Alabama Cycling Camp

Holy cow... I'm tired.
What does-
7 days, 410 miles, 23 hrs of riding, and 20 great people add up to?
Alabama Cycling Camp 2010.

WOW was it fun.Some of the group serving Breakfast

I had never been to Alabama before and I must admit when I heard of Alabama as a destination spot for riding a bike, I was skeptical. But now, I can't wait to come back.
The riding here is AMAZING. There is very little traffic and the roads and terrain are never dull.
Add in the fact that I had someone cooking and cleaning for me, and the result is an A+ cycling experience.

AP and "The Woman Who Makes it All Happen", Renee, at the Pecan Factory.

Some of the Women posing for a pre ride photo.

I got to meet, to ride and to share my cycling knowledge/experience with 19 other people I had never met before but now with whom I can't wait to see again.Post ride lunch

More tools in the shed

As an athlete and as a coach, you can never have too many tools in your shed.

Thanks to my Gramps and to Champion System clothing, I got to add more tools to my shed.

After a trip to the A2 wind tunnel in Charlotte, North Carolina, not only have I gotten more tools, I have sharpened my old tools.

While at the A2 tunnel, I had a chance to fine tune my time trail position, and to continue to learn about aerodynamics and going fast. It was great!

And, thanks to Eldora Mountain Ski Club for employing me so I could fund the rest of the trip. :)

Why the hate?

Dear Coal Creek Canyon Residents (I am one of them too),

Why do you gotta hate? Why do you hate the bicyclers? You are in a car, we are on a bike. You go uphill and downhill on gasoline in a heated, metal box. We go uphill and downhill on energy gels and cookies while exposed to the elements and riding on 2 skinny tires.

Our canyon (CCC) is beautiful, rural, and has little traffic. It's a nice ride as well as a nice drive. I'm sorry if I slow your commute down by a whole 20 seconds, but there is no need to honk, yell or show the #1 sign (aka flip the bird), especially if you are going the opposite direction as I am on my bike.

I'll respect you by riding as close to the white line as safely possible, and in turn you respect me by giving a little extra space when you drive by and by keeping your bird to yourself.

Charlotte-Days 4 & 5

Day 4- Greenville

Wake up, coffee, breakfast, pack up car.
Drive to Greenville, SC.
Put on Chamois, pack the pockets full of food, and ride.
Ride
Ride
Get dropped, coffee stop, ride some more.
Barely make it home, shower, eat, chill.
Dinner with friends at a yummy restaurant.
Bed.

Day 5-Bikes and Fundraiser

Wake up, coffee, breakfast, ride.
Shower, pack, get in car, drive back to Charlotte.
Cappuccino.
Unpack, repack clean clothes, go to Uptown Cycles.
Get on Computrainer, "race" 8 mi TT to race money for the Vera Bradley Foundation.
Feel like I'm going to throw up.
Hang out, cheer on others that are racing and raising money.
Eat an entire GF pizza, pack TT bike, chill, bed.

Charlotte-Day 3

Day 3- Wind Tunnel
Wake up, pack car, 2 x cappuccino.
Drive to wind tunnel, eat breakfast in car.
Test (14 tests in wind tunnel)
Hang out, talk shop while other teammates test.
Drive back.
Ride TT bike in computrainer, core, stretch, shower.
Women's clinic, consume a massive amount of chips, dip and carrots.
Bed.

First trip of 2010

I'm out of practice. I came to Charlotte, N.C. for some training and testing, and I forgot my camera. So, words will have to do.

Day 1- Travel
Drive to the airport in sideways falling snow VERY early in the morning.
Fly to Charlotte via Orlando
Get picked up by Team VBF teammate, Robin, drive to her great bike shop, Uptown Cycles, get on my bike that was already built up for me, and ride. It was great. Sunny and warm-ish.
Grocery store, dinner, bed.

Day 2- Great mellow day
Wake up
Coffee, internet, breakfast.
Head to Uptown Cycles for "stuff doing".
Get set up on the Computrainer, ride, ride and ride to my longest trainer ride ever (40 degrees and raining outside).
Stretch, lunch, cappuccino drinking.
Post office, grocery store, home.
Dog walk, internet, dinner make.
Dinner with Team VBF Kristin and her Dad (Robin too).
Pack stuff for tomorrow, phone, bed.

So far so good!

Check it out!

My coaching business, ALP Cycles Coaching, is now live on Facebook!
Check it out, learn some stuff, then become a fan!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/ALP-Cycles-Coaching/302499859121?ref=nf

A day in the life of a Ski Coach-in pictures