Learn Something New Every Day

We had a good time at the Tour de Tucson last week at TEAM headstrong western hq. I'll let Bird tell you all about the racing experience, because he loves the play by play experience. Instead I thought I would focus on passing along some knowledge I collected this week. They say you learn something new every day and I think it was true of the Tucson trip. Here are a few things I learned out west.

• There is something to this trend towards electronic shifting. It's efficient and simple, even though I never thought my mechanical shifters were that hard to operate.
• The dry desert air helps dry up spilled energy drink on your frame like concrete in about 5 minutes.
• Arizona desert roads are paved once every 53 years whether they need it or not.
• Scorpions glow in the dark under a black light.
• 8 teammates can't really eat 6 cups of oatmeal at one sitting.
• The gently rolling (mostly flat and false flat) desert roads are very friendly to clydesdales like me.
• It's good for the ego to spin out of your top gear in a rotating paceline, even if it's compact gearing.
• A 130 pound Colombian professional can make himself smaller than your front wheel when he's pulling at 35mph.
• No matter how many or how few traffic cones they use to control traffic flow, some jackleg is going to hit one on his bicycle.
• Some guys can travel around the country for 20 days a month, training indoors (or not at all) and still rip the legs off you. 
• There is such a thing as an Italian Tamale, and no that is not the nickname of a local rider.
• Some of my headstrong teammates possess amazing secret skills that would really surprise you. Just ask Randall "Thumbs" Maddox about his secret "world class" talent.

I had a great time in Tucson and I want to thank the Maddox's for the hospitality and fun. It's always a blast at TEAM headstrong western hq. I can't wait to enjoy our next adventure in February at 2013 Team Camp.