Team mate appreciation day

It’s been a pretty full-on last few weeks. Then again, it’s been a full-on month. I have seen a lot of the US the last four weeks, a lot of airports, and have been to a lot of Starbucks. It’s good to be home!

The month in short:

been to California, Georgia, Colorado, Texas, Arkansas, Oregon
22 days in hotel rooms
11 days in my own home, and my own bed
1 night on a plane

no flat tyres/tires (punctures)
no crashes (keep knocking on wood, or fingers crossed)
ridden up a brick wall in Georgia (Brasstown bald)

2 time trial wins
2 overall GC stage race wins
4 days in the “ever so angry” jersey in Georgia (Most Aggressive jersey)
podium time here and there

So, what has actually been happening? I think this is where I add all the content I can, talking about racing, training, bikes, blah, blah, blah. But no, this is my diary, the most non cycling related dairy you just might find. Then again, maybe it is cycling related by talking about things other than the bike. OK, now I’m just confusing myself…

Here we go - the post tour chill out. Post tour means down time, or recovery time. Something that I take very seriously! Now one of my favorite cyclingnews journalists may have put across an interesting story this week that can be taken in two ways. You be the judge (read here). So thank you Mark, you have managed to portray me in a new light, a possibly alcoholic light, but a new one all the same. It is in this vein that I have decided to expand on the goings on back in Boulder, post tour.

This week is Frank’s birthday. Frank is my team mate, and also room mate here in Colorado. Frank’s been down in Arkansas for the last two weeks racing his butt off, while I was there, and then also in Oregon doing the same. It’s only logical that we:
celebrate his birthday in style;
get some recovery; and
yes, be Australian and have a beer or two.

For the record, we are professional athletes. Like everything, I believe in moderation. There are times to be serious, times to train hard, time to easy rolls, and time to kick back. For all this ‘we’ are still responsible, are all of legal age, and are still doing the right things for what we do.

Opportunity arose recently and we were invited to the Avery Brewery in Boulder, Colorado. One of our newest friends, Peter Archer - titled as the ‘Beverage Facilitator’ (whatever this is supposed to mean) gave us the tour - top to bottom. Best of all, he’s an Australian. Who would have thought? An Australian giving tours of a brewery? Hmmmm. Anyway, I think a lot of the photos show the story quite well. Avery is a top brewery, the guys are inviting, the place is pretty amazing, and to see the whole process is something that should not be missed. Of course, there may have been a drop or two tasted while we were there… Avery makes some pretty amazing stuff. Real beer, none of this watered-down, excessively mass produced, over advertised rubbish that you find at your local bottle shop. Beer with body, flavor and zing. I am sold. Avery, you have me...

So, where to now? Home. Well, I am already home, but it’s nice to actually be spending more than just a few days here. Two weeks of bliss, then off to the east coast for another 2 weeks of hard, fast racing. It’s going to be fun. I love racing my bike, and of course, when things are going well it makes it so much sweeter!

Off for afternoon naps, coffee shop rides, and website/diary updates... It doesn’t stop, does it!?!

Rory
www.justrory.com
www.teamhealthnet.com