Season '07-US Open, Richmond, Va

Alright I have been a slacker so I've got a lot to catch you up on. This is some old news now but I've got to start somewhere so here tiz since I don't have any bad pics of Bowles to post...oh well...BTW if you want to see bad pics go look at Sue P-K's blog at the post titled, you guessed it, Bad Pics. I especially love the socks...ah, we've all been there, eh?



So anyway April 6 The Advil/Chapstick team descended on Richmond Va for the inaugural US Open Cycling Championships and kicked some butt! Or should it be butts? All the butts that showed up, actually, except Tina's...I guess if someone else has to win it might as well be Tina. Jen took second and Heather third after Bowlsie was off the front making the other teams work. She still hung in for 10th.

Heather, Mara (that's Mrs. National Masters Crit Champ to you) and Natalie ( US Collegiate Crit Champ) did a school visit to talk about being professionals and athletes and women in sports and I think made a few converts. Mara was the master and had those kids eating out of her hand.







I got to be director as well as doing my usual swancanic duties. So far I'm 1-1 as a director. Just my good fortune cuz the team does all the work but I think we had a good plan this time and the racers made it happen. I'll get you next time JW...
More soon!

West coast shenanigans

Redlands, California, and the Redlands Classic can be summed up by saying that the team rode hard and we all learned a lot. It was a super hard race for everyone and we made it through thanks in large part to our host families who allowed us to invade their homes for a few days. It's not an easy thing to open up your house to a bike team, who are appreciative but have a definite schedule and agenda to keep. Sometimes it doesn't leave much time for socializing; that can be bumped by the realities of training, racing, and recovering for the next day to do it again. So when the opportunities arise, it can be a welcome chance to experience something new.

Here's Heather having her first real hamburger in 18 years at her hosts who were wonderful cooks and own Redlands finest restaurant, Caprice. A hard act to follow so it may be a while till the next one.

After Redlands I was briefly at liberty to do whatever I wanted. I decided to go to Santa Barbara to visit with our Time Bike sponsors and to learn about the bikes. I was met by Doug Knox and Frazer Hazlett who took me through the bikes and loaded me up with some parts and goodies for the team. They're a funny couple of guys and they know their stuff. They have a warehouse there and a nice showroom/outlet store downtown with signed jerseys from Boonen and Bettini and all the Time bikes you'd ever want. After talking with them and getting the skinny on Time I must say that we are pretty dang lucky to be on such great bikes, handmade in France from their own tubular woven carbon/vectran mix, not just prefab carbon sheets assembled in Asia like almost every other carbon bike. They've won the World championships the last two years.

TheTT bike. It's a pretty sweet machine, custom built. I offered to trade the van for one but they said "Mais Non!" Just kidding, the van has been a champ this trip so far. Runs like a top. Knock on wood.

While I was there I wanted to ride, of course! Frazer took me on one of his favorite routes and I have to say that it was the most spectacular ride I've ever done. Starting out on the coast road, we wound along the beach and then headed up into the hills above the city. It was a cool but gorgeous day and we ended up on Mountain road which follows the contours of the mountains, a few hundred feet above the city. Turn after turn there were fantastic views on a narrow little curvy road, very much like the south of France or Italy. After a bit of up and down we turned onto Gibraltar road, which climbs 8 miles up to the top of the mountain, gaining about the same elevation as Alpe D'Huez and Whiteface. I guess it takes Lance about half an hour but I wasn't keeping track of time, just enjoying the scenery. Frazer had to go to work so I was on my own, just winding up and up. The road topped out along the ridge and I could ride the crest, looking down the coast towards LA on the right or into the St. Ynez mountains for 60 miles to the left. Not a car in sight, just a few fellow cyclists, birds, lizards, sun, wind....this ride paid all the bills. The way down was equally fun and it only took about 25 minutes to get back to the shop. Then it was on the road again to Ojai, to stay with hosts extrordinaire Lori and Roy and the Colavita Team for a few days in exchange for a few rubs. They were gracious and welcoming as always and made everyone feel at home. I met up with "Superstar"Sarah Tillotson and crew for a ride or two and had a great time. Ojai is a cool little mountain town like Placid but the region has all kinds of roads that you don't find at home, miles and miles of grades so gentle that you can climb in an easy rhythm for hours, with a return trip that tests your cornering, not just your brakes.

The race in Ojai was attended by just one Advil/Chapstick rider, Kirsten "The Toronto Destroyer" Robbins who had the sprinters shaking in their shoes. Actually Kirsten is more known for her climbing but she had great legs in the crit, making some moves and was quite at home. I decided to jump in the 3's race myself but my training regimen of not training proved somehow faulty and I was eventually spit out on the hill. I took comfort in the victory in the 2's race by Fresno host Jonathan Eropkin, who countered a late move with one of his own to solo in for a well-deserved win. Jonathan is one of those great guys you rarely meet and his family has provided a welcome haven for teams for a few years now. He is also instrumental in organizing the Central Valley Classic. So, good on ya Jonathan!

Afterwards it was time to hit the road for the 4 day drive to the east coast. I want to say thanks to everyone who helped us and made this trip possible. more updates coming soon!

T