Mar 29

Travel Day

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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,

g.

Mar 28

Live From Panera Part Two

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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,
g.
Mar 25

Live From Panera

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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,
g.
Mar 23

Thanks Blair

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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:
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,
g.
Mar 20

Rained Out

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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,
g.
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