Yesterday I did the drive from Cable, Wis to Topeka, KS. It’s nearly 700 miles. I really didn’t have any agenda other than trying to hook up with Michael Fatka in Ames. I got out of Cable pretty early, for me, and made my way down to Spooner, where Alley Cats Coffee is. I always like to stop there. Good coffee, great cinnamon rolls, super inexpensive. Like I mean cheap. Yesterday I got two cinnamon rolls to go and a medium coffee for $3.30. That is with tax. It is crazy inexpensive. Two eggs, meat and toast for 3 bucks. If you have a chance to go through, stop. Last February, when Ned was driving up to the Fat Bike Nationals, I told him to stop there. I didn’t ask him what he thought, but the owner remembered him. There are MTB magazines laying around all over, so it has a good feel.

Anyway, I made my way down to Minneapolis. I stopped by and saw Hollywood Henderson, Hollywood Cycles and Paul Krumich, Donkey Label. Hollywood had just gotten back from a singlespeed MTB race in the UP of Michigan. There was a cool video on Youtube he showed me. Made me jealous. Paul gave me a new pair of custom Donkey Label bibs. Complete with my initials on them. I can hardly wait to try them out.

I chatted for a while and then drove to Iowa. Michael is pretty elusive sometimes. When I was about 20 minutes north of Ames, my phone rang and it was him. I was starving, so I told him I’d meet him at a Panera on Duff St. He showed up riding an old upright bike. I had a sandwich and soup, Michael just tea. We talked and then went over to Skunk River Cyclery. It’s a shop that Michael’s ex-employees started after Michael’s Cyclery ceased to exist. Ron Ritz was there and I hadn’t seen him forever. It was nice catching up.

I’d ordered a knock sensor for Michael’s/Bill Stole’s ex-car, a Subaru Outback. So, we proceeded to put it in. It was easy, out in the parking lot, behind the shop. I hope it made the car run better.

There was a lot of construction between Ames and Kansas City. I felt a sadness pang driving by Des Moines and not stopping for the Iowa State Fair. I would have, but I can’t really walk that much as of yet. There is always the Minnesota State Fair at the end of the month.

I got a photo from Brian Jensen showing our new team clothing had arrived. August is perfect for that. At least for me this year. We had Capo make the clothing. Jay Thomas, Trek Store Midwest, works there now and it wouldn’t be right if we didn’t ride it. So, I made a detour through Lawrence on the way home and picked up my clothing. It was pretty late and Brian just left it on his porch. Brian moved recently, before Leadville. His new house looks awesome from the outside.

Anyway, it is supposed to be nice weather here for a while. Highs in the 80’s, lows in the upper 50’s. Very un-August like in Kansas. I hope to go for a long ride today. Slow, but long. It’s about all I can do just yet.

Michael Fatka sighting.

Cinnammon rolls at Alley Cats.

Check out the prices.

I was getting good mileage with the new Insight battery. Over 60 mpg, before I got on the Interstate and was driving 80+.

I like going into a bike shop and seeing a pile of post race stuff. Such was the case yesterday at Hollywood’s.

Bromont just hung in the shade while Michael and I talked.

Old team clothing at Skunk River.

New team clothing on my bed.

Back of the Donkey Label bibs I got from Paul.

Dennis made me brats and sauerkraut for my last dinner in Wisconsin. Seemed appropriate.

I jumped in the car yesterday at 3:45am to drive out to Colorado. I was hoping to get to surprise Trudi for her birthday, which is today, but got a little mixed up on her schedule. I thought that she was driving from Park City, where she was doing a BMC training camp, to Aspen, where the Pro Challenge starts, early, just with Sean Weide, publicist for BMC. But, as it turns out, there whole team was relocating, thus last night and today are full-on work days.

I got to Vincent’s house in Arvada by 10:30 and was planning on riding with him, then heading over to Snowmass Village, where the BMC team is staying. For one, I didn’t realize how wasted I was going to be from lack of sleep. And two, I didn’t take into account that I-70 was going to be jammed with Friday traffic to the mountains. It wasn’t that bad, but by the time we got up to Silverthorne, it was raining and hailing. So, I took a nap to wait out the rain. It rejuvenated me some.

I decided to call Trudi and explain my plan. We sort of made a tentative plan to meet in Glenwood Springs for dinner, but she was already there, getting the windshield fixed in a team car. And I still needed to ride with Vincent.

So, we just decided to postpone her birthday celebration until after the race is over. It’s really a good thing because Vincent had arranged riding from Silverthorne to Vail and back at 7 am today. It is going to be cool, like in the 40’s when we start. I’m a little worried because yesterday, riding on bike paths to Frisco, my hip was really sore and not good. Hopefully a good night rest will help that some. I guess I’ll see in just a bit.

So, happy birthday Trudi!

Trudi and Cadel after last Sunday’s stage of the Tour of Utah.

Trudi with Bromont’s birthday cake back in June.