If you don't know of Behind the Barriers, check it out. It's a video series of J-Pow (Jeremy Powers) and his racing in the US cyclocross series' and then in Europe leading up to Worlds.

(on the down low I'm hoping to do something similar this tri season)

I have a few cameos in the below Episode 10. Good times

"Behind The Barriers" Episode 10 from Behind The Barriers on Vimeo.

Hey all I build myself a new website. Check it out at www.jimmyarcher.com

It should cross link from this blog but I'm working out some bugs.

Let me know what you think.

Considering I just got a big surprise from DTswiss I guess I need to crank out an update blog before my tweeting undermines the whole blog idea.

Things are actually looking really good for 2011 on the sponsorship front. Lots of computer time and guarantees that I'm done chasing the ITU thing has shown me that there are plenty of people out there who have faith in me as a triathlete (just maybe not as an ITU triathlete).

Anyway here's the list thus far:

• Specialized Bicycles
• DTswiss
• Native Eyewear
• PowerBar

I am waiting to hear confirmation on swim, run, and gruppos/gearing those three are all but finalized.

Specialized:

I chose to stay with Specialized Bicycles because, honestly, I feel they make the best product out there. Plus they have helped me out the last two years when I was going through some tough times with injuries and so on. I know the guys at the company. I like where the company mentality is. They are constantly pushing the envelope and genuinely support me in all my endeavors. They have stuck with me when they didn't have to and some would say shouldn't have. Now that I'm healthy and ready to rock I very much want to repay that commitment.

If there is a downside to Specialized it is that they are who they are and everyone wants to be sponsored by them. True success under the big red S is often no less than a World Championship. Just look at last year. Macca wins Kona, Rasmus wins Roth, Javier take the WCS title, Conrad Wins Maui XTERRA, Lisa, Mel, Jordan, and Ben are constant winners and will contend for a World title. That's some tough company to break into. Which is another reason I stayed on with Specialized. I'm motivated by the challenge. I want to show them I can do what I have said I can do.

DTswiss:

DT has made many of the hubs, rims, and/or spokes you have ridden, even if it was labeled something else. They are a fixture in the wheel realm and make what is in most opinions the best hubs on the market.

I was fortunate to meet DT at the right time when they are looking to break into the tri market and are coming out with some cool new product. I'm super excited to be on with DT, the make some awesome stuff, and I like that I won't be making a reflex choice to be on what everyone else is on.

Native Eyewear:

Native has been big in the "outdoor" demographic for a while. Like DT I was lucky to meet and get involved with them now as they are looking to get into the endurance market.

I was helped out with a few pair of glasses last August and really liked them. They all have interchangeable lenses and cool ass frames. The lenses are quality and don't distort or glare. I can run, ride, ski and do anything in the glasses. They fit and work. So, I pursued sponsorship and was lucky enough to get on board. Look for some cool new stuff coming out from Native soon.

PowerBar:

I've been on with PowerBar for a few years over my career and got back with them last year. For me nutrition is about simply taking it in. If I don't like something I will haul it around with me all day and not eat or drink it. It's all about taste with me. Because of that I went back to PowerBar. I like their stuff. I use it I eat and drink it and it works for me in races. Some will say that since they are owned by Nestle that they aren't truly a nutrition company and are basically making candy. I strongly disagree. Just look at the C2 max carb blend they are using. This is exactly what recent studies have suggested is needed by endurance athletes; a mix of various carbohydrates rather than a single source.

I'm hoping to have my other equipment sponsors sorted out very shortly. I'm still searching for a "title" sponsor and am open to suggestion, but I have several irons in that fire as well.

More to come,

Jimmy

Partly due to the recent melancholic events of my life, and partly (ironically) due to my unshatterable believe that I can do better in all aspects, I've been reading a lot, and getting into philosophy both classical and modern.

In the process I was reintroduced to Cicero's six mistakes of man, listed below:

The delusion that personal gain is made by crushing others.

The tendency to worry about things that cannot be changed or corrected.

Insisting that a thing is impossible because we cannot accomplish it.

Refusing to set aside trivial preferences.

Neglecting development and refinement of the mind, and not acquiring the habit of reading and studying.

Attempting to compel others to believe and live as we do.

Or slightly more specific:

1. Believing that one man can profit by crushing another.
2. The proclivity people have of worrying about things they cannot change.
3. The tendency people have of insisting that something is "impossible" just because they can't do it, because they can't conceive how such a thing might be accomplished.
4. People holding fast to trivial pride, preference, and prejudice.
5. The fact that people stop learning and do not continue to hone their minds, particularly by acquiring the habit of reading and studying.
6. People's consistent and insistent attempts to compel others to believe and live as they do.

I find it amazing how a guy who lived over 2000 years ago can devise a philosophy that a) is still so relevant and 2) can so closely mirror everything I have noticed and am currently experiencing with people both close to me and society in general.

I believe this is an indication to the truths of human nature. "We" progress in many way, technologically, economically, mechanically, and so on, however, socially, and as human's we have an underlying foundation of behavior which can be applied to any age.

In short, people have a real tendency to suck ass and be lazy if you leave the majority to their own devices.

For me this is incredibly frustrating and annoying. I'm a card carrying idealist and dreamer, yet, I'm very frustrated by illogical actions and situations.

Take for example the current energy situation: does global warming exist? Should we be using foreign oil or drilling anywhere there is a slight possibility and trying to squeeze every drop out of sand, shale, whale brains and anywhere else?

It's all moronic and painfully illogical. Fact; burning oil is bad. It's dirty, inefficient, expensive, and politically complicated. Fact; American's are a gluttonous lot.

There should be no debate about global warming, oil, usage, etc. It's as simple as there are opportunities for better options. There are avenues to be explored that are not being considered or utilized for political or economic reasons. "We" are stagnating for stagnation sake. Change is needed, possible, and scary. However, humanity, Americans, are stuck in at least 3 of Cicero's six, if not all of them.

Hey, but this takes us to #2 right, why should I worry. Well, I suppose for some reason I don't think it's hopeless and unchangeable.

Which brings me back to me and triathlon. I too am seeing Cicero's six popping up daily and significantly in my life. There are the psychic vampires that want to see you fail or at least drag you down (3,4, and 6). There are those who have forsaken me and my ambitions (1,3,4,5 and 6). And there's me (at least a bit #2 on that one).

Look, this isn't a bloch session (blog bitch session, I just made that up). The point is, what Cicero tells us is lots of people suck, it's just human nature but we/I can't stress on that (#2). You have to accept it, realize that a few of us humans have known this for over 2000 years, and move on to accomplish success.

So, after all that rambling my point is, by rediscovering Cicero I've found comfort in his words and significance in my dreams and pursuits. I cannot hope to find belief from others but only within myself. It is my faith that will lead to success and enlighten non-believers.

I know it's a bit hokey but the philosophical, psychological stuff usually is.

The point is, understanding this stuff will make me a badder ass athlete, and that's the point right?

Jimmy

PS. stuff like badder ass is on purpose, so Jordan Rapp can suck it. ;)