July 4th Upcoming!

I'm definately looking forward to it! I leave for Lake Wawasee tomorrow morning, so I'll be off the net for the weekend and Spinner will be running late! Just shoot me your miles and I'll post all when I return on the 5th. In the meantime, I'd like to hear about YOUR plans for the long weekend! Mine include cycling, swimming, and yes, waterskiing! It's been decades since I've been waterskiing and I hope I still can! We'll also be watching the fireworks from out on the lake, a family tradition! Best of all, I get to meet the newest addition to the family, my cousins new daughter! Well, see y'all after the Fourth! Have a ball!

From Fritz over at Cycle-Licious
RAAM: Race Across America on the Weather Channel
The Race Across America 2006 will be featured as part of the Weather Channel's
"Road Crew" with Jeff Mielcarz.

Four segments will air next week: July 5, 6, 8, and 9, 2006.

Wednesday, July 5, 2006 - Evening Edition (9 p.m.-11 p.m. EST)
Thursday, July 6, 2006 - Evening Edition (9 p.m.-11 p.m. EST)
Saturday, July 8, 2006 - Weekend View (7 a.m.-11 a.m. EST)
Sunday, July 9, 2006 - Weekend View (7 a.m.-11 a.m. EST)

Watch out for these email addresses

I guess I am starting to have enough internet presence that hackers are starting to notice me. mhsboxoffice@aol.com, 3dboss@compasswa.com, just to let you know, I'm not stupid enough to open an attachment from somebody I've never heard of! Marie, aka 3dboss, your IP is 70.20.145.158 and you tried to send me W32Beagle@mm.zip. mhsboxoffice, your IP is 67.91.64.147, and you tried to send me W32Mydoom.L@mm in a readme.zip file. I have excellent internet security, and I don't POP3 my public email address, so you can't exploit that weakness. Welcome to the spotlight.

velocity08

Here are some Italian Fixie riders cutting it in the streets of Milan.

Interesting Statistics

My Blog Demographics

I am going to show my geeky side here, I am sure! I was looking through my back links on Technorati and noted some interesting trends.It seems my average reader is a cycling woman! Interesting and kind of cool!

A Terrifying Message from Al Gore

This is hilarious! I can't resist!

A Year in the Life: Runaway Train

Here it is, and check out the hit count on my video now! Being featured on MSN has certainly helped out!

Call Me Nuts! I Just Entered a 25 Mile Time Trial!

I just signed up with Race2Replace! This is a 25 mile 10 laps around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Call me nuts, but what can I say, I don't really expect to win this, as I'm sure it's going to attract the fastest cyclists in the region. It's been a dream though, since I was a kid to race at the Brickyard. I never thought it would be a bicycle though! Wish me luck and I'm going to be training my tail off so I don't embarrass myself. Any training tips from my readers will be welcome. Win, lose or draw, the entry proceeds go to support Livestrong and the Lance Armstrong Foundation in their efforts against cancer, so it's a good cause!

The Ride to Old Mill Run, in Thorntown, Indiana

Today I rode out to Thorntown, Indiana. The ride was more or less uneventful. Trip distance was 29 miles, less one mile I had The Mrs shuttle me over a gravel section of the road. Towns I passed through were Stockwell, Indiana, and Bower, Indiana. Stockwell is a tiny little town, which used to be a railroad town, founded in 1859. Bower, though, is just a little collection of houses in Montgomery County on CR 800. The point of note there is a church that's in ruins. Shame to see it abandoned like that!

Indiana countryside is beautiful this time of year, by the way. The corn is up and the old saying goes “Knee high by the Fourth of July”. Well, it's waist high. The corn is doing great! I have some pictures from the ride to show you Indiana and what it looks like. Today was a fantastic day! Another site was the “Colored Cemetary” out by Thorntown, Indiana. It is a reminder of segregation and it predates the Civil War. It was founded in 1836.

The Ride to Old Mill Run, in Thorntown, Indiana

Spinner Saturday

Here it is, another Spinner Saturday. Matter of fact, the first since crewing for Rob Lucas in RAAM. Rob, unfortunately had to withdraw from RAAM, with the official reason of Timing out. The actual reason though, was physical. See his blog if you are interested. Rob, it was a magnificent effort and remember, you outlasted quite a few big names!

Spinner Saturday

OK, on to Spinner Saturday, my miles for the week are 72. My ride miles are way down right now, as I am still experiencing blood sugar swings after my little blood sugar crash in crewing for Rob. I'm having a bit of trouble holding the blood sugars up on a ride right now. This wll normalize, my Doctor assures me, and is getting better each ride. I'm fine tuning the diet regimen now, but it seems that riding in hot weather burns the sugars faster than riding in cold weather. Odd, you'd think it would be the other way around, burnuing more calories to stay warm as well as the higher air density and heavier clothes! Botched, if you are reading me still, is that normal? Well, I have to run, as it's getting a bit late and I am still tired from a 25 miler I did over to my Sister in Law's to give her car a tune up. Oh yes, I almost forgot, apparently I am being featured in "What's my Story" next week over on MSNSpaces, how could I forget that? Let's trot out the votes, folks! Click the title to visit Rob's Blog by the way.

Here's a bit of rather bizarre video that's cycling related, enjoy:

Monument Valley and Colorado

Monument Valley, home of some of the most majestic rock formations on the planet. It has towering spires of red rock and desolate valley floors. This was the first time RAAM went through Monument Valley, and I feel priveleged to have come through this little patch of God's Earth. I've always loved this patch of the country. Highway 160 runs through and along this route, Rob was making fantastic time, especially on the drop down into monument valley. If you were watching the video I posted, you'll have seen he was hitting up near 60 mph on that particular downhill. Rob and I truly share taste in downhill styles, we are both bullets! The faster, the better! As a refresher, though, here are some of the stills from Monument Valley.

Colorado

Now we crossed into Colorado, and made it to Durango and had trouble with backup van. It started overheating before we got out of town. Kyle, pictured below is the man who got us fixed up! Happily this didn't happen on top of Wolf Creek Pass. Yup, Wolf Creek Pass, folks, that pass made famous by the CW McCall song about the runaway truck into Pagosa Springs! This is a steep, long pass and Rob was complaining that the cars kept getting in his way going down the hill and he couldn't get above 60! Other than the beautiful terrain and the overheat, Durango to Trinidad was more or less uneventful.

**Final RAAM (Race Across America) Results posted at my MSN Blog

Monument Valley and Colorado

The Furnace

The Furnace

Your first experience with the beast would have been the Mojave Desert and the Salton Sea Basin at the head of the Imperial Valley had you been either riding or crewing RAAM this year. This is between San Diego and Blythe, California. This was 208 miles of desert and mountains. Temperatures got to 108F and above, making the ride a crucible. This is also a problem for the chase van, because you are running too slowly to run the A/C and the hills make it worse. You have to watch the temperature on the engine like a hawk. The first major grade is Yarnell Grade. This is an 8 mile climb at up to 8%. By the time you get there, the day is in full swing and the temperature makes the ride a literal hell for the rider. Rob remarked that Yarnell Grade is dreaded by RAAM riders. Yarnell is the climb out of Imperial Valley and the Salton Sea Basin. A point of geographic note is that the Salton Sea is 227 feet below sea level, only 5 feet higher than the lowest point of Death Valley. After Yarnell Grade is Chiriaco Summit, and this is on I-10. The good part is that after Chiriaco, it's downhill to Blythe. The bad part is that it's after dark and you are riding the interstate. There is a risk of getting blown off the road by a passing semi. The chase driver also has to be especially aware in this section, due to the traffic, and remember that the truckers are probably getting tired and may have a little problem with lane position. By the time you reach Blythe, the rider is spent as well as the chase crew. This is how Day 1 ended.

Blythe to Flagstaff, AZ,

This was day 2 of RAAM. Rob rode 310 miles to Flagstaff., AZ. We went up AZ 89 through Wickenberg. The day was another 108 degree day, and the terrain was mostly uphill all the way. This was the section of the race that took Guy Wells out of the race for medical reasons as well as Valentin Zeller of Austria, also for medical. The first two days of RAAM are truly an intimidating ride. If you make it through the first couple of days, your chances of finishing do go up. Zeller is no stranger to RAAM, being a previous 5 time competitor. He knew exactly what he was in for, believe me and he definately trained for it! Wells is a veteran of the Furnace Creek 508, so he's no stranger to endurance riding either. This section also included more interstate riding, along I-40. The worst part of the ride had to be after dark, though, for Rob. After a day of 100+ degrees, the temperature in Flagstaff dropped to 38 degrees F! It was COLD! I truly felt for Rob, as my teeth were chattering and I was in the van! By this point, crew fatigue is also setting in, and the mental alertness is already starting to fade. This is also the point where the rider is starting to really hurt!

To be continued,
Monument Valley and Colorado

Describing RAAM

How do you describe that which defies description? RAAM is one of those things. The enormity of riding a bicycle coast to coast in 12 days or less is staggering! I suppose I should start at the beginning. The ramp up to the race........:

My arrival in San Diego

I flew in on United Airlines and it was a really nice flight. The interesting part is the arrival at San Diego International. The final approach is so low the pilot could have stopped in a McDonalds Drivethru for a cup of coffee if the plane was out of coffee, as a matter of fact, I could read the drivethru menu at the McDonalds we overflew on the way down the glide path! I had a little trouble finding my bag as it didn't come out on the conveyor at baggage claim. It turns out my bag actually got to San Diego 4 hrs before I did, it flew direct from Indianapolis! Why couldn't I have been booked direct, my bag was!

Organizational Procedures

The ramp up to RAAM is very busy, what with setting up the vehicles, getting equipment inspections done and all the foofarah involved with the opening ceremonies. You saw a good bit of that in my video earlier! The appearance of total chaos only contributes to the general excitement. It only looks chaotic, though. The fact is, you hit the ground running, because there are a thousand details to attend to.

First order of business is to clear all the paperwork, and get final registration done. In this process, you have to get crew assignments done, get all the associated crew paperwork done with RAAM officials, and get the bikes set up and tweaked. In the meantime, the chase vans are being set up and organized for the event. There are publicity photos for the rider, and it culminates the night before with the prerace banquet. During this time period, the athletes go from being a jolly bunch to the "getting their game face" on stage. They just keep getting more and more serious, and introspective. The thought has to set in at some point in this of "What am I doing here? Who am I kidding?" It has to be nearly overwhelming to be faced with the prospect of riding that far, that fast.

The next morning is race day! Here it is, people, the trump of doom, so to speak. Each rider is testing him or herself against a monster. RAAM is literally a duel with Grendel and each rider is Beowulf riding to the cave. Each rider gets to find out for him or herself whether they have what it takes to slay the dragon known as RAAM or it slays them.

Next installment: The Furnace, to be continued

Current RAAM Results

Here are RAAM results overall, as of this time
Men's Solo - Enduro
Position Rider/Team # - Name TS
# Miles into
the Race Miles to
the Finish Arrival
Date Arrival
Time Race Time
Days HH:MM Total Time
From Start Avg Speed
from start Avg Speed
this station Total
Off Bike

1. 1 133 - Jonathan Boyer 51 2776.1 266.7 06/20 12:55 9 days 00:35 216:35:00 12.82 12.72 42H 43M
2. 2 123 - Marko Baloh 49 2685.8 357.0 06/20 11:20 8 days 23:02 215:02:00 12.49 8.61 38H 50M
3. 3 130 - David Tinker Juarez 45 2505.0 537.8 06/20 11:16 8 days 23:06 215:06:00 11.65 17.43 56H 0M
4. 4 128 - Bryce Walsh 43 2413.9 628.9 06/20 11:15 8 days 22:59 214:59:00 11.23 14.25 33H 31M
5. 5 134 - Kenny Souza 43 2413.9 628.9 06/20 12:31 9 days 00:22 216:22:00 11.16 14.76 42H 4M
6. 6 122 - Mitchell Lesack 41 2295.5 747.3 06/20 12:25 9 days 00:06 216:06:00 10.62 7.15 49H 9M
7. 7 125 - Guido Kunze 40 2237.6 805.2 06/20 05:39 8 days 17:20 209:20:00 10.69 11.62 37H 45M
8. 8 124 - Fred Boethling 40 2237.6 805.2 06/20 08:46 8 days 20:33 212:33:00 10.53 11.97 43H 39M
9. 9 129 - Rob Lucas - DNF Time 35 1996.5 1046.3 06/19 13:38 8 days 01:24 193:24:00 10.32 9.47 35H 58M
10. 10 127 - Jean - Marc Velez - DNF 21 1173.1 1869.7 06/16 15:02 5 days 02:52 122:52:00 9.55 9.03 31H 24M
11. 11 144 - Jure' Robic - DNF Medical 14 771.2 2271.6 06/13 11:36 1 day 23:21 47:21:00 16.29 14.07 9H 2M
12. 12 121 - Guy Wells - DNF Time 10 565.1 2477.7 06/14 00:29 2 days 12:20 60:20:00 9.37 12.00 4H 56M
13. 13 141 - Valentin Zeller - DNF Medical 9 488.9 2553.9 06/12 22:32 1 day 10:21 34:21:00 14.23 6.77 4H 33M

Men's Solo - Traditional
Position Rider/Team # - Name TS
# Miles into
the Race Miles to
the Finish Arrival
Date Arrival
Time Race Time
Days HH:MM Total Time
From Start Avg Speed
from start Avg Speed
this station Total
Off Bike

1. 1 177 - Daniel Wyss 53 2864.2 178.6 06/20 10:08 8 days 22:01 214:01:00 13.38 14.92
2. 2 195 - Dino Nico Valsesia 52 2824.9 217.9 06/20 11:43 8 days 23:36 215:36:00 13.10 15.33
3. 3 193 - Fabio Biasiolo 51 2776.1 266.7 06/20 09:30 8 days 21:23 213:23:00 13.01 12.54
4. 4 181 - David Haase 51 2776.1 266.7 06/20 13:16 9 days 00:55 216:55:00 12.80 13.30
5. 5 178 - Kevin Wallace 50 2732.2 310.6 06/20 12:24 9 days 00:07 216:07:00 12.64 15.47
6. 6 197 - Guus Moonen 48 2640.9 401.9 06/20 12:04 8 days 23:56 215:56:00 12.23 11.43
7. 7 172 - Gerhard Gulewicz 45 2505.0 537.8 06/20 12:00 8 days 23:43 215:43:00 11.61 14.92
8. 8 176 - Tony O'Keeffe 45 2505.0 537.8 06/20 12:35 9 days 00:23 216:23:00 11.58 15.05
9. 9 173 - Attila Kaldy 44 2449.8 593.0 06/20 09:05 8 days 20:52 212:52:00 11.51 13.46
10. 10 198 - Marcel Knaus - DNF Medical 23 1295.3 1747.5 06/15 12:55 4 days 00:44 96:44:00 13.39 12.48
11. 11 196 - David Jones - DNF Time 23 1295.3 1747.5 06/16 14:14 5 days 01:59 121:59:00 10.62 9.29
12. 12 179 - James Kern - DNF Medical 13 721.0 2321.8 06/13 14:12 2 days 01:52 49:52:00 14.46 11.15
13. 13 199 - Orlando Borini - DNF Medical 13 721.0 2321.8 06/13 21:55 2 days 09:43 57:43:00 12.49 12.38
14. 14 175 - Louis Lamoureux - DNF Medical 9 488.9 2553.9 06/13 19:30 2 days 07:12 55:12:00 8.86 9.34

Women's Solo - Traditional
Position Rider/Team # - Name TS
# Miles into
the Race Miles to
the Finish Arrival
Date Arrival
Time Race Time
Days HH:MM Total Time
From Start Avg Speed
from start Avg Speed
this station Total
Off Bike

1. 1 111 - Shanna Armstrong 42 2358.8 684.0 06/20 12:41 9 days 00:33 216:33:00 10.89 12.83
2. 2 112 - Patty Jo Struv - DNF Medical 14 771.2 2271.6 06/14 12:19 3 days 00:03 72:03:00 10.70 13.27

Two Person Male
Position Rider/Team # - Name TS
# Miles into
the Race Miles to
the Finish Arrival
Date Arrival
Time Race Time
Days HH:MM Total Time
From Start Avg Speed
from start Avg Speed
this station Total
Off Bike

1. 1 205 - Team BodyXchange / Garden Pathways Finish 3042.8 0.0 06/20 04:33 6 days 11:24 155:24:00 19.58
2. 2 200 - Team eXtreme 47 2594.4 448.4 06/20 11:00 6 days 17:49 161:49:00 16.03 13.59
3. 3 204 - Team Race for Wishes 47 2594.4 448.4 06/20 13:29 6 days 20:11 164:11:00 15.80 13.65
4. 4 201 - Cheniere's Making Cancer History Team 46 2545.7 497.1 06/20 13:36 6 days 20:21 164:21:00 15.49 16.07

Two Person Mixed
Position Rider/Team # - Name TS
# Miles into
the Race Miles to
the Finish Arrival
Date Arrival
Time Race Time
Days HH:MM Total Time
From Start Avg Speed
from start Avg Speed
this station Total
Off Bike

1. 1 202 - Racing Against Diabetes 41 2295.5 747.3 06/20 11:08 8 days 22:46 214:46:00 10.69 7.84

Two Person Recumbent
Position Rider/Team # - Name TS
# Miles into
the Race Miles to
the Finish Arrival
Date Arrival
Time Race Time
Days HH:MM Total Time
From Start Avg Speed
from start Avg Speed
this station Total
Off Bike

1. 1 250 - Volae Wolf Pack 50 2732.2 310.6 06/20 11:07 6 days 17:51 161:51:00 16.88 14.28

Four Person Male
Position Rider/Team # - Name TS
# Miles into
the Race Miles to
the Finish Arrival
Date Arrival
Time Race Time
Days HH:MM Total Time
From Start Avg Speed
from start Avg Speed
this station Total
Off Bike

1. 1 425 - Beaver Creek - Vail Finish 3042.8 0.0 06/19 09:13 5 days 16:01 136:01:00 22.37
2. 2 419 - Athletes Racing for Charity Team Finish 3042.8 0.0 06/20 06:26 6 days 13:06 157:06:00 19.37
3. 3 401 - Gearsandtears 55 2977.9 64.9 06/20 12:58 6 days 19:41 163:41:00 18.19 18.32
4. 4 405 - Team Heifer International 53 2864.2 178.6 06/20 09:40 6 days 16:32 160:32:00 17.84 16.96
5. 5 402 - Team care 4 kids (NICH) 51 2776.1 266.7 06/20 12:35 6 days 19:15 163:15:00 17.01 15.31
6. 6 416 - Team OC Quattro 48 2640.9 401.9 06/20 10:20 6 days 17:02 161:02:00 16.40 14.68
7. 7 418 - Vencendo Desafios Team Brazil 48 2640.9 401.9 06/20 11:12 6 days 17:59 161:59:00 16.30 14.92
8. 8 415 - Dreams for Kids 48 2640.9 401.9 06/20 12:09 6 days 18:59 162:59:00 16.20 18.72
9. 9 403 - 2CURE - HD 48 2640.9 401.9 06/20 13:17 6 days 20:03 164:03:00 16.10 14.92
10. 10 404 - Team Cyclonauts 45 2505.0 537.8 06/20 10:57 6 days 17:36 161:36:00 15.50 17.52
11. 11 413 - Team Nor'easter 45 2505.0 537.8 06/20 11:30 6 days 18:13 162:13:00 15.44 14.92
12. 12 408 - Swiss DAMOVO Team - DNF Accident 34 1927.5 1115.3 06/17 15:25 3 days 22:14 94:14:00 20.45 19.62

Four Person Female
Position Rider/Team # - Name TS
# Miles into
the Race Miles to
the Finish Arrival
Date Arrival
Time Race Time
Days HH:MM Total Time
From Start Avg Speed
from start Avg Speed
this station Total
Off Bike

1. 1 400 - Vail / Beaver Creek B2B Divas 49 2685.8 357.0 06/20 09:35 6 days 16:23 160:23:00 16.75 13.34
2. 2 412 - Team Red Helmets 48 2640.9 401.9 06/20 10:52 6 days 17:39 161:39:00 16.34 13.81

Four Person Mixed
Position Rider/Team # - Name TS
# Miles into
the Race Miles to
the Finish Arrival
Date Arrival
Time Race Time
Days HH:MM Total Time
From Start Avg Speed
from start Avg Speed
this station Total
Off Bike

1. 1 406 - Emily's Team Finish 3042.8 0.0 06/20 13:18 6 days 19:59 163:59:00 18.56
2. 2 414 - Just Sweat No Tears 54 2932.7 110.1 06/20 12:15 6 days 19:00 163:00:00 17.99 17.27
3. 3 410 - Team 4 Gone 49 2685.8 357.0 06/20 10:37 6 days 17:18 161:18:00 16.65 11.51

Four Person Tandem
Position Rider/Team # - Name TS
# Miles into
the Race Miles to
the Finish Arrival
Date Arrival
Time Race Time
Days HH:MM Total Time
From Start Avg Speed
from start Avg Speed
this station Total
Off Bike

1. 1 417 - Team JDRF 46 2545.7 497.1 06/20 11:38 6 days 18:29 162:29:00 15.67 16.73

Corporate Challenge
Position Rider/Team # - Name TS
# Miles into
the Race Miles to
the Finish Arrival
Date Arrival
Time Race Time
Days HH:MM Total Time
From Start Avg Speed
from start Avg Speed
this station Total
Off Bike

1. 1 601 - Team Type 1 Finish 3042.8 0.0 06/19 09:18 5 days 16:04 136:04:00 22.36
2. 2 603 - Team ViaSat Finish 3042.8 0.0 06/20 06:06 6 days 12:50 156:50:00 19.40
3. 3 602 - Team Donate Life 8 53 2864.2 178.6 06/20 10:42 6 days 17:32 161:32:00 17.73 20.50
4. 4 604 - Cycling for Chaffey 52 2824.9 217.9 06/20 12:59 6 days 19:48 163:48:00 17.25 16.36

Corporate Challenge HPV
Position Rider/Team # - Name TS
# Miles into
the Race Miles to
the Finish Arrival
Date Arrival
Time Race Time
Days HH:MM Total Time
From Start Avg Speed
from start Avg Speed
this station Total
Off Bike

1. 1 500 - Handcycleteam RC - Enjo Volarlberg 50 2732.2 310.6 06/20 11:25 8 days 23:01 215:01:00 12.71 14.06

24 Hour Corporate Challenge
Position Rider/Team # - Name TS
# Miles into
the Race Miles to
the Finish Arrival
Date Arrival
Time Race Time
Days HH:MM Total Time
From Start Avg Speed
from start Avg Speed
this station Total
Off Bike

1. 1 701 - Team Beat Cancer Finish 488.9 0.0 06/12 12:46 1 day 00:24 24:24:00 20.04
2. 2 700 - The Swami's Team Finish 488.9 0.0 06/12 14:49 1 day 02:26 26:26:00 18.50
3. 3 703 - Pam Reed's Badwater Crew Finish 488.9 0.0 06/12 14:59 1 day 02:36 26:36:00 18.38
4. 4 702 - Team Illumina Finish 488.9 0.0 06/12 16:35 1 day 04:28 28:28:00 17.17

Click the headline of this post to go to the RAAM site for updated results

RAAM Video Montage

Here it is, the video montage from RAAM, hot off the digital press! Check it out and enjoy. Unfortunately, Rob DNF'd in Missouri, due to time. Better luck next year, Rob, you'll do it.

I am Home

Hi all, I am home. I had to drop out of Rob's RAAM crew due to my diabetes acting up. I had a major sugar crash (Sugar was way too low!) and got a bit on the brittle side as far as my blood sugar goes. Don't let anybody kid you, crewing RAAM is as tough on the crew as it is on the rider, with long workdays and short sleep. It's hard to eat right as well, and those factors got together and ganged up on me. I got home tonight and my Doctor wants to see me on Monday as well as my blood sugar logs. I'll start posting some stories from the road in a day or so, just need to get some sleep. I am POOPED! Good night all!

Hello, The Mrs. Here

Hi everyone,
I do believe they are in or least near Kansas. If any of you want to see the RAAm website, it is www.RAAM.com. That is how I have been keeping up.

No call from tom so I can not tell you what he was up to yesterday. I do believe he is very busy. That is ok. No news just means to me that he is ok and busy.

So today's post is just gonna be short. I find anything else out I will be back.

Peace and Good Will to All

The Mrs.

Next day of Racing

Hello to everyone,

I need to tell everyone that something is going wrong with the blog at msnspaces, I tried to copy and paste yesterday and the next thing I know whammy. It won't let me in with tom's stuff at all.
Sorry.

Now, for the racing. They are in the Eastern side of Colorado getting near the Kansas area. Go gettem Rob. Rob's wife is now with the team, cheering her husband on.

Another, good bit of news. Rob is now in 5th place. Reason for this. One of the lead riders dropped completely out. He had pneumonia and just wasn't up to it, like he thought. We all wish him a speedy recovery.

Another bit of news. It seems that one of the vans, broke down. Tom will tell you the complete story when he gets back. Sorry about the other blog. We can get it fixed, (I hope).

Before a book is written.
Peace and Good Will to All
The Mrs.

Hello everyone , me again. The Mrs.

Tom has sent me a couple of email's for ya to look at.

First one is. (I am no good at this copy and pasteing stuff, so it had to be typed out)

Greetings from a RAAM Crewdog!

Hi, just updating...
We are currently in Durango, Co. This is a bit over 800 miles in three days! rob is currently in 6th place.

By the way, here's a bit of RAAM humor:

Q: If a RAAM Crewdog is trying to pick up a woman, what kind of birth control does he most commonly use?

A: Either his hygiene or his personality!

Well, I gotta run, been a busy few days I can tell you!

Tom

That was email one. Now here is the next.

Can I develop the physical ability to ride RAAM? In reflection on what I have experienced in the past few days, the answer is no. I am watching riders like Rob Lucas, who I am crewing for and what they are going through. Here are the current stangings as of this email:

Position Rider Miles into Miles to
Race Finish
1. 123 MarkoBaloh 977 2065.8
2. 133 Jonathan Boyer 977 2065.8
3. 144Jure'robic-DNF
Medical 885.5 2157.3
4. 130 David Tinker 885.5 2157.3
5. 134 Kenny Souza 815.3 2227.5
6. 129 Rob Lucas 815.3 227.5


It should be noted that Jure' Robic was DNF'd for medical. This puts Rob at actually 5th place.
YOU GO ROB!!!!!

Talk soon
The Mrs.

The next day of racing

Hello to everyone,
The crew and Rob the racer is now in Colorado. That gentleman can sure do some peddaling. I , myself would be dragging something about now. (just use your imagination for that one). Rob's wife is joining the crew soon. Good Luck to all of them.

Tom tells me there is going to be all sorts of stories for when he gets back. Some of them are real different. I am even interested on this one.

Short one today. Talk with all of you again, soon.
Peace and Good Will to All
The Mrs.

Email from Tom

Wow, it's been busy! Here it is, beginning Day three and we're in Flagstaff, AZ. Next goal is Durango, CO for tonight sometime.

Rob is holding up well, physically, and in good spirits. If anyone can finish RAAM, he can!

This is what I found in my email from tom. Even being tuckered out he is having a good time. I do like hearing that.

Talk with ya all soon,
The Mrs.

Day three of the Race

Hello to everyone,
I understand that Rob is now in Arizona. Farther than I thought. I do take my hat off to Rob and his crew on this. I would never be able to any of this. Just call me Mrs. Super Chicken. It would fit when it came to that.

I want to thank everyone that has and is giving me a bit of confidence when doing this. It is something new to me and I am finding out this is somewhat fun. Just like a great big diary. I do know that Tom is very tuckered out there. He is not used to driving at night and that is part of this. He follows Rob at night. I do believe both of them have more guts that I would have.

Well before I write another book. Better go for now.
Peace and Good Will to All
The Mrs.

Spinner Time for Saturday June 10

Hello to everyone,

This is the miles and all I got for this past Saturday's Spinner Post

uncadan8 123 miles biking

Psycho Cyclist 29 miles biking

Shawn Kielty 2 miles running
5 miles walking
21.4 miles biking

Big Mike 52.5 miles biking

wemley 72 miles biking

Myself 18 miles walking

I could not find the template Tom made for me to do this. This is the next best thing. I think all of this is fantastic. Keep up the great work.

Talk with all of ya again Soon

The Mrs.

Day Two and already out of CA

Hello to one and all
The Spinner Chart will be done a little bit later today. Wish me luck with that. It seems that this race is going to be very tiresome to the crew as much as the bike rider (Rob) . I got a text message over the phone and all it said was sleeping.

I am just getting very tired to thinking about all of this. I wish them all well.

Before I end up writing a book. I will talk with ya all again soon.

The Mrs.
Peace and Good Will to all

The Amazing Shrinking Man!: Day One of the Race

The Amazing Shrinking Man!: Day One of the Race

Day One of the Race

Hello everyone, Today the race starts. I do hope Rob is up and attem for this. I know Tom would love to be in the bike himself at the moment, but not this time. He is there to help out and to be part of the crew for Rob.

Tom, has messaged me(over the phone) that there is teams from all over the world. That fact in itself makes this real interesting.

Remember any miles. If I can not doing the graph right, PLEASE forgive me. I am new at this and do not mind trying to be of help here. Forgot to tell you, it is for sure that Tom will have all sorts of stories to tell all of you when he gets back.

Peace and Good Will to All
Talk with all of you again soon
The Mrs.

Hello to one and all The Mrs. Here

Hello to one and all. I am here because Stormcrowe is out in San Diego at this very moment doing his own thing. I do hope all of them are having fun. I am here to remind everyone to get me those miles for Spinner Saturday any time over the weekend. I will get the chart and all together this coming Monday so all can see.

PLEASE! be kind to me I am new to this. Anything want to talk about, I can see what two cents I can put in. Glad to be here so I can help.

Talk with all of you again soon
The Mrs

peace and good will to all of you

Headed to the Coast Tomorrow!

Well, here it is! The Day before I leave to fly to San Diego. The great race awaits! This will be the last time I personally post til I get back. Earlena will be running the blogs for me, so guys, be easy in her! Get those miles in to her and allow for any misses! Keep Spinning, all!

Check out PeekoChat!

As it happens, I now have Peeko Chat! This gives me a live forum/chatroom in effect, if any Peeko users are on any web site I am reading! Check them out! It looks kind of cool to me!

Ouch

As seen on Break.com

Meet Jen4Luck, the newest cyclist on the block!

Jen is a brand new cyclist! She recently bought a Sun EZ 1-SX. Drop by her site and welcome her to cycling. She's taken up riding for weight loss, like many of us and I fully support her desire and motivation to do this! Good on ya, Jen! This is a short post, I have been busy, what with getting ready to fly to San Diego Friday, and getting in training time for me, and all. I did get a short ride in today. Not very satisfying, only 15 miles, but a ride is a ride is a ride!

To visit Jen's Livejournal, just click the headline of this post!

• Miles: 15
• Average speed: 20.3
• Calories: 610
• Watts:240

Spinner Report

Welcome to the Spinner Report for Monday, June 5, 2006. First, we have some new business. Let's welcome JP Smee to the Spinner Saturday group. JP is from Tidewater country down in Chesapeake, Virginia and is a newbie cyclist who, like myself, took up cycling to help with weight loss and getting back in shape! Good on ya, JP, pour yourself a glass of your favorite adult beverage and join us in a toast to your new mission! ::HOIST GLASSES:: “Was thu hael!” (This is an Anglo-Saxon toast, by the way which means life and prosperity, or if you prefer, the Vulcan version, “Live long and prosper”!). JP is off to a roaring start, by the way with 89.2 miles this week! The current High Roller is Big Mike, down in Australia with 307.2 miles.(Whooee, dawggie!)

• Rider, Week Miles, Month Total Miles
• Mrs Stormcrowe, 8, 8
• Tom Stormcrowe, 258, 258
• Tayfur Yagci , 3, 3
• Big Mike , 307.2, 307.2
• Caloi Rider, 0, 0
• Juvenile Tim, 61, 61
• Dan On Bike, 42.3, 42.3
• Arctic Jill*, 158.7, 158.7
• Gorilla, 33, 33
• Al Maviva, 229, 229
• Pernicious, 10, 10
• Uncle Dan, 87.3, 87.3
• Psycho Cyclist, 56.5, 56.5
• Yelme, 58, 58
• ShawnK, 91.5, 91.5
• JP Smee, 89.2, 89.2
• Group Totals, 1492.7, 1492.7
• *Jill had some carryover from May
  

As you can see, we are off to a rocking start for June. Keep it up all, let's get some miles and wear down some rubber on the bike tires! Spinner Saturday will run normally over the time period I will be on break. The only difference will be that Mrs Stormcrowe will be running the database and posting everything. I am currently training her to run the database and all the little publication tricks to format and publish the tables and graphs.

West Lafayette Rider Doing the Trans Am

Do drop by Joy Santee's page on Crazy Guy on a Bike and follow her Trans Am tour from East to West. She looks like she's having a ball (Even if she never did master “Kentuckian”)! As of May 31, 3 weeks in, she had made it to Rough River in Kentucky, 974 miles from her starting point, Norfolk, Virginia. Her page is at http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journal/?o=lt&doc_id=1291&v=14n Stop in and sign her guestbook!

Upper Chesapeake has bariatric class

Upper Chesapeake Health offers a free informational class, "Bariatric Surgery: New Course for Life," at 5:30 p.m. June 13 in the Havre de Grace Room at Harford Memorial Hospital. Participants can learn whether this surgery is right for them. Staff of Upper Chesapeake Bariatric Surgery present the classes. Information: 800-515- 0044.
Baltimore Sun Online, retrieved from Google June 4, 2006

Sunday Morning Ride for Mrs Stormcrowe

Mrs Stormcrowe was up checking out the Cattail Trail and made it as far as the Lilly Nature Center (Sponsored by the descendants of Eli Lilly)on her morning ride.



It might have been only a couple of miles round trip, but she doesn't have the stamina fore even very small hills right now and I am just happy she's trying to stay active! Next time I am up there riding myself, I'll get more pictures, in particular of a very bold Great Blue Heron, that allowed me to get within about 4 feet of it.

This is the Cattail Trail in it's entirety. The image is older, before they were finished paving it.

Spinner Saturday

OK, I have a pretty good batch of miles myself this week, with 258. We have one rider topped 300 miles! I have the Mrs running the database for me while crewing RAAM for Rob. I'll show her how to run it and the lists, but she doesn't know who to email or who to pop in to their blogs. If you get missed, sorry and we'll catch up your miles when I get back. We still have a couple or so people to report in. I leave Friday Morning for San Diego! Woohoo! 6 days to RAAM!

Here's a treat! Jan Attack!

My Spinner Saturday post will go up later today!

My Morning Ride

This was my morning ride today, 25.4 miles, and I met the wife in Frankfort. I made the ride in 1hr 15min. Terrain is rolling and wind was 9mph from the North. Temperature was 73F, with a dew point of 55. This was a very comfortable morning ride! One very cool thing happened out on Newburg Road this morning. I spooked a pheasant cock from the ditch and he was flying right alongside me for about 100 feet or so. Beautiful bird and I must say, if I had been in the van, I never would have seen him!

• Miles: 25.4
  
• AVG Speed: 20.3
• Calories: 1441
  
• Watts: 335
  
• Duration: 01:15:04.4

At Bud's Request........

This is a retrospect for where I was vs where I am now
March, 2005: 581 pounds


Current: 239 pounds
Weight loss: 342 pounds!