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From the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad. This was a pretty cool ride. No cell service so I had to wait until later to post the pic.
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What no training updates…
Well I have not updated on my training, because I have not been able to. I was in a car accident, not serious, at the end of March. My back is a mess and keeping me off the bike still at this point. This is why people with anger problems should be forced to drive micro cars.
If anyone wants their Courage Classic donations back, I’ll make good on them. I was hoping that I could get back on the bike by the beginning of July but missed that mark. Feel free to still donate even if I don’t ride, it’s a great cause.
This will be the first CC I missed since I started doing the ride in 1997. So far only missing 2001 which didn’t count due to being canceled by forest fires.
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It’s that time again. I am collecting and training for the Courage Classic. I am starting my training doing 12 oz curls and jumping to conclusions. I am feeling really good at this point.
Here is the link to donate: http://www.firstgiving.com/bikermikey
Feel free to give directly to the cause: http://www.childrenstrust.org/
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Courage Classic day three
The day started with a great breakfast in Leavenworth, and they started serving early. I cannot thank them enough for the early breakfast.
I did really well on the last day, very very slow but still really well. One thing to keep in mind I am very heavy, so going uphill can take lots of power, this translates to calories. I ran out of them, I did not have enough energy bars this day. I accepted the kind offer of one from a woman that I talked with in line for dinner at Cle Elum the first day. So I was really slow going up the hills to conserve my reserves. Downhill on the other hand is another matter, there I shine.
I walked up the last climb since my right foot was bothering me. My right foot started to hurt the night before, not during the ride but a while afterwards. Really odd. It was quite hot and only a little chilly in the early morning. The RSC’s (Rider Service Centers) seemed to get hit pretty hard, many good things were running low. I took a while to get a massage, a bit of a mistake time wise.
Lunch consisted of tasty baked potatoes and lots of stuff to go on them and chili. From there a blazing descent followed by a fast meander through the Iron Goat Trail Interpretive Site and then another fast descent. WHOO HOO!!!
The finish was down a gravel road and I was on the last bus heading out. This meant that we had to wait for the last person to finish and shower before we could leave… But then we still didn’t leave. It turned out those lovely folks at a place named like what we were shorted us a truck. We found out that not only did they short us a truck but they had apparently rented out some or all of the “reserved” trucks. (This had happened to a friend with this company before too) nice. After a protracted wait for the first bike transport truck to come back we wew on our way.
Over all it was a “LEGENDARY!!!” weekend.
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Courage Classic 2008 I Finished
Well I made it. Zero flat tires, no mechanical problems, and only a minor physical issue. My racing bike has never been this dirty before though, I have to wash it again, dang. Talked to some newbie and some veterans for the first time. Something to keep in mind all of you that say this ride is too hard:
1) I weighed 275 lbs at the start, dressed a little more.
2) My longest ride this season was 34 miles.
3) I averaged only 1.5 rides a week for the last few months.
4) I finished.
This ride is amazing, the support all the way around is awesome. The guys from Old Town Bicycle take amazing care of our steeds. The Rotarians that man the Rider Service Centers and the meals are the best. Multicare has seen to it that every dollar donated goes directly to the cause, all expenses are covered by either donations or by Multicare. It’s still not too late to donate at:
http://www.firstgiving.com/bikermikey2008
I noticed at least three vintage bikes on the ride, one has been on this ride longer than I have. I started as a rookie in 1997. New bikes start around 20 lbs for an affordable model, these vintage bikes are usually a bit heavier. I might go back to my 1982 Fuji Touring Series 4 for next year just for fun. The last time i weighed that bike it was about 23 lbs. my Klien Quantum Race that I rode this year is about 18 lbs.
The News Tribune had a blogger on the ride see his experience on the Adventure Guys blog give it a read. I took at least a few pictures, but did not have my card reader or cable to transfer them. I should get the photos up when I get home Wednesday or so.