After twelve years as a professional cyclist (1989-2000) for America’s top teams – 7-Eleven, Motorola, and USPS – Andreu has worked as a director for top American teams (e.g., Toyota-United and Rock Racing) in addition to commentating for Universal Sports and Versus. He also has an elite coaching program and engages in motivational speaking all across America.

“Frankie’s professionalism and experiences are certain to elevate our team to the next level,” said team GM, Chad Thompson. “After years of working to take our team to new heights, adding the depth of knowledge that Andreu brings will challenge the riders to excel and surpass expectations. It is surreal to know that a long-time cycling idol is now actually a part of our vision and a part of our team!”

“Success through teamWORK” is the basis of Andreu’s cycling management philosophy. His enthusiasm for the sport in addition to principles aimed at creating and sustaining in-depth team dynamics are welcomed assets for Kenda Pro Cycling p/b Gear Grinder, as it prepares to embark on its next successful season.

Another boost to the program is the addition of new presenting sponsor, Gear Grinder. Along with the partnership with Paul Weaver, co-founder of Gear Grinder apparel, came the recruitment of Chad Hartley, James Stemper, and Rob White from Weaver’s Gear Grinder Elite Team, a dominant presence in the Mid-West last season. Hartley, who came back from a successful surgery to repair his iliac endofibrosis to dominate the Tour of America’s Dairyland, and Stemper, who won Superweek’s Best Amateur prize, will be added to the pro roster, while White will join the elite ranks for 2010.

The hiring of Gear Grinder’s top riders initiated conversations that resulted in successful negotiations between Inferno Racing LLC (Kenda Pro Cycling’s management company) and Gear Grinder. “The support Gear Grinder is lending to the team is amazing,” states Thompson. “It ended up being a perfect fit with Paul Weaver’s riders becoming our riders and us choosing his clothing over any other. Gear Grinder shares our passion and beliefs, and we see this partnership lasting for a long while.”

More team 2010 news, roster announcements and sponsors will be released in the coming week(s).

Team updates are available at www.kendaprocycling.com.

Any bets?  names, nationality, team, whatever, lets just throw a few out there….

My team did great as well, two teammate’s went 1-2 on the final stage. I couldn’t be happier for them, great job Jim and robbie.

A few People need to to be thanked that help me get back to where I’m at.

Dr. Keven Packman- for fixing my leg. its a new lease on life.

Bill Peterson- for fixing my feet and worlds greatest orthotics.  www.wedofeet.com

Chris Pulleyn-  for fixing my position and an amazing bike fit.  www.bicycleranch.com

Steve Witterman- for working out my kinks.  ART rules!   www.proreleasellc.com

Paul Weaver-  for making the team happen, giving us opportunity, and seeing our desire.

thank you very much!

more races to come!

I get to go home tomorrow and can’t wait, but I will miss this hospital bed.  As I haven’t ever spent time in a hospital before I was unaware of auto inflation bed.  For those of you that don’t know, these beds automatically adjust the pressure points on your back and back side to keep from having to shift and adjust yourself in bed.

Any way, when I get home I will write a post about my experiences with this.  research is hard to come by, and I hope I can help a few people find some answers.  I may have helped one local friend already!

the  bigger incision, cutting through the abdominal muscle to get to the Iliac artery…and you thought sit-ups sucked before.

and the ankle where a vein was taken to make the patch for the Iliac artery.

Ok more to come….

Over thanksgiving i was diagnosed with Iliac endofibrosis. which is a fancy way of saying the big vein in the leg is bent and i get less then half the blood flow to my right leg. it is easy to see how this can be detrimental to cycling ability.

the good thing is i now know why i have been sub par for the last few years, and i know what to do to correct it.  which is what i will be doing tomorrow.  my surgery is scheduled on Tuesday morning to go in clean it out and fix me back up.

I will be doing more posts after the surgery because i get to sit in bed and be immobile for a week.

also i have become a little more proficient with the adobe illustrator so the drawings will be making a come back