My normal routine for STP weekend the last two years has been to ride a one day STP and follow it on Sunday with another 100 miles riding across the finish line for a second time. Today I just didn't have the time to do that. I did get to the STP finish line though. I had to go there to pick up some drop bags that were being transported to the finish line and while there wander around a bit and just take in the "bikeyness" of it all. There are so many interesting stories to be told. You don't have to be around the finish line long to see courage. The very young, the old, the "disabled" and those dealing with all modes of adversity join those who just take it a bit farther by riding skateboards, unicycles, and big wheels.

The rest of us just have to ride bike 204 miles, don't ever complain about that.

I didn't have time to ride because I am building the fixtures for our RAO support vehicle. We are renting a 15 passenger van to transport the team and all our supplies for 48 hours. No small undertaking.

I did stop by the bike shop to pick up my carbon bike which had been in for a pre-race tuneup. My little test ride amounted to 5 miles, the only riding I got in today.

The bike is ready, this rider is not. Oh well, in a week with any luck we will be finished with RAO, if we are not so lucky we will still have just under 8 hours to reach Hood River.


............BIKE............LIFECYCLE.....ROLLERS....TOTAL
Today.........5................0...............0............5
Jan........618...............0................0..........618
Feb........692...............0................0..........692
March......940...............0................5..........940
April......934...............0................0..........934
May........905...............0................0..........905
June......1152...............0................0.........1152
July.......601...............0................0..........601
_________________________________________
TOTAL.....5857...............0..............5.........5862