There is an unwritten rule that you have to get to the airport 2-3 hours before your flight. For us cyclists it’s harder as we need to be first in line to make sure our bikes make it on the plane as they could reject them if the plane is almost full. Since my flight was at 6am [Complain Mode/On] I had to wake up at 3:30am with only 5 hours of sleep. Pack up the remaining things like phone chargers etc then head to check out. [Complain Mode/Off (I hope]. I walk up to the counter and checked out as the man at the front desk asked if I was the one who was taking the shuttle to the airport at 4am. I glance around the room to make sure I was the only one as the lights were off in half the lobby. Then the guy told me how that the driver has stepped out for a smoke break and he will be back in ten minutes or so. Whatever I was 15 minutes early anyway. I sat down at one of the computers in the lobby and just facebooked for a bit, nobody was online :( I then hear some commotion as the same guy who checked me out of the room came walking out from behind the desk. “Sir, the shuttle is ready.” I follow him out and he helps me put the bike box and suitcase in the back. I went to get in as he hopped in the driver’s seat. “That’s a peculiar smoke break,” I said to myself. “What was that?” the driver questioned. I stumble for an answer, “Uhh…it’s early huh?”
Fifteen minutes later I am standing in the airport. There was already a fair amount of people but I was still in the front of the line. The only problem was there was no line. Everybody was just starring at the self-check in kiosks. I glance around at the times some of them opened and found 4:30am. Awesome 30 minutes of waiting! I flip through the iPod and went to the playlist called: “Euro songs stuck in my head”. If I mention those songs I think I would be disowned by all my friends so we will keep those a secret. I stared at the big clock that hung over the Delta check-in as it counted down (or up) to 4:30. Like a Swiss train leaving on the dot, the kiosk sprung to life at 4:30am.
I got my tickets as I headed over to wait for my bags to be checked. I was presented with two problems. 1.) There is no line because of the kiosk it’s who could move all their luggage the quickest to the bag check-in. 2.) How can I not pay for my bike box? - I had already decided on my bike box tactic. I went with “I am a rock star even though I am not really but I put the iPod in one ear and acted as though I should be. One was solved quickly too as the guy opened right up in front of me so I easily out kicked “Business travel alone I hate my job guy because I have to wear a suit everywhere” to the line or check-in. I am claiming this as my first victory of the 2008 season btw. David: 1 - Business travel alone I hate my job guy b/c I have to war a suit everywhere: 0. The Delta check-in went smooth as I did not have to pay for my bike box!! As I was setting it up on the conveyer belt he said, “Is that a bike box?” I froze and said nothing. “Yeah I wasn’t gonna charge you for it anyway.” I stare at him for a bit then thank him. A new tactic?: Make sure a bunch of people show up at the same time so there is a rush to get through check-in. Next be sure to be the first to the desk as the person will be in a hurry and will either forget to charge or they are in a rush and will let me go. Either way it worked!
Next was security as the Business travel alone I hate my job guy b/c I have to wear a suit everywhere (BT for short) I had beaten me up the opposite escalator. David: 1 BT: 1. However I had another come from behind sprint to the security line. David: 2 BT: 1. Then after security I glance and spot a Starbucks open! I glance over to my right and see BT has the same idea. He beats me over to it. But that is just for an intermediate sprint. The stage finish is who gets their drink first. He gives me a smirk (I think it was) as he turns to order his drink. However, he is shocked to find out that no coffee was ready as the lady just opened the store. He steps out of line and I launch a surprise attack on the inside. “Can you make Cappuccino’s?” I ask quickly. She said, “Yes.” I got that and a chocolate muffin as I turned and saw the look on his face he jumps back in line and orders.
So let’s recap the first three stages before the final stage. I pulled an Oscar Freire as I nipped a celebratory Erik Zabel in the first stage. The next stage was the mountain stage up the dreaded escalator. He managed to chip away 3 seconds on me heading into the 3rd stage. However, I managed to gain back time and even put time into him at the rocky security stage. With a six second lead, I let him dictate the pace until I launched a cheeky move on the inside to take the stage win and the cappuccino and chocolate muffin at Starbucks. Heading into the final time trial from Starbucks to Gate C13 would be the deciding factor in the Tour de Salt Lake City Airport. The clock stopped when both riders were seated with their bags properly stowed and tray tables in the upright position. I crush him in the first intermediate split to the gate. However, I guess he was saving his strength as he was called in Zone 4 for boarding. Damn! I was the first one in Zone 7 and as I made my way down the aisle I saw him struggling to fit the over packed carry on in the overhead bin. By doing my homework early on, I knew I had an aisle seat so I could quickly sit down and stow the bag under the chair in front of me. I rush by him like a grand prix motor car to take the final stage win and the overall gc by 8 seconds. So those 3 stages and the overall were my first victories of the 2008 season! I am really happy as my form is nowhere near where it is now and I hope to win the Tour de Brussels Airport during the summer.
David
For the record: I beat him off the plane too :)
