Well folks, I have to apologize for the lack of new reading material, but I think I have a pretty good excuse. In all seriousness, I have been allowing the gerbil who runs in the wheel that powers my brain to rest as much as possible so that I may concentrate on finishing the sequel (if you will) to A Dog in a Hat. As with all small rodents, the gerbil who powers my brain runs for a little while then thinks about food and sleeping. I have been trying to keep him on there longer, but as they say, "A gerbil can't change his stripes."

Your questions continued to keep the little sucker entertained long enough to provide answers -- amazingly well thought out answers too, in his opinion. But alas, the questions trailed off and the gerbil got complacent. He was actually starting to get fat too, so I switched him to a healthier diet and even threatened to start doing something challenging, like doing the crosswords or even reading the comics.

As it turns out, I was wrong -- or the gerbil was wrong -- somebody was wrong, anyway. No, I have questions to answer and I am blaming it on Austin, Minnesota. For those of you who don't already know, Austin, MN is the birthplace of that wonderful canned meat product called SPAM®.

Now, I have nothing against the delicious canned meat in a can that says SPAM® on it, but I do have a problem with the idiots who started sending out all of the email promising "enhancement" (whatever that means) to man parts and the ability to earn thousands of dollars per week watching Oprah. But somehow we all started calling those emails that we get promising wealth and enhancement, spam - even though it is just junk mail, like the stuff I throw in the trash every Tuesday afternoon. Go easy, hippies, the recycle bin says, "No Junk Mail," which actually leads me to wonder if we all started calling the junk mail that the post office delivers "spam" too, could I recycle it then?

Anyway, back to the spam of the email variety ... I was looking at Google Mail's folder marked "Spam" this morning and noticed that it had a number parked next to the word. I clicked. Holy Delicious Canned Meat ... there were questions to be answered! Ladies and gentlemen, let me assure you that I am on it and will be providing you with the wisdom that only can be gained through years of riding too hard, traveling too much and a diet rich in SPAM®, coffee and Twinkies.

But first of all, there's a little something that we need to take care of before I can feel good about myself ever again. The folks at Castelli have graciously offered 1 official Cervelo Test Team kit for me to give away to one of you fine people. As it turns out, they offered that several weeks ago and I have been a bit slow on the draw.

So here's the deal: Send me your pick for the best race you ever saw. This is an essay contest of sorts, where I get to pretend I am a sixth grade teacher. You will not be judged on length, spelling, punctuation, or grammar. No, just tell a good story about an amazing race you watched in person, on TV, or even one in which you participated and email it to 6yearsinaraincape at gmail.com. I would suggest 500 - 1000 words, but like I said, no one is counting. And hurry, you only have until Wednesday, September 16th 2009 to complete and submit this tremendous assignment.

The winner of the first ever 6 Years in a Rain Cape Cervelo Test Team Castelli Kit Best Race Ever International Story Contest will be announced on Friday, September 18th, 2009. You will know if you have won if yours is posted here on that day - Friday the 18th. Together, the winner and I will exchange the pertinent information so that a jersey, a pair of bibshorts, and a pair of gloves may be shipped his or her way. Inventory permitting, you will have your choice of a black kit or a white kit.

Now that the announcement of this contest has been attended to, I can leave you with a sneak peek into my world this weekend, where snowmobiles will be drag-raced on grass - where fried cheese curds and mini-donuts are delicacies and the word arctic is pronounced ardik.



It is going to be awesome!