It's been a couple of weeks since I've posted. There was a week and a half long work trip to Las Vegas in there and, well, just life in general. At times it's tremendously hard to find the time to write here. It's one thing to say that I'm busy, however, and another thing to actually show how busy I actually am. So, without any further ado, I'd like to give a little 48 hour sample of my life.

Sunday, 8/1/10

In the last 10 years of volunteering for the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) I've helped run 14 major fundraising events. 5 Ride for the Roses and 9 Livestrong Challenges. Until last weekend I'd never ridden in any of them except one. It was a very special experience, something that I think of often as I prepare for the Tour Divide.

"How many miles?" you ask. "Was it Epic? Did the wind howl and the heat bake? Did it rain? Did you ride 100 miles that day?"

 I'm a few days late on this one, for which I apologize. Rather than getting boring life keeps getting infinitely more interesting. I won't complain, as the majority of the interesting parts are pretty darn good.

Livestrong / Ride the Divide Fundraisers

Marinette, WI

On June 24th the Tour Divide had it's first ever fatality. The irony is that it wasn't the result of a bear, mountain lion, dehydration, exposure or anything of the like. Tour Divide racer Dave Blumenthal was hit by a pickup truck outside of Steamboat, CO. He sustained massive head trauma and died shortly thereafter.

Every now and then things happen that defy description. I feel like this last week was one of those. Not just a happening or three, but the whole darn week. It was that good! I'll try in my own little way to fill you in on what's happened and, of course, what's in store.

San Francisco Ride the Divide Premier (Friday 6/11)

I only have a moment to post a short entry right now. Work beckons and there is much to do. However, I just have to get something off my chest:

At this very moment, I am hanging in the living room of one Gnat (in real life, Jason) here in Minneapolis, MN. The crew at Salsa Cycles are putting on a Ride The Divide screening tomorrow at the Riverview Theater.

Today, the second Friday of June, is the start of the Tour Divide. Every year people of all shapes and sizes gather in Banff, Canada. One or two may be pro racer types. The vast majority are modern day adventurers, guys and girls with day jobs who are punching out of reality for awhile on the hardest and longest mountain bike race in the world.