No two words in the English language snuggle and spoon each other quite like the words free and time. I believe it is impossible to say "free time" aloud without smiling. Whether or not you have an exciting day-gig, like the many happy folk of Astro Studios, free time is never to be taken lightly, frittered away or wasted. "How was your weekend?" can quickly turn into bravado and probable fish tales, but the following is true, and none of the photos have been doctored.

Jeff Nebolini, Astro lead graphic designer and cyclocross racer, just wrapped up his 2009 competitive season. The new year couldn't have come sooner for Jeff, who's body is thrashed after 15 intense races around Northern California and the Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships in Portland, OR. It's no wonder that his bones need some patching.

Cyclocross races are dirty, dangerous, and as Jeff puts it, "BRUTAL." The courses are rife with a myriad of obstacles such as steps, barriers, ravines, steep slopes and deep mud or sand that require carrying the bike while running. The competitions, usually consisting of multiple laps around a short-ish track, are "always flat out sprints that last around 45 minutes to an hour."

Although "Work Hard, Play Hard", might be cringe-inducing bumper sticker rhetoric, it is appropriate for this hard working, harder riding cyclocrosser.

Jeff, we salute you.

Please check back for our future installments of "Free Time" to see what the Astro crew does for kicks and giggles.