Road Trip Deluxe

I'm so happy to report that I've got a tan..yessir...well, right now it's more of a burn. But I've ridden outside without leg and arm warmers ..... oh how sweet it is.

Wednesday morning my little Sunfire, aka Alfonzo, was loaded to the gills but ready for the road trip of it's life. I was extremely fortunate to have a good friend willing to make the drive with me, keep me company, keep me awake....actually, he ended up doing most of the driving.

3 days of driving and here we are, beautiful, hot Tucson, Arizona. I've been talking about doing a training camp down south for a while but school has always been in the way, but I'm finally free!!!!! So what better thing to do then spend a month training and playing in some hot sunny weather.

I actually did my first ride outside in just shorts and a ss jersey, and lets not forget, first ride on the new road rig....Trek Madone 5.2 (aweosome bike, I'm so excited with it) while passing through Phoenix. Stopping to enjoy the full Apache Junction experience, I was able to steal away a couple of hours on the bike and it was great. In my haste to get riding though I managed to forget a couple of really cruicial things. Number 1....tighten handlebars....had a really good near miss while crossing a busy intersection. Number 2....chamoix cream....this actually didn't work out too bad, the new Trek Toronto Team kit is awesome, super comfortable and very sexy, just wait for the photos. Number 3....sun screen...I think this was the most important because dang it's extremely sore. I can't seem to lather enough aloe vera on to quench the thirst. I was really excited to start getting some color, slowly work up the tan, but not I've just got crazy burn line. Lesson learnt the hard way :)

We arrived in Tucson late friday night and managed to find our accomodations with the help of Sally. Sally is my new GPS unit and although she gets pissed off when you miss a turn and sometimes is completely way off in left field, I have to admit, she's been very handy. We are staying with Emily Batty (who is down in Chile with Catharine Pendrel, Amanda Sin and other Canadians competing in the Panams today...good luck ladies!!!!), Adam Morka, Mark Batty and Stef Widmer......cycling house extrodinaire.

Yesterday, being my first full day in Tucson I pulled off a big training day. Early in the morning I headed out to do some intervals, ended up going in completely the opposite direction that I was intending, getting very lost, but still managed to find my way home in just under 2 hours. After a grocery shopping trip and quick trip to the mall, I headed out in the evening for a 3 hour endurance ride, and I thought it would be a great idea to head up Mt Lemmon. In my easiest gear I was having a heck of a time keeping my heart rate low enough to be considered endurance pace and my legs were cramping (you have to remember I haven't done hills, especially like that, in a long time), but the views are awesome. I think I'm going to be spending a little more time there this week, try to get some climbing legs under me.

The plan for the rest of the trip......head over to Albuquerque to visit with my brother sometime next week, I'm thinking thursday. Going to stay with Casey as long as he can stand me...hehe, until about the 16th of April. I'm super stoked because we're kind of thinking of doing a little bike tour, fun!!!! From there head up to Monterey, CA for Sea Otter Classic, which is the weekend of the 18th/19th. Then I have a week where I'm not too sure what's going to happen, I want to stay somewhere warm though. Finally, on my way home, I'm going to meet up with some friends in Moab for some wicked riding. I've been to Moab twice, and only for two days each time, so I'm really looking forward to spending a little more time there.

And that's it.....I'm hoping to keep your better posted then I have been as we go along. Off to enjoy my coffee before I head out for a 4 hour ride....love it :)