Just a quick wee update on how team camp went and what's new.
A few days after arrival was straight to it to meet the gang. We started off with a very frosty ride over highway 9 (about 30minutes). It wasn't too good a sign when we began FREEZING climbing up. Safe to say, the descent was hell! So cold was close to tears/pretty sure the rain pouring down our faces could've been a mixture of both! Fun times chattering with Ruth, Jazz, Court and Kathleen.
Thankfully we were saved by toppie team manager Jono Coulter. Legend he was took us the rest of the way to get warm and fed. !
Throughout the week we were very lucky to stay with Courtney VAN (makes her sound fast/Euro) Dimpel (VK), her family and neighbours Don and Nancy in Aptos, on their farm. (8 horses)! They were great and made us feel right at home.
All up was a great week of meeting, team bonding and getting excited for the upcoming season + lots of photo taking thanks to Jason PEZZA Perry aka Ledg. and Chris See, especially at the VK team launch in Los Altos where the team/VK sponsors were announced. Thanks to Bruce from Cyclingnews for being there to interview the team!
Big ups to team mate Maura Kinsella for providing the group with 24/7 'cray cray' entertainment. Yeah gurl...And of course Miss Jenn X 'captain' Reither, KCM, Jono and Dave for their top organisation of the VK's. Reow. (check Maura's blog here for a lol http://maurakinsella.wordpress.com/ - serious entertainment)
Thanks also to Courtney Dimpel for making sure Ruth and I weren't eaten by the roaming Mountain Lions throughout the week.!We get off pretty light in NZ.
Only bummer about camp was still wasn't a hundred after NZ tour's chest cold so had to take it fairly easy on the bike - pretty hard when your team mates are out riding longer - at least I had the joy of getting a bit of study done to kill time.
This week Kate (Chilly Chilcott of NZ) and I have been back in the Bay area at the Vanacht's settling in and cruising round/training! on our very cool Focus bikes. Feeling heaps better and enjoying some nice Bay group rides + some Ameerican coffee. (not a patch on NZ)! but drinkable... Apart from riding us 'kiwis' have been hanging out with Jono and the other VK girls in the area, Jazzy Hurikino from Aussie (enjoys the company of dingo's) and Kathleen (KB) Billington from the east coast. (likes an m&m or three and calls Tuesday Toos-dee ) plus catching up with the crew from last year and meeting new people along the way.
A trip to the city is still on the to do list: fortunately for me, Kate is also a keen shopper and enjoys a good spend up on 'essential' items. We're still both patiently waiting to visit Urban Outfitters - a trip to San Fran is definitely on the cards after Redlands!
This Wednesday we head to SoCal to kick off the US season with San Dimas stage race on Friday. Following this we'll hit the big Redlands Classic stage race (a national calendar event) which will be brutal! The fields for both events are pretty classy with pro teams, Lululemon, Exergy and TIBCO + more all present. The big guns will be out there making it tough for sure...hopefully VK can stick it to them !!
