Brad Huff Cycling

Wow it feels so weird to be back in USA after such a long trip away.  Just being here has already brought new life into my tired self. 
My trip home was pretty crappy, as I had to sleep in the Paris Airport the same night I finished my last stage race in France.  So I was feeling great.  The real difficulty was only having a package of Peanut M&M’s to sustain myself on for then night.  After eating over a 1000 calories in M&M’s, one just does not feel the same?  Well some how I made it home, went straight for two huge Venti Coffee’s from Starbucks, then off to the best place around….CHIPOTLE!!!!!  MMMMMmmmmm!
So now I am attempting to get another new bike positioned for me and my sensitive self, then it is off the start Philly week campaign.  I look forward to seeing all my loved ones (Butthead and Greek) and not so loved ones (Butthead) in the coming weeks.
Ya I am back in USA, because the meals are huge, the cars are huge, the roads are huge, and the people are ????.  I am very thankful to have made it through my European racing schedule and hopefully it will bring me to a new leave of abilites and performances. 

Stage 2 nothing special–small breakaway, I finished in the group.  Took 2nd in the field sprint which gave me 3rd overall on Stage 3.  One guy off the front with a 9 sec gap.  These amateur races are crazy!  They wouldn’t let any of us go!  Tiaa-Cref in the break?  BAM–all on chase, not organized, just chase!  Still not feeling great, but able to do some stuff.  One point out of the intermediate sprint jersey.  One more day. 

Tour de Gironde:
From: http://www.cycle-racing.com/2006/Gironde06.htm

25/05/06 - Stage 1 - 152 km

I never thought that my scale had numbers below 80kg? But some how I was able to see these lower numbers that have not been used too often up until now! You know I might have my occational drop in weight due to a 180+km race combined with a little dehydration? Pero ayer y hoy are different stories. oh ya scale, take that!* The Fat Kid is a little light these days? But how long will it last? How long will it last????
*we just got the scale yesterday(ayer)
Off to Tour de Gironde up in France land, then back to the states for some Philly week action.

Here is some Penalties at the FBD Insurance Ras Stage Race in Ireland - Art 12.1.040 - UCI: 29 - Urination in a public place {Comportement incorrect} 53: Euser,Lucas: USA19831205 FINE: 50 Fs 51: Bowman,Dan: USA19820106 FINE: 50 Fs
But even better is that MIKE FRIEDMAN is now in the Leaders Jersey!!!! Danny Pate took the leaders jersey and the stage win yesterday, now Meatball!!!!!!!!!!
I guess that makes the little peeing fine not so bad?

I did not plan for this, but today I went on the Christian Vandevelde Birthday Ride. I just so happen to see Michael Barry before I headed out on my own and he stated that I should come ride with him and Christian. After waiting around, Ryder Hesjedal, Fred Rodriguez, Christian, and Levi Leipheimer all show up for the ride! Ok I guess I am riding with the Pro Tour Crew. The only one we were missing from the Girona mafia was George Hincapie. Well thank god they were kind of tired from the Volta a Catalunya because I am pretty sure I would not have lasted if they were actually riding hard. Then we turn a corner and who is riding towards us?? Jakob Pill!!!!! Ok, Ok this is pretty damn cool for a first year pro rider. Plus I think that this ride had a weight limit of under 70 kg and well lets just say I made it past the rule. What a day! Oh ya, Christian is now able to race Masters! Which I am actually not that far from either.

So my last week in Spain is upon me and it seems as if I just got here. Well actually I am pretty cracked and looking forward to heading back to the US or A! Girona is very unique in that it has everything that a cyclist needs, flats, steep hills, long climbs, tons of country roads, and several high level Professional riders around the city. Good food, great markets, cheap espresso, and all encompassed within walking distance. There is virtually no need for a car…which is very nice considering the price of petro over here. What am I going to miss???? Espresso, simple lifestyle, low stress, walking…yes I said walking because in the states our cities just do not really allow one to walk to various places within the city, mullets, and the terrain. What am I NOT going to miss??? The damn bell tower that is 100 meters from our apartment that rings every hour and every 15mins no matter what time of day it is, the down stairs neighbors morning “exercises”, mullets, the cobble climb to our apartment, and the 150 steps up to our apartment.
Hopefully in this last week I will be able to finally allow my fitness to overcompensate for all of the over-reaching I have been doing since I got here? Who knows? Most likely I will suffer like always and someone will take me out in the last kilometer of the race, but I still have faith that positive things will come! I have yet to go and ask my neighbors down the block for some sugar….Ryder H. Pat Mc. Floyd L. Tyler H. Freddie R. George H. Micheal B. or Levi L. But super former pro Katrina G. has WAY TOO much sugar to give….I think Kevin G. needs to keep her in check!

So last night was the FCB Futbol club took the win over Aresenal club. WOW you would not believe how intense the Catalan people are about their futbol. AMAZING! The team is not just a team, it is a symbol of the people. After the win there was nearly a riot in the downtown streets of Girona. Til late into the night people were celebrating, honking their car and motorcycle hoors, cheering in the streets, setting off fireworks, while drinking and smoking heavily. We par took in the adventure for a while, but then our cyclist fatigue took over and he had to retreat to our beds. Talk about crazy though, these people have a TRUE passion for there Professional Team. The team is a symbol and a pride that is taken very seriously, I am just thankful that they won! I would have hated to seen what they would have done had the team lost?
Friedman and I both bought some great dark chocolate covered almonds(he also bought some walnuts too) on our man walk about downtown Girona. We both sampled out new treats, but for some reason he just keep eating? In less than a 5 minute walk back to his apartment he had eatten his whole purchase while I still had 3/4 of mine left? I even remember him mumbling…”oh I should stop, I they are just so good, oh man, oh man..” Well I guess he was upset at himself for his gluttones behavior….but for god sake Friedman you have just completed some of the hardest racing of your life and it was not like you didn’t finish, you were freaking attack PRO TOUR TEAMS!)….so he went out for a little power hour of riding to burn off those dark chocolate goodies. Then the guys were blamming it on me? I do not think so, it is all on Friedman. Blame Friedman. I think I will make a T-Shirt and start to sell them. The only thing the T-Shirt will say is: “Blame Friedman!” It will be the new fashion trend…..like the recent “Jesus is my homeboy!”

Oh sweet 2 crashed, racing in HAIL, not being able to do anything in the race, sitting DFL for km upon km, and riding with really one good arm? Oh this is so SWEET! Picardie was really hard for me and our whole team. I am just happy to have made it through the whole thing in somewhat of one piece.
My taste buds have cracked and I have developed a liking for French Bread, Butter, and Jam at Breakfast and even lunch. MMMmmm Jam! The amount of instant s**t coffee I had to drink is WAY too much! Gazing upon a plate of a runny omelet I wonder….Is it so hard to actually cook here? Over cooked pasta, undercooked meats, way too much sliced ham, ??stinky cheese for dessert??, the need for ketchup on just about everything, mmm apple tart again…my favorite, and more tastey instant coffee. Luckily our sougniers take care of us and make sure to have some CNS mainstays, peanut butter, nutella, snickers or lion bars, fat kid bread with chocolate chips, and fruit. But that damn Creed always steals all the chocolate!

Again and again I have crashed due to two other riders!  Fell on my bad arm again 9 km from the end, but finished.  My elbow was VERY painful all day.  I was riding with one and a half arms!  Somehow I made it work.  This s**t is cracking me.  Will F, Mike F, Dan B, and I all crashed today.  We think Will broke his hand.  Totally franced with 30 km to go.  One more day of two short stages.