Tour De France Diary 6.27

Hey All

So I am getting very close to heading off to Colorado for 2 days of training in the mountains with Lance Armstrong's personal coach Chris Carmichael. It should be an incredible experience.

The training has been going very well. It doesn't get easier, you just get faster.

Well enjoy the video entries!

Adam

Hey All,

New entry. In this entry you will find me quite frustrated with my bike. I love my bike. However we were having a bad day together.
I think we need counseling.
Enjoy the video!

Training Ride

Hey All,

I thought I would go with a new format on this one. Early this morning, I decided to take my small video camera on the ride with me.
I was able to record a bit on one of my favorite climbs.
Enjoy!

Sleepless In Spain

Buenos Dias

"How did I end up in this place in this moment?" I find myself asking myself this question constantly. I could not dream up some of the experiences I have had up to this moment in this adventure with the Discovery Channel.

So we were off to Spain to meet some of the pro riders on the team and do some training of our own. I was scared to death. I am still scared to death. The trip was like playing a game of 1 on 1 with Michael Jordan or throwing the football around with Joe Montana. My nerves were all over the place.

I have come to appreciate 3 things more than anything on my trip to Spain. Water, air and food have new meaning to me. You really don't know how important these things are until they are taken away from you.

We did a lot of riding in Spain. At one point on a long ride we crossed the border into France. Mountains are like monsters. Monsters lurking in the distance that only seem to grow larger the closer we come to them. So how did I make it to the top of a 7000 foot climb over 25 km? Fear. Fear can be the greatest motivator.

Everything is hard at altitude. You feel like you have half a lung and you are always thristy. I could not dream up a better place to ride a bike. Climbing mountains in Spain left me with a feeling of fear and accomplishment. I have a ways to go, but I am going to get there.

My life depends on it. The Tour De France can crush your soul if you let it.

Adam

Welcome To My Tour De France Blog!

Hi Friends,

I have been one of two selected to participate in a series for Discovery HD Theater that will have me and a partner training with the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team in Spain and cycling stages of the Tour De France! This will without question be an incredible challenge, but one I am excited to take part in.

The purpose of this diary is to track my experiences training with the Discovery Channel Team and my new training partner and teammate Joe Praino.

The selection process went by very quickly. All I did was submit my 3 minute video detailing why I should be selected and showing my enthusiasm for the sport of cycling. Somehow the production team at the Discovery Channel found my video among thousands and selected me.

This experience for me will be like playing in the Super Bowl for my favorite team. My excitement after being selected quickly went to sheer terror as the Tour De France is the toughest test of endurance in the world. Imagine climbing Mt. Everest after running a marathon. (You get the picture)

My partner is the more experienced rider between the two of us. I am certain I was selected to be the novice/rookie on the team. I only got serious about the sport a few years ago. This should all make for great TV.

In my next entry I will talk about the first day of filming which included my bike ride into work and a look into my home life.

Adam