This update is coming from the Portland Airport, where I'm taking my last sips of a local beer and taking advantage of the free wifi. In a few minutes I'll be boarding the first of my three flights to get to Hamilton, Bermuda for my final race of the season. By midmorning tomorrow, pacific coast time (early afternoon, Bermuda time), I'll be on the ground and working on a pre-race rum, preferably served in a big coconut. Life as a professional athlete is indeed difficult.

And not only will this be the last race of the season for me, but also my last race in a Health Net jersey. So I guess I might as well come out with the new team: Rock Racing. That's probably only news to about two or three people at this point; I haven't exactly been keeping my mouth shut. I don't have a lot of time to elaborate at this point, but I'm very excited about the change. There are some very major riders that the team has either already secured, or is in the process of negotiating with, who'll make it one of the strongest teams in the US next year. It could quite possibly be the strongest team. I'm very confident that it'll be a great opportunity for me.

Just this morning, I got on my road bike for the very first time since the Atlanta 100k, the day after the USPRO road championships. While the rest of the domestic peloton was toiling away in Missouri, I've been riding my 'cross bike in the woods and doing some backpacking in the Jefferson Wilderness. Pictures are below. I'll post more later.