My short ride with Lance's elite team, Team Discovery Channel and then the TIAA Cref Team

June 2, 2005

Out for a ride on the trail today. Looking to recreate some of the magic of last year and ride with a USPro team. There were many teams out on the trail. Very fast. I saw the Discovery Channel team going out of the city when I was on my way in. When I was on my way back home, they were going back into the city. They were not going to fast.

I pulled up behind them and asked if it was ok to hang with them for a while. Wow are these guys in shape. Every pedal stroke is smooth and effortless at 20mph, 100 or so rpm. These guys are all business. As Lance Armstrong says, "Just another day at the office." They do have a sense of humor though. As we rode, there is a section of the path where there is some construction. Stones are everywhere. You have to be careful. One of the guys hits a stone. Some behind him makes that sound of a tire flatting out with his mouth. We all laugh. I think he pulled that gag at least twice more. We got to this little hill and I just opened it up, hoping they would chase...thought it would be fun. I get smoked on a climb by some great riders, we all get a laugh. But there is no chase. As I get to the mid point, I look back and they are just pedaling easy. At the top I run out of gas and I can only get 15 mph out of my legs. I look back and they are about a block away. I am hoping to recover at the straight away. I think I hear from behind me someone say, " OK boys. Lets reel'em in." Within seconds they catch and pass me like I was standing still. Outstanding!! That is why they are Pros. I was out of breathe and did not get to say, good bye. They will know me on Sunday, as I will cheer them on as they race up the "wall". Anyone that can ride up the wall is a good biker. Riding up the wall several times, you are a great biker. These guys will race up it 10 times, they are superior riders. I wish them all good luck!

June 5, 2005

I went to the race today. I usually hangout to watch at the Manayunk "wall" at Lyceum and Dexter Streets. It is pretty steep there. So they riders are not going 30-35mph. You can actually see them. They can hear you. It is cool. Here are a few pics from Sunday

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June 6, 2005

Today I was looking to do a long ride because I was off the bike for three days. Sort of hammer out a ride with some miles to it. I had an open window of time in the morning, so off I went. I decided to go into the city. Rode up the wall in and out of the city today. I was only able to push the pedals over to keep from falling down. That is about 3-5 mph. Did the loop to the Philadelphia Art Museum and back. I was on my way home on the trail to just about the where I turn off to go up the hill to my house. Right there are 5-6 pro riders from the TIAA Cref cycling team. They are stopped. So I stop to talk with them. They are looking to do some road riding today. I told them that the trail was their best bet today. Not much trail traffic on a Monday. The roads can be tough on a weekday in that area. Not until you get to just outside Norristown would you find less traffic. So the trail it was. I got to ride and speak with them on the ride out to Valley Forge Park. So, Dan Bowman, Craig Lewis, Bryan Smith, Timothy Duggan, and myself ride on out the trail. As always, these pro riders are just gliding along. Me, I'm out of breathe half the time. Hard to talk when you are out of breathe. These guys are some of the nicest pro riders I have met to date. They seem to be a young team. Tim and I talk about Sunday. I remember cheering him on in the later laps of the race. He was having a tough time on the climb. He said that yesterday was one of the longer races he has done. Plus it was super hot and humid. What a killer combination. I asked about training. Tim said they ride about 30 hours a week. They are not into counting miles. They run a watts meter. This measures calories burned, heart rate, etc. The monitors give the training coaches a lot of info. Bryan confirms my thoughts as we talk about everyone's job. He said he and his team mates are still trying to figure out their place. Who will be the sprinter, leadout man, the climber, etc. Right now, he said, they all need to master all the jobs on the team as they sort it all out. They are all young and have time to get it right. Bryan is the old man on the team at 24. We were going to do a loop of the Valley Forge Park. Dan's tire seems to be loosing air. The team decides to head back to the city. They call for help. For many, today they are leaving the area to go home or the next event. Someone to met us on the way back is out of the question. Dan is going to have to ride back. It is now after 12 noon. Lunch is the topic. They are talking about getting a Philly Cheese Steak. I thought that they did not eat that kind of stuff. Bryan said that he would eat it but he would need to have a spinach salad with it. I asked if they had eaten ice cream. Bryan said yes, but more than likely a round a race. He said that they are burning up so many calories, that it did not matter. He also added that they are eating health most of the time, so a small slip here and there would not matter. Besides, how can you come to Philadelphia and not get a cheese steak! Its just not possible. Just be sure to also have the salad. We got to Manayunk and I said goodbye to the team. It was a blast to ride with them. I hope they will keep in contact, as I follow their cycling careers. Thanks guys for a great treat!