What do Germany and Texas have in common? I'm not too sure, but malted beverages and Edge products do come to mind.
In
Austin last weekend, we visited some of our newest Edge dealers,
brought out the fleet of wheels, and we had our share of TexMex, chips,
salsa. On Sunday we snuck in a race at the famed Rocky Hill Ranch where
Team Jamis racers Adam Snyder and Jason Sager continued with "product testing".
Evidently we made some reasonably fast wheels as Sager took on a win and Snyder, below, survived.
On the other side of the world, track star and
Edge track fork
user Colby Pearce, who's resume is too long to recap other than LOTS of
World Championships and a few Olympics, checks in from Munich:
I
started the Munich 6 day last night with my partner, Holloway, but it
was over almost before it began as I crashed out of the race. I went to
the hospital and eventually was diagnosed with a broken collarbone.
Normally,
I am not superstitious, but I have to comment on this: we were team
number 13 and the second day of the event would be friday the 13th
(today). I did not even make it that far into the event.
In 6 day racing the numbers are printed on the jerseys (or tricots,
as they are called, which is shorthand for incredibly poor fitting,
cheaply made jersey with no pockets and a 99% lycra content). This
prevented us from honoring the tradition of pinning one #13 on upside
down. The number gods were not smiling upon us.
The
short story goes like this: Holloway and I missed a change, and
Sebastian Siedler crashed into Holloway, taking them both out. I rode a
lap thinking "Dang, Holloway crashed!!!" and when I came around the
home straight, Siedler's bike was still smack in the middle of the
track. Things happen fast on a 200 meter velodrome...
I
made it around the bike but has such a severe correction that I took
myself out in the process. Tail-over-tea kettle and that was all she
wrote...apparently there is a bit of a history with riders breaking
collarbones in the first chase in Munich and I have become the latest
addition to the list.
Robert
Bartko was taken down in the crash also, and we went to the hospital
together. We spent the evening trying to not make each other laugh at
stupid jokes, because laughing was spasmodically painful for both of
us. Holloway grew another appendage on his elbow, in the form of a
giant bruise. Fortunately, he will live to fight another day, and is
now paired up with the Belgian Kenny DeKettle, whose partner Tim
Mertens had to withdraw after experiencing dizziness during the racing.
So now I am coming home for
more Dr visits, some rest, and to try and get recovered for the next
contract in Zurich, which is in December.
Holloway
and I came over for the Manchester World Cup about 12 days ago, so I
had some time in Germany inbetween event to fill with European
experiences.
Trip
highlights include a fantastic traditional goose dinner in Dusseldorf
with Sven and Suzan Teutenberg. This was like Thanksgiving dinner in
the States, and it is a fall tradition in Germany.
It was so yummy, I am compelled to include a photo.
All in all, certainly not the best trip I have had to Europe, but thats the way it goes. See you at the races....
Ciao
Colby Pearce