Saturday, August 11, 2007

So In Love

Amber has nothing to worry about, it's not like that, but I am so in love with Floyd Landis right now! Our boy rocked at Leadville today, and I'm so happy for him I could just burst! It probably helps that I'm a little delirious from a four-hour ride myself today, but hang with me. TBV has good photos and stats, and VeloNews has a good quote. Floyd, baby, you didn't have to take my blood comment literally! Congrats to Dave Wiens on his fifth win - I'm sure if I had followed every detail of his life for the past year, I'd be just as happy for him. ;-) Of course I want Floyd back in Pro Tour races, but if that is not to be, I hope he can keep doing things like this. There is nothing more joyful to me than watching talented people do what they were put on this earth to do. And it seems to make them pretty happy, too. :-)

May I also profess my love for Jens Voigt? And Fabian, and Bobby, and Levi, George and Tommy, and so on and so on. CSC did some rockin' themselves at the Tour of Germany, winning the TTT. Classic Jens - he went for a one-second time bonus yesterday, so he could be in yellow today if the team won. I could quote everything Jens said, because I loved it all, but I'll just give the links, here and here. My personal favorite: "The course was very challenging and almost disgustingly hilly." And in the middle of all that, giving props to the DC riders and staff, a class act as always. Disco came in a solid second, and Tommy D is getting his racing legs back, can't wait to see what he can do!

I was wearing my Smith & Nephew jersey today, and thinking about both of these races as I rode, so it was great to come home and see the results. My ride, all things being relative, was a great one - sunny skies, stunning scenery, a new saddle, and I didn't run into any small children or horses! (It's Acadia in the summer, one has to be thankful for such things.) I even managed to take some photos, I'll try and get them up somewhere soon.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

So happy to come back to three new posts here - always love to read them!

Hooray for Floyd! That has GOT to be a big boost for his morale. Just training with a direct purpose in mind has got to be a refreshing change of pace.

I LOVE Jens Voigt. Thanks for the great links. I'd almost forgotten the Tour of Germany was going on!!
-janann

Anonymous said...

I just wrote a comment gushing over your blog and it didn't post. I'm having trouble remembering exactly how I said it, but basically I find your posts to be unique. You have a knack for writing and finding relevant quotes that I don't seem to read elswhere first. It fascinates me in that you really seem to effortlessly condense many of my own thoughts without losing the passion that is evident in your writing. Leave the light on. I'm coming back for more.

Anonymous said...

By the way, I assume you're talking about Acadia in Maine. Home of the Rockefeller carriage trails. Beautiful place. Camped, biked a little, and saw seals on the rocks by the beautiful water. Are you there year round?

Julie said...

Thanks Waddy! Yes indeed, Acadia National Park. I'm about an hour away from it, and go regularly, to bike (carriage and road), hike, and x-country ski in winter (when there's snow, which hasn't been much there the last couple of years, in terms of skiable snow). And I thank Rockefeller every time, the carriage roads are a magical wonder.

Anonymous said...

'kay Julie,
You've got yourself a damn fine blog going on here!
Now, I really don't know how I'm gonna get any work done. I'm getting hooked. Between Sara's and here, there's too much to read and learn and stay abreast of. Now, brother Waddy is parking outside your wateringhole, too; so, I'm doomed.
Great posts, too; insights, pithy coverage of cycling news around the world; I'm diggin' it. Thanks for dedicating your time to share - I'm lappin' it up.
It's cool feeling connected to other cyclists. I don't often ride with groups or even have a riding partner. So, this is my surragate cycling community and social scene. There are some very talented writers and thinkers among these blogs and I'm curious how well we'd all hit it off (or, not). I often wonder what we'd all be like in person confronting each other's vibe and body language. That, and I think I'm about 10 yrs younger than many in the crowd. Strange the bonds forged in this ethereal world.
As I read about other peoples training/riding adventures in such beautiful locales, I experience geographic envy. Not that my rides don't cover some beautiful landscape too. I'd just like to see more of what's to see. Now, you've got me wondering about Acadia.
That's just my rhythm for the day.

Anonymous said...

Hey Rip, Just how old do you think I am? Kidding, and I'm 45 although I'm finding it's the younger guys that have trouble keeping up. I mostly ride alone as well and I love it. I almost never coast and have no problem pushing myself. There are group rides I haven't enjoyed and try to avoid. There's a fine line between competitive and too competitive. I find that there are people who never look up to enjoy where they are, and that's not my idea of fun. I like to work as hard as anyone on a bike, but they're missing something if they never look up from their front wheel. And sorry, I know it's a little like having everyone discover how great that little restaurant is that only you know about. Don't worry, Julie will always have your table set.

Anonymous said...

Alright Waddy,
So, not quite 10 yrs, in your case. Been a recent rash of 50's or near 50's, though. Just seems like no matter how old I get, I still get a lot of that 'young whipper snapper' talk. 38 here. Glad to see a familiar face in these parts. We're kinda like the weeds I referenced over at Sara's -sprouting up everywhere wanted or not. Okay, gotta get some work done.

Julie said...

Rip - 40 here, you fit right in! ;-) I think Sara is our young-un'. Acadia is definitely worth a visit at some point. If you bring the kids, the carriage roads are a lot of fun. For a solo trip, the Cadillac Century Challenge is an awesome ride!

There's a group ride around here on Wednesdays, but I've never joined in, as its reputation precedes it. Apparently, they've been known to argue over how many miles they've done! They're not all like that, I've also heard some of the guys are very nice, but who wants to get in the middle of that? Plus, I'm like you, Waddy, I like to push myself but I also like the scenery.

Anonymous said...

Julie,
Nice to know I fit in. That's trippy that you're the youngest of five. It surprises me still to meet so many people who've grown up in large families. I think my kids like playing with each other too.
Took a look at the Acadia NP page and holy cats that looks beautiful. Had a friend once that through-hiked the entire Appalacian Trail ending at Mt Katadhin. That, and lighthouses, are what use to come to mind when I heard 'Maine'. Now, it's going to be Julie, Acadia, Carriage roads, and coming up to ride the Cadillac. Roadtrip!!!

Anonymous said...

That's funny Rip, because my old college girlfriend did that hike of the App. Trail from Georgia to Maine. And her name is Juli! Coincidence? I think not.