Truly Amazing Trip

The end to a truly amazing trip. On Monday I spent all day packing up two bike boxes and my one travel bag for my trip back home. With only my computer and charger out for a quick email check in the morning. A quick skype to the family and I was off to bed around 10 all packed and ready to go. I received a 5 am wake up skype from the family to start my day and wish me safe travels. I planned for a 6:30 departure only to have Josef arrive at 530 ready to head to Brussels. We loaded the two bike boxes into the Saab and off we went. It took a little over an hour to get to the airport and it was a pretty relaxing ride.

When I got to the airport I had about two hours before my flight and headed to the American Airlines counter. I stood there for 30 minutes before I realized that my connection from Heathrow was on American and my departure from Brussels was on British Airways. I swiftly adjusted and made it through the British Airways line. After placing my bags on the scale, the agent pointed out that the Wheel Box was 1 kilo heavy and it had to be adjusted. After opening up both the bike and wheel boxes and getting the weights squared away I had to re-tape the Wheel box. I had plenty strapping tape to do the job……what I lacked was some sharp implement to cut the tape…..airports frown on knives and scissors. Having selected the strapping tape because it was so durable and strong, I soon found myself gnawing on the tape as the only sharp implement that I had. You have to love sharp teeth - Sorry Dr. Domingo. After a few minutes of gnawing the woman started to feel bad for me and offered some packing labels to “finish the job”. It was pretty ghetto - but it worked. With only about 45 minutes till my flight left, I rush over to immigration which took about 20 minutes to get through. The HUGH disappointment of the day, I neglected to pack the 4 new/vacuum packed speculoos containers into the required ziplock bags and security insisted that I could not travel home with my new found favorite food. The speculoos hating lady put the 2 kilos of gold right next to the trash - implying its ending location. So SAD. I sprinted to the gate, hopped on the plane with moments to spare and we blasted off. I was on my way home.

During my flight I enjoyed cup of English tea that looked like a cup coffee and had the power of a gallon redbull. I needed that kick. Still jazzed when we landed in Heathrow, I got off the plain and boarded the shuttle bus to get to the American Airline terminal via an underground maze. With an hour and a half to make my way to gate 34 I grab a quick snack and stood in the huge line for security. Because of the problems over the holidays, everyone was going to be search very thoroughly. After a very non-thorough search, I headed to my window seat for the journey across the pond. We left on schedule and I was enjoying a quick cat nap when the pilot announced over the intercom that we were making a emergency landing in Canada. The problem causing the need for the emergency landing???? The bathrooms were broken. We landed in Canada so they could fix the bathroom? We were on the tarmac for about ten minutes and then back in the air. I guess that happens when important people cannot hold it.

We landed around 4:30, I was off the plane around 5 and I headed straight to oversize baggage. I was waiting there for a few minutes when I looked over at the regular baggage belt and saw my bike/wheel boxes jamming up the entire belt and banging into people. It would have been pretty funny if I could have grabbed them without anyone seeing that they were mine. After discretely acquiring my bags I moseyed over to customs. The US Customs guys were gigantic, big huge muscle guys - Like a fridge with a head. The biggest dude saw me, my boxes and just pointed and grunted to the side. Not wanting to get on his bad side I quickly shuffled all of my belongings to the side and waited. When Hercules decided I was just an innocent kid, he pointed and sent me on my way.

Dad was waiting for me at the exit of the Customs & Border Crossing and we headed to the house. On the way home we stop at a chinese restaurant for a little dinner and discussion. It was really nice to have dinner with him and get caught up on all the adventures of my trip. Finally at the house after being up for 25 hours. I visited with the family and then headed to bed for some much needed rest in my bed. It was nice to sleep in my bed, with my dog at the foot of the bed and my family around. I slept like a baby.

How Time Flies

It is hard to believe that 17 days have passed since I arrived in Belgium; the time has flown by so fast. I have learned so much more than I anticipated and covered more subjects than I thought we would. The experience has definitely exceeded my expectations. With all of that, what can I take away from Belgium?

Adaptability is a crucial aspect of racing. Having flights that were delayed, baggage/bikes that didn't arrive with me, wheels that traveled to India and missing the first two races all have the ability to be frustrating. Making the best use of my time, focusing on my goals and enjoying what I could helped pass the time, making the best out of a compromised situation. Even though I did not have my bikes, I found a few solutions by riding the cruiser bikes at the Team house, jogging on the roads and did plenty of stretching. This allowed me to keep my fitness for the upcoming races. I understand the value of adaptability in a race, but this trip has made it perfectly clear how I need to adapt to everything else to improve my racing.

To know the purpose for the day is essential. If the day was meant for rest, then rest it is. If the day was meant for racing, then racing it is. To be focused and single minded is always difficult with so many distractions, especially when the distractions are fun. Geoff said in one of the team meetings, “You are doing a great job of being untied, but you [the group] should make sure that you do what is best for yourself. Even if that means riding inside rather than ride outside. Just make sure that you are doing what is best for you.” It is imperative to focus on the goals in order to achieve them.

How to find success in a less than stellar performance is invaluable. A couple of the races did not go according to the plan, either I had trouble warming up, had no legs or had mechanical issues. While they were not ideal, each one had a lesson to take away to improve the next race. Whether learning how to play full contact cross (politely) or figuring out how to get the best results without the normal power in the engine. There was definitely a lesson in each race.

Enjoying the experience is a tremendous reward. I am not sure which I enjoyed more, being able to chat with Jamie Driscoll and Jeremy Powers or racing at a World Cup in the Team USA skinsuit. Being able to just shoot the breeze with the Cannondale/Cylocrossworld.com boys was pretty cool. Then again, toeing the line in the USA skinsuit was AWESOME. I am almost certain that the skinsuit added at least 50 watts to my start.

The whole experience will not soon be forgotten and I think it is very important that everyone know how well the Team USA Crew takes care of the riders. Everyone did a superb job - Geoff for offering needed advice, Fox for always encouraging us, Els for the delicious food (especially my birthday cake), Brecht for the constantly squaring away my bikes and the other Mechanics and Soigneurs for putting our experience at the top of their TO DO list. I offer a sincere thank you to all of the people, in Belgium and the States, who have made this Camp possible and a tremendous success.

As I leave Belgium, I am more motivated than ever to train smarter, race harder and enjoy the experience as it comes.