Senior Games

I really did not know what to think as I signed up for four cycling races for the Idaho Senior Games. All I knew was that I would be doing a 40K road race, a 20K road race, a 10K time trial, and a 5K time trial over two days. The nice thing about it was that Steve would be doing three of those events with me. He didn't do the 40K road race since his road bike was in several pieces.

Representing PBR and the
University of Idaho at the
Idaho Senior Games

The 40K road race was an interesting start to the weekend. They combined five age groups for this race and there were three people racing in my age group. I started out in the lead group and took many turns on the front of the pace line. Once we got close to the second lap I started to feel like I was ready to be done. We had a pretty hefty climb to make to get to the start/finish line and once we got there I lost contact with the lead group. I ended up riding alone the next lap and I came in second but got a gold medal for being the first finisher for the state. The winner of the my 50-54 age category was from Wyoming and he ended up getting first in all of the events.

The 5K time trial was the next event for the day and it featured five riders in the 50-54 age category. It was an out and back route with the out being down hill and a nice little climb back up to the finish. Steve was in this race and he ended up getting a silver while I got a bronze. The turn around was interesting since the road had been chip sealed a while before the race.

The 20K road race was a little more animated at the start with about eight or nine of us getting out pretty quick after the first turn. I was pulling along when a freight train of seven cyclists went by me. I tried to catch a wheel as they went but I was unable to. I ended up riding alone for a little bit before another rider came up and we started working together to see if we could catch the break. We got close but the other group bolted again leaving a lone rider for us to catch. We did a three person pace line until we got about 3 miles from the finish where the lone rider decided to save himself for the time trial that afternoon by slowing down. I ended up getting a silver in this race. One of the racers was still out on the course after everyone had crossed the line so a couple of us decided to go out and ride back in with him. He really appreciated having someone to ride with to the finish.

The 10K time trial had a course change since the original course had a lot more rock on it from the chip sealing that happened the week before. We ended up going on a course that used part of the 5K course for the finish. I ended the day getting the gold which totally surprised me since I thought Steve gained on me and the guy in front of me got farther away from me.

I had a great time at the games and I look forward to doing them again next year. I think I might even do the ones that are held in Lewiston.

The MS Ride is coming up in a month and I am really getting excited about riding my bike in support of raising money for finding a cure for MS. You can donate money on my MS Society page to help me reach my goal.

Busy, but not really

What a busy time on the bikes since the last post. Still spending a lot of time riding to and from work. I try to meander a bit everyday so that it is not a straight shot. This allows for a varied experience of Moscow streets (at least ones that are not closed for construction).

On the 22nd of June we hosted a criterium on the campus. It was a fun time of racing and volunteering. I raced with the CAT 5 group and did not come in last.

For the 4th of July weekend this year we went down to Nampa to hang out and celebrate several graduations. The celebration was at my Uncle John's house in Middleton. I decided to head out early on the third to ride as far as I could be for the rest of the family caught up to me. Part of my plan was to go up the old Winchester grade but cramping in the legs made this impossible. I ended up turning around and going back down to Highway 95. I rode till I was about 4 miles north of the gas station at the southern cutoff road into Winchester. I waited by the side of the road for my ride to come along. They went by not noticing me waving at them. I got back on the bike and rode to the gas station and caught a ride to the top of the Whitebird hill. I rode down the new grade and met the family at Hoot's Cafe.

Steve and I had a real good ride on the 4th around Lake Lowell by Nampa. I road the greenbelt trails in Nampa on the 5th. There were a lot of ducks on those trails.

I have had several rides up onto Moscow Mountain so far this summer. Jorge and I saw a moose on one of the rides. I also road up to and on the trail that Monica, Philip, and I worked on earlier in the summer. I really enjoy riding up there since the scenery and the trails have been awesome.

This coming week I will be going to Boise to compete in the Idaho Senior Games in the 5K time trial, 10K time trial, 20K road race, and 40K road race. I just thought that this would be an interesting thing to do before the semester starts back up.

I am really getting excited for the MS Ride that is being held on the 13th and 14th of September. If you would like to help out this worthy cause by donating money then click this link. Any little bit helps. Thanks.