Well we made it through an earthquake and a Cat 2 hurricane this week.

Grabbed this pic from the net of Irene making landfall:

Another busy, busy week coming up.

Speaking as the acting PTA President at the "Boo Hoo Breakfast" tomorrow.

Lots of training time this week, and work is heavy.

Keep Choppin'!

:)

So I was going through some old bike pics, and I stumbled upon this scan of a page from the 1990 Schwinn Bicycles catalog.

This was the very first mountain bike I ever bought.  I don't have any actual pictures of it, but it's funny to look back now and remember it.  I road with a couple of other guys from town all over the woods of the pine barrens, and took it with me to college to get in rides between classes.

Had it for about a year, and traded it in on a Schwinn Paramount PDG-30.

Wish I still had them both. :)

Hooked from the get go.

Good times.  Good times.

I would like to happily announce that we have acquired the support of a great new start up!

Feed Your Soul is breaking new ground in the area of nutrition and life balance.  With offering services ranging from Nutrition Consultations and Pantry & Kitchen Makeovers, to Grocery Store Tours and Menu Building they are taking a fresh approach to helping ALL to live better.  They also have a lot personal experience with Type 1 diabetes.

I am very lucky to be associated with this fine company.

Click on the logo below to get more information, or feel free to reach out to the owner directly at dina@feedyoursoul.com.

Thank you!!!!!

So, for what seems like the 100th time, let me break it down for the Katrina Bastos, Sharon Jones, and Kristen Hoy minded folks of the world.  

My #Diabetes4Dummies hash tag earning friends.

This is painfully easy.  So try to pay attention.

All mammals, big and small, produce insulin.  Via their pancreas.  Y'all with me so far?  I don't want to go to fast for you.

According to the definition of Insulin:

Insulin is a hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle.

Insulin stops the use of fat as an energy source by inhibiting the release of glucagon. With the exception of the metabolic disorder diabetes mellitus and Metabolic syndrome, insulin is provided within the body in a constant proportion to remove excess glucose from the blood, which otherwise would be toxic. When blood glucose levels fall below a certain level, the body begins to use fat as an energy source throughglycogenolysis, for example, by transfer of lipids from adipose tissue to the liver for mobilization as an energy source. As its level is a central metabolic control mechanism, its status is also used as a control signal to other body systems (such as amino acid uptake by body cells). In addition, it has several other anabolic effects throughout the body.

When control of insulin levels fails, diabetes mellitus will result. As a consequence, insulin is used medically to treat some forms of diabetes mellitus. Patients with type 1 diabetes depend on external insulin (most commonly injected subcutaneously) for their survival because the hormone is no longer produced internally.

Again, you three all still with me right? Right?

So, please, tell me HOW the heck a PH diet will eliminate the need of insulin in a living organism.  Please.  Please.  Explain how the PH diet, what did Katrina say, "is an alternative to insulin"? 

Please.

Maybe the entire human race, Type 1 or not, can get their pancreas removed, and just follow your diet plan.

I am not so much troubled about the snake oil you are selling to make a few bucks. We all need to eat, and there is a sucker born every minute.

I am, however, extremely angered by the way you seem to talk down to the people, the millions of them, who are truly fighting the disease on THIS PLANET.  

The parents and patients waging the war with the only working mechanisms for treating Type 1 diabetes.

Insulin.  Syringes.  Insulin pumps.  Blood glucose tests.  Continuous blood glucose monitors.  

Diligence. Perverseness.  Patience.  Knowledge.

It would behoove you to to pay them some much earned respect.   

They are ALL living and dealing with this disease in the real world.  

Acting to provide the REQUIRED natural life sustaining hormone, as "external pancreases".

Most of you know I am a HUGE Danny Macaskill fan.  What this cat can do on a bike is unreal.  Just unreal.

Whether you are a cyclist or not, I thought y'all might enjoy it as well.

Here is a YouTube clip of his new film Industrial Revolution:

Just nuts right??

Keep Choppin'!!!!!

I really need to send a LONG LONG LONG overdue heartfelt thank you to Ryan Draper and the staff at Rebound Cycle in Canmore, AB Canada.

The day after my release from the hospital in June, Ryan basically took me in after I "road" to their store.  He was so incredibly kind, and provided me with everything I needed to head home.

He loaned me shoes, shorts, and a shirt from his personal collection so I wouldn't have to wear my kit and cycling shoes on the airplane ride home.  Also, Ryan and his wonderful group of co-workers provided me with invaluable information and rapidly packed the Superfly for the trip home (a rush job as the taxi was sitting there waiting to get me to the airport). 

When you are in a town you don't know the support Rebound Cycle, and Ryan personally, provided was a help beyond measure.

Great group of people. I am eternally grateful.

If you ever find yourself heading to America, and particularly North Carolina, please know you have a place to call home.

Thanks!!!

As most of you are aware, by now, the past 12 months has been filled with quite a few enormous challenges, trying moments, and life altering events.

Both on and off the bike.

A lot of these have brought an exuberant and endless amount of stress and turmoil, while others rained disappointment and disgust down onto my life.  While still others have brought me immeasurable joy, and unbridled happiness.

During these past months, I have learned that those who are relatives and believed to be dear friends are sometimes the very first to betray you.  I have honestly discovered what true friendship, true love, and true commitment and support really are.  

I have literally fought for my own life, and for access to my two young sons.  Both against foes that I had never encountered before nor expected to have to so vehemently engage.

Through it all I have been blessed with a core group of unbelievably incredible people that I consider my real family who never wavered, always helped, and where always there.  

Through it all.  

Start to finish.  

They inspired me, shielded me, comforted me, guided me, and kicked me in the pants when it was needed.  

All with no judgement.

The Diabetes Online Community, part of my true family, has come to my aid on numerous occasions this year.  I am still working on thanking each of you personally who took the time to post following my Tour Divide incident.  I am continually rendered completely speechless by your seemingly never ending support, and the strength you provide me, even as my entire world is crashing down around me.

I cannot possibly thank you all enough for all you have done.

Thank you.

As I have turned the proverbial corner, and things are getting back to some semblance of normal, I have had time to give the events of the past year a lot of thought.

I recognize my mistakes, have learned a ton, and was able to gain a new perspective on a lot of things.

It is with the kindest thoughts and appreciation of ALL the members of the DOC, and all others who have helped me this year, that I would like to dedicate and present this video that everyone of you inspired and helped to make:

http://youtu.be/j04UGW103N8

Keep Choppin'!