If you haven’t already checked out Chuck “Diesel” Coyle’s website (www.theprosstuff.com) you should. The Pros Stuff sells everything a cyclist wants. Plus most, if not all, of the items that are sold were previously owned by some of the best professional cyclists in the country. 

This might make you wonder….how in the hell is my shit being sold on www.theprosstuff.com …..hmm that is a good question?  I guess I could have secretely slipped my goods in with Moninger’s things

Speaking of my stuff being sold on Chuck Diesel’s website you have to check out this item: (scroll to the bottom when the page loads)

http://www.theprosstuff.com/cart.cfm?cart_action=category_detail&category_guid=d379c9bf-65bf-d230-4d03-4fef431b146f

own a piece of cycling history!

Time to hit the gym and get huge”r”.

later, g.

For the past three days since I have gotten back from New Zealand most of my time has been devoted to renovating my room.   I am happy to say that the renovation is almost complete with only a few minor touches left. 

Aside from a cool new comforter that matches my new rug and curtains which will tie things together nicely I need some cool artwork to hang on my empty walls.  If you are an artist and would like some exposure send me a cool piece of artwork….I will hang it on my wall…..take a picture…..and put it on the blog……then you will be famous and make lots of money from all of your sales…….and I will be happy with the artwork…..it is a win win situation!

With my room almost complete that left time for Frank, Chuck Diesel, and I to drive up to Eldora Mountain Resort for the opening of their Nordic skiing season.

 Lacing up the boots in the lodge for the first time this year.  Thanks Bryan for letting me use your skis and boots.  Also thanks to Frank and Steph for the ski pass for my birthday.

 On the way back to the car after getting my ass kicked by Chuck and Frank today.  Needless to say…..I don’t always have to win to have fun because I did no winning but had a great time.

I am tired….time for bed.

later, g.

After close to sixty hours of being in airports, sitting on uncomfortable airplanes that lack sufficient leg room, going through customs multiple times, getting more shit confiscated at customs, drinking way too much of the free Qantas wine, and waiting in endless lines, I finally made it back to Boulder. 

It is the first time I have been back for an extended period of time sine early September and it is great….except of course for the jet lag.  Getting up at 2:15 AM is not really fun and makes me feel sort of bad for insomniacs.

The next few days I have direct orders from Coach O. to do absolutely nothing…..except and I quote, “Don’t get too fat!”  I am having a bit of a hard time with that though!  However, due to the lateness of my season this year my down time is going to be abbreviated so I can’t get too fat right?  I don’t mind the short offseason since otherwise I get antsy and pace back and forth in the house only to get yelled at by Frank.

Since I cannot ride I am doing a little remodling of my room.  The remodling involves things such as going to Bed Bath and Beyond with Frank to get a skirt for my bed…….it is a good thing Frank has a girlfriend otherwise people might talk!

Here are a few other things that I have been up to since getting back:

 Watch Frank drink his Australian-In-A-Tube-Coffee in his Australian mug.  That is right….coffee that comes in a tube…….I think that is a step beyond instant.

 We even got to put some brownie mix on Smith’s toilet downstairs.  It is a bit disgusting but I did almost piss my self laughing while doing it.

I have also started my winter beard and have been drinking “real” drip coffee and I even got to eat some burrito’s which are rather hard to come by in Oz.

Time for me to run to Home Depot……………..

later,g.

For those of you that know me…..I am not the biggest fan of doing laundry.  In fact I don’t rate it all…..much like swimming or other activities that involve water.

Anway, since I have been down near South Pole for the past month and a half cleaning my clothes has become a rather large hassle due to the lack of drying machines.  Washing machines are in abundance down here buy dryers on the other hand are scarce! 

Therefore the other day for the first time in my life I hung my clothes on a clothes line with the little clothes pins and everything.

 Not too bad eh….well for me anyway.  The good thing is the 50 mph NZ winds really expidite the drying process.

Okay, in reality hanging clothes on the line is not that bad but I needed something new to complain about since I am getting rather used to the instant coffee.

Aside for that we are full on into the Tour of the Southland at the moment.  Stage three concluded a few hours ago and I was able to give it a go and run second……first would of been nice but I will take it.

Tomorrow the weather should be lovely…….they are forcasting a high temp of eight degrees celcius with some rain, wind, sleet, and snow at elevation. Yep you heard me right eight degrees Celcius……and better yet it is a double day……100K in the morning and 90K in the afternoon.

Only four days remain in my season and it doesn’t appear like it is going to end pleasantly unless of course I am able to win the tour……we will see.

later,g.

Before I even start with my actual blog entry I would like to take a few minutes and  send out a few apologies.

First off, I would like to apologize to Shelana Menzies whose name I unfortunately misspelled during my last update.  I really hope that she can forgive me and if it makes her feel any better I lost a bit of sleep over the entire issue…..fair dinkum (Australian for honestly).

Lastly, I would like to apologize to the whale for not mentioning him/her in the blog for the appearance that he/she made.  The evening before I left Tasmania while sitting on the deck of Karl’s parents house we saw a few whales frolicking in the waters just offshore.  It definitely was an amazing/rare site to see……so thanks for making an appearance whale!

I left Tasmania a few days ago and flew to Melbourne where I spent the night.  The next day and a few airplane rides later I made it to Invercargill, NZ which will be my home base for the next ten days.  I am staying with the sponsor of our team Graham Dick and his wife Linda at their house just outside of Invercargill.  They have been awesome so thank you Graham and Linda!

The trip to NZ was rather uneventful or at least until I went through customs……where I can honestly say…..I think I was taken advantage of!