Here is a quick update to what has been going on since my last update…

After Joe Martin I got to spend a wonderful week at home where the weather has finally become pleasant and I was able to get some wicked sunburn on the rooftop deck.  It is easy to forget that the sun is a bit more intense at 5500 feet!

After some good riding and catching up with friends back home it was off to Michigan on Wednesday to pre-ride the Leelanau course for the race this coming Sunday.  However, that plan got derailed due to a pulled beef burrito from Whole Foods and a case of food poisoning!

All that I can say is that food poisoning and plane rides do not go well together!  I actually felt bad for the lady sitting next to me on the plane as I was unloading the contents of my guts into the little airplane puke bag!  The only redeeming factor was the the lady sitting next to me was extremely large.  Therefore,  I figured that for letting her use half of my seat along with her own she could at least deal with my unpleasantness!  In the end it was a great relationship built on compromise.

Thankfully, the food poisoning is a thing of the past and I am getting exciting to race on Sunday!  After that it is back to Boulder on Memorial day for another week before heading out east for “Philly Week” followed by “Nature Valley” and then “The Giro de Grafton.”

later, g.

Just got done with stage two of the Joe Martin stage race here in Arkansas and am waiting patiently for my massage at our Extended Stay Hotel! Today we rode pretty well…Scotty got in the break and Richie had a nice little dig at the end but we came up empty However, there are still two more stages and then I get to go home….yay!

Was hoping that for this years edition of Joe Martin I could get back to the form I had here in ‘05.  Unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case soo far…maybe I need to “Nair” my chest like I did back then? However, the chemical burns which led to a bloody belly button and ooozing nipples were not that great! There are still two stages to go  though so there is time…

Some pictures from our hotel…

 Scotty Zwizellski…my roommate…for most of the year since we are pretty much on the same race schedule.  Good thing he is an okay guy except when he talks on the phone to his girlfriend…kinda grosses me out!

 The VIP room at the extended stay hotel occupied by Teddy King (Tour de Georgia KOM jersey holder) and Dick London (Tour de Georgia stage winner).  They were obviously appalled that a low life like me would interrupt their dinner for a photo…sorry guys!

 Kaycee our “team mom” massaging Joao…she must have a hard time finding him under all of that hair? Think he could actually use some of that Nair!  Kaycee rocks by the way…thanks for putting up with us!

Aside from that, today I got to see two massive turtles (one dead one alive), several dead armadillos, and a cyclist go off the road into a creek or as they say here in Arkansas crick! Plus, Two fellow racers in the race today told me they read my blog…which I thought was cool and nice talking to you guys! 

later, g.

While out riding yesterday Scotty and I came across across a place that would be suitable if we ever were to move to Alabama…

 …things have to be good here!

Woke up this morning only to find it raining here in Alabama which definitely put a damper on my pre-race hour spin.  Hopefully it clears up by this afternoon/evening for the race! 

Aside from that I am no longer a ”Guitar Hero” virigin after playing yesterday…

 Terry and Cindy Phillis rocking out to “Welcome to the Jungle.”

 Unfortunately I lost to Scotty…guess I had to let him win something after taking a few sprints from him on our ride earlier in the day!

later, g.

This entry is dedicated to my teammate PT (for those not privy PT = former Pro Tour rider and teammate Aaron Olson).  Anyway, I thought he would be proud of my short and sleeve rollup technique applied today in the Alabama heat!

 Scotty and I rode to the highest point in Alabama today….wonder if Ronnie Van Zandt ever visited the highest point in Alabama?

Wow, come to think of it on this trip I will have been atop the highest peaks in Georgia (Brasstown Bald - 4,784 ft), and Alabama (Cheaha Mtn - 2,407 ft)!  Too bad I was not doing Tri-Peaks in a couple of weeks because I believe a stage of that goes over the highest point in Arkansas (Mt Magazine - 2,753 ft)!

later, g.