Paris-Roubaix

You think just riding the race is hard...slow the picture down a bit and then take a look at why this is considered one of the hardest races in cycling, AND has been around longer than the tour de france, some even consider it more prestigous. Found this from Guitar Ted's facebook...thanks for the link!

Some Things

Congrats to Johan Van Summeren on a great Paris-Roubaix

Week Recap:

Monday - 30 miles
Tuesday - 40 miles
Wednesday - 50 miles
Thursday - 40 miles
Friday - 162 miles
Saturday - 24 miles
Sunday - 80 miles

Taking today off of the bike and going to get some miles in and taper off the beginning of next week for Trans Iowa. - JB

Trans Iowa Training

Today I awoke with visions of doing a 150-200 mile ride. My day off got moved from Thursday to Friday as of some family matters with my boss which is totally cool. This denied any possibilities of riding with my Trans Iowa training partner (3 Hours away) Ari, who has Thursdays off....so I planned on going solo. The wind was out of the north so I headed into the hills of Athens and Petersburg to start....I set my mind on doing a long ride and this kept me cool and calm and not in a rush for anything during the day, I expected to be on the bike the entire day. I ended up in Petersburg and planned on riding down to Jacksonville, I texted my friend Dale who teaches and lives in Jacksonville on a whim and turns out he was on spring break and could ride with me, I took some amazing roads filled with hills and gravel on the way out and met with Dale with 67 miles under my belt. He took me through a loop all the way around Jacksonville and sent me on my way with 100 miles in. It was so nice to ride with Dale, he is always great company, very traditional cyclist like myself and we get along very well. Had a great ride and chatted about bicycles, life, and everything in between...including the taste of plain Gu (remember your Hinsdale story Ari?). I rode 120 miles self-supported with everything in my Revelate Tangle bag...I hope this is a good sign of being prepared for the monster that awaits. I stopped in Franklin, IL for some candy and peanuts and gatorade and continued my quest home. The ride home seemed like a struggle and as I pulled into the bike shop, I realized I had ridden with a leaking flat tire for probably 5-8 miles. Perfect timing, I changed the tire and headed home and the legs were tired but felt like they could have given more. Ended the day with 162 miles of gravel and pavement. Was the longest ride I have ever done in my life and feel great about it....thanks to Adam and Mark for getting me out for a beer afterwards and talking nonsense like usual, great friends and a great day of riding. Can't wait for Trans Iowa....am getting more and more excited, and glad to have tried a long ride with a some-what finalized bicycle set up. Cheers!

- JB

Thoughts

Secret T.I. machine. Ari, Giggles, and I will take turns pedaling the gravel roads of Iowa while one person takes rests in the back. The center platform is for all of our food and supplies.



Thinking of Trans Iowa looming two weeks away always makes me think of this song.

The Quadrabent system to link two recumbents is actually pretty neat and we ordered this in for a family with a special needs daughter, what a cool way to go out and explore.

Don't let that meat loaf!

- JB

Jill's Bike

My girlfriend Jill bought a very nice used Litespeed Antares this weekend from the experts at Wheel Fast. The bike is equipped with campagnolo centaur ten speed and is an aluminum frame with carbon seat stays....what a great deal and great set up for a first road bike, hope to start riding some miles with this lovely lady!

- JB

Flanders Day

Congrats to Nick Nuyens



Steven "Gravemaker" Graves making the Wheel Fast debut in Belgium



Flanders Day Cookie

Had a Flanders party over at the Boss' house with burgers, delicious chocolate dipped cookies, and Belgium beer. What an exciting race. Congrats to Nick Nuyens of Saxo Bank proving that even with a lot of guys leaving the team that it still is a very stong team this year. Very excited for Paris-Roubaix next Sunday! - JB

Tour of Flanders

Great photos taken from pez cycling for Sunday's tour of flanders. Look for a Wheel Fast jersey on the last climb (the Muur) because the gravemaker is going to be rocking one! Happy Flanders Day! My favorite cycling event of the year!!!!!!!!!! - JB