Germany so far

For those of you just tuning in and a recap for those who have short memories, I decided to make the epic puddle jump and head over to Europe for Christmas with Bri.



Not a bad idea at all. But here are my impressions and experiences so far:

1. I have missed Bri so much. I know, I know, no one ever says long distance is easy. But if it were easy, everyone would be doing it. RIGHT?! It's been surreal to have her back in my arms, waking up to her, and just being dumb with her. And it's so awful that that I have to give it all up for who knows how long in about 3 days. The one thing that amazes me though and gives hope for us to get through this and any peril is that regardless of the time, distance, etcetera, Bri and I are still, if not more into each other than ever before. But whatever, mushy mushy mushy - you don't care... MOVING ON!
2. It is gorgeous here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean seriously it is. Totally different. You walk around Chicago, New York, Las Vegas, etcetera and there is constantly new construction of some sorts... New condos this, new buildings that. And I get that, by all means, job creation, better products, etc. But something about the fact that I am in Hamburg - one of Germany's big cities (think Chicago) and there are buildings dating back to the mid 1600s, still in use... WRAP YOUR BRAINS AROUND THAT!
3. If you die, its your fault! besides just the city, the nature itself is mesmerizing. We spent 5 days in the Northern Alps - so lush, so green, so unprotected. Think of any national park in the U.S. - guard rails, tourist signs, benches, etc etc. here.... no guard rails - kinda a big middle finger to the insurance companies - "yeah it's dangerous, we don't care" - I dig it.
4. Bri's host family is the GREATEST! Seriously, I have never been greeted with such hospitality and care from a host... much less someone I have never met in my life. The Millas - Jorg, Petra, Julia and Florin - are an amazing family. Jorg and Petra have been patient with me and Bri and given us our time to be on our own, while still maintaining the family interaction. They have been more than accommodating to my workout schedule and my diet. Jorg has taken me on several bike rides through the Hamburg countryside - which like I have said is absolutely gorgeous. The list is endless of how much I owe these people but it is simply summed up that they have treated me like a true member of the family - AWESOME!

That's really all I can come up with right now. Just got home from a theatrical production.... I just kind of looked around and watched people... occasionally listening to my ipod (rude I know, but what are going to do for two and a half hours.... To try it, get yourself a good foreign film with no subtitles, in a language you don't understand at all, and has no resemblance to any American film/book/theatre and watch it. See what you do after the first 30 - 45 minutes.




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I'll wait



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SEE! You are back at your laptop reading my blog.

But until next time, good night America, I'll see you soon.

NONONO, Blogspot, please don't delete this account

Well, here I sit in O'Hare Airport (ORD, for you travelin' geeks) hoping I can finesse a ticket taker into letting me take a flight that is 3 hours sooner than my original flight. It's a possibility, I mean, I am just heading to London, there are 3 flights in front of me. So I figured I would get to all my mega-fans who want to know the low on the C.K..

(I should fly planes)

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!!!! (you are screaming at the computer screen..... I can't hear you, sorry)
So before you get all willy nilly, and lose your mind, I am en route to go see the the most amazing girl I have ever laid eyes on... NO, not Taylor Swift! Although she is kinda cute. But Bri could put her in the hurt-locker in the looks category and in a fist-fight...
So Bri for the win. That's right folks, me and Brianna Coleman get to spend the majority of the holidays together. I am so excited, I didn't hink I would get to see her until she came home... which is May??? But her and I totally jerry-rigged a little Christmas Vacation for yours truly. So here's the story.

December 16 -
I leave 'Murrica. LATER!

December 17 -
Land in Hamburg. PARTY!

December 31 -
I go back to 'Murrica. Peace German Homies!

That's all I know, I'll keep you guys posted... But it's gonna be the gnarls



K Ok, Enough of that good American Boyfriend stuff. Time to cut you in on the latest, greatest, meatiest and neatest of my life.

So, I can honestly say this is my first rest season.... So foreign to me. But methinks, it will only help me in the long run. That's what Lisa says and that's as good as getting a sign from God.

I tried the cyclocross silliness everyone has been ranting about... Meh, it's like mountain biking, only it the tires are skinnier. I think a lot of people (cyclists) are just bored during that time of year and are just looking for something (ANYTHING!!!) exciting to do, and Cyclocross is there (to suck your off-season dollars)!

During that time of the year the average cyclist is sitting on their couch watching, anticipating, for the latest Cyclysm Sunday on Versus, but then they realize "HEY! instead of this, I can go to a park, ride my bike, jump off it, jump over something, and then jump back on my bike." I understand the attraction, I mean you can only watch the 1998 Liege-Bastonge-Liege before you have it all memorized, and you start inviting your friends over to watch it, so you can impress them with your knowledge of Euro-cycling strategies (they don't care). and you are like "DUDE DUDE! CHECK THIS OUT, He is going to pedal his bike really damn fast, DUDE, LOOK!" Meanwhile, "Dude" is practicing the drum solo from Moby Dick by Great White on your counters.... DUDE!!!!!!


So instead, you buy a bike with goofy brakes and give it a go at the local cyclocross circle... One of three things happen.

One, the least likely, You rip the heads off of everyone and pretty soon you are saying "forget road season, I use that as cross training for cyclocross", soon you and Sven Nys are throwin' 'bows --> Mike Sherer, Jason Knauff, Scott Mclaughlin, Ben Popper (local legends).


Two, you suck, so you buy more stuff based upon this simple equations:
Carbon = Fast
--> Hats off to these guys, they keep the bike industry alive.

(FACT: if your chainrings aren't carbon, you will suck)

Three, you do, OK, you have some fun, but when that first race at 10 degrees (Fahrenheit) rolls around, you say "eff it" and you now have your latest road bike...Surely you won't notice the long wheel base, the super raked out fork, the silly brakes and "baby" gearing.... Whatever it will make you stronger. That or really make you realize how much you took your road bike for granted and how bad of an idea it was to spend this kind of money on this bastardization (hahah, that passed spell check) of a bike.

I understand the attraction, it is something to do, but then again so is knitting and antiquing......Don't get me wrong, I totally respect the badasses out there who can rip your legs off on a cross bike (see names above). Just tired of all the hype it gets - I was that guy for a while. "Dude, Cyclocross is the most epic thing you can do next to slaying dragons or riding a Unicorn (Einehorne - that's the german word of the next two weeks). If you don't do it, your testicles will recede and you will grow cleavage." Ok, I may not have gone that far but the whole "it puts hair on your chest" (It doesn't, it puts hair on your legs cause you're so damn cold and wet) is a little old. So next time you are trying to sell cyclocross to your homies, just be honest, it is just another way to stay fit without running.

ALRIGHT ENOUGH OF THAT

Cameron and I got an apartment... We call it the Gnar Castle.... But when I tell all my cycling buddies about it, it is the wattage cottage. Regardless, we like it - you should come check it out. But in the meantime, here is a video I made for Bri, I know it is a little cheesey, but whatever - who else lets you be laundry and dirty dishes? NO ONE





And yes, I am aware it is sideways, deal with it, just turn your head to the side.


WHAT ELSE?!?!

Hmmm, well Burnham is getting super uber new bikes and stuff... BUT I can't tell you or Eric Goodwin will sick his daughter on me.

But you can bet as soon as I can tell you, you will know all about it!

But I need to go see if i have the right Terminal, probably need to find dinner too.


Things to come (I promise I won't fall off the face of the Blogger Earth):

German stuff (obviously)
Wattage numbers up and workout analysises...so you can fear my power output (SUPER SIKE!)
Collegiate cycling stuff
Burnham Bikes
USCF racing

'Til next time, I wish you all an incredibly safe and wonderful set of holidays. You know where I'll be