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.

Catching Up With Friends

The first race of the season provides the opportunity to catch up with my friends and colleagues on the pro cycling circuit - some of whom I have not seen since the Tour of Missouri. Many of them ask how my daughters are doing, which is very thoughtful of kind of them. I was able to say, "great" this week because I just spent last weekend with them.

Because time is short, here's a few highlights from my day Friday – Stage 1 of the Redlands Bicycle Classic.

One of the girls's all-time favorites, Ivan Dominguez.

Plenty of press is here (and I know nearly all of them).

Reed McCalvin is working for Trek-Livestrong this year.

I hadn't seen this done before. Gels attached to bottles.

Same red, black and white colors - just a different team.

Finally, can you spot which "Daily Distraction" I shot for Pezcycling News this month?

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.

Separated At Birth

Hard to believe that the girl in red is NOT the same person.
They say everyone has a twin. I haven't run into mine yet, but I have been told by more than one person that I look like someone they know.

In the case of the photo above, I know Nikki (at left) from the Redlands Bicycle Classic. She's a top-notch PR person. The woman on the right is Liz, a reporter for the newspaper in Bisbee, Ariz. I find it amazing that the two bear such a strong resemblance - and that they are both wearing red tops.