Being a freelance journalist covering mostly cycling-related people and events

has its ups and downs. This past week, I logged 350+ miles on the bike, doing

um, uh, um, research. This coming week I will be logging over 1000+ miles,

unfortunately, they won't be on two-wheeled vehicle.

On Monday, I have an interview with Michael Ball. His people are calling my

people. As soon as that interview is completed, I will be driving six hours

from my winter home in the San Francisco Bay Area down to LA to visit the CSC

Professional Cycling Team camp where I will be doing interviews for two

articles for Pro Cycling Magazine during the day on Tuesday.

Late Tuesday night, I will be making the six hour drive back up north arriving

in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. As soon as I am functional, I will

begin transcribing the interviews for Pro Cycling as my deadline for the

articles is Thursday. Hopefully things go quickly as I have to pick Phil

Liggett up at the SFO airport on Wednesday afternoon as Phil flies in from

London. Phil and I are hosting a charity fundraiser on Wednesday night, it is

not entirely clear which one of us will be suffering from a worse case of jet

lag (well, in my case 'road lag').

Thursday during the day sees me finishing the pieces for Pro Cycling then

heading off to cover a charity fundraiser in Palo Alto with Levi Leipheimer,

Chris Horner and a few other pros in the early evening. Later that evening, I

am off to the Oakland Airport to pick up my production assistant. Oh, yeah, I

forgot to tell you that I will be working with Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen on

the official Amgen Tour of California DVD. Phil and Paul will be doing the

race call and I will be doing the pre-stage and post-stage interview with the

riders and team personnel.

Friday during the day, I will be transcribing and writing the Michael Ball

interview I did on Monday then it is off to Sausalito to help host the official

Amgen Tour of California Team Presentation on Friday night. Phil, Paul (those

guys again!) and Bob Roll will be introducing the teams. I will be on the

microphone for the fashion show and the live fundraising auction. Last year, I

raised almost $3000 for an all expense paid weekend for two to Las Vegas to see

the Celine Dion "It's a Brand New Day" show. Just try selling that to a crowd

full of cyclists!

Saturday during the day will be consumed by picking up my press credentials and

car pass and dealing with a few production items then Saturday evening is the

Davis Phinney Foundation Fundraiser. You know, when the race finally begins on

Sunday, things may actually get a bit less hectic. Not! Look for my blogs on

Active.com during the Amgen Tour of California as I bring you all the most

interesting peoples, places and things from behind-the-scenes. Welcome to my

world.

Bruce