Back at it

More posts are coming. More photos are being taken. Two weeks at home now feels like only a few short days. Back on the road.

 

 

Training camp

After finishing up in Mexixo we headed straight to Tucson to meet up with the rest of the team for training cap. With our compressed schedule we had just a few short days to dial in positions and finish building the bikes before racing again over the weekend.

 

 

With 12 riders at camp we had quite a few bikes.

With still more to be finished.

Saw this guy on a daily basis. Didn't get a picture of the coyote that was chasing him though.

And once the road bikes were done we had a fleet of TT bikes to finish.

Pro tip from JJ: electrical tape as tire sweeper if you're getting too many flat in the southwest.

Pro tip 2: don't use a broken tent.

It rained the first race day in Arizona. Our director made us raincoats.

There was also some time to check out local plant life.

2014 Jamis team. This is only the beginning.

 

Mexico: part 2

The end of the Mexico trip was plagued by sickness (mine and others) as well as the crazyness that seems to be trying to race bikes in Mexico.

Our accommodations also seemingly improved for a few days.

And included great views. There were only two surprises about this hotel.

1) it was a holiday inn

And 2) if you consumed any of the water you were likely to get typhoid fever.

The hotel is currently being investigated.

This hill was early in the 6 hour day three stage. It was also one of the more interesting things I saw out if the car while I was trying not to vomit.

Or trying to fill bottles as we went since when riding for 6 hours in 85 degree heat the riders seemed to be thirsty.

Some spectators had a better view than others.

It also seemed like every school along our route had their students lining the street in uniform to here on the riders.

Resting in the shade before stage 4.

I also noticed a lot of billboards that seemed to have phone numbers but no other information. Not sure how you decide which number to call.

This is a guy with a hose. I think his job is to spray water on stuff. I found it very humorous.

Either this person is a bubble wrap delivery specialist or they are concerned for their safety.

Mexico city, from our hotel downtown.

Daniel eventually dropped this guy on our way back to the hotel after stage 5.

The scene before we stared the last stage. Since it was a loop around a couple of long city blocks the streets were lined with people watching. Not a very interesting stage but a great backdrop. It was a very calm way to end a hectic week.

Afterwards myself and Zach from the 5 hour Energy team took a quick spin back the hotel.

Because even when the race is over there is always more work to be done.

 

Mexico! Part 1

And we're racing! After 10 days in Southern California, I headed south to Mexico City for the 6 stage Vuelta Mexico. This was not without its difficulties. For example:

Our flight leaving LAX at 6am. Also the fact that we had a bit of luggage.

Which all arrived safely in Mexico. However with 8 riders and all the trimmings checking bags and going through customs was a bit of a lengthy process.

But we felt instantly at home.

We did have an off day before the first stage so there was time for bike riding.

Despite the protest that happened to go by the front of the hotel.

 

And an off day is fundamentally different from a day off.

I got some tires ready.

Washed some bikes.

We sadly didn't get to use this hose. (Foot included for scale)

But the bikes still turned out well.

Backdrop for the start of stage one in the center of Mexico City.

Featuring the church and this enormous Mexican flag.

And the pelaton rolls out.

 

More from south of the border soon.