As y'all saw in last week's R5F post, I have been following RAAM, the Race Across America, and specifically supporting rider Maria Parker, riding for Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure.
Maria was doing well in the mountains, proving that it is possible to climb well, on a recumbent. Sadly, last evening, her dream of racing in RAAM was shattered. Her follow-vehicle, carrying all her spare bikes, and gear, was rear-ended. The vehicle and both bikes were totaled. Thanks to God's grace and mercy, none of her crew was injured beyond some scrapes and bruises, according to her FB page. And the follow-vehicle did exactly what it was supposed to do--protect Maria from the car that hit it! Yes, folks, that is the job of the follow-vehicle, to block other cars from hitting the rider from behind.
Due to the RAAM requirements, they were forced decide of they would abandon the race. I am sure the team was devastated to make that decision to DNF. I know I would be. But just because they have DNF'd RAAM, does not mean that they are quitting the ride!
Apparently, Maria and team have chosen to continue the route, on their own, outside of RAAM, once they get the logistics of a new vehicle, bikes and gear sorted out. Hooray for them, I say! They may be out of a race, but they are NOT quitting! It looks like she will be back on the bike this afternoon. Follow her progress here. If you want to see the photos of her time in RAAM, and hopefully, of her continued ride across America, the Facebook page has a ton of pics.
I hope folks are encouraged, and inspired by Maria's example. I know I am.
Fly, Maria! Fly!
Friday, June 14, 2013
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Collin Classic 2013
Yesterday was the annual Collin Classic bike rally to benefit City House, an emergency shelter/housing for at-risk youth. The bike rally consisted of multiple routes designed for all levels of cyclist, from the 4mi Family Fun ride, to 15, 36, 47, 56, and 64 mile options. Excellent LEO support was provided on all routes, to control intersections and motor vehicle traffic during the ride, to lessen the risk to riders and drivers alike. A big thank you to all the LEO/FD/EMS folks for their help.
A classic T-shirt ride, the Collin Classic was routed over remarkably good roads for the most part, with very limited chip seal (aka boulder seal in Texas!). The routes were well marked and key turns were flagged by volunteers too. In a twist I had not seen before on a T-shirt ride, there were special "Ride Guides" riding the routes with the paid riders--these folks were there to provide minor mechanical support (fix flats etc) that happened on the routes, and I think, to also provide emergency support like First Responders would, in the event of injury accidents. I suspect they also provided the calls for the trained EMS folks to get rolling. Sadly, EMS was busy yesterday...there were a number of bad crashes, at least one of which resulted in a cyclist getting choppered out to a hospital, and others with broken bones or leaking hydraulic fluid (blood).
Still, the weather was gorgeous yesterday, and not hot. Winds were mild to non-existent at the start, and not much over 15mph by noon. Yours truly opted for the middle distance, 47mi route, as I hoped to be done early enough to still get the free hamburger promised to all riders! There were a couple trikers on the ride, and a fair number of recumbents, though I only saw most of them at the food line at the end. I did ride the last 3rd of my route with Ken and John, both on their Bacchetta recumbents, and had a pleasant time chatting.
SAG stops were well manned with plenty of food, including a better variety than the usual SAG fair of oranges, bananas, and cheap cookies. We got peanut butter crackers, really good trail mix, fresh watermelon, Grandma's Cookies and popsicles including the unique Pickle Juice Pops (blech!). I know some folks (DH comes to mind) like to eat pickles in the heat, but the mere thought of pickles or worse, pickle pops, in the heat is enough to turn my stomach! One SAG had a guy with a pump sprayer walking around spraying down cyclists with a cold mist. It felt good actually, and allowed me to soak my armskins to provide evaporative cooling when I was riding again.
The organizers also had a Family Fun Fest set up at the ride's finish. It was really geared toward little kids, but DH took the Monkeys up, and they still had fun, and got snow cones to boot! They enjoyed the kite display most. It was nice that the organizers thought to try to entertain the kids who didn't ride, but it would've been even nicer had they planned for some older kids to attend.
And in local news, I just spotted this tidbit. Possible Explosive Device Found Outside McKinney. Yeah...they found whatever it was or wasn't, right ON the bike route we all rode along yesterday. I guess I was luckier than I knew! And HUGE thank you to the Collin Co Sheriff's Dept, and the Plano Bomb Squad for taking care of this!
**I guess I should have read the article more closely. The device was found on last Monday, not yesterday. My mistake.
Here's a look at my ride and results.
A classic T-shirt ride, the Collin Classic was routed over remarkably good roads for the most part, with very limited chip seal (aka boulder seal in Texas!). The routes were well marked and key turns were flagged by volunteers too. In a twist I had not seen before on a T-shirt ride, there were special "Ride Guides" riding the routes with the paid riders--these folks were there to provide minor mechanical support (fix flats etc) that happened on the routes, and I think, to also provide emergency support like First Responders would, in the event of injury accidents. I suspect they also provided the calls for the trained EMS folks to get rolling. Sadly, EMS was busy yesterday...there were a number of bad crashes, at least one of which resulted in a cyclist getting choppered out to a hospital, and others with broken bones or leaking hydraulic fluid (blood).
Still, the weather was gorgeous yesterday, and not hot. Winds were mild to non-existent at the start, and not much over 15mph by noon. Yours truly opted for the middle distance, 47mi route, as I hoped to be done early enough to still get the free hamburger promised to all riders! There were a couple trikers on the ride, and a fair number of recumbents, though I only saw most of them at the food line at the end. I did ride the last 3rd of my route with Ken and John, both on their Bacchetta recumbents, and had a pleasant time chatting.
SAG stops were well manned with plenty of food, including a better variety than the usual SAG fair of oranges, bananas, and cheap cookies. We got peanut butter crackers, really good trail mix, fresh watermelon, Grandma's Cookies and popsicles including the unique Pickle Juice Pops (blech!). I know some folks (DH comes to mind) like to eat pickles in the heat, but the mere thought of pickles or worse, pickle pops, in the heat is enough to turn my stomach! One SAG had a guy with a pump sprayer walking around spraying down cyclists with a cold mist. It felt good actually, and allowed me to soak my armskins to provide evaporative cooling when I was riding again.
The organizers also had a Family Fun Fest set up at the ride's finish. It was really geared toward little kids, but DH took the Monkeys up, and they still had fun, and got snow cones to boot! They enjoyed the kite display most. It was nice that the organizers thought to try to entertain the kids who didn't ride, but it would've been even nicer had they planned for some older kids to attend.
And in local news, I just spotted this tidbit. Possible Explosive Device Found Outside McKinney. Yeah...they found whatever it was or wasn't, right ON the bike route we all rode along yesterday. I guess I was luckier than I knew! And HUGE thank you to the Collin Co Sheriff's Dept, and the Plano Bomb Squad for taking care of this!
**I guess I should have read the article more closely. The device was found on last Monday, not yesterday. My mistake.
Here's a look at my ride and results.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Random 5 Friday 06/07/13
1. Yesterday was the 69th anniversary of D-Day. They say we lose some 600 WWII veterans a day...soon I guess there will be none left alive who were there and who fought in that war.
2. Tuesday is the start of the RAAM, Race Across AMerica. As I have gotten back into cycling, this event has captured my imagination, having seen Bicycle Dreams, and chatted with RAAM veterans in person and on the forums. I plan on following Maria Parker, a solo RAAM recumbent rider. She is riding to support the charity 3000 Miles to a Cure, and to honor her sister, who is fighting for her life against brain cancer. Maria is also working with Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure, an organization that has an interesting take on research and funding. Look them up...it is a unique concept, and one that in my mind, has merit.
3. Should any of you folks feel led to support Maria, or even just give her encouragement, I think that would be fantastic! I know she has a Facebook page 3ktoacure, and was hoping to get a lot of "likes" on it. I am hoping her live GPS tracking works well on the ride, as I will enjoy following her progress.
4. I had my hair cut Wednesday. I have not had hair this short since before I got married. DH says he likes it, so I am glad, as I like it too. The Monkeys think it's kinda cool, and the dogs aren't sure what to think, as suddenly "Mom" looks different!
5. My Monkeys liked these yard flowers even better than the pretty picture from yesterday of our day lily.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Cone Free!
At last I deem Cody to be Cone Free! His eye appears to have healed sufficient to remove the Cone of Shame for good. He's not pawing at it now, and it looks like any scarring will be minimal and not in his main vision field. Whew!
Boy, if you ever have to have a large dog in the Cone of Shame, watch out! I hope your dog is brighter than Cody, as he never did get used to the Cone...He just bulled his way through any obstacle he encountered with it--be it a bicycle or two, chairs, the table legs, your legs, the wall socket....
If I could bill him for damages, I would! He broke the wall socket cover, he scraped paint off the walls, he knocked over several bikes, even bending a rear derailleur hanger slightly (luckily DH was able to straighten it!) He knocked over kitchen chairs, and gave us bruises and scrapes from that blasted Cone!
You'd think that after a few days, a dog would learn that if the Cone hangs up on something, maybe it would be a good idea to back up, and try to clear the obstruction. But not our Cody! He believes in the One True Faith (brute force). If you get the Cone stuck on something/someone, just push harder. If you break it, it needed replaced anyway!
I'm not sure who is more relieved that Cody is out of the Cone...us, or him!
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