Thanks, everyone!

20 folks made the hike up to Montague yesterday, far surpassing my attendance guesses. We'll have a more complete report later, including incriminating pictures...

did

Great Northern Ride this Sunday

Hey all -

I've been buggin' for a team ride up in my neck o' the woods just about from day one. This Sunday, July 15, I get my wish - start time is 11 AM from Montague Township Park! It's dumb near bicycle paradise up here - I can promise lots of nice country roads, great scenery, and minimal motorized traffic. I can also promise a few nice, long, steady hills (with matching downhills!) that are great training for Whitefish or Death Valley. Finally, I can promise an ice cream stop as we roll back into town, so stick a few bucks in your pocket!

I'm figuring 45 miles, with an option for 36. I'll have the usual maps and cue sheets available.

Now, since I'm sure EVERYONE on our team won't want to miss this, I've had a little mapping festival. Some of you folks out West might want to carpool.

Map from Grand Rapids

Map from Holland

Map from Cedar Springs

Map from Kalamazoo

Map from Chicago

Map from Dallas

Map from Denver

Map from Los Angeles

If anyone's got any questions, leave a comment (or ask your mentor to get in touch with me) and I'll do my best to answer. Thus far even the weather forecast looks decent!

See you soon!

Make money with water

We just received 100 cases of H2Ultra Fitness Water from our sponsor XS Energy Drink. Just like the energy drink (see the July 5 blog entry) the water is available for us to sell and make money for the Ride Team. Check out this link for more information on H2Ultra.

So here's the program. H2Ultra retails on their web site for $1.30 to $3.00 a bottle depending on how many cases you buy. We are planning on selling it at events for $1.00 a bottle. Team members can buy it for 50 cents per bottle when purchased in a case of 12. (That's $6.00) These are half liter bottles and the water is engineered for better fitness. These will sell fast at $1.00 at any outdoor summer event.

As with the XS Energy Drink let Tom or Mary Scheidel know if you would like some H2Ultra.

rollin' up north

Thanks to Derek for helping to make my vacation week awesome. Yesterday we met for a nice long ride here in the great north. Rolling out around 10:00am, we made our way from Montague up to Silver Lake Sand Dunes and back. Probably one of the most beautiful days of the year, and 59 more miles under the tires.

Our only disappointment was that the heavenly cinnamon rolls he promised me were all gone from the bakery in Silver Lake by the time we got there. "Shoulda been here earlier!" was the response from our new pal Kathy behind the counter. Great.

Derek also provided me an opportunity to watch the reluctant Master of Flat Changing swap out a bum tube around mile 31.

Also, in case you were wondering, a really good time to have trouble unclipping your shoes at a stop sign is WHEN YOU'RE TELLING A STORY ABOUT HOW YOU ONCE HAD TROUBLE UNCLIPPING YOUR SHOES AT A STOP SIGN. No worries, though...just a little dirt in the gloves...and my bruised ego.

Hope lots of you can make it for our ride next Sunday 7/15 up this way. What a great place to ride a bike.

New Sponsor on board

If you are on the Ride Team you probably received this information from your mentor. So this may be a repeat for some but it's also for our blog readers and supporters.

New JDRF Ride Team sponsor XS Energy has come through. Today we took delivery on 224 cases (12 cans per case) of XS Energy Drink. All XS drinks are sugar free, carb free and very low calorie. Follow this link for more product info.

Here’s the deal: Retail price for a case of XS is $24.00, plus $1.20 can deposit (in Michigan). We will be selling XS by the can at various bike events this summer for $2.00 a can. Ride Team members can purchase cases at $15.00, no deposit. You can drink them yourself or sell them at your events. 100% of all the money collected goes to the ride team. And by the way, it tastes a heck of a lot better than Red Bull.

XS Energy Drink Flavors
Black Cherry Cola
Root Beer Blast
Root Beer Blast –caffeine free
Tropical Blast
Tropical Blast –caffeine free
Cola Blast
Cranberry Grape
Cranberry Grape –caffeine free
Electric Lemon Blast
Cherry Blast
Citrus Blast
Tea-Berry Blast –non carbonated

Call or email Tom or Mary Scheidel for more info or to get some XS.

Happy Birthday Patty Bills

Look at that cake! Just the thing to top off a 44 mile ride.

What a Great Sunday!

I think I speak for everyone that had the pleasure to attend the training ride at the Clarks' house in Holland this afternoon....Mike and Linda, THANK YOU! Thanks so much for taking us on a beautiful ride and putting together a yummy meal that really hit the spot. I was thrilled to see so many people there--a real testament to the strength and dedication of this team. I feel so lucky to be part of it. See you soon!