Amanda On Foot

Sex on two wheels.

2012-02-03T10:17:00.000-05:00

New Wheels?

2012-01-26T19:30:00.000-05:00

Just an idea...

First race ever

2012-01-21T20:24:00.000-05:00

Well, I did it. I finished my first race on the bike and I lived to tell the tale.

13 women
13 laps (1 lap is about a mile)
5th place (but first out of all the B racers)
Feeling pretty good

Wiped down the bike before heading out:

Next race is in two weeks and I'm gonna rock it.

My roommate is better than your roommate

2012-01-09T13:58:00.000-05:00

She created a feast for me this morning. So lucky to have her in my life.

i'm so cool.

2012-01-03T15:37:00.000-05:00

Is it possible to have a sticker fetish?

Embers and Spices

2011-12-30T22:42:00.001-05:00

Good soup and a good fire is all a girl needs.

13.1

2011-12-19T11:41:00.000-05:00

My legs are sore. I don't even want to get out of bed because I know my calves will scream at me.

A half marathon will do that to you.

1:53:32 was my time. Pretty average, but I'm happy with it. I've never run that far in my life, so I didn't know what to expect when I started the Jacksonville Bank Half Marathon.

I stayed real consistent the whole way through, and before I knew it, I was back to where I had started earlier that morning.

I still had gas at the end, which makes me think that I could've gone a bit quicker. There's always next time, I suppose.

For now, it's back to the bikes. My first (unofficial) race is Jan. 21. Here goes nothing.

a little slice of Belgium

2011-12-05T10:45:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was Swamp Cross, Gainesville's annual cross race. The weather was beautiful (a tad windy at times), riders suffered and a lot of beer was consumed. Sounds like a successful cross race to me.

Inner peace

2011-11-27T21:02:00.000-05:00

Find it.

What I want

2011-11-17T13:31:00.000-05:00

I ran over a sharp piece of metal nearly four centimeters long yesterday on a training ride.

The metal punctured my rim but didn't go all the way through, thankfully.

Couple this with the fact that my birthday and Christmas/Hanukkah are approaching, and now I can't get new wheels off my mind.

Introducing my latest obsession:

American classic Road Tubeless. So pretty. I want them (I'm talkin' to you, Mom and Dad).

Operation Fenders a success.

2011-11-04T15:40:00.000-04:00

This has been a long time coming.

No more wet butt and muddy back when riding in the rain. Hooray!

Looking at this picture, it looks like I may need to adjust the front fender. It looks stupidly uneven. Whoops.

I got these fenders. Super easy to install. Can't wait to test them out.

I love my commuter bike. She's named Cecile.

Off for a group ride. These legs are getting strong.

Dirty girl.

2011-10-31T23:55:00.000-04:00

It rained. I rode.

Chikinz

2011-10-28T15:16:00.000-04:00

I'm oh-so-close to getting two hens. I can't wait to stroke their soft brown feathers.

I have a friend who is raising several dozen chicks and needs to determine their genders before she sells them to me.

I just finished painting my "Chikin' Haus" that I built with Ged. I've neglected it for a while but soon enough it will be full of poop and eggs.

I present to you the Haus (built for under $45):

Grow.

2011-10-26T10:11:00.000-04:00

Things I've been up to lately:

Riding A LOT
Gardening
Yoga (hatha, vinyassa, bikram)
Running (I know, right?)
Using The Stick
Eating/Sleeping occasionally

As evidence, I leave you with a picture of me in the garden:

Back to real life I go!

For a good cause.

2011-10-06T19:52:00.000-04:00

This past weekend I rode the MS 150: Cycle to the Shore for the second time. It's a charity ride for multiple sclerosis that takes place over two days. You ride 85 miles from St. Augustine to Daytona Beach the first day then ride 65 miles from Daytona back to St. Augustine the next day.

Last year, I rode by myself and flatted twice on the first day then crashed on the second. Not exactly the most successful charity ride, but I still had fun.

This year was a different story. I rode with Team Gainesville and broke off with our relatively "fast group." The miles flew by. And I didn't crash OR flat. Yeehaw.

And now, I give you pictures. Lots and lots of pictures.

Saturday: Arrived at St. Augustine Airport before the sun was up.

Changed into kit, signed in and found my team.

Did my pre-ride happy dance.

And we were off!

Even these guys...

Ride stats:
85 miles
21.3 average

Sunday: Another early start. Beautiful sunrise in Daytona.

Bit of a headwind, but we managed to stay together.

Ride stats:
65 miles
18.1 average

I survived.

2011-09-29T16:44:00.000-04:00

I've done Six Gap. 11,200 feet of climbing, 104 miles, eight hours of riding.

The drive up on Friday was long. Around six hours. Don't know if I'll sign up for another ride that is so far away from me.

Saturday morning, we checked ourselves in for the ride then checked out the bike expo.

We picked up a nifty tool for massaging muscles called "The Stick."

Then we watched the Six Gap Criterium.

Really fun to see these guys ride 28 mph around downtown Dahlonega.

After dinner, we headed to our campground and tried to get some sleep before the 5:45 a.m. wake-up call.

We woke up cold and tired (someone was playing loud music late into the night) but managed to throw our tent in the car and head to the start.

Around 4,000 people participated in the ride this year, so you can imagine how packed the start area was. We hung back until the bulk of the crowd left, then we rolled out into the chilly morning air. "Let the games begin" is what I remember saying to myself.

How did I feel during the ride? Strong at first but tired after 70 miles.

The ride wasn't terrible. The first climb (Neel's Gap) was great; I rode at 8-9mph the whole time. By the fourth and hardest climb of the ride, I was feeling fatigued. My computer read 3-4 mph for most of that climb.

So many people around me were dismounting and walking up. I made a promise to myself that I WOULD NOT do that. Come on, it's only Georgia. I had to think back to the amazing climbs I did in France and tell myself what a badass I am. In all seriousness, the hills of northern Georgia make for really good climbing. No disrespect.

At the 70-mile mark, I remember thinking to myself, "Hey, there's the SAG. Man, it would be so nice to throw my bike and my body in the car and just drive back." Well, I didn't. I rode my slow behind all the way back to the finish and had a lot of spaghetti before starting the car ride back home.

How do I feel now? I feel like I haven't slept properly since last Thursday. All of that driving to and from Georgia combined with studying for tests has rendered me exhausted. Yep. Big black bags under these eyes.

Now I leave you with a cute picture of a cat riding a bicycle. Ged gave me this kitty, which is now in my front yard. Enjoy.

Goings on and guilt.

2011-09-20T18:54:00.001-04:00

I'm currently buried in a pile of schoolwork and punctured bicycle tubes.

I'm riding the Six Gap Century in Georgia on Sunday and I'm a little worried.

You see, this is what my training has been like as of lately:

Pretty solid. Yet, this week I'm lacking motivation. My legs and arse still hurt after Sunday's ride. I didn't ride yesterday and I'm not riding today, hence the guilt. I still consider myself a rookie cyclist, so I don't know where to draw the line and let my body rest or push it a little harder. For now, I'm resting.

I plan on riding tomorrow with a group. We're doing two hours moderate with 4x10min rotation with 10 min. rest. That's what the email said anyway...

This is the plan:

Wednesday: moderate two hours
Thursday: easy, short spin (to the massage place for a discount rubdown)
Friday: Off/Driving to Georgia
Saturday: easy spin
SUNDAY!:

(sponsored by my mommy and her company, http://www.northstarcorporatehousing.com/)

In other news, I got an incredible flat on my commuter bike yesterday. I was riding home from school and could feel something sticking to my tire. Well, I got home and saw this guy:

Oh, and I tried to go surfing when I last visited my family. I didn't really catch any waves because they were so puny.

That's all, Folks. Send me good vibes for the Six Gap.

Ride like the wind. Or not.

2011-08-27T15:50:00.000-04:00

I know I haven't posted in a while. Sorry, grandpa. I'm pretty sure he's the only one left who is still reading this blog.

The last month has been full of traveling in the Old South, visiting family and cycling up hills.
Oh, and I saw a rocket launch. Heavens, I mustn't forget the rocket.

A couple of weeks ago, I drove to my cousin's house in Savannah, GA, for some family time. We also managed to go for a little ride with the local cycling club.

And now, I'm back in school. I just finished my first week of school, and I must say there's a lot of aggression on the road in Gainesville right now. On Friday, I was yelled and honked at more than I've ever been audibly attacked in Gainesville before.

Don't worry, I'm not deterred. I plan on riding a lot within the coming weeks, not only as a cycling advocate trying to spread peace between bicycles and cars, but also as an athlete in training. Yes, you read correctly. I'm doing the Six Gap Century in Georgia at the end of September. I better get my behind in the saddle and start rackin' up the miles if I plan to finish..

Highs and Lows

2011-07-25T10:59:00.000-04:00

My time in Europe is once again coming to a close, but it's a nice and happy ending.

These past few days have been incredible as I've been able to see so many different sides of the tour--on top of freezing Alpe d'Huez, on a hairpin bend in Grenoble and on the Champs Elysees in Paris.

Without further adieu, here are a bunch of pictures I've taken over the past few days. I'm off to Florida. Enjoy.

Our campsite on Alpe d'Huez.

I twisted my ankle the day before and got a "boot" from the pharmacy. Of course, I had to customize it with a limited edition free sticker from the tourist office.

During the time trial, we found a really nice spot on a hairpin to watch the riders come by. Very relaxing not to have to push and shove my way to see the riders. They had to slow down so much because TT bikes are so hard to handle on turns.

Then we were off to the city center to watch the finish.

After the time trial we hopped on a train to Paris. It was nice to be in a proper bed again.

Paris was busy but we managed to get some good views of the riders by stepping on our camping stools. Those things come in handy.

First, we took a train to Creteil to watch the signing in then back to the Champs Elysees for sprinting madness.

Goodbye, Europe. It's been real.

Stage 19 of Le TdF

2011-07-22T13:56:00.000-04:00

We drove up the Col de Montgenevre to watch Wednesday's stage. The weather was slightly unpredictable with heavy clouds and cold in the morning and beautiful sunshine in the afternoon.

Have lots of pictures to share from today's stage as we're camping at the very top. I'll tell you one thing: it's friggin' cold beyond belief.

I beat that mountain's ass.

2011-07-18T14:54:00.000-04:00

(if you prefer video to reading, scroll to the bottom of this post :))

I woke up this morning hoping I wouldn't have to ride my bike because the weather would be too shitty. I was wrong. I peered out of my side of the tent and saw the sun shining. Crap.

After I returned from the grocery store with our morning pains au chocolat, I saw my bike resting against the car, all ready and tuned for our ride. What ride exactly, I wasn't sure.

After a few moments of debating, I told Ged I was only going to ride up the Col du Telegraphe, then bid him farewell as he pushed on to the Col du Galibier. I figured a 12 km climb averaging 7.3% would be a good enough workout.

I left the campsite 20 mintues before Ged, so that we could reach the top of the Telegraphe around the same time.

Try not to be too jealous of my socks.

The morning was quite chilly despite the sunshine, hence the layers. I also had a windproof jacket tucked into my jersey.

The ride up the Col du Telegraphe was a good one: not too difficult that I had to use the triple, not too easy that my legs and lungs weren't laboring.

My legs were super stiff when I reached the top and got off the bike for pictures. I'm not sure why they felt so tight, but I had to stop and stretch for a while to feel normal again.

Photo opp!

Then came decision time. Would I A) Drop back down to the campsite and probably fall asleep or would I B) Follow Ged on to the Galibier. Let me say that I really didn't want to do option B. The tightness in my legs freaked me out a little and plus, it's a fricken' long way to ride a bike uphill.

Well, I rode on with Ged. I would've felt a little guilty for making him do it by himself and I didn't have anything else to do.

The road dropped down 5km into Valloire then it was up, up, up. Ged gave me a 30-minute head start this time.

Honestly, the first 2/3 of the ride wasn't bad. Pretty gentle gradient and nice temperature.

The hellish part came when I was 5km out and started to struggle with the gradient. My legs just wouldn't turn as easily as they were before. In the last few km I was able to see the top, and seeing those switchbacks up to the finish took a toll on my sanity.

All I could think was "This is total shit" and "This looks way more than 3km to the top." I even let out a few curse words which the Dutch guys passing me giggled at and nodded in agreement.

After cursing the heavens for a whole kilometer, I finally saw Ged 1km from the top. I passed him and he quickly caught up to me to shout words of encouragement.

Once I reached the top, I silently vowed never to do this evil climb again. At least, not this year. Breathing was really difficult for me because we were so high up and there wasn't a lot of oxygen. After I cried and drank some water, it was time for pictures and hot chocolate.

The descent was absolutely freezing. Couldn't feel my fingers, which made me nervous about braking.

We made a quick stop in Valloire to visit the HAY PEOPLE (and to get baked goods at the boulangerie).

Here's the video as promised:

Now safe and sound (and showered) back in Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne. I see a big bowl of pasta in my future...

Forced rest day

2011-07-17T09:55:00.000-04:00

I'm in France now, and it feels nice despite the cold rain.

Ged and I were supposed to ride the Galibier today (a 34km climb averaging 5.5%) but alas, it is raining and 13* C (56*F). I'm so upset...NOT.

It has been raining since morning, which gave Ged an excuse to try out his newest addition to our pile of camping stuffs: tarp shelter thing.

Originally purchased to keep us cool during the hottest hours of the day. Today, it was used to keep me dry while cooking.

Anyway, we made a short video previewing a small part of stage 19 of Le Tour.

Final weekend in Italy

2011-07-10T14:35:00.000-04:00

Yes, my time in Italy is coming to a close as we prepare for our trip to France for Le Tour.

So for the last time this summer, Ged and I rode to Quarrata.

Oh, and here's a video of our ride, complete with my rendition of "Eye of the tiger." Enjoy.

All in all a good ride. 80 km in total in the hot hot sun.

Check this space in a few days time as we head to France on July 15. Ciao.

Farm #2

2011-07-03T12:12:00.000-04:00

I've just spent a whole week on a different farm as part of my WWOOFing adventure.

This is the second farm I've worked on and I must say, it's completely different from my first experience.

I'm going to be honest about the first farm: I didn't feel welcome or included there. Maybe it just wasn't a good fit for me. No one really talked to me and I couldn't even understand dinner table conversations (which were in Italian) because they mumbled and spoke quickly.

This second farm seems to have a much better atmosphere. The house is made of stone, the family barely uses electricity and most everything is done by hand or very simple machines (unlike the five giant tractors that the other farm had...and barely used).

The husband and wife are so incredibly nice and always make sure that I and the other WWOOFer understand what they're saying, whether it be in Italian, French or Spanish (they don't speak English).

Not to mention a litter of adorable kittens.

And it's nice to have company in my room. Meet Andrianne, a WWOOFer from Quebec.

I'm in Florence for the weekend, which is the only way I can update this blog because the Internet on the farm is not very reliable. Fine with me, I don't need it.

in the [feed] Zone

2011-06-23T05:29:00.000-04:00

My time in Switzerland was amazing. We watched a stage of the Tour de Suisse, went hiking in the Bernese Alps and listened to hundreds of yodelers (courtesy of the Jodelerfest in Interlaken).

I've never been to a feed zone before, so I was really keen to see what it was like, especially since the Tour de Suisse is smaller and less hectic than the grand tours. We drove in the direction of Davos and parked where a bunch of the team cars were.

The drive over the mountain passes were incredible. Cold and windy, but still incredible.

I stayed by the Garmin-Cervelo while Ged ran 50 meters up to grab any of the stuff the riders were throwing away.

The Garmin-Cervelo soigneur was really nice. She's from Denver, Colorado, and was introduced to the founder of the test team eight years ago and has been with them ever since.

We grabbed so much stuff. Feed bags with food still in them, water bottles galore, power bars.

Of course, we had to test the food. Lunch courtesy of the Movistar team.

There were some rolled up sandwiches for easy ingestion and digestion and a strange savory quiche with rice and custard. Ged really liked that one.

Then it was off to Interlaken for some hiking.

When we got to the city it was pouring down rain. We set up the tent and I was in charge of dinner.

This is how we (I) cook dinner when it's raining.

The next day it was off to the Alps for some exploring and hiking.

Never been in a cable-car before. I was a little skeptical.

At the top we enjoyed the view then headed in the direction of the Eiger.

Lunch break for bratwurst.

Then four hours of descending.

I know you're jealous of my socks.

About 70% of our hike smelled like cow poo but you get used to it.

in Bikes we trust.

2011-06-21T08:31:00.000-04:00

Just spent a beautiful five days traveling around the Lombardia region of Italy and the Jungfrau region of Switzerland.

First things first: Arrived in Milan Wednesday about midday to set up camp then go to a Foo Fighters concert. Must say it was a really good show, especially moshing with a good group of Italians next to me.

Then it was off to Bellagio near Como for some cycling. Ged wouldn't reveal where we were riding to but that was OK because I like surprises.

After climbing about 9km from our cute campsite to Madonna del Ghisallo, we arrived at the small church where tons of cycling memorabilia covered the walls.

40km in total and a really nice descent, too.

Images from the countryside

2011-06-10T12:30:00.000-04:00

The ride that took a year: i DIDNT crash this time

2011-06-08T04:00:00.000-04:00

Hello from the farm. I've been working outside for the last week and loving it: the thump of small apples hitting the ground as I prune the trees, the scents of basil, rosemary and thyme surprising me as I walk to the garden and chickens clucking and pecking all around me. Yes, this is the life for me.

I spent the weekend away from the farm and on the east coast. We stayed in the small town next to Rimini called Riccione.

The objective: complete the ride we were supposed to finish last year without crashing.

It was a little spooky being in the exact same campground, wearing the exact same jersey and riding the exact same route.

I remember the climb being a lot harder for me last year. This time it was actually pleasant in the sense that I got into a rhythm.

Before we knew it, we had reached San Marino.

We walked our bikes up to the very top (not a good choice in cycling shoes--almost fell).

Then dropped down to the place where I had my accident and stopped to take a moment and reflect.

Ged asked if I was feeling emotional. I wasn't feeling emotional so much as ashamed. I can't believe I wrecked my bike and my body so stupidly last year. The turn wasn't even that steep or sharp. All I could think to myself was "IDIOT."

And even though I felt foolish for having crashed, Ged reminded me of just how far I've come.

I've ridden up Alpe d'Huez...twice, Mont Ventoux, Col du Tourmalet and more.

Also, I didn't have thoughts of sheer anger and doom in my head as I did the climb to San Marino this time around. I may have been plotting Ged's death last year as my legs struggled to turn the crank.

Where I crashed:

Note the particularly bright colors of the chevrons, the ones I ignored last year.

The final kilometers back to the campsite were all flat, so Ged and I stayed around 30-33km/hr and zoomed back.

Total distance: 80km

The rain came shortly after we ate and showered but the landscape (especially on the drive back) was incredible.

Off to the farm.

2011-06-01T03:22:00.000-04:00

I'm leaving for two weeks to work on a farm in exchange for food and board. Never done this before, so not sure what to expect. I'm excited nonetheless.

The farm is only an hour north of Florence. The organization behind my agricultural stint is WWOOF: http://www.wwoof.it/

As an apology for leaving Ged for such a long period of time, I baked him some bread.

See y'all later.

10 minutes away from Florence

2011-05-31T04:23:00.000-04:00

Ged always brags that Florence is such a great city to be a cyclist because if you ride 10-15 minutes in any direction, you'll be in the hilly Tuscan countryside.

Rode to Impruneta yesterday. I remember when I used to think this 30km ride was so tough. It felt like a walk in the park this time around.

As always, the view of Florence is amazing.

Relaxed ride

2011-05-28T14:04:00.000-04:00

Ged and I did a nice 25mi ride today up to Monte Morello. Beautiful climb, then relaxed at the top and took in the view.

I didn't care about going fast or pushing myself today. It was nice to sit in the saddle and look at everything around me: the trees, the birds, the people sunbathing.

One man's trash...

2011-05-25T06:55:00.000-04:00

Collected these beauties on our way out of Cortina. They were scattered on the sides of the road as we rode back to the car after climbing the Passo Giau.

Two were broken due to being running over by cars, but the others are in mint condition.

Each had a different concoction when we picked them up. Some of the drinks were identifiable: Coca Cola, lemon-lime sports drink. Others weren't as easily recognizable (strange purple drink?).

Can't wait to use them myself. Maybe they'll make me faster on the bike.

To hell and back

2011-05-23T04:39:00.000-04:00

This weekend has been crazy.

Let me break it down:

Friday
Woke up at the crack of dawn to leave Florence and catch the start of Stage 13 in Spilimbergo.

The beginnings of stages are so relaxed. The riders were sipping coffee and chitchatting before the race began.

We got to check out all the bikes too.

Once the riders were signed in we watched the ceremonial start.

We left Spilimbergo and headed to Ovaro, the town that's at the base of the Monte Zoncolan.

Drove up the Crostis (the climb that never was) to see what it was like.

We found a nice camping spot on the side of the Zoncolan, about 2km into the climb.

A beautiful field behind an abandoned shed.

Saturday
Time to ride up the Beast.

Dropped down to Ovaro and warmed up on the flat before starting the climb.

And we were off!

I rode the first 2.5 km then had to take a breather...and I hadn't even come across the 20% gradient spot yet.

Ged kept on riding while I tried to catch my breath. After a few minutes, I got back on climbed further up the steep road. A few turns later, I had to stop again.

This ride taught me that sometimes, you just have to walk it out. And that's exactly what I did.

I walked and walked and walked (alongside lots of other cyclists) until I reached the 2 km mark. Ged rang and encouraged me to get back on because the gradient eased up at the end.

Once I went through the tunnels and could see the finish, I had to get off again but this time because there was too much foot traffic to actually stay on the bike.

Even though I walked a lot of the climb, I still had a really good time. I met a lot of nice people and talked to strangers about cycling. This climb was a huge chapter of my cycling education and just plain good fun.

The descent was a little hectic as cyclists, pedestrians and cars were still coming up. Once we changed clothes, it was time to get a spot on the mountain to watch the pros do it.

It made sense to pick one of the steepest bits so that we could cheer and take pictures when the riders were at their slowest.

You could see the pain in their eyes. Professional riders moving at a snail's pace. Legs twitching, arms shaking. Incredible.

As the last of the riders passed us, the sky turned dark and the rain came. Hard.

We watched the finish on a small TV in a nearby camper van then hid under a tree to keep dry. Not very successful. Ended up running back to the car, soaking wet and cold.

Camped that night on the Zoncolan again and by the time we woke up on Sunday morning, all of the people were gone. It was like no one had even been there the day before.

Sunday
Drove to Cortina to ride up the Passo Giau and watch the riders pass through town.

While this climb was easier in the sense that the gradient was steady and stayed around 7%, it was so much colder and longer. We could literally see snow on the sides of the mountains. The rain didn't help either.

Despite the rain and the cold, the descent was great. The temperature shift was incredible. I went from hot and sweaty to shivering over the 1000 m.

So much happier back in Cortina.

Here comes the peloton.

The drive back to Florence was mixed. A bit boring at times but Ged always manages to scare the life out of me with his driving.

In the South of Italy

2011-05-16T17:05:00.000-04:00

You will find:

Seaside villages perched on mountains.

Cliffs, caves and rock formations that will blow your mind.

Hikes that will challenge you but reward you greatly.

Volcanoes you can climb.

Ruins you can hike up to and explore.

Yes, I do believe the south is a marvelous place.

I'm 1/4 Dutch so that makes me a Winner

2011-05-11T17:00:00.001-04:00

I was able to make it to today's Giro stage in Orvieto. Such a contrast to Parma, especially now that a rider has passed away.

Orvieto was organized differently as it was more of a summit finish than Parma. The team buses were in a different part of the city and quite a walk from where I was (700m from the finish). The atmosphere was a bit more energetic as the confines of this small city bottled up all the energy.

The pictures aren't that great but I wasn't exactly trying. Instead, I wanted to shout and scream at the riders to get their asses up the hill. So that's what I did.

Comedic relief brought to you today by Liquigas. I watched for about 20 minutes as the Liquigas bus tried to fit down a narrow road to leave Orvieto.

Angry Italian men thought they could help the situation by waving their arms frantically.

A day at the races

2011-05-08T17:31:00.000-04:00

I have been out in the sun all. day. long.

I am tired, sunburnt and sore, but I saw a stage of the Giro d'Italia for the first time ever, so all is right.

We set off at 9 a.m. from Florence, made a quick stop at IKEA for a dish and some picture frames, then parked up in Parma for some Giro goodness.

We decided to change into our cycling kits and go for a ride to check out the scene.

There was no crowd when we were riding. Was nice to cruise around without traffic.

Another wardrobe change and we were soaking up the atmosphere on foot.

At about 4:45 p.m., Ged and I found a TV and watched as the riders approached the final kilometers. This was the soigneurs tent.

Mario Cipollini was watching too.

A few minutes later, the riders rolled in. They looked dead tired.

Ged got a picture of Petacchi before he was pulled in to pee for doping.

We stayed a bit longer to watch riders get interviewed and to take pictures of their bikes.

Tried to wait around for Cav but his driver was too sneaky and kept moving the car around.

Took pics of his bike though.

Going to another stage in two weeks. Can't wait.

Where the pros at?

2011-05-07T13:02:00.000-04:00

Ged and I rode 90 km today to a city called Quarrata.

It was a glorious ride (except for the part where Ged told me the climb was over as I turned a corner and saw the road rise up...a lot).

Anyway, Ged told me (according to his extensive Twitter research) that this place is supposed to have pros. Some from Team Sky, HTC-Highroad (Cav), etc. Let's just say I saw NONE. But I will see LOTS tomorrow because we're going to Parma for a big, fat (pink) Giro party.

For your entertainment and knowledge, I have illustrated on a map the approximate route of our ride today. May or may not be to scale. To be determined.

Starting from Florence, we had to ride ~30 km before getting to the good stuff. That meant we had to deal with really poor Italian driving and crappy road surface. I'm currently learning how to say various curse words in Italian to respond to these inattentive motorists.

But the [first] climb. Boy, oh boy! Probably my favorite climb of all. Scenic, very little traffic, friendly ciclisti and gradual gradient so I could gain a good momentum.

Before the climb:

I started a few minutes before Ged and rode the climb by myself. There were tons of cyclists out today. All with smiles and nice kits.

Once we got to the top, a small lunch was in order. A sandwich and fresh orange juice did the trick.

Check out Ged and his new Oakley sunglasses. Not sure how I feel about them.

Then it was back on the bike for what I thought was all downhill. Little did I know...

Poppies were all over the place. At one point, I even plucked one while riding and stuck it in my sunglasses. Not long after, I ripped the flower out as a result of my anger toward climbing.

Actually, here's a picture Ged took of me crumpling up the flower and getting angry with him:

Totally pissed.

We passed through Vinci (where Leonardo da Vinci was born) and saw spectacular views.

It's a great weekend for cycling in Italy. Now if I could only get my hands on a pizza...

Another day in paradise

2011-05-01T13:33:00.001-04:00

Notte Biancha last night. Lots of people. Good music all around. Free museum entry.

40 km on the bike. Near heart attack experience.

Fiorentina v. Unidese. Victory for the home team. 5-2

Polenta before Impruneta

2011-04-30T10:29:00.000-04:00

Last night I cooked an incredible Polenta and Spinach pie from this cookbook.

It's so nice to have an oven in Italy...

This morning, a short bike ride was in order. But before we could hop on our steeds and head out, I had to take care of a slight problem.

Wow. I can't believe I rode with this last summer. No wonder my chain wouldn't stay on the middle ring. I knew something was up when I went for a short ride to Fiesole on Wednesday and the chain was skipping and wouldn't stay on the middle ring, no matter how I pleaded with it.

The skies were a bit hazy earlier today and it did end up drizzling on us a bit. Still, a beautiful 20mi (30km).

On the way back, Ged took me up to San Miniato al Monte, a church overlooking Florence.

Riding back through the busy streets of the city was fun. Weaving in and out of tourists is almost like a game.

Enjoying the fresh air and sunshine before tonight. Notte Bianca is bound to be amusing.

First climb of Eurotrip 2011

2011-04-28T08:58:00.000-04:00

Hello from beautiful, yet slightly overcast Florence.

I arrived yesterday after a nine hour plane ride and a two hour train ride. Went a little something like this:

Gainesville-->Atlanta-->Milan-->wait for Italian train...-->Florence

I really wanted to see how I would fare on the bike now that I'll be riding up hills/mountains, so I decided "What better way to fight jet lag than to go for a bike ride!"

Friends, I still suck at climbing. Even though I've been riding road bikes since September 2009, I ride at a turtle's pace up hills.

I managed to snap a picture during the climb as I was trying to keep my heart from exploding and my lungs from collapsing. [no exaggeration here]

Shortly after this picture was taken I got passed by a mountain bike. In my defense, I did pass him later on (on a downhill section).

Of course, the view at the top made the fire in my chest worth it. A bit hazy, but still spectacular.

I'm declaring today an official rest day. In the past 48 hours I have donated .5L of blood, traveled across the Atlantic, rode up to Fiesole and stayed awake until 11 p.m. that night.

Peace and Love,
amanda

TDF techno song. Say no more.

2011-04-25T20:53:00.000-04:00

This will get you on your feet. I know it's really old (circa 1983), but I think it's timeless.

Enjoy (if you haven't seen this 100 times already).

Back to packing for me. Gainesville-->Atlanta-->Milan-->Florence. Bring it.

Hoeing it up

2011-04-24T17:17:00.000-04:00

Visiting mom in South Florida before I leave for Europe, and I convinced her to start a vegetable garden. Hopefully she'll be munching on summer squash, okra, cucumber and bush beans this summer.

In one week I shall be in ITALY

2011-04-20T19:16:00.000-04:00

To-do list:

Giro d'Italia
Tour de Suisse
Tour de France

Life can't get much better, my friends.

Now it's time to pack: jerseys, shorts, pedals, saddle, helmet, gloves, sense of adventure.

I don't always look at my Cateye computer.

2011-04-08T11:22:00.000-04:00

There are days when I'd rather look around me. Yesterday, I didn't care about numbers and it felt nice.

Good things come in pairs.

2011-03-31T14:57:00.003-04:00

Such as my two nephews, A &B, and my lovely kitties, Kitten & Bitten.

Just Be.

2011-03-22T11:06:00.000-04:00

It's official. I'm going to the TDF. Here is my train ticket as proof.

2011-03-17T13:05:00.000-04:00

GRENOBLE PARIS

2 passagers

38.00 €

Aller :

19h21

GRENOBLE GARE

2948

2e Classe

Samedi 23 Juillet

22h19

PARIS GARE DE LYON

1er passager

2eme classe: Echangeable sous conditions, avec frais de 10 euros si vous échangez sur Internet, 15 euros pour les autres modes d’échange. Non remboursable. Paiement en ligne. Billet à imprimer vous-même.Tarif exclusif Internet.

Voiture 18 - Place 63
Salle haute - Ambiance IdZap

2e passager

Voiture 18 - Place 64
Salle haute - Ambiance IdZap

Spring Break, Part II: More Camping, Less Bugs

2011-03-16T21:32:00.000-04:00

Well, hello there. Where was I...oh, yea, so Ged and I headed to the west coast of Florida for the second half of my break/"Gedmas" (the celebration of the birth of Ged)

A few hours later we were on a ferry bound for a secluded island named Cayo Costa which is a state park.

It was a bit gusty there, which meant I had to be coaxed to leave the tent.

This is me unwilling to leave the tent in order to safely cook our dinner.

And now I'm back in Gainesville, surfing the Internet in my infinite boredom and intermittently writing research papers. Oh, the sweet diversity of life!

Spring Break, Part I: Race cars, Helicopters and Mosquitoes.

2011-03-14T22:57:00.000-04:00

The beginning of my week-long break from school began with a trip to the airport to pick up this guy.

Then it was down to watch some race cars as part of Ged's birthday present. I couldn't care less about cars, but hey, it was his birthday.

This was the Grand Prix of Miami at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. The cars went round and round. And their engines seemed increasingly louder with each lap...but it was a beautiful day.

We were both pooped after the races. After some dirty Mexican food and a good night's rest, we headed for our next adventure: camping in the Everglades, the giant swamp in south Florida.

Driving all the way down to Flamingo (the southernmost point you can drive to in the state, not including the Keys), we set up the tent in "frontcountry" for the first night. "Frontcountry" means that there are showers, bathrooms, etc., as opposed to "backcountry," which means you take all the stuff you need* and hike out to a remote spot that doesn't have luxuries like showers and toilets.

*note the emphasis on the word "need" here.

Frontcountry:

There were campers all around us here, as to be expected. Something also to be expected was the ferocity of the mosquitoes. Come sundown, these miniscule vampires come in swarms lookin' for fresh blood.

The next day it was off to the backcountry. Seven and a half miles later, we arrived at Clubhouse Beach.

About to embark:

The hike was great. We were pretty quick as it was all flat terrain.

While we were hiking, we were on alert for a missing person the ranger told us about. An elderly man with Alzheimer's went looking for firewood two days before and might have wandered off on this very trail.

Once we pitched the tent, a helicopter landed right next to us and a guy hopped out to make sure the footprints he spotted from above were ours. They were. Unfortunately, I don't think the search-and-rescue crews found the man.

See the helicopter in the background?

Ged and I were the only people on the beach. It felt nice to be alone and away from civilization.

But as the sun began to set, the bloodsuckers returned in full force and we had to retreat to our tent.

The tent I own is really great for admiring sunrises, sunsets and stars.

The Everglades were good to us. 'Til next time, Friend.

Spring Breeaaak

2011-03-04T10:05:00.000-05:00

Yep. One week without school.

The weather lately has been lovely. Off to the beach.

Look-at-me pedals

2011-02-25T16:02:00.000-05:00

Ged has ordered new Look pedals...and he has given the shipping company my address to avoid expensive European charges. So I get to play with them.

i CAN make bread. hooray.

2011-02-20T12:51:00.000-05:00

Introducing the first loaf of bread I've ever made... (Oh, and it's whole wheat too)

Recipe here

You are my Sunshine

2011-02-18T16:47:00.000-05:00

The weather is nothing short of glorious here: 80 degrees (26 C), which means sleeveless cycling jerseys. Castelli makes good stuff.

20 miles
average: 17mph

Cool

2011-02-16T19:34:00.000-05:00

(source)

Putting up drywall isn't that hard

2011-02-13T10:51:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, I spent five hours putting up drywall with Women Build, a branch of Habitat for Humanity. Giving back to the community never felt better.

I walked into the house not knowing anything about building/construction. I mean, I've played with Legos before, so I kind of knew what I was talking about... But seriously, spending time with 10 other women who explained things to me and showed me how to caulk stuff, score stuff and drill, was a privilege.

If you're lost

2011-02-08T22:46:00.000-05:00

I hope you find your way soon.

I'll have some chili, please

2011-01-29T18:41:00.000-05:00

Today was the Gainesville Cycling Club's "Chilly Chili Picnic."

I drove to O'leno State Park to meet up with a group to go riding in the morning before the picnic. Even though it was freezing (I wore shorts--don't own tights yet), I really enjoyed the 47-mile ride. Plus, it warmed up considerably, and my fellow riders had to peel layers off while I basked in the sunshine.

Then a quick stop at the Suwannee River to refuel...

Before we knew it, we'd arrived at O'leno and declared it "Chili time." Everything I ate was totally vegan. So nice to have like-minded people around you.

Nomz.

I'm proud to report that the cornbread I made was a hit.

Available for hire

2011-01-28T22:10:00.000-05:00

You know you want me to cook for you...or at least make this cornbread for you.

Poetry readin'

2011-01-28T19:36:00.000-05:00

I like poetry. Not just the highfalutin kind. I like the down and dirty, local type of poetry where people scream and squeal with anguish and excitement.

Thursday night was just that at the Civic Media Center's Poetry Jam. All sorts of people speakin' about all sorts of things from dumpster diving, broken hearts to dirty truckers.

Now go read some poetry. It's good for the soul.

Amanda

Vegan granola bars

2011-01-21T21:03:00.000-05:00

I've made my own granola bars for the first time ever...and it was a success!

I took this recipe and changed it slightly to my liking. I now have 12 bars for mid-day snacking and cycling.

In the mix:

brown rice syrup
vanilla extract
peanut butter
salt & sugar
oat bran
dark choco chips
coconut
raisins
sunflower seeds

When people give you shit, write it on a brick

2011-01-20T21:29:00.000-05:00

On my way to the library this afternoon, I noticed a colorful wall of blocks close by.

Upon further investigation, I realized it was the Writing on the Wall project UF does every semester.

From a UF site:

Through the act of physically constructing and tearing down a wall representing oppression and inhumanity towards all people, participants experience the power to create positive change for the future. We will build a 40’ by 9’ cinderblock wall in Plaza of the Americas January 23-28, 2011. At the end of the week, the community will come together to pull down this wall, symbolically tearing down the barriers between us. This project is not designed to make great or large scale changes. It is about starting dialogues and raising awareness in an effort to lay the path for greater understanding and respect for one another.

Night Rider

2011-01-19T22:42:00.000-05:00

Zipping through red lights
Hand signaling like a fiend
She is a rider of the night.

How it should be

2011-01-15T20:29:00.000-05:00

(source)

Before there were bikes

2011-01-14T07:25:00.000-05:00

there were horses.

I ride bikes now and climb mountains with them, but I used to have a horse named Regalito (Spanish for "little gift"). It was amazing...and really expensive. Too expensive. My mom just found some pictures of the good ol' days.

Thanks, mom, for sending these to me.

Surfs Up

2011-01-10T12:33:00.000-05:00

Back in Florence now after a six-hour car ride from Munich, Germany.

I really enjoyed my time in Munich. It's a much more dynamic and fun city than I imagined it would be. The weather was cold but beautiful because the sun was shining.

One of the first things we did was walk through the Englischer Garten (English Garten), a big park in the city.

While walking down one of the icy paths in the park, Ged saw surfers paddling around in the stream not too far away.

On closer inspection, guys were actually surfing...

I must say this was really unexpected and maybe one of the strangest things I've seen in a while. I grew up on the beach with a dad who surfed whenever the waves were big enough, so this kind of "urban surfing" brought a smile to my face.

A short while later, we were drinking beer at the Hofbrauhaus, a famous beer hall in Munich. The place was packed.

I've had a fantastic time in Europe these past two weeks, but I think it's time to go home and back to school.

Ciao.

--Amanda

Last Call

2011-01-07T04:28:00.001-05:00

Goodbye, Amsterdam. I will miss you...and all of your bikes.

The last 24 hours have been great.

Went to a nice cafe, walked around and laughed, then had a delicious dinner at an all-vegan spot called "de Peper".

Leaving the hotel soon for a short trip to Cologne, Germany.

Vaarwel.

I AMsterdam

2011-01-06T06:32:00.000-05:00

I'm loving this city.

Even though Amsterdam is a bit cold right now (40 degrees F), there has been so much to take in: big parks, thought-provoking museums, strange coffee shops and scantily clad women in windows.

The park nearest our hotel (Vondelpark) was glistening with frost and ice yesterday morning. The sun felt good on our backs as we tried not to slip on the frozen ground.

One thing that appeals to me most in Amsterdam is the number of people riding bikes, especially the moms and dads who have little carts for transporting their children around the city.

At around 5 p.m., Ged and I went to the Anne Frank House situated on a canal. It was strange for me to be going into a house that I had read about. When I read the book as a pre-teen, I couldn't believe that people had to "go into hiding" and fear for their lives daily.

They were so close to making it out alive. So close.

The image that hit me the hardest in this museum was the large portrait of Otto Frank (Anne's father) at the end of the exhibit. It was taken in 1960 I believe, several years after the war, and the black-and-white print shows him leaning against a roof support in the attic looking at nothing. There was nothing left after his family and friends had been discovered by the Germans and taken away to concentration and death camps. You can feel this immense sensation of dejection.

Bless You, My Child

2011-01-03T11:34:00.000-05:00

After a short car trip to Dover, England, a quick ferry ride to Calais, France, and yet another small drive to Belgium, I am now in Bruges!

Sometimes the traveling gets a little much, but I must say, it's totally worth it.

We walked around the small, congested town and stopped in a few churches and strolled along the cobble streets. 'Twas pleasant.

First, a small church.

Then, a large one...

I made a pal along the way.

Friends 4 Life.

Tot ziens.

2011-01-03T04:33:00.000-05:00

For our New Year's celebration, Ged and I stood on a bridge with hundreds of other people watching fireworks explode from the London Eye.

Foot traffic was a bit heavy afterward, but it was a good night.

A few friends had told us that you couldn't drink alcohol on the street in London during New Year's Eve...A LOT of people were drinking and the cops didn't care. We brought our own stash of drinks--wine in old water bottles.

There were these small hot air balloon contraptions that people were sending into the sky just before the fireworks went off.

It's been really nice to spend time in London again. The city is always busy and offering something new.

Ged and I stopped by Covent Garden and saw a giant Christmas tree with people kissing under it.

Turns out the lights of the tree turn on once people kiss under it.

Off to Bruges, Belgium.

--Amanda

You'll Never Walk Alone

2010-12-30T08:05:00.000-05:00

We belong in the forest. Proof:

Ged and I hiked in Delamere Forest on Tuesday. It's close to his family home and it was truly beautiful.

There's no snow in those pictures, but when I first arrived in Manchester on Monday, there was snow.

WEDNESDAY

"You'll never walk alone" is the official song of the Liverpool Football Club (soccer team). It sounded slightly like a love ballad when it was being blasted on the speakers in the stadium last night. Forty-one thousand fans were singing it together before the game began.

Progression of my thoughts: "Strange." "A little cool." "Magical."

Ged and I headed to Liverpool yesterday to explore the city a bit and then catch a football game in the evening.

Liverpool were playing Wolverhampton, and what a sad game it was...Liverpool lost to a team they shouldn't have lost to..

As the players ran onto the field, the crowd was passing around a large banner. Felt nice to be a part of a fun tradition.

Ged read articles about the game once we were home...

Earlier in the day, we strolled through the city, walking through Liverpool One (a huge outdoor shopping center), the maritime museum and the old port.

Ged spotted Mont Ventoux while walking...

Liverpool is a nice enough city. It seemed like a lot of people were there just to shop, though. The food we had at a nice vegetarian/vegan cafe called The Egg Cafe was nice.

--Amanda

My Bags Are Packed

2010-12-26T12:45:00.000-05:00

I'm flying to England today.

In about an hour, I'll be at Gainesville Regional Airport to catch my flight to Atlanta, where I'll board a plane to Manchester, England.

Why, oh, why am I leaving the mild winter of Florida to be in the treacherous terrain of Northern England?

Wish me luck.

--A

Happy Holidays

2010-12-25T12:28:00.000-05:00

Party in New Orleans

2010-12-19T11:42:00.000-05:00

The last few days have consisted of breakfasts in bed, multiple beers and singing Christmas carols in alleys.

Oh, 'tis a good life.

We stayed at a really nice hotel, Le Pavilion.

The city was so pretty at night.

Lots of breakfasts in bed.

It was a little rainy, but we still managed to have fun.

Looking forward to seeing my catz again. Not looking forward to the eight-hour drive.

~Amanda

Birthday Update

2010-12-18T14:20:00.000-05:00

I'm officially 21.

I've been having a ball traveling with Ged across Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Here are just a few pictures of our travels.
***

We made a trip to the beach in Pensacola (on the panhandle of Florida) to see if the oil spill had affected anything.

We saw a bunch of bulldozers and drills in the distance working in the sand. Then we saw two women picking up small things from the shoreline and putting them into a bucket.

Ged asked what they were picking up, and the women said they were collecting "oil balls," little pieces of shell or rock that had oil stuck to them. One of the ladies said she had been doing this for seven months. Wow.

The little pieces of shell actually smelled like oil. Pretty disturbing.

After that, we drove to the big naval aviation base in the area. There was a huge museum we checked out. (the National Naval Aviation Museum)

The base also had a lighthouse and cemetery. The base was massive.

Was pretty tired after all that...

We're off for more New Orleans adventures...au revoir.

--Amanda

On Turning 21

2010-12-15T11:08:00.001-05:00

In two days, I will be 21 years old. I know, that's pretty old. That's more than two decades...

To celebrate this occasion, Ged and I have embarked on a little adventure of sorts. We're currently in Pensacola, Fl. (on the panhandle), but we've been to a couple of cool places already.

Cue pictures.

This is the Wakulla Springs lodge in Wakulla Springs, Fl. It's a state park out in the middle of nowhere in northwest Florida.

A really neat old lodge that was built in 1937.

I was loving this fireplace. Such a novelty for me.

The ceiling was covered in paintings of wildlife and American Indian designs.

Ged beat me at checkers...

In back of the lodge, there was a swimming area and tons of wildlife.

Super clear water.

Sea cows (aka manatees) were hanging out.

Swamp Cross 2010

2010-12-14T20:04:00.000-05:00

This past Saturday, Ged and I had the pleasure of going to Swamp Cross 2010, a cyclocross race that happens every year in Gainesville.

I've never been to this sort of cycling event before, so I was really eager to see what it was like.

It was a pretty small event, but still enjoyable. Very easygoing crowd yet competitive riders. There was even a FIXIE race. Some of these guys are crazy...

Here are some shots I got.

A Video...By Me

2010-12-11T10:11:00.000-05:00

Here's another video I just created for a photojournalism class.

The Santa Fe Century is a 100-mile bike ride sponsored by the Gainesville Cycling Club that happens every year in Gainesville, Fl. Riders from across the state and country come to enjoy the scenic route of this ride that takes place at the end of October.

Enjoy.

--Amanda