After two weeks of camp, this is what we watch this on youtube instead of having actual staff meetings.

Happy Canyon
It's always important to drop the hammer on the camp athletes. Note the ginormous glasses they gave me to wear at camp.

Cookie

How much does it suck to lose your cell phone while away from home on a work trip?

A lot.

p.s. If you've called me in the last couple days, there's a good reason I haven't called you back. Also if I've ever had your phone number, I now no longer have it because I had to buy some P.O.S. Nokia with a new SIM card.

Riding out to Drum Canyon for the uphill field test TT.

Kurt, ready to go on my mini-Merckx. Note, I've got the super fast wheels on again this year. I had to loan my Campy PowerTap to one of the camp athletes, so now I've got to ride the Zipps. Ahhh, shoot ;-)

Butch, Jose, and Mitchell waiting for the athletes at the bottom of the climb.

Tonight camp #2 starts, so in the morning the coaches snuck out for a coaches' ride. After we put the restrictor on coach Cookie we all had a good time.

It is seriously beautiful out there this year. It's so green and lush compared to most years. It looks like Ireland.

Looks like Ireland, but the wine is better here.

Today is the only day "off" of these 14 days here in CA although by off that means trying to cram in a week's worth of work from my regular job. It was still a tough day because I kind of feel like that guy up there.

While Kurt is away he enjoys the processed foods and sugar that his wife doesn't let him have.

Since we had the night off the staff did pizza and a movie with a lap top and projector in the pro shop room.

The last day of camp #1, on the way to Figueroa.

A quick ride through Solvang on the way there

And a ride by Neverland Ranch (not pictured but it's a couple miles up this road)

Then end of camp 1.

By the comments left from yesterday's post, apparently no one feels sorry for me for how hard I'm working in CA because I am in CA, it's February and I'm riding my bike everyday. Ok, ok, well if you want to feel bad for me, you'll notice I have no pictures of me on the blog because I have some weird face rash from the sunscreen I tried using yesterday. So there's that.

Anyway, pics from today."Cookie" aka coach Adam, getting ready for the ride. p.s. we're really trying hard to make the "cookie" nickname stick for Adam.

CTS masses huddled under the tent in the rain. It rained on us just enough to soak the chamois this morning. We rode out to the TT, then hung out for several hours, then had to put back on our wet, dirty chamois to ride home.... I do not recommend riding in wet, dirty chamois, it's gross.Crazy, big haired, drunk fans hanging out on the climb on the TT course.

CippoliniBoonen, he's no Basso, but he'll do just fine...

Jens Voight.... one of my all time fav's

George. Metrosexual much?

The descent off the TT course in Ballard Canyon.... Beautiful? Yes.

Front side of the canyon view.

Saunier Duval-Scott team bikes. These guys are staying at our hotel as are Gerolsteiner, Bourgues Teleom, and the Mavic guys.

Tour of California

Today at camp we're going out to watch the Tour of California time trial. We'll be out on the course all day, so there's a good chance you'll see us if you watch the live coverage. Click on the link below and go to the Live coverage. The race will be going on from 12-2:30 PT.

http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/

A day in the life at camp:

5:15 am - wake up and answer emails from yesterday
7:30 am - breakfast
8:30 - 12:00- Ride
12:15 - lunch
1:30-3:30 - Ride
4 - 6 pm - analyze power files from today's ride
6:23 - 6:39:30 - 16.5 minutes of free time (woohoo)
7 pm - dinner
8 pm - listen to Chris tell another Lance story
9 pm - staff meeting
10:21 pm - check to see 20 new emails that have shown up in inbox and decide to get up tomorrow to answer them instead of doing it right now because I am so tired I am struggling to make complete sentences in English
10:39 pm - blog
10:41 pm - bed

Get up and do it again tomorrow

Foxen Canyon

Beautiful, wish you were here.

Sramangolo-Ace
Sushi. Brilliant!

Michelle, the camp manager, is considering trying out for American Gladiators as she tries putting Kurt and Alex in a mean headlock this morning.

California is beautiful, wish you were here.

Seriously, I love the lush green, rolling hills.

After the ride, we played find the mouse in Jim's room.

Seriously, we found a mouse in Jim's room. I think he's getting a few free pay-per-view movies tonight!

So I took off this morning for California. I'm off for two weeks to Buellton, CA for 2 CTS training camps.

Adam was ready for our pre-dawn flight.

Mike, however, wasn't quite so together until he had a cup of joe.

So we made it here and I went out on my first training ride since I was sick with the black death last week. It's not quite as sunny and warm as I had hoped... but it is still California, I am still getting paid to ride my bike, and I don't have to go back to CO until March!

I'll be updating a lot this week and next with all the camp shennanigans, so check back often.

Great cover, who knew a Dolly song could be so rock and roll.

Happy VD everyone! Here's to you enjoying your V.D. with your special someone.

Know what's worse than being sick? Being sick and stuck in bed when it's 60 degrees out in the middle of February. Actually being sick in bed when it's 60 degrees out when you should be out riding your bike because you've got to go camp next week, not to mention you are already behind in work and are needing to get ahead before you leave for California in 5 days is worse.

Good news, spring is coming! A few key signs: It's supposed to be 55 degrees tomorrow, It's 5:47 pm and the sun hasn't totally set yet, I just saw my first batch of Springboard ale in the liquor store, and only 6 days until I go to California!

Now there's something you don't see every day. (the sunrise)

I wonder what it's like to do something so dumb that it makes national news.
Click here to read more.

Hey Ladies. Saw Anne and Hammer Time at the women's task force meeting last night.

Beth came too and is seen here tying her shoes old man style as she claims her pregnant belly gets in the way now.

Super Bowl party at Jan's house.... I have serious 50 in plasma tv envy.

p.s. Hey pretty boy, Tom Brady, suck it!