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

Club Nats...F**k

Well what can I say, shit happened. After having a bit of trouble getting a flight up to Wanganui I finally made it on Friday Evening. Saturday morning I hit up the course with the Tasman boys and James Early. I was stoked with the course with some sharp little climbs as well as a good exposed area which I was hoping would be hard with a bit of cross wind.

Spent Saturday arvo soaking in a few racing vibes during the masters and under 19's races.
Rolled on up on Sunday morning feeling both mentally and physically pumped for the 7 lap 154 km race. I was pretty keen to win the Under 23 title for my grandad who passed away a couple of weeks ago. The race started off pretty good for me. A break rolled away early on with only one Under 23 in it (Matt Wheatcroft).
The break got out to about 2 minutes but Subway got forced to chase after Sam Horgan punctured in the break. Another rider who I thought might be a threat (Darcy Ellerm-Norton) Rode across solo which was perfect as both riders would have wasted big energy in the break. About lap 4 Paul Odlin attacked up one of the climbs with Dillon Bennet on his wheel. About 3/4 of the way up D-Buzz couldn't hold Odlin's wheel and I knew he was gonna be suffering on the climbs later on so I made sure I passed him looking strong to demoralise him. The form was there and the climbing legs were there so I knew I was definitely up for the podium.
However, on the 5th lap we had an echelon formed in the crosswind just passed the finish line when a guy on the front of the bunch decided he'd chop the whole echelon. The first few riders managed to get away with a few touched wheels but then someone about 3 wheels behind him stacked it and a few of us went straight over the top. Luckily I ended up in the grass and only twisted my bars and knocked the brakes around a bit. So I got up straight away and chased hard but the bunch was pumping along. I was solo and was never going to bring back the bunch without a motor pace so my race was over. I hard-manned the last 3 laps anyway in the hope some under 23's would blow up and I could pull of a Top 5 or something. In the end I lost 9 minutes to the bunch and finished 6th in Under 23.
So I'm pretty guttered really but that's all part of cycling I guess. At least I know the form was there so I should be flying in the States. And I'm pretty stoked the bike and myself are all good apart from a bit of a knock I took to the left shoulder. But that should be ok in a few days hopefully.
Just want to thank Cassie's Nana and Ash for putting me up for the night. Chris Nick's for sorting out my accommodation on the other nights and prepping me up for Nat's.
Cheers
T.A

Tour De Lakes Results and Photos

 

Yea boi, that's me, 6th wheel up a climb!

Shot taken on the final climb of stage 6 during my solo break.

Results can be found at:

http://www.cyclingsouth.org.nz/index.php?pageLoad=272