Unpacking day 2

Had to drive up to travis AFB just to be sure that the last surgeon I
saw wasn't crazy and that I do in fact have a hernia. This whole mess
is frustrating me because it's going in 3 months now and no one is
willing to just schedule me for surgery. I keep telling myself, and
annie reminds me daily, that everything happens for a reason.

While I was at travis, hit up the commissary for some reasonably
priced groceries. Berkeley is insane for grocery prices! $300 of
staple nutrition.

Then I came home, missed the group rode by half an hour, then I
chipped my tooth. It was just a bad day.

But this shooting/warmup jersey made me smile. I used to live for
basketball, played 11 months/year. I was even the 1st walkon at navy
(all varsity athletes are recruited and navy never takes anyone during
tryouts). I could shoot the ball. Those were the good old days.
Plus I had the number 30, which ended up being my squadron number
too. Funny how that stuff works.

Tomorrow will be a better day. We are finally getting Internet and I
need to craigslist a ton of stuff. Anyone need size 46 sidi black
dominators? They'll sell fast.

High school basketballer

Foreshadowing

This pic is for wick. This explorer is more rad than yours because of
the plates. Va is out of control with personalized plates. I love
you keith and "I drop u" is one of the better ones, but seriously
peeps, take a pill for 5 mins.

Thanks to emma for reminding me how to spell polka-dots. Read her
blog on the right and pray for her health! Get better girl.

Today was unpacking day 1. I will have many of these days.

I have to go get my hernia consult tomorrow and that means driving to
travis air force base to the clinic. Haircut from Wang lulu turned
out not too bad for my salad. Of course Wang lulu didn't take credit
so she kept saying "you pay now!". I kept thinking of dude where's my
car: "and then......"

Then I met a dude for a cal group ride. About 15 kids showed up and I
was the oldest by far! Weird. Wick replaces me as youngest now on
sr, but flipping roles is interesting. Imagine 15 kids like elliot,
Lucas, and Tyler who all think they know everything about bike racing
and what I need to do to compensate for my 200# frame. I didn't tell
anyone that I have had some decent success on the bike. It is funny
to me that people who don't know you and have never seen you ride will
talk down to you even if you are in a pro-tour team bike that costs
more than their car.

I was ok with it because their were all congratulating me after I
climbed with the lead group of 4 guys. It was just fun to watch them
flip sides/attitudes: It was possible I had a clue as to what I was
doing, and maybe I had raced something beyond cat 5. Fun.

Anyway, great 2 hour ride with some serious climbs and a 55mph
descent. Cool. Met a cool kid who was very interested in my riding
and why I quit the navy. All these people soak up the pilot stint.
He was a metro-mint rider in light blue polka-dots. Maybe their kit
will grow on me.

You should be studying for an exam instead of checking the blog!

Long sleeves and a bottle of wine

It was just too cold to ride and warm up in the short sleeve kit. 60
degrees plus the wind chill saw me shaking like a ninny. I raced in
short sleeves though.

Prob 70 racers and in typical fashion, I rode a lap then vaulted off
the front. Another guy joined me for a nice 8 lap solo effort never
gaining more than 15 seconds. No biggie.

I countered the 1st preme and had 4 guys away again. But apparently
the big teams didn't like their players in that break. Brought back
again. There were prob 5 teams with 5 or more guys. This made for
some predictable and reasonable racing. Teams controlled the race as
they should.

This meant that instead of making something happen myself, I was at
the mercy of the larger teams. Just as I realized this, a group of
six got away. Teammates were blocking forthis group. Great
opportunity for me. I waited until they were almost a complete city
block ahead and then took off on my bridge. No one came with me.
Nice, two laps by myself and I was able to close. But when I got
there, too many softpulls allowed the single file main group to get
within 10 seconds.

Our break didn't stick. I never understand this, all the $ is up the
road and no one is willing to work.

Some kid was sitting in front of the lap board and I didn't see it
until one to go. Bad news for me. Finished in the teens.

The good news is that I felt fine even after only 2 serious riding
days in the past 14. And the race announcer loved it that I tried to
innitiate or cover every break. He named me the most aggressive rider
in the race and gave me a bottle of wine. A Pinot called cycles
gladiator. Cool.

After this accolade, a bunch of dudes congratulated me and asked about
le bleu. I guess it's time to look for a new bay area team. One team
is light blue pocadots. I don't think I can do that.

Long sleeves and a bottle of wine

It was just too cold and windy to warm up without long sleeves today.
I didn't have my rollers

Rollin

Did my 1st real ride today. 45 miles up and over two passes in
Berkeley. The passes are called canyons here, but I call 1/2 hour
granny gear climbs mountains. I know I will become a better climber.
Crit one mile from my house tomorrow. I will be sure to let you know
how it goes.

Steep!

RICO is out of the tour. To be honest, I had never heard of him
before this years giro. You don't climb your way into pro peleton
stardom and rock a major tour without being around for a while. I
remember when tom boonen was a postal scrub. Like anything else, you
have to pay your dues.

Anyway, this pic is the street I will have to climb everyday on my 2
mile ride back from school. You really can't appreciate how steep it
is in this pic. Both of these cars dropped down to super low gears to
aid in slowing. I had to get out of the saddle in my 39x23 and could
only manage 4 mph. The mtn bike will make it easier. I need to find
some fenders.

I got back to tony's house and ben had locked us out. It had dropped
to 59 degrees and was windy. July 17 and already below 60. I am
excited about this place. And I have a feeling I am going to be a
better climber.