Hello from Winatche, WA! Our ride has kicked off and after two days in the saddle (that's cyclist for 'seat') I am tired and sore, but excited for tomorrow.
Here's an abbreviated account of what I've been up to since arriving in Seattle just four days ago.
The cyclists were greated by crew members at the Seattle airport and shuttled to the Quality Inn a few blocks from the Space Needle. We had a host of awkward introductions that began with the usual - name, hometown, and major - followed by, "so I guess we're going to bike across the country together." We changed into our 'JOH tuxedo' (Push America t-shirt and khaki shorts) and had our first friendship visit with members of the Arc of King Country at nearby Gas Works Park.
The next two days were spent drilling the Cycling Rules of the Road, as my mother has happy to learn, at the nation's first REI! The builing had it's own waterfall and looked like the bunker in Jurassic Park. Very cool. We also did a "skills assesment" on the bike where we had to demonstrate our ability or inability to ride by and pick up a water bottle, check over our shoulder to check for obstacles, and ride in a paceline. Luckily for me the obstacle course was shut down before I could try it. I'm sure if would have gone poorly.
On the third full day we took a short ride around a lake outside of Seattle so we could practice pacelining, stopping in a crew rest stops, and avoiding obstacles on the road (of which there were many). It went well and assuaged many, but not all, of my fears about riding in a group. The evening we had our kick-off dinner at Buca di Beppo in Seattle where we were served hearping bowls of salad, garlic bread and pasta. Rest assured there were no left overs.
The first day of riding took us 70 miles east to Skykomish where the team doubled the town's population. The sights along the way were breathtaking, as was the town. I had no trouble sleeping until the train whizzed by next to the school we were staying at around 2:30am, or maybe it was 8:30pm - it was a early night.
Today's ride has brought us another 75 miles to Winatche, but you already know that. The ride involved a 17 miles climb up almost 4,000 feet. It went well until the last 3 miles where I felt like breakfast was making a comeback. Me and one other person racked our bike to the top of the mountain and rode back down at a scary pace. Except for a breif encounter with the rumble strip, I'd say it went rather well.
We're fortunate for these first two days of riding to have professional cycling coach, Dean Peterson riding with the team. He's been between groups giving us all tips and being increadibly supportive. Today I was one of two 'sweeps' meaning I rode at the back of the pack and waited with any cyclists with an injury or flat tire. I also got to wear a great vest that said 'Cyclists Ahead.' At one point at the aforementioned 17 mile climb we spotted Coach Peterson rounding a corner underneath a group we had stopped to wait with. It took us about 20 minutes to cycle the sam distance he took in what seemed like the blink of an eye. He moves much like the Dread Pirate Roberts in the beginning of the Pricess Bride (who we later realize is the farmboy - Wesley).
All in all, it has been tiring, and I feel like I have been on the road for a month I am enjoying myself and my company. I admit I was worried that many team members were in this just for the glory of cycling cross-country, but I've found that not to be the case. They are a truly wonderful group of men who care about combating the neagitive connotations that surround people with disabilities and fraternitites. They inspire me to be a better person and cyclist each day.
Thank you for your continued support and keep me and my team in your prayers.
Mike
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Update: April 21, 2009
Hello my people! There is so much to catch you up on I don't know where to begin, so I'll start...here!
1. I have a bike! Did I tell you that already? Thank you to Brother Sloan for the use of his sweet road bike. This will be its second cross-country trek in two years! It is tuned up and ready to go.
2. Training: I have been riding the aforementioned bike! My goal is to bike 300 miles before leaving in June. I have about 260 of those miles left, but with my school vacation I can easily knock off 100 more! In fact, after writing this entry I have a sweet 25 mile route planned that will take me down the beach and back!
4. Donations: Thank you to The Bicycle Link in Weymouth, MA, Cohasset Cycle Sports in Cohaset, MA, and Broadway Bicycle School in Cambridge, MA who have all donated equipment to my adventure! Together they have donated over $500 worth of equipment to help me complete my ride.
5. Fundraising Total = $4,634.86!!! Thank you for your help! That means only $365.14 needed to meet the minimum fundraising quota for cyclists. Every dollar helps improve the life chances of Americans with disabilities. I am proud to be your ambassador of good will this summer!
6. Route Selection: TransAmerica! This is what I was hoping for. I will leave from Seattle, WA on June 10. Check out our route and see if we bike near you. It would be wonderful to see you along the way :) If not along the way, then definitely in Washington D.C. for the arrival ceremony on August 15. Remember, frozen margaritas are in order after!
Thank you for your continued support! 44 days until departure for Seattle!
1. I have a bike! Did I tell you that already? Thank you to Brother Sloan for the use of his sweet road bike. This will be its second cross-country trek in two years! It is tuned up and ready to go.
2. Training: I have been riding the aforementioned bike! My goal is to bike 300 miles before leaving in June. I have about 260 of those miles left, but with my school vacation I can easily knock off 100 more! In fact, after writing this entry I have a sweet 25 mile route planned that will take me down the beach and back!
4. Donations: Thank you to The Bicycle Link in Weymouth, MA, Cohasset Cycle Sports in Cohaset, MA, and Broadway Bicycle School in Cambridge, MA who have all donated equipment to my adventure! Together they have donated over $500 worth of equipment to help me complete my ride.
5. Fundraising Total = $4,634.86!!! Thank you for your help! That means only $365.14 needed to meet the minimum fundraising quota for cyclists. Every dollar helps improve the life chances of Americans with disabilities. I am proud to be your ambassador of good will this summer!
6. Route Selection: TransAmerica! This is what I was hoping for. I will leave from Seattle, WA on June 10. Check out our route and see if we bike near you. It would be wonderful to see you along the way :) If not along the way, then definitely in Washington D.C. for the arrival ceremony on August 15. Remember, frozen margaritas are in order after!
Thank you for your continued support! 44 days until departure for Seattle!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
February/March Recap
Hello! Is anyone still reading? I wouldn't blame you if you had lost interest in this epic cycling drama since I haven't updated in almost two months...however, I have much to tell you, so relax, close your eyes (figuratively) and listen.
Since we last chatted I have been busy as a student teacher at a local high school where I taught band, chorus and music theory. It is an extremely active program and as much as I will miss it and the students who comprise it, I will be glad to catch up on some much needed sleep, and maybe even rekindle my social life! I begin working at an elementary school tomorrow morning with another wonderful mentor, and even though the days are shorter and there are no after school commitments, I think I underestimate the amount of energy required to work with young children all day!
As far as training goes not only have I secured a bike to ride, had it completely overhauled, it is actually almost warm enough in Massachusetts to consider riding it! I am still active at the gym spinning and lifting weights 4 - 5 days a week as well as cross training with swimming and the occasional run (although I really dislike running...).
I'm slowly but surely closing the gap on my fundraising goals as well! The total as of today is $4,329.86! Thank you to so many friends and family members who have donated, as well as members of the community who read about my trek in the local paper. Now I'm working to get my cycling gear donated as well. Ideally my only out of pocket expense will be my flight to the west coast.
I should find out Wednesday which route I'll be cycling, so stay tuned for a post then!
All the best,
Mike
Since we last chatted I have been busy as a student teacher at a local high school where I taught band, chorus and music theory. It is an extremely active program and as much as I will miss it and the students who comprise it, I will be glad to catch up on some much needed sleep, and maybe even rekindle my social life! I begin working at an elementary school tomorrow morning with another wonderful mentor, and even though the days are shorter and there are no after school commitments, I think I underestimate the amount of energy required to work with young children all day!
As far as training goes not only have I secured a bike to ride, had it completely overhauled, it is actually almost warm enough in Massachusetts to consider riding it! I am still active at the gym spinning and lifting weights 4 - 5 days a week as well as cross training with swimming and the occasional run (although I really dislike running...).
I'm slowly but surely closing the gap on my fundraising goals as well! The total as of today is $4,329.86! Thank you to so many friends and family members who have donated, as well as members of the community who read about my trek in the local paper. Now I'm working to get my cycling gear donated as well. Ideally my only out of pocket expense will be my flight to the west coast.
I should find out Wednesday which route I'll be cycling, so stay tuned for a post then!
All the best,
Mike
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Ouch...
On Wednesday I took advantage of the first of my two free visits with a personal trainer at the gym. As I've stated before I am a novice when it comes to all things involving lifting weight. Generally I try to push or kick objects out of my way; I had only minimal success employing these techniques on the bench press. Like most people into physical fitness, Doug, my trainer looked like he had seen a ghost when I told him that I would be cycling across America with no prior experience. After convincing him I was not a lost cause we took a walk around the gym and mapped out a routine to improve the strength of my legs and upper body. All of the machines he had me use I had used before with some degree of success, I thought, until on each one he'd say something like "Arch your back when you pull down," and suddenly the motion became difficult if not impossible to do once, never mind 2 sets of 10 reps (that's gym speak I learned) 2 times a week. Needless to say I am very sore today and even if I wanted to repeat the workout I can't, because Doug filed away my routine until my second appointment which I've now rescheduled for a third time because I never have my planner on me. I've now become the most identifiable member at the gym given the IcyHot patches all over and the day planner tucked in my spandex...
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Training Day
Since I last blogged (is that a verb?) I joined the gym! Gyms, I am told, were created as a sociologist's laboratory sometime in the mid 80's. You could write a dissertation on gym etiquette and the social norms that exist there. Allow me to postulate. I have taken to using the cardio equipment on the second floor that overlooks the free weights so that I might observe the people who are using them correctly until I build the confidence to go down and try it myself, but consider this: What if the free weight crowd is really just using their vantage point to internalize and copy the motions of those using the cardio equipment? My hypothesis: Stay away from gyms with open floor plans.
I also enjoy watching the mother who works out right next to the child care center so when her toddler wanders away from Ms. Jane (who I assume works there) she can bellow through the glass and redirect his attention...
I attended my first spinning class this past week; it too would delight sociologists. Middle-aged women dominated the class demographic with men over 55 in a distant second. I accounted for a negligible portion being the only one under thirty. That is not to say I was the best cyclist in the class. The man next to me never lost a techno beat in stride as we cycled to the likes of Madonna, Justin Timberlake and Bruce Springsteen. I am anxiously awaiting spinning Karaoke where the instructor apparently passes around her headset for class members to sing along to their favorite remixes. I hope she has a version of Tiny Dancer!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Happy New Years!
Did you make a resolution this year? Last year I resolved to floss everyday and that worked out, so I'm hoping to keep up my streak. This year I'm giving up alcohol until August 15 (the end of the Journey of Hope). I think it will prove to be difficult, but I thought it a rational one based on these five pillars of truth.
1. Alcohol is expensive, and I am poor.
2. Alcohol is dehydrating, and that is counterproductive.
3. I often have to drive home after going out for a drink, because I'm a victim of the suburbs.
4. I'd rather have a Coke anyways.
5. Alcohol is expensive, and I am poor.
Why just until August 15th, you ask? Because of a place called Tortilla Coast. Let me paint a picture for you.
Last August fourteen brothers from our chapter of Pi Kappa Phi (with Mike A. and Jen F.) piled into four vehicles (that upon quick inspection did not look fit to travel 1,000 miles in a weekend, nor were they) and drove overnight from Amherst, MA to Quintico, VA for a fellow brother's graduation (yay Brian!) from the Marine Corps Office Candidate School at 9am the following morning. It was HOT, we had been in the cars for nine hours with little sleep, and were forced to make ourselves beautiful for the event in the bathrooms/parking lot of a Burger King. After the graduation we traveled to Ye Olde Country Buffet, courtesy of Brian's parents (thank you!) and had a nice meal on our second wind. We parted ways with Brian and his family for our hotel rooms in the Capitol where we passed out for a majority of the day.
Fast forward to Saturday morning (another HOT day): We woke up early to walk to the Capitol Building, desperately hoping to find a Dunkin' Donuts along the way, alas we sold a fraction of our souls and had Starbucks instead. Soon the three men from Theta Mu (our chapter of Pi Kappa Phi) who participated in the 2008 Journey of Hope would be arriving on the lawn of the Captiol Building, the annual finish line for the ride. Our glorious reunion is pictured below.
We were ravenous and overtired. Wandering around the streets of D.C. we began mumbling hateful things and shoving each other into oncoming traffic. I knew what I had to do and called my sister Kathleen, a native of these parts. She and her husband Mike are connoisseurs of dining out and upon pinpointing our location they suggested a nearby restaurant called Tortilla Coast that serves frozen margaritas by the pitcher. Above the squabble I declaimed that such a restaurant existed only a handful of blocks away and the angry mob fell silent. Like the Pied Piper I led them to this supposed metropolitan oasis. Tortilla Coast came into view as we reached the peak of Capitol Hill. As we got closer we realized two more important details. It was air-conditioned and Saturday was all you could eat fajita day (good news for everyone but T.J. who just picked out the chicken...)! It was like a triple play by the Red Sox in Yankee Stadium.
Anyways, the food and drink were delightful. I really just like the story leading up to it. So on August 15th, 2009, after pushing through the final miles to the Capitol you can find me and anyone who wants to join at Tortilla Coast, basking in the air conditioning and sipping frozen strawberry margaritas.
1. Alcohol is expensive, and I am poor.
2. Alcohol is dehydrating, and that is counterproductive.
3. I often have to drive home after going out for a drink, because I'm a victim of the suburbs.
4. I'd rather have a Coke anyways.
5. Alcohol is expensive, and I am poor.
Why just until August 15th, you ask? Because of a place called Tortilla Coast. Let me paint a picture for you.
Last August fourteen brothers from our chapter of Pi Kappa Phi (with Mike A. and Jen F.) piled into four vehicles (that upon quick inspection did not look fit to travel 1,000 miles in a weekend, nor were they) and drove overnight from Amherst, MA to Quintico, VA for a fellow brother's graduation (yay Brian!) from the Marine Corps Office Candidate School at 9am the following morning. It was HOT, we had been in the cars for nine hours with little sleep, and were forced to make ourselves beautiful for the event in the bathrooms/parking lot of a Burger King. After the graduation we traveled to Ye Olde Country Buffet, courtesy of Brian's parents (thank you!) and had a nice meal on our second wind. We parted ways with Brian and his family for our hotel rooms in the Capitol where we passed out for a majority of the day.
Fast forward to Saturday morning (another HOT day): We woke up early to walk to the Capitol Building, desperately hoping to find a Dunkin' Donuts along the way, alas we sold a fraction of our souls and had Starbucks instead. Soon the three men from Theta Mu (our chapter of Pi Kappa Phi) who participated in the 2008 Journey of Hope would be arriving on the lawn of the Captiol Building, the annual finish line for the ride. Our glorious reunion is pictured below.
We were ravenous and overtired. Wandering around the streets of D.C. we began mumbling hateful things and shoving each other into oncoming traffic. I knew what I had to do and called my sister Kathleen, a native of these parts. She and her husband Mike are connoisseurs of dining out and upon pinpointing our location they suggested a nearby restaurant called Tortilla Coast that serves frozen margaritas by the pitcher. Above the squabble I declaimed that such a restaurant existed only a handful of blocks away and the angry mob fell silent. Like the Pied Piper I led them to this supposed metropolitan oasis. Tortilla Coast came into view as we reached the peak of Capitol Hill. As we got closer we realized two more important details. It was air-conditioned and Saturday was all you could eat fajita day (good news for everyone but T.J. who just picked out the chicken...)! It was like a triple play by the Red Sox in Yankee Stadium.
Anyways, the food and drink were delightful. I really just like the story leading up to it. So on August 15th, 2009, after pushing through the final miles to the Capitol you can find me and anyone who wants to join at Tortilla Coast, basking in the air conditioning and sipping frozen strawberry margaritas.
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