Friday, May 30, 2008

Andorra Update: No bikes :(






So anyways, I haven't downloaded new pictures yet because I've been busy trying to find out where my bike are! At first I was cool with the fact that the airlines would deliver our stuff right to the door, but when it never shows it tends to get my a wee bit peeved! Right now I am outside of the pizza joint stealing their internet, trying to communicate with the outside world! I feel a little vulnerable right now since I have no clue where the bikes are, there really isn't such a thing as a tracking number over here is Spain. They also have no sense of urgency over here, Michael just today went to Barcelona to look for our bikes and we found nothing, Joey found his bike in the back corner of a room half strung around the room! Its a load of crap!!! They told us they would promise that the bikes would be here today, direct words out of the ladies mouth to michael and still nothing! At least I have the course memorized so when I hop on the course tomorrow on a rental bike that I will have to pay for in order to get my number of runs necessary to even qualify for the event. I'll be the one running a red Commencial in blue jeans and a hoody. At least i had my helmet with me during the flight! I'm still having a great time and learning heaps over here, but even the most patient people become unpatient and I'm tired of waiting! Maybe we will get some sort of compensation out of this ordeal, first class perhaps, who knows? All I know is my bike is not here, I'm wearing the same underwear that I have been since Monday. I'm just greatfull that I am surrounded by supportive people, a great environment, surrounding and bikes! Honestly as fired up as I am for not being able to ride my bike, which is becoming to be torture, I would rather be doing this than just about anything! I am experiencing a new culture and place with very different people who are for the most past friendly. As I sit here starring across the street at my hotel about to wonder over and go to bed, I wonder what tomorrow has in store for me as the whole trip so far has been an adventure and the fact that I'm even over here is still mind bottling! I hope everyone is doing well and having a great summer so far, I can tell this is going to be one to remember!!! Here are some pics to munch on. Buenos Noches!!!

Euro trash

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

EUROPE!!! This just in, its weird!






What up everyone, or should I say Buenos Dias, or Bonjour! Currently I am typing within a pizzaria in Vollnord, Andorra with my brother, Caleb Cambern, Steve Wentz and David Camp. Technically it is Day 3 on our European extravaganza of a trip and we all are having an awesome time!!! Here is all of the trip thus far in a nutshell, a really big nutshell! After successfully packing probably too much stuff, we set out @ 4:30 in the morning, once arriving at the airport we were informed that our bike box weighed too much. We had to re-pack and re-weigh until our bike box and bags weighed the appropriate amounts, and then we sat on our butts for 3 hours waiting for our flight that was delayed for 2 hours. This delayed flight will soon prove to be more of a problem later on. A quick transfer flight in Miami and we were 10 hours to Madrid. I should mention that on my first flight from Denver to Miami was awesome because we both were awarded exit seats that boasted extreme leg room, on the next flight we were not so lucky. A little cramped and with a stiff neck we made it to Madrid early in the morning, spanish time, midnight our time in Colorado. Rudy Unrau showed up right as we arrived in Madrid and shared the flight with us, a nice pleasant 45 min hope and skip later we arrived in Barcelona to learn our baggage never made the Miami to Madrid transfer. No worries, the airport will deliver right, lets just get a rental car and start driving. Joey and Caleb successfully arrived earlier, Caleb with all of his stuff, Joey minus a bike and us with nothing. Negotiations and bartering became the name of the game to get a good deal on a car for five people and all their stuff to travel for the week in. We wanted a bike Jumper mobile, but could only manage a smaller sized mini van thing. After the worst pack job with resulted with 3 people sitting up front and Rudy and I in the back surrounded by gear, we found a hardwear store, bought some twine and tide down the bikes to the roof freeing up space in the car for all to have a seat. Finding Andorra was pretty difficult, Michael I swear went in about 20 circles, but we would finally find our way up north along the coastline to the Small country of Andorra. After stopping at several bars along the way to celebrate Rudy's and Joey's legality, and driving through some amazing country filled with castles and mountains we crossed the border into funland. I call it this because Andorra does not tax and cars, motorcycles and beer do not cost very much and they sure like to show it whit stores on all corners. For you Coloradians, picture the town of Vail and maximize it 100 times. After everyone nodded off to sleep several times in the car, we saw it, our 3 star hotel Marco Polo. We found this here pizzarea, ate some dinner and went to bed tired, semi jet lagged and stoked on being in a crazy cool place that in my wildest dreams I never imagined visiting.

Today, Wednesday the 28th, we had all awake to the sound of construction cramped into our two bed box room a little dazed and confused. The place has no windows to the outside, just a wall, so not much natural sunlight actually appears making it seem like it was still the night time and not 9am. The breakfast buffet was real good on a hungry stomach before we went to registration. There are over 250 competitors with my number being 220, and michael's 246. It was sunny outside and warm, which didn't last long but for the time being we enjoyed a nice gondola ride up the mountain. The scenery is incredible, cows littered the mountainside and the Pyranese peaks rose out of the earth in every direction. Later we walked the course, which looks real fun and very similar to those in Colorado and a mixture of some others I've done in the years past. Lots to memorize, best to get a lot of laps trying to get our lines dialed, if we get our bikes anytime soon. We are still currently waiting for our bikes to be delivered as well as the rest of our clothes and equipment. However, even though we are living out of the same clothes we were wearing Monday, at least Michael is, I packed a change of in my carry on, we all are having a great time experiencing a new culture, meeting new people and seeing old friends. Even in my bike never arrives, it should, but if that were to happen I think this weekend is going to be one of the coolest ones ever!!! Its getting late and I'm the only one at my table still typing so I should probably get going, until next time which should be soon, take care and check back later for more wild and wacky European adventures!

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Still packing!!!



Hello friends,

Brian here, as always, I don't think Michael will be posting very much even though I know he is a master emailer with you ski teamers! I'll try to get him to post here, it'll be a nice change of pace from my usually long rants!

Anyways, here we are, our last night in Colorado before we head to Europe! I'm still packing as I write this, almost on my last bit of packing, should only take me the rest of the night as I've been packing and re-packing all day long. I don't think staying up late for three nights straight was such a great Idea but it had to be done! Last night was my Sisters graduation party and the previous nights were spent hanging with friends celebrating the summer, my birthday and things to come!

This trip has been nearly a year in the making and is a big deal as michael and I embark upon the International stage! My feelings are of excitement and some uncertainty as this will be the first time I have been traveling without my own means of transportation as well as being overseas! This isn't the only reason why I'm feeling anxious, the first race of our trip is a World Cup, the worlds largest stage of mountain, and if thats not enough, it'll be my first race of the 2008 season! Ah, we have the skills, just have to make sure our heads are on straight and that we ride and practice smart!

Its starting to get a little late here, and I still have to pack and clean up a little bit. Look forward to catching my next post in Europe, possibly Barcelona as we will be staying the day, maybe hitting up a disco with Juicler(Joey Schusler) and Rudy Rudy Rudy...Unrau, that night, and will be heading up to Andorra via private bus, thanks mike, the next morning. It's gonna be awesome, hopefully all of our baggage shows and I get some sleep tonight!!!

Brian Buell

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Working it!






Hey everyone, hows it going? Today on the hillside it was 128 degrees...WTF! The sun was beating down so hot that my pants were melting to my skin. Let me explain how it gets so hot on the hill. First of all we work on the side of a volcano with Basalt rock littered all about creating an oven that just cooks us alive! However, we do get some work done, even though it is hot enough to fry an egg! The trails are coming alive and the jump trail that we started last year is almost finally done, its a bummer I'll be in Europe when its all completed, oh well!

After work we were bombarded by the team and helping them build their bikes, and before I knew it dinner time had come and gone! Its been like that a lot here lately, not enough time in the day to do everything I want to do! Been going to bed late lately, I'm pretty sure this Europe trip just needs to happen because the anticipation is working me over!!! Michael and I are packing things up though right now and will roll back into B town tomorrow for a weekend of prep and fun before we head! My sister is going to graduate high school which is a trip as it seems just yesterday that it was me walking across the stage. I cannot wait for the days to come as they will bring me ever closer to flying across the pond and giving my all at this DH racing thing! Rant over, more to come!!!

Night everyone!

~Bri Guy~

My 21st Birthday!


Today I spent my 21st pretending to work instead of working! I lounged around the house and pretty much just took it easy until the guys got off real work. I was with just cruising around the place all day, and I was ok with that because I know my life is going to be a little crazy for the next few months, so when I can get a day like this, I'll take advantage of it!

After the guys got back and two tube swaps on Michael's bike later we were off to ride our bikes! We did some DH runs in Gleenwood testing out our new sick rides. The bikes performed very well so I am very happy! It got dark so we went to the local tex mex joint, ordered my first drink, a house margarita, and ate some good food with good people! To cap off the night I was given a free dessert and a sombrero to wear while the restaurant employees sang me happy birthday in spanish. The dance party in the car on the way back with strobe light wrapped up the night! Time to buy some more plane tickets for the Euro trip and to go to bed! Check out some pics and description here: http://ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=202553

Good Day,

Ol' Man Buell

Monday, May 19, 2008

Time to party!




Hey everyone! As of 12:00pm tonight I turned 21 years old and earned the right to walk into any establishment selling alcoholic beverages! Being that I don't really care to spend money on car bombs and cement mixers, I'm not extremely excited and stoked about being another year older, instead of getting my fix at the bars tonight, I will be using screw driver to fix my bike as Europe is only one week away! Last night I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning building my new downhill rig for the season, I'm super excited about how it came out, I mean it looks great, feels great and actually works while riding down a hill, which is crucial. I still don't know where to draw the line on how long I should write these things, many of you might find my ranting and raving about bikes boring, which is why I will provide as many pictures as possible, but I'll try my best to keep it interesting.

I would like to do a full preseason report filling all of you in on the early season racing and riding as well as just general riding done in preparation for this epic Europe trip. I think that will be my next post after I conjure up some more photos and when its not 2:30 in the am!

Speaking of the Europe trip, which is only a week a way, holy crap, there is much to be done before then! Some good news, while the US economy continues to slip and slid ever further down the drain, at least buyers on Ebay still haven't received this message. I posted 18 items on Ebay to sell, all old bike parts, its like an online garage sale, mostly junk yet in total I have accumulated over $2000 dollars for my trip. On top of that good ol' George has supplied me with some more spending money to use on other countries economies, thank you Mr Bush!!! Other than making/saving money for this endeavor, there is a lot to pack, jerseys to pick up and bikes to test! Speaking of bikes, here is the latest on my NEW Rotec RL9 which was born in my garage late last night after spending 10 hours in labor. She is a beaut and weighs in at 44.3 pounds, but will be going on a diet soon which willslim her down to a proper 43.5lbs. I suppose this has been enough bloggering it up for one night, hopefully for the 10 of you who see this, most likely, it has been an enjoyable one! Thanks for the read, and enjoy the pics!!! http://flickr.com/photos/16919417@N05/

Cheers friends,

Brian Buell

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

My first post: T minus 11 days till Europe


Hey y'all, its almost that time! Michael and I, as well as a few other friends will be taking flight in 10 days to Barcelona, Spain, where we will be traveling to the 2nd World Cup of the year, Vallnord, Andorra. I'm really excited about this trip and cannot wait to experience other countries and their cultures! The idea of this trip was a just a thought 7 months ago and now its a reality and is about to happen. I don't really know what to expect, but I know its going to be great! I would like to thank everyone that has made an impact in my life and my drive towards mountain biking, I wouldn't be in this position today if it wasn't for all of you, thanks!