Often I am asked by many of my friends who aren't into cycling, "Why do you race your bike?" Normally I would say, "Cause I like to, it's fun." Well this is a correct answer, but not the whole answer.

    My new answer for them ... cause I am 100% addicted to the bike. If you where to put the traits and characteristics of someone who is a drug or alcohol addict, next the list of my traits as a cyclist, you would find many similarities.

"Hello, my name is Gregg Germer, and I am a bike addict"

    Ok now that I have put it down on paper and said it out loud I can begin to work on becoming a better bike addict (aka Professional Cyclist) ... wait I am going a little to off course, let me back up a little and tell you how I came to the realization of my addiction.

    This past weekend, like most lately, I am racing my bike. But this weekend is different. The race this weekend to start off with is a scant 180 kilometers (112 miles), over 2200 meters of total climbing, and the top prize list of any race in South Africa. This means every one of the big teams are going to show up. To top things off the race starts at 6am and this means I am going to have to camp out near the race for the night so that we don't have to get up at 2:30am. Only 4am.

    Normally this situation would scare the living crap out of me. I mean, a race that long, with that much climbing, all those good teams, a start that damn early, and I have to camp in raining weather. The funny thing is, I loved every minute of this past weekend. I was actually exited about the fast guys, long course, and hard climbs. I am well, a bike addict.

    The race wasn't nearly at the intensity I was expecting, but still quite hard. We averaged 43 kph (26 mph) even with the distance and the climbing. The group stayed together for the first lap (of two big 90k laps). On the second lap after some very hard attacks up the longest climb of the day the group settled down. I moved to the back to get a feed from the support vehicle from a local club. Well they didn't see me, and I went back a second time after the next climb to get a feed again. Well as luck would have it. The break went on that climb and never came back and I never got my feed.

    I was lucky enough to get a feed from on the top pro teams cars, Team Microsoft. A big thanks to them. I chased with some others after the break, but nothing ever organized. I then waited for the bunch sprint. After a bad miscalculation on the distance to the race finish I sprinted in for 11th spot in the field with 7 guys up the road. So 18th place in the end, with pay going 20 deep, isn't to bad.

    I am also glad to know I can not only finish a fast, and hill race, but a long one at that. All the UCI events that I will be doing in Europe are going to be around 150 to 175k long. So I can go the distance, and hopefully the speed. Well like always while writing these reports the night after I race, I am very tired. So I think I will go to bed for about ... ummm ... 15 hours, that sounds really nice. Only problem, I'll still be dreaming about bikes, but for someone like me who is addicted to bikes. It's going to some sweet dreams tonight.

    -Gregg Germer-