Two Weeks To Go!

We have 2 weeks to go before we head out for the Upper Peninsula for our Bike Tour! We have gotten Bear spray, and we are prepared for cold weather. This is either going to be the best trip we've ever been on or the biggest pork chop we've ever done!

I'll have very limited internet access, so I'll be posting when I do have access.

I'll also have arrangements made to have someone run the Spinner Saturday database for me. More on that later.

Looks like things are coming together fast for our Tour de UP!

I have parking arranged for the van, a hotel to homebase out of between loops in St Ignace, MI, and all is well with the world! Looks like we got us a bike tour all worked out!

Our planned ride loops:

Whitefish Point

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

The Mystery Spot in Manistique

Macinac Island (For a day at least!)

Newberry, MI

Houghton, Mi

Bicycle camping is cheap and easily available through the Natl and State Parks and Forests, so that isn't an issue either!

Wildlife

It's apparently Bear and Mountain Lion country, so we'll have to practice Bear country camping techniques, and hopefully, we should get some great pics of wildlife. and all. If any of you have advice about where to check out, feel free to post into my comments.

Spinner Saturday Results

Well, the mileage for our cycling is back up to par, great job everybody! The nice weather certainly hasn't hurt, I must admit! Well, here are the results of Spinner Saturday, with the cycling miles and time in saddle and charts!

We're Back!

Well, all I can say is that the cycling in Michigan is spectacular! Here are a few highlights of the weekend. First, we stayed at the Old Harbor Inn, in South Haven and it was great! They upgraded us to the top of the food chain to a suite.....it seems the manager reads my blog! We got the best suite in the place, with a 3 acre bed and an in room Jacuzzi for the price of a basic room!


Some of the views from the private balcony





The Barista at Bear Claw Coffee Shop. Great coffee, by the way!



Now, for the cycling! Michigan is Cyclists paradise! The drivers watch for us and the infrastructure is great. We did a lot of riding between South Haven, Saugatuck, Holland and Grand Haven, and the terrain is fairly flat. The weather couldn't have been better, with a daily high around 75℉. We did decide one thing though, we're changing touring plans. We're going to drive up to the UP, and park the van in St Ignace and spend May and June in Michigan up in the UP. There are campsites galore up there and it looks to be fairly cheap. They have State Park and State Forest camping about every 30 or so miles and it sounds like a blast, so we're going to do it!

Holland State Park



Holland/Grand Haven Pathway



South Haven Beach at Sunset



Saugatuck, Michigan: The Keewatin.

This ship was built 4 years before the Titanic, and was in service through the Second World War in passenger service around the Great Lakes. She's a museum now, floating at Red Dock between Saugatuck and Douglas, Michigan. I wis she was open, but the museum doesn't open until after Memorial Day.



Last but not least; PIE!

We have a Bicycling Weekend planned

We're going up to do some cycling along the Lake Michigan Shore this weekend. Our destination is South Haven, Michigan and will be doing a getaway cycling weekend. We'll have pictures when we get back, you know, the usual mini vacation kind of stuff as well as our impressions of the Michigan shore.

The Spinner Report for April 14, 2007

Bad weather certainly took it's toll this week!

Rider	04/06/07	04/13/07	04/20/07	04/27/07	Tital			Rider	04/06/07	04/13/07	04/20/07	04/27/07	Tital
The Mrs	30	39.75			69.75			The Mrs	2.25	4			6.25
Tom Stormcrowe	30	54.2			84.2			Tom Stormcrowe	2.25	5			7.25
Admiral					0			Admiral
Adrien	37.77				37.77			Adrien	2.25				2.25
Scotmorrsn	88				88			Scotmorrsn					0
Big Mike	164.6	74.1			238.7	*3 wk tot		Big Mike					0
AaronW		28.8			28.8			AaronW		1.5			1.5
DonHaller	85	81			166			DonHaller	5.5	5.25			10.75
Juvenile Tim	77	45			122			Juvenile Tim					0
DanonBike	30.6				30.6			DanonBike					0
DiabloRojo					0			DiabloRojo
Dpb13	108.46				108.46			Dpb13	7.75				7.75
Early					0			Early					0
FujiRocker					0			FujiRocker					0
Archienutt	12	20.2			32.2			Archienutt	0.75	1.75			2.5
Arctic Jill	25.1				25.1			Arctic Jill					0
Gorilla					0			Gorilla					0
Uncle Dan!	65.5	23.5			89			Uncle Dan!					0
Ronjon10	25	16.59			41.59			Ronjon10	2	1.75			3.75
PellTA					0			PellTA					0
Halthane	19				19			Halthane	1.25				1.25
Jaxgtr	55.5	86.4			141.9			Jaxgtr	3.5	5.75			9.25
JP Smee					0			JP Smee					0
Texas Mike	235				235			Texas Mike	12				12
Wogsterca		10.4			10.4			Wogsterca		1			1
ShawnK					0			ShawnK					0
51	45	100.5			145.5			51					0
Teamplayer	127				127			Teamplayer					0
Funrover	38.4				38.4			Funrover	3				3
Kensuf	197				197			Kensuf	10.25				10.25
K4LK					0			K4LK					0
RDRomano					0			RDRomano					0
Mkadam68	182	221			403			Mkadam68	10.75	14.5			25.25
Bdinger		12.5			12.5			Bdinger					0
ChunkyD	15.2	25.6			40.8			ChunkyD					0
The Historian	15	32.64			47.64			The Historian					0
Sandwarrior		66.69			66.69			Sandwarrior		4			4
Fishboy_C					0			Fishboy_C					0
Obelix67					0			Obelix67					0
I_Bike					0			I_Bike					0
Total	1708.13	938.87	0	0	2647			Total	63.5	44.5	0	0	108

Taxman Scramble Results:

I mentioned a couple posts back the "Taxman Scramble", in honor of the 15th of April. It is a virtual Bicycle Race in form the the "Race of Truth. You are racing yourself against the clock.

For me!

25 MPH and 1 minute: 33 Seconds. This was on a touring bike, by the way.

Mrs Stormcrowe ~14 MPH, on a Sun EZ-3 delta trike, not exactly a speedster: 2:44

How did you do?

I just started a Twitter Account, and I'm hoping it will draw some people

Welcome, especially if you are here from Twitter! I am Tom Stormcrowe on the web, and among other things, I am riding in the Tour de Cure in Indianapolis, Indiana, see my video above and feel free to visit the Tour de Cure page. The link is right above the banner. Tour de Cure is an event sponsored by the American Diabetes Association.

A Quick synopsis, so my blog in it's current form will be a bit more relevant. I was 581 pounds and wheelchair bound in March 2005. I have lost 352+ pounds since my bariatric surgery and have adopted a much healthier lifestyle. I started this blog for me, primarily, and have continued it in the hope that people realize that obesity CAN be beaten. I used the surgery, as well as bicycling as weight loss tools, and have gone from a wheelchair to an endurance cyclist with a personal best to date of 167 miles in a day (11 1/2 hrs of riding). Change is possible, all you have tyo do is use the tools, whatever they are, and believe in yourself!



On May 10, my wife and I are going on a bicycle tour as a celebration of my new life. This will be a 660 mile loop in and through Southern Indiana, if you live down that way, keep your eyes open and you may well see us! If you do, give us a wave!

There's a new blog on the block!

Kryptonite locks, which is, as far as I'm concerned, the best bike lock on the planet, has started a blog up. It's called Unbreakable Bonds. If you'd like to keep up with the happenings and products Kryptonite produces, do drop by! It's a work in progress and just starting up, but I expect it to grow very nicely! Matter of fact, I'll be using Kryptonite locks to secure out bikes and trailer when we're on tour.

An Idea for a Bicycle Race (In the Virtual)

Sunday, being the 15th, I have a great idea! Let's have a virtual Time Trial!

Call it the "Tax Man Scramble"! The idea is that the IRS is chasing you and you get off Scot Free if you beat him (Not reality, I know....but fun is fun and that's a good motivator!)

Sound like fun? We can keep it short if you'd like, sat 1 Km, as fast as you can ride it. Use a rolling start, and ride that measured kilometer (0.62 mile) just as fast as you can.....like the tax man is chasing you!

The weather is rotten and I want May to get here!

As I've mentioned, my wife and I are going out in May for her very first Bicycle tour. If I have any readers down in Southeast Indiana or along the Ohio River Valley, I'd appreciate hearing about any sites to look for along the way. Feel free to post into my comments!

Some of the highlights of the trip will be the covered bridges in Madison County...looking forward to that, I love old covered bridges! Other stuff will include the historic river town of Madison, Indiana and a section of the Underground railroad route.

Now, the rotten weather rant: It's mid April and it snowed today! Not much, but it's the principle.....it's well into Spring!

Gym Time and other News

Well, I did some gym time today. I was doing this for health psychology class demonstrating some slow lift techniques as part of class today. We did the gym time at Ivy Tech's gym/fitness center.I am pooped out! My muscles are still burning, but it's a good burn.I was using a 2 second slow cycle on the lifts with moderate and low weight lifts to build core strength and upper body strength without packing on a lot of muscle mass I don't want.

Squat lifts at 50% body weight: 40
Leg Press @ 365 pounds, single leg: 180 each leg
Overheard chin: 15 at full bodyweight after 30 at 50% counterweighting
Body weight dead lift: 15 at full bodyweight and 30 at 50% counterweighting

Supersized Cycles News

I just has an email exchange with Joan over at Supersized Cycles and she had some news for me. I'll let her say it in her own words though, but they have some new stuff!

Hey Tom,
We do have some new products, and probably the most exciting is that we now carry large size cycling shorts and jerseys! And they're really great--the shorts make such a difference in comfort. http://www.supersizedcycles.com/site/1554167/page/906715

And you know, I think, that I'm selling electric assist bikes, too http://www.supersizedcycles.com/site/1554167/page/878651. and great, fun helmets http://www.supersizedcycles.com/site/1554167/page/881597. Also have added a section called "pre-loved bikes" http://www.supersizedcycles.com/site/1554167/page/902522 so that people who are ready to move on to a lighter, faster bike can trade in their old Super Sized Cycle if they want to.

In the very near future I will be adding a blog-type forum to the site, so that folks who are getting ready to ride again, or who are just starting to ride, can get support and ask and answer questions.

Hope you have a wonderful Easter. Keep on riding!

Joan

Spinner Saturday for Week Ending April 7, 2007

Great job everybody! We're right on track for the annual goal! Keep riding those bicycles!

One Month Til the Bicycle Tour!

At least it will be tomorrow! May 10, the wife and I are taking off on tour, and we're looking forward to it! I've talked about it briefly, but what we are going to do is a 660 mile loop in Indiana, down across to the SE side of the state to the Cincinnati area, then back to Evansville along the Ohio River. Then back up to Lafayette. This is going to be a great vacation, by the way! I'm looking forward to it!

Next year, we're looking at doing the Trans Am on the Northern Tier, if Earlena likes this tour. If she doesn't, I'll be doing the Trans Am solo. I hope she likes this tour though and will be making every effort to get the Bike touring bug firmly established!

Just for Fun!

Normally, I'd be talking about Bicycling, but today, it's about personality. I found this neat little personality test, feel free to try it out!

Animated Leader

Perhaps this is why I am doing what I am doing in the Academic track? Why I chose Psychology as my new field? Try the quiz out yourself and have some fun! Meantime, get out there and ride your BIKE!

A Blog I just ran across: Quad Recumbent

Witness the re-entry into the cycling life of another fellow, pretty much in the same place I used to be! Welcome back to the lifestyle Derek!

Found this over at Midnight Riders Place.....

Quite a cool short video about the 5 boroughs ride in NYC

Why Cycling

This is a little visit to the wayback machine. I wrote this article almost a year ago, titled "Why Cycling". Go ahead and click the link and read it, I think you might enjoy it.

Seth Margolies Update

Well, as promised, I'm keeping track of Seth Margolies. Seth is a cyclist who is currently living my dream. He's riding a coast to coast tour. Seth and I have one other thing in common, other than being cyclists, he also had bariatric surgery.

Here is Seth, in his own words:

It is every child’s dream to be sponsored by a major company to do an athletic endeavor. For a child that grew up obese it is even more of a pipe dream. Exactly three and a half years ago, I was nearly four hundred pounds. Most doctors did not think I would live into my forties do to co morbidities associated with my disease. It was then I decided to undergo gastric bypass surgery. It was then that I decided to completely change my lifestyle and adopt a life that incorporated fitness. Fitness to me means of sound mind and body.

Within a year after surgery, I was biking in centuries and training for marathons. Since my surgery day, I have completed four marathons and five centuries. I figured that if I, a former four hundred pound man can do these events then the least people can do to adopt a healthy life style is the recommended thirty minutes a day. It was then that I decided to ride across America in order to get the word out. MetRx, Pure Protein and Worldwide Sports Nutrition believed in the idea and me and thus the MetRx Get Fit America Ride was born and a child’s dream was fulfilled. It takes courage for these companies who have some of the finest athletes in the world endorsing their product to believe in me and for that I thank them.

In this blog I will try to relay my experience to you as best I can in order that you may get a sense of what it is like to ride across America. It is easy to train on a bike trainer and in Southern California on the road where the weather is perfect but it is a whole different experience going over mountains and through deserts with cars, heavy winds and inner tubes popping. So a little prayer goes a long way

As a little background, I must tell you that the last time I went across the country, I was in a pickup truck. I went to different states and cities to eat the delicacies in each. You see it was right before surgery and I wanted to say goodbye to all the foods I loved. I also wanted to follow Bruce Springsteen on tour. So in Philidelphia I had cheesesteaks, New York, cheesecake, Chicago deep dish pizza and so it went. Exactly three and a half years later I am on a Specialized Roubaix biking across America.

March 24^th- Things were hectic. I need to be in San Francisco to drop my dogs off in my apartment there. I was having a dog sitter stay. I got up early to catch a flight to Los Angeles to get my gear and pack the car for the trip. I was nervous. I never had undertaken a 3200 mile bike trip. The day before I got a call from Dean Karnazes. Dean is an ultra marathoner who just finished running fifty marathons in fifty states in fifty consecutive days. He is the husband of my dentist and called to give me encouragement. He told me that there were going to be some real low days and to expect them. But by the end of this I will be in the best shape of my life and accomplish a great endeavor. It was kind of him to call and help. So as I was packing his words were resonating. In the middle of packing I noticed that the bike store did not put my cassette back on my wheels and so I was about to cross America with no gears. I ran to the shop and had them find my cassette and fix it.Of course it ate up my pack time so I threw my clothes in a bag, my bikes on the roof and set off to La Jolla California with my crew chief Laprell Nelson.

March 25^th- The launch was set for 10 am. I got there early because the local media was there and I did an interview for KUSI. You can see the piece on KUSI.com and I think it is on dig.com and youtube too. It’s a nice spot. I started at the hospital where my surgeon, Alan Wittgrove performs. They arranged to have some friends come out and say goodbye. It was a touching send off. Now all week I was worried how I would get from La Jolla to Pine Valley. A friend of mine got me directions and so I was riding all through downtown San Diego and neighboring areas to get there. I was on such an adrenanline rush that I did not have time o think about the climb over the mountains to get out of SD I just rode. I rode 66 miles that day to an elevation of 4800 feet and burned 3800 KCAL according to my Polar Computer/ Heart Rate monitor. I drank five 23oz bottles of water on the road and ended up at Japital Valley Road. I was 4:50 in the saddle that day

March 26- I got up early and had Laprell drop me back off at the spot we left off Japital Valley Road. I then did a quick eight miles back to the motel and packed the car. We then set off to go to El Centro nearly eighty miles away. The temperature was thirty seven degrees in the morning and by the time I got to the Yuha desert it was nearly ninety. It was crazy riding. I went down the I 8 at nearly 45 miles an hour with heavy winds. It blew me like I was a wrapper in the wind. I was scared but still had such a rush from the last few days I could not think about it. I took a spill off the bike and scraped my kneee and elbow. I was now bloodied, burned, and aching and felt like a biker. I popped two rear inner tubes, was 5:32 in the saddle burned 2463 KCAL that day

March 27^th- Still on rush I set out to ride from El Centro to Blythe California. It was terribly windy and I was getting messages from people that Southern California was having terrible windstorms. Like I did not know. I went through the sand dunes near Glamis. It was crazy. At the end of the day I found sand in places of my body I never knew I would find sand. It literally was like the Sahara. Nothing but sand. I did 90.6 miles and burned 2513 KCAL. I had five bottles of water on the bike and four off. I quit around 6pm when it started to rain.

March 28^th- We took the morning off to wait for my riding gear from Met RX. It did not come. So we set off around 11am, just when it gets good and hot to ride into Arizona. We rode from Blythe to Salom Arizona. It was tough because all I could think about for the 5:33 minutes in the saddle was how much my derriere hurt. I never knew how much I loved that part of my body til I started this. I did 71 miles and burned 2660 KCAL

3/29- We rode from Salome to Wittman AZ I was 5:51 in the saddle. It was tough I was on a gradual incline for nearly forty miles and my quads were aching. All that was going through my mind was when was this going to end. I also thought about what Dean said about lowpoints. OY. I would climb and think that I just went ten miles look at the odometer to realize it was just a half. It was a long day. ENDLESS. But I did burn 3152 KCAL and lost three toenails that night. Isn’t this fun?

3-30- The goal was simple. Wittman to Phoenix. It was thirty-seven miles and I had a little press junket to do at three. I got there early but no press showed up. So I got on the bike and did another twenty to Tempe. 2300 KCAL burned and 4:36 ride time in the saddle.

3-31- I took off to service the bikes and wait for my gear from Met Rx. It came via San Francisco. My friend Andy was kind enough to Fed Ex it to me. The riding clothes are great and I am proud to wear the MetRX logo. I went to a bad movie Premonition in the afternoon and walked around the Tempe Art Festival.

4-1-I started out of Tempe to Mesa. I went six miles when my cable to my front derailer broke. I had to go back to Tempe. I was not going back to the shop that I went to. I got a bad vibe. So I went to Tempe Bicycle store and waited two hours for them to open. Again I walked around the arts fair. I bought a pair of sandals from a guy who makes them in San Antonio Texas. His name was Dave Piper and he was a marathoner. I told him what I was doing and he vowed to make me a pair of blue leather sandals to match my blue MetRX bike shirt. The bike store opened and this gentleman Hubert got me on the road in no time. He did not even charge me. A very cool guy. People have been so nice when they hear what we are doing. I finally started riding at 12:30 and did 50 miles to Superior AZ. 2279 KCAL burned 4:21 in the saddle

4-2 I started to climb the mountain out of Superior. I knew the elevation was going to 5000 ft and I went through the Queens Creeks Tunnel. Semis, cars and several speeding Ferarris were going through. There was no room for me to ride and I got very scared and jittery. I popped two tubes and after five miles told Laprell to pack it in. I lost my confidence and without it I could either go into a semi or over the mountain. We went to the next town and got some cheap rooms. I took a nap had some lunch and told Laprell that we are going back up the mountain. He was great. Every turnout he waited for me and encouraged me to keep going. We climbed the mountain and better yet sped down the mountain. My confidence was back. I lost some mileage but there are good days and bad days. This was a good day. I composed myself and got back in the saddle. I did not beat myself up for only doing 30 miles. They were a very tough thirty miles on a highway over a mountain. I am proud of myself. I faced my fear and moved on

Seth Margolies- 2007 Personal Corespondence

Think of Seth and his journey, as you go through your day. He's doing this tour for several reasons and not the least of which is to demonstrate the change in paradigm he has personally achieved. If you would like to know more about Seth and his background, here is a link to his story.

Spinner Saturday Results for March 31, 2007

Here are the results of last weeks Spinner database. March was the best month ever, as far as ,ileage goes in Spinner Saturday with the group topping 8200 miles! Great job everybody!

Rider	03/03/07	03/10/07	03/17/07	03/24/07	03/31/07	Total
The Mrs	25	50	140	37	108	360
Tom Stormcrowe	25	85	269	37	108	524
Adrien	77.45	33.37	33.77	57.31		201.9
ScottMorrsn			24			24
Big Mike	102		39.7			141.7
DonHaller	66.63	65.43	83.01	90.9		305.97
Juvenile Tim	52	52	75	72	76	327
DanonBike	0	10.5	43.4		14.9	68.8
Early				28.7		28.7
FujiRocker				50		50
Arctic Jill	1.1	5.1	8.2	Injured	Injured	14.4
Archienutt				48	28	76
Gorilla	63	47	48			158
Uncle Dan!	97	14.5	40	39	132	322.5
Ronjon10	70.62	134.24	91.75	128.75	110.32	535.68
PellTA				10		10
Halthane					40	40
Jaxgtr	50.5	94.2	55.2	81	45.7	326.6
JP Smee					16	16
Texas Mike	132	39	76	75	226	548
Wogsterca					16	16
ShawnK	82.68	112.43	84.54			279.65
51	101	120.6	75	101	54.8	452.4
Teamplayer	24.9		31.62	50	34.1	140.62
Funrover		34.91	33.6	60.1	11.34	139.95
Kensuf	167	240	213	207	182	1009
K4LK		50	Injured	Injured	Injured	50
RDRomano	27.3	27.3				54.6
Mkadam68	170.26	218.32	227.43		146.78	762.79
Bdinger	5	14	40.5	10	47	116.5
ChunkyD	47.5	45	43.2		23.9	159.6
The Historian	75	31.08	40	30	76	252.08
Sandwarrior	61.26	104.28	84.08	44.5	66.1	360.22
Fishboy_C				32		32
Obelix 67				77		77
I_Bike	85.12	80	65		61	291.12
GRP TOT.	1609.32	1708.26	1965	1366.26	1623.94	8272.78
	03/03/07	03/10/07	03/17/07	03/24/07	03/31/07
	2007 First Quarter Trends
	Jan	4903.23
	Feb	5473.73
	March	8272.78
	Total	18649.74

Rider	03/03/07	03/10/07	03/17/07	03/24/07	03/31/07	Total
The Mrs	1.5	4	10	4	9.25	28.75
Tom Stormcrowe	1.5	6	18	4	9.25	38.75
Adrien	4	2.25	2.75	4		13
Scotmorrsn			1.25			1.25
Big Mike						0
DonHaller	5	4	6.25	6		21.25
Juvenile Tim						0
DanonBike
Early				2.5		2.5
FujiRocker				3.75		3.75
Archienutt					2
Arctic Jill						0
Gorilla						0
Uncle Dan!					7.25	7.25
Ronjon10	5.25	9.25	6.5	10.5		31.5
PellTA						0
Halthane					2.75	2.75
Jaxgtr	3.75	6.25	6	5.5	3	24.5
JP Smee						0
Texas Mike		2	3.25		12.5	17.75
Wogsterca					1.5	1.5
ShawnK	8.25	10.25				18.5
51						0
Teamplayer	1.75		0.5		1.75	4
Funrover		2.75	2.5	4.5	0.75	10.5
Kensuf	8.75	13.5	11.5	10.5	9.25	53.5
K4LK						0
RDRomano						0
Mkadam68	11	14	14.75		8.75	48.5
Bdinger		1		0.5		1.5
ChunkyD						0
The Historian						0
Sandwarrior	3.75	8	6	3.25	5
Fishboy_C
Obelix67				7.5		7.5
I_Bike	4.5	3.25			3.25	11
					Total HRS	349.5

Charts, Miles/Hours

Trend for the first Quarter: