It's a beautiful day....

Wow, what a great day we had today, a good day to "go fly a kite!" After a morning of training at the Reforestation Camp north of Green Bay with the team, it was home to spend the day working outside and getting things done around the house. I have to be honest, Kristin had most everything done by the time I got home from riding, so I finished up a few little things and then it was time to enjoy the day!

The four of us decided to go fly kites up at the soccer fields, even though the winds were a little inconsistent it was awesome to see the faces of the girls when the kites would stay up in the air. You forget just how cool it really is to see the kite up there in the wind, sometimes you have to just stop and for a second, grab the kite string and be a kid for 10 seconds! Even though we were only up there for 1/2 hour, we all walked home with smiles on our faces!

It was also nice to relax for the day because next Sunday it all gets underway, the opening day of racing. We head up to Iola for race #1, I feel somewhat ready, rode pretty decent today when we put the hammer down a few times, but you can bet when the race takes off we will all be fighting for our breath as our pulses race well above the red line. If the Platteville race and today's team ride are any indication, the bike is getting noticed, a lot of positive comments on the bike and the cause. So from the message standpoint, it is being delivered, people are asking all of the questions I had hoped they would ask. I even heard the comment, "a big guy on a pink bike, now that's a way to get noticed!" My point exactly!

Now go fly a kite!

Platteville Time Trial

Sorry no pictures right now, they are coming soon. Got the first racing action in Saturday down in the Southwest corner of the state, Platteville, an off-road time trial. If the response from that small race is any indication, the Pink Trek Top Fuel is going to be a big attraction, a lot of looks and questions from the small crowd at the race. So things went well from that perspective!

On the racing front, all went as planned, not to fast and not too slow! I had a goal of just getting out there on the bike and seeing how it rode and handled, very well on all fronts. I was especially impressed with the climbing ability, awesome. So a good first outing, onto the next!

I have to shift gears for a moment, a teacher from my wife's school passed away this weekend after doing battle with cancer, a teacher and a really great person! One of those guys that probably never realized how much he touched everyone who was fortunate enough to meet him. I can remember when we first moved to Northeast Wisconsin, knowing no one, I remember Joel inviting me to come and play hoops with some guys at school and wanting to help me get to know some people in town. I also remember selling him a mountain bike at Adventure Cycle, and sitting next to him at many Packer games with the obvious high fives after a big play, simply just a really awesome individual that I am grateful to have had the chance to know! Take care Joel, we will all LIVESTRONG for you.

Finally Outside!

The day finally came when the weather was decent enough to get out on the bike for a maiden voyage, AWESOME! The first shot is Mark and I up at He-Nis-Ra Saturday morning, can you tell what color the bike is? Thanks for the photos John.

Of course the first day I had to wear pink socks to go along with the frame, all went well with the bike, a few minor adjustments after lap one and then I was off for a couple more laps of anaerobic bliss?! I learned 2 things today riding, the bike is set up and dialed in fairly close, and I am not in race shape yet...no surprise with the weather of late. The translation there, Platteville will be a training race/ride, no doubt about that one.

That is kind of how things usually go though, the late April and May races are used as on the fly training rides to be ready to go in June and July, crank it up a touch in August to get ready for the fall classics and remaining series races. The interesting end to the season this year is the Iceman, a week later than normal, a week later in Northern Michigan...Mmmmm, guess what that means. Yes, a true Iceman like we have likely never had, 24 degrees last year so that was the coldest I have started the race, how about a little snowfall this year!

Hope all of the Darlington readers enjoyed the RJ article, a lot of pleasant response from it already, take care of yourselves and get out for a walk or ride in the "warmer" weather that is sure to come! Double ride day tomorrow so I better hit the sack early.

D O N E ! ! ! !

Well...I got home from Waterloo and this is what I had, a box full of small parts in bags and the front and rear triangle of the pink Top Fuel. A month or so later (and a couple of Blue Moon's)and the bike is DONE!
There is the finished product, all pink and ready to race! I have to say that when I put the new seat post and front derailleur on, there was a nice sense of satisfaction. This started with a crazy idea in my head one afternoon while thinking I should paint my current bike PINK, to running into Deanna and running the idea of raising a little money and awareness while racing a pink bike for her foundation past her! She thought it was a great idea and so did Tricia, of course I did as well.

As the project rolled on, I was amazed and thankful to the bicycle industry for the incredible support I was given, no one thought I was out of my mind but rather jumped at the chance to get involved! You all know who you are and I thank you more than words can express!

So...it is now time to put the rubber to the earth and see how the bike rides and how I ride the bike. In a couple of weeks I will take the line and the season will be underway, and so will the quest to create awareness that no matter how in-shape you may be, do the right thing and get regular check-ups to help you stay ahead of the game...the game of life!

Ride on!

If the weather would cooperate...

The bike is basically done, a few minor things to take care of and one small part that should arrive this week, but it is rideable for the most part and ready to go! Of course now the issue is Mother Nature, with winter making a return trip to the Midwest, training is back down to the basement and the trainer. Sorry so short this time, off to bed as the alarm goes off at 545am, have to hit the trainer before work to get it in, fun!