Quick update

I haven't posted anything in weeks. I wanted to let you know I've still been training and the fund raising has been going well. I'm raffling off a bbq, stainless steel tool set, charcoal and a lighter donated by Home Depot in North Fontana. A dollar a peice or 6 for $5.00. Let me know if you want some. The drawing is on November 10th. Also, KFRG donated some gift certificates from Total Time, a watch shop. They're worth $100.00, I'm taking bids on them, make me an offer.

The training is getting better. I hit a stretch where I just didn't feel like I had any strength or stamina. I dropped down a couple gears and I feel much better. I'm going to see if I can slowly work back up over the next few days. 15 miles this sunday. Wish me luck.

Got the bike tuned up at Don's Bikes in Rialto, new front tire and a cable, lubed and adjusted, very smooth this morning. Can't wait for the time change so I'm not riding in the dark.

Thanks for reading!

See ya out on the road.

Doug

Have I been training?

That was the question I was asking myself out on the road this morning. I've been checking with my training mentors and they assure me everyone goes through it. I just didn't feel like I had any strength or wind today. Last week I felt like Superman.

I kept going though. I guess that's the important thing.

Looking forward to turning the corner and getting back on track. Thanks for listening to my whining. I'll stop now.

More donations are coming in. Thanks to Cindy at the Chino Kiwanis. Patti dropped a check in the mail. Ben with R.C. Kiwanis gave me a check as well. The donations are rolling in slowly and surely.

I have a BBQ set that was donated by The Home Depot in North Fontana (thanks Troy). We're doing a raffle to give it away. We'll do the drawing on November 10th. It's a dollar a ticket, 6 for $5.00.

Good luck...

See ya on the road!

Doug

Doesn't take much to make me happy!

Oh my goodness! It was cold out today! Well, cold for riding with your bare face and hands exposed in the wind. I think it was about 50 degrees. How quick the weather changes. I think our highs today are supposed to be around 70, that's about what I was riding in at 6am about 4 or 5 days ago. Wow!.

So today after taking a couple warm up laps around the neighborhood I head out onto the big 4 lane street I ride up and down. It's a little over a mile from top to bottom. I just go up and down to get some miles in. Well today I turn the corner and there's the street sweeper. I was so excited. I'm sure about now you're thinking really? You're excited about the street sweeper? You have to understand the gutters are a filthy hazardous place to ride a bike. Let's see if I can remember a few things I've seen, and tried to dodge, as I ride up and down this hill. Trash, I guess that goes with out saying, (people throw a lot of trash out) a lot of vegetation from leaves to twigs to branches to little seeds that fall from the trees, accumulate and fly up in your face, there was even a log one day. Yep, a log. Batteries, nuts, bolts, pieces of metal, siding from a house, rocks, (of all sizes) broken glass ( a lot of broken glass) car parts (big and small) critters, (who didn't make it across the road) =(, wood, shoes, etc. It goes on and on.

That's why when I saw the street sweeper I knew that I would be riding in a clean gutter and wouldn't have to look for potential tire popping hazards. A nice smooth ride is what I got and it was beautiful.

Tomorrow it will be littered again, but today it was clean and sparkly.

See ya on the road.

Doug

Generosity

As you can imagine there are days when you don't want to get up before the sun to go out and ride. I love it once I'm out on the road, it's leaving those sheets that are just the right temperature that is the difficult part. But you know what keeps me motivated? It's the generosity of the people that are supporting me. The words of encouragement, the checks that are coming in, the donations, it all comes to me as I struggle to throw back those covers and strap on my helmut to go out and do the 4, 7 or 15 miles I have to do that day.

Thanks, I really appreciate it.

See ya on the road!

Doug

Thanks Stater Brothers

You may be familiar with the Stater Brothers Charities. The stated goal of Stater Bros. Charities is to help improve and transform the communities Stater Bros. Markets is privileged to serve by providing much needed philanthropic support. With an emphasis on programs that benefit hunger relief, children's health and wellbeing, education for both youth and adults, elderly care and services and help for our Nation's Veterans, Stater Bros. Charities will be able to combat some of the most critical needs in the surrounding area. This philosophy is almost exactly that of the Kiwanis Club. I'm so happy to announce that Stater Brothers has donated a $50 gift card to help in our fund raising efforts for the Rancho Cucamonga Kiwanis Club Ride for Kids. I'm taking bids now. Of course, I'd like to get at least $50 for it. But the higher the better. If you would like to make a bid contact me through this blog.

See ya on the road!

Doug

Ever had one of those days?

The day started like any other. The alarm went off at 5:30a and after listening to the radio for a few minutes I reluctantly got out of bed and got dressed in my workout clothes. Sweats and a bright orange shirt so I can be seen on the road. Next I always splash a little cold water on my face to get the blood circulating. I don't know if that really works. I always drink a big glass of water before I head out too. When I get on the bike I notice my holder for my water bottle is broken. Darn. I make some makeshift repairs, strap in, turn on all my flashing lights because it's dark out there and head out. I get no more than a block from my house when my water bottle crashes to the road. Darn! I turn around and retrieve it and place it in another holder that I have that's much more difficult to get to. Oh well. I'm cruising along in the dark with the light starting to show gradually when all of a sudden my shoelace gets caught in the spokes and chain. Darn! I stop, back up, fidget with it, pull forward, fidget some more, back up, more fidgeting (and wondering what am I going to do if I don't get untangled, not like I can walk home) back, forward, fidget... success! At this point with the luck I'm having I'm thinking about calling it a day and heading home. Nope. I dragged myself out of bed, I'm doing this. The next 4-5 miles go pretty well. For some reason there are a lot of cars out today, which gets me to thinking again about how unlucky I've been. This won't be the day I get run over I hope. It's 7 miles on my training schedule today and when I get that accomplished I head back to the house. I pull into the garage and get unstrapped. My shoelace keeps getting caught on something. I investigate and find the lever that holds the front hub on is loose and sticking out catching my shoelace. Hmmmm... How close did I come to losing my wheel out on the road? That was a close one. I better get in the house and get on with the rest of my day. This is dangerous. So, I have one of those basic folding camping chairs that I use to transfer out of my bike onto, it makes it easier to get up. As I'm transferring, I here a Snap! DARN! The chair breaks. What else can go wrong? As it turned out that was the last of the string of odd little events. I hope things go a little smoother tomorrow.

See ya on the road!

Doug

Blood pressure good.

Back on the road this week. The days are getting shorter so yesterdays 4-5 mile ride was over before the sun was up over the mountains. Tuesday was 880 intervals day. I fell like I'm getting stronger both physically and aerobically. Today I couldn't ride because I had a drs. appt. Just a routine visit and everything looked good. Blood pressure was the lowest its been in years. Nice surprise. Back on track tomorrow.

See ya on the road!

Doug

On the road early.

Was out on the road early today trying to beat the heat. Got out by 6:30 so it wasn't too bad. 3 miles was on the schedule. I skipped friday. It was supposed to be 6 miles. Wed, thursday and today I went a mile or two farther so I think that makes up for it. Felt strong today. Was able to maintain over 9 mph up the hill. That's the best since I've been training. I got some new tires on my bike yesterday at Don's Bikes in Rialto. A great bunch of guys. Been in business since 1959 and they haven't forgotten what service is all about. I still need one more tire and a tune-up so I'll be back soon. I also talked to them about making a donation of some products or services and they seemed very interested. I'll keep you posted in case it's something you want to bid on. Tomorrow is an 8 mile day. Early again to beat the heat. Well, stay cool yourself and...

We'll see you on the road

Doug