It was great to get back on the bike again after a week off. I was out the door at 7:30am and rode for about 3 hours. My cycle computer was not working due to an original battery. I was not sure what my average speed was, however I did get passed by a few riders. I have a new battery now and I am ready for the next ride.

Countdown

Less than 60 days before my Tour de Michigan, I am not ready, and my Seven muse is less than finished. My personal goal was to have ridden 1000 miles of pavement, and have a new Seven I could ride before the tour. Reality bites with 550 miles of training and need of a complete groupo. I am dealing with some poison Ivy, actually, a lot. I have taken a week off the bike.
The best news of the week was a pair of undamaged Reynolds wheels arriving.

The 96th Tour is on!

UPDATE!
Americans are well represented in France this year. Kai's favorite Christian Vande Velde is in 8th 1:24 sec. behind. Lance is in second 0:08 behind the yellow jersey. Also noteworthy is Amrstrong teammate Levi :39 sec back in fourth overall. See the Tour on VS.

Tour De Cure

I road the Tour de Cure metric century today. I was regretting that decision after about four hours of pedaling.
The weather was perfect. My old bike was running just as nice as the temperature. I met a lot of great cyclist. Some even gave me some unwanted cycling advise. I was able locate and hang with cycling legend Alexander on his fixed gear bike for 30 miles. During the final 10 miles I only wanted to get back to Reston and drink a cold smoothy. When we were going about 22mph at mile 40 I knew I was pushing it. My body shape prevents me from going much faster than that. I averaged 14mph for the day. If that seems low, it is faster than I average when I ride for 20 miles. I rolled into Reston Hot and spent, but I got my smoothy and that made life good.

I had the opportunity for a 3 hour ride today. I rode to my favorite rest stop just west of Leesburg, VA. on the W&OD Trail.

VandeVelde School of Style

My Nephew Kai, recently entered his first bicycle race. At 3 years old, he felt compelled to challenge his friends in the 4-6 age group. After receiving a Like-A-Bike for his 3rd birthday he had little interest in riding until he met Christian Vande Velde. Christian inspired the style Kai was sporting at this years Air Force Bicycle Classic starting line. With the only laminated birch frame in the field, Kai pushed his 7.7 pound velocipede mid pack. No one remembers how he finished that day, only the comment made by former U.S. Postal Pro rider Frankie Andreu "look at that kid!" as Kai crossed the finish line.

Old friends and old bikes are often what we cherish most. My 2005 Specialized Sirrus Pro Disc is one of those bikes that I have enjoyed for the past five years. While I am waiting on the completion of the muse, I have been putting more miles on the Sirrus. I rode this bike on the 2005 and 2007 Dalmac. I remember the 2005 ride for how easy it was, my dad and I were on the East route. I remember the 2007 ride as the year I did not have the time to prepare, and paid in pain tickets. Same bike different experiences. That is what I love about this bike.