Tour Taiwan-2 wheels on ground please...

Howdy from another Hotel...

I hope everyone is rocking. So yesterday am, I went with the guy for 6u, which did not seem to be enough. We had a 140km stage lined up, and another 30 minutes of riding before hand, albeit very slow. Still, I was on the start line with a BS of 240 with an arrow going straight up. So I thought, how about bring it down, by what, insulin??? Nope, attacking! Early in the stage things were aggressive. I went with the first 3 moves, and was thinking, wow, glad this hill is over. But then, I saw that it was just beginning. We were on this really cool twisty, winding upward road, and lined out single file. I was in the red starting the climb, and practically going cross-eyed in pain to hold the wheel. It typically takes my engine a little while to get going, so this was not so shocking to be hurting this early. As the road tilted for one last steep pitch (didn't know it at the time) I decided I was going to ride my pace, and drifted a bit, and then a yee-ha!!! As we were at the top. It was a nice long downhill, and it took me a while to recover. Then Aldo went off the front, and Jesse, and Ken were covering tons of moves. The first sprint of the day Aldo took 2nd, and then we rode in the gutter for a long while as their was a stiff crosswind. The crosswinds are not so fun, as you are riding as far to one side of the road as possible, with very little draft, and hoping nothing pops up, as reaction time is minimal. Then just as the race was getting tough, Jesse made the break, and things eased up. Thanks Jess! We rode near the front for the next hour or so. Joe was the man here, riding in the wind to keep the boyz protected. At some point, teams started to get jumpy, and it was attack, stop, attack, stop for a long time. I covered about 15 moves in a row, which took it's toll. We got to the circuits, and it was 100% for Aldo here. One more spint, and some full gas riding to get there. This was a nice big crit, and in the gutter dying for a lot of it. At one point I made a BIG rookie mistake as we were coming into a left turn, I got gaped through it. I couldn't close it, and Aldo was on my wheel, so I slung him, and then was hung out to dry on the let, with a brutal cross coming from the left. Ken later told me I should have just swung right, as if I would have gotten a little protection, would have been fine, but I went right out the arse... Aldo won that intermediate sprint, and then 3 guys got away. Ken and Jess worked hard, and Aldo was set up, but a skipping chain caused him to lose the sprint. Team was gelling, and success will come soon.

Last night: 8u Lantus, 3u Apidra at dinner, and a high BS through the night. I gave 1 correction of 1u at bed time, added another unit of Lantus to make 9 total, and then another correction at some hour of the night, and 1 more at about 4am, to wake up at 105. I was so tired, that I fell right back asleep after all of em, so no love lost. Thanks Navigator for making sure I started the day right. I saw a comment ? about the lack of sleep and performance: I am a glass half full kind of guy. Theoretically, every time you fall asleep, you produce more growth hormone. And it is also good to keep the metabolism going with calories in the night. So when my alarm goes off, and I wake up to do a correction, I make sure and get about 20-30 calories from a protein shake, and then crash asleep again, knowing on a few levels, it is gonna help. Would I rather sleep through the night, without waking up? Of course, but I am pretty sure it is not affecting my performance in a negative way, and may even be helping.

This am, I did 6u Apidra, ate a good breakfast, and started the trend up for race time. I was too high, and didn't really need to eat. I felt pretty crappy today, and of minimal help to the team. Ken, Joe, and Aldo were aggressive early on, then Jesse was the man again for a good while. I was able to cover a few big moves, but then just suffering out there. Stage races are like that, and hopefully it means tomorrow will bring good legs. With about 6 to go, I was mid pack, and it was time to get to the front to help set up the train. So I pop into a harder gear, and start moving up the left side. Then I see a crash, and about 20 some odd guys piled up, as I am doing 30+mph. I slammed the brakes only to hit a guy, and fly over the bars AGAIN. I look, and one of the bikes ahead of me is an Orbea team bike, but I don't see anyone. I am doing circles looking for me teammate, and even looking in the bushes. Then like magic Ken appeared shorts, and jersey torn to grab his bike. We, along with 40 others went to the pit, and got in with 3 to go. Ken went straight into leadout mode, and he and Jess got Aldo into a good position. Aldo got boxed, and then without sprinting was able to get 5th or 6th. Still not what we are looking for, but we are getting closer to the W! My sacrum is still killing me from the first crash, and now I have a nice little hematoma on my quad from the 2nd. Tomorrow starts with a big climb, then a lot of flat, and then a 1km steep one for the finish.

As for the diabetes game. It has not been too complicated here. But I think I need to go up, so tonight, I am gonna hit 10u Lantus. I want to race tomorrow with a BG around 150. I have been running higher, and doing good, but unable to eat much during the stages. This is walking a fine line, as if I do too much basal, then I will have to eat tons during the stage. So if I am running too hot, so to speak in the am, then I can back down to 5u of Lantus for my morning dose. If not, then I will do 6, and hopefully be perfect for the stage.

Gotta get Ken a beer tonight, as he is pretty banged up, but he is a great teammate, and really did impress us all today. Hopefully I can not crash tomorrow...

Ciao for now! Thanks for reading.

Phil
Team Type 1
www.teamtype1.org