[Posted by Sam Schultz on www.schultzbrothersracing.com, part of the Cyclingdirt Network.]

 

USADA ALWAYS KEEPS THINGS INTERESTING 

Last night The Cycling House staff (minus Andy) decided to celebrate our last night before todays big camp with a delicious dinner out.  We loaded up the minivan and pushed off to the highfalutin shopping mall right near our house and stopped in at RA for some sushi.  Right as we were sitting down I got a call from Andy.  I was excited, thinking that he decided to join us.  Instead he was calling to inform me that USADA (United States Anti Doping Agency) had just showed up at the house for an out of competition test.  Damn.  Sushi sounded delicious so instead of leaving my meal they ended up coming up to the restaurant to meet me.  It was pretty entertaining to see them walk in with their USADA jackets, duffel bags, and paperwork.  They tried to keep a low profile, but it's hard to avoid a scene when two people walk into a bathroom stall with an empty cup and walk out with it filled with yellow liquid.  There was definitely one guy giving us the big eye in the bathroom.  Anyway, I got the sample taken care of and other than the curious restaurant workers I don't think too many others noticed that I was pouring my urine into the proper vials in the outside seating area.  Ahh yes, the glamour of being a professional athlete.



PUNCHED IN THE FACE

Today I was punched in the face.  Over the last 24 years there have been many times that I would not have been surprised to receive a punch (and maybe a few times where I actually deserved it), but I was not expecting one today.

It all started when I decided to load my bike up and drive across town to hit up some MTB trails.  I was cruising along with a coffee and scone stop in mind when a gangsta'd out Buick cut through traffic like a maniac, eventually flying into the left hand turn lane, cutting off a bunch of cars.  I raised my hand and gave him a little scowl as I drove by.  My gesture was quickly returned by a very angry looking double bird.  I didn't think too much of it until about 1 minute later when I saw the same Buick flying down the center lane of the road.  He pulled ahead of me and then swerved to a stop, blocking both lanes of southbound traffic and forcing me to lock up my brakes to avoid hitting him.  He quickly jumped out of his car and ran up to my window, spouting out a lot of four letter words and asking if I wanted to "start shit".  I said "no" which I guess was the wrong answer because he leaned into my window and threw two quick sucker punches.  The first one got me squarely in the nose but the next one just glanced off my cheek.  Before I really even knew what had happened he was hopping back to his car with gangster like gestures saying "what's up now!?"  He then peeled off back in the opposite direction.  
00roadrage 

Maybe I should have said "yes, I would like to start shit" and started
a situation like this.  I have been doing my pushups lately...

After he was gone I pulled to the side of the road to take care of my bloody nose and figure out what had just happened.  A nice old man who had seen the whole thing stopped and offered up one of those instant ice packs for my cheek and recommended that I call the police.  Once I regained my bearings I made a quick report (unfortunately with no license plate number) and continued on my way.  After all these years of not being punched it was kind of nice to get it out of the way.  It's good to know that I can actually take a punch and I think a good solid adrenaline rush was the perfect way to start my ride.  That being said, I wont' be bummed if it's another 24 years (or more) before my next one.