Sunday Night's Hot or Not List.

Let's start with the Not list...

1. Floyd Landis and his preying mantis TT position. Come on Floyd you look like Delgado in the '88 Tour. Where are your Bolle Chrono shields to go with that TT position?

2. Crazy Cat Ladies. Well that's what I felt like today. I couldn't make a move today without having at least one cat glued to me. I guess they missed me, Steph said they didn't come out of the room all week, but seriously they were bugging the crap out of me.

3. McLane Pacific Online Registration. It was supposed to close on the 27th, but what they meant was as soon as it turned the 27th which meant 12 am Eastern Time tonight, which means when I logged in to register at 10:07 pm Mountain Time on the 26th that registration was closed. Tell me how that makes sense. Plus it said clearly on the race information that registration closed on the 28th anyway.

4. The Closing Ceremonies of the Olympics. What's the deal with those clowns anyway?

5. Avril Lavigne selling out to NBC and the Canadian Olympic Committee. Look at her now, she might as well work at the Gap.

So who made the Hot list?

No one! I'm in a bad mood today so nothing made it on the Hot list.

Travel Day.
I flew home with Katie and Koop. Kooop was asleep about 30 seconds after we took off. I think we were all a little tired from a big week at camp.
Because we had about an hour to wait for our flight, we just sat outside the airport and fed the birds. They really liked Katie's raisins, and the granola I was tossing out, but their favorites were the green sour patch kids. I'm no ornothologist, but I'm pretty sure that gummy candy is not the best thing to feed animals... or your kids for that matter.

Ahhh, home crap home.

Last day of camp. Our only objective for the day was to ride to view the Tour of California.

We had quite a strong group camped out on Foxen canyon for the group to come by.

All I have to say, is CREED NATION. I'm pretty bummed though, we didn't make it on to ESPN2 coverage.

We waited for what seemed like hours, and this was the only picture I got to take of the pack because I was really busy screaming for Creed and making sure we were turning in unison for the Creed Nation.

In the end it was still a very long day, we had to pack up camp and get ready to go back home. Amy C still finds time to laugh as we get ready for the last planned meal at camp. By the way, just in case you haven't figured it out already, Amy C is married to Mike Creed. That's why were all Mike Creed fanatics.

After dinner the athletes attending camp made sure none of us were empty handed. Here is Katie double fisted with wine. At the time I write this I am unsure of the total number of beers that have been purchased on my behalf, but I think it was a lot. Thanks to all for a great camp. It rocked.

I suck at taking pictures behind me while I'm riding. By the way, what's the deal with the tongue?
Where do I start? Today was the big ride we call the "Stinger". The climb on it is something like 3,000 feet elevation gain in 9 miles. It's pretty dang hard, and here's my group going off the back even before the climb really starts.

Oh, it was on like Donky Kong right from the base of the climb. Here's Katie starting her effort. After giving most of the guys several minutes head start she was still 3rd up to the top. Yah, she pretty much rocks.

Ok, I no longer any excuse to complain about climbing. Here's Scott Gadberry and he kicks ass, and no that is not a photo shop, this guy only has one leg. He's a Paralympian and worked harder today than I've ever seen anyone getting to the top of a climb.
Here's Koop enjoying the fruit of his labors. He was the first to the top. You know, Figueroa is not a race, we encourage everyone just to get out there and challenge themselves... but of course deep down we're all so competitive and that we've got to represent as CTS coaches so with Jimmy out of commission Koop stepped up to the task and defended the title for the coaching staff up Figueroa. Pretty good for a runner!

Because I took the climb at a much more reasonable pace, I got to take lots of pictures on the way up.

At least one guy didn't enjoy the descent. I think his bike broke in half when he went over a cattle guard, but luckily he didn't crash. Phew!
Here we are getting ready for the big day at the Tour of California tomorrow. We'll go watch the stage pass by Foxen Canyon that's just a few miles away. CREED NATION! By the way, I get to be the exclamation point.

CTS Coach Road Trip. Katie and I went on some super secret reconnaissance today.

I didn't say it had anything to do with the camp.

We only had about 2 hours between lunch and the next camp session so we had to cram a lot of sampling in to a short amount of time. It was the only time Katie and had had any free time this whole week, so we had to take advantage when we could.
We were able to get in 3 wineries. We started at Rusak, then Sanford, and Lafond. All pretty good except Sanford, but they thought they were so cool there because they were in Sideways, too bad the wine wasn't that great. Lafond was pretty good, and we both took some home.
=In the end we learned a valuable lesson; 3 winery stops in 90 minutes doesn't lead to high work productivity in the afternoon.

I came down to breakfast with all the songiours and mechanics laughing and laughing and having a great time. It was of course because Chad and Kurt had just been telling Gretchan stories all morning.
We went on a ride this morning to do some climbing intervals. Of course eveyone who rides with me has an awesome time.
Here Amy C details the map to get to the winery to Rick and Butch...we always go over reall important things in our staff meetings.
Uh Oh Jimmy! J-Leh had a little accident yesterday and unfortunately going home early. Amy, of course, was very concerned when she found out about the accident, I mean concerned about replacing Jimmy on the Dodgeball. The CTS team is ranked #2 in the Springs after all.

Today was a big ride. We rode to the beach, from Buellton it's about a 4 hour round trip, unless you're playing the roll of sweeper for the group and then it's about a 5 hour ride. It was a long day for me today, but it was completely worth it because we got some awesome views.
It was pretty cold when we rolled out today. I had to bust out the thermal jacket. This is California. It should be shorts and short sleeves all the time!

The best thing about today was Kurt was our support staff. So he rode behind us all day tending to our every needs, including doing some illegal motor pacing for me after a pee break. The coaches all got a stern warning about that last night, so shhhh don't tell.

Smile for the camera!

"Renee, will you quit blogging. It's time to start the ride." Koop and I led the faster group today.
It was a little damp and cold at the start of the ride.


But it warmed up to a nice day. We had a good 3.5 hours at a good steady pace.
We even saw some mini horses (Anne, this pic's for you).
Then Kurt showed us how professional songiours make bottles.

Today was another pre-camp day at the CTS Buellton camp. All the coaches went out for a nice ride to Los Alamos. No, not where they make the bombs, that's in New Mexico.

I'm working to get better at taking pictures while I'm riding. Here you can tell I'm trying real hard.

I finally got a good one after several tries. There's CC (Chris Carmicael), Koop (my new boss), and Griffy (the boss of no one) trying to hold on to my blistering pace. P.S. Chris did get me in the town line sprint back to Buellton, actually Rick got both of us, but I only wanted to beat the big guy.

Here's Katie hard at work on her coaching duties after we got back from the ride. Katie, Amy Creed, and I are sharing a sweet suite this week.
"uhmmm, which way do we go?" Hopefully we won't have to ask that tomorrow as Lehman clearly detailed the routes we'll do tomorrow.

And as usual, Kurt is giving the metal sign... yes Kurt, we get it. You're so rock and roll.

Today began the CTS camp. Well, almost. Today all the ooaches arrived in Buellton, the day before the athletes do. Here we're taking a little stroll over to lunch. Notice Kurt flashing the metal sign. It sure is nice to see Kurt again; I haven't seen him since last summer.

The day seemed to be filled with all sorts of contests invovling eating. Since all the coaches are or have been athletes at one time, most endevors end up being competitive in some way. Here's Katie Compton seeing if she can meet the challenge of finishing a burrito the size of her head.
Later, at dinner there were a few of us who attempted the age old contest - eat 6 saltines in a minute. Katie did not make it and almost blew chunks all over Kurt. I think she only ate two before she busted up laughing.
Lehman gave it a try because he's a vegetarian and saltines were just about the only thing he could eat in this meat and potatoes steak house we went to.
Kurt on the other hand did not take part of the contest, but he did have a gigantic steak. Seeing as how he's away from the wife and kid this week he's really cutting loose jamming all the saturated fat, processed sugar, and hydrogenated oils he can in to his body since Gretchan isn't around to prevent him from this self-destructive behavior.

Koop as usual was up to the challenge and the only one who finished all 6 saltines in one minute.
My only question is, how many CTS coaches does it take to put the seat back in the mini-van? The answer is waaaay too many.