The Ride / Plans for the Future.

The best way to sum up the LIVESTRONG ride was that it was life changing. To see 6500 participants all in the same location, all for the same purpose, was just amazing. Those 6500 participants raised 3.2 million dollars...yes...3.2 million dollars for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the fight against cancer. Those numbers are staggering!

I was extremely pleased to be a part of the event, from the time I decided to take on the challenge back in February to rolling across the finish line on Sunday August 23rd after riding 100 miles on my bike...the entire experience was very fulfilling!

I raised $3876!! I am very pleased with that number. There were a few donations made to the LAF that were not made in my name, but were made due to my efforts...so we topped $4000...just not on the official website. For that I say THANK YOU to each and every person that helped out...we made a difference!

Speaking of making a difference...I had such an amazing experience throughout this process that I'm not going to stop...nope...not done yet. I have decided to see if I can take this a step further by creating a team to see if we can get a bunch of people to join in the fight. People tell me I have a magnetic personality and that others are drawn to me because of my positive energy. I will admit that I'm an optimistic guy. Let's see if I can use that quality to make even more of a difference.

From here on out I will refer you here:

www.baldcyclist.com

That's my new website/blog. With the help of a great friend (Ron) the site is already up and running. The idea was spawned, and literally less than a week later, bald cyclist was officially online. Ron is no slouch himself...he and his wife (Kelly) hiked the entire Appalachian Trail...and she runs marathons and raises money for the fight against cancer. Good people are abound...and that's what it takes to make something like this successful. If you're reading this...my hope is that you will continue to fight, and if you're not currently engaged, you'll join the fight with us...

www.baldcyclist.com

Using our noggins...to battle cancer!


Peace!

Forget me not.

I haven't forgotten about my blog...just haven't had the time to do my recent experience justice in the form of written material just yet. I have lots to say...lots to share...soon...very soon...with some really exciting news as well...

Stay tuned!


Peace!

Exceeding expectations!

That's what we did...we managed to get $3801 in donations! Word on the street is that there are still a few straggling donations coming in...so we might flirt with the $4,000 mark. Either way, we did it, we exceeded our goal...to that I say...HECK YEAH!!!

Thank you to everyone for helping out! Without everyone working hard to donate we wouldn't have done it. My sincerest of thanks go out to everyone that made this possible! :-)

Now, on to the business at hand...preparing for a 100 mile bike ride. As I type this our little carbon fiber beast is getting fitted with new rubber. Apparently I rode so many training miles that she was in need...badly in need. My buddy Grant is hooking me up with some sweet tires over at The Bicycle Shop in State College. Once I pick her up, we'll give her a thorough cleaning, lube up the necessary parts, take her for an hour shake down ride tomorrow morning, and then tuck her away safely until Sunday morning...when together we will unleash the furry on 100 miles of Philadelphia's finest tarmac.

100 miles...4300 feet of climbing...a goal of under 6 hours...a daunting task for a weekend warrior like myself. Not to worry though...we've got some extra power coming along for the ride! We've got the spirits of those who have lost the battle with cancer, the hearts of those fighting right now, and the belief and will of those that have seen what cancer can do first hand. I'm one of those people. I've seen what cancer does to people...it's not pretty. That's why we fight...one thought at a time...one prayer at time...one donation at a time...and that's why we'll fight on Sunday...one mile at a time! I will do my damnest to break the 6 hour mark...not because I win any awards...nope...no trophies...no checks...nothing like that...it's about showing cancer how hard we can fight...and that we'll win this war...one battle at a time! On Sunday morning I will wake up and say to cancer...BRING IT...because today we've got something for you!!

Thanks again to everyone that helped out!

For up to date progress on the ride...check out my twitter updates. don_page10 is my twitter handle. I might even throw a few updates out from the saddle. :-)


Peace!

$3001.

Well, we did it...we topped $3000! That's a huge accomplishment given the state of our economy. There are two days left for money to roll in. I have heard of a few checks that are on the way...we'll see where we end up. All in all, I'm happy...that $3001 represents a lot for the folks affected by cancer. Thanks to all who have helped out!! :-)

As for my training...I'm all but done. I have two one hour easy spins for this week to prepare for the big day on Sunday. I will likely do those rides on Wednesday and Friday...then rest, fuel, and final prep on the bike.

I'm hoping me and my fifteen pound carbon fiber friend can break the six hour barrier. That's a tall order. We'll see how it goes. :-)


Peace!

Step it up kid.

So, I was sitting here checking out the blog the other day and realized it's been lacking a bit lately. I thought, it's time to step it up a bit, especially since there's only two weeks until the LIVESTRONG Challenge ride in Philly. Actually, there's only 12 days until the ride!

100 miles...4300 feet of climbing...all in honor and memory of those affected by cancer.

We've raised $2676 to date...with some promises still outstanding...I'm hopeful we can reach $3000 in the last 12 days. When this all started I set a fundraising goal of $10k...a pretty lofty goal. I'm an optimistic guy...hence the high number. Once I got going on this and realized how hard it is to solicit money from people, I backed my goal down to a realistic number, $3750. We will likely not hit that number, but it's ok...because before I decided to do this there was no number...no money raised...no awareness being spread...no LIVESTRONG message living at the forefront of my mind...no thinking about how I could share this message with others...no trying to live a healthier life...no purpose beyond myself and my daily life activities...no realization that cancer will become the leading cause of death very soon...none of it...none of it existed. So we could look at the $2676 and say, man, that's pretty sad considering the original goal...or we could look at that number and what it truly represents. It represents much more than dollar signs...it represents people that have been inspired by the LIVESTRONG message...that will in turn spread that message...it represents help for those affected by cancer...money for research to help find a cure...or at least slow it down until that can be achieved...technological support in the way of websites and people only a phone call away for those afraid to venture out of their houses...and communities to come to together to share their experiences and offer support to those that are being affected. It represents a lot.

So, when this is done and the final number is posted...let's remember what that number represents...and keep the LIVESTRONG message going strong into the future. We can win this war...we WILL win this war...it's only a matter of time. :-)

Thank you for your support!


Peace!

Good day!

55 miles logged...

$375 donated...

That's a good day if you ask me!

Current total...$2576!!

Still over two weeks left...and promises of more donations...let's hope everyone follows through...if so...we might top $3000!

Good stuff! :-)


Peace!

Link.

http://www.fatcyclist.com/

That's why we do this.

Back from vacation....with lots to do.

Got back from vacation on Saturday...ever feel like you need a vacation from your vacation? ;-) That's how I was feeling yesterday. I had a lot of stuff to get in order...and the entire time I was getting stuff in order I kept thinking...only three weeks until the LIVESTRONG ride...where did the time go?!?!

I did manage to get out on another short easy ride on Friday...and another yesterday in the midst of unpacking. My legs feel tired! It is clear that I have been working them too hard with not enough rest lately. So, no riding until Wednesday, when I'll do another short easy ride. Hopefully that will set me up well for the distance ride Brian and I plan on doing Friday...fingers crossed.

I have just enough time and energy left to make the push to top $2500 for fundraising...at $2201 right now...we can get there...I know we can!!


Peace!

Beach side spin.

Just finished up an hour zone 1 ride that ran parallel to the beach. It was nice to slow things down a bit. Great scenery, a nice breeze, and flat roads, perfect for today!

I'll upload some pictures later tonight.


Peace!

Vacation.

Greetings from the beach! :-)

Did I mention that it's flat at the shore? I went out for an hour ride yesterday and averaged 23 mph!! No hills to speak of...just stop lights here and there that serve as small breaks from the speed fest.

My goal is to fit in three rides while down here...nothing too crazy...just enough to keep the legs moving.

More updates to follow...


Peace!

Mid/End of week riding.

This is going to be a short entry...been a busy week...getting ready to go on vacation. Got out on Wednesday for a zone 4 hammer fest. Lasted an hour and a half...good stuff! Got out again today for a two hour zone 3 ride. This sets up a few nice zone 1 and 2 rides for while I'm at the beach with my family as I can't always be hammering on the legs...they need rest and easy rides too. Good thing because it's awful flat at the shore. ;-)


Going to use some of my vacation time to make an effort to cross over the $2500 mark for fundraising...let's hope we can do this soon...we're quickly approaching the LIVESTRONG ride!


Peace!

Weekend spinning.

My riding partner for Saturday...my son Alex. He absolutely loves riding his bike! He often takes time to make sure he has all the right gear on before the ride..."just like daddy". You'll notice his "riding gloves"...they are actually batting gloves...but do the trick for now...he's getting a cool set of riding gloves for his birthday...he just doesn't know it yet. :-) I used Saturday for my easy spin so we could ride together. We usually ride around the neighborhood...with me splitting off for a few minutes every once in a while to get the heart rate up to the ideal spot. I recently taught him the out of saddle power climb...he's a machine ever since he learned the technique...he loves every minute of riding his bike...and so does daddy! :-)


After Saturday's easy ride I headed out on Sunday for a longer spin...only 30 miles. I was extremely tired and was just having an off day...so I shut in down early in favor of some time at home napping with the kids. Sometimes rest is just as good as pounding out a serious ride. I've found that I really need to listen to my body, or I'll suffer down the road...so when it's time to rest...I rest. I will do that until Wednesday when I'll look to fit in a tempo ride.

Still catching up on some promises for donations...and sending out a few more e-mails...let's hope we can crack the $2500 mark.


Peace!

Easy spinning.

That was on tap yesterday, and will be on tap again tomorrow. I rode for just over an hour yesterday...very easy pace...just using the time to recover from Monday's long ride. The legs feel pretty good...a little sore...but all in all are doing pretty well. I won't hit it hard until Sunday when I might switch things up a bit and take the mountain bike out to do some major climbing.

Fundraising is at $2151. I really want to crack the $2500 mark...and crack it soon. I have promises to collect on...but that's not always easy. I remind people about their pledge...but it doesn't always translate into a donation...frustrating...but I must keep moving forward so I can reach my goals.


Peace!

90.

This was the view from half way down the climb at mile 40. It was gnarly, but I love a good climb.

I was in Rebersburg today...home of the famous racecar driver, Butch Leitzinger...this is his house. :-)

So the 90 in the title of this post is because I rode 90 miles today! I figured it was time to see how all this training was shaping up...so I rearranged my schedule at work to allow a full day for riding. It ended up taking me just over 6 hours...not bad...but not where I want to be. I want to complete the 100 mile LIVESTRONG ride in 6 hours...so I've still got some work to do. All in all though, I was pretty pleased with the ride. I battled a descent headwind for about 40 miles, and tackled a gnarly climb at mile 40...I love a good climb...but it was a little disheartening to reach the top knowing I had another 47 miles to go.

I stopped for food/drink supplies two times...both at awesome little country stores with great folks abound. Everyone was curious how far I was riding as they don't get too many riders that far into the valley...I told them the goal was 90 and each of their faces dropped...that's a long way on a hot day like this they said...I told them I was thankful for their great little store as it allowed me to refuel and catch a few smiles which always brightens the day. I'll take one of those stores over a big chain any day...good stuff...and great people! :-)

My next ride will be a recovery type ride on Wednesday...I'll be curious to see how the legs feel after today's long trek.

Peace!

Saturday.

Got out for a nice hour long spin yesterday. The last two rides have only been an hour long, in preparation for tomorrow's long ride. I adjusted my work schedule so I'm off tomorrow...that will allow lots of time for a good solid ride. I'll be sure to report back tomorrow...if all goes well...this is going to be a major step toward the 100 mile ride in August. :-)

Currently up to $2051 raised!!

Still moving forward...


Peace!

Tempo spin.

Got out for a one hour tempo spin today. I basically get the heart rate up to about 80% effort and keep it there for the entire ride. Doing this tends to make the ride what I call a speed ride...because at that effort I can keep up a good pace.

I've been limited on time lately, so I'm trying to tailor my rides based on what time is available. Things should slow down a bit soon which will allow me to get back on track with longer training rides. I'm off tomorrow...will most likely do a recover type ride Saturday...then log a long ride on Monday. We'll see how things go. Until then...


Peace!

Friday/Sunday.

Greetings this fine Monday morning. So glad the rain has decided to take a break and the sunshine is in abundance. Looks to be that way for a while now.

I went out for a 1 hour easy spin on Friday to let the legs rest from the interval ride last Wednesday...it was all good until thunderstorms rolled in and I ended up abandoning the easy spin in favor of dodging some nasty storms. Fortunately I was able to best them and stay dry...man was it nasty...glad the ride was only an hour. ;-)

I got out again yesterday for a 3 hour ride...nothing too out of hand...just a nice paced ride to keep things moving forward. My legs were a bit tired, I think the intervals and lack of sleep are catching up to me. It's time for some rest and hot-tub action to get them back in prime shape. I'll likely do some easy spins during the week with plans for a some monster rides this upcoming weekend.

The fundraising continues to plug along...I have some promises I need to collect on...and a few more proposals to go out...I will use this week to get caught up on some of that as well.

Moving forward...


Peace!

Wednesday.

This picture is for my buddy Ron. I'm willing to bet he could climb this with little effort. Ron hiked the entire Appalachian Trail with his wife...they are hardcore...and the nicest, coolest people on earth.

I came upon this wall on my half-hour cool down after the 2 hours of intervals I did...half of them nice and dry...the other half very wet. My legs felt great! I pushed them pretty hard today. Looks like my next training ride will be on the mountain bike as Nate and I are gonna try very hard to get to Allegrippis on Friday. I can't wait! Fast, flowy single track...should prove to be much fun.

Peace!

People.

So, I'm sitting here feeling the need to update the blog with the good feelings that have been flowing since the reunion and the outpouring of support. I have known this for some time, but every once in a while a moment happens when it all comes back around as a strong reminder that life is about people. We can strip away many things in our lives, and still exist as human beings...after all...we did it quite simply a long, long time ago. It's not about money, possessions, status (well, only on Facebook), success, level of education, or any other trivial accomplishment...it's about people and the experiences that are created, adored, remembered, cherished, and recreated by them on a daily basis. We can survive without many things in life...but we can't survive without people. Think about all the things that are important to you in life...and then ask yourself how many of them are possible because of, well, "people". Pretty staggering when you think about it, huh? ;-)

"A moment's insight is sometimes worth a life's experience." -Oliver Wendall Holmes

Mountain View High School...

class of 1992 (my graduating class)...raised $200 for the Lance Armstrong Foundation at our 17 year reunion (I know, 17 isn't exactly an even number, that's just how we roll) this past Saturday!

It was absolutely awesome to see how everyone responded to hearing about me raising money and doing the ride for those affected by cancer. We did a Chinese auction, and it was a huge success. I didn't actually see the final total of the number of prizes we had...but I'm guessing it was between 12 and 15...two of which were a LIVESTRONG (cash) salad and the LIVESTRONG bag (yellow of course)...with a $25 gift card to Dick's Sporting Goods as they are a supporter of the Lance Armstrong Foundation. So glad to see people donate money and win some cool prizes along the way. My class is one special group of people that's for sure! :-)

I am now at $1980 raised!!! YEAH BUDDY!!!! I am so excited about that you have no idea. Excited because of all the people that are supporting the cause...and excited because we're not done yet. :-)


Peace!

Friday.

Today was supposed to be all about long distance...but for whatever reason, I wasn't feeling the long distance as much as I was feeling max effort. So, I turned today into an interval ride day...totalling 3 hours on the bike doing 90 to 94% efforts repeatedly throughout the ride. I took advantage of the big ring...keeping it there in places I usually gear down...using all the power my legs would muster up to push, push, and push!

I think I made a good decision as my body was ready for this type of training day. It responded in kind with loads of power in the legs. I did 3 hours and honestly felt like I could have done a lot more. That's a good sign! All this training variation is really starting to pay off. I feel better and better every day. Still lots of progress to make...but we're getting there...and I like that! :-)


Peace!

Pretty cool stuff.

http://www.livestrong.com/blog/blog/thank-you-for-a-great-first-year/Blog:7d8504f3-d0e1-42af-b27b-18d9a02b94dfPost:40bd1e76-035a-4ab8-b84d-58438e87d1e3/krisserin/

Recovery spin.

Got out for an hour recovery spin last evening. After the big mileage weekend and the upcoming big mileage weekend a good slow zone 2 spin was in order. I often have a hard time settling down and doing slow easy rides, but have learned that they are very useful in training.

I am now up to $1780 in fundraising...with lots of proposals to hand out and people to follow up with. Finding time to train and hit the fundraising trail is not always easy...especially with work and family life...but I'm doing my best and keeping at it. Slow and steady wins the race. :-)

I'll report back after tomorrow's ride...hopefully with the some pictures.


Peace!

45, 52, 1755.

The significance of those numbers...

45 wet, rainy miles ridden on Saturday for the Centre Volunteers in Medicine.

52 zone 3 miles ridden today.

1755 dollars raised to date for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the fight against cancer.

We're grinding away at this...no stopping now. :-)


Peace!

Rest.

That's what was in order after the monster ride last Sunday. I haven't been on the bike since then, kind of miss it, but it's a good thing. I'll go out later today for an easy recovery spin in preparation for Saturday's road ride. I will be participating in the Centre Volunteers In Medicine charity ride. It's only a 50 miler...I'll most likely round up to 60 or 65 depending on time.

The business proposals are starting to pay dividends...I received a donation from Queen Anne's Lace, a local flower shop in State College. I know the owner, Michelle, great person running a great floral shop. Thanks Michelle!!

I will be out distributing more business proposals on Friday. Let's hope everyone joins the fight against cancer by making a donation. Together, we are helping others LIVESTRONG!!!

Peace!

Stoopid 50 report.

Anybody want to go for a bike ride today? Believe it or not, after over 8 hours in the saddle yesterday, I'm ready for another ride today! I wish I didn't have to work...I'd love to go out for a nice easy ride. I think I've crossed the threshold and am now officially addicted to cycling. I continually hurt myself (i.e. sore muscles) on the bike and still want more...it doesn't matter how sore I am...I want to be on the bike.

On to the report...

So, it started off at Tussey Mountain Ski resort...we rolled out behind the start car...they pulled off...and we were off on our 50 mile adventure. I got in a 15 minute warm up around the parking lot so the legs were ready to go. I decided to start at the back of the pack so I wasn't in anyones way...my plan was to go easy so I could finish...I talked with a few people in the back...one guy in particular (Phil) who was also a first timer. I tried to share info on the beginning stage of the course as I knew where we were headed. He seemed to appreciate the advice, but didn't listen very well as he took off to catch the pack with a few others, only to blow up once we hit the single track climb up the ridge. I tried to warn him. I stayed back and played it cool as I knew what was coming...I ended up passing about 8 people on the single track climb...they clearly had overworked themselves and it was only the beginning of the race. Ever hear that phrase, the race can't be won in the first mile? ;-)

I continued on over the ridge trail, passing another 3 to 4 people...some with fitness issues, others with bike issues. I spread some good karma by stopping to help a guy...gave him a quick link for his chain as it snapped in two. He was thankful. I kept on, hitting the descent on the backside of the ridge, took it a little too fast and crashed. Endoed...got hit in the head with my rear tire...took a handle bar to the chest...and decided that I better back it down a notch...the goal is to finish...not to stroke the ego on the downhill sections. :-)

I hit the aid station at the 18 mile mark...felt pretty good...took in needed food supplies...and loaded up on fluids. Off to the Coopers Gap area...an area that was supposed to have less rocks...yeah...not so in the beginning...at one point I wanted to know who put the course together...I had plans to give him a swift kick in the you-know-what's when I was done.

On through Coopers Gap...a guy comes up behind...I let him by...and then proceed to watch him crash 4 times right in front of me! He was fatiguing and having trouble with the rocks. He was ok from all the crashes...although he did admit that the 3rd crash "hurt". Continuing on through Coopers Gap...at about mile 30...running out of fluids...in need of the aid station...badly in need of the aid station...I started to worry about the legs cramping up...not good. I come off the single track to a course worker...he gives me the word that it's 3 miles to the aid station...thank goodness...I need nourishment and fluids bad. I hit the aid station, get my fluids...lots of food...and find out that they sent the sweep riders already...no worries...I'll just keep going knowing there is no one coming up behind me. The only problem with this is that the sweep riders took down the trail markers...and I came to a fork in the road...and ended up taking the wrong turn. I didn't know I was headed the wrong way until I came upon an area I knew...and by that time I was too far down to turn around...I was not a happy camper. I decided to create the rest of my ride on the fly...making sure it totalled out at 50 miles. I ended up back at my car...completing the entire 50 miles...but was bummed as I never hit the official finish line due to going the wrong way...so my time will be scored as dnf in the books. A little bummed about that part...but super psyched that I accomplished my goal of riding my mountain bike for 50 miles!!!

It took 8 hours and 19 minutes...some moments of wondering if I'd finish...some moments of knowing I'd finish...some pain...some cramping...some encouraging words from spectators and other riders...some thoughts of wondering if the climbs would ever end...some thoughts of wondering if there would be any trails without rocks...some moments of thinking I found a new love in endurance mountain biking...some thoughts of being thankful my bike worked flawlessly...some moments of appreciating the great people that are part of the cycling world...some moments of thinking 8 hours and 19 minutes is slow for 50 miles...some moments of appreciating that my wife was kind enough to stay home with the kids while I rode my bike all day...some times of wanting to go home because I missed them all...some thoughts of why I was doing this...and some thoughts that being out in the woods with nothing but pedal power is a feeling like no other.

I am a lucky man...with an innate ability to keep moving forward no matter the circumstances. That helped me finish...and will help me finish again...faster than 8 hours and 19 minutes.

I leave you with this...

"Happy are those who dream dreams, and are ready to pay the price to make them come true." - Leon J. Suenes

Peace!

8 hours 19 minutes in the saddle!

That's how long it took me to finish 50 miles in the Rothrock, Coopers Gap, and Penn Roosevelt areas today. Needless to say, I'm pretty spent. Through the 8 hours 19 minutes, I stopped only two times, both times at the aid station. I was a pure machine, cranking out miles slowly but surely. Because I'm so spent, I'm going to sign off so I can rest. I'll provide a full race report some time tomorrow. :-)

Peace!

Another easy spin.

Got out for another 1 hour easy spin yesterday in preparation for the 50 miles in Rothrock on Sunday. I have my food supplies, the bike is ready, I've studied the course map (with some help from Grant at The Bicycle Shop), the mind is ready, and hopefully the muscles are ready too. Now, it's time to relax and wait until Sunday morning when we get this thing going.

I don't plan on stopping until 50 miles are completed!

We'll see how it goes...


Peace!

Easy spin.

I got out yesterday for a very easy spin...a zone 1 recovery type ride. It lasted about an hour. I will do that again on Friday and then rest Saturday in preparation for a hair-brained idea I got the other day...

to ride in The Stoopid 50! A 50 mile mountain bike race in Rothrock State Forest on Sunday. Don't get me wrong, the race part really doesn't apply to me...as I'll only be trying to finish. I figure I'll use this as training for the LIVESTRONG ride. If I can do 50 miles in Rothrock...I can do 100 miles on the road bike.

Part of the reason I decided to do this is to test my endurance. I really don't know where I stand in that regard...so why not test it out now while I still have just over two months until the 100 mile ride. I really want to be able to finish this race!

Goal number one for Sunday: finish the 50 miles.
Goal number two for Sunday: finish in less than 8 hours.

Fundraising news:

I dropped off my proposal to The Bicycle Shop in State College...and it looks like they will be able to help out with a donation! That place flat out rocks!! Erik (the owner), and Grant (my buddy who is also the manager of the shop) are great guys that have helped foster my addiction to cycling by providing top notch bikes, repairs, support, and guidance...to them I say...THANK YOU!!!

This is just the tip of the iceberg with my plans...I have over 20 businesses I have helped support over the years that I'm hoping can repay the favor. I'll be dropping off proposals to all of them over the next week or so. We'll see how it goes...

Pardon my language on this...but I wanted to share my final thought on deciding to do The Stoopid 50 race...it seems like a descent quote...

"Sometimes you just have to say fuck it, and see what you're made of."

Peace!

Weekend training / road & mountain bike.

This is a shot of a rock garden on the Charcoal Flats trail in Rothrock State Forest. It's not as bad as it looks. The rocks make some cool sounds as you ride over them.

This is a shot of some smooth single track...also part of Charcoal Flats. Unfortunately, the smooth stuff doesn't last long.

So, you get the picture (pun intended)...I went out on the mountain bike today...hence the photos. I decided to pound the muscles for three hours out in the forest. Took part in some trail riding and some hill climbs up the fire roads. Three hours on a 26.5 pound mountain bike with "truck tires" in Rothrock is like six hours on the road bike. ;-)

Speaking of the road bike, I was able to get out yesterday for a 30 mile tempo spin. Got the heart rate up to 160 and keep it there for the entire ride. This is good stuff for endurance training.

Along with my riding I completed my fundraising proposal for the local businesses I plan on asking for support. I'll most likely start talking to them this week...let's hope it goes well.

Peace!

Motor oil...

For the biking engine!

This is a shot from Neil's bike. He needs special oil for his engine as he pilots a 29er single speed.

Run Forest Run.

That was me today as I traded the bike for the treadmill due to some serious rain. Riding in the rain is not my favorite thing to do. I will do it, and sometimes like the challenge of it...but more often than not...I prefer to avoid putting my bike and body through the paces of getting soaked with rain and grit for a few hours. Not to mention that after a ride like that, my bike needs a complete cleaning...which takes away from my riding time. ;-)

I ended up running for just over an hour on the treadmill. Got the heart rate up to about 150 and just kept it there until I was done. It almost felt good to be running again. I used to run a lot when I was in college...about 25 to 30 miles a week. I have to say though, that it is a lot more boring than riding my bike. I was about 20 minutes into it when I was ready to be done. When I'm on the bike, I don't ever get bored. Either way, it did the job today and that's what is most important.

I have a few ideas floating around for riding this weekend. I have the option of going to Allegrippis with Nate, trying my hand at a XC MB race on Sunday, or ripping off a long distance road ride. At this point, I'm not sure what I want to do. I have a feeling it will be a last minute decision.

Peace!

Sherman Branch.

That's where I rode on Saturday. Took the Mountain bike on the trip south and got in a nice ride Saturday morning with the guys. The only thing that sucked was Jay's bike breaking during the ride...other than that...it was awesome riding...on awesome trails...with awesome guys! I have now ridden every other day for just over a week and a half...and the body needs some rest. I'll be off today and tomorrow...and then back at it Wednesday. I'm feeling the need for a distance ride...so plans are in the works for a 60 to 70 miler...not sure when it will happen...but it will be soon.

Nate called and said Allegrippis rules! He feels bad that we didn't take the guys there a few weeks ago. Fast, flowy single track was the report...wait a minute...fast, flowy single track right here in central Pa...it can't be. Might have to check it out this weekend to confirm the report and see if I can hit anymore tree's. ;-)

Peace!

Thursday.

Got out for a about an hour-and-a-half zone 2 spin today. A very welcome road ride after my experience in Maryland. I am very fortunate to be able to ride in an area like where I live...minimally traveled back roads that go for miles and miles.

I'm now off tomorrow as I'm travelling to Charlotte N.C. to visit some friends. I'll likely get out for a descent mountain bike ride Saturday morning...with minimal rocks...I'm pretty pumped about that!

I'll report from the road...until then...

Peace!

Rained out.

Patapsco Valley State Park...some great riding just outside Baltimore Maryland...

Unfortunately, my mountain bike never left this position while I was there.

I had to resort to a very forced rainy, cold, and windy road ride which was not fun considering the amount of traffic and limited space on the roads. It was that or nothing...and I rarely take the nothing option. With all that time I needed to spin...so spin I did...for about two-and-a-half hours. It did the job.

I'm bummed that I had two days straight with nothing but time and bikes and I got rained out almost completely. Never-the-less, it was a fun trip, and I'm thankful to have some time in the saddle.

Peace!

Rain.

I'm sitting at Barnes and Noble just outside Baltimore waiting for the rain to stop. It's raining big time out here! Doesn't look like the mountain bike will be coming off the bike rack...way too much water and mud around here. Good thing I brought the road bike for back-up. Should be able to get in a couple wet hours before the end of the day. :-)

Peace!

Sunday.

Manged to get out for a 25 mile zone 2 ride today. Why do I mention zone 2...because now that I have a solid number of base miles on the bike...I'm turning my training toward specific efforts at specific times in specific heart rate zones. This should help me take the next step in my training...well...at least I hope so. I'm a little skeptical about this whole heart rate zone stuff, but according to what I've read it should help.

I'm off tomorrow...then on for two very solid days of riding Tuesday and Wednesday. I'll also use the time off of work to compose a proposal for some local businesses I plan to ask for sponsorship for the LIVESTRONG Challenge Ride.

I'll report on the riding conditions in the Baltimore area after my Tuesday rides.

Peace!

TGIF!

I'm glad it's Friday for a number of reasons...first...I'm now off of work for 10 days. Second, I had a ride planned today. Once again time was not in abundance so I only managed to get out for a 30 miler. I decided to make it a good 30 miles by getting the heart rate up to about 80% effort and keeping it there the entire ride. Legs felt incredibly strong and could have kept going for much longer...but I had to shut it down so we could take the kids to the first carnival of the year...fun stuff I tell you...fun stuff. :-)

I'll take tomorrow off and then be back out for another road ride on Sunday. I'll use the day off to prep the mountain bike for the trip to Maryland. Got the inside scoop on what areas to hit up. Sounds like there is a variety of terrain at my disposal...and multiple hours...needless to say I'm pretty pumped!

Peace!

Easy spin.

Managed to fit in a quick easy spin today. Only went out for about an hour due to time constraints. The legs felt incredible! This past weekend put a hurting to them, and they responded in kind...almost laughing that we only spun for an easy hour. They are hungry for more...and more I will give them...in due time.

Next ride will be Friday...not sure if it will be mountain or road just yet. I have to say...I love having the choice again...not having a mountain bike for a while really sucked. Now I have two fast race machines...all I need to do is get to the level that I can really put a pounding to these bikes...getting there...slow and steady...the goal is to be able to ride 100 miles with ease...the plan is coming together...must be patient. ;-)

Peace!

The details.

Ok, the site is back up and I have a few minutes to update.

This past weekend was flat out awesome!!! There were 8 of us, 4 guys from the North Carolina crew, and 4 from the New England crew...we all came together and had an absolute blast with one another, riding, telling stories, and just overall having fun being with one another.

It was fun to get back out on the mountain bike for sure!! I can honestly say that I missed it. I love the road bike, but there is just something about being out in the woods with nothing but a bike and a few buddies tearing up some great trails. We are already planning another trip for later this year...back to Tsali in North Carolina...a great place to ride with some fast flowy single track!

As for my training...I've been off since Sunday spending time with the family and working. I'll be back on the bike tomorrow morning...the road bike...then switching back and forth between both bikes this weekend as I plan to hit up Allegrippis, as the report is that it's fast and flowy like Tsali. Unfortunately my mountain bike buddies will be out of town...so I'll be solo at Allegrippis. Might be hooking up with a few people for a group road ride though...so that will be cool.

I have a trip to Baltimore with my wife planned for next Tuesday/Wednesday as she has a conference to attend. We will celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary while down there...with plans for a killer seafood dinner together...it should be awesome!! In addition to our anniversary celebration...is the celebration of having two entire days to be in the saddle...that's right...two full days of riding!! While Jeanine is at her conference...I'm taking to the saddle for as long as my body will let me. I will be contacting a local bike shop for some good road and mountain routes as I'll likely take both bikes with me. I can't wait!!!

Updates to follow...

Peace!

Mountain Bike Madness!

The website is not working for me so I can't get on the blog to update. I'm resorting to mobile blogging to provide a short update.

The mountain bike trip was awesome! 8 guys, three days worth of riding, and lots good times. We ended up going on 4 rides, three in the Rothrock area and one in the Coopers Gap area. Not sure of the total mileage...I judge these rides by amount of pain, not by the amount of miles. On the pain factor it was a 9. I need a few days of rest before I ride again.

I'll provide more of an update once the site is back up.

Peace!

Getting ready to...

get my dirt and rocks on!!! That's right, it's time to switch saddles, time to get in touch with my inner mountain bike karma...that means there should be bear sightings...because when it comes to mountain biking and Bear's...I'm a magnet! My perspective on Bear's has changed quite a bit since my first encounter with that Cinnamon Bear a few years ago. I was scared you-know-what-less then...not now...I've run into two other Bear's since that time...and now I almost welcome the opportunity...after all...they are one of nature's greatest creations...and to be able to see them up close without losing your life is pretty darn cool. ;-)

Anyway, preparations for the mountain bike madness are in full swing. First ride is tomorrow afternoon/evening. I'll report back once we get things rolling...literally...

Peace!

Yesterday's ride blew...

Literally! It was majorly windy...not good conditions for what was supposed to be an easy spin. Never-the-less, I stayed out and amassed a hard earned 20 miles. My legs are now sore...more sore than I'd like them to be considering the hammer-fest that's coming up this week...but hey...if it don't hurt...you ain't' doing it hard enough...right?!?!

So, on a more serious note...during my ride yesterday I managed to catch a spot on the road that was shielded by the wind, that had amazing scenery, and lasted for about a minute...and during that time I had a moment of true appreciation. A moment when I thought about how lucky I am to have all that I have...beautiful family and friends...secure employment...financial security...and a love for two wheels spinning on the road with nothing but the power I provide. Don't get me wrong...I've had my struggles, tragedies, bad times, etc...but I tend to be a forward moving person that doesn't get bogged down by things for very long.

Today I was thankful...thankful for everything life has to offer...thankful that I'm in a position where I can help raise money for cancer research...thankful that I raised $1500 so far (I often get frustrated that it's not more)...thankful that I got to honor my wife...the mother of our two beautiful children...thankful that she gave time for my bike ride on her day (Mother's Day)...thankful that my kids are curious and I can help them experience all that life has to offer...and thankful that I think of others and say and do things to wish them well.

This seems appropriate today...

"Try not to become a man of success, but a man of value." -Albert Einstein

Peace!

Friday.

Today was hill climb day...a day I look forward to...until I hit about the third or fourth climb and it starts to hurt. I totalled 15 climbs in all...some steep and gnarly...some more gradual. I usually pick three to four hills of differing length and grade...and repeat each one four to five times.

I seem to be a rain magnet lately. Today started off absolutely beautiful...then right about ride time the clouds rolled in and on my third climb it started raining. Par for the course in the spring time I guess.

Time for a little recovery tomorrow, then a moderately paced ride on Sunday in preparation for the mountain bike fest.

Peace!

Hump Day.

Got out for a moderately paced 20 mile spin today. Nothing too serious...just enough to open the legs up and get them stretched from this past weeks big mileage workout. This week is more about specific efforts than it is mileage. Today was a moderate short ride...Friday will be hill climb intervals...and then another easy spin on Sunday. Why a week with short specific rides you might ask...because some of my best buds are coming to town for a mountain bike extravaganza next week...so I need to settle down a bit and be specific so I'm ready to hammer the trails for 4 days straight!!

I am pumped for the weekend...it will encompass many things...first and foremost...fun with friends! In addition, it will also serve as great training as we'll be on the bikes for 4 days straight on some gnarly trails in Rothrock State Forest. The legs and lungs should take a good pounding...which makes me smile. I know, I'm kind of sick in that way...but I like it!

Ideas are abound in reference to fundraising for the LIVESTRONG Challenge!! The word is spreading and folks are looking to help me out...it's really awesome. Once things come together a bit better I'll share some of the plans.

Ok, I'm out until Friday (the day of pain).

Peace!

150!

I did it...I achieved my goal of 5 days, 5 rides, totalling 150 miles!!

Today's ride was supposed to mirror yesterday's ride, but that didn't happen. I saw some signs out for a charity ride the other day...a charity ride around a loop I usually ride...so I figured if the timing worked out I'd go out to support everyone, ride around at an easy pace, make some friends, donate a few dollars to the cause, and just have a good time at a cool event. Yeah, turns out I showed up to a slug-fest! Apparently they time this event, so it's basically a race. I showed up 5 minutes before the start, unregistered, asking what the deal was only to find out I had to sprint to the starting line if I wanted to do the ride...so I did...still thinking it was an easy pace ride. Did I mention that it was raining?! So, I show up at the pack of riders (probably 12) getting ready to start, tell them my situation...and they cheer with enthusiasm because I came out in the rain...yeah...then I find out it's a race format. My legs were just about spent from the previous 4 days worth of riding, but I figured what the heck, I'm here, might as well see how it goes. They start, I decide to start off slow, see what the pace would be like...one guy just takes off...he was clearly ready for this event. I'm riding second for the first mile or so...wondering where everyone is because I'm really not pushing...and a three guys pull up behind me...start small talk...and I am immediately relieved, feeling as though this isn't a cut-throat event. Yeah...not so...they pushed the pace until we hit the first climb...I decided to stretch the legs and see what they had left in them...I pass all three guys going up...and they catch back up when we leveled off as the legs let me know they were in no mood for this. I decided to cool it and just ride with the other three guys for as long as I could. We ended up doing two laps for a total of 10 miles...not really a big deal at all...but considering how tired I was and how ready these people were...I had to push pretty hard and my legs just didn't like it at all. I decided that since this was my last day of riding before a few days rest, I'd push through the pain as long as I could. So we hit the climb starting the second lap and again I charge up leaving all but one guy that made a mad sprint just before the climb...one of the other two guys catches me on the flat...and we start talking about the guy that took off...he didn't want him to get too far away...I agreed...so we paced him for about a mile...and then I pulled up next to the other guy and said let's go get him...and took off...I passed him on a long gradual uphill...the other guy held back...I'm now in second place with about 2 miles to go...I'm pretty excited...until my legs starting shutting down...they had had enough...not even being willing to hold a steady pace until the finish...the guy that held back caught me...asked if I was gonna push him to the finish...and I told him no way...I'm done...go for it...and he did. I finished third...not bad for an event I was clearly not ready for.

I will say this though...I really enjoyed the "racing" experience...big surprise there huh?! It's in my blood. If all goes well over the next month and a half...I might have to try this out for real at a cat 5 road racing event. Rest assured if I sign up...I'll be ready for that event. ;-)

Saturday.

The weather cooperated and I managed to get out for a quick 28 mile ride today. After yesterdays ride in the rain, I was really hoping it would hold off today, and it did. The legs were sore but still had plenty of life left in them so I pushed the pace and did some good hill climbs. I'll likely do the same ride tomorrow...which will put me at 150 miles for my five day stretch. A good accomplishment, but still not where I want to be for that many days of riding. I constantly have to remind myself that I'm making progress and that results take time...because I often want to see major results fast...and that just doesn't happen. I'm on track to be where I want to be, just need to practice a little patience.

Tomorrow morning there is a collegiate road bike race in State College that Alex and I are going to check out. He loves just about any kind of racing, and as a curious three and a half year old I like to help him experience every avenue of sport/racing there is so he can make a decision what he likes when he gets older. Then it's game on! I can't wait until he becomes passionate about a sport, be it traditional, auto, or other...I'll be behind him 100%!

I'll try to take some pictures to post tomorrow.

Until then...Peace!

The Big Five O...

I managed to get in my ride to Lock Haven today in the midst of rain and wind almost the entire way. It turns out the ride was only 34 miles, so when I arrived, I kept going to round out the ride to 50 miles. Distances above 30 miles always bring forth a great sense of accomplishment for me. I am now at 95 miles for the last three days...with plans to tack on another 55 this weekend, time and weather permitting of course. :-)

After my ride I went to lunch with my wife and a bunch of her colleagues...it was nice to meet everyone...great group of people. My wife's colleague Josh never made it out to meet me today...it just didn't work out for his schedule. We made an agreement at lunch to get out for a nice ride very soon. I'm excited to do that as he is a super cool guy and I enjoy riding with others.

More updates to come this weekend. Stay tuned...

Peace!

The wheels on my bike go...

Round and round...round and round...

Logged another 20 miles today...once again with the easy effort/pace. I've been saving myself for tomorrow's ride...a destination ride! Tomorrow I will once again try to ride down to Lock Haven to meet up with my wife and some of her colleagues for lunch to celebrate her first full year as a professor at Lock Haven University. I am pumped as the ride should total close to 50 miles...and if not...I'll ride around Lock Haven until it does. ;-) I'm also pumped because a colleague of Jeanine's (Josh) will be riding to meet me half way so we can ride the last 20 to 25 miles together. He's a category 4 rider with LOTS of experience, so it should be fun.

The legs feel incredible!! They were begging to be opened up today, but I had to resist knowing I've got a distance ride tomorrow that will most likely be at a pretty fast clip. I'll be racing the clock the entire way down to Lock Haven...seeing how hard I can push while doing that kind of distance. I will try to save a little as I have two short speed rides planned this weekend. My goal is 150 miles for my five day stretch. It might be a hard earned 150 miles, because it's supposed to rain tomorrow. :-( No worries though, I'm going no matter what this time.

I'll report on the ride tomorrow evening.

On a side note, I collected $100 in donations from my old place of employment this morning. Great people with big hearts that are supporting me 100%!! That's got me feeling pretty good today. :-)

Peace!

25.

Got out for a very easy 25 mile spin today. I have a lot of miles planned for the next four days so I figured I should start out with an easy spin, keep the heart rate and effort relatively low, so I can come on strong as the days progress. This was the first time I really took it easy on a ride, and it almost felt weird. I'm not used to riding that way, so it felt pretty awkward to be going at a descent speed with very minimal effort. All in all it's a good sign as the endurance and strength are coming around. I haven't weighed myself in a few days, but I believe I'm close to the 15 pound mark for weight lost since I started training. I feel good about my progress but still have a lot of work ahead of me.

I'll be back at it tomorrow morning.

Peace!

Sunday, Sunday...

Managed to make it out for a quick ride on Sunday. Totalled 35 miles packed with some nice fast flats and some good long grade hill climbs...a great mix on a very hot day! I think it was 88 degrees...good training for the conditions I'll see in Philadelphia in August. :-)

I quickly pounded through my fluids...leaving me with nothing about half-way through the ride. I figured I'd use the rest of the ride as training for the body...to see what how it would respond to the limited fluid intake on such a hot day. Turns out I responded rather well, with it not really being an issue. I know fluids are extremely important...so this won't be a regular occurrence...just a good test to see how I felt given the conditions.

I'm off until Wednesday when I'll assess weather conditions and plan my ride appropriately. Hoping for nice weather...but it looks like rain is coming.

Peace!

Busy.

I've been pretty busy lately. Decided to see how the mobile blogging works from my iPhone.

Got out for a nice 38 mile ride on Friday. Legs felt good. Had to shut it down early due to friends coming into town. Today was an off day...I'll be back at it tomorrow for sure.

Will report more after tomorrows ride. Will post pics too.

Peace!

Wednesday Ride.

I decided to skip the group ride yesterday as the weather conditions were not so great. One minute it felt like it was 55 and partly sunny, and the next, windy with temps feeling like they were 40...with a little rain throw in for good measure. The last part of my 23 mile ride was pretty nasty...major wind...rain...and cold temps...and of course...I was riding into the wind. The legs were fresh though so I powered it out and felt good about the ride...even though it was shorter than I wanted. No worries there...it's supposed to be 80 and sunny for the next five days...so I'll make up for lost miles Friday and Sunday. You'll notice Saturday wasn't thrown in there...that's because it's the annual Penn State Blue/White game...a scrimmage that is open to the public at Beaver Stadium. It usually turns into a game like atmosphere, with major tailgating, the game, a carnival, and just overall fun. We have some friends coming into town for it which is gonna make it even better...I can't wait!

Today is a work day...so no riding. I'll be back at it tomorrow.

I haven't forgotten about the pictures...those will come soon...I promise.

Peace!

Saturday.

My ride on Saturday with Brian was awesome! We rode out near his house, which was pretty cool because the roads are great. Not a lot of traffic, nice rolling terrain, and great scenery. We totalled 26 miles...which puts me at 103 miles for my three day stretch...not bad.

The plan now is to rest until Wednesday when I'll try my hand at the group ride. I'm a little anxious about it as I have a feeling the pace will be fierce. No worries though, I'm using this as a litmus test to see where my fitness and endurance matches up against seasoned riders...if I can only hang on for a few miles...it will serve as fuel to push me to improve. We'll see. :-)

Until then, this quote seems appropriate.


"Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow." -Doug Firebaugh

Peace!

Longest ride to date.

I got out for a 55 mile ride on Thursday, my longest ride to date. It was awesome! Beautiful weather, great scenery, and just a good amount of uninterrupted time on the bike. I felt like I could have gone another 20 to 30 miles, so I'm pleased with my progress thus far. It's only April and I'm feeling pretty good on the bike. Still lots of work to do, but we're on track.

In addition to Thursday's monster ride, I got out yesterday for a quick 22 mile ride to keep the legs spinning. No strenuous effort, just a nice pace to keep things moving.

It is now Saturday morning and I'm getting ready to head out for a ride with Brian, one of the doctor's I work with. We're headed out in his neck of the woods, a great area that should provide a nice ride for us. Not sure how long we'll go, it will depend on how we both feel and as always, time constraints. I love riding with other people, it makes for a nice change of pace as conversation is always welcome. Speaking of riding with other people, I met up with a member of the Penn State Cycling Team on Thursday. I was in the home stretch of the ride when he pulled up next to me and asked if he could ride with me for a while. Of course I said yes, and we rode for about 10 miles talking about cycling and random other stuff. It turns out there is a group ride Wednesday evenings not far from my house. Apparently this ride draws quite a crowd, with some Cat 1 pros, right on down to cat 5's. From what he said, it's a pretty fierce pace, with people dropping off when they can't maintain the group speed any longer. I won't lie, this peaked my interest when he mentioned it...because...well...yeah...I'm kind of competitive and am always up for a challenge. :-) Even if I can only hold the pace for 1 or 2 miles, I want to see what it's like...so I think I'm headed out with them next Wednesday. I'll certainly report back after that experience...it should be interesting.

Ok, I'm off to get ready for my ride.

Peace!

Family first.

That was the motto yesterday...and it prevented me from getting out for that extra ride I wanted. It turns out the break we "thought" we'd have didn't work out, so I was not able to get out for a ride. No worries though, the day was originally intended as a rest day, so it's probably better I took the time off. Not to mention I got to hangout with the family for the entire day...which is a reward in an of itself. :-)

I will use today and tomorrow as rest days as well. The legs have been in great need of some rebuilding time, so I'm giving it to them knowing they will repay me with loads of power and endurance for later this week. My anticipation of how strong they will be is high...I know when I head out on Wednesday I'll be able to push it hard for quite some time...and that brings a smile to my face...because I love pushing the pace and flying down the road close to 30mph on nothing but a 17 pound bike. I can see why people ride motorcycles...there is just something freeing about not being surrounded by a car.

Stay tuned...more pictures to be posted soon.

Until then...

Peace!

You'll never guess the conditions during my ride today...

Yup...WINDY!!! That's just par for the course these days. :-)

I got out for a 26 mile ride with my buddy Grant. Great ride! We toured some roads I had never been on...absolutely awesome! No cars, great scenery, good company, and just an overall fun ride. Part of the reason for the increased fun factor is due to the professional fitting I received on my bike yesterday. Grant also happens to be the manager of "The Bicycle Shop" in town...the place I buy all my bikes and gear...and he is certified by Specialized to fit people to their bikes. All I can say is...WOW...what a difference being fitted to the bike!! I felt so much more comfortable...I couldn't believe the improvement. I felt so good, that tomorrow will not be a rest day as originally planned. Even though it's Easter Sunday, I will be able to get out for a short speed ride. My wife is the best! We have a break in the schedule tomorrow that will allow for the ride. I think we're doing like three Easter egg hunts...well...the kids are...we're just there to witness the excitement. I can't wait...the kids were excited tonight knowing the Easter bunny is coming.

Ok, time to relax and enjoy the evening with Jeanine.

Peace!

34...

hard miles today. Once again it was windy, and I spent over half of the time riding into the wind. Did I mention that it's windy around here in the spring? It wouldn't be so bad except that I live in and do most of my riding in the valley...and the winds just whip through here. To give an illustration, when we built our house a few years ago, we had a small privacy fence put in out back. When the fence company came out to talk about it, I told them the fence needed to be strong because it gets really windy around here...they assured me I wouldn't have an issue. Three weeks later we came home one windy night to find the fence in the field next to our house. I called the company, they gladly fixed the issue with a much nicer and stronger fence...and the guy I spoke with in the beginning apologized. Anyway, in case I forgot to mention it, it gets windy around here in the spring. ;-)

Tomorrow is a day off...which is probably a good thing as the legs are feeling a bit overworked right now. They are going to need a few days of rest soon. That will most likely happen early next week. I'll use those rest days to further the fundraising efforts.

Happy Good Friday to all. In my opinion, every Friday is a good Friday. :-)

Peace.

Change of plans.

Due to cold windy conditions this morning I had to change up my plan for the day. I was pretty disappointed...but without the proper gear...it just wouldn't have been smart to make the 50 mile ride. I have some cold weather gear, but not the proper gear to deal with 26 degree windy conditions. Luckily, it warmed up enough that I got out for a quick 20 mile ride this afternoon.

Tonight, I'll be shopping for some gear. :-)

Peace!

Destination Ride.

That's what I call a ride that is not round trip...meaning I won't end up back at home when I'm done. I have a destination ride planned for tomorrow...the destination in mind...Lock Haven...the home of my Alma mater....and also where my wife works at a professor. You see where this is going, right? I'm going to ride down to Lock Haven to meet up with my wife for lunch...we will then drive home in the car. ;-) It clocks in at about 50 miles. The nice thing is that there is a pretty good hill climb in the beginning to get me warmed up for some flat line speed once I descent the mountain. Other than the climb in the beginning, I'm looking at flat lining it almost the entire way...which means speeds in the mid to upper 20's for sure. I might even go a little crazy if the legs are feeling good and peg the heart rate for some 30mph action. This is of course if there aren't any nasty headwinds...then we kick into survival mode...just pounding against the wind...grinding the ride out until we hit our destination. Either way, fun!

I'll report back after the ride tomorrow to let you know how it goes.

Peace!

Sunday ride.

I got out for a 35 mile ride today. The ride included 4100 feet of climbing. I'm a bit of a freak and actually love to climb so it was a welcome ride. I would have done more but was a bit pressed for time. 67 degrees and sunny after two days of absolute crap weather had me wanting to hangout with the wife and kids at home...so I called it early in favor of fun times outside. Glad I did too...we let the kids get in the hot-tub which was an absolute blast. Speaking of the hot-tub, after the kids went to bed I had a half-hour date with it myself. There's just nothing like getting in 102 degree water after a workout.

I received some fundraising materials from the Lance Armstrong Foundation this weekend. Jeanine and I are coming up with some plans for the next few months. Should be able to do some great fundraisers to help get closer to the $10k goal. Right now I sit at $1200, not a bad start, but we've got a long way to go, and a short time to get there, I'm gonna do what they say can't be done...Ok...who started thinking of Smokey and the Bandit when they read that...come on...I know I'm not the only one. ;-)

Peace!

Lucky Dog!

That would be me as I had some cancellations in my schedule today which allowed for a 62 degree and sunny 32 mile ride before work! It's nice to be greeted with surprises like that from time to time. My plan was to ride Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. As I talked about, Wednesday was cold and rainy, and guess what, Friday is to be the same...so I really lucked out today. Today's ride will replace tomorrow, so I will be able to avoid the nasty conditions. YEAH BUDDY!!

The ride today did not start off well. The legs felt like crap...I couldn't believe it after how they felt yesterday. Not to worry though, I didn't stress about it, put forth the effort they would allow, and just didn't get caught up in the frustration that could have been present....and what do you know, they came alive about 10 miles into the ride. It was great!! I was very thankful as the ride was just awesome...rural back roads...virtually no cars...and great scenery. I really was a "lucky dog" today! :-)

Pics from weekends ride.

I found a local bike path in my travels...this was a welcome sign. Thankfully, no one else was on the path...that allowed me to take full advantage of my Specialized "Ferrari"!

It's the Tin Man...I think that's Toto next to his feet. The Lion to the right...and an unknown to the far left.

Apparently I was wrong.

The next day I would ride would not be 65 and sunny...it would be 41 and raining. Yup, 41 and raining for my ride today. I managed to get in 20 miles on the bad weather bike before calling it a day. Not a long ride, but I was glad I got out...three days off the bike felt like forever. My legs felt incredible! I usually start off the ride with a warmup in my development...this gets the muscles up and ready to go...and gives me an indication of what kind of day it will be on the bike. I climbed the small hill in my development and the muscles responded kindly, ready to rock out for the day! Lots of power means good things...and it certainly did as I pushed the pace despite the rain and cold. The legs wanted more, but the conditions kept me from really pinning the throttle. No worries, I'll keep that power in reserve for this weekends rides. ;-)

I'm going to attempt to post a few pictures from my ride this past weekend...we'll see how it goes. :-)

Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde.

That would best describe our weather in March. It goes from 65 and sunny one day to 40 with snow flurries the next. No worries though, the 40 with flurries JUST so happens to be a day off the bike and in the office...and what do you know...the next time I'm due to ride...it will be in the 60's and sunny again...I'm not complaining.

So I was able to get out for a relatively quick ride on Saturday before the family birthday party function. It was threatening rain but never happened. I clicked off 30 miles (with some great hill climbs) before arriving at the party. I was smart and put clothes in the car before Jeanine left with the kids so I could change when I got there.

I was going to ride on Sunday but decided it would be a family day instead. I had racked up 126 miles on the bike since last Sunday and was feeling like we needed to have some fun as a family, so I canned the ride, even though I REALLY wanted to be out. Funny, when I think about totalling up 126 miles in a week, it sounds like a lot, but it's really not. This is all part of the plan though...to build slowly and come on very strong for June, July, and August. I can feel my legs and lungs getting stronger by the day....very cool!

I have dropped 10 pounds since I started. I'm now at 179.6. It feels good to moving closer to my goals. Now if I can just get this fundraising deal to catch up. It is not easy work getting people to donate money, especially in this tough economic time. I have a few pledges for donations that haven't come in yet...I feel good about the promises, but won't rest until we get closer to the goal. :-)

Peace.

Friday.

Howdy folks. This update is going to be brief as it's getting late and I'm pretty tired. I got out for a 32 mile ride on this beautiful Friday. It was about 60 degrees and partly sunny for most of my ride...pretty nice conditions for March in central Pa. We've had a warm and dry month...good for outdoor activities...bad for fire threats. There have already been a couple brush fires in the area. Let's hope for more consistent rain as the spring progresses.

I saw quite a few other cyclists out today. It was nice to see others out on the road enjoying the great conditions. :-)

I manged to stop to take a few photos...I'll post them this weekend.

OK, time to hit the hot-tub to relax the muscles in preparation for tomorrows ride. Looking to click off another 25 to 30 miles.

Goodnight.

It's raining cats and dogs.

And I want nothing more than to be pounding out miles on the bike! I love rough weather conditions...it separates the men from the boys in my opinion...and just makes riding that much more fun because no one else is out. I'll have to wait for another day though as I sit in my office with a few more hours of work ahead of me. After that, it's time for a three day weekend filled with fun times with the family and many miles on the bike.

On a side note, I'm toying with the idea of purchasing a video camera so I can capture some riding time. I often want to stop and take pictures to put up here, but that would get in the way of the flow of my rides...so I'm thinking a video camera is the way to go. There is some great scenery where I ride and I'd really like to share it...stay tuned...I think I might be making a purchase soon. :-)

Riders high!

It's in full effect right this moment as I just returned from a 22 mile speed ride!! Good stuff!!

In case you aren't sure what I'm talking about, it's the natural high you get when you run, bike, or do just about any strenuous workout activity. I remember the first time I experienced this "high"...back in college when I used to run like a mad man...about 25 to 30 miles a week. Mix that in with playing tennis and being young, and you have the reason I used to only weight 135 lbs. Not so anymore my friends, old age, laziness, and poor eating habits have me far from that weight...but not for long! Stick with me here and you'll see me do my best Snoop Dog impression and drop it like it's hot, drop like it's hot...

OK, enough with the rap references...on with the ride report. The legs were still sore from my Sunday ride, but that didn't stop me from pounding out 22 fast paced miles...in the wind. Noticing a trend here? It's windy a lot around here...especially in the spring. It's usually on my way home too...so I can really feel the burn in the closing miles. Good stuff though! Even though the legs were sore...they had a good amount of power...which has me encouraged. I will rest tomorrow...then hit it hard Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!

Peace out!

Late onset muscle soreness.

The muscles woke up this morning pretty sore. I'll be taking advantage of the hot-tub tonight to help deal with that so I can get in a descent ride tomorrow. Forecast includes 50 degree temps and rain and showers...might have to pull out the "bad weather bike". It's also a Specialized...an Allez Elite...not nearly as nice as the Tarmac, but it gets the job done. Don't get me wrong here, I'm not opposed to riding the Tarmac in the rain, but here in central Pa, we still have salt and crap on the roads from the winter, and I don't want that stuff in the components of the bike. Once we get another good rain or two, the roads should be clear.

Ok, I'm out. I'll report back after my ride tomorrow. :-)

I'm back...

and back with avengence! My plan for the day was to pound out mileage until my legs couldn't take anymore...pushing the pace, hammering the hills, and keeping the heart rate pegged! I was able to do that for 42 miles before the legs said "enough". I was pleased with the mileage as it was rather windy and I added some serious hill climbs to the ride.

My plan now is to let the legs recover a bit before hammering again on Wednesday.

Peace.

8 days and counting.

That's right, it's now been 8 days since I've been on the bike...not cool at all! I have to say though, that the rest has done me a ton of good...because whatever this sickness was, it was major, so it's a good thing I chilled out and got myself back on track. I still have a lingering cough and some specs of unwelcomed snot here and there...but it gets better every day. It killed me that I had to take yesterday off, it was 70 degrees and sunny out. I took advantage of the nice weather and cleaned up the bikes to let them know I'm with them in spirit, and so they'll be ready for the pounding they will take this weekend! If all goes well I'll be out for rides the next three days...YEAH BUDDY...I'm ready!

Bring on the March Madness!!

The sickness is holding on.

Yup. After working hard to have the sickness begin to retreat last week, it decided to fight back with avengence...and has had me down and out since last Thursday. It's finally starting to retreat again so all should be well in a day or two. I decided that rest and time off the bike was probably the best plan of action, so I haven't ridden since last Wednesday, not cool. Temps are forecasted to be in the upper 60's tomorrow...so I'll be out...even if it's an easy ride just to get the legs spinning. Once this sickness is gone for good...I'll be back at this in full swing...which will include more updates and pictures...and maybe some videos.

Happy St. Patty's Day! :-)

Mother Nature.

Ever watch a bird try to fly into the wind? That was me on my bike yesterday as Mother Nature threw out some 30 to 40mph winds during my ride. At one point I got blown right off the road...no worries though...I just dirt tracked it for a while until I could get back up on the tarmac. That sweet old lady can try to slow me down...but she won't stop me...I'm on a mission...and ya better just listen...to my rhymes cause I'm all about...OK...sorry about that...felt the need to break into a little LL Cool J.

Good news, the sickness is beginning to subside...I think it began to retreat during my ride yesterday...I would too...because I was bringing the fight to it pretty hard.

I will be sending out some fundraising letters today...that has me pretty pumped! I'm ready to start spreading the good word about this Challenge so we can make some progress in the financial department. We are well on our way to living a more healthy life and spreading the LIVESTRONG spirit, now it's time to put our money where our mouth is. :)

I think it's time for another quote:

If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it.

~William Arthur Ward

Down with the sickness.

Great song lyrics...but also an accurate description of me right now. Somethings got me feeling not quite right. I could feel it coming on Sunday afternoon.

I managed to get out in the amazing warm sunny weather we had on Friday and Saturday, totaling about 42 miles on the new road bike. The legs were sore on Sunday, but that didn't stop me from clicking off another 23 miles in wet chilly conditions on the "bad weather bike". :)

Whatever this sickness is (not quite a cold), it won't stop me from pushing on with my plan. Yesterday and today are rest days, then I'll be back at it tomorrow. My hope is to get about a 30 mile road ride in tomorrow, hit up the trainer Thursday night, then another 30 to 35 mile road ride on Friday before Jay comes to town. I'll then be off Saturday for a St. Patrick's Day party...then back on Sunday to pound some hill climbs...YEAH BUDDDY!!!

Take care all.

I am now equipped...

properly! Check this bad boy out!

I took it out for a quick 22 mile loop this evening...it's like a damn Ferrari!!

With 65 degree temps forecasted for tomorrow and Sunday, my butt will be firmly planted in the saddle for multiple hours!

I'll report back from the road after I click off some serious miles.

Peace!

Goals.

I'm a dangling carrot kind of guy...by that I mean I like to have something to shoot for...hence the topic of this post. On this, the day before my "secret weapon" arrives, I thought I'd lay out a few of my LIVESTRONG Challenge goals.

Let's start with my weight, since that seems the most appropriate place to begin. As an adult, my heaviest weight was 202.4 pounds. I know, holy fat bastard! I'm only 5' 5", and I like to "think" I carry my weight well, but that's just porky pig...now matter how you look at it. When I hit that weight, I decided a change was in order...especially considering that when I was in college, and ran like 25 to 30 miles a week, my lowest weight was 136. My friends thought I looked sick, because I was so skinny, but man did I feel AWESOME! I don't think I need to hit 136, more like 160. When I started this deal I weighed in at 189.6. On the scale this morning, 181.2...SWEET...that means progress is happening...I like progress...that means the carrot is getting closer. For this Challenge my goal weight will be set at 160. I think donating one of my chins along with some cash will be pretty sweet. :-)

My second goal is to really take the LIVESTRONG message and apply it to my life from here on out. I have a family, and generally like being alive, so I'm thinking it's a good idea to be as healthy as I can, so I can be around to enjoy life to its fullest. I will apply this message on a daily basis, by remaining steadfast in my approach to fitness, on a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual level. After all, the definition of "health" covers all four areas, and I want to be "healthy". You know, I actually remember that from my high school health class...never forgot the definition of health, just didn't always work to have it be part of my life.

The next goal also revolves around the LIVESTRONG message. I want to inspire others to live more healthy lives and really have the LIVESTRONG message transcend the fight against cancer. We tend to be an unhealthy overweight country, and that is, for the most part, because we don't make good choices. Believe me, I'm guilty...it's easy to make poor choices...they usually taste better. ;-) Seriously though, my hope is to help the message get out that we can all be healthy individuals that lead very fulfilling lives...and it starts with choices...good choices.

So, there you have it...a short list of my goals as I embark on the LIVESTRONG Challenge. Stay tuned...I'll be unveiling my secret weapon after I pick it up tomorrow.

Until then...

SIUNARA

Wacky Wednesday!

At least, that's how it felt today. It was one of those days where I felt like I was operating in "fast forward"...ever have that feeling? It might, I say might, have had something to do with the GIGANTIC mocha latte I started the day with at Dunkin Donuts. I love going there with Jeanine and the kids, there's just something about coffee, an awesome wife, and two beautiful kids that makes the day right. Don't get me wrong, soon after my feeling of love and appreciation...the sugar high kicked in with the kids, and, well, you probably know the rest of the story.

Today is a short entry...it's time for the kids bath and then bed...then a trainer ride while Jeanine runs on the treadmill. It's a pretty cool setup...side by side in the basement.

Only two more days until my mack daddy purchase comes in...my "secret weapon" for the LIVESTRONG Challenge. Details to follow...

Peace out!

Good karma was flowing today.

How do I know? Because I had one of those moments where multiple things just came together and it created what I call a true moment of appreciation...one where you just know that some greater power had something to do with the order of the world for that moment. Pretty cool stuff.

In addition to the good karmic energy of the day is the feeling that this fundraising deal is really starting to take off, and I haven't even scratched the surface yet. I'm thinking this campaign is going to resemble that of a freight train...look out once it's starts rolling...because there won't be any stopping it!

Riding plans for this week include a trainer ride Tuesday evening, a 25 to 30 mile road ride Wednesday, more of the trainer Thursday evening, then hitting the road bike hard Friday and over the weekend. This karma stuff has me ready to pound out some serious miles. Here's to those not fortunate enough to be able to take to the bike due to complications with cancer...this week...I ride for you all.

LIVESTRONG

First post!

Well, here it is, my first post. I'm officially "official", whatever that means. OK, here's the deal. The main reason I'm starting this blog is to chronicle my riding/fundraising efforts for the Lance Armstrong Foundations LIVESTRONG Challenge. Yes, that's right, I've decided to take my efforts to fight cancer beyond simple thoughts and prayers. I've decided to raise some dough, moo la, green paper, coin, dinero, cash money...all to benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the fight against cancer. Here's the link to my personal fundraising page.

http://philly09.livestrong.org/don_page10

And the link to the LIVESTRONG Challenge itself.

www.livestrongchallenge.com

Why have I decided to take on this challenge you might ask. Because I've been affected by cancer in many ways, most recently, by losing a client to cancer. I can't disclose their name due to confidentiality issues, but I can tell you that they had an amazing spirit, a fighting attitude, and not one ounce of feeling as though they were a powerless victim. That inspired me to look into some volunteer activity related to cancer...and just a few clicks later...I found the LIVESTRONG Challenge! What a great opportunity! I am extremely excited about it for a number of reasons.

I've always wanted to take a stand against cancer as I've witnessed what the disease does to people on a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual level. Having the opportunity to raise money for research is the perfect way for me to contribute...and it doesn't hurt that I get to help others spirits LIVESTRONG by riding my road bike 100 miles in honor of those affected, and those that have lost the battle along the way. This is going to help others and help me at the same time, as I am setting some personal goals to help the LIVESTRONG spirit transcend not only those fighting cancer, but those that can be leading healthier lives. I'll chronicle my personal goals at a later date...for now I'm going to close with my favorite quote.

If one advances confidently in the direction of thier dreams, and endeavors to lead a life which they have imagined, they will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. ~Thoreau

Peace.