Archive for the ‘Cycling Events’ Category

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Help A Greyhound in Anderson, SC - June 26

Monday, June 14th, 2010

Ok, no funny stuff to start this post… I would just like to tell everyone about a great ride that is near and dear to my heart. The Greyhound Rescue Ride will be happening on June 26th in Anderson, South Carolina and will help find “forever homes” for greyhounds and also benefit the Anderson County Humane Society and the Electric City Chapter of Greyhound Pets of America. The ride consists of a 25, 40, or 62 mile option through some beautiful country. This is really awesome because greyhounds are truly amazing dogs and so many of them are in need of a good home once they have “retired” from racing. Besides being the fastest dogs in the world (can run over 40mph!) they are also fantastic companions. They truly enjoy human companionship and are incredibly loving, expressive, and sensitive.

So, as you have probably guess by now, I am truly “pro-greyhound”. I have not had the honor of adopting a retired racing greyhound, YET, but I am the proud parent of two Italian Greyhounds (Luna and Soleil). Since they are miniature they definitely do not have the size of a greyhound, but they are just as loving, dedicated, and expressive (and extremely fast for their size)! Plus, just like full sized greyhounds, they are really cool and get a lot of people who approach me to look at them, enjoy their beauty, and generally compliment me on them.

So please, if you are anywhere near Anderson, South Carolina, please try to check out this great event and who knows, you may leave with new greyhound best-friend…

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Are We in Italy? Tour d’Italia, Italy Texas, June 19

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

Whoa, now hold on a minute! I thought I watched the Giro d’Italia a couple weeks ago and saw Ivan Basso win the Pink Jersey! Talk about being confused… Now I see that the 25th annual Tour d’Italia will be happening on June 19th… Does this mean that all the Pro Tour Teams are planning to do the race all over again? Nope, it just means that the Tour d’Italia will be happening in Italy, Texas and a group of excited riders (about 2000 expected) will be ready and raring to go. This 12 to 63 ride is being put on by the Lone Star Cyclist, a group of dedicated cyclist who believe in recreation cycling, bike safety, and above all, camaraderie.

All the cyclists will be riding for some great causes which include the Italy High School, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and other North Texas charities. As if the great causes were not enough, you will also be able to purchase and enjoy an all you can eat spaghetti dinner, pancake breakfast, and fantastic lunch which will all be cooked by the Italy High School Coaches. All sounds good to me! Let’s help celebrate the 25th anniversary!

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Shammi N Koozies in Wimberley, Texas June 12

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

I remember the days when we use to grab an inner-tube, throw-on some sunscreen, and jump in the river to enjoy the afternoon. Ah, those were the good-old-days… Now, throw-in a bike ride along with the river tubing and you have yourself a fantastic day! Well, Wimberley, Texas has done just that with the Shammies N’ Koozies bike ride and tubing event. This event will be taking place on June 12th and will take you on a 40 or 65 mile ride through the hill country of Texas. Once you complete your ride, you will be treated to a Texas BBQ (mmmm, pulled-pork sandwiches, beef brisket, beans…) and then grab a tube and float down the Guadalupe River. Doesn’t get much better than this!!!

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Zoo-de-Mackinac in Harbor Springs, MI - May 22

Saturday, May 8th, 2010

So normally, I enthusiastically talk about races when I write. This time I am going to talk about a fun ride that is an all weekend event and sounds like a really good time! The Zoo-de-Mackinac in Harbor Springs, MI takes place the weekend of May 22nd (officially starting on Saturday), but has pre-ride festivities that start on Friday night. So most rides start with carbo-loading and lots of rest, but not the Zoo-de-Mackinac… This ride starts Friday night with a bash at the Zoo Bar and great music by the Aaron Vaughn Band (what a way to start a ride, with a hangover…). On Saturday, the ride starts at the Boyne Highlands Resort and travels along Lake Michigan for 51 miles and takes you through some absolutely spectacular countryside views. By lunch time you should reach The Legs Inn in Cross Village to have some lunch and “shoot the breeze” with you fellow cyclists. Once you are done with lunch, you climb back on you bike (yup, that’s right, you’re not done) and ride the rest of the way to Mackinaw City. However, if you do decide that you do not want to ride anymore, there are alternate transportation options to Mackinaw City… Once you finish the ride, you are greeted by a huge post-ride party at The Crossings in Mackinaw City with food, bands, and yup, beer! After the post-ride party you can take the Arnold Ferry over to Mackinac Island to continue the festivities at a number of local bars and enjoy a few more adult beverages and local bands. Finally on Sunday morning, after a great weekend of riding and spending time with new friends, reality sets-in and you realize that you need to go back to your normal life. However, at that point, you can start planning and dreaming about returning to the Zoo-de Mackinac in 2011. Have fun!

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Double Century in St George UT on May 22

Sunday, May 2nd, 2010

So you think you’re fast and have great endurance, well I’ve got a bike race for you to try. The Red Rock 200 Ultra Marathon Bicycle Race in St. George, UT will see just how strong you really are. This is a 1-day; 200 mile race allows you to ride the course as a solo rider, tandem, or relay and boasts about 10,000 feet of climbing (10,000 feet, wow, that’s a lot of climbing in 1 day). The race starts on May 22nd in St. George and goes through Gunlock, Veyo, Enterprise, Newcastle, turns around in Cedar City, and then heads back to St. George. If you can finish before sundown, you will receive a finisher medal, but only those who can finish in less than 12 hours will receive a finisher’s jersey. So what do you say, are you feeling lucky and want to give it a try? Good luck. It will be a long ride, but it will also be beautiful and well worth your time on the bike.

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Did you say coffee?!?!?! Tour de Starbucks in Brentwood, CA- May 15

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

Like most people in the world, I like to start the day with a good cup of coffee to help get the blood flowing. Now, when you think of coffee, what is the 1st name that normally pops into your mind? You guessed it, Starbucks Coffee. So put together two of the things you love the most, riding and drinking coffee and you get the Tour de Starbucks in Brentwood, CA. Mmmm, I can almost taste the dark roast coffee with just a splash of cream now…

The Tour de Starbucks ride will take place on May 15th and allows you to stop at participating Starbucks Shops along the route. It offers you three fun and challenging ride options; the Tall which is about 8 miles, the Grande which is 24 miles, or the Vente which is 62 miles. Besides the doing this ride for the love or coffee and cycling, you can also do it for a good cause. The ride will benefit the Brentwood Police Activities League and the Brentwood Youth Commission. So bring your favorite coffee mug and come join a bunch fellow coffee and cycling lovers for a fun day of riding and help support a good cause at the same time.

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A Slapstick Ride - Tour de Stooges, May 1

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

OK, I’m a guy and as soon as I saw the name of this ride, I started doing my best Larry / Moe / Curley imitations.  This immediately makes my wife roll her eyes and leave the room (I don’t know why women do not understand The Three Stooges?).

Anyways, enough about my love of The Three Stooges… With a name like Tour de Stooges, I’m sure this ride must be a classic! It takes place in Highland, Illinois on May 1st and by reading a little bit about it, sounds like a fun time. This ride offers you a variety of different ride lengths and all the slapstick comedy you can stand (my kind of ride!!).   Listen to the name of these rides / lengths:

* The Joe Besser “Not So Hard” Route - 15 miles
* The Curly Howard Shuffle - 22 miles
* The Larry “Just” Fine Route - 31 miles
* The Shemp Howard Shortcut - 42 miles
* The Moe Howard Metric - 64 miles

These names almost bring a tear to my eye…

The ride is also being held for a very good cause, Gateway Council of Hostelling International-USA which is a non-profit organization that helps all of us gain a better understanding of the world and its people through hostelling. So give the Tour de Stooges a try and enjoy all the slapstick comedy you can stand along with a great lunch when you are finished.

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SRAM Tour of the Gila on April 28th to May 2nd in Silver City, New Mexico

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

Now here’s the stage race for the true racer… The SRAM Tour of the Gila is a 4 or 5 day stage race (depending on your category) which is being held from April 28th to May 2nd in Silver City, New Mexico. I’ve done this race in past seasons and I’ll say just one thing; “Bring your climbing legs, you’re gonna need them”!

This race is huge! It attracts some of the best national pros and pro teams with 1st class support and a huge prize list (even for the “average Joe’s” like myself). This race is so big that it even attracted Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer, and Chris Horner last season (now that’s impressive)! The race features 2-3 road races (depending on your category), a very hilly time trial, and an exciting Crit in the center of Silver City. None of these stages are for the person who likes flat terrain (you’re not gonna find it here). Every time you climb on your saddle you are going just one way, straight up. I’m not trying to scare you; I just want to make sure that you know what you are getting yourself into. I will say one thing however; you have to do this race at least once in your life. You will remember it forever…

So besides the dream of winning the big prize and climbing up massive climbs like the infamous “Gila Monster” what makes this race so special? Well, there are two things actually. First of all there is the great road support and equipment that is offered by SRAM. This stuff is awesome! Secondly, and probably most important, is the support given by all the people in the great town of Silver City, New Mexico. I have never been at a race where the racers have been more welcome or where the town gets so involved in the race support! I remember my 1st trip to the race; my buddies and I went out for a training ride to see what we had gotten ourselves into. We were riding through town and we actually had townspeople waving at us, cheering for us, and truly happy to see us. This is a great feeling, especially when you are just an average rider like myself! Thanks Silver City!

So if you are a racer, sign-up for the race, it is well worth it! If you are not a racer, but like bike racing, then take a drive up to Silver City. You will see some incredible racing and a truly beautiful area!

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Sea Otter Classic April 15-18 in Monterey, CA

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

OK, now whether you are just starting to race or a seasoned cycling veteran, this is a place that you’ve gotta go atleast once in your life! The Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California from April 15th to 18th is an event where the casual cyclist and hardcore “gearhead” will have a little cycling “orgasm”! This place has it all, exciting road cycling, exhilarating mountain racing, tent after tent of the newest cycling gear, big name pro racers, and thousands of the coolest cycling enthusiasts that you will ever meet!

So what makes this place so special; well to start with, the location, Laguna Seca Raceway. Every time I go there it gives me the biggest adrenaline rush… Just image, you drive into the raceway early in the morning before the event starts and what do you see, sport bikes screaming around the Laguna Seca Raceway. The same raceway that you will be starting many of your races on during this event! This raceway has some of the best pavement you will ever ride on along with a sharp leg-testing climb, and oh yeah, the famous corkscrew descent! Riding on this track just gives you chills because no matter where you are, there are hundreds of people watching you and cheering your every pedal stroke.

Secondly, the number of events going on at this venue will keep your head spinning… You will always be preparing for your next race or walking around to catch some of the other athletes participating in their discipline of choice. This place has it all, Road Races / Crits / Circuit races, MTN X-Country / Short-Track, and Downhill / Super-D / Dual-Slalom events. I always feel like a kid in a candy store at Sea Otter. For me, I try to do the Road Race, Circuit Race, and MTN X-Country Race if my legs and time allows me… These races give me the chance to enjoy the Laguna Seca Raceway and all of the beautiful countryside around the event. I’m usually pretty “spent” by the end of the week, but it is well worth it… Oh yeah, I forgot to mention… When I am not racing, I am watching the incredible bike handling skills of the downhill racers, or the awesome endurance of all the pros.

The final draw of this race is having the chance to see (and sometimes meet) your favorite pro racers, interact with all of the equipment vendors, or just hang-out with other cycling enthusiasts! Like I said before, this place is cycling sensory overload, but when you leave on the final day, you will be glad you came and already dreaming of attending the event in 2011. Hope you have a blast!!!

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Was that Paris-Roubaix or Barry-Roubaix?

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010


Now hold on a second, I thought that Paris-Roubaix was held in France. Oh yeah, that’s right, it is… I am thinking of the Barry-Roubaix Killer Gravel Road Race being held in Middleville, Michigan on March 27th. The Barry-Roubaix Killer Gravel Road Race may not have all the Elite Pro-Tour Racers like Paris-Roubaix, but I am sure it will have the same amount of intensity and luv of a challenging road surface. This 35 mile race loop will have a combination of gravel roads (80% of the time), pavement, a challenging 1-mile section with two-tracks of mud, sand, rocks, snow, ice and over 2200 feet of climbing. Wow, what a challenging combination! This race is open to a number of rider racing levels and a variety of bikes (road, mountain, cyclocross, single-speed, fixed-gear, and tandem). Just grab whatever bike you think will be the fastest on this ever-changing course. Good luck riders and don’t forget to bring extra clothes and water to wash-off all dirt and grim from the ride!

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