2012 24 Hours of Booty – HOB – Charlotte, NC

Join me as I ride with others to fight cancer!

This summer, I will participate in 24 Hours of Booty, a 24-hour cycling event that raises money for national and local cancer initiatives. 24 Hours of Booty is the official 24-hour cycling event of LIVESTRONG, the national beneficiary. LIVESTRONG believes that in the battle with cancer, unity is strength, knowledge is power and attitude is everything. Founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, LIVESTRONG provides the practical information and tools people living with cancer need to live strong.

Local recipients include the Blumenthal Cancer Center at Carolinas Medical Center, The Brain Tumor Fund for the Carolinas, and the Keep Pounding Fund, which honors the late Carolina Panthers player and coach Sam Mills and former player Mark Fields. Thanks for visiting. I hope you will consider making a donation to my fight against cancer!

The Keep Pounding Fund, which honors the late Carolina player and coach Sam Mills and former player Mark Fields.

This Year, I’m Riding for a Bigger Cause!
My personal Cycling Goal for 2012 is to help others.

1. Help new cyclists learn how to ride.
2. Help teen cyclists learn to ride.
3. Ride to raise money to help others.
This Year, I will Ride For Kim, and all of those who have been faced with Cancer.

The 24 Hours of Booty is one of the largest cycling events that allows cyclists to raise money & awareness to help fight cancer. Most people think that 24 hours of riding is simply crazy and way too painful to even think about. This pain is nothing compared to the pain and suffering that cancer patients have to endure.
Please join me and the Spirited Cycling team this year as we ride the HOB.
The Cycling Guy wants to make an impact in his first HOB ride. Your support will be greatly appreciated.

Click here to see the Cycling Guy’s official 24 Hours of Booty support page:
Sincerely,

John Finney
http://CyclingGuy.com

1st night of Indoor Computrainer cycling for the winter

We began our winter indoor cycling training on the computrainer last night. In total we had eight riders in the class. Our first ride was a 20 minute time trial to establish a threshold level in which the remaining 8 classes will be guaged from. We pretty much hammered down for 20 minutes and grabbed an average watt output. The intent of the training is to increase our watts over the course of eight weeks. So knowing our starting wattage point is key. (more…)

So long to my Deep Dish Carbon Tubular Wheelset – Grammo 88’s

Today I shipped out my Grammo 88 Carbon Tubular Wheelset to a cycling guy out in Las Vegas. I used the wheelset for about 10 time trial races, and I had mixed results but good results. But, Ebay called, and I listed and sold them.

The Grammo 88mm deep dish wheelset was a bit much for me. I just never got used to being blown from side to side when running the front Grammo. I used the rear wheel much more. The only negative thing was more with my power than with the wheel itself. It seemed like every time I hit an incline, it was al I could do to get the wheels churning again. But, once they were cranking, they were cranking fast!
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Indoor Cycling Training time is here again!

It looks and feels like it is time to head indoors and do some serious indoor cycling training. Every morning I get up and want to get a quick ride in. Unfortunately, I’m not a cold morning person. So that leaves me only a few options.

1. Go find a Computrainer that I can lease
2. Saddle up on my Cyclops and ride to a Indoor Cycling Training DVD video

My collection of cycling training DVDs includes: Urban Assault in Italy by Global Ride, TDF Climbing in France by Global Ride, POWER by Robbie Ventura, Hilly Hellecious by Spinnvals and coach Troy, and Time Trial training by Carmichael. (more…)

Cycle NC 2011 day 5 – Rocky Mount to Plymouth – 370 miles down 155 to go

We rolled out of Rocky Mount around 7:20am headed to Historic Plymouth, NC. I hooked up with fellow rider Howard from Summerfield, and we began peddling the first of 77.5 miles for the day.

The first rest stop of the day near Tarboro was a busy one. The locals welcomed the Cycle NC cyclists with a huge spread of goodies and home baked treats. I made a quick tire pressure check and we were on our way again. The next rest stop was in Robersonville. When we rolled in here, I was feeling pretty sick. The night before I had dinner at Texas steak house or something. Needless to say, I shouldn’t have.

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Cycle NC 2011 Day 4 – Henderson to Rocky Mount – 290 miles down 210 to go.

We left the friendly town of Henderson this morning at 7:30 and headed east towards Rocky Mount. The first 10 -15 mies consisted of navigating thru morning traffic while peddling thru the historic parts of Henderson. We continued a slow pace until we hit the first rest stop about 20 miles out. We stopped there to check tires, top off bottles and take a bio break.

As we were about to leave out another guy from Boone, NC rolled by. He rode with us a while the day before. We lined up and chased him down to form a 3 man paceline. The three of us (Howard, Peter, Myself) worked together for the next 25 miles. We bypassed the 2nd rest stop and decided to stop at the 3rd in the Medoc State Park. While sitting there another guy named Brian from Charlotte rode in solo. I had met him the day prior after the ride. We asked Brian to ride with us and he certainly did.
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Cycle NC 2011 Mebane to Henderson – 210 miles down 290 to go.

The week of Cycle NC just keeps getting better and better. The day started out a bit chilly once again, but quickly warmed up. Riding into the morning sun certainly helped. Riders started breaking camp and hitting the road around 7:15 a.m. heading to Henderson, NC.

I stayed in Graham last night, a short 7 miles away from the campground. I decided to solo ride back to the campground to pick up with others on the route. Soon after passing the campground and riding thru Mebane I picked up another rider named Dan and we safely peddled around the bike traffic while making our way to the first stop. He seemed like a fairly strong rider and was latched to my wheel so I invited Dan to ride with me and Howard who was waiting at the first stop.

Sure enough, Ole Howard was there waiting. We stopped long enough to top of our bottles and grab some air in my tires. Then it was on! The three of us rode a great pace and worked together the entire route. What a fun ride that was. (more…)

Cycle NC 2011 Day 2 Mayodan to Mebane – 130 miles down 370 to go

Another chilly morning welcomed us to our day 2 of riding across the state of North Carolina today. Riders packed up their tents, and luggage and gathered their bikes for the 65 mile ride from Autumn Creek Vinyards in Mayodan to Mebane, NC.

The route today featured some smooth and fast back roads farmland thru Rockingham, Guilford & Alamance county. Once we peddled up some small climbs near Eden, NC, the pace increased and the ride was stellar. I managed to hook up with a fellow rider from Summerfield,NC named Howard Kirkpatrick. We rode the entire route together. Being from the area, Howard pointed out various historical sites along the route. That really made the ride interesting.

A few places along the route included Reidsville, NC, Glencoe Mille Village, Chinqua Penn Plantation, Groves Winery and Vinyards, and Mebane. (more…)

Cycle NC – 2011 Day 1 – 65 miles down – 435 to go.

Today was a great day to be riding he the foothills of North Carolina. We left out of Elkin this morning at 7:30 am in low 40 degree weather. The campers were still breaking down their tents but riders were trickling out. I was layered u like never before and thankfully so.

The route traveled thru several historic North Carolina destinations which included Pilot Mountain, Hanging Rock State Park, Danville, Stoneville, and Eden. Unfortunately the big dogs were out in full force today. A Pitbull nearly got my leg. A Yellow lab chased me for a good 200 yards, and a rottweiler managed to get several riders. Stupid Dog owners to say the least. (more…)

Cycle NC – Checked in and Ready to ride 525 miles across North Carolina

Cycle NC Welcome Stage

The last few weeks have been a bit hectic for me to say the least. I signed up for Cycle NC over 3 months ago and tomorrow is day 1 leaving from Elkin, NC and riding to Mayodan, NC.

Three weeks ago, I was really doubting if I could even ride due to some young lady turning in front of me while riding my 2006 Scott CR1 team edition. Fortunately for me, I escaped without any major injuries. Let me tell you from experience, cars hurt, and roads hurt even more. and the Scott, well, it’s in 11 or 12 pieces. (more…)