11 DAYS UNTIL

I rode the team's Tuesday ride hoping to get the interval intensity that I was looking for and I wasn't disappointed. Five of us went off the front. I think the others are getting tired from racing and I cannot blame them. It was a pretty hard hammer session but, nothing really over 30 mph for a max speed - windy. I'm continue to review gear, equipment and tires (etc) which is keeping me busy. So, I've got to run today - short and sweet..

Forever on my mind - our troops at war. Ciao, VB

12 DAYS UNTIL

We were lucky this weekend with the rain on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It rained all around us but, we never suffered the hazards of speeding down mountains on rain slick roads. We rode both Saturday, 65 miles and 4 hrs with approx. 5,000 ft of climbing, and on Sunday for 3 hrs with 3,000 feet of climbing. It was a little warm but the elevation does help keep it just a bit cooler. This was the last of the mtn training weekends before the race and the BRPrkwy is just beautiful and a really fun place to ride. I encourage everyone to climb Peaks of Otter just for the descent back down to the James River (from that side). You don't need to use your brakes ever and I never went over 40 mph. Today is a rest day and I did go to the gym which I like to do for the change. Tomorrow is back on the bike for a few intervals. Peter and I have been reviewing the logistics of the trip and picking up the final spare parts to take.

Keep our troops in your prayers. Ciao, VB

15 DAYS UNTIL

Another beautiful day, I rode a couple of easy hours. I still haven't decided on my riding saddle yet. I've been testing several - mostly Specialized - hard, padded, and otherwise. Also, I tried a fi'zi:k saddle which really doesn't fit as nice as Specialize but, it is padded better. I've spent so many hours in the saddle, it has presented a real issue trying to decide which one to use. The thought to keep in mind is first, I don't have big butt and second, that on my longest training week, I probably haven't ridden 75% of the time it'll take to ride the TransRockies' course. In a nutshell, that's what makes saddle choice a bit of an issue. I'll carry more than one saddle but, like the perfect baseball glove, you know when you've found it and, I would have liked to have had that feeling by now.

Off to the mountains for a couple of long days in and out of the saddle climbing - wish me luck and beautiful weather.

Please remember to pray for our troops and their families. Ciao, VB

16 DAYS UNTIL

Yesterday I rode in recovery mode for a couple of hours. The weather has been really nice and the wind has been cooperating especially, early in the morning. I took today off in hopes that I'll have more energy to put into the efforts this weekend. We're planning on a couple more long efforts on the road bikes this weekend.

I found the brake caliper adaptor I was looking for @ www.bikeman.com. Actually, Shimano put me in touch with bikeman. The techincal service at Shimano was very cooperative and went the extra mile to help me find the part & then bikeman did the same by checking with all their suppliers until they found it. No one was in a hurry, no one put me on hold, and everyone persevered.

The Tour - Rasmussen is out, as he should be for missing random drug testing, and Contador & Levi are in the spotlight. Let's wait and see what they can do on Saturday - the race of truth.

The war continues so, please keep praying for our troops and pray for a solution to our approach to combating terrorism. I don't think this conflict is going to go away when we leave the Iraqs to their own chaos. It's always on my mind. Ciao, VB

18 DAYS UNTIL

Another beautiful day, I rode out to Creeds and it took an hour to get my leg loose enough to feel comfortable. This weekend's crash has my right leg feeling tight. However, I was able to do my intervals, and this training session lasted for 2.5 hrs. Peter and I are continuing our review of gear and foods. We, the blog, are still waiting on his picture and profile. Peter has promised that it is in the mail.

Well, the Tour De France has yet another doping scandal with VINO and the Astana Team and, Rasmussen and Rabobank. May only the "clean" riders remain. Let's hope that Contador and Discovery are clean.

Pray for a soldier, every pray counts. Ciao, VB

19 DAYS UNTIL

Back to the VA Mountains – Friday, Mimi, Pat and I ran a couple of light intervals up and down (from/to) Todd Lake (8 miles around trip) on our road bikes. Now mtn biking - Saturday, I think Pat and I rode approximately 45 miles (5 hrs) on state service roads, Shenandoah 100 single track, and a little hard surface. Late in the ride, we were lost in the woods after taking only one wrong turn and that’s all it takes especially when you’re going down steep topography. On Sunday, we did a big piece of the S100, riding approximately 40 miles (4.5 hrs). Pat and I both crashed. However, Pat’s crash was probably a little worse then mine, seeing as how he turned around and went down – not normal for Pat. This was probably the last time I’ll see the S100 course for a while. I wanted to mention we camp in a very nice campground, way up on the mountain so, it's cooler at night. You can opt to primative-camp (some really good spots) and pay to shower at the campgrounds but, the water isn't very warm - over use. There always the creeks when there has been rain. It's currently pretty dry up there in the hills.

Rasmussen must be for real. The Tour route designers have done it again and it looks like the race will come down to the last TT.

Keep praying for our troops, get involved, and communicate with the troops in the war zones if possible. Ciao…VB

23 DAYS UNTIL

I didn't post yesterday. I attended a SEAL Team memorial. I rode early yesterday but, I had a flat after running through glass on the road. After fixing it, the tire once again went flat, meaning that there is glass hiding in there. It was time for a new tire anyways. A very nice stranger saw me and offered to transport me and the bike home in his new Honda pickup truck. I gladly accepted his offer.

I rode this morning missing my usual Thursday morning group. I'm not sure what happened but, I caught the Thursday "team train" ride and as usual, it hurts. I'm continuing to look for that brake caliper adaptor with little luck (SM-MA-F180S/S). Eric and I put together the spare parts yesterday, i.e., chain, cables, fluids. Also, we ordered another set of brake pads, and a tire. I'll carry a couple of tires for spares.

Please keep our troops in your prayers, Ciao

25 DAYS UNTIL

As usual, I'm having problems finding an brake-shock adaptor part for the caliber, to accommodate the new brake-disk(180mm) - all Shimano XTR. But, that's another story for another time. I rode my sweetie Trek Fuel today on the road just continuing to fine tune my riding position. I think it helps to take my feel for fit from my road bike (power) and copy it over to the mtn bike. Obviously, once in the woods things change a bit (drop seat height) but, I like to take it on the road for feel and speed.

I rode 2.25 hrs and the weather continues to get hotter. We've started planning for the weekend mtn biking which should be tough.

Please keep our troops in your prayer, Ciao

26 DAYS UNTIL

I rode the Blue Ridge Parkway both Saturday and Sunday (70mi. + 50mi. = 10,000ft of climbing). The weather was really nice both days with Sunday getting hot when I stopped. Luckily, I started earlier than last week. The climbing on the BRP can be and usually is long but not always granny-gear steep. The Peaks of Otter (Thunder Ridge) is the steepest climbing I've done on the BRP but, they had a fire up there this weekend and it stopped traffic for a little while. Well, today is a rest day, and my legs feel like they need to do something different. The bikes always need my attention so, I'll probably work on cleaning bikes, going in and out of the shop with the VB_mtn_bike.

I did ride with a Canadian on the BRP, for a little while, who was touring with 50 lbs on his bike. He was a school teacher who travels to the BRP every summer to ride a section - good idea. It is fun meeting cyclist out there - the previous week I rode with a guy from Sweden with 75 lbs on the bike and his back - big guy.

Pray for out military in harms way, please - Ciao - Rasmussen lead the Tour de France and has shown the world who is the best climber. I guess we'll see what he has in the long TTs but, he should stay in yellow for a few days...

29 DAYS UNTIL

My training partner and I rode to Creeds and back this morning, early. We did intervals on the way back and I couldn't drop that wheel sucker. I must be getting weaker instead of stronger, that's not good news. I'm growing concerned about the seasonal weather in Canada during the mid-August race. I continue to review my inventory of fall gear and rain gear. The TRC DVD shows plenty of people in jackets from beginning to end of some stages (???). I'm assuming we will see every kind of weather.

Keep praying for our troops, please! Ciao

30 DAYS UNTIL

I rode the sweetie TREK FUEL MtnBike today. Picked it up from the shop yesterday, where I have access to the greatest of support known to cycling. We are bleeding brakes, greasing headsets, adjusting and checking brake levers, and pads. Also, we're now waiting on the correct adaptor (having received the wrong one) for increasing the size of the brake rotors - a little more stopping power, which I'll probably NOT need. The weather this morning was unbelievably nice and I saw Harlan W. out for a spin on the way back.

31 DAY UNTIL THE RACE STARTS

This is the initial post to our TransRockies adventure. The race, TRC, will start on Sunday, August 12th. We hope to post updates eveyday either after the race or the following morning once the TRC begins. Obviously, we're not sure what type of web access we'll have so, please keep your fingers crossed.

Peter is on the west coast training and I'm on the east coast training. So, in some post you'll get Peter's input, and in other post you'll get my input and possibly our support's post. This past weekend I spent a couple of days climbing Peaks of Otter (Thunder Ridge), over and back on Saturday, and on Sunday I went in the other direction to R56. The weather is now hot if you stay out 4 or 5 hours so, on the Blue Ridge Parkway, leaving H2O in strategic locations is important. My training partner has been a very big help with dropping me off and leaving liquids along the way. Presently this week, Monday through Friday is a "rest week" and I'm doing my very best to behave and not ride very long or hard. However, on the upcoming weekends, I can be found in the mountains, either on the road or on the trails.

Please say a prayer for our troops, it truly helps... Ciao

http://www.transrockies.com