Joe Kucharski

Tuesday, January 13, 2008

2009-01-13T14:30:00.000-08:00

The weather was not cooperative for an outside ride, as we had temperatures in the single digits, snow, and a strong northerly wind. While some of my tougher riding friends may have ventured out, I am content with riding the spin bike in the basement. I have recently discovered the on-screen keyboard and I am typing this entry as I ride. Tonight’s ride is a 90 EM. Cheryl just confirmed what I thought I heard, my enemy the plow truck has returned for another battle! Looks like I will be shoveling yet again tonight. I think we have got about a foot of snow in the last few days. My inside setup is pretty simple. I have a laptop (borrowed from my wife) connected to the internet and used to watch movies at eye level, a TV with a VCR off to my right, and a stereo system for loud tunes.

2008-11-27T08:15:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving. Mike, Taylor, and I went for our annual turkey day ride this morning at Al Sabo. Temps were in the low 20's, but no snow on most of the trails. The video is of Taylor leaving the neighborhood doing a wheelie. Monday I ran on the treadmill and yesterday I did 10 miles at Al Sabo. Both boys had school conferences this week and are doing great in school.

2008-11-23T14:42:00.000-08:00

Snow has arrived in Michigan. I commuted to work on Monday, even though the roads were icy and I don't have studded tires. As my upper management said, "you had a lack of judgment today" and on the way home, I agreed. For the record, studded tires have been ordered. The Trans Iowa roster is complete and soon it will be time to start training again. In the meantime, I am putting some mileage on the treadmill. Running about an hour every other night. On Sunday, I went for an easy ride at Al Sabo on the pug. Felt good to be riding again.

2008-11-16T18:48:00.000-08:00

Even though I commuted to work on Monday and Tuesday, this week is a deep recovery and break from the bicycle. I continued my preparation for winter by working in the yard, garage, basement, and cleaning my bikes. All the bikes I don't ride in the winter are all cleaned and ready for spring. Most importantly, I spent some much needed and arguably neglected time with Cheryl and the boys. We took family pictures today and I can't believe how much Austin and Avery have changed since last year. Austin is really starting to mature while Avery is starting to put things together, maybe too easily. They sure do get along like "brodders", as Avery says, one minute laughing and gigling, the next fighting. I can only imagine what my mom went through with the five of us kids.

2008-11-09T18:45:00.000-08:00

The Iceman is always the last race of the season and it used to be a real festive event for our neighborhood. But, as I stated last year, it has really became just another racing weekend for Mike, Taylor, and me. Mike and I worked a half day on Friday, while Austin and Taylor enjoyed a partial day of school. We met up with Zach and Scott on Friday to head north. After a quick lunch at McDonald’s with the boys, we hit the road. It was already different from last year, as Taylor was driving while Mike and I provided driving instructions along with the directions. We met up with John at the Williamsburg Road crossing to do an hour pre-ride before picking up our packets at registration. John and Susan were once again opening their home to Mike, Taylor, Austin, and me. Even though their home is not located close to the race, it does provide a quiet and comfortable base. During the pre-ride my rear tire was going flat at the turn around point, so I pumped it up and told myself I must had forgotten to put air in it before we started the ride…I knew I had put air in it, but I was trying to convince myself otherwise. When we got back to the van, the truth was as obvious as the green solution leaking from my tire. I had torn the sidewall, and forgot to bring any extra tires. I figured I could get a tire at the registration, so I really wasn’t that worried. There were lots of tires at the registration, just not any tubeless 29er race tires. I ended up purchasing a demo Kenda tire that was part of their display. I had heard good things about the tire, just had never used it myself. I really don’t like change, especially the night before a race. Before dinner I was able to get the tire mounted, and then I tried to relax during the meal. Saturday morning presented the usual challenges….weather, temperature, early rise, breakfast, and vehicle coordination. I was going off over a ½ hour after Taylor, so I was trying to pace my warm-up and pre-race routine a little slower than everyone else. On the starting line I was shivering and couldn’t wait to get going. I managed to get to the front of the wave and got a good line from the start, but could not get clipped in for what seemed like 30 seconds. As we crossed the paved road I was clipped in, but had forgotten to start my heart rate monitor - so much for being a prepared and experienced racer. It is rather difficult to push that little red button when you are spinning as fast as you can over rough terrain. Immediately the wave had a breakaway, as Craig Gietzen was working with a very fast tandem. I was in second with Jerry Daneen from Wisconsin on my wheel, and Tim Curtis just off the back of us. I told Jerry we really needed to close the distance and bridge to the lead group. I was disappointed when he said he was hanging on and couldn’t help right now. I continued to pull the majority of the time for the first eight miles or so, keeping an eye on the lead group up the trail. On one of the first real climbs, Craig had pulled over and was flipping his bike over to repair a flat. I thought, better to have my flat yesterday than today. Soon Jerry and I were working with the tandem. This was a benefit on the flat sections, but made passing difficult on the tighter trails. I told Jerry I was going to pass the tandem and we made our move. We caught some traffic just prior to Williamsburg Road and I was able to put a gap on Jerry. About 2 miles later he was back on my wheel and we continued working together. With about 8 miles left Jerry got stuck in traffic again, and I opened up my final gap. When I reached the 6 miles to go sign, I eased up just a bit. I told myself that if anyone caught me from behind before the 5 miles to go sign, I would conserve my energy for a sprint finish. If I was alone at the sign, I was about 20 minutes from the finish and it was just another 20 minute training set. When I saw the 5 mile to go sign, I dropped the hammer and never looked back. I finished first in the 40+ singlespeed division and set a personal best of 1:45 at the Iceman. Much to my surprise, Mike didn’t think he had a great race, though he ran hard and had a personal best time. Taylor had a good race, but made the decision to go with the cyclocross bike which caused him some handling problems and several crash issues in the sand. As we changed at the van neither of them were in a good mood, but I was able to convince them to stay an extra night so I could get my awards. I figured it may be the last time I win a division at the Iceman. John’s friend Shaun had the ultimate party going at the finish. They had a 5th wheel, a heated tent, bonfire, Oberon on tap, and enough food for an army. For the first time in a few years, it felt like more than just a race to us. In between our trips to the finish line to see familiar faces finish, Austin and I tossed a football and goofed around. At the awards ceremony, my division was the very last award. I can’t thank Mike enough for sticking around with me. On the way back, Mike bought me a dessert at a local ice cream shop as we talked about the race, training plans, and Trans Iowa V5. Without Mike training with me and Cheryl’s support at home, I would not have enjoyed the racing successes I had this year.

Week Ending 02/03/08

2008-02-13T11:43:00.000-08:00

The weather was a severe rollercoaster here in Michigan this week. On Monday (30), I went for a road ride on my Scalpel in 40 degree temperatures. By Tuesday, the rain had turned to snow and the roads were a sheet of ice. While I was at work on Tuesday, the city plowed our street and left a frozen brick about 4 feet wide by 2 feet high for me to clear. On Wednesday (20), I went for a ride on the Kal Haven Trail. The trail was covered with 6-8 inches of fresh snow and the Pug was in its element. Friday (20), I was back on the Pug on the Kal Haven Trail. This time, the trail had been groomed and was much easier to ride. On Saturday (50), Mike and I went to the gym for 3 ½ hours of spinning. For Sunday (75), we planned a 5 ½ hour road ride on our Scalpels. We left the home at 8:00 and headed south. Our original plan was to ride some snow covered gravel roads, but soon realized the roads were in good shape and had a safe shoulder. We decided to ride Red Arrow until 10:30, and then retrace our route home. We made it to Watervliet without any problems, had a snack and headed home. On the way back, Mike hit a pot hole just before some railroad tracks and down he went. He went left while his bike went right. I went for the space between Mike and his bike, expecting to have to hop something or crashing myself. To my surprise, I was able to safely navigate through the wreck and tracks. After Mike cleaned up, he decided to keep riding. I think he had a serious rush of adrenaline, as I was having a hard time keeping his wheel after the crash. I can’t wait for some warmer weather. … Weekly Mileage: 195. Yearly Mileage: 728. Bike Mileage: Pug (245), Cross (75), Scalpel (250), F1000 (10), Treadmill (8), and Trainer (140)

Week Ending 01/27/08

2008-01-27T13:43:00.000-08:00

This week was supposed to be a big mileage week and the weather was not too friendly for my long rides. I rode the Pug on the Kal Haven trail on Tuesday (40) by myself. On Wednesday I joined Mike and Taylor at the gym for a couple hours (30). On Friday I took both the Pug and Scalpel to the Kal Haven trail. My plan was to ride the Scalpel for a couple hours to see if Mike could ride with me tomorrow on skinny tires. I rode for 2 hours (20) without any real problems, so I talked Mike into riding with me for the 5 hour ride. Saturday morning Mike and I went to the Kal Haven trail at 2nd Street with our Scalpels. Our plan was to stay within an hour of the van, that way if we had a mechanical problem we would be somewhat close to the van. When we arrived at 2nd Street, we could not locate a place to park where we wouldn't get stuck. We decided to go to 6th Street and park at the restaurant. Riding the trail on the Scalpel was much more difficult than it would have been on the Pug. As a result, we elected to ride the last 2 hours on the roads. We rode a loop out by Timber Ridge to get our time in (50). On Sunday, Mike and I planned to ride 4 hours on the roads. Our plan was to head south towards Flowerfield, leaving at 8:00 in the morning. As we were leaving, Mike said his left knee was really bothering him after the ride yesterday and he was hopeful it would loosen up. About 10 minutes into the ride, Mike decided to head home and treat his knee. Obviously, there is no need to start a knee problem in January. I decided to do the planned route, but would ride any gravel road I could find. I rode for a little over 3 hours (40) and it felt a little like Iowa, including being chased by a few dogs! The rest of the day was spent doing things around the house and trying to get Avery out of his brother's old jersey. All we hear is "Go Pack Go"!

"Drivetrain after Sunday's ride" "Avery doesn't know the Packer's lost last week!"

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Weekly Mileage: 180.

Yearly Mileage: 533

Bike Mileage: Pug (205), Cross (75), Scalpel (145), F1000 (10), Treadmill (8), and Trainer (90).

01/13/08

2008-01-13T20:00:00.000-08:00

Monday (40 Miles). We set a record high, 62 degrees today. I had to get out and ride. I rode 40 miles on the cross bike. Felt great to be on the roads and have the wind in my face. Avery and Cheryl went to get Avery a new haircut. "Avery showing off his new haircut" ... Tuesday (35 Miles). Another warm day, so I went for another ride on the cross bike. I decided to do my set work today, as the weather is supposed to colder tomorrow. ... Wednesday (15 Miles). I went to Al Sabo for a 15 mile ride on the Pug. Trail was in excellent shape with all the snow gone and only a couple feet of mud on the whole loop. ... Thursday (0 Miles). Day off. ... Friday (25 Miles). I did a 2 hour ride on the Kal Haven trail by myself on the Pug. I felt good and enjoyed the ride to Gobles and back. ... Saturday (15 Miles). I went back to Al Sabo for two laps after taking Austin to karate. Even though we picked up some rain since Wednesday, the trail remained perfect. Austin and I watched his Packers beat Seattle. Since the Steelers are out, I have thrown my support into the Packers corner. Must be the yellow. ... Sunday (35 Miles). I rode the scalpel for 35 miles on the Kal Haven trail with Mike. We decided to start a 2nd Street for some new scenery and to get West of the snow line. Portage had about 2 inches of slush, while Williams (old brick town at the intersection of 2nd Street and the railroad) was dry. When we turned around in Grand Junction, we had to face a headwind for 10 miles and then 7 miles with heavy snow. ... Weekly Mileage: 165. Yearly Mileage: 225. Bike Mileage: Pug (105), Cross (75), Scalpel (35), F1000 (10).

01/06/08

2008-01-06T17:14:00.000-08:00

Wednesday (25 Miles). I went for a 2 hour ride on the Kal Haven trail on the Pug. The trail had just been groomed and was a little soft in some places. It was a nice and steady ride, just what I needed. ... Thursday (0 Miles). I stopped by to watch Austin bowl with Grandpa and Grandma Masters at Airway Lanes. While I was there, he managed to pick up a split and bowl a 134. ... Friday (10 Miles). I went for a lap at Al Sabo on the Pug. The temperature was just above freezing and the trail was in great shape. ... Saturday (10 Miles). I went back to Al Sabo for another ride. Trail remained in pretty good shape, but was getting a little soft as the temperatures rose to the upper 30's. ... Sunday (10 Miles). I rode to Best Buy to pick up some new DVDs. The fog was terrible, but with temperatures in the upper 40's, I had to get out and ride. This week was a easy week and the real training hours start next week. ... Yearly Mileage: 60 Miles.

Happy New Year

2008-01-01T15:16:00.000-08:00

Tuesday (5 Miles). Mike, Taylor, and I went for our annual Holiday ride this morning. We had picked up about 6 inches of new snow, so the ride was challenging. Taylor broke his chain and our ride was done a little early. Tried to keep the driveways cleared throughout the day and had some fun sledding with Austin in the back yard.

"Holiday Ride"

12/31/07 - Final Post for 2007

2007-12-31T15:23:00.000-08:00

Monday (0 Miles). Christmas Eve. Cheryl stayed home with the boys, while I went to work most of the day. We then went to Cheryl's grandmother's home for an early Christmas celebration. Got home early enough to play Santa and spend some quiet time with Cheryl. "Austin looking at one of his gifts" "Before the madness" ... Tuesday (15 Miles). Christmas Day. The boys started the day off at 7:30 AM (Austin had been up for over an hour) by opening their presents. We then ate cinnamon rolls and I prepared for my annual ride. This year, I made the ride by myself. The pug handled the snow and ice at Al Sabo very well, and I really enjoyed the ride. Cheryl's family joined us for the remainder of the presents and a wonderful lasagna dinner.

"Pug wheel"

"Avery opening one (of many) presents" ...

Wednesday (40 Miles). This day used to be my favorite day of the year, but with Avery's birthday only 4 days after Christmas I have changed my favorite day of the year to the day after Avery's party. The day symbolizes a return to normal. The weather was somewhat cooperative, so I rode the cyclocross for 40 miles on the road.

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Thursday (0 Miles). Avery was sick at daycare, so I picked him up and we spent the day home.

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Friday (5 Miles). Avery was still sick, so Cheryl stayed home to care for him and managed to also get the tree down. We made the final preparations for Avery's birthday party and played in the fresh snowfall...well Avery and I played while Cheryl used the snowblower to clear the driveways.

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Saturday (30 Miles). Started the day with a 30 mile ride aboard the Pug on the Kal Haven trail. I saw my normal share of wildlife and people to keep the ride entertaining. When I returned home we finished the food and waited for everyone to arrive. 20 friends and family joined us to celebrate Avery's 2nd birthday. We had a wonderful day.

"Avery opening a birthday present"

"Avery trying hard to blow out the candle"

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Sunday (30 Miles). Favorite Day of the Year. Finished the week off with a 2 hour spin at the gym. I worked on Mike's driveway and watched the Steelers lose. They are in the playoffs, but are the number 4 seed.

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Monday (0 Miles). New Year's Eve. Cheryl and I both worked then played with the boys in anticipation of the new year.

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FINAL Yearly Mileage: 8,355

12/23/07

2007-12-23T11:08:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas from The Kucharski's Monday (0 Miles). Grandma and Grandpa Masters came up to celebrate Christmas a little early. We went out to dinner and Avery got his favorite meal, a cheeeesbogger. Cheryl and I both ordered wraps, but she didn't like hers. She thought the kitchen had messed up her wrap, but really I ate it by mistake. Oh well, it sure was good.

"Avery and Austin opening presents"

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Tuesday (20 Miles). Went to the gym for a 90 minute spin. Wrapped some presents after the boys went to bed.

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Wednesday (30 Miles). I left work a little early to get a ride in on the Kal Haven trail on the Pug. There was a good 4 inch base around Kalamazoo, but the snow cover was much less as I rode towards the lake. I saw some walkers, dogs, deer, birds, cranes, snowmobiles, and cross country skiers. I guess you never know what you will see on the trail in the winter. A couple women commented on the size of the pug tires and complemented me for being out riding in the snow. All I could think about was "Chicks dig big rubber"!

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Thursday (0 Miles). I spent more time helping Cheryl wrap presents and doing my chores around the house.

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Friday (6 Miles). Cheryl and I went to Avery's Christmas party at daycare. He decorated some cookies and sang a few songs. He made his daddy proud when he received his "Class Clown" award from his teachers. After Avery went to bed, I ran on the treadmill.

"Avery gets his award"

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Saturday (30 Miles). Grandma and Grandpa Kucharski came down to celebrate Christmas. They brought homemade chicken pot pie for dinner. We opened our presents, then I went for a 30 mile road ride on the F1000. The temperature had warmed to the upper 40's by late in the afternoon, but a strong wind made my ride very challenging. I washed Cheryl's truck at 9:00 at night because it was so warm and colder temps were on the way. Strong winds were blowing about 60 miles per hour overnight.

"The boys opening more presents"

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Sunday (30 Miles). Started the day off by cleaning up a tree that did not make it through the night in the backyard. Avery watched me from the window as I used the chainsaw. Went to the gym with Mike for a 2 hour spin. We talked about bikes, Trans Iowa, and took a spin class. Cheryl continues to attempt to get everything done for Christmas, she wrapped some more presents and made some cookies. Austin and I (eating samples) helped. Mike and I met Scott down at Bell's for a holiday beer.

12/16/07

2007-12-16T15:37:00.000-08:00

Monday (0 Miles). Rest day. ... Tuesday (15 Miles). Went to the gym and did a spinning class for one hour. ... Wednesday (30 Miles). Went to the gym again for a two hour ride, including a spin class. ... Thursday (0 Miles). ... Friday (0 Miles). Avery's daycare had a babysitting night to allow parents the opportunity to get some shopping done. Cheryl and I took advantage of the offer while Avery enjoyed pizza and a movie. ... Saturday (35 Miles). Mike and I went for a 3 hour ride on the Kal Haven trail. The trail was extremely bumpy from all the foot traffic on the snow. Even though I took the full suspension bike, my body took a beating. Pug paws worked great again, now if I can just get Cheryl to make a set for my shoes! Avery helped Cheryl wrap some presents. "Avery helping" ... Sunday (30 Miles). Woke up to about 8 inches of new snow. I finally got to try out the new snowblower, which worked perfectly. Cheryl even got in on the snow blowing action. Joined Mike for a 2 hour ride at the gym. After the hard ride yesterday, it was hard to get motivated for the ride inside. ... Yearly Mileage: 8,119

12/09/07

2007-12-09T15:56:00.000-08:00

Monday (0 Miles). Early start to the day doing snow blowing. ... Tuesday (25 Miles). Went for a night ride on the Kal-Haven trail on the Pug at about 6:30. No how matter how much I try, the night rides alone still spook me a little bit. I feel safe, but just not in complete control. ... Wednesday (20 Miles). I left work early to get a ride in before taking Austin to karate and bowling with his Uncle Gary. I bowled a couple games and my shoulder let me know it was not a good decision. ... Thursday (0 Miles). My left knee is starting to bother me a little bit, so I decided to take a couple days off. ... Friday (0 Miles). Rest day. ... Saturday (35 Miles). I went for a 3 hour ride on the snow covered Kal-Haven trail this afternoon. I saw 3 walkers, 5 deer, and 2 snowmobiles. The pug paws worked too well, as my hands got overheated. Austin played in the snow most of the day with Nick and Connor. Avery played in the snow and went sledding for the first time this year. "Nick, Connor, and Austin" ... Sunday (15 Miles). I went for a ride at Al Sabo with Mike. During the ride, I went down for the first time on the Pug. I hooked my handlebar on a tree and was down before I knew what happened, at least the snow softened the landing. "Pug" ... Yearly Mileage: 8,009.

12/02/07

2007-12-01T15:18:00.000-08:00

Monday (0 Miles). For the past few winters, I have used snowmobile grip covers to help keep my hands warm during the cold rides. The covers are not windproof and fit loosly around my forearms. After reviewing with my designer and seamstress, we picked up the needed supplies from a fabric store. Cheryl did great work on the prototype "Pug Paws". "Pug Paws" ... Tuesday (5 Miles). Went for a quick ride to test out the paws. We needed to make a couple minor corrections, but they seemed to keep my hands nice and warm. ... Wednesday (0 Miles). This rest time is killing me! Went shopping with Cheryl and Avery. ... Thursday (0 Miles). ... Friday (0 Miles). Met Cheryl and Avery at her parents' home in Marshall for dinner on my way back from Lansing. Food was great and just what I needed after a long work week. ... Saturday (5 Miles). Mike and I decided this would be the first day of our Trans Iowa training, a 3 hour ride on the Kal Haven Trail. We layered our clothes, put our bikes in the van, then headed out into the morning with temperatures in the teens. The first 2 miles were very cold on my face and head. Just when I was starting to get warm, my tire went completely flat. Neither of us had a repair kit, so we turned around for the parking lot. We decided to wait until tomorrow to start the training. Grandma Kucharski drove down from Hudsonville to go to the craft show with Cheryl. After a couple hours, the guilt of not riding started to set in and I decided to run on the treadmill for an hour while Avery was napping. I am going to try to do more cross training this winter, so running and cross country skiing will most likely be my choices. Cheryl and Avery continued decorating the Christmas tree and Avery showed us a little booty shaking. "Avery and Cheryl" ... Sunday (30 Miles). Continued with the Christmas decorations and watched some football. I am very close to my goal of 8,000 miles for the year. ... Yearly Mileage: 7,914

11/25/07

2007-11-24T06:12:00.000-08:00

Monday (0 Miles). Went to Austin's parent-teacher conferences. He is doing very well at school this year.

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Tuesday (0 Miles). Avery's froggy voice has turned into a full blown upper respiratory cold. He is having a hard time sleeping and is keeping us up at night.

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Wednesday (0 Miles). Cheryl stayed home from work to care for Avery. Austin's Thanksgiving break began with a 1/2 day of school. In the afternoon, the boys helped Cheryl make some cookies for Thanksgiving. Cheryl and I did the prep work for the meal tomorrow, including our tradition of deep frying a turkey and pickles.

"Avery and Austin making cookies"

... Thursday (10 Miles). Happy Thanksgiving. I went for my traditional holiday ride with Mike and Taylor. This year's weather was cooperative with temperatures in the upper 20's with a slight dusting of snow. So much for the 2-4 inches of snow predicted. Cheryl's family joined us Thanksgiving dinner.

"Taylor, Mike and I leaving for our ride"

"Grandma Serra reading to Avery"

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Friday (25 Miles). Cheryl and I started the decoration transition from fall to Christmas. Since I am a Grinch, this is a difficult time of year for me. I couldn't get the headset to stay tight on the Pugsley due to a slipping star nut. I had another star, but don't have the specific tool for setting it. I took the Pug to the local bike shop to have them set it and watched as seven of the shop workers awed at the bike. During my ride at Al Sabo, I had several walkers comment on the bike and others that just stare.

"Hallway Christmas trees"

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Saturday (0 Miles). Sears was running an early bird special on snowblowers and even though I hope for minimal snow this year, it was time to purchase a new snowblower. The last 4 years I have used my dad's old Cub Cadet, but difficult starts and snow discharge issues made it more effort than it was worth on snow falls less than a foot. After my snowblower purchase and assembly, I stabilized the fuel in the tractor for the winter. Cheryl and I finished putting the summer stuff away and got the rest of the Christmas outside lights lit. Grandma and Grandpa Kucharski made a visit. We went to Erbelli's for pizza and went shopping for a new pre-lit Christmas tree. The tree is assembled and awaits Cheryl's talented decorating. My job during the decoration process is to bring the hundreds of boxes up from the basement!

"Bare Christmas tree"

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Sunday (15 Miles). Mike and I rode a couple laps at Al Sabo. The scenery was pretty and the ride was very peaceful this morning. My effort of duct taping my shoes under the neoprene covers seemed to keep my toes warm. We went to the mall to have our annual family pictures taken and everyone did extremely well. The boys finished off the long weekend by decorating their upstairs Christmas tree. It looks very nice.

"Boys Christmas tree.

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Yearly Mileage: 7874

11/18/07

2007-11-18T08:01:00.000-08:00

Monday. I took the Pugsley out for the first time and did a 10 mile ride at Al Sabo. I need to change the riding position a little, but really enjoyed the new toy. I felt like a kid that just got a new big wheel and can't wait for some snow to see what it can do. Tuesday. Taylor, Mike, and I went for a quick ride at Al Sabo on the bridges. I rode the F1000 and was doing well on the slippery planks until my front wheel slid off, dropping about 2 feet to the swamp below. I was doing a nose wheelie for what felt like 15 seconds, and knew I was going to flip. I placed my hands out and caught myself as the bike crashed below...Mike laughed the whole time. I am pleased to report the shoulder passed with flying colors.

Wednesday. Went to Austin's 4th grade band concert. It is amazing how much the kids grow each year.

Thursday. Cleaned up the leaves and worked towards getting things ready for winter. On a sad note, sold the 1FG to another KBC rider. This was a great bike, but since I had only ridden it about 40 miles in the last two years and have my eye on a new bike...it was time to let it go. Friday. Went for a 25 mile ride on the Kal-Haven trail on the Pug. Set-up was much better this time, and I had a blast. I found myself looking for branches and items to run over with the big tires. The bike is fun, but definitely not fast. Still waiting for some snow. For better or worse, Mike and I are both in for Trans Iowa V4. Saturday. Went to Battle Creek to visit Steve and Lara. On the way, we almost hit a turkey. If the turkey would have hit the van, at least we would have had the main course for Thanksgiving dinner. Sunday. Went for couple hour fun ride with Mike and Taylor at Al Sabo. Besides one hard crash with an egg sized knot on my right shin and Taylor falling off a bridge, we had a fun time.

Yearly Mileage: 7824

Iceman

2007-11-11T10:00:00.000-08:00

The Iceman has transitioned from a neighborhood weekend event back to just a race. I can remember when we would pile bikes and bodies from five families into vehicles heading north for the big event. This year, Taylor and Jay were injured, and Kevin was unable to attend due to a work commitment. Scott was coming up from North Carolina to join Mike, John, and I for the race. Austin and Taylor would be coming along to spend some time with the other kids. John and Susan graciously opened their home to the five of us on Friday night. The racers stayed in the guest room in the basement, which was quiet, dark, and provided some much needed rest before the big day. I am not sure what time, if ever, the boys went to bed. Saturday was an early and cold start to the day. Temps were in the upper 20's as we ate breakfast and got ready to leave at 7:00. We picked up another racer, Shaun, on our way to Kalkaska for the 27 mile race back to Traverse City with 2,500 other riders. We got our bikes ready, layered our clothes, and said goodbye to Susan as she headed back to pick up the boys. Shaun was first off at 9:40, followed by Mike and John at 9:45, then Scott and I at 9:50 in the singlespeed category. My goal was to start fast and try to catch those in front of me. I finished 4th in Singlespeed and 91st overall. I was able to pass John and Shaun along with 264 other riders, but could not close the gap on Mike. Overall, I was very happy with my results and could have probably only gone a minute faster without any other riders on the course. On our way back to Portage, we stopped to visit Jay at the hospital.

Yearly Mileage: 7764

Final Trans Iowa V3 Report

2007-04-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

My Trans Iowa experience began two years ago. Todd Scott, Alex Dolpp, and Joe Partridge represented Michigan in the first Trans Iowa race. Todd finished fourth overall and first in the single speed division, with Joe and Alex accounting for two of the remaining seven finishers. After talking to Todd about the race, I wanted to give it a try. Last year, Trans Iowa filled up before I could get my registration in. As a result, I was an internet spectator. I followed the pre-race activities on-line and listened to updates during the race. Due to rainy weather conditions, no one completed the 300 mile race. This year, I was determined to compete in the race and use it as a fundraiser for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Following my shoulder surgery in August 2006, I started my training program. I had not competed in an individual endurance event of this length or in an event that was self- supported that required navigation. I used double century training programs as a guide and developed my own training program. My plan included many rides in excess of four hours. In December, the weather cooperated and I found it easy to get my mileage in: however, when winter finally arrived in January, I found the long rides outside and on the trainer nearly unbearable. If not for my determination to complete the race, I am not sure how many of the rides I would have skipped. Mike and Taylor Birmann joined me on some of my training rides, which helped to motivate me. I am a rider that likes to be prepared, but this race had so many unknowns for me. Thoughts of what tires, wheels, gearing, equipment, food, water, lights, and training kept me up at night during the long winter months. I read all the web pages and prior stories that I could find. I asked Joe, Todd, Mike, and other riders for advice. As the race grew nearer, I began to use trial and error testing for a majority of my concerns. By the end of March, I had a list of all my equipment and felt good about everything except my gearing. In April, another rider had written that the neat thing about the single speed category is that whatever gear you choose you will be wrong. With that in mind, I made my final gearing decision of 32 by 15. I planned to carry a 100 ounce camelback, pump, first aide kit, medication, sunscreen, chamois cream, light, 3 batteries, back-up light, cell phone, emergency blanket, valve stem converter, 2 tubes, patch kit, tools, tire levers, chain pieces, 4 water bottles, plus energy gel and bars. I’m guessing the weight of the gear was over 12 pounds! My step-father Tom was my support crew. On our way to Decorah, I was amazed at the elevation changes and started thinking about my gearing again. We made it to Decorah early in the afternoon and checked into the hotel. Tom and I drove to the start of the race, and I went for an hour pre-ride. Once again I thought about my gearing, the hills around Decorah are impressive. After the ride I got a shower and organized my gear. I had forgotten a back-up rear light and antacids, which we went to find. I was able to get the antacids at Wal-Mart, but couldn’t find a light. At 5:30, we met up with about 40 others for dinner at Mabe’s Pizza in Decorah. The food and conversation were great. It was good to finally meet some of the people I had read about and talked to on-line while preparing for the race. After the mandatory pre-race meeting, final packing, and my attempts to block out Tom’s snoring, I was able to fall asleep at 12:30. Normally this would not be a big deal, but this race started at 4:00 AM. As my four alarms started blasting at 2:30, I was worried about my lack of sleep and felt tired. When we arrived at the start at 3:30, there were only a few people there. The temperature was cool, in the 40s, so I stayed in the warm van until 3:45. I rode about one mile and lined up with the other nuts (I mean riders!). I was surprised at the lack of gear the majority of the expected front runners were carrying. Most had only 2 water bottles and minimal gear, including the single speed favorite, Chris Plesko. I started wondering if I had too much gear, but what could I do now? After a half mile neutral start, we encountered some significant climbs right away, and the group quickly separated. Off the front were Ira Ryan, Brian Hannon, and Chris Plesko. I was in a group of six chasers. Our group included Team Polska (3 Polish riders), their friend, Joe from Minnesota, and myself. At one point Marcin from Team Polska said “we have a good group, including a crazy single speeder”. I replied “I had to join you because I am Polish”. We continued for about an hour, and then we came to the leaders on a hill. They were unsure if they had missed a turn on the cue sheets, so we stopped with them. As the remaining riders climbed the hill towards us, we decided we were on course and started riding again. I looked back down the hill and was caught up in the beautiful site of all the lights heading up the curved hillside. We dropped Chris, and I realized I was the single speed leader of the race. Ira and Brian went off the front again, and the remaining six of us continued our chase. When we arrived at the first convenience store in Postville, I bought a small bottle of water and filled by camelback. Everyone else was eating food, drinking Gatorade, and taking their time. I realized I had brought too much food and supplies, as the stops were going to be more leisurely than I had anticipated. Aaron Millberger rolled into the parking lot and said he had been trying to catch us for over an hour. We left Postville without him. Team Polska’s plan was to take it easy on the hills, and pick it up on the flats, rollers, and downhill sections. I went off the front on the climbs and dropped to the back on the other sections. I was never able to recover, as I was working on all sections of the course. I wasn’t sure if I could keep the pace up for more than few more hours and still be able to finish the race. The beautiful scenery impressed me throughout the ride. At one point we passed some cows standing in the gravel road, probably a typical Iowa site! Somewhere between Wadena and Stanley, Team Polska separated from Joe and me. Aaron caught us about a half hour after were dropped. The three of us continued as a group until Independence. I enjoyed the scenery and the conversation, but not the dogs. The dogs were everywhere, barking and chasing us down the road about every half mile. The pitting was something new for me. Often the group in front would leave when we arrived, so I always knew we were close. As we rolled into Independence, Team Polska stopped at a gas station for supplies, where Joe and Aaron joined them. I told them I was going to head out of town, go to the bathroom, and stretch my legs. Plus that way I knew I was in 3rd place overall. The pace over the first 120 miles began to bother my right knee, and I thought some stretching would help. As I was going to the bathroom, Team Polska went by. I decided to ride with them for awhile. I assumed they would drop me again and I would get picked up by Joe and Aaron. At the stop, I had put water in one of my bottles to use if my camelback went dry. Good thinking - since my camelback went dry about 10 miles outside of Brandon. Our plan was to check in and refuel after we got our second set of cue sheets. As we made the final turn to the checkpoint, we passed the race leaders, Ira and Brian heading back into town for supplies. Race promoter Guitar Ted greeted us at the checkpoint and complimented our blistering pace. I felt great. I called my wife, Cheryl, to tell her I felt great and was having a good time. After a couple minutes of organizing our cue sheets we noticed that Ira and Brian were headed in a different direction than the race. Team Polska decided to leave quickly and take over as race leaders. I looked at the cue sheets and noted the next town was 10 miles away. I decided to go with them, but knew I was making a mistake – I hadn’t taken the time to fill my water. We were on a trail similar to the Kal-Haven trail; even though I felt at home, I knew there would be no place to get water. About half way to La Porte City, one of the Team Polska riders gave me a bottle of water - what a ride saver! Soon after that, we were caught by Ira and Brian. We would later learn that they were going to get some food when we passed them. They returned quicker than they wanted to when they were informed that we were on the course in front of them. Ira told Guitar Ted we were “Polish bastards”. In La Porte City, we were all able to refuel and take a considerable break. We continued as a group for a couple hours. I was actually leading the race when we came through the first B Level road, which is a dirt road that is not maintained, finally my bigger tires helped! All the others in the group were on geared cyclocross bikes with skinny tires. The four Polish riders (Team Polska plus me) were dropped again somewhere around mile 160 by Ira and Brian. At that point we were heading mostly west into a stiff headwind, probably about 25 miles per hour. Since I had to stand on all the climbs, the wind was just killing me and my knees. I started taking Aleve and tried to draft as much as possible. We pitted again for a long time in Dike. I dined on a pork tenderloin, nutter butters, and chocolate milk. My Polish counterparts ate double cheeseburgers and ordered one more each. At about the same time, Aaron rolled into the station. He said he was not staying long, just needed water and would be on his way. I too was ready to hit the road again, so I left with Aaron. I enjoyed talking and riding with Aaron. His pace, cadence and riding style reminded me of Mike Birmann. I felt very comfortable riding with him. I would ride the remaining 125 miles with Aaron. We saw Ira and Brian leaving Dike when we stopped, and we left Team Polska behind. This sequence continued until we were outside of Janesville where we saw Brian. He was dropping out of the race, he said his knees were bothering him from being on a new bike. I knew how he felt; my knees were very painful and starting to swell. I told myself that if it got much worse before we made the 225 mile mark, I would have to pull out. I was leading the singlespeed category, and I didn’t know if I could actually quit. All of those old sayings started ringing in my head, like “quitters never win and winners never quit”. At the stop in Janesville, with about 120 miles to go, Aaron and I were told that we were about 10 minutes behind Ira and about 5 minutes in front of Team Polska. As were loading our gear and getting ready for the night ride, Team Polska pulled in. They dropped one rider and the remaining two chased us to the next town. After Janesville, the night sky opened up with bright stars and the moon. We saw many farmers with raging bon fires enjoying the night with their families, but their dogs were chasing us. At least in the daylight, we could see the dogs coming. At night they were able to sneak up on us. To make things more challenging, we had to make it through two bottom bracket deep water crossings. As a result, my feet were soaked and cold. With about 80 miles to go, my knees were done. Every crank made me think about stopping. I started using mostly my left leg on the climbs. I told Aaron that he may have to go on alone, and I would try to stay on with Team Polska when they caught me. Then things really got bad….about 5 minutes after we decided Aaron would go on, we realized we had made a wrong turn! While we re-traced our route, we lost about half an hour to the race leader, Ira, and we didn’t know if Team Polska had passed us. We rode as fast as we could to get back on course, sometimes over 20 MPH on the flats. Once we were back on course, we checked for tire tracks in the road and at the second water crossing. It appeared that only Ira was in front of us. We continued our talks and rode though the night at a much slower pace. We arrived in Decorah in what we thought was 2nd and 3rd place. As I expected, we finished on some killer hills. I knew that the sadistic organizers would have it no other way. When I crossed the finish line I was relieved to be done, but surprised to see Marcin, the reaming member of Team Polska. He had indeed passed us when we went off course and finished in 2nd place. I felt bad for Aaron – he would have been driven to catch Marcin and battle for 2nd place. But on the other hand, had we known there were two riders ahead of us, I would have ridden the last 4 hours alone. I finished 4th overall and 1st in the single speed category with a time of 26 hours 4 minutes. I rode 333 miles on gravel roads, hitting a top speed of 42 MPH and a low speed of 3 MPH on some of the later climbs (not including the two I walked). My bike, tires, and gearing worked perfectly and my tireless planning paid off. I learned how far I could push both my mind and my body during the race. I have always believed that the cyclical action of turning pedals helps me to relax and think. As I pedaled around Iowa, I realized how fortunate I am. I competed in the race as an individual, but make no mistake, it was a team effort. My sponsor, Team Active, assisted with the biking equipment needed for the race. Mike and Taylor Birmann provided company on many of my long training rides. Friends and family helped me achieve my goal of raising $1,000 for the Lance Armstrong Foundation - my pains during the race were nothing compared to the suffering I have witnessed at the hands of cancer. Finally, I am thankful for my family, especially my wife Cheryl. Their love, support, and understanding made the goal of completing this race a reality. The best part of the race was coming home to an impromptu party of friends and family all too excited to hear me recount my story of this crazy race, Trans Iowa.

Rest Day

2007-04-18T18:20:00.000-07:00

No ride today. Cleaned the Rig, as I am done riding it until Iowa. I probably won't want to ride it after Iowa either. Mileage for the year, 2985.

Real Recovery Ride

2007-04-17T17:44:00.000-07:00

Since none of us got a recovery ride in yesterday, we tried again tonight. Mike, Taylor, and I went for a 20 mile ride on our flat loop near Schoolcraft. This time we were able to keep our heart rates down and had an enjoyable ride. Tomorrow is an off day. Changed my gearing back to a 33:15 on the Rig. If it is raining or windy, I will drop down to a 32:15 or 32:16 for the race. I started gathering all the gear I need for the ride, my back was aching just looking at all the gear I must carry.

Windy Ride

2007-04-16T17:38:00.000-07:00

Today I joined the KBC Monday night ride. We decided to do the recovery ride, a group ride that is advertised at 17-19 MPH. Since I am tapering for Trans Iowa, I thought this would be a good ride. When we had a tailwind, the ride was just what I needed, high cadence with a low heart rate. Once we turned into the 30 MPH winds, the group ride was splintered. I ended up riding the majority of the last 15 miles by myself, as I just didn't want to work hard enough to keep up with the group. After usually working hard on rides and not getting dropped, I had to remind myself that the race in 2 weeks was more important than the breakaway from the windy group ride.

Memory Issues

2007-04-15T12:41:00.000-07:00

Today was my last hard ride before the race. Taylor had to do some interval work, so I joined Taylor and Mike on a 2 ½ hour ride. The wind is really getting old, it was blowing out of the North at a good 20 MPH during the entire day. I changed my gears again on the Rig, now I am down to a 32:15 (2.13). It sure is a good thing that I have a lot of chain rings to choose between. I have a 38, 36, 33, and 32 with cogs of 15, 16, and 18. I spent a lot of the day looking for some parts to the patio table that I took apart following my surgery. I have decided that putting something where you will remember is not a good thing while you are on pain killers! On a good note, I did find my multi-tool that I had replaced earlier in the year. It is time to get organized.

Peace and Quite

2007-04-14T12:41:00.000-07:00

Rode 3 ½ hours on the Kal-Haven trail by myself. I was pleased to not see any dogs this time, I did see over 20 deer on my way out to Grand Junction. I left on my 50 mile ride at 7:00 AM, enjoying the peace and quite on the trail. I had a head wind coming back and I have decided to reduce my gearing one more time. Wind was around 20 MPH and temps in the low 30’s during my entire ride, at least there was no snow falling

TT Bike

2007-04-13T12:40:00.000-07:00

Today was a 90 minute ride with Taylor and Mike. Taylor took his new TT bike on the ride. When he gets that thing going, especially down wind, you better have a good draft or he will drop you fast. Today was another cold and windy day in Michigan.

Stinging Ride

2007-04-12T11:03:00.000-07:00

I made dinner for us before leaving for my ride. Avery ate an adult sized serving of pasta and 2 slices of toast. I know he is growing, I just hope it is up and not around. With all the snow and rain, I decided to go for a road ride with Mike. We rode our Cyclocross bikes in the freezing rain and sleet. Those little pellets feel like needles, stinging your face until it goes numb. We rode for 2 hours in the wind and crap. I told Mike that I am actually getting used to this cold weather again, it really doesn’t bother me that much anymore. I have decided that I must be using some type of reverse psychology on myself. I leave for Iowa in two weeks.

Snow Day

2007-04-11T16:31:00.000-07:00

I needed to take a day off this week, so with all the heavy snow I made today my day off. A picture of the Rig with the new gearing.

Road Ride

2007-04-10T05:41:00.000-07:00

After my ride yesterday, I decided to reduce my gearing from 2.25 to 2.20 by going with a 33:15 combination. I changed the gears after work and played with Avery. When Cheryl got home, went for a 20 mile road spin ride with Mike and Taylor. Felt good to be on the road bike and cruising along at 20 MPH. I need to make some minor adjustments to my seating position on the road bike, but this can wait for another day or for some warmer weather. Forecast for tomorrow, accumulating snow and high winds. I can’t wait for that global warming to hit Michigan.

Stealth Bomber

2007-04-09T05:40:00.000-07:00

Today was a 3 ½ hour ride on the Kal-Haven trail with all my gear. I still have the 36:16 (2.25) gearing on the bike, but I can’t decide if it is going to be too big of a gear. I keep thinking it is not how I feel at mile 20, but rather how I feel at mile 120 or 220 that is going to make the difference. I have been riding the trail for several years and today was my first dog encounter. We always see dogs on the trail with their owner, usually not on the required 6 foot leash, but they have never been a problem. As I approached Gobles, I noticed a black Labrador off to the side of the trail, she seemed to be harmless. As I came upon her at 15 MPH, I realized she was coming after me barking with her teeth showing. She caught me and I barely avoided a crash as she cut in front of my bike. I was able to pull away from her, but not until my heart rate was over 175. I continued on my ride, warning others that I passed heading out West. On the return trip, I couldn’t stop thinking about whether the dog was going to be there. When I got back to Gobles, I decided to pick up a stick and carry it with me. I must have looked like I was going to a joust as I crossed M40. Speaking of joust, I really enjoyed that video game when I was in high school. As I came upon the site of the first attack, I didn’t see the dog and felt relieved. A few more yards down the trail and here she came, low to the ground like a stealth bomber. This time she was barely able to catch up with me and I had a surprise waiting. The stick made a huge crack as I hit her upside the head. I made some oriental noises, spun my weapon around, and felt like a champion ninja warrior. I called the sheriff from my cell phone and advised of the potentially dangerous situation, hopefully they took care of the problem. Finished to ride without any further problems and averaged almost 16 MPH.

Holiday Rides

2007-04-08T05:39:00.000-07:00

Over the past 5 years, holidays have always included a ride at Al Sabo with the neighbors. Mike and Taylor joined me for 3 laps at our local trail in the snow and mud. By the end of our laps, I was down to one gear on the F1000. My cables were completely frozen and I was stuck in a ridiculous high spinning gear. Mike decided to ride home on 9th Street, which at the time seemed okay to me. Once we got on the slushy snow covered roads and they dropped the hammer down, I was not convinced. After my ride and shower, we left for Easter in Battle Creek with Cheryl’s family. Austin and Avery appeared to enjoy Easter, at least all of the candy.

Lake Effect Snow

2007-04-07T16:40:00.000-07:00

Austin had karate in the morning and I went for a 3 hour ride when we got back. Mike and Taylor joined me on the Kal-Haven trail. Taylor hates the trail, throw in 20 MPH winds with snow and I knew he was going to be complaining. We rode to Bloomingdale into a headwind with the snow being 6 inches deep in some locations. The lake effect snow machine was in full force. I rode with my Trans-Iowa gear to see how it would feel. I was very pleased to hardly notice the huge camelback I was carrying during the ride. I was easily able to stay hydrated and felt strong on the ride. Mileage for the year is up to 2683.

Training

2007-04-06T16:40:00.000-07:00

I took a rest day yesterday. Final day of spring break for Austin, but with temperatures in the low 30s it doesn’t feel much like spring. Avery didn’t have daycare, so I took the day off. Cheryl had to work until noon and then we all went to Redamak’s for lunch. We saw my mom, Tom, and my aunt Barb. When we got back, I went for a ride with Mike and Taylor at Al Sabo. After the first lap, Mike’s stomach was not doing well and Taylor had a flat front tire. They went home and I continued riding for 2 more laps. I can now ride a lot of the trail in my aero bars.

Weather

2007-04-04T12:21:00.000-07:00

2 hour slow ride with Mike and Taylor at Al Sabo on the Rig on Tuesday in shorts and a jersey. Today, I rode 3 hours on the Kal-Haven trail on the Rig. The wind was strong out of the East and it was snowing pretty hard with temps in the upper 20s. The snow was blowing hard enough that on my way back the trail was completely covered and I couldn’t see my tracks from going out. I rode to Bloomingdale without seeing another person or feeling my fingers or toes. On the way back to Gobles, I noticed another biker up ahead and thought it may be Mike J. I had passed him several times during the winter and there just aren’t a lot of riders that ride on the trail when it snows. Since my speed was over 20 MPH for several miles, I knew it was a strong rider. I finally caught up with him outside of Kendall and it was Mike. We talked for a while about Trans Iowa, the Wednesday night ride, and the race season. He turned off past Alamo and I finished the ride back to the parking lot. I am starting to get a cold; I can only hope it is gone in a couple weeks. Tomorrow is a much needed rest day.

Sprints

2007-04-02T10:08:00.000-07:00

Austin is on spring break this week, so Taylor is watching him for us. When I got home from work, they had created a nerf gun war zone in Mike’s garage. Austin enjoyed spending the day with Taylor and playing video games. I was able to go on the Monday night KBC ride with Taylor and Mike. The ride is a 31 mile roller through Lawton. The groups were divided in the parking lot, with our group deciding to split during our ride. I have no idea of my speed, as I still need put a computer on my new road bike, a 2007 Cannondale System Six. I love the bike; it makes the roads smoother and climbs with ease. I needed to get in some interval work, so I started out doing the pulling. After pulling for three, 10 minute intervals, we were in Lawton with a group of six. As we were leaving town, Taylor and Knute attacked. I was stuck on the outside of the road and had to let them go. Mike and I tried for several miles to catch them, but we just couldn’t bridge the gap they opened up on the hill. They finally set-up and the six of us were back together. Taylor and I always sprint for the 8th Street sign on W Ave. I wanted to get another hard effort in so I jumped, but it was way too early. Taylor caught and passed me, but was limited by his junior gearing. I passed him a couple feet before the sign, but I was surprised and defeated when Mike went by me at the sign. His attack was perfectly timed and led out by Knute. I told Taylor there was one more sprint and I was determined to win. In typical sprinter fashion, I drafted until just before the sign. Taylor was unable to catch my wheel and I easy crossed Q Ave ahead of the other riders. I believe the sprints serve as both a mental and physical purpose on the rides. Physically, they prepare your body for all out efforts during or at the end of a race. Mentally, they teach you how hard you can push your body and give you something to look forward to on the ride. Typical after ride events for me: recovery drink, water, dinner, shower, Avery time, dishes, Austin time, Cheryl time, and bed. Tomorrow the weather will be changing for the worse, strong storms and colder temperatures are on the way

Tuning the Rig

2007-04-01T11:32:00.000-07:00

My dad and Diane were going to be stopping by to drop off Easter baskets for the boys around noon. Mike and I left at 8:00 for a 4 hour ride on the road and Kal-Haven trail on mountain bikes. We stopped at WMU to see a couple laps at the collegiate race on our way back home. I lost track of the number of guys checking out my bike. I guess a mountain bike with aerobars, 4 bottle cages and big wheels is something you don’t see everyday. I decided the gearing of 36:16 may be a little too much, but would only know once I got the race tires on the bike. During the visit, I was able to get the race tires on the bike. I will have to get out this weekend for another tuning ride on the Rig. The weather is not looking very promising for later this week, with highs falling from 72 on Tuesday to 37 on Wednesday. The temperatures are not going to move much until mid next week. They are even calling for some snow in our global warming climate.

Riding with Taylor

2007-03-31T11:31:00.000-07:00

Cheryl had to work in the morning, so it was just Avery and I. We had breakfast and played with almost every toy in the family room. Cheryl’s parents were coming for a visit and I was going to leave for a couple hour ride when they arrived about noon. I put Avery down for a nap and got ready. I left on the Rig with Mike and Taylor for a two hour ride at Al Sabo. Taylor was on his cross bike and Mike was on his hardtail. After lap number one, Taylor started complaining about his choice of bike and saying his legs were sore. Mike gave him the typical fatherly advice, “I told you that bike was not a good choice when we left the house, no stop whining and start riding”. When we got to sandpit at the bottom of the first hill, I slowed down and forced Taylor into the sand with his skinny tires. He was now whining even more as Mike and I dropped the hammer up the hill. He finally made it to the top of the hill and it reminded me of when he was younger and would struggle up that hill. We used to have to wait at the top for him, although five years ago I needed a break anyway. If you don’t know Taylor, he is an extremely talented 14 year-old cyclist. He medaled at nationals last year and has been invited to a junior national camp this summer. In addition to being a great cyclist, he is a great kid. I have enjoyed watching him grow up next door, pulling him on rides with Mike, and now knowing that I can suck his wheel. After Taylor dropped off and went home at the hour mark, we rode the next hour talking about Trans Iowa gearing options. I told Mike I was going to change to 36:16 when we got home and would try it out tomorrow. The computer stayed in place over all the roots and bumps, so I am confident it will work for Trans Iowa. After a lunch with Cheryl’s family, I started working on the bike. We went to the mall so Avery could ride the merry-go-round, but it was gone. This is not some little ride; it is a carnival sized merry-go-round that was missing. They are replacing it with a double-decker style, but that did not help us. After a quick dinner in the food court and a walk through the mall we were heading back home for the evening.

Bike Computer

2007-03-30T11:30:00.000-07:00

I took the Rig out on a 2 hour road/gravel ride today with a 32:15 gearing. I am still trying to get the hang of steering with the aerobars. While on the road section, I passed a roadie and asked for the speed. He jumped on my wheel and informed me we were going about 17 MPH. He must have been a little surprised when he noticed I was on a singlespeed mountain bike with 2.3 tires that sounded like a tractor on the road. I decided to put my computer on the bike as soon as possible. This process was much more involved than I anticipated. With all the other stuff on my handlebars, I first needed to find a place to put the computer. I decided I would make a small bar out of PVC in the middle of my aerobars. An hour later and some Polish engineering, I had a place to put my computer. To my surprise, it was strong and looked nice. I started to run the wire and realized it was not going to make it to bottom of the fork about the time I cut my thumb. I came into clean up and had to explain to Cheryl what was going on in the garage. After taking the computer off my cyclocross bike and mounting above the headset cap, I had a working system. My work of art now did not serve a purpose, so I cut it off.

One Teething Advantage

2007-03-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

Avery was up at 3:30 due to teething pain. Avery and Cheryl were asleep within a half hour, I was not so lucky. My legs were a little sore from last night’s ride, so I decided to go for a spin at 4:30. Got dressed for the 40 degree ride and left on the F1000. Took an easy road spin and finished up with a short lap at Al Sabo. The new lights, Dinotte 500L, worked perfect for the road. I will need to put it on my helmet or put a small spot helmet light to do some fast trail riding. Gas prices jumped from $2.52 to $2.75 during work, go figure. Almost time to start commuting again.

Strong Wind

2007-03-28T11:35:00.000-07:00

I completed a 50 mile ride tonight with the KBC. When we reached the lake area, I worked on spinning up the hill. Zach and Mike J. were with me. It looked like the whole group was a single file line behind us, so Zach picked up the pace. When we came around the corner we had a crosswind at 35 MPH. After a mile or two, I realized there were only 5 in the group. Our group consisted of Zach, Mike, Cricket, Paul, and me. Zach, on his new ride, and Mike did the majority of the work. We were able to stay off the front for the remainder of the ride, including the long section into the wind.

One Month

2007-03-27T18:12:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe there is only one month left until Trans Iowa. In late August I underwent a Bankhart procedure to repair my chronic dislocating shoulder. A week later, with my arm in a sling, I was on the spinning bike at the gym. The week after that I was on the back of a tandem. I knew I needed a goal to keep me motivated through my therapy and to keep my weight down. I remembered reading about the Trans Iowa race and decided to give it a try. I have lost my my sister, grandmother, and aunt to cancer. Late last year, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. Therefore, I decided to also use the race as a fundraiser for The Lance Armstrong Foundation. Here is the link to my fundraising page: http://www.livestrong.org/grassroots/transiowav3. I started my training and weight loss schedule in December. My goals were to lose 20 pounds by race date, stay healthy, and be riding 25 hours a week in March. Two out of three ain't bad. No injuries (despite a few crashes) and I have lost 22 pounds since my surgery. Between work, family, and our great Michigan weather, I have fallen short on my time in the saddle. I am not complaining, just stating the facts. My mileage for the year is at 2335. I am still working on getting the Rig ready for the ride. I put aero bars, extra water bottle cages, a different stem, and seat pack on last weekend. Today I took the bike out for an hour ride, and I like the setup. I have decided to go with 36:16 gearing with tubeless Crow tires for the race, weather permitting. Tonight I went to Austin's wrestling banquet and took Avery to the school playground to play. Avery enjoyed the slide, but got a little too dirty for mom.