The Season has Started

After arriving in the USA just over a month ago, it has been hard to settle in anywhere, as i havn't stayed in one place for more than a week at a time - its a bit of fun living like a nomad though. The month in California was good, we got to meet all of our team-mates, directors, and mechanics, and also had a little bit of success in racing.

When i flew in at the end of February, i stayed with our team leader, Glen Mitchell. Talk about a guru - Glen is the biggest legend ever! I was looked after so well, and we got to do some great training rides - even if they were all in the pooring rain. It was good to stay with another 'sort of compatriot', a Kiwi, to ease my way into the American lifestyle, and he was able to give me good advice not just on racing and training, but how to prepare for spending the year with Americans!!!!

Seeing as this is my first entry, i will not enter into the fine details of the last month's racing and events, but i will endeavour to keep this site up to date on a weekly basis, so as readers are not wasting too much time reading essays. What i can say though, is that i am extremely happy to have joined a team full of such great people, with great staff, mechanics, and riders. We have been having heaps of fun, and everyone has remained in good spirits through all of the training in the cold, rainy, and sometimes snowy times. We have had a few good results, with Brent winning the Best Young Rider jersey in San Dimas, Glen getting 2nd in the Road Race, and myself getting second in the Criterium. At Redlands, Brent was 12th on GC, and Rich had top 10 finishes in the Crit and Road Race. In all we have a well balanced team full of great guys, and it is going to be exciting watching the year unfold, and seeing the success that will come with it.

On some of our various road trips, we have been lucky enough to bump into various famous people, with Richard taking advantage of this rare photo opportunity.

















This chick was so hot, and more than willing to be photographed. Happy St. Patrick's Day...

This is our "bad ass" team van and trailer, we also have a team car to match. The trailer is full of wicked good Ridley Damocles painted in team colours, Easton wheels - which will be winning a lot of races, awesome Bell Sweep R helmets in team colours, DMT shiny white shoes, and San Marco white saddles. Fuelling us during races is Enervit race food.

Yesterday Rich and I arrived in Michigan after flying out from California - talk about a tough flight! We left Cali at 6.30pm Monday, and by 10am Tuesday we were in Michigan. That involved three flights, with various length stop-overs at each airport, and little, if any sleep. I can't complain though, as Mark (director), Benno the Bear and Lucky Pete (mechanics) are still driving as we speak, and wont arrive till tomorrow morning, and they are pretty much doing it in one hit.

Anyway, i hope everyone back home in Australia is doing well.

Goodbye.

More info to come when i have more time to write.