Gatineau and Exergy races

After a short break for 10 days, it was back on the road and back to racing, this time in Canada.  I think that was my first ever trip to Canada actually.  The team flew to Ottawa(google it) and we raced the UCI race - Gatineau.  It was a mostly flat course, composed of 13 laps that took us over an overpass, through a U-turn on the highway and back to a round-a-bout with 300meters before the finish.  Yeah, it was an interesting race.

Tara Whitten, my teammate and all around badass(google her or just click on her name), took off from the first or second lap, I can't remember and was gone, solo, for the first half of the race.  Once she was caught it was constant attacks with people trying to get up the road.  We were successful in getting myself and Megan into a great break on the last lap but it didn't stick for whatever reason.  With less than 2k to go, as we are coming back down from the over pass, a crash happened right in front of me.  TIBCO made it through safely but that was enough of a stall to see the winners racing up the road.

We did the best we could to make it to the finish we a respectable sprint but it wasn't the result we were after.  And the round-a-bout claimed lots of riders, seemed like a crash every lap towards the end.

Back to the hotel to pack up and get ready for more flying! From Ottawa to Vancouver to Portland to Boise - made for a long day.  Once here in Boise, the race organization has been over the top.

Greeting us at the airport, carrying our luggage, great hotel, great race food, awesome organization and the community support has been over the top! I could get used to this;) There was an incident of our bikes being stolen but all were recovered and life is good again.

Today was the TT, it's been cold and rainy the last 2 days but I'm ok with that, you have to learn how to race your bike in ALL conditions and know what it feels like.  The next 2 days are climbing days, so I'm pretty sure it's about to be REALLY hard, again, that's what I expect:) It's what I love.

Follow the race here: http://exergytour.thetourtracker.com/

 The view in Gatineau Park - BEAUTIFUL!!

 Hey, that's me in the corner! :) Boise airport....

 Easy ride in Boise, beautiful!!!!

My new recovery drink!!! Thanks Vero!




Reading: A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan(may or may not be fiction)
Watching: Tweets from the Giro when I can
Eating: milk and honey
Listening: Pandora - Today's Hits station
Feeling: happy about racing with my teammates

Pipe people

It's nice to finally have a small  break in between races, it's a good thing, because I needed it!  So I had a couple of days off the bike and enjoy the day any way I wanted to.  I've been wanting to go to this place for a while, I've passed it on my rides before and always got a chuckle.  Enjoy the pictures...

 2 headed cow...

 Pulling teeth, the old school way....

 Sea monster? Or big catfish??

 Poker game....

 You know I can't resist....

 Milkin!

 In jail for fishin??

 YEP!

Waitin on a killin and dinner... 

 Yeeehawww...

 This place is pretty big...

 What are we lookin at?

 One of my favorites...

 That is a real marmot and I didn't realize it until I got closer! 

 Where the goats and chickens stay...

 Time to go swimming..

 Big mosquito...

 And the random church....of course...

 Headed back towards the road...

 Right beside the road...

Some answers to the questions you may have....


Besides cruising around town, eating out with friends, restocking the fridge, I made an appointment for Miller, he had to get his teeth cleaned.  I dropped him off this morning and the vet said she would have to pull a couple of teeth - poor guy - and she was going to take some blood, take some X-rays and refill some of his medicines = $$$$$$$.  But it's my boy and I would pay whatever it takes to keep him healthy.

Reading: A.J. Jacobs still
Watching: Giro on the internet
Listening: Blake Shelton, Drink On It
Eating: milk and honey for dessert - yum!
Feeling: rested

Tour of the Gila

After Joe Martin, Amanda and I jumped in the van with Chris at the wheel for the cross country trip.  It was mostly uneventful except for the breaking of a shelving rack in the trailer, which we had to handle before moving on.  We played javelin with the pieces before throwing them away like proper citizens:) Gotta have some fun somehow!

We made it to Silver City the next day with a couple more girls that we picked up at the ABQ airport and navigated to our amazing host house, in the middle of the forest!! It was so quiet and nice!

The race wasn't our best but I sure had a good time with my teammates, they are great friends and we enjoy lots of laughs together, no matter what.  We ended up having a couple of girls sick and some were tired so it was a long race.  Onward, upward.

I'm currently in the Denver airport, headed back home(CO) and looking forward to some rest and being home for more than 5 days.

Next races: Gatineau and Exergy

 Bought this in a gas station on the way to Silver City....thanks Chobani for the Olympic support.

 Amanda was too tired to stand while cooking....

 Vero's changing skirt...

 Vero's sewing action, she says she is better with skin but I'm not one to argue...

 Chris w/ his morning cupcake...breakfast of champions...nice ring...

Having fun w/ sponsor stuff....:)




Listening: country music, thanks to Amanda
Reading: A.J. Jacobs, Drop Dead Healthy
Eating: banana in the United Club
Watching: the planes roll in
Feeling: hungry!! My teammate Megan calls it the hungry Mondays - after stage racing your body thinks you are still racing so you are looking for calories and you are hungry ALL DAY!