Gaia Fitness: Healthy people for a healthy earth!

Swim with GAIA Fitness @ YMCA downtown

2010-09-02T21:30:00.000-04:00

Triathlon season is starting to wind down and many of us are already thinking about our training for next season. What do you want to improve upon the most? Most of the clients at GAIA Fitness are wanting to focus on their swimming.

We couldn't agree more the fall and winter are the BEST times to hone your swimming techniques.

There is a great swim program that is about to begin at the downtown YMCA in Chattanooga. GAIA Fitness and the YMCA are collaborating a 12 week swim clinic. It is a series of advanced swim practices geared towards triathletes and endurance swimmers. The 12-week long program will have practices every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:45-7:15am (Sept 21 – Dec 9).

Andy Sweet will be coaching the workouts from the deck and will also be walking athletes through each workout, as well as providing some technique advice.

Cost will be $75 for YMCA members and $130 for non-members.

Registration will be limited to 12 participants, so if you want in, let us know ASAP! You can email us at andy@gaiafitness.com or go to our web-site.

12 week Marathon and 1/2 Marathon Training Schedule

2010-08-09T16:23:00.000-04:00

Hope everyone's summer has been going well. Here at GAIA Fitness we are ramping up for the fall marathon season!

The coaches of GAIA Fitness are going to be providing a fully coached 12 Week Marathon and Half Marathon group focusing on the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon and 1/2 Marathon.

We are having an informational meeting on Monday night August 16th at 6:00 pm at our future location (The HUB Endurance). The new location will be 23 N. Market St. Chattanooga, TN. We are next door to Clear Springs Yoga and across the parking lot from Taco Mamacitia in North Chattanooga.

If you have another marathon or half marathon planned, this program can work for you too! The Memphis St. Jude Marathon is a popular race to do in the late fall. Our program can work for that race as well.

The program will include 2 coached workouts a week, 3 advanced topic clinics, full training schedule, and email access to all GAIA Fitness coaches. The cost is $150 for Chattanooga Track Club members and $175 if you are not a track club member and would be interested in joining the club.

Please come to the meeting with all of your marathon questions. See you on the 16th of August.

Stellar News from GAIA Fitness!

2010-07-26T20:43:00.001-04:00

With the race season well underway, we here at GAIA Fitness wanted to send you all some great updates and announcements!

Our headline news is that we’re expanding! We are happy to announce that we have a new coach and business partner: Jamie Ingalls.

Jamie Ingalls began club riding on the road in 1986 and began racing in 1989. Mountain bike and cyclo-cross racing followed shortly after. Jamie won several state and regional championships and had podium finishes in many USCF, NORBA and collegiate races. In addition to cycling he competed in cross-country running, Nordic skiing and biathlon through and after college, qualifying for several national championships. Jamie has also worked as a coach and bike mechanic for several national and World Cup-level athletes.

A career in industrial construction took time away from Jamie's athletics and competition. After several years of a less-than-healthy lifestyle, Jamie returned to cycling and running, losing more than sixty pounds. He quickly progressed from 20 minute run-walks to becoming a regular competitor in regional cyclo-cross and road races, while maintaining a 60-hour-a-week job. Jamie is currently focusing on 100 mile format mountain bike races and running.

Jamie is a USA Cycling certified Coach, and is actively pursuing his NASM Certification and his USAT Coaching Certification.

Not only is Gaia Fitness expanding staff-wise, but we are also increasing our service offerings to our clients. We will soon be moving into a permanent business location on the North Shore in Chattanooga, TN. Our new location will be called ‘HUB – Endurance’, as our goal is to create a place to unite the endurance community. The HUB will feature un-paralleled bicycle service and maintenance, a professional bike fit studio, indoor cycling fitness classes, select retail products, and a lounge for all of us to kick-back and relax with fellow endurance athletes. We will also be offering regular classes, clinics, and socials at the HUB, so let us know if there is a topic that would be of interest to you!

Summer is the time to get out and enjoy the world we live in. July is certainly a great month to play, as there is no shortage of triathlons or cycling events to race. Just to name a few events that we had clients racing at this month: Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon, Amica Tellico Triathlon, Music City Triathlon, ETJC Omnium, Rodney T. Miller Lakeside Triathlon, and Evergreen Lake Triathlon. Congratulations to all who participated and achieved their goals! We are very proud of all of our clients for their hard work and determination. Nice job!

And luckily for all of us ‘athletic addicts’, the season is definitely not over yet! Au contraire mon fraire… (Yea, we’re cultured here at GAIA Fitness ;-)) There are still many events left to participate in this summer and fall. From sprint to Ironman, crit to road race, and 5k to 26.2mi… there are options for everyone! Let us know if you are looking to add more events to your calendar this year and we’ll help you find the perfect race.

We, here at GAIA Fitness, also have some more great training options for you:

We have created a 12-week training program for those athletes looking to train for a full or half marathon this fall! The program is precisely designed to prepare runners for the Chickamauga Battlefield Full/Half Marathon on November 13, but would also work well for other fall races. In addition to the 12-week training schedule, created by GAIA Fitness, the program will feature two weekly coached runs and three advanced topic seminars. This program is the perfect way to get in great running shape, make some new friends, and accomplish your goals. The fee for this program is $150.

GAIA Fitness is now offering three group training sessions each week. We will lead a bike workout on Tuesday, a swim workout on Wednesday, and a run workout on Thursday (time/locations TBD). Each session will be focused on improving one aspect of that discipline (ie. hill climbing, sprinting, efficiency, etc). Athletes will have access to a coach and will get advice/feedback. The fees for these workouts are $5 per session, or $40/month for all sessions.

Thanks everyone and always remember: train safe and train smart!

It's about the bike!

2010-04-09T11:44:00.000-04:00

I know that I certainly don't have the accolades that Lance has, but I do know a thing or two about bikes... And sometimes, it IS about the bike. Now I'm not saying that the bike makes the rider, but I am saying that a well designed bike with the right components will work more efficiently, more effectively, and therefore can often make you a faster rider. Not too mention that the right part choices will always save a lot of headaches and unnecessary maintenance!

You all know what I'm talking about: Its the "Why does my bike always make that clicking sound? Why do my brakes rub? Why does my chain keep falling off? Why does my bike 'ghost shift'?" type of questions that indicate that there is a problem. Often the problem is a simple tune-up. Other times it is simply poor component choice.

So, we all know that I spend way way way too much time researching bikes and bike related goodies... don't need to beat that horse. But, perhaps I can share some of the things that I have found out during my sleepless nights that can benefit you all.

I recently finished building up my new time trial bike for my upcoming triathlon season. Here is a gratuitous carbon shot:

Over the next few weeks, I am going to dissect each of the things that I chose to use on my bike and why... should be fun!

We'll start today with something small and often considered insignificant: cables and cable housing! All the same right? You just go to your LBS (Local Bike Store) and tell them you want new cables... WRONG!

All cables were not created equal! So, what are the important factors to consider:

Steel vs. stainless steel
Coated vs. uncoated
Stretched vs. unstretched

These decisions are simply a matter of durability and maintenance.

Our bikes ride through mud, rain, sand, worm guts, etc... so the benefits of a stainless steel cable over a standard steel cable should be obvious. Stainless steel resists corrosion, so will greatly prolong the life of your cables and eliminate some need for frequent lubrication.

Next, some cables come coated with a low-friction substance (typically teflon). This decision is a bit trickier. Whereas the teflon can again help stop corrosion and help the cables run smoothly through the housing for precise shifting... the coating can often wear down and flake off causing a build up of teflon-gunk causing your bike to shift like crud. This is especially the case if you use SRAM road shifters, as I do. SRAM shifters force the cables though very tight bends within the shifter itself... and this makes a great place for teflon-gunk build-up. So, my vote here: non coated cables! Instead, I recommend simply lubricating your cables more often. Just use a light chain lube (not wax based... Pro-Link or Dumonde Tech are my choices) and coat the cables and squirt some into the housing as well. Do this once a month and you'll be set.

Third, stretched vs. unstretched cables. This one is mostly a thing of the past, as 99% of cables come pre-stretched these days... but still worth knowing about and looking into. Since our cables are simply wound up strands of steel and steel is malleable... it is prone to stretching out when tensioned. Now when a cable is mounted to a bike it is always under tension, so it will cause stretching to occur, which in turn will affect your bikes shifting... for the worse! So, pre-stretched cables do exactly what the name implies. The cables are tensioned and stretched in a machine before they are sold. This is a great thing, as it decreases the chances of the cables stretching out on our bikes, so cuts back on the need for constant derailleur adjustments. Pre-stretched cables are a good thing.

So, that explains a few things about cables. And don't forget that cables also come in a variety of types: brake cables are not the same as shifter cables, Shimano cables are not the same as Campagnolo cables, etc. So, make sure when you buy your next stainless steel, uncoated, pre-stretched cables that you know exactly which type you need!

The next foray in this blog is into cable housing! Just as cables have important differences, the housing around it does as well. The most important difference in housing is being able to differentiate between brake cable housing and shift cable housing... and that can be a deadly mistake! You see, housing is made up of an inner plastic liner, a reinforced steel layer, then an outer plastic layer. The inner liner helps reduce friction against the cable, the steel structure provides the strength, and the outer liner holds the steel in place and protects it from the weather. The difference between brake housing and shift housing is in the design of the steel layer. Brake cables/housing need to be withstand really high forces (think about descending down a steep hill and squeezing your brakes with all your might), so the steel layer in brakes housing is one really long straand of steel wrapped in a tight helix from one end to the other (see picture). This makes it extremely strong and ensures that the cable cannot break through the housing under high-load. This also makes brake housing very heavy. In comparison, shift cables/housing experience very low forces (just the strength of the springs in your derailleurs), so they do not need the 'beefiness' of the braking system. Therefore, the steel layer in shift housing consists of very thin strands of steel lined up next to each other in a circle that again run the length of the housing (again, see the picture).

Brake Housing - Shift Housing

Now, a couple of important consquences of housing design are flexibility, weight, and compression. Flexibility being the most important. You see with all that steel inside the housing, they become rather inflexible (especially considering some of the tight bends required for TT bikes, full-suspension mountain bikes etc.) and prone to kinking. If you housing gets kinked or pinched, your shifting and braking will be greatly affected and you'll need new housing! So, that is a major downfall. Then the weight factor, with all that steel, housing is heavy for us road biking weight weenies! Lastly, compression. Our bikes shift and brake because the cables pull against the rigid structure of the bike frame and the housing... so any 'give' in that system creates sloppiness in our shifting/braking. Which brings me to compression. Since our housing in made up of strands of steel and plastic liners, when placed under load, that system will 'give' just a little bit as the steel strands compress together. That little bit of compression can result in substantial losses in performance.

All this leads to my unique choice in housing: Nokon Cable Systems! The nokon system completely eliminates the steel and instead uses lightweight aluminum cylinders for the housing. Therefore, they are still extremely strong, but since they are small individual pieces they are much more flexible to make tight bends. In addition, the aluminum won't corrode, so the need for an external plastic layer is eliminated. Inside the the cylinders nokon uses a reinforced liner that still allows for an extremely smooth surface for the cable to run through. Lastly, since nokons use 100% solid pieces of aluminum, there is NO COMPRESSION! And again, no compression means noloss in shifting/braking performance.

In short, nokons are lighter, more flexible, and allow for more precise shifting than any other cable system on the market. And they look wicked cool too! :-)

Next Blog: Shimano, Campy, or SRAM?

The Raven

2010-03-17T19:36:00.001-04:00

In some Native American cultures, young men and women go on vision quests as a part of their rite of passage into adulthood. It is a turning point, or perhaps an enlightening. Those that embark on a vision quest go with the hopes on finding their 'true self' and their intended spiritual and life direction. Traditionally, a vision quest entails a journey alone in the woods and fasting for a number of days. Usually, after several days, a Guardian animal is said to come in a vision or dream, and the child's life direction will be made clear. The child may then return home and pursue his/her new direction.

Well, I'm not quite ready to head off in the woods for several days with no supplies, but I sure as heck see a lot of similarities between the reasons for these vision quests and the reasons why I race in endurance races. (See earlier blog post!) On some level, I think we are looking for something in these Ironmans and Ultramarathons. Some new definition of who we are, or even a new perspective on life maybe. Now, I know I'm not the first one to make this odd connection, there is even a big coaching group named Vision Quest, I just think it is neat to think of training and racing in different ways and wanted to share.

I did however find it super interesting that one of the key features of a vision quest was the visit by a guardian animal. It certainly made me decide that I want to have a guardian on some of my ventures, too!

So, I did some more research.

Now, according to most Native American culture, you don't get to choose your guardian animal... it chooses you. I will be keeping an eye out for mine (hmm, that bobcat on my trail run was odd). However, I did learn from some of my good friends (Chris and Abby Tuma) that we all have animal totems according to Native American astrology... Similar to the whole zodiac breakdown (ie. Scorpio, Leo, etc).

My totem is the Raven! 'The raven is intelligent, cleaver and mystical. Raven people are peace loving, idealistic and charming. They long for harmony in the community and must stay away from uncertainty and inconsistency' (Animal Totems). And apparently I play best with Otters and Deer. :-)

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamplight o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!

Anyway, thats it for today... I'm gonna go play in the woods without any food to get ready for Ironman!

What's your sign?

Living Downstream: A view into pollution, cancer, and our environment

2010-03-11T12:32:00.001-05:00

I know most of my posts are about fitness and athletics, but this one is not. At least not directly...

As our title suggests, Gaia Fitness is all about healthy people for a healthy earth... and this blog post hits that nail right on the head. Living Downstream is a very well-written book by Sandra Steingraber about the status of the world in which we live and it's affects on our lives. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend picking it up. It will likely give you a whole new perspective on the health of our world and us.

Here is a little descriptive plug:

Sandra Steingraber is the first to trace with such compelling precision the entire web of connections between our bodies and the ecological world in which we eat, drink, breathe, and work. Her book strikes a hopeful note throughout, for, while we can do little to alter our genetic inheritance, we can do a great deal to eliminate the environmental contributions to cancer, and she shows us where to begin.

I just found out today that there is now a documentary based on the book. I can't wait to see it. Here's the trailer:

Dave Scott on Race Day Nutrition

2010-03-09T14:21:00.002-05:00

Love the ride!

2010-03-08T20:00:00.000-05:00

So, here we are, triathlon season is fast approaching and we're all anxious to see the good weather and get in consistent workouts. Myself, I'm training for Ironman Wisconsin as my 'A' race this year... again. This will be my 5th time racing at IM Moo! I do love that race.

Anyway, being the nerdy scientist that I am, I have been looking over all my past training schedules for IM WI... critiquing, reminiscing, etc. All so that I can dial in the perfect race season this year.

As I'm pouring over all of my old data, I came across a poem that I put together in 2007 (I think) that I had forgotten about. It really struck home for me again, and came just at the right time. I hope you like it!

The Other Guy

I spot another lone biker on the road behind me,

He’s seems to be gaining, but no worry.

Slowly, slowly he creeps up to me.

Young kid, never seen him before.

No words spoken,

My mind instantly assessing.

Noting cheap component groups and discount riding gear,

Calculating weights, and critiquing his position.

Ha, this kids in for a hurtin’,

Confident in my $7k steed and swollen legs.

Our cranks turn in quiet unison,

The tires whirr on the rough Illinois pavement.

Numbers churn through my head,

Watts, cadence, drag, speed, heart rate.

He seems happy and careless,

Content and smiling.

His wheel pulls ahead,

This kid’s gonna half-wheel me.

I’m good at that game,

So, I up the ante a watt or two.

Time to wipe that smile away,

I dial in to my lactate threshold.

I know this pace well,

The friendly, familiar pain sets in.

I hear a down shift,

There’s that bloody wheel again.

And he’s drinking from his water bottle,

I swear he’s listening to the birds and looking at the trees.

I swig from my custom blended nutrition drink mix,

Time to end this charade.

Strategically prepping my attack,

Five, four, three, two…

He’s out of his saddle,

This kid’s good.

BOOM, my legs react instinctively,

I jump to a full sprint.

We both see the railroad tracks ahead,

The perfect finish line.

200 meters,

100 meters.

I can’t drop him,

It’s gonna be close.

75 meters,

50 meters.

There’s those pesky black spots,

Brain’s running low on O2.

Legs about to give out,

But I see the pain in his eyes, too.

We rocket over the tracks,

Neck and neck.

Not even a camera could rule this one,

The kid must have the heart of a bull.

We stop,

Both gasping for breath.

I impulsively check my computer,

He smiles and picks up some trash from the road…

As he rides away, I feel a change,

Recalling that love for the ride and that passion for life.

Wait a second, I recognize that old Cannondale,

I remember that smile.

Now, before you ask, yes, the kid was me also. ;-)

And before the triathlon powers-that-be strike me down for heresy, let me elaborate on one thing. Technology and focused training are great tools to get stronger, faster, and stay healthy. I certainly am not advocating throwing away all yor top-dollar goodies and training solely by feel and emotion. All that I'm saying is don't forget why you're doing what you're doing! Love the ride, and you'll be amazed at what you can do!

Functional Art?

2010-03-02T12:59:00.003-05:00

Functional Art, what the heck is that?

I found one definition that says it is the blending of form and function with sculpture and fine art. Well, I made up my own version: Functional art is cool looking stuff that you can actually use.

What brings me to functional art? Well, I have come to realize that I am surrounded by it everyday at work. I work in a gallery in downtown Chattanooga that displays both custom titanium bikes (Ruby Cycleworks) and custom concrete countertops (Set in Stone). I know, strange combonation, right? That is unless you look at it from the perspective of functional art... both are clearly 'cool looking stuff that you can actually use.'

For instance, we know bikes are functional. They are transportation, workout equipment, and entertainment all at the same time. But do they qualify as fine art? You tell me...

The raw titanium contrasted by the red/white decals, great geometric shapes and angles... seems like the qualities of sculpture and art to me.

And countertops? Again the functionality is a given, but art... maybe not granite or laminate... but take a gander at the possibilities with concrete! This is a double vanity that I think certainly fits in the fine art category.

Anyway, perhaps I'm trying to make an association to make myself feel better about our strange collaboration in this space... but I think it works!

And in this era, I think we are seeing more and more focus on function... and less on art and beauty. But, via functional art, perhaps we can have both!

"Seekers of the new realm..."

2010-02-27T19:01:00.000-05:00

I became semi-obsessed with the concept of endurance racing after racing in my first Ironman triathlon in 2004. After completing a few more Ironman's, I felt the need to start looking for something 'different'. In a sense, I missed the sensation of going into an event not knowing if I would, or could, succeed.

That lead me to ultra-marathon cycling in 2008. I registered for the Heart of the South 500... a 517-mile non-stop cycling race in the mountains of Georgia and Alabama. Initially this blog was created to track my journey in that race... and you can still find the old updates in the blog archive. In synopsis, it was an amazingly hard race full of rain, exhaustion, pain, but eventually success! I ended up finishing 2nd overall in that race.

During the HOS 500, I questioned many things about my life and my decisions to test my body in these crazy endeavors. In the end, I still cannot explain the actual underlying motivations, but I can say that they are real, and that I do take myself mentally, physically, and spiritually to a new place each and every time.

Well. There is one more event out there that has weighed on my mind more than any other. It has become remenicent of that monster that I always knew was under my bed as a kid, but never could get the guts to look for. It is RAAM.

The Race Across America (RAAM) has been repeatedly and irrefutably titled, 'The toughest sporting event in the world."

I watched a great documentary about RAAM the other night called 'Bicycle Dreams'. (You all are welcome to borrow it anytime.)

Now, this is not a formal announcement of my decision to enter RAAM (which I qualified for in 2008). Instead, it is simply a declaration that I WILL RACE RAAM at some point in the future.

Here is a trailer for 'Bicycle Dreams' for those interested.

Trigger Point Performance Therapy

2010-02-24T15:55:00.000-05:00

We're happy to announce that Gaia Fitness is now working with Trigger Point Performance Therapy as an affiliate and hopefully we'll even be a dealer in the near future.

Trigger Point products are revolutionary and truly amazing. They are focused on creating methodologies and products that mirror the feeling of a human hand for self massage and injury prevention. Their products assist traditional massage to help manage aches and pains associated with the muscles that allow the body to move. This is so important for us athletes, as we routinely beat up our muscles and joints.

Healthy, flexible muscles make for a strong and injury-free athlete!

Check out their products, and please email me for any specific recommendations!

The Showdown! Lance vs. Lieto

2010-02-17T20:49:00.000-05:00

So, if you keep up on your Twittering amd the cycling world, then you heard about the time trial showdown/throwdown/hoedown today between Lance Armstrong and Chris Lieto on the Queen K highway in Kona.

The classic duel... roadie vs. tri geek.

Well, here's the recap with the crank mashing monsters:

Clif Bar Triathlon Training Video

2010-02-15T12:56:00.003-05:00

Just because this video never gets old!

99 Designs Logo Contest

2010-02-14T09:34:00.000-05:00

Heather and I really want a cool logo for Gaia Fitness. Which of course means finding a good graphic designer...

Or maybe 164,265 designers!!!! Yup. Heather's friend at work told her about this awesome website called 99Designs, where you submit a contest to all of their designers and offer a set cash prize... then they go to town and create designs based on your requirements/desires. Pretty sweet!

Anyway, our contest is under way, so take a look: http://99designs.com/logo-design/contests/wicked-cool-logo-needed-gaia-fitness-c-mon-37506

New Name, New Look... Same Guy!

2010-02-13T15:52:00.000-05:00

In recognition of launching our new company, Gaia Fitness, I decided to change up my blog a little bit! I'll still keep you posted on my life, and what's going down in Chatt-town, but I'll also put in some good training tips and advice along the way.

But, first and foremost, I decided it was time for some blogspot plastic surgery... a little tuck here, some silicon there... you know the drill. So, I humbly tried to learn some html, and started playing. There was laughing, there was crying, and I even had the entire background laid up in carbon fiber for awhile (which was pretty sweet!). All said and done, here is the final result. Let me know what you think.

And don't forget, please check out the official Gaia Fitness website too! No worries, it was built by an experienced IT professional, not me. :-)

Cross Vegas 2009

2009-09-24T11:59:00.008-04:00

Here are some pics that I took last night at the infamous Cross Vegas cyclocross race! Pretty fun event, tons of people, good ole cross fun (even though it is in a soccer field)!

My good friend Tuma after racing the Industry race!

Pro womens field:

New Chris King Road hubs!

2009-09-22T23:35:00.002-04:00

I was really excited to get over to the Chris King booth to check out their new road hubs. And I must admit, in standard King fashion, the hubs did not disappoint!

They are substaintially lighter than the Classic hubs, plus they are coming in lower count drillings... Perfect for that next high-end race wheelset!

Here's a couple other fun CK pics:

'Sweet's Picks' Pix

2009-09-22T20:40:00.010-04:00

Here are some pics of a few of my favorite rides from the demo!

BMC Pro Machine

Ellsworth Roots

Felt Breed (with a classy bottle opener/locknut wrench)

Demo bike list

2009-09-22T19:59:00.002-04:00

So, dirt demo is over, and I must say it was once again a fabulous two days!

All in all, I managed to get in almost 30 test rides! And now, I'm bruised, sore, and really dehydrated...

There were a few gems in the lot, a lot of good rides, and just a couple bikes that fell short of my expectations. Here is a list of the bikes that I rode and I'll write reviews of several of them. But if you have any questions about any of the bikes, feel free to ask! (One's with * were my favorites)

BMC Pro Machine * (road)
Ellsworth Roots * (cross)
Felt AR1 (road)
Felt F1 (road)
Felt Z2 (road)
Felt Nine Solo (mountain 29 SS)
Felt Nine Comp (mountain 29)
Felt 15X (cross)
Felt Breed * (cross SS)
Ibis Hakkalugi (cross)
Kona Band Wagon (fixie)
Kona Grand Wagon (fixie)
Kona Major One (cross SS)
Kona Major Jake (cross)
Kona Unit (mountain 29 SS)
Kuota Kross (cross)
Moots MootoXYBB (mountain 29)
Moots Vamoots SL * (road)
Parlee Z5 (road)
Parlee Z2 (road)
Parlee Cross (cross)
Ridley Noah (road)
Salsa Chilli Con Crosso (cross)
Salsa Mamasita (mountain 29)
Salsa Selma * (mountain 29 SS)
Specialized S-Works TriCross (cross)
Surly Karate Monkey (mountain 29)
Surly Pugsley (all terrain mountain)
Van Dessel Gin and Trombones (cross)

Day One Toys

2009-09-22T05:05:00.003-04:00

So, today was a brutal day for the first day of dirt demo. I had less than 5 hours of sleep, and the wind was horrendous. But, that of course just meant that I spent more time on the trails less on the road.

I rode a lot of cyclocross bikes and a lot of 29er's (yes, I've given up on 26")... heres what I thought of some of the key players:

Salsa Cycles:

I started off my morning with a cruise around the Salsa Chilli Con Crosso cross bike on the xc trails. It was a rather plush ride, not the fastest acceleration, but I could see myself not fatiguing while riding this bike.

I moved on from the Chilli to the Selma; a beautiful 29er single speed. I was somewhat disappointed that they only had my size in a full rigid setup, but in the end I was rather surprised. This was my personal 'Bike of the Day' pick. It was nimble and agile, light and forgiving. It has a scandium front triangle with a flattened carbon rear. I took this thing through some terrain that I should have steered clear of, but it hung in like a champ. It had fabulous acceleration, good climbing ability, and performed beautifully on super technical terrain.

...more to follow...need to rest...just a few pics of the demo for a taster!

INTERBIKE 2009

2009-09-21T22:19:00.002-04:00

OK, post one is gonna be quick cause I have to go meet some friends for dinner, but pics and full ride reviews will hopefully come tonight. Got in 22 test rides today. Bike of the day was a clear winner... the Salsa Selma SS 29'er!

More later... too hungry...

I know, I know...no race report yet!

2008-05-21T11:19:00.002-04:00

Well, its been a long while since my last post... and I know I promised a race report, but I have such a hard time getting stuff (feelings, emotions, pain, etc) down on paper, or on a computer in this case. But, it will eventually be posted!

On a side note, all of my boyandhisbike posts now are gonna be focused on speed... my quest for it... tips to help others get it... equipment reviews... and all that other fun stuff that I fill my days and dreams with!

Anyway, I'm back...

With the right people by your side, anything is possible!

2008-04-07T14:40:00.003-04:00

Hello again everyone... I'm back... and semi-functional (can't walk, sit, think, or type very well :-)

Thank you all again for following my progress through the Heart of the South 500 and for all of your notes of encouragement sent through my crew... they really did keep me going. I just wanted to get a quick post out here to thank everyone and I will be posting a full race report on here in a few days (and it will be a long one)!

Anyway, I cannot fully recollect how many times throughout the race that I wanted to:

Stop, curl up in a ball and sleep
Be warm and dry
Stop going friggin' UP
Just flat out quit!

But, I kept thinking about all the effort and time that everyone was putting forth for me. Geno and Mick taking off work, driving to AL, sleep deprivation, navigation, exhaustion... among gobs of other hardships. Heather and Meredith here in B-N, keeping in contact with us and updating the blog...and certainly not sleeping much either. And of course, all of you, my friends and family, that wanted to help me see this through. So, yeah, I had a lot of bad thoughts out there on my bike, and there was certainly new levels of tiredness and exhaustion, and OMG... the pain... I never thought moving my legs around the circle of a pedal stroke or sitting down on my saddle would make me want to cry and scream... I was WRONG!

Yet, like some sort of miracle, every time those thoughts or the pain set in, a thought or a memory would pop into my head about one of you... what you might say if you were there next to me... Or, knowing that despite what I was thinking, that you would believe that I would pull through and see this thing through to the end! I think my dad put it best in an email that he sent to me post-race: "Remember that there were a lot of people on that bike with you and trying to help you as much as they could". And he is right, all of you were out there with me, and this was certainly not the accomplishment of one, but of many. As truly believe that I would have stopped in the first 200 miles were it not for all of you.

In short, I can't find the right words, as 'thank you' doesn't seem to suffice, but just know that even though I only had contact with a few of you during the race, my memories of the race include all of you.

This certainly have been an interesting adventure (not one that I am currently antsy to jump at again)... but does go to show that with the right people by your side, anything is possible!

~Andy

Retract!

2008-04-06T11:32:00.003-04:00

Just got a call back from Andy! His official finish time is 10:04 am!!!! How crazy precise is that? 38 hours on the dot!

The plan at the moment is to pack up the car get it semi ready to come home. Head back to hotel. Shower and take a nap.

Andy said they would be ready to receive congratulatory phone calls by 5:30 / 6:00 pm.

Andy also said they are thinking after dinner tonight, they might actually want to get on the road to head home. They may change their minds, but hey what is another 9.5 / 10 hours, right?

He FINISHED! 10:06 (unofficial by: Heather)

2008-04-06T11:18:00.002-04:00

I got a phone call from Andy's friend Brian Simonds right at 10:00 am so I figured I would let it go to voicemail, just in case Mick called while we were talking. Good idea, right? No. While Brian was leaving a voicemail, Mick called. It went directly to voicemail too! Listened to Brian's message, and then realized I had ANOTHER voicemail. Frick! Listened to the second voicemail (left at 10:06 am) it was Mick, "Heather...where are you? Your husband wants to tell you he is a RAAM qualifier!!! Call us." Double Frick!

I called Mick right back and got to talk to Andy real quick. The conversation when like this..."Hey Babe." "Hi, how are you feeling?" "Really tired, whooped, beat, hung out to dry." "I am so proud of you!" "Thanks. Hey Babe? Can I call you back? They want to take pictures." "No problem. Call me when you can."

I am so happy and proud I don't know what else to say. I am sure you all are feeling the same. Thanks for reading and watching his progress.

If you have Mick and Phil's phone number, let's try to hold off on inundating them with calls right now. Not sure if they need a power nap or what. If/when Andy calls me back, I'll ask when they think they will be ready for Congratulations phone calls.

Update #14 OMG! Almost done (by: Heather)

2008-04-06T09:04:00.002-04:00

Time: 8:00 am (36 hour update)
Mile marker: 488

The excitement is buzzing. Andy is still doing really well on the tri-bike. The sun is up and the miles are coming off. Mick said, "I can't believe it is almost over. When we had a century left I thought that would take forever, but here we are." They must be experiencing some sort of time vacuum. Or 517 miles seems more manageable on the "other side of 517." Not sure.

I can't wait to hear Andy's experience. I am really looking forward to seeing all of them.

Mick is going to call me when Andy finishes. Not sure what the plans are for immediately following the race. My guess, would be...

Sit down
Eat warm food
Drink something warm
Shower
Put on real clothes
Awards ceremony
I am sure sleep will fit in there some place. I don't know how Andy will feel. I have never stayed up for almost 44 hours.

They are planning on Staying in Birmingham, AL tonight and driving home tomorrow. I am sure Mick and Geno are thrilled they have more driving ahead of themselves. If I know Andy, he will try something like "I'll take the first shift." ;-)

Update #13 Talladega Mornings (by: Heather)

2008-04-06T07:12:00.006-04:00

Time: ~ 6:15 am
Mile marker: 463.1 (mile marker #6)
Location: Going into Talladega on Rt. 385 state highway. Leaving Talladega Rt. 203

They switched bikes. The rear break on the Abici was rubbing (due to all the rain) so the trusty ole tri-bike came out to play. Andy has ridden the entire course, except for the first 10 miles and the last 50 miles, on the Abici.

Andy + Lucero + "flats" = 20 mile an hour! (At least that is what the car spedometer was reading when I was talking to Mick.

I also got a "disclaimer" if you will, about the 2 person team that passed Andy. Geno was put on the phone because Mick refuses to pass along good news about fixed gear bikes. Geno says, "Some day I will get a fixed gear for this very reason! Wink and a smile." You guessed it! The 2 person team that passed Andy, and started 4 hours behind Andy, were riding FIXIES!!! The horror! The horror! Geno said they were fast, really fast. They also had this super spiffy black SUV behind them with REALLY fancy GPS. The driver of the SUV was calling out directions like,"You can take this corner really fast there is nothing up ahead to slow you down." These fixie riders are like all the rest...no need for a brain. Just push.(just kidding Geno ;-) As the phone was passed back to Mick I could hear Geno in the background yelling "Cause they kick ASS!" At that point Mick stated, "Phil has not taken his meds." LMAO.

We were talking a little more about pacing and when they expected to finish. Really, now that the sun is coming up (currently 6:27 am), Andy is on a different bike, and there are no more mountains...they are really not sure.

The past 450 miles were hellacious. Mick says, "It makes Ironman Wisconsin's course look like a kiddie course." Geno agreed and said, "It makes IMMOO look like a flat billiard table." Holy jeese!

They are doing it! I am getting so excited. :)))))))))))))))))

Update #12 The "flat lands" (by: Heather)

2008-04-06T06:30:00.005-04:00

Time: 5:19 am
Mile marker: 455
Location: 10 miles East of Talladega (check point #6) I was a little wrong in my last post. They had not gotten to check point 6 yet.

Direct quote from Mick, "Andy seems to be more comfortable on the flats now." I really think the "flats" in Alabama are NOTHING compared to here in Illinois. I wonder when Andy gets the feeling and strength back into his legs, if he is going to be pleasantly suprised to ride at home? I suspect these mountains will creep into his mind during the flats in Ironman Florida this November. I bet this ride will be unforgettable. Nuff said.

Mick mentioned a 2 person team recently passed them. He said they were really moving. I could sense a little envy in his voice, but I also know he is right where he wants to be... supporting Andy. It is so good to hear how proud Mick and Geno are of him. Andy picked a perfect support crew. It has been a joy to talk to them. They are amazing. Seriously, everytime I call they seem more awake and alert than I do! (Maybe except for the first morning at 5:50 am ;-))

I also think they are STARVING for some sun. They are really looking forward to the sunrise. Since yesterday morning was so dreary, they really couldn't notice when the sunrise actually occured. I looked on the online Old Farmer's Almanac and it says "6:25 am." I think Mick was a little disappointed to hear that. But the good news is it will be sunny!

...then the phone cut out. >:-[ Damn cell phone connection.

Update #11 Up, Up, Up he goes! (by: Heather)

2008-04-06T03:25:00.001-04:00

Ok, it is 2:24 am on 5/6/2008. I have 2 posts in one...

First post:

12:16 am - mile 408 - driving on Rt. 9, 1 mile South of White Planes, AL

Second post:

2:02 am - mile 427 - Hwy. 281 Junction with county Hwy. 24 - Still a few miles from starting to climb Mt. Cheaha.

Weather--Because of the altitude, it is really foggy. It is really hard to see a couple feet of front of your face. They are a little worried about when Andy gets to the downhills. Hopefully, when the decent starts they will come down in elevation enough for the fog to lift. The temperature is a steady 55* in the mountains. Looks like the temperature is going to stay right around 55* until Andy finishes (and no more rain :)).

Conversations with pit crew...

I asked if they have seen any wild life. Geno has seen a fox and some bunny rabbits. Awe...how cute. He also mentioned the first night at 2:39 am a deer ran across the road about 10 yards in front of Andy. Pretty exciting stuff. I bet that got his heart pumping. I also asked about the dog situation. How bad has it really been and if any dogs have gotten close to Andy? Mick simply stated, "We don't let them get close to him." I was like, "What do you mean?" Well, Meredith's description of the frogger game was pretty spot on. They really do "run those bastards down." I am a huge animal lover, but seriously I am SO glad those guys are "running interference" for my man. Gotta love a sleep deprived crew ready to protect their rider!

Mick also wanted to mention to the blog readers, when they get home there will be pictures to post. Not too sure of the quality because they have been moving non-stop since the start, but nonetheless there will be photographic documentation of this epic journey. Yeah photos!

Not sure what check point they are at now...I am guessing maybe 6? Mick mentioned 2 check points ago (check point 4) Team Sweet discovered the guy behind Andy is 1 hour behind Andy. The crew is pretty confident this is a substantial lead, especially in this type of terrain.

And again I asked about Andy's mental state. The crew says he is in really good spirits and he keeps plugging along. It sort of reminds me of the Tour riders in the movie "The Triplets of Belville." Great movie. If you haven't seen it, I would highly recommend the rental. Plus it is a cartoon. Gotta love cartoons, right?

Later taters. I will leave you with this thought for now...they are getting closer and closer to their goal (under 90 miles to go!)

Update #10 Mick's first text message... (by: Heather)

2008-04-06T00:56:00.001-04:00

I think I just received the first text message Mick has ever sent. I feel so honored.

11:55 PM they are on Red Road 55 in Alabama...

...going back to nap.

Update #9 Lions and Tigers and Bears-Oh my! (by: Heather)

2008-04-05T23:34:00.001-04:00

No worries, they haven't seen anything like lions, tigers, or bears. I do wonder if they have seen any wild life. Something to ask our sleep deprived, bored, and hotel hungry crew next time. =)

They are in the thick of the Talladega National Forrest (in Alabama). It is pitch black. Thank goodness for the awesome lights Andy has on his helmet and bike! Also, the road quality is less than to be desired. I could hear Andy in the background saying, "The poor road quality has to do with the roads going STRAIGHT up." I guess they just can't escape those darn mountains. Then the phone cut out. FYI-rural Alabama doesn't have the best cell phone connection. Just in case you are planning a visit soon.

When I called Mick at 10:28 pm they were stopped for a break. Andy was getting some food and taking a short rest. They were at mile marker 390. I asked if they were going to do a little dance when they hit 400 and Mick said, "I will do a dance when we hit mile 516." I get it, he wants to save his booty shakin' for just the right moment. "Shake your a**, sho me what you workin' with! Shake your a**, sho me what you workin' with!" Alrighty then. Eye on the prize. Eye on the prize.

Not sure if you all know this, but the Heart of the South 500 mile bike race is actually 517 miles long! There was some serious road construction and they had to lengthen the course for safety reasons. Isn't that a kicker? Not only has it been raining on our beloved team for what seems like an eternity, but they have to go longer than anticipated. (They did know this before heading down to Birmingham this week).

Weather update: Blasted! Bugger! Frick! It is "misting" on them. I didn't get a chance to ask anymore about the weather. We changed subjects VERY quickly so as to not test karma. Must be mountain mist; because I just checked weather.com and the radar is clear clear clear. Is there such a thing as "mountain mist?" If not, it is something now. You know why? Because I said so-that's why. No more rain I said.

I am off to take a short nap.

Update #8 It's dry!!!! (by: Heather)

2008-04-05T20:58:00.002-04:00

Good news ya'll!

The rain has finally stopped. Andy has changed clothes and he is dry! I rode a century in the rain--once. I was so happy to be dry after 6 hours. I can't imagine how ecstatic Andy is to be dry after 24 hours!

I got an update from Mick at 8:04 pm. The 24 hour update: Andy is at mile 359.2. They are just outside of Talladega National Forrest on Georgia Highway Rt. 100 in Cave Spring, GA.

From the sounds of it, when they get into the forrest at mile 378 (approximately) they might have trouble with cell phone reception. I might not get another update for nearly 6 hours. Bummer :( But things are going really well so far and one can only hope things keep going in a positive direction.

I did get a chance to talk to Andy when Mick called. He was in much better spirits than when I spoke with him this afternoon. He was saying his knees were aching a little bit so he took some Aleve. He has also adjusted his saddle a little in hopes getting in a different position would alleviate the discomfort.

The crew seems to be in a positive mood as well. More awake tonight than they were this morning. Caffeine is a miracle worker!!

Well, I am signing off for now. Hope to have another post in a couple of hours. Take care and THANKS for reading and thinking about our "boy."

Update #7 Good News (by: Heather)

2008-04-05T17:29:00.000-04:00

I have a couple new pieces of information...

First, Andy is doing really well. There are only 2 guys ahead of him. One is a guy on a recumbant and the other is another soloist upright. The guy on the recumbant is 3 hours ahead of Andy and the other solo upright is only an hour ahead of Andy.

Second, the upright soloist has already qualified for RAAM (Race Across America) and the recumbant is not in Andy's "category." So by power of deduction...Andy currently is in position to qualify for RAAM. :)))

All of this information is official. The HOS race officials were the ones that told Mick and Geno about who exactly was in front of Andy. And they just went though the fourth check point and found out how far ahead the other two riders were.

Fourth check point: Mile 304 at 4:22 pm

So far so good on the rain situation. The crew is not discussing how it is not raining at this point. They are worried they are going to jinx themselves if they say anything about the weather.

I am signing off for now. I should have another post in a couple of hours.

Update #6 He speaks! (by: Heather)

2008-04-05T15:16:00.000-04:00

Elaine (Andy's mom) called Mick at about 1:30 pm today and they were taking a break at a gas station. Mick said, "Hold on, you may get to be one of the few people that gets to speak to him." Mick passed the phone to Andy and Elaine passed the phone to me, and I got to hear how he was doing "from the horse's mouth." He sounds tired, but that is to be expected. I asked him if he knew where he was on the course he said mile 235... he was really closer to mile 260. I told him people are watching his progress and checking the blog page. He seemed really happy to hear that.

I called back a little later to update Mick and Geno about the weather. Right now (2:02 pm / mile 265) it is still raining in Ellijay, GA. It looks like the rain will go bye-bye before 6 pm. According to weather.com, this evening is going to be partly cloudy with NO RAIN!!!! Sounds like that is exactly what the doctor ordered. Team Sweet is getting really sick of the dreary rain.

If any of you have wishes or thoughts to pass along, please post a comment and I will pass it along to the crew. Mick and Geno are asking for people to send some comments/thoughts to Andy. I think they may be getting into the situation we all do as spectators...there is only so much to say to someone to keep them motivated. New ideas and phrases are always welcome.

That's all for now Team Sweet fans...I am planning on getting an update by 4:30/5:00 pm.

Update #5 (By: Meredith)

2008-04-05T12:44:00.000-04:00

Sure are quite a few updates here, aren't there? Well I do believe they are necessary; Andy's covering a HECK of a lot of ground between updates!

Some of you might be interested in knowing the following:

Scenery:
*Andy is currently cruising on State Rd 52 with pleasant weather. The red bud trees are blooming, everything is green, and there isn't a flat road in sight! Andy's strong, so he'll be fine though! When I was on the phone with Phil earlier, he laughed because they just passed a sign that said "7.3 mile climb ahead". HA! Go get 'em Andy!!
*The pavement finally got dry after all that rain. And you know Andy's not going to 'rewet' the pavement with tinkle (Phil says Andy isn't peeing a whole lot because he's sweating so much, delicious!)

That brings us on to our next point: Food!
*Andy desires something other than carbs right now. Sure, carbs are wonderful, but not after you consume them for 16 hours. So now he's focusing on powerbars, perhaps a bagel, and his fantastic Infinit.

Food goes in and...what comes out??? (answer found below)
*Direct quote from Phil: "HOLY SHIT! ANDY JUST TURNED WHITE! YOU SHOULD SEE THIS MOUNTAIN AHEAD OF US!!! YOU CAN'T SEE THE TOP! THE TOP IS COVERED WITH CLOUDS! THE MOUNTAIN IS IN THE SKY! And what's this??? What is that brown stuff coming from Andy's back? ANDY JUST SHIT HIMSELF AT THE SIGHT OF THE MOUNTAIN!"

On to a classier note: Ra Ra Cheer Cheer Spirit!
*Random people will honk, cheer, and shout words of encouragement to Andy along the ride. One guy even sported a bike jersey and ran along side Andy (for quite a while, too). But those Georia Drivers are CRAZY (aka not biker friendly). What's worse than mean drivers? Mean dogs. There have been many dogs along the road that are barking and chasing Andy. No worries, Mick is behind the wheel now and ready to run those bastards down if they even THINK about touching a precious hair on Andy's body. (I pictured the game Frogger with dogs as the frog trying to cross the street and tons of white Minivans trying to barrel over them. Great visual!)

Other than that, Andy is doing very well. He's keeping a constant speed between 15-16 mph. The van has not had to refuel yet. Andy took a 30 minute break off the bike at one point, so he got some time to recoop.

If you're keeping track of Andy on his ride, he is currently on State Rd 52 by Chatsworth. This is in/near Fort Mountain State Park.

Fort Mountain:
This climb continues to be on the Tour de Georgia, one of two hill stages in this great professional race. It is about a seven miles of climbing 2600 feet. Most everyone will do this in the morning so there are some great views looking down the valley; enjoy the downhill!

Then they will get to Ellijay (pronounced L-J)

Ellijay:

After this climb, a long decent to Ellijay and then a right hand turn onto route 382 on the way back to Resaca, Georgia. This section is hilly, not a great deal of climbing, but hilly.

If you want to follow along the race course, go to http://www.heartofthesouth500.com/route.htm

That's it for now. I'm currently at work..not working. Probably should do something about that.

("I can't tell you where I'm staying... all I can tell you is that there are two trees involved...")

Stay tuned...

Update #4- DAYLIGHT!

2008-04-05T10:55:00.000-04:00

9:55 am, 215 miles into the race, 13:55 hours into the race... total mph average: 15.44!!! Whoo-Hoo.

Just spoke with Geno. The weather forecast for the South this weekend is bleak. RAIN. RAIN. RAIN. It is pretty cool for them-59* I wish we could swap weather with Team Sweet. In Bloomington, we are currently sitting at 52* sunny, and winds WSW at 7 mph. What a beautiful day for a ride! I told Geno this, and then proceeded to tell him NOT to tell Andy.

Currently, they are traveling in Georgia on Rt. 136 heading toward Ranska.

Quote from Geno, "Andy is doing fairly well. I don't know how he is doing it, but he is. I don't think Andy will ever forget this experience. They sure did pick about the worst weekend for weather to have this thing."

More information from the pit crew...Mick has officially been dubbed "Crew Chief." Geno has been doing most of the driving, and with Mick heading to the back of the van to gather the many things he needs to successfully fill his job description; Geno gets a glimpse of Mick's lethal weapon--his arse! I asked how the gaseous state of the grocery go getter was, and Geno said they haven't had enough to eat to supply themselves with the proper ammo. Since the sun has peaked its lovely face, they can leave Andy for a bit and play catch up later. Geno said, "The first McDonald's we see, STOP! Egg McMuffin here we come." The crew is really sleepy. Hopefully, they will get some caffeine soon and their spirits will lift.

Later taters, H

Update #3 - Them thar hills boy! (by Heather)

2008-04-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

Well, the boy made it through the first night! From the sounds of it...lots and lots of hills. Well in the South, they call them hills. Here in the Midwest we would probably call them "OMG! Are you freakin' kidding me? What the F? This is a 'bleepity bleep' mountain!" or at least I would call them that ;-)

I got up at the perfect time this morning. 5:50 am. As I was calling Mick's phone, they were checking into another check point. I am not sure if it was the third check point, but I am guessing so. By 5:50 am, Andy has traveled a total of 159 miles. The break down for this segment is 125 miles averaging 15.08 mph. The total time so far is 9 hours and 46 minutes averaging 16.27 mph! Nice work baby!

Andy has been blessed with rain, rain, and more rain all night. Total bummer! They stopped to change rain clothes one time. Thank goodness for all that extra gear, right? Sounds like he has been taking a couple bottles of caffeinated Infinit here and there as well.

When I ask, "How is he doing?" or "What type of mood is he in?" Mick keeps saying, "He is in really good spirits." Hope this trend keeps going. =)

The super sexy soccer mom minivan (SSSMMV-ok that doesn't work) situation is holding steady. Mick is in the driver's seat. Geno has taken over navigation and nutrition duty. Word is they haven't taken in any caffeine yet, but it is coming soon. The fumigation situation is under total secrecy. As of last night, neither of them had "cut wind," so it was a contest to see who could hold out the longest. I am SURE someone lost, just haven't found out who, yet. I called back to get more information, and like we thought, cell phone reception in the mountains is spotty at best. I sent Geno a text message...we will see how the "old guy" does with that ;-) Not too sure if I will get a text back, but anything is possible, right? The mental picture of Geno typing a text message just slays me for some reason--LMAO! Last night when I called they (Mick and Geno) instructed me to drink at least 2 beers each for them and this morning I was told to go back to bed and get some sleep for them. Wow, I am really do a lot for them. Sheesh, what divas!

Anything you all are interested to hear about, post a comment and I will see what I can do.

Later taters! ~ Heather

Update #2- First check point update (from Heather)

2008-04-05T02:15:00.001-04:00

I got an update from Mick about an hour ago. Andy is in really great spirits. As I was on the phone with Mick, a pick-up truck full of red-neck hotties (at midnight) were hootin' and hollerin' for Andy and cheering him on his journey. You see, my man has fans all over this great country ;-)

Ok, specifics...when Mick called, they had just passed the first check point. What this consists of is Mick or Geno calling a special "Heart of the South phone number" and telling the person on the other end who they are and who they are calling in for. Very fancy and high tech. :)

Andy has traveled 74 miles in the first portion. Since his official start time is 8:04 pm and they called in at 12:12 am...well I can't do that math, but our trusty friend Drew Hartman has a wonderful pace calculator on his web-site http://www.jetall3.com/PaceCalc.asp

...Andy has averaged 18.5 mph for the first 74 miles of his epic race.

I just can't get over this. I mean I was lying on the couch tonight, waiting for a phone call from Team Sweet, and I FELL ASLEEP! I can't even stay awake while watching a movie, let alone "be in good spirits" after riding 74 miles in the very dark and very wet deep south. Good thing Andy can't read this until he is done -- Whew.

Well, ta ta for now. I am off to try to sleep for a couple hours. Hope this has been helpful.

Update #1-Start of the Race and First Boo-Boo (By Meredith)

2008-04-04T22:01:00.000-04:00

Well, Andy was calm going into the start of the race with Mick and Phil by his side giving full support. The temperature was 59 degrees (dun dun dun... nice dramatic effect!) There had been some concern that the start of the race would be delayed due to tornado warnings and tornado watches in the area. Thankfully, that blew by and the rain stopped in time for Andy's start at 8:04 PM. He was the third rider to take off as each rider started in 2 minute intervals starting at 8:00 PM.

Sounds too easy, doesn't it? Well it was. Just so that Heather could worry a little, Andy decided to climb a hill, but this climb wouldn't be a fun ride in the park. Ohhh no...Andy's crank arm fell off his Lucero as he climbed the hill. Oops. Tumble. Boo-Boo. He lost third position from this. But being a Sweet, he jumped onto his alternate bike (the creation he has been working on for several months, also known as the new bike, the cool bike, the wicked awesome paint job bike) and reclaimed his initial position. Mick's mechanical skills were put to the test in the back of a white minivan. Andy hammered on. No word yet on how many bumps were accumulated from his tumble, but he's strong...strong like moose (Andy sure loves mooses!), so Heather and I have no doubt that he'll be fine.

What about the hot "Soccer Mom Minivan" you might be wondering? So far no damages have been reported from gas leaks, compliments of Mick. Phil is still alive in the van (good thing, because he's driving!). Minor technical difficulties shorted a wire with the flashing lights on top of the van before the race started. These guys are a handy bunch, so surely they can fix this conundrum in a jiffy (don't want those race officials to notice this violation--hopefully they don't read this blog. I'd hate to be the one responsible for a time penalty!!) :O

You stay classy, Andy's fans. This is Meredith signing off for now. Stay tuned as Heather and I update this blog, keeping you hooked to the screen wondering "What is Andy up to NOW?"

Walking the green mile...

2008-04-04T13:35:00.000-04:00

I know, I know.... probably not the best title for the last blog update that I do myself before the race... but somehow it seems appropriate! Sitting here in the hotel before the race meeting is making my nerves a bit jittery; as I really still don't know what to expect to encounter on this journey!

But the trip down was good, although a bit rainy! And this morning has been great... We met up with my friend Andy from Birmingham that I haven't seen in a couple years and we got some coffee and high caloric food and just relaxed for a bit.

Then, a quick stop at the local Wal-Mart for last minute supplies, and back to the hotel to wait... and wait...

It's still raining outside, but the forcast is saying that it should be clear by start time, so hopefully the rain will just knock down the pollen (yeah, they have pollen down here right now!!) and clean off the road debris!

Anyway, thanks to all of you for your support once again! I can't wait to catch up with you all on the other side of 500 miles!

Cheers,
Andy

They are OFF!

2008-04-04T01:35:00.000-04:00

BTW...it is Heather writing this entry. Andy currently is in a 'Town and Country' mini-van (with Stow and Go seating) with Mick and Geno heading down to Birmingham, AL ... as I type.

Well at 5:00 pm on 4/3/2008, the Team Sweet Crew set off for a true adventure! What they will find...one can only dream of. What they will bring back…a very tired but fulfilled young man. I really think with Andy, Geno, and Mick on the team...only good can come of it. =)

After many, many, many days of everything "bike" sitting around the house, all of it was organized and put into the rented mini-van and hauled down South. Wow, this was Ironman packing on steroids! Seriously, there were more gloves, tights, shorts, bibs, food, tools, “personal items,” bottles of inflate, food, servings of Infinit, gels, bars, food, socks, flash lights, head lamps, batteries, maps, sun glasses, helmets, bike lights, food, pieces of rain gear, and tubes of Preparation H – I have ever seen! I do have to say, I have NEVER EVER seen Andy this organized. Whew.

Meredith and I will be posting more information/photos tomorrow night. Please stay tuned for additional information.

Personal note: I am really proud of Andy and all that he has accomplished this season so far. His dedication and commitment to this race is more than I could ever muster. I know he truly appreciates his friends, family, and sponsors for all their help and support. Please keep Andy and Team Sweet in your thoughts this weekend.

3 days till we head south!

2008-03-31T16:38:00.000-04:00

Well, it's only three short days till we start the journey to the south. And that means only 4 days till race day... Whew!

Anyway, just a few updates right now:

The crew is going to be a bit smaller than expected. Heather is going to stay home to take care of our dogs to save the money and stress of boarding them. Which leaves Geno and Mick with a lot more responsibility, but I have faith in my crew!
The rental crew van is finalized. We will be cruising around (mostly under 20mph) in a snazzy Town and Country mini-van from Avis! Ooooo, Stow and Go seating :-)
I went out shopping for last-minute supplies... and let me tell you, it feels weird to check-out at Jewel with Handi-wipes, Preparation-H, Band-Aids, Nu-Skin, and Red Bull!

Anyway, stay-tuned for the real updates in just a few days!

~Andy

And I'll leave you all with a poem about riding...

2008-03-23T00:10:00.000-04:00

The Other Guy - by Andy Sweet

I spot another lone biker on the road behind me,
He’s seems to be gaining, but no worry.
Slowly, slowly he creeps up to me.
Young kid, never seen him before.

No words spoken,
My mind instantly assessing.
Noting cheap component groups and discount riding gear,
Calculating weights, and critiquing his position.

Ha, this guys in for a hurtin’,
Confident in my 5k steed and swollen legs.
Our cranks turn in quiet unison,
The tires whirr on the rough Illinois pavement.

Numbers churn through my head,
Watts, cadence, drag, speed, heart rate.
He seems happy and careless,
Content and smiling.

His wheel pulls ahead,
This kid’s gonna half-wheel me.
I’m good at that game,
So, I up the ante a watt or two.

Time to wipe that smile away,
I dial in to my lactate threshold.
I know this pace well,
The friendly, familiar pain sets in.

I hear a down shift,
There’s that bloody wheel again.
He’s drinking from his water bottle,
And I swear, he’s listening to the birds and looking at the trees.

I swig from my custom blended nutrition drink mix,
Time to end this charade.
Strategically prepping my attack,
Five, four, three, two…

He’s out of his saddle,
This kid’s good.
BOOM, my legs react instinctively,
I jump to a full sprint.

We both see the railroad tracks ahead,
The perfect finish line.
200 meters,
100 meters.

I can’t drop him,
It’s gonna be close.
75 meters,
50 meters.

There’s that pesky black spot,
Brain’s running low on O2.
Legs about to give out,
But I see the pain in his eyes, too.

We rocket over the tracks,
Neck and neck.
Not even a camera could rule this one,
That kid must have the heart of a bull.

We stop,
Both gasping for breath.
I impulsively check my computer,
He smiles and picks up some trash from the road…

As he rides away, I feel a change,
Recalling that love for the ride and that passion for life.

Wait a second, I recognize that old Cannondale,
I remember that smile.

The day I started a blog

2008-03-22T23:52:00.000-04:00

It's a dark, cold, and ugly night... the perfect evening for a young, innocent man like myself to turn to the dark side. And start a blog!!!!

I swore against them, but I promise to use the power of my blog for good... not evil.

Ok, so if you're still reading, here's the real reason behind creating this blog: My journey to the Heart of the South! And I don't mean a family vacation to Alabama... I'm going to race!

Check it out: www.heartofthesouth500.com

I have spent a lot of time training for this race, and a lot of people have supported me (and are still supporting me) in my journey! So, the race is now less than two weeks away, and I've decided that a blog page is the perfect way to keep those of you interested in my race up-to-date.

So, I'll update over the next two weeks with my final prep, the trip down south in the crew vehicle with my crew (Phil 'Geno' Warlow, Mike 'Mick' Hannah, and my lovely wife Heather...'Heather' Sweet :-), and of course most importantly... my hometown crew member Meredith will be updating the blog page for me during the race (via phone calls and pics from the crew), so that all of you back home can track my progress!

Anyway, first day with a blog and I'm already blathering on... I see this going downhill from here :-P