Better Late than Never!

It has been a while but I am back! I had a few trips and met some real interesting people...more on that in a future article...My website has changed from edarlingenterprises.com to edarlingracing.com. I don't know why but it is now owned by a Japanese weight loss company...I completed The Smart Ride 9 and had an amazing time yet again! The weather was stunning and it all went very smoothly. I met up with old friends and made some new ones. the Chic Optique team was ready to go and go we did! I was rider #36 this year and got to start way ahead of my last years #354 starting position. Now I know it is not a race but it seems that Fridays 100 miler (103.8 to be exact) is through the streets of Homestead and Florida City before getting to Card Sound Road (the road out to the keys from the mainland). I like to use the first day to give it my all and go for a personal best. I rolled out at a pretty good pace and got to the front with a few people in tow. I pedaled hard for about 10 miles and had one person hanging with me. His name was Mark. He said he had a few fast friends coming through the pack and figured they would catch us but they never did. This was his second Smart Ride (as it was mine as well) and he had a hard time last year and wanted to push and see how well his training program was. We pushed through Miami on to Card Sound Road carrying a 22.5 MPH average and were feeling pretty good. We stopped for lunch at 58 miles and topped up our supplies. The people voulenteering for this event were amazing! They provided food, water, gatorade, medical help, mental help and hugs all the way! We hit Key Largo in good time and were happily buzzing along when Mark started cramping. I was feeling the toll of the speed we were traveling at so we stopped at a few rest areas to eat bananas and rehydrate (and pee) before hitting the final few miles. Last year the first day was 100.1 miles and this year it was 103.8 (due to route change in Miami) and the last 3.7 miles took forever! We rolled in before noon averaging 21 MPH. It was a great ride and I was happy to share it with my new friend Mark! I got a shower then a massage and waited for people to start showing up. soon they were coming in and Dave came in 9th! Top 10 in his first organized ride. the rest of our team was in and we all celebrated in Hawks Cay resort...awesome place! The next moerning we left the resort for the 62 mile ride to Key West. Our team left at different times but eventually found each other on the road and we had a very pleasant ride into Key West stopping at all the rest stops and enjoying the ride and the company. On our team was Tom R, Rich N, Julie S, Fiona, Justine Y, Robyn, David M and myself. We got to Key West High School pretty much drama free (a few flats along the way) and enjoyed the food and hospitality of Key West. We rode to the pier and enjoyed the closing ceremonies...there wasnt a dry eye in the place! I want to thank all the voulenteers and donors that made it happen! We raised over $860,000! for AIDS HIV organizations and 100% of the money raised goes to the benefitting charities! Look forward to next year!! Evan

What Does the Future Hold?

It has been a strange year. I have been pushing myself on my bike training like a pro athlete for...myself? I have found riding and burying myself in all things bicycle seem to soothe my real world issues. I am working at a pretty cool shop that gives me some pretty good flexibility to race and play with my toys. I am doing The Smart Ride 9 this week (my second one) and could still use sponsors.... https://www.thesmartride.org/8/pledge/pages/36/ but the really big news is still coming...I just got back from meeting some really cool people...you will see me on their show early next year! I cannot say what show just yet but I am sure the ads will be pretty fun! When I am allowed I will let everyone know! I will write another post ride entry...wish me luck! Evan

Bike Racing Blues

I have spent the last few days and weeks reading and pondering about doping in bicycle racing. The use of banned substances is pretty obvious in many sports and I really think I have always just chosen not to see it. Look at some of the female olympians...have you ever seen arms like that on a mere mortal? that is definitely not natural. I have always wanted to be a pro bike racer but never had the influence, mentorship or drive to become one. I always thought it was for people that had real enthusiasm and the luck of friends that have the same working together or family pushing them. My family never pushed me to do anything but try and get good grades. I raced BMX bikes as a kid and raced MX for a very short time being told by my parents to stop playing these sports. Anyways, all the years of watching pro cycling and dreaming of being one would always be crashed by the idea that you had to do all kinds of drugs to be there. I am sure there was one guy that never did it and was fast as shit and others did drugs to beat him...then the real talent started doing it creating super humans that do things that are almost genetically impossible (see baseball) setting records that cannot be broken. It is sad that it has become like this. In auto racing it is simple. People always try and "bend the rules" but you do not build a human body in a shop. I always had the notion that if they just tested them and they passed, they win (as in motorsports) but through all this USADA investigation I am realizing the human damage is awful. Levi Leiphimer came out with an interview talking about his childhood dream to race in the TdF and how he had to cope with the realities of drug use in pro cycling was heartbreaking. I look back and am strangely happy I did not go down that road to try and be a pro in that sport. I hope we can figure out a way to keep the drugs out and reward clean racing. The really sad thing is that it trickles down to amateur sports and bike racing. The Cat 4-5 guys I will be racing soon may be doping and no one is even watching that. I guess it will be that much more satisfying if I win. My question is if someone does testosterone, cortizone and EPO while training to get better strength and comes off it to be clean, are they still really clean?

The are alive with the sound of...gears!

Well I did it! The Bicycle Magazine Fall Classic Fondo 2012 is in the books. The weather report looked pretty rainy all the way up to the event so I got a few items at Sicklers Bicycle in Exeter PA to deal with the cooler temperatures. I have a practice loop that goes from Wyoming PA to Harveys Lake and back and hit it hard a few times (its about 40 miles) and was feeling ok about my fitness. If this is your first time reading my blog, I am pretty new to road cycling as I got a road bike (my current Trek Madone 4.5) last September and started training for The Smart Ride ( https://www.thesmartride.org/8/pledge/pages/36/ )and my recap ( http://evandarling.blogspot.com/2011/11/smart-ride-8-post-ride.html ) and got really hooked on cycling! I had a great Trek EX8 mountain bike that I had been riding when I was in NC a few years ago but never got into the sport with the intensity like I have now. In 1998 I went for the Florida State Championships racing BMX and led the points to the end (for me) when I broke my collarbone at Okeeheelee. I still went for it broken collarbone and all and it was tough for sure! I was doing that more for my partners nephew who I was introducing to a sport that helped me through my troubled youth. Anyways, We arrived at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Breinigsville PA on Saturday morning to get registered, pick up my packet and timing chip and make a run through Velofest...a huge swap meet! Like a kid in a candy store I ran through it looking for a rain jacket and a few other goodies and got my moneys worth! Ultegra cranks and brakes, a Selle SMP Evolution seat (for $25!!!), my jacket (cannondale) and a few other goodies. Ray at the Bicycling Magazine registration booth sent me in the right direction to get them installed (I do not have alot of bike tools yet) at South Mountain Cycles & Coffee Bar in Emmaus PA...they fix your bike and serve the best cappucino...nice! We went back to the park and did an easy few miles around the track and headed to Walmart for the evening...they allow campers in the parking lot and it is open 24 hours...I fixed my bike and fell asleep without eating dinner DOH! The next morning I tried stuffing my face a few hours before and packed my jacket with munchies to avoid the bonk. It was freezing! I lined up and had a nice warm send off into the hills of PA. Now this event had 3 timed climbs with prizes for the top 5. I did not expect to win anything and i didn't but I am ok with that. There were some pretty serious people there. I started with the lead group and we were cruising along great to the first climb. I hit it pretty good but not with everything because it was only 5 miles in! We were flowing through some of the most beautiful roads and countryside I ever saw. we rounded a corner around mile 17.7 and I tried to go into my small ring for a climb and the chain popped off! I got it on fast but the pack rode on...I tried to follow for the next 20 miles and rode with a few of the fast guys in pursuit. I went to grab a bite to eat out of my jersey and ended up off course. I went to turn around when I realized to look for the signs and another guy wizzed by. I went after him as he looked like he knew where he was going. When asked if he knew if it was the right way as we hit an epic descent, he didnt know where he was going either! At the bottom we called the powers that be and were waiting for some directions as we were pretty far off course when we found an intersection. we backtracked and found our way again! from there it was the best day of riding ever! we climbed more hills than I did in Colorado on my summer trip, one called Hill Road in particular was pretty tough! I believe the 3rd timed climb was at the top. I see my time but did not even remember the 2nd climb! It was pretty tough digging all the way up the hill so I just did my best. The hills kept coming and I kept climbing. what came next were the worst cramps I ever felt! I was using muscles that are not used for cycling to somehow spin the cranks...I talked myself into finishing it with pain that would come and go like waves. the countryside and need to finish kept me going. At one point towards the end they sent us down a really cool gravel road! I would usually shy away from this kind of road on my road bike but it handled really well and was quite fun to slide it around! When the finish came I had covered 99 miles. Epic! The ride around the Velodrome was fun as well! I am figuring out that it was just the climbs that counted so next year I will keep myself fresh for the climbs and not try so hard to make it a race! Well here are the results ( http://bit.ly/UMrLXp ) as I finished 30th out of 130 starters...not bad for a beginner...I also was the winner of the hotly contested 44 year old group (there were 4 of us)! A big thanks to Bicycling Magazine, Specialized Bicycles, Topeak, NOW Energy Bars, H2O Overdrive, Wild Planet, Mediterranian Snack Foods, Giordana and all the people out there making this happen! See you next year!! Evan

Something different

Well since my auto racing career is in the toilet until further notice I am trying something a bit different. As many of you know I have been playing with road bicycles for a year now and decided to do my first timed event. There are plenty of time trials and criterium races around here but I figured I would do something fun. On October 7th I will be in Reading PA for a Grand Fondo 90 mile ride. A grand fondo is an event that is all about cycling and attracts people from all over the country and world. It is a mass start timed ride with awards for the climbs and overall finishing position. I know I will not be very high up on the board as there will be plenty of pros and actual bike racers there but it will still be a blast to be a part of it and just finish! Cycling has become a very large part of my life as it has improved my health condition and made me feel and look better! Obligatory abs pictures coming soon! It has gotten me to the gym and to have healthier eating habits. I will update with results and maybe a few pictures when I am back...wish me luck! Evan

Job Search and the selling of my dreams

Well the time is almost here...I put my heart and soul into this and thought the LGBT Community would have my back. Guess not. I am selling my motorcycle (2003 Suzuki SV 100 Standard) as I am in need of the funds for bills. It is the last thing I have that is worth anything. An old lady smashed my car the other day so that is worthless now. I am applying for jobs in the auto industry again. Don't make the same mistakes I did. If you are thinking of coming out in sports give it alot of thought. The LGBT community would love to see it and many young folks would benefit but do not expect companies or individuals to sponsor or financially support you. I thought I had a big sponsor interested (a Las Vegas Hotel) but they cheaped out saying they couldn't afford me LOL...I'm not THAT expensive! They want your media and to show that they are doing something but will give very little in return. We have a long way to go. I thought I had an entrepreneur Gay billionaire interested (he was quoted as saying he was going to give his fortune away) but decided to spend what little he does on tax write off investments and politics. It is really going to take a wealthy person to break into sports that does not need a sponsor...I am unfortunately out of resources. I sold everything and put it all on the line. Big mistake. Oh well lesson learned! We still need a presence in sports...especially red state sports but without support it will never happen. This is a huge demographic in itself (stacked on the 800 Billion dollar GLBT demographic) and I do not understand why someone wouldn't want this kind of exposure. I still have my website up for a while and will be hoping to delete this post and say I am sponsored for 2013...

Here is a link to my bike for sale if anyone is interested:

http://miami.craigslist.org/brw/mcy/3257083288.html

Are most Conservative (family values) Republicans Gay?

I am confused by this. Anyone with more than a 3rd grade education should be able to understand that being Gay is not a choice. Ask any REAL HETEROSEXUAL adult male if they like women. All the straight friends I have KNOW they like women and can say when the fascination started. For most it was being intrigued by a grade school teacher or a friends sister or hot neighbor lady. At that young age did those kids make a choice to want to see more? No. They liked what they saw and you cannot change that. LGBT kids that come of age are usually very embarrased that they are looking at the wrong sex and have major insecurities and self esteem issues. What young kid wants to be something everyone seems to recognize as really bad? I went through this and it was very tough. I tried to pretend and looked at the girls with my friends but always wanted to see more of the same sex. Are these people that think its a choice hiding something? If they are comfortable with thier sexuality they should understand. If they do understand and still want to discriminate and exclude the LGBT community they are 100% not the type of person I want representing my country. I accept everyone. Our military accepts everyone. Why is 1/2 of our government so hateful towards a group of Americans that number in the millions? The religious side of this arguement is rediculous as you show me one person that lives the Bible literally. Just by "hating the sinner" they are not folowing their own religions. Just by judging others they are not following their own religions. It is hypocritical. If it were a choice there would be way less that there are if any. I know I would have chosen to be straight if given the chance when I was a kid! Someone please tell me how we can educate our people and see who is truly a mean spirited person through hate and non-acceptance and who is just mis-informed?

March Already?

Well I am still at it! I guess I am in this until the end. I have been going back and forth to Wilmington NC putting a friends BMW race car back together so we can race it in April at Virginia International Raceway! I am also planning to race my road bike in Fort Lauderdale ( https://www.usacycling.org/events/getflyer.php?permit=2012-775 ) and this will be my first official race! I do not have high expectations just that I will have some fun doing something good for myself. The pack of people I ride with on weekends are incredibly fast and it is everything I can do not to get dropped by them...I'm sure I will be racing them and there will not be much mercy LOL! I promise to write a nice long winded post on the race for those interested.
On another note I have been talking to a few people about getting some media and I came across a great company from Australia that represents Nitro Circus...Maybe they will have me jump a minibike off the grand canyon or something! Maybe they want to have a gay guy on the show...I can be the token gay I guess LOL! I will keep you posted on that front as well.
I have also been talking to a few writers that may be interested in helping me structure my life story book as well. I have alot of written material and just do not know how to structure that much information in a book format. I want to give my readers a pleasurable experience, not a confusing one as I am a scatter brain.
As usual if anyone has any ideas please let me know!
Evan

The year is flying by!

I can't believe its almost March already! I am headed to NC again next week to fininsh the BMW I am working on for a friend...I cant wait to get it to VIR and test it out! I am going to bring my Mountain Bike with me as there are some great trails in the Wilmington NC area...Blue Clay Park and a new one Brunswick...will have to try that one out! I have been riding the road bike alot lately and decided to race in the Bill Bone Challenge (http://billboneproam.com/) road races, time trials and criteriums. Should be fun and alot easier to find sponsors...the events are local and way cheaper than racing cars.



On another note, I just watched the first show of the second season of Top Gear USA (the muscle car episode) and it was pretty good except for the gay remark...It is real annoying when you watch a show and someone disrespects and alienates an entire community to try and sound like a tough guy...Adam Ferrara jokes with Tanner that his "boyfriend picked out the car" referring to his Camaro implying the "gay" thing. I mean really? c'mon and man up and stop trying so hard! Its not that funny. Remember there are lots of people out here watching these shows and when you go hating and get negative you lose more than you gain.

Still trying for sponsors and hoping for the best.

Evan

Trying to get something going

I have noticed alot of international traffic on my website and blog...Lots of visits from Russia lately. Anyone there want to respond? I am still trying and will always try. I may be shutting down my website soon as it doesn't seem to make sense for me to keep it up if there is no interest in sponsorship. I will put the video on youtube and just get a cheap to maintain webpage. It is with great sadness that I shrink into the backround and get back to work and try and forget the last 5 years of struggling and begging. I do not know what I would have done differently or could ever do in the future to get people interested. There really is just no place for an out race car driver. I pretty much ended my career by trying to do this honestly and openly. I also should have listened to my conservative family and not tried this. It is embarrasing how little financial support has come from all of this. I love my fans and please keep the great emails and words of encouragement coming! I will always try and be my best (and get sponsors) but the GLBT financial world has spoken with no interest in getting someone out there in the straight world with an open message to our youth that you can do anything. I really thought it was an important message but I guess not. We live a stereotype. Sad.

I also just think I failed with my celebrity contacting skills. I tried paying publicists thousands of dollars to just make contact with Lady Gaga, Elton John, John Travolta and anyone else that may have interest in my mission but they all failed or just didnt put in the effort. If anyone knows how to contact a celebrity let me know!

I am getting ready for my first USA Cycling race next month to get a category rating (everyone starts at Cat 5) and begin my amateur bicycle racing journey. I have raced BMX bicycles for years, Mountain bikes and now road bikes. This is a great hobby getting me into the best shape of my life. I will try and blog about my progress even though it is much more boring than blogging about racing cars on the Pro level.

Thanks everyone for being there!
Evan

2012 Yay. Aren't we supposed to die now?

Well it is now 2012 and we are all supposed to die this year. We will see. I am sitting at my computer contemplating everything I had tried to do over the past 5 years and feel perplexed in that I have done so much but got nothing really accomplished. I have met many great people on my journey and many have tried to help. Unfortunately I have learned through my endeavor that my many fans would love to see me compete but the people that can make that happen have no interest. Gay people in sports are not new and I don't claim to be the only. I am the only one that tried to do it while being honest with myself, my fans while staying active in my sport. I wanted to help people come to terms with their sexuality and have someone that is a sports figure that happens to be gay and out. I also wanted to bring light to GLBTQ teen suicide prevention. I had contacted people of wealth, who claim they are trying to give their fortunes away to good causes. Not. I tried major corporations that have forward thinking mission statements and ones that cater to a younger demographic. Not. Evidently having someone out and trying to help our community is not a good enough cause. I had a few calls with secretarys and associates but it seems to be always the same answers. Not interested. My question is why would someone trying to help a community get no support but when someone tries to tear the fabric of a community millions rally to destroy? I chalk it up to our communitys damaged upbringing. I hope future generations get past this before too much damage is done. Many of my generation have grown up being told how bad we were as people for being the way we are. Some of us lost much of our youth and innosense trying to come to terms with our sexuality with no role models or proper education on certain subjects (GLBT/sexual/HIV etc) so we had to fend for ourselves. Over the years we build up defenses that are hard to get past and it affects our relationships with family and our outlook on society in general. A church has a support structure that helps each member be a part of something. If you help your church you will always have friends and some kind of security. Our community lacks this in a big way. we cant usually look across a room and feel like there are others like us. Being gay can be very isolating. Why would anyone try and come out and help when no one is helping me? This seems to be common not just in sports but in life in general. Hollywood is homophobic. Wall Street is homophobic. I don't even have to mention politics as many of our closeted Republicans have already proven with horrible damage. It is going to take people from all walks of life to accept and understand that our "lifestyle" is not a choice. Until people start helping people feel confident in society this will never happen on the scale most of us dream about. At least not in our lifetime. I tried to make a difference and am paying for it. If your contemplating coming out and you are a sports or public figure, think long and hard about it. You will not get financial help so if you are in sports you will need alot of personal wealth behind you. I have 2 proposals out there and I am hoping for the best with them and that these companies can come with me on a journey to help our community move forward in our endeavor to be looked upon as people, humans like everyone else. If ANY of my readers wanted to help me now is the time. If you know anyone that would want to help or any corporation wanting to market the GLBT community with the added benefit of marketing to tens of millions of sports fans, let me know. I also have a paypal button on my website.

Thanks for listening!
Evan