A new post from our sister site, The Blue Heel Society:


As most of you know Valentine's Day is fast approaching...in just a mere 4 days. WAIT!!! Don't freak out!! 

Before you run out to go buy jewelry, a box of chocolates or flowers...I want to challenge you!


WHAT IF... you didn't buy that jewelry, chocolates or flowers ... I'm not suggesting you willfully put yourself in the "Dog House"!!

Hear me out!

WHAT IF, instead... you chose to SAVE A LIFE!?

I know you are now thinking I've lost my mind! How in the world can not buying your traditional Valentine's Day gifts save a life? Easy. The Blue Heel Society has been asked to help spread a unique initiative from some wonderfully awesome DOC people and organizations. It's called the Spare a Rose, Save a Life. All we are asking is instead of buying a dozen roses buy 11 and the value of that 1 extra rose you donate to a diabetic child in need. It's easy to do!

Click HERE or copy this URL into your browser http://www.idf.org/lifeforachild/donate and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) will guide you through the fast & easy process for you to donate!

I am blessed that my D kids have access to their insulin, pump and testing supplies at ANY time. Sadly, others don't. There are children living in third world countries that have one bottle of insulin stored in unregulated temperatures and one syringe to last them a month...sometimes longer. There are children dying because they don't have the basic diabetic necessities. 

Donate $1, donate several, Save a Life!! 

Then sit back and enjoy your 11 roses knowing that 12th rose saved a DIABETIC life.

For more information please visit http://diabetesadvocates.org/c/spare-a-rose-save-a-child/where there is information on how to help promote 'Spare a Rose, Save a Child' effort on your Website/Blog.

 John Parkinson, the Clinical Content Coordinator, at DiabetesCare.net, published the second half the conversation we had a couple of week back.

As a reminder, part one can be found at: http://www.diabetescare.net/content_upclose_detail.asp?id=446785.

The second half focuses on The Blue Heel Society, our Luminary efforts, and my thoughts about the value of social media & a cure. 

If you have a minute check the article out:

http://bit.ly/127h4SN 

Thanks so much John for taking the time to chat, and for this oppurtunity!!

A little while back Diane and I headed to Haverhill, MA to compete in a Rebel Race.  Our friends at Insulet put out a blog post about it on their OmniPod Suite D site.  Here is one of the videos from the entry:




To see the rest of it, and the fun we had, head over to The Obstacle Course of Diabetes at:

http://suited.myomnipod.com/tony/the-obstacle-course-of-diabetes/

Keep Choppin'!! :)

I mentioned a couple of days ago about how this year is "rocketing" by, and how I would post on that exact phrasing later.

Last week, we went to Florida to visit my friend Fran and his wife Maria.  Fran happens to work where they have the coolest toys... you know... stuff like rockets, satellites  and shuttles.

Fran was kind enough to get us a launch pass and take the two of us to a night launch of an Atlas 5 rocket carrying the TDRS-K Spacecraft.  

It was a dream for me, as most of you know I dig space exploration.  A little.  (LOL). 

I have never been to a launch before, and this was certainly was more than likely a once in a lifetime experience.  

There is no way for me to adequately describe how incredible this was.  

I. Was. Just. Floored.

This video was shot by the camera located right next to us on the causeway.  



Thank you so much my friend.  I will never forget this event.
Ever.

For the past few months I have been searching high and low for a steel rigid 29er single speed.  I was forced to sell my Superfly SS in the middle of summer last year, and I have been missing it ever since.

Riding a rigid single speed is one of the most amazing cycling experiences you can possibly have, in my opinion.  Before I joined the Trek 29er Crew back in 2009, I had been riding a Kona Unit 29er SS.  The bright orange one. :)

All Stock.  Straight out of the box.

And I loved it.

Since I was looking for a non-custom steel frame, my manufacture choices when narrowed down for me.

So after much back and forth I contacted Jason at Back Alley Bikes in Chapel Hill.  I have known Jason for years, and not only is he a good guy, he was kind enough to let us use his shop while building my bike for Tour Divide & the documentary.  Jason's shop is a Kona and Niner dealer, and that, coincidentally, was exactly what I decided I wanted to put together.  A 2013 Unit with a Niner tapered carbon fork.

Only squeezed in a little ride this evening, and I am looking forward to putting some real miles on it tomorrow (weather permitting).

The first little bit was exactly how I remember... plain joyful.

Thanks man!

Keep Choppin' everyone!!

January has absolutely just rocketed by.  And I do mean "rocketed".  More on that in a later post.  :)

Before I left to visit a good friend in Florida last week, I was very fortunate to be be interviewed by John Parkinson, Clinical Content Coordinator, at DiabetesCare.net.  We spoke on the phone for well over an hour, and he was kind enough to write up a two part article to be feature on their site. 

Part one was published last week, and the second part will be release on Feb. 8th.

The first half talks about Tour Divide, early diagnosis, Type1Rider, and what I have planned on the bike for 2013.  The second half discusses projects we are working on, The Blue Heel Society, the DOC, and diabetes advocacy.


Part 1 can be found at DiabetesCare.net at the following url: http://www.diabetescare.net/content_upclose_detail.asp?id=446785


Thanks so much for all of the continued support, and KEEP CHOPPIN'!!!