The Gear Movement

Haiti

Posted on 15. Jun, 2010 by Elizabeth in The Gear Movers

Earthquake Damage to the Port-au-Prince Presedential Palace

I had the amazing opportunity to go to Haiti the first week in June, even though a week is certainly not enough to get to know this country. Also, what I was planning on doing in Haiti had been arranged long before the earthquake. Besides, outside of Port-au-Prince, the earthquake really had little effect, even though it might be hard to distinguish from the looks of the rest of the country. Haiti is, without a doubt, a very poor country with limited resources to begin with, so it is now wonder that the earthquake had such a devastating blow, crumbling the concrete buildings that once made up the city. In the single day I spent in the capitol city, I did witness the tent cities that now stand between the rubble and collapsed buildings. But the people of Haiti continue with tenacity in their daily lives, through the congestion and the remains.

The entire Presedential palace was destroyed

Most of my time was spent on the northern coast, in the small village of Saint-Louis du Nord. Dust encrusted, sweat drenched, bruised from the jostling bus ride, eight hours and 120 miles later, I finally arrive and get to meet the community where I will stay. In the mornings, working alongside the Haitians, I helped build (or at least tried to contribute to) a new school building. With over ten people working on the tiny site, it was hard to share the single shovel and the single trowel, but non-the-less brick by brick, the building gained momentum upwards.

Here is a Google map of Haiti and Elizabeth's location in Saint-Louis du Nord

In the afternoons, even though I’m pretty sure I was more of a distraction than help, I worked at the old school. Bursting with over 150 students in four tiny classrooms, it was easy to see the need for a new building.

A map carved into a chair on the destroyed island of Haiti

School children running during our visit to the local school in Saint-Louis du Nord

School children looking out of a window of the school in Saint-Louis du Nord

Young girls looking for snacks in Haiti

A little girl smiling during school in Saint-Louis du Nord

A kindergarten class in Saint-Louis du Nord where we were helping to rebuild the school

The faces of Haiti, young school girls in Saint-Louis du Nord

A beautiful shot of a young girl holding my hand

Blowing bubbles with the kids in Haiti

Kids watching the bubbles pop in Haiti

A young girl blowing bubbles is entertained in Haiti

And on my day off, as if being in Haiti wasn’t enough; I was able to go sailing to the neighboring island of Tortuga, from all the pirate stories! Our boat was a luxury liner – the mast looking like it might just be a tree trunk. From a devastated shore, covered in trash, the small sailboat delivered us, surrounded by pristine, bright blue water to a quiet, car-less island.

The sails of our "luxery liner" on our way to the Pirate island of Tortuga

Sailing to the Island of Tortuga

Majestic sailboats off the island of Tortuga

Beautiful blue water off the coast of Tortuga

Tour of California Stage 0

Posted on 16. May, 2010 by Jordan in Jordan, Pro Wrenching, The Gear Movers

Garmin Transitions ProTour Mechanic Tom Hopper Getting the Bikes Dialed!

Ever wanted a behind the scenes look at what goes on at a top level pro cycling race in the United States? Look no further! A lot of websites ask for athlete and race related content, what about the fun times that is had by all the support staff in the pro peloton? There are mechanics, sougniers, directors, logistical staff, chefs, bus drivers and many more important people that help each pro team to get through each day and keep the race running behind the scenes!

SRAM's new Aprila Motos and their sweet custom chromed racks!!

I will be spending this week with the Garmin – Transitions Pro Cycling at the Amgen Tour of California. Talk about the real deal! This ProTour level team has it all. We are totally set up with almost 25 staff members for only 8 riders in the race. This large discrepancy means we have our basis covered and every t is crossed and i is dotted, we are dialed!

Rockstar Fly V Australia Director Ed Beamon, apparently too busy to chat with me...

It is now day two of prep before the race and my legs and feet are already done. Standing in parking lot for more than 12 hours a day while running around doing odd jobs from working on bikes, washing bikes, cleaning cars, setting up radios, applying vinyl stickers to rental vehicles and eating burritos! Thats right, we are sponsored by Chipotle, its pretty sweet!