Conferences, Location Choices, Bike Tires and Home

I've been thinking for awhile of going to conferences. Last week I decided that I really need to go to a conference, on the same day I found one and asked for approval and now I'm writing my abstract for my first conference! I'm stoked - I can't wait to go to my first conference and I will see if I can give a talk.

My plan is to also find a conference in Germany, so that I will get a chance to visit the country and decide if I want to stay there. If I choose to move to Germany, then I would have lived in 4 countries, China (9 years), Australia (13 years), USA (5 years) and then Germany (perhaps till the end of time). Life is full of surprises and I can't help but wonder what life would be like 5, 10 or 20 years from now.

I just changed my tires from Schwalbe Lugano to Michelin Krylion Carbon - I know, I know, I most likely put on less than 500miles on my old pair and it's a waste to change so soon. But I already had 3 flats and my tires are SO hard to change. Plus I just can't resist buying (and changing to) these new ones. I'm amazed at how smooth they look, but they do feel grippy and I will test out how they ride soon. When I say that I changed my tires, I should clarify that I tried to change them. I spent 20min removing the old tire and 30min trying to put on the new one to the point where my hands felt pretty bruised. I finally had enough and went to a LBS and gosh, he changed the pair of tires in 20min! But he did admit that they were very tight and we think that it's my wheels which are causing the problem and not the tires. I just know that if I ever get into the racing scene having a flat on my current wheels would equal a loss.

Ahhh I hate the coldness, before I didn't really care and I liked the the rain because it's refreshing but now that I do cycling, it's hard to get out in the cold and I'm never going to ride in the rain. So I've been thinking of getting a trainer for my bike. I'm looking forward to going back home to Perth, where it's warm and sunny and that's perfect for cycling (I may even not be too unhappy about getting tan-lines because I'm aching for some sun). Apparently, there are many nice places for road cycling in Perth. I will rent a road bike since it costs a fortune to ship mine over (such that I may as well buy a new one there)! :)