I'm Back... Finally!

Sorry for the dirth of postings - time has been unkind to me lately.. anyway - Your centuries have not gone un-noticed - and you all have been racking them up like cord-wood in the fine Spring weather we've been having!

Most notably, Cup Chasers Paul Jacobson, Ben Shockey and Steve Fuller toe'd the line at Trans-Iowa last weekend for a glorious 300plus mile non-stop dirt-fest. Shockey never quit pedaling for the entire event - and as such, became the 2nd person to finsih the event on a fixed gear bike. Crazy.

Paul Jacobson stuck out the hills, headwinds and dark of night to become the 15th and final finisher of this years event. He must have liked it... "Dave, you really need to sign up for TI. It rocked this year!" Paul

Steve Fuller found his way to the check point at 150 and and was done. Luckily, that counts for 2 metrics - so his efforts were not in vain - that and the fact that he's signed up for the Almanzo 100 and Dirty Kanza, both later this month. (Note to self: If Fuller asks if I wanna go for a ride, say 'no' cuz it will be an 8 hour gravel ride.... and a short day for him!)

Congrats to all who dared toe the line at this annual ritual called Trans-Iowa. With Pauls urging... maybe I will rethink my "NEVER AGAIN" attitude and get up the guts to sign up for next years event... maybe. (Hey Guitar... can you guarantee no rain next year??? I still have nightmare from TI2!!)

Meanwhile, David Gie has been just enjoying the dirty trails in NE Iowa and has posted another 3 metrics since our last update. I tell ya - when this dude applies for a job with any of you readers out there - hire him. When he decides he's gunna do something... he does it!!!

In central Iowa, Tim B. got to it at the end of April, " A combination of drizzle, rain, mud, wind and soft gravel made for a very long day. I finally got home with 110 km." - A long day indeed.


Down south, Mr. Rienka got some riding in - here's his note:

Dave,

Yesterday, (April 28) I got in another Dirty Metric. I'm still chasing that "real" century, but had to get creative just to get in 62 miles.

I took off from Chillicothe, Mo and headed mostly north. I didn't get started until after school let out, so I knew I needed my lights. When it got dark, and I still had 40+ miles to go, I just kept riding back and forth on a 6 mile strech until I had enough to head home. I was a little worried about getting too far from home.

I probably confused the dogs on that strech because not only did I do an out-and-back, I did an out-and-back, out-and-back and out-and-back. They seemed pretty organized on my last pass.

I finished after 10:30 PM. My speed was 11.7 MPH and my overall milage was 64 miles.

Have a great day!

Tim Riekena
Chillicothe, MO

Keep up the riding - I appreciate your efforts and stories!
And I promise the Cups are on thier way!!!!

Peace - Dave