Mile 958

We spent the weekend in Grandview, Ohio a suburb of Columbus. The Tour of Grandview Cycling Classic is a great event in the streets of 1960's neighborhoods with sidewalks, friendly people, and small cafes. We stayed with a great host family, Steve and Scotty, who Sean, Weaver, and Rodney stayed with last year. Team CTM raced well and enjoyed the local race scene. I decided to sit this race out due to lack of training time although I enjoyed watching the Women's races and new teams that have formed in the North. We borrowed a cool chopper bike from our host family to pedal around town-I felt so Euro! I miss the North in the summer...like the cool breezes, lush greenery, and establishments that are open on Sunday mornings. Sean heads to Louisville, KY on Wednesday for Masters Nationals and I travel to our lake home in Northern Indiana to stay with family over the 4th. Wish him luck!

6.29.08

Mile 801

We made it to my folks house in Indiana on Monday. Our trip was rather eventful with two near accidents dealing with idiot merging drivers, one motorhome on the side of the road blazing with flames, and our favorite Jesus statue on the Interstate near Dayton. Sean and I fondly refer to it as "Six Flags Under Jesus." On the way in we got Pizza King, the Midwest version of cocaine, only the side effect is large amounts of weight gain. All we can say is that "it's an Indiana thing."

6.22.2008

Mile 196

We had a great weekend in Clemson riding and playing on the lake. Old time Clemson friends Charlie and Elise were in town visiting family and were able to spend the day at The Wood's fun house. Off to Indiana...

Mile 0

We set out Friday on our road trip excursion. We are one oil drop shy of looking like the Beverly Hillbillies. We have 4 bikes, 2 dogs, and 1 cat. We'll drop off the critters at my folks in Indiana, which will be home base, and travel West. Stay posted as we document our trip.

A Bike Commuter Might I Be?

I should burn in environmental hell for living less than 2 miles from my workplace and not riding my bike to work. I can give you all the lame excuses like I can't get sweaty, there are no showers, and I won't get tenure if people think I am some anti-republican, oil hating, hairy hippie..oh, did I mention the gnats? Yet despite my barriers, I decided on Tuesday to strap on the old pink helmet, grab the commuter bag, and ride to work. From a car perspective I rarely see people walking, riding, or outside on this campus...at least that my perspective. To my surprise, during my commute I waited for a stop light with 4 other commuters. As I was cutting through campus on the walkways a FAST mountain biker beat me to the entrance, an attack I didn't see coming, but at least he had a helmet on. On my way to the office I saw numerous students who waved and a few faculty members. People in cars stared and yielded. I know I was the envy of those stuck in their metal, oil sucking containers as I rode by using the power of my legs and the wind in my hair. After I arrived at work and parked my bike in my office, I felt guilty I had waited so long take this ride. Maybe for summer school I will be a bike commuter after all.