know you will teach him the joys of riding hard, climbing fast and dropping Jim Mansoor on the race ride, just as you did me.

Jamis Xenith Team, thank you for all the good times. You will not be forgotten.

It appears that even 7-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong reads my blog. Check out his quote about Alberto Contador found at Velonews.com.

"I think he is the best bike rider in the world right now."
Yep, Lance applied Tip #3 from my recent How to be Amateur post.

The compliment was a nice but the "right now" made it clear that things will be very different come Big Show Tour de France time.

Now I'm just waiting for him to say that he was only going 85% last night and that is why he finished 22nd.

I've been studying professionally since 2005 and nothing makes me more excited than the start of a new season. For those not familiar with pro pupil "new season" terminology, it's sometimes called a new "school year." Only call it a "school year" if you want to look amateur.

The thing I look forward to most is 11:50am to 12:00pm during the first week. This is when 5000 new amateur students, who haven't ridden their bikes since elementary school, all come together and form the equivalent of a Mens D collegiate crit right on campus.

I find it especially entertaining when some dude decides that he's a rebel and traffic circles are for followers. I can only laugh as he cuts through the middle and causes total chaos. Moments like these make my year, err, I mean season.