TALES FROM TRAINING CAMP

SANTA ROSA, CA

When i first arrived Jan 30, I was greated by 3 days of consitant rain coupled with 4 degree temperatures. It was definately a shock to the system. But as is usually the case, the pre season excitement often overcomes most of these issues and you find yourself able to front up and ride in conditions you otherwise wouldnt dare. We braved the driving rain and low temps for our team photos that happened the day after i arrived. Still realing from a terrible hair cut before i left home, that was by far the worst part to deal with....as it will stick with me the entire year.

But when the sun finally did come out....Santa Rosa is a beautiful place for a training camp and one of the nicer places i have ridden in the US. Our massive mansion atop to hills of the city is certainly a great view to wake up to each morning...but not a great way to finish each and every ride.

NEW GEAR.....ITS LIKE THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER

Like the beginning of every season, getting the new gear is always an exciting part for any cyclist. Our new kit has, again, surpassed anything that we have riden in the past. The new colours for the team are bright and powerful. Lets hope that they can be seem as easily from the front of the bunch during the season.

The new team bike and kit in action. You may not be able to tell, but it is about 1 degree and raining....

The Pinarello Prince.....this bike deserves a special mention.....it is by far the most beautiful thing i have ever ridden. I cant even begin to explain what a sweet ride this is and coupled with the first sub 2kg groupset.....SRAM Red......this bike is the most special thing ever...check out some of the specifics of my ride.....

Frame: Pinarello Prince

Groupo: SRAM Red

Wheels: Easton

Saddle: Fi'zi:k Aliante

Not to mention my new TT rig.....

Last but not least....the new kids on the block.....

Aaron Olson: Nicknamed "PT" for his 2 years on the Pro Tour, Aaron is a great guy who will be of tremendous importance to the team and its direction with his energy and experience.

Joao Correia: I heard him described as a Portugese mobster...that fits for me. If you need something done, then Joao is your man.

Burke Swindlehurst: He is like a yoda. I think his experience and guidence will make a massive difference to the team this year. I look forward to looking to him and his leadership in some of the big races this year.

Jeremy Vennell: I tried last year to have this guy on my team and finally succeeded. The Kiwi is a champ and he will add strength across the board to this team.

Steven Howard: I have known Steve for a couple of years...the local Michigan boy has worked his way into the team after improving through the development team. He will add speed and give me someone to lead out from time to time.

Its a great mix and I am already looking forward to a great year. After a hard core training camp week, the Tour of Cali team is decided and we are going to do our best to rattle a few PT boys and hopefully look to take a stage somewhere during the 8 days.......

Later

SAYING GOODBYE.......

GOODBYE HOME

My time at home has come and is about to be gone. It has been such a short visit home compared to my usual experience, where i would be still at home racing on the track for another month or so. It funny how one descision can effect so many aspects of your life...not that i am complaining....i am very much looking forward to the season ahead of me.

So how do you say goodbye to Australia...whats better than a day at the Aus Open with your old man. There was once a time, where tennis was my number 1 sport. Those days have come and gone and now it has been years since i even held a raquet, but there is still something great about the sporting assets that Melbourne has. Dad and i had a great day with 3 good games, but more than that, just a day of male bonding...that is often missing with our work schedules.

After leaving Melbourne and my family, it was off to Sydney for a week to spend some time with my fiancee. The week included scouting some possible wedding destinations, house hunting and also just some quality time together. Kate got sick for the last few days and i meant that on my last day with her she had no voice....as fun as it was to begin with, after i while i realised how much i missed her voice.....

As everyone can imagine, saying goodbye to Kate for nearly 2 months was very hard. Im not affraid to admit i cried like a little girl who had her lollipop stolen. It was very hard and we dont like being apart for much longer than a week....its always tough, but this year is going to be very tough with all the Olympic commitments, so we were not happy that this marked the begginning of all that separation. But as is always the case, i still had to leave and as she dissapeared through the exit of the airport i found myself there....lingering and wacthing her back....then her sillouette as she left. More tears and more anxiety......This year, unlike 2 years ago i have to ride out the distance and take on my responsibilities as expected in the US. 2 phone calls a day has helped the pain in my stomach a little....but not enough.

Sorry about the sop fest, but this is a blog that is supposed to tell people what im doing and how im feeling...so here it is. Next blog will be based in the USA.....more tales of racing and riding....

TIME TO GET BACK TO BLOGGING.....

So it would seem, that like most of my team mates, blogging has not been high on our list of priorities. So forgive me father, for i have sinned, it has been...like 6 weeks since i last published what i have been doing in this repetitive life of mine.

Let me start my first blog of 2008 by saying Merry Christmas and welcome to 2008 for everyone. I hope that we all had a great little holiday and that everyone brought in the new year safely.

So as it has been a long time since my last blog, i am not even going to attempt to bring everyone up to speed regarding what my Christmas and new years break entailed. I will sum it up by saying that the 3 roast dinners in 3 days over 2 states and with 4 families was certainly a struggle to recover from. The most exciting thing by far that i have to report from the past month is that Kate and i became engaged when i asked her to marry me on December 19. It is all very exciting and although the wedding details were well on the way within minutes of the "surprise" engagement, a date has not yet been set. With this news in mind, the reality is that everything else pales into insignificance.

I have started my racing season for 2008 and it has been a marked improvement on the Richard of 12 months ago. Bay crits, was by far, my most consistent performance across the 5 days in my 4th attempt and 3 top 10's meant i was able to salvage some good results from the week. The national road title ran its course yesterday and after making less than 50% of the race last year i rode a far more impressive race to finish in 25th this year. It is a course that really tests my weakness', with far more climbing that i can really sustain. But there was significant improvement in the way i climbed yesterday in comparison to any other time i can remember. I wasn't able to handle the accelerations of the leaders, but finished with a small group not too far off the pace.

Overall the year is shaping up to be a great one. Im engaged, my form and confidence is definitely improved from this time last year and i am excited about the challenges and opportunities that 2008 holds. Hopefully everyone shares the same enthusiasm for the new year as i do and i look forward to sharing some of the stories with you.....

Later everyone