Archive for August, 2008

Day 5 – It is done!

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

Day 5

Well, actually, as I write this, it’s actually day 8 – but that’s beside the point. Due to popular demand, or at least my brother asking for it, I’ll finish my blog of the ride.

 

The night of Day 4 we stayed at the school where KTFY is located. The church made us supper (some great pasta salad). The people of the

Magic Valley are so wonderful and hospitable.

Eastside Baptist Church gave us lunch on Day 4; they also sent their bus to help transport us on Day 5; and of course the Hagerman Valley Water Company were amazing hosts as well.

 

So, Day 5 we wished we had kept riding Day 4. We had crossed the big bridge in

Twin Falls and rode the highway to Shoshone in a terrible head wind. In Shoshone we turned east – which if we HAD kept riding we would have had a beautiful tail wind which would have just pushed us down the road. Unfortunately, we called it a night. We should have kept riding. The next day we made that turn and then got HIT by another HEAD/SIDE wind! Oh it was not fun!

 

Craig got on and rode on day 5 – he had a good time!

 

As we neared the end of the ride, things got more fun – at least for me. I got paced pretty quickly on, and rode by myself for quite a while. But, after our “lunch” stop (melon, energy bars, etc.) I caught up and rode with some of the faster guys – and ended up getting in front of some of the front riders. Only Daniel, Jeff #1, and Cowboy were in front of me. I got in front of Armand and Darren. This was a great accomplishment!

 

We stopped on the side of the road and waited for the bus to show up – Daniel was switching to the tandem to ride with his whole family (wife and unborn son); and Craig was getting off the bike. We got in a pace line and I was in the front. It was the last 5 miles or so until we were to regroup with the whole group in Bellville. I didn’t want them to leave me, so I kept pushing, afraid I would get passed.

 

The faster riders were all riding with me – and I found out later they were tired and wondering why we were pushing that hard. In fact, a couple of guys said it sounded like a Lamaze class in the back of people panting trying to keep going.

 

We regrouped at a gas station in Bellville and we put Lisa in the front to lead us to the church where we were ending. We all gave Lisa a ton of respect for her great riding and growth.

 

It was a great feeling to ride in together and finish this ride. Sore tails; sore legs; sore pretty much everything…. It was amazing!

 

And, the best part is money is still coming in for Genesis World Mission. Read Steve’s response to one of my earlier posts telling Genesis’ response to this ride.

 

And again, I encourage you…. Do something crazy. Take a challenge. Do something that pushes you into something you never thought you could do. I’ve never been a physically fit person, but I’ve done it – two years in a row……..

 

And Sunday – I rode

Bogus Basin again. When I started riding last year, it took me 5+ hours to climb

Bogus Basin. July 4 this year it took me 2 hours 45 minutes. Sunday it took me about 1 hour 42 minutes.  If I can do it, you can do it!

 

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Day 3 – Day 4

Friday, August 22nd, 2008

Well, we just finished day 3. I’m dead tired. We’ve eaten. We’ve met some great people. I’m dead tired. I must sleep. Here’s my blog posting from last night:

I felt great today. Got on the bike and RODE! Daniel – crazy biker guy – took off, and I stayed with him. Great feeling. We rode out of

Bruneau Dunes State Park and hit it up

Idaho 78. We stayed ahead of the crazy biker guys for a while…. And then they caught up and we formed a pace line (for the non-biker that’s the line you see of bikers all riding together with about 6” between tires – it’s great for working together, helps you go faster, work less, etc, etc).

 

The leaders shifted a couple times – and then Cowboy took the lead – and I was behind him. I’m feeling good. We’re riding for a while – and I’m feeling great – I’m riding with the big guys. And then, I decide, I should take pictures and video of this! So, I grab my camera – and at that moment, my brother – who is near the back at this point with Daniel – decide it’s time to turn up the heat.

 

They nail it – and I’m not in a position to sprint – I’ve got a camera in one hand… And they leave me in the dust. And I’m dead. And I chased them for the rest of the day.

 

Today was the day of pain. Cowboy’s been hurting – he’s not used to riding multiple days. Armand’s knee was hurting today in the morning. My tendon under my left knee started hurting last night. It’s all good.

 

The crazy boys missed one turn today. They rode a few extra miles – missed part of the Kings Hill area – the big climb. They ended up at a dead end by I84. I came up to the turn – which I recognized from last year because I had to borrow a nice person’s house to use the restroom – and called Craig asking if we were to turn – and told him to call Jack to make sure the fast guys had turned.

 

After that climb Daniel turned back and put the entire Lewis family on the tandem and rode with them the rest of the way in (the whole family being his wife Sarah and his son – who Sarah is carrying with her everywhere until hopefully December when he’ll be born!).

 

We stayed tonight at some wonderful people’s home. They supply water to KTSY and KTFY – they bottle spring water here. They also have a fish farm. They grilled trout, hamburgers, veggie burgers, had corn on the cob, baked potatoes, chips, salad, watermelon and it was AMAZING!

 

We’re ready to hit the road tomorrow. Hopefully the pain will be a little lessened and we’ll have a great day.  We’re supposed to see the Twin Falls CBS station tomorrow – and head to Shoshone!

 

Oh yeah – totals – my average today was about 16.1 mph; total mileage was about 58 miles.

 

 

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Bridge the Gap – Day 1 & 2

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008

2008 Bridge the Gap Ride.

 

Days 1 & 2

I’m sitting here in Bruneau Dunes end of day 2. We’ve ridden about 72-74 miles each day.

 

Let me introduce you to the team:

Support Staff:

Craig Nowaski – Ride organizer; RV driver; guy I pick on, etc. He was going to ride but has had some leg problems – and we ended up really needing him driving yesterday!

 

Steven and the twins Nowaski – These are our mascots. They are Craig’s kids who are along for the ride.

 

Linda Nowaski – cook extraordinaire – Craig’s daughter.

 

Jack Witt – Refreshment bus driver. Jack got called Sunday afternoon after our other driver bailed. He has been invaluable due to his knowledge of back roads in

Idaho, and he has the ability to somehow appear with water and Gatorade at just the right time.

 

Steven from Dirt Dart – okay, so he’s not really on the ride, but he came out yesterday to tune up the bikes. He’s such an amazing guy. Use him for any bike repair needs you might have. He trued up almost all the tires – they were messed up from being shipped, driven in a truck, and beaten on chip seal roads. He also adjusted derailers, shifters, and on and on. A great guy and incredibly helpful.

 

Riders:

Brian Yeager – that’s me. One of the people who initially developed this crazy idea last year.

 

Jerry Woods – morning show co-host at KTSY – he hasn’t been able to ride much this summer in training. He took today off and will be back with us tonight.

 

Jeff Yeager – my brother from

California. He’s become a crazy biker this summer after I started telling him about riding. He’s quite strong physically – works at a camp/retreat center in

Yosemite and loves the outdoors.

 

Jeff O’Fill – Jeff used to work for Jeff Yeager. We call Jeff O’Fill Jeff #2 or Cowboy. He’s from

Tennessee and came out on Jeff #1’s invitation. Cowboy calls Jeff #1 Papa – and they are constantly picking on each other.

 

Darren Brimmer – He’s Jeff O’Fill’s riding buddy from

Tennessee. Jeff O’Fill drug him out here. They both flew in Saturday night.

 

Armand Devoir – Armand is a buddy of mine from college. He came through

Idaho and I invited him to come on the ride. He lives in

Texas and drove out and got in Friday afternoon.

 

Daniel Lewis – Daniel is the best biker of the group. He’s a crazy biker who can kill anyone of this group. He is also infinitely patient with weak riders.

 

Sarah Lewis – Daniel’s wife. She’s pregnant and due December. She’s a great rider – but the pregnancy is starting to slow her down.

 

Jerry Lewis – Daniel’s dad. He’s just gotten into biking this summer. He and Sarah are taking turns driving the sag wagon behind the riders.

 

Lisa – Lisa’s a KTFY listener from Jerome. She started riding this year; heard about the ride and thought it would be fun.

 

Day 1:

We took off kinda late from the station. Getting Gatorade and ice and water and supplies packed and etc, etc, etc. We hit the road close to – which means it was HOT by the end of the day – I think it was 102 degrees or so.

 

We had some great excitement as a couple different groups headed out in different directions and made some new routes. Jerry and I got lost – which was made more exciting by the spotty cell phone service near

Adrian.

 

Last night we stayed and Gibbons Hot Springs. Showers were never so welcome.

 

Day 2:

Today we left by or so. We rode in the cool of the morning and made great time. The last riders – myself, Sarah & Daniel, and Lisa came in at about .

 

The crazy boys (Jeff 1, Jeff 2, Darren, and Armand) missed lunch – but Jack saved them. They actually thought they rode better with no lunch!

 

Tomorrow morning we head to Hagerman.

 

Random Thoughts:

One of the fun things about this ride is the variety of riders. It’s not a big ride (yet), but it’s fun. Jerry Lewis rides at a much more sedate pace. Lisa is pushing herself and is doing amazing. She’s on a commuter bike – heavier, etc – and is just doing awesome and has a great attitude.

 

Then there are the crazy boys – the 4 – who are trying to kill each other. Daniel has been riding tandem with Craig N today as well as Sarah; he’s ridden with Jerry L. I rode with Jerry L and Lisa today – it’s no fun to ride by yourself, so I hung out in the back. It’s just more fun.

 

 

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