Redlands Bicycle Classic: A Look Back

One of my favorite images from the race:
The warm glow of the sunset as Ben Day relishes his overall victory.
The scene was reminiscent of my other trip to the Redlands Bicycle Classic in 2008. That year, I was working for Rock Racing – which won the overall title. This spring, I was back in Redlands, Calif., to handle media relations for Fly V Australia. And once again, I was helping the winning team celebrate a victory in one of the prime stage races on the National Racing Calendar.

Here are a few of my favorite photos (not shared in previous posts about this race):

All the electronics on the folder are mine. Lots of tools of the trade.
My Blackberry Pearl (lower right) took a spill on the last day of the race and had to be replaced.

Ever wonder how shots like this are achieved?
I learned how it's done from mechanic Chris Davidson.

Helping Davidson adjust one of the De Rosas before the criterium.

Believe it or not, this is Ben Day before the criterium.

The team meeting before the final stage.

The "numbers to watch" of other contenders.

One of the prizes to the overall winner: a custom painting.

Photographer Michael Crook was my chauffeur to the airport.

Back In California

Host housing in Redlands, Calif., is first class.
So I'm back in California for the third time this year. This time, it's for the 26th annual Redlands Bicycle Classic. The four-day stage race is one of the longest-running events on the National Racing Calendar.

This is my third time at this race. In 2008, I was here with Rock Racing (which won the race overall). Last year, it was Team Type 1. This year, Fly V Australia.

On the flight out of Omaha, I was nearly bumped. But flying through Phoenix had its benefits, as a snowstorm in Denver all but shuttered that airport and stranded travelers nationwide. Surprisingly, when I boarded my flight to Ontario, Calif., (not Ontario, Canada) the plane was nearly empty.

The other interesting aspect of my travel Wednesday was running into the Azusa Pacific basketball team. Coincidentally, I had watched highlights of the NAIA school losing by one point (the potential game-winning basket was waved off) to Dallas Baptist.

The airport in Ontario, Calif. seemed strangely empty.

Fly V Australia Training Camp

The boys from Fly V Australia, on the road near Malibu, Calif.
So I had a serious case of deja vu going this month, returning to California – Agoura Hills, no less – for my second professional cycling team training camp of the year. This time, it was with the Fly V Australia team.

Ed Beamon, who managed Team Type 1 in 2008, is the team's technical director. My role was to perform some media training, manage a media day and assist with the team's presentation, which took place at a posh hotel in Beverly Hills. The camp went well. Here are some of the highlights, in photos, of my five days on-site.

My room at the Renaissance – same hotel as the BMC Racing Team's training camp. (Little did I know we would be back here in May at the Amgen Tour of California.)

Ed Beamon supervised all the team's training rides.


Ivan Dominguez, now with the Jamis-Sutter home squad, showed up for one of the rides. The license plate on his car reads, "1K 2 GO"

Self-portrait during one of the training rides.

A lifeguard tower straight out of "Baywatch."

Team Owner Chris White was the subject of a front-of-the-sports page story in the Los Angeles Daily News.

The roof-top pool adjacent to the ballroom where the team presentation was held.

Jerseys for autograph signing after a training ride.

The Velo Pasadena bicycle shop hosted a "Ride with the Pros" event.

My final day in California didn't feature the best weather. But it was still better than the weather in Nebraska.

There was a huge turnout for the training ride from Pasadena to Big Bear.