So Tuesday afternoon I had the bib on, the bike on the car, and every intention of getting in a 20-30 mile ride. So after dealing with the horendous traffic of Cary I finally get out to the park where I leave my car. I go to pull the bike off and the clip on the back end sticks so I have to jimmy it out. In the meantime the bike falls to the side and puts some scratches in my roof. So i finally get the bike down, pull out the front tire and pump to get the pressure right (110psi). Start pumping the front tire and nothing happens but a lot of noise. None of the air is getting into the tire so either the stem is crapped out, the pump is, or there’s a hole in the tire. I tried the back tire and it worked fine so logic dictates its the front tire thats blown. So after an hour getting there I have to load the bike back onto the car and head home.

The problem is that I’ve never had to change a tire before and had no idea how to do it. Pretty sad I know, but everyone’s got to learn sometime. So i get home look up how to change a tire and start following the instructions. Make sure you have tire levers to do this process. You’re local bike shop will know what they are and show you how to use them. I got a set in a tire repair package in Austin last year but havent had the chance to use them yet. So I start using the levers and get one under the tire fine, then the second snaps in half. One of those days.

Yesterday my friend Ron offered to show me how to change the tire and put in the new tube. The way he showed me was different than what i had found on the internet and worked much better. He used the tire lever to pull up the tire like I had done but realized that the tire was too small to use the two lever method of levering up one edge then moving further along the tire and levering up another edge again and again till the tire is off the rim. He had to push the lever further into the tire than just on the lip and slid the lever down the rim inside the tire pulling the tire off the rim as he went. He was able to swap the innertube in about five minutes when it took me 15 to break my lever.

To make up for missing the ride Tuesday and realizing that i probably wouldnt have the tire fixed in time to ride Wednesday, I woke up and went to the gym yesterday at eight in the morning and put in 45 minutes on the bike averaging 22 mph and covering 18 miles. Today Ill be hitting the real road, hopefully, to get some saddle time in on my Livestrong Challenge training.

Last evening I finally got myself registered for the 24 hours of Booty in Charlotte.  Its a fundraising event that splits all donations generated with the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Brain Tumor Fund for the Carolinas.  Two worthy causes that are more than deserving of one’s individual efforts.  The event was originally concieved by a rider in the original Tour of Roses as a fundraising event that has evolved into a signature cycling event in the carolinas.

Last year my friend Ron participated, this year he has formed a team called Big Hare Racing of which I and two others of his friends are members.  And no I have no idea why he chose the name Big Hare Racing for the team.  Im hoping to get to 200 miles on my ride.  Its a pretty big number and a pretty big long shot for me to make it considering how little I’ve trained to this point for the Livestrong Challenge, in the cycling aspect at least.  Ive been running but its not the same.  Starting today Ill be doing 20 mile rides every day until Thursday of next week which Ill take off before Booty begins on Friday.  Hopefully ill be able to “spin” myself up for the ride.

This will be my first major effort in getting myself ready for the Livestrong Challenge rides.

Had a soccer game last night and did a bit better than the week before.  Mainly due to us having substitutes so that we were able to move in and out of the game all night rather than being locked onto the field.  Sadly though even with the rest I was responsible for two goals against our team.  I tried to get around two players who collapsed on me against the wall and ended up being driven back.  I saw a teammate across the field on his own so tried to cross and drilled one of the opposing team in the stomach which then went to one of their team members who promptly scored.  Second goal I caused was on another strip mid field where the guy went straight in and scored.  I was not having a good night.  Luckily I was able to score a lucky goal for us on a volley which made me feel better, but in the end we lost 5-2 rather than 3-2 because of my earlier lackluster dribbling.  Im just going to give up the idea that I can get by anyone on the short field, I had a little success on the bigger field and it all went to my head.

Had a soccer game on Thursday where we were a person short so played the first half four on four instead of five on five, luckily we picked up a player for the second half but we still had no subs. To clarify those that know soccer and are wondering how it’s five on five to be full strength, thats because its indoor soccer. While still soccer its a bit closer to hockey with the way you can use the boards and what not. There’s a severe downside to not having subs on my end. When playing soccer indoors i only ever have two speeds, standstill and all out. By the first five minutes of both halves I was spent and dragging around the field. Yet another example of not being in the best of shape, as well as the ensuing soreness that lasts even to today. Ill make sure to remember to stretch out first next time.

Today I did put in a four mile run on my normal route averaging just under ten minute miles. I was pretty sore from soccer but got out there anyway. The last thing I need is to make more excuses to stay in. I’ve found that alternating the direction I run my route to be a good way to change the scenery and keep the run fresh, though running it backwards from the way I initially planned the run is extremely harder than the the original direction.

The poker tournaments are still moving along month to month and becoming a lifeline to my fundraising.  The tournaments by themselves have already qualified me for the Livestrong Challenge fundraising limit for Austin and pushed me two-thirds of the way to being qualified for Philadelphia’s Livestrong Challenge.  The past tournament this month had 8 entrants and raised $64 for the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

There’s only two more tournaments until the end of the fundraising finale, which occurs after the fundraising deadline for the Livestrong Challenge.  Then those that have played all year will get to cash in their point totals earned through the season and play for a pot that is not split with the LAF and goes directly to the winners.