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Training Camp: Day 9
The final day of camp, we went back to the previously rained-out Mad Duck group ride. The instructions were to “just ride,” and, if we wanted to, we could put some of our previously-rehearsed race tactics to the test. We set out at an easy Saturday pace that accelerated as we neared the Robson Ranch loop that we’d practiced on earlier in the week. I was hanging out in the back talking to one of the Metro Volkswagen club members, and ended up getting dropped with Shannon, Whitney, and a few of the other riders in the group. We probably would have just cruised in, but Nathan “motivated” us to try and catch up with/lead out our sprinters by implementing a fast rotation between the three of us. We didn’t catch the group, but we did turn ourselves inside out for about half an hour. It was one of those efforts where I suprised myself at how hard I was able to ride for an extended time period. I have to admit, with Nathan’s help, we did rock pretty damn hard. Luckily, we took a short cut and waited for the group to catch up to us before cruising back to the hotel. It was a good ride to wrap up a week of hard training!
Later on that evening, we had our team dinner and then went out for video games & laser tag! (click on a thumbnail to see the full-sized photo).
Tina Pic is my Hero
She won all three crits last weekend. Here’s a shot of her + her champagne after the last one:
“The Lester Street Massacre”
If you live in the Memphis area, you’ve heard the awful news about what’s been dubbed the “Lester Street Massacre.” If you haven’t heard this yet, just Google it. It all boils down to this:Â people in a low-income area of town hear gunshots Saturday night. Noone calls police because gunshots on a Saturday night aren’t a new thing in the area. By Monday morning, the mother of one of the children staying in the house comes to pick her child up, notices the door partially open, and calls police. Inside, six people are dead, and three are seriously injured. Two of the dead are children. The three injured ones are children (currently in critical & serious condition at a local hospital). They have been shot and stabbed.
Memphis is a violent place, but this goes above and beyond a neighborhood’s tendency towards violence. It’s the type of crime that makes everyone wonder what type of person could be so full of hate that they could destroy so much human life. People were hoping that it was some sort of murder/suicide, but the culprit is still out there.
I don’t normally tell people what to do with their money (other than to buy bike parts?), but I think that the collection for the families of the victims is a very noble cause. If you’re interested in donating, you can go to any Bank of America location to do so. You can also send donations to the neighborhood’s church: First Baptist Church – Broad 2835 Broad Ave. Memphis, TN 38112
LH Thompson dies at age 68
Just saw the news through my team’s email list…
Component innovator dies at 68
LH ‘Ronnie’ Thomson, president and founder of the eponymous bicycle component manufacturer LH Thomson passed away suddenly on January 12, 2008, less than a week before his 69th birthday. According to The Bicycle Retailer, Thomson had recently recovered from bladder cancer, but his untimely death was unrelated to the illness.
Thomson, a well respected manufacturer of high quality seat posts and stems, was an engineer by trade, and made his career first manufacturing parts for the airline industry. He began the LH Thomson company in 1981, and began making bicycle components in 1995. Through his high quality products and generous sponsorship of area events, teams and causes, Thomson quickly endeared himself to the cycling community.
The parts became so popular amongst the off-road riders that Macon area riders hosted an annual Ronnie Thomson Appreciation day, which is scheduled for this weekend. The event will now include a moment of silence and memorial service.
The Thomson company’s website posted a brief message of support, saying “It is the families wish that the festival continue, and it will. Thomson is no longer just a brand, it is a legacy. Ronnie brought so much to cycling as he looked at everything with a different perspective.”
“Ronnie was always like a father figure,” LH Thomson account manager Karen Glass told The Bicycle Retailer, but added the company would continue. “I know this will be a rough road for the entire Thomson family. The L.H. Thomson company will overcome this. We will continue what you started.”
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (www.bcan.org).
Ankle Update #2
Yesterday I stayed on my crutches all day even though it wasn’t hurting quite as badly as day #1. Even so, it still ballooned up until my ankle and foot looked like a jello mold. This morning, I decided to lose the crutches. I’m actually able to limp around on it pretty good, and after about 40 minutes of ice, I can now see my ankle bone again! I plan to let it warm back up and then ice for at least another 30 minutes. Then, I’m going to try to ride my bike. More on that later…
Hello world!
First of many to come…
