1. You will pull through,  or do not sprint
2. You shall not take The Big Ring in vain
3. Remember ‘cross season, keep it holy
4. Thou shall wear no underwear nor knee socks
5. Honor Merkx and Kelly
6. Thou will not dope
7. Thou shall not attack the feed zone
8. Thou will not half wheel
9. Thou shall let no gap open
10. Thou shall not covet they neighbors bike

The Euro Cross Pre Season started last weekend. French guy Phillippe Gilbert rode The Big Ring to a sweet solo victory at Het Volk.   Slipstream rider Mike Friedman rode The Big Ring to a fine 12th place.  These two showed true Big Ring form.  To live in The Big Ring you must be willing to lay it all on the line and go for the win.  If you ride with honor and courage and leave it all on the course you can’t lose, no matter what your final place.  If you sit in and follow wheels all day you will never win. This not to say sprinters are not Big Ring, it just means that if your job is to win the sprint you better damn well win the sprint.   The field sprint is one of the most amazing sites in all sport(unless Alice Petacchi wins), Big Ring for sure.  Still though, the solo win is the most Big Ring way to win. Well done Brother Gilbert.

Brothers and Sisters, The Big Ring is not just limited to time on the bike.  The Big Ring is about living you life with principle and honor. It is tipping the breakfast waitress 20% no matter what.  Donating your old clothes to charity rather than throwing them away.  When you see that homeless guy riding his Magna with 20psi in the rear, offer to pump up his tire. Tip your mechanic with Chimay not Coors.  Just be an example.  BTW these people may not ride bikes, but they are living Big Ring.

Speaking of Big Ring I managed to drag my ass out and see The Railbenders and Supersuckers show this weekend.