Anyway, for all my worry, I actually had a blast driving. I have never gone through so many red lights and passed so many smiling waving policemen. It got to the point where I had to actually remind myself after the races that I needed to change my attitude so I wouldn’t be arrested or something!.

My other job was as a field reporter. I have to say that while it looks easy on TV, it is really difficult. I was lucky that they assigned a wonderful woman to help me and coach me. She eased me in and I never felt overwhelmed although sometimes it came very close. I was so glad she was there because I was very nervous, and I trusted her to make sure I didn’t look like a fool.

The most interesting thing to me was that I experienced a huge level of stress that I haven’t felt since I was racing well. The last few years of my career I didn’t ever really feel that nervous stress of having to prove something to myself. When I was riding well in the 90’s and early 2000’s, I raced a lot of times out of fear of failing. I haven’t felt that scared or fear in five or six years. But, I felt it at the Tour of California this year in a totally different context. I felt like I had a big opportunity to try some new things and I really wanted to do well. I had a self induced pressure that had me in bed by 8pm almost every night, and fighting a cold. I was terrified to fail, and ironically it made me feel alive. I have spent the last few years trying to find a life that makes me feel comfortable, and to realize that I’m at my best when I feel huge pressure was an interesting revelation. The balancing act of find a happy medium is going to have to be what I come to terms with in this new phase. I guess my attempt at advice today is that it’s important to realize what it is that drives us. What makes us passionate to move forward. Sometimes being scared is a good motivator, but the most important thing is to use whatever it is that drives you and pursue it because at the end of the day feeling alive is what makes life worth living.

So that’s my two cents for today

I arrived in Pisa which is in Tuscany. One of my oldest sponsors is the company SRM (powermeters), they have a beautiful training facility in Lucca. I met up with some people who were traveling with me for the week. They wanted to experience cycling in Italy, and this was definitely the way.

Our adventure started early the next morning, we packed all our GIANT bikes in the car and headed north to the Dolomites. It was pouring rain, so we didn’t feel too bad about not getting to ride before we left. As we got into the mountains, that rain began to turn to snow. We were going over some major passes, and it was definitely not the weather I had planned. I didn’t have any winter clothing! I guess that teaches me that after 20 years of bike racing, that you always need to be prepared!

The scenery was spectacular. One of the guys who was with me was very nervous because he had never ridden climbs like these. I explained that he would be fine. We have all day to ride, so if we need to go slow, we just slow down. No big deal. But my biggest fear was that we would not be able to ride much because of the weather. I kept my nervousness to myself. We met up with the rest of the people in our camp once we arrived in the mountains. It was a fun group and all different levels.

The next morning we set out to watch the Giro. We chose a climb close to the hotel. When you go to watch a race in Europe, the roads get closed hours before the race. You stake out a spot and then get to know your neighbors. It was snowing and cold, so everyone on the mountain was pretty motivated to be there and turn it into a good time. I was so worried that we would not be able to ride that it took me awhile to relax and just let the day flow. It turned out to be more fun than I could have ever anticipated. We met a bunch of Italians and ate cheese and drank homemade wine from plastic cups. In my broken Italian, this one old guy was trying to explain why a certain kind of cheese was so good. I understood that it was cow’s milk, but he kept going on about it. Finally I got it and almost died laughing. He kept trying to explain that the cheese tasted so good because it’s only from the milk of pregnant cows! Try figuring that out after sipping on their homemade wines. It was the full on experience of being a part of the festivities that surround a bike race. Our mechanic, (whose wine we had been drinking) started to throw snowballs at all the caravan cars. It was hilarious. There must have been a hundred people on this tiny climb, and it was our own little slice of the race, but it’s what makes bike racing so different in Europe. It’s all a part of life and excuse to have fun and gossip about the race.

Amazingly, in the afternoon, the sun peeked out and we decided to go for a ride. The roads in the Dolomites are narrow, twisty and stunning. It’s like being in a Disneyland for cyclists. We all bundled up in all the clothes we had and headed up the valley to the climbs. It was the first time that I had ever ridden a compact gearing set. It was perfect. I loved the fact that I had such a range of gearing on my road bike. I am going to request this type of gearing on all my bikes from now on. It makes a huge difference.

The best part of the ride always has to be the descents. I like to climb because I like to feel the burn, but, descending is what I love. There is such a feeling of freedom and adrenaline when you start flying down a mountain road.

I am including some photos from my trip. If you ever get the chance to get out there and explore you should just go for it. Have a plan but don’t stress about the things you can’t control. Sometimes those are the moments that are the best. Go with the flow of these un-planned, little chapters. It may turnout that these are the most memorable. I learned a big lesson on that trip, and that is to be prepared and plan, but then sit back, relax, and take some time to enjoy the little gifts that life throws your way.