Saw this laying in the stairway of a very large building on campus today.




"Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors".
- Confucius

These lone test strips we find are markers from other friends. They remind us we fight this battle together.

Not alone.

And that always makes me feel a little more determined and less afraid.

Keep Choppin'!!! Just keep swinging that axe!


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Finally, finally, finally got the Superfly completely mechanically ready to go to Canada! It was in need of a little last minute love, so I took it to my good friend Rob Noti's new shop True Blue Wrenchworks.

In a couple of hours he bled the front brake and shortened the housing, adjusted the rear brake (so the constant rub stopped - who new? Extra training right? LOL)  trued the wheels, and located a busted rear derailer cable and housing that would have caused some issues on Tour Divide next week for sure.

I have known Rob for 14 years or so, and he is a great guy.  Super talented, and dedicated to cyclists everywhere. If you are in the Carrboro area and need some bike knowledge bestowed or your bike repaired, drop in and say 'Hey'!

I am feeling like a ton of weight is off of my shoulders as the last of my equipment is ready to go. Thanks for the help Mr. Noti!


Now I need to get the bike to a photo shoot in the next couple of days and then boxed up this weekend to bring it to Canada.

The clock is really ticking now.... ;)

Type 1 Diabetes meets it match on Tour Divide

SUMMARY:
Tony Cervati takes another year of preparation and leaves Banff, AB CA on July 8th for his second attempt at finishing the 2750 mile event.

Tony Cervati a.k.a. Type1Rider, is a man with Type 1 diabetes and will be leaving everything behind again to bike the longest, most dangerous, unsanctioned mountain bike trail on the planet, the Tour Divide. This year, he will be also be making stops along the route, to visit with various Hospitals and Diabetes Care Centers.

During the past two years we've seen two different people with diabetes share a dream and a goal, and smash the misconception of barriers erected by Type 1 Diabetes.

In 2011 Tony Cervati became the first person with Type 1 diabetes to attempt the Tour Divide, the longest mountain bike race in the world. Although he didn't reach the finish, Tony's efforts and preparation paved the way for Athletes with diabetes to re-examine what type of endurance events are indeed possible.

This year Jarral Ryder, another individual faced with Type 1 diabetes, followed that lead and became the first person with the condition to complete the Tour Divide race. Congratulations to Jarral for an outstanding race, and an amazing effort, your accomplishment will forever change the scope of diabetes related athletics!

Tour Divide is a 2,745-mile bicycle race down the spine of the Continental Divide, full of peril, ups and downs, and calm flat and smooth patches all mixed together. A large percentage of riders who start the race each year never complete it, due to injury, bike damage, or simple exhaustion.

About Type1Rider:
Tony Cervati is Type1Rider and the father of two boys, and has battled type 1 diabetes for more than 35 years. He is an active member of the Diabetes Online Community (DOC), and is known for his blogs about being an endurance mountain bike racer. Tony uses social media and Twitter to post his blood glucose readings, and lives openly about his day to day management with type 1 diabetes. You can follow Tony on Twitter @type1rider or read his blogs at www.type1rider.org.

About Tour Divide:
The Tour Divide challenge is simple: Race the rooftop of North America by mountain bike; travel self-supported along all 2,745 miles of Adventure Cycling Association's Great Divide Mountain Bike Route; keep moving and be moved; exist well outside one's comfort zone in tackling a cross-continent bikepacking odyssey; finish as fast as possible without cracking.

For more information:
Type1Rider.org Blogsite:
http://www.type1rider.org

Type1Rider on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TonyCervatiIsType1Rider
https://www.facebook.com/TheType1RiderOrganization

Type1Rider on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/type1rider

Email: Tony@Type1Rider.org
Phone: (323)743-3781



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I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to pick up an extremely inexpensive replacement for my fixie I lost a while back.

I had some carbon parts and new tires laying around so I mounted them up tonight.




Best of luck on the west coast James. Thanks!!

Still needs a single simple brake lever and a pedal change, otherwise it's good to go.

A great commuter and travel bike for sure. Will be bringing this with me to DC next week for some rolling around the city.

Can't wait!

Love my "new" bike.

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Received delivery notification this morning, and went home at lunch to grab a pair of very important shipments.

The first was a shipment of OmniPods from the good folks at Insulet.  ALWAYS, glad to see them in the FedEx box.  Thanks!!

The second, and slightly more exciting, was from REI.  I had ordered a replacement water filtration system for the Tour Divide trip.  Luckily they had it in stock and sent it out right away.

I use a product from a company called Sawyer.  The system is very dependable and very light (3oz total with the 16oz container) and compact. It consists of a small filter that screws onto one of 3 different sized bags that they include.  The water bags are 16, 32, or 64 oz.

You simply dip the bags into a water source, and let them fill.  Then you screw the filter on to the end of the bag.  You drink right from the end of the filter.

Another option, that they just moved forward with this year, is two "ends" that screw onto the filter to allow it to be fitted inline in a water reservoir tube.  Same idea... dunk 100oz water  reservoir into the water source, and then drink strait through the hose attached to the filter.

So simple and quick.  

Plan will be to use the 100oz  reservoir stored in the frame bag as the main water source, and carry the 64oz bag and 32 oz squeeze bag to port more.

For a backup I am going to carry the usual suspects: Iodine and Taste-Neutralizer Tablets.  This way I am covered with the smallest and lightest setup.


I am still in need of getting my Superfly back with the Carbon rigid fork installed and the brake cable length adjusted.  Hopefully tomorrow.  This will give me a few days to finish shaking it down, before I box it up for it journey to Banff.

Will be going out for a ride on some sweet single track after work today on the HiFi, and get some goot interval work in.  Time is ticking fast, and although I am starting to over think (nearly everything), it really is all coming together. 


:)

Keep choppin'!!!!

It was the perfect weather for an after work ride on the HiFi.

Just fun single track... No fire roads. No pavement. No packed frame bags. No GPS.

Just some spare parts, fast acting (in case), and my bike.

I grinned the entire time.

Perfect.




T minus two weeks tomorrow. Nervous.

Oh yes.

Very very nervous.

;)

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It has been an absolutely crazy busy and hectic week here.  Seems SO much going on, and not all of it great.  However, I did manage to cross a bunch of items of the list in terms of Tour Divide preparation, and that is always a good thing.

I managed to get all the travel arrangements done, which, to be truthful, is no small feat.  Car to plane, to bus, to hotel - with a bike and gear.  It feels pretty good to have those logistics done, and the calendar is starting to get strung together quite nicely.

Air Canada is pretty cool with only a $50 charge for bicycles.  I totally dig that.  Flying through Montreal instead of Toronto this time.  Looking forward to it!!

I was also successful at getting in a bunch of miles, especially during long commute loops this week.  Went out through RDU airport (no, they don't get many bikes riding through the passenger pickup area of Terminal 2).  LOL!!

I was surprised at how to close to the planes you could get simply by pedaling up.  :)

Headed through Raleigh and Umstead State Park for some dirt gravel work as well.  Looked kinda like Tour Divide route for just a minute:

Got the Superfly to Trek Raleigh for the last time (hopefully) before it gets packed up for the trip to Canada. We weighted it with the rigid fork and all the bags (empty of course) and I was surprised to find it at 22.1lbs.  I love that bike.  :)  Given the gear list and equipment compared to last year, we will be riding near 8lbs lighter.  Dig that.

Looking forward to relaxing this weekend some, possibly getting the Superfly back on Sunday.  Going to enjoy some sun, some pool time, and be busy being a dad.  My FAVORITE job ever.  :)

Keep Choppin'!!!!!

Coming to a close of another fantastic weekend!  They always go by just way to darn fast....

After traveling back home to NC this morning, I stopped and picked up some parts for the Superfly as well as got the Superfly back from Trek Raleigh.

A great HUGE thanks to Dave and Ryan for getting the bike back on the road.  I appreciate it!  (Chubby's Tacos on me next time I am over).  :)

As far as the parts go..... you can never have enough carbon:

Saved just shy of two pounds on the bike with the addition of the carbon fork.  Was hoping to rock a Niner, but the funds just were not available.  I got this one on the cheap from someone local, and just need to order the tapered headset adapter for it.  As you can see I will need to trim the brake housing as well, but these are uber minor.  Before the weekend it should be all good to go.

With that, the bike will be ready to roll for TD.  I will have three weeks to shake it out before I arrive in Banff, but everything is coming together.  :)

Steerer length is perfect, and it's added length made the bar positioning a little better than the Fox F-29 fork that I had on there.

Sometimes, things are just meant to be....

"Between our dreams and actions, lies this world..."


Pouring rain ride in to work this morning on the Ion.  Chilly rain, slight breeze, and mid 60s temps.


Absolutely perfect.  :)

Have a great day, each and all!!

I am stoked to report that the GPS is working as it should be.  After remaking my maps with "STOPS", not just "VIA", and recreating the Route file on the PC in the Topo Software, the ride in the gig was given with a countdown to the next turn.

Looking at the converted Tour Divide GPX files, it seems that is how they are set up as well.

So, we are 100% operational in that area.  I will carry the paper maps as a backup, but am planning on just using the GPS as mounted between the aero bars to be queued for turns and distances.

This should save a bit of time from looking at the map all the time, and I specific route information (altitude, distance to next point, etc) will all be quick to come by.

According to the device, I am only 2070 miles in a straight line from the end of the Canada route loaded.

LOL!!

SO GLAD this is done.  Now, to the next outstanding issue.  ;)

A few weeks ago, we where contacted by the folks at Insulin Nation about The Type1Rider Organization being be featured in the June Issue (June 6th).  I was so humbled, proud, and honored, and we invite you to subscribe and visit this wonderful source of information as well.

The folks here at Type1Rider, and out sister organization The Blue Heel Society, peruses up to one hundred individual News alerts & Sources worldwide each day to bring the very best FREE resources to our Friends & Followers. Recently we stumbled upon a NEW & unique source containing the BEST & most exhaustive reporting of items we have seen yet, relevant to all of us affected by diabetes. One of the taglines that truly fit's is Insulin Nation's claim of "seperating the noise from the news". 


Insulin Nation states "The digital diabetes magazine, is a community of people with diabetes sharing their stories and experiences for mutual benefit and support.  Every issue celebrates and promotes active, healthy living by and for insulin users, using video, text, graphics and interactive links..  Our unique social media curation tools collect and package the work of leading diabetes influencers, and our Resources pages feature and connect groups offering support to PWD of all ages.   Monthly subscriptions are free with email address registration." 

We asked Chris Leach, the Editor-in-Chief, to tailor a unique message describing Insulin Nation for our Friends & Followers, and here is what he has to say:

From the Editor-in-Chief

Insulin Nation is a digital magazine for people with diabetes who use insulin.  It is the first part of a planned larger network of tools and resources that will connect the people and groups organized round diabetes, particularly type 1 PWD, with each other,  with clinical and scientific communities within the industry.

Insulin Nation's readers belong to and support hundreds of not-for-profit groups that help and connect people with diabetes.  Our intention is both to promote and support these organizations, and to serve as a clearinghouse and meeting place for them and their members.  

We embrace and celebrate the individual missions, passions, and energy of all PWD in the communities we serve through video and text profiles. Our "Voices" section, updated daily, is the only real-time curated collection of comments and posts by more than 200 diabetes.social media influencers. Each issue profiles and links to multiple diabetes organizations and resources.  We are building commenting and sharing functions and a unique YouTube channel.  

Insulin Nation is more than a name or a logo.  It is a real community of people who will empower, encourage, and strengthen each other by being connected.  Supplying the connective tissue is our mission.   
You can visit the most recent Issue of Insulin Nation on the right sides of our Blog, or use the direct link at http://www.insulinnation.com/. You can also follow Insulin Nation on Facebook and on Twitter, and make sure and get your FREE subscription to ensure you enjoy each & every Issue as much as we do!


NOTE - FREE Insulin Nation apps from Apple, Android and Kindle Fire are available in the App Store

So after spending a few hours last night working on putting together my own local "route" to work in the DeLorme Topo software, and transferring it to my PN-60, we have success!!

As I road back to work at lunch today I was able to follow the turn by turn directions with map, time/distance to next way point, and speed, altitude, etc.

Hard to see in this pic, but so stoked that it is working....

It worked great for the first 6 miles, and then the waypoint markers dropped off.  The route was still on, and the mileage was right.... but not the waypoints.  I think this is caused by me setting the map up wrong, or forgetting to save all the waypoints before making the route.

So... we are good with the navigation system.  I have begun loading the Canadian sections of the TD map in, and will verify the waypoints on those when I get home.

OR, I just load the map, and watch it tell me there is 2085 miles to the start.  THAT should be enough right??

LOL!!!

I spent yesterday enjoying some short time at the North Carolina American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure event.  The event was amazing this year, and the weather worked out PERFECTLY for all the riders and the tireless volunteers.

The staff from ADA Raleigh were kind enough to have me speak at the awards ceremony down in Southern Pines.  I am honored and humbled to be invited down to share the day's experiences and stories with all those working so hard to try to find a cure and provide relief for those with diabetes.

Thank you very much Jim, Katie-Rose, Thomas, and rest of the staff and committee that was kind enough to invite me.

I CAN NOT wait until the 1st EVER off road Tour de Cure here in NC at Chapel Hill North this October, and then both events for 2013!!!

Today, I had a BLAST taking my boys to the New Hope Valley Railway for a steam engine ride.  We all enjoyed the spectacular weather and the loudness of the whistle.

They hook this engine up to a train made up of some open air passengers cars, and take a near 90 minute scenic ride.

The cars are converted flatcars from the US Army, and the volunteers here build the tops and added the rows of school bus seats.  Good stuff.

Although I am not overly a train person, Diane was playful teasing me a bit about who was more excited.... me or the boys.  LOL!!  :)

Hmmmm....... It's hard not to get all caught up in their "geekedness".

If you have little ones, or even if you don't, this is such a spectacular place to head to.  Very, very cool.

Tomorrow, it's back to work and back on the bike for more riding and training.  Hopefully I will learn what is the issue with the Superfly's rear wheel shortly, and I get back on that bike.

For now, on the CX for a while.

I also need to spend some time working on the Delorme Topo software to convert the .GPX files from the Tour Divide course to a route or track I can follow on my PN-60.

That seems to be my main outstanding issue (um, besides fitness and funds, Natch) that is on my mind right now.

It is what it is.

Keep Choppin' everyone!!!!

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