I'm a avid road cyclist who rides from 75 to 170 miles a week. I'm always interested in seeing just how far and how fast I can go on a bike. I train at a local spot called White Rock Lake during the week and ride rallies in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area (usually benefiting a local charity) on the weekends. I've been keeping a cycling blog of all my rides since early 2006. In it I've tried to document the details my experiences and what I've learned about cycling and nutrition. Some posts even have pics and video I've shot so check it out and let me know what you think. When rally season starts, I'll fill in my calendar with the rides I plan to attend.
My major goals for the 2008 riding season are:
1. Raise $500 in donations to find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis and ride the Sam's Club MS150 from Frisco, TX to Ft. Worth, TX (150 miles);
2. Complete my first Metroplex Sprint Triathlon (400m swim - 11 mi bike - 2 mi run);
3. Ride a century distance (90-100 miles) in each month of 2008 to complete the UMCA Year-Rounder challenge;
4. Ride the Hotter'N Hell Hundred in Wichita Falls, TX (100 miles) in under 5 hours;
5. Ride my first double century in the Texas Time Trials in Cleburne, TX (200 miles, 16 hours).
The Sam's Club MS150 is a two day tour designed to raise public awareness and raise funds for the National MS Society. Multiple Sclerosis is an auto-immune disease that attacks the central nervous system. The damage it causes can short circuit nerves or cause them to stop working altogether resulting in blindness, paralysis or death. Over 400,000 Americans have been diagnosed, and including their friends and families, it affects over 2 million people. The odds are high that you know someone affected by this debilitating disease and can help them by sponsoring me to find a cure.
Read about my 2006 Sam's Club MS150 exprience in my blog: Day 1 Day 2
Read about my 2007 BP MS150 exprience in my blog: Day 1 Day 2
Read about my 2007 Sam's Club MS150 exprience in my blog: Day 1 Day 2
Read about my 2008 Sam's Club MS150 exprience in my blog: Day 1 Day 2
Learn more about MS .
Please donate to find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis.
The Metroplex Sprint Triathlon is a goal I decided to set because I was inspired by several of my blog readers who are triathletes. One of my friends has done a triathlon with her father who is several years older than I. Another friend came back from a tragic automobile accident to complete the Kona Ironman in 2007. His name is Brian Boyle and he is truly an inspiration. I've decided I need to augment my cycling training and try at least one triathlon before it's "too late".
I decided to do the Ultra Marathon Cycling Association (UMCA) Year Rounder challenge with my friend, Huzefa. I already ride 4-5 centuries (100 mile rides) each training season. It didn't seem like such a stretch to do 12 of them especially if I had someone interested in riding them with me. If we can do it, we'll earn a medal called the Larry Schwartz award from the UMCA.
The Hotter'N Hell 100 is one of the toughest rides in the United States. It is 100 miles through the Texas desert usually during 100 degree temperatures of summer. I conquered it for the first time in 2006 with temperatures hitting 106 degrees. In 2007, I managed to ride it in under 5 hours but temps were only in the 90's. This year I hope to beat that time again. This ride will double as one of my UMCA Year Rounder rides.
Riding my first double century in the Texas Time Trials was a goal I had to abandon last year due to inadequate preparation. This year I plan to do it for sure. It is basically a race against the clock with no drafting allowed. I hope to compete in the 12 or 16 hour events riding solo this year. I don't think I've ever ridden 12 hours straight, so I'm mainly curious to see if I understand the nutrition side of it well enough to keep going that long. If I do well enough this year and like it, I may try to do the 500 mile Race Across AMerica (RAAM) Qualifyer next year either solo or as part of a 2 or 4 person team.