props to tyler

Tyler is Dave O'Brien's son, standing next to me in the pic above. Tyler is 13 and loves to ride. Taking his bike away is the worst punishment his dad can come up with. Tyler jumped at any chance to ride last weekend. On Friday the crew above rode out 7.5 miles on the canyon fireroad. The rest were ready to turn back, but Tyler wanted to keep going. So, he and I came to a big steep Prefumo like paved climb. . . . I thought to myself, "Let's see what he's got. I bet he won't make it." He made it . . . no problem.

So, Saturday night, Hobbit and I took Tyler out for a night ride with lights around 9:30. (Unfortunately there are no pics of this ride.) We took Tyler up one of the long, long climbs that we had come down earlier morning. Honestly, Hobbit and I were having a tough time staying on his wheel. He was like a billy goat out there. No clips. Heavy bike. Didn't matter. He was solid. We were in shock!

How are you doing, Tyler?

Great!

You ready to stop for a break.

No, I'm good.

What do you think?

I think I love it. I want to do this again!

Keep your eye on Tyler. He's got some very natural talent at age 13. Let's take Tyler out with us again soon. . . maybe our next outing to MDO when Tyler gets out of school this Summer.

(Word on the street is that there may be a few other young men out there who want to ride . . . especially at night!)

Tyler, you da man! Can't wait to ride with you again!

I stopped, I peeed, the phone rang

Been meaning to tell this Sea Otter story for awhile. . . .

Because of time constraints, I decided to drive up to Monterey on my race day. The day before, as per everyone's advice, I started hydrating. . . . ALOT! Then I kept drinking up all Friday morning as we rolled out of the house around 9:30 or so.

By San Miguel, I had to go so bad. You know, the kind that starts to hurt! Tried to make it to King City, but no go, so I pulled off some country exit. Barely made it out of the car. . . didn't make it to the nearby bush. . . and let her rip. My kids were cracking up . . . as I went and went and went.

King City stop at Starbucks. . . . I go and go again.

Still hydrating.

We get off Highway 1 and start heading toward Laguna Seca. . . . . I'm trying to make it, but I can't and am forced to pull over on the side of the road to go again. . . . literally just a few miles from the race course.

This time the highway is busy! So I'm trying to hide, but I have to go so bad that I don't really care. Cars are cruising by. Lots of cars!

My kids are really laughing this time!

I get back in the car and 30 seconds later . . . Susie's phone rings. Its a gal from our church and school who was on her way to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. (A school fieldtrip that Susie and my kids had given up to come watch me race!) "Was that you guys I just saw pulled over on the side of the road? Was that Tim by the side of the car? My kids said, 'That's Tim. He's peeing!' I said, 'No! He's praying!'"

What are the chances? I had to fess up. . .

Later I was informed that I might have been charged or even arrested for indecent exposure. Is that true, Hobbit?

I can just see the headline. . . ."SLO Pastor arrested for indecent exposure on his way to bike race."

When you've got to go, you've got to go. Next time, I'll carry a bottle. . . ..

Thanks, Jens . . . Thanks, Torque

Leading up to Sea Otter, I had virtually no road experience, but wanted to make some longer deposits in preparation. Jens was kind enough to loan me his classic titanium Eddie Merck for about 8 weeks.

This bike would cause people to stop and stare when it was parked outside of Starbucks. I had no clue! I just rode, but it provide a nice smooth forgiving ride for this beginning hack. Though it was time to give it back, I was hooked and was jonesing to get me my own road bike.

So. . . Torque (formerly Sarg, formerly the Witch, always my brother) was kind enough to give me a bro steal of a deal on his Scattante, after he recently got a new bike.

I've made it my own by upgrading the pedals and adding an inexpensive HR monitor computer (future post!) Torque and I have virtually the exact same frames, so it fits great. Last week's 62 and 50 mile rides were a great break-in. The front end seems a bit stiffer than the Eddie Merck on the long rides, but I think I'll get used to it.

I just wanted to say thanks to both Jens and Torque. Thanks for reeling me in, getting me hooked and then supporting the healthy habit.