Need a Cup of Concrete

Get comfortable and grap a cup of tea, this update is pretty likely to turn into one of the longest novels you've ever attempted to read.

Well since last time I've had a few hiccups to be honest. The achilles proble I was suffering with turned out to be a strain due to the tightness in my calves. After spending my life savings on physio I got put right but not in time for Southland which was pretty gutting. Still headed down and helped the team out here n there just helping them out with recovery and filling up the van with my main man octane etc. Looked like your typical hard man's Southland tour from what I saw. Wish Icould have been right in there. Check out this photo of our van on the last day.

For those of you that don't know the van was pimped out with polka dots because one of my team mate's Jo Chapman won the Polka dot jersey (King of the Mountains). Jo also manged a 2nd place on a stage and Gatey pulled a 3rd on a stage so it was a pretty successful tour for the team. Even tour rookie Tom Francis got his share of TV time.

About this time I got a new job as a bulding labourer for Cornerstone Construction which keeps the cash rolling in but does stop me training as much as I'd like to. So a few weeks after Southland I started the slow buildup again, this time on the new rig thanks to EMC, Zipp and Sram. Check it:

So to test out my new baby I went down to the final round of benchmark in Chch. The race wasn't overly fats and the team raced smart and we ended up with most of our team up the road. Brendon Sharratt was the star of our team finishing about 5th or 6th, taking second overall. For me, I did what I could for the team before disappearing out the ass because of my lack of fitness.

Unfortunately before the race, I kicked a piece of glass which went through my shoe and cut my toe. I thought it was sweet and hard manned it but after a few days it was getting pretty sore so I paid a visit to old Dr Jolly who reckoned there wasn't still glass in it but it was full of some luscious succulent puss which meant it was pretty infected. So onto the anibiotics and not being able to wear shoes meant more time off the rig.

Finally finished the antibiotics today and have knocked up a couple of rides lately so the fitness is coming back...hopefully in time to get some form for Vineyards and Elites. Fingers crossed that there's no more unexpecteds in the next few weeks.

Running out of sharns.
Peace  

 

Land of The Long White Cloud

The blog updates seem to be becoming a rare occasion these days. I also here (thanks to Kieran Hambrook) that the language isn't acceptable so I'll tone that down too just for you bro.

Well I finished up my track season in the US of A with Madison cup, which I'm not gonna lie, hurt pretty bad. The night contained two madisons (the second being 120 laps of a 333m track) as well as the other solo races. I pulled off a second and a 4th on the night which I was pretty happy about.

As I strarted to find my legs in the last month of track racing, it converted beautifully to my crit racing. Although I didn't pull any good results in the crits, I did start picking up a lot of primes which helped pay the grocery bill each week. One crit I did had primes every second lap! Unfortunately I didn't realise the primes became more and more throughout the race and spent far too much energy off the front early on chasing smaller primes. Still came away with a bit of cash in pocket so can't complain there.

Unfortunately the track legs didn't serve me so well when it came to stage racing. I attempted to ride Green Mountain Stage Race up in Vermont (near the Canadian border) in my final week of being in the US. Unfrotunately I was strong enough to make the breaks and drive them on the flats but when I hit the hills I suffered like a dog. And believe me, this was not the flattest of tours! Stage two finished up a 20% climb onto Apalanche Gap where (according to the race manual) we had to be careful of moose.

To add a little more excitement to my final few weeks in the US, hurricane Irene decided she'd pay us a visit. But she wasn't so angry when she got to kutztown. We had some pretty gnarly flooding etc but apart from that it was actually pretty good.

So I decided I'd fly out of the New York on September 11 weekend (the 10th Anniversary too) so securtiy was pretty tight but I still managed to get my Blow Gun into the country which I was stoked about. About 24 hours later I landed in Nelson Airport and caught the flu that arvo. The weather was cold but amazingly clear skies!

So I just want to thanks everyone who helped me out in the states. First off Marty Nothestein who sorted out accommodation and a trackbike, the Mente's for letting us crash whenever and use their pool when temperatures were enough to cook a roast in, the Noonan's for putting me up for the final few weeks and finally all the poeple I had some good times with.

Anyway, when I ogt back to NZ, I took a week off before smacking up some base k's again. Unfortunately into my second week of base I strted aching around the achilles area of my foot. So for the last week I've been trying to sort that out so haven't been getting the lead up that I really need for Southland in 3 weeks! But I've been to physio and reckon I know what's goin on so hopefully will be back on the bike ASAP.

I attempted to ride benchmark round 3 in Cust on Saturday. Unfortunately the fott was aching a bit and on top of that I punctured 50km in and wasn't allowed to use the convoy to get back on to the pelo so that was race over. On my ride back to the startline I got attacked by some angry magpie too. Thinking I might take my blow gun for the benchy round. But it was still good to meet up with my team L & M Group Racing before Southland.

That's it form me.
Chur

Getting There

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.

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



UP 2

Been a bit slack on the old blog updates lately and old Scotty Daymon told me 2 sort my shit and get some photos up so this post is dedicated to him.
So I've nearly been here a month now so getting used to all the changes now. But I still haven't found my legs which is f***n frustrating. Every ride I do I either feel flat or fatigued. I don't know if it's cos all the intensity work leaves me smashed or cos of the heat and humidity or changes in diet. I was really keen to come over and pull off a few results and make a bit of coin but it just hasn't really happened which is disappointing. I still have a few months to find my legs so I'm hoping it all comes right soon.
But anyway, enough of that. I've done a fair few crits and track races now as well as an 80mile road race. My team-mate Dougie has been doing pretty well. He makes a bit of prizemoney and is one of the top. endurance riders on the track. Yound kiwi rider Dion Smith came to stay for the last week and hit up a few races with us, pulling of a 4th in the Iron Hill Classic. Simon Van Velthooven, one of NZ's top sprinters is also over riding at the track at the moment. He was crowned the fastest man on wheels on Saturday night after winnig both the kieren and the 2km scrath.
Off the bike it's been pretty cruisey just chilling by the pool or laxing out at home. The flat now has kiwis, canadians, polish, americans and a guy from trinny.
Anyway, that's enough yarns for now. Here's a couple of  photo's especially 4 u Scotty boy.

A Few Local Photos

Dollar Tree is off the chain. U can pretty much get anything for a dollar.

This is the haunted downstairs of our place. The boys r shit scared of the ghost that lives down there.

Our place

The Kitchen

Main Street

My Room

T.A The Trackie...And More

Well what can I say, been in Kutztown, PA, USA for just over a week now. I've raced track twice and did one crit in NYC.
When I arrived in Kutztown I was pretty sure I was immune 2 jetlag  I commad on my bed for a few hours. My flat isn't the flashed of places but thanks to Canny and the boys who painted it a beautiful shade of green last year. The boys downstairs get the AC but i just  roll the fan most nights cos the temperatures usually in the high 20's as well as the humidity. Pretty sure the flat is haunted downstairs so no1 ventures downstairs at night. I'm staying with a bunch of trackies. One canadain, 2 americans plus 2 trinidad guys who turned up last night. They all seem 2 b good sorts which is sweet.
Up theroad is the Mente's place where my teammate dougie's staying. They are awesome people who say i can swim or just hang out here whenever. So I've been mincing round there a fair bit.

Friday night was my first track race. I went into it shit scared! But it was alright, didn't get any results but I thought it was mint. The class of riders is off the chain! Some big names in American cycling are racing the series which goes until late August. The guys that run the track just flicked me a few bits and pieces and eventually I put it all together to make a track bike. Had another crack at track on Tuesday but was feeling poked after the mornings ride so it wasn't pretty.

As for the road I'm starting to get my bearings but the network of roads is insane. So many quiet roads in every direction! I've got lost a few times but that's all good, just means extra k's trying to find my way home. Raced the Harlem Skyscraper Classic on Sunday which involved 2 crits which were pretty unique. One a points race and one an elimination race. In the points race i was feeling ok but not strong enough to get away. Dougie finished 4th. In the elimination race I got caught out and eliminated pretty early on but Dougie took an impressive solo win and a good sized cheque which paid for dinner in the city which was a nice way to lax out at the end of the week.

So it's all happening here. Track twice a week, road races on weekends, as well as a bunch ride and club crit during the week.

Cheers
Thomas the Tank (My USA name) which reminds me, I hear hodge's new nick name is Spaghetti...mean.

Splashed out and bought a camera the other day so will hopefully get some photos of track and the township soon. 

Lady Luck Fails to Attend Taranaki Tour 2011

So I hit up Taranaki Tour over Queens Birthday weekend in the hope of pulling off a good result to prove to myself that I'm ready for the States. But in the end I was the 2nd to last finisher about one hour and five mins off the pace.
Have to say it was a pretty gnarly tour. Stage one included 100kmph gusts which took a few riders out. Unfortunately I was dropped in the first 10km so spent the rest of the stage sitting on the back of B grade. There was no way I was gonna have a DNF by my name on day one. I lost about 35mins and don't really know what happened. I thought it might have just been from the food poisoning I had the day before but I didn't get much better throughout the tour. That afternoon we were supposed to have a TT but it got a bit dodgey with the wind so they decided to scrap it.
Stage 2 I had nothing to loose so just kept attacking early on. I was in a chase group when I punctured, had to sit up and wait for the wheel wagon following the bunch. They were motorpacing me back on when I punctured a second time. I got a wheel change and then decided to sit up and save myself for the next stage.
So that afternoon I rode away again but felt like a rats ass the whole time. Once I was caught I stayed in the bunch for a few k's before dropping off again. Determined not to get a DNF I just kept rolling along. These stages were pretty slippery becuase of all the rain and by the end of the day there were a few people paying the ambulances a visit.
On the final stage I was feeling shit again but thought fuck it and just attacked anyway and got into the break. We got out to about 2 mins but about a lap later they dropped me and the bunch picked me up. I didn't last in the bunch either so I managed to get a 100% success rate at finishing out the ass on every stage...mint.
So there you have it. I got smoked. I know I had the power in the legs but just couldn't transfer it to the road.
Hopefully I have some better yarns to tell when I get to the States next week.
Cheers