Things heard at the Cape Epic

"There's so much eye candy." -- Ashley

"Have a nice day." -- Race theme song by Bon Jovi. Played at the start.

The La Ruta Queen and Eric being interviewed by the local media

"What happened to your hand?" -- too many people to mention

"Isn't that a camera sign?" --Lou getting a little nervous with my one-handed night driving in the fog

"This isn't Africa this is Europe." -- Kenyan rider commenting on South Africa, related to me by Eric.

"I speak pig latin." -- Blair talking to a Norwegian team on day one.

"Put your hands up! Put your hands up! Put your hands up in the air!" -- Mic Mike, the #2 guy at the CE and race announcer, at the 7am race start.

"Shut the F*#@ UP!" -- more than a few rider's reply to Mic Mike.

"We're so lucky." -- Lou commenting on our access to much more awesome trails in the States. The trails in SA aren't really that great and we've got awesome if not better scenery.

Hanging out in George before the race

"Need Ganja?" -- local on my first day in South Africa

"I've never seen anyone crash like that and get up from it." -- Guy that saw me crash

"Someone call a medic." --According to Blair, something said after I crashed.

"I speak Canadian." -- Blair making conversation with another team.

"Hey! Good to see you." --Christina Begy on the first climb on day one

Pals!

"No one in South Africa stands together. The only people that stand together are the ANC." -- Local woman commenting on the general SA mentality

"Want me to pray for your hand?" -- Ohio chick, one of the missionaries that was at the start blocks every morning.

"I hear the Tequila is good here." -- My friend Neil talking to the waiter in Capetown after we had plenty of the local beer and a complementary bottle of wine. Neil was out of the race after day one. We caught the same bus to Capetown on day 4.

Cross training

Spent some time today at the beach doing a little cross training with Monica.

It's faster than it looks.

Who's yo daddy?

Actually, when it comes to cycling that probably doesn't matter as much as...well...yo momma. So what the hell am I talking about? Mitochondria -- "the powerhouses" of every cell in your body. They're the "only places inside your muscle cells where carbohydrate, fat, and protein can be broken down in the presence of oxygen to create the energy you need to exercise" and a lot of the training we do increases their density (see this article). This page gives an overview of the physiological factors limiting endurance exercise capacity and the relationship between VO2max and mitochondrial respiration. Ok so what? What's the big deal?

Everyone gets these cells from their mom. So if you're a badass ripping it up at the races on the way to the podium make this year's Mother's Day extra special.

On a different note, I'm surprised such info hasn't been used by national programs to encourage certain individuals to give cycling or other sports a go. Take Eddy Merckx for example, sure Axel has a good plamares but he's no cannibal. To find another cannibal with the same genetic potential, the Belgian national team should be checking out Eddy's family history tree. A sister with a son; a sister with a daughter with a son; an aunt with a daughter, who has a daughter, who has a son.... and so on.

Anyway, moms are great aren't they?

This is an interesting mitochondria related read for your inner geek.

Carnage at the Cape

Unfortunately, crashing is a part of riding whether it's having fun on the trail or during a race. Petacchi is out of the Giro and also out of the Tour. Total bummer! Minnaar did an endo in Vigo, he's fine.

The Cape Epic was the first race where I saw so much carnage. The day I crashed, day 2, I saw more than a couple of riders with broken collarbones. I shared an ambulance ride to the hospital in Mossel Bay with a woman who broke her collarbone and a guy who had his leg sliced by the big chainring when he crashed 5km from the finish. By the last day I had also seen couple of broken elbows, a broken hand (not mine), a broken foot, and a dude with a bloody patch over one of his eyes. I knew of broken ribs and also one guy crashed so bad he had to have a kidney removed. Even the leading mixed team crashed (towing accident) on the last day and were out as a result...collarbone. Towing is great but it just takes one little mistake to end a race but that's a different post.

I don't know how this happened but the guy who was riding this bike had a huge area of skin missing on one of his legs. Ouch!! I offered my wheel to his partner, but that was before Eric pointed out the bent fork. The poor fella didn't ride the next day.

Jacked!

Injuries at La Ruta and the Transrockies Challenge aren't as common. I thought the fella in the pic below was relaxing at the finish on day 5 at the '05 TRC, but he was actually in pretty bad shape. The paramedics carried him off shortly after I took the photo.

Transrockies Pain

Getting back to normal

I saw the doctor last week and my hand is healing well. He didn't object when I mentioned that I'd like to get back on the bike ASAP for some easy rides. That's one great thing about a doctor who's cycled.

Gilly and I went for a two hour spin on the Santa Ana River trail Sunday. It felt so good to be back on the bike. I had to keep an eye out for bumps in the pavement (the hand is still sensitive) and I had to ride with one hand some of the time. I can't use the front breaks yet so no commuting or riding on the streets of Orange County just yet.

I've got to rearrange this year's racing schedule. The Creampuff might still be a go. Ironbike is probably out, but for reasons other than my hand. I might shoot for La Ruta in November. In the meantime I'll be on the trainer, the ergometer and perhaps the rollers.