(no we aren’t talking s.e.x.; it means friday)
Oy, what a day! Crisis averted.
First of all…thanks thanks thanks to everyone who called, emailed, PMed, texted…you all know who you are.
Second, a HUGE shout out of thanks to Max and Kona Bikes (Cervelo dealer for Brasil) and to Inside-Out Sports. You guys really came through.
http://www.insideoutsports.com/
Rua Jacarezinho 45
Mercês
Curitiba - PR
max@konabikes.com.br
(41) 3022.83.24
www.konabikes.com.br
And thanks to my coach for writing my plan with today as OFF (or easy swim). I was looking through the emails that Scott and I had traded last year before the race and the schedule was very different. The day off today was pretty much a blessing in disguise. I again slept great last night and woke up before 6AM and read some email and thought about going swimming around 7AM, but it was cold, so I got back in bed under the blankets and stayed there until nearly 9AM! I wasn’t really sleeping, but went through the race in my mind and kept dozing off, but not falling sound asleep. Went down to breakfast and Sergio and Peter were there and an hour later we had eaten and were still drinking coffee. Mmmmm, coffee.
Everyone checked email again for any last minute messages and we checked with Iberia Air again (#@&@&#&#@* airline–still NOTHING on where the bike freaking is!) Then Sedi texted my phone and then called and so he got to work on calling Iberia Air from Portugal. The guys at the hotel got on the phone to the local bike shops and to a guy they know who used to be a pro rider and works with a team here. Sergio started saying he didn’t want us (me/Peter) to mess up our day and we stopped him and told him that we didn’t have anything that we had to do and this would keep our minds off of dwelling about the race. Plus, how much can you really sit in the room and stare at the TV or computer??? Crap, I can do that at home!! Peter said he’s a problem solver at work and I get things done at work, so let’s go! Off we went in the car to the bike shop. They had a Brasilian bike that was a road bike in the right size. Deposit needed for the full value of the bike. OK. We may be back. Obrigado.
On to the next spot. Team dude didn’t answer the phone. Back to the hotel to check email/messages again. Respond to everyone (again, thank you all). Off to the expo to see if Adriano (bike mechanic) was there. No. Bike shop dude at the expo who yesterday they said maybe had a bike he would rent was there. Yes, he had a bike. Again a road bike. Deposit for full value, yada yada. OK. Obrigado and we’ll get back to you. Oh, they have internet at expo! Thank you Brasil Telecom!! Check emails. Nada. What the hell, let’s get the word out to as many people as possible…email Shawn at IMlive.com, who is already aware of the story. Walk around. Sergio getting very frustrated. clm getting sad for Sergio. Peter mulling over things in major problem-solving mode.
DING DING DING–clm has an idea—Let’s ask bike mechanic dudes at tents outside of expo. This tent has many Cervelos. Meet Max, Cervelo dealer-Brasil. Tell Max and Lawrence from Inside-Out the story. THEY HAVE A BIKE!!! A CERVELO!!! Yea Max and Kona Bikes Brasil!! Yea Inside Out Sports!! Check out the bike. This just might work.
Go back to the hotel. Give Sergio a little time alone to vent and think this through. OK, this really might work. Go back to expo since he needs shoes, pedals. Max has a helmet he can use. Buy pedals, buy shoes, clm buys very cute jacket. Go to set up bike. By this time it’s 3PM or so and Peter and I haven’t had lunch. I go to find the press area to talk to Shawn and Peter gets something to eat. No Shawn at IMlive, so I go to get something to eat. Did you know that they put CORN and PEAS and shoestring potato things INSIDE the hamburger in Brasil??? Interesting. but it was pretty good. I like to think of it as getting all your nutrients at once–protein, starch and veggies.
Bike gets set up. Yea Lawrence (aka Tractor) and Bob (aka B.O.B.) and Max! Sit around shooting the shit with Tractor and B.O.B. (How about that up-dog smell? What’s up-dog? Yes, you had to be there.) Bike is ready to test. Sergio rides bike to hotel and we drive car. Sergio changes and takes my helmet and goes out for a ride. clm lays on couch crossing fingers that bike will work. It doesn’t feel like his bike and the set up isn’t exactly the same, but hopefully it will work.
Tonight the three of us met Olaf for dinner and Olaf is loaning him a front race wheel. Olaf is such a nice guy. It was great to get to spend some time with him.
When he rode off back to the hotel, Peter and I both breathed a big sigh of relief. We did all we could, so I’d call it a good day. Also met some very, very nice people, which makes it an even better day.
Pictures: http://web.mac.com/ironclm/iWeb/Site/2007.html
So, that’s about it for today! Isn’t that enough??? 
clm
