Georgia Camping

11 states and over 20 hours in the van with 1,000 miles traveled I made it to team camp. The week started with a flight across the country to Boston where I reunited with the boss (Toby). My first day out east was like the third Christmas of the year, picking up a new sparkling white Cervelo S2, and seeing the new boxes packed with bars that we got from our cereal and bar sponsor. I rode the bike for the first time that day in what was the best day in New England for the last few months, a mild 70 degrees, and a brisk wind made all just about perfect. All was great, even though I got lost trying to find my way back to the house it was alright because the proper white houses with groomed yards, and the old brick buildings is like nothing we have in Oregon so it kept things interesting. On top of that the different types of mouth watering granola bars that we got from our new sponsor were like chocolate peanut butter rocket fuel. As this day came to an end the reality of two straight days of driving appeared. Thank god for a big van which I could spread out and sleep, regardless it was long, but long does not mean bad. I thought it was gong to be worse luckily I was in good company. We picked up my new teammate, and great guy Paul Lynch two hours into the drive and from there it was smooth rolling… for about an hour until we hit heavy New York traffic, however here the highlight of the drive occurred. Gabriella had her eyes fixed out the windows looking at all the trash and debris that lay on the side of the dirty worn road in hopes of seeing something valuable. For a moment she looked away, and when she did there it was staring right back at me, an ancient well used and weathered five dollar bill. After double checking it was alright to hop out of the van in bumper to bumper traffic I was on it faster then a cat on a mouse. America is just like they said money is just lying on the ground. After another day of driving we arrived atop beautiful Charlie Mountain in Northern Georgia. The first ride of camp was spectacular with the whole team rolling on new bikes through the stunning rolling hills and back woods of the Georgia Mountains. As we approached the end of the ride all there was to do was ride up the drive way, more like race up. A little over a mile long and steeper than anybody wants it stung; actually more than stung it made my legs throbbed; they felt like there were on the verge of exploding. For the rest of the week we will enjoy all the great roads, rides and weather that Georgia has to offer. It’s good to be back in the Dirty South.

The New Year

For the first post of 2011 and for the first time I (Ian’s little brother), will write some updates for the blog. Being a newcomer to the sport last year I knew little of what to expect, even getting into the sport was a chance of luck so I gave it a try. But this year should be something different, I know what to expect and understand what it is like to be racing at this level. So far the 2011 season has been all and more of what I could want. On January tenth I flew down to L.A. for a team pursuit camp with the national team. Riding the track for the first time was nothing short of crazy. Trying to describe this to non cyclist it is hard to explain, but it is a 250 meter wooden track with similar shape to a running track except the bends are between 40-43% gradient so the first day I as terrified coming into every corner, and the G forces would pull you down to the bars. Soon enough though I got the hang of it and was having a great time. The whole camp was a blast, from watching a couple ghetto girls get into a fight outside Wal-Mart, to go-carting it was great. Also riding in the 70 degree weather was pretty nice. The track was something completely new but I’m glad I got to go and give it a try, always good to try new things.
From the heat of L.A I got to go to not only a warmer place, but a prettier one too. Lucky me, this year Team Hottubes did the Tour of Bahamas, the hot sun, crystal clear water, and white sandy beaches made this a great first team trip of the year, but a hard one to top. Never once did anything but a smile fill the faces of our team, and how could it when you knew it was going to be another day with beautiful sights, warm sun, and spectacular foods. We stayed on the 11th floor of a beachfront resort and were treated every night to a phenomenal sunset before heading out to some of the best restaurants of my life. Oh yea and the main reason we were there the bike race, almost forgot. The race as a two day, three stage races with the first day have a short 3 mile time trial, followed by a 46 mile circuit race. The First day went about as planned with our whole team finishing around mid pack in both races, but what was not planned was the nice red burn that I got on every art of me that touched the sun. The following morning we had a 76 mile road race. Although we did not get the results we hoped for it was a good race, and I got into several good breaks with my new teammate Paul Lynch. Once again we ended the race all around mid pack; however the day did not end then. After the race we rode about three miles from the finish to a private resort owned by Tiger Woods, and Ernie Els. The week was awesome but this was the perfect end to it all. Delicious food, water slides and lounging in the sun, my last day before I had to return to reality and the below freezing temperatures of Bend, and home cooked meals.
It did not take long to realize that Bend was not going to be the ideal place to train for the winter. So off to Chico, California it was. My brother rents a one bedroom back house which fits the two of us nicely. Chico has a long history with our family, my dad, uncle, and two aunts all went to school at Chico State. Now my brother, and I are both following along the same path, and I know why everyone loved it here. Chico is home to beautiful Bidwell Park, and some of the best road riding I have experienced, combine that with the mild to warm temperatures and it is a great place to be for the time. So for now my brother and I will try to log miles on the bike in preparation for the year ahead. We both have some big goals, and expectations to meet for the 2011 season which I hope turns out to be a good one.
-Austin

Remembering why

Six weeks ago I returned from Europe with the best fitness of my life. I had just finished an intense block of European racing and had planned to carry that speed and motivation I had back to the states. However, my return to US racing would be anything but speedy. I began to develop a knee pain which continued to bother me and kept me from riding for the next four weeks. This four week span was an up and down roller coaster, but it was a lesson I needed to learn.

Icing my knee and sitting on the couch with the best form of my life was mentally taxing, it wasn’t until my younger brother Austin returned from Europe that I first got a desire to think about cycling again. Riding and racing has been such a part of my daily routine for the last year, and not being able to ride I didn’t know what to do. When Austin was rested and ready to ride again after his own European trip, I wanted to help him out as much as possible to prepare him for the rest of the season. I wasn’t able to ride with him, but I was able to motor pace him behind my car and drive him into the mountains to get in some good riding.
Last week I was able to ride again pain free thanks to Rebound and a lot to ice and rest. I could tell I had lost a lot of my fitness but I’ve learned that these injuries can and will happen and its how you deal with them that makes the difference in the long run. Riding again reminded me of why I love cycling, it is such a beautiful sport and the views from the road are stunning. I had my down days while I was injured but now that I’m riding again I appreciate it even more. For the next few weeks I’ll be in Bend training and preparing for the second half of the season with my brother Austin, on the roads we know and love.

Ian

Pictures from Europe

Two bikes and a backpack

At Ten AM yesterday Ben King and I decided we were going to ride across Belgium to Huy, the finishing town of Fleche Wallonne (one of the biggest bike races in the spring classics). Since we are stuck in Europe do to the volcanic activities in Iceland we are trying to make the best out of the time here. So with no planning we stuffed a backpack with a change of clothes and heading east to Huy. Less than an hour after we sparked the idea we were on the road. With no maps we relied on my previous travels in Belgium and the knowledge that Brussels was the half way point.
I could not have set out on this trip with a better bud than Ben, a good southern boy riding for the Trek-Livestrong team. He and I have become great friends over the past month, and this adventure would only bring us closer. Taking turns carrying the backpack we rode east and into the center of Brussels. For me this was nothing new as I lived there for nine months a few years back and rode my bike everywhere. For Ben however, it was an adrenaline packed hour. Winding our way through gridlocked streets we eventually made our way out of the city.
The east side of Brussels is very different than the west; with rolling hills, thick forests, and the French language it is an area of Belgium that I enjoy much more than the flat windswept farmland of Flanders. Making our way towards our final destination I realized that this whole trek was possible, we were more than halfway there and still had plenty of daylight. With time to spare we stopped in Wavre and ate a very French lunch, we split a baguette and dipped it in chicken pate. With the seldom seen Belgian sun shining down, the gratification of embarking on this great adventure was absorbed.
With French bread in our bellies the final forty kilometers passed quickly. The final descent brought us into Namur (a large town next to Huy where we planned to stay at the youth hostel) and the hardest part of the voyage was finished. Two hundred kilometers and over six hours of riding had landed us on the opposite side of Belgium only to find that the hostel was booked. Ben and I weighed our options, however with our shallow bank accounts a hotel was not one of them. We contemplated sleeping in a barn or some abandoned building but when we finally came to a conclusion we were on the next train back to Izegem.
While we didn’t get to see the race live, we did ride across an entire country of Belgium. Once we returned the other riders were shocked to see us back. Many had expected to see us earlier thinking we would not have the courage make the journey on such little planning. Some of the riders saw our adventure as a failure because we didn’t do what we planned, but we never planned anything at all. It was a spontaneous thought that we carried out, Ben and I had one of our best days in Belgium yet and I wouldn’t’ have changed it for a thing.

Video update.

Belgium racing through the eyes of my roommate and all around good guy Ben King

Triptyque des Monts et Chateaux: 3 days, 4 stages

Stage 1: 170 km
Fresh of a world championship win, Taylor Phinney joins our team along with fellow Trek-Livestrong riders Gavin Mannion and Nate Brown. Also, in the USA lineup are Bissell Pro riders Boswell and Holloway along with BMC rider Cole House. The wind is strong today and it's cold. Riders know they must be near the front before the crosswinds. Our team is aggressive. I find myself mid-pack trying like everyone else to stay toward the front. It is nervous and there is no space on either side of the pack to shoot forward. All of the sudden, bars lock and around ten riders go down in a tangle of bikes. From behind I plow into them, on top of them. I yank my bike from the jumble, riders beneath me are moaning, and I begin to chase the pack. A small group of riders shoot by me, and when I accelerate for their draft my knee throbs. I see that it's cut and know its deep because it bleeds jelly. I chase on my own and catch the bunch on a short climb. Crosswinds. I'm off the back in a small group. We chase and rejoin. I hang back to access the damage. More crosswinds. Another group off the back. With 130 km left to race, we settle into a hard tempo and make it to the finish 14 minutes back on the lead group.

Four USA riders have made the front group. With 10 km to go Taylor wrecks, but blasts through the caravan and back to the front. Gavin Mannion reels in a breakaway with 5 km to go. Holloway and House ride for Taylor, and Taylor despite a crash with 7 km to go, sprints for 4th.
The race medics scrub my chainring laceration, and recommend the hospital. 9 stitches.
Many of you have twittered and emailed support, and it means a lot. After battling to make the time cut, it is an extreme disappointment to miss the start tomorrow. Tomorrow's time trial should put our team in a solid GC position, and it kills me to bail on my teammates. However, my knee, the hinge of the pedal stroke, is quite sore and swollen. The season is young.



I'll continue to cover the race via our team's website: http://www.treklivestrongu23.com/ but spare the rest of you. Assuming a swift recovery, I'll be getting back amongst it next Friday for Circuit des Ardennes.

BK