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MTB Worlds Day 2 |
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Written by Andrew Freye
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Saturday, 19 August 2006 |
 “Left side, left side, stay on the left side.” Is what goes through my head every time I get on the road here down in New Zealand. Because everyone here drives on the left side of the road cyclist are suppose to ride on the left side of the road as well. It only takes one time of riding on the right side of the road and having a car or truck come at you head on before you quickly realize that things are backwards down under.
Last night the power went out a little before 8pm which I was ok with. It just gave me and everyone else a good excuse to hit the hay early. I was pretty worn out from two days of travel out here. I slept like a rock, except for when the power came back on. All the lights came back on, tv turned on etc… Unconsciously I turned everything off an was back into my deep sleep. I was up early had a great breakfast and was out on my bike before 9am. I am really amazed with myself at this. The morning ride was a little sluggish with temps in the 40’s accompanied with a light rain/mist. Apparently the UCI is very strict on when you can ride on the course, and the entire course is closed to anyone on a bike until Monday. With that said I stuck to the backwards roads for the morning and enjoyed the foggy landscapes of New Zealand.
The afternoon was pretty laid back. Sleep, watch movie, receive a massage from one of the massage therapists, eat, and pretty much just be lazy. I know it’s a rough life. Even though I am half way around the world it doesn’t feel like I am too far away. Right outside my door the American flag is flying high and proud on the hotel's flag pole. The entire Best Western hotel complex is rented out by USA Cycling. There are over 50 Americans here, including athletes and support staff. I still haven’t gotten used to giving my bike to someone and asking/telling them to fix it. I feel like I should be doing the work. I don’t want to get too used to this service, because I know I am not going to be getting this type of treatment when I return home. Well that’s all for now, I have to go get a massage! Thanks for reading and all the support. Keep checking back, I hope to have a day by day journal up. Tomorrow I get to see what the course is actually like!
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