Blogs by Professional Cyclists - Professional Cycling Unplugged™

Where to begin?  I have sat staring at my computer screen for far too long contemplating the way in which I would begin my first blog. I am new to all of this and am excited that, thanks to Gregg, my introduction to blogging is with TwoWheelTales.com.

Seeing this is my first entry, I thought it appropriate to commence with a little introduction. My name is Emma Rickards. I have been a professional road cyclist for 5 years and came to the sport in 2000 after a wrist injury in training as a lightweight rower. Technically Melbourne, Australia is my home but it is difficult to say that these days as I tend to spend the majority of my year overseas.

I began my professional career in the USA with Victory Brewing (2004) and for the past 4 years I have been based in Switzerland riding for the Univega Pro Cycling Team (2005/2006), Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling team (2007) and this year with Cervélo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team. In fact it has been the same team for the past 4 years with the name altering due to the change in the title sponsor. Since 2006 I have ridden for two very impressive yet different team leaders, Nicole Cooke and Kristin Armstrong and during this time, racing amongst the world’s best in the European women’s peloton, my ability, knowledge and true understanding of the sport of cycling has taken shape.

2009 brings about an exciting change for me. I am heading back to the USA and have signed with Team TIBCO for the coming season. It will be an interesting move from the European to North American women’s peloton but one that I am very much looking forward to. To be involved with not only a team of incredible women but also to be a part of the continued growth and development of this sport for women is something exciting in itself.

(4 votes, average: 4.25 out of 5)

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Posted under ROAD BIKE

Hey all.  Brian Smith here in wonderful Gunnison, Colorado.   My wife Jenny and I are enjoying our tiny window called  ”off-season”.   We currently have snow flurries and its 40 degrees.  I am trying to get excited to run an hour and head north for some early season skiing.  Maui seems like it was years ago already, maybe even another planet.  Time to get the snow bike up and running andstart nordic/randonee skiing.  Any of you that has access to randonee equipment you should check out the Cosmic race series that Pete Swenson and Monique Merrill put on.  www.cosmicski.com  They are a lot like mountain bike races on skis.  Same race time and elevation gain.  Quite a hoot.

The date for the USAT winter triathlon nationals has been pushed ahead 4 weeks as it overlapped with the ITU Winter Triathlon Worlds.  These events are a lot of fun as well.  Trying to skate ski after running and biking in snow till you see stars.  What could be more fun?   I have these funnew toys called rollerskis I picked up after Maui.  Hopefully I will be ahead of the game once we have some good track.  Salomon has been very kind to us this season.  We both have complete kits for skate and classic skiing.  We have to be sure to make the skis go fast as well! 

Our dog Max is helping to keep up our running fitness.  He completely trashes the house if he gets left behind.  He isn’t all fun and games as his nickname is “nightmare dog”.  We have to brush him 3 times a day or we will have a new shag carpet each day.

Sorry I don’t have any pictures.  I promise to have some for my next post.  Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays.

Brian

(2 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)

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Posted under NON-BIKE, OFF-ROAD TRIATHLON

Hello everyone I am Fabio Calabria, I am a 21 year old Australian with diabetes which makes riding for Team Type 1 special for me. The team’s goal is to spread awareness about type 1 diabetes. It is nice to be able to show other people with diabetes that anything is possible.

As many people may have read on the internet I will be returning to the USA to ride for Team Type 1 for a second season. But before I return I have a couple of months of training and catching up with mates down under.

Stay tuned for in a couple of days I will have some stories from my first training camp of the season on the sunny coast of Eastern Australia.

Fabio

(6 votes, average: 4.83 out of 5)

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Posted under ROAD BIKE

Thursday November 27^th marked my initiation into the tradition and holiday of Thanksgiving.  Will the aid of good explanation and a little google, I quickly got up to speed on the significance of the day. 

I crawled out of bed and hoped to see some snow out the window, but to no avail.  While I am still hanging out to see Boulder covered in snow, when the ground is dry and the sky is clear it is a perfect opportunity to head out on the bici. 

Before the day progressed to gorging ourselves on mounds of food, we headed out to Halls Ranch for a mountain bike ride.  It was not very warm and I learnt some important lessons about riding in the cold. Firstly, I overdressed, so when climbing I overheated, sweated up a storm and then got frozen once descending.  I also learnt that gloves that are too tight do not make me warm, but rather made my hands a combination of cold and numb.  Luckily I could borrow some extra gloves and windproof layers from the boys when I was shivering.  I am definitely getting better at this mountain biking caper, but I do catch myself pulling faces and making “aaaarrrrrgh” noises at times, terribly girly and not particularly ‘hard core’….. need to work on that if I am going to fool anyone.

Having had a whole lot of fun out on the trails, it was time to come home and roast.  With only three of us in the house, and a small oven, I decided it would be overly ambitious to roast a turkey, and instead chose lamb.  It was the first time I have roasted, and so I wrote my instructions out and followed them to the note.  The lamb was a hit, the potatoes and sweet potatoes also delicious, and although the carrots were still crunchy i think our thanksgiving meal went down smoothly. 

I have much to be thankful for.  My amazing family and friends, the opportunities I am given in cycling and otherwise, and the wonderful experiences I have had and continue to chase.  Although Australia does not celebrate a holiday for thanksgiving, I think it is a wonderful idea when we can pause and reflect on the wonderful people, places and experiences that put smiles on our faces and make things that little bit easier.  I hope we can all take this time to give thanks in the moments that we realize it.

Now off to Spain for Team Columbia team meeting.  Both the men’s and women’s teams finished the season as number 1 ranked in the world, so there is cause to celebrate before moving onto next season’s goals. 

I expect this camp will provide me with much blogging fodder…. Stay tuned. 

(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

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Posted under ROAD BIKE

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, I know I did. Let’s see my day gave me a lot to be thankful for:

- the 753 runners that showed up for the Turkey Trot 5km Run at 9 am

- the local group ride that was organized to go out at 10;15, making my 3 hour ride go by much faster

- the Spring like weather that we are having as winter is approaching (any of you who know me, knows I hate the cold)

- my Canadian friends who love to cook and take part in American traditions (it was an American feast with a Canadian twist) in the south

- the World’s Best Carrot Cake, which topped off an awesome meal

- my wonderful couch where I crashed with a full stomach and a smile on my face

A picture that doesn’t do the day justice, but it was wonderful.

The Thanksgiving feast with all the fixin’s. Notice the bacon that is carefully placed over the turkey. That was a first for me, but it definitely was tasty!! i hope y’all had a great day and you had just as much if not more to be thankful for.

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Posted under NON-BIKE, ROAD BIKE