I went and got an official bike fit by Dr. Massimo Testa at the UC-Davis Center for Sports Medicine in downtown Sacramento today.  It was awesome!  I brought my bike in and they took the measurements from it and transfered them to this really adjustable bike.

After that I rode the “funny” adjustable bike while Dr. Testa and his co-worker Judd scrutinized my position visually and also monitored my power output and pedaling efficiency.

Based on the information they gathered they changed the position on my bike and gave me some suggestions for things to do off the bike that will in turn also make me feel better on the bike.  Their main suggestion was that I have to stretch and use the foam roller because I am really really really terribly not flexible. 

I thought that Dr. Testa and Judd did an awesome job and for one of the first times in my cycling career I feel confident in my postion on the bike.  The bad news though is that I am going to have to tell the team mechanic that I have once again changed my bike position and that I am going to need a longer stem on both my race and training bikes.  Sorry guys………………but this should be the last time!!  The amount of beer I have been buying the mechanics this year for dealing with my adjustments is getting a little out of hand though!

I am hoping that after getting set up properly that I feel super comfortable on the bike and no longer feel the need to race with a five millimeter allen key so I can make last second adjustments on the start line.  Or no longer get excited on group rides for piss breaks so I can adjust while others are pissing.  Or get worried that I cannot make pre-race adjustments before a stage of Dunkerque because Corbett has confiscated my allen key!

The best part of the day though was that insurance paid for my bike fit! Health Net Rocks!!

…………….I think it is time for me to go and make a dessert burrito……………..

later,

g.

I feel normal and am back on the bike sloggin’ away the miles.  It is nice that my brother is in town so I have someone to ride with because it makes putting in the hours a lot easier.  However, I can put the new Shakira song, “Hips Don’t Lie” on repeat on my Ipod and knock out five hours no problem……………….but riding with someone is still better.

Yesterday, Shane and I went and did the local Sacramento “River Ride” which is basically the equivalent of Tucson’s “Shoot-Out” or any other city’s local “World Championships.” It ends up being about a five hour affair with the ride there and back plus the ride itself. 

The ride is fun and is fast and marked the first time I had gone hard since stage six of “The Peace Race.”  It felt good to ride again.  Plus, I even got to meet some blog readers on the ride which is always cool……………………and apparently my tan is LOOKING GOOD!

Today I spent the morning being a “super fan” checking the cyclingnews live updates every few minutes.  I think I got a blister on my finger from refreshing my browser soo much.  It was awesome to see Henderson win…………..he is on fire after coming back from his hip injury.  Congrats! 

Now if Doug O. comes back after his fractured hip and wins a bunch of huge races I am honestly going to have to consider breaking my hip!  I am going to wait on that one though!

Today, I did another longer ride followed by a short Kermesse on the bike path.  Who says you cannot race during the week in the US………just find a local bike path.  I shit you not………everyone who rides on the bike path absolutely kills it!  Riding on the bike path is sort of like doing an NRC race except for there are no rules.  Women can race against the men, helmets are not needed, and most importantly aerobars are a must!  On top of that throw in some walkers with dogs and kids and there is utter chaos! 

I will admit sometimes the bike path cracks me but that is usually when I am grumpy and tired.  It is awesome to see soo many people out on bikes enjoying the outdoors and getting exercise.

Later,

g.

I was doing a little web surfing today and found this picture of Eddy “The Body” Hilger my former teamate……..looking pretty ripped if I must say so myself.  However, last year after a stage of the Tour of Shennandoah I handed it to him in a bodybuilding pose-off! Yes, you heard me right and he even had previous body building experience on me!  Eddy you know I won……………………

Seriously though, I wanted to wish Eddy a fast recovery after crashing in CSC and breaking his pelvis.

later,

g.

On today’s ride I stopped at a gas station in a little town in the mountains.  The name of the town was Georgetown for those familiar with the area.  Anyway , while I was sitting outside enjoying my Diet MountainDew I noticed a sign on the door that said: 

No Shoes

No Shirt

No Service 

With the “No Service” in bold.  That got me thinking what if I went into the store with only a shirt and shoes would I still get service ……………or would I just get “serviced?” I will have to get back to you on that one.

Before I go I wanted to say congrats to Greg Henderson for winning todays race in Reading.

later,

g.

My new black slip on Vans that I bought last night

My Diesel shoes that I bought the other day.

 Over the past few days I have been on a shopping spree which includes two new pair of shoes, a new pair of jeans, and several new t-shirts.  I sort of felt like a woman doing so much shopping especially buying all of the shoes but I don’t care becuase it is great to get new stuff.

 I also had another excuse to go shopping……………the mall has frickin’ air conditioning!  The weather has finally gotten nice here in Folsom to the point where it actually is sort of hot.  The evenings are cool but by the time the afternoon rolls around the apartment gets rather toasty with the thermostat reading in the upper eighties to ninety degrees. 

The apartment runs the hottest between 4-9pm which works out great. I am usually done with my ride and showered by four meaning I can head to the mall and hang out until it closes at nine taking advantage of their free air conditioning.  Then by the time I get home the apartment has cooled off to a reasonable temperature.

My plan of going to the mall to use the free a/c and saving money is good in theory but does not seem to be working because I get bored sitting there watching people and buy shit or go to expensive movies.  I guess I could just turn on the a/c in the apartment but why when I can use the money I save to buy new shoes!

I also forgot to mention that the drive to the mall sucks because I don’t have a/c in the Jeep but figured I should get the oil leak and tire fixed before I even think about repairing the a/c!  Plus I don’t know how much longer the Jeep is going to last and would hate to fix the a/c to then have the entire car go to crap.

The vans (black shoes) I bought were not actually the ones I wanted but were the best I had to choose from.  Initially I had wanted a pair of blue slip on shoes but had forgot that Corbett had those.  I figured that if an old schooler like Corbett had them they can’t be cool (No offense Jeff).

With the blue ones out of the picture I went to the Vans website to design my own.  I got a bit of help from Megan and between the two of us we made a cool pair of brown checkered ones.  However, I could not wait for them to be made and shipped because I wanted them now.  Therefore,  I went to the store and bought black ones.  I think they are cool but I have already been told by one person that they did not like them which hurt but I think I will get over it.

Aside from the shopping my brother Shane made it here today from Tucson.  He is going to stay and train until the Tour de Nez in a few weeks.  I actually think he is moving in for good though with the amount of shit he just brought into the apartment…………….holy schnike!

Time to run to the grocery store and hang out in the freezer section to cool down a bit.

 later,

g.

After