Local Bike Stores...also known as LBS

There are many 'families' out in the world, our real families, our work families, church families...you get the idea, right?  In the cycling world, there are cycling families, and just like nearly any family, the cycling family has it's share of black sheep.  For the most part however, this family is pretty tight, and they take care of one another...like most families.  

When we are out riding our bikes, we wave at one another and say "hello" or stop to ask is someone who is fixing a flat or making a quick mechanical repair, if they need any help...except for the roadies, those guys are usually too focused to even acknowledge that anyone else has even entered into their space.  I kid, I kid.  I love the roadies...I'm becoming one of them now.  Honestly though, they are those black sheep I was talking about.  Just kidding...don't get your spandex in a wad now...I love you all...you are part of a huge family, that I too am part of.  

An integral part of the cycling family is one's Local Bike Store...or LBS.  You see, without support from a LBS, many of us would be in serious trouble.  There are a number of cyclists, like myself, who have relatively strong mechanical aptitudes, and are able to do a great deal of work on their own bikes.  Heck...I have built my race bike four times now.  I better have learned a little something about bike mechanics huh?

There are those times however, when problems arise that require true expertise.  The kind of expertise that only a trained, experienced bike mechanic can provide.  These guys spend their days standing, building and fixing bicycles in the LBS.  This is where they practice their art...and what an art it is!  

These guys, often known simply as Wrenches, are at times, life-savers.  On more than one occasion, I have wheeled my bike into my LBS, tail between my legs, and asked them to fix something that I screwed up while practicing on my own.  Any Wrench worth his weight, will generally show you how to do it the right way...sometimes just so he wont have to fix it again, and sometimes because he truly wants you to learn so that when the bike breaks out on the trail or road, you stand a better chance getting home on your own power.  Either way...the bike owner can learn a valuable lesson.

Taking a bike into your LBS however,  can be painful for many bike owners, as some shops are extremely busy when it comes to repairs.  A bike owner can find themselves without their bike for days, if the shop is back-logged with repairs.  This is where creating a relationship with your LBS can really pay off.  Remember...you are all part of one big family.

I have been blessed to have found a great LBS...Swiss American Bikes.  Swiss American Bikes has been in business here in Phoenix since the early seventies, and are well known throughout the Phoenix cycling community.  The staff at Swiss has saved me many times, by being willing to take a look at my bike right there and then...which is something that many bike shops will not do.

Yesterday was a perfect example.  With my race fast approaching, I was going through my bike, making sure everything was clean and mechanically sound.  I had made some minor adjustments, and was taking it for a quick spin in the street, when I heard it.  You know, that noise that wasn't there on the last ride, and that grinding feeling that tells you something is rubbing on something else, that shouldn't be getting rubbed on?  

Let me tell you, that is not what you want to experience from your highly tuned race bike, just days prior to a race!  I grabbed my iPhone and rudely commanded Siri to call Swiss American Bikes.  Within seconds the call had been placed...I felt bad for being so stern with Siri, but had no time to apologize to an electronic device.  I could only hope that she would not be offended, and take it out on me sometime in the future. 

Sorry Siri

The call went through, and the owner Gary answered the phone.  My first words were "Hey Gary, its John...again.  Sorry to bother you, but I have a big problem."  Gary is aware that I am racing on Saturday, and replied "No worries, bring it in and I'll throw it up on the rack and check it out."  Now that's what you want to hear from a member of your family...that they are more than willing to help you out, right now.

The bike was fixed, and I was charged some ridiculous amount of money...ridiculously small that is!  Thanks Swiss American Bikes, you saved the day...again!

A Little Change of Plans...

If you have been following me via my blog or my Facebook pages, you are well aware that my plan was to build a mountain bike that was light enough, and fast enough to keep pace with a pack of road bikes.  Additionally, I would need to be able to make some relatively quick component changes that would allow me to race the bike off road as well...sort of like a Transformers bike, and possibly just as expensive.

The project was going to be somewhat cost prohibitive, therefore I was trying to secure corporate sponsorship to help offset the cost.  Unfortunately, I was unable to secure any assistance, and have elected to purchase a road bike instead, for the Ride 430 Challenge in October 2013. I recently blogged about my decision not to sell my replacement mountain bike frame from Ellsworth, so I thought it appropriate to share with you what I will be riding on the road.

I found the perfect bike for me at my local bike shop, Swiss American Bikes...a 2013 Trek Domane (pronounced Doh-mahn-ee).  I've always wanted to use phonetic spelling in one of my blogs...and now I have!  Any way...the Domane is new to the Trek line, and was designed to provide both comfort and performance on rough roads such as the Pave' in Flanders and Robaix, within the Tour de France.  In fact, pro rider Fabian Cancellera rode the Domane in the 2012 Tour.

The bike is the first of its kind, boasting a seat tube that is completely separate from the top tube and seat stays.  There is a pivot point where the three sections of the bike intersect, which allows the seat tube to move slightly when riding on rough surfaces.  What does all that mean?  It means a more comfortable ride for an old guy like me who has three damaged vertebrae.

Check out a video explaining the technology that will help my back, here.

Trek's Iso-Speed decoupler system

I am excited to get this bike on the road and begin training for the challenge that lay ahead.  First however, I need to do well in my Dawn to Dusk Race, and hopefully achieve both of my goals...ride 6 laps for a total of 96 miles, and raise at least $1000 for injured U.S. Marines and their families.

If you haven't pledged your financial support yet for my mountain bike race, there is still time.  You have a number of options to do so.  If you have already reached into your pocket and sacrificed some of your hard earned cash, to help those who have sacrificed for us...then I thank you!

Haste makes...

You know the saying, right?  Come on now, say it out loud...Haste Makes Waste.  Yes it does.  I am that guy...you know, the one who always comes up short when I am hurried.  By short I mean that I forget something...everytime!

You would think that after 48 years of existence, I would have that whole thing figured out by now, huh?  Well, that's just not the case.  I consider myself a fairly smart guy, but apparently I am not smart enough to figure out how to fix this lifelong problem.  I hate being late...for a couple reasons.  First, I hate to make others wait on me...it's just plain rude.  I also hate being late because when I am late, more often than not, I have had to hurry...just to get somewhere late.  As I have clearly illustrated, when I'm late, I forget stuff.

Today was no different.

Three days ago, when I loaded up my car with the things I just had to have for a 48-hour shift at work, I was unaware that 48-hours later, I would be rushing home to get ready for a mountain bike ride with two of my fellow firefighters.

That morning, I packed my food, my clothes, my backpack, my mountain bike, my road bike, my work-stand, my indoor trainer, my tool box, my cycling cleats, and a couple of workout towels...WOW!  You'd think I was heading out for a two week vacation!  Nope...just another 48-hour tour at the fire station.  

I know what you are thinking.  You are asking yourself (maybe even some of you, aloud) what's with the bikes, and all that other junk?  So here goes...I took my mountain bike, my work-stand, and my tools so that I could do a little preventative maintenance and cleaning on the mountain bike.  I took my road bike, trainer, shoes, and towels because I was planning to get in some 'miles' on the trainer at some point during my tour.  Alright, are we all on the same page now?  Good.

As I pulled into the parking lot at the fire station, I noticed mountain bikes securely loaded onto bike racks, on two of my firefighting brothers' vehicles.  As I began the daunting task of unloading all the junk, I heard one of the guys say "Oh cool, Jim got in touch with you about riding Monday morning."

Huh?

Apparently, the bewildered look on my face did all the talking, as Dan lowered his head and mumbled something while he sulked into the station...acting as though he had let a cat out of the bag that wasn't supposed to be let out.  Hmmm....was I being cast out?  What kind of underhanded, un-brotherly-like....then I heard Jim say, as he walked up behind me, "Oh crap, I was supposed to call you yesterday...good thing Dan did."  Okay, they weren't casting me out...they were just being their unorganized, unreliable selves.  Don't tell them I said that!

Well...48-hours and thirty-something calls later, it was time to zip home, drop of the road bike, shove some calories down my gullet, pull on some riding gear, and load up my helmet, mountain shoes, water bottle, and Camelbak hydration pack.  This process was supposed to happen quickly, as Dan and Jim were driving straight from work to the trail, and I didn't want to make them wait on me too long.  Remember that whole rude thing we talked about?  Oh yeah, and that whole forgetting stuff issue?

Today would prove to be no different than most other times in my life when I was making haste.  About fifteen minutes into my drive, I realized that I had forgotten my Camelbak pack.  No big deal right?  I had taken a bottle of water that I carried on my bike, so I'd be fine...right?  Not so much.

You see, I not only carry water in my Camelbak, I also carry an extra tube, a chain link, a multi-tool, a small first aid kit, and CO2...which is used in place of a pump, to inflate a flat tire.  What this meant was that I would be unprepared for an emergency...me...someone who makes a living being prepared for emergencies.  Haste.

Once I realized this I quickly weighed the outcome of two choices...turn around or press on.  I decided to press on, as their were others there waiting for me, and I was already running late.  I phoned Jim to inform him of my impending tardiness, and suggested that he and Dan take a lap prior to me arriving, and that I would meet up with them as they came in from their first lap.  The plan had been to ride two laps (7.5 miles each)...but I was actually going to take in a third, so I could get in the extra miles.  As the words left my mouth, I realized I had made a mistake.  If they elected to start before I got there, then I would not be able to take my third lap, because I would be by myself...without any emergency supplies.  Unable to pull those words back into my mouth, I simply said "Have a good ride" in response to Jim agreeing that it would be a good idea to get started without me.

As is turned out, I arrived just a few minutes after they left on their first lap.  It would take them nearly 40 minutes to complete, so I took my time getting prepped, then rode along the Tempe Town Lake, warming up my old, tired body.  Almost like clockwork, they arrived, just shy of 40 minutes.  Within moments, we were on the trail, pedaling away.  

About 35 minutes later, we returned.  I felt as though I had just warmed up, and was getting into my groove...then it was over.  Our return marked the end of Jim and Dan's second lap, while I had only turned a single, 7.5 mile lap.  I'm not bragging, but it felt as though I had just ridden my bike around the block.  My training was obviously working, but I knew that I would not be heading out for another lap due to my circumstances...resulting from my haste.

When asked, I quickly explained why I would not be heading out for another lap (actually two), and immediately, Dan said "Hey, I'll go another with you."  That was all I needed to hear.  At least I would be able to get in 15-miles rather than 7.5...even if my plan of 22.5 was a bust.  

So while haste certainly can make for waste...in this case, it wasn't a complete waste...only a partial waste of time.  You see, the area we were riding (Papago Park) is nearly an hour away from my home.  If I am going to drive that far to ride, I want to get in more than just 15 miles.

Thanks for reading, and remember...please feel to leave a comment below.  It makes me feel good to know that people are actually reading this.

Until next time...get out and ride a bike!

Reality Check

As a Sports Performance Coach, I have had the opportunity to work with some very gifted young athletes over the years.  It is always great to see the developmental changes that occur as a result of hard work and sacrifice, both physical and mental.  I have witnessed high school students 'come out of their shell' as they begin to realize the fruit of their labors.  Many of the young athletes I have worked with over the years have come to me with low self esteem, and a very low level of confidence.  I can honestly say that every one of them left confident that they would be able to excel in their chosen sport...it's simply a part of training, and realizing one's goals.

I too have experienced this feeling through rigorous training...the feeling that I am getting stronger, faster, and more powerful.  Improving one's confidence is beneficial for everyone, but for an athlete...it is imperative for success.

Yesterday I took the new bike out for it's first ride.  I was both excited and anxious about getting this bike back on the trail, having broken three frames already.  I decided the best place to put this new machine to the test would be the Pemberton Trail...home to the Dawn to Dusk Endurance Mountain Bike Race that I will be competing on December 1st.  My plan was to ride two loops...roughly 32-miles. 

I am feeling strong, and I know I am on track to tackle 10-hours of riding come December 1st...confident that I will be able to achieve my goal of six laps, for a total of roughly 96-miles.  My bike looks great, and it weighs in at 22-pounds...a lean, mean, mountain bike machine!  

As I was driving out to the McDowell Mountain Regional Park, I was thinking of my upcoming race, and what I have done to prepare for it.  I also thought about why I was riding...who it was truly honoring, and the sacrifices they have made for our country.  During my 1-hour drive, my confidence level continued to improve, and by the time I arrived at the trail, I was rarin' to go!  As I pulled my bike down from the roof rack, I noticed just how light it was...another confidence builder.  I suited up, and headed out on the trail feeling like I could take on the world.  Thoughts of the three previous frames that had broken, were non-existent...all I was thinking about was just how fast and nimble my new bike was.

I completed my first lap (16 miles) and felt great.  What a difference between my two bikes.  I was noticeably less fatigued than I usually am when riding my other bike.  You see, my other bike is a full suspension mountain bike...which means it is nice and cushy on my tushy!  It's a great bike, but because it has both front and rear suspension, it is considerably heavier.  It is also made from aluminum rather than carbon.  Like I said, it's a great bike, and I feel blessed to have two amazing bikes, but my race bike is just more efficient, therefore I use less energy for a given amount of riding.  Another confidence builder.

I quickly downed some legal supplements, ergogenic aids...whatever you want to call them.  No doping for me...just legal, evidence-based products that help to keep me pedaling!  I set out on my second lap, feeling great.  I quickly noticed that I was averaging a faster pace than I did on my first lap!  More confidence.  My second lap seemed to be over very quickly.  As I rolled back into the parking lot, I hit the LAP button on my computer, and was surprised to see that my second lap was faster than my first lap!  My training, coupled with the efficiency of my new bike, was paying off big!  

Aside from noticing that I was riding faster, I also noticed an older couple unloading two hybrid bikes from the pack of a pickup truck.  My initial thought was that they would be riding on the roads that meandered throughout the McDowell Mountain Park.  As I was getting my bike loaded up, and putting my gear away, I heard the familiar sound of tires on gravel.  I turned to look, and saw that the man was riding up to me.  He stopped and asked if I had any tools with me, as he needed to tighten the stem on his bike.  As he worked to get his bike repaired, he mentioned that he would hate to get caught "way back, out there on the trail"...insert the sound of a record being scratched right here.  I was unable to hide my disbelief as I blurted out "What!?"  "You are riding those bikes on this trail?"  He looked up from his work, and said "Of course, where did you think we were riding?"  I asked him if he had ridden this trail before, and his response was "Yes, a few times...I love how fast you can get going coming back down the hill on the north side!" 

A typical hybrid bike...

my bike

Alright, let me paint the picture here a little better.  Not only were these folks in their mid-sixties (don't get me wrong here...I'm not saying that they are too old to ride the trails), they were not in very good shape.  Both of them were significantly overweight, and they both only had one small water bottle each...oh yeah...and the guy had a Canadian accent, which means that they were probably not acclimated to our 'warm' weather.  Now remember, this is a 16-mile loop!  

My Canadian friend did his best to fix his bike, but the stem was still a little loose.  He shrugged it off and stated "It'll be fine, it's not that long of a ride anyway."  I stood there, dressed in Spandex, looking at this guy in corduroy shorts, a golf shirt, and tennis shoes, who was about to go out and casually ride the same 16-mile loop that just finished...on a bike that is made to ride on nicely maintained asphalt or gravel roads...and his wife was doing it too!  I was speechless, as he spoke.  I tried to wish him a fun, safe ride...but I'm sure my words got jumbled, as I noticed him tilt his head sideways slightly as if he was saying to himself "Strange American."  He and his wife rolled off together, calmly attacking the trail.

My confidence faded.

So what is the moral to this story?  I'm still trying to figure that out.  If you have some ideas for me, please leave me a comment at the bottom of this page.  I'll be here...trying to build my confidence back up.

The Cave Creek Bicycle Festival

Yesterday I raced...OK, maybe RODE is a better way to describe what I did...in the 2012 Cave Creek Bicycle Festival 25-Mile Mountain Bike Race.  While I would like to think that I raced...I finished 38-minutes behind the winner of the race.  So...with that little tidbit of information in mind, it makes more sense to describe what I did, as riding rather than racing!

Cave Creek, Arizona is a relatively small town located just north of Scottsdale.  It is a major tourist attraction due to it's eclectic shops and it's western heritage.  I have been visiting the Town of Cave Creek since my childhood, and have always thought it was a great little town.  Cave Creek is also the home to my favorite wine bar...Brix Wine Spot, and Brix is also where I met Josh, whom I rode with yesterday in the race.  Bryan, the owner of Brix, has also committed to ride in the 2013 Ride 430 Challenge, so he I and will be tackling the challenge together next year as rookies.  

Alright, enough shameless plugging of a great wine bar, owned by great people, and full of great customers (Brix family)!

I wasn't sure I would even be racing...riding...due to the weather.  You see, winter finally arrived here in the Phoenix area, and it didn't mess around.  Cold temperatures and rain were welcomed however, they threatened my participation in the race...I don't particularly care for riding in the rain.  I will be riding on December 1st, come rain or shine.  It's the least I can do.  Those brave men and women of the US Marine Corps are willing to put their lives on the line for you and I 24-7-365.  The least I can do is ride in the rain for 10 hours to raise some much need financial support!

The forecast was calling for rain all night long on Friday, and not letting up until 0600 hours Saturday morning...just three hours prior to the start of the race.  In the sport of mountain biking rain can be beneficial if it is in the right amount...at the right time.  The Arizona soil tends to soak up the rain like a bone dry sponge, usually resulting in super tacky, Velcro-like trails that beg to be ridden fast.  Fortunately, that was the case in Cave Creek.  The rain let up early enough to be helpful rather than hindering.  Trail conditions were perfect!

My new Ride 430 Team Gear...so proud and thankful!

This would be my first ride, sporting my fancy new Ride 430 team gear.  I was so proud to be wearing it, and even more proud to be riding with Josh who was also wearing his team gear.  Go team Ride 430! 

As the 0900 start time drew closer, the sun began to rise over the roof-line of the Frontier Town buildings.  The warmth was certainly welcomed, and I was glad to know I wouldn't have to wear any arm or leg warmers.  The problem with wearing those on long rides...especially those against a clock...is that as the temperature increases it becomes necessary to peel of the warmers.  Doing so requires stopping.  Stopping during a race means losing valuable positioning that you may have had to work very hard to gain in the first place...and as it would turn out, I'd lose some places anyway, so I didn't need to give up any more.

Let's rewind to Friday afternoon.  In my last post I mentioned that I was working feverishly to build up my race bike.  I also mentioned that my efforts were in vain, as I was unable to get it dialed in and working just right.  Thankfully, I have been blessed with a second bike.  Something that I am very thankful for, as many people do not even have one bike...let alone bikes like mine.  My 'everyday' bike is an amazing piece of machinery as well, and is limited only by it's motor...me.  Unfortunately however, I had noticed that the rear wheel was experiencing some problems.  It had a fair amount of lateral play, which is a fancy way of saying that I could grab it and wobble it from side to side about 1/8".  Even if you don't ride bikes, you know that that is not good.

I took the wheel to my local bike shop Swiss American Bikes, and they were gracious enough to look at it for me while I waited...Thank you Gary!  What he found however, was not good news.  It appears that the 'pocket' that one of the bearings sits within, has become wallowed out, and is allowing the bearing case to move around.  This ultimately results in the wheel wobbling side to side when riding...aka, lateral play. With no other wheel to use, I had to just go for it and pray that my wheel wouldn't fall off, or the hub seize up and lock up the rear wheel.

While Josh and I waited, mid-pack, amongst the other riders for the start of the race, I began to get a little nervous about my wheel.  Moments before the start, and Episcopalian Priest prayed for our safety during the race...I prayed specifically that my wheel would stay intact!  

The countdown started...5-4-3-2-1 GO!  We were off!  I have never ridden in such a large pack of mountain bikes on an asphalt road.  The sound of the knobby tires along the tarmac sounded exactly like a large swarm of bees.  A police escort lead us West through town, then North toward the trail head, where the race would really begin.  Less than a mile into the race I began hearing a strange sound coming from my rear wheel...great.  Those of you who know me well, know that I absolutely hate noises from my bike, and that I am a little neurotic about finding the source of ANY noise that should not be occurring.  While certainly irritating, the sound from my wheel was less of an annoyance, and much more of a concern as I thought about the fact that I had another 24-miles to go.  

I plugged along mile after mile, climb after climb until we reached the summit of the first big mountain.  As I neared the top I began to think about the stress the my rear wheel would soon undergo as I raced downhill, through tight turns and over quite a few rocks.  I was certainly concerned, but I knew that if I rode apprehensively, my chances for a significant crash were far greater...so I tried to put it out of my mind.  As hard as I tried however, I could not ignore the feeling of my wheel shifting under me as I leaned hard into high-speed corners, fighting to keep the bike on the right line.  

One of the complications of a wheel that has lateral play is a condition known as chain-drop.  Chain drop simply means that the chain falls off of the sprocket in the front, or the cogs of the cassette on the rear wheel.  Unfortunately, when this happens it is often while climbing steep sections of the trail.  If the chain drops, you stop.  When you stop, you lose valuable time...remember?  Well, I had at least three chain drops that I can remember, each resulting in the need to place the chain back on the sprocket, and the need to hike my bike up a couple sections...all of which caused me to lose time and position.

At the 20-mile mark, I was faced with a large section of the trail that was covered in large rocks.  There really was very little recognizable trail...just rocks all the way down the hill.  At the bottom of the hill was a thick, sandy dry creek.  As I entered the sand section, I heard the unmistakable hiss-hiss-hiss of a punctured tire turning...hiss-hiss-hiss.  "Great...only 5-miles left, and I've got a flat!" I said out loud.  I stopped, quickly dismounted, and flipped my bike upside down so I could inspect my tire.  

I was looking for some white liquid seeping out of the hole in my tire...but it was not there.  Let me explain.  You see, I run tubeless tires on my bike.  Tubeless tires use a liquid sealant to quickly seal up punctures, and prevent the tire from deflating.  Typically, you hear the tell tale hiss-hiss-hiss...but it usually goes away quickly as the sealant goes to work and plugs the leak.  This time, the sound was not stopping.  So I did.  No sealant to be found.  That meant that I had allowed the sealant to dry out, and I had not added any more to the tire...a big mistake.  Fortunately, I carry a small tube of sealant and a valve core remover, as removing the core is necessary to inject the sealant into the tire.  I quickly added the sealant, replaced the valve core, grabbed my CO2 (compressed air) cartridge to re-inflate my tire, and...and nothing, the CO2 wasn't coming out.  If it wasn't coming out, then it was not inflating my flat tire.  In a bit of a panic (due to the roughly 15 riders that passed me while I fumbled with my tire) I replaced the CO2 cartridge with another, and voila, an inflated tire.  A couple of spins to disperse the sealant within the tire, and I was back in the saddle...roughly 7-minutes later.

As I pedaled off, hell-bent on catching some of those riders I had worked so hard to pass before, I once again heard the ominous hiss-hiss-hiss. Once again I dismounted.  I lifted my rear wheel off the ground, and rotated the wheel so that the puncture was as the bottom of the tire.  I held it there to allow the sealant to seep into the puncture, then patiently counted to sixty.  Another 90-seconds, and five places lost. 

A few minutes later I crossed the finish line, and pressed the STOP button on my Polar CS500 cycle computer.  The readout read 25.0 miles, and 2 hours 11 minutes in duration.  I was finished, and my rear wheel was still attached to my bike...although I had thought about ripping it clean off while trying to fix my flat.

I would later learn that the winner of the race finished with a time of 1:36:19.  There was a discrepancy between my official time, and the time on my computer.  Officially, I finished in 2:14:56, roughly three minutes longer than my computer had calculated.  No need to argue the results, as I am sure the podium did not have enough spots for my 95th place finish.  Yep 95th place...not the story-book, Tour de France-esque finish that I have dreamed of many a night.  

the official results

I suppose, barring any mechanical difficulties, I could have finished somewhere around the 2-hour mark...somewhere around 75th place...oh well, still no podium.  There were 196 racers who began the race however, so...I was in the top 50% of the riders, and I can live with that.

All in all, I had a lot of fun...as much fun as you can have riding 25-miles on your mountain bike!

Adapt and Overcome

As a professional firefighter, I have made a living at being able to make critical decisions on the fly, adapt to chaotic situations, and make it look like it was a piece of cake (when in fact, it truly was NOT).  But hey...that's what the public, whom we so proudly serve, expect of us.  It's kind of like when you hear voice recordings of airline pilots just moments before they crash...utter calmness and professionalism over the radio.  Okay, I'm not comparing myself to a pilot, but the concept is similar.

Yesterday was one of those days when I just needed to let go, release control to God, and adapt to HIS plan...and apparently he was not big on my selling my $2000 carbon frame that I got for free.  I think He was telling me that I should be happy and satisfied with what I was blessed with...and to stop whining.

So I adapted.

As you may remember, my plan was to build up a mountain bike that could keep pace with a pack of road bikes for next year's Ride 430 Challenge.  To do so, would require a considerable amount of money...hence my reason for seeking out generous corporate sponsorship to help offset a portion of the cost.  That plan however, has been scrapped as of yesterday.  I viewed the constant barrage of Craigslist scammers, as a clear cut sign that I was not supposed to sell that frame.  So what then?

Build it up just as it was before...an amazing racing mountain bike.

I have been selling off some of my fitness equipment to 'raise' money for the bike, but I realized yesterday that I should use that money to purchase a road bike instead.  You see, I still need something to train on, and ride next year with the Ride 430 crew.  So instead of riding an extravagantly priced mountain bike, I'll be riding a road bike.  I know, I know...I'm straying from my mountain bike roots, and it's a little disappointing.  If I had money to burn, you know I'd be building up the coolest mountain bike ever, to set fire to the tarmac...but that's just not the case.

I think my decision made my wife happy, and let her know that I can still make some sound choices once in a while...it just takes me a little longer.  

I was scheduled to race in the Cave Creek Bike Festival 25-mile Mountain Bike Race this morning, and once I made the decision to build rather than sell, it was game on.  The trail I was riding has a fair amount of climbing, and it would have been really nice to ride a 20-pound bike rather than a 27-pounder!  So of course, I got right to putting it back together, only to find out that it just wasn't going to happen.  Another lesson in releasing control.

It's almost finished...just need to take it over to my local bike shop for some fine tuning.  Check out the picture below to see what it is looking like.  I have to admit, it's a great looking bike, and the new white graphics really set it off. 

Today was a great day!  I got to race with someone whom I consider both a friend, and a finely tuned machine.  This individual is the one who inspired me to become part of the Ride For Semper Fi team, and has completed the Ride 430 Challenge himself...twice.  This year he was awarded the Yellow Jersey, an honor reserved for the individual who raises the most support for the Ride 430 Challenge.  This year Josh...oops I let his name out!  Any way...Josh raised nearly $50K for injured US Marines and their families.  Strong work Josh!

Check back in a day or so, to hear details about our race today.

Until next time...

A Long Day of Training

Today was my first day back on the bike after nearly taking a core sample of my left thigh.  It's been pretty sore the past few days, and really tightens up after sitting for a little while.  I figured it was time to get back in the saddle, and log some miles.

Such beautiful colors!

I set my mind on riding the Pemberton Trail, which is where the Dawn to Dusk race will be held.  My goal was to get in three laps today, for a total of 45-miles.  I had intended to get out early, as it is roughly an hour long drive to the McDowell Mountain Regional Park.  Have you ever had one of those days where things just didn't go as smooth as you would have liked?  Today was that day for me...well, the morning at least.  My plan was to be at the trail head by 7:30 am...I rolled up at 9:00 am. Better late than never...right? 

 I geared up, threw down a plethora of capsules designed aid in muscle fatigue, replenish electrolytes, and just plain make me fast!  I headed out, trying not to think about the many miles that lay ahead, and just focus on keeping my pedal cadence between 80-90 RPM.  The course starts out with a 6.5 mile climb...nothing too steep, but just a constant climb.  This climb seems relatively easy on the first lap, but the more laps you turn, the harder it becomes.

My first lap was completed in 1 hour and 15 minutes.  My speed fell off a little on my second turn, which is to be expected, and I rolled in at the 1 hour 17 minute mark.  The third lap was even slower at 1 hour 23 minutes. 

The course is advertised as a 15.5 mile loop, but my Polar cycle computer measures it at 16.1 miles, and the iPhone app, Map My Ride, that I have been using, measures the loop at 16.45 miles.   When all was said and done, I logged somewhere between 48.1 and 49.45 miles today, over a total of 3 hours and 55 minutes...burning up roughly 3600 kcals.

You can check out my ride at  http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/200101097

My legs are toast!

More on Donations

It was brought to my attention that some people who read my blog, may not be on Facebook, and therefore do not have access to my Riding For A Cause page.  This means they would not be able to pledge their support for my Dawn to Dusk ride.

In that case, you can pledge your support right here on this blog, by simply commenting below.  If you do not feel comfortable with that process, then please email me at john.metzger@scisport.net and provide me with the necessary info i.e. per-mile donation, and contact info so that I can reach you when it is time to collect your generous donation.

Thanks in advance for all of your support!

Looking for Donations

Alright everyone, it's time for me to shamelessly solicit your hard earned cash.  I know, I know, I 've asked before, and many of you were generous enough to donate money towards uniforms, and other expenses involved with sending not only me, but other team members to New York for the 2011 World Police and Fire Games...once again, I thank you.

This time however, it's not about me...remember?  This time it's about raising money for the Semper Fi Fund...a charity that provides financial support to injured United States Marines, as well as families of those US Marines who made the ultimate sacrifice for our great country.

On December 1st I will be competing in an annual mountain bike endurance racing event...The Dawn to Dusk race.  Check out details of the event at http://www.dcbadventures.com/Event/dawn-to-dusk.  The race is held on the Pemberton Trail within the McDowell Mountain Regional Park, just outside of Scottsdale, Arizona.  The course consists of a 15.5 mile loop that traverses the base of the majestic McDowell Mountain Range.  I have committed to the event as a solo rider, which means that I will not be part of a team...just me against the clock...and the trail.  As a soloist, I will ride as many laps around the course as possible, from dawn to dusk...hence the name.

I have decided to solicit per-mile donations in an attempt to raise $1000 for the Semper Fi Fund.  The money raised during this ride will go towards the total amount that I raise throughout the year...this is but one of a number of fundraising 'drives' that I will be doing between now and October 2013.

"So just how do I make a pledge or contribution" you ask?  Here's how...

Please visit my Facebook Page, 'Riding for a Cause' at www.facebook.com/ridingforacause and simply comment that you would like to make a pledge or a donation.  After I have completed my race, I will post the results for all too see (it's an accountability thing), and then I will be contacting each of you via FB, email, phone, pony express, etc. to provide payment details.  If you have not heard of the Ride for Semper Fi, please visit their website to see who they are, and what amazing things they are doing to raise money for these true American Heroes.  Click on the Ride 430 link under CHECK OUT THESE LINKS on the right side of this page, or simply click here.

Training can take a toll!

The temperature outside was nice and cool, the air was almost completely still...perfect weather for mountain biking!  I was nearing the halfway point in my ride...about 6-miles out from where I had parked, when I decided to take a little different route than I had originally intended.  I ride alone most of the time, and when I ride alone, I limit the amount of chances that I take...for obvious reasons.  My split second decision to go left rather than right, would not take me to an area that I consider dangerous...unfamiliar would be a better way to describe it.  I suppose however, in the sport of mountain biking, unfamiliarity can lead to some degree of danger...kind of like choosing the Red pill or the Blue pill.  Lesson learned.

My choice to go left had resulted in a very challenging, technical climb through loose rocky terrain...nothing too different than anything I have encountered during my years of riding mountain bikes.  With my lungs searing and my legs running on empty, I crested the short climb and found myself looking down at a challenging, rocky downhill section...one which I had never attempted before.

One of the rules of mountain biking is to maintain speed.  What I mean by that is if you slow down too much, balance becomes a factor as does stuffing your front tire into a rock, and going for a tumble.  So...while many have heard the phrase "speed kills"...in the mountain biking world, speed saves.  I'll be honest with you all...it can be a little daunting carrying the appropriate amount of speed to prevent the dreaded 'front wheel stuff' when you are heading down steep, rocky, loose, and unfamiliar territory.

Another well known rule of the sport is too look ahead.  It sure sounds simple...I know.  Lifting your eyes and looking ahead however, is one of the most difficult tasks on a mountain bike.  It is very easy, and common, for a rider's vision to become focused on the ground just inches in front of the tire.  Short-sighted vision often causes the rider to look too long at a particular object...like a rock or cactus.  Looking too long at something usually results in a crash...into that particular object!  So...riders who are able to lift their field of vision often crash less, and ride faster.

So anyway...I crested the hill and was met with a very challenging descent.  One which would require me to maintain speed,but not too fast...while going slow, but not too slow.  Sounds fun huh?  I stopped atop the hill and quickly sized up my challenge, picking out the line that I thought would get me down with the least potential for crashing.  The bottom however, was out of sight.  The trail turned left after about 50-feet, which meant that I would have to perform another size-up...on the fly. 

I began pedaling, dropping into the descent and grabbing the line I had picked out moments before.  I pushed on the handlebars as I slid my rear end off the back end of the saddle, keeping my weight shifted toward the rear of the bike so the front wheel could 'float' over the terrain.  My line was working out great, and I was able to stay off the brakes and keep my speed up...all was going well.  I neared the apex of the turn where the trail bent to the left, and quickly picked my next line.  Again I was able to pick up some speed and avoid stuffing the front wheel. As I neared the bottom, I realized that my line was going to take me directly into an area that was full of thick, loose granite, followed by a quick right turn...not what I had anticipated.

My eyes opened wide...a reflexive action that is part of the sympathetic nervous system...the fight-or-flight response.  My brain was taking in as much information as possible, while conscious and subconscious thoughts began to direct my actions...all of which was happening over a period of one or two seconds.  The human body is amazing!  In an instant I knew that I was in trouble.  If I grabbed the brakes too hard, I would end up going over the handlebars onto the rocks.  If I modulated the brakes, I could slow the bike too much, and stuff my front wheel into a rock, which would also result in a quick trip over the handlebars.  If I maintained my speed, I would enter the mini 'gravel pit' too fast, which would most certainly cause my wheel to turn sharply to the left or right...again I was going over the handlebars...in this case however, I would at least land in gravel rather than solid rock. 

The choice was made...keep up the speed and do my best to not let the front wheel wash-out in the thick stuff.  Seconds later, I felt a tremendous amount of pain in my left thigh as my wheel was forcefully turned to the left, by the thick, loose granite.  As my wheel turned left, my body kept going forward...something about a body in motion stays in motion...inertia...kinetic energy...blah, blah, blah.  That Newton was one smart guy!  What that law states is that a body (me) in motion (riding my bike) will stay in motion unless acted upon by another force...which in this case was the handlebars of my bike, and of course...the ground.

You see, as my wheel was turned 90-degrees to the left, so too were my handlebars, thus placing the left end of my handlebars in close proximity to my left thigh...wonderful.  As Newton's law unfolded, my thigh made contact with the end of the bar, as my bike made contact with the ground...while I was still moving forward, exerting a large amount of directed energy right into my thigh.  Yep, it was painful...and to make matters worse,  I would have to ride another 6-miles back to the car.  Fortunately, I had bar end-plugs on my handlebars, or I would have taken a rather large, deep tissue sample from my thigh!

This is gonna be ugly tomorrow!

Please understand that I am not complaining...just sharing :) That's mountain biking!

Until next time....

Some Bad News...and then a little more.

Yesterday, after blogging for the day (and forgetting to push it out to Facebook), I was able to finally make phone contact with the Marketing Director at Intense Cycles.  I explained to him who I was, and what I was doing, and that I was hoping that his company would be able to help me out along my journey.

He then, proceeded to tell me that while he thought it was a great idea, and certainly a worthy cause to support...they would not be able to help me out.  Not one to take no for an answer...well, at least not the first time around...I asked if he could at least help by selling me a frame and fork at their cost.  This time I took no for an answer.

So...what this means is that I will just have to spend the money and purchase the frame, and hope that I am able to secure some help for the remaining components.  It's tough out there right now for small businesses, so I completely understand their position, and I harbor no ill feelings whatsoever.  Oh, by the way, pay no mind to the dartboard in my garage with the intense cycles logo in the middle!  Just kidding...just kidding.

Today however, is a different story.  Today was a training day, and on training days...I get to ride my bike!  After sorting through some other pressing issues this morning, I was finally able to get suited up, load my bike on the trusty Honda Element, and head out to a great riding spot not too far from my home...the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve trail system.

The Phoenix Sonoran Preserve

The trails in the preserve are, for the most part, multi-use trails, which means that hikers, bikers, and horses can use them.  Trails of this type are rather wide to allow for multiple users, and therefore not technically challenging.  The challenge of these trails lie in the climbing.  Right out of the parking lot, riders are met with a grueling climb before they are even given the chance to warm-up...it's what I like to call a rude introduction to the ride.  The climbs make for some great training, and the views of the surrounding desert make the multi-user aspect of these trails somewhat tolerable.

The last time I set out to get some training in on this system, I took my single-speed bike.  A single-speed bike, for those who are not familiar, has but one lonely gear...hence the name, single-speed.  Single-speed mountain bikes are a lot of fun...if by fun you mean pain.  Mountains are full of steep climbs, and the 30-speed drive train...that's right, I said 30...that I have on my other bike, makes climbing super-steep, super-rocky uphill sections easier.  Take away 29 of those gears, and then you've got a pain inflicting, torture machine.  If it's so much torture, then why ride it?  Huge gains in leg strength and power...both of which are absolutely necessary for climbing.  I simply view it as a training tool.

So as I was saying...the last time I took on these trails, I did it on my single-speed.  Big mistake.  Aside from the torturous hill climbing, my bike broke while I was about 10-miles out...yep, that's a long hike back in riding shoes!  Fortunately, I was able to fix it enough that I was able to ride it, but I certainly was not going to be able to climb back out of the area I had dropped into.  So after a lot of hiking, and some adventurous riding through some pretty sketchy areas, I found my way back out to a paved road, and made my way back to the parking lot...some 20-miles later.  Today's ride would prove to be only slightly better.

After hitting the trail, and cresting that first brutal climb out of the parking lot, I was starting to feel good...to feel that flow that riders experience.  I made my way along, traversing the mountain that I had just conquered, looking forward to the fun, fast downhill section that I knew was right around the corner.  My heart raced with anticipation of what I was about to experience, and my eyes opened wide as my brain signaled my fight or flight system to engage.  Today however, there would be no fighting...just flying!

For the next half-mile or so, I was in heaven.  There is nothing better on a mountain bike than bombing a downhill section...riding ride on the edge of being out of control.  As Harry Hogge (Robert Duvall) said to Cole Trickle (Tom Cruise) in the movie Days of Thunder..."Loose is fast, and on the edge of out of control."  As I neared the bottom of my little roller coaster ride, I shifted down...into a lower gear, as I could see that there was a sharp turn coming up that would take me across a dry wash bed, then quickly swing me back to the right...right into a short, steep, rocky little climb.  As I floated across the sandy wash, I began to pedal in anticipation of the climb.  I noticed a funny clicking feel in my right foot as I pedaled, but thought it was just the cleat on the bottom of my shoe getting a little loose.  As the terrain quickly transitioned from relatively flat and sandy, to steep and rocky, the clicking got worse...and then a little worse as I mashed the pedals in order to make the climb.  And then...Well...then my pedal broke...and I fell to the nice soft, pillow-like ground.  NOT!  I did fall, but there were no pillows to be found...just very hard, unforgiving rocks.

It doesn't work too well when you can hold it in your hand!

As you can see in the picture above, the pedal came right off of the spindle...and pedals don't work too well when they don't stay attached to the spindle!  Fortunately, I wasn't too far out.  I was able to find a trail spur that led into a neighborhood not too far from where I had parked.  I made my way out to the road, and limped my bike back to the car...and called it a day.

I might have to think twice before heading back there again...the third time could be really bad!

Ellsworth for Sale!

I received my replacement frame from Ellsworth the other day, and all I can say is WOW...what a beautiful frame!  The 2013 model has some new great looking new graphics that really help to set off the amazing lines of this beautiful frame.

A true piece of art!

This frame is truly a piece of art however...for me, it is time to move on to something different.  Something that has the ability to be built up to keep pace with some of the most technologically advanced road bikes!  So what does this mean, you ask?  It means that this beautiful, super light, carbon race frame could be yours!  That's right, it is up for sale, and ready for you to take it home!

I plan to use the money from the sale of this frame to help with the build project for my new bike...of which I do not yet possess!  I am still waiting to hear back from Intense Cycles about my request for support.  I am also still awaiting a response from Reynolds Cycling about my request for some wheelsets.  Hopefully, they will understand just how beneficial the Ride 430 Challenge is, and graciously provide me with much needed support.  If not...well, let's not go down that road just yet.

I did get in touch with John Greenway, the Big Cheese, the Head Honcho...the Chairman of the Ride for Semper Fi organization.  It looks like I'll be sporting official Ride 430 Team gear for my 12-hour solo endurance race on December 1st!  This means that I will be accepting per-mile donations, which will go towards next year's fundraising drive for our injured heroes.  More on that later...but be forewarned...I WILL be hitting you all up for donations!

Until next time....

Time to Build a Bike!

Those of you who have followed me before may remember that I was fortunate enough to be sponsored by a great U.S. bike company...Ellsworth Handcrafted Bikes.  I chose to solicit the support of Ellsworth because they are known as an extremely high quality company that hand builds their bikes.

Unfortunately, I have had a few problems with the carbon frame that they graciously donated me, so now I am on the hunt for something different.  You see...I really need to build up a bike that can keep pace with those sleek, fifteen-pound road bikes that the rest of the team will be riding.  That means I have to build this thing up really light!  I also have to be able to quickly and easily swap out a part here and there, and have it ready for off-road use,  as I will be using this bike for both short track and endurance mountain bike events.

I believe I have found my weapon of choice...in fact, it's beautiful lines grace my blog page.  Yep, that's it to the left there...she's a beaut ain't she Clark?!

This bike is manufactured by another U.S. company located in Temecula, California.  The company in called Intense Bicycles, and like Ellsworth, they hand build their incredible machines.  This particular bike is named Hard Eddie...but I'll just call it Ed.  The great thing about this bike, is that it can be paired with a proprietary rigid fork...which will be great for the road.  Come race day, I'll swap it out for a nice cushy suspension fork, and be ready to roll over some rocky desert trails, at high speeds...for 12-hours or so.

As I did with my other bike, I am attempting to seek support from Intense...basically, I'm trying to get this bike for a highly discounted rate.  Bikes these days are uber-expensive, and this one will be even worse due to that fact that I will need to double-up on some of the components to make it a 'road' and mountain bike.  I have figured somewhere in the area of about $8,000!  That's just too much money for me to shell out for a bike on my own, which is why I have decided to seek support from Intense, and other bike component manufacturers to help me use my love of mountain biking, to raise money for our wounded heroes.

I plan to share with all of you the challenges I face, as a regular guy, trying to secure 'pro' sponsorships from these companies.  These challenges however, pale in comparison to those that our nations heroes face.

Follow along, and become a fan of the page!

The Hard Eddie 29er...a beautiful bike!

Here I go again...

Hello everyone, it's been a while since I last blogged, and I am feeling a bit rusty!  Many of you have never seen my blog before, so for those of you who are new...I'll give you all a very brief rundown of what has taken place here in the past.

Nearly two years ago, I decided I would enter a mountain bike race...but not just ANY mountain bike race!  Nope...I went big right out of the gate...I signed up to race in the 2011 World Police and Fire Games.  The WPFG attracts firefighter and law enforcement 'athletes' from all over the world, to compete in over 60 different events.  Believe it or not, the WPFG are the second largest multi-sport event in the world...second only to the Summer Olympic Games!  So yeah...it's kind of a big deal.

Anyway...I chose to use this platform to chronicle my journey towards competition.  I had some weight to lose, and some riding shape to get into...so I figured this would provide some level of accountability for me.  And...it did!

I trained for roughly 9-months, and shared virtually every detail of my journey along the way.  By September 2011, I was in peak physical condition, and ready to compete.  Hurricane Irene (remember her?) however, wasn't feeling it.  You see, the 2011 WPFG were being held in New York, and the surrounding areas.  Irene decided she would come in and wreak havoc on New York and New Jersey, and effectively served to cancel a number of WPFG events...including Mountain Bike Racing! 

So...there you have it...but wait, this time it's different.  Last time it was all about me.  This time, it's all about someone else.  Sure, I'll be the subject of this chronicle however, the end result is me being prepared to ride a mountain bike 430 miles, in just four days. 

Why you ask?

To raise awareness and financial support for injured United States Marines, and their families.  I have committed to join the 2013 Ride 430 Team.  The Ride 430 Challenge is a non-profit cycling event that helps give America's injured military service members and their families, hope and assistance as they travel the road to recovery.

The Ride is a four-day, 430-mile challenge in which cyclists complete more than 100 miles per day, some of which are brutal mountain climbs.  In addition to training and completing the ride, each participant must raise funds for the cause.  The average rider raises more than $6,500 for this amazing cause; more per rider, than any event of it's kind.  The 2012 campaign raised nearly $500,000!

Money raised by the Ride 430 Challenge team supplements military assistance and bridges gaps to help injured service people and families who have lost loved ones, recover.  The funding helps provide everything from financial assistance, scholarships and adaptive sports equipment for injured heroes, to camps for kids who've lost a parent in combat.

It is truly an amazing organization, and I am proud to say that I am now part of the Ride 430 Challenge family.

So...over the next 12-months I will be sharing with each of you, my journey.  A journey that will be comprised of many different challenges including fundraising, sponsorship support, training, and of course...the Ride!

Let's talk about the ride...

This event is a road bike ride...yep, you heard right...a road bike ride.  I am not a road biker...or roadie, as the are affectionately referred to.  I am a mountain biker...remember?  In an attempt to hold true to my mountain biker roots, I have elected to complete this 430 mile ride on a mountain bike.  I know, I know, stupid huh?  Here's the real deal...

A friend of mine (Josh), has been a part of this event for the past two years.  He has raised an incredible amount of money...in fact, he raised nearly $50,000 this year alone!  He has held fundraising events at a wine bar...Brix Wine Spot...which is located in Cave Creek, Arizona.  The owner of Brix (Bryan) and I were talking one day about the ride.  In fact, he probably doesn't even remember the conversation.  Anyway...we were talking, and I told him that if he would do the ride, I would do it on a mountain bike.  Well....last week he apparently went 'all in' and has committed to ride next year.  So you all understand what that means right?  As a man of my word (whether he remembers it or not), I have now committed to participate as well...on a mountain bike.

So...in the coming months you will no doubt be asked to assist in some way (most likely financially) to help the Ride 430 Challenge team break yet another financial goal.  The 2013 Ride 430 Challenge ride is officially on YOUR radar screen!

Check out the Ride 430 Challenge by clicking on the link under the Check Out These Links ection on the right side of this page.

48 Hours in Panama...The Conclusion!

Alrighteee then...let's wrap this thing up!

Dinner at Manolo Caracol was awesome!  It was an eight-course Tapas menu...however, I'm pretty sure we had at least ten courses!  All of the food was incredible, but my favorite was the pumpkin soup, which had a hefty chunk of lobster meat in it...very good!  We also had a very good bottle of Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, which I selected from the most interesting wine list I have ever seen.  

This is a cool wine list!

The wine list was presented on a pizza peel.  For those of you who are not familiar with a pizza peel, it is the utensil used by pizza chefs and cooks to place pizza in, and remove it from the oven.  I am not sure if pizza is a staple of the Panamanian culture...but the peel made for a really cool wine list!

We called it a night fairly early...no partying in Panama City for us!  Scott and I had an early start the next morning, as we would be testing one more of the Adidas team who was unable to make it to testing the day before.  This individual's tests were slated to begin at 0600, which meant that I would need to be up by 0500, and downstairs to set up in the hotel fitness center by 530.  We would need to have testing wrapped by 0630, and on our way to Adidas HQ by 0700.  We were meeting with the team to introduce them to Daily Prep...you know, the light exercise program that we were supposed to do the day prior...but instead ended up jogging...and breaking my feet :)

The Hotel gym..nicer than many fitness clubs I've been too!

We arrived to find the room already set up for Daily Prep, complete with exercise mats and towels.  The only thing missing...tennis balls.  Yep, that's right, tennis balls.  We use tennis balls as tools to perform various self-massage techniques, that serve to improve blood flow to tired, achy, over-used muscles; 'turn on' under-active muscles, and improve both flexibility and mobility.  Quite the list of possibilities for such a basic little tool huh?

All set for Daily Prep

Daily Prep went off without a hitch...there were a few moans and groans as the group experienced the benefits of self-massage, or self myo-fascial release, as it is officially known.  This is to be expected, and honestly, if the moans and groans are not present...well, let's just say it's not being done right.  It shouldn't be overly painful, but it should hurt a little.  Tennis ball massage was followed by a series of light, dynamic stretches...which also elicited a few moans and groans as the group felt their bodies being tasked in a different manner than ever before.  

Once daily prep was completed, it was time to eat some breakfast, and say my goodbyes to the group.  I was scheduled to fly out a few hours later, as I was supposed to be back on duty at the fire station the next day.  Scott and Tanis however would be staying for one more day, taking the group through the rest of the program, which included presentations on mindset, nutrition, movement, and recovery techniques...all of which are designed to improve one's ability to maintain a high level of performance in the corporate world.  

It's really an amazing, visionary program, and I encourage you to visit the Tignum website for more information about what they do (www.tignum.com)

Please take a couple minutes of your time to watch these short videos that really paint a great picture of what it is that Tignum does.  I am confident that after watching these clips, you will see that this is not just another wellness program!  I know some of you out there who are reading this are part of this world...the world of the high-level executive, or you network with those who are.  I encourage you to look into this for yourselves, or pass this information along...it truly is an amazing concept that is long overdue, and has long been overlooked.

Click Here to View

  Click Here to View

 

 Click Here to View

OK...enough of plugging Tignum...although I could go on and on about them!  Now, let's wrap up this story and put it to bed!

Remember my aching feet?  Well, let's just say that they were getting nothing but worse!  I brought two pairs of shoes with me to Panama...well, actually just one.  I brought my athletic shoes...Adidas of course!...and one pair of flip flops...hey, it was a casual trip!  Since my athletic shoes were the ones that resulted in my current foot predicament...I opted to wear the flip flops for my journey home.  In hind site...I'm not sure which would have been worse.

I arrived at the airport, and actually cruised through security without any problems.  I arrived at roughly 1230, and my flight wasn't leaving until 250.  This would allow me time to grab a bite to eat, and take a load off of my feet for a little while.  I was elated to see that the Panama airport was outfitted with the type of seats that don't have arm-rests...you know, the ones you can actually lay down in.  This is exactly what I needed.  I was tired, I needed to put my feet up, and I needed some rest.  Thank you Tocumen International Airport!

After standing in line for at least ten minutes, I noticed a group of fellow coach passengers who had entered another...much shorter line.  I took the risk, and stepped out of line to inquire...thankfully!  I found that this line was for passengers who had not checked any bags...ME!!  I had not noticed the line due to the fact that there were a number of Airport personnel congregating...doing absolutely nothing by the way...in front of the very small sign that stated "NO CHECKED LUGGAGE".  Fortunately I had seen those other passengers from my flight, otherwise I would have stood in that line for a long, long time...thanks Houston Airport personnel!  Go chit chat somewhere else you Jack-Wagons!

In less time than I spent in the previous line, I was through Customs...even greeted with a welcome home Mr. Metzger...a first for me!  Thinking I was home free, I made my way to the gates, where I planned to grab some dinner and rest my old-man, aching feet!  Remember that sound of a scratching record?  Insert it here...

I was less than happy to find that we were being re-routed through security, once again.  I have never had to go through security again upon returning to the States, and coming through Customs...wonderful.  Security was a mess to say the least.  It was as if we were cattle being herded into loading chutes, only to be trucked off to some processing plant.  The TSA staff members were constantly shouting the same instructions over and over..."Keep the line moving folks...Keep the line moving folks!"  They looked to be completely enthralled by their jobs...not!  One of them actually put his hand on my back and pushed me forward, trying to pack more people into an already packed can of sardines.  I turned back quickly to see a knee-high little guy leering at me...my emotions took over...but not to their full potential, thankfully.  I calmly told the little tough-guy "I don't recommend pushing me again"...thankfully, he moved on.  Whew...that was close!

As I approached the tray table...you know, the place where experience and common sense (or a lack thereof) really shows through...I noticed a middle-aged woman who was very slowly taking off all her jewelry, her shoes...and oh yeah...taking out all of her lotions and fluids...which by the way, were not in a clear plastic bag, nor did they meet the volume/size requirements!  She was actually getting yelled at by people behind me...and they were not nice comments at all!  Let's just say it was ugly!  I finally cleared security, and limped off to find some dinner.  It was very clear to me that the Houston airport was not on board with healthy eating.  I ended up at Ruby's Diner, stuffing a bacon cheeseburger and fries down my gullet!  I posted the picture below on facebook, but for those of you who don't follow me on facebook, I have re-posted it here for your enjoyment.  Check out the sign in the background...and realize that this sign can be clearly seen by everyone in the restaurant.  While we, as customers, understand that businesses are in business to make a profit...maybe they shouldn't shove it in our faces in such a blatant manner...just sayin'.

What is the focus of your business...customer service?

Alright...so I made it to the gate, and I must say that I was less than impressed with the George Bush International Airport.  First...no healthy food to be found.  Second...the seating at the gates didn't allow for lying down!  Get rid of the armrests already!  Deep, cleansing breaths...in and out...

I made it home to Phoenix, and I cannot tell you how happy I was to see Donna!  I was home!  I enjoyed my trip and all of the experiences that it provided...but those of you who know me, know that when it's time to head home a switch trips deep within me, and I enter into my 'homeward bound' mode...which isn't always pretty!

Well, I hope you enjoyed my little adventure into uncharted territory...travel blogging that is.  It wont happen often, but at the encouragement of a great friend of mine, I decided to share my experience with all of you.  

For a fantastic travel blog, visit www.travelwithscott.com