This morning I had to get up at 7:03 AM so I had enough time to pack and catch a ride down to our other host house.  While Omer and I unloaded our stuff the rest of the team piled all of their bags into the van and are currently en route to either Ontario or LAX airport so they can catch their flight home.

While the other guys are being dropped off Omer and I are patiently waiting for the van to come back so we can start our drive home. I guess next time I am going to have to buy Coach O more beer and have more than one playmate entertain him in his hotel room…then maybe I won’t have to drive home*

This morning while patiently waiting I have decided that since my saddle feels okay for the moment I need to change something else….my cranks! I am going with the big dogs….177.5 mm….the bigger the better right?

 The boys loading up their bike boxes in the morning haze.

 Omer patiently waiting for the van to get back from the airport.

 Me cutting my fingernails and pushing back my cuticles so I look pretty for Coach O. when he returns! 

later, g.

* Mark and Cheryl….I actually do not mind riding in the van.  Just wanted to clarifly that so I don’t actually make you angry and then have to buy more beer to make you happy again!  I wonder if beer and playmates would work on Cheryl like it does her husband?

Redlands is over…and that means my 2007 California racing season has come to a close….yeeehaw! I was definitely a little disappointed that I did not finish the final stage of Redlands today since I thought I had the legs to do so….but on the positive side I did last longer than Hollywood Menzies and in fact I have beaten him in the last three races. For some reason I thought that was important to mention…sorry Karl On top of that my saddle actually felt pretty good…the first time since I replaced a broken seat post a month back!

Also congrats again to my teammate Ben who once again rode like a champion and finished third overall!

Anyway tomorrow I will be embarking on a lovely twenty hour van ride back to Boulder so I should have some good pictures when I get home. The one positive about riding in the van is that I won’t have to use up all of my Dramamine. Plus, I am going to need a piss bottle so that leaves me with an excuse to drink a liter of Diet Pepsi! Yep, I am trying to quit again…it will be the third time this week actually!

Since I have not been home (Boulder for those of you that have forgotten) for three months I wonder if Frank, Karl, Wes, and Bryan will remember me….or more importantly I if Wes fixed my car that he smashed into a tree? I hope so…otherwise I will have to smash him!

See you back here in a few days and wish me safe travels.

later, g.

Like most of the other cyclists in the US I too am at the Redlands Cycling Classic here in Southern California. A few days back Scotty, Ben, and I moved out of the RV where we had been staying in Clovis, CA and along with the rest of the team drove south.

Scotty, Tom and I are now staying at Tom’s aunt and uncle’s house in Calimesa, CA which is located just a touch east of Redlands off of I-10. The best part about staying at Tom’s relatives house is that they have plumbing…meaning I don’t get cold when I have to piss at night!! On top of that we have cable television and a stove to cook on…yeeehaw!

Speaking of a stove to cook on I brewed up my famous…whole wheat/wheat bran/oatmeal/raisin/apple/walnut/peanutbutter/yogurt/protein powder syrup (which includes protein powder, milk, and a dash of maple syrup) pancake with some Crunchy Corn Bran cereal on top for the lovely crunch…for beakfast this morning! I call it going back to basics because that is what I used to eat every morning and I think I am going to get back on the program because it is rather lovely.

Anyway…hopefully I do not get slaughtered too bad in this uphill prologue today either way it is because of the pancake.

later, g.

Ah, yesteday marked our final race in the Central Valley of California for the season.  We definitely have had some success in the Central Valley the last three weekends…..mainly BJM who won the tt and overall at CVC last weekend!  Then this past Saturday Ben won his second NRC time trial in as many weeks….Congrats Ben!

The crit on Sunday was not as good for us with Toyota sweeping the podium and Ivan Dominguez. winning.

Now it is onto Redlands which starts Thursday…meaning tonight will be my last evening in the RV since we head south tomorrow!  Then after Redlands I get to go home which is excitng since I have spent the last three months on the road!

Okay onto some more important matters….after the crit yesterday afternoon I wanted Quiznos for dinner while most of the other wanted Baja Fresh..so a comprimise was made and we went to IHOP aka International House of Pancakes for those of you who are not good at abbreviations.

Anyway, come join us for dinner….

 After unloading from the van we entered the outer gates of IHOP.

 The team waiting to be seated…we did not have to wait long.

 The servers at IHOP provided us with two lovely caraffes (sp?) of water.

 Not only that but IHOP also supplies it customers with four lovely types of syrups (Boysenberry, Strawberry, Butter Pecan, and Original) which they will warm up upon request.

 Our neighbors at IHOP who also enjoyed the variety of syrups to choose from.

 Emile ordered a salad so he got to start eating first and I learned he does not like onions.

 Then the rest of our food came.

 While waiting for our check I gathered everyones butter from their hot cakes and mixed it with some strawberry syrup…mainly because I was bored.

 Then Teddy bet Omer five dollars that he would not eat the bowl of butter and syrup.

 Which Omer did and won five dollars. Punch it out dawg….uhhh get some!

 Then we paid our bill.

 And were on our way back to Clovis.

later, g.

Well, it is Friday already and another week has cruised by rather quickly.  In a few hours I will be packing and heading out the door of my new home away from home here in Marin and going to Visalia.  Thanks again for letting me stay this week Ann and thanks to Nick (Ann’s son) for putting up with me getting in his way all week!

 Before I go and get my duffle bag all organized and ready to go I would like to mention my good friend Mark Adkinson who takes awesome photos at all of the bike races.  For example check out the photos from the CVC Crit this past weekend

http://hcphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/2561493

So for future reference if you are looking for race photos, at let’s say Redlands, check out Marks site

http://hcphoto.smugmug.com/

later,g.