RACING DAY 1

It must be I have enough time over here to play on the computer. Really there isn't much else to do when my work is through other than to join the rest of the multi-nation ritual of accessing the wireless network in the lobby of the hotel.



Day 1 at the races.


1989 called and they are looking for their day-glow pink bikes!

Cheers,
DJB

Arrived in Taiwan

Zao an (good morning),

I made it to Taiwan. Long flight (13 hours?)in which I slept most of the way. Not sure where March 6th went. I left on the 5th and arrived the 7th. Malaysain Air was the best flight I've been on. Not too cramped. Free meals that were like real food. Personal movie screens. Very friendly attendents.

We have to wait around the airport for a few hours then board a 5 hour bus ride to the start city on the other end of the island.


On the bus ride from Tapei to Kaohsiung.

Haven't looked at the bikes yet but hopefully there is no travel damages.

Cheers

California update#2

Team Photo Shoot Day


I don't know!


In addition to bike work we had issues to fix with the washer and dryer


Gluing Wheels


As I mentioned in update #1, I'm going to Taiwan. The Tour of Taiwan is there. I've been so busy I'm just following everyone else. No idea where we are going. Looking forward to sleeping on the plane though. All this stuff goes along with us. Yikes!

Have to go board the plane.

Cheers,
DOUG

California update #1

{Written from LAX waiting for flight to Taiwan}
Yeah, yeah, yeah... It has been busy, busy, busy. I've been hearing update the blog for awhile now.

This past 10 days I've been at team camp in Buellton, California. Took about 5 days to drive out here. NOt much happened on the drive. Had a little bit of bad weather but was manageable. The days at team camp revolve around mechanic work that needs to be done. Things like assembling bikes, swapping saddles, changing stems, gluing wheels, organizing the truck, etc. Even with 3 mechanics we are all busy all day long. The weather is nice and warm so being outside is a pleasure.

Gettting to know the guys although I still forget who is who sometimes. One skinny guy can look like the next skinny guy.

Here are some pics over the last two weeks.


The gateway to the west. I always get excited to "head west". I enjoy reading about the early migration westward in United States history. Especially the mountain men and Louis and Clark.


The truck has shelf bed to nap on.


Stopped in Flagstaff for the night and the storm.


Driving


Working spot



The glow

Thanks CD

[this is a first of sorts. CD has been kind enough to update my blog for me. Thanks Chris!. It's good to have friends in the trenches with me]

A brief update for those fans of Dougie who crave the insight and updates of life as a pro mechanic: Doug has been pinned down under a mass of bike parts and shipping/receiving/inventory duty trying to get TeamType1 off and flying out of the box for 2008. We are currently right at precipice of racing in Malaysia and doing a wind tunnel project in NC with some athletes, all ahead of the team camp in California at the end of the month. Doug has been taking on the bulk of the work at the service course in getting all the racing equipment ready for the diverse TT1 early season ventures. This means Doug has been putting in the late nights, weekends and overtime to coordinate and orchestrate all that is technical for TT1. So please cut him some slack on the lack of blog updates. When we get to camp in California i will make sure that Doug gets plenty of downtime and writes/posts with pics some good updates.

"Serenity now, serenity now", as Doug said yesterday.

Holla-

CD

Working

Hey,

I was playing around with posting videos. This is from back in December at the Team Type 1 media camp. Eric and I were playing around with the camera equiped bike in the parking lot of the hotel.

Okay, I just checked and the video thing worked! Watch out for more behind the scenes highjinks.


Here is my 3rd crockpot creation. I was proud of myself!


Milwaukee has some good winter weather going on. I like commuting in the snow.


We got our first complete SRAM Red groups this week for the race bikes. Eric and I have been busy getting bikes and wheels ready for the first race of the season in Malaysia in a few weeks.


Here is a stable of bikes in assembled condition.


Look there's Jelly in the doorway!


Ian MacGregor"s bike ready to go.


Jelly working it.


We are using mostly tubulars for the race wheels but we have a few Zipp 404 clinchers in our quiver of wheelsets.


Speaking of tubulars. There is something pretty about gluing up!

SEE YA,
DJB

24 Hours of Telemark

My only update for now is a few pics from last weekend's 24 Hours of Telemark in Cable, WI. I got some skiing in besides helping to set everything up and tear it down. I feel guilty for admitting this but, driving a snowmobile is kinda fun.





Here is a link for the new team this year I'm working with this year. http://www.teamtype1.org/

Cheers,
DOUG

Rochester wireless

Because I only update unless Davidson says, here I am wating for my plane back to Milwaukee in the Rochester, NY airport. I'm getting a free wirless connection. Not sure if I'm supposed to but why pay for one if it's free. That doesn't happen in most airports. So if you are stuck in the Rochester airport at least they have a connection to surf.

Oh, have to go!

DOUG

From Cali weather to midwest snow

Got in some skiing this weekend. I feel a bit slow but still enjoy the graceful feeling of skiing (except on the uphills at this point. Ha!)



I used to be much more meticulous about the waxing thing. Now it's scape off the storage wax and go. Working on skis is relaxing in a way.


Trying to take a time delay picture you never know what you'll get. Everyone tries to get the classic skating picture and the in-between-weight-transfer-shot are goofy looking.


Crisp, clear, cold. A perfect Blue Extra wax day. For you skiers, you know what I mean. My memory banks have many of these days of skiing at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, Lake Placid, NY. I hear Van Ho is primo right now with a Nor' Easter on the way to add to the snow depth. Lapham Peak, shown here, in Delafield, WI is a fine place to ski too.

BYE,
DOUG

Buelton, CA

Just got back from a media camp in California. Buelton to be exact, which is right next to Solvang, CA. Nice area.



ERIC DOING SOME ASSEMBLY WORK


I DID NOT PLAN ON THIS BEING A PRODUCT PLACEMENT SHOT.


TEAM ROAD BIKE


SETTING UP A RIDER'S POSITION


THE TT BIKE


DEDICATED CAMERA BIKE THAT ONE RIDER FELT WAS AN "ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN"



YOURS TRULY - JOE COOL - IN THE QUAINT DANISH VILLAGE OF SOLVANG, CA

CHEERS,
DOUG

Coffee Time

Hey,

Thought I would send out a few pictures for no other reason other than I have the time to do it. I'm enjoying a nice Sunday morning at Alterra Coffee. Yesterday was the year's first winter storm for us here in Milwaukee. It really blew in fast. I was occupied in the shop for several hours and didn't take notice until I went outside to go home. The world had turned white. Unfortunately, the snow turned to rain at some point so today is a yucky mess. This is why I end up running this time of year because the bike riding would be miserable. So today I'll go for another run (I went Thurs.) on the hopes that someday I'll think that running is enjoyable.

I received a video from a Lake Placid friend showing him skiing with his son Jonathon in a ski trailer. Now Randy is that guy who ruins the track pulling a sled. I'm only kidding Randy, I know you'll be considerate.

Speaking of Lake Placid check out the link titled Lowell Bailey for some interesting reading on what it's like to be a skier on the World Cup circuit. Lowell and Tim Burke are two local "kids" from Lake Placid I've seen grow up to be World Class skiers and great individuals as well.


Stuff that makes us mechanics giggle! What is wrong with this cassette? This wheel was returned by one of the riders like this. Not sure if it was used like this but it could be used as evidence as to why I have a job. Ha!


Chris Travers from Profile Design was in "da house" for his annual trip to Milwaukee for a little business but mostly fun. Here is a rare behind the scenes look into what a sponsor meeting looks like. And you thought we sat around a big oak table and wore suits?

For over a month I've been obsessing a bit with only certain music. One has been the Red Hot Chili Peppers and how John Fruciante plays guitar in that band. He is subtle or in your face while playing. Another has been a live CD recording of Pete Yorn. In addition I can never get Hendrix out of the mix too. This morning I went back to listen to some Radiohead. Probably my favorite band on a different level from anything else. Music is so subjective to personal taste that it is hard to tell someone to try listening to this but here I go anyways. I found a couple Radiohead videos (I limited it to 2 for right now). The best video I've ever seen is the video for a song called "Just." Search for it on youtube. I'll just showing some live stuff. Paranoid Android was something you probably heard on the radio. I might be wrong is a acoustic version that shows how some of their multi-layered songs are great because even stripped down acoutically they stand up. There is a new album out which I'm a bit behind in getting. The in store version is out soon but the band tried a new way of selling the ablum themselves. About a month ago you could by the on-line version for whatever you wanted to pay. I thought I read somewhere it raised about 10 million in a day or two. Is that right? I might be wrong.






Cheers Ya'll,
DOUG

People read it!

Wow! Thanks for the comments. I guess I never kept track when people have told me they read my rambling blog entries. I am pleasantly surprised.

I don't have much to blog about right now. It's cold in Milwaukee. I'm busy at work. Going to California next week for some work stuff.

Looking to purchase a bed is about the most unattractive thing I want to spend my time doing. I went to a furniture store this past weekend to "check out the Thanksgiving madness sale". I was turned off by the elderly salesman with body odor that kept whacking the bed with his cane to demonstrate which mattress was firmer or softer than the next. He wouldn't leave me alone to browse at my leisure. Add to mix, people laying all over the place to check out the beds. Spouses exclaiming, "Honey, come check out this one." I couldn't take it anymore. I had a panic attack and high-tailed it out of there. Vowing to find something on Craigslist.com as I snuck through the TV and living room sections to avoid Mr. Stinkmeister.

Please, if someone wants to give me a nice bed here in Milwaukee, I'll come get it. Maybe.

Cheers and thanks for the reader support,
DOUG

Thanksgiving

Not much happened on Turkey Day. I enjoyed a bunch of nothing and playing guitar. It was too cold for a bike ride.

Here I am making dinner for myself. Instead of Turkey I substituted a chicken and some sweet potatoe mashed potatoes (how about that Keith!)



Work is rather exciting right now. Stay tuned for an update on that topic. New team stuff but I'm not at liberty to discuss it yet even though only about 10 people read my blog.

Cheers,
DOUG

Back to long sleeves and leg warmers

After two weeks in Florida, I got back to "Tosa" yesterday afternoon. It was a good trip. Good results by the athletes. The bikes were awesome. Learned that some people run with Jelly Belly's as their secret weapon against fatigue. Even though I'm glad to be off the road finally, I do miss the warm weather (and having maid service). I still feel like it's summer. Walked into a Starbucks in Florida and was jolted into realty that it was November because they had the holiday decoration theme in place. Wisconsin is not neccessarily cold but 50 degrees seems cold when you are coming from 75 degrees. Florida meant riding in shorts and jersey. But now I have to wear a long sleeve and leg warmers when riding (see my lunchtime MTB ride below. Ripping it up! I missed the knobby rubber).




On the way down to Panama City, Ben and I spent the night in Nashville, TN. Found a place to watch the final game of the World Series. Although this picture of Ben's head could have been taken anywhere, I swear it's in Nashville.


Here are all the bikes in transition on race morning. I just finished with last minute checks and I usually hang out just to make sure nothing weird happens before the athletes get done with the swim. The pro women bikes are in the first row (the red ones). Technically I can't help them once the race starts but if I something happens at least I can direct neutral support to help them.


The volunteers have the pro's bike waiting for them as they are leaving transition. This is Jacqui's bike ready to go.

In response to the comment about my bedroom in the last entry. I didn't take a picture of it because it is depressing in there. As of then ( and now) it is just a matress on the floor with a lamp and table. It's workable but I need an "upgrade". Hopefully I can get to that now that I'm in town.


CHEERS AND KEEP ON RIDING!