Ahhhhhh, back in the air conditioned comfort of my hotel room after a long hard stage six of Altoona!

This is the first time I have done Altoona during my four year cycling career and I am learning that it is pretty hard!  Yesterday, I tried ridiculously hard to make the break but wasn’t in it….yay! Oh, and that is the second thing I learned…don’t try to be in the break and you have a better chance of being in it than if you actually try!

Today I survived the mountainous affair while my roommate for the week, Teddy, actually raced his bike and finished an impressive 5th place! 

 Teddy has been riding well all week…which is without doubt due to the fact that he is rooming with me!  I tend to bring out the best in people!

Lastly, before I head off for my massage, I would like to recommend the Altoona Marriott for any passerbys looking for a great place to stay! Why you may ask…

 …Because they make cookies for us and the cleaner ladies leave wonderful notes on my bed.  I wonder why Teddy hasn’t got a note on his bed….hmmm?

Massage time….

later, g.

Shit….I wish I would have read this before going to the Pastaria for dinner this evening!!!

Here is what former rider and admitted blood doper Jesus Manzano’s has to say about the problems facing cycling

“It won’t stop until all cyclists say, `Stop,”’ Manzano
said in a February interview. “No rider wins by eating plates
of spaghetti.'’

Considering what I had for dinner I guess I can’t expect to win tomorrow!

On a different more positive note (sort of) today’s stage of Altoona was a touch difficult.  It makes me feel a bit miserable to ride hard and still finish in the second goup!  Guess I still have to lay off the cake…and apparently now the spaghetti.

Time for bed have to get up at 6 AM for tomorrow’s 9AM stage…ouch!

later, g.

Thought I would do a quick update while sitting in my hotel room here in Altoona, PA.  Actually, I am struggling with a case of post race fullness but still want to eat syndrome.  Therefore I figured an update might get my mind off of food! It probably wont work but is worth a shot.

So what are things like here in Pennsylvania you may ask? 

 Well a lot of people look like my teammate Scotty who was born and raised in the lovely hills of PA.

 In case you cannot see in the picture above Scotty is missing half of a tooth!  Aside from the teeth I wonder if everyone’s ass in Pennsylvania smells as bad as Scotty’s…will have to do some more research on that one.

On a side note while on the way here I saw the Toyota United RV pulled over that the airport.  Thought it was a bit humorous!

Okay, time to go eat and be miserably full.

later g.

PS.  Aside from missing a few teeth and talking funny the people of Pennsylvania are really nice and the rolling hills of the are lovely! Hopefully I have not pissed anyone off with the above comments!

It seems like I just got home from doing a race in Oregon and now I am packing again to head off to Altoona, PA.

Before I go again I thought I would give a sneak peak of our new place:

 Starting on the gound floor here is the garage which I bought an industrial broom for so I could sweep.  Buying brooms for the garage at home Depot = Very Manly!

 Karl’s room on the ground floor.

 Now moving up to the second floor here is the tv room/living area.

 The kitchen.

 Now onward to the third floor and Ann’s room.

 And a short jaunt downt the hall from Ann’s room is my room.  Had to ditch my box spring and bed frame since we could not fit them up the stairs.

 Finally up to the fourth floor which is a rooftop patio with hot tub/sun bathing/eat my breakfast and drink my coffee every morning/ grilling area.

 The other side of the patio.

  And last but not least our pain in the ass neighbors…Frank and Rory!  This was from our ride yesterday…so yes, I have been riding while back at home!

later, g.

I am BIB (Back in Boulder) after a quick two week west coast swing.

We just finished Cascade which I thought was a hard tour so a majority of this week will be spent recovering.  Aside of course, from taking care of my domestic duties at our new house!

The trip back from Oregon ended up being pretty long:

 First…Tom, Omer, Teddy, and I had to pack ourselves into Omer’s little car and drive from Bend to Salem.

 We then spent the night in Salem at Omer’s house. Here is Omer with his mom and dog.

 Around Salem Omer is kind of a “Big Deal!”

 The next moring at 4 AM Omer drove Tom, Teddy and I to the Portland airport where it rained just enough to get our cardboard bike boxes on the roof nice and soggy.  Thanks for the ride Omer!  Here Tom and I are at the Oakland airport doing some good people watching.

 Looking like Tom’s legs could use some sun…they remind me of boiled sausages!

 Finally back in Denver taking the shuttle to the car!

It will be a short stint for me at home since I leave for Altoona Pennsylvania on Sunday.   In that short period of time I have a lot of stuff to do.  Yesterday though was really productive I got an appointment for cable and internet to be set up, took care of the hot tub (yes, I am the pool boy), changed my mailing address, sun bathed, and which I am most proud of fixed the dryer!

And yes mom I will get pictures up of the new place shortly!

later, g.

PS. I would like to wish TZ a speedy recovery and keep your head up champ!