How to #PROVEIT at the Amgen Tour of California

The boys of Bontrager-LIVESTRONG came to the Amgen Tour of California for the experience, the education of riding North America’s biggest bike race. Most wouldn’t consider them contenders for the GC. A good day might land one of them on the podium for a stage. As their team liaison from Trek, Matt Shriver, put it, “Every day is its own opportunity.”

The axes are awarded by team director Axel Merckx for impressive race moves.

After throwing haymakers the month before at the Tour of the Gila, and coming out of it with the team overall, a rider in third on GC, and an impressive 1-2 stage win on the Gila Monster, the Tour of California is a different arena altogether for the young team. Instead of being the big dogs in the pack, they’re the smallest (in stature, palmarés, and support staff), and instead of being the most recognized, they’re easily overshadowed by European titans of the peloton.

But we’re almost at the halfway point of the race and Josh Atkins has been wearing the best young rider jersey since day one (in 2nd place, as GC leader Peter Sagan technically owns it, but can’t wear both jerseys), and is in 8th place on the GC, with Lawson Craddock in 10th. Bontrager-LIVESTRONG riders consistently finish in the top 20 with coordinated final-kilometer organization for sprinter and former junior world champ Jasper Stuyven, even in the blazing-fast sprints that make up the first four stages.

Josh Atkins in the Best Young Rider jersey, guarded by his teammates.

If they’re here to learn, they’re learning quickly, and, as one race announcer put it, “these kids are punching well above their weight.” From here, the race hits some serious climbing, and will only get exponentially harder for the talented young crew. As their website states, loud and clear “Riding with us isn’t about your talent. It’s about what you decide to do with it.” And what the Bontrager-LIVESTRONG team is doing is some impressive racing that you don’t want to miss.

Get the inside scoop with our exclusive access to Trek teams at the Amgen Tour of California. Follow us on twitter at @TrekBikes. We'll be live-Tweeting from the Bontrager-LIVESTRONG follow-car all day during Thursday's time trial in Bakersfield. Post what you want to see in the comments, or tweet us up!

Great Athletes Ride Trek at the 2012 Amgen Tour of California

Win a Madone, get the inside scoop on Trek teams, and see Jens Voigt's custom Madone

We’re headed to the 2012 Amgen Tour of California, and to say we’re stoked would be an understatement. Trek athletes tend to win here (2007, 2008, 2009, & 2011), and this year we’re proud to support two very exciting, and very different teams, who will be lighting up the roads of California in search of yellow jersey glory.

The seasoned professionals of RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK, led by Chris Horner, know exactly what they need to do to repeat last year’s win here. Their stacked roster is clearly built for one goal: the overall win. When the road points up, they’ll be ready to throw down.

The young guns of Axel Merckx’s Bontrager-LIVESTRONG team are here to prove themselves at their first world-class stage race. After tearing it up at the Tour of the Gila, there’s no doubt they’re on form. Watch out for these guys: they’re massively talented, they've work very hard to get here, and there''s no doubt they'll come come out guns blazing to (as they like to tweet) #PROVEIT.

 

Go behind the scenes

Our social media team is on the ground and in the team cars, bringing you exclusive coverage of the race. Get the latest by following us on Twitter:

@TrekBikes – Your one-stop resource for our all things Trek. Got a question? Hit us up!

@TrekTeamMatt – Trek’s Bontrager-LIVESTRONG team liaison

@TrekJordan – Trek’s RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK team liaison

@BontragerLS - Axel Merckx’s hand-picked team of tomorrow’s tour winners, tweeting when they’re not busy winning.

@RSNT – Official Twitter account of RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK, 

As always, www.facebook.com/trekbikes is your source for joining the conversation and sharing your own rides, whether it’s to the summit of Mt. Baldy, or to the corner coffee shop.

 

Going to the race?

The Trek events crew will be on-site at each stage with tee-shirts, hats, and jerseys, to help you show your support of your favorite Trek riders. Stop on by to get kitted out, check out a replica of Jen Voigt’s “Shut up Legs”-edition Madone or get a limited-edition Jens tee-shirt: 

We only had 100 of these printed, so get 'em while they're hot!

And one more thing, you can sign up on-site to win one of 10 3-Series Madones We're giving away!

Cycling, the perfect cross-training program?

Dimity McDowell Davis is one of the two authors of Run Like a Mother and the recent Train Like a Mother books. She’s been a runner for years, and started cycling a few years ago to help with some knee issues.

Trek Women asked her to share her top reasons to try cycling for cross-training!

From Two Feet to Two Wheels

Please don’t tell my faithful companion running that I’m having an affair. With a bike. And I’m in love with her—and how fast and far she lets me go, how easy she is on my joints, how capable my quads look and feel as they poke out of my bike shorts. I’m not ready to commit to her forever, but I regularly take her on long, out-of-town jaunts and I plan on doing that for the rest of my life.

Truth be told, I’ve never been a monogamous athlete. Although running has been my focus in words and action for the past twenty or so years, I’ve always kept cycling tucked in my back pocket and pulled out her pedals when I need her. Which is often. I—like most runners—benefit every time I swap out a run for a ride. 

Here are the top six reasons why runners should regularly trade their two feet for two wheels:

1. Pure and simple: Speed. I am not a fast or efficient runner. Unless I am facing a (dreaded) headwind, I will never feel the wind through my hair when I run. But on a bike? That wind whips so good. Sometimes, it feels like my bike can’t gobble up the pavement quickly enough. More than that, my legs feel so fluid and smooth, and seem to have a bottomless tank. 

2. A break for the joints. After any run longer than an hour, my knees talk back to me. And not in a nice way. But I can ride for a couple of hours, and my ankles, knees, and hips are as happy as I am at the end. (The only part that can hurt are my most delicate parts from sitting on the seat. But a seat designed for women, like the Bontrager InForm RL WSD seat, and Bontrager Solstice WSD cycling shorts with a female-specific chamois and chamois cream help things considerably.)

3. Riding is a great equalizer. I have a friend named Katherine with whom I really struggle to run with; her easy pace doesn’t even compare to my fast one. But we can ride together for hours. On bike paths or car-free parks, we ride side-by-side, chat and laugh. I can also ride with my swift husband and my kids, who, sadly, are also becoming too fast for me to run with. If one rider is much stronger than the other, Wonder Woman takes the lead and her sidekick tucks in behind her, and both get a great workout.

4. Cycling=the best cross-training going. Not only it is easy on your joints, but focused riding can improve your cardiovascular capacity and make you a stronger runner. Because of a stress fracture in my heel, I trained for eight weeks on a bike for a marathon. I did endless intervals, quad-busting hill climbs, and long, steady rides. When my heel was healed, my legs and lungs were fresh and ready to go.  (We’ve got a super effective eight-week plan, adopted from my training schedule, for training for a half-marathon on a bike in Train Like a Mother.)

5. A sense of adventure. I am a same-route, one-pace wonder when I run; adding an extra mile or two because I made a wrong turn means quite a bit more work. But put two wheels under me, and suddenly, I’m wanting to get lost. A few extra miles on a bike is nothing—and the feeling of figuring out a backway to the park or realizing that Road A connects to Road B is surprisingly empowering.  Full disclosure: I used to not be adventurous because I was worried about flats, but I took a class (and then another refresher class) at a bike shop about how to change them, tried it a couple times at home to get my skills down, and went on my way. That’s really empowering too.

6. A cycling high. At the end of it all, the high is the reason that brings me back to my bike again and again. Every two-wheeled voyage is a delicious combination of velocity, power, energy, distance and rhythm. When I park my bike in the garage when I’m done, I feel mentally energized and physically solid; every ride reconnects my body, mind and spirit in a way only pedaling can. 

Interested in getting a new bike? Trek makes Women’s Specific Design models, full details on their Women’s Collection.

My Ironman {Obsession} Journey

Trek Women Brand Manager Leslie Prevish recounts highlights from her journey to complete Ironman Wisconsin on September 11. The grueling 140.6-mile race includes 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of biking, and 26.2 miles of running, as well as good dose of determination and maybe a touch of insanity.

At mile 20 of the marathon, the moon saved me. I was on a pretty dark section of the race that had few spectators. In the solitude, I wondered whether I was going to make it to the finish with my exhausted body and stomach cramps that had started with my first mile.

I hope that the highlights below from my training and race day experiences may inspire others to take on this journey, or any formidable goal, that requires committing to a plan and finding the resilience to overcome challenges along the way. “La vita e’ una sola” is one of my favorite Italian phrases, which means, “You have just one life to live.” So live it!

Training: 5 a.m. wake-ups and killer kaiserschmarren

• I estimated that I put in 600 hours / 1700 miles of training over the past six months. Most of it was solo, but sometimes I rode or ran with friends, who kept asking me when this “Crazyman” was over so I could go out gallivanting again.
• My circadian clock loves the night, so I detested the 5 a.m. alarm, which I had to change from a buzzer to a Christian rock station so I wouldn’t throw it across the room after interrupting my REM cycle.
• Most of my weekends included long runs and several centuries getting acquainted with Alessandro, my gorgeous Project One Speed Concept. After I got him, I realized how much difference a great bike makes. Not only does it make you faster on the bike course, but your legs are fresher for the run.
• I loved the long runs, except for one in Austria after scarfing down a delicious regional dessert, kaiserschmarren, which was made with eggs and buttermilk and tasted like a mix between pancakes and French toast. Unfortunately, the next day my gut was screaming for 14 of the 18 miles. But it was so darn good going down that I actually ate another later that day before departing for the airport. Seriously.

 

Kaiserschmarren: delicious, but definitely not training food.

Final Prep: Finger freeze and family support

• Bike prep and practice was KEY. I had co-workers supervise my numerous flat-changing attempts, freezing my finger on a CO2 cartridge once after it slipped off the stem. You really have to manhandle those puppies.
• In the race, I had enough CO2 cartridges on my bike and in my halfway bag to change half a dozen flats, or fill up a kiddie pool if I decided to take a break from the heat. Thankfully my Bontrager R4 Aero tires kept punctures away!
• A few days before the race, I sent out emails to the folks on the prayers lists I had laminated and put on my bike and run bottle. I asked them to pray for “Crazy Les” and told them I’d be doing the same along the 140.6 miles. I enjoyed thinking about memories with them, and it helped to know that their prayers were giving me extra strength.
• Anyone who’s done a race knows the importance of family and friend support, especially in the moments of self-doubt late in the race. My sister, her kids and my aunt came in, bearing signs and purple shirts with “Iron Woman Les” that helped spur me on throughout. My 4-year-old niece yelling “Go Aunt Les!” at the halfway point during the run brought tears to my eyes.

 

A sea of swimmers take off - survival of the swiftest!

Swim to Survive

• I kept to the outside during the swim to avoid flailing arms and feet. After getting bonked on the head near the beginning, I spent the rest of the race keeping an eye out for wayward arms, legs and the occasional guy who would cross in front swimming perpendicular to the rest of us.
• I was amazed by the number of dudes who swam like tractor combines, plowing through the water without much regard for anyone around them. Another athlete told me after the race that she tried to surround herself with pink caps (women, not men). Good tip!
• Dad, who passed away when I was eight, was on my prayer list for the first lap. He got shorted though, as I was praying more for myself to make it out of the melee alive. So I thought about both him and Mom during most of the second lap, when I was able to get into a good rhythm.
• It felt awesome to climb out of the water one minute faster than my last iron attempt. Crowds were cheering loudly as I ran up to transition, excited to change and start the next phase of my journey.

 

Alessandro, my Speed Concept has definitely helped my bike split

Downhill Pursuit and Sour Puss

• The course had many rollers, or “stingers” as another racer called them. I LOVED flying down, and hit a top speed of 44.7 mph. I’d trade passes with guys who would catch me on the uphills. Most were encouraging and one cheered, “Go get ‘em babe” as I passed him. On the other hand…
• One guy, I’ll call him Sour Puss, seemed annoyed at getting “chicked,” scowling at my attempts at small talk and I even heard an expletive near the end. I managed to reel him in with 10 miles to go, upped my cadence and never looked back.
• The crowd support on the steep hills was unbelievable, and hundreds of people had signs, were dressed in costumes, playing music, and having their own Ironman parties. Wisconsinites can be pretty wacky, which I love.
• I stopped way too long at the halfway point to access my special needs bag and wait in the portapot line, so my second loop time average was really slow. But I enjoyed hearing the youngsters at the aide station gush over my bike’s “rad” paint job.
• I kicked it up in the last 20 miles and averaged nearly 21 mph. The Speed Concept’s aerodynamics are incredible and my computer had an average speed of 17.2 mph, which made me grin as I rode up the circular parking ramp into transition, nearly 2 hours faster than my last attempt.

 

Still feeling good on my first trip through the stadium

Please Call My Name by the Light of the Moon

• As I took my first few steps, I realized my gut was not quite ready for a hard run. I had to nix my “gel every 4 miles” plan and alternate between cola and chicken broth at the aide stations. Surprisingly, slices of orange wedge made me perk up too.
• The college dudes made me laugh when they yelled “nice skirt!” between swigs of their PBR’s. My friends were surprised I wore a skirt, as I can be a tomboy at times, but the SkirtSports skirt was super-comfy and, combined with my sweet Oakley shades, made me feel like a rockstar.
• Running through the campus stadium was a bit eerie at first because it was so quiet, but also helped provide a strange sense of peace and acceptance that I was going to get through the race, one way or the other.
• The crowd support on State Street blew me away, better than in any race I’ve ever done. On my second lap down the busy street, I kept smiling at folks and willing them with my eyes to please call my name. Many did, and each time I got a jolt of energy that kept my legs moving forward.
• Some miles weren’t so bright though, and at mile 20 I was struggling when I looked up and saw a brilliant full moon. Its beauty and brightness brought clarity to my befuddled brain. I thought about how lucky I was to be healthy enough to do this while so many others, like those who died on 9/11, would never have the chance. I picked up my pace—and head—and pushed on.
• When I saw the finish line arch, I started sprinting, grinning ear-to-ear because I took off three hours from my previous time, despite belly issues due to the heat and lake water. I remember hearing the crowd screaming and cowbells ringing as the announcer called out, “Leslie Prevish, you are an Ironman!” The feeling of elation as I crossed the finish line will forever be imprinted on my mind.

 

 I’ll admit it is hard coming down from the “iron high.” I keep thinking about challenges to keep myself accountable—and motivated—to swim, run and bike. I’m noodling the idea of doing The Great Floridian next month. And I think I’ll hit a few cyclocross races, or maybe a mountain bike race on the new Lush. I’m definitely doing an adventure race with the Neko. None of them are as fast as Alessandro, but I am sure we’ll enjoy some off-road fun this fall.

Maybe you can join me? Or set your own goal and tell us about it on the Trek Women Facebook Page.

My aunt Kathy with me at the finish.

 

Dear Lance,

When the news broke that you officially retired, I have to admit, I was a little surprised. I got word a little before it was official but for some reason it didn't really sink in until I read it on the web. Although I know that your retirement doesn't mean that we will no longer work together or that I will not see you again; I want to tell you how much I appreciate what you have done for me, for Trek, for cycling and for the world. Above all else, I want to thank you for the inspiration.  Inspiring hundreds of thousands of people to dig deep, overcome adversity and LiveStrong ain't easy...

After the Tour in 2009, a journalist asked me if I was disappointed in you.  I almost lost my temper, I had to remind him that in your 8 months back on the bike you were personally responsible, among countless other things, for raising hundreds of millions of dollars to fight cancer, inspiring millions of people, melding the world of art and cycling, finding a sponsor to support a new ProTour team in hard economic times and oh yeah, standing on the podium in Paris.  It was beyond comprehension to me that anyone could be disappointed in being a part of that.

Your inspiration on and off the bike has helped so many people.  I want to thank you personally for inspiring me.  Not just for the inspiration to get on my bike when I don't quite feel like it, or the inspiration to support my friends and family who are fighting cancer, or for the inspiration to do what it takes to get the job done or the inspiration to overcome obstacles.  You have inspired me to never lay down or step aside when things are not going the way I want them to, to stand up for what I believe in, to fight the good fight.  But more important than all of that, I want to thank you for inspiring me to do all of those things while taking care of my family and focusing on what is most important in life.

Thank you for the friendship, the advice, the run and the ride but most of all, thank you for the inspiration.  I wish you all the best in the future.

Ben

 

 

 

Trek/K-Swiss Training Camp Day 2 & 3

 

Day 2:
The second day of camp started with a 4 hour spin around the southwest corner of the Big Island through picture-perfect conditions. The group, made up of the team, select members of the triathlon media, and a few overzealous sponsors knocked out a little over 90 miles. Team members than decided that a 90 mile ride is the perfect thing to follow up with a run while everybody else decided it was the perfect time to sit in the hot tub and eat cookies. That’s the difference between human beings and professional triathletes.

After burning three days’ worth of food it was time to corral everybody for a technical presentation that included a reveal to the team of some new products we’ve been working on for them. And in the immortal words of Forrest Gump, that’s all I have to say about that.

 
You totally didn't even see this photo.

The team was treated to a traditional Hawaiian luau complete with an impromptu performance by teammate, Matt Lieto. In a rare display of timing, grace, and rhythm, Matt’s performance will not soon be forgotten by anybody in attendance at the Mauna Kea resort that night.  Almost as cool as Matt’s hula was the guy who breathed fire, the guy who juggled fire, and the guy who ate fire. Armature hula is tough to top.

 

Day 3:
Triathletes are competitive people. Gotta be. Part of the business. So we encourage that every year in a mass relay to prove their superiority. No eggs on spoons. No wheelbarrow races. Swim, run, swim, run. We went down to the beach where we had planned as our relay location but were turned away as they were still removing a bomb that they had found on or near the beach. Bombs, volcanoes, sharks, popcorn shrimp. You’re pretty much surrounded by epic death in Hawaii. That’s why it’s so beautiful.

 

After the bomb was defused (not part of the relay), we were on the move. I forget who won but the new triathlon magazine 3/GO-anchored team finished second. Ben, the editor, reminded me at dinner to say that.  And clearly I did not forget.

 

The afternoon was opened up to the media to gain access and insight to the team members and for the sponsors to film all of the stuff that we make into really cool videos. More on that soon.

 

Later that night, Trek/K•Swiss, announced the launch of our new athlete development program. The athlete chosen to kick off this program is Kaden Lieto, son of triathlon superstar Chris Lieto. The first thing every elite athlete needs is the right equipment, but since our future podium threat is seven years old, some slight modifications were necessary.

 
Next.

A Few of the last questions we promised to answer:
@John: I would be curious as to the calorie intake of top level triathlete during training...

Lesley Patterson: It depends on what you’re doing for a workout and how big you are. The bigger you are, the more food you’re going to need to keep the metabolism up and recovery consistent. Food should never be a reward for working out but don’t forget not to cheat yourself. When I’m in heavy training I’m taking in probably 3500 to 4000 calories daily. [Lesley is roughly 5’1” and around 105 pounds]

@Daren: During training, do you switch up road bike vs. TT bike riding? If so, what's the mix?

Joe Gambles: Yes, you have to. I ride the Madone a lot during training. The Speed Concept gets a lot of time but it’s not always necessary to train for a triathlon on a tri bike. And like Lesley said, keep training interesting and you'll keep it up.

 

Trek/K•Swiss Training Camp Day 1

This week, surrounded by retirees and honeymooners, we have quarantined some of the world’s best athletes in order to focus solely on that which is pure and athletic. We chose Kona, HI as the site of our 2011 Trek/K•Swiss training camp as it is the home of the Holy Grail of triathlon; the Ironman World Championships. We thought it would be great to corral everybody for a week of workouts and team building but to be honest; I’m not sure how anybody gets any work done around here. It’s far too nice for that sort of nonsense.

 

We started Monday with breakfast and then an hour run around the Mauna Lani resort followed by what can only be called “second breakfast”. Seriously, these people eat like teenage hobbits. There is no limit to their insatiable appetite. Pictured: Chris Lieto's second breakfast.

 

Second breakfast was followed by lunch and then a recap of the 2010 program. 23 wins last year alone! We’ve added XTERRA rockstar, Lesley Patterson to the 2011 squad and everybody’s fired up to see what she’s going to do this year.  Pictured L to R: Chris Lieto, Lesley Patterson, Heather Jackson, Julie Dibens, Fraser Cartmell, Paul Matthews, Joe Gambles, Matt Lieto.

 
 
After the presentations it was back to business and despite rumors of a shark siting, the team hit the lagoon for (as one elderly spectator put it) a “nice splash-around.” Remember the scene in Cadddyshack where all the caddies strip their clothes off and run roughshod over the nice country club pool? It was kind of like that only our caddies have mind blowing VO2 maxes.

 
We asked our Facebook fans what they would like to ask our athletes and found some time to dig up some answers. We’ll keep trying to catch the team members and get everybody’s questions answered as the week goes on. Keep them coming!

 @Jacob: Chris; when preparing for kona how many hours a week are you on your bike? Also have you been working on your run more this year like you were last year?
Chris Lieto: My biggest week before Kona I’m on the bike about 5 days a week and probably average between 15-17 hours of riding time. Truthfully, the run is the hardest part for me so I’m always working on it.

@James: Where do their minds wonder to as they pedal through long miles?
Chris Lieto: I think about new ideas, new workouts, my family. Everything, really. I’m a thinker.

@David: How do they avoid burnout, mental and physical with such a hectic schedule? How do they unwind?
Lesley Patterson: The best way to avoid burnout is to keep training interesting. Never become obsessed with other people’s expectations. My way to unwind is movies. I love action, war, period pieces. Braveheart, obviously [Lesley is Scottish].

@Cody: What's their favorite "fuel foods" before a long hard training session?
Chris Lieto: Pizza. There’s never a bad time for pizza.
Lesley Patterson: The night before, I go with asparagus and shrimp and tons of garlic. Nobody will want to ride next to you. When I’m riding though. I LOVE Gu Chomps. Blueberry/pomegranate.

@Spencer: What's your favorite brand for running shoes?
Chris Lieto: K-Swiss. They have an amazing collection for any kind of running you’re interested in.

@Tobi: Can I get this picture in high resoltion?
Trek: Yes. Send us the request to facebook@trekbikes.com

 
Did you know Koi fish go crazy when you stick your finger in their pond?

Choose your coach wisely

Runner’s World editor Christine Fennessy describes her experience of finding the right coach, and explains how much it has helped her improve her racing technique and times. Perhaps it will inspire you to take your fitness and skill to the next level? - Leslie Prevish, Trek Women

Choose wisely

A good coach will help you reach your goal faster and safer—whether you want to complete a century, land on the podium, or simply ride with more confidence. The trick is finding the right match.

By Christine Fennessy

    I pedaled slowly back to where Kim stood, stopwatch in hand. My heart was banging furiously and my quads felt stuffed with cement. I rolled up to the boards lining the homestretch of the velodrome’s infield and waited for the verdict.
    “Were you nervous?” Kim asked with that half smile I can never quite decipher (She’s impressed? She thinks I’m nuts?).
    “Nervous? No…why?”
    “You just rode your fastest 2K ever,” she said. “By a lot.”
    All the pain went away.

The eternal wonder
    It took me a year to make up my mind about hiring a coach. There were plenty of reasons not to get one: Cash is scarce. I’m a self-motivator. I ride with experienced cyclists who spout free advice. I’m not a genetic freak and I don’t have a glorious future.
    In fact, there was only one reason to get a coach—I hate regret. I like following through on the major wonders in my life, and I did wonder: Having recently had some good results in small, beginner-level, local races on the road and track, could I really get better—become a stronger, smarter, more confident rider—if I paid someone to care about me for a while?
    Really, who hasn’t wondered what they were capable of if they indulged in themselves a little?

Hong Kong, Australia and more.

Last time I left off I was leaving Mallorca to head down to Australia for the Tour Down Under.  On my way down to Adelaide I had a long layover in Hong Kong.  I would like to say that I have now officially been to Asia but I am not sure the Hong Kong airport is a true representation of the Asian culture.  My Asian experience amounted to having an interesting beer, check out the top, reminds me of an old can of juice.  I guess I will just have to go back.

By the time I hit the ground in Adelaide the anticipation was high.  The Tour Down Under marked the beginning and the ending of an era for Trek.  LEOPARD-TREK debuted on top of the Trek Madone and Lance Armstrong said goodbye to international competition on top of the very same bike.  Needless to day, it was a Big Week!  Australia brought a lot of excitement.  It is amazing how well supported and loved the race is.  Check out the Santos building, definitely a proud sponsor!  It was awesome to finally get out and start racing.  All the build up and preparation was well worth it, the week did not disappoint.  The LEOPARD-TREK team debut was a big success, both Team RadioShack and LEOPARD-TREK kicked off the season on the right foot and Lance's fair well race saw more spectators than the TDU has ever seen before.

Things remain as busy as ever.  After Australia I had a quick two days at home and now I am in Mallorca for Team RadioShack camp.  Tomorrow I head to northern France for some cobbles testing and then back to Mallorca for the end of camp and the begining of the Mallorca Challenge.  If January is any indication of how the year is going to go then it is going to be a great year.  Tons of amazing things going on with Trek, Team RadioShack, LEOPARD-TREK and Trek LiveStrong.  Stay tuned, getting better all the time.

 

Check out some of the photos from the week in Australia.

Martin Mortensen, putting his game face on.

They have the biggest seafood I have ever seen in Australia.
   Stuart O'Grady taking a break following the last stage of the TDU

Lance Armstrong poses for picture before the start of stage 2.

 

 

 

Catching up... January has been eventful!

It has been awhile since I have posted a blog so let's start fresh with a new year.  Blogging is not a New Year's resolution by the way, that way I am not destine to fail...

So far 2011 has been incredible and we are only 2 weeks in!  I kicked off the year by meeting some new friends in our new home town.  My wife and I picked up and moved to Luxembourg just before the first of the year and then rang in the New Year with Andy Schleck and some new friends. 
Yep, I spent New Year's with Andy Schleck, who does that?

After a quick recovery from a fun night out, I had work to do.  A bunch of people from Trek came to town to witness the launch of the new team.  Between having my boss in town, getting ready for the team's training camp, the team presentation, getting ready to go to Mallorca, the UCI and Australia and setting up our new house, the first week of the year was packed.

Joe showed up for the team presentation, I know he had fun because he actually wore a jacket (not the norm for a guy nicknamed "converse" for his typical shoe choice) and he was smiling.  The whole week was crazy busy but the details are not that interesting, meetings, bike building, late dinners, etc etc.  Since the team presentation is all over the place and Joe already put a blog up about that, I will skip that too and head straight to camp.  It was very exciting though.

 

Training camp is a very cool time to be with a team.  The LEOPARD-TREK team was no different.  The atmostphere is serious but relaxed, everyone is together and everyone is excited for the upcoming year.  Here are some photos of the team camp in Mallorca.

Bike fits are a big part of camp.  I did 9 or 10 at the first camp and another 4 in Mallorca.  I love doing bikes fits.  Most of the guys don't need a lot of tweaking but it is great for them to feel good about their position and it is a great time for me to get to know them better.  This is Joost Posthuma and I talking about how the fit works.  Thanks for the photo Geoff Waugh!

Frank is a great guy, he is some how equally light hearted and serious.  Here he is getting ready for a training ride wearing his Luxembourg National Champion get up.

Not your local group ride, the guys getting ready for a 5 hour training ride....

Camp is also a time for photo shoots, check out Fabian posing for a Shimano shoot.  It is funny to watch but the end product usually turns out well.  You can't tell from this picture but a bunch of the other guys are making fun of him in the background.  Luckily everyone gets their chance for a little ridicule...

I had to skip out on camp early to check in at the UCI.  Lots going on there involving the approval of frame design and controlling the rules.  That story on its own is a half day's conversation so I will just leave it to this one picture of a portable CMM, that thing is pretty freaking cool.

Now I am sitting in the airport getting ready for a really long flight down to Australia.  This will be Lance Armstrong's last professional race outside of the US.  I have had the unbeliveable job of working with Lance since a little before he decided to un-retire.  I cannot thank him enough for all that he does for cycling and for the cancer community.  I am sad to see him go but honored to have been a part of his comeback.  Here is a shot from the first time I worked with Lance, Leadville 2008.   Thanks Dave Bolch for the photo!

 

This is only the first two weeks of the year...more to come!