Sunday, May 31, 2009

Wednesday Mountain Bikin'

OK, so if you're interested and available, we seem to have a group forming to ride this Wednesday (June 3) at Owasippe Scout Reservation north of Twin Lake. Owasippe's got some really nice trails, mostly rolly singletrack with a few short steep hills. It's also absolutely gorgeous back in the woods in there.

So, details:

Trails are open from 10 am until 4 pm. There are two loops, which start together; each is around 11 miles long. I figure allowing about 2 hours to do either of the loops. They both finish back at the parking lot, so you've got an easy option to do one and call it a day, or just come and do the "afternoon" loop, or do both. Ya can't go wrong with any option!

If you want to start off right away in the morning, be there by 10.

If you're there at noon, you'll be there in time to do the afternoon loop (which will be whatever loop we didn't do in the morning).

Whatever you do, though, bring somma yer hard-earned greenbacks - Owasippe (like most organized, maintained trails in the area) has a $6 daily pass, or a $60 annual pass. Bring some cashola!

BRING BUG SPRAY!!!! The mosquitos are practically carrying off small children this year, and we can't always outrun them!

Also bring water n' food, especially if you're gonna do two loops. There's a bathroom there, but there's nowhere to get any eats.

Owasippe's easy to get to - take US 31 North from Muskegon, and take the Russell Road exit. Drive about 8 miles north on Russell Road, and the parking lot's on your right just before the road curves to the right. Here's a map:


Shoot me an email (diddidit@gmail.com) if you want more info...

Friday, May 29, 2009

TEAM RIDE THIS SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAAAAYYYYY!

Hey Team! Don't miss another chance to ride the sweet roads of West Michigan w/ the Coolest Team Ever this Sunday! Here's the scoop:



Where - Johnson Park. 2600 Wilson Ave, Walker, Mich 49534. Look for us in the 2nd parking area.

When - Meet @ 2:00 for a flat tire changing seminar. We roll @ 2:30 sharp.

What - 29 and 38 mile routes on quiet country 2 lane roads. A tad "roll-y" at first but not too gruesome (and just what we all need to get ready for VT and DV!!!)

What else - Expect the typical over-the-top Team Bash after the ride. Feel free to bring chairs, blankets, coolers and other picnic-y stuff as well as some munchies to share!

I hope to see all of you there!

Coach Mike

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Killington Elevation

The elevation profile for the Vermont ride is now available on the JDRF Ride site. I don't know about you...but that big climb at the end looks like a ball and a half of fun! Can't wait!!

Documentary Update

"More Than 100 Miles: Riding to Cure Diabetes" will be shown at the Muskegon Film Festival this Saturday, May 30. It is part of Documentary Session #2 which runs from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Starboard Theatre. That's one of the two screening rooms inside the Harbor Theatre. For more information and directions go to their web site www.muskegonfilmfestival.com. There is also a festival beer garden next to the theatre where I hear you can meet the director. :)

The film also won an award in the Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts and will be shown multiple times throughout Festival weekend. Dates are June 5, 6 & 7 and the screening location is the Grand Rapids Art Museum. More info on their website www.festivalgr.org.

Unfortunately we did not make it into the Waterfront Film Festival. However, the documentary is now being entered in some out of state festivals. We will be posting the results as they come in.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

FIT4D SEMINAR COMING UP!

Hey all...you hopefully received an e-mail from Tim St. Clair recently about a free webinar from the Fit4D folks covering "riding w/ diabetes". It's this Thursday and you will need to register if you wanna be able to "attend".

In one way or another....everyone on this Team "rides w/ diabetes", y'know? Whether it's you or a friend / team mate / famiily member that has to actually deal w/ Type One's challenges....the more the rest of understand what our homies are faced with the better we'll be at watching each other's backs as we ride together.

And that, my friends sounds like "Team" to me!

The link to sign up is https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/207613534

I hope I have the pleasure of riding w/ a great many of you this Sunday. We roll from Johnson Park in GR @ 2:00pm!

Thanks again and again for all you've done and all that you've decided to do. You rock!

MC

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

100 Grand

So far, the following (16!!!) people are on the list for the 100 Grand on Saturday, June 6:

Doug Singleton, Brad Spooner, did, Cindy, Heather A-B & Brian, Herb & Brenda, Cathy T/P, Linda & Scott Poeder, Katie & Steve, Linda Clark, Nathen, and Nicole.

Details to come soon about meeting up, start time, etc. Right now, buzz is that a lot of people are planning on doing the Little More Than a Metric Century (~65 miles), which means we must start before 9:00 a.m. (You don't have to do that length...105, 35 and 17 mile routes will be available too.)

If I missed you, please let me know--and if you haven't signed up but want to--let me know by this Friday, please. Thanks!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Memorial Day ride

Hey y'all...some folks are planning to meet at Velo City at 9:00am on Memorial Day morning for a ride. Route and details to come, but c'mon out and join us before your afternoon plans if you like!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

CANNONDALE DEMO DAY SUNDAY!

I've noticed a certain amount of mountainbike talk amongst various members of the Team lately.....which is kinda cool. There's an opportunity this Sunday to try a buncha cool Cannondale bikes (mountain AND road!) on the sweet trails and good roads near Cannonsburg Ski Area. The C-Dale Demo Truck will be there from noon 'til at least 5:00 and you can demo crazy-expensive bikes to your little heart's content!

Also - the local C-Dale rep, Jason Edinger, will be there. He's been a HUGE supporter of our team for years noiw si if you go be sure to introduce yourself and thank him! (Especially if you're riding a C-Dale that he helped you get!)

I'll be there by mid-afternoon......hope I see ya!

MC

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

BULLETIN BULLETIN BULLETIN

We had to do a bit of shifting around of locations for our next ride, scheduled for Sunday 5/31. We’ll now meet for a 2:00pm roll-out at Johnson Park, 2600 Wilson Avenue, Walker. We'll plan on a pot luck picnic of sorts in the park afterward, so bring something along if you like. Think we can break our own attendance record?

OK, now scroll down and vote for a t-shirt entry!

Team T-shirt - Vote for your pick!

Below are the entries for the 2009 JDRF West Michigan Ride to Cure Diabetes team t-shirt.

Please use the Poll on the bar to the right to cast your vote. The poll will close on June 1st at 12 noon.

Note: background color would be t-shirt color choice of designer. T-shirt color & ink colors could change in order to reduce cost to produce winning entry.

Click on the images to see larger versions!

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Monday, May 18, 2009

Sunday's Team Ride


Sunday was a beautiful day to ride. And to prove it there are photos posted on our Google Group photo site. Click here to take a look.

A Great Training Resource!

My co-hort in Nebraska is David Ertl. He's been a JDRF coach for just about forever and runs a full-time Coaching and Training service out there and online. It'd be safe to say that he's a bit more "official" than I tend to be when it comes to scientific training techniques, nutrition and other topics.

Check out the series of articles he's published on his website at www.CyclesportCoaching.com/TrainingArticles.html and see if there's anything there you might be able to use.

Remember - be sure to contact Nicole or myself if there is anything we can do for you!

Ride on and I hope to see you on the 31st!

Mike

Nice Ride Yesterday!

Wow!

The "official" Head count isn't in as yet but Lin and I came up w/ 34 names last night in an attempt to list all the riders that joned us @ Tom Miller's castle (complete w/ a moat!) yesterday. A beautiful day, a great group and a major pile o/ burgers, dawgs, beans, veggies, cookies and such afterwards!

'Twas a great day to be a part of the West Michigan JDRF Team!

The next ride is coming up on 5/31. Watch your inbox for an e-mail w/ details as to when and where - plus stuff about signing up for the 100 Grand (to ride), the Holland Hundred (to work and then maybe ride) and an update on the Killington bus status.

Thanks again to everyone that came out. For those of you that couldn't make it - we missed you!

Ride on!

MC

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

friday, Friday, FRIDAY!

Anyone up for a ride from the Spring Lake/Grand Haven area this Friday morning? We're figuring on something longish, maybe 50 or more, with a stop at our favorite bike shop at the halfway point. Post in the comments if you're interested; I'll update with more concrete information as we get more people signed up. Right now it looks like it'll be great weather - partly sunny, currently no rain in the forecast.

Friday, May 1, 2009

GARAGE SALE THIS WEEKEND!

Hey, all you Lakeshore people!

Some of our awesome teammates are holding a JDRF West Michigan Ride Team benefit garage sale this weekend in Norton Shores. Come on out May 2-3 at Churchill School to find some treasures and support fundraising efforts of Amy, Melanie, and Scott (if the girls decide to share with him).

Contact Amy or Mel with any questions!