Garrett Peltonen

www.garrettpeltonen.missingsaddle.com

2006-05-26T17:12:00.000-07:00

I have officially moved to:

www.garrettpeltonen.missingsaddle.com

for good.

later,

Ambien Bird Flu

2006-05-24T07:46:00.000-07:00

Jones taking off his "travel socks" outside of Atlanta's Hatfield Jackson Airport.
Hollywood back at home this morning and I quote "looking good despite not have showered in several days and only getting five hours of sleep last night".

Hollywood and I made it back to Folsom last night at around 12:30 AM after flying out from Brussels about a day earlier.

Nothing too exciting happened on the way home except that I was "probed" by security at the Brussels airport for having a CO2 cartridge in my bike bag. I was a bit nervous when two dudes and a lady escourted me into a large stainless steel room and started interrogating me but I survived.

Then on the flight from Brussels to Atlanta I was awoken from a peaceful sleep by a dude who passed out on his way to the bathroom. He passed out, collapsed, and hit his head on my knee which woke me up. The guy did not die or anything but I guess he had some heart problems so they gave him oxygen and sent him to first class (I would put money on the fact that he had a headache the rest of the afternoon).

The rest of the flights/connections were really long but eventually Karl and I made it to Sacramento. I wonder if Sayers made it back yet? He had problems with his ticket and put on a different flight than Karl and I which had an extra layover in LA. If it makes you feel any better Mike, Karl and I sat on the runway in Chicago for over an hour waiting for baggage to be loaded.

As a side note I would recommend not taking a cab from Folsom to the Sacramento airport because it will cost you about $90 dollars................and that is without champagne.

Now it is time to drag my "Ambien Bird Flu" ass to the doctor so I can get fixed up for philly week. I wonder if they have ever heard of it before? Jones diagnosed me.................

later,

Petri Dish of Disease on the Loose

2006-05-22T06:15:00.000-07:00

I was allowed out of quarantine today and went downtown Kortrijk to do some shoppeing with staff (Jeff, Kim, and Chad). I still don't think I am allowed to be around riders or maybe everyone just runs and hides when I come around ;-(.

Jeff Corbett told me this morning that, "It is not that we don't like you Garrett it is just that you are a big petri dish of disease!" That made me feel all warm inside!

It was nice to get out of the house and walk around a bit. I tried on a really expensive pair of pants at a store just for the hell of it and they fit great..........go figure! I have concluded that anything over $250 no matter what size will fit you great. Instead of buying the pants I purchased two Coca-Lights which made me happy for about thirty seconds.

Now I should get ready and pack for the flight home tomorrow. I think that we are leaving in the morning and we should get back sometime Tuesday evening?

later,

PS. I believe it is Frank Pipp's birthday today so happy birthday old man.

Peace Race

2006-05-21T05:15:00.000-07:00

The hotel that we stayed at in Oudenaarde, Belgium had a crazy bike that would go the opposite way you would turn the handlebars. No one on the team was able to ride it.
Arriving at the airport in Belgium on our way to the start of the Peace Race in the Czech Republic.
Jeff "afro" Louder's passport picture. Honestly, I wish I could have hair like that.
My grapefruit art. I was impressed but everyone else thought it was childish.
We thought we saw Gord at the airport but then realized it could not be him since he was winning races in Arkansas.
Jones saved Kim and I seats in the exit row on the plane so we had more leg room.
Snow covered mountains in Austria.
The terrain on our way to Ceske Budejovice, Czech Repbulic where we stayed for the first few nights of the Peace Race.
Jones and I in the town square of Ceske Budejovice.
Franky (our assistant director over here and owner of cyclingsolutions.com and all around good guy) and Jones eating pizza and drinking beer in a Czech bar.
A big cool looking building in the Czech Republic.
Chad thinking about what kind of beer he wants for dinner.
Testing out saddles on local commuter bikes to see what one feels the best with my saddle sore. We had to wait until evening before going down and jacking the saddle from the bike though.
A Mexican restaurant that we ate and and the waitress that several memebers of the team thought was rather attractive.
Sunset over the city in the Czech Republic.
Jeff and Kirk having a coffee before the start of stage 4.
The finish of one of the stages in the Czech Republic.
Mike Jones trying to please all of the members of his fan club.

Bec, this one is for your friend Tricia. Jones spotted the sticker on one of the team cars so I took a picture. I thought she would like it.

The Peace Race is officially over and we are all back in Belgium for a few days before flying back to the States.

It ended up being pretty successfull for us with Kirk getting third on the sixth stage and Hollywood getting second the following day. Getting on the podium over here is really tough so awesome job guys.

I had a bit of a rough Peace Race personally or at least the last few days. I came into the race without riding due to the massive growth on my ass and was not too confident how long I could go before it got worse again.

Considering that it rained almost every day of the race my ass was not doing that bad. However, halfway through the race the antibiotics I was on ran out and from there things went down hill.

I made it through stage six and that evening I got SICK. I seriously thought I was going to die and even had to go and wake Kim up at 3 AM to have her check that I was not dying. She assured me that I was not dying and sent me back to bed with no drugs! Apparently what she gave me before I went to bed was suppose to last all night but I took them all at once! More is better anyway, right?

Jeff did not allow me to start the next stage even though I felt better in the morning. I was/am bummed but I have to say I think that might have been a good thing since I got worse over the next two days.

Today I am still garbage but at least I can move. I really don't know what else I can say.........I am frustrated and bummed but sometimes things are out of your control..............I think? Who knows or maybe I am just a "soft cock" like Menzies says!

I might be a bit bummed at the moment but I learned a ton racing over here and I really really like it. I also gained a ton of confidence and am looking forward to Philly week.

Back to quarantine............I am staying by myself is social isolation so I don't get anyone else sick. I wonder what the rest of the guys are up to?

later,

Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

2006-05-12T09:02:00.000-07:00

I am not really sure how to pronounce the name of the town that we are staying in (Ceske Budejovice) but do know that it is somewhere in Czech Republic.

Yesterday was a pretty long travel day. We left Oudenaarde, Belgium around noon and flew to Salzburg, Austria (I think?). From there we drove many hours on a narrow death road until we finally reached this town in the Czech Republic.

The Czech Republic is cool with all of it's old buildings but it does have a bit of a rough war torn look to it! After traveling to all of these new places I really regret not paying attention in my World history classes. I am pretty much relearning history all over again which is cool.

The best part about the trip here aside from the fact that I got another stamp in my passport was the "bush hookers" along the road at the border of Austria and the Czech Republic. Honestly, in the middle of nowhere these girls dressed in white would come out of the woods/bush and onto the road looking for buisness. I wonder what would happend if I stopped the van to take a leak there? I think I am going to have to try and get a picture with them on the way back through.........I don't think a picture will cost me?

Today I went for a bit of a ride which was my first in five days. I felt okay or at least I was able to ride my bike so that gives me a little optimism for tomorrow. It is funny because Jeff only wanted me to ride for an hour so I was a good boy and did what I was told. I rode a half hour out with the guys and then rode back into town alone. Needless to say the way that I took back into town was cobbled for about 10KM which was awesome for my ass.

Aside from that I did a little shopping today in the town square and now am waiting for dinner.

Tomorrow the Peace race starts and to be honest I would say I am a little nervous. One good thing is that at least I have eight days for my legs to come around!

Time to go watch some foreign tv..............

later,

R & D

2006-05-11T01:04:00.000-07:00

I spent most of yesterday hanging out with Chad an Kim. A few minutes after taking this picture the ice cream truck went by so guess what? We had ice cream! Also notice Chad working on my saddle.
Chad hard at work cutting a huge hole in my saddle so I can actually ride.
Another angle of Chad cutting up a really really expensive Carbon/titanium light weight Fizik saddle.

I got a bit of good news yesterday and think I might be able to actually ride my bike! I still have my little friend on my ass and think that he might stay around for awhile. Since we could not fix the source of the problem (the saddle sore) Chad our mechanic decided that we should accomodate the source. This meant cutting a huge hole in the saddle to reduce the pressure on the sensitive area and allowing me to ride.

It is sort of ironic how I am always adjusting my saddle and am really particular about the slant of the thing even if it is only a quarter of a degree. Now, hunks are being hacked out of it and I only have half of a saddle to ride on. I don't think the slant matters as much anymore?

I did give the new "saddle sore accomodating seat" a test ride around the block and it felt okay...........or at least I could sit down and ride. That gave me some a little morale boost with the Peace race on a few days away.

Not exercising and riding lately has been killing me. I pretty much ride every day and it must be sort of an addiction because without it I get sort of bummed. Over the past few days though I have found sone ways to combat the bummedness. First, it helps to drink a ton of coffee............coffee can make anything feel better. Second, I found chatting with one of your best friends girlfriends helps(sorry Frank......I don't think you have to worry though I got a huge growth on my ass). Third, large quantities of beer can also make a bad situation better or any other alcoholic beverage for that matter. Fourth, Belgian chocolate covered waffles that are deep fried and sugar coated can also make you smile. Lastly, I think being super annoying to your teamates also helps.

I am going to go do a little stretching and then we have to catch a plane to Austria.

later,

Jones's Euro Ride

2006-05-10T03:34:00.000-07:00

Since I cannot ride Jones was nice enough to take my camera with him on his ride yesterday and take some pictures for the blog. "Dude you had better be careful with my camera I think that might be a good way to drop it?"

Some very nice and smooth cobbles that really are not that smooth but they get much worse.
The Koppenburg which is a famous cobbled climb that is in the spring classic "Flanders" I think? Anyway it is really close to the hotel that we are staying at.
They love cycling over here.

Well, I made it through yesterday without riding but I think I annoyed everyone in the house and I think I even annoyed myself. Jones even told me that if I did not shut up he was going to "try" and beat the crap out of me.

I have a bit of a hard time sitting still and when I cannot go ride or even worse when everyone else is out riding and I am sitting in the hotel like a sack it kills me. Jones did take my camera out on his ride and take some pictures for me so I did get to experience somewhat of a ride (pictures above and thanks Mike). I pretty much spent all of yesterday pacing back and forth, being annoying, checking my email every three minutes or chatting with Steph on IM.

Last night we did go to an awesome town in Belgium called Ghent for dinner. It is a college town and there were a lot of people our age there so it was fun. Definitely good for me to get out of the house.

I also found out the logistics for the next few days. Tomorrow we are leaving Belgium and flying to Austria for the start of the Peace Race on Saturday. That means we will have a day to hang out in Austria before the start of the race and hopefully I can get a ride in!!! The race starts in Austria and then goes to the Czech Republic and finally finishes in Germany so it will be an awesome experience. The stages look tough an pretty mountainous and plus the race is eight days long so it should be rather epic.

At the moment I am waiting for my ride (Franky) to show up so we can go to a bike shop and look for some saddle options/accessories that will allow me to ride. I think he might be here.........

Oh, I also stopped drinking diet soda again or am going to ease of it because I drank WAY too much the past few days and think it made me feel crappy??

later,

I Remember One Time in Europe When I Could Not Ride My Bike and was Really Bored

2006-05-09T02:48:00.000-07:00

The CSC team doctor who checked out my saddle sore yesterday morning! No wonder why the CSC guys always want to get hurt!
Jones pissed that he did not have a saddle sore so he could have gotten an exam.
The downtown square in Oudenaarde, Belgium close to where we are staying. The have markets and stuff in the square where the cars are parked on certain days of the week.
A big old building in downtown Oudenaarde in the daylight.
The same building but at night.
Last nights dinner at an Italian joint. I don't drink anything with dinner because they don't give you free water. When you ask for water it costs two Euro and is that bubbly crap............and beer is the same price. Doug also came out to eat with us last night which was awesome since he stayed back in Belgium during Dunkerque because of his hip. It sounds like he is feeling better but his diagnosis is still rather unclear at least until he gets back to the states.
A good time not to ask Chad our mechanic to fix something on my bike.

Karl "internet hog" Menzies.............no actually Karl is nice and lets me use his big bed and and surf the net in his room. Thanks!

Yesterday morning I had a doctors appointment with the CSC team doctor here in town to check out my saddle sore. The girl in the picture above was not really doctor she was just a cute girl in a magazine but I wish she would have been my doctor.

The actual doctor was a guy and he was really nice. However, he looked at my ass and was like....."ooooooh" and when a doctor does that it usually is not good. He told me I had a nice infection going or abscess and that my lymph nodes are swollen. I was given a prescription for some antibiotics, special creams, and three days off of the bike. If it does not get better after this then we have to explore some other options which I plan on avoiding.

One thing good is that the hotel that we are staying at has internet and some English speaking music channels (the Shakira song "My Hips Don't Lie" is what gets me through the day) otherwise I would not know what to do with myself. I have also been eating a ton but I guess that is normal since my ass is pregnant and I am eating for two!

I believe that on Thursday we are catching a plane to Germany for the start of the Peace race which starts on Saturday but we have not gone over logisitics yet so that is about all I know.

Okay, time to run and get some more Coca-Cola Light.........I am on a roll yesterday I went on a bender and drank 4.5 Liters..............maybe that is why I had a hard time falling asleep last night?

later,

I Remember One Time in Europe When I Got a Huge Saddle Sore.......

2006-05-07T08:56:00.000-07:00

The first hotel that we stayed at in Kortrijk, Belgium.
Mike and Mike on the coast of the North Sea getting ready for Dunkerque.

Me on the coast in Northern France.
This man is very angry...........he lost his vest at Georgia and the fan who found it has yet to return it. If you are the fan that found Mike Sayers vest at Georgia please give it back becuase it was his special vest and I don't like it when Mike is angry. If you are the vest theif please send me an email and I will happily provide you with an address to where to send the vest and I am sure Mike will reimburse the shipping. Thank you.
Me before the start of stage three.
Me after stage three trying to cool down with an ice bath.

Hi everyone………….it has been awhile since my last update but don’t blame me for that blame the French. I have been in France for the last week and apparently they do not believe in the internet. In fact I don’t even think they know what it is……….I guess why do you need internet when there are baguettes?

The past week has definitely been an up and down one for me and the team. It started on Tuesday when we drove to Dunkerque in northern France for “Four Days of Dunkerque”. Four Days of Dunkerque is a UCI 2.HC stage race that is actually five days instead of four (go figure)! Until this year I never really knew what UCI rankings meant. What I mean by saying Dunkerque is a UCI 2.HC race was that there were a lot of pro tour teams there and it was really fast. Basically it was one step below pro tour events such as the Giro, Tour, or Veulta.

I definitely got “schooled” in racing this past week! From the gun the hammer would go down and would not ease up until a solid two hours into the race when a break would finally go and we would sit up for a piss and bottles. After that the gas would be back on until about forty kilometers from the finish when it would get crazy fast.

The terrain of the race was comparable to Madison, Wisconsin. For those not familiar with the area it is rolling farmland that is usually windy. Everyday it was a constant battle to stay at the front so that I would not be swinging in the gutter at the back in the constant cross wind. I quickly learned to keep my ass at the front where it was about ten times easier.

Aside from learning how to deal with cross winds I got to do a few sections of pave which was fun but battle the battle for position leading up to it was completely nutz. Without being in the front going into the cobbles there is not much you can do to stay with the front group so I found myself riding on the sidewalk and jumping curbs with many others to stay near the front!

There was pretty much everything from the cross winds and pave I mentioned to tons of turns, tight roads, round abouts, hills, crashes, rain, sun, near crashes getting bottles from team cars, crazy fans……etc. I think I am pretty much prepared for anything now…..except for maybe some really really nice weather.

Each day of racing I gained more and more confidence and so did the team. Mike Sayers got in a 120 km break on the third day that got caught in the finishing circuits which was awesome! Getting into the break in this race is pretty impressive! Kirk also finished 9th in the third stage………anything in the top ten is awesome considering how fast and sketchy the finishes are.

Not everything was great and we did have some bad luck. First, Doug did not start the race because he crashed at Trophie de Grimpeur a few days early and fractured his hip (recover quick Doug). Then Karl got sick and had to abandon the race on stage three with Jones. The following day I ended up with some saddle sore issues and had to pull the plug along with Sayers who had been in the break most of the previous day. Therefore we only ended up with three finishers: Jeff, Kirk, and Alberto who all rode awesome!

I am definitely frustrated/bummed that I did not finish and could not help my teammates but now I have to get ready for the Peace Race which starts on Saturday and is eight stages long! I do really like racing over here though. Tomorrow I start preparing for the Peace race by going CSC team doctor at 10:45 AM so he can fix my infected saddle sore! I think it going to hurt and will probably involve some hot sharp objects but hopefully I can walk normal once it is fixed!

Aside from the race we drove from France to our new hotel in Oudenaarde, Belgium which gratefully has internet and everyone is catching up! We will be staying here until Thursday which will be nice. That is all that I have for tonight.

later,

I Remember One Time in Europe..........

2006-05-01T02:19:00.000-07:00

Going through customs in Atlanta.
Waiting for our ride to pick us up at the Brussels airport.
Sayers fixing a flat on our second ride in Belgium.
Waiting for a ship to go under the bridge somewhere in Beglium.
The cafe that we stopped at by the "Muur" a cobbled climb in Flanders which is somewhere in Belgium.
Not only do you need an outlet adapter here but you need a voltage converter. The 230 euro volts burned out Menzies 120 volt hair clippers halfway through his haircut. It definitely made for an interesting night out on the town that evening.
New team issue Rudy Project casuals. I think girls really dig the "smart" look?
Mike S., Alberto, and my room the first few nights in Kortrijk, Belgium.
Pissing out of the side door of the van on the interstate on the way to the race . When you gotta go you gotta go.
Jones and my bed at the race hotel.......it was quite romantic.

Wow, it has been a long time since my last update. I am sorry but things have been absolutely crazy the last week. Here is a quick recap on what happened over the past six or seven days.

Over a week ago I was in Tucson, Arizona staying with my brother Shane enjoying the warm weather and doing some training. I left Tucson last Saturday (9 days ago) after being there fore ten days and getting a rather nice tan.

From Tucson I drove home to Folsom and made it back early Sunday. I quickly repacked my clothes and hitched a ride to Nicole Sayers house who was nice enough to bring me to the airport at 4:30 AM Monday morning.

Monday I spent all day at the airport traveling from Sacramento to Atlanta. I made it to Atlanta around 5:00 PM on Monday where Becca was waiting to pick me up at the airport. I was able to hang out with her all of Monday evening which was awesome…..even though she had to ditch her classes that afternoon. We spent most of the afternoon with Jones hanging out at Moe’s (a burrito place) chatting. Then it got late and Jones and I had to go to bed and Becca had to go back home………..that always sucks  but it was a great visit.

Tuesday was another epic day at the airport. We (Karl, Mike S., Doug, Kirk, Mike J., Jeff, Kim, and me) flew from Atlanta to Brussels, Belgium and did not get in until 9:00 AM Wednesday morning!

Wednesday was a complete brothel! Everyone was completely knackered and it was an effort to simply stay awake. I think we all wanted to go to bed but forced ourselves to stay up so we could sleep that evening and get back on some sort of a schedule!

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, we spent at our hotel in Kortrijk, Belgium which is close to the French border. We did a few longer rides in the cold Belgian wind and even got to do some of the cobbled climbs that they do in the big sping Classics over here (Muur, and Koppenberg).

Saturday we were on the road again traveling to the northern outskirts of Paris for the Trophie de Grimpeur race. The hotel we stayed at was the closest think to a crack house without actually being one……….or at least I think it was not one? There was a twenty four hour porn channel on the hotel television so at least they were looking out for us there! I guess the race organizers for these Euro races tend to flick Americans and give us less than comfortable accommodations but in the end that does not mean shit!!

Sunday was the Trophie de Grimpeur a 140 km UCI 1.1 race. On the way to the race in the morning I was able to see the Eiffel Tower in the distance but that was about it. The rest of the day I spent staring cross eyed at the wheel in front of me and trying not to freeze to death!

Half an hour before the race got underway it started to rain and continued to rain for the remainder of the three and a half hour race. This was not an ordinary rain…………….it was almost snow! I shit you not………it was probably 40 degrees and I could see me breath. Definitely a long way from Arizona!

Not only was the weather miserable but I have never experienced a faster start to a race in my life nor have suffered that much before. For the first quarter of the race I was at the back barely hanging on and would look forward to this steep climb in the circuit because it would slow down from 60 kph. I could not eat or shift because my fingers were soo froze it was hell!

Eventually I came around and by the end my legs ended up being okay. Karl and I were in a second group and ended up getting seventh (Karl) and tenth (me). With all things considered I think it was one of the hardest races I have ever done. Now we are up for a couple of days of rest before 4 Days of Dunkurque starts on Wednesday.

Maybe it won’t be cold, windy, and rainy? Probably not but a little optimism never hurts.

later,
g.

P.S. I will try to update when I can but it will probably be a bit infrequent becuase finding interent over here is like finding a Starbucks............rather non-existent!

On the Road Again

2006-04-23T20:49:00.000-07:00

After being gone for two weeks the weather in Folsom has improved from biblical rains to cloudy. Hey, maybe when I get back from Europe it will be sunny?

Day 1 = No Diet Soda

I am just joking on the new soda count but actually I did not have a diet soda today. That is the first day without any diet soda in about a week and to be honest I felt kind of sluggish! I guess I will have to drink twice as much tomorrow.

I have a headache at the moment because I was trying to upload some photos on the new website but could not figure it out. Therefore I am back on blogger or at least until I learn the other site better or find a way to utilize both. The missingsaddle site has gabcast feature where I can give an audio updates via my phone so maybe the will be my exclusive audio site. I will keep you updated but for now I am back here.

Anyway here is a quick recap of the past day and a half:

Yesterday was what I would call a loooooooooooooong travel day! I ended up leaving Tucson around 1:30 yesterday afternoon after getting up smoking early to do the shoot-out/Madera Canyon ride at 6:30 AM.

My last ride in Tucson yesterday was completely lovely! It really did not cool down at all in the evening so it was nearly seventy degrees in the morning! I was able to ride at 6:30 AM without armwarmers…………now that is impressive…………….and really really nice.

The ride ended up being about five hours and when I got back I had to pack quickly so that I could get on the road for my fourteen hour drive back to Folsom.

The drive back was epic. For the first half of the trip I was sweating balls in the Jeep becuase I have no a/c and it was 95 F. On top of that there was a huge cross and since I had all of the windows open I got coated in a nice layer of dust! The dust made me look a little more tan so it was not that bad

I also almost ran out of gas…….not like I have ever did that before or anything! There is a strecth of desert just east of Blythe, CA that is pretty desolate meaning there is a lack of service stations. Anyway, I was chatting away on my phone and not really paying attention so I must have missed the “next services 55 miles ahead” sign along the side of the road. I will just say that my cortisol levels increased for about the next fourty five minutes but I did not end up running out of gas! Lucky, I am a cyclist and know about drafting big semi-trucks.

I made it back home around 5AM this morning a few hours later than I expected since I took a bit of a roadside nap somewhere near Bakersfield. I got a few more hours of sleep once I got home and then had to repack. I figured that it is not going to be as warm in Europe as it is in Tucson so I added a few sweatshirts to my luggage.

Tonight I am spending the night at the Sayers’ residence and Nicole is bringing me to the airport at 430Am. I definitely owe her huge for bringing me to the airport at such an ungodly hour………thanks!

later,

g.

New Site!

2006-04-19T13:47:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I am being set up with a new site from the guys at missingsaddle.com. It will be the same blog just with basically the same format just a different address:

Find the new site at:

www.garrettpeltonen.missingsaddle.com

I should be updating tonight if I am not completely knackered like I am at the moment. Let me know how you like it and I will leave this post up in case you new directions to my new blog.

later,

Big Pickle

2006-04-17T19:41:00.000-07:00

Shane thinks he looks better with short hair!!!!!!!

The start of my sun burned stomach..............it has gotten much worse since I took this picture about three hours ago! The sun in the dessert is intense. I am going to get a lovely nights rest this evening........son of a..............

I have been cycling for about three years and over that period of time I have traveled many places and met many interesting people. However, on Sunday's group ride to Mammoth, Arizona I met the most interesting person to date whom I will call "Big Pickle." (No, it is not the pickle you are thinking about!)

The Sunday group ride is a 100 mile ride that leaves Tucson, goes to Mammoth, stops at the Circle K gas station in Mammoth, and then back to Tucson. It was a good ride to Mammoth and I was excited to get to the gas station so I could adjust my ill fitting saddle and get an ice cold Diet Mountain Dew.

While drinking the Diet Mountain outside the gas station I noticed that one dude on the ride was eating one of those huge pickles that I always see in bars or convience stores but never thought anyone actually ate. I would think it was gross if I saw someone eating one of those things at home but not halfway through a bike ride when it is 90 plus degrees!! Plus, this is me that thinks this is gross and I am the one who gets ripped on by Sayers and Hollywood for eating string cheese and strawberry milk at store stops!

Not much is known about "Big Pickle" becuase I don't think anyone has talked to him but apparently he was spotted outside of a store in Tucson eating yet another one of these large pickles with a gel a few days back! I don't know the logic behind this pickle eating but I am very curious. I wonder what would cause some to crave a large pickle on a hot long ride? Now not only does Tucson have the notorious "Grey Wolf" but "Big Pickle" has arrived on the scene.

Today was an easy day which was great. I spent a bit of time by Jason Karew's pool and even jumped in........of course I jumped into the shallow end since I can't swim! Karew is letting us stay with him for the night until the termites are all killed at Dan's house.

The pool was fun but I got fried! My back and chest are soooo burnt and hot it is crazy! I am getting worried because it is getting hotter and more red as the evening progresses. I hope it does not blister! Time to go apply some aloe......

later,
g.

Termites

2006-04-16T18:26:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I am being evicted from Dan’s guest house because of some lousy termites. I have never actually seen or met a termite in person before but I can still say that I cannot stand them. Dan has termites in his house and is having some exterminator people come over tomorrow morning at 8AM to gas the things to death. Therefore, Shane and I have to leave the premises for twenty four hours. I had better make sure that I set my alarm and I actually get up when it goes off in the morning because I don’t think it would be a good thing to be sleeping when they start pumping the gas into the house! Maybe though the gas would help me sleep for a few days and once I woke up I would be really recovered?

Training has been going awesome down here. I have been riding a lot and aside from a few clouds one day it has been sunny and hot. I have even been doing a little sun bathing in the back yard after my rides. I am maximizing my time in the sun because once I leave I am not sure when I am going to see it again! Plus it would be awesome to be able to take off my shirt and not have it look like I am wearing long brown gloves.

Maybe the sun will even help me get some abs? I figure that my abs are used to the dark because I usually have a shirt or jersey on. Maybe if I expose my stomach to the sun my abs might get curious and come to the surface to see what is going? Probably not but I think it is worth a shot anyway.

After logging five good days of training I am up for an easy day or two and then one more block before heading back to Folsom. I will be back in Folsom for a day or so and then on Monday the 24th I fly to Atlanta. I meet up with my teammates there and the next day we head off to Europe.

I hope that everybody had an awesome Easter and has eaten a Cadbury Egg for me. I actually got some Cadbury Eggs in the mail yesterday (Thanks Meg you made yesterday’s awesome day at least ten times more awesomer) and after today’s hard ride I had a few of them………..I am not going to go into specifics regarding amount eaten but I will say they were good!

later,
g.

Guest House

2006-04-14T21:32:00.000-07:00

Relaxing on my bed in Dan's guest house where Shane and I are staying. Shane's bed is under mine and it gets slid out every evening and put back in the day so there is some space to move around. The kitchen is behind me. It is sort of like camping in a big RV!

Shane "Cheap Bastard" Peltonen putting his groceries away in the kitchen.
The bathroom sink which also doubles as the kitchen sink!

This morning I awoke at 6:30 AM so in order to be riding by 7:30AM. I don’t know why but it seems like people who live in the desert like to do things early. Probably because it gets hot here in the afternoon but even so it is still rather annoying. I definitely prefer the 10:00 AM ride schedule that Menzies and I have adopted back in Folsom. That way I am able to drink my coffee, check my email, and most importantly do my abs before riding. Here I am riding too early to do my abs before and it is a struggle to do them after the ride especially when it is 100F in the guest house. I still do them don’t get me wrong but it is just more difficult.

Another slight annoyance is the fifty degree nighttime temperature fluctuation of the guest house I am staying in. It especially sucks since I don’t have a blanket to cover up with at night. When I go to bed it is rather toasty (~95 F) so I only have to wear my sleeping shorts and even with the ceiling fan on I am still sweating balls. However, by the time the morning rolls around it gets pretty cold (~55 F) and my sleeping shorts alone are not nearly enough to keep me warm.

I have worked out a pretty efficient system to deal with this temperature change. Before hitting the hay at night I set a pair of sweat pants, socks, and a hooded sweatshirt next to the bed. Usually around 3:30AM I end up getting up because I am cold bundle up with all of the clothes I had set next to the bed and that usually gets me through until morning. Maybe I should just buy a blanket to cover up with because that would be easier but what fun would that be?

I also had an appointment at a local salon this afternoon to get my haircut. Well, it really wasn’t a salon and I did not have an appointment but I did get my hair cut. I went to the Arizona Barber College where they let aspiring barbers/barberettes cut hair to gain experience for a future job. Going to places like these is sort of a gamble because you never know what you are going to get but one thing for sure is that good or bad the haircut will be cheap!

I got lucky and won the haircutting lottery today. Not only was the girl who cut my hair EXTREMELY attractive but she did an awesome job! Honestly it was the best hair cut/hair cut experience I ever had and it only cost me $4!! I did end up leaving a $5 tip so the grand total was $9 but it was worth it. Holy crap, I just did the math and I left a 125% tip…….damn I am nice. I am honestly contemplating going back and getting another haircut tomorrow!

Time for bed I have to get up early to do the shoot-out tomorrow. For those of you that don’t know the shoot-out is Tucson’s regular world championship ride that happens every Saturday.

later
g.

Breaking News!

2006-04-13T19:42:00.000-07:00

Today's ride went to the top of this moutain (Kitt Peak). It is a hundred and twenty mile out and back ride with a tweleve mile climb up Kitt Peak. At the top there are all kinds of crazy observatories where very pastey looking/nerdy/smart guys look at the stars in the evening.
Is that Pedro from Napolean Dynamite? The route to Kitt peak is hot bed for illegal immigration and unfortunately for this group they are being sent back to Mexico. I have never actually seen this before so it was sort of neat!
Mey at the base of Kitt Peak. Notice the blue sky and you cannot see it but trust me it was hot...........I think it was 95 F today. Good for the tan!

It is officially over...........I completely cracked and am off the wagon! I drank a Diet Soda at hour five of my six hour hundred and twenty mile jaunt in ninety plus degree heat. I could not resist the temptation of those new "Vault" Diet sodas. Not only did it quench my thirst but it felt like gold going down my throat. I am back on baby!!!!

I am not sure how many days it has been since my last diet soda becuase I stopped counting after one hundred days of diet soda sobriety. One thing I do know for sure is that is has been way too long and I have been missing out on one of the finer things in life!

Why did I stop drinking diet soda in the first place?? Honestly I am not sure maybe it was stupidity on my part or just to show people that I could! Whatever the reason was it does not matter anymore because those days are behind me and now I have to focus on the future and the return of a dear friend to my life.

After experiencing both the non diet soda drinking lifestyle and the diet soda drinking lifestyle I have a question for my readers. Why would someone would want to drink water when diet soda tastes soo good, has zero calories, quenches your thirst, and has little bubbly things! Sometimes when I am drinking the shit it tastes soo good I have to look at the label to make sure it has zero calories. Something that delightful must have calories but everytime I check the label I see my little zero buddy in the calorie row......and I continue to drink away!

Becca has come up with an interesting diet soda theory. She has theorized that soda companies will take over the mortuary buisness. It has been claimed that ingredients in diet soda break down to formaldehyde in the body. This means that soda companies would not only be making money selling the soda but they would be saving money on formaldehyde for embalming bodies. It is an interesting theory and sounds crazy but I guess people did say Einstein was crazy.

After getting back from today's epic ride in the head and showering I had to run to the local bike shop to get my crank put back on. Yeah, when I got home my crank fell off......too much power I guess??? I got things sorted out at the bike shop and from there I proceeded to the gas station where I bought a twelve pack of ice cold diet Pepsi. At that moment I realized I was completely off the wagon.......again!

I did feel sort of like a construction worker buying a twelve pack on the way home after a hard day of work. However, I am not a construction worker (but was once) and I was not buying beer but instead diet soda. However, I do see a parallel between construction workers and beer and cyclists and diet soda!

Other than that I ended up getting another flat on the ride today and like I said yesterday I let a few loud vulgarities fly. It felt good.

Time for a little R&R hopefully I am not too jittery from all of the diet soda?

later,

The Desert is Dry

2006-04-12T19:32:00.000-07:00

On the road yesterday morning and guess what? It was precipitating again!

Getting up at 4:30AM in the morning to bring Hollywood to the airport was rough so I had to drink a lot of coffee on the drive. I bought a new mug at the Starbucks just north of LA becuase my old one broke. This one has a new fancy top and it is cool because it looks like the paper ones they normally give you but it is hard plastic. I also bought it becuase they were running a special that if you buy a mug you can get any drink you want in it for free. I got the mug and opted for a more expensive drink than the regular black coffee I usually get even though I really only wanted coffee.
Six Flags Magic Mountain in LA. I can't believe I used to ride things as a could......well I probably still could but I would need to take one of those little vomit bags.
A picture of a Dodge Viper in my rear view mirror that was tailgating me. Cool car though!
Holy crap is that sun??? I must be in Arizona.

A lovely sunset in the DRY desert.

Ahhhh a motorcycle ride in the evening would be awesome! I don't have a motorcyle but even a walk on a warm clear evening like this would be lovely!

Let me first start by saying that Desert is a hard word to spell. I was tempted to spell it "dessert" but I think that is becuase I have not had any dessert this evening and I am thinking about it. I am going to eat a well deserved dessert in the dry desert tonight though! I am slightly paranoid of making dumb mistakes lately after posting that I was looking forward to the Thai food in Taiwan!

Yesterday was a long day spent mostly in the car driving from Folsom, CA to Tucson, AZ. I had to get up really early and bring Karl to the Sacramento airport so he could catch his 6AM flight to Barbados. Did you make it there Hollywood and is it sunny? I did see that he packed his surf shorts and I hope that he is using them.

After dropping Hollywood off I started the 14 hour drive to Tucson. Nothing too exciting happend along the way. There was the usual rain in northern California and then as I got more south towards LA the rain stopped and it was just cloudy.

However, as I got closer to Arizona the clouds disappeared and it became sunny and hot. I really could not believe it but I had the windows down in the car with my hair blowing in the wind. I think the hair blowing in the wind part is reserved for girls but nonetheless it was warm.

I was soo excited that I stopped for an hour spin in Blythe, California even though the town is a complete shithole. (I had to stay there in the back of my car for an extended period of time a few years back while my tranmission was getting replaced my a mechanic named Angel. Honest to God!) The ride was still enjoyable though.

In Tucson I am staying with my brother Shane who is living in a guy named Dan's guest house. I am not sure if people are suppose to live in guest houses but that is what my brother is doing. Technically I guess I am staying in Dan's guest house which is currently occupied by a permanent resident named Shane!

It is interesting the bathroom sink doubles as a kitchen sink but there are two microwaves and we cook our food on hot plates. It is sorta like camping except there is a ceiling fan. More on that later...........

The ride today was awesome........it was 93 F with not a cloud in the sky. I think I am a little red and I don't want to admit it but today was actually sort of hot. I even had the "sweating while eating dinner in a non-airconditioned guest house" syndrome going this evening.

I did flat three times on the ride but I did not get too pissed. However, if I flat tomorrow I am going to have something really loud and vulger to say.

Time to go and sit in front of a fan.

later,

Corti....I Don't Care Anymore!

2006-04-10T11:55:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhhh........back home in rainy Folsom after doing the Santa Cruz crit yesterday with Mike, Hollywood, and Roman. The crit course was pretty fun since it had hairpin turn, a hill, and some rain for the last few laps. Hollywood won his eigth race of the year (if my math is correct and he continues his winning ways he should win around 30 races this year!) and Havoc Sayers got third after pretty much covering every move the entire race.

After getting back to the house last night I found I had a huge Easter package waiting from my mom. She sent Karl and I a bunch of Easter candy and some biscotti (Thanks mom and Karl says thanks also). I pretty much ate all of my candy last night and most of the biscotti this morning with my coffee. I know one thing Cadburry eggs have now taken place of circus peanuts as my favorite food! I think it is awesome how they have the white and yellow of the yolk inside. It is like eating a real egg but it is candy and doesn't have to be cooked.

This morning Karl and I got the results of our blood tests that we took last week. Everything was good and after supplementing with some iron products my ferritin levels improved.

However, cortisol is another story. Both physical and mental stress raise cortisol levels and I figured that it would not be the best idea to stop training. Instead I focused on reducing mental stress and have been practicing breathing when I get pissed and doing other stress reducing techniques in an attempt to lower my cortisol

Hollywood and I also had a little competition to see who had the lowest cortisol. I got absolutely crushed! Menzies levels went from 20 last test to 12 this time. I on the other hand went from 25 last time to 24 this time. Since cortisol causes belly fat and Karl's levels are half of what mine are I think that means my stomach is twice as fat as his???? That can't be true. My levels have to be high becuase the blood people had to draw blood from me twice which made my levels high.

I officially don't care about cortisol anymore............maybe that will reduce some stress and lower my levels by not caring? With how the weekend went I probably should not have challenged Karl to the cortisol competition but the only way to get better is by being beat...........I think?

Enough of that nonsense. I talked with my brother Shane, who lives in Tucson, this morning and I am planning on driving down there tomorrow and staying for ten days before heading off to Europe. It is suppose to be 90 F and sunny there which will be a great change of pace and good for training. Plus, I would be the only one here in Folsom with Alberto and Karl gone.

Karl is going to Barbados tomorrow to sort out some Visa stuff. From there he is doing Georgia and then heading off to Europe also. I have to get up really early tomorrow anyway and bring him to the airport. From there I think I am going to head to Tucson. Time to go and pack again......

later,

Sea Otter

2006-04-08T23:54:00.000-07:00

A little Health Net fan at the race today!
Another little Health Netter..........oh wait that is my teamate Kyel Gritters.

Dr. San Jose the team chiropractor looking over some ladies bike who I do not know. Maybe she was asking if her bike could get an adjustment? Dr. San Jose is awesome and gets my back straightened out evertime I see him (Thanks a ton) plus he is an avid blog reader and I sat next to him at dinner tonight.

Yesterday Mike, Hollywood, and I loaded in the team car and drove the three hours to our hotel in Salinas. It was sunny and nice on the drive which was good. However, by the time we got to the hotel and kitted up to ride clouds had rolled in. Needless to say fifteen minutes into our ride it started to rain.........yeeeehaw!

Aside from that in conjunction with the Sea Otter event Health Net corporate has a big convention where employees and their families come to watch the race, eat dinner, hang out, etc. It was awesome to have soo many fans cheering for us at the race today. Thanks guys! We even had the privilge of getting to know many of the Health Net employees becuase both yesterday and tonight we ate dinner with them. Dinner was awesome especially tonight...........I had filet mignon!

How did the race go? Well, the team rode good and Menzies is a machine and ended up second. It was a hard race and we would have liked to have won but I guess if you don't win second is the next best place. I on the other hand was useless..........I forgot how to ride my bike..........very frustrating!!

Tomorrow I am going to do a crit in Santa Cruz with Mike and Karl. The only thing that I know about it is that we are leaving the hotel tomorrow at 9 AM so I should probably get to bed.

Lastly, I just checked the ten day forcast for Sacramento and it calls for rain nine out of the next ten days. I think I might be heading to Tucson to get some sun, clear up this sore throat/head cold thing I got from riding in the rain, and do some good training before heading off to Europe on April 24th. I don't think I have mentioned it yet but I am going to Europe for a month with the team. I am really excited to go but more on another time.

later,

Hollywood

2006-04-06T21:41:00.000-07:00

Is it just me or does it seem like Hollywood Menzies arms have gotten a little bigger? I guess it is true.......Milk it does a body good.

(Courtesy of Becca's photoshop ability)

Today was an easy day and the sun decided to make an appearance. I find it sort of ironic that the one day all week I go short and easy it is sunny out. It was awesome even if I only did an hour and half ride becuase I got that giddy spring feeling. I think it is only going to last for a day though becuase the rain is coming back tomorrow.

This morning Karl and I had to get up early and head to the hospital to get our blood drawn for our quarterly UCI test. We really did not have to get up early but since we are not suppose to eat before our blood is drawn the earlier we get it done the earlier we can eat! Therefore, Karl was up at 4:ooAM and ready to go but I had to tell him the place was not open until eight.

The ladies that drew our blood were really nice. They said they liked me soo much that I had to get the needle twice. It was rather unfair becuase Karl only had to get pricked once. I guess they forgot to draw blood for my cortisol test so they had to go back in and get another vial of blood. Now my cortisol results are going to be all screwed up becuase the process of getting blood drawn the second time was stressful. My cortisol is going to be through the roof.......at least I have an excuse if it is right?

Other than that I brought my car to Sears today to get the flat tire fixed from two weeks ago. I figured I was pushing my luck last week driving to LA and back without a spare tire so I figured it would be best to get the thing fixed. Now I got my spare tire back........which in this case is a good thing!

Before going to Sears Menzies spent a fair amount of time searching for his wallet that he had left in the door compartment of the car. I guess it wasn't his fault though........the pockets in his pants are apparently crap!

Tomorrow morning Karl, Mike and I are driving to Monteray for Sea Otter on Saturday and a local crit on Sunday. Time for bed I have to get up early...............

later,

Ace is the Place

2006-04-04T23:30:00.000-07:00

Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, and more rain. Did I mention that it rained on today's ride? I know that you are probably getting sick of me complaining about the rain but it is getting ridiculous. I am going to go out on a limb and call it a rain of biblical proportions.......I hope that Noah dude is building a new ship becuase it might come in handy pretty soon!

Today I was suppose to ride three hours and do some some sprints, efforts and other fun stuff . I got bundled up in my full rain kit and even rocked the fender........I still got wet. I ended up getting a little turned around on the ride and the planned three hours quickly became five which did not make me happy!

To top that off I got a flat and broke my saddle after hittin a huge pothole. At the bottom of this descent there was a rather large puddle that looked like it would be fun to bomb through. I ended up finding out that it was no ordinary puddle but in fact was a massive pothole that was filled with water. I would describe it more like a little lake in the road. Anyway, I bombed through it and got a front flat, my handlebars slipped down, and I broke a bolt on my saddle. The saddle killed me becuase I had to ride with it really nose up for most of the ride.

When I got back I had to make a run to Ace Hardware and get a new seat post bolt. That store is amazing I think it has everything? There are a lot of old people that work there though and do pretty much nothing.........but I am sure that will be me in the future.

I replaced the bolt and lucky I had marked where the saddle was otherwise three months of adjusting would have gone down the drain. I did have a hard time finding the mark I was using becuase I have so many marks from changing the postion all of the time. I got a bit confused for a minute but I think I got it?

Tomorrow is another long day, Thursday I go and get my blood taken again for UCI stuff and then Friday Karl, Mike, and I are off to Monteray for Sea Otter.

later,

Home Again

2006-04-03T22:28:00.000-07:00

"Brokeback Mountain"

This morning on the drive home from Oxnard I saw a cool rainbow but could not find the gold. It was cool but not really that cool I just get bored while I drive and have to find something to do...........like take a picture or read a map or eat or dig for my camera in a bag in the back seat or pee in a bottle........etc. I managed to keep occupied.
Once it started raining I knew I had to be getting close to being home.

This morning I got up crazy early (5 AMish) but it was not really by choice. I was sleeping in the same room as Frank and Wes and they were getting up early to drive to Boulder this morning so I ended up leaving at the same time.

It was nice though becuase I had hot coffee and oatmeal waiting for me when I got up and there was even a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich for the road. I ended up eating the sandwhich before I was even a block from the house so it did not last long much like that bag of bagels I brought with me!

It was nice because I missed the traffic and got home at a reasonable hour. The six hour drive did end up taking eight becuase I-5 was closed twenty miles from Sacramento. I had to take a detour and sit in traffic. That cracked me since I was soo close to home but it took almost two hours to go twenty miles! I was honking my horn just for the hell of it and people were getting all fired up........sorta funny but not really.

I had to ride the trainer today becuase of the rain.........I really did not feel like getting wet. It looks like I am going to get wet tomorrow though.

I have also been on a roll with baking lately. I made some oatmeal/all bran/peanut butter/raisin cookies the other day in Oxnard and tonight I made some banana raisin walnut bread that is awesome.......or at least that is what Hollywood told me.

Later,

Dairy Queen

2006-04-02T22:36:00.000-07:00

Hey who is that fatty??? Oh it is Frank. I came down to southern California to stay with the TargetTraining boys and do some racing and training. What did we end up doing............going to Dairy Queen.............shit!

This is the best poster ever and it is soo true. I am soo grumpy in the morning it is crazy.......just ask Mike and Nicole Sayers or Becca and they will confirm this. That is why I need a push button espresso coffee maker thing (my birthday is Nov. 2nd)

Today was a good day........it always makes me happy when we set our clocks ahead in the spring and it stays lighter and hour later. I am not the best morning person (in fact I am really grumpy) so I really don't mind if it is dark in the morning...........shit it could be dark until 9AM as long as it does not get dark until late.

Once again I changed something on my bike. In yesterday's race (and many others) my stem felt a touch too long and I kept riding on the nose of my saddle and certain areas got sore. Anyway, it pissed me off so on this mornings pre-race ride I swapped out the 100mm with a 90mm. Now I feel like I am riding a recliner.....it is lovely. I am sure I am going to get ripped on by all of my teamates for having such a short stem (pun intended) and Eric the mechanic is not going to be happy but it is not my fault my body is soo weird.......right?

Today was Garrett Lamire........the course was awesome and it was a fun race. We did not win but Tim and I were in the break and Kyle won the field sprint. The TargetTraining guys rode well with Alejandro winning and Frank "Blizzard" Pipp getting third. I almost got Frank in the sprint though but didn't since he had the weight advantage! Nice racing though guys and thanks for the place to stay.

Tomorrow morning I am heading back to rainy Folsom, CA. Hollywood just e-mailed me the local Folsom weather forcast for the next week and it does not look good. They are calling for a week of rain.........how is northern California not one big lake............I am not sure?

Okay have to run...........

later,

Ridin' and Racing

2006-04-01T21:19:00.000-08:00

Riding along the coast path this morning with Frank.
Another picture of the path on this morning's ride.

Wow..............this is impressive..........I am doing two updates in one day...........I think I deserve a medal.

Today was a pretty busy. After the ride in the morning I had to pack up my stuff to drive the fourty five minutes to the race in Thousand Oaks. We did get to race a Porsche on the insterstate on the way but got blown out of the water.

The race was pretty fun. It was a big circuit with some wind and hills. Roman, Kyle and myself were the only Health Netters racing the race. TJ was there for support which was awesome. Kyle got himself into a break that got caught at the end which was a tough break. We were all riding good but did not get a good result. Hopefully that will be different tomorrow.

After the race I rode back to Frank's house in Oxnard with the TargetTraining boys. I did not win anything in the race but I did win the King of the Mountain Sprint on the way back home. I don't think that matters though?

The best part of the ride home was the stop at Starbucks for a Grande-ExtraHot-NonFat-Decaf-SugarFreeHazelnut-WithTwoPacketsOfSplenda-Latte. The best drink they make and I have to get it extra hot so I don't drink it as fast. I don't think it quite works that way becuase I still drink it as fast and end up with a burned mouth!

Tonight Frank and Wes made some awesome fish tacos and now I think I might contribute and make a touch of peanut butter cookie dough dessert........of course none of it is for me!

I wonder if Hollywood is holding down the fort in Folsom?

later,

Oxnard

2006-04-01T08:13:00.000-08:00

Traffic and rain in Sacramento on yesterdays drive.

My bed at Frank and Wes's in Oxnard.

Wes making himself breakfast..........selfish bastard!
Frank trying to look strong!
Pipp making me some breakfast this morning.

Yesterday I was back on the road after a few short days at home. This weekend I am doing two races down by LA........the Thousand Oaks crit on Saturday and Garrett Lameire crit on Sunday.
I did not end up leaving Folsom until late last night and it was raining once again! The rain made the traffic crazy and it took me almost two hours to get through the Sacramento traffic. It was lovely! The entire drive I was stressing that I would not get a flat tire since I don't have a spare after it was used to fix a flat the other day.

Eventually I made it to Frank and Wes's place in Oxnard without getting a flat. It was pretty late and guess what it was still raining. Honestly, does it ever stop raining in California. I always see commercials on tv about visiting sunny California.........well I am visiting but where is the sun?

Enough about the weather there is no sense in raising my cortisol levels over something I cannot control........right?

Frank me a nice oatmeal breakfast this morning which was great and in my opinion was worth the trip down itself. Now I wonder what Wes is going to make me? It is good to see my teamates from last year but now I have to go and beat them in the race this afternoon.

Time to go for a pre-race ride........

later,

Travel Day

2006-03-29T22:09:00.000-08:00

In the car on the way to the "Bodies Exhibit" and life is good.
Ahhhhh.......happy picture!
Shit........... we are stuck in traffic again!
Hey Becca what do you think about the traffic in Atlanta?
"CVS" the place where Becca gets her diabetes supplies and also where they have Cadbury Eggs for me to eat.
We ended up spending thirty minutes at the blood pressure booth becuase Becca was determined to get lower than me. I think I still won?

I think if Becca's mom saw her messy room she would be pissed...........just a hunch?

Today ended up being an epic travel day and I am ready for bed. Becca and I had to get up at five"ish" this morning so I could catch my 7:30 Am flight. Initially I was scheduled to fly out at 8:30 but that flight was cancelled so they put me on an earlier one. However, once I got to the airport the new flight was delayed until 9:00 Am. I pretty much got up really early to rush to the airport an sit there!

Once I got on the plane it was a long day of flying and I did not even get an aisle seat so my legs were cramped the entire time. I kept squirming around in my seat and the people sitting next to me were getting agitated. What can I say I am a bit ansty I guess.

I made it to San Jose in the afternoon and Roman picked me up in my car. After dropping him off I made the hour and a half drive to Folsom.

I did find out on the drive that my car is falling apart. The interior is a mess and the a/c still doesn't work. I also found out that I had a flat tire, my check engine light came on, and I also have an oil leak........................

I dont think any of those are good for my cortisol levels?

Before I go I wanted to say to thanks to Becca for showing me around Atlanta and putting up with me for a week. I had an awesome time and keep your head up Bec good luck is just around the corner.....I promise.

later,

Live From Panera Part Two

2006-03-28T08:22:00.000-08:00

I thought I would try and pass along a positive message for the kids who read the blog. I also beleive that is Becca checking out all of the puke on her jersey. This was from the ride in Athens, GA on Saturday.
Becca at the coffee shop yesterday in Atlanta.

Well, Becca and I are back at Panera taking advantage of their free internet. It feels like I should buy something for using their internet but I already ate breakfast. However, their French Toast Bagels smell really really good.

I have been on somewhat of a "mini" vacation for the past week so my blog entries have been a bit slack. To bring you up to speed here is what I did the past few days.

Saturday, Becca and I got up and drove to Athens, GA so I could pre-ride the Athens twilight course. Actually, we went there because Atlanta was cracking me with all of the traffic and lack of rideable roads. I wonder if I told our director, Jeff, that the reason for my trip to Georgia was to pre-ride the Twilight Crit course if he would reimburse me for my plane ticket? Jeff..............?

Athens was a cool little city and it was nice to ride on some roads without feeling absolutely terrified. I even got to see Becca puke all over her bike. She had told me that she was not feeling well and after going up this little hill I looked over and saw her projectile vomit everywhere. I felt bad and it was gross but sorta cool at the same time. She was a trooper though and kept riding.

We got some dinner in Athens that evening and I even had a cup of Jittery Joe's coffee which was not half bad.

Even though I am on a "mini" vacation I get antsy after a few days and have to do something. Therefore, on Sunday we got up crazy early so I could go and do a road race in Perry, GA. The race was called "The Perry-Roubaix" in Perry, GA...........which is a pretty catchy name if you ask me. It was a rolling course with a few sections of dirt which made it fun.

I spent a lot of the day off of the front by myself and ended up winning solo. The riding by myself part was not soo fun though becuase I was thinking about my saddle the entire time. I even contemplated stopping and making a quick adjustment becuase I did have my 5mm wrench in my jersey. I didn't do that but I have decided that I officially have some sort of complex!

Yesterday was "move all of Becca's heavy shit from her old apartment to her new apartment" day. I don't really like to move.......actually I think it is one of my least favorite things to do besides cleaning after all of the stuff has been moved and doing laundry. The cool thing was that I did get to drive a big Home Depot dump truck that we rented to haul the furniture with. I now want a big truck........maybe one of those big tired monster trucks that I always see in California. I think I have to get really really fast before I can afford one of those though. Anyway the moving was not that bad and I did not even get yelled at once which was a pleasant surprise.

Today is my last day in Atlanta and we are going to check out the "Bodies" exhibition which should be fun or at least that is what Frank told me.

Okay, gotta run and take advantage of my last day of vacation.

later,

Live From Panera

2006-03-25T08:57:00.000-08:00

Becca you almost out of there I have to pee? Actually last night we had to go to her old apartment and clean it because she moved into a new place . I was happy that I did not get stuck cleaning the bathroom.

After that we went and did some shopping. While Becca was buy some pants I thought I would try some on as well. I didin't think the pants or shirt was tight enough so I did not buy anything.

For today's update Becca and I had to journey down to Panera and use their free wireless interent. Becca doesn't have interent in her apartment and it is hard to pick up the neighbors signal. Sometimes I get it and can go online but a majority of the time I can't and I get really angry. Therefore I am not even going to try to go online from her apartment anymore to save me the cortisol release.

Today the plan is to drive to Athens and go for a ride. I cracked riding in Atlanta yesterday. The traffic is terrible, there are stop lights everywhere, no shoulders on the road, and I have no clue where I am going. I ended up doing laps around Emory University and all of the students thought I was tool. I still got in a ride but it definitely was not a relaxing one.

Time to go to Athens. I also think that I am doing the Perry-Roubaix Road Race tomorrow. It is a one hundred mile race on hard pack dirt. Should be fun............

later,

Thanks Blair

2006-03-23T09:03:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody..........I am still alive but barely after yesterday's ride! It has been a hectic past few days and I now find myself in Atlanta, GA until Wednesday.

After the San Dimas stage race I drove to Oakland and hung out with my teamate Roman for a day. Roman was nice enough to bring me to the airport at 5:00 AM on Tuesday morning. I tried to convince him that by having such an early flight was a good thing becuase that way he would avoid traffic...........I don't think it worked? I also forgot to buy him that tank of gas I promised! Thanks Roman and I.O.U. one take of gas.

Tuesday was a long travel day! I flew from San Jose to Denver where I had a connection. The connecting flight was delayed so I got to sit in the airport for several hours listening to everyone complain about the delay. Why get stressed about something that you cannot control? I remained relaxed thanks to Menzies "deep breathing technique" and probably was the only one there who was not pumping out massive quantites of cortisol!

I made it to Atlanta in the evening and Becca picked me up at the airport. It was great to see her! We ate some Indian food and went and saw the movie "V" for Vendetta which was okay........at least for the parts I was not sleeping.

With all of the travel and time changes I have experienced the last few weeks I have absolutely no schedule. I am going to bed at crazy times and eating breakfast at lunch. Hopefully I get back to normal soon.

Atlanta is an interesting city. Becca and I went for a three hour ride yesterday and I now know why Atlanta is one of the worst cities to ride a bicycle. The traffic is crazy and we spent a majority of the time riding on the sidwalk. Great fun! I was going to take some pictures but could not take my hands off the bars........maybe today?

Before I go I wanted to say thanks to Blair Robertson for writing a review of the Blog in the Sacramento Bee! It is an awesome article and if you care to check it out here is the link:

http://www.sacbee.com/content/lifestyle/story/14233781p-15055539c.html

There has been a request to copy and paste the article from the Sacramento Bee since it requires a login to access it. Here it is:

Blog: Wheel men share their experiences -- Peltonen does it well

By Blair Anthony Robertson -- Bee Staff WriterPublished 2:15 am PST Thursday, March 23, 2006

It has become fashionable for pro cyclists to write about their lives via the Web. Though such blogs are as ubiquitous as burly guys in snug Discovery Channel jerseys, a few of the online journals actually provide worthwhile insights for cycling enthusiasts.
One of the best is by Garrett Peltonen, who races for a top domestic pro team, Health Net-Maxxis, and lives and trains in Folsom.
Peltonen, 25, is a talented rider who also has a writer's powers of observation and a comic's wit. Through his blog, he shares everything from his obsessions (his abs, the position of his saddle, the width of his handlebars) to his latest adventure, racing - and choking down the smog - in Taiwan.
The bonus for us is that much of his narrative takes place in our backyard. You're likely to see him riding on area roads or the American River bike trail.
Peltonen is smart and funny, and deserves a following.
One amusing aspect of his writing is the ongoing battle between his two selves: the devoted pro and the determined goofball.
After a race in which he and two teammates dominated, he wrote: "Time to head to the food store and stock up on goodies. I need some snacks for the few easy days that I am taking. I was thinking frosting in a can and Circus peanuts."
Just days later, his alter ego weighs in: "Today it is raining and miserable. ... I am going to ride six hours!"
Peltonen's Web address is www.garrettpeltonen.blogspot.com.

later,

Rained Out

2006-03-20T16:04:00.000-08:00

My room for two days at Roman's house in Oakland.

The view from Roman's patio. You can't see it in the picture but when it clears up I can see the Golden Gate, Alcatraz, Bay Bridge, and San Francisco. It is an amazing view.
Hey it is Roman "Forgot His Shorts" Kilun. If you remember Roman forgot his shorts at a stage in Taiwan and had to borrow some purple ones. I should not jab at him too much though since he is letting me stay with him and also driving me to the airport at 5 Am tomorrow. Thanks Roman!

My roomate for two nights. I actually don't mind her (I think it is a her?) becuase she does not say too much.

California is officially a wet and cold state. I have come to that conclusion after visiting California several times and living here for the past three months. For the majority of the time I have been here it is either raining, cold, or raining and cold. "Baywatch" definitely painted a different picture in my mind when I was growing up.

The final stage of the San Dimas stage race yesterday was........rainy and cold. It was a ninety minute affair with Gord, Hollywood, and my teamate/buddy from last Brent Bookwalter getting off the front at the start. They stayed away almost the entire race but got caught with a lap to go. Alberto ended up finishing third after a good lead out from Tim.

Overall, it was a good weekend of racing but we could have did without the rain. It was also nice to catch up with some of my mates from last year and coach Olson.

After the race it was a long drive back home to northern California. I rode with Alberto for most of the way and then switched cars. Alberto went back to Folsom....I think? I on the other hand went to Oakland with Roman because I have a flight to catch out of San Jose tomorrow morning.

I hope Alberto made it home last night. I gave him directions before we parted ways but I knew he mentioned something about going to Vegas!

This morning it was raining again when I got up so I rode the rollers which was a blast. I believe today is the first day of spring so maybe some better weather is around the corner........or at least I hope it is.

I wonder what Menzies is doing today?

later,

Two Stages Down One to Go

2006-03-18T20:34:00.000-08:00

Deb in the team RV doing a little post uphill tt dance.

I am not sure what looks worse Tim Johnson's ass or Menzies face in the background?

Me sporting my Maxxis hat with matching Maxxis sweatshirt.
I am in Shane's (brother) hotel room in Daimond Bar, CA updating the blog. I am in room 140 with TJ and he is in room 161. Last night I stopped by his room or what I thought was his room but some old bald guy answered the door. I was one room off but tonight I found it. That is the second time in a week I knocked on someones room and it was not theirs. At least this time it was not 3 AM in Taipei!

The first stage of the San Dimas stage race was an 3.8 mile uphill time trial in the freezing rain. It was like deja vu of last year with the same weather.........rainy and cold. My results were like deja vu also...........complete shit! I rode hard but apparently that was slow.

Today was stage two...........fourteen laps on a rolly circuit for a total of one hundred miles. It was really cold at the start but it did not take long to get warm. It was pretty fast but we rode an awesome race. Menzies was the hero and came home with the win after getting in a break with a lap to go and winning the sprint. He is my roomate you know. I feel like Hollywood is due for another streak of wins!

If anyone has ever had Cliff Blocks they are the gretest things ever. They are sorta like squishy gummy bears but even better. I think they are expensive but are soo worth eat. Not only are they good race food but they are good snacks in the hotel room! Garrett Peltonen........fueled by Cliff Blocks!

Other than that TJ and I drove across the street to Vons for dinner. It was about a 0.1 mile drive. I actually think we can see the store from the window of our room but we still drove. We are not lazy cyclists arn't suppose to walk, right?

After we got back I went to open the door to our hotel room and I did not have the key. Shitzo! It was the second key I lost in as many days. Maybe that is why Jeff Louder was the key guy in Taiwan? Anyway I had to go to the front desk to get a new key made while TJ ate his dinner in the parking lot. Sorry Tim.

Getting a key was a big ordeal because our room is under Jeff Corbett's name. Since my name was not Jeff Corbett the front desk guy did not want to give me a key. He told me to go and get Jeff but that would have been bad! I was nice to the guy at the front desk and slipped him my autograph and he gave me a key. Actually, I did not give him my autograph but I did get a key without having to bother Jeff.

Time to run to McD's for an ice cream cone or two.

later,

San Dimas

2006-03-17T12:38:00.000-08:00

"TJ" my roomate for San Dimas. He has an awesome plug in espresso maker that I am jealous of.

Karl, Alberto, and I made the six hour drive down to San Dimas yesterday and mad it to our hotel in Daimond Bar, CA at around 3:00 PM

The plan was to leave early in the morning and get to the hotel with enough time to pre-ride the time trial course in the afternoon. We made it to the hotel without a hitch and with plenty of time to spare.

Since I was in charge of getting the directions to the hotel I thought I would leave Karl in charge of getting us to the time trial course. Needless to saywe never did find the time trial course! I believe it was the first time I ever heard Menzies say he was wrong............it was great! If I ride shitily today it was because I did not pre ride the course.

After not pre riding the course a few of us went to an autograph session at a local bike shop and got some free sushi which was great! I was able to eat it becuase it was fake crab sushi which is cooked! If you are in the San Dimas area stop by InCycle the guys there are great.

I spent most of this morning adjusting my race bike. My home bike is set up pretty well except for the saddle slant which is variable depending on the day. I have not raced my new bike yet so it feels really weird. My stress level is through the roof worrying about making adjustments on two bikes! I wonder what is going to happen if I get a time trial bike?

Time to get ready for the race.

later,

Insomnia

2006-03-15T21:35:00.000-08:00

Today was a miserable day. I really did not really think that I would be affected by jet lag but boy I was wrong! I was fine adjusting to the time change when we went to Taiwan but coming back has been a completely different story!

This morning I got up at 3:OO AM and was really tired but could not go back to sleep. I usually sleep really well but not last night. What is one suppose to do at 3:00 AM when they cannot sleep? Not sure what to do I decided to eat a really early breakfast, put the dishes away, clean the kitchen, check my email three times (not that I would get an email at 3:00 AM anyway but I was hoping), and stretched.

I tried to go back to sleep around 6:00 AM because I was tired but still could not sleep so I threw a pillow and went and ate breakfast number two.

By this time Karl had convinced me that if I rode for four hours easy with him today I would feel better. I figured why not and went for a four hour ride with Karl. The ride definitely was not "easy" at least for me and I was uncomfortable the entire time. Karl had great leg though! Lucky I was riding with others because if I were riding alone today I would have been dangerous with saddle adjustments.

After getting back from the ride I managed to nap for a bit but I fell asleep with a sweatshirt and pants on underneath my comforter and woke up sweating balls! It was lovely. I must have lost a liter of water?

After a short stint at home I am back on the road tomorrow. Karl, Alberto and I are driving down to LA for the San Dimas stage race and after that I am going on a little hiatus to Atlanta which I am looking forward to.

Wish me luck sleeping!

later,

Chua Lam's Inspiration Tour

2006-03-14T11:50:00.000-08:00

The last few days in Taiwan we went on Mr. Chua Lam's Inspiration tour. Here is what we did......
The night market in downtown Taipei where people eat a lot of weird stuff. Gus and Kirk leading the way. I was looking for a knock off Tag Heuer watch but never found it. Doug found a waving cat though!
Another market Doug and I went to with a ton of people to bump into.

Kirk, Jeff, and Kim getting ideas of where to go on our last night in Taipei.
We ended up at an Irish pub and there was guinness for everyone. It was a little "American" oasis in Taipei and they even had a band that played American classic rock. We were happy.
Is that Abe Lincoln?
Kim who was rockin' an awesome puffy vest. I think Jones would have liked that one.

Winning the Tour of Taiwan is tiring!
A little sushi on our way home.

I am at home after being gone for about two weeks. Karl picked me up at the San Francisco airport at around 10:30 AM yesterday and we made it back to Folsom a few hours later.

It is nice to be back but I am crazy tired! Monday was the longest day of my life. We had to leave the hotel in Taipei at 7:00 am but I had to get up even earlier since I had to pack my bike. I was in a rush and managed to smash my fingers on the chainring while taking of my pedals. I believe I have managed to do that the last five times I have packed my bike.

We flew from Taipei to Tokyo to San Fran and then everyone went their own way. Kirk went to to Vancouver, Kim to Boulder, Gus to Chicago, Doug to Portland, Roman to San Fran, and I went to Folsom. I hope everyone made it home safely.

It was weird flying all day and getting back home at nearly the same time we left the Taipei airport which without a time change should have been the previous day. It think my body is a bit confused?

I will be home in Folsom for a few days before Karl, Alberto, Roman and I drive down to LA for the San Dimas stage race. It is actually nice that the weather is crap here in Folsom because I can take care of all my errands and rest without feeling guilty about not riding five hours. I cannot wait until it is summer because the sunny eighty degree days in Taiwan were rather lovely!

To sum up my trip to Taiwan........it was AWESOME! The staff, Gus (director/mechanic) and Kim (soigneur/fellow sickee) made the entire trip possible and everything run smoothly. They even came up with a pair of shorts after Roman forgot his. They may have been purple but they worked.

The riders, Kirk, Jeff, Doug, and Roman were a blast to be around. Being in a foreign country for two weeks where no one speaks to language sure made us learn a lot about each other. I definitely made some awesome friends during the trip.

Time to do some abs and go for a ride. Racing is done for a few days so I am back on the Menzies training program.

later,

Taipei International Airport.

2006-03-12T17:26:00.000-08:00

We are officially on our way back to the States today. I am typing this update in the first class lounge of the Taipei airport. Gus, our director for the trip, has a ton of frequent flyer miles so he upgraded to first class. Instead of waiting in the typical boarding area he gets to go to this swank lounge with food, internet, and free cocktails. The best part is he gets to bring a guest and that is where I come in.

The bummer is that I am still sick this morning with the same stomach bug I had a few days ago and I can't eat or drink any of the first class food in the lounge. Well....I guess I could but I would get to taste it twice. Maybe first class food is good the second time around?

On the way to the airport his morning I did get to experience what it was like to puke out of a bus window. We had to take a shuttle to the airport and halfway there on the interstate I had to crack the window and stick my head out. Luckily there was a lot of traffic and we were going slow! Now I get to take a plane ride which usually makes me sick to begin with. I was thinking that maybe since I am already sick that would cancel out the airplane sickness I normally get and I will feel great?

Alright I think it is time to board our plane. Next stop.....Tokyo and then onto San Fran where Karl will be waiting there to pick me up at 9:00AM. Karl you remembered right? I hope he shows!

I also got some good pictures from the past few days but you have to wait until I get back.

later,

It's Over

2006-03-11T02:19:00.000-08:00

A coke with the Kirk and Doug after the race today.
The podium girls and some dude.
The podium girls again but also the tallest buiding in the world in the background.
Kirk on victory lane.
First place team classification presentation.

We finally made it to Taipei last night after yesterday’s stage. Today was the last day of the race that initially started last Sunday in the Southern city of Kaohsiung and finished here in the northern city of Taipei. Here is a quick update of the last few days.

Yesterday was a 120 km stage along the coast with an 18km climb to the finish. Kirk was in yellow so it was our job to control the race and hope that we could control things for him up the climb. Initially, Jeff and I were going to sit back and help Kirk on the climb but a kilometer after the start I started puking! It was nasty and I even splattered Jeff with a little raisin bran and rice from the mornings breakfast.

Since I was crap I rode the rest of the stage but had to pull off every so often to puke. Once we got to the climb we set tempo. I got dropped, caught back on, did a pull, and dropped got again, caught back on and finally got dropped. Shitzo! . Doug and Jeff were awesome though and got Kirk to the line safely and still in the lead.

I took a nice nap in the afternoon and Kim gave me some good stomach medicine stuff and I felt better. I think she should give herself some of it because it is two days later and she still feels bad.

Today was the final stage and I felt pretty good. It was a criterium around the Taipei World Trade Center Building 101. I am told it is the largest building in the world. The race went well and Kirk ended up second and holding on for the overall win. We also won the team classification. I would say it was a successful trip. Plus, the weather was great and I got to work on my tan.

After the race this morning we went and hung out with the Maxxis guys/gals who are at the Taipei bike show. I guess it is one of the biggest bike shows in the world. Basically it is like Interbike in Las Vegas but bigger. Our job was to sign some posters and talk to people. I don’t think the people were really after our autographs though but more for the lovely scantily clad girl that was on the poster!!

Tonight we are going out on the town. The Maxxis guys are going to take us out to dinner and then who knows where. I know I am going to be brining my dancing shoes though. Hopefully I will get some good pictures.

Later,
g.

Kirk is the Man

2006-03-09T05:03:00.000-08:00

Kim showing us how to eat with chop sticks. I wonder if these were the noodles that made her sick today?

A hotel that we stayed in a few days back.

The gold dragon things in front of the hotel.

"The nunery" also known as our room with four beds.

The puke mobile also known as our transfer bus.

Ahhhhhhh.......I felt like I was right at home! I needed something to get me through the rest of the bus ride to the next hotel.

We finally made it to the next hotel. However, there is usually a lot of standing around trying to decipher the Chinese and trying to find our rooms.

Loading the bikes up and getting ready to transfer to a stage start. That is Gus making sure my saddle is adjusted properly.

Kim and Jeff before this mornings stage.

Kirk, Doug, Jeff, and the team car waiting to start today's stage.

t Roman forgot his shorts so he had to borrow some from some Dutch guy. I wonder if there was any weird fungus in that chamois

Here are the pictures that I had promised the last few days. The reason I didn't post pictures last time was I could not find my camera. I thought I lost it for awhile but Gus found it under the passenger seat of the team car. Someone else must have hid it there becuase I never misplace anything! The pictures are of a few different hotels/races/bus stop/etc compiled over the last few days. With all of the racing and transfers and choas it is sorta hard to remember where we have been and when.

Today's race was a 140km circuit around a lake. I never actually saw the lake but it said we race around one. Anyway, the race went awesome. Kirk and Jeff got in a break that gained over six minutes on the bunch with Kirk eventually winning the stage and also getting the yellow jersey.

Tomorrow is a 110 Km day with a twenty five kilometer stage at the finish. Since I dropped to six place overall today and Kirk got the yellow it was Kirk who couldn't eat dessert tonight becuase he has to go uphill tomorrow! I had one dessert and am thinking about a second! Seriously though if tomorrow goes well Kirk should be able to win the overall which would be awesome.

Remember how I said yesterday they told us that after today's stage we would have an hour and a half transfer to the new hotel? Anyway it was not an hour and a half transfer it was closer to four hours and the entire four hours I had to focus on not puking. We took this crazy road along the coast that was super curvey and mountains which is great especially when I am prone to motion sickness!

Speaking of puking I feel terrible for Kim our soigneur. A bug has been going around the race the last few days and today Kim fell victim. She was throwing up all afternoon and really could not move. Maybe it was noodles in the picture that made her sick? I think I had the rice?

Time for dessert.........

later,
g.

Still Alive

2006-03-08T05:39:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody...........I am still alive! Sorry, it has taken a bit for me to update but things have been pretty crazy the last few days. We have been on buses, in different hotels, and of course racing bicycles.

The past two stages of the the Tour of Taiwan have been rather epic. Yesterday was a long 225km (including the neutral start which is never neurtal) day with a ton of attacking, a few climbs, and wind.

Toward the end of the stage I got away with an Aussie guy who is crazy strong and pretty much rode everybody off his wheel. I swear he has to be related to Menzies? Maybe I can get a picture so I can show you guys? Anyway, I was able to hang on and I tried to attack him at the finish but no beuno and he beat me. I got second on the stage and it put me in second on GC. Kirk is fourth in GC so he right there also.

Today was another long day (160 KM) but it was pretty negative and lame with everybody chasing us and the Australians down. The best part of the day was that Kim has been making us some awesome race food. Today we had snickers cut up in tin foil and some pastries. I ate all of mine in the first twenty kilometers of the stage and had nothing to look forward to the rest of the race. However, Doug said he saw a dead guy laying in the ditch during the stage and at the finish we did sprint over a dead dog. Honestly!

Tomorrow is a longer circuit race with a bit of a hill and then Friday is the deciding day. The stage finishes with a 18km climb with the finish on top of a mountain. Hopefully the "Menzies" training plan pays off and I am able to get myself up that mountain fast?

Doug Ollerenshaw who is also on the trip has been doing complete race updates on the team site so if you want to check them out got to:

www.teamhealthnet.com

Aside from racing we have these crazy bus transfers everyday to the start of stages and to hotels. Tomorrow for example we have a 45 minuted bike ride to the start and then another 1.5 hours to the next hotel in the afternoon. The racing is actually the easy part.

I think that is about all I got for tonight. I wanted to say sorry to Jeff "vegetarian"Louder becuase I mentioned he ate beef tendon and he got in troble from his wife who reads the blog. I just wanted to clarify that I actually did not see Jeff eat any tendon. I am pretty sure he ate around it. Plus, tendon is not meat right? Vegetarians should be able to eat tendon just not the red stuff.

Okay time to elevate my legs.........

later,
g.

"Crash" Ollerenshaw

2006-03-05T00:36:00.000-08:00

A quick update from todays crit. Kirk got second and Doug "crash" Ollerenshaw crashed for the second time in as many days. However, a Cola Buzz Cliff Shot padded his fall and prevented possible kidney damage. I am going to start being really careful when I am around Doug becuase crashing twice in two days is not right.

He is okay though except for some more cool looking road rash and a sore kidney. Not that Doug is not cool already but by the end of the trip if his streak continues he is going to be really cool with all that road rash.

The weather was awesome.....humid and in the mid eighties and of cours smoggy. I got so sunburned the other day it is crazy! I had Kim lather me up in a pound of sunscreen before the start of todays stage. She is awesome sorta like a big sister who takes care of us.

Tomorrow is another crit on the other end of Kaohsiung before an long 140 mile stage the following day along the coast.

We are staying in the Grand Hotel it is a temple looking thing that is really cool. I will have some more pictures to post in the future.

Time to go and eat some beef tendon and reproductive organs.

later,
g.

Kaohsiung

2006-03-03T23:46:00.000-08:00

Riding the ferry to the island of death. If you look closely you can see a three wheeled scooter. The guy had a cane on the scooter so apparently that must be the handicap verson? It was crazy watching the scooters get off the ferry. It was like a go cart track. They would fire up their machines before the boat docked and would race to be the first ones off.

City of Kaohsiung from the ferry in a haze of smog.

We stopped for a coke at the zoo above the city. No Billy Jones did not move to Taiwan it was an actual zoo.

My roomate Jeff Louder to whom I owe two coffees. I did finally get some Taiwan money today so if he is nice I might repay him?

This morning the five of us (Doug, Kirk, Jeff, Roman, and myself) went for a ride to the island of death. We had to take a short ferry ride to the island and once there we rode. I was sorta nice on the island becuase we could actually ride our bikes and avoided some of the major choas of the city. We ended up doing a few laps along the coast and almost got taken out by a crazy girl on a scooter. I think her mask was to high on her face and she could not see?

Doug actually did end up getting taken out by a parallel crack on the road. We were riding on the freeway which was rather crazy and four of us jumped over this huge cracked but one didn't. That was Doug and he crashed pretty hard! He did end up with some cool looking road rash on his legs that makes him look really tough. On a serious note though he is fine.

The smog was really bad today especially on the ferry with all of the scooters. I totally makes sense why everyone over here wears masks. So their lungs don't burn and they get lung cancer! Maybe I could get Cannondale to make me a team one that I could use while racing?

Tomorrow morning the racing starts with a seventy kilometer crit and another crit the following day. Then three long road races. I wonder how bad the smog will be in Taipei which is much bigger than Kaohsiung?

Dougs computer is about to run out of batteries but I wanted to say thanks to Doug O for letting me use his computer and I also wanted to wish the other Health Net guys good luck this weekend in Merced.

later,
g.

We Made It

2006-03-03T04:57:00.000-08:00

Getting ready to leave Folsom at 6:00 AM Wednesday morning. Karl and Alberto were nice enough to get up and bring me to the airport in San Fran........thanks guys!

Waiting for a connecting flight in Nagoya, Japan airport en route to Taipei, Taiwan.

Today's ride in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

After a the chaos in the city it was nice to find a quite road.

Me in front of some sort of Chinese temple.

Coffee break on today's ride............thanks Jeff............IOU two coffee's!

Eating noodles for lunch. It is hard ordering and the only way we somewhat know what we are getting is from the pictures on the menu. Gus and Louder both ordered what they though was beef but ended up getting tendon. Ordering food is sorta like gambling........it actually is rather fun! I won today............

The lady who made my noodles. Apparently noodle making is a dangerous job and requires the use of a helmet. I guess I would not want to get hit in the head by a noodle.

Wow...............we made it to Taiwan late yesterday..........or maybe early this morning?? I am not really sure but we made it here. I thought that the travel time to Kaohsiung, Taiwan was going to be shorter than it actually was. Anyway here is a quick recap of the last day or so.

Karl and Alberto drove me to the San Fran airport at 6:00 AM Wednesday morning. I had initially thought that the flight from San Fran to Nagoya where we had a connecting flight was going to be around seven hours. Wow was I wrong. The flight was more in the nieghborhood of twelve hours. I did get to watch five movies on the plane: Elizabethtown, some Al Pachino gambling movie, Aeon Flux, Walk the Line, and Fever Pitch.

From Nagoya, Japan we flew to Taipei, Taiwan which was about three and a half hours and then had another connection to catch in Taipei. That was a quick flight becuase I slept the entire time which was great because I don't get sick on planes when I am asleep. I forgot to mention I hate the taking off part and landing part of flying........it makes me sick.

From Taipei which is in the northern part of Taiwan we had to catch a flight to the southern part of the island to a town called Kaohsiung. That flight was only an hour......thank God! We ended up getting to our hotel and to bed at about 1AM on Friday morning.

The total travel time ended up being nearly twenty seven hours.......It was long. We are sixteen hours ahead of California and lost a day.

Today we went out for a bit of a ride through Kaohsiung, which by the way is a huge city. There are scooters everywhere and it is pretty chaotic. The smog is also pretty terrible........I think the locals call if fog though!!

I think that is about it for tonight. I am borrow Doug O's computer and he is going to bed. I hope I haven't made too many mistakes becuase I am not proof reading or anything. I think tomorrow we are going to try and find a nice place to ride before the racing starts the following day.

Time to go to bed on my board. My bed is sooo hard........anyway that is another story.

later,
g.

Merced Crit Pictures

2006-02-28T10:21:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of the Merced crit courtesy of:

www.ronaldmariano.com

Mr. Mariano has been taking photographs at most of the early local California races and they are posted at his website. I was not able to find any of Karl winning the road race on Saturday but there were a ton from the Sunday crit.

It is raining here again today. Karl and Alberto got all kitted up to ride and it started to piss rain so now they are both de-kitted and on their computers. It was pretty funny! We are under a tornado warning at the moment so I think I will be riding the trainer for the second day in a row.....yeah!

On an unrelated not I was doing some reading yesterday and I came across an article about "belly fat." The article stated that no matter how much a person exercises and counts calories they will have belly fat unless their stress level is low. Stress causes the body to release cortisol and the cortisol then makes your stomach flabby.

Since yesterday evening I have eliminated all stress in my life. If stress comes around I just say no and go to my happy place. I think it is working becuase I thought I saw an ab in the mirror this morning.......or maybe that was just a shadow?

Tomorrow morning I am leaving for Taiwan and will be there until March 13th. It is nice that we are getting there a few days early to relax and recover from the jet lag. The race that we are doing is the Tour of Taiwan and it starts on March 5th and ends on the 12th. I am excited for the trip and am hoping I have good legs and can also find a nice Tag Heuer look-alike watch !

I am not sure how often I will be able to update the next few weeks but when I do I am sure I will have some pretty good pictures. If anyone is in the Merced/Fresno area the next few weekends they should go and check out the non-Taiwan Health Net crew tear up the first NRC races of the season.

later,

Merced Weekend

2006-02-27T08:42:00.000-08:00

Sorry that I have not updated in a few days but Karl and I were on the road doing a few races. Plus, when we got home last night our internet was down again and I did not feel like going out in the rain to our "balcony interent cafe." Here is the run down of the weekend.

Saturday morning Karl and I drove to Snelling for a seventy five mile road race. The course was good and the weather was even better. I raced without an undershirt and went with the SPF 40 over the SPF 30. Pretty soon I might have to bust out the SPF 90?

I felt pretty average in the race and Karl and Roman got up the road with Menzies eventually soloing to victory. That is pretty impressive........three races and three wins for Karl. I think Boonen started the season like that?

After the race a few people came up to me and asked......."Do you really know Karl?" Yep, he is the dude who EATS all of my frickin' peanut butter and chocolate chips! After Menzies signed some autographs and let people get close enough to touch him we left for the hotel.

We stayed at a pretty nice Holiday Inn Saturday night that cost $55 a piece. It was a nice hotel and even had free wireless internet. Karl did a good job setting it up. However, it cost more to stay there for one evening than I paid for my queen sized bed at home which I sleep on every night!

Sunday was a thirty five mile crit in fifty degree rain. Great fun! We did manage to log a few hours of riding in the morning before it started to rain which was nice. On the ride in the morning some dude almost ran us over and then stopped and got out of his truck and wanted to fight. I took a few deep breaths and told my self to relax (something I have been learning to do) and tried to talk sensibly to the "hilbilly" but he got back in his truck tried to run us over. Some witnesses saw it and called the cops so we had to sort things out with them. It is sorta of crazy becuase instances like that are becoming rather routine and I don't even get worked up about them anymore. I don't think that is a good thing?

The race was really sketchy/dirty in the rain and I don't think there were too many people that managed to stay upright the entire race. Eventually, Karl and I got in a break of five with Glenn Mitchell (Priority Health), Sterling Magnell( Toyato United Pro), and a Lombardi guy (sorry I don't know your name). Karl and I messed up the finish and got beat. Losing is never fun but nice job to the other guys in the break.

Today it is raining and miserable.............I am going to ride six hours!

later,

New Blog

2006-02-24T21:41:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the new and improved Blog! I decided I had better keep pace with technology and make the jump to 2006! Actually, I liked the look of my old blog but the sidebar content got all screwed up and the only way to fix it was change the template. No worries though because even though the look has changed the material will remain the same. That is a good thing.......I think?

Today was nice except for the fact that my legs felt like logs. I really did not want to get out of bed becuase walking hurt. I guess that means that the massage I got yesterday is working? If it hurts it has to be good!

Friday is also bike wash day. That involves spraying the bikes down with degreaser and then riding across the street to the pressure washer. Three minutes and two dollars later the bikes are sparkling clean.

When Karl and I rode over to the car wash today the owner of the place was there. He felt bad that Karl and I were going to pay to wash our bikes so he let us do it for free. Thanks Ken! Now I can use those extra quarters to wash my cycling shorts in the wash machine instead of the bath tub.

I also made a slight mistake in my last entry. I insinuated that Thai food was from Taiwan. However, it was brought to my attention that in fact, Thai food, comes from Thailand. That makes sense considering the spelling. I have also been told that the main cuisine in Taiwan is Chinese food. I am still hoping that they might have some Thai food there though becuase I like those mini corn cobs........sorta reminds me of Wisconsin.

later,

Massage Day

2006-02-23T20:26:00.000-08:00

I forgot to put this picture up last week when Karl, Alberto, and I were on tv. It is a "special" behind the scenes shot.

Nothing overly exciting has happened the past couple of days which is..........sorta nice! Today was massage day for Karl and I. We made the journey to downtown Sacramento to meet up with our five star top secret masseuse.

Karl was first up on the massage table so I ran some errands while he was getting a rub and then came back for mine. The massage lasted and hour and was lovely. I think I could get one everyday...........any volunteers?

This weekend Karl, Alberto, Roman, and I are doing two races in Merced. There is an eighty sonething mile road race on Saturday and a crit on Sunday. We are planning on staying in Merced Saturday night but that could change since Karl is handling the room reservations.

Then next Wednesday, March 1st, I am off to Taiwan for the Tour of Taiwan. It is a seven day tour and we are going to be in Taiwan for nearly two weeks. Taiwan is sixteen hours ahead of California so it will be interesting to see how I feel once I get there. The crazy thing is when we fly back we leave Taipei at five o'clock PM on Monday and arrive in San Francisco at eight o'clock AM on Monday. That just doesn't seem right.

I have been logging some good hours on the bike and have been practicing eating Thai food so I think I am as ready as I am going to be. I looks like I should bring my rain jacket though. I checked the ten day forcast for Taipei and it called for ten days of rain!

later,

From Tahoe to Davis

2006-02-21T21:29:00.000-08:00

Driving up to check out Lake Tahoe on Saturday.
First stop of the day and testing out the timer function on the camera.
Not happy........my ears and hands were froze but I still managed to smile. An awsome view of Lake Tahoe in the background though.
Standing on Lake Tahoe. Lake Tahoe looks like the lake that the Loch Ness monster lives in.
A castle that would very expensive to heat in the winter. Sota like the Tosa' tear down I lived in this fall.

This past Sunday Ashley and I went and checked out Lake Tahoe. I had never actually seen the lake before and I was even more excited to go and check it out since they got a bunch of fresh new snow up there the day before. It was fun to play around in the snow for a bit and bust out the winter jacket but I was happy to come back down the mountain to where it was warm.

It is pretty amazing how much snow the Lake Tahoe area gets and that it never snows in Sacramento! It makes me feel sorta bad for the Donner people. If my history is correct...........they were making a trip across the country and got stranded in the Sierra's, around the lake Tahoe area, during winter and ate each other to survive. They were soo close to the warmth............that is all they had to do was roll or sled down the mountain and they would not have had to eat each other. Crazy..........but I guess they did not know.

Anyway, Karl and I made our second attempt to ride our bikes to Davis today. If you remember last time Karl was the ride leader and we were suppose to go to Davis but ended up in a field getting sprayed by pesticides.

I was the ride leader this time around and guess what? We made it to Davis! It ended up being a pretty stressful ride though becuase we could not find a coffee shop in Davis that had outdoor seating in the sun. It was frustrating to have to sit inside but we managed.

I also wanted to mention that I in my "Sausalito" post I made a mistake. Adam Switters brought to my attention that Health Net did not win all of the primes at the Sausalito Crit but in fact he had won a fifty dollar prime. Seriously, I am sorry about that and I appreciate it when people catch my mistakes. Thanks Adam............do you live in Folsom by the way?

Time to watch the Tour of California on tv...................

later,

Spectating

2006-02-20T21:27:00.000-08:00

Karl and I were fortunate enough to run into t he "best play by play" announcer in the country Dave Towle at finish of today's stage of the Tour of California.

Dave hard at work. Thanks for giving me a shout out at the race today Dave!
Ashley came down from Boise, ID to watch the Tour of California so it was cool to get some front row VIP spectating.

After watching the race Karl, Ashley and I went into to San Fran and could not pass up a picture by the Golden Gate. It was the second time in three days I took pictures of the Golden Gate bridge. We were with Alberto on Saturday who had never seen the bridge and Ashley today.
Sittin' on a rail with San Fran in the background. Thinking about how hungry I am.

Today, Karl, Ashley, Nicole, and I went and watched the finish of the first stage of the Tour of California in Santa Rosa. It was sorta weird being a spectator at a race but I had a great time watching and seeing my Health Net teamates and other friends. The crowds for the first two stages have been huge and I think the Tour of California is a race that is going to get bigger and bigger based merely on what I saw today. I was impressed!

The best part of the day however, was chatting with announcer Dave Towle. Dave is the best professional announcer in the buisness. I was able to witness this first hand today while spectating. It was really cool to watch how he can excite a crowd. Keep it up Dave!

I also wanted to thank Dave for hooking Ashley, Nicole, Karl, and Myself up with the best VIP behind the "special fence" spectating seats possible. I also recommend checking out the Towle Files:

http://www.towlefiles.com

There are has some awesome radio inteviews and Dave even does some of his own blogging.

After the race Karl, Ashley, and I headed to San Fran since Ashley had never been there. We stopped and checked out the Golden Gate bridge, walked around Fisherman's warf, and ate some Indian food before heading back to Folsom.

It has been a busy weekend with today's Tour of California adventure and yesterday's trip to Lake Tahoe. I will save the Lake Tahoe trip for another time...............but now I am going to bed.

later,

Sausalito Crit

2006-02-18T19:55:00.000-08:00

Menzies on my right and an Alberto double on my left. Someone had to take the picture so I found a good replacement for Alberto.

Karl, Alberto, and I drove to Sausalito this morning for a local sixty minute crit. The course was super cool........meaning it had a hill in it..............and we did well. Karl lapped the field for the win and Alberto and I rode in together for second and third. We got every prime, won king of the mountain, and finished 1,2,3. For three people we won the most money that could have possibly been won................so we went out for lunch!

Here are some photos of us from the race:

http://www.californiaroadclub.org/sausalito/saus_crit_results/Men12p.htm

Time to head to the food store and stock up on goodies. I need some snacks for the few easy days that I am taking. I was thinking frosting in a can and circus peanuts.

later,

TV Stars

2006-02-17T17:50:00.000-08:00

Menzies not happy becuase I had to run back to the house to get my camera. I am sorry if I am not on KST (Karl Standard Time)!!! My watch said I was still early.

Outside the ABC tv station. That is the antenna that allowed us to be on tv.

Alberto...........rocking the trench coat for his tv appearance. I think he was more happy with the Starbucks stop on the way.
Hanging in the greenroom getting hair and makeup. They told me I did not even need makeup which was good becuase they used my share on Karl and Alberto.

Watch out ABC here we come.

Several cups of coffee and a few espressos later Alberto and Karl a pingin' and ready to be on tv!

This morning my alarm went off at 7:00 Am and I did not want to get out of bed. I usually roll over and sleep for another hour but I could not do that this morning because we had to go downtown Sacramento and make a tv appearance.

It really is nice that Karl is usually the first to get up so I have hot coffee waiting for me when I roll out of bed especially this morning. If I do have the misfortune of getting up before Karl I will go back to sleep until after he gets up and makes the coffee. I have come to accept the fact that I am not a morning person......I am sorta grumpy.

The tv appearance was good. The best part was that they had pastries for us when we were done! I would go back just for the muffins/bagels/donuts.

I also got a valentines day package in the mail today which made me happy. Thanks Casey! Karl, however, did bring up a valid point, "Are you working for another team and trying to get us fat with those cookies? Becuase it is working!"

Tomorrow Karl, Alberto, and I are doing the Sausalito Crit and it is suppose to be rainy and cold. Plus, there is no Cherry Pie.......or any sort of pie to be won. Why are we racing?

later,

The Buzz

2006-02-16T21:10:00.000-08:00

The "buzz" around town today was that Mike, Karl and I had our pictures in the Sacramento Bee. The "Bee" is Sacramento's main news publication and there was a picture of the three of us on the front page of "The Scene" section. Does that mean we are "the scene" of Sacramento since we appeared on the cover? Anyway, it was a nice article.

My phone has been ringing off the hook since I was in today's paper. Just when I thought things couldn't get any crazier I found out that Karl, Alberto, and I are going to be on the local ABC news tomorrow. It is a live broadcast that airs in the Sacramento area from 9-10AM so for the many many thousands of local Sacramentoans that read my blog you can see Karl, Alberto, and myself live on tv tomorrow morning!

I am not nervous becuase I have already been on live tv once. Frank Pipp and I were in the background of the Today Show...............

On another note I had to send out a fax at Kinko's today and I ended up becoming an employee there for fifteen minutes. While waiting for my fax confirmation some dude came into the store and told me he needed to make some copies but did not know how. He must have thought I worked there? Being nice and since I had nothing better to do I made the copies for him and he went on his way! "Welcome to Kinko's, how may I help you?"

later,

Doggin' It

2006-02-15T22:14:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was really productive and washed my bed sheets (the loose one and the other elastic scrunchey one) and two pillow cases. However, after I dried them I had three sheets instead of two. The piece of lint that came out of the dryer was huge. Is that normal? Maybe I could use the fabric to knit a sock? The good news though is that I know have an excuse to not was my sheets anymore!
Pretty much the only thing I saw on todays ride.

Last night we forgot to turn the heat on in the house and a cold front came in during the night so it was freezing when we got up. I was especially cold since my bed sheets are only half as thick after I washed them yesterday! It sorta pisses me off a bit.

Today Karl, Alberto and I went for a ride in the hills and it was miserable for me! Every so often there are days when I feel great and can destroy anything or everyone. Karl feels like that everyday but he is not normal.

The majority of the time there are days that are not great but not bad. I can go hard but it hurts a bit and I feel normal.

Then every so often days like today come around and I am complete shit. Honestly, riding fifteen miles an hour was a suffer fest. That would not be bad if I was going up a mountain but that was on the flats. I kept seeing if my brake was rubbing or I had a flat. Nope. The only way to get by is drink Coke and hangout at the back. Needless to say I was happy to get home, put on my lounge short and take a nap.

I did get an awesome Valentines day card in the mail today which cheered me up. Getting real mail instead of the usual Best Buy flyers is one of my favorite things :-)

later,

Happy Valentines Day!

2006-02-14T18:13:00.000-08:00

I got a new hat and shades.

I forgot to mention this awhile ago but Dave Towle, the top cycling announcer in the US, was at our Team camp in early January and interveiwed pretty much everyone on the Health Net Pb Maxxis team. You can listen to these interviews by going to:

http://www.towlefiles.com/listen.jsp

What are my favorite days of the week? They have to be rest days! Yesterday was an easy ride and after Hollywood and I went to the Folsom outlet mall! I was looking for a new pair of pants at the Guess store but bought some new shades instead and Karl bought a cool watch. I never end up buying what I am looking for or if I am not going to buy anything I end up buying something really expensive. Anyway, the place is awesome and I think I will be going back there quite often.

After shopping I brought Hollywood downtown for a massage and on the way back I almost killed us both. I was trying to change lanes becuase the traffic in front of me was stopped. I looked over my shoulder and a car was there so I could not change lanes and when I looked back the stopped cars were really close! I had to lock up the breaks.........there was screaching, smoke, the whole deal.....it actually looked sorta cool! Nothing happened except that I left half the rubber from my tires on the road and I might of shit my shorts a little!

I would like to wish everyone a happy Valentines day! I was going to seeing if Menzies wanted to catch a movie tonight but after rethinking I concluded it would be rather awkward. I believe we would have to leave two seats in between us instead of the standard one for extra emphasis. He has a date with his pilate dvd anyway.......I think he just says he does pilates so that he can watch the attractive instructor on the dvd without feeling bad?

later,

Pie and Ice Cream!

2006-02-12T21:44:00.000-08:00

I found out where the cool kids hang out in Napa. Check out the sign.

Is that I cherry pie that "Menzies" is eating? Where did he get that, hmmmmmmmmm?
Hot Damn............this is some good pie!

Today Karl and I drove to Napa for the Cherry Pie Criterium............our first race of the season. We met a few other Health Netters there: Mike Sayers, Kirk O'bee and Roman Kilun. The race was a fun sixty minute affair and when all was said and done K-Menz came away with the victory and a well deserved cherry pie.

I was impressed though...........he did not eat the pie on the way home.............well..........not all of it anyway. He did eat the plastic fork that I had in my car and allowed him to borrow so he could taste the pie. I am not joking about that either!

All in all it was an awesome day. I am happy to be racing again and even more happy that Karl shared some of his winnings (Pie and icecream) with Alberto and I.

later,

Cherry Pie

2006-02-11T20:56:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a long day............I guess I could classify it as a death march! Once again Karl was the ride leader and I will admit he picked a pretty good route this time. However, his logistics were a bit off! Not as bad as the previous day where we were suppose to check out the UC-Davis campus but instead rode through an oil refinery and pesticide spraying area.

We had planned on doing a nice six hour ride in the scenic mountains east of Folsom. However, it ended up being a seven hour and fifteen minute death march. It reminded me of some of the rides I would do with Frank or El Joppa. I used to tell them that the ride was only going to be five hours just to get them out the door but knew in reality that it was actually going to be six and a half hour affair. I guess I got a taste of my own medicine but I really didn’t mind because I usually don’t come around until about four hours in.

We took a couple of wrong turns and even had to climb back up some of the mountain that we spent all day climbing. That was lovely! I also think Karl was getting delusional on the way home because he kept telling me how he won the Latrobe town line sprint when in fact I had already eaten an energy bar by the time he entered the city limits.

We ended up making it back just before it got completely dark and before Alberto called out the search and rescue.

This morning was the local group ride which is always fun but I lost my left earring. It was my favorite/expensive/good earring! I did not realize I lost it until I got back home and only had my right one. I guess that explains why the dudes at the coffee shop were so friendly to me this afternoon!

Tomorrow is the first race of the season…..The Cherry Pie Crit in Napa. Karl and I are going to head over there in the morning and are meeting a few of our teammates who are also racing. It is only a sixty minute crit but the top three places get a Cherry Pie. I think a couple of cherry pies would be good for dessert tomorrow!

Later,
g.

Pesticide

2006-02-09T20:51:00.000-08:00

Nothing like the smell of burning oatmeal to greet you when you get up in the morning. I guess I can forgive Karl for burning his oatmeal since the cooking directions are really complicated and hard to understand! Maybe burning your oatmeal makes you really fast??? I will try it tomorrow and get back to you!
Menzies was the ride leader and we got to ride through a scenic oil refinery today.
Karl "ride leader" Menzies also took me under a crop duster on the ride today. If you look closely you can see it in the backgound. At least I won't get eaten by insects!

Today Karl was the ride leader and we were planning to ride to Davis, CA which is west of Sacramento. Needless to say we never made it to Davis but instead we rode through and oil refinery, along a algae/sludge/trash/stagnant/old tire filled river, and under a crop duster that was spraying shit on the fields. It was a lovely ride.

The weather was awesome.........it was sunny and seventy five degrees. I was able to ride without arm or leg warmers for the first time this year. I did feel sort of naked and looked really pastey but it was good. However, I put on this spf 40 stuff that I accidently bought and don't think I got tan at all. I like to buy the spf 8 stuff because I can still get a "fast" tan. What is the point of even riding if I am not going to get a tan? It was as if I wasted five hours today.

Karl and I also stopped at the bike shop, "City Cycle" on the way through Sacramento. I must say that is the best shop around.............I would even be willing to go out on a limb and say it is one of the best shops in the country! They un-screwed up my stem and were really helpful. Russel Hamby is one of the employees there and I think he won employee of the month six months in a row...............actually not...........but he should have.

Time to go and eat some All Bran dessert. That stuff is awesome........and it is pretty much all bran..........go figure eh! However, I learned the other night that it is not good to eat too much. I did and it felt like my guts were going to explode and I had a hard time breathing I felt soo full. Thank God for an elastic waist band.

later,

I Made It To 100

2006-02-08T22:10:00.000-08:00

Day 100 = No Diet Soda

I made it...........one hundred days without a single sip of diet soda. I decided one hundred days to stop drinking it and I did cold turkey. I know this sounds rather vain but damnit, I am proud of myself!! I could keep counting the days that I don't drink diet soda but I feel it is not necessary. I definitely kicked the habit and who knows maybe one day on a hot ride when I am putting the hurt to Menzies I might want a nice cold "Crisp and Refreshing" Diet Pepsi!

If I want a Diet Soda every once in awhile I am going to have one but gone are the walks to the liquor store down the street so I can watch the evening news while slamming a two liter. Along with the diet soda I have also strictly limited my use of artificial sweeteners. Now instead of Splenda and milk for dessert I am having maple syrup and milk. I figure only three things can happen by limiting artifical sweeteners either: nothing will happen, I will get fast from not having artificial sweetener in my body, or I will get fat from the extra calories in the sugar I am consuming. I will have to get back to you on that one.

Aside from that not too much happened today. I washed clothes which I absolutely dread doing. I don't mind washing them or putting them in the dryer and throwing in smelly thing. However, I cannot stand folding or hanging up the clothes when they are done. I think I would marry someone just as long as they are willing to wash my clothes! Honestly.

I also think that it is a custom in Switzerland to take pictures of the dinner you cook every evening. At least that is what Alberto has been doing the last few evenings. If anyone has ever been to Switzerland and can get back to me on that one that would be great. Maybe tomorrow I can get a picture of him taking a picture of his dinner?

later,

Life is Good

2006-02-07T21:09:00.000-08:00

A used car salesman that I met at " The Pizzera Classico"...........wait isn't that Mike "thewhiteone" Jones?
You know where I can get some Swiss cheese?
Believe it or not we got frickin' interenet in our apartment. No more cold nights out on the balcony IMing people
Life can't get much better than this.............online and watching Napolean Dynamite at the same time. Life really is good! Anybody have a shirt with a air brushed horse on it that they want to get ride of? Hey Jones...........is Napolean 2006???

Day 99 = No Diet Soda

Today started out really crappy. I woke up and strolled out into the living in my underwear only to find the internet guy working on our modem. I think there was an awkward moment of silence when he saw me but I really did not care becuase I just wanted coffee.

The dude did fix our cable so now I can watch the weather channel without getting a headache. Before it was all blurry, fuzzy, and the weatherman appeared like weathermen. Along with the cable our internet also got fixed which was awesome.

However, the wireless router for our modem still did not work. Karl spent half the afternoon on the phone with the router tech people and still did not fix the problem. Karl said the phone guy was useless but I think it was just Karl becuase I called later in the evening and got the wireless running in about ten minutes!

In the afternoon I got a call from Bicycle Plus the local bike shop here in Folsom and they told me the 90 and 100 mm stems that I had ordered last week were in. I ordered two so that I could try both and pick the one that I like best and return the other. I was hoping the 100 mm stem worked becuase it is only 10 mm shorter that the one I have on now and Mike Sayers who says I should have a longer stem might not even realize I got a shorter one! Hopefully!

After getting home from the shop I start putting on the 100 mm stem but find that I need a spacer. Shit..........I have to run back to the shop and get one. I do that and when I get back home I find out the stem is not oversized so it does not fit my oversized handlebars. Unbelieveable!!

I then go to put my old stem back on and strip the headset bolt! Now I am pissed and seeing red! After I relax a bit I bring the two stems back to the shop and the guys are Bikes Plus are awesome. They are ordering me another stem and are fixing my bike but I have to wait until tomorrow to get the stripped bolt fixed becuase they don't have the part in stock.

I learned a valuable lesson today................don't f$#k with my bike becuase I end up screwing everything up! I think Eric and Chad Health Net's mechanics would second me on that.

Time to hit the hay..........I have a big day of de-screwing up my bike ahead of me tomorrow.

later,

Epic

2006-02-05T20:34:00.000-08:00

A lovely picture of a mountain creek soaking up the warmth of the morning sun.
Half way to Lake Tahoe and what is that shit on the road? I thought it was suppose to be seventy today?

"These bloody Maxxis tires are sweet as bro............I can ride through anything mate!"
Farther up the mountain the snow got worse and I picked up the pace. Menzies could not match my tempo and fell over due to exhaustion. The "beast" was down!
After getting up from his little "bingle" Karl asks if we can turn around yet?

Day 97 = No Diet Soda.

Today Menzies and I headed into the mountains from our apartment in Folsom to do a little climbing/exploring. On the topographical map of the area we found this awesome road that had lots of switchbacks and crossed over a lot of the elevation lines on the map. It had to be good right?

The ride actually did not take us to Lake Tahoe becuase there and back would be about a two hundred mile excursion. However, wheels are turning in my head! We did go up the mountain a ways and at five thousand feet ran into a ton of snow. Also, it actually was not I putting the hurt on Karl but it was him killing me. The road eventually got sooo icey we both went down a couple of times. I was rather happy that we ran into to snow becuase it was the only way I could keep up with Karl. (He really did not fall over due to exhuastion either........I just keep telling myself that)!

We ended up riding around six hours and I felt like shit for approximately six out of the six hours. That means for me the ride was 100% shitty! Guess how Karl felt? Great! Guess how Karl feels everyday? Great!

Aside from that the roads were awesome .................there is some amazing riding around here especially in the summer when the higher mountains are not covered in snow. The weather is getting nice in the valley with highs in the seventies. Lovely!

Other than that we still don't have internet running in our house. I am hanging outside our front door under the stars at our homeade internet cafe. I guess Comcast has to put in a new pole or something and that won't be done until later this week. Is it just me or does nothing ever seem to work? For once I would like to plug something in and have it work like it should!

Okay, I think I should go and rest up and prepare for another thrashing tomorrow. I don't think my legs like riding with Karl???

later,

2006-02-02T22:12:00.000-08:00

My name is Karl Menzies and I am a machine. I feel no pain......my legs are great...........I dance on clouds........riding in rain makes me strong like bull! I tear you apart..................

Great teamwork guys. Karl helping Mike change a flat in the rain. I was off taking pictures but I did lend Mike my "pro" CO2 inflater.
While Sayers was fixing his flat I was taking pictures of where the Califronia gold rush started.

Sutter's Mill gold discovery site.
Some of the cool gold extracting equiptment. I guess you can still find gold in the streams??? That sounds like a great date idea........go panning for gold. The gold..........if any is found ...............could be used to pay for dinner and a movie!!! That is my idea of a fun afternoon.
More gold stuff...........the location is in the city of Coloma, CA.

Back down the mountain drying off in a local coffee shop before heading out for some more fun. I believe that is a four shot Americano??

Shit........I wish I had my fender on!!

Day 94 = No Diet Soda

This morning I set my alarm for 7:27 AM......and guess what? I got up about five minutes after that. I can't get up exactly at the time my alarm goes off becuase I need a few minutes to motivate. I was really happy with myself though and even had time to brush my teeth for two complete Sonicare cycles instead of the one and a half that I have been doing the last two mornings. I usually double the recommended time/amount/distance/etc.....for everything because more is ALWAYS better.

Every morning I eat my oatmeal with protein powder, drink my coffee, and flick between MTV video hits and The Weather Channel's local on the eights. Today the weather dude said it was suppose to be nice so against my instincts I took the fender off of my bike believing I would not need it.

What do you know???? It rained for frickin' four hours on the ride. I guarantee that it would not have rained if I would have had my fender on. Every other time it was suppose to rain and I had a fender on it never did. I let myself down and I caved to the peer pressure and the ripping of my teamates. Fenders arn't gay they are functional comfort enhancing devices that everyone should rock on their bicycles.

We did have a photographer from the Sacramento taking photos while we were training and it looked tough riding in the rain and fog but in reality it really really sucked.

Okay.......time to go have a little cocoa/craisin/walnut/chocolate chip/better n' peanut butter/ waffle dessert and watch Cops with Alberto. Cops is sooo not 2006 but I guess he is a foreigner and I can allow it.

later,

Fender or No Fender????

2006-02-01T21:01:00.000-08:00

Coach Menzies scolding me for being tardy this morning.

Day 93 = No Diet Soda

Starting today I am making a post New Years resolution. I am going to start getting up at the time I set my alarm clock. This morning I set my alarm for 7:17 AM but after it turned off I went back to bed and did not get up until eight. Then I am rushing around to get out of the door by 9:00 AM. I have been doing that for pretty much ever and it is starting to suck! I hate being rushed especially in the morning. I like to savor my coffee, fully cook my oatmeal, and not have to cut my toothbrushing time in half. I think Menzies hates waiting for me also?

My alarm clock does scare the shit out of people/piss them off. Then I always get yelled at because it wakes them up and I go back to sleep for another hour. At team camp Gord (my roomate) jumped about five feet of his bed when my alarm went off and I think Hollywood did the same this morning. I do feel sort of bad but hey I need a loud alarm since I can't hear as it is.

Today Karl and I did an out and back ride of about five hours and had a headwind for five hours. I know that really does not make sense but I am not shittin' you it is the truth! We were even fortunate enough for it rain for the last two hours of the ride. I even flatted but I felt really pro because I fixed the flat with a CO2 cartridge. I did not use the CO2 to be cool but becuase my frame pump fell off my bike the other day and I ran the damn thing over and broke it. I am still pissed about it..............apparently it was funny for everyone else though!!!!!!

Lucky, I had my fender on today for the rain. I get made fun of for putting it on my bike but I prefer to avoid the wet crack syndrome. Honestly, is a fender really that bad???

later,

PS. I have another coffee talk topic but now I am just waiting on Mike Jones. Thanks for the topic Nora.

Internet Cafe........"Sweet As!"

2006-01-31T18:36:00.000-08:00

Alberto at the internet cafe...............the cafe is located outside our front door and it is the only place we can pick up internet until we get ours set up. It gets rather chilly at night and I am sure the neighbors think we are weird. Not that they don't already with three guys living in a two bedroom apartment who wear spandex most of the day.
Alberto and I at the cafe.

Day 92 = No Diet Soda

Yesterday was a marathon of a day. It was my "easy" day but lately my "easy" days have been pretty frickin' busy. I pretty much got everything done that I needed to but it ended up taking about eight or nine hours of driving around town in the car which pretty much cracked me. However, it probably would have been half that but Karl had to go back to the comforter corral for the second time in as many days to get stuff for his new bed. I guess he could not make a decision the first time becuase there was too much to choose from. After many hours he did decide on something but did not approve of the cover that I picked out for our couch. Apparently, it was not the proper beige color that he wanted. It sort of feels like I am living with Martha Stewart but I will admit he does have pretty good taste.

We also went to Sears yesterday to get the wheel fixed on my car. Whenever I would drive between fifty and sixty mph it felt like my car was going to fall apart. I shit you not.......the thing would shake so bad that the coffee in my cup holder would spill. Anyway, I had to get a new tire becuase they said one was square or out of round or something and that was causing the vehicle to shimmy. It sucked I had to buy a new tire but now it feels like I am driving a Ferrari........but then I remember it is only a Jeep.

I got the problem fixed but it was sort of weird only buying one tire becuase it seemed like I should buy four. I would compare it to buying only one shoe...........it screws up the whole system and nothing will ever be worn out at the same time.

Today we did another long ride and it was cold. Too cold that I did not even want to take off my gloves to take a picture or maybe it was the fact that I was hurting the entire time and was more worried about not getting dropped. Anyway, I made it back in one piece and took a nice little "kip" in the afternoon which was "sweet as!" Just for clarifcation "kip" is Australian for nap".

later,

Request Hour

2006-01-29T16:46:00.000-08:00

Alberto(right) and Hollywood (left). Alberto cooked us dinner last night which was rather tastey.
The new entertainment center that we bought off of craigslist. As much as I don't want to admit it I guess it does look better than the sterilite containers we had been using but definitely not as cost effective.
Chilling with Menzies fur coat on our new sofa that was extracted from Mike Sayers neighbor's garbage. It really is not as nasty as the picture makes it look.......honestly.

View of the apartment from the road..........we live on the top.
Close up view of our balcony thing from the road.
The view outside the front door.
Front door of the house.
The creek below our balcony.

The bike path that goes to downtown Sacramento.

Day 90 = No Diet Soda

I had a few requests to post some pictures of the outside of our apartment...........well actually...........one request and that was from my mom. Anyway I fullfill all requests............are there any others?

I forgot to mention in my last update (Mike Jones and G's Coffee Talk) that Mike and I are going to try and make "Coffee Talk" a regular phenomena. I am not sure how often "Coffee Talk" will occur but it will happen again. Mike had also suggested that any ideas for topics of discussion are welcome and will be useed. For example............what fashions are going to be in for 2006 (Nora is sooooo 2006!). That was just an example and has already been covered so no repeats.

Aside from that I went to the local bike shop today to check out smaller stems (bike stems.......to clarify). The local shop (Bicycle Plus) is going to order me two different size Ritchey stems. I am getting 90 and 100 mm. That way I can try them both and decide what I like better becuase the one I have now is too long:-). I know our team mechanic Eric reads this and I could probably just ask for one from the team trailer but I feel bad asking because I have already changed and re-changed soo much shit. Don't worry Eric of Chad I got this one covered.

I also set up a myspace account but I think I screwed it up or at least my URL. My URL is not a name............I am only a number...........and it is not a low number. I think I am myspace #573298772........but I guess it is better than #573298773. Now I have to figure out how to use the thing.

I think we are going out for bugerst tonight so I have to run.

later,

Mike Jones and G's Coffee Talk

2006-01-28T20:07:00.000-08:00

Garrett, so to start of this conversation, i would like to be serious for one second, i am happy to have you on the team this year and look forward to traveling and racing with you . Ok, now you can wipe the tear from your eye and start talking. Lets get to the important stuff here, are theyre any hard feelings from the fact that Karl Menzies was quoted as saying at camp that "mike jones is absolutely the best roommate i have ever had"? I mean, maybe he didnt clarify it by saying Mike Jones is the best Division Two roommate i have ever had? But it sounds like you two will have a few weeks to clarify it as i hear that you two are sharing a bed in your apartment in Folsom.

Well Mike.............I am also very happy to be racing with you this season and the rest of the Health Net boys. I am looking forward to checking out your new place in NY, it sounds really cool. Actually, on the Menzies thing, I really did not get to room with him last year on Advantage. The team did that because otherwise I would have set the roomate standard too high and Menzies would complain more than he already does with anyone else. Also to clarify we are not sleeping in the same bed but are sharing a room. Menzies was your roomate at team camp did you witness anything interesting?

See, heres the thing Garrett, you just said tonight while Menzies was checking out swatches of synthetic comforters at the Comforter Corral, that you slept with him at a race last year, so i dont believe you, agree to disagree. My place is good in NY, where else can you get a mortgage that is less than the loan payment for the audi that i think i still own, but never see? only in binghamton NY, but most likely you wouldnt love it unless you grew up there. Yeah, so dont get too excited about riding with the Health Net team cuz i was talking with Jeff about the rider matrix for this season and I know that he told you that you are on the late program and I think his first race he has you doing is Univest, so you have several months to get excited. You gotta ease into it, and get really excited the taper like an IronMan and by that time youll be in late september and hopefully youll come around with some ragin super duper form for univest. No i didnt witness anything interesting, unless of course showering once a week is interesting, but i figured thats what happens when you grow up on Alcatraz. And as far as sharing a room, i am looking as I type and there is ONE bed in your room, you can deny it all you want, but half of Folsom knows the deal. Well at least the Barista knows at the coffee shop next door knows cuz i told her when you guys were in line behind me. So on to a serious subject, When are you going to do a long ride? And before i leave dont let me forget to talk to you about what day we should actually take a pull and stop letting Sayers and Menzies pull us around all day. So if you do a long ride anytime soon, you should think about adjusting your seat to a better position, a more comfortable recreational cyclist position.

Yeah Mike.......I really have no reason to be doing long rides at this moment since I won't be racing until Univest. I am doing some carbo loading to get ready for my big training block coming up in late July. Hopefully by then I will have my saddle adjusted properly! How crazy is it that Menzies could not pick out a comforter tonight!! I think he should go into home decorating instead of bike riding!! Also to set the record straight I did share a bed with Menzies in Merced last year. It was a king size bed and I was on top of the covers and on the edge of the bed the entire evening. I was pretty much scared shitless the entire night sleeping with a dude whose leg is bigger than me so I opted to sleep on the floor the rest of the time. I think that is about it for tonight Mike. Would you like to add anything else before taking off?

yeah, actually, there is something I want to add. The same house that your Sofa came from down in Sac burnt down last night, or at least was on fire around 11pm. So they might be calling for their couch back soon, so dont invest any money into it. And you have a good track record with giving stuff back, i remember when 2005 called at camp and asked for their popped collar back, and thank god you gave it back. Ok, my coffee is gone and this couch smells like cigarettes, so i am out of here, till next time buddy.

Thanks for the fashion tips Mike...............Puffy vests and conducter hats are in for 2006.

later,

Mike Jones and G.

Frickin' Crazy

2006-01-26T17:04:00.000-08:00

Store stop on yesterday's ride........that is me on the sccoter. I wanted a better workout but know my left shoe is worn out.
What is Hollywood doing?????

Day 87 = No Diet Soda

Since getting back from team camp on Monday things have been absolutely crazy around the appartment. I had my shit pretty much organized but now I am switching rooms and things have become totally de-organized. Moving is stressful and makes me grumpy!!!

Amidst the choas I am still updating so you should feel rather fortunate for that :-) I am outside of the apartment on Hollywood's computer becuase from here I can pick up McDonald's wireless network. I am actually suppose to be looking for a coffee table, entertainment center, end table, and dresser on craigslist but that stuff can wait since this is more important.........right? At least it is more fun.

Today I figured out how to get packages from the mail guy! We have little boxes for our mail and for the past few weeks I have been finding this key in my mailbox. The key says put in mail drop box if found so that is what I have been doing. However, my mom sent a package and I have been waiting for it forever. Yesterday it hit me................that key is to open another larger box where the mailman puts packages. Anyway I got my package that was dated January 5th. Sometimes I question my intelligence buy hey, I am a bike racer!!

I really should check for some furniture on craigslist. Tomorrow is an easy day for me...........thank God..........Mike S, Jonsey, and Hollywood have been putting the hurt on me in the mountains the past few days and my legs are sore. I can't believe I said that but really my legs are beyond sore.

later,

Back in Town

2006-01-24T14:09:00.000-08:00

Day 85 = No Diet Soda

Karl, Alberto and I made it back to Folsom last night and today is errand/move in day. Basically, I get to move in twice since everything in the house it getting rearranged with two new people in the house. I am going to officially say that I hate moving!!!

Some good news is that I just got off of the phone with the cable company and tomorrow by 5 pm our house should be equipped with cable television. Wireless internet is also on the way but we have to wait for week becuase the router and modem are coming in the mail. I could have got the internet installed with the cable tomorrow but by setting it up myself and waiting a week it is cheaper!!! I wonder how much cursing I am going to do when I set up that damn thing!

Another piece of good news is that Mike and Jonesie found us a leather couch that the neighbor was throwing out. I guess it is true.........one person's trash is another's treasure!

Nothing can go too smoothly though......I got a frickin virus on my computer! I am going to personally go out and kick every virus making persons ass!!!!!

later,

Breaking News...............

2006-01-22T20:32:00.000-08:00

Day 83 = No Diet Soda

....................................I think I finally got my saddle adjusted on today's ride? Or at least I did for the last thirty minutes of the ride. I am sure it is too good to be true but at least tonight I will sleep well since I won't be thinking about it the entire time!

Today was the last day of team camp and Karl, Alberto, Mike and Mike are heading up north to Sacramento tomorrow. If it is not raining the Sacramento group ride should be pretty fun on Saturday...........nearly one-third of the Health Net team should be there!

Team camp has been fun but an entirely new experience for me. It was great training with all of my new teamates even though they made my legs hurt a lot. Meeting and working with the staff has been awesome...they really know what they are doing and in my opinion they are the best in the buisness.

Aside for riding, getting bikes fitted, having meetings, getting massages we did a lot of other things during the past ten days. We went out to eat a fair amount especially at Rudy's this burrito place close by. Had awesome team dinners and team breakfasts. One night we were able to cut loose a bit and throw back a few drinks. We also met most of the sponsors and interacted with them. It was really cool to talk to the people who make the products that we use on a daily basis. Other things included freezing taking team pictures, autographing a ton of jerseys, gettings some really cool swag, riding with sponsors/mentors and most importantly having fun.

I am looking forward to this upcoming season and racing with such an amazing group of riders and top notch staff.

Just so we would not get too fast a few of us hit up McDonalds tonight for some McFlurries. I am not a fan of McDonalds but any type of ice cream is good in my book! I ended up washing the McFlurry down with a chocolate dipped cone! Even though I am really full I can still say I did not eat as much ice cream as Menzies did tonight.

So long from Buellton, CA.

later,

PS. Thanks for being an awesome roomate Gord. He did not even get sick of me and let my take my half hour showers so I could shave.

Wet Pickle

2006-01-21T22:30:00.000-08:00

Jeff and Greg. Jeff has been awesome dealing with me changing my shoe sizes and losing my shirt today.
Lars and myself before riding. Lars is a San Fran based junior rider who I am mentoring this year.
The Captain......
Menzies.........you think my saddle looks level?
Leave your god damn saddle alone Garrett you are just going to stip the bolts (Chad).
Maxxis boys.
Tom Ritchey and the Australian national time trial champion, Nathan O'Neil.
Chad, one of the two awesome mechanics on the team putting bikes togehter.
Hey I am not the only one who adjusts shit.
Pre-ride jersey signing.

Day 82 = No Diet Soda

I woke up with a bit of a headache this morning after last nights cocktail party. Upon waking up I headed downstairs for breakfast but when opened the door to my room I got hit in the head by a wet pickle. Someone (Jones) put it above my door...........too bad Gord had not left the room first. I will admit that even though I got hit in the head by a wet pickle it was rather funny.

Today was sponsor day at camp. We had a bunch of sponsor presentations and got to meet the Cannondale, Maxxis, Speedplay, Rudy Project, Ritchey, Reynolds, Fizik and Cytomax people.

After that we went for a ride with our junior mentors and sponsors which was fun. Then it was off to the team dinner and the team presentation.

For the team presentation we had to wear our Health Net polos that we were given. However, I managed to lose my polo. I actually did not lose it........I had it on my bed and the maid stole it when she changed my sheets. Honestly!! With no shirt I had to go to Jeff and ask for another one which I am sure he was happy about. I guess I can make things complicated every once in awhile. I don't try to it just happyens.......sorry.

later,

Team Building

2006-01-20T16:18:00.000-08:00

Day81 = No Diet Soda

If I make it to one hundred days I think I am going to stop counting because the math is starting to get rather difficult. Plus I have officially kicked the habit after one hundred days right?

Today we did a team building activity. All of the riders, staff, and sponsors loaded into the vans and we went to a local park. The the team building activity was called "The Everest Challenge." It was a simulation of what it would be like to climb Mt. Everst.

There were three teams and we were team number three. I ended up dying immediately so I had to wear these black goggles the entire time and could not see shit. I was stumbling over rocks and roots and getting hit in the head by branches. My teamates did not leave me behind which was nice but we did not reach the summit. Thus we lost the game but we were winners in the end because we kept all of our dead. The other two teams left the dead behind showing that they are selfish bastards who only care about winning! Go team number three!

Seriously though the "Everest Simulation" was pretty fun but the entire time I could not stop thinking about the cocktail/buffalo wing party Cannondale is throwing for us tonight. I guess I am starving............skipping lunch sucks! Maybe I should not have spent so much time adjusting my saddle after the ride this morning? Son of a..............

later,

Picture Day

2006-01-19T11:52:00.000-08:00

Kim (left) and Debbie (right) the team soigneurs. They give awesome massages and get to see me in only a towel almost every day!

Day 80 = No Diet Soda

Today is team picture day. We had to get up rather early this morning (around 7 AM) to drive out to our picture site and take some shots. It was pretty cold and I think most people were rather tired.........or at least I was. We have two sessions of pictures: one in the morning and then another session in the afternoon. I guess the lighting for pictures is better in the early morning and the afternoon so that is why we are doing two photo shoots.

With the photos I don't even think we get to have a massage! Don't they know that my cheeks get sore from smiling..........come on! Seriously, I am sure the soignuers (sp?) are happy to have a break from the brutal massage schedule. Giving six thirty minute massages everyday must make your hands and arms tired. Holy crap!..............I just did the math and that is about three hours of massages every day!

We have two soigneurs on our team.........Kim and Debbie. They are awesome. Not only do they give rubs but they have bottles ready in the morning and recovery drinks ready after the ride. They pretty much do everything except for ride the bikes for us and fix them. Therefore I wanted to say thank you very much to Kim and Debbie!!!

Another crazy thing is that we have some international riders on our team with crazy accents. However, they come up to me and say that I talk funny! That got me thinking............I don't believe I have ever been around someone who says I talk normal. Where am I from then? I feel bad for Alberto who is learning to speak English and is going to be learning from an Aussie and myself............that sould be interesting to say the least.

Time to run and give the mechanics the six pack of Guiness Stout that I bought for them at Albertson's last night. Hopefully that makes them happy. I am going to have to use it as a bartering tool though becuase I want to switch my saddle. Saddle for a six pack.......sounds like a good deal to me!

later,

Non-Stop

2006-01-17T18:46:00.000-08:00

Day 78 = No Diet Soda

Today was a pretty busy day at camp. Most of the team had to get up at 6:40 AM to go to the lab and get blood drawn. After that it was the best part of the day.............breakfast! I feel right at home because we are drinking Folgers coffee none of this expensive wimpy non-put-hair-on-your-chest type gourmet stuff.

Post breakfast we went for a good ride and the weather was great. I only adjusted my saddle three times and I think I finally got it this time! I believe the novelty of my adjustments is starting to wear off becuase all of my teamates are starting to razz me about it. Especially when I do a quick adjustment at a piss stop and have to chase back on. There is no waiting so I end up doing a lot of chasing. It sucks when I catch on right before a hill! I guess it will get me fit rather quickly.

I have also been a pain in the ass to the mechanics. I had 44 cm bars on and then had them swapped out for 42 cm. I found out I liked the 44 cm bars better so got them put back on. Thanks Chad and Eric even though I gaurantee I am on your guys shit list.

After the ride I got my wonderful rub and then had to get back on a bike and do a stress test. Nothing like riding, showering, getting a massage, and then having to ride again. It is another UCI thing and I got it done. Thanks Dr. San Jose and Dr. Mike for doing all fo the tests.

After my second shower I am waiting to go and have dinner.

later,

Beauty Rest

2006-01-15T21:05:00.000-08:00

My new queen size bed with matching comforter and sheets.

Karly "Hollywood" "10" Menzies is back in town.
Is that SoPro..................rumor has it he might be doing an exclusive interview with me???

Day A Lot = No Diet Soda

Since my last update quite a lot has happened. Before leaving for team camp on Friday I got a new bed for my appartment. It is a huge queen size bed and is a nice upgrade from camping out on the floor. The bed only cost $50 and the person who I bought it from even delivered it. Apparently I have been informed that used beds are nasty?? Shit........for fifty dollars I am willing to settle for something nasty. I did get a nice Ralph Lauren comforter and matching sheets at Ross. Amanda the girl that worked at Ross was really nice and picked everything out for me and gave me a smoking deal. It all matches!!! Thanks Amanda!

After that I drove down to Southern California or as the locals would call it SoCal for team camp. It is day three of team camp and I have already rode three different saddles but I think I have found one that I like. I am rooming with Gord but spend a lot of time in SoPro and Hollywood's room because they are the only ones with interent.

I also met Alberto the Swiss guy on our team who is going to be living with Menzies and myself. He is learning English but I am not sure how well that is going to go being around Menzies and me. I wonder what kind of accent he is going to have?

Before I go I would like to wish Megan a very happy birthday.

later,

Living Dangerously

2006-01-11T12:20:00.000-08:00

The new ride with a crazy long stem (for me anyway)

Day 72 = No Diet Soda

Since I have been reviewing products lately I thought I would mention my new bike. I have never ridden Cannondale before but so far I really like it. Most important is that it looks really cool and of course looks even more cool with me on it!

Woody had posted a comment asking how it goes uphill and handles. It handles well and goes up hill great........but then again that is with me on it and I could make anything halde or go uphill well :-).

Seriously though it is a really nice bike and I am happy to be riding Cannondale. I am even going out on a limb and riding a longer stem. I cannot believe I am living on the edge like that but I like to spice things up once in a while. Mike mentioned to me while riding yesterday that I could probably even go a bit longer...........if I wanted to live really dangerously. I am not sure if I am ready for that type of commitment now but maybe in a few months?

I have to go and tie up some loose ends before heading down to team camp on Friday in Southern California.

later,

Consumer Review

2006-01-10T18:14:00.000-08:00

Day 71 = No Diet Soda

Today I reached a milestone..................I have four functional chairs in my apartment. For the past week I have had three and a half chairs. The half chair is this really nice rolly computer chair that had a broken wheel. I figured that since I was once a small engine mechanic I should be able to fix a broken wheel on a chair. I would then have a nice functional yet moveable place to sit.

The mobility of the chair is key becuase then I could wheel myself from the living room to the kitchen and back without even standing up. That will make my legs feel fresh and fast all of the time.

To fix the chair I went and bought some JB Weld at Ace Hardware and it is some good Shit! On the back of the container it says some farmer in Plano, Texas used the product to fix a cracked engine block on his tractor/harvester thing and it worked saving him $60,000. I figured that if it works on heavy machinery it must be able to hold a broken wheel on a chair. I bet that it even holds when Menzies sits in it.............I will have to get back to you on that one though!

Another good product is Trader Joe's sliced apples. It seems like I eat more fruit if the stuff is sliced. I am not sure why but I do know that I am too lazy to slice it myself and slicing is a time consuming process. Instead I usually end up eating bread or chocolate chips since they are already sliced or cut up into to small pieces for me. However, bags of pre-sliced apples solves all my problems.

I had better go home so I can roll my ass into the kitchen on my newly fixed rolly chair and get some sliced apples that I don't have to slice myself :-)

later,

Welcome To My Home

2006-01-09T11:22:00.000-08:00

Home entertainment center. I have about 3.5 channels depending on the weather and how I skilled I am at adjusting the "rabbit ears".
My lounging area.............nice big red chair was supplied by Bowen...........thank you very much!
Another view of the living room. The table and other two red chairs were supplied by Mike and Nicole..........the nicest people around by the way!
The kitchen where some gourmet shit goes down.

The shitter. The flushing capacity of the toilet is rather weak so I think when "Hollywood" "10 Menzies" gets here we are going to have to buy a plunger! I also wanted to clarify that my teamate Mike "So Pro" Jones came up with the nickname "10 Menzies" which he definitely deserves credit for.
A very exciting hallway..........

My bedroom. I think I should be looking for a bed instead of hanging at a coffee shop udating my blog? I there anyone in the Sacramento area that has a bed they want to get off of their hands...............shit it can even be a "soiled" bed as long as the soilage is not where I put my head.

Day 70 = No Diet Soda

Yes I am still alive. I have been riding a lot or maybe a little, I have been going into the mountains or maybe riding the flats..............? I don't know...........I guess I can't reveal my top secret training.

Like I said before I don't have interent in my new place and the coffee shop with free internet closes early in the evening. I am not going to pay to update at Starbucks! That is one bad thing about Starbucks they don't have free internet.........I guess it is a way to keep cheap dudes like myself away.

I am back in the routine of eating wheat bran waffles and doing my hour long abs. I am also slowly integrating myself into the community by getting a Blockbuster and Ralph's card. Other than that I have been doing some group rides on my new team bike that I got the other day and even riding with Horner.

Team camp starts on Friday which I am looking forward to.

I wonder if Frank and Wes made it to Tucson?

later,

Old and New Pictures

2006-01-05T21:41:00.000-08:00

Stopped in downtown Reno on the way to California a few weeks ago.
Spent the night in my vehicle at Donner Pass summit...........no I did not eat anyone! I did shave and clog up the rest area sink. Sorry, rest area cleanerupper guy. I also hear this part of I-80 is one of the most deadly sections of interstate in the US???
Creek by Lotus, CA that I ride by a lot.
Myslef standing by the creek by Lotus, CA that I ride by a lot.

Another road on todays ride..............I think I stopped to piss which is an opportune time to take a photo

This is the largest expansion bridge or something like that.............anyway I rode over it.
Holy Shit!!!! They named a town after me!!!

Day 66 = No Diet Soda

I forgot to take pictures of my new apartment..........sorry "Hollywood"! I will take pictures one of these days though. I don't have internet in my apartment yet so getting online is sort of a pain. It is good that I don't waste a ton on time IMing people though, right?

Okay have to run I am paying for this! I do have to say that I am at Borders using their interent and not only do I have to pay but it is hot in here. I am sweating balls again...........it is sort of nice since I don't turn on the heat in my place.

later,

Sun Makes Me Smile

2006-01-04T20:21:00.000-08:00

Day 65 = No Diet Soda

I have got an apartment and I am all moved in but I don't have internet so that is why my updates have been slack as of late.

It was 60 degrees and sunny out today and is suppose to be that way the rest of the week. That makes me happy. I think my face even got a bit sunburned today?

I have to run to Trader Joe's before it closes! Trader Joe's = bueno! Pictures of the new place and a better updates to come...........I promise.

later,

RAIN..............F%#K!!!!!!!!!

2006-01-02T19:51:00.000-08:00

I wonder if it is ever going to stop raining? I believe each year our body allows us only so many days of riding in the rain. I think I have already used up this years allotment and it is only January 2nd......shit!

later,

My Year in Review...........

2006-01-01T20:44:00.000-08:00

Day 62 = No Diet Soda

For the month of January and February the Advantage Benefits Endeavour cycling team had a house in Tucson, Arizona were we trained.

January 1st = First day as a pro and cracked Hartman on a seven hour death march. He slept for a few days after that one.

Mid January went to Winter Park Colorado for a week to snowboard, xc ski, and get canned by my girlfriend.

Back to Tucson to train and learn to to stand and fall on the the physioball, get pulled over by cops on our bicycles on way to Kitt Peak, have pizza nights at the house, watch Anchorman continuosly, do two a day abs, have margarita's at Bison Witches, and smell Wes's stinky ass all night.

Mid February did VOS stage race and then Veulta Arizona/Sonora. At Veulta Arizona/Sonora "Sacho" forgot his Puffins in Tucson, we got terribly sunburned, Nick raced well, Wes got some death illness that I later caught which lasted for weeks.

Back to Tucson to help my brother who got hit by a car and broke his pelvis.

Karl came into town from OZ

The begining of March the team left Tucson and went to California for first NRC races and training camp. Crashed hard in first road race.......ouch!

Quit drinking diet soda.

Got New Felt bikes..........awesome!

Karl killed at San Dimas.

Went to San Fran for the first time with Sheeds for a week and had some really really hot hot sauce at a Mexican restaurant.

Richie flew in from OZ.

Redlands was brutal and got food poisoning from the Outback Steakhouse after we went out after the last stage. Drove two days back to Madison from L.A with food poisoning. Still can't eat onions becuase I think the bloomin' onion caused it.

Rode to Mt. Horeb mustard museum with Becca.

Middle of April went south to Lookout Mountain, GA to stay and train with Eddy. Rode a lot, ate southern cooking, accidently hit a little kid in the face with a baseball, and saw Karl eat 4 quarts of ice cream at Klumpies.

In May we went to Arkansas for Joe Martin and I burnt my chest with nair, bought an ipod, ate a three pound steak, won my first NRC race, and sweated balls in a van with no a/c.

After that we hit up the entire east coast for races leading up to Philly week. Stayed with a host family in Lancaster who had a lot of junk food and I ate a lot of junk food, no bueno. Had a blast in Philly and then drove straight to Nature Valley.

Flooded a bathroom on the way to Nature Valley. Then raced Nature Valley.

Mid June had a bit of a break and went out east to hang with Becca and her family for three weeks. Had a blast.........went to a wedding, saw a broadway show, cooked dinner, went to the spy museum in DC, ate ice cream, washed windows, mini golfed, biked to Starbucks, got sad when I left.

Back to Milwuakee and superweek in July. Took up residence in Billy Jones basement with Rocco the stinky ass dog! Won Downers Ave, Karl won overall, Frank won sprint jersey, Wes won a stage, and Eddy won a stage. Good tour.

August drove to Charlotte for Bank of America in a van without a/c and sweated balls again! Sat in Chicago traffic again. Did a few races, partied after the races and went to a restaurant in a boat.

Back to Chicago for US Pro crit and then to New York for Chris Thater and back before flying to San Fran for the San Fran Grand Prix.

After the San Fran Grand Prix we flew back to Milwaukee and then drove down to Gina's house in NC for the Carolina Cup races and then to Univest in Philly before driving back to Milwaukee.

Talked on the phone a lot in NC..........sorry Gina!

Signed with Health Net.

September 25, 2005 crashed on mountain while riding with Frank and broke three vertebrae in my back.

Took a lot of pills, drank a lot of whine, watched tv, had Frank change me, went to a Homecoming dance, tried to learn to swim but got an ear infection instead, complained, got depressed, etc.

Went home and back and forth to Michigan a few times to hang with coach Olson and then got hit by a car and another trip to the hospital.

Finally a week before Chirstmas I headed out west and now I am in Sacramento and just got an appartment in Folsom, CA.

That was my year in a nutshell. I wonder what next year will bring?

later,

Raining Again......

2005-12-31T08:41:00.000-08:00

Day 61 = No Diet Soda

Holy schnikee did it rain a lot last night! All of Sacramento is flooded............I think the total was around three inches of rain in the valley and many many feet of dnow in the mountains. Needless to say I did not do the group ride this morning even though I did get up early enough to make it there. Actually, if I was not doing this update I would be on my way there now.

I think I found an apartment or, more like, got a call back from the guy of the apartment I had already found. He is giving me a bit of a hard time. I guess I don't have a crazy amount of credit and he wants me to pay two months rent and a security deposit up front. That is pretty much cleaning me out so I think I am going to have to resort to harvesting nuts and berries for a bit.

That is it for now but Happy New Years to everbody and I hope at midnight everyone gets to kiss the person that they want!

later,

Still Homeless.............

2005-12-29T20:26:00.000-08:00

Day 59 = No Diet Soda

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...............still no apartment. I am still waiting for my credit check to go through with this place in Folsom. I guess that credit check agency was having problems with their computers and that is why some other yahoo's name came up when my SSN was entered. I don't know either way I am still ready to kick some ass in case someone has been messing around with my SSN and I am also ready to find a home.

On a good note Mike and I went for a long ride in the mountains and it did not rain which made me smile. The traffic was sort of crazy and we did get buzzed quite a few time but what is new? I could go on and complain about traffic but that really does not accomplish much. I will say that I do get rather nervous in high traffic areas and places where there are no shoulder on the road. Don't get hit by a car because since my incident I have become a wimp!

Mike also got his Rudy's run over. He was adjusting his shoes and the shades fell off his head. By the time he could turn around and get them some old lady who could not see over the dashboard of her SUV ran them over. I felt bad especially because I had just got done complimenting him on how cool his sunnies were!

later,

Credit Check

2005-12-28T18:45:00.000-08:00

Day 58 = No Diet Soda

My apartment hunting might be coming to an end which is very exciting news. The past weeks I have been reading classified ads, calling apartment managers, and looking at places while out riding. Over the past few days I have narrowed the search down to a few places and today I think I have settled on one.

I started out being pickey about where I was going to live, what the place was going to look like, and how much I was going to pay. However, after a certain amount of time all of that went out the window because I am getting sick of driving around with a car packed full of my shit and want a place to call home. Mike and Nicole's house is awesome and they could not be better hosts but it is still not my house, Plus, I don't know how many more times I can take having my window fan hit me in the head whenever I brake or having my sleeping fall and knock over my coffee when I make sharp right turns!

The place that I (Mike did most of the work) found is a nice two bedroom duplex in Folsom which is located in the foothills of the Sierra's. And yes, Folsom is home to the prison where Johnny Cash played live.........very cool!

The appartment is quiet with a creek running through the back yard and the landlord seems really nice. I filled out all of the credit application stuff and upon approval of that I should be able to move in.........yehaw! I did get a call from the landlord tonight though and he said the he has to call the credit check place tomorrow because when he punched in my SSN another dudes name also came up. I don't know what that means but it does not sound good.

Hopefully it is nothing bad but I don't blame someone for trying to use my SSN because who would not want to be like me. I am soooo cool! If there is a problem though I am going to have to go find this guy/girl and give them a little ass wooping! I would be very angry.

Nicole is cooking chilli tonight and it looks awesome! Time to eat..........

later,

Nap Time

2005-12-26T16:53:00.000-08:00

Day 56 = No Diet Soda

Not too much exciting has been going on lately except for the fact that I have been training a lot. With a lot of training usuually comes a lot of eating, sore legs, and of course a sore ass. It is great!

I have also implimented hour long naps into my program which is really nice. I tell myself it is good for recovery so I don't feel guilty about sleeping half of the afternoon. The only hard part about taking naps is that I have to get up early and ride. That way I get back early enough so I can take a nap.................let me tell you it is rough!!

I have also found out that it rains a lot here!! Yesterday there was a steady rain from the moment I got up and it continued through the night. I have been places where it would rain on and off all day or rain hard for a bit and then lighten up. However, it downpoured all day with no letting up and I now know what is means to be raining cats and dogs! I am told that is normal...wow! Tahoe was, or is suppose, to get two and a half feet of snow! I wonder how my dad would like to be a snowplow guy there? I am happy I got that rain suit for Christmas..........I am making good use of it.

Time to go eat some wheat bran and spinach.

later,

De-Cracking

2005-12-24T16:09:00.000-08:00

Day 54 = No Diet Soda

First off I wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Chirstmas/Hanukkah/ or whatever you celebrate.

Things have greatly improved for me since I last updated. I made it to Mike S. house yesterday and met his wife Nicole. I will admit I was a bit nervous showing up at their door since I really did not know either of them.

I had absolutely no reason to be nervous at all because Mike and his wife are AWESOME! They are helping me out so much with a place to stay, dinner, showing me rides, and helping me find an apartment. I was starting to crack a bit the last few days after camping in my car and not knowing what I was doing or where I was going. However, I have really de-cracked over the past 24 hours thanks to Mike and Nicole!!! It even got sunny today!

Did the Sacramento group ride this morning and it went well. I met Russ Hamby, who I had met before and never really talked to, on the ride. He is another good guy and was telling me where to turn on the group ride. The ride was pretty fast and needless to say I blew all of the shit out of my legs from traveling the last few weeks! I am back........yeehaw!

I also got recruited by a local team. One of the local guys was talking with me after the ride and asked if I wanted to ride on their team! I had to say sorry and but I am racing for Health Net this year.........Mike loved that one!

Tonight I am invited to Mike's parents house down the road for Christmas dinner. I hope they have Christmas cookies and egg nog.........non-alcoholic of course :-).

Later,

Freakin'

2005-12-23T12:31:00.000-08:00

Day whatever, I have a headache and am too tired to do the math! = No Diet Soda

I made it to California and have yet to see the sun! It is warm........in the sixties but I rode yesterday in a monsoon. Today it is cloudy but still sort of depressing. I could realy use some sun at the moment! Plus, all of the food I had in my car such as maple syrup, honey mustard dressing, and honey........pretty much anything liquid, has leaked all over my floor. My car smells lovely!

This traveling living out of my vehicle thing is starting to get a bit old. Especially since the weather has been shit! On top of that I have been riding but really don't know where to ride so I end up on these crazy busy death roads getting honked at (for my good looks obviously) and flicked off!

I don't know anyone out here except for Mike who I am meeting up with tonight. That is nice! He is from the area and is helping me look for a place and hopefully showing me places to ride. I think I would crack if it was not for that. Boulder, CO seems sort of nice at the moment!

I have been spending some time at Karen's coffee and bakery in Folsom, CA. It is the only place I have found with free internet and is really nice. Everyone that works at the place thinks I talk funny and asks what country I am from? I usually say Canada so I don't have to explain anything.

later,

"The Biggest Little City in the World"

2005-12-21T20:39:00.000-08:00

Driving to Winter Park in a blizzard.

Still driving to Winter Park and still a blizzard. Also stopped for a pee break. It is really nice that they set porta shitters up at the top of the pass for people to use!

Yet another test of my driving abilities. Caught in an ice storm in western Utah but remained unphased! Maybe I should be a professional driver?
The start of a very long/desolate drive accross Nevada. Shit......I am still in Nevada!

Random mountain along the interstate that I ran up.
Day before I shave my beard! I am in warm weather now so there is no need for facial hair.........yeeeehaw!

Day 51 = No Diet Soda

Yesterday moring I left Boulder, CO and continued my trek out west. I took the scenic non-interstate route through northwest Colorado mainly so I could do some xc-skiing at Winter Park. The skiing was great and once again I was knackered by the time I hit the road.

Evening had set in by the time I left Winter Park so the scenic road was not too scenic. I did stop in Steamboat Springs for a burrito and coffee which was tastey. Steamboat had a ton of snow and the town looked really fun with a younger crowd.......maybe I will live there one day?

I made it to Salt Lake City last night and slept in my vehicle at a rest area. I ended up freezing, got a kink in my neck, and left leg fell asleep but it was FREE and that is all that matters!

This morning after brushing my teeth and de-kinking my neck I drove accross the rest of Utah in an icey fog and then northern Nevada. I stopped at mile marker 271 (I-80) in Nevada and ran up a really steep mountain to clean the shit out of my legs and then continued on my way.

Now I am in Reno.....the "Biggest Little City in the World"......at some internet/coffee shop. There are a lot of casino's and lights in this city..........maybe I will go throw a few nickels in the slots and see if I can hit it big? If not maybe I will go dancing? There sure are a lot of signs that say, "dancers needed" and I like to dance!

later,

PS. I got e-mail from Hollywood and found a yet another interesting quote:

"I apologise if this throws a spanner in the works"

Don't ask me what it means!

Maxing out Relaxing.......

2005-12-19T22:09:00.000-08:00

Day 49 = No Diet Soda

Today was my last day in Boulder :-( I like Colorado and had a great time hanging out with Wes, Megan, Pete, etc. I wanted to say thanks to Wes for letting me stay at his place for a few days and being an excellent host.

I was suppose to leave today but I was pretty knackered from all of the skiing and traveling I have been doing the past week so I decided to postpone my departure and chill for the day.

I met up with Megan in the afternoon and we went for a bit of a hike (straight up a mountain) and then we hit up Pearl Street where I bought a yellow CU Boulder T-shirt. At the shop where I bought the shirt we tried on some of the "pimp" clothes and shades they had. Aside from gold teeth I think I looked like an actual pimp? Sorry no pictures......

Tomorrow I am going to Winter Park and skiing for half a day and from there deciding which way I want to go. I think I will be going through Salt Lake City, Nowhere Nevada, and Reno? I plan on taking my time and if anyone wants me to stop by and ride or spend the night as I pass through drop me a line.

later,

Eldora

2005-12-18T18:35:00.000-08:00

Ready to hit the trails..........

Lunch Time.........the chili bread bowls were looking good but I opted for the turkey and swiss sandwhich. It was a tough decision but I don't think the chili would have stayed down and tasting it twice is not nice!
Megan and Pete in the chalet.
Pete ready for his first attempt at nordic skiing.
Megan getting some warmer gloves.

Day 48 = No Diet Soda

Went nordic skiing at Eldora ski resort with Megan, and Pete today. It was awesome! We left Boulder at around 10 AM and drove up into the mountains where it was snowing which made the skiing really great. We had to rent equipement and get trail passes which cost $42 but that is not that bad for a day of fun!

It was Pete's first time skiing and it was rather funny watching him fall. However, he learned fast and by the afternoon he was doing really good. Later in the day we met up with a few of Megan's friends who were really good skiers and they gave me a nice whooping! I could not hang on the flats or downhills........I was sort of worried about falling. I think that officially makes me a wimp! I will blame not being able to keep up on the 9500 ft elevation of the ski resort................or maybe they were better skiers than me???? Nah.............that can't be it, right?

The last time I went nordic skiing in Colorado was with Frank last January at Devils Thumb in Winter Park and he also gave me a whooping. However, I want to clarify that it only happened once and I had skied hard for an hour or two before that. Plus, I only cracked a little little bit. On the way out of town tomorrow or the next day I am going to stop at Devils Thumb again and ski for half a day. It is an awesome place and I have to erase the memory of Frank getting the better of me.

On the way back down to Boulder from Eldora we stopped in Nederland for some "Back Country" pizza and then visited Wes who was working at Starbucks. He hooked us up with some free egg nog lattes........thanks Hartman.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is on........yeehaw! It is the best movie ever! NBC always has it on before Christmas so I have made it a tradition to watch every year and you should too.

later,

Half Time

2005-12-17T21:26:00.000-08:00

Shane and I visiting with G-Ma Urban (mom's mom) before I left. She is 88 years old and likes to fall an break bones!
Heading west from out of Ashland on US Hwy 2.

The only thing worth seeing in Nebraska. I don't even think it is worth seeing but after looking at nothing for half a day it is sort of exciting!
On the road and surrounded by all of my stuff.

Day 47 = No Diet Soda

I left my parents house in northern Wisconsin yesterday afternoon. I had to get up early and run to the dentist to get my teeth shined up before leaving. Afte,r I got in a little ski before leaving. The little ski ended becoming three hours and was more than I had planned but that was cool. If Frank would have been with me though I don't think he would have been happy?

I drove to somewhere in Nebraska last night before I got tired. I really don't have much room in my car since everything I own is crammed into it. Therefore,I had to sleep sitting up in the drivers seat. I managed to fall asleep but when I woke up it was freezing in the car and I could see my breath! I hit the road again just to stay warm.

I made it to Wes's place in Boulder around 2 pm today. I felt lovely after not sleeping well, being tired from three days of xc-skiing, eating shitty, and riding in a car for many hours. On top of that it was snowing and cold in Boulder so instead of riding Wes and I ran. Now my legs hurt! I think that is the last run I will do in awhile?

Tonight Wes, his new girlfriend Tacie, Megan Monroe, Pete Lopinto and I went out for dinner and dessert/coffee in downtown Boulder. It was good but really cold.

I am going to be hanging out for a few days in Boulder before finishing the second half of my trip out to Sacramento. With the weather being cold and snowy Megan and I are going to do some XC-skiing at Eldora ski resort which I am really looking forward to and hopefully I can get some pictures.

I thought I was suppose to be at elevation because I really don't feel anything?

later,

My Christmas Day

2005-12-15T14:32:00.000-08:00

Busting out the XC skis for the first time this year............
Skiing while Shane rode moutain bike. I think it was a bad idea because I was struggling to keep up and by the end my arms were ready to fall off. I was in "the box" for three hours and it was great!

Hitting the trainer in the basement after a little skiing.
I
I think Shane is crazy???? This is his dinner.................

Top view of Shane's dinner.
Eating his dinner............

My dinner!!
The Christmas tree with presents under it............Santa came early t o our house.

Day 45 = No Diet Soda

We had a premature Chirstmas yesterday at my parents house and it was great. I got a new Marmot precip jacket and the matching pants. Now I will never get wet no matter how hard it is raining and everyone knows how much I love being wet!

After present opening I spent most of the evening repacking my car with televisions, pots, pans, coffee makers, toilet brushes, physio balls, etc. I can't fit too much more into the Jeep nor do I want to take anymore stuff. When I get done packing a car like that it always amazes me how much shit I can fit into a vehicle.

However, what usually happens..........the first turn or corner I take all of the shit from the back falls on me in the front and I have to stop and reorganize. I wonder if I will make it to corner number two this time?

Time to go and vist my G-ma and do some abs.

later,

I Am Out

2005-12-14T09:22:00.000-08:00

Happy to be packed and ready to hit the road.
The jeep stuffed to the "gills".
The home security system. Even though we did not have ADT security the sign that I found in the garbage prevented derelicts from stealing ipods and shit from us! I wonder how many people with those signs actually have the security?

Day 44 = No Diet Soda

I am completely moved out of "Betsy's 'Tosa Tear Down" and am up north at my parents. Yesterday was another crazy day but a good one so here is the quick run down.

I had my back doctor appointment at 9 Am yesterday morning so once again I had to set my alarm............which means telling my mom to call me in the morning and wake me up. I did not hit the snooze either.....have her call back in fifteen minutes which I was proud of. It is a flawless system!

The doctor went well...........I don't have to wear my brace or go back for anymore checkups. There really was nothing to be too excited about becuase the last time I wore my brace was three weeks ago when I left the doctors office after my last checkup. I think the doctor must have been a bit skeptical that I had been wearing the brace since it was really clean and still had creases from when it was in the package!

I was also told me not to ride my bike until the end of January when the breaks are fully healed. I could not help but smile becuase little did he know that I had gotten hit by a car while riding two weeks ago!! I sort of felt like a little kid trying to hid something from their parents and I think it worked!

Before heading out of "Dodge" I stopped to say goodbye to Tom and thanks for letting my live in his house and being so awesome to me this year. Tom's awesomeness factor is pretty high! It even got higher after he took me out for lunch before I left.

Made a quick stop at the Joppa's house in Madison and ate all of their Maple and Brown Sugar Mini Spooners! I was only going to smell them but they smelled so good I tried one and after trying one I ate half a bag..........shit! They made me thirsty for the rest of the drive home too. No bueno!

Now I am hanging out at my parents house until Friday morning and then hitting the road again. We are having a premature Chirstmas today since I will be gone on Christmas. Therefore, merry Chirstmas to me.

later,

PS. My uncle John bowled a perfect game (score = 300) the other day and I wanted to say congratulations. Check out the article http://www.ashlandwi.com/dailypress/index.php?sect_rank=3&story_id=208032 His birthday is on the same day as mine (Nov. 2nd) so that definitely makes him a cool guy:-)

Contagious?

2005-12-12T19:34:00.000-08:00

For the nature lovers out there I saw this cool bird while taking a pee break so I took a picture. I am no birdologist but I believe it is a Cardinal?

Day 42 = No Diet Soda

Today was a pretty nice day and I managed to get out for a good ride. Before I rode I had to go to the police station and pick up the accident report from my hit and run incident. It had everything about the accident recorded in it including the witnesses names and phone numbers. I thought it would be nice to call them and say thanks for sticking around and helping me out so I did. I did not get a hold of any of them but I left some nice voicemails and that made me feel good.

For my ride I rode downtown and did the Superweek Lake Front Road Race course a few times and then out to Whitefish Bay and back. The last time I did that ride was when I got hit by a car but it never really crossed my mind.

However, on the way back I think I came down with a case of "wimpitis". I must have caught it from MarkO in Michigan.........and no I was not kissing him! Anyway, as I was heading back home it was getting dark and it so happens that rush hour around here occurs at the same time the sun is setting. Therefore, it was dark and cars were turning in front of me and then I started to think cars were turning in front of me. I was freaking! I kept telling myself to toughen up but that really did not work. It was a great feeling to make it back to the house in one piece and I think I can see my finger imprints on my bars?

The rest of the evening I spent packing and I am pretty much all packed. I believe tonight is my last night in 'Tosa. I have my back doctor appointment tomorrow and then will head up north to visit my parents for a few days before heading to Sacramento.

Packing really sucks especially trying to fit all of my stuff in the Jeep. My next vehicle is going to be one of those huge Chevy Excursion vans that I swear are bigger than some of the appartments I have lived in. Moving and temporary housing would be a breeze with one of those.

later,

The Replacement

2005-12-11T13:52:00.000-08:00

Day 41 = No Diet Soda

Fourty one days and still no diet soda.........that is a long time! I really don't even have cravings anymore which is awesome.........except for when I drive. It will be interesting how I will do on my drive out west? I do have a streak going now and I think there would be too much to lose if I were to drink a soda so I am not too worried.

"Steady Eddy" a fellow diet soda junkie and last years teammate quit around the same time I did but relapsed a few days ago. Hopefully, he can get things together and find his way back on the wagon. I am praying for him!

The last few days have been rather crazy. I have been trying to ride outside but it is way too windy and cold here so I have resorted to going to the "Zoo" and riding the rollers. Remember "The Zoo" Billy Jones house in Wauwatosa? It sucks riding the rollers, don't get me wrong, but it beats being cold. Plus, our house is really really cold so I never warm up once I get back from a ride outside.

Frank and I bought around $300 of fuel oil for the house and we had it nice and toasty. Sometimes at night I would have to kick off my covers because I got a bit warm. It took about two weeks to run out of fuel oil! Doug, who just moved in, got the tank filled again but he has the temperature set just above freezing so it does not cost $1000 a month to heat the place. It is quite miserable and I actually have a hat and jacket on as I am typing! I really can't complain because I am not paying for the fuel oil but it is COLD.

I mentioned it above but when I got back from Michigan I had a new roommate, Doug! He is a mechanic that works for Tom at Team Sports. Frank and I are leaving shortly and therefore Tom has found some replacements to fill his house. I don't think anyone can relplace me though?

I got a new bike yesterday which is awesome and now I will have something to ride when I go out west. Tom was very generous supplied me with all the parts and Doug, my new roomate, put the bike together. Thanks guys!

Time to go and pack my clothes so that hopefully I can be out of here on Tuesday after my final back doctor appointment. Actually, I think I might walk to Starbucks to get a Eggnog fLatte.......it is very important that I fill up on these now because they are a seasonal drink!

Later,

Chi"t"ago

2005-12-09T08:44:00.000-08:00

Gary, IN.......traffic is not bad and I like driving in the snow.
South Chicago...........traffic is stopped and everything SUCKS!
My hour and a half view of US Cellular Stadium. I did learn a lot about the White Sox while I sat there and read the moving billboard over and over and over again. Did you know that the Chi"t"ago White Sox won the world Series this year, their official bank is The LaSalle Bank, Delta is their official airline, and whitesox.com is their official website where you can sign up for a camp to "train like the pro's"?
The veiw outside my window for the other two and a half hours!
This sucks shit..........do I still have to wear my seatbelt even if I am not moving?
Still sucking shit...........wondering how many times I can read that moving billboard about the White Sox.

Day 39 = No Diet Soda

Yesterday I got up early and went to my last PT appointment.............I think my broken back is not broken anymore and and my left hip is not as sore after getting hit by that car a few weeks ago. Bueno!

It was really cold again so I got to ride the rollers and the pedal on my bike broke. It siezed up and I could not pedal anymore. I pretty much cracked and said every obscenity I could think of........much like Clark Grisewald did in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation after he found out he did not get the big bonus he expected. Great movie by the way.

I was "boiling" and I believe I said I retired from cycling. However, I borrowed MarkO's shoes which were a size too small and his pedals and "came out of retirement" and finished my ride.

I departed MarkO's house in the evening to head back to 'Tosa. MarkO and Cheryl are awesome. Thanks guys you have helped me out tons. Iit was snowing when I left but I was not worried because I had my seatbelt on, four wheel drive and a Circle K coffe.

I think the seatbelt is sort of dangerous because it makes me feel all good and safe and I take more risks because I feel safe but hat is another issue in itself! It is a four hour drive from MarkO's back to 'Tosa if the conditions are good and I was not going to drive 30 mph the entire way. Therefore, I was that "guy" in the the non-plowed lane cruising by everyone. When passing people I could feel them saying, "You will see that guy in the ditch a mile up the road." I did not go in the ditch and was making good time until I got to Chi"t"ago (AKA Chicago).

It was fun for a bit because there really were no lanes and driving was utter chaos. I felt like I was playing Frogger on the Atari dodging cars. Then I got downtown! There traffic was stopped and I sat in one place for over an hour and a half!! The drive throug Chi"t"ago took over four hours and made the entire trip a nine hour affair. It was great!

I made it back at 2:30 Am and I am tired this morning.

later,

"Wimpitis"

2005-12-07T19:10:00.000-08:00

Day 37 = No Diet Soda

Today was a really busy day. I had to get up early and make it to my PT appointment in Rockford, Michigan by 1030 AM. I set my alarm and it did get me up but I feel back asleep and Marko had to wake me up.

It snowed some last night so the roads were pretty sketchy on the way to Rockford. There were cars in the ditch everywhere and over a few bridges the back end of the Jeep got a bit squirrelly. I had my seatbelt on so nothing could have happened to me, right?

PT was good and I got to talk to some cute girls again which is always a plus! The exercise demonstrating girl is really nice but I don't know her name so I sort of feel bad. I guess I only listen when I want to and sort of miss out on the important things such as names. I do know that her favorite Starbucks drink is a white chocolate mocha........does that count for anything?

After that Marko had me do a "ten minute time trial ramp test" on the computrainer. It went well............in fact, if you want, you can just start calling me "Huge Numbers"!

I then rushed to Kalamazoo (of K-Zoo for the local crowd) with MarkO for some blood tests. We both went under the needle and it was cool because we got the results immediately. My blood was fine but MarkO found out he had a rather severe case of "wimpitis". Apparetly MarkO gets sick and nautious when he gets blood drawn.

PT tomorrow at 930 AM so I have to get up really early. Then back to Tosa. Time to start looking for pennies to pay those damn tolls in Chicago!

I wonder if Frank is training?

later,

Cracked?

2005-12-06T19:11:00.000-08:00

Pee break/saddle adjustment/picture time on todays ride. Another frigid day and I had to bust out the full face mask.
Thawing and very happy to be out of those thirty five pounds of clothes.

Day 36 = No Diet Soda

Today was the coldest day yet but I managed to ride. I think I cracked myself near the end and limped home. It was one of those days where I thought my brakes were rubbing the entire time. This dressing and undressing stuff is starting to kill me. Plus, the cold weather seems to make me really tired and hungry.

I got my glove that I tore the other day fixed which is great. I did not have it fixed before I rode so my right hand froze along with my cheeks. I was going to learn how to sew myself buy Cheryl used the machine and fixed it in about fifteen seconds which otherwise would have taken me the entire evening.

I also managed to stand on the physioball this afternoon which made me happy. Maybe I will get a picture next time?

Time to hit the hay. I have to go to the PT tomorrow morning and then get a blood work up in the afternoon.

later,

PS. Open water is a terrible terrible movie. I wasted and hour and half of my life watching it today.

Marathon Man

2005-12-05T20:34:00.000-08:00

Day 35 = No Diet Soda

I am absolutely cracked at the moment. Today was a very long day. I had to get up early so I could ride before going to the PT. It was another cold one.......I think the temp was in the teens when I left the house. I knew it was cold because my toes went numb even with toe warmers.

After the ride I had to rush and change so I could make the hour drive to the PT. The appointment went well...........especially since the two times I have went there have been two different "cute" assistants that rub jelly on my back and then hook me up to electrodes. Now I feel like I have to dress up and look nice when I go there on Wednesday.........no more XXXL sweatshirts and zubas!

The PT massages the sore spots on my back and cracks my back sort of like a chiropractor. He basically puts all his weight on my broken vertebrae and cracks them. It is pretty intense and I get all sweaty and short of breath for a bit. I think it helps?? At least is should if it hurts that much!

Once I got to MarkO's house I had work on my broken bikes again. This time I had to overhaul the hub on my cross bike. It took four hours and it is still not right. The spacing is screwed up so now the wheel is shifted to the left side of the frame. I did learn that hubs are sort of complicated or more appropriately I am an absolute shit mechanic!

Now my fingers are sore! I had dirt under all of my finger nails which is nasty so I cut them really short to get rid of all the dirt. Apparently, I cut them a bit too short because five out of my ten fingers are bloody. I guess no salty popcorn for a bit.

I am going to bed.

later,

Breaking Stuff

2005-12-04T19:41:00.000-08:00

Day 34 = No Diet Soda

Today was one of those days where nothing seemed to go right. No, I did not get run over or injure myself but it was a rough day.

I had my alarm set at for 8:37 Am so I could get up, drink my coffee, eat breakfast, go online, and relax before getting out for a ride. However, I managed to sleep through my alarm and wake up at 10:30 AM. Yes, that would make me a lazy man, right Hartman?

I was rushed to get out for a ride and somehow I managed to rip my Marmot wind pants that I wear in the extreme cold. I was pissed but the pants are a little big and I am getting new, better fitting ones for Christmas so I got over it. I don't think I can ebay the old ones anymore because who would want to buy ripped pants?

After thirty minutes of getting dressed I finally got out on my cross bike! It was snowy and sort of Christmas"ey" out so it was nice. Maybe ten minutes in, I go to shift and I bust the STI lever on my cross bike. You gotta be shittin' me right? Nope I broke the lever and had one gear for the rest of the ride......yay!

A bit later on this same ride my mouth was getting a bit parched so I decide to see if I can get a dabble of water out of my frozen bottle. I reach down to retrive my water and my glove catches on the bottle cage tearing a lovely looking hole in the palm. Now I am pissed because that was my favorite pair of gloves and now I have to duct tape them........lovely!

I spent the rest of the evening switching the lever from Tom's Lemond onto my cross bike. I hope he does not mind? It was thirty minute job that took me two and a half hours! I am a great mechanic..........I think the neighbors across the way hear me cussing! I must be taking after my dad?

I am not sure what to do about a bike. Tom's bike has a huge top tube and does not fit me well. My cyclocross bike fits me well but can I ride that when I get to nice weather. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! I guess I am riding it now since I cannibalized the shifter from Tom's bike.

I have a headache..........I am going to bed.

later,

What????

2005-12-03T19:48:00.000-08:00

Still Day 33 = No Diet Soda

Earlier I had posted about riding for four hours today in the slushy snow. MarkO had promised that he would ride with me but ended up bailing. I had hypothesized that the reason he bailed was because he is scared to ride with me since I put him in the "hurt locker" last time. That is still true but I found out a few other intereting tid-bits of information that I would like to pass along.

I was unaware of the fact, until moments ago, that while I was out riding........in miserable conditions I would like to add..........MarkO and Graham Howard went out for breakfast this morning. Then upon returning from breakfast they took a two hour nap. After waking from their two hours of beauty sleep they had enough time to commute the ten meters to the gym in the garage so it looked like they were working out when I got back!

All I can say is, WOW! That is strong work by those two boys. Mark's only defense was that I am a PRO. Hmmmmm, I wonder why??

later,

PS. It did not appear that the beauty sleep was effective.....actually I think they each look worse!

Untitled

2005-12-03T17:28:00.000-08:00

The last liquor store before heading out into the country to MarkO's house. I rode by it today and drive by it a lot and think that they have a catchy slogan. I was unable to capture any of the interesting clientle....but maybe tomorrow?

Day 33 = No Diet Soda

Today was a good day but it started out rather interesting. I sleep downstairs and when I wake up I go to the kitchen to get some coffee. However, this morning when I reached the kitchen I found a guy who I had never seen before standing there in only his underwear. I was not sure how to respond so I said good morning, got my coffee and checked my mail on the compter. I was sort of nervous to ask questions for obvious reasons. I later found out that Graham was doing a body composition test on the fellow and it is someone whom he is coaching!

Aside from that I rode for four hours in the cold slush. It was not too bad because I put toe warmers in my shoes and they did not freeze until the last two hours. Apparently, they only work for two hours and not the six that they claim on the package. Two hours is still better than none.

MarkO was suppose to ride with me today but I think he got scared after I put the hurt into the other day and he bailed! I think he might have had a bit of indigestion from the pizza he ate a midnight the other evening. I can't give him too much crap though because he did cook me venison tacos for dinner.

I am making a French Vanilla cake for dessert with chocolate peanut butter frosting. It is going to be excellent.

later,

Numbers

2005-12-02T16:25:00.000-08:00

Day 33 = No Diet Soda

Today was a pretty busy day. Mark had me do a Power Test and a Ramp Test on the Computrainer in the morning. I absolutely hate numbers and tests and I prefer to only ride with a stop watch. However, if I can get faster by doing some tests I am willing to do them. After that I rode the rollers for an hour. I ended up doing two and a half hours indoor fun. I guess I sort of cracked and did not want to get all geared up and ride outside again.

I also got a call from the insurance company of the kid that hit me. It was terrible.............the lady made me feel like I was guilty when I was the one that got run over!! That pissed me off. The lady kept asking questions like, "were you under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident?" or "did you ride into the car?" She was just trying to get me to make a mistake answering the questions so they could get out of paying me. I felt like asking her, "is your head stuck up your a$#" ?

Hopefully I did not screw up and I will be getting something to replace my broken bike and pay for my medical bills. Speaking of medical bills I got the bill for my second ambulance ride. The combined cost of both my ambulance rides to the hospital were well over $1100. Wow, maybe next time I will call a limo to pick me up? I could watch tv and have some "bubbly" on the way to the hospital and it would still be cheaper!

I also had the privilege of chatting with "Hollywood" this afternoon. It was good to hear from him and we squared away our living situation this year. Karl, a Swiss dude on our team, and I are going to be living someplace in Folsom, CA. It is a suburb of Sacramento and is suppose to be really cool, with "hot moms" and next to the mountains. Mike Sayers has been a huge help and is going to look for a place since he lives there and is familiar with the area. Otherwise I would be going there blind (and deaf) so thanks a ton Mike.

Time to relax and watch some movies. I think tonight I am in the mood for "Casino". Hopefully the weather weather holds out because I want to do four hours tomorrow.

later,