MI serable weather!

Hey y'all, I have been slacking a bit, so i need to get back to my efficient ways and get more posts out for y'all... This blog was in production till the wet weather and storms shut the internet connection off, so i have been impatiently waiting to get this post up. I will do another post in a couple of days, so i will keep this one brief.

Last week we did a huge drive to Pennsylvania, from Georgia, to go to the Univest Grand Prix. This was a pretty big race, and one of only a few UCI ranked races in the States. There were teams from Germany, Poland, Mexico, Canada, everywhere really. The race was hard too, with heaps of corners and hills. It was a 110 mile race, so it was good to do a longer race too. We had Teddy put in a ripper result and get 6th, just a fraction away from the podium, and Zirbel Dawg got a top twenty too. I came in a fair way behind them, but was happy to get to the finish. It was pretty easy to tell i am in need of the longer hard workouts, because my legs were in a world of hurt that night, and the next day!

The next morning we had a 90km criterium to back up the road race, and make the Univest Grand Prix, rather than a road race only. It was compulsory for all racers to start, apparently! It was pretty cool when Floyd Landis rocked up to the race to see how racing is really done...!!!! It was also the old boy, Glen Mitchell's last NRC pro race, so it was an emotional day for me really!

The pace was on from the gun, and the field was nearly halved in the first ten minutes. We were looking after Teddy to keep him in the mix for the overall for the weekend. Rich and Mullet Man did a ripper job on the front, and it had everyone in the hurt box. Coming into the final laps, i had Teddy on my wheel to lead him out for the bunch gallop, but unfortunately he dropped his chain on one of the three speed humps, or 300 potholes in the back straight, so that plan was lost. I didn't realise he dropped his chain though, and ended up giving the rest of the field a perfect lead out to the line... What was funny though, was that only one dude passed me so i ended up sixth.

After the race we headed out for lunch as a team, for the last time this year, at none other than Macca's. It was an emotional way to end the weekend of racing, and the year racing together, and what better place to celebrate the year than McDonalds.

Glen and I then hopped into the Vibe and headed for Michigan, and the rain. It was a long drive, and with no CDs or radio reception, we got a hell of a lot of talking done! We rocked in to Grand Rapids at 2.30 am, but were glad to know that all the driving was done, without having to do more the next day.




After getting back to Michigan from Univest, we were welcomed by cold, wet weather, and it was time to rip out the good ol' Uggies - check out how chunky the soles are on these puppies! Wicked!


Bob's driveway. Thought i should take some photos of the great place where i have called home for the season before i take off home. It looks cool in the wet.


This is the only door of its kind - possibly in the world. Bob's garage door has a Spartans logo shaped into it, and is on a green wall. I guess he is Michigan State's number one fan.


More wet weather pictures to show you how wet it was. Seeing as Glen and I are just so hard core, we went training anyway...

Last week in Georgia, i got a picture with Eddy's son Jackson, in our matching beanies. I had Mum send one out for him last time we stayed there. He is gonna end up to be the coolest dude in the country if he keeps up dressing the same as me!

This weekend we raced the Tour de Leelanau, so i will do a new post in the next couple of days, and tell y'all about it then. It was the last race of the American season for me, and ended up well, but i will give more details in a day or so when i hopefully have some cool pictures to put up as well...

Laters dudes, rock on!

Steve Irwin tragedy... :-(

Hey y'all, welcome to the blogspot of efficient Blogger, tommynankervis.blogspot! I do updates every other day, so i hope you don't get too bored with reading about me!

Last weekend the team drove down to South Carolina for the National Road Championships, which were won by George Hincapie. The Mullet Missile was our only finisher, with a gallant top twenty - nice one mate! As i was unable to race due to passport issues of mine reading Nationality: Australian, i was on feeding duties. It was a good way to see the race, and be there for the boys. I had been staying in Athens for the week with Keally, so she came to help out with the feed zone also. For a team without a soigneur, we have had our share of cool ladies in the feed zone, thanks to everyone's girlfriends/wives this year. Thankyou Mayo, Tonia, Katie, Kate, Carlee, Cheryl, Clara, Keally, Jo, all the K's and C's! Thanks for all the great help over the year.

After the race, the team piled into the car and van, and headed off to Atlanta, where we all stayed with Keally's family, and they treated us like royalty! The next morning, we had a race start time of 7.15 am! It was about thirteen hours after the road race finished the day before... nice! three hour drive, five hours sleep, 100km race in two hours = buckled team!

We did however, put in our best team performance of the year, we decided. We were represented in every break, and really had a presence in the bunch. The race ended up splitting with over a lap to go, and we got three in the split, Eddy - making a phenomenal return to racing this weekend, Rich and Teddy. The boys took three top fifteens, so that was alright, but a win would have better reflected how well we all raced. The only positive thing about us not winning was Jeff Hopkins winning.

At the start of the day we heard the very sad news that my hero, Steve 'Crocodile Hunter' Irwin had died of a stingray sting. I guess the Aussie Jeff won for Steve. I have been so sad since hearing about Steve Irwin, he really was a guru. I watched him interviewed by Andrew Denton about a year ago, and although i already thought he was awesome, he just became one of my heroes. He just had this amazing passion for life, and it just inspired me to try and be the same.


What an inspiring personality. Anyone with this much passion for life just gives me a buzz!

I will miss seeing him giving interviews and stuff like that, but i guess at least we can watch repeats of his shows and remember him that way. And the other thing too, at least he died doing what he loved doing.


I can just hear him saying "Isn't she just beautiful!"

On a brighter note, The Dees are kicking arse! Check out this screamer taken by Adem Yze a few weeks ago!

The Mighty Melbourne Demons scored a ripper win in the first match of the 2006 finals. Hopefully they are on their way to the flag. A couple of interstate games coming up in the next two weeks, but if they can pull it off, they must be a good shot to win the premiership! Back in 2000 they were down by 27 points against Carlton and came back to win, then made the grand final, and they did that last night, so i reckon its a sign!

In other football news, i experienced my first college football match. It was HUGE!

Game day for UGA Bulldogs. What an experience! The whole city of Athens virtually shuts down, and everyone goes to the game. This is the half time entertainment, with the marching band playing. It is amazing really, there is about as much build up for these college games of football as there is for the AFL Grand Final - and they do this for every home game! Check out the crowd!


Here are some attractive young ladies getting ready for the Friday-night-before-the-game, pre-Saturday-morning-tailgating-festivities. My girl Keally is in the middle, with Meredith and Meagan on the left, and Brooke and Kaylen on the right (i figure if they get a mention, i may get more comments)! Check it out, i get to see these attractive girls every day in Athens, and mine is the most attractive of all! Geez that is SO cheesy, but i feel like i should write something to give y'all a laugh, and be able to hang it on me about! (hey Bus!) Its also true, as well as funny, i might add!

I had a ball staying in Athens with Keally and her four room mates. I also made some food for them, using the famous Mum's recipes. I made lemon slice, chocolate balls, and honey joys, with rice bubbles instead of corn flakes. I also planned on scones (the real Aussie way), but ran out of time. It was cool, because even though the stuff was not quite made right, it still tasted bloody good, and reminded me of Mum and her sweets she makes - maybe there will be some at home when i get there?!

Well after the fun week or so i had, we did a big sixteen + hours in the car yesterday, driving up to Philadelphia for the Univest Grand Prix. I am pumped to be doing a long road race tomorrow, as well as a good crit on Sunday. It should be fun, and i am excited to be racing twice in two days, Wicked!

Hopefully i get to the computer do give race results as soon as i can, because i really want to be a regular, frequent Blogger, it is one of my goals in life... actually, it isn't, but i would like to be a bit more consistent with it!

Anyway, I am sure i have left stuff out, but seeing as the next post wont be too far away, i can include it then!

Happy reading guys, and hope y'all are having a great weekend! Don't forget the comments!!!!

Laters dudes...