I am getting on a plane in a couple hours and flying out to San Diego. I have a few things I need to do out in Southern California and there are a couple cyclo-x races this weekend in the San Diego area, so I thought I might as well go out there a couple days early.

I’ve packed a bicycle for flying 100’s, if not 1000’s of times. I don’t use a hard case. Hard cases are a hassle. Especially if more than one rider is being picked up or getting in the same rental car.

When I first started racing, there wasn’t such a thing as a hard case. Just thin, nylon bags. The bags got thicker and eventually came with wheels. The first time I went to Europe I was so surprised that the European riders just took off their pedals and turned their handlebars sideways and gave their bikes to the airlines to ship. I thought how easy it would be to always only have to do that. But, in those days, not many riders in Europe flew..

I use old Athalon bags I got when I rode for the Levi’s team. I’ve put new super heavy duty zippers into them and they are nearly bomb proof. Like I said above, I’ve flew tons and have only had my bike dinged maybe twice. A couple wheels out of true, but nothing too major. When you pack the wheels on the outside of the frame, they act as paddling and it seems to work pretty well. I’ve had as many a 3 complete bikes in one bag, still under the 50 lb limit if I stick some pedals and seats in my checked luggage. I commonly fly with two cross bikes, plus extra wheels in one bag. With bike charges going insane, it is mandatory.

Ned was the first guy I ran into that used a hard case. It was such a hassle. In Europe, we had to rent a utility van for Trudi, Moser (mechanic), Ned and I, plus Ned’s fiberglass bike case. It was like having another bike along. A nylon bag folds up and can be used as padding when you pack your bikes into a car. Ned’s case was beyond cumbersome.

So, one early season trip, we were staying outside Madrid, Spain, and Ned had put his hard case out on the balcony. We were staying pretty high in the hotel, probably over 10 stories. So, Moser and I are on the balcony talking about what a hassle Ned’s case is and somehow it is decided that we should just throw it off the balcony onto the pavement of the parking lot below, to help Ned get of the “professional program”. Ned is sitting in the hotel room in full view of us. So, I’m not sure who did it, but one of us picked up the case and tossed it over the railing. Ned was on the balcony looking down before it hit the ground. It didn’t quite explode, but was definitely hurt pretty badly. I don’t remember Ned’s response. I’m not sure I’ve even seen him get crazy upset. But Ned does go down and drag the case back up to the room.

After the race, we were staying a couple more days before heading to Italy or somewhere and we go out shopping. Ned comes back with this sheet of fiberglass and some resin and proceeds to patch his case back together. It was quite a production and super smelly. I was beyond amused watching the process. I bet he still has that case.

I use pipe tubing now just because they seem to throw stuff around a lot more than they used to.

I used to be able to sometimes get out of the bike charge by saying it was a Levi’s display.

Yesterday every thing went great. My new favorite airlines is Frontier. Southwest is a close 2nd. Frontier does most everything that Southwest does that I like, not charging for changing tickets, buying one way tickets, etc. But they don’t charge anything for shipping bikes. That is a pretty huge saving, depending on which other airline you might being flying. You even save $100 RT compared to Southwest.

So, I got up to Don and Sue’s house in La Jolla yesterday, and was talking to Don about riding rigid forks when I instantly thought that I didn’t have my XTR pedals to race cross. I never forget stuff. Well, obviously that isn’t true. I usually have a mental check list that it pretty complete and I over prepared if anything. That is probably half the reason I have a full size van to drive around most of the season. But not this time. And it’s a drag.

I’ve never forgot my shoes. Thurlow Rogers once forgot his shoes at a huge stage race in Italy and ended up riding some spectators shoe’s, that didn’t fit him, but he had a great ride and finished 2nd. Bill Stolte, a few years back, forgot his shoes at the hotel for the Burlington Road Race, in Iowa. He used our friends Vincent’s shoes and Speedplay pedals, vs. Shimano, and he also got 2nd on the day. I wonder if that is just a coincidence? I’ve never forgot my shoes. But I have pedals.

Anyway, I was stressed most of yesterday afternoon. I finally got a hold of Mike Olson, the czar of the Trek Stores of San Diego, and he found some pedals up in the Vista, Ca store. I would have went there and got them, but the traffic here is so bad on Friday between 3 and 7 on Friday, that it would have driven me nuts.

So, I’m going to go by the store today on the way to the race and get them. I’m still uneasy about that, but I really have no reason to be. The pedals are at the store and I can get there. But, that’s the curse of being an athlete. You always need to have something to worry about.

Don and Sue's new dog, Kaya. They found her on the way back from Durango a couple months ago, on an Indian reservation. She had been shot in the head with a shot gun and is now missing one eye, but it doesn't seem to slow her down the least.

Flying into Denver yesterday. Winter is here.

Sunset over the ocean yesterday.