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Rob assembles the bikes in Austria ... notice the brilliant packing!
The trip begins
I welcome you back to my reports of my adventures in Europe. Old habits die hard; one of the highlights of my racing has always been to share the experience with those at home. So, as I return to racing, return to the roads of Europe, and return to the life of a bike racer, I again sit in front of the key board in order to share with you all the delights and challenges offered by both a foreign country and a sometimes difficult sport.
And so, after a 3 year sabbatical I am back to racing. After nine weeks of training, I find myself in Austria, with ten days of racing before I tackle my primary goal of the World Time Trial Championships on August 22nd.
The trip began about a week ago as we prepared the bikes and assembled equipment required for so much racing. Then the packing of the bikes themselves began; they were carefully cleaned and tuned, disassembled then wrapped in foam tubing and each is set gently in its respective bike bag. The careful handling ends at home; the airlines do not have the same tender approach to the bike bags, heaving them from trolley to trolley, without a care for the delicate piece of equipment nestled inside.
We pulled out of home at 4 am for the 7:50 flight to Dulles. After a very brief lay-over, we settled into seats which would become a form of torture after 6 hours. Comforted by fresh banana bread, baked the evening before, we waited patiently for the children next to use to fall asleep. After what seemed like an eternity of bad air, screaming children and long lines at the loo, we arrived into Munich. Really, European travel is not as glamorous as it would seem and arriving a bit smelly needing to brush your teeth does make things a bit anti-climatic.
Fortunately, the rental van was big enough to put all the luggage in without taking the bikes out of the bags and after a brief look at the map, we were off – direction Salzberg. From the A10 in Salzberg we took the A2 direction Graz and finally wound our way through the Austrian Alps into Deutchlandsberg. Skirting the mountains offered fantastic vistas of the lush green carpets of fields running up the into the rugged mountain sides, ending abruptly into ragged rock cliffs which sprouted upward, kissing the brilliant blue of the sky. The fields were dotted with Guernsey and charlais cattle, all happily grazing oblivious to the spectacular view around them. We could hear the cattle bells gracing the quiet of the mountainsides, making for a movie like setting.
Each town we came to was marked by a gorgeous church of castle which was visible from many kilometers away. Each steeple was unique, and all several hundred years old. Standing stoically at the entrance to the town, the castle or church greeted us, as it had the many travelers before us, looking like it was prepped for a postcard.
Finally we arrived into Deutchlandsberg after 500 kilometers of driving. Weary from over 40 hours of travel, we had time for a quick shower before dinner. At dinner we were greeted by the other US riders here. We are also being joined by several Aussies. Dinner conversation consisted over Tour de France discussion, and it was interesting to hear the Aussie’s talk about their country’s disquiet over the drug scandals.
Tracy Lea, organizer of the trip, explained over our dinner of fresh pasta and salad that the hill climb waiting for us tomorrow would require a 27. Deciding to scout out the climb ourselves we drove the 7 kilometers this morning. A 27 at the minimum … personally, I will be praying for a triple.
I welcome you back to my reports of my adventures in Europe. Old habits die hard; one of the highlights of my racing has always been to share the experience with those at home. So, as I return to racing, return to the roads of Europe, and return to the life of a bike racer, I again sit in front of the key board in order to share with you all the delights and challenges offered by both a foreign country and a sometimes difficult sport.
And so, after a 3 year sabbatical I am back to racing. After nine weeks of training, I find myself in Austria, with ten days of racing before I tackle my primary goal of the World Time Trial Championships on August 22nd.
The trip began about a week ago as we prepared the bikes and assembled equipment required for so much racing. Then the packing of the bikes themselves began; they were carefully cleaned and tuned, disassembled then wrapped in foam tubing and each is set gently in its respective bike bag. The careful handling ends at home; the airlines do not have the same tender approach to the bike bags, heaving them from trolley to trolley, without a care for the delicate piece of equipment nestled inside.
We pulled out of home at 4 am for the 7:50 flight to Dulles. After a very brief lay-over, we settled into seats which would become a form of torture after 6 hours. Comforted by fresh banana bread, baked the evening before, we waited patiently for the children next to use to fall asleep. After what seemed like an eternity of bad air, screaming children and long lines at the loo, we arrived into Munich. Really, European travel is not as glamorous as it would seem and arriving a bit smelly needing to brush your teeth does make things a bit anti-climatic.
Fortunately, the rental van was big enough to put all the luggage in without taking the bikes out of the bags and after a brief look at the map, we were off – direction Salzberg. From the A10 in Salzberg we took the A2 direction Graz and finally wound our way through the Austrian Alps into Deutchlandsberg. Skirting the mountains offered fantastic vistas of the lush green carpets of fields running up the into the rugged mountain sides, ending abruptly into ragged rock cliffs which sprouted upward, kissing the brilliant blue of the sky. The fields were dotted with Guernsey and charlais cattle, all happily grazing oblivious to the spectacular view around them. We could hear the cattle bells gracing the quiet of the mountainsides, making for a movie like setting.
Each town we came to was marked by a gorgeous church of castle which was visible from many kilometers away. Each steeple was unique, and all several hundred years old. Standing stoically at the entrance to the town, the castle or church greeted us, as it had the many travelers before us, looking like it was prepped for a postcard.
Finally we arrived into Deutchlandsberg after 500 kilometers of driving. Weary from over 40 hours of travel, we had time for a quick shower before dinner. At dinner we were greeted by the other US riders here. We are also being joined by several Aussies. Dinner conversation consisted over Tour de France discussion, and it was interesting to hear the Aussie’s talk about their country’s disquiet over the drug scandals.
Tracy Lea, organizer of the trip, explained over our dinner of fresh pasta and salad that the hill climb waiting for us tomorrow would require a 27. Deciding to scout out the climb ourselves we drove the 7 kilometers this morning. A 27 at the minimum … personally, I will be praying for a triple.
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Ready to race! It all fits...
Racing begins at 1:45 and goes throughout the afternoon. Jet lagged, with heavy legs, our goals today are minimal. I am hoping to open up my legs and prepare for the upcoming road races. The rain that welcomed us this morning is hanging around for the afternoon, promising to make my return to Europe absolutely authentic.
Stay tuned and welcome to the journey!
~ Giana
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