Pictures from the Tour de Cure!

Here is a picture of me finishing. I came in a little under 4 hours. At the midway point (~32 miles) I had averaged 17.5 mph. Coming home was a different story with more hills and less gas in my tank. I finshed up with a 16 mph average.

I only "really" stopped at the halfway point rest area. They had great PB&J and Gatorade. I say "really" because I did slow down and stop at another rest stop right before the halfway point, but it was for the WRONG ride!


It turns out that some idiot has a beef with the ADA and so he organized a "Tour de Blue" to raise money for prostate cancer research the same day as the Tour de Cure and on the same route. The story is that he actual has an issue with another diabetes organization but has confused that organization with the ADA. Oh well. I took some of their water and went on my way.

The ride was awesome. The first 46 miles were great. Then on mile 46 as I was going up the longest hill ever in my easiest gear, standing, and barely moving, my quads started cramping. It was a little rough for the next 20 miles. I lost the people I had been riding with, well actually they lost me, and at one point I had to ask some highway workers who were paving, "have you seen a bunch of riders come this way?" They had and I managed to stay on the course.

Here is just about the best part of the whole event. Getting the post race massage! It was awesome. Nicole took this pictures and asked me how it was. Then a few seconds later I felt another set of hands down on my legs, as this girl pictures was still up on my shoulders. I thought it was Nicole and grabbed her hands and smacked them away. The other massage girl, who had been taking a break, told me not to "get fresh" with her! Seriously though, this massage was pretty amazing. I was exhausted and sore but this helped ease me into a relaxed stupor (see next photo).





Here is my relaxed stupor. I honestly had trouble chewing food I was so tired.








Thanks for everyone who donated and for everyone who visited the blog.

I have raised $1755.00 to help in the fight to find a cure for diabetes. I have until the end of may to raise more so if you have not donated you still have time!

Thanks again!

Cheers,
Mitch

Birmingham has lots of hills. . .

Well the ride is done.

It was a lot of fun although pretty tough.

I finished in a little under 4 hours.

Pictures to be posted as soon as we get back to VA.

Thanks for all the support.

Mitch

So I am not the best blogger. . .

Not that I needed to tell you that since you can see I have not been posting.

But, I have been riding. For the past month or so I have been going to spinning classes twice a week and then this past week while up at the Army JAG school at UVA I got some miles out on the open road (about 50 miles in the beautiful Charlottesville countryside).

I have about one month before the race and I am focused on getting out to prepare.

Monday I will start riding my bike to work!

Thanks to everyone that has donated! There is still time for those of you who have not donated yet!

Also, check back to participate in a survey to choose what jersey I wear in the race!

Cheers,
Mitch

FLAT TIRE!

So I know it sounds like an excuse (which it is) but I got my bike out of the shower on Monday afternoon and it had a flat tire!  

So I went about fixing that tire and while I was at it tuned up the bike.  

Nicole made fun of me because I came up from my man cave of a basement with grease all over my hands and tire parts in my grip.  It's cold down there!  No heat or insulation!

Anyway, I moved my operation to the kitchen table and patched the pin size hole in my tube.  

Now I am ready to ride. . .

No more excuses. . .

Cheers,

Mitch

The first person to donate (and get my bike out of the shower)!

Thanks and eternal recognition goes to Chris, Margs,
Anna Banana, Cheech, and Murph for getting my bike
out of the shower and getting me on the road to 62 miles!







Also thanks for Uncle Jim (brushing Murph here)
for his generous donation and pledge to double it
if I finish under 4 hours!





Also thanks to my wife Nicole (here with Chris and Margs Daughter Anna) for putting up with my bike clothes, trainer in the house, and general craziness!






Anyway, I just sent out the sponsor requests yesterday and I have already gotten a great response! Already raised $475! Keep it coming! I hope I have to up my goal!

Cheers,
Mitch

Help me get my bike out of the shower. . .

My bike currently lives in our guest bathroom shower.

I need to start riding but I need your help.

The first person to donate gets the honor of making me get my bike out of the shower. You will be memorialized for all eternity (or at least as long as this blog stays up in cyberspace) as the person who got my bike out of the shower!

Lets start riding!!!

Cheers,

Mitch