I have several interests, but I'd like to keep this page focused mainly on road cycling topics and fund raising for MS. I'm a down right dangerous pool player when I'm in practice. If you're up for a game in a non-smoke-filled environment, let me know.
I have some wide ranging tastes in music and I wouldn't say I have any favorite artists I listen to religiously. What I listen to depends on my mood at the time. I generally like 80's rock and some 90's rock/alternative. I was a big fan of The Police and Sting for quite a while. From the 80's genre I like The Fixx, Madonna, ZZ Top, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Dire Straights, Men at Work, Lionel Ritchie and that's just the tip of the iceberg. I used to DJ at a roller rink in the 80's so if I hear some song from that era I can usually tell you the title and artist. Some from the 90's to present that I like right now are Lenny Kravitz, Rob Thomas, Jack Johnson, Dave Matthews, John Mayer, 3 Door Down, Sarah McLachlan, Hoobastank, Finger 11, Nickelback, Dido.
Movies
I like watching a new releases on a Friday at the theaters, but the pickings for good movies has been pretty slim lately. Here are a few I tend to find myself watching again (and again): A Knight's Tale, The Majestic, Gladiator, Master and Commander, Stripes, Groundhog Day, A Beautiful Mind, Castaway, Contact, Armageddon, The Wedding Singer, 50 First Dates, The Blues Brothers, School of Rock, The Matrix, The Lost Boys, Purple Rain, The Breakfast Club, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Pink Floyd's The Wall, Heavy Metal, My Cousin Vinny, Good Will Hunting, A Blast from the Past, Glory, Forrest Gump, Sneakers, Red Planet.
Television
I really hate commercials and TV editing. I prefer to view a work of art in it's entirety and without censorship. Generally, I watch something on a premium channel. I really liked Survivorman with Les Stroud and Man vs. Wild with Bear Grylls. I watch billiards, Tour de France or other cycling events whenever I can catch them on the sports channels. IMO, They should get rid of the lame golf channel and replace it with a cycling and/or a pool channel.
Books
I don't have much time for recreational reading....a trade journal here, a short book on something I'm interested in learning there. The last few books I've been working on are "Racing Tactics for Cyclists" by Thomas Prehn, "Food for Fitness" by Chris Carmichael and "Blogging: Genius Strategies for Instant Web Content" by Biz Stone.
Heroes
I don't really idolize anyone. I have a deep respect for my parents and for anyone who pursues excellence in what they do or virtues like honesty, respect, truth and honor. Lance Armstrong and other riders of his calibre are an inspiration, but I don't ever expect to achieve what they have achieved or to come close to emulating them. I'm content to ride my own journey through life and measure it by my own yard stick.
I have 20 years experience in non-competitive commuting, mt. biking and road cycling. I started road cycling in 2006 to train for a corporate charity race and have been hooked on it ever since. My road cycling has expanded to include local weekend rallies, charity rides to cure diseases and last year I completed the UMCA Year-Rounder Challenge. I have learned a lot along the way including road riding technique, safety, ettiquette, equipment, bike maintenance, nutrition, training techniques, club promotion, organized ride planning, charity fund-raising and even a little about race tactics. Each year I have tried to push myself to go a little bit faster, a little bit farther or to try a new cycling challenge/experience.
I started this profile and cycling blog as a way to document my training for my first MS150 and as a way to give something back to my MS sponsors. With it I have tried to share my cycling knowledge and experiences through training logs and ride reviews, to meet others involved in road cycling activities, to promote political activism for safer road cycling and to meet others seeking a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. Along the way the blogging has forced me to learn something about webpage design, photography, video capture and editing, political process and has helped me meet many interesting people. I've been posting about three times a week for the past two years, but have recently cut that to once a week due to job hunting activities.
Currently, I ride from 100 to 170 miles a week to maintain my conditioning. 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. My weekday rides are usually 35 miles (solo) and my weekend rides are almost always over 50 miles...from 100k (64mi) to 100 miles long (solo or group). Occassionly, I've even been known to accept an invitation to ride with a club when the rallies have been scarce.
My goals for the 2009 riding season are going to be somewhat meager this year. Since I'm job hunting, I don't know if I'll be able to remain in the Dallas area to do all of them:
1. Donate to my MS partner, Reba, and join her for the MS Walk in Addison, TX, in March.
2. 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) in May;
3. Ride the Hotter'N Hell 100 in Wichita Falls, TX (100 miles, 5 hour) in August.
The MS Walk is a charity event my MS partner, Reba, is doing for the Lone Star Chapter of the National MS Society. I plan to donate to her and walk with her to show my support.
The Sam's Club MS150 is a two day bike tour designed to raise public awareness and to 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 2.5 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.
This is Reba, the person with M.S. for whom I am riding. She has become a very good friend of mine. Please make a donation so I can help her find a cure.
The Hotter'N Hell 100 is one of the tougher century rides in the United States. It is 100 miles through the Texas desert usually during 100 degree temperatures (and high humidity) 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. In 2008, I just missed my 5 hour mark due to the high humidity. I don't know if I can keep hitting the 5 hour mark at my age without much help, but I'm going to try again this year.
Who I'd like to meet: I'd like to meet other road cyclists in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area (or on MySpace) for training or teaming up for local bike tours or rallies. Because I push myself when I train it is hard to find others at the same level as I am. I generally train solo at White Rock Lake, but am not opposed to doing a little pace line riding so I can increase my speed. I've learned a lot about cycling from my own reading, but would welcome an exchange of training/diet/racing tips with others who have learned from experience.
Thanks for the support! I am definitely accepting all good vibes being sent my way. Can't believe all this training is done and Marathon Day is almost here. It's going to be something!
