Had the opportunity to do the biggest mountain bike race in the world over the weekend. Very cool, it just happened to take place in Norway. Humph.. On Wednesday, I flew into Frankfurt and then onto Oslo. Not really a bad flight when it comes down to it. There is something to be said for sleeping pills and gin and tonic. In addition, when I did wake up during dinner service, red wine was free, nice. Then I went from Frankfurt to Oslo. I was waiting at the airport, got my bag, and then waited longer, and longer. Then I went to the window to ask were my vital piece of luggage is, the one containing my bike. I was told that it would be over in the far corner, for oversized luggage. I went there and waited, and waited, and nothing. So I went back and began filling out the paperwork to have a trace put on the case and see how to get it delivered, by Friday because the race was Saturday.. Should not be a problem, was all I was told. I then walked out to see blonde haired, blue-eyed Heidi (seriously, not kidding, Heidi) waiting for me. We were waiting on the Dutch participants before boarding a bus to head to where we were being put up. It turned out to be a three hour drive from the airport, and the furthere away we got, the less of a chance my bike was going to show up, bummer. We finally got to the top of this mountain outside of Lillehammer. Beautiful place, old wood buildings with grass roofs, nice.
Dinner was some really good BBQ, with Carlsberg beer, which has "Probably the best beer in the world" written across the bottom of the can. I also made two calls on the bike, the first one was not good, they had no idea where it was. The second one was better, it was located and going to be put on the midnight flight from Frankfurt to Oslo.
Friday morning started with a typical Euro breakfast. Sandwhich style stuff, pasta with meat, or cereal with milk that is more the consistency of half and half. I had a little turkey sammy and coffee. The next thing, Rune Hoydahl's mountain bike team showed up. Rune is a multi-time number one in the world mountain biker, multi-time olympian, and silver medalist in the world championship. He and his team did a presentation to the 120 or so of us that were there in the Pon contingent.. They did a decent time of scaring the shit out of people concerning nutrition, crashing, mechanicals, etc. etc.
I gotta go, to be continued....
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