Just Got Back, Whew......

Just got back in town from a business trip to San Diego. Our Remodeler's Roundtable group met there for our Summit meeting. I am exhausted, as the land of beautiful people can do that to you. Sat in meetings and strategic planning sessions for about 12 hrs. per day, will keep you posted later.

Good note: Found an Irish Tavern in the Gaslight District! Couple of Black & Tans, and I was happy, again.

Sad Note: Mike Lanyon, racer for Mesa Cycles got NAILED by a deer in a Road Race, DURING the race. I think he's OK, just a bunch of damage to his bike. The deer got away clean, and no tickets were issued that I know of.

The Transporter, Tour De Georgia, and other stuff I like

Nice Sunday in Central Illinois, went out with a group ride from Bloomington, ended up with a 55 mile ride, 3 hours or so, paying for it today though, oh well. Had 103 miles in for the weekend. OK, so to continue with my random thoughts that mean, well not much to anyone, including me, here we go:

The Transporter: If you have not seen this movie, rent it! The Transporter and Transporter 2 are both on DVD. The star of the movie is Jason Statham, a real bad a$$, and he can act as well. Well, he has many little rules, like he hates being late, wears the same black suit, black tie and white shirt, and keeps multiple sets of clean clothes in a special shelf system in the trunk of his bad a$$ Audi sedan, which is totally tricked out. http://www.transporter2movie.com/ He can whip butt from across the room, and get out of the stickiest situations. OK, I know it's a movie, and it's all special effects, but it is still pretty cool!

So, here we are on Saturday, and Dr. Mike is heading off to get an Audi over in Indy. I have been giving him "stuff" about getting the "Transporter" car, and low and behold, he did. He even said I can look at it, when he drives it into town, nice of him, huh?

Here's a pic of it:










Wes called this afternoon, and his team, Targetraining ttp://www.targetraining.com/racing/ got an invite to race the 2006 Ford Tour De Georgia! Talk about exposure!

Great News! He was really torn between coming back to Illinois and racing the Hillsboro Roubaix, with his buddy Ol' Stevie Boy, or stay around and prep for the HUGEST race of his professional career to date. I had to let him down easy, and inform him that there will be another Hillsboro Roubaix, and he should visit his Mom, Dad & Sister in Iowa, stay with his teammates, and prepare for the Tour. He will be racing against the BIGGEST names in professional cycling! He hasn't been back home in like 9 months, so I know there will be plenty of people happy to see him. It would be nice to hang with him for a weekend, but this is what he actually does for a living, and we all understand. G & I wish Wes and all of his teammates the BEST!!!!! Kick some BOOTIE!

Random "Stuff", I think?????

Many things happening:

• Mikey is "back in town" coming back from the Carolina's, training and all, and he raced today at Sylvan Springs in St. Louis, MO, his team, Mesa won the Pro, 1, 2 race.
• Dr. Mike bought the car that "The Transporter" uses, an Audi twin turbo, all wheel drive, like 480 horse power, 130 mph in 4th gear, out of 6!!!! He's REALLY excited, as he is a car buff!
• The sun was out today, woo-hoo!!!!!I rode from "El Shoppe", aka: Vitesse in Normal, the second time I have been outdoors since the last round of surgeries. It was cool, 34 degrees, SUNNY and a 10-15 mph breeze from the N/NE, which meant Lake Bloomington, down to Lexington, IL, and back to Bloomington. Had a great ride, did 48.9 miles, avg. 18.6 mph, for an overall of 2 hours, 39 minutes. Could not get out of the saddle much, but that's OK for now. There was 5 of us, including Tuma & Bride on the tandem. Needless to say, we had a great time.
• Homeward bound, feed the birds, haul fire wood, haul water softener salt, and since it was such a nice day, the Neighbors were out, so G&I spent several hours chatting on the drive and inside with them. The BEST part that I like about spring, is after we hibernate all winter, the first couple of nice weekends, we get to re-group with all of the neighbors, and all.

Here's my mood after the ride:

Curious George Rides a Bike

Today was the day, here's the lowdown: Dr. Mike called on Thursday, and mentioned an outdoor ride this am, as he and his bride, Lori had to make the trek from Champaign to Peoria for some personal stuff. I said, SURE! The weather forecast was RAIN, RAIN & WIND!

Woke up this am, and low & behold: Sunshine!

Checked weather.com, and it was 51 degrees, and breezy. I didn't care, as I have not ridden outdoors in almost 2 months. Lori dropped Mike off, and went about her biz in P-Town, then tracked back for a 4 mile run w/ G. We headed out just after 9am, AFTER we did a physical check of the weather, and decided on the following: Shorts, oil on the legs, arm warmers, and that's it! 30 minutes into the ride, it had reached 68 degrees!



This is the artist rendering of Mike & I heading off, before the ride. Curious George is one of my favorites, as I have all of his books (I believe) and even a Curious George lunchbox & flashlight! Mike & I wore helmets though.

1.3 hours into a 30 mph headwind, then turned west and then north, back to the home base. Long story, it was awesome! 2 hours, 20 minutes and 40 miles down! Turned out to be a pretty good morning. Good friends, good miles, and now a good nap for Ol' Stevie Boy.

You know, sometimes it is about the bike.........................

It's all about Goal Setting, I think?

Well, I don't really know why, but I pre-registered for the Annual Spring Road Race, the infamous Hillsboro Roubaix, on April 8th, 2006. I actually DO know why I did, it's because I am going to actually "race" it. Look here, I am on the pre-reg list, twice in fact, that's how committed I am. http://www.2wheeltech.com/cms/index.php?option=com_2wresults&Itemid=57&rn=110

Category 3 Men, 66 miles of pure hell, I mean FUN! (After the accident, 4 surgeries, and still having a broken left tibia, I thought it may be wise to downgrade to a cat 3)

Now, keep in mind, I have raced this race many a times, and have NEVER finished, with the lead group that is. This is one of the most brutal, back & shoulder straining races in the Midwest, and in April! Even when I am on my game, I don't like to get in fighting shape until May, so there's my excuse.

No, this year will be fun for me. Shucking & Jiving with teammates, and seeing people I have not seen in a while.



Start off with the field, and then when I get popped off the back, some long, lonely miles of training in. When it's over, I'll do some more jaw yacking, and we'll all enjoy our victories!

I'm on the right of the 2005 team photo, wearing the air-cast! Same shape this year, less the cast!

It's a Bouncing Baby Boy!!!!!!

Dan & Amy Eichinger had their 1 st. child yesterday. It all started about 9 months ago, when Amy got pregnant, and low & behold, a baby was born! It's amazing how that works. The report is that Dan is SOOOO proud, that the buttons keep popping off his shirt! Congratulations to both of them! Mom, Baby & Dad are all doing well, and Amy is expected to be home sometime tomorrow. Looks like we won't see Dan on too many training rides this spring, as he has his hands full with a beautiful baby boy!

The Baby's specs as follows:

Jonathan David Eichinger
12:26 pm. 3/6/06
6 lbs. 12 oz.
20 inches long
Red hair, just like Mom!


I did not have a picture as of yet, so I relied on the artist rendering that was furnished with the press release!

Congratulations Dan & Amy!!!!!!

Time is On My Side, Yes it Is !!!

1.5 years, 18 months, 65 weeks, 547 1/2 days, 32850 hours, 1971000 minutes, well you get the point. That amount of time has passed since I got creamed by an Buick, as of 1215 CT today. Hopefully only 6 months to go till full healing. Pretty short amount of time if you consider the average adult male's life span in the United States is 79.2 years, or something like that. Just a blip on the radar.

RV made me a bet last night at our VQ meeting. The bet is who can lose the proverbial 10 lbs to become more competitive in cycling. Well, understand that I am not NEARLY as active as him right now, but he explains that weight loss is 20% activity and 80% diet. OK, I agree with that, but what if your 20% activity is cut down by 30% of the maximum 42%, divided by the co-efficient ratio of 6? You wind up with a comparable activity level of .00000002%. Hardly fair, but life isn't fair, I think. We shall see where it goes, but I can be a sore loser, and a GREAT winner. I am not quite sure we "sealed the deal" as we did not agree to what was on the line, or even do the secret handshake, but I am trudging forward.

Speaking of winners, I found this shot of the big "V" from 04, my last season racing, from the Forrest Park Criterium.

Enjoy, and have a nice 68 degree day today in Central Illinois!