Congrats

Shout out to this guy who just got a new little girl. Congrats Tristan and Jamie!

Paris: I went to the Louvre and all I did was Climb Shit

Paris has come and gone. It seems like yesterday I was just contemplating even possibly going. So for the fact that it already has happened is unfathomable.

It was a wonderful time, and here are some photo teasers to get you started. I will add some more a little later once I have some down time...That seems like never! I always seem to be on the go, but never rushed.

Big Ring Classic

Wow do I feel ridiculous. Wouldn't it be good to put a race update up from my last race? Especially since I had a pretty good time there? I'd say we are all ready for the Big Ring Classic update!So I will cut more to the chase. After an evening of a downpour, we were ready for the chilly 28-ish mile race head of us. I wasn't sure how I'd fair. I had been training, but it didn't show at Rhinelander...I was pretty disappointed with that. My main goal was to stick with a good train at the beginning. I sat on Holly's wheel until the singletrack when Comp guys rolled in to break it up.Before half way I decided to face plant pretty hard. Therefore bending my handlebars a few degrees off. I was going to stop to attempt to straighten but decided to race as much and as long as possible. At this point I was sitting 6 or 7th throughout the second lap.
The third lap came, I just wanted to maintain my position. About 3 women got me right in the last lap as I just started to lose a little bit of strength.

Nonetheless...I finished...not last...and not second to last! I was very proud to have a little more of a satisfying result. Not quite where I'd like to be but its an improvement.

I hope with some good riding in I should be able to maintain that power a bit more. Still no podium close, but I'm creepin closer... Thanks for the support from those who have been giving it. I'm glad I've got friends like I do mountain biking that I can't find in Kentucky. Thanks!

Photography skills by the talented riders and photographers, Brittany Nigh and Christine Czarnecki!

Richmond and Hyde Park

Today was a great great day. I had such a blast today and there wasn't too much that went on! The girls and I decided to do a picnic lunch at Hyde Park today It was a great sunny day. Definitely need to stay hydrated over here!

It was fun to go out with all the girls again. We all picked some food up to pass from the grocery store...including some NUTELLA which is packaged very large over here! Glorious day.

Sara has been such a great person over here. She has been super fun, and I'm super excited that I get to go to Paris with her this weekend!

Food.And yet again at Hyde Park and the Prince Albert Memorial Monument.Later on I decided to do an excursion. Hope I don't die and hope I make it back. It was a little risky, but I am so happy I did it. I did a search for Richmond Park, which is where I told the best road riding in London was.After some searching and a short 5 mile ride from my studio apartment, I found it at Roehampton Gate.

This park has 2500 acres of land and wildlife everywhere! It was so amazing. I didn't feel like I was in London, I felt like I was in a safari or something.

Some beautiful scenery on my ride.



Some deer.

Don't worry, the roads are indeed paved.

Some public restrooms within the park. So cute! Who knew toilets would be so attractive?

There were cyclists everywhere. I could easily hop on a train or relax to get in a great workout. It was like a group ride everywhere I looked!

Tomorrow is my first day of classes so I just hope I can make it through that! The students seem pretty smart here. I was even told Imperial College (where I go), is like the MIT of England...Great!

Until next time! Cheers!

Portobello Market and Kensington Palace

These first two pictures are from yesterday's tour. I just like the fact that I can make any respectable photo pretty vulgar.

I am here with a Yeoman guard and a knight...

Today was pretty cool. We went and checked out the Portobello Market in Nottinghill. Very awesome. Great stuff there too! New, used, old, all of the above.

We even got to use the "Tube."

It gave me a chance to find some really cool things....

Afterwards I finally got my bike and got it dialed in. I then rolled up to Hyde Park where Kensington Palace is, rode a bit then checked out the palace. It was great.

Spent some time on the steps of Prince Albert's Monument/Memorial.


After the day we hit up Oneill's for some brewskies. I actually enjoyed the Guiness and StrongBow.

The Official Tour: Day 3

Today was our big bus tour in London. The double-decker was pretty sweet, weather was great, and London would soon be dominated.In front of my flat/apartment.We then got to go check out Buckingham Palace. It was awesome. This is a fountain there. These girls I just met basically yesterday or so. Great ladies!

Buckingham Palace. Good afternoon, Prince William.

I also have learned to shoot a medieval crossbow. Watch out people!

This is at the Tower of London. It was amazing there. I was having some issues with my tendons in my ankle again so I have been troubles walking. Which sucks terribly. All day today my ankle throbbed, but I couldn't let it stop me from just enjoying the country!

We then took a boat river tour too.

It led us into the Tower Bridge (aka London Bridge).

Oh, and Big Ben!

Hi Big Ben!

Sara and Sarah. We be going to Paris next weekend

London by foot

Navigating London has been much better as time goes on. It's fairly easy to get around!

I do my grocery shopping here at Sainsbury's which is actually pretty nice.

I have also never seen so many sizes of Nutella. The regular size is off to the size, but the big one is HUGE!

A bunch of us decided to go hit up the town, and fit 5 of us in the telephone booth. I know we could've fit more!

The Prince Albert MonumentStanding in front of Harold's. Harold's was like a department store on steroids! They sold puppies for like 1500 pounds. They even had some of the top designers in the world: Versace, Dior, Valentino, Rock & Republic!

Finding some Rock & Republic jeans made my heart flutter...

The Galliano displays were really kind of neat, using handle bars for the hanging of the garments along with a bicycle seat for the brand.

The shoe show room in Harold's.
I believe these shoes were only made special order. Could not be purchased on the spot and had no price.

Hit up the Cafe' for lunch and some paninis.

Sara, Sarah, and me, Sarah...

Me and Sarah in front of Holy Trinity Brompton church grounds

Some more London neighborhood

And some more.