Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Amgen TOC picture dump












And thats a wrap.
14 hour minimum work days,

too many cities to count,
far too many hotels.

Now I am home with the midget.
Bye

Sunday, February 22, 2009

lance blah blah blah

his bike getting stolen was a publicity stunt.

the end.

Friday, February 13, 2009

SOCAL And TOC starter

Today was one of the few days it has not rained since I have been in California. So I decided to sneak off for a few road miles. I will be pretty much working like a crazy person for the next week and a few days. Amgen Tour of California, or the first traveling circus I have the privilege of being a part of in 2009.
I jumped on the bike paths around Sacramento and quickly became part of the pro peloton.
Every team had decided to get out and spin the legs before the rains moved in. I was mistaken for one of them by the paparazzi. Which is utterly stupid, I have never shaved my legs and was sporting pretty non euro legs. 
It was still cool to be out there with some of the biggest stars in road racing, and I really mean out there with them. 

The AG2R team mech's putting final touches on the TT bikes. I am sorta amazed that my rig severely outclasses theirs. But I am sure they outclass me in skills and leg shaving.
Whatever, you do notice the full on winter bibs the mechanic is wearing. It was and will be very cold and very wet for the majority of the tour.
I went to the SuperCross in Anaheim. We ( BH USA ) sponsor the Pro Circuit 250 riders. These guys are sititing on top of their class in total points. It was cool to get comped tickets and hear your company get shout outs in the riders sponsorship mention.  Mainly it was cool to see those crazy peeps jump 60 foot gaps.
Oh, yea, the blowup doll.
Well some people were bouncing a beach ball in the crowd...
and some were molesting a blow up doll.
I thought is was funny until the red necks got a hold of her ( er it ) and well look at the pics.
There were too many kids around for this -- I do have some manner of decorum. 

Circus starts promptly in the morning. It will be wet,cold, and a metric poolah of work.
Do me a favor and watch the thing on Versus.
I get to live my dream and go behind the scenes of the bike biz...
It is more work than you can ever imagine.
PS
We will have the electronic Durace in our both.
It is sick!

Sunday, February 1, 2009

A friend gets a Helicopter ride.....not good

Clicky the title.

The video is just the footage of us packing out her bike.  I have the wheels, Ken the camera and frame, Miki has Sara's pack.

It was surreal to go through this experience.
She had cleaned some pretty rough stuff and managed to spill in an easier area.
No major major breaks or blood but we think she dislocated her hip.
I had just met her and a few good hours of riding had a new friend.
It is crazy to see this and realize just how crazy the trails we ride are, 
the risk we all take every time.
It is even better to know that people still drop it all for someone in need.

I hope to have updates.

Just found out Sarah has indeed dislocated her hip....ouch.
She was put under and they popped it back in place.  Could be worse I guess but sift tissue damage is a beeeaaaatttccchhh. 

new kid in town.....


Well, I seem to have gotten into the reality that I am done racing.
I am now riding the Firebird, a near 7 inch travel bike that as pictured weighs in a touch over 30 pounds.
I am amazed that I can climb this bike as easy, if not easier than the Mach 4.
Of course, it is more fun pointed down the hill. 


Zip ties are bling......
I am guilty of buying the whole bike just to have these DT wheels.
I am enamored with white wheels.
Like most I have spent a few hours staring at my bike.

The whole shebang, enchilada, whatever...
I look forward to getting back in shape and developing enough base where the 5 pound gain in bike weight will not matter.
At any rate I am satisfied, a lot more travel, and a lot more fun. 
And for those noticing.....
I do plan on trimming the brake lines...
and removing the zip bling.

http://vimeo.com/3025570

the link is a video of my favorite trail on SOMO.
I was driving the shuttle this day so our reps could get a taste of the Firebird.
Ken the camera man is just a little sick with skills.
I rode this trail just yesterday and broke in the new ride.
Sweet.