Rocking & Rolling

Once the Tour de France ended it was time to put down my watercolors and pick my Paintstiks back up.  Most of the work that I make (up until starting to do the postcard sized watercolors of the pro tour) is created using Shiva Paintstiks (another fabulous product from www.richesonart.com ) that I have been using for over thirty years now.  This is a rather large scale work measuring 41"x52" that is painted on heavy 100% rag paper and is available for purchase at my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  Or you can just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get a great painting of the 100th Tour de France. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2201957-1-0-186227/Painting/Sports.html#.Uh_-Us_D_IU

US Pro Challenge Final Stage: He's Just that Good

Peter Sagan now has more race wins than anyone else on the Pro Tour for this season, grabbing his fourth stage win in the seven stage US Pro Challenge, and one of those seven stages was a time trial.  I am looking forward to the coming years of the young speedster from Slovakia.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by bidding in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of Sagan's legacy and the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Final Stage: Passing the Bottle

With the temperature at race time at just under 100 degrees, and I will assume much hotter at street level with the heat rising off of the sunbaked pavement, it is most important that the racers stay hydrated.  Tyler Wren has slipped to the back of the break away to get a cold one from his team car.  He will have to save having a traditional cold one until after the eight trip around downtown Denver.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by bidding in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Final Stage: A Long Straight LIne

The teams of the sprinter's peg the break at roughly a minute and then left them out there knowing that they could pull the break in whenever they wanted to.  The reason to leave the break out in front is to keep other teams from attacking the peloton, with men up the road an attack will not put the peloton on the defensive nor will it gain a stage win unless the attacker also gets by the break up the road.  BMC is on the front to keep their man in Yellow safe and upright.  All TeJay Van Garderen has to do today is finish close to the bunch and he will run out the over all winner of the third US Pro Challenge, and race the he first finished third in, second time out he finished second, so it is only proper that he follow suit on his third try and finish first.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by bidding in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Final Stage: Zipping Through the Park

The final stage of the US Pro Challenge was an 8 lap circuit through downtown Denver that included a run through City Park, designed by the same man who designed Central Park in New York City.  The break formed from the moment the neutral flag was pulled in to start the race.  Seven guys from six teams formed a solid effort that the sprinter's teams weren't going to have anything to do with it succeeding.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using cake watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com excellent products from an excellent company.  This work is available in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the final day of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 6: A Familiar Salute

Familiar salute, more because of who is making it.  Peter Sagan got his third stage win in the US Pro Challenge and his 17th win of the 2013 season.  Obviously his plan of arriving two weeks ahead of the start in Aspen to train and acclimate to the altitude work out well.  As did his team's hard work bringing back the 14 man break away, he certainly knows how to honor their work.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by bidding in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the third running of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 6: Not Giving Up

A fitting title for this painting and for the actions of Megias who rides for Norvo Nordisk.  The team is compose solely of riders who have Type 1 Diabetes who want to show that the disease should not prevent anyone from living a rich, full and active life.  So true to his own physical story, he refused to sit up as the charging peloton got within sight in the outskirts of Fort Collins.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by bidding in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the third running of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 6: Off the Front, Down to the Plains

Sensing that the break had too many passengers, first Geschke of Argos-Shimano and then Edmondson, Rogers and Megias jumped away from the others in the hopes of out racing the charging peloton to the finishing line in Fort Collins.  Mick Rogers is at the back of the group wearing the Orange Jersey of most courageous rider that he won on the last road stage into Beaver's Creek on Thursday.  This jersey is not done by points or time but is award each day by determination of the race referees much like the red racing numbers of the Tour de France.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the third running of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 6: Driving the Break On

Today had a rather large group get away today numbering 14 riders which may be why Cannondale was working so hard to bring this group back, a large group can usually match the pace of the peloton.  This is Dekker on the front for Saxo Tinkoff, they also have the aggressive Mick Rogers in the break as well, he has Andrew Talansky right behind him.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the third running of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 6: Sweeping Through the Canyons

Team Cannondale was most eager to bring the race back together and with the help of BMC, the team with the Yellow Jersey, set off to catch the fourteen riders up the road before Fort Collins.  Cannondale was riding on behalf of their fast man, Peter Sagan, who already has 16 wins this season.  BMC is just looking after TeJay Van Garderen and his leader's jersey.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that has been created using cake watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com, a wonderful art supply company with excellent products.  This work is available through a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the third US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 5: Leading the American

TeJay was on a ride that was going to do more than defend the Jersey.  He was experiencing the Yellow Jersey giving him wings to fly up the mountain.  With about 3 kilometers to go, he gained the escort of a rather large American flag being carried along in the Coloradans honor.  Van Garderen crossed the line three seconds faster than his countryman, Talansky, to take the stage victory and all but insure his final victory in Denver.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours if you bid in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the third US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 5: Out of the Gate

TeJay rode out of the gate at the base of the Vail mountain climb hoping to redeem his last ride up this course in the US Pro Challenge resplendent in his recently acquired Yellow Jersey.  He started knowing that Andrew Talansky had set a new course record of 25:05, 40 seconds faster than the record held by Levi Leipheimer.  He was comforted knowing that the man closes to him on GC was his own teammate, Mathias Frank and that he had 40 seconds over Tom Danielson.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by bidding in a brief three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the third US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 5: Leaving Everything on the Road

Andrew Talansky road as hard as possible in the TT around Vail, Colorado, leaving every last ounce of energy spent out on the course.  He basically fell off of his bike with the team helpers trying to catch him before he left himself on the road as well.  In a post race interview, he said that his oxygen debt was so severe that he was nearly blacking out in the last 100 meters of the race.  All of his effort was enough to put him into the stage lead by over a minute, at least until the last man on the course came in.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by bidding in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the third running of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 5: Speed or Capacity

David Zabriske was storming up the climb to Vail and over took a fan riding along pulling a trailer.  I am quite sure he went by like the trailer was sitting still, even though he had just been overtaken by his minute man.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using cake watercolors, brushes, and paper from www.richesonart.com a fine company that produces great art supplies.  This work is available through a quick three day auction on ebay, just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the third US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 4: Closing the Deal

True to his word, TeJay did not challenge Aceverdo for the victory and after Aceverdo's victory salute the two reached out to shake hands to celebrate their mutual success.  TeJay gained enough time on all of the chasers to pull on the Yellow Jersey of race leader and put another 40 seconds into his biggest rival, Tom Danielson.  Behind these two, Mathias Frank was finally able to jump away from Danielson to strengthen his second place in the GC, he couldn't attack Danielson for fear of helping the Garmin Sharp rider bridge back up to his team leader, Van Garderen.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by bidding in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the third US Pro Challenge.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251325003805?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

US Pro Challenge Stage 4: Making Deals

TeJay Van Garderen and Janier Aceverdo dropped Danielson and Frank on the wet technical descent of Bachelor's Gulch and made a deal to work together to gain time on the chasers.  TeJay needed Janier's help to gain as much time on his rivals and most likely agreed to let the Jamis rider take the stage and the time gained would put TeJay in yellow.  All of this was decided on the short climb up to Beaver's Creek in the pouring rain.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the third US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 4: For the Stage and the Jersey

Once the break had been caught and the Yellow Jersey had popped getting his GC man forward, it was time to race hard and climb fast.  Tom Danielson leads a very select group of TeJay Van Garderen, Janier Aceverdo and Mathias Frank up the high climb of Bachelor's Gulch.  The best placed in the overall is Frank, only eleven seconds down, so while he is the virtual yellow on the road he is there to help his team leader, Van Garderen.  By this time the riders were in a down pour of the cold rains of the high mountains as they climbed by the quaking Aspen trees of Colorado.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by bidding in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the third US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 4: Team Strategy

Team Garmin Sharp had decided from the start of the race that Tom Danielson was their man for the GC, so when it came to the big climb up Bachelor's Gulch it was Lachlan Morton in the Yellow Jersey sacrificing himself to put as much time between Danielson and the rest of the peloton as possible.  The team had gone out with the objective of gaining as much time as possible on TeJay Van Garderen ahead of the time trial in Vail tomorrow.  Sitting right on the wheel of Danielson is the Swiss Champion Michael Schar of BMC with TeJay right behind him.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the third US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 4: Moving Forward

With the break over two minutes up the road and Garmin Sharp not doing more than pegging the escapees, it was up to Team Jamis and BMC to move to the front and whip up the chase.  The three teams had different objectives at this point.  Garmin Sharp was defending their Yellow Jersey and improving the placing of their GC man, Tom Danielson, Team Jamis was racing for the stage victory with their Colombian climber, Aceverdo and BMC hoped to put JeJay Van Garderen in a better GC position or into yellow ahead of tomorrow's time trial.  The scenery of the Colorado high desert was a stark contrast to the lush climbs of the European Alps with the red sandstone outcroppings and the sparse sagebrush and scrub trees.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by bidding in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 4: Food & Drink

The morning break was a strong one today and carried a serious challenge to the over all classification in the form of Gallopin, the Frenchman on Team RadioShack Leopard Trek.  He started the day only 41 seconds down on the Yellow Jersey of Lachlan Morton.  The others in the break included Siutsou for Team Sky, Villella for Cannondale (he was out in yesterday's break, too), Mick Rogers of Saxo Tinkoff, and although you can't see him in this painting, Warbasse for BMC.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using cake watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com and can be yours by bidding in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 3: Two Out of Three Ain't Bad

Peter Sagan came to Colorado two weeks ahead of the race in order to acclimate to the altitude, apparently he also came to win stages at the US Pro Challenge.  He just held off Mezgec of Argos-Shimano to claim his second stage win out of three stages raced.  Not bad for the young Slovakian.  You can see Anderson of Team Optum looking over, I'm guessing pleased to be within a bike length of the sprinting legend.  And the legend is only 23 years old.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 3: Ever Aggressive

The old man of the peloton, Jens Voigt is one of the most aggressive riders regularly going in breaks and attacking the stage, mountains, whatever is on the day's menu.  Stage three of the US Pro Challenge was no exception where he first got away with Josh Edmondson (Team Sky), Serghei Tvetcov (Jelly Belly) and Davide Villella (Cannondale).  Once Villella stop pulling his weight in the break, his teammate Peter Sagan was looking for another stage win, Voigt left the break on Rabbit Ears Pass hoping for a solo victory in Steamboat.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 3: The Job That Must Be Done

Team Garmin Sharp has the Yellow Jersey on the back of Lachlan Martin and with that it is there responsibility to ride tempo at the front of the peloton.  David Miller is leading the team not letting the break away get to far up the road, Lachlan is enjoying the color yellow.  So I cracked open a New Belgium beer (one of this year's race sponsors) and sat down to watch and paint.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using watercolors, papers and brushes from www.richesonart.com  And this painting (and all of the others in this series) are available in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage Two: Just Making Sure

Mattias Frank was able to get away on the final climb of the day and hold of the others in the break on the furious descent into Breckinridge.  As any experienced rider will do, he is looking back over his shoulder to make sure that Lachlan isn't about to catch him before giving his victory salute.  In this case, the salute may have cost him the Jersey, he needed 5 seconds over the closing Lachlan to gain the race lead, but the Garmin Aussie managed to cross the line 3 seconds behind the stage winner.  This may go down in the "don't count your chickens before the hatch" category.  Or don't celebrate your victory until you cross the line.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage Two: Attacking the Final Climb

These three are fighting it out on the final climb knowing that who ever gets across the line will almost definitely pull on the Yellow Jersey.  The two on the motorcycle in the referee jerseys are the sign board time keepers.  They let the riders know what the time splits are on the road, a hold over from before the days of race radios in the peloton's ears.  All of the climbs were lined with very enthusiastic fans carrying and wearing flags, costumes and speedos.  Just around the corner Mattias put in a blistering attack in an attempt to gain the stage and Yellow.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage Two: Dropping Down & Fast

Lachlan Morton attacked his fellow breakaway riders on the Hoosier Pass getting away to make the run across the valley by himself in hopes of the stage win and the Yellow Jersey.  Mattias Frank and Lawson Craddock did manage to catch him on the final climb of the day, but it still ended well for Lachlan.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage Two: Through the Crowd, Over the Top

Picking up where he left off in the Tour, Mick Rodgers went to the front and stomped out a hard rhythm chasing down the big break up the road.  And just like the Tour, Colorado brought out its screaming costumed cycling fans to cheer the riders up the Hoosier Pass climb.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by bidding in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link to get your piece of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage Two: Chatting

Today's stage started with a big climb out of Aspen over Independence Pass and crossing the Continental Divide (the water going down one side goes to the Pacific Ocean and down the other side leads to the Atlantic -maybe by way of the Gulf of Mexico).  As all of the riders have noted, the climbs are really high altitude with today's highest point at 12 1/2 thousand feet.  This is Andy Schleck and Chris Froome having a chat as they cross the wide flat valley before starting back up the Hoosier Pass just 16 miles from the finish in Breckenridge, Colorado.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using cake watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com  In addition this work is available in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage One: Thumbs Up!

Peter Sagan throws a thumbs up as he crosses the line ahead of Greg Van Avermaet on the streets of Aspen, Colorado.  Sagan was on the ropes first trying to catch the early break, then jumping into a break of his own, losing out on the two that jumped from that group.  Those two were caught at the one kilometer banner, setting the stage for a battle between Sagan and the sprinter from BMC.  Sagan is one of the rare breed of sprinters who doesn't go backwards up the mountains.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage One: Feeling the Peloton

Craig Lewis feels the peloton breathing down his neck as he is just 5 kilometers from the finishing line in downtown Aspen.  But while I am sure he would have preferred to win the stage, by summiting each and every climb of the day first, will be pulling on the red jersey of the King of the Mountains.  While watching the race I was struck by the pinks and oranges of the granite faces of the mountains ringing the Aspen valley, nothing like the peaks of the Alps that normally plaque the pro peloton.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage One: Popping Off the Back

One of the problems with racing in Colorado is the altitude and the lack of oxygen in the air.  I personally  have had difficulties breathing climbing outside of this very same valley back when I was a young man.  Many of the members of the peloton had come to the area two weeks ahead of the race trying to acclimate themselves to the high elevations, Team Sky was not one of the teams that took this tact.  Chris Froome and the rest of the team paid the price on the final climb of the day once the chase of the break was truly on.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours  by bidding in a quick three day auction on ebay.   Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage One: Cooling Off in the Valley

The first break away of the seven day race comprised of Craig Lewis, Matt Cooke, and Ian Burnett all Americans hoping to steal the race from the Pro Tour riders back in the peloton.  Today's stage was a 28 mile circuit riding out from Aspen, CO up to Snowmass, CO and circling back into Aspen.  There were two categorized climbs on the route, but definitely more than two climbs faced the riders as they circle through the valleys and mountains of the high plains of Colorado.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage One: The First Three Away

The professional peloton has come to Colorado after a dynamic Tour of Utah and these three Americans wanted to seize the day in their home turf.  Craig Lewis got away after just six miles had been raced and was then joined by Matt Cooke and Ian Burnett (the tall guy in the white jersey of Team Jelly Belly).  Lewis was able to lay down a strong lead in the King of the Mountains competition claiming the tops of every climb in the short 96 kilometer stage to start off the US Pro Challenge.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that has been created using watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com and is available for purchase through a brief auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of this great American stage race.

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Back to the Tour Commissioned works from 2013

As the collector who commissioned this painting said, "I will go ahead with the Orica Bus commission. No Green Edge collection of this years Tour would be complete without the bus!"  The 2013 Tour's first stage included mass confusion as the Orica GreenEdge team bus got trapped under the finishing line banner with the peloton only 18 kilometers away.  The scramble to unstick the bus was done with a very tight time line, but it was ultimately successful and the race was able to finish at the planned finishing line.  This work was commissioned and if you are interested in getting your very personalized memory of the 100th Tour de France, or any cycling related imagery from "Bike Day" to your first century or your first race, email me at greigsart@comcast.net.

A Recently Commissioned Watercolor

This is a larger watercolor and ink painting that was commissioned by a Canadian cycling fan in Toronto.  The painting measures 15"x22" and is based on a photograph that the client provided from the 2012 Giro d'Italia.  As a Canadian he was very excited with Ryder Hesjedal eventual winning of the Pink Jersey, the first ever Grand Tour victory for any Canadian and now has a work of art to commemorate

You, too, can commission a work of art from your cycling memories and they don't have to be a pro tour event.  You can either leave a comment here or email me through my website, www.greigleach.com or if your are a twitter fan, tweet me at www.twitter.com/artofcycling