The General Would be Proud
In mid-July, the corn fields of Newberry, SC stand tall. The stalks are but a couple of weeks from harvest and when a slight breeze traveled through, their leaves rustled with a paper on paper sound. In the 95 degree/105 heat index heat somehow the fastest cyclists found a way to average 23 mph. They […]
Six AM
The exuberance of yesterday’s finish of the Ride to End Alzheimer’s was gone and in its place was the gentle flow of high tide at Alhambra Hall. As a young couple, this was our home away from home. Our former employer, a six-bedroom inn, the pinnacle of the Mt. Pleasant’s Old Village, now goes by […]
Thank you, Madeleine
“Chef Malik, would you like to come to California and cook with me this summer?” Her French voice crackled with sincerety and authenticity and I can remember thinking this could only be one particular woman on the other end of the line. Madeleine Kamman. Several months later I was flying to California’s Napa Valley to […]
Racing Butterflies
The sweat is stinging my eyes, rolling across my lips, drenching the back of my neck, and clouding my glasses. My heart is thumping along at 175 beats per minute, a few beats over my recommended maximum, and I’m fighting for every pedal stroke while gulping air like nobody’s business. I’m gripping the bars and […]
Godspeed, Mark
The sky in front of us was crowded with angry, dark clouds. The kind that only a summer storm can produce. Clouds so low, the green tops of the surrounding pine forest threatened to skewer them as they waddled towards us. In another half mile, we would be in the thick of this storm and […]
Tomorrow
My alarm will go off at 5:00 am but I’ll probably wake up at 4:00. My team is coming over for breakfast at 6:00 am and we’ll spend an hour trying to shake off our nervous energy. I’ll bake an egg, potato, bacon and cheddar cheese casserole and make some sweet potato waffles. My wife […]
39 in a 35
Yes, that’s 39 miles per hour. That was my maximum speed attained on this past Thursday’s ride. I’ve gone faster. I’ve actually hit 55 mph (that’s a story for another day.) And yes, I know it’s dangerous to go that fast on a bike with only a thin layer of lycra as protection. I also […]
Going Up?
I got out of the house early today because I knew the afternoon temps would be unbearable. And by 9:00 am I was in Traveler’s Rest and headed for Paris Mountain. The #SCRTR will be a contest in endurance, man and woman against machine, with the machine being the bike. You’ve got to be able […]
See Food
The old joke of a cyclist during racing season was the “I’m on that See Food diet. When I see food, I eat it.” And that’s how I feel right now. Last week I put in almost 250 miles and this week I hope to match that. And of course my metabolism is through the […]
Ain’t That Tough Enough?
The best way to approach a long distance event such as the #SCRTR is through a six month, properly planned, concerted effort. Well if you’ve been following along, you know that I don’t have that luxury. Most of the riders would likely start their training efforts in January or February and gradually up their mileage […]