Good morning and happy Thursday!
I'll try to send our weekend updates out on Thursday this summer, so I catch the folks who may be taking Fridays off (you know who you are!).
San Antonio Training Ride
Our Saturday morning San Antonio training ride is rained out. Call Chuck on his cell (210-288-5605) if you want to ride the same route Sunday at 1:00 pm. This weekend the San Antonio training ride begins at Bullis County Park with wheels up at 07:30 am. We'll be doing the hills of Spring Branch and Kendalia. The Punisher is out of town, so Chuck "The Rock" Divelbiss will lead the ride. It will be hot and there aren't many stops, so make sure you bring plenty of fluids. To see the complete summer schedule, click here.
Tall Tales from the Tall Texan
...I was a little scant on updates from the training ride last week - apparently, there was more drama and excitement on the ride then I shared in the last blog. I talked to Kirstin in the Monday spin class, and she told me about having to traverse a knee-deep water crossing on River Road. She said she had to take off her cycling shoes and carry them and her bike above her head, and she was really worried about being washed away by the fast-moving current. In fact, she had so much fun doing this, she did it twice... Unbelievable! I take off one week, and look what I miss. Good thing I have folks sign that waiver... :>
Bicycle Incident on Upper Balcones and Toutant Bearegard
...I received this from Lydia Kelly from the SA-BC Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).
Do you ride Upper Balcones Rd or Toutant Beauregard Rd which runs between Boerne and Cascade Caverns Road? Have you been harassed or almost hit by a maroon pickup truck? If so please get involved - contact Erin Handler at erinhandler@gmail.com. [The driver] recently came across lanes and almost hit two riders. All lives are precious and this driver does not understand the principle of SHARE THE ROAD.
One More Shameless Plug for the Early Bird Registration
...Yes, I feel soiled by this whole process, but I promise this is the last shameless plug you'll see for the early bird special... Friday, June 15, is the last day for the Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach Early Bird Registration. You'll save $15 bucks if you register before then. To register on-line, click here. Make sure you register with team Velo Valero! NOTE: The early bird has been extended until June 22!
MS 150 Training Journal
...One useful tool I've used in previous years in preparing for the rides like the MS 150 is a Training Journal. This is a simple Excel spreadsheet tool for keeping track of your miles week by week across all the aerobic activities you may do - team rides, solo rides, spin classes, etc. The goal is to incrementally increase your miles each week, until the last week before the event where you taper off and do heavy carb loading. If you're doing a 15 week program for the MS 150, it will begin the week of July 7th; if you're doing a 12 week program, it will start the week of July 28th. Click here to download this year's journal.
Somebody Please Explain that Last Sopranos Episode to Me
I'll end with a desparate plea for help. I've always considered myself a pretty smart guy, but I have absolutely no clue what they were trying to say in the final 10 minutes of the Sopranos finale last week. The episode was named "Made in America", buy it should have been named "Lost in Space". What a lame way to end the greatest show in television history! Meadow can't parallel park? Paulie doesn't liike cats? The cat is fixated on the picture of Christopher? And what in the hell was with Journey's "Don't Stop Believing"? To prevent me from having to go back to school and get a PhD in Advanced Metaphors and Symbolism, send me an e-mail with your theory on what it all means.
- Peter