The Machines of the Tour Of California

Three time Tour of California winner Levi Leipheimer's time trial machine. It has a custom paint job with a Golden Bear on the top tube, stars and a Solvang windmill on the seat post, roses on the seat stay, and fancy scrollwork on the handlebars. Lance Armstrong's Trek Madone 6.9 Livestrong road bike. The 1274 on the seat post refers to the number of days he was "retired". The 27.5 on the seat stay is the number of deaths (in millions) due to cancer during that time. Must be rough maintaining Lance's time trial bike to his exact standards. Must be even harder to guard it. You never know when someone might want to steal it. BMC Racing Team truck full of DT Swiss wheels at over $1,000 per set. The "90's" team BMC is a USA team that rides Swiss based BMC cycles. Team OUCH, formerly Health Net, was named initially as a joke by Dr. Brent Kay the orthopod who resurfaced the hip of Floyd Landis. Kuota is their bike of choice. Jelly Belly Cycling Team, very colorful, rides GT Cycles powered by Sport Beans. Felt is the ride for the Garmin Slipstream team, and wouldn't you know it, all their bikes have Garmin 705 GPS's on them. Garmin Slipstream's David Zabriske used this time machine to come in second in Solvang, 8 seconds behind Leipheimer. "DZ" used the new Shimano electronic shifters (Dura Ace Di2 7970) on his road bike. Garmin Slipstream's Christian VdV's Felt, complete with the new Camelback water bottles. Bissell Pro Cycling mechanic shows off his Pinarello. Dutch team Rabobank rides Giant bikes-the seatpost looks like it might fit a giant. The sexy Fuji time trial bikes for the sexy Rock Racing team. sexy saddles, sexy wheels, . . . even sexy water bottles. Oh, yes, you can't forget the support vehicles.The engine that powers these machines, courtesy of Saxo Bank's Gustav Larsson.

Tour Of California

I've been on the road following the Amgen Tour of California. Just a quick post, more pictures to follow.
Lance protecting Levi on the road. Stage 5 Podium presentation in Paso Robles
Cavendish, Mancebo, Horrillo, Leipheimer, Crane bookended by the Podium Girls Kristen and Joanna.

MS Bay to Bay Tour 2008

The riders of the 2008 Bike to Bay MS tour (BiketoFinishMS) raised over $2 million! There's always a sense of energy at the start of a bike ride-excitement energy, physical energy, nervous energy, and pent up energy from all the training you've done. This is when you know all the weeks of training rides will pay off. Ryan, rider #1125, ready to attack from the start. He's planning a break away. This is his first multi-day ride and he worked hard to prepare for it. The route for day 1 snakes us out of Irvine, dodging cars in Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach, through the hilly neighborhood of San Clemente, playing "Frogger" with the surfers near San Onofre, and the uphill grind in Camp Pendleton. 59 miles in all. Speeding into Dana Point Harbor means the rollers of PCH are over and we've gone 25 miles. Ryan checking out the shrink-wrapped Range Rover SAG Wagon before we chowed down some Wahoo's tacos. San Onofre Bluff overlooking surf beaches with names like Trestles, Church, The Point, Old Man's, and Dogpatch. The Oceanside Pier means we're in Carlsbad and only a few more miles to the finish. Tonight we stuffed ourselves at Olive Garden and passed out at the Marriott. Day 2 was 43 miles mostly along the coast with a tailwind. Cruising into Torrey Pines State Beach-downhill and downwind. Lurking in the background is the hill climb dreaded by all the MS riders, except Ryan. He's a mountain goat. The Torrey Pines profile-short but steep. Down the cobbles of La Jolla. Last coastal view as we head inland for the finishing line. Happy finishers at Mission Bay. 102 miles in two days, 3940 feet of climbing, 5380 Calories, and raising money to help fight MS. Great job, Ryan!

What Is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, unpredictable disease of the central nervous system (the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord). It is thought to be an autoimmune disorder. This means the immune system incorrectly attacks the person's healthy tissue.
MS can cause blurred vision, loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue, problems with memory and concentration, paralysis, and blindness and more. These problems may be permanent or may come and go.
Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, although individuals as young as 2 and as old as 75 have developed it. MS is not considered a fatal disease as the vast majority of people with it live a normal life-span. But they may struggle to live as productively as they desire, often facing increasing limitations. For more FAQs about MS click here.

Thank you to:

Doreen Wallce

Andrea Genette

Joyce Boomsma

Rudy Solorzano

Louise Manuel

Patricia Weiser

Ruby Salinas

Linda Pfeiffer

Preceptor Mu Omicron (Westminster)

for their generous contribution toward my fundraising efforts to help cure MS!

To help me reach my goal click here.

Bon Ton Roulet, Day 7 - Trumansburg to Auburn

We actually saw a sunrise today from our room at the Copper Beacon. The weather forecast is for thundershowers in the afternoon, though.Our room was called "Under-the-Eves" and it had two full beds, an in-room bath and a sloping roof - Ouch! Hit my head a few times. Laurel and I decided to hang around for breakfast and treat ourselves to Eileen's home cooking. We couldn't decide what to choose from the menu but I think we tried almost everything - eggs, bacon, French Toast, potatoes, home-made muffins, fruit, coffee, juice, and maple syrup, jellies, and butter made on the farm. What a way to start a day! It was past 9:30 AM, and we had to get rolling.This was a straightforward route heading north along the west shore of Cayuga Lake back to where we started seven days ago in Auburn. There was not much sightseeing, just a long steady bike ride with time to think about our past week riding in the Bon Ton Roulet.The last leg was a downhill out of Trumansburg and a gradual easy uphill climb back to Auburn. Total ascent was 1,385 feet. The straw from the wheat crop that is left behind after the combine does it's job is baled and used for livestock bedding. . . and hay rides. This must be where old tractors come to rust while they wait to be sold on E-bay. Today was the kickoff for the 22nd Annual Route 90 Garage Sale, stretching more than 50 miles where "garage sale junkies find paradise". Unfortunately, today's route back to Auburn took us on SR 90 for about 3 miles. If you sell it, they will come. People stopping, parking, U-turning, door-opening, J-walking, trunk-loading made for a challenging ride through the neighborhoods. Besides, we were also trying to check out what was for sale. The final stretch back to Auburn. Since we had a late start, we saw none of the other riders on the road. We did the 45.6 mile ride in 3 hrs:40 min with only one 15 minute break, averaging 12.4 MPH. We were the last ones in, just before it started raining again, and in time for our shuttle ride back to Syracuse.

Congratulations! 291 miles in 7 days

Total bike time: 38 Hrs:30Min

Total Ascent: 11,362 ft

Total Calories: 14,723

No flats, no falls, many good memories.

Bon Ton Roulet, Day 6 - Watkins Glen to Trumansburg

Today was anticipated to be an enjoable ride: a downhill start to breakfast, two lakes, two water falls, two wineries, a home made ice cream shop, and blue skies. Plus we were staying at a bed & breakfast tonight. Two steep climbs today, 2,315 feet of total climbing, 45.5 miles, 4 hrs:24 min ride time. Average speed 10.3 MPH, max speed 32.5 MPH. With rested legs we made this climb out of Watkins Glen with no problem-o. The bridge on HWY 414 crosses right over Hector Falls as it cascades 165 feet into Seneca Lake. As they say in Hawaii: "The weather is beautiful, wish you were here." First rest stop at mile 15 was the Wagner Winery and Brewery. We enjoyed the last views of Seneca Lake from the outdoor patio. Lake view and Leg view. Now you know why the "pros" shave their legs.
After a nice downhill traveling east from Ovid to Cayuga Lake we arrive at the mile 30 rest stop at the Sheldrake Point Vineyard and Simply Red Bistro. Enjoying the blue sky and Cayuga Lake. After a 3 mile, 500 feet, leg-burning climb we were rewarded by Taughannock Falls - one of the highest falls east of the Rocky Mountains.
The tourist pose - one for the scrap book. Wish you were here. Our first stop in Trumansburg was a stop at the local ice cream shop for a Texas Hot Dog and a double scoop of Mint Chocolate Chip - Yumm-o! After some maneuvering through "T-burg" we checked into the Copper Beacon Inn. Laurel soon enjoyed the hospitality of Eileen and Gerry Collins. Fresh lemon-aid and ginger snap cookies in the "best room" was perfect after a long day in the saddle. Gerry also treated our tired legs by giving us a ride to and from the Trumansburg School so we could enjoy the Bar-B-Cue dinner with the rest of the riders.
There were many gardens surrounding the farmhouse, great for relaxing. Or spend your hours watching a combine harvest wheat.Or visit Eileen's Herb Shop - a special place where she packages all her organic specialties and conducts classes on cooking with herbs.
The Copper Beacon is 5 stars - no doubt!