Father of Six

Completed the challenge yesterday. Now I can mark that off my list of things to do. Weather was warmer. I was a tad bit quicker than Saturday too. My allergies were raging - I probably blew my nose 100 times.

I was extremely tired the rest of Sunday. I took two naps, and it was all I could do to keep myself upright.

I probably won’t do another one of these events. Takes too much time to prepare, and you’ve got to get up early - pre-pre-dawn - to actually participate.

I won’t follow-up this post with another listing of the songs played on my iPod during Sunday’s ride. There were some great selections, but I didn’t like the way yesterday’s post appeared. Write me if you’re interested in the list, and I’ll share in with you.

Thanks to every one who contributed to the MS Society on my behalf.

For the musically inclined, the musically curious, or for those of you who know someone that would be fascinated by a list such as that which will follow, I offer the songs that took me 75 miles on my bicycle today. I set the iPod to shuffle and went on my merry way.

(Of course those of you who might be completely disinterested, feel free to skip this post.)

There’s something for everyone: Blues, Country, R&B, Classical, Opera, Rock and various sub-genres of Rock, Rock Opera, Jazz, Gypsy Jazz, Flamenco, Spoken Word (2 Forms,) and Pop.

Print this list. See how many songs or artists you recognize. Share it with your friends. Total the time and see if you can tell how long I spent riding my bike today. The potential for fun and games is endless.

Hey Love 2:45 Stevie Wonder
Bye Bye Blues 3:52 Rishell & Raines
Broken Dreams 6:29 Diana Krall
Fleche d’or 6:48 Biréli Lagrène
World Looking In 4:08 Morcheeba
Nature Boy 6:15 Biréli Lagrène & Jimmy Rosenberg
All Night Thing 3:52 Temple Of The Dog
One Of These Days 4:52 Bill Frisell
Love Gun 3:16 Kiss
Early In The Morning 2:13 Corey Harris
Sonnet 64 1:00 William Shakespeare / Ossie Davis
1e 6:05 The Teaching Company (High Middle Ages)
Jockey Full Of Bourbon 3:33 John Hammond
Christine Sixteen 3:10 Gin Blossoms
Ouachita Run 2:39 Alvin Youngblood Hart
I Got the Fire 3:10 Montrose
Skinny Woman 2:10 R.L. Burnside
For Your Love 5:01 Stevie Wonder
Ixtapa 5:14 Rodrigo Y Gabriela
Soulshine 7:43 Gov’t Mule
Fantasia in D minor, K 397 (K 385g) 7:16 Mozart: Mitsuko Uchida
I Don’t Know (Satisfaction) 3:53 Sly & The Family Stone
Cracker Ass Cracker (Live) 3:26 Keller Williams
Everyday People 2:23 Sly & The Family Stone
Preaching Blues 2:52 Robert Johnson
La belle vie 1:55 Biréli Lagrène
Endless Parade 8:59 Gov’t Mule
Turkish March (From The Ruins Of Athens) 1:50 Ludwig Van Beethoven
Coriolan Overture 9:18 Ludwig Van Beethoven
When I Was A Cowboy (Western Plains) 3:14 Alvin Youngblood Hart
Sonnet 16 1:06 William Shakespeare /Brian Stokes Mitchell
The Fool And Me 3:55 Robin Trower
Power Of Love 6:58 Jimi Hendrix Band Of Gypsys
Long Line Skinner 5:53 Mississippi Fred McDowell
Dune Buggy 2:44 The Presidents Of The USA
God of War 7:11 Tyr
Tidal 4:19 John Paul Jones
Stone Cold 4:24 Rainbow
H.C.Q. Strut 2:58 Django Reinhardt
Mr. X 2:22 Alex Lifeson
Sample In A Jar 4:57 Phish
Handel: Messiah - But Thanks Be To God 2:13 English Concert & Choir
The Ocean 4:31 Led Zeppelin
Gitano Soy 3:04 Manuel El Chachi & Spanish Gipsy
A Mí Manera 3:51 Gipsy Kings
Oceans 2:42 Pearl Jam
Rag Doll 4:25 Aerosmith
Bloodshot Eyes 2:49 Pat Benatar
Guided By Wire 3:22 Neko Case
Le jazz et la java 2:36 Yves Montand
Midnight Rider 4:28 Gregg Allman
Passion (Instrumental) 3:02 Gipsy Kings
Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is 3:22 Chicago
If You Really Love Me 3:00 Stevie Wonder
In Your Eyes [Live] 5:09 Jeffrey Gaines
Time To Confess 8:28 Gov’t Mule
Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning 2:03 The Word S-WORD
Motherless Child 2:57 Eric Clapton
Fortunate Fool 3:47 Jack Johnson
Orff: Carmina Burana Dance1:42 Vladimir Dolezal,Orff: Carmina Burana
Malted Milk 2:22 Robert Johnson
I Got A Problem 4:35 Albert Collins
Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning 2:55 Corey Harris
Baba O’Riley 5:09 The Who
Sonnet 54 1:08 William Shakespeare/Gerry Bamman
Consequences 4:28 Robert Cray
Plume 3:38 Smashing Pumpkins
When It’s Love 5:39 Van Halen
There Is No God 6:08 Extreme
Train In Vain 4:46 Annie Lennox
A Tu Vera 3:12 Gipsy Kings
Let Me Serenade You 3:06 Three Dog Night
Orff: Carmina Burana-Ave, Formosissima 2:04 Vladimir Dolezal,Orff: Carmina Burana
Down By The Seaside 7:52 Robert Plant & Tori Amos
String Quartet #1 In G, K 80 - Adagio 6:21 Mozart: Éder Quartet
10c 4:37 The Teaching Company (High Middle Ages)
Everything’s Alright 3:35 Andrew Lloyd Webber (Jesus Christ Superstar)
Un Amor 3:38 Gipsy Kings
Night Life 4:26 Willie Nelson
157 Riverside Avenue (Live) 7:38 REO Speedwagon

The pig did me right today. I did day one of the MS150 with no problems or issues. I was finished and off my course by noon.

I only have two real complaints. #1, you have to get up damned early to participate in this event, and #2, it was completely overcast and I don’t think the temperature got to 75 while I was riding. There really isn’t a problem with the temps; it was probably better for riding. But if I had known (or paid attention to the forecast) that it was going to be 55-75 degrees for the duration, I’d have worn me long sleeves.

Looks like Mo might have to be euthanized. The total damage was not limited to just the wheel and rear dérailleur. Looks like the rear triangle part of the frame was tweaked 3mm to the left. This means the new wheel won’t fit normally without rubbing against the frame. The mechanics can “dish” the wheel to match the distorted frame but this would cause the rim to rub against the back brake. I could ride without a rear brake, but that’s a little too risky. Since the frame is aluminum, this means that it is likely to break under stress - including tweaking or riding. This means I won’t be riding Mo for the MS150. It also means that I need a new frame.

So, I’m about to suffer and suffer badly. I will be riding 150 miles on the pig. I’m in big trouble.

I’m over the shock of losing Mo. I’m over the fact that I will be riding a 35lb bike instead of a 23lb one. I’m over expecting to finish each day fresh. I’m over expecting to finish each day in about 5 hours. I am now looking at at least 6 & 1/2 hours each day.

I’ve got to remember that this is not a race. I’ve got to keep in perspective that I am challenging myself to a test of endurance, and how quickly I finish matters not. I also need to remember all of you who have contributed to the MS Society on my behalf, and that I owe each of you a performance worthy of your contributions.

I will endure these 150 miles. And I’ll find a way to enjoy myself whilst doing so.

I’m ready to roll on the Colorado edition of the MS150. I’m picking up Mo this afternoon, complete with a new wheel and rear dérailleur. (Thanks for bird-dogging the shop, honey.)

I went to New Orleans for a couple of days this week. Stayed in Slidell Tuesday and had a great dinner at Nathan’s.

Happy birthday Mom!

(While I was gone, some visitor to the neighbor’s backed out of the driveway and into my fence. Had to have 3 posts replaced. Tami dealt with the neighbors and with the property maintenance guys to get the fence repaired.)

Stayed in New Orleans Wednesday night, and had another great dinner at Tommy’s on Tchoupitoulas. Flew home yesterday.

Tami and I went to the MS150 team carb-load party last night. I picked up my jersey and rider packet.

I went for an easy 20 miler this morning on the pig. I have a few errands to run, will try to hydrate all day. I have to be at the event start location by 5am tomorrow morning.

Thanks to everyone who has supported and encourage me in advance of this big adventure.

Note to Brit and Daner. Tami and I stopped by your place last night. You weren’t there. Dang it.

It’s been a while since I posted any photos … so here goes.

(Click the photo to see a larger image - be patient, some are large and might take a few moments to load.)

Lets start with a little Boomer as Batman.

Next, we find Brit and Daner out for a hike.

Then, cousins Macy and Boomer laying in the grass.

Moving along, we have a candid shot of Becca and Manda, with beau’s Andrew and Howie, after a sidewalk chalk session.

Boomer, the next Olympic 100m Freestyle Champion.

A triptych of Boomer in Overalls.

And finally, my Chicken and Leek Pie from Sunday’s Dinner.

My throat didn’t hurt so much this morning, so I got up and was determined to ride the pig on the Platte River, Bear Creek, 470, back to the Platte, Lee Gulch super loop.

And off I went, another 40 miler. While riding the pig is slower than Mo, I really can’t complain too much. The new slick tires have worked out great and I actually enjoyed myself.

I made the Chicken and Leek Pie for dinner. It was fantastic!. Tami, Nana, myself and Becca all enjoyed it. Tami and I had two servings, and I was very surprised that Becca cleaned her plate. There’s leftovers if anyone wants to come over for a sample.

The news from the bike shop leads me to believe that Mo won”t be back to me until Friday next. So I bought slicks and tubes for the pig and swapped out the big knobby tires with them last night.

I also picked up Danielle at the airport late last night. She was returning from her trip to New Orleans. Fleur-de-lys.

This morning I rode the pig on a loop of the Highline Canal, the 470 Bike Path, the Platte River Trail and the Lee Gulch Trail. I did one particular section, including the Lee Gulch climb, three times. Total mileage = 40. That a lot for the pig, but it was a decent ride.

I feeling a bit under the weather. Sore throat and tired. Stress?

I hope to get another significant ride in tomorrow morning (as long as I’m feeling well enough) and then I have a recipe for a Chicken and Leek Pie that I hoping to prepare for supper. Great Expectations.

I have no update to report on the bike; haven’t heard from the shop.

I did set up my old road bike on my trainer and got a good workout in yesterday. I’ll probably do the same thing this evening.

If Mo the Mule isn’t repaired by tomorrow morning, I’m going to have to take the pig, my mountain bike, out for a ride. I don’t like that idea because the chain-rings are oval style, and the damn thing weighs a ton. If I get word from the shop that everything is a go, I might buy some cheap slicks for the pig. It would be better than riding those aggressive/massive MTB tires. I’ll never ride single-track on the pig again, so I really should convert the tires to a more urban trails friendly style.

Can you tell that this bicycle predicament is occupying a majority of my waking thoughts?

Ugh! I’ve had a semi-disaster with my bike.

I’ve been having trouble with my rear wheel spokes. Before yesterday, I’d broken and had replaced three (3) spokes. The bike shop has told me that this is highly unusual, and that the entire wheel probably needs to be replaced. This would be covered under warranty, since the bike is less than six months old.

On my ride home yesterday a fourth (4th!) spoke broke. This time was much worse, as the spoke flew into and lodged in my rear derailleur. The derailleur wrenched itself into a mangle mass, and broke from the hanger. The chain subsequently came off and was wrapped around the rear hub. This action locked up the rear wheel and I laid a strip of rubber down on the pavement about six feet long.

There was no way I could repair this problem so I called Tami and had her come pick me up at the visitors entrance to Chatfield. I had to walk and carry my bike back to this location, which sucked too.

The bike shop is going to contact the manufacturer today and get all the broken components replaced under warranty. I have no idea when I’ll get the bike back.

Meanwhile, I got my old road bike set up on my trainer and will get a few workouts in. I don’t want to use this bike out on the road because it really isn’t suitable for much. It’s a ’70’s era bike, heavier that hell, old and dry-rotted tires, and not very reliable.

I’ve be nervous all along about not being fit to ride the MS 150. This was to be my last full week of training and preparation. I can still get some training in, and hopefully my bike will be fixed by week end.