Along the way I encountered:

A few years ago I did my first indoor time trial. I had completed some [...]]]> I did an indoor time trial this past weekend. I ignored my plan for a long outdoor ride and drove up to do a 30 minute computrainer race. 30 long minutes.  It always seems like a fun idea when I register.

A few years ago I did my first indoor time trial. I had completed some pretty hard races the summer before and was feeling pretty confident. It was 10K long. The shortest race I’d ever done to that point.  I placed nearly last. Next to me, a relatively obese older fellow pedaled along happily as i suffered miserably.

This one went a bit better. Though in my typical way I went out too hard, before realizing Im not Lance. Still, it was a decent showing. I’m sure it will be fun next week.

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I have completed my second PBP and somewhat back to a clear head, though I’m told I look awful. We are in the process of collecting some friends along the course that have had to drop out.

Weather was nothing short of awful. Cold, rain and wind. Maybe 4 hours [...]]]> and day and night and day.

I have completed my second PBP and somewhat back to a clear head, though I’m told I look awful. We are in the process of collecting some friends along the course that have had to drop out.

Weather was nothing short of awful. Cold, rain and wind. Maybe 4 hours of sunshine in the 65 hours I was on the road. Rumors so far suggest a DNF rate over 30%.

The ride did not go to plan at all. Scott and I managed to get into the first wave of riders leaving at 8:00 pm. 500 riders per wave. Rain started minutes later. Pace was high, but not unreasonable. I attempted to move further up toward the front to avoid the energy sapping accordion effect that occurs when sitting at the back of a paceline. Eventually, we found ourselves looking at a large gap to bridge. I looked over at Scott and said, “We have to decide now if we really want to stay with the lead pack, or ride our own pace”. “lets go”. So I pushed hard to get across the gap and move up through the field, when I heard, “Bryce”. I look back and Scotts crank arm has fallen off. It is hanging from his shoe.

We stop and he reattaches the crank arm. We get moving again and start moving up through the packs, however it was becoming apparent I used far too much energy for this early in a 750 mile ride. The crank arm comes loose again and we somehow get off course and do an additional 9 miles before even getting to the optional checkpoint at Mortagne. When we reach the first real checkpoint at Villaines-la-Juhel I am toast and I have 1000 km to go.
more to come..

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The meeting will be held at the Chicago Public Library Uptown Branch located at W. Buena Ave. Buena is a short block between Sheridan and Broadway. It is one and a half blocks south of [...]]]> I’ll be speaking to the Chicago Cycling Club Tuesday November 14 at 6:30 pm about my RAAM experience.

The meeting will be held at the Chicago Public Library Uptown Branch located at W. Buena Ave. Buena is a short block between Sheridan and Broadway. It is one and a half blocks south of Montrose Avenue and three blocks north of Irving Park Road. For CTA service take the 151 Sheridan or 36 Broadway Buses as well as the Wilson or Sheridan stations on the Red Line. Click here for a Mapquest map.

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Press Release

Bryce Walsh, who [...]]]> I will be doing a doing a question and answer session at Turin Bicycle this Sunday afternoon. Joining me will be Peter Hoogenboom who is riding through the US to raise awareness for Diabetes by riding through 48 states in 7 months. 2 different ways of crossing the US on bicycle.

Press Release

Bryce Walsh, who finished 5^th place in last month’s 3,040-mile Race Across America and Peter Hoogenboom, a bike racer from Salt Lake City, riding The Dream Tour of 9,700 miles will speak at Turin Bicycle.

Walsh, a Chicago resident finished the race from Oceanside, CA to Atlantic City, NJ in less than 12 days. Walsh, 35, began ultra marathon cycling in 2003 to keep a friend company in the qualifying events for the 790 mi. Paris-Brest-Paris (P-B-P) brevet and so enjoyed the rides, he completed P-B-P with his friend that year. Since then, he has competed in the Furnace Creek 508 (miles) in California, Boston-Montreal-Boston, five 24-hour races, and won the 1200 Km Gold Rush Randonnee. Last winter, he put his freelance web development and programming business on hold and relocated to Austin, TX to train for The Race Across America.

Hoogenboom, a Salt Lake City native, will appear at Turin the day after his interview at Wrigley Field by Ron Santo. Hoogenboom, 47, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes 33 years ago and has been racing and touring for the past 22, leading up to The Dream Tour of seven months to 48 states. He is sharing his success in living well with diabetes through self-management and an active, healthy lifestyle and wants to inspire all people with diabetes with this trip. He is three-quarters of the way through his Dream Tour, funded by the Bayer Dream Fund, which has a goal of demonstrating how diabetics can accomplish their dreams while managing their diabetes well. Learn more about Peter and his tour at www.thedreamtour.org.

Both athletes, riding thousands of miles across America, are achieving their cycling vision in two different ways and have much to share about their experiences, including what motivated them, how they prepared, how they won support from family, friends, and financial backers, what challenges they faced en route, what equipment they’ve found most valuable, and, most of all … would they do it again.

Turin Bicycle is a leading shop for Chicago-area cycling enthusiasts and the general public. Since 1965, its knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff have offered a wide selection of brands, fit bikes to each individual, and shared their passion for cycling. The mission at Turin is more than selling bikes; it is to show customers the joy of cycling, whatever their style or goals may be. Turin is well positioned to assist anyone seeking to start riding for exercise or fitness, with access to a wide range of cycling clubs and events.

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I planned 2 long days, 300 miles on Friday, followed by 150-300 miles on Saturday.

Friday was fairly uneventful until 3 AM Saturday morning when on [...]]]> My last weekend of riding in Austin before returning to my home in Chicago. The tundra had melted enough to allow long training rides, and I was missing my own bed.

I planned 2 long days, 300 miles on Friday, followed by 150-300 miles on Saturday.

Friday was fairly uneventful until 3 AM Saturday morning when on a nearly empty stretch of 620 a left turning SUV came within inches of hitting me. The woman driving rolled down her window and exclaimed “I never saw you”. It is easy enough to point out that I have mutiple headlights and lots of reflective clothing. I was amazed by this statement. Of course you didn’t see me, or else you would have to yell “Sorry, I tried to kill you, but I am such a bad driver I couldn’t hit you”.

I began my second day by heading north along the lake toward Liberty Hill. A girl yelled out her window, “You’ll never be Lance”. This made me laugh. Normally I hear something more akin to “Get the F**K off the road”. I wondered if I should be insulted by the statement, but at first I thought it was kinda cool, than it came to mind I’ll never be Lance, but Lance will never be me.

As the evening proceeded I received a nearly indecipherable message from an articulation impaired vehicle passenger. Something about “Fag, mumble mumble one testicle mumble”.

I continued my training ride into the night. Upon leaving Florence TX, I had a vehicle pull up behind me and follow for a few seconds. I than hear through the PA system of the police car, “You must be incredibly brave to ride on these highways at night”. The “… or stupid” portion of the announcement can be inferred. I had not really thought too much of riding on lightly trafficked country roads up to this point. A period of paranoia followed until th end of the ride.

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Durango to South Fork is mainly rolling terrain up to Wold Creek Pass. The pass is a fairly long sustained effort but the grade [...]]]> I’ve just completed riding the RAAM course from Durango to Trinidad(and back again). Beautiful scenery was tempered by rain, snow, ice, and hail. Hopefully another month will raise the temperatures a bit.

Durango to South Fork is mainly rolling terrain up to Wold Creek Pass. The pass is a fairly long sustained effort but the grade is never very difficult. I encountered snow and a flat tire at the top of the pass, resulting in a bout with near hypothermia by the time I reached the construction area on the downslope. A kind CDOT employee offered me her car to warm up in while I awaited a ride through the contruction zone. She mentioned working last year while RAAM was going through the area. It seems Jure Robic was very unhappy with having to wait to pass through the construction.

South Fork to La Veta is almost entirely flat until you reach the La Veta pass which is pretty easy. Organic restaurant in Del Norte had excellent food also a good restaurant on the east side of Blanca. The La Veta Inn was a very friendly place. Managed by a fellow North Dakotan, he offered to come and pick me up if I got stuck out in too nasty of weather.

La Veta to Trinidad is another climb through a pass. Scenery was excellent and traffic was very low until reaching Old Elk mine on the downslope. Than it occassionaly became uncomfortable as large trucks rushed by with little shoulder. Hail storms raced me back up the pass. I raced toward the one bit of clear sky near the summit.

All in all it was a successful trip. I’ve seen a difficult portion of the course and ridden it while loaded with panniers. Doing it again on a race bike can only be more fun. Lets hope for less snow and hail.

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