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The Rory Sutherland diary 2009
Rory Sutherland is back on the North American circuit and better than ever with his new OUCH Pro Cycling Team p/b Maxxis. Riding alongside teammates like Floyd Landis and Tim Johnson, Sutherland will work to bring the team to the top of the heap in the Americas.
Follow the adventures of our Australian as he hits out from his Southern California base to the biggest races in the country.
January 22, 2009
Back in the USA
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My time in Australia is done and I am back in the USA. It all seems to have gone by so quickly, but that is what happens when you are having fun and are busy. I spent two months in that lovely brown island called Oz (otherwise known as home). These days it seems less like home, as I generally spend between ten to eleven months in the USA.
Things went well in Australia. They were not stellar, or even amazing, but overall things were okay. Things can be taken in a positive or negative way, and I choose to take it as positive. I am healthy, happy and well trained. Granted, not everything went my way, or as well as the previous year, but it would have been tough to best two medals in two events in the nationals. I have learned that things don't always go to plan in the sport of cycling. This also rings true in real life! I think you can teach yourself to deal with things as they come. Dealing with change isn't the easiest, but I seem to get used to it as I get older.
Being back in the states is pretty interesting. It's funny how you get used to everything in one country or another. Then you notice all the little differences between the countries (United States/Australia). I'll pen some of them further down on the diary. Another thing I came to the conclusion about is that:
1. People only remember the bad/negative things.
2. People sometimes don't realize that a foreign country actually means that....
3. A perfect place does not exist. By this I mean there are both good and bad things about both countries.
So we're off on the new adventure, the adventure that is 2009, and the new formation (well, mostly new) of Team Ouch presented by Maxxis. It's going to be a hell of a lot of fun, and with a big bolstering of the roster, I really think we have a pretty special group of guys for this year. I know, I know, I say this every year, but it's not every year you are riding with Floyd...
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I'm under no illusions that it won't be a hard year. As a team we will be under the microscope, and have greater expectations than we have had before. With some serious names and firepower on the team, responsibilities will fall more on our shoulders than ever before. I'm pretty excited, new things are always fun, and when camp starts later this week, that wonderful day called "Christmas" is upon us again. By this I mean turning up at camp with your laptop, wallet, and toothbrush. Seriously, this is all you need. Bags and bags of stuff start arriving-hence the Christmas nickname. From the casual kit, to shoes, to all the race and training clothing, sponsor presents, bikes (by that I mean a few). So yes, it's a busy and fun time!
After camp it will be all systems go. Tour of California will be only a week and a half away. It's always hard having the first race of the year be the biggest. However, at least the rest of the season isn't as hard as those nine days!
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Australia
- Too many people smoke!
- Having tax included in transactions is fantastic, not seeing the $2 price, having $2 and getting to the counter where it is all of a sudden $2.14
- People are friendlier than I remembered
- People drive way too slow
- Not enough competition sometimes means higher prices.
USA
- Petrol is ohhhh so cheap
- San Diego winter is 26C/80F, nothing wrong with that!
- Its' all sometimes a little too fast paced for me, getting used to traffic again is touch.
I'll have another update from Training camp, as I'm sure there will be plenty of stories to tell! Some will be told, while others will be kept in Temecula (where camp is held in California). I'll also be writing my regular daily diary from the Tour of California!
Cheers,
Rory Sutherland
Team Ouch Presented by Maxxis
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Rory Sutherland
- Summering in Australia during the US winter.
- The vacation will soon be over and it will be back to work with OUCH.
- The iconic Sydney Opera House
