Back at it

Welcome to 2014! December was full of family, friends, food and fun, it was a time to get back to riding and training, anything new for 2014 happened in December.  I migrated to warmer weather for training and before Christmas I flew to Mississippi to spend two weeks with my family.

We used cardboard boxes to slide down the hill(my 7yr old nephew, 2yr old niece, sis-in-law and myself), we cooked lots of wonderful food, my brothers hunted, I rode my bike in the Vicksburg National Military Park and we visited The Old Depot Museum and the Old Court House.  People drive by these gems every single day(I did) and they are missing something beautiful and historic.  Dad also showed us his new project, a two story OLD building downtown with so much potential and COOLNESS!!!

Some pictures:

 The project getting a new second floor

 Where the old floor joists were.

 Dad and Alex playing ball

 Brother Ben...

 Mom was amazed by the machine in the mall :) ha! Cute...

 One of the monuments in the park

 Some of the things you can see in the Old Depot Museum

 The Old Court House, we had so much fun here….

 My niece getting ready to ride...

 A morning view from the house, barges and boats pass by all day..

 Riding my bike, another view of the MS River

 This is a pretty popular spot to take pictures of the Vicksburg bridges...

 Downtown, walking around...

The Old Depot Museum at sunset..


After Christmas and New Year's it was time to fly back to the warmer weather and get back to training in earnest.  I also want to take a moment to highlight a group that is helping dial me in  - Esoles and Dave Dalton.  Dave took the time to study my foot and ankle mobility and weak spots, then fitting me with custom insoles for my cycling shoes and my everyday shoes.  All of this work should equal a better, stronger pedal stroke by keeping my heels and arches more secure.

Esoles is world wide but Dave is located in Tucson.  He was super helpful, easy going and really dialed in on what he was doing. And I'm in good company by seeing all of the signed jerseys, hats and posters.  Dave works with all types of people, not just athletes and not just cyclists.  So think about that if you have knee or back pain or troubles walking, etc.

Pics…

 When you walk in….

 Dave was too fast and busy to stop for a smiling photo, man's workin!

 Old, new and molds….

 Some of the science and technology...

More jerseys! 

Optum has sponsored up with Diamonback bikes for 2014.  When I tell people this, a lot of folks, remember them as a mountain bike mostly.  I didn't follow cycling or ride bikes when I was little or growing up, so I think if that's the case, it's cool they are coming back around as badass road racing bikes:)  I'm pretty excited about the bike, it's sweet!!! Check out this press release from the team, I have a small quote on the new partnering.

Ok, well it's time for me to get ready to ride…..Happy New Year and I will start posting more frequent that the year has kicked off.

Reading: One Summer, America 1927 by Bill Bryson
Listening: Yellow Shirt by Kylie Marcus
Watching: the beautiful sunrise
Eating: kiwis
Website: http://bringatrailer.com, my brother turned me on to this website…just something fun to look at.

Quiet time

This month is when I enjoy the roads mostly by myself, buckle down with some off season work and enjoy my quiet time.  I'm still in Colorado till the weather turns a bit worse, riding, baking/cooking some wonderful food - soups! lots of soups! Cornbread, almond cake, chocolate chip cookies and last but not least, a yummy kale salad;)  and buying my time till I head to warmer weather.

So not a lot to talk about or any pictures but how about some gift ideas for the athlete in your family for Christmas?! Here ya go….. (I have a lot of time to think on the bike sometimes)

1. Bose noise canceling headphones

2. Entry fee to an event they are training for.

3. Gym membership renewal.

4. Sunscreen

5. Massage

6. iTunes gift card

7. A little bit of wind protection - Dermatone

Ok, well that's all I've got:) Happy Thanksgiving and happy holidays!

Reading: The Paris Wife by Paula McLain, after Wheelmen I read Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink
Watching: the weather….
Eating: Kale salad with dates, almonds.  Dressed with lemon juice, shallots and red pepper flakes.
Listening: I'll give you 2:
1. Little Milton - Grits Ain't Groceries  2. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis - White Walls
Website: http://food52.com/provisions

MS, possums and gaters...

On Oct. 18th I flew to Asheville, N.C. to visit my brother, sis-in-law and niece.  Mom and dad drove up the following Monday(dad's b-day) and we stayed till Thursday.  We played with the baby mostly, she is starting to really talk, did a little shopping and dad and Ben worked on his shed project.

Thursday,  the 3 of us(me, mom and dad) drove across Tennessee, stopped in Nashville at my cousin's brewery, Yazoo Brewery.  He gave us the grand tour of the new bottling line and we visited for a little while in the tap room, admiring all of the MS art work.   By the afternoon we arrived in Olive Branch, MS to stay with my oldest brother, sis-in-law and nephew.  T3 had a soccer game and we had lots of fun watching him run around - he is such a clown!

The next day, back in the car to Vicksburg, MS via downtown Tunica to have lunch with my brother.  Lots of visiting, lots of driving and never enough time.

Things slowed down just a touch once I was in Vicksburg.  I juiced for mom and dad, cooked supper, walked in the park, rode my bike with my uncle, visited a bike shop and Googled whatever dad wanted - which was a LOT! He would say, "punch up on the puter…." something about music, something about a town, something about cycling, something about a place we visited once before.  Google has ALL the answers.

On Friday, November 1, I flew back home to Colorado and now I'm gearing up for 2014 season.  I've signed on for another year at Optum and I can't wait.  The management, sponsors and riders are stellar and I wouldn't be anywhere else.

So, I have lots of fun pictures for you guys… have a good laugh.

 This is a pig's foot.  We went to a party called Pig Fest…. I got tha T-shirt…. that's my uncle Peter on the right.

 Riding through the military park, one of the views…..

 Roadkill in Louisiana - gaters!!!!!

 I'm looking for a good possum recipe…. anyone? Anyone?

 The awesome employees of Indian Cycle in Jackson - stop by and say hello if you are ever in MS...

 Dad is a bad influence!

 Happy B-day dad!!!!

 We went to a boat guy in Mooresville, N.C. to look at his work, click HERE to see his website.  He had lots of boats and toys:)

 Boats….

More boats...

 An engine we ended up taking back to one of dad's buddies…..

 This is Pat, the owner, with dad...

 Brother Ben and dad working on a project...

 My sweet, sweet niece...

 Pumpkin time!

 Startin em young! Baby pull ups!

 5 more before bedtime!!!

 Our goofy pumpkin….

 My cousin's brewery in Nashville, can't miss it! Website click HERE

 My nephew with the whoopee cushion we bought him:) hahaha! sorry mom and dad;)

 Lunch time...

 At the Hollywood in Hollywood, MS!!!! Well actually the original burned down and they rebuilt in Robinsonville, MS.  I had the fried catfish - oh my gawwwd good!

 At a wedding with some wonderful people and friends.

 I'm sure Dan was about all pictured out at this point, what a trooper...

 Selfie with mom!

Fred!!!

Hal n Mals is one of the best places ever and these are some of my closest friends….

Reading: Wheelmen by Reed Albergotti
Watching: Saturday football
Eating: leftover Halloween candy ;)
Listening: Cold Mountains by Crooked Still
Website: http://www.themississippigiftcompany.com  I love Mississippi!!!!