Tour of Utah: Stage 5

[sulis]

Last night was probably the most fun I have had all week at the Tour of Utah.

LifesGreat picked me up and we rode downtown together. Once there we quickly met up with our new friend Vicki. She is also a cyclist and has an amazing story. I've told her all about TE and encouraged her to come join us so hopefully she will introduce herself soon.

Anyhow, once we checked in at the volunteer tent we found out that the organization that set up the VIP tent went kind of awall and decided that only their employees would run the VIP tent that day. That ment volunteers without jobs. Fortunately though there was plenty to do. Lifesgreat, Vicki and I were not left jobless for long. We helped hang up the finish line banners, sort out drinks and I passed out programs all over the place encouraging people to come watch the race. It was hot!

I managed to score a very lovely hat from the Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada team. When they brought it to me it was a very welcome relief from the sun and saved my big nose from getting burned. So a special thanks to Thomas and KGSN cycling for that. KGSN is my new favorite team. Gosh, I feel like such a pelaton ho, it doesn't take much to sway me. I love free stuff. ha ha ha ha But I am still completely in lust over the Navigators bikes - I have tried to will one to fall off their support car several times but it has not worked yet.

Bob Roll was there and lead the Freedom Peleton - a charity fundraiser. Entrants got to ride with Bob and complete as many laps of the race course as they could in 1 hour. I did not have the privledge of meeting Bob..but LifesGreat did and I believe she may even have a picture of him so I'll let her give you all the details. But the news trickeling over ot me was that Bob "I love to talk with my hands" Roll was very friendly and kind - willing to take pictures and sign whatever for whomever.

It was a great race and had amazing crowds. I had read some of the riders were hoping for an easy stage for todays climbing madness called Stage 6 but sadly they did not get that. While mostly flat, there was a really steep climb up to the state capital that proved quite a challenge for some at the fast speeds that some of the teams were setting. It was all very exciting.

About 30 minutes after the race a famous Utah scattered Thunderstorm came pooring down. I welcomed it as a break from the heat. But hey, that is Utah - wait 10 minutes and the weather will change.

Lifesgreat, Vicki and I walked around a bit and went up to the VIP tent hoping to score some food as we were very hungry. The guys of Bajio Grill obviously recognized us by now from being there all week and told us to come in. But we couldn't get in the VIP tent so they told us to sneak in the back way. We did, carefully avoiding snobbish VIP tent personnel. And the very cool Bajio guys already had food waiting for us when we got in. I love Bajio Grill!!! We ate discreatly in the back side of the tent. Sergey Lagutin was in the tent and Lifesgreat and Vicki got him to sign thier shirts. Funny thing happened. We were eventually joined by some other volunteer staff in the tent - more executive level than us so I guess they were okayed into the tent. Anyhow, as we were all sitting there eating and talking, these two VIP guests walked by and said "Oh look, they are feeding the peaons now." Some people. But we all had a good laugh over thier complete tackiness and high and mighty attitudes.

It was definitely a fun night. I can not believe today is the last day. I'm having too much fun. And I'm going to miss seeing all the "hot" bikers every day. Lifesgreat should be on her way to my house as I type this and then we'll head up to the finish line at Snowbird. So more news later on the final stage of the Tour of Utah!!!!

[AuntieK]

I managed to score a very lovely hat from the Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada team. When they brought it to me it was a very welcome relief from the sun and saved my big nose from getting burned. So a special thanks to Thomas and KGSN cycling for that. KGSN is my new favorite team. Gosh, I feel like such a pelaton ho, it doesn't take much to sway me. I love free stuff. ha ha ha ha But I am still completely in lust over the Navigators bikes - I have tried to will one to fall off their support car several times but it has not worked yet.

What?!! I want a KGSN hat! They've turned out to be my favorite team as well. If you visit their website, http://www.kgsncycling.com/photos.html, you'll see that I made a poster and went and cheered them on at Sundance. The little girl holding the poster was so cute. She came up and asked if she could hold it, so I let her. She did give it back before the teams came through.

Bob Roll was there and lead the Freedom Peleton - a charity fundraiser. Entrants got to ride with Bob and complete as many laps of the race course as they could in 1 hour. I did not have the privledge of meeting Bob..but LifesGreat did and I believe she may even have a picture of him so I'll let her give you all the details. But the news trickeling over ot me was that Bob "I love to talk with my hands" Roll was very friendly and kind - willing to take pictures and sign whatever for whomever.

I came up and rode with Bob in the Freedom Peleton. Well, at least we were on the same course. As maybe you've read in my ride report for yesterday, I also rode WITH Jesse Anthony of KGSN. Maybe Lifesgreat will post the pics she took that night. At least the one of Bob Roll, please?

Lifesgreat, Vicki and I walked around a bit and went up to the VIP tent hoping to score some food as we were very hungry. The guys of Bajio Grill obviously recognized us by now from being there all week and told us to come in. But we couldn't get in the VIP tent so they told us to sneak in the back way. We did, carefully avoiding snobbish VIP tent personnel. And the very cool Bajio guys already had food waiting for us when we got in. I love Bajio Grill!!! We ate discreatly in the back side of the tent. Sergey Lagutin was in the tent and Lifesgreat and Vicki got him to sign thier shirts. Funny thing happened. We were eventually joined by some other volunteer staff in the tent - more executive level than us so I guess they were okayed into the tent. Anyhow, as we were all sitting there eating and talking, these two VIP guests walked by and said "Oh look, they are feeding the peaons now." Some people. But we all had a good laugh over thier complete tackiness and high and mighty attitudes.

I'm sorry you gals were treated so poorly by some people. Glad Bajio took care of you (I even cheered for them as they passed today!)

[yellow]

I have a bunch of stage 5 pictures but they are on my camera, which is in my friend Martha's bag...at her house. So if any of them are decent, I'll post them later.

We were on the course, where the riders came down that hill sulis describes above. It was something to see them take the corner at the bottom. The group got surprisingly spread out. It was a circuit in downtown Salt Lake (a 6.3 mile loop) that the riders did 6 times. Because they were so spread out, there weren't many lulls in the action. I think the team car drivers and VIP cars had as much fun driving the course as we did watching the riders. Luckily the weather held for the actual ride. It had looked like it would rain earlier in the day but then cleared up...and then rained, as sulis said. The weather here is incredibly wacky.

I won't post a Stage 6 report unless no one else does. I was on course again but didn't see much. And of course no pictures since I didn't have my camera. Martha got to ride in the Vitamin Cottage team car. I'm sure THAT was quite an adventure!

[Lifesgreat]

I have pictures to post, but don't know how. Help!

[AuntieK]

I've found that the KGSN site has some great pics of the stages. So my recommend would be to check there if you want to see pics of stage 6 (see link in my previous post).

Lifesgreat, let's see if I can walk you through posting pics:
First, you have to download your pics by clicking on the paper clip icon you see above where you type in your post. This will bring up a small screen where you can upload your photos. Choose the browse button to find the photo. Once you have found the photo, click on the upload button. (You may need to downsize the pic first, by using a program such as Photoshop, because the pic has to be smaller than 800 x 800).
Once the photo is uploaded, you can click on the paper clip again, and it will show you, as a dropdown menu, the photo names you uploaded. Choose the photo you want to post.
Hope this helps! Call me if you need more help.