Tuesday, June 25, 2013

One more for the road

We head out tomorrow.... Italy bound.  So a blog before I go seeing that I have no idea how the Internet will be in each hotel, plus I'm pretty sure I will be busy sleeping, eating, showering or racing and won't have much time to update things......

Boulder has been wonderful - perfect weather, great food, great shopping and everyone is cheering for us to do well at the Giro.  We've ridden some of the great rides - Jamestown, Peak to Peak HWY, Ward and a couple more I can't remember that Mara took us on.  Thank you Boulder for the fun.

A few pictures of this stay....

 Enjoying the Compex machine......
 You probably can't see the parachuters landing, it was so cool!!!!

 Look who I met!
 Uh OH!!! New purchase;) This is going to be so much fun.....I think...
 Raw garlic b/t 2 apple slices, just for fun:)
 One of the stops on the way up to Jamestown....
 Cool license plate artwork....

 Hanging out with Mara's family...
 Beautiful day!!!
A view from Lee Hill Dr. looking at Boulder, it was so much fun.


Reading: The New Yorker magazine I poached from the host house
Watching: MSU at the CWS...GO DAWGS!
Listening: Kate Nash Pandora station
Eating: raw garlic and apple apparently:)
Website: http://www.compex.info/en_EU/index.html

Thursday, June 20, 2013

A Rodeo and NVGP

After Philly I headed back to Colorado for some quick down time before getting back on the road for an extended time, next up - Nature Valley GP(June 8th), USA cycling altitude camp, Giro Rosa(Italy), home(July 9th).  Looking at how long I was going to be gone, I tried to make the most of my home time.....which meant RODEO!!!

Then it was time to hit the road for NVGP and sponsor time since that is where our Optum team is based.  We had a great time training at the MN velodrome, visiting/touring QBP, Ronald McDonald House and racing well on top of all that.  It was a crazy, hectic weekend but I had an awesome time with my teammates, sponsors and friends.  We finished the first day of racing with the yellow jersey and a victory from yours truly.  We held the jersey till the last day and man was it fun protecting it and racing smart - Jade and the team were awesome!

Now I'm sitting in Boulder, CO, enjoying the wonderful weather, roads and riding.  My USA teammates are fun and awesome.  We took care of some cool media bits the first day but other than that it has been riding and hanging out - good times.  We head over the middle of next week for the Giro, this is going to be one heck of an experience....

Picture time!!
 My boots in the store.....don't worry, I didn't walk around in those socks....
 My rodeo outfit
 Rodeo
 Rodeo
 Sun setting over the fair:)
 What's wrong with this picture????

 MN Velodrome...
 Happy girl...
 Team setup...
 Leah learning to get aero with Dino from HED....
 Pancake happiness!!! Thank you Janel...
 We leave our mark...
 Quality Bicycle Parts tour....

 We gotta get this guy some better shorts....

 Having fun....

 Lazer helmet fun...

 A guy laying out all his gear for a LONG trip....



 Coffee bar in QBP

 World Bicycle Relief

 Our tour guide....
 Going for a grab of goodies....
 Wheel pit....

 He has a hat problem....
 Trailer view....

 Jeromy dealing with the rain....
 Optum party....
 Some cool things at a special house....

 Trying to make Jade feel better.....
 USA Cycling media day....
 Having fun in the early morning...
 Just wait till these videos come out....
 A view from one of our spots....
Fun Janel!!!

Reading: Hallucinations by Oliver Sacks
Watching: video of the Giro Rosa - prepping for the race
Listening: Good 4 It by Wallpaper.
Eating: yummy salads: cottage cheese, fruit, carrots, avocado, eggs, mushrooms
Website: http://www.girorosa.it/pagina-principale.html