I am moving

to a new blog site so the blog master, who ever that is, can focus on our new RAAM riders!

Go to http://nerdybike.blogspot.com/ for more of my journal!

Blog master please do not delete my past blogs! I want to look back at all those memories when I am 40.

Thanks blog person who ever you are! You are doing a great job!!

Duck Hunting

I went duck hunting this weekend with some guys from school, only I didn't duck hunt, I rode bike with Jay H. It was a great weekend with some great guys.

Phase 1- Jay H. and I drove up to the shack by Browerville. I told Jay my bike movie idea and he loved it. When we got to the shack I had some lemonade and stayed up by the fire way too late!

Phase 2- Got Jay H. out of bed and we rode our bikes to Long Prairie. Man is he strong. I thought he would slow down during the day... he never did. We rode until noon (45 miles) and then had an incredible BBQ lunch put on by a new teacher in our school, Dave E. The kids call him Mr. E... Can you believe that!?

Phase 3- Jay had the wild idea of doing the Cyclocross race at Boom Island on Sunday so we set up a course and practiced at the shack. I liked it a lot but Jay started to get cold feet.

Phase 4- Ride #2, Jay and I rode another 30 to make the days total about 75 miles. He never slowed down at all.

Phase 5- Felt like crap, Jay rode me into the ground. Jay and I made supper, jumbolia. It is in the picture. That was fun and the lemonade and Advil combination brought me around.

Phase 6- Talked about favorite movies until 11:30 and went to bed.

Phase 7- Shook Jay's bed at 7:45 and asked him if he still wanted to try to make that race. He did and we were on our way. Great conversation on the way to the race. Mike B. called to say he was going to be there.

Phase 8- Get to Boom Island and park right next to Mike. Not at all nervous but very excited. It is a first for all three of us and we don't know exactly what to expect.

Phase 9- Get to talk to Bill N. Great to see he is doing OK. Race time, I have a new love... cyclocross, that is cooooool! I was at the back and picked my way up a little during the race. Doesn’t matter where you are in the pack, it is just fun doing it. I wish it didn’t cost $30.

Phase 10- Mike talked me into doing the B race for another $5. It was very fun. When we started to get lapped Mike and I decided to quit until Chad M. and Dan C. yelled at us to get back in the race. We did finish... I think dead last but it was great!!!

Phase 11- Free lemonade!! We watched the A race and I didn’t find out until later that John R. won his race! That is really cool! He also finished 5th in the 10K at Elm Creek Saturday. The more I think about John winning the more cool it is, what a weekend for him!

Phase 12- Drove Dave Hogland home and then got to spend the evening with my family. It was a great way to wrap up a very fun weekend.

One more thing... I love Tom C. He is game for anything and should be thanked for getting us out there racing too!

Check this out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Rl1bHVUPvg&mode=related&search=

The song is great too!

Erik and I had a very nice ride in the park tonight. We saw Mark C. and Andy with some guy and one of them was wearing Pippi Longstocking pants. What was that?(+6)

Follow the Leader

Eight showed up and only two of us crashed. I was one of the people that crashed. Tom C. and I crashed on the long bridge. Just a word of warning, that bridge is slick! We both are fine and we had a great ride. The die hard riders that showed up were Erik J., Dave Hemsted, Larry S., Steve D., Dave G., Tom C. and John R. It was not much of a follow the leader game because we didn't want to tear up the park but it was nice to have a few mountain bikes in the group, it brought out the mercy rule... no one had to be the cat's meow. (I told the guys I would put that line in the blog.) For the faithful readers of this site you are invited to my house tonight to watch "Sunday in Hell." Belinda is scrapbooking and I don't have much lemonade left... hint hint. (-8)

Paul S.

Another in a long list of riders that continue to impress me with their growth in our group. We had 13 in the park last night and 6 at the Ramsey Park and Ride. Paul was climbing right with Andy as we went around and around. We all know were Andy is at, he is flying and to see Paul right there was pretty impressive. All of the riders at the ramp last night amaze me. Holly, Carol, Madonna and Paul have come so far in their cycling. That is really cool!

What an awesome ride in the park too! Thanks everybody for extending your season! I have been writing down my top three highlights of the day before I go to bed each night and it works in wild unexpected ways, you should try it. Last nights ride was number one on the list!(+3)

Thanks for the picture Dave!

Wet Ride Today

But nothing like those guys over in Orono... check the pictures at Skinnyski! Bill looks pretty muddy! I love the loop out of my brother in laws, plenty of climbing and very pretty. It is the Square Lake Road Race circuit. I even love it when it is pouring! (+6)

My Favorite Rider

I got to ride with my favorite rider today! Belinda and I did the Tator Tour together. Belinda and I have logged many miles together and it was nice to ride with her again. The Tator Tour was great and the baked potato at the end was wonderful. Thanks for a great ride B!

Don't read this...

just watch the movie in the last post. This is just a journal entry for me. Rode by myself last night to a staff party, no not a stag party, a staff party. Road back and the moon was incredible. I think I might like riding through the park at night but I scare easy... seriously, my imagination runs wild.

Bike and Ski 06-07

I am experimenting with movies...

Ramsey Du Huez

Andy says it all! It is very cool with coffee and lemonade close by!!

Headwaters Weekend!

We had a great time at the Rainbow Resort this weekend! On Friday we met up at the Resort with enough daylight to go riding out on the Mountain Bike trails and scout out the course for Sunday's race. After that Carol and Holly made us an incredible pasta meal that was a perfect pre race meal. After that there was a heavy duty strategy session with code words and mile markers. For anyone who has raced they know these plans don't usually work out but it is a great way to take care of some of the jitters.

On Saturday we got up and mixed our bottles of Perpetuum... one smell of the stuff and it takes me right back to RAAM. Our first adventure was my gas light coming on as we were leaving the
resort. 40 miles later and a lot of cheering on the car, we made it to Park Rapids running on fumes. It was close! When I filled up my 20 gallon tank the pump showed that I had put in 20.4 gallons.

Off to the races! We had quite a showing in the race! If you look at the results there will be a lot of familiar names! It is nice to be at the start and to know a fifth of the field! Two bottles in my pockets and two on the bike and some snickers to boot. The weather was perfect! Short sleeve jersey and shorts at Headwaters!

We left town as a bunch and it was fun to be back in the pack. We had people that were racing for the first time and they said that the start was thrilling and I would have to agree, it is pretty exciting. We had a strategy that we were going to attack at mile marker 44. So I worked my way to the front and pushed the pace up... they forgot to tell me they called off that plan. So I am waiting for a long line of my teammates to storm around me, not to be. We all cramped. John was unbelievable as he pulled up front for hours. I sat in the back and tried to stretch out.
I was cramping early in the race. I was also riding sick, and oh, the sun was in my eyes. Near the end I was covering breakaways to insure that we stayed close to the leaders but there were already 6 up the road. It was a weird race in the sense that we had the chance to close for a
long time but no one was willing to get organized and not even John can do that alone. The bunch came in like we always do, storming down to the school in a free for all. Steve and Dave G. stayed with us all the way, very impressive! Melinda got second and Madonna got third in the Women's race. Third place trophy in her first race! Way to go! Paul S. completed his first
race. Another way to go. Holly took the wrong turn that DaveHoglund took two years ago and finished back but really would have gotten third in the race if it wasn't for the mystery corner. The Sayler family rode the tour and had a great time! Diane Hemstad rode her first century too! Way to go! Everyone did great!

Saturday night we had presentations on RAAM and that crazy Iowa ride. I might do it next year, it looks fun! Then we drank a truck load of lemonade and got a little silly, went to bed at 3.

Sunday we had a great breakfast and it was time for the mountain bike race/ running races at Rainbow Resort. Amy is awesome and staying at Rainbow really makes the weekend special. The race course was tough but I didn't throw up... there were bets being made on that. John once again proved that he is the manliest man I have ever met by riding the mountain bike race on his road bike and kicking my rear, the guy is unbelievable!! Thanks Bernie for believing in me and waiting for me! Dave Hoglund waited for everyone and won the race in a bunch sprint. Nice trophy!

Holy crap!! How could I space this!? Jorge also won a beautiful trophy as did Melinda and Cindy! Jorge set a course record on the run as he dropped the field and left them wondering what he had for breakfast. How could I forget that? Great job Jorge and I love you too!

After that we had a great lunch and we had the award presentation and door prizes brought in my Larry and Pam from Trailhead! Thank You! That was really fun! It was simply a wonderful weekend!

Bronchitis

Twice a year on the change of seasons I get bronchitis. Just before headwaters I feel like someone hit me in the throat. I am still going up but I will have to see how I feel Saturday morning. Not feeling so good right now. That may be why I was so quick to judge Cat 1 Eric... I should just keep my mouth shut. Sorry for abusing the e mail like that everybody! The more the merrier! I don't care what you're selling as long as it is good!

The Rotach Rain Ride

I went for another rain ride with John. Bernie joined us for a while but had a mechanical. Dave Hemstad scared me by sneaking up behind me at an intersection and grabbing my wheel. I had never experienced a rubbing brake like that before. Pleasant ride.

I like to watch

What a difference a year makes!

I would have to rank today as one of my top 50 days of my life. Mike B. and I rode from Telmark down to Hayward and followed the Fat Tire all the way back to Cable. It was very fun. We met up with Dave Hoglund, which made it even better. What a great and beautiful ride.

Everyone seemed to have a great ride. Jay T. was as consistent
as ever and Team Thompson did great. Andy was the big surprise. He beat
three hours by a half of a minute on his single speed rigid bike. WOW!
That is simply incredible. Way to go! The three Amigos did great. Kenny
beat his personal best and I think that Bob did too. Larry S. had fun
with the short and fat. Brian E. shared a beer with us afterwards.
Thanks Mike and Dave for all the beer! Thanks to Luke for getting me a
brat too! Lots of the Loons were there and it was fun to cheer them on.


The Fat Tire is quite the spectacle and it was fun to see it as a spectator! I think I have found a new way to enjoy this race.

Oh, and at the finish I believe we witnessed something like a man walking on the moon. A single speed won the Fat Tire. People hear people say they can't do things their whole life... be careful who you say that to, they might just blow you away!

End of Season

Everyone is amped for racing. The Fat Tire 40 is this weekend, good luck to all! And then next week we have the Headwaters and Rainbow Resort double. That is always a blast!

Tonight we had about 7 or eight. It was a fun ride. Melinda wanted to work so we humored her. It was fun. It reminded me of when we scratch raced out of Fletcher. That was kind of fun. Yes, I know I am a big hypocrit, but I have no problem with people creaming each other if it is advertised as a race. People simply need to know what they are getting into. The group tonight knew that there was no slowing down Melinda, she had the fever for the flavor of a pringle. I rode with Amy and talked RAAM. They are going to do it first class. If you can in any way be a part of that team I would jump on it!

Very Simple

Rode around in the dark for an hour by myself. It was nice.


No! No! Umm that probably wasn't bike bloggy enough. Here goes...

Me me me hammering, me me me me me me me me me dancing on the pedals, me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me twisting, me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me pulling, me me me me me me me me me totally wasted!

An Honest to Goodness Group Ride

We did it! We had a legitimate group ride today and it was great! The group stayed together for the entire 144 this morning. The group even waited for me when I dropped my mirror. Thanks for getting my glasses Erik!

At the beginning of the season Jay T. mentioned that the key to group rides is awareness. Today the entire group was totally aware of the group. The front rider was never 20 senconds ahead of the last rider. That is very cool. It makes for a very social and fun ride. Oh, and we had the same average we always do. HA!

We went to Dunn Brothers... together! WOW! Then I got talked into riding to Hopkins and I am so glad that I did... When I do the dishes my wife lets me ride longer. Just kidding. I love my wife for letting me play every Saturday morning. We played name that tune for the rest of the ride. I thought it was very funny. Mike got in to the act and it only got better. I think that we may have developed a new tradition. We were literally dancing on the pedals! Thank you all for a fantastic morning of riding!

Elm Creek part 26

We rode in the park again tonight. The World Championship course. The park is tough. The consistent roll to the park keeps you working and all the turns keep you on your toes.

We had 8 and it didn't take long to split up. Getting dropped doesn't feel as bad in the park because you can't see the gap so you don't feel the pressure of catching and you can just chat with those around you. After a while Jay T. and I tried to bridge the gap and we were working through the park, all out. It occured to me as we exchanged pulls that he is on his single speed road bike and I am giving it everything I have... How does he do that? We went around enough corners and couldn't see Melinda or Dave and finally sat up. Larry S. worked to catch as well but the speedsters were long gone. I love the park.

Post from Belinda

OK, so Neil comes home and says, "That was a great ride." For the 500,000th time. Man, when isn't there a great ride? Like when he shows me pictures from a race and says, "Isn't that shot great?" And I say, "It sure looks like the 200 other pictures you have shown me like that." I am glad that he likes his riding but for crying out loud, it is like a broken record. Hey you blog readers eat your hearts out, I need Neil to do the dishes now.

Kenny S.

Another name in the long list of riders gaining strength and riding strong. Today Kenny looked GREAT. Bob D. is going to do great at the Fat Tire 40! He is as solid as ever. I finished up with my wife and my brother in law riding around Stillwater. I ended up with 100. Beautiful day for a ride. Tom I hope you are ok! Sorry for pouting at the start of the ride... I think it was all the beer and fair food.

Jay H.

I rode with Jay this morning. I have been riding on my mountain bike this summer to increase resistance. I have been riding my mountain bike with Jay for years. Never has this been a problem. I have always been able to ride comfortably... not today. Jay is another one of those stories where you watch someone find fitness on the bike. Incredible. When Jay got his new bike and started riding there was a little part of me that wondered how long it would last. Last? He has fallen in love with the bike and it shows. All summer long people have commented on his steady improvement. It is really neat to see someone come this far and to discover the bike. Way to go Jay!

Owen is in Kindergarten

I went to Owen's open house tonight. He is very excited. We will all be in school at the same campus. I had the opportunity to talk about cycling analogies with Fred Moore Middle School today. That is always fun and the people really tune in. I am pumped for this year.

I rode with Jake C. and Andy tonight. It was a nice ride in on the 144. I had not seen Jake all summer and it was nice to chat with him. He is teaming up with a bunch of his buddies in St. Cloud to make their own Category 3 team. It only makes sense, they ride together all the time and rode for St. Cloud State. They even have the St. Cloud colors. It was a nice looking kit.

School's Started

Belinda had her open house tonight so I went to a Girl Scout meeting. WOW or should I say wow?

I ended up going out to the 2 mile time trial course on my mountain bike after dark. I went three times for 5:26, 5:27, and 5:24. That is the first time I have gotten faster on one of the later attempts, what ever that means?

I have my open house tomorrow. I am excited for a new year!

What a Ride!

I was joined by four other Team Strong Heart members today for one of the best rides of the season. There was plenty of climbing and the day was perfect for riding. We even finished with beers and bowling with our families. COOL!

Paul, Holly, Carol and Madonna rode great. Belinda started with us but went and got in a good ride on the trail. We really worked as a team and had fun taking one minute pulls. I like one minute pulls better than a rotating pace line. Each rider can set the pace where they want it and it keeps the group together. When your pull is done you go to the end, the very end. It doesn't pay to cook it, you really want to keep it together.

The last 25 had a series of climbs in it. You could really feel it coming back to Preston. When we got back to town we did one last very step pitch on the south side of town. It gave us 100. What a great ride.

What made this ride completely unique? It became a duathalon as we went bowling after the ride. Great day. Thanks for coming down you guys... that was a lot of fun! It wouldn't take much to talk me into touring Headwaters. That was way too much fun today!

Here is the route.

Inspirational

I rode 100 miles yesterday with 2 eighth graders and an eleventh grader. The fifth grade girl rode 60 miles. Dylan, Joe, Garrett and Mikayla should be very proud of themselves. You should have seen the bikes they were riding, simply incredible. Joe was riding a 24 inch mountain bike with about 160 crank arms, amazing. He was holding the wheel of the junior in high school on a 3% railroad grade, we were moving and he looked fine.

He is a commuter... Commuters are always strong. His family rides everywhere in town, even on the hottest days. He finished 100 looking like he could go another 50.

Dylan was on a old Schwinn 50 pound bike and he did great too. Two more names to add to my century list. I love seeing people complete 100 for the first time. You can see the pride and satisfaction in the ride. Good job you guys! Thanks for a great ride!

Oh, and I love centuries. I love being there for when people get their first century. It changes the way a person relates to riding. I have been there for Garrett, Jake, Blake, Brett, Adam, Jake C., John, Jeff, Larry, Dave, Belinda, Scott A., Bob, Bill, Mike, Scott C., Scott S., Jason M., Craig, and now Joe and Dylan.

Newsworthy

So yesterday I get a call from Bernie asking me if I want to be part of the first human powered news cast in the history of the world. WOW! Do I! I said. So John R., Bernie and I go to the Fairgrounds at 4:30 AM and power up the news for an hour. The room was pretty cool, you should stop and see it at the fair. 8 bikes all electronically monitored show watts and all that good stuff on a big screen. Bernie took off like a shot and try as I might I couldn't reel him in. He broke the machine twice by storing 499.9 watts of energy. The system would shut down when he hit that number. Thank goodness John was there to remind me that Bernie has to use more watts to carry his weight around. HA!

If we had this technology for our winter spins we would end up killing each other. It was very fun riding with the Medtronic people. I highly recommend checking it out at the fair!

MTB Time Trial

I did the Fletcher DIY TT today on my mountain bike. It was exponentially hard. The resistance started to add up to the point that I had to sit up to recover during the time trial. Not a good sign. But now I have a time on that bike too so I can ride it out there on crappy days like this morning and not really think about the road conditions so much.

Time trialing is amazing. I have got to do it on a more consistent basis. What a cleansing!

My time was 26.29.

Grand Marais

While the rest of Minnesota got wet we were enjoying perfect weather in Grand Marais. We went on a series of wonderful hikes and Belinda and I each went for rides up the Gunflint and throughout the area. It was another ride, like Estes, where I had thoughts of a good workout and within a half of a mile I wasn't thinking about anything but how beautiful the ride was and how lucky I was to be on it. Incredible beauty and perfect weather. The climb out of Grand Marais is at least 3 miles and the view is so great!

I am heading down to Preston this week to ride with my students on Thursday and some friends on Saturday. It will be interesting to see what we can do on Thursday, much of that ride was on the Root River Trial. The Root River Trail got flooded last night and the damage is extensive. Saturday's ride should be ok, but we will be riding through a few of the heaviest hit communities. We will have to see how this shakes out.

The floods are probably an answered prayer to the Loon State hierarchy. I was under the gun as I was attracting a slew of racers away from the State Road Race this weekend. Now the dozens of racers that were going to ride along the Root will end up back at the race. Wow! That was a real close one guys. Anything I can do to help. I feel a little guilty just by getting on my bike now.

20 on a Tuesday!

WOW! I have had the goal of 20 on a Saturday but never 20 on a Tuesday! Awesome! Brought the mountain bike so I would hurt a little and I did. It got hot enough, I just couldn't do it anymore. There were a lot of flats tonight too. I rode back to town with Dave Hoglund and Bob D. Good ride! We got in a 3 up pace line, had another flat and still got back to town in time to see my students' soccer game. Great evening and great group!

Nameless

First of all, I love our group! I never thought I would have this many close friends at 39. Thanks everyone for making this group so good.

Sorry about the flats on the first part of the ride, it sort of set the tone for later in the ride.

One of my favorite riders in the group threatened to shoot me in the butt with a shot gun if I mentioned him on this blog again, so I will call him Nameless. Man, is Nameless strong. Good lord, he crashed got up, fixed his bike and only got faster. Nameless is the toughest human being I have ever met bar none. Sorry Nameless.

Steve D. continues to impress, when Nameless wasn’t on the front he was. Favorite quote, “Man, I am a better rider with a tailwind.” Tammy and Kami rode very strong and they should do great at the Madison Ironman which is coming up soon. Cindy is doing it too and they all look like they are ready! I don’t know about Scott, he had to leave for work... just kidding, he looks great too!

It is great to have Mark C. back with us... I was getting uptight about the group not staying together and he said, “Let them go, it is just as lonely off the front as it is off the back, they will figure it out.” It was something like that. How true, that is really cool. Again it is great to have him back.

15 for the coffee ride, that is a topper for sure. There is more and more talk of an official bike club at Trailhead. That will be great. Thanks again to everyone for making this such a wonderful group!

One last thing... for a guy who works an 80 hour week, Mike B. is still strong!

Hemi in Polka Dots

We did hill repeats in Elk River tonight. Dave H. has discovered the fountain of youth. Man, is he strong right now. I rode the 3 speed and it about killed me. I am hungry and tired. Good tired, I think. Yes, it is good tired. We had 8 in the group and had a delightful time. I like these rides where we go out to a spot and work it and then ride home together. It is very nice.

Amy Xu

The more I learn about this person the more amazed I am. Amy has already signed in for next years RAAM as a four person mixed team. I met Amy about four years ago and I raced with her three years ago. She won the women's Headwaters 100 that year. She fought through rain and cold and stayed with the group and gave it her all. It was awesome. But that is nothing, she is one of the kindest people I have ever met and if you Google her you will be blown away. She has done it all, literally, and now she is going to do RAAM as the next Team Strong Heart. She is going to do great and she will appreciate the experience from beginning to end. It is her nature. She gets it. Another exciting thing is that one of my best buddies might be on the team too. WOW! Talk about a cool deal. She is all signed up so let's get behind her and the team! Way to go Amy!

The Ride

I went on the single greatest ride of my life this past week. I was in Rocky Mountain National Park with my family and I had a new goal, to ride up Fall River Road. I have done the main pass, Trail Ridge Road, about 10 times so I thought it was time for something new. Fall River Road is the original pass and is still gravel and has minimal up keep.

I started out Thursday morning from Estes and the sun was just touching the tops of the mountains. If you start from Downtown Estes you quickly realize that you are going to climb a bunch before you even get to the park entrance. I got to the entrance at 6:30 AM and there was no park attendant so I got in for free. Then I rode up to Horse Shoe Park. It is a beautiful valley that is known for big horn sheep and elk. I took a right and went past the alluvial fan from the 1982 flood and was soon in the picnic grounds. I knew the road was near.

I had the typical bike rube thoughts go through my head as I approached the road. I was not going to use my granny gear even though the sign boasted 9 miles of gravel. Well, I went to my granny within a city block and I never left it. I suppose I could have but all the macho riding stuff quickly faded away. The ride was surreal. There were views that I simply could not take in. I was climbing up the side of a canyon, literally. It was awesome!!

Some things I remember are the incredible switch backs while looking across at the other canyon wall. I remember riding next to a stream and then getting above the stream and looking down the canyon at the falls that dropped about 200 feet. I remember the sun light reaching around the valley and finally coming through the trees. One of the switch backs brought you out to an edge where you felt like you were looking all the way back to Estes and the starting point of the ride. I shouted out “Holy S***!” about three times on that corner I just couldn’t believe it.

I got to the top and thought of John as I pounded my Starbucks Double Shot and ate a couple of granola bars. No one was in the lot yet so I headed to the top of Trail Ridge Road and through Rock cut. More incredible scenery. I sailed down, riding the brake of course. The clouds started rolling in and I descended out of the sunlight into the cloud and back into the sun below. Wild. I was back to the hotel by 10. I thought Bear Tooth Pass would be my greatest ride ever... not so. I don’t know if I can beat this one.

The rest of the trip was great. We hiked as a family and Belinda and I rode up to Bear Lake on our anniversary. Thanks to my sister we were able to enjoy some riding together and were able to go out to eat at the Dunraven. What a great trip!

Champlin-Minneapolis-Marine-Champlin

Great ride today with high school friends and a couple of the Northwest Geeks. Steve D. continues to impress as did my friends, Bob T. and Scott S., who commute and were very strong. Mike B. is working too much but is still very strong. He always is. Beautiful ride and fun with a ton of variety. Minneapolis and St. Paul were just waking up and the Stillwater Marine area is always great! 95 miles on my mountain bike.

I am riding my MTB this week in Colorado. I am looking forward to doing Fall River Road, a dirt road mountain pass in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Oh, and I love centuries. I love being there for when people get their first century. It changes the way a person relates to riding. I have been there for Garret, Jake, Blake, Brett, Adam, Jake C., John, Jeff, Larry, Dave, Belinda, Scott, Bob, and I am sure I am missing some others. It is great to be there when people accomplish this mark! Was I there for yours Bill? I don't think that I was. Wait... I was there for Bill's and Mike, Scott, and Jason's too! Who else? I know that I am missing some. Craig? Yes Craig too but that was mostly Belinda's doing. Way to go Bob and Scott!

Any way you slice it...

It comes up peanuts. The Tour is great dope and all! What a time trial and what a Tour. Heck, the doping even made it interesting. If you are stupid enough to do it or lie about it you're out. New life to those who are better at beating the system. Like Horner said, the Tour is life. I would add, crooks and all!

Elm Creek x 3

John R. and I rode in the rain last night and it was actually very nice. Elm Creek is deceiving. You go for a ride in the park and you come out completely shot. We were not hammering at all, just a steady pace and great conversation, but the roll to that park is so consistent. It is the best hill workout around. Elk River has it beat for steady climbing but for rolling hills and just a consistent grind, man Elm Creek is tough. My legs are shot this morning.

Good Night!

Say good night to the Tour at least for this year. Be your own hero, go post a time at the DIYTT and try to beat it! But don't use drugs to do it.

You Say Tomato

I don't get it...

Last night our ride leader calls for an easy ride in the heat, what do we get? The fastest ride of the year. And here is the thing, the people pushing didn’t win the race. We have a finish line to our rides and you would think the one that continued to tear the group apart all night would win the race part... not! In fact the catalyst wasn’t even in the finish. Melissa won the thing. First time with the group and she takes it. Cool! As I have said before, women rule!

Monologue from Hell on Wheels- TT

For me suffering has two meanings. Suffering can be negative. If you try to suffer for its own sake, that’s bad. That’s unhealthy. There’s something wrong in your head. But when you talk about suffering that you must get through and that you can survive through enormous effort, that is something else. That is positive, good and beautiful. Beautiful because you think of courage, of stamina , loyalty, the willingness to make sacrifices, modesty and love. From this perspective, the suffering during training, during sporting competitions, while doing one’s job, which all require great effort, is the same as religious suffering. It is love. It is beautiful. I like that.

Time Trialed the Fletcher Course this morning and tied my best time from last year. I have more I think. I had a full bottle on the bike and I think if I do it on a day when there is a group I will go faster. (23.57)

Delightful- Women Rule!

Rode a wonderful 100 miles today with a delightful group of people. Thanks everyone for a very enjoyable ride. The first 35 was the 144 and we had about 12 riders for that portion. It was a beautiful morning and Dave Hoglund kept us at an honest pace. At this point about half of the field was women. I am so excited for my daughter! The future is very bright!

The second stage was down to Dunn Brother's where I noted that Jeff has come a long way in his riding. Just another example of someone gaining great fitness in our group and having a great time doing it. The iced coffee was great and we checked in on the tour.

For stage three out to Baker Park and back home, Evan and Jason, of UJVFC fame, joined us. It was a nice ride until Jason peeled off and noted that our average speed was pretty low. This was a dirty trick because everyone knows that a triathlete can not deal with hearing that so our pace went up about 4 MPH. Nuts, I guess it was good.

That was it except for this... I asked Evan what was required to race Headwaters, where we have our year end party and ride, and he said, "You have to be able to ride 100 miles." Thank you Evan. Now you can also tour it for 30, 60 or 100 miles and hope our whole group makes it up there! The bit that bothers me is that some people want to race it and other riders told them they should reconsider... the riders that want to do it also have a plan for riding it together. How cool is that? I mean who in their right mind would tell someone not to do that? There are people who give energy and those who suck it up. Headwaters is a great place for ANYONE to try out racing, especially if you are doing it with friends! Go for it and join us for a TON of fun. It is about fun, isn't it?

Oh, one more thing the count at the end was 2 guys and 4 gals... cool!

Weighted Bat

I have heard people say they wished they got a better workout on a ride while leading the ride the whole time. They should swing a weighted bat. I rode my weighted bat today and got a GREAT workout!! I have an old mountain bike that I have built into a 3 speed all purpose bike. One purpose is getting a great workout on every ride. It did not fail me today. I rode with Jay H. Cindy S. and Bob (I mean Rob T.) Cindy is trying to decide if she is going to do the Madison Ironman this year, so she pulled a couple intervals during the ride. I think she can do it. WOW! Jay looks better every day and Rob's bike is beautiful not to mention his commuting has him in top form as well. Very nice ride, it was worth getting up at 5:30. Thanks you guys!

Oh, I should add, the ride was super cool. We went to the Stone Arch Bridge and then down East River Road to Fort Snelling and then up West River Road, stopping at Dunn Brothers on Lake Street. COOL! We decided to go with Jay up to Blaine High School where he was meeting his wife for a ride and then rode home back across the dam. Neat!

Hill Repeats

I have a new favorite ride in our area, it is the Elk River Hill Repeats ride. John R. and Jay H. rode over with me today and we hit the hill 5 times and headed home. John was definitely the polka dot jersey winner today. We got in some great climbing and conversation. Cool! John also won the green jersey by winning Super Prime. We didn't challenge which kind of goofed up his celebration of pointing to the C on his Colorado jersey he got this past week.

Dirt Track Fat Tire Madison

I took the kids out riding tonight and we went to an old running track in the neighborhood. I was timing my kids on quarter mile laps and they were timing me. Then I had the idea of doing a Madison relay with the kids for a half mile time. Owen and I came in with a 2.01 and Rose and I got a 2.09. The kids were thrilled and now we have a goal, beat those times! It was fun to see my kids so excited to ride hard!

Afton Hill Ride

Bernie and I went over to Woodbury for some heavy TCBC action. We had a great ride! The roads were awesome and the group was moving. TSH looked great and if it wasn't for San Antonio Scott hugging Bernie's wheel and a surprise prime, that was completely illogical, we would have swept the thing!

Grrrreat Ride Last Night

Jay T., who may ride for another TSH team next summer, took us on a route up to Elk River and it was great. We did hill repeats and when you had your fill you just waited on the corner for the rest of the group. I flatted and still loved it. I love our group too. I think that I have said it before but I never imagined that I would have belonged to the strongest and most enjoyable peer group in my life when I was 39. How long can this last?

Get This!!

As of right now we have 20 people riding in Team Strong Heart kits! Do you know how cool this is? This is a group that is focused on their love of riding and riding for a purpose. I am thrilled to be a part of this team!

Think about it... you are at an event and someone asks you about your team... rather than saying something like, "ah, well, I am part of this team that, well, rides." You can say, "I ride with a group of people that I care for deeply and that cares for our community by riding for a cause. The cause that we are supporting right now is Camp Odayin. Let me tell you about our group's mission and the camp." How cool is that!? Riding with purpose, a purpose that goes beyond simply making yourself faster and showing up your neighbor!! The possibilities are endless! Come and join the team! I am already planning the holiday party!

Team Strong Heart

The team is growing and this is all very exciting. There is already a team of women heading up to the Headwaters 100 in September and what is the name of their team? Team Strong Heart. We have also gained some other members on in the Northwest Burbs. The team is only gaining strength! RAAM was only the beginning!!

Note to the Crew

Dear Crew,

The more I think about this race, the more impressed I am with our crew. Why the crew doesn’t get a medal is beyond me. Can you imagine driving across the country at 20 mph? The bike was a time of peace and enjoying the trip. If you couldn’t ride during this, well, I don’t know what I would do. Many of the you were not cyclists and yet you were there for us every step of the way, simply incredible. Thank you to all the crew members who made this possible; you did an incredible job!!

The crew allowed the cyclists to live a sort of dream life on the road. It is the closest thing I will ever get to in terms of stage racing or understanding what that is like. I never thought I would be at dinners celebrating a race that I had participated in. I never thought I would be able to relate to racing or an event where so few have finished. I am not a racer but I love to ride my bike. This made me feel like a racer, I even shaved my legs!? I can’t thank you all enough for providing this opportunity and putting up with so much and keeping a level head!

Sorry about the night I was so cranky. I hadn’t slept for two days and I was mad at myself and took it out on you. That was entirely inappropriate. In fact, I wish I would have understood what an incredible job you were doing at the time. I should have been praising you from beginning to end for even making the adventure possible.

Without the crew I would have never had this “once in a lifetime” experience. There was talk of doing another one and my wife reminded me that it was a “once in a lifetime” experience. I still think I might be able to slip away when the kids are older! If I do, I hope I have the same crew. A crew that did the job no matter how filthy the task might be or how tired the crew member might be.

To Bill and Bernie, thanks for all of your work on this too. This wouldn’t have happened without your endless hours of sacrifice. I know that a lot of your equipment and personal capital went into this trip and I appreciate it. Thanks Bernie for letting me in on this adventure and for training with me through the winter. The training was fun and necessary to do as well as we did and for me to actually feel like I had a part in our third place finish. Greg, it was great riding with you and getting to know you! Thanks! And Tim, I will never forget our last night together!

A week out from this trip and I am simply thrilled I got to do it. I have all of you to thank and I sincerely can not thank you enough. I will never forget your sacrifice for this mission and I want you to know just how important you were to our accomplishing this goal. You, the crew, were the reason this worked at all.

THANKS!
Neil

P.S. A special thanks to Camp Odayin and a note that we are not done working for you. There are a number of people that want Team Strong Heart to grow and do other events to support Camp Odayin. There is an energy here that is real and we are working on ideas to ride for Camp Odayin and to spread the word! Team Strong Heart is growing as we speak!

We're Back

Kudos to the crew! They made it through the filth, sadness, joy, sorrow, exhaustion,elation without a complaint. At least we got to get on our bikes to get away. My bike was my time for peace and comfort and for the joy of the challenge. I can't imagine how hard it must be to crew forRAAM. Thanks to our crew. Come and meet some of them Saturday night at 6 at Trailhead bike shop.

There will be more stories to come... what an adventure

Thanks Everybody!

I am going to get a little sappy here, but I have sooo much to be thankful for. What a great ride today and what a wonderful bunch of people. I love riding with this group and I love the support we give each other. I never thought that at 39 I would have a peer group like this!

If you would like to follow my race updates for RAAM you can call 763-506-3843. It is going to be a voicemail message that I will update regularly so you can follow our progress.

Thanks again! See you in a couple weeks.
Neil

Sick Again

Quick! Send healthy thoughts my way! Maybe it is natures way of saying take it easy this week?

Tom C.

First it was Steve D., now it is Tom C! This guy has come a long way! I was pulling to the top of Super Prime, pulling my super teammate Bernie, thinking that we are going for a super one two finish, when a super Tom C. comes around to take the silver!? WOW! Better yet our 9 o'clock ride was an absolute delight. We rode downtown to have a cup of coffee and rode home!! Awesome! I think that this will become our new 9 AM habit!

Looking good

Team Strongheart was looking good last night on our group ride. All the primes were taken by the team and Bernie was flying. We had a new rider last night that kept the pace high but we were able to keep it together throughout the ride. We stopped for water but a few went on. Carol and Holly sprinted for the Super Prime. I wish that I could have seen that. Our group is great and we have come a long way together. It may be time to slow down and bring out the road bike again, this is getting close!

Getting Dropped

It is good to get dropped every once in a while. I got dropped last night. You know you are at your limit. You do not choose to get dropped. I was riding my MTB with the road group and put myself in a bad spot. Suddenly after taking a pull I was off the back. I was at my limit. It is good to go there now and then. I was able to pull off second at the finish and it was the guys birthday that beat me... everything is good!

Sunday Solitude

I went to a reunion this weekend in Michigan. I Fed Exed a bike out there and what do you know? The one bag that does not make it is all my bike stuff. I did not get to ride with the Grand Rapids Wheelmen. It was all for the best because I got to ride with my hero... Bill Matson. He is 73 and he rode the first 50 of my 110 mile ride Saturday. At one point of the ride I came up to him and asked him how he was doing in some monstrous head winds. He said his legs were tired but he was fine.

He is super cool. Exercise keeps the brain ticking and keeps you young I wish you could meet this guy. He is younger than I am. COOL!

MTB on the road

I had on the duds tonight and they were a hit. We had 9 riding west of town and we fought some strong winds. I rode my MTB and found it a perfect way to guarantee
a great workout and fit right in with the group. I even came in second at the finish line. Things are coming together nicely. I think it is the butt plate that makes you go a little faster. My new victory salute on the primes is to point at theMedtronic logo across my bum!

Wind and Rain?

Now don't take this the wrong way, I just found it interesting. Last night there was a lot of wind and a chance of rain. I go to the shop for the group ride, who is there? Every woman rider in our group. Five women and me, I don't know where all the guys were but I did find it kind of interesting. Dave Hogland came at the last minute and we had a great ride. I rode my MTB to get a little resistance training and it worked great.

New Duds!

The kits are in and they are cool! Everyone is going to want to join Team Stongheart. It seems like everyone does, we are maxed out on crew! Awesome!

Be Careful Out There!

40 mile ride on Saturday, feeling great, riding strong, fun group... last guy in line goes down and breaks his collar bone... end to a great ride. No one touched him and we really can't figure out what went down.


The rest of the week was great. I have been putting in miles on my mountain bike to get a little resistance work in. I am feeling good about my fitness and where I am at.

I got to camp with my class and my alumni to my class this weekend. It was really fun. I got to share about Camp Odayin and our mission. People were excited and ready to help. People are fascinated by this adventure... so am I

Simulation 2

This will be epic. The crew was great and I think that we all got a better idea what we are in for. This will be a wild ride and although we got a taste I wonder what is around the next corner. I am going to try to get my plane ticket today for Sunday the 10th.

Thanks to everyone for coming out but most of all to John for bringing the RV so we could get used to living together in close quarters. I wish he was going with us. Great guy.

We need crew. I know that few people read this but if you do and you can think of someone please let me know.

Thanks!
Neil

Erik's Blog

You have to watch this!

Lance

Another 100

Got in another century today. I felt all right. We had a group of 6 at the 7 AM ride and then Larry and Evan went on for the second leg. I rode the last 20 solo. It was fun. Jay led me out for Super Prime. Thanks Jay. I wonder how the Loons did up north?

One more thing, Evan's new bike is COOOOL!!!

I am getting faster, I think

At least I went faster on my time trial tonight!

What a Weekend!

Wow! Great riding with friends and a surprise birthday party for my wife! FUN!

Saturday was one of the most enjoyable rides of my life. 100 miles with friends on a perfect day.

Steve D.

We had a great 50 miler west of town tonight. A bunch of friends out for a ride. Steve D. was inspirational! He started riding with us three years ago and he struggled to stay with the group, even when we were being extremely friendly, tonight he rode strong all night and finshed second on the big prime. That is what is sooo cool about this game, if you stick with it you will get there! Way to go Steve!

Time Trialing

RAAM is a time trial over and over again so I have gone back to working on TTing. It is great work. I like racing myself. Jay T. and I have created a blog devoted to it.

I created a new time trial today in Elm Creek. I call it the EC NR 14. Elm Creek, No Road 14 mile time trial. Rolling and curvey. 20 MPH south winds made me feel like superman on the east side and I felt like I was climbing a mountain on the west side. Fun and incredible work. Final time 37.51. The beauty of time trialing... now I simply work to beat it! COOL!

Check out our blog DIYTT!

Night Riding!

I am rode after everyone was in bed at my house last night to get in a few extra miles. Jay H. and I went out for a ride through the neighborhood and it was GREAT! I really like it. It is soooo much better than the basement!

Learning Curve

We did our first outdoor 24 hour training session with exchanges this weekend.

Man did we learn! This is going to be a very interesting adventure. There is no doubt that we got smoother as the weekend went on. Diet and sleep are going to be very tricky. I got 2 hours of sleep and something tells me that I will need more than that and I can't live on syrups all week.

We started out in Stillwater and made our way back over to Champlin. The weather was beatiful and it helped in the process of getting a feel for the flow in the day in the life of RAAM.

One other thing that I learned is that I really like night riding. I got a front and rear light from Trailhead on Saturday morning and did all of my riding outside. I think that I could get into some night time riding this summer. It was very cool!

One more thing... no flats! I don't know if that is a good sign or not? We will have to practice that next time! Oh, and no rain... we might have to practice that next time too! Beautiful ride, thanks everybody! And a big thanks to Bernie for opening up his home once again to the team!!

Nice Ride

Man is great to be riding with friends!!

No Snow... Yet

It is funny... I thought that I would be riding by myself tonight in the snow and what happens? 4 friends show up, with only a few flakes of snow, and it is one of the best rides of the season! Cool!

Speaking of cool, I put a front deraillier on my 3 speed... I can shift with out kicking my foot out or handing up the chain! It was sooo awesome. My $75 bike only gets better!

There was a news article about our student council raising money for Camp Odayin and I got the greatest thank you note from someone I have never met. I will post it soon. It was inspriraional to read her words of thanks and to be reminded of our purpose and mission here. What a cool thing! It is great when people care!

Tour of Flanders

It is my favorite race of the season... yes, it even tops the tour for me... what a race. Verus coverage is terrible but the finish was wonderful. Two years ago Ballan was in a breakaway and when the leaders caught the break, Ballan went with them... crazy! This guy is going to be a force for years to come, he will make the selection but he won't win it every year, no one will. Sorry everybody, there is not going to be another Eddy and I am glad.

Sick of Epic Rides

I was in Michigan all week and rode in sub freezing temps and 30 MPH winds. It was Wednesday when it hit me that a month ago I would have been loving a ride like this, ice all over my bike... crazy riding! I want the sun and I want it now. Enough of the epic rides! I haven't been on my bike since Wednesday, it only got colder and snowed more. I am going to get on my stationary in the basement right now and try to make up for lost time. Hopefully we will have some good riding this week. We are doing another 24 hour simulation next weekend. This one will actually be outside, it should be very interesting!!

Oh, one more thing... We had a GREAT time in Michigan. It was fun to just hang out with the family and play. It all worked out in the end!

Man, it is not hot out here!

That was my favorite quote from Loon Camp today. Some pretty rough conditions today but still a lot of fun. The area that we were riding in today is the best riding in the state of Minnesota, so even in bad weather it is fun! I rode from my sister's in Preston to the ride in a light rain and then met up with the team. There was a crash and a mechanical with in the first ten miles. I rode my three speed and got some looks right away. I couldn't sell this bike for $100 on ebay but I love it. It is a great training tool. My biggest problem was my raincoat flying in the wind. I got it when I weighed 220 and now I weigh 180, it is like a flag in the wind. After lunch I took it off and was moving along much better. It was windy on the top of the bluffs. Some of us took the Root River Trail back to the camp from Houston. I was riding behind John B. and it was like we were motor pacing, man is he strong! I finished by riding in an absolute downpour and pulled into my sister's garage soaked. Great ride, 105 miles and many great climbs! Thanks to the Loon leadership that takes this on and makes it a great time!!

My 5 year old son, Owen, had the second best quote of the day as I pulled into the garage... "I am hungry just looking at you."

Bike Love Continued... Thanks for reading John!

Input Output- What ever you put in is exactly what you will get out. I didn’t love team sports. We always had a bully on the team that would blame everyone else for our failures and the coaches didn’t seem very interested in creating an environment where that didn’t happen. In cycling you get out exactly what you put into it. If you train and ride you will grow. It is completely based on how far you want to take it. You are in charge.

53X13- Be confident, love it, and ride hard. Believe in yourself! You are BBA! Ride the big gear in what you do. Be strong in your convictions. Love who you are and hammer at life. Livestrong. The miles over the road give you a confidence to stand up for yourself. You have ridden through rain, hail and snow, you have battled fierce headwinds and all of those challenges prepare you for the road ahead. It is a dirty road, but a beautiful road and to soak in life you have to face it with a passion and energy that is naturally brought out by riding your bike. I have a picture of George Hincapie covered in mud . I tell my class and the parents that this is my metaphor for life. They cringe... then I tell them to look at his eyes and it is very apparent that George wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. The picture also has fans lining the road and they are clean and under umbrellas. I ask what is it that they wish for? To be in the race. You have to face the mud from roads built 500 years ago to truly experience life.

Family Sport- Do it forever and do it as a family. Youth sports is a complete nut house. Sportsmanship is out the window and the adults have completely destroyed it. I know that the potential for a good experience is there but the loud parents do not get it and cast a shadow over all the good that there is to get from youth sports. Get your kids on a bike. There are so many lessons in simply going for a ride. Get out there in a positive environment, challenge yourselves and get fit. Do it as a family and with friends. Work on building each other up rather than tearing someone down.

You’ve already won- Just getting on is the win. A friend of mine said when you ride a bike simply getting on is the win. You forget about wins and losses, it is taken care of, you can simply focus on how much you love the sport. Wouldn’t it be great if that is how we treated all of our sports.

Goal: Get those around me to keep challenging themselves in someway other than one upping each other... hopefully on a bike.

Scenarios- 1) Last night we were riding and one of our riders ran out of gas and got dropped. I hung back for him and he got on my wheel, he started to draft. He told me to go on as all cyclist will, but this is the beauty of the sport. I was able to shield this stranger from the wind which allowed him to complete the ride with us. We finished as a group as we always do. As simple as that seems, it is exactly what I love about this sport, it is about lifting up rather than pulling down.

2) "Cycling is so hard, the suffering is so intense, that it's absolutely cleansing. The pain is so deep and strong that a curtain descends over your brain... Once, someone asked me what pleasure I took in riding for so long. 'Pleasure?' I said. 'I don't understand the question.' I didn't do it for pleasure, I did it for pain."
LANCE ARMSTRONG, WINNER TOUR DE FRANCE 1999 – 2004

3) Concrete benefits of cycling
A stronger and healthier heart, Increased HDL, Decreased total cholesterol, Reduced blood pressure, Reduced risk of heart attack and stroke, decreased body fat, decreased risk for diabetes, reduced feelings of anxiety and depression, improved sleep, and higher levels of energy.

4) Jay’s Take-
Suffering- Much of the cycling experience is pleasure, but just like life, there is hardship and suffering. However, suffering on a bicycle can be a life changing experience. Take hill climbing; the act of suffering and overcoming becomes so cleansing and rewarding that you begin to seek a bigger challenge.
Society today is mislead with the sense of entitlement and fairness. It has come to the point that we do not accept challenge. We seem to think that we are entitled to many things or that everything must be fair. Given these notions we struggle when things don't meet our expectations. As a result we tend to blame, complain, and remain unsatisfied.

Life's true rewards are not born from these ideals, but rather, from suffering. It's through suffering that we are cleansed and we can come to understand that there is no absolute entitlement or fairness. It is good to experience hardship and to learn that success can be earned through hard work, despite tough times (or tough climbs) and bad breaks. Facing challenges brings out the wonderful and genuine sensations of life; appreciation, gratitude, and accomplishment.

Catagory Ride

RAAM is a perfect race for me... just ride your bike. We had our last spinning session of the season last night and it was great. For me so much of the cycling experience is social. I do not have aspirations of climbing the ranks of cycling, I just want to ride. I was asked once in an interview what my life goal was and I answered to ride as many miles as I can before I die. They panel all laughed until they noticed I wasn't laughing. Just come out and ride... it will make you feel better about just about everything. It is very simple, like riding a single speed.

Bike Blab Continued...

Our Culture- We need a fire, a cleansing fire. A voluntary suffering that can take away our need to feel superior, to take away our bigotry, and to take away our ignorance. Cycling is that fire. Rather than living in a media induced panic that can sell us anything or any idea, we need a way to sort through all of the messages around us to get to what is real. Cycling provides this.
The marketers of our culture do not want you to find yourself. They know that if you do you will also realize you don’t need much and that you have most everything you need. It is the marketers nightmare.

Transformation- I got into cycling for the wrong reasons. I do think that I may have gotten into the sport for the wrong reasons... To kick my dad's butt and all his buddies butts. But cycling has a way to quickly take you to the spiritual and mental parts of the game and on the other side is peace and personal satisfaction, plus a lot of great relationships.
People ride on anger for motivation. Lance was the king but even he found satisfaction and answers to many of his issues (which were plentiful). Now he has a sense of peace about him and it seems that he is truly ready to become a father full of love for his kids.
Even when people get into the sport for the wrong reasons it has a way of cleaning out some of our personal issues. Again, it forces you to look inside and understand what you are really about. We all have a little creep in us but a whole lot more good and cycling has a way of finding our good and developing the good which develops self esteem and strong relationships. When you understand yourself you become a problem solver and a helper. You understand what other people are going through. It develops grace.

Getting Started- Time trialing. I don’t care if it simply running around your house or your block. Once you set a time try to beat it once a week. You will eat differently, sleep differently and start to see life in a whole new way. It is a concrete way to see your growth and realize that things are changing. It will hurt a little but will open you up to the wonder of life. The wonder of what can be.

Inner Strength- My only regret is that I wish I would have had this in high school. It is truly my only regret! I love biking, there is just something about it. I love it as a metaphor for life. We all come to the start line and it is our attitude that determines what we are going to do and where we are going to go. It seems like people form this attitude right at the beginning of the race. You meet kids that feel like they have a 1,000 gears and that there is no problem that they couldn't solve, then there is a group that feels they have 100 gears and they are confident and ready to go, then there is a group that is convinced they only have 5 gears, and finally a group that is convinced they only have one gear with few options.

Group Ride

"They don't call it a group ride for nothing!"

-Jay Thompson

That is my cycling quote of the season so far. It was a week of great group rides and I know that I am biased but I love our group. Evan brought me a deraillier today and I threw it on this afternoon and it works like a charm. That is our group! We are so there for each other. Maybe all groups are like that but man I love this group. We had 18 riders today... 20 has been my goal, we are right there.


85 miles, very easy but I was not ready to get off the bike at all... I feel great right now! Just riding outside is enough!

Bike love installment 3:

The People- The culture that surrounds cycling is the most enthusiastic and optimistic group I have ever met. I have become fast friends with all the guys and gals that I ride with. We are immediately drawn to each other. It is not simply that we pull each other through the wind, it is a common interest in an area where the endorphins are clicking and where the more positive energy the merrier! Heft on Wheels is a book written by a person that discovers the bike culture and all that it offers those who join it. Rather than focusing on what's wrong it is a group that focuses on what is right. A group that is made up of every socioeconomic group and everyone is equal. Everyone truly cares and there is a togetherness that is hard to find anywhere else.

Fitness- Fitness becomes natural. Once your riding you can’t help it. And if you set up your own personal time trial course it could change the way you live your life completely. It is that powerful. Lighter and stronger are the keys.

Priorities- Fitness leads into priorities. One risk you run is that cycling can become an addiction like anything else. Cycling also can straighten things out. It gives you the time you need to think about what you or your family need and it has a natural calming element that allows you to think about what you need and not what the culture is telling you you need. Time trailing is a part of this. There is nothing like racing yourself because you can see the growth and you can monitor your riding, running or swimming. Beat your time; it will change the way you sleep, eat, drink, and live your life. Get started! Run around your house and time it... then try to beat it tomorrow!

Nature- You see a lot of different things on a ride at a pace that you can soak up so much that you would miss in a car. You can do this in running too but you get so much farther on a bike. You will really learn about an area on a bike. Mark Twain once commented you can always tell if it is hilly when you are on a bike. By riding you are silent like nature, at one with nature. I ride through our park in the drizzle and I feel like I could be 100 miles away. It makes you want to save every parkway and park we have simply to experience the healing power of nature.

Endurance- Endurance not just for the ride but for life. Health clubs have mastered diet and exercise for an hour cycling teaches it to you for a day, two days, or a week. Nutrition is completely different than the health club model. Diet on a bike is eat and keep eating. You are out there too long to not keep the supply up!
It also is endurance for life. Things get rough and because you live the living metaphor of cycling you know you will get through it and that you need to power on.

Love/Respect- At the height of the endorphin high you could love anyone and have respect for everyone. You don’t have to agree with them but you can respect them probably because you respect yourself. And that is it I guess, it took a long way to get here but maybe we have the problems we do because we don’t respect ourselves. Thousands of people living vicariously through their children to do what they couldn’t or what they did and can’t anymore. You can ride well into your 70’s and some make it well into their 80’s. Have we lost our sense of accomplishment and in not loving ourselves we can’t love anyone. Your kids want you to get a life, not live vicariously through theirs. We don’t believe in ourselves so we yell at coaches and refs or our neighbors. I think everyone should get there heart rate over 140 everyday simply to get to understand that we don’t have to sweat the small stuff and that we are all in this together.

Suffering- Our culture struggles with a sensation of entitlement. We seem to think that we are entitled to many things and when it doesn’t work out our way we tend to blame and complain. We need a cleanser and that cleanser is suffering. It is good to put your self in a place of hardship once in a while to understand that you can make it through tough times or bad breaks. Facing challenge brings out the wonder of life. You know that you are living and you celebrate the wonderful things you do have with a whole new sense of gratitude. We have so much and it seems like our culture wants to focus on what we don’t have rather than all the wonder we do have.

Prairie Roubaix II

What a great time! We had a wonderful ride west of town repeating the classic from last winter. The roads were extremely different in comparison to last December, they were dry and fast. John R., Bernie, and I rode from the shop and headed out to the course. A perfect day for goofing off in the country.

As we rode the start we chatted and recited poetry. It was very pleasant but you could tell that we were preparing for the ride ahead! When we got to town Dave H. was waiting for us and soon the other riders were pulling in. At the start we had 7 riders for the neutral lap. Evan put on overalls and a flannel shirt as he said to keep the Prairie in Prairie Roubaix. It was very funny and there will be pictures.

I was glad that I rode the "Flying Dutchman," because the roads were very fast. I put on 700x25 tires. (Please no comments on tires, thank you) My old steel road bike felt great. I would later get very frustrated and said words that I shouldn't say when my rear derailleur started to malfunction. Thanks to the field for waiting for me each time this happened. What a bummer! But since the field did wait I really shouldn't have said all those awful words!

Now for the race itself. You will hear different accounts but here is mine...

As we were getting ready to go (going down the road to relieve ourselves) Dave got the message that Bernie had taken off so Dave went after him on a full sprint... No one saw him leave. After waiting a while we started to look for Dave and finally figured the only explanation was that he was up the road, so we took off. He was riding hard because we never did see him again.

So we started racing the three laps in hopes that we might see Dave. The first lap was pretty even. Dan put in a couple of surges to see where people were at and the four of us responded. The rest of the lap was very congenial as we rode and chatted the rest of the lap.

The second lap would see a lot of the same kind of racing. We figured we were all at about the same place and pretty much rode an even lap with out to much action. We did pass Mike and he told us that Dave was five minutes up on us, so we at least knew where he was. At the end of the second lap John flatted. We slowed down to discuss what we should do, wait or go. We sat and discussed it for a little bit, 5 minutes maybe... wait, where is Dave? Is he a part of this or not? This group did not seemed concerned... and so here is the controversy...

The third lap, the bell lap. We knew that it was going to happen here. I felt very good at this point and I didn't know how the others were doing. We started the lap together. I was very tempted to put in an attack right away but knew that it was too far. I surged and all responded. We were all in the same boat and we were riding south together again. My rear derailleur started to malfunction.

As we headed north back to the finish I started to think about putting in some attacks. Dan slowly ramped up the speed and once we were within about 4 miles I began to put in small attacks. I would get about 100 meters and then the guys would reel me in. I did this a few times, catch my breath and go again. I had just read about Bernard Hinault the night before and he says if you can breathe you should attack. On the last attack with 2 miles to go Dan bridged and the others didn't. Dan is a new Loon and he played the perfect teammate as he told me to sit in and he brought me to the line! What a great addition to our team... not to mention he is SUPER strong and could have wasted us all... that takes away a bit of this controversy... HA!

Dave was back at the parking lot when we got in and had puked in his efforts to catch Bernie's double... None of us worked that hard!

Dan also brought Guinness for all of us. With this being St. Patrick's Day even the Priest who was walking his dog around us had a slight smile on his face and we were tempted to offer him a stout.

Final Podium: 1. Dave H. 2. Neil E. 3. Dan C.

Bernie mixed me up a bottle of Hammer fuel and I have to say it was great! I simply kept sipping at it all day and I never felt the hunger I usually do at the end of a ride. Thanks Bernie!

Lots of help!

Oxbow Creek really came through when talking about the fund raising! Our school raised $2,500 for Camp Odayin. The kids that helped out signed the bike. It was a fun way to make them a part of the ride. Thanks everybody!

I was on the snow ride last night with Bernie and it was wild!! What a great time. It was cold and a little scary. The elements are what makes cycling so great. That was a ride we will never forget. Bernie was the good teammate as he bridged the gap and paved the way to super prime. I love riding with these guys that are six inches taller than me!

Here is my next installment on bike love:

The Act- Popular Science came out in 1896 and said there was no reasonable explanation for why you should be able to balance on a bike. I think that is part of the magic of riding. By balancing your surface worries are taken away and you are left with yourself. There is a natural introspection. You start to discover what it is that you are about and what it is that you stand for. Riding is different than running or swimming in the sense that you can do it for hours and hours and the longer the endorphins are running and as you get into a rhythm you find things out about the world and yourself you didn’t know were there.

    100- When people ride 100 miles for the first time there is a definite sense of accomplishment but there is also the realization that you have gone a long way and have seen many things. You can hear in peoples voices, they survived and not only did they survive they thrived. As hard as a century is you are left feeling cleansed and a bit light on your feet. There is a peace that surrounds the event and you accomplished more than you thought you could, you are already looking for your next goal.

    Psychology- When you are riding you make many cycles through Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs. If it is hilly, which it always is, your legs will start to ache. This is suffering and through suffering we see life clearer. We begin to understand just how beautiful life is and how our day to day concerns are not as overwhelming as we thought. We have many gears and options to solving problems. Riding in the rain or a headwind reminds us how good we have it and how many gifts we truly have. The ride is rough. The road is muddy. This is a metaphor for life and no matter how rough the road, it is still beautiful. We are living.
    I have a picture of a rider covered in mud in the cycling classic Paris-Roubaix. It has been rainy and they are on dirt roads, all you can see are the whites of his eyes. It is all in his eyes, he is loving the moment and he is living. One look into his eyes and there is no question that he is living! There are people on the side of the road cheering, under umbrellas and totally clean... What is it they wish? That they were racing! They want it but they can’t get there and what is holding them back? Themselves. It is the danger of the video game or TV, it turns of our heads and gets us to believe that media is life and that we are living.

From Jay...

When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments. Here was a machine of precision and balance for the convenience of man. And (unlike subsequent inventions for man's convenience) the more he used it, the fitter his body became. Here, for once, was a product of man's brain that was entirely beneficial to those who used it, and of no harm or irritation to others. Progress should have stopped when man invented the bicycle. ~Elizabeth West, Hovel in the Hills

Riding outside

It is not just riding outside but it is riding in a group outside. Man that was fun. Probably about 50 miles and a whole lot of smiles. I rode my 3 speeder and I felt great for 2.5 of the ride, great. Then it started to sink in but only in the best way! I love riding bike... I believe in it. I wish everyone rode, the world would be a better place.

I am going to look at different aspects of cycling that all add up to make cycling the powerful activity that it is. I will start by examining the sport itself and why it is unique to other games, then I am going to look at the physical nature of cycling, then taking a look at the social aspect of cycling, and finally the spiritual aspect of cycling.

The Sport- This is the only game that I know of where you have to team up with your competition to win. Lance Armstrong can not win the tour alone. Cycling is a sport where you have to team up with your adversaries to make time and to pull away. In a breakaway you find your self teamed up with someone you have never talked to, you have no idea who they are and suddenly you are depending on their strength and fitness. You work hard together to stay away and if do stay away you shake hands and sprint for the finish. That is beautiful and there is no other game like it.