This past weekend the Health Net PB Maxxis team sent six riders to Reno, Nevada to compete in the Tour de Nez.  The Tour de Nez is a three day four stage race held around the Reno area.  It was a rather successful weekend with Karl winning the Truckee criterium on Thursday.  Karl was in the leaders jersey for most of the weekend only to lose it in an unfortunate crash during the last lap of the final stage.  He was lucky to come out of the incident with only a few stictches in his lip which actually looks sort of cool.  It was also Doug O’s first race back from a broken hip but it did not seem like it because Doug is riding well.

Reno, Nevada also known as “The biggest little city in the world” is a crazy little town with gambling, big hotels, neon lights, and lots of tourists.  It pretty much is the equivalent of a smaller Las Vegas with a touch more cowboy…….maybe?

We had the privilege of staying in the Silver Legacy Hotel which is the biggest building in Reno.  I am pretty much shit when it comes to directions so that made finding my way rather easy.  The Hotel had everything and there really was no reason to leave except for the fact that we had to race.  There was gambling downstairs, breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets, cold air conditioning and most importantly a fountain soda machine with Diet Pepsi.  The only thing that the hotel lacked was free wireless internet!  Therefore, it was not my fault that I haven’t updated my blog in a few days blame the Silver Legacy! Just joking……..the Sliver Legacy was a race sponsor and is a good hotel.

Saturday night after the racing concluded we were able to go out on the town and relax a bit.  Most of the time was spent at the Deux Gros Nez coffee house/eatery/pub which is owned by Tim Healion the man responsible for putting on the race.  It was an awesome time and it is always fun to hang out with fellow cyclists and those associated with the race in a non cycling environment.  Most importantly, I think that everyone made it home in one piece.

This morning was a bit of a brothel after not getting much sleep last night and then having to pack up and head home.  It would not have been that bad but when I brought my bag down to my car I noticed I had a flat tire!  I guess the four cans of fix-a-flat that I had put in the tire finally gave out.  I was pretty pissed because I had just showered and put on some nice clean clothes and then I had to change a tire. 

It ended up taking me about thirty minutes to change the tire after trying to figure out how to work the jack.  Eventually, I got it but not after I was completely soaked in sweat and covered in black brake goo which was on the tire.  I guess it is time to replace the flat with a new tire or maybe I will see how long I can go without having a spare?  That sounds more interesting.

Shane, Karl, and I made it back to Folsom this afternoon and the tire I had changed did not fall off on the way which I thought was impressive.  The a/c in the apartment was suppose to be fixed on Friday but I guess they cannot fix it until Monday.  That means it is hot!  When I say hot the inside of the apartment set a record high of ninety six degrees this afternoon…………that is inside!  It is sure rough going from the air conditioned comfort of the Silver Legacy to this and I am sure sleeping is going to be fun tonight.

Before I go I just wanted to say that I had a great time at the Tour de Nez.  The racing and those involved with the race are great.  It definitely is one of the “coolest bike races in America” and I hope to be going back in the upcoming years.

later, g.