Nay friends, this is not the balance of my checking account, my net worth, nor how I feel, but rather what I have just completed. As in a “Grandy.” No doubt some of you quick-witted passers by will be quick to point out the impossibility of this statement, as the last “Grandy” of 2010 concluded in September. To you, I say, “Thanks for pointing out the obvious – and technically correct. Now please allow me to continue uninterrupted with this train of thought; when I am through, you may continue with your banter.”

Almost every competitive cyclist, and countless recreation cyclists, dream and fantasizes of what racing in the Tour de France might be like. Yet only a select few (in the neighborhood of 180 something-or-another) cyclists actually get to live out this fantasy on an annual basis. And while the Tour de France is undeniably the pinnacle of competitive cycling, there are two other magnificent Grand Tours, (or “Grandy’s”) the Giro di Italia and the Vuelta a Espana, which should not go unaccounted for. For many, these notions remain a dream and fantasy all through our careers and lives. And for a select few, these dreams become goals, become planning and ambition, become reality. Recently, a magical transformation has taken place, whereby a Grandy has moved from my realm of “fantasy” into a realistic, and attainable, goal. Just how did this transformation begin to bear fruit? Allow me to expand on a recent trip to Guatemala, where I recently finished the Vuelta a Guatemala.

But first, let us discuss a few stats (because I do love stats) of your “typical” Grandy.
Length (Kilometers): 3000+
Length (Hours): 90+
Days (Total): 23
Days (Stages): 21
Days (Rest/Transfer): 2

Now for some stats from the Vuelta a Guatemala:
Length (Kilometers): 1530
Length (Hours): 46
Days (Total): 12
Days (Stages): 12
Days (Rest/Transfer): 0

With our raw data, lets do a few calculations. After all, what good are stats if you don’t take the time to analyze them?
Length (Kilometers): 1530/3000=.51 or 51%
Length (Hours): 46/90=.5111 or 51.11%
Days (Total): 12/23=.5217 or 52.17%
Days (Stages): 12/21=.5714 or 57.14%
Days (Rest/Transfer): 0/2=0 or 00%

And now for the final analysis and break down.
You will notice that with the exception of Rest/Transfer Days, the recently concluded Vuelta a Guatemala is greater than, or equal to, half of a typical Grandy; and had almost 6 days of racing, for every 10 days of racing in a Grandy. All without a single Rest/Transfer Day. So, if we were to look only at the numbers, one could easily argue that I have just completed half a Grandy.

However, despite my love for statistics, one must also take into account personal experiences. The highs and lows; or the “climbs” and “sprints” if you will. For I should think it impossible to complete more than even a few meager days of racing/traveling/resting without beginning to accumulate some fantastically entertaining stories and experiences.

Saddle Sores? You can bet that more than a handful of riders are reaching a little deeper, (if you are Euro) or squeezing a little longer, into their choicest container of chamois cream. My time in Guatemala was no exception. With the roads in a state of constant deterioration, it didn’t take long before several of us “Gringos” were searching for comfort in a little extra chamois creme. Luckily, nothing got too out of control, and presumably things have “calmed down” after our return to the wonderful US-of-A.

Language Barriers? You bet! After all, we are English-speaking Americans, and who doesn’t speak English, right? Wrong. It turns out that only a select few Guatemalans are able to comprehend our Anglo-Frisian banter. Luckily I was able to draw on a few reserves, left from my high school days. Although I suspect that the individuals who live south of the Rio Grande may have felt like they were conversing with a First-Grader when I attempted to converse in their Ibero-Romance banter, I was nonetheless able to convey or receive the point of the conversation. Of course, it wasn’t always easy going while chewing the fat, there were numerous mis-pronunciations, wrong tenses, wrong words, and simply words that I was making up.

New Foods? Naturally. While many an American thoroughly enjoy a good burrito or taco, that is just the “tip of the ice berg”, or the “cherry on top” if you will. My palate simply couldn’t suck down enough fresh baked corn tortillas, , fresh plantains, friend plantains, or (extremely spicy) salsa, alongside the more commonplace Latin staples such as rice, chicken, steak, tropical fruits, and the rest. Which of course where much preferable to the average tasting, yet never-ending, trays of pasta which they placed before us. With the exception of one quite good plate of carbonara which came in the evening after stage, uh, er, well, I don’t really remember which night it was. It was later in the race, and the creamy sauce just simply hit the spot that evening.

Crazy fans? We saw tens of thousands of fans over the course of twelve days. Three lane roads suffocated to a barely passable 5 and 6 riders abreast was intimidating at first, but nearly became normal by the time we completed the Stage 12 13 kilometer ITT in Guatemala City. Along the way, the “Gringos” proved to be popular in every start and finish city, and all along the way. My teammates and I enjoyed all the creative, and not-so-creative, cheers and jeers which came our way. And when we were not actually racing or riding, it we turned ourselves into a nearly non-stop photo and autograph producing machine. In the extreme, collecting bottles, jerseys, hats, and gloves was so “last year;” one fan took things to a new and unprecedented height when he asked me to autograph his baby! That’s right; his freaking baby now bears my scarcely legible scrawl across its stomach.

The numbers don’t lie, and I could go on for hours sharing stories and experiences which my teammates and I accumulated over our 12 days of racing in Guatemala. But even all of this is just the beginning. The beginning of something bigger – something “Grand.” But wait, I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself. Mathematically and anecdotally, I have come to the conclusion that I did just in fact complete a little over half of a “Grandy.” Which means it is time to recover in “Grand” style. And with that, allow us to usher in the off-season; a time of the year where overindulgence is a new and exciting daily routine. As one fellow US National Team Member once said, “Hello off-season. Can I buy you a drink?”

Keep the Rubber Side Down,
C-

Go to the Source – carsonmiller.missingsaddle.com

Sorry, but I just couldn’t resist the play on words. In addition to paying homage to my home-state of California, using the phrase “Gila good…” is perhaps the only way that a person could describe last week’s SRAM Tour of The Gila without using the word “Epic.” Unfortunately, I am not a “NorCal Dudebro,” and so the phrase might be a little bit forced; like using chili-powder in a chocolate cake. Rest assured though, both are superfluous replacements to something that has otherwise become overdone, and somewhat bland.

I don’t even know where to begin my recounting of last week’s events, so how’bout a list. Day-by-day, and we will see where we end up.

Monday: After finishing up with La Vuelta de Bisbee as the best young rider, I re-packed my life into my trusty Subaru for the “Gila-boring” drive from one desert mining town, to another. If it weren’t for the sun-drenched panoramic views of the desert, this might have been a drive that could rival the blandness of driving across the state of Wyoming. Much of the drive was spent in “radio-silence” as there were neither FM-Radio waves, nor Cellular waves. Early on in the drive, I left my radio on “scanning” as my right-hand pointer-finger was fatiguing from the continual clicking of the FM-Dial on the stereo. Thirty minutes later, I was jolted from a day-dream when my radio unexpectedly began to receive a radio station from Mexico. Needless to say, I was “Gila-startled” by the sudden blaring of mariachi music. At the end of my “Gila-boring” drive, I arrived in Silver City, and met my “Gila-great” host family.

Tuesday: With one stage race just beginning to seep out of my legs, and another just around the corner, today was a leisurely day. My agenda included coffee, a couple hours of riding, lunch, race packet pick-up, bike prep, dinner, and an early bed time. After my morning coffee consumption was completed, I met up with my good friend Andrew for a “Gila-chill” recon ride over some of the courses which we would race on.

Wednesday: The first stage of a race always comes as a bit of a shock to the system. You spend weeks training and preparing for an event, then usually comes at least a few days to rest and taper before continuously making “Gila-big” efforts. I got my race off on the right foot, with a couple of “Gila-big” efforts than landed me in the day’s break. Inside of the final 10km, and I made one more “Gila-big” effort to steel the show. While I came up short, those last desperate minutes as I poured myself into the pedals were “Gila-satisfying.” After being caught, I desperately tried to hold the wheel of each group/rider who passed me in those final 3km before finally reaching the finish and suffering from a “Gila-bad” case of pursuiter’s-cough.

Thursday: Today was “Gila-windy.” Enough said. Ok, I’ll elaborate a bit. After a wild and semi-unorderly neutral start to the race, “It was on like Donkey-Kong.” With “Gila-strong” winds whipping across the region, the strongest teams and riders set a pace which destroyed the field in the first 20km of the race. After loosing one of my bottles, the first 100km of the day were “Gila-dry” as the neutral service seemed to be blown out of the feedzones. Going through the final feedzone of the stage, I stalked up on bottles and prepared for a crazy finale to the stage. The last 10km of the race were “Gila-sketch” with riders getting blown off the road, racing in the gutters, and even down the sidewalks. I persevered through the mayhem, only to suffer a flat-tire with 2km remaining in the race. Thankfully, the “3km Rule” stepped up the plate and saved my bacon, as the judges awarded me the same finishing time as the (front) group that I was with.

Friday: Time-Trial racing has become something of a technological marvel. The bikes, helmets, wheels, and even clothes we wear for these events crams worlds of technology into the fewest possible grams. As just one man, with limited resources, I was “Gila-disadvantaged” by racing on my road bike. In truth, today was more about coming out alive, and getting some extra rest and recuperation before the final couple of stages in the race. After almost 40 minutes of stomping on the pedals, my day’s work was done. A quick cool-down spin, and I was back in my “Gila-comfy” bed enjoying a rare treat; a nap.

Saturday: With “Gila-cold” temperatures not giving way to the rising sun, I savored a few extra cups of coffee before going for a morning spin. Nothing big, just a quick hour or so to loosen up the legs, and to prepare for some “Gila-violent” efforts in the crit that would come in the evening. The crit was “Gila-rad” with thousands of spectators lining a challenging 4-corner course, loaded with 80 feet of climbing per lap.

Sunday: After a “Gila-early” morning ahead of the week’s earliest start, I gathered up my race bag and jumped on my bike to ride to the venue. With four days of hard racing in the legs, and “Gila-cold” temps again resisting the rising sun, the race started off with some violent efforts. Even the neutral felt hard as our hearts worked to force blood through arteries and veins which had constricted in the cold. Again, strong winds whipped across the course, and with valuable sprint bonus points loaded into the first half of today’s stage, the strongest teams and riders hit the front and split the peleton to pieces. With my arteries and veins dilating all to slowly, I missed out on the day’s break, and also found myself stuck behind the first split of the race. Luckily we were able to rejoin the front group in a timely manner, and I quickly set about topping off my fuel levels with plenty of food and drink to keep me going through the second half of the stage. The half loaded with steep alpine climbs, “Gila-gnarly” descents, and lots of places where a selection could, and would, be made. As the snow began to fall, I felt the fatigue creeping into my legs, and slowly lost contact with the leaders going over a Cat-1 climb. It was like bleeding to death, as they remained right in front of me winding up the mountainside, but with each effort to close the gap, I only flailed more than the time before. With 40km remaining, a flying Floyd Landis caught up to my small chase group. Over the final 40km, I rode on the wheel of Ben King, who rode on the wheel of Floyd Landis. It was almost like motor-pacing for an hour after a solid three-and-a-half hours on the bike. And without a motorcycle/scooter. As Ben called it, we were “Floyder-pacing.” Through numerous riders, groups, and even cars, Landis set a steady tempo which pushed our pace, and saw a small group come to the line a little over 6 minutes after the leaders arrived.

And there you have it, my “Gila-long” review of a “Gila-great” week spent in Silver City, NM racing the SRAM Tour of The Gila.

Keep The Rubber Side Down,
C-

Go to the Source – carsonmiller.missingsaddle.com

Yessiree that is the name of the game. As professional athletes, we often play a lot of games. Some games are mental – such as the famous “Look” which Lance Armstrong gave to Jan Ullrich before dropping him for good during the Tour de France. Some games are physical – such as Cube Runneron my iPhone. And some games are just figurative – like the waiting game; which I am playing right now.

These games all serve a different purpose. The mental games are often a sort of psychological war-fare where we are trying to defeat our “enemeies” in the arena of sport. The physical games are usually a way to entertain ourselves. These games seve many purposes, but always have a physical presence which we can touch and feel. Which brings me to “The Waiting Game.”

The Waiting Game has many variations and iterations. As professional athletes, we often spend a lot of time sitting and waiting before and after competition. I have remarked before that professional athletes are also professional sitters. In truth though, we do much more than sit. We are waiting. Waiting to arrive at our next event, waiting for an event to start, waiting for a teammate to get out of the shower, waiting for better weather, waiting for… and the list goes on.

The beauty of The Waiting Game is it’s simplicity, as there is only one rule. Don’t get bored. Period. “How hard is that?” I hear you ask, “I would kill to do nothing for a day.” For one day, yes, maybe doing nothing is novel. However by the nth time you have tried to do nothing, you will inevitably find yourself bored. Congratulations! You have just failed the waiting game.

So how do I play the waiting game? First, I start with a wide variety of game pieces; my two favorite pieces include my iPhone and MacBook computer, followed closely by a good book as well as Television/Movies.

The first piece to come out of the game box is my phone. Within 15 or 20 minutes, I have made an initial pass on Social Media, E-Mails, and have moved to the Interwebs where I will peruse the days (cycling) news. After the first round of play, I reach for my computer which I will use to check for a viable Internet connection. With said connection, perusing the Interwebs is easier for both my eyes and thumbs. If my roll for the Internet turns out to be a pair of “snake eyes,” then I am only going to squander a few minutes before I roll again and gamble on some creativity – hopefully I score the rare double-6’s and find that I have a good movie which I can watch. As the opening round comes to a close, one more move of the first piece, my phone, will close the round. Usually the second check on Social Media is quick, and reveals only a few new developments. Then if I am lucky, I will find an interesting E-Mail or two which I read immediately.

Round-Two is where I reach for the remaining pieces which will fill almost any void which needs filling. Perusing hundreds of channels of programming is at first a daunting task. For the amateur player, this task alone will see several minutes pass by. As you graduate from Beginner, to Intermediate, to Advance, checking for interesting programing becomes almost second nature – and can even be combined with another move of your phone or computer piece. With any luck, your seach will reveal some form of entertainment which will hold your attention for some length of time. Should your search of television be another pair of “Snake-Eyes,” you can close the second round with a good book. While finding a good book can be a hard task, once you find a good book you have an almost certain pair of 6’s on your next roll. Crack that book open, and Round 2 might last for several hours.

After Round 2 is complete, continue to move your pieces in any order that will hold your attention without feelig the passage of time. The game is over when your next appointed activity is scheduled to begin. If you get bored before that time, you lose; and if you have managed to succesfully fill the void in your day without feeling the passage of time, congratulations. You have just won “The Waiting Game.” Simple. Period.

Currently, my Friday morning edition of The Waiting Game is entering the final moves in the final round. This evening I get another race underway with a 3.1km ITT Prologue to open this weekend’s La Vuelta de Bisbee. Ah shit, look at that; morning has come and gone. That’s another win for me in The Waiting Game, and I am now out the door to prepare for a violent effort in this evening’s race.

Keep the Rubber Side Down,
C-

Go to the Source – carsonmiller.missingsaddle.com

From outer space…  Ah-nah-nuh-nah…

Alright, so I am not actually going to write (sing) out the rest of that song.  And for 2 very simple reasons.  First and foremost, I don’t know the rest of the words.  Secondly, if I were to sing out-loud to myself, trying to remember the words, the other occupants of this cozy coffee shop would be grasping their ears as they ran out the doors in an attempt to escape the unmelodic shrill of my voice.  Which, is not necessarily a bad way to gain fame in today’s pop-culture.  Perhaps during the coming off-season, which is still a LOOOONG ways off, I can come up with a new song and dance which would prove to be even more catchy than “Pant’s On The Ground.” In the meantime, the 2010 Road Season is bearing down on me, and its time to get down to biznass.

But “Wait,” you say; it has been something like 4 months with no posting.  What has happened between a day of rock-climbing with your bros and now logging countless hours in the saddle.  At first, my hiatus from the blog-posting was convenience and laziness merged into one cohesive chunk of time where I was able to escape from the daily rigors of cycling.  With time passing by quickly, my off season quickly gave way to reintroducing my ass to chamois creme and saddle time, while my legs struggled to remember how exactly it was possible to tap out more than 80 smooth revolutions in the span of 60 seconds.  Eventually, the bike was no longer a foreign object between my legs, but rather an extension of my own being.  In the mornings, I would sip at my cup(s) of coffee while pouring over cycling related news online, and by the time evening rolled around, I had digested all the day’s news, blogs, transfers, and developments.

It was during that time, that I noticed that I, like many other cyclists, had begun to enjoy all the leisures of the off-season.  Things like eating excessive amounts of delicious food, staying up late, even the occasional alcoholic beverage were all fair game during this short and precious time of relaxation in our year otherwise ruled by concerns of our power-to-weight ratios, fitness/form, and other performance defining idioms.  And after reading the nth account of a night spent enjoying “grape-juice” and hors d’oeuvres, or a holiday feast which was ruled by pumpkin and other savory sweets, I decided that the world really didn’t need another personal account of a near-similar experience.  And I so I left the blogging and story telling to those who exercise and display a greater mastery of the written word, than do I.

However it is now that the days of racing are nigh.  Nay, in fact, the days racing have already begun to accumulate this year.  Lest you think that my 2010 is already passing you by, rest assured that the 2 days of racing which I have logged were more just me remembering how to function smoothly and efficiently under the auspices of racing and not just training.  My first race of 2010 was the Boulevard Road Race held in eastern San Diego County.  This year again brought conditions which would favor the true hardmen who were willing to suffer the most as we set out to race under a cool sky which was releasing a steady bone-soaking rain.  An untimely flat took me out of contention for a result, and left me to suffer alone at the front of a small group of men whom endured the conditions and refused to quit.  A day later, and I was mid-pack in a crit dusting off my crit-sharking-skillz.  Those skills still have much honing to be done, but it was refreshing to get back into a elbow-rubbing peleton as we raced around an old industrial park for all of 75 mins.

Coming out of those 2 races, I am excited to see my form improving, and hold high hopes for another year of learning, growing, and winning.  With my afternoon’s latte long since finished, and a computer battery that is about to die, I am going to power down and head back to the ranch.  It’s true, I am back, and I am ready to rock another solid year of living the dream from the seat of my bike.  I’ll see you on the road…

Keep the Rubber Side Down,
C-

Go to the Source – carsonmiller.missingsaddle.com

Having some time away from structured training and daily rides doesn’t equate to spending all of my days on the couch sucking down one coffee after another.  Of course I have spent some quality time on the couch, and have enjoyed several quality cups of brew; but I am also enjoying having the opportunity to get out and experience that which I don’t get to during the hight of the riding season.

With my brother not having school on Fridays, we decided to make the most of his day off last week.  After a sleeping in, we headed into downtown for some errands and a trip to one of Bend’s finest coffee shops.  While he tackled a few to-do’s, I tackled the best latte in town.  With our to-do’s ticked off, and riding high on my delicious brew, we rolled over to the Taco Stand for a quick lunch.  Around Bend, the Taco Stand has become almost iconic.  Inside an older deteriorating building, which is well of the beaten path, Bend’s population has found one of the best inexpensive ways to conquer hunger by means of the all-mighty burrito.  As with most locations offering up quick Mexican food, the portions are large, and you could surely eat something other than a burrito, but I don’t know why.  The flour tortillas are bursting at their edges with fresh ingredients that satisfy all but the biggest of appetites.

Having eaten our fill of Mexican, we returned home in order to pick up some climbing gear.  While my brother never really took to the world of competitive sports, he has found abundant joy in climbing mountain after mountain, and rock face after rock face.  I decided to join in on the fun for a day.  With all the gear in the back of our Subaru, we rolled out to Smith Rock State Park where we meet up with a few mutual friends for an afternoon of climbing.  I should note that it has been many years (like at least eight), since the last time I pulled on a harness or climbing shoes.  While I thought I knew what snug fitting shoes felt like, pulling on a pair of “appropriately” sized climbing shoes was just the first of many surprises that would come my way that afternoon.  After cramming my feet into the impossibly small shoes, and getting over the initial shock of how tight they fit, I found a world of enjoyment.

Lots of vertical rocks, and lots to accomplish here are Smith Rock State Park. The views are not too bad either…

We spent the afternoon tackling several different pitches and routes and climbed right into dusk.  While my afternoon began with modest ambitions, and a chief aim of spending time with my brother doing something that he enjoyed, I left the state park with so much more.  We made out way out of the park as the sun was sinking beyond the horizon, reaching the car just before the last rays of sun-light disappeared.  The hike out left me anxious for more.  An afternoon of challenging climbs, great time spent with friends, and a new found hobby were just the way to recharge my batteries.

As it turns out, spending time away from the bike is not as hard as I thought it might be.  And with a new found hobby, I still have plenty to learn and plenty to keep me active while taking a break from the endless kilometers of tarmac which I plan to overcome in the coming season.

It was a long way to the top, but I made it. This is a shot on my favorite pitch from Friday afternoon, and I can't wait to try out some new routes.

Between now and resuming structured training in a few short weeks, you can be sure I will be making a few more climbing trips with my brother.

Keep the Rubber Side Down,
C-

Go to the Source – carsonmiller.missingsaddle.com

Back from the crazy circus that surrounds, and is, Interbike, I am finally getting around to taking some time off.  Yes, you read that last sentence correctly, it does say time off.  I will wait right here while you clean up the coffee which you just spit out, and which is now dripping down the screen of your computer; after all, I am just sitting around relaxing, and I have all the time in the world to do nothing but wait.

The 2009 season has been great, but also has been extremely taxing.  Since February, my summer has been filled with more racing kilometers than any prior season, and has also included the proportional and prerequisite increase in training kilometers.  My season culminated with a 7+ week trip to Europe where I raced as a member of the USA Cycling U23 Development Team.  During those 7 weeks, I not only experienced some of the toughest racing that I have faced so far, but I also was riding on some of my best form of the season.  Everything came together for me in an environment that was challenging yet supportive, while also pushing me to grow and develop as a cyclist.  As my return home drew nearer, I could feel that the timing would be perfect.  I had been racing 3 or more days a week for most of the trip, and my body needed a chance to rest and recover from all those hard efforts.  I held on and made it through the last races, before coming home to start resting and relaxing in Vegas style.

Lest you think I am using the term “off-season” to disguise my cyclo-cross season and its related ambitions, let me correct you right here.  This time off will truly be downtime, several days away from the road bike, while getting caught up on everything that I have neglected to do since January when I left the cool icy roads of Oregon, for the warmer and sunny roads of Souther California.  But first, CrossVegas.

With Land Rover Las Vegas stepping up as a sponsor of CrossVegas, they were keen to have several riders pimping the bright yellow and green skinsuits under the lights of the Desert Breeze Soccer Complex.  Along with my teammate, Aaron Tuckerman, I was more than happy to accept the invitation to race before spending a day or two on the floor of the Interbike Trade Show.  It is my humble opinion that one needs to spend no more than 2 days in Las Vegas – 3 at the most.  A testament to this fact can be found in the numerous descriptions by others who departed through the gates of McCarran Airport, and found that most of the passengers whom were departing looked run down, exhausted, and desperate to get out of the Sin City.

My first full day back in Bend was one of the last warm and sunny days in the immediate forecast, so I decided to make a trip to the coffee shop.  I figured that an easy 60 minute spin, with a stop at one of my favorite coffee shops, would be just the way to get the staleness of the drive home out of my legs, while enjoying one of the last pleasant days of Fall.

Yesterday's hail storm signals what is likely the end of warm and sunny days here in Bend.

During the last few days, I have made serious progress in cleaning up my room, as well as unpacking all the bags and boxes which I have been living out of since January’s departure for warmer training grounds.  With my floor devoid of the duffle bags and left over race food, I turned my energy to taming the piles of crap which have overtaken my desk.  It wont be long now utill I have all of my old bank statements filed, and the pile of unread VeloNews Magazines eliminated.  The goal here is that I will have everything cleaned and put away with time left over for a fresh coat of paint.  My brothers and I have slowly been going through color cards, and having settled on a color more vibrant than white, I am looking forward to a change of scenery.

While unpacking and putting away all my clothes, I took the time to organize and hang all of my riding kits. Chronologically and in the same order; skinsuits, bibs, jerseys, and then jackets.

In between trips to the local second hand store (which is a great place to get rid of unwanted clothes and generally junk in general) and getting everything put away in its place, I have found some time to enjoy a bit of cooking.  Spending time in the kitchen is one of those things which I really enjoy, and fancy myself as good at.  These weeks away from structured training also provide a little extra “wiggle room.”  While I might pass on the apple pie or plate of Oreo’s during the season, This is a time of indulgence, and enjoying that second helping of ice-cream simply seems like a good idea right about now.  Soon enough, it will be time to tighten down the belt, figuratively speaking, and get serious about preparing for 2010, but for now, it is time to relax, and enjoy a genuine break from all the structure that I crave.

Starting the day off with a plate of Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict and Chipotle Almonds was a brilliant idea.

Keep the Rubber Side Down,

C-

Go to the Source – carsonmiller.missingsaddle.com

For the most part, the last few weeks of craziness that is Belgian Kermesse racing has been good to me.  I wouldn’t go so far as to say the results and performances have been outstanding, but going full distance in several events, while posting a handful of top 20’s has at least provided a little confidence and success to pad the so often brutal punishment that many riders associate with kermesse racing.  Especially coming from America, these races were absolutely foreign to me.  With the attacks going from the gun, it seems that the pace/effort could never remain so high all the way to the finish some 2.5 or 3 hours later.  And yet some how it always does.  As a rider who prefers to see the road tip up, fighting for position while racing down gutters has always been an area of weakness for me.  Which is exactly why I am still here throwing elbows and fighting to hold my spot in the gutter.  My ability to climb is worthless if I struggle through crosswinds and long flat stretches of road before ever reaching the climbs.  Luckily, my pack prowess has been coming around, the these seemingly endless kilometers of suffering through kermesses has taught me a great deal about riding in the wind, or rather out of it, and holding better pack position.  Now I just need to find some long climbs to exploit my strengths…

Last weekend, I fell victim what seems to be a variation of the “stomach bug” that has been going around the European peleton.  While I don’t even put myself in similar to company to that of Andy Schleck, or Tom Danielson, I did find it interesting to note that they both fell victim to a stomach bug.  I think our only similarities beyond a love for the bike, came in the form of some of our symptoms.  Friday afternoon I noticed that my stomach didn’t feel good.  I chalked it up to nerves, or some other random affliction which would soon pass.  While I was out riding and warming up for a criterium that evening, I noticed that I was most “comfortable” on the bike when I was working hard.  Every time my heartrate came down below like 155 my stomach would start to turn itself in knots as it worked out a bug.  Simple enough I thought, I just have to make sure I ride really hard, and smart, in the criterium tonight, and I will have no problem.  I suppose the theory was at least mildly beneficial, considering I pulled a top 25 after going in several breaks over the course of the 70km race.  What followed that evening, was four days of laying in my bed, scarcely able to eat.

I spent saturday evening hugging a porcelain pillow as my body worked viciously to rid itself of an unwanted infection in my stomach.  No such luck – just lots of time curled up over the toilet.  After several days of forcing myself to eat small amounts of rice and other simple carbs, the writing was on the wall.  Whatever sickness I had was going to take more than just rest and not eating to be expelled from my body.  I went to the doctor on Tuesday morning, and was diagnosed with a stomach infection and given some medicine which will hopefully clear up the infection, and allow my to resume normal eating and training habits.  So far so good.  I have been able to slowly re-introduce more complex foods and meats into my diet, and the normallness is coming back on the bike too.  Today was the first time in nearly a week that I have felt good on the bike, and I am looking forward to a weekend of kermesse racing to conclude my trip here in Belgium.

As soon as I get home, it will be back on the road as I head with my team to Las Vegas for the Interbike show and the Cross-Vegas race.  I don’t know exactly how the legs will hold up to 2 days of steady travel before the race, but I had a blast being there last year, and I am excited to get in some racing under the lights this year.  Its going to be a busy next 7 days, and I am excited for all that fills those days.  See you in Vegas.

Keep the Rubber Side Down,
C-

Go to the Source – carsonmiller.missingsaddle.com

Since finishing the Vuelta A Ciclista Palencia on high note, with Daniel Holoway taking the final stage win, I have been riding in First Class on the recovery bus.  You might say, “Rollin’ like a big shot…” on the recovery bus.  Halfway through Palencia, the UCI sent some vampires to suck 2 vials of blood from each of the riders in the race.  While the primary objective was testing for any signs of doping, the UCI also took time to check on everyone’s blood and mineral levels.  Turns out I was probably one of the more tired riders in the race, with my hematocrit down 18% from normal rested levels.  By the end of the race, I was maybe another one or two percentage points lower.

Wednesday was a day of traveling and sleeping for me.  After getting up early, we drove 4 hours to the airport, where I enjoyed a 2 hour nap, er, I mean flight.  Arriving in Belgium, we all enjoyed a small bit of ice-cream before jumping into a bus for the drive back to our house in Izegem.  No sooner than I climbed in the bus, did I pass out, only to wake up as we took the exit ramp from the freeway into Izegem.  After dinner, I got caught up on a few e-mails and tweets before spending a few hours at the square (towne center) with Cole House and Chris Butler.  Coming off a big block of racing, it was nice to get out and relax for a bit.  We all enjoyed a little Belgian brew before returning to the house to pass out.

A team of 7 riders plus staff, pac along A LOT of gear. After the vehicles returned from Spain and unloaded, this is what our Service Course looked like. Lots to unpack and put away.

From Thursday through today, the days have been pretty relaxed for me.  With double-digit hours of sleep coming almost daily, along with a few short rides, and a daily napping session, my batteries are finally starting to feel recharged.  When not sleeping away nearly half of the day, I spent a good deal of time in my bed or on the couch with my computer.  I always laugh at how many quality hours us cyclists can kill with a computer (or phone) and a good internet connection.  While most people back home have a hard time comprehending the laziness of a cyclist, we all embrace the world of technology, for its great ability to kill vast amounts of time.  David Millar recetnly wrote a great blog about killing time.  As a cyclist it was funny to read about someone else, who’s daily routine was so familiar to me, yet one that many cannot fathom.  One of my recent time-killing discoveries has been the world of literature.  Surprisingly enough, I generally love to exercise my gift of gab, yet find in painfully difficult to finish a book.  Recently, I have found Out of The Silent Plant, the first book in The Chronicles of Narnia trilogy, to be an oasis from my electronic world.

Several rides this past week involved stopping at the coffee shop. While the coffee tends to not be as volumous as what I have become accustomed to back home, they definitely know how to make a good cup of coffee. All the extra's are a nice complimentary touch too.

When not behind the glow of my computer screen, or reading, I found another great way to pass time. Some will understand what is happening with this deck of cards. Others will wonder. I still need a lot of practice…

This afternoon I get back into the swing of racing with a 110km kermesse.  The next three weeks will be packed full of kermesse races, internet, and my electronics before I fly home to kick off my off season, er, rather cyclo-cross season.

Keep the Rubber Side Down,
C-

Go to the Source – carsonmiller.missingsaddle.com

Today was the first Stage in La Vuelta A Palencia.  Tonight, and for several to come, we are staying in the Hotel Valentin.

For a bit of irony, I attended Valentine Elementary School from Kindergarden through 3rd Grade.  As my mom was dropping me off for my first day of Kindergarden, I turned to her and said, “Mom, college is nice.  I am glad you went.  But I am not going.”  No joke, this shit really happened.

Now, 14 years later, I am traveling and racing in Europe with the USA Cycling U23 National Development Team pursuing my life’s dream of becoming a professional cyclist, and racing in the Pro-Tour.  How cool is that?!?

Keep the Rubber Side Down,
C-

Go to the Source – carsonmiller.missingsaddle.com

Despite what the title of this post might lead you to believe, I am gearing up for my second European stage race in as many weeks.  After last week’s hectic arrival into Belgium, and briefly getting settled into the USA Cycling National Development Team’s House located in Izegem, Belgium, I am back on the road.  Once again, living out of my duffle bag and messenger bag.

Prior to last week’s Ronde Van Antwerpen 4.6km Prologue, one of the team’s assistants made a great observation; with all the fish-netting that wrapped and covered the abrassions left from my crash during the National Road Championships, perhaps I should go fishing in the local canal.  With fishnets holding gauze and Tegaderm over my ankle, calf, knee, thigh, hip, and elbow, I was quite sight on the TT bike.  Several of the locals were presumably making inquiry and comments over my plethora of bandages, but not understanding the local language meant that I simply smiled and rolled along.  Luckily, after the last week of vigilant care, covering, and washing, most of my skin has begun to grow back, and my bandages have been reduced to just enough to cover the deep abrasion on my right ankle.

Here is a shot of the bandaging on my knee. I took this while riding, so it doesn't quite do justice, but you get the idea. Multiply this times 4, and cover my right side. That is what I was rocking for the first week of my time here.

For me, the Ronde Van Antwerpen was a good immersion into European racing.  The team rode together as a unit, and for the first few days, we were high in the GC.  Over the final few stages, we did fade a bit, but we all pulled through to take away many positives and many lessons learned.  With my “baptism” to European racing complete, I have traveled south with the team to Spain where the Vuelta Zamora begins this evening with a 5km prologue.  During the race, the team has many cards to play with a good mix of experienced riders, fast finishers, and some fresh young talent.  For me, I am here to learn and progress as a cyclist.  My goals and job for the race will be to look after the older riders who will be high in the GC, and to help the team achieve its goals over the next 5 days.   Along the way, I hope to have a go in the early break, and if I can help the team to a high finish on Sunday, this week will be a success.

After breakfast this morning, the team got out for a bit on our TT bikes. Along the way, we passed this castle/fortress thing with these statues out front. Couldn't resist getting a picture – looking like a TT Knight? Not sure, but I will fight hard in tonight's prologue.

So far, the team is riding on high moral, and everyone is working well together.  For the fast finishes we have Cole House, Daniel Holloway, and Austin Carroll.  Chris Butler will likely lead our charge in the mountains, and then Larry Warbasse, myself, and Travis Burandt will be there to fill in the gaps.

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This song and music video has swept over the team like a plague.  It is good for a laugh, and the beat is certainly a bit catchy.  There is also a good chance you could hear anyone of us singing the lyrics on the bike, in our rooms, or even at the dinner table. Wonder what the locals make of our singing…?

Our pre-race meal will be served shortly, and I have a bit of laundry to sort out.  Better get to that before tackling tonight’s trip through the pain-cave.

Keep the Rubber Side Down,
C-

Go to the Source – carsonmiller.missingsaddle.com

To say I have arrived in “the land of milk and honey” would be a figuratively accurate statement, however, quite literally, I am long way from THE “land of milk and honey.”  The phrase “a land flowing with milk and honey” literally refers to Israel (modern-day Palestine), yet many English authors have picked up on this phrase and simply use it to describe any location of which they hold in high regard.  And while Belgium is not even close to Israel, it is a land which I hold in high regard.  So the phrase seems to work for me.  Although, I could be more literally correct by referring to Belgium as “a land flowing with waffles and beer.”  After crossing the pond during the past couple of winters for ‘cross racing, I am now back during the more enjoyable summer months for a stint of road racing.

After being selected to the USA U23 National Team, getting to come over and experience European road racing first hand is one of the many blessings which have come my way this season.  After 2 days of HECTIC traveling, I finally arrived and settled into my room here at the USA Cycling Team House, which is located in Izegem, Belgium.  To shorten an otherwise “feature length” story about my days of traveling over here, my trip began at 4:30 in the morning on Monday.  After arriving at the airport, I negotiated ridiculous baggage fees, 3 different plans, and 20 hours spent in planes and airports to arrive in Brussels, Belgium.  From Brussels, Izegem is just over an hours drive or train ride away.  Riding the train from Brussels to Izegem will be one of many new experiences that I enjoy on this trip.  Not knowing the exact train schedules ahead of time, I made some serious blunders which were exaggerated by some serious bad luck.  What should have been a quick one hour on the train ride turned into an all day adventure of bouncing around a small foreign country by train, all the while totting along a back pack, double wide bike box, and my rolling duffle bag.  After 7 long and frustrating hours, I finally came into Izegem, and arrived at the team house, with just a few hours to get settled before dinner.

Looking down the street which I finally found after 2 long hectic days. This will be home for me during the next several weeks.

Since that first day, things have steadily improved – how could they not?  After a relaxed morning yesterday, I got out for a nice 2 hour ride, and was only ever semi-lost.  Despite never really being exactly sure of where I was, I did have a good general feel for the area, and my ride turned out to be a pleasant one.  I stayed a little closer to home on today’s ride, and was kept on track by the ever reliable canal which runs through Izegem.  Following the canal is an almost fail-safe way to ride around here, as you can always follow the bike paths right back into the Izegem square, just a few minutes from our house.  The ride was a pleasant one and a half hours where the legs really came around.  Hopefully the upward trend continues tomorrow during the first 2 stages of the Ronde Van Antwerpen.

The roads here are a bit different than what we are used to back home. Your typical Belgium road is just over one lane wide, and winds through farms, ranches, and the surrounding countryside.

I saw this sign on my ride yesterday. I don't know if it is a sign or not, but it seemed pretty cool. This apartment building was under construction just a few kilometers from our house here in Izegem. Future residence…? Mr. Miller in the Miller Residentie Building. Sounds good to me.

That is all I have for now.  Dinner is just about to be served, and then it is early to bed, as we will be on the road at 5:45 tomorrow morning before the 9 o’clock start for the Prologue.

Keep the Rubber Side Down,
C-

Go to the Source – carsonmiller.missingsaddle.com

These last couple weeks in Bend have been HOT.  With the temperatures regularly reaching into the upper 30’s (Celsius) and nary a cloud in the sky, everyone has been fighting the heat in their own way.  From soaking in the river, to ice-baths, and everything else imaginable, the hottest summer weeks have been filled with racing action on the roads in and around Bend.

Last week’s Cascade Cycling Classic was rough on the team, but we all pulled through and put in some good solid efforts.  Coming off of Cascade, I was hoping that the 6 days of hard racing over the courses to be used during the 2009 USAC U23 Road National Championships would be the perfect preparation for a good run at the National Championships before flying over to Belgium for a month of racing with the USAC U23 National Development Team.  Unfortunately, my Cascade Classic had a premature ending when I lost several spokes out of my front wheel, and came to an abrupt stop – before getting hit from behind.  I rolled home to bandage up the few wounds, and put some ice-packs on the areas of deep bruising and swelling.

This is the spoke that came out of my front wheel and brought my Cascade Classic to an abrupt stop.

During yesterday’s U23 National Road Race Championships, I was feeling g-ed up and ready to go.  Unfortunately, my teammate Bobby and I lost out in the numbers game, and the dominance of the Holowesko Partners/Felt U23 and Trek-LiveSTRONG development teams was just more than we could match.  Ironically enough, Bobby and I ended our races in the same round-about on consecutive laps – only we managed to use two very different exit strategies.  Bobby had his line through the corner “chopped” by another rider, and he ended up going straight into the median which is well planted.  The local florae made for a rather soft, and otherwise gentle ending to what was a very hot and hard day of racing.

My race ended in slightly more dramatic fashion.  Much like Joseba Beloki found during the 2003 Tour de France, the high sun and searing temperatures had melted the tar in the local roads.  As I made my way around the round-about (where Bobby had just crashed a lap earlier) I lost my front wheel as it slid out from under me on the melted tarmac.  I came down hard and slid across several meters of melted tarmac before a wall of hay-bales stopped me in a  mangled heap of body and bike.  After the volunteer medics and corner marshals had my bike rolling again, I peeled myself off the road, before riding my bike 1200 meters back to the finish line where i had my wounds thoroughly cleaned and dressed.

Lots of Tegaderm and gauze needed to cover the wounds. Luckily I had lots on hand. Probably looked real good on my ride home from the race too – rolling along nearly half naked…

After being dismissed from the medical tent, I pedaled a leisurely pace 6 kilometers back to my home before calling it a day.  The short easy ride home was a slow roll, but it felt good to move my legs a little bit, and to flush some of the toxins from my legs.  Finally, out my torn kit, I endured a painful shower before eating some dinner.  After dinner, I did a round of laundry and settled into my bed for a painful night of tossing and turning in my bed.

I awoke this morning, stiff, sore, and still eager to ride my bike – always a good sign.  Not even 2 crashes in 4 days can stall my love for the bike, and I am working to make a speedy recovery before getting back into racing action within the next week.

The Tegaderm and gauze dressing have started to leak again, so after getting those changed, I will enjoy a dinner of Steelhead before another night of tossing and turning in my sheets.

Keep the Rubber Side Down (I will try to do the same),
C-

Go to the Source – carsonmiller.missingsaddle.com