Samurai Mike speaks...

Here’s a quote I found while reading about the 49ers. Samurai Mike says, “Greatness is not about someone who has the ability to be great. Greatness shows up when someone might not have that ability but finds a way to succeed. They outwork their opponents, they outhit their opponents, they outfight their opponents. They want it more. Don’t give me a guy who’s supposed to be all-world and you’ve got to try to talk him into something. Give me the guy who has maybe just enough talent to be on the field but thinks he’s great, and who’s willing to do whatever he can do to contribute to make his team better.”

From SI, 9/28/2009, p. 56

Success!

The happy bikers relaxing on the front lawn after a good day on the bike. They laid here for over an hour, just gabbing and not moving.

Pics #12, #13, & #14 - me on the bike

Pic #9, #10, & #11 - Jedi Craig & Corbin cutting off mail boxes

Pic #7 & #8 - Craig's friend Corbin

Pic #4, #5, & #6 - On the road with Craig

Pic #3

Haag Lake - the water level is low this time of the year, waiting for the rain. There were a lot of folks out on the lake fishing and on the shores fishing.

Pic #1 & #2

Craig and Corbin at the halfway mark - still full of energy, having just ate a bunch of food.

Another 50 with Craig

We rode another 50 miler today. The difference was this was with the whole troop, not just me and Craig. Lucky for us, I got the "faster" boys - Craig and his friend, Corbin. Craig did better than the other rides. He was still "racing" me up the hills at miles 35 and 44, pushing me to work to pass him. There was no wimpering this time about legs aching from Craig. He was telling Corbin that it is part of the ride to suffer. Craig, the cagey old veteran, helping out the neophyte rider work through the pain.

I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed riding with them.

Tour de Tucson

Now that budget time is almost over here at work, the next big thing to hit is my Tour de Tucson ride in November. I took last week off of the bike - that's if you can call riding only 70 miles as time off. This week the intensity has picked up but I am limiting the total time on the bike at one sitting to 2 hours. As I look to the calendar, the plan is to ride 6-8 hours per week in September, with the max time on the bike at 2 hours. October will move the mark up to 8-10 hours per week with the max ride time at 4 hours. In November, I will hit it hard and heavy in the first two week with up to 12 hours on the bike and a few 6 hours of fun before tapering off the last two weeks before the ride.

By doing this, I feel I will be ready to knock out 5 1/2 hours for the 109 miles. The last time, we hit 7 hours total time. I stopped too many times and the pancakes did me in at mile 70. The plan is to get out and get busy, not stopping til Brooklyn or other bladder related issues arise.

I am pumped to be on the bike in the sun. The last few days have been nice and warmer, allowing me to get loose earlier and put in some good times. I have hit under 30 minute 10 mile splits multiple times this last week. The legs are feeling good. The rest has helped as well.

Time to get back to my budget practice.