So what kind of schwag did everyone get at TofC? Today, after 7 days of following the tour, I finally got something useful ... a first aid kit from Amgen. I did buy a Rock Racing T-shirt, with Mario's name on the back. I also got a pretty large sized poster of Levi. I may post it in my cubicle, and everyone will be wondering, who the heck is that scrawny little guy?

Cowbell from Toyota
Rock Racing poster
Astana poster
Free shirt from "The Bike Connection" -- "9 out of 10 doctors recommend riding to reduce the signs of fatness"
Lots of catalogs
Lots of stickers

Pretty cool!

All I got was rained on and a bunch of lousy pictures..

It was great fun!

Specialized gave out posters of Paolo. My daughter absconded with that and gave it to her Italian teacher. He was stoked! Loved it and put it on the wall next to the World Cup Soccer Champs. He asked if I can find a Cippo poster.

Scored a t-shirt from Maxxis and a pair of socks from Mavic. And...Jelly Bellies to fill me up. Do these things even work?

I got a poster of Paolo too. I just stuffed it in my bag, and will check it out when I get home.

I got a ToC beanie cap for me and a teddy bear for my daughter. Oh, and a program to get signed but was too late to get anyone's autogragh since I forgot my sharpie and had to steal a pen from the silent auction table on stage 1! Doh!

I also got some energy drinks and few packets of the recovery powder and gels from Cytomax.

Other than that I missed all the cool giveaway stuff since it looks like most of it was given or sold by the teams and sponsors at the Finish lines! :(

But I got to see two of Cippo's bikes as well as Boonen and Paolo's bikes up close.

Oh yeah, I won a free ToC jersey for sending in pics of Stage 1 to RBR. :) I think I won becuase I was the only one who sent anything in. Doh!

- Team CSC Water Bottle. Used, unfortunately, but reasonably cool.
- Toyota bang stix or whatever they call 'em (lame, but, you asked...)
- Amgen Tour of California Staff/Volunteer shirt (bright orange with blue! my favorite!)
- VeloNews ToC edition + guide

Cowbell and Thunder Sticks! woo woo! Oh and my Pumpin Peter certificate for racing Alan and Marco who completely kicked my bonked ass!

I got taxi777's phone number. Oh yeah, baby.

I got taxi777's phone number. Oh yeah, baby.

Wow, I bet you're so excited.

Toyota cowbell & thunderstix, Bettini poster, cartoon stickers of Boonen and Wegmann, Big Hair Super Fan pom-poms, Levi poster and "Levi in 08" stickers, autographed Rock Racing posters of Tyler, Sevilla and Botero, Herbalife musettes, Toyota-United keychain, and some SportBeans from Shelley Verses (ex-7-Eleven soigneur). Also photos of my kid with Jens, Cipo, Hincapie, Haedo, Bettini, Ben J-M, Fast Freddie, Horner, Kroon, Paul Sherwen & Phil Liggett. My wife took pix of me with the forementioned Ms. Verses and Mari Holden... I also managed to see some of the race.

If you have pix, you have to post them here. It's the rule.

I got the usual cowbells, thunder sticks, Lance Foundation pom-pom, samples, etc.

But one thing I picked up still puzzles me. It's a keychain from the USADA that is in the shape of a steering wheel. It says "I compete clean" on it, which seems appropriate all things considered, but why a steering wheel?? Am I missing something? Is doping an issue at Nascar? I would have prefered a chainring design or something like that. I would have actually used something like that. But not a steering wheel.

I got rained on and a cowbell. The cowbell is currently on my desk stuffed with a wad of cash for my bike fund. :)

I got a Giant Bicycles/Shimano Thunderstix package, some pictures, and a good time at the top of Sierra Road.

Couple sets of "thunder sticks"
Cowbell
Some FELT stickers
Toyota-United water bottle.. (very used.. was literally thrown at me by a rider on Sierra Rd.)
Cool Pictures (one with Mike Ball)

If you have pix, you have to post them here. It's the rule.


Will a link to a gallery do?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7170718@N07/sets/72157603997669398/show/

Will a link to a gallery do?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7170718@N07/sets/72157603997669398/show/

I got a message that the page is private. :(

I got a message that the page is private. :(

Sorry about that. Forgot to set the permissions correctly. :o How 'bout now?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7170718@N07/sets/72157603997669398/show/

Oooo. Great pictures. Thanks!

Cow Bell
Two long sleeved T-shirts saying Volunteer
big Levi poster
first aid kit
bumper sticker
various foods

Key trick is to wear a volunteer shirt and a safety vest then wander through the vendors area just as they start setting up. If you wait until they are ready many goodies are tucked away.

Bunch of blue reflective stickets
Mini CA flag
Let Levi Ride stickers
ToC metal pin

The pin and flag are on my panniers now