So I just wrote a novel and my laptop decided it delete the second half of my blog. Faaaaaaark.
Well times ticking away here in little old Kutztown and I'm starting to realise my time here's running out so I've been trying to make the most of my time over here.
Last week I took a day off to bus into NYC with kiwi rider Sophie Williamson and her host sister Sarah Miller. Was a pretty sweet day but definitely could do with another day in the city. We managed a squiz at Times Square and a trip up the Empire State Building (which became a bit of a mission), as well as hitting up the shops. I know you'll all be proud of me for coming out of the multi-storey m&m store without buying a single M&M.
Apart from the New York trip we've had a few other get togethers. A few weeks ago was "Fitzy Day" named after the Famous Pete Fitzpatrick who was here a few years ago. It was a good night out and made some good memories.
And of course I have ridden my bicycle on the odd occasion. I've started to get a few results under my belt lately which is a pretty good feeling. Last weekend I took out the Pennsylvania State Road Championships after riding away on an 84 mile course with one other guy. It was good having my teammate (Tom Francis from Wanganui) ripping the legs of everyone early on in the race.
Speaking of young Tom, we had a bit of drama on the track recently when Tom attempted a track race which resulted in a trip to hospital after the first race. Luckily all was good apart from an aching shoulder and ,minor concussion.
I've been taking up opportunities on the track also. I have now raced kierens, madisons and last night even gave tandemonium a crack which resulted in a bit of cash injection which was nice. My teammate Dougie was the captian (guy on the front) and i was the stoker (on the back). Dougie was a hammer and managed to make it look like I knew what I was doing. We pulled off a 3rd in the sprints (which was also USA Tandem nationals) and a 2nd in the scratch picking up a few primes along the way. So we both came away satisifed with a bit of coin in pocket.
Well times ticking away here in little old Kutztown and I'm starting to realise my time here's running out so I've been trying to make the most of my time over here.
Last week I took a day off to bus into NYC with kiwi rider Sophie Williamson and her host sister Sarah Miller. Was a pretty sweet day but definitely could do with another day in the city. We managed a squiz at Times Square and a trip up the Empire State Building (which became a bit of a mission), as well as hitting up the shops. I know you'll all be proud of me for coming out of the multi-storey m&m store without buying a single M&M.
Apart from the New York trip we've had a few other get togethers. A few weeks ago was "Fitzy Day" named after the Famous Pete Fitzpatrick who was here a few years ago. It was a good night out and made some good memories.
And of course I have ridden my bicycle on the odd occasion. I've started to get a few results under my belt lately which is a pretty good feeling. Last weekend I took out the Pennsylvania State Road Championships after riding away on an 84 mile course with one other guy. It was good having my teammate (Tom Francis from Wanganui) ripping the legs of everyone early on in the race.
Speaking of young Tom, we had a bit of drama on the track recently when Tom attempted a track race which resulted in a trip to hospital after the first race. Luckily all was good apart from an aching shoulder and ,minor concussion.
I've been taking up opportunities on the track also. I have now raced kierens, madisons and last night even gave tandemonium a crack which resulted in a bit of cash injection which was nice. My teammate Dougie was the captian (guy on the front) and i was the stoker (on the back). Dougie was a hammer and managed to make it look like I knew what I was doing. We pulled off a 3rd in the sprints (which was also USA Tandem nationals) and a 2nd in the scratch picking up a few primes along the way. So we both came away satisifed with a bit of coin in pocket.
I've also started to find my track legs lately which is a good feeling. I've started picking up primes which helps way the grocery bill. But I still haven't come away with a win on the track yet. I came close last night in the 10 lap scratch but unfortunately inexperience got the better of me and I finished 4th. But every loss is another lesson learnt.
So that pretty much sums up the last month of blog updates that I should have done.
Also wanna make a shoutout 2 k-rex and GB. If you haven't heard, Kieran got taken out by a car in France and has a broken collarbone so get better big boy. And George is riding for pro team Radioshack for the rest of the year as a stagiare so hopefully a pro contract isn't far away. On that note, I will happily take that Livestrong Trek off your hands when you get the contract GB.
Hope the extended blog didn't bring you all to the verge of suicide.
Cheers
TA
Hope the extended blog didn't bring you all to the verge of suicide.
Cheers
TA
