tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55860020564405713082024-03-05T13:35:01.211-08:00FinkelsteinTimothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.comBlogger357125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-27377894248164434742011-07-25T11:10:00.000-07:002011-07-25T15:24:26.579-07:00Falling apart to become whole.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKqNNQHw_IqFOMTRRAXRgFLHDOgEkE-rPW5yioIFB0Gfsa1Sipf2xMUEC04grNbl0Qr4RjwIXywPC7fDoBpaHpsRU8cNMyZD4dZPevQZL85we-EeL0QicVtSrEs4gomb8ntwraTYyHxA/s1600/279562_2078173626606_1012966683_32092726_4469890_o.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKqNNQHw_IqFOMTRRAXRgFLHDOgEkE-rPW5yioIFB0Gfsa1Sipf2xMUEC04grNbl0Qr4RjwIXywPC7fDoBpaHpsRU8cNMyZD4dZPevQZL85we-EeL0QicVtSrEs4gomb8ntwraTYyHxA/s400/279562_2078173626606_1012966683_32092726_4469890_o.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633355258041777346" /></a><br /><br />This is a cycling blog. So I'll apologize in advance to you, the reader, for the emotional sap and lack of detailed race reports this season. I’ve been pretty good over the past 5 years or so of updating it, but this season has been a bit of a challenge for me. It’s not that there haven’t been significant happenings in my life to report but rather I just haven’t had the time to update.<br /><br />The summer of Angela…that’s what I’ve always deemed this season. The focus was to take a laid back approach to my training and racing and put the wealth of my energy into the bigger more important priorities in my life. To my surprise, I’ve managed to put together a pretty solid season despite the lack of my previously taken “monkhood” approach in the years of past. Of the 33 races I’ve lined up for this year, I’ve won 10 of them, stood atop the podium 9 other times, and been in the top ten all but 4 races. I don’t have much to complain about.<br /><br />Virtually all of the races I’ve lost in my life, I had already lost before I rolled up to the line…I had lost them in my mind. Yesterday was one of these occurrences. In fact, all of my races in the past 2 weeks have been the worst of my season thus far. I’ve been falling apart, I’ve been burning out. However, despite some short-lived frustration and disappointment I am pretty happy about everything that’s going on right now. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVA_GMj3JjH2tiMB9G_ElHYGYiF4QuNJm397k1aCFhsftC3ZcgLkbGyLWDr0O7PMyQV3g9fHr0C4j7KPSLDZmETMbCJbDf_EYkthuq0qbx2L8o4hbfh0ttq4FctSSDDuGltbjfCnIAQ6M/s1600/271383_2078175866662_1012966683_32092740_2727755_o.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVA_GMj3JjH2tiMB9G_ElHYGYiF4QuNJm397k1aCFhsftC3ZcgLkbGyLWDr0O7PMyQV3g9fHr0C4j7KPSLDZmETMbCJbDf_EYkthuq0qbx2L8o4hbfh0ttq4FctSSDDuGltbjfCnIAQ6M/s400/271383_2078175866662_1012966683_32092740_2727755_o.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633354969474738482" /></a><br /><br />My 12-year-old nephew was telling me about cleaning his room the other day. He told me that he had to create one big mess before he could clean his room and get it in order. Lately, my mind has been elsewhere than the road beneath my tires. My recent lack of success has been determined mentally before I even rolled to the line. None of this is a bad thing, but rather how I presume things should probably be. Again, this season was all about focusing on my most important priorities. So perhaps my nephews comment applies to me now. Perhaps I need to fall apart a bit before I can become whole.<br /><br />On Wednesday morning Angela and I will head up to Boyne Mountain to take the most important step we have ever taken in our lives. I’ve visualized the moment in my head for some time now. I have had several intense emotional “highs” and life defining moments atop my bike, but this one is going to trump them all. All of my experiences up until now are simply the compound of the whole person I am bringing to the alter on Saturday. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">"I will bring you a whole person and you will bring me a whole person and we will have us twice as much of love and everything." <br />— Mari Evans</span></span><br /><br />So while my racing and this cycling blog may be falling apart and going to the wayside as of lately, I’m OK with it. I’m becoming whole, and I couldn’t be happier.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkJRB4ZI5akPmRDbWcOYejdM0CD301pPjao6nEosmmL5fexK4XhRhG8drKWQvPThXuekdn609CJ4_HDTBLrfBvRDWUTN82j-OGzr0_XsEPDj17pU4cePDNAJgeTbD1d3-EFXay2clv7w/s1600/IMG_3090.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkJRB4ZI5akPmRDbWcOYejdM0CD301pPjao6nEosmmL5fexK4XhRhG8drKWQvPThXuekdn609CJ4_HDTBLrfBvRDWUTN82j-OGzr0_XsEPDj17pU4cePDNAJgeTbD1d3-EFXay2clv7w/s400/IMG_3090.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633356186556629506" /></a><br /><br />We’ll see you in August. Thanks for reading.Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-37396513748073853512011-06-01T11:32:00.000-07:002011-06-02T04:59:33.869-07:00Bluer SkysNo matter how hard I try to resist it, time keeps getting faster. The races are following suit as well.<br /> <br />So many notable things have happened in the past few weeks, all of which are positively memorable. <br /> <br />Life can be a bit of a roller coaster. There are certain things that can simply make life better. I’m talking about those special times when the sky seems bluer, music sounds better, and even the taste of food is intensified. I’ve kind of been at the top of the roller coaster for the past three weeks.<br /><br />Ironically, this peak all started by deciding to skip a bike race. While the Tour of Washtenaw was a very well suited race for my skill set, I opted to nominate this weekend to our wedding shower. Despite the preconceived ideas that this estrogen charged ritual is simply for women, I must admit I had a great time. My groomsmen were present to help carry gifts and to also knock back a few bowls of loud mouth soup with me. Afterward, we invited the entire wedding party and their families back to our house for a party. Much fun was had by all and I never once thought about the racing I had sacrificed for this moment. If this experience is a small glimpse into how fun July 30th will be at Boyne Mountain, we are all in for a real treat.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wGpTzyW7of64ZiVErDI-0j0FYxI-vS0j1MQAPVHhCYunQ9P36YoefkvRCLZzypftSBHeZFDVxktvGh6irQXeOlwm0P4XkYq-4UE-Ys22K-1liusmbvqVb0QcOh1gFrdbhK9uuWA8o6Q/s1600/222786_224150620928431_100000004837363_969216_8100853_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wGpTzyW7of64ZiVErDI-0j0FYxI-vS0j1MQAPVHhCYunQ9P36YoefkvRCLZzypftSBHeZFDVxktvGh6irQXeOlwm0P4XkYq-4UE-Ys22K-1liusmbvqVb0QcOh1gFrdbhK9uuWA8o6Q/s400/222786_224150620928431_100000004837363_969216_8100853_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613321381553592258" /></a><br />May 18th marked my brother Dons birthday. It was also the third time I’ve had to celebrate it without him. While he is no longer here, I spent the day thinking about him and was content that I could still feel his presence. Needless to say, I went to Waterford that night armed with some intrinsic motivation to honor my brother’s life through my racing. The evening’s conditions were miserable. It was cold and rainy at the start and the spray from the peloton’s wheels made it very challenging to see up the road or judge distance well. I told my fellow teammates that night that I really wanted to win the race. Don must have been with us as we claimed 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th place and managed to all finish a race that 1/3rd of the field threw the towel in on.<br /><br />As I crossed the line in first place that day, I threw my hands up and pointed to the sky. It was a cathartic moment for me and albeit a midweek training race, it is a memorable finish that I’ll hold onto the rest of my life.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyITVNuJtBuMfgs1p9MjsnCRx5UkbXv40r9CMITv_ywx7GgPrhXZyFnAZz25LWJY2O8fwn6Yp60rur40QfxwcKfU1o3HyYbi5EDf-0GZKQgqhp6JgyE4m-hJKz6eXL93sRos5HkEpK2o/s1600/246598_1910757641311_1012966683_31934695_1111098_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyITVNuJtBuMfgs1p9MjsnCRx5UkbXv40r9CMITv_ywx7GgPrhXZyFnAZz25LWJY2O8fwn6Yp60rur40QfxwcKfU1o3HyYbi5EDf-0GZKQgqhp6JgyE4m-hJKz6eXL93sRos5HkEpK2o/s400/246598_1910757641311_1012966683_31934695_1111098_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613322227220766866" /></a><br />This past weekend I raced the Tour of Frankenmuth. Because of conflicting MTB events in the past I hadn’t raced this race since 2007 in which I had a very marginal finish and remember having had a very difficult time in the crosswind sections. However, 2011 marked a banner year for me in this little German town.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaGQt1ehbX9i0i9-46uOWR4qSkAN6FomcM4-pggSYSb2S9fw77cenuCTCae53ZhjaYHZUVX2Nqh2A7JceNgYSdxORZGwxWbeW5c3F__1_gIzHkxfLWAxBtBuJFUVmLeBfHmFoXJpR8G4/s1600/249871_1819720132107_1213268585_31750720_7318130_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaGQt1ehbX9i0i9-46uOWR4qSkAN6FomcM4-pggSYSb2S9fw77cenuCTCae53ZhjaYHZUVX2Nqh2A7JceNgYSdxORZGwxWbeW5c3F__1_gIzHkxfLWAxBtBuJFUVmLeBfHmFoXJpR8G4/s400/249871_1819720132107_1213268585_31750720_7318130_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613322058721978514" /></a><br />The race was an exciting one as it never really calmed down and there were always moves being made from the gun. Five minutes into the race I found myself in a 4 man breakaway for the entire first lap. I proceeded to pay for this effort the next two laps and did not feel very well at all. I went into the race sick, but as Ray says, “It doesn’t matter how well you feel that day, if they go up the road, you still need to go”. The race continued to ramp up with many attacks from the Carbon Racing Team. With about 7 miles to go, the field eventually came back together. However, I didn’t think I had too much left in me at that point to make something happen. Then, with about 5 more miles remaining, a move went up the road that I was fortunate to put myself in. It contained Ryan Cross (former teammate and now of Panther Pro Cycling), Brian Adams (One of Michigan’s finest long standing accomplished racers), Brian Crosby (Black line Racing) and Brian Batke (Carbon Racing). For the next five miles we pulled hard enough to stay away and the race came down to a sprint finish. Although the sprint was downhill it was into a headwind. Knowing Ryan Cross was probably the best finisher of the bunch I decided to tuck into his wheel. With about 100m to go I came around him and threw my hands up in complete surprise. In the background I could hear the amplification of Tony Bruley’s voice announcing the race and yelling my name over and over. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDv2HYu3FWyvOOrI8CmFnUUWrjokM_8BeyL58ZXmlMsw9Cu_nMGm2O4zizGIvVjCkM-dTaxJ3RCGTiuDsE-3MeaLWKwPQgKCePSCmkNdHdv6Ioe4kX1_JixqXjAqVlNePZTcAjUKszOQ/s1600/252317_1819734412464_1213268585_31750789_6360563_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDv2HYu3FWyvOOrI8CmFnUUWrjokM_8BeyL58ZXmlMsw9Cu_nMGm2O4zizGIvVjCkM-dTaxJ3RCGTiuDsE-3MeaLWKwPQgKCePSCmkNdHdv6Ioe4kX1_JixqXjAqVlNePZTcAjUKszOQ/s400/252317_1819734412464_1213268585_31750789_6360563_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613321557869113042" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzT9NttET0Ry8Et-rAhWB5ma_rRwpvYMdzi64XD-LF5igbLSUuUsgdhOJZDOTIT8aeb5LEFBbw_mnUxr7nxf-BPsR0HaIhnw5afPKNMr2L4qVLayFq8tycCsJq2QygpyM-ZK7GQ5H9t4/s1600/250065_1819734652470_1213268585_31750790_2200396_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzT9NttET0Ry8Et-rAhWB5ma_rRwpvYMdzi64XD-LF5igbLSUuUsgdhOJZDOTIT8aeb5LEFBbw_mnUxr7nxf-BPsR0HaIhnw5afPKNMr2L4qVLayFq8tycCsJq2QygpyM-ZK7GQ5H9t4/s400/250065_1819734652470_1213268585_31750790_2200396_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613321799070285314" /></a><br /><br />After the race Tony interviewed me. Our dialogue went a little something as follows:<br /><br />Tony: Tim, you are a very accomplished mountain biker but seem to have a great season going on the road this year. Is road your main focus this season?<br /><br />Me: To be honest with you Tony, my main focus this year is simply getting married. There have been a lot of summers of Tim in the past; this summer is the summer of Angela.<br /><br />This really sums it up I suppose. I am very happy with the way my season is going; I have six wins total now. However, my most important priority is getting married and beginning my foundation for a family. I love bike racing. I feel it in my soul and it is a burning passion of mine. I plan to do it for as long as my body will physically allow me to. <br /><br />Lately, the sky has been all the more blue, music just sounds all the more sweet, and I’m very content with my life. But bike racing has not been the main cause of this. Racing will never love you or care for you or be with you by your side in your worst of times. In the end, love is the most important thing. I have come to the realization though, that bike racing makes me a better person and in the end allows me to love all the more.<br /><br />Thanks for reading.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcR9sK99BkxNDcRjGx7oqCTo70XKhALZ2hqiBvK8MJ-GvaBjQMt5l4NbW9vY_s9DyBUaT3RT6DYbi8J1d7FP7VeR9LmnAtpzpx8PJyioaQv5OU-AHxTiLVdHbWKCK9w_EW9JqCw0uNtcw/s1600/252372_1819974618469_1213268585_31751261_8007703_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcR9sK99BkxNDcRjGx7oqCTo70XKhALZ2hqiBvK8MJ-GvaBjQMt5l4NbW9vY_s9DyBUaT3RT6DYbi8J1d7FP7VeR9LmnAtpzpx8PJyioaQv5OU-AHxTiLVdHbWKCK9w_EW9JqCw0uNtcw/s400/252372_1819974618469_1213268585_31751261_8007703_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613322380634201074" /></a>Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-66811378231518802672011-05-04T08:50:00.000-07:002011-05-04T09:53:22.801-07:00Northern Neighbors, Fluid Friction, and Filthy Land MinesAfter a two week hiatus of any quality regimented training, my legs seemed to be a little confused last week. <br /><br />The week’s racing all started with the second session of our fort nightly Canadian escapades to Ciaciaro. Despite a few failed attempts to break things up, the race came down to a dreaded field sprint. As par for the course usually follows in these situations, Paulo Eugeni proved once again that his dominant fast twitch muscles were no match for us horse heads in the final 200 meters. Despite not claiming the top podium spot, the WSC still stood atop the other two which was good enough for another evening of burritos and cervezas in Detroit’s Mexican Town. I took 2nd and Randy took 3rd. <br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JNJipYdI5isUfnHoRA6Z2Ixql5CAEqQoc487CB4NERi-2uEVW899VjMEoP8lkhIDoo4xS-UW_o0ezi2E6Ay43lJoayw9bTmnKGIykVV6fsCeAmKOLGsCe1d7zILcjaJCdwoVEuEWV3_Y/s1600/218142_1844579786906_1012966683_31844440_7272621_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JNJipYdI5isUfnHoRA6Z2Ixql5CAEqQoc487CB4NERi-2uEVW899VjMEoP8lkhIDoo4xS-UW_o0ezi2E6Ay43lJoayw9bTmnKGIykVV6fsCeAmKOLGsCe1d7zILcjaJCdwoVEuEWV3_Y/s400/218142_1844579786906_1012966683_31844440_7272621_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602886266290238674" /></a><br /><br />It had been 5 years since I did my last TT, and Saturday was once again another reinforcing reminder of why I tuck my tail between my legs when the notion of Time Trialing is ever brought up. I certainly wanted to make the bike go fast, but it seems 8 other people wanted to make it go faster than mine, and they did. I managed a mediocre 9th place. However, the day was a success because I mustered up the gumption to line up to a discipline I’ve avoided for years. Time Trialing is certainly a beast of its own and I give major props to the consistent specialty gods of Michigan Time Trialing like Tom Burke and Jon Card. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbvPnhbkrlna8CFrH-8FJBW47g0U4o_ar_9mnlLvjllpwKeQt3qHmG16ocsmiPgvwvEvNxIvGghBtRjuUhLC75NBDRqM2AztPrnh1t5tc7-wNO5VQCwtLkgVAQW9flT7ROLwPRk1MqjoAc/s1600/IMG_5841%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbvPnhbkrlna8CFrH-8FJBW47g0U4o_ar_9mnlLvjllpwKeQt3qHmG16ocsmiPgvwvEvNxIvGghBtRjuUhLC75NBDRqM2AztPrnh1t5tc7-wNO5VQCwtLkgVAQW9flT7ROLwPRk1MqjoAc/s400/IMG_5841%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602886673611819538" /></a><br /><br />For now, I need much more practice at this discipline. Seeing as I built the machine I was on that previous Monday, perhaps more time in the TT saddle will help.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLicqj5u17fehv91f04AoD1sqQM1rsdiu7BGVzTiGBwXFRt-fA6DNQrWcnqWB80gTEJ6mC7uNVPtGVEyM_Rd0aNlH_i_O366ODvIWwKK3Va0ZvIPKhv6BSY-eeutFX5xv-bg3neEIK_A1/s1600/227774_1770426259791_1213268585_31688756_4658263_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLicqj5u17fehv91f04AoD1sqQM1rsdiu7BGVzTiGBwXFRt-fA6DNQrWcnqWB80gTEJ6mC7uNVPtGVEyM_Rd0aNlH_i_O366ODvIWwKK3Va0ZvIPKhv6BSY-eeutFX5xv-bg3neEIK_A1/s400/227774_1770426259791_1213268585_31688756_4658263_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602887004688016818" /></a><br /><br />There are few races in Michigan that equally draw me to them and well as detract me. At Cone Azalia, you can either have terrible luck or be terribly lucky. In the past, I’ve been on both sides of the gun. Despite the elation I had after finishing second to my own teammate three years ago, I still harbor the dream of crossing the line first at this venue. However, 2011 was not the year for this dream to come to fruition. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn9OIfU8_DdeS7XJro_cRa14H-woUr6V8P86C3VcBVSMfb7pIsyhtglFdev-fH2deSrkavxmrnsRfJGwEpqIkEd_SXL4FYCMtloxNMjjU9Y6PzBvbI0GveWwvM4YR2IU8p2KSL2cJoNs4/s1600/226632_1770413619475_1213268585_31688689_7428608_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn9OIfU8_DdeS7XJro_cRa14H-woUr6V8P86C3VcBVSMfb7pIsyhtglFdev-fH2deSrkavxmrnsRfJGwEpqIkEd_SXL4FYCMtloxNMjjU9Y6PzBvbI0GveWwvM4YR2IU8p2KSL2cJoNs4/s400/226632_1770413619475_1213268585_31688689_7428608_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602887284556329650" /></a><br /><br />The conditions of this year’s race were the worst I’ve ever seen in my 8 year tenure with this event. The dirt sections were littered with wheel swallowing pits, coupled with loose rocks, and muddy skunk-tail inducing puddles. If you did not front run the first few laps, you were destined to be led into a bad line and shelled off the back. <br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLT12YJxyv0-YWcotvsqEirHPqT-Tel6I0-Atag-La5AICUlNZZJsjMmtQCJdzUR3UsoJZCSNNphkx_4fgAnVUKVDVoXsVnP1LnsCDNS0BHCzlxqj0NH8My1elja6mW_ftfhlqpiY6M-6/s1600/229026_1770420419645_1213268585_31688726_3574611_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLT12YJxyv0-YWcotvsqEirHPqT-Tel6I0-Atag-La5AICUlNZZJsjMmtQCJdzUR3UsoJZCSNNphkx_4fgAnVUKVDVoXsVnP1LnsCDNS0BHCzlxqj0NH8My1elja6mW_ftfhlqpiY6M-6/s400/229026_1770420419645_1213268585_31688726_3574611_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602887488391697890" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-_WOhb4q3EPij-f3rpAjZ68QES3sGIa2P5Um0g1y9w_tSNxwVvqySa9Ju-Dx7h40gNLditCHeeJc29NbSqPJLQt1598zG5-SzBRUZtRftybYUiRt-ruJ3V8iOqELsYMxJ26zFPuiK3jJ/s1600/229307_1770416979559_1213268585_31688706_1792932_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-_WOhb4q3EPij-f3rpAjZ68QES3sGIa2P5Um0g1y9w_tSNxwVvqySa9Ju-Dx7h40gNLditCHeeJc29NbSqPJLQt1598zG5-SzBRUZtRftybYUiRt-ruJ3V8iOqELsYMxJ26zFPuiK3jJ/s400/229307_1770416979559_1213268585_31688706_1792932_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602887876263472258" /></a><br /><br />Although I made the selection after the first three laps and was poised to put myself in a winning position, sometimes bike racing comes down to nothing more than patience and attentiveness. On the fourth lap a field split of six rolled away while I was at the back of the pack in mid conversation with Clint Verran about some speculations of how the race would play out from here. Although I put in my best effort to make contact with the front group, it was too little and too late. I watched the race roll up the road and realized the rest of my day was going to be simply spent racing for 7th place. After three more mundane laps, I won the sprint in my chase group of four for 7th place.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXAwxKEc0anBo9W7rPgqUvfHf2ImEoAwc6s1pHYetsIdyyOn1j8XQr2nR_MlAoU4cvtd4lXu4NP3BJUOjIs-j4z-zKvhuyXHKHhhaPLLNh1aM8UP0fhFQDd2uivYFVLMd9MHNh-xcw7w3/s1600/226557_1770416779554_1213268585_31688705_8177608_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXAwxKEc0anBo9W7rPgqUvfHf2ImEoAwc6s1pHYetsIdyyOn1j8XQr2nR_MlAoU4cvtd4lXu4NP3BJUOjIs-j4z-zKvhuyXHKHhhaPLLNh1aM8UP0fhFQDd2uivYFVLMd9MHNh-xcw7w3/s400/226557_1770416779554_1213268585_31688705_8177608_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602888016669482818" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxJWNLkazN-gmyrOaG1NV0XE4eSqd5q-zhTStQ_Ia-CVncleS-MoAodJQ532Ob0KNdBrxO_DkkwZmu50U53zAfm7B6S4-3ZvvqIxm7A09_GiQi-DUarwtl0Bd31tn995lgziNNxp1FJRx/s1600/227714_1770413179464_1213268585_31688687_5159973_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxJWNLkazN-gmyrOaG1NV0XE4eSqd5q-zhTStQ_Ia-CVncleS-MoAodJQ532Ob0KNdBrxO_DkkwZmu50U53zAfm7B6S4-3ZvvqIxm7A09_GiQi-DUarwtl0Bd31tn995lgziNNxp1FJRx/s400/227714_1770413179464_1213268585_31688687_5159973_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602888154869700322" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKciI1ngR8vDdwlJLPz9A_BbDG2hkdWjUKPlWUoOTJ16cR4sbbhdXxob5WjeKdjb14FXYxeVjjR4Aqr56BbwVCX1_Q88U7SyMXTYkSVx4YfslTjcyS0_3Z8YLlKxyl5q7P0sNgZiG0mTTW/s1600/231135_1770413459471_1213268585_31688688_3135482_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKciI1ngR8vDdwlJLPz9A_BbDG2hkdWjUKPlWUoOTJ16cR4sbbhdXxob5WjeKdjb14FXYxeVjjR4Aqr56BbwVCX1_Q88U7SyMXTYkSVx4YfslTjcyS0_3Z8YLlKxyl5q7P0sNgZiG0mTTW/s400/231135_1770413459471_1213268585_31688688_3135482_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602888298186191026" /></a><br /><br />Cone Azalia is a tough mans race. I give major props out to Dan Lam who crashed on the first lap. As the race rolled onward his ankle began to swell up like a grapefruit. He forged onward in the first chase group for another 60 miles after the crash. Just before we rolled out for our final lap he pulled out of the race to go straight to the ER. His diagnosis was a broken ankle and a suggested 6 weeks from the game. It just goes to show you the ability a bike racer has to suffer. 60 miles on a broken ankle…indeed Cone is a tough mans race. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HyfYuNAiWu6VCYTDyvXDIRn8sofiddL-epE338wRY1FjgQhuq9lu4YSn7fCMe-h2j1Ad8mir-t21IQCc6jRiMmGSOWSSQ8jjM_Le2uyc7qsHPxcnEB7i4BNOOk2C6TSxQiAhvYuYcoQx/s1600/227435_1770418899607_1213268585_31688718_1660080_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HyfYuNAiWu6VCYTDyvXDIRn8sofiddL-epE338wRY1FjgQhuq9lu4YSn7fCMe-h2j1Ad8mir-t21IQCc6jRiMmGSOWSSQ8jjM_Le2uyc7qsHPxcnEB7i4BNOOk2C6TSxQiAhvYuYcoQx/s400/227435_1770418899607_1213268585_31688718_1660080_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602886864792554626" /></a>Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-24409706796105111152011-04-19T12:09:00.000-07:002011-04-19T16:50:08.803-07:00STS: The FinaleIn life and in bike racing, adaptation is a skill that can often lead to success. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDIeECSIZNZuCqI1TxIoTElFdBw9VYgwjcY4gKG8sdszS3kj6pd4wAHVLYQlKtG6vD9STq5R1mV96A7XQJjUIEK2sNp11F2aGx4Q7dRMb8B8eT6F1jMFciFauo25YZ010WkC4Q_XIVMg/s1600/215714_1740791078930_1213268585_31645494_3068262_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDIeECSIZNZuCqI1TxIoTElFdBw9VYgwjcY4gKG8sdszS3kj6pd4wAHVLYQlKtG6vD9STq5R1mV96A7XQJjUIEK2sNp11F2aGx4Q7dRMb8B8eT6F1jMFciFauo25YZ010WkC4Q_XIVMg/s400/215714_1740791078930_1213268585_31645494_3068262_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597375261684297026" /></a><br /> <br />Just before the season started rolling, knowing I was in decent form, I decided to set a goal of winning the Michigan Spring Series. Winning the opening race at Waterford Hills sparked confidence and intensified my motivation to want to continue to do well in the early training races. Furthermore, my consistent podium finishes had me sitting content with the belief that mathematically I had already won the spring series.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxzmoL9US2dak8KeyZ6NnUrZV6xMlitACyKDlp90CeVv6KBrsT9i82SswAcmFRVUmmjIa80HG_pEFePeKABkalLg9HH8iKHucGdz5HG4KTa5yCxguW3SPImZ4_cBZ4W_JBtk6m34D2wEY/s1600/206920_1740776238559_1213268585_31645442_4433695_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxzmoL9US2dak8KeyZ6NnUrZV6xMlitACyKDlp90CeVv6KBrsT9i82SswAcmFRVUmmjIa80HG_pEFePeKABkalLg9HH8iKHucGdz5HG4KTa5yCxguW3SPImZ4_cBZ4W_JBtk6m34D2wEY/s400/206920_1740776238559_1213268585_31645442_4433695_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597375389119054226" /></a><br /><br />Sometimes it’s hard to hit a target when you are aiming at the wrong one or without knowledge of the target all together. Such was the case with my standing in the <a href="http://aasts.blogspot.com/p/results.html">STS</a> overall. In the past, the STS was always based on a racers finishes at Waterford coupled with the Ann Arbor races. However, I was unaware that this season the points were based on the Ann Arbor races exclusively. Having finished in 2nd place twice in 2 of the 3 races leading up to the finale (I missed one when I was in NC), I became aware literally minutes before the gun that I was only leading the series by a mere point. What was expected to be a laid back day of racing in which we planned to try and set another teammate besides myself up for a win, turned out to be a title battle.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEAGHYvAHgTrR17EBk1ioQ3QtBQQ5VQBRdc50v7bSwTHR6jzq68getosTk7-kNydBLFLq5YLemBjW1AIO3n7UNGrmskqi6fI2_4VGhurjg1clcPHYjYVfDs7As3cIKKD41bU3BmV1O24/s1600/205810_1823049488662_1012966683_31812146_6037151_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEAGHYvAHgTrR17EBk1ioQ3QtBQQ5VQBRdc50v7bSwTHR6jzq68getosTk7-kNydBLFLq5YLemBjW1AIO3n7UNGrmskqi6fI2_4VGhurjg1clcPHYjYVfDs7As3cIKKD41bU3BmV1O24/s400/205810_1823049488662_1012966683_31812146_6037151_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597376056785730306" /></a> <br /><br />Robert Foshag, of Lathrop Industries, and Vince Roberge, of Trails edge were both tailing me in close second for the series title. If either of them finished in front of me, the 3 year running streak of the Wolverines would come to an abrupt halt. Both Robert and Vince are riders who I look up to and respect greatly. Also, both riders’ skill sets can be quite a handful to deal with when going up against them in seclusion. Robert Foshag is an all around strong rider and has a vicious finish when the line is in sight. Vince, just as he proved last week, is capable of motoring away from the field never to be seen again until after he crosses the finish line in front of you. Needless to say, I lined up on Sunday knowing that I had my work cut out for me and that I needed to be crafty. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrp0h9K8MNvqqQ-OH0qjKLnJaMmp4oymfDmlNWikUE1qDAm_LrqoW2FCvh42h4wjqWeqMLlALfXUo-83ZX8mjLAy7SWyrqVXiC6xMFGl8asynQXYN1SiQAnTSbWMEMVnWNL8vmnnwKpeE/s1600/205484_1740781878700_1213268585_31645467_8259351_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrp0h9K8MNvqqQ-OH0qjKLnJaMmp4oymfDmlNWikUE1qDAm_LrqoW2FCvh42h4wjqWeqMLlALfXUo-83ZX8mjLAy7SWyrqVXiC6xMFGl8asynQXYN1SiQAnTSbWMEMVnWNL8vmnnwKpeE/s400/205484_1740781878700_1213268585_31645467_8259351_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597375646149115362" /></a><br /><br />After a short team meeting just before the start, we determined that I did not have to win the race but simply ensure that neither Vince nor Robert finished in front of me. Both riders had a strong team surrounding them. It was incredibly windy and Ray suggested that I make sure I stay near the top wheels right from the gun because the selection was going to happen quickly.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhlqAqaX0_37FIWWM5yfepvWvTkrHyytQZ3lYFQpgNKV6_fkEzlwVAvEWFLHqd2Mi1TdBOzxCY1luZ5pu2PwsXpJx7FcsMtPCfyTnTy3yJZI35LRY-YdkMG_YoChgHxq2RHsV2x2FFdA/s1600/222031_835649045708_25710230_38426583_6965896_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhlqAqaX0_37FIWWM5yfepvWvTkrHyytQZ3lYFQpgNKV6_fkEzlwVAvEWFLHqd2Mi1TdBOzxCY1luZ5pu2PwsXpJx7FcsMtPCfyTnTy3yJZI35LRY-YdkMG_YoChgHxq2RHsV2x2FFdA/s400/222031_835649045708_25710230_38426583_6965896_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597376305921141714" /></a><em>This is one of my all time favorite racing pics. It looks so ominous and tells such a great story!</em><br /><br />Ray’s advice proved to be very valuable as the break of 8 riders or so quickly developed in the first two laps. I was fortunate to make the break but was without any teammates. As I looked around at my break mates I realized that all the players of the game were represented. I couldn’t help but be filled with exhilaration and anxiety of the heightened healthy competition. Albeit nothing more than the Michigan Spring series, this WAS what bike racing is all about; anything could happen from that point on. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99zjne_GKLh8QShY4K7EJCacICN2xukSCyACuK05DiZf5dW4lXM4yykRA_6UulWi_QPoZaiO_RByVvtSk0A4p6NSt_NavT3biSyz3wn8_515qzkGt_gIGfjQdw2K_39n1OUwvHWugSWA/s1600/206508_1740789838899_1213268585_31645489_5521458_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99zjne_GKLh8QShY4K7EJCacICN2xukSCyACuK05DiZf5dW4lXM4yykRA_6UulWi_QPoZaiO_RByVvtSk0A4p6NSt_NavT3biSyz3wn8_515qzkGt_gIGfjQdw2K_39n1OUwvHWugSWA/s400/206508_1740789838899_1213268585_31645489_5521458_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597376684775579778" /></a><br /><br />The break quickly started lapping some of the fragmented field which made for a lot of confusion and congestion. There were many attacks and cat and mouse antics that played out but the main break managed to stick together coming into the final 5 minutes. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sUhzVIkcZdZaFIO_M3RChxFQ7ty1PvgGEZUd5FTUiRiwqRswj5BodvBwXHETxofPbB5GtFR5zC7B0Wx_03yoY7QmGbLHGFcWsJJ8iohoveMK8bh_EGNR6fnhSQiwYHyObeDyXsKuYio/s1600/207034_1740786038804_1213268585_31645477_6202472_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sUhzVIkcZdZaFIO_M3RChxFQ7ty1PvgGEZUd5FTUiRiwqRswj5BodvBwXHETxofPbB5GtFR5zC7B0Wx_03yoY7QmGbLHGFcWsJJ8iohoveMK8bh_EGNR6fnhSQiwYHyObeDyXsKuYio/s400/207034_1740786038804_1213268585_31645477_6202472_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597376935832264962" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91VP2iziQlSH0v5sjrdGRf5sYInwz8Z-Zp5Wlp4h1kH8vE1HwLyGb5sZ9e-8PltQEwDleVlOhuL7n-k3zxr3KbI3dT6u10Fx8KV4MbnokWHwu7_2pCKBwkFFAD43cgOwxc1xKpUV4PhQ/s1600/222053_1823048208630_1012966683_31812141_7615944_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91VP2iziQlSH0v5sjrdGRf5sYInwz8Z-Zp5Wlp4h1kH8vE1HwLyGb5sZ9e-8PltQEwDleVlOhuL7n-k3zxr3KbI3dT6u10Fx8KV4MbnokWHwu7_2pCKBwkFFAD43cgOwxc1xKpUV4PhQ/s400/222053_1823048208630_1012966683_31812141_7615944_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597377133081441106" /></a><br /><br />As we were lapping a group of riders, Paul rang the finishing bell. There was much confusion in our group as to whether or not this was our finishing lap. However, no one was willing to risk it, so we treated the lap as if it was the end of the race. Vince attempted one last TT to the line but Robert and I followed. As we made our last left turn with the line in sight, I was sitting comfortably in 4th wheel. I saw Foshag get pinched into the curb on the left side of the road and I hit the gas as hard as I could toward the opening. I crossed the line and threw my hand in the air only to find out that Paul was simply finishing the field early and that our break still had 2 laps to go. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMC2wEh9ywVdsZJV4UAe4Lo6znOAPkV67_rDd-Svnz5pq-FFFp3tLXOj0-PCvX5h-F35c5-rXpyMVxOnCVPUNSt-R7QEHXuSfg5cGeFeElTx0zXoUjFDA86BHJIINE1eveWSB8ymXYD0/s1600/217292_1740791518941_1213268585_31645496_4067431_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMC2wEh9ywVdsZJV4UAe4Lo6znOAPkV67_rDd-Svnz5pq-FFFp3tLXOj0-PCvX5h-F35c5-rXpyMVxOnCVPUNSt-R7QEHXuSfg5cGeFeElTx0zXoUjFDA86BHJIINE1eveWSB8ymXYD0/s400/217292_1740791518941_1213268585_31645496_4067431_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597377532466046882" /></a> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekBsgfwY03kJlklp7mygUlSsFLAOcdkVSYhgIZoePkMM20GiVyarJ0YXTzKbu8V127RGI82atgtJAEkQde18uyV0V40DqKODtfd7gglVqrmBE5mqubxbc9uemubFXzuZizw3-SVlms-4/s1600/208001_1740791758947_1213268585_31645498_4921663_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekBsgfwY03kJlklp7mygUlSsFLAOcdkVSYhgIZoePkMM20GiVyarJ0YXTzKbu8V127RGI82atgtJAEkQde18uyV0V40DqKODtfd7gglVqrmBE5mqubxbc9uemubFXzuZizw3-SVlms-4/s400/208001_1740791758947_1213268585_31645498_4921663_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597377772984348450" /></a><em>The first and fraudulent sprint</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVmV-1jEyDUsnxV5W1RXQYr9z3lv6UedUCHx7tDy3nypDBXm07FZCisJKfjZbBuvv8o6W8sWmSvwzRMV1H18evRdRdeqfMP1yW84nDx_VE_0LhiSElrEX0AOcrJguk3Im94FQYQxdC-Q/s1600/206521_1740792118956_1213268585_31645500_5837968_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVmV-1jEyDUsnxV5W1RXQYr9z3lv6UedUCHx7tDy3nypDBXm07FZCisJKfjZbBuvv8o6W8sWmSvwzRMV1H18evRdRdeqfMP1yW84nDx_VE_0LhiSElrEX0AOcrJguk3Im94FQYQxdC-Q/s400/206521_1740792118956_1213268585_31645500_5837968_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597378183750066690" /></a><br /><br />I was gassed from an all out finishing effort but had to quickly recover and put myself back in the mindset to do it all over again in two more laps. Luckily I was able to muster up one last good finish and crossed the line first on the day for a second time.<br /><br />After the race, Ray said to me, “Tim…I’ve had to win a few races twice in my day as well. That was pretty freaking awesome.” I take great pride in helping claim a fourth year STS title for the Wolverines! <br /><br />I can’t help but feel very satisfied with the early season success I’ve had. I equate it all to a natural defense mechanism that may be sub-consciously or consciously taking place in my head. I’m getting married this summer and with that I recognize that I will have to make many personal sacrifices in the future as I start a family. Also, the welfare of my job looks more dismal each day. Perhaps part of me wants to cling onto the small and romanticized hope that possibly I could do this for a living for a few years. However, the saying goes as follows:<br />Do you know how to make $1000 bike racing?<br />Answer- Start with $5000 at the beginning of the season.<br /><br />No matter how unrealistic the goal of being a salaried professional bike racer may seem, I’m hard pressed to think that it is not a common fantasy of most every racer that lines up week after week, year after year all around the world. Sometimes I analogize it to my high school students telling me, “I want to be a video game tester when I grow up.” My usual response is, “good luck…get in line”. Whenever these thoughts seep into my brain I have to take my own advice. Besides this is all just for fun, the struggle is part of the appeal. <br /><br />A racer is only as good as his next race. I’m keeping this in mind as the “real” season nears. But for now, I’m pretty happy with the way things are going. Also, I’ll be pretty happy even if the season doesn’t yield anymore results for me. I have a lot to look forward to. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vHaamFhgg_D1Eoy-vy9mB4RTZyufrq3jHTQajjFoqWAiXS_keO8tyXXuQ7q9Fhb3__SJCd-d65gLi1jsOxsTF_E90ni0sSPU28FoC8D8AnlDMzhVOeCjIOlJPGhO8jJPFE6df3n5HYE/s1600/215845_1823050328683_1012966683_31812150_1190866_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vHaamFhgg_D1Eoy-vy9mB4RTZyufrq3jHTQajjFoqWAiXS_keO8tyXXuQ7q9Fhb3__SJCd-d65gLi1jsOxsTF_E90ni0sSPU28FoC8D8AnlDMzhVOeCjIOlJPGhO8jJPFE6df3n5HYE/s400/215845_1823050328683_1012966683_31812150_1190866_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597378381305552274" /></a><br /><br />A special thanks goes out to Erika Fulk, Cristin Robb, and Scott Kroske for consistently doing a stellar job of documenting all of these races. While I am extremely grateful of these pictures now, I know that 50 years down the road they will be of great value to me. Thanks for selflessly capturing so many cherished moments for so many people!<em></em>Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-58670698689455037402011-04-15T09:37:00.000-07:002011-04-15T09:40:46.102-07:00Ciociaro Series Race #1A.D.M.C.= any guesses? <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXMD1coSH-J1tDtbH6yjj93Hsh7VzggQg-1Gx_52UmOMnjkpxLmoBhWK2y44r8CKaDHOAX7yIFo7NH4Cv2zs7aH1114r1wJlIslsxJMw28bdt7r8qVEGjtme8fTY6P_wJ1BqbLN6ZcQ4/s1600/216818_1817719755422_1012966683_31803618_3943781_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXMD1coSH-J1tDtbH6yjj93Hsh7VzggQg-1Gx_52UmOMnjkpxLmoBhWK2y44r8CKaDHOAX7yIFo7NH4Cv2zs7aH1114r1wJlIslsxJMw28bdt7r8qVEGjtme8fTY6P_wJ1BqbLN6ZcQ4/s400/216818_1817719755422_1012966683_31803618_3943781_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595850767302230082" /></a> <em>Another great team race last night led to this...</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGPZBYtzIoaFBbIF_8eYko65ywrxFYvhoytY7DhVLQAfDmeGMOebijinn9NKed4JTRVCuSR8OJKcCnVzC3VIPs2ZY142Rc6WCp1W5FZ12UWBLQPoIKK4J0A-sLV_m95mJbUtZMLvcO_U/s1600/205777_1817720755447_1012966683_31803623_2796937_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGPZBYtzIoaFBbIF_8eYko65ywrxFYvhoytY7DhVLQAfDmeGMOebijinn9NKed4JTRVCuSR8OJKcCnVzC3VIPs2ZY142Rc6WCp1W5FZ12UWBLQPoIKK4J0A-sLV_m95mJbUtZMLvcO_U/s400/205777_1817720755447_1012966683_31803623_2796937_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595851038075700914" /></a> <em>And this!</em>Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-63082312172248594402011-04-13T11:09:00.001-07:002011-04-13T11:35:32.550-07:00STS Week #3: Who Cares?...I’m Flying!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuKlIGecG3sq4Bc6XFvs3dsojFCQ4DgfFQXnJH4EvWJsCxIv8BjX9ceb5HZtAHcexgmwfOJZIfLgrhEngtIzGtbIyTS14_DO2n1JIiPwXdnXMAUKtpxhXhsnZckaW_4k72Sh7SCeXza4/s1600/206408_1726341357696_1213268585_31625794_2430834_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuKlIGecG3sq4Bc6XFvs3dsojFCQ4DgfFQXnJH4EvWJsCxIv8BjX9ceb5HZtAHcexgmwfOJZIfLgrhEngtIzGtbIyTS14_DO2n1JIiPwXdnXMAUKtpxhXhsnZckaW_4k72Sh7SCeXza4/s400/206408_1726341357696_1213268585_31625794_2430834_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595132131969010114" /></a><br />It’s been sometime since I’ve made any reference to the Dybo-inspired mantra of <a href="http://timfinkel.blogspot.com/2007/04/who-caresim-flying.html">“Who Cares?...I’m Flying”. </a>For those who are unaware, this mentality is attained when one puts all life responsibilities on hold to devote every ounce of their being into their training and racing. For instance, your gutters may be falling off your house, your family and friends may have not seen you in months, perhaps your bills are piling up but you’re out there every weekend racing and doing well. Hence, “Who Cares?...You’re Flying”.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWjItR3eVufoo0-xtdzFTLLKUY1OZXgVofQxmlWiA9a_6AKv6OVdvb42-gzowL5BIsMz75l1DE5tI4bp25S7FyoqGSYEAv0Fe0vPS3-1bqlIiquzHFG24CAlfYUlHFjY1pSSsmvMY4vI/s1600/215269_1726339517650_1213268585_31625783_8314721_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWjItR3eVufoo0-xtdzFTLLKUY1OZXgVofQxmlWiA9a_6AKv6OVdvb42-gzowL5BIsMz75l1DE5tI4bp25S7FyoqGSYEAv0Fe0vPS3-1bqlIiquzHFG24CAlfYUlHFjY1pSSsmvMY4vI/s400/215269_1726339517650_1213268585_31625783_8314721_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595132371438880418" /></a><br />Years ago I always used to award any rider whose efforts stuck out in my mind with the W.C.I.F. Award. This is a practice I’ve gotten away from. However, one individual this past weekend inspired me to start it back up again.<br /><br />In the past, I’ve always thought to do my best I had to make sacrifices and postpone other priorities in order to achieve my goals. However, as I get older I’ve found contentment in the idea that bike racing is secondary to certain things in life. Despite my secondary devotion to the sport, my results have seemed to have improved. So while I may not be adhering to my previously held notion of the pathway to success…”Who Cares, I’m Flying”, so I’m going with it.<br /><br />Randy Rodd, fellow teammate, has certainly not followed what most may view as an optimal training plan going into this season. Fresh off a 6 month bender of sewing his wild oats throughout all of Europe, Randy returned to the states a mere 4 weeks ago to once again start turning the cranks. The first race of the season led to tired legs for him and a DNF. However, the next day he showed character by simply finishing the race in Ann Arbor. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrf5vfP7fmnVf51mxut9an5NsXdf1rnZxhIjFNc1UiYBXZpnV5XOo1dXY-h11CP4D7qZ5F_45PqC4L4NgDPneR8LYpBQyIJF6uFo7GTDCHp4VtGUcFXiRHRraCkrKQuJhdckDMZMXfSg/s1600/206433_1726378398622_1213268585_31625911_2213532_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrf5vfP7fmnVf51mxut9an5NsXdf1rnZxhIjFNc1UiYBXZpnV5XOo1dXY-h11CP4D7qZ5F_45PqC4L4NgDPneR8LYpBQyIJF6uFo7GTDCHp4VtGUcFXiRHRraCkrKQuJhdckDMZMXfSg/s400/206433_1726378398622_1213268585_31625911_2213532_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595132229591167826" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHklxrxXCtu1caNvuDS9wS7BnCfqXxUCg3W7VHyj6otJPSnUVRgPLNmjo5GJNGdWKRt-T94WqmMHfHGu2Ol0npMJVZZ2WkX54TdMZzlQ8YOgTuXWv8ALo6P8-EUJsI0pfTtZMFXMMHkOo/s1600/206432_833207209168_25710230_38397652_6048035_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHklxrxXCtu1caNvuDS9wS7BnCfqXxUCg3W7VHyj6otJPSnUVRgPLNmjo5GJNGdWKRt-T94WqmMHfHGu2Ol0npMJVZZ2WkX54TdMZzlQ8YOgTuXWv8ALo6P8-EUJsI0pfTtZMFXMMHkOo/s400/206432_833207209168_25710230_38397652_6048035_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595132579154080290" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7A-T3-paTcHsJFNxLglXxomHEH29qBcGnWTtMaBCY0k3qHdIKX8ysouOWaiRWgFdpt6AAzryRJBBMhYBJMf3QUF4SbhzAnKuOOPyvtSfk2Qi7OmwC5iBcBwsckGkkvORP5IgS-KdhLeY/s1600/207063_1726341797707_1213268585_31625796_6699252_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7A-T3-paTcHsJFNxLglXxomHEH29qBcGnWTtMaBCY0k3qHdIKX8ysouOWaiRWgFdpt6AAzryRJBBMhYBJMf3QUF4SbhzAnKuOOPyvtSfk2Qi7OmwC5iBcBwsckGkkvORP5IgS-KdhLeY/s400/207063_1726341797707_1213268585_31625796_6699252_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595133649444643202" /></a><br />Alas, this brings me to this past weekend’s race recap. Low and behold Waterford once again manifested itself into an early race breakaway. Many of the riders who spent their entire off season doing their homework, myself included, wound up in the 9 man break. However, Randy Rodd, fresh off the couch, also placed himself into the break after a tenacious bridge up to the front group. After about 80 minutes of breakaway high jinx, Randy managed to survive to the finish line and led me out for a third place finish and a 9th place finish himself. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHd7n9214HdB4TBAjMqx-P6oWXImPRWzcqEbWraiZt40bi75Xtj1_Up3hYKTenGwrGBallRh8jgnfotuOMNNQ5eQyxhzGeRGtdVJ_7Gpog_qaDZ8F6K6WQfDliXZJMC0fq2_ra5qUx9YU/s1600/206842_1726346637828_1213268585_31625821_1454657_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHd7n9214HdB4TBAjMqx-P6oWXImPRWzcqEbWraiZt40bi75Xtj1_Up3hYKTenGwrGBallRh8jgnfotuOMNNQ5eQyxhzGeRGtdVJ_7Gpog_qaDZ8F6K6WQfDliXZJMC0fq2_ra5qUx9YU/s400/206842_1726346637828_1213268585_31625821_1454657_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595132876001774338" /></a><em>The final Sprint</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchrbYPXs4eEDO7vSJD9Pa00SP7C-m6BnSCbN2auvo64nhunZ60wDyTnD2ksCUpmCailRWK_L4hvTeSxEVfZiW1DYXcxhFZZptJz4TJ2mYo3XboochRdmXMYZvky6ByMMtyFB3gpFJlck/s1600/207145_1726347077839_1213268585_31625822_7636220_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchrbYPXs4eEDO7vSJD9Pa00SP7C-m6BnSCbN2auvo64nhunZ60wDyTnD2ksCUpmCailRWK_L4hvTeSxEVfZiW1DYXcxhFZZptJz4TJ2mYo3XboochRdmXMYZvky6ByMMtyFB3gpFJlck/s400/207145_1726347077839_1213268585_31625822_7636220_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595133117674324738" /></a><em>Getting nipped at the line by an old man and a Canadian!</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9K-tQGp3fNjDOi95dHmx0lkEKmNpr1PjcM9I1uiO95pxfwHnypw7qH1XQYquhuZfVfB9u6T-J9a0n_gQxHwViXc36LW7BUaroVvl-IxeFD3aHROwE4Nukn4ZAKsJoy_vwl3XIKk2etfM/s1600/206249_833207303978_25710230_38397654_7414451_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9K-tQGp3fNjDOi95dHmx0lkEKmNpr1PjcM9I1uiO95pxfwHnypw7qH1XQYquhuZfVfB9u6T-J9a0n_gQxHwViXc36LW7BUaroVvl-IxeFD3aHROwE4Nukn4ZAKsJoy_vwl3XIKk2etfM/s400/206249_833207303978_25710230_38397654_7414451_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595133379394808834" /></a><em>A bird's eye view.</em><br /><br />The next day, Ann Arbor brought about another strong spring season field coupled with high winds. Again, an early break formed which I found myself in. After a few laps of pacelining, I looked back and saw a fellow Wolverine racer attempting the bridge to our group. Much to my surprise it was Randy Rodd! After about 40 minutes of breakaway efforts we were able to lap the field. I ended up 2nd on the day and Randy was 6th. Hence, let’s all raise our beer steins to Mr. Randall; he is the first rider in 2011 to receive the W.C.I.F. Award. This also reminds us that the training races are not always about gaining fitness but also sharpening your technical chess game of bike racing. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfI9s8mkglhiPV6aEtWZVuvg7C8ARkqzylLd_baUmckByQ-2nmYvCY3nYMQ2SFZMnwPJBtiiZKIPOH4A4lOTlrvagroMWAflXEyk6cygPkNfwpCWHKYAKK1M84OP3f4jeDIHOl3scrkHE/s1600/208729_833281919448_25710230_38398746_989378_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfI9s8mkglhiPV6aEtWZVuvg7C8ARkqzylLd_baUmckByQ-2nmYvCY3nYMQ2SFZMnwPJBtiiZKIPOH4A4lOTlrvagroMWAflXEyk6cygPkNfwpCWHKYAKK1M84OP3f4jeDIHOl3scrkHE/s400/208729_833281919448_25710230_38398746_989378_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595133831194034802" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7I5IDnM6i1eMOI83NS__f4D7-IS0zurLnGA0-ShbILHQP7mAVldh69qm3lbiwN9vnSco2m-XCDl851nVh7YOMsGg7yzN5CD6UVKqylcaZh0cVynj74cCs27hPRDMfiYBg1rc3uxwm3-8/s1600/215024_833282109068_25710230_38398751_101064_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7I5IDnM6i1eMOI83NS__f4D7-IS0zurLnGA0-ShbILHQP7mAVldh69qm3lbiwN9vnSco2m-XCDl851nVh7YOMsGg7yzN5CD6UVKqylcaZh0cVynj74cCs27hPRDMfiYBg1rc3uxwm3-8/s400/215024_833282109068_25710230_38398751_101064_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595134319068685714" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDegb1mJJtLXaCkLu3beUfwU4jyMusjFFYaN3vlXE78OPoNRE0Ie6uFjv44IlHXzZvd7Io18j0EQSriya30lDvOrtBRETklfsPBciHRL843tDrkmJ-S_DEQ38Pp2IJg-LpKGjow5QKhhs/s1600/206429_833283176928_25710230_38398780_3765290_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDegb1mJJtLXaCkLu3beUfwU4jyMusjFFYaN3vlXE78OPoNRE0Ie6uFjv44IlHXzZvd7Io18j0EQSriya30lDvOrtBRETklfsPBciHRL843tDrkmJ-S_DEQ38Pp2IJg-LpKGjow5QKhhs/s400/206429_833283176928_25710230_38398780_3765290_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595134731934943586" /></a><em>Sunday's final sprint for second, Vince Roberge had already slipped away after we lapped the field for a well-earned victory</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojjLcJGD8JwyfwX3Ia9Lm6UKGRV3NzEOUcRZR_rloIqmIvTpL68xUuT0yNiKQT9aJ6PmIDJ8yuMGtJwd9mB5gbzsjsw4SGSkoIoM6hYx3IsuSXJd9byty8m9IeWHEmsYC1apn9wcbjXM/s1600/207845_833283211858_25710230_38398781_3089073_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojjLcJGD8JwyfwX3Ia9Lm6UKGRV3NzEOUcRZR_rloIqmIvTpL68xUuT0yNiKQT9aJ6PmIDJ8yuMGtJwd9mB5gbzsjsw4SGSkoIoM6hYx3IsuSXJd9byty8m9IeWHEmsYC1apn9wcbjXM/s400/207845_833283211858_25710230_38398781_3089073_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595135137286486802" /></a><br />As a whole, the entire Wolverine team has ridden in great cohesion this season. Each member has selflessly played their role to ensure that the whole of the team is a success. I do feel great things are yet to come. So although we may be low in numbers this season, and slightly rag tag, who cares…we’re flying. <br /><br />After my finishes this weekend, I do believe that mathematically it is impossible to not win the spring series. This is particularly meaningful to me because a Wolverine will have won the spring series for the last 4 years now (2010:Ryan Cross, 2009:Luke Cavender,2008:Ray Dybowski). However, Ray stated to me, “You better still ride like you stole it”, which I intend to do. Some may view the spring training series as meaningless, and perhaps it is. A racer’s fitness can significantly change from now until the bulk of the season, and one’s success in the spring does not dictate their success when the big races roll around. In essence, the real work is still ahead of us, but for now…Who Cares…I’m Flying! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TyY8HZTjzDhhQ25W8Jc18zWjNg9gMn10dvCvnWI4c5281ytf7nRxzWHrqIE9VLFVqBpS0uss8PYQE-DTNWJv4ankkDa_IUcDKizBYDBMBcWK2Iw7wV4i5CwONHyyvOJ4NE7dH8Piex0/s1600/216120_833281570148_25710230_38398738_3427064_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TyY8HZTjzDhhQ25W8Jc18zWjNg9gMn10dvCvnWI4c5281ytf7nRxzWHrqIE9VLFVqBpS0uss8PYQE-DTNWJv4ankkDa_IUcDKizBYDBMBcWK2Iw7wV4i5CwONHyyvOJ4NE7dH8Piex0/s400/216120_833281570148_25710230_38398738_3427064_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595134567443784050" /></a>Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-20630817783934717612011-04-05T13:40:00.001-07:002011-04-08T13:36:42.475-07:006WC: Less can be More<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyqh34WCVPvbA9018Q2kIojLxK7xvNL0lRPJCOTr-kvKh2br2g7Xwzrmb_fGdV_X2ULRSyK8mcgeIpaMDK3GnKL7JYQPLf9g97BFUTWjxLjdegXfuCjyTuL8ya9GqDIgDzx1PakGstLk/s1600/2115.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyqh34WCVPvbA9018Q2kIojLxK7xvNL0lRPJCOTr-kvKh2br2g7Xwzrmb_fGdV_X2ULRSyK8mcgeIpaMDK3GnKL7JYQPLf9g97BFUTWjxLjdegXfuCjyTuL8ya9GqDIgDzx1PakGstLk/s400/2115.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592494706783605266" /></a><br /><br />Why do we travel for hours in search of venues to test our mental and physical fortitude and essentially beat the crap out of ourselves for little to no payout other than the intrinsic satisfaction along with the mediocre amount of half-hearted props given to us by our dysfunctional sub-culture? After years of searching for this ever illusive answer, I have given up. I'm simply settling with the idea of nothing more than that I just like it more than most any other things I've done in my life. So nonetheless, <a target="_blank" href="http://6hoursofwarriorcreek.com/">Six Hours of Warrior Creek</a> in North Carolina served once again as a perfect medium for my sadistic conquests.<br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.bmcc.us/">BMCC</a> pulled off another great race boasting a sold out field in some of the most flowing trail I have ever ridden. This race comes sealed with the Finkelstein approval of must-do races for the fellow fat tire endurance junkie.<br /><br />Last year I did this race on a geared bike and received a lesson in humility and perseverance when I flatted on my last lap just as I was coming up on the first place rider Nathan Wyatt. I ended up with a <a href="http://timfinkel.blogspot.com/2010/04/6wc-losing-to-win.html">frustrated 3rd place</a> in the mens open category. However, these endurance events have always held the metaphorical life significance of the idea of moving forward. <br /><i><br />"Anyone can plan to win a fight, it's what you do after get clocked in the jaw the first time that matters"</i> -Mike Tyson<br /><br />Although I like to pretend otherwise, I am a teacher by profession and a cyclist by hobby. Lately things have been looking grim in the world of educational funding, especially in Michigan Special Education. We recently found out that we will be taking a cut in our contracts in the years to follow. This is coupled with the even more powerful underlying threat that we may not even have jobs in the near future. This ominous horizon has many of my coworkers in an emotional uproar as this news significantly threatens their comfort of life they have strived for. Although I have not allowed this problem to effect my well-being too much the anxiety of others I have been surrounded by has been wearing thin on my nerves. Perhaps I am coming from what some may view as an ignorant stance, but this funding problem seems to be a community issue that we are choosing to make a personal problem. Without going on too much of a rant, I'm simply saying that I'm choosing to not let money affect my happiness. I like to dwell on what feels real to me, like beating the crap out of myself at a 6 hour mountain bike race. <br /><br /><i>"Let's ride, the miles are free today"</i> -Robert Herrimen<br /><br />I mention these above frustrations because these were just some of the thoughts streaming through my head as I made the 11 hour trek down to North Carolina. Also, I feel it aligns itself nicely with this "less is more" theme I'm going for this season. Over the years, I've learned that your mental race fuel is just as important as your physical fuel. <br /><br />In an effort to scale my velo-bill back this season to allocate more money toward my main event this year: getting married, I decided to only build up a single speed mountain bike. My motivation to do this was prompted by nothing more than the idea that the most fun I had on a bike last season was on one gear. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnm1j-UtQXWZwBQk0vckDFH20KrvyIy-k5e6ZwnJYk4Z6TjwVrJZVPzsxOSGAlsdvFE_hpjrT1FsSgJcCJyPwaOfcDY0EomwgODVNZ1nesDjA_enLZusAkk7ia-A3JXzVY67FcI8NMBag/s1600/1258.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnm1j-UtQXWZwBQk0vckDFH20KrvyIy-k5e6ZwnJYk4Z6TjwVrJZVPzsxOSGAlsdvFE_hpjrT1FsSgJcCJyPwaOfcDY0EomwgODVNZ1nesDjA_enLZusAkk7ia-A3JXzVY67FcI8NMBag/s400/1258.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592494853572005362" /></a><br />There are certain stigmas that have attached themselves to the SS world. Some may call it an excuse bike, or a purist, maybe even a bad ass. Some may insist that you better adhere to a healthy liquid diet of oat sodas and barely if you want to line up with one gear. I've heard others describe it as a way to be less competitive and strip away the egotistical motives of the sport. Many cling to the idea of resisting industry innovation, although those same people will line up with a sub twenty pound 29er, a steed that was non-existent mere years ago. Needless to say, the single speed crowd can be a little territorial. There are many egg shells you that you may be required to tread lightly on as well as toes you will want to avoid. However, regardless of what you may lay claim to, when you line up to race a bicycle you do it to try and do your best.<br /><br />For me, it's all bike racing...whether it be skinny tires, gears, fat tires, monocogs, pavement, dirt, or track. To me, it's all the business of turning the cranks and it's all fun.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTx8vlA-b6GUxFWhOHkkLJZf5DpiscJHnSATneWJl0VyZFEy8tNqJ0WLDSNywxyX9M54jhhHcGXVTwlsjJFFzNdpYEmRxbGgqE2g292AjCmYR0HdQJr_NDkdShv5_VyEQGm7JEWL3sCQ/s1600/2117.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTx8vlA-b6GUxFWhOHkkLJZf5DpiscJHnSATneWJl0VyZFEy8tNqJ0WLDSNywxyX9M54jhhHcGXVTwlsjJFFzNdpYEmRxbGgqE2g292AjCmYR0HdQJr_NDkdShv5_VyEQGm7JEWL3sCQ/s400/2117.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592495159776440546" /></a><br />I'm not going to get too into the specifics of the race. I rode my bike as fast as I could in the woods for nearly six hours. On the first lap, I crashed three times. First I lost my glasses. The second crash, I broke my shoe necessitating a shoe change in the pit before the next lap. And on the third lap I took a branch to the chest that made me feel like I broke a few ribs. <br /><br />A few days before this race started, the promotor published a quote that resonated with me. I felt it applicable to not only my racing but also the situation that is going on at work lately. <br /><br /><i>"Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones...you will start having positive results"</i> -Willie Nelson<br /><br />I was not feeling too peppy or confident after my multiple crashes, although I was still sitting in the lead. On lap four I found myself deep in a valley of self-doubt and low energy. Just as I started to settle into a comfort pace. The second place rider Luke Sagur rolled up on me. We chatted for awhile and I could tell his energy was much higher than mine so I let him pass and roll away from me. On my next pit, my support crew informed me that the third place rider, Tim Anderson, was a mere three minutes back from me. I began to fear the idea that I may lose a podium spot if I don't pick up my pace. I started to think about the above quote. Despite physical pain I dug deep into my emotional reserve tank and my pace began to pick up. By the end of that lap I had overtook Luke and began solidifying my first place position. <br /><br />In the end I managed to put about 8 minutes on Luke and wound up first place in the single speed category. I must also admit that I did come equipped to this race with a secret motive; to win the overall on a single speed. This didn't happen but I did manage to take third overall. <br /> <br />It's pretty hard to spend that much time in the saddle on a mountain bike, racing hundreds of other people, without any dramatic happenings. 2011's 6WC was no exception to this idea. In the end, I am thankful to of had another sadistic opportunity to practice painful perseverance. More importantly, I give thanks for the reinforcing experience that less can often mean more. <br /> <br />Thanks for reading.Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-80690782684989947582011-03-28T12:11:00.001-07:002011-03-29T09:42:17.951-07:00And we’re off…<em>“It never gets any easier…you only go faster”</em> –Greg LeMond<br /><br />This past weekend dawned the opening to my 2011 cycling season. As the weekend neared I was torn between leaving town for the gruesome and brutal Barry Roubaix or simply rolling from home out to Waterford Hills Speedway for some road action. With <a href="http://6hoursofwarriorcreek.com/">Six Hours of Warrior Creek</a> approaching this upcoming weekend, I made the choice to simply stay local and race Waterford.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYGeKqqjTBNZHWAJ78gedpx74hSWimUQdz0GPx0oDEZlNkAOE_lJry9fEIjZf6z7iC2AYAKZKGoDZOK7b_ZF-cXA_8N5-qCeh-L92LPWM2exAqV62QamW750FL7ThzRQxbqeWtvVbq_I/s1600/190611_772962794458_25710230_38320217_8283592_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYGeKqqjTBNZHWAJ78gedpx74hSWimUQdz0GPx0oDEZlNkAOE_lJry9fEIjZf6z7iC2AYAKZKGoDZOK7b_ZF-cXA_8N5-qCeh-L92LPWM2exAqV62QamW750FL7ThzRQxbqeWtvVbq_I/s400/190611_772962794458_25710230_38320217_8283592_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589210703547757170" /></a><br /><br />The race went quite well for me. No more than fifteen minutes into it, I found myself in a 2 man break with Martin Vecchio. We worked together cohesively for about 50 minutes or so and I started the sense his energy faltering so I decided to press the pace a bit and see where the chips fell. I quickly found myself out on the course in a solo break and virtually lapping the field.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXTs3-QlldtKAAYWiriFKPeFgVWz6_vxE_PNsZu7b9d3BvgrNzHR5X6bxgD2DPVqF8Zlgt4xFwePAFQooCuH4gfYJMVHZGkeFp9vNC1itiDKNk4oFYwiEwNn7goVs17BdyDNGFCrFwaw/s1600/197082_1685868265894_1213268585_31598497_3894793_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXTs3-QlldtKAAYWiriFKPeFgVWz6_vxE_PNsZu7b9d3BvgrNzHR5X6bxgD2DPVqF8Zlgt4xFwePAFQooCuH4gfYJMVHZGkeFp9vNC1itiDKNk4oFYwiEwNn7goVs17BdyDNGFCrFwaw/s400/197082_1685868265894_1213268585_31598497_3894793_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589543082976858866" /></a><br /><br />There are few things that compare to the feeling of rolling your final 3 laps of a race knowing that barring any flat tires or mechanicals, your win is pretty much solidified. I call these “Zen cycling moments”. I’m pretty sure if I could bottle this feeling up and sell it, it would move off the shelves pretty quickly. I embraced the feeling of these last final laps and threw my hands up in personal satisfaction at the line.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUaxSICTEhmLXA9VfXklCn82F0j2W8qEoCNMvDSfVjUjNDxHmO9deiBDPoyGZkw5-FnbOAPda2qvCK2gAUax176IZuyysRN-zIq8ePj9cpTuH8kE3luSKt7GmfbotPHop2yNufI5UpH8/s1600/198178_773360677098_25710230_38324602_7537516_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 399px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUaxSICTEhmLXA9VfXklCn82F0j2W8qEoCNMvDSfVjUjNDxHmO9deiBDPoyGZkw5-FnbOAPda2qvCK2gAUax176IZuyysRN-zIq8ePj9cpTuH8kE3luSKt7GmfbotPHop2yNufI5UpH8/s400/198178_773360677098_25710230_38324602_7537516_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589211085288605986" /></a><br /><br />Day 2 of opening season had me rolling back out to Runway Plaza in Ann Arbor for yet another season of early circles. On my drive out I entertained the notion of how great it would feel to score back to back wins. I started to visualize my game.<br /><br />As the race started, again I quickly found myself in an early break. All of the heads of state in attendance that day were represented (Alan Antonuk, Vince Roberge, Alexy Vermullen, Ray Dybowski, and the formally unknown Rudy Peterson). We quickly put time into the field and managed to lap them in about 20 minutes. The elation that is brought about by lapping the field never gets old. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIESA2xADU_wi8GDCvRt93RtNW2EKlEx3ce5sHUjL_epkWeQXwNubVNNAf-aKqY_tmpJ4_KKWTbctW1GOW1-uARidvrCsexDiZYwBkodprIPTWhLvpBAOCMVTgsgJN0xdRtPNK7cff7uw/s1600/197430_773361201048_25710230_38324611_4406873_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIESA2xADU_wi8GDCvRt93RtNW2EKlEx3ce5sHUjL_epkWeQXwNubVNNAf-aKqY_tmpJ4_KKWTbctW1GOW1-uARidvrCsexDiZYwBkodprIPTWhLvpBAOCMVTgsgJN0xdRtPNK7cff7uw/s400/197430_773361201048_25710230_38324611_4406873_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589210857195575842" /></a><br /><br />As we were greeted by the announcement of 3 laps to go, I told Ray I was quite confident I could win the sprint with a great lead-out from him. This meant he had to sacrifice his legendary “Ray move” for the chance at my victory. As Mike Walden always professed, “You have to risk losing to win”, which Ray did for me. As we barreled into the last turn I wound up my sprint from 300 meters out. It’s important to never short sell or underestimate your opponents. Based on reputation, I was really only worried about beating Alan, Vince and Alexy to the line, I didn’t think too much of the young Rudy Peterson. As my front wheel approached the line, I looked over my should and saw I had several bike lengths on the wheels I was worried about and I began to let up. However, a race is never over until you cross the line. In the final ten feet or so Rudy came around and threw his bike at the line for the win. I have to give it to the young man; I will never underestimate his finish again.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbJDl1doeYdyNYSBTaogEfxlQdmGUjKYOz72Tbz36YEP25imAV74PwLZe2LGiJar9NJS6IoowpIbKmOtlQw0n9AYUUAYiUC2714-RFhacw0mKa6lctIvMH6N7SQuI_Cmbos-fWmVMDcE/s1600/190424_773361744958_25710230_38324620_7338362_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbJDl1doeYdyNYSBTaogEfxlQdmGUjKYOz72Tbz36YEP25imAV74PwLZe2LGiJar9NJS6IoowpIbKmOtlQw0n9AYUUAYiUC2714-RFhacw0mKa6lctIvMH6N7SQuI_Cmbos-fWmVMDcE/s400/190424_773361744958_25710230_38324620_7338362_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589211244403259506" /></a> <em>Rudy nipping me at the line.</em><br /><br />All in all, I was pretty content with a win and a second place for my first two races. However, just as the LeMond quote says, it will only get faster from here. I may have a good foundation laid, but there is still plenty of work to do.<br /><br />I have to thank all my fellow teammates that came out to race this weekend. Despite our lean numbers this year, we worked together very well. <br /><em></em>Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-89244610083791909472011-03-24T09:33:00.000-07:002011-03-24T11:48:48.669-07:00On the Horizon<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6gQhrJNIVexAkY2aDTd1bvnSc-byvAARLM1T9nj09IoqRVbLDc6uyvlVfOul-biGKtgkFb8oSwOcUUoVbQ60feGcCX8FfKmoofcOnTBY90rtu-Y84thq_Yh-j4AIc-xVw5mxsdil_Z8/s1600/cabin.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6gQhrJNIVexAkY2aDTd1bvnSc-byvAARLM1T9nj09IoqRVbLDc6uyvlVfOul-biGKtgkFb8oSwOcUUoVbQ60feGcCX8FfKmoofcOnTBY90rtu-Y84thq_Yh-j4AIc-xVw5mxsdil_Z8/s400/cabin.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587686199510318882" /></a><br /><br />It’s that all too familiar feeling again; the pre-season jitters. This time of year I always get an eager yet anxious feeling to get the season underway. However, this time around it’s a bit different for me. While my aspirations are high as usual, my racing results may be taking second priority for the first time in awhile. This is a concept that I dabbled in last year and it proved to be a successful equation with a season of 8 wins, and 14 total podium finishes. It seems ironic that when I took my racing and training with a much more relaxed approach, I arguably had my best results. Perhaps my older age induced wisdom is leading me to understand that I race simply for fun. However, racing aside, I always turn the pedals for much bigger motives. This attitude has aided in me not taking myself too seriously and simply focusing on being the best I personally can be at the game of bike racing. It’s with this philosophy that I will line up this race season.<br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDatAzC_L8FFX8PCnSFyhRq5o8HT09kRqyWG66G25KazTnbU0f6JQvmvPsYiLJzOXJniq3slqy9VjaSz96hJ7_NhGxzb_8xUayflwZAsxyXPn2UlUseokvHy0cjwxkztzDqd-E_ABVQYk/s1600/cabin+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDatAzC_L8FFX8PCnSFyhRq5o8HT09kRqyWG66G25KazTnbU0f6JQvmvPsYiLJzOXJniq3slqy9VjaSz96hJ7_NhGxzb_8xUayflwZAsxyXPn2UlUseokvHy0cjwxkztzDqd-E_ABVQYk/s400/cabin+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587686518043775842" /></a><br /><br />This past weekend we headed up to Rose City for the Wolverines 5th annual training camp. The saying goes as follows, “anyone can head south for winter training, the Wolverines head north”. For some it was an opportunity for one last fine-tuning of their fitness before opening weekend. For others, it was like cramming for an exam.<br /> <br />With great roads in front of me and even greater teammates at my side, I was able to roll 220 miles in two days. Overall, I was pretty pleased with my fitness and am hopeful for a new season. However, despite whatever results may follow, I’m simply thankful for another season to be involved in the sport and interact with those around me who share my same passion.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRacnEC298Mpk_gaUHPQ0qzGYQ53Mzav07zIceenRw3dOgtDZZRowB42gpXtK5d_odm8Dsc-02TOR98BCvQraisIdHtxAGW-7wMBAzLjiXBKdfpFh_KUukrUvwc-WNE5EGNwsci3kdvo/s1600/188834_1760279399449_1012966683_31742685_4996523_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRacnEC298Mpk_gaUHPQ0qzGYQ53Mzav07zIceenRw3dOgtDZZRowB42gpXtK5d_odm8Dsc-02TOR98BCvQraisIdHtxAGW-7wMBAzLjiXBKdfpFh_KUukrUvwc-WNE5EGNwsci3kdvo/s400/188834_1760279399449_1012966683_31742685_4996523_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587688776002608514" /></a><br /><br /><br />One thing I’ve learned this off season through watching the entire 6 seasons of The Sopranos aboard the trainer can best be summed up in the following quote. <br /><br /><em>“Every day is a gift. Focus on the good times…try and remember the times that were good.”</em>-Tony Soprano<br /> <br />As we were rolling in a paceline of synergistic harmony on Sunday afternoon, Joe Bruchanski turned to me and commented, “You know Tim, it’s moments like this that make life so worth living”. I’d have to say I agree with him.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0qQqP22GnzSiaO9xG6svn6AtnjimAIGyJzwQ4B4cKSKdOH-q-6f-LSTUd-Y6P-klIaa7BbwhIIv0dN9xg6EPN9aBAwCk5ROwkrEmFWwv8VUjPbWnKAk9o7hc3h7p5GLAi4xkF2l6Js0/s1600/cabin3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0qQqP22GnzSiaO9xG6svn6AtnjimAIGyJzwQ4B4cKSKdOH-q-6f-LSTUd-Y6P-klIaa7BbwhIIv0dN9xg6EPN9aBAwCk5ROwkrEmFWwv8VUjPbWnKAk9o7hc3h7p5GLAi4xkF2l6Js0/s400/cabin3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587688584802527538" /></a><br /><br />I look forward to seeing you all at the line yet again for another season. Good luck to everyone lining up this weekend…may your investment yield a great return.Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-44198176724530535282011-03-14T17:34:00.000-07:002011-03-15T11:35:16.593-07:00Highest of Highs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6mjMCJ1Ogpq8cQ_4FSHyHACW1jkwgDv6cexLgKsdcMvwWPUg2JiNW7NxBSGS8df9mcNm3HRIATrCVSSOoXtKd7FqeTxn3fsH3DrvLH3bTBkWdJmVKwPAsxN6U615EuPcklOD5XEteX8/s1600/IMG_3629.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6mjMCJ1Ogpq8cQ_4FSHyHACW1jkwgDv6cexLgKsdcMvwWPUg2JiNW7NxBSGS8df9mcNm3HRIATrCVSSOoXtKd7FqeTxn3fsH3DrvLH3bTBkWdJmVKwPAsxN6U615EuPcklOD5XEteX8/s400/IMG_3629.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584102625715125570" /></a><br />Last night I arrived at the Detroit airport from Aspen at midnight. I was tired and physically spent from 5 days straight of hardcore snowboarding and alpine hiking. Looking around the Detroit airport, I was in a bit of mountain induced culture shock as I watched several overweight individuals struggle to move about the airport, breathing heavily, and equipped with general looks of discontentment with there surroundings. <br /><br />I may be coming a bit from a soapbox on this one, but I held that same look on my face as well yesterday evening; mine may have been due to other causes. I should forewarn you that I always have a case of post-trip depression after coming home from an epic trip, and I am writing this in the depths of this depression.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsEu6Tof0p0vpmfQf518sdcgo7Ni2DxriCrxSWwJC7khe5ecVRGECx2AH3z_ijNV5Xa3dMe-QTQ_KtutksU72j0-FmNa4i10J2QIyX7zPbX3s7Uk7Cl2dfNeHnsymqNhhax_q2U-fZpM/s1600/IMG_3639.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsEu6Tof0p0vpmfQf518sdcgo7Ni2DxriCrxSWwJC7khe5ecVRGECx2AH3z_ijNV5Xa3dMe-QTQ_KtutksU72j0-FmNa4i10J2QIyX7zPbX3s7Uk7Cl2dfNeHnsymqNhhax_q2U-fZpM/s400/IMG_3639.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584100841730455986" /></a><br /><br />It had been two years since I had been in the Rockies and I was more than excited to return. When I had graduated from college, I took the rest of the year to chase the endless winter. I tallied up a whopping total of 109 days of skiing that year. It was at a pivotal time in my life and I was exploring the notion of trying to make this lifestyle a full time gig. However, despite the passion, a few uncontrollable variables kept me from continuing to pursue my dream.<br /><br />For those of you that don’t know, I did not always live the lifestyle I live now. My priorities were much different. Perhaps it may be more accurately explained as simply having a lack of defined priorities. Seemingly overnight I found myself <a href="http://timfinkel.blogspot.com/2008/02/learning-to-fly.html">weighing 260 pounds. </a><br /><br />Living an active lifestyle was something that inevitably rescued me from my declining personal health and gave me true purpose and much needed intrinsic motivation. However, I realized that the more I got into cycling and other endurance sports the more my lifestyle became “out of the norm”. This didn’t matter to me too much at the time because I took pride in belonging to a sub-culture of the Metro-Detroit area. However, with time I must admit that echoes of “I give you credit” and “Wow…I could never ride 100 miles” or the oh-so-common, “my butt would get so sore” tend to grow old. <br /><br />During my time in Aspen this past week, it was refreshing to interact with like-minded individuals who shared the same passion as I do. <br /><br />I’ve written it several times before but I must reiterate that I’m a big believer in a person’s highest of highs only being measured against their lowest of lows. This trip files in one of my “highest of highs” categories.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxJIOSK2dHmCDasBX1HSREOIGypOr7rA_DQj9OU1HxOVfbc-7S_Eg3m1tWQUeP69z0ZKKDtpd5zfaYrLQDzX5T4u_-43cfT8AmO0gVqOC3VCRN3v0g6wyOz4GEhpoGywcm-wj3Ko13U4/s1600/IMG_3645.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxJIOSK2dHmCDasBX1HSREOIGypOr7rA_DQj9OU1HxOVfbc-7S_Eg3m1tWQUeP69z0ZKKDtpd5zfaYrLQDzX5T4u_-43cfT8AmO0gVqOC3VCRN3v0g6wyOz4GEhpoGywcm-wj3Ko13U4/s400/IMG_3645.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584101077110787170" /></a> <span style="font-style:italic;">Jeff Tenniswood, Jeff Surnow and I at the top of Highland Bowl<br /></span><br /><br />The second day we were there, we hiked to the top of the Highland Bowl twice. I couldn’t help but feeling completely on top of the world as I sat and took a moment to take in the beauty of this special place. The mountains have an uncanny way of humbling a person and making us realize just how insignificant so many of the trivial aspects of our lives are. They always help me to realize just how thankful I am to simply be alive and a part of God’s creation. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rwQiI1j1xmwqHWyjlcvqE96PkZZvTOvWXJ5-8RoWckHFdwfTdYaptK0uDjgTSVDJ9t6ceYh6ixkFjyOFIF62XuMLYpnd4N5cAd7kpzwCc_cfhAw7J2g2_K0k90sZTHp-KibtBo9uj4k/s1600/IMG_3657.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rwQiI1j1xmwqHWyjlcvqE96PkZZvTOvWXJ5-8RoWckHFdwfTdYaptK0uDjgTSVDJ9t6ceYh6ixkFjyOFIF62XuMLYpnd4N5cAd7kpzwCc_cfhAw7J2g2_K0k90sZTHp-KibtBo9uj4k/s400/IMG_3657.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584101587063458930" /></a> <span style="font-style:italic;">Post-Race</span> <br /><br />On the third day of the trip I engaged in yet another extremely humbling experience as I raced the <a href="http://www.aspenrecreation.com/special-events-races-and-challenges-in-aspen/americas-uphill/">America’s Uphill Race</a>. The race is a 2.5-mile power hike straight up Aspen Mountain to the peak of the sundeck. The route averages a 25% gradient and ends at an 11,300 ft peak. The first day I was there I did a hike to preview the course and was left with an extreme headache from lack of oxygen and a bit of nausea and vertigo. However, I bounced back quickly and was able to adapt to the elevation by race day. Despite being a Michigan flatlander, I was able to pull off a 5th place finish in my respective 30-39 category with a time of 1hr 3min. I was very thankful for the experience. It has been proudly added as another notch in my belt. I’m already vowing next year to make a commitment to returning to this race and attempting to dip under an hour, a time that even the locals refer to as “superhuman”. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqgbOTJuCoaOmVLCwP9WYDf0wgmnGG1I8g3_uCJM0scyYA9qDLyh46FrtRNJdddR3_vNt-IgqVBWkcrAkUNY1JblbvolMg3QCOPoU8d_tPfZdT7RfcwjzEVcD4E7H5idvUMaN5nHm0yA/s1600/IMG_3678.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqgbOTJuCoaOmVLCwP9WYDf0wgmnGG1I8g3_uCJM0scyYA9qDLyh46FrtRNJdddR3_vNt-IgqVBWkcrAkUNY1JblbvolMg3QCOPoU8d_tPfZdT7RfcwjzEVcD4E7H5idvUMaN5nHm0yA/s400/IMG_3678.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584102169170089458" /></a><br /><br />Alas, all good things must come to an end. As I dragged my feet all the way home I decided to try my best to change my perspective upon my return. I may not live in the most conducive environment to my lifestyle, but I have many blessings and great things here at home. We are all products of our environment. I think one thing I’ve picked up growing up in the Detroit area is the ability to make more out of less. Embracing these “highs” I’ve been able to experience is like fuel for my everyday life. Life is funny in the sense that many of our most memorable moments are simply short instances, snapshots in time. It’s these snapshots that keep our tanks full with the motivation to get out there day to day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTb3Zux-5me8tJ_DwIhS6w8lIHf8s3SDQGsn-PKzKHgeyApo195KTGeZpmLCi_XH6yMcmuP-FRK6GpZ77STYz_L0zrU4WoieJqJwniBtlAJwgguHuwpFiCli9kLq1VrRHod5tZpEQmHKg/s1600/IMG_3675.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTb3Zux-5me8tJ_DwIhS6w8lIHf8s3SDQGsn-PKzKHgeyApo195KTGeZpmLCi_XH6yMcmuP-FRK6GpZ77STYz_L0zrU4WoieJqJwniBtlAJwgguHuwpFiCli9kLq1VrRHod5tZpEQmHKg/s400/IMG_3675.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584101944237286162" /></a><br /><br />I’m thankful that I’ve been able to once again refuel my tank. Instead of dwelling in that which I don't have, I'm embracing that which I've been thankful enough to have and experience.<br /><br />A very special thank you goes out to Jeff Surnow for helping me make this trip possible and for ensuring that every second was spent to the fullest while out there. Your hospitality will be forever remembered.Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-91590246849619515902011-03-08T16:51:00.000-08:002011-03-14T18:28:34.403-07:00Finding Strength in Pain<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CYyl3ZpmUK90T4WwQkzWRMqWnS06sv73y7IpN8Cz00kpZ5ElfejMQGlxFogM8-BgYy_S-6yekcjpEIUo7nqG7B4rA_14y1uuiq_IGQE2dgyggTl_fGkAryxF3V8hQ6HRC0Mf_SjRmV4/s1600/IMG_3599.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CYyl3ZpmUK90T4WwQkzWRMqWnS06sv73y7IpN8Cz00kpZ5ElfejMQGlxFogM8-BgYy_S-6yekcjpEIUo7nqG7B4rA_14y1uuiq_IGQE2dgyggTl_fGkAryxF3V8hQ6HRC0Mf_SjRmV4/s400/IMG_3599.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581877628908620786" /></a><br /><br />This past Thursday was my 32nd birthday. As cliché as it is, I've always found celebrating birthdays to be a little weird in the sense that it is just simply another day unlike any of the rest. However, as I get older I have been warming up to the idea of how important it is to honor a person's life here on earth. While we can do this on a daily basis, it's nice to pick one specific day out of the year to ritualistically do this.<br /><br />On March 3rd, 2009 my identification with my birthday was permanently changed forever as I answered the call informing me that my brother had been rushed to the hospital. It had been a pretty good day prior to this call. I had squeezed in 5.5 hours of training on a work day and had even had a few minutes to crack open a celebratory beverage with Angela.<br /><br />At my brother's funeral I stood before a filled congregation a read the following words as a part of his eulogy I prepared:<br /><br /><em>My brother was called to his heavenly kingdom on my birthday. He and I will now share a day every year that we can celebrate life together. I will celebrate the life my brother led, and celebrate my own life in which I'll strive to follow the footsteps and examples laid before me by my brother Don. I am honored to have this day with my brother.</em><br /><br />Despite my feeling of honor to share this day with my brother, I found myself filled with anxiety and many indefinable emotions as my birthday approached this year. Initially, I didn't even want to acknowledge it and preferred to honor the day as being my brother's day only. <br /><br />I have this personal practice in which I like to perform some sort of act to truly make me appreciate life and remind myself of just how alive I am on my birthday. We all do this, whether it's 50 laps of the <a href="http://robertherriman.blogspot.com/2010_12_01_archive.html">Champs Elysees on our 50 birthday</a>, or 21 shots on our 21st birthday. The act of recognizing a person's day they were born is a way of celebrating their continued life in this world. <br /><br />For the past two seasons I have been running the stairs at Bloomer in the off season as a plyometric exercise to increase leg strength but also my ability to suffer. The stairs are 190 steps of lactic acid inducing pain. These workouts always prove to be a great source of suffering that’s on a different level than the bike. Inspired by the hour challenge first introduced to me by Art Fleming and <a href="http://www.mikesimonson.blogspot.com/">Mike Simonson</a>, I decided to attempt 32 reps of the bloomer stairs as fast as I could on my 32nd birthday. <br /><br />I was seeking a cathartic experience to help make sense of my newly defined notion of what March 3rd means to me now. I wanted to suffer to be reminded of just how alive I am. I wanted to be thankful for my ability to simply push myself to the edge and achieve a tangible goal. I wanted to honor my own life by finding strength in pain. I wanted to make myself proud by doing something that would of made my brother proud.<br /><br />Although this quest was completely brought on by my own choice and initiative, I found myself riddled with anxiety to the point of a stomach full of nerves earlier in the day as I reflected on what lay ahead of me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfnsoUqnBOdp9P69JIM_8ytO56-p3mhPlDXSiy_EPewT05MGzOYyRT8Zzs1N96pK2yVUte6RvSMhhTvhmzp29RTziaO5-khe9MB_xkHZcc8BhA-a00_T8Tw38vSnbR9kqgrrW4FhAcjA/s1600/IMG_3600.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfnsoUqnBOdp9P69JIM_8ytO56-p3mhPlDXSiy_EPewT05MGzOYyRT8Zzs1N96pK2yVUte6RvSMhhTvhmzp29RTziaO5-khe9MB_xkHZcc8BhA-a00_T8Tw38vSnbR9kqgrrW4FhAcjA/s400/IMG_3600.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581877982497751218" /></a><br /><br />So after one warm up trip up the stairs to get the tally going, I started the clock and began to tick away at attempting my goal. I must admit it was extremely mentally daunting after the first 3 reps, already redlining my heart rate, knowing that I had 27 more trips up the stairs. I started with music to keep me motivated but found it to be a distraction after about 5 reps and decided to bail on it. The next few reps I tried to focus on my motives for attempting this. I tried to fuel myself on emotion but this only lasted so long and I started to stagger. It wasn’t until I was able to silence my mind that I fell into a good rhythm. <br /><br />I eventually made it to 32 reps and within my goal time. I sat on the stairs stunned, still suffering, and reflecting on how alive I was in that moment. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijHfqQTp41IlgQV3fpLkGgtyE2CG6mgefu7lWoERpmhPcY8SPTAq9mQ_1pzmqHcpWU2SUaL_24JK7CPhtWyK21J_9rsZLWysF_v7KBfYEkb2Wref6XKcOinQwSpsAXCO2s6Bni6fD8uE/s1600/IMG_3609.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijHfqQTp41IlgQV3fpLkGgtyE2CG6mgefu7lWoERpmhPcY8SPTAq9mQ_1pzmqHcpWU2SUaL_24JK7CPhtWyK21J_9rsZLWysF_v7KBfYEkb2Wref6XKcOinQwSpsAXCO2s6Bni6fD8uE/s400/IMG_3609.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581878260913065026" /></a><br /><br />The goal was not about the physical accomplishment of the feat but rather the metaphorical significance that came through the accomplishment. I wanted to find strength in pain. At one point, I met what I thought were my limits but I strived to push through them and did. There have been many times in my life I've attempted this and failed. <br /><br />As I laid down that evening, I was able to find peace with the day and honor two special lives. <br /><br /><br />Specials thanks go out to my future sister in law who had accompanied me to the stairs that day to help with motivation and my pacing. I doubt I could of kept going as hard as I did without your presence to keep me honest and push me.Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-49924822707206665572011-02-10T11:44:00.000-08:002011-02-10T15:10:00.067-08:00Unexpected InspirationI recently changed the title of this blog to <em>Learning to Suffer</em>. This has become an idea I’ve slowly become obsessed with over the years. It started as a <a href="http://timfinkel.blogspot.com/2008/06/dybo-memoirs-some-inspirational.html">Dybo-Induced mantra </a>to help me finish races but has been transforming and manifesting itself into all areas of my life for awhile now. So I found it fitting to name my blog after this.<br /><br /><em><strong>Learning to suffer</strong></em>…at first glance, it sounds a little morbid, maybe even sadistic, perhaps even depressing. However, I find it quite the contrary. Suffering is part of life. It’s inescapable, we will all inevitably suffer at one point in our life, indeed some more than others. The new title isn’t intended to dwell on the word “suffering” but rather the word “learning”. <br /><br />What does it truly mean to “Learn to Suffer”? It’s a notion that most likely takes on a different form and meaning for each individual. I suppose this is an idea that is an ongoing process as well. Within myself, I’ve developed a clearer understanding of what this means more and more over the years.<br /><br /><em>“Suffering is but another name for the teaching of experience, which is the parent of instruction and the schoolmaster of life.”</em>-Horace<br /><br />The effects of adversity can take a person one of two directions. It can affect you positively or it can effect you negatively. One thing is for certain, under the terms of true adversity, you are never unaffected. After I went through the initial emotional struggles of losing my brother I distinctly remember an instance in which I took an introspective glimpse and conversed with myself. I determined that I can either let this affect me in a positive way or a negative way, but for certain, the choice was mine. After all, we are a product of our choices, not our circumstances. To me, this is the essence of my idea of “learning” to suffer. Again, suffering comes with life's price of admission, it’s unavoidable. How we accept and deal with it is something that takes learning through practice.<br /><br />Yesterday I went to visit one of my students in the hospital. This was a student whom I never got off to the right start with. Last year, he did his best to make our lives very challenging while in my classroom. Without getting into specifics, this student was not dealt the best hand in life. Several factors had lead to a steady stream of suffering for him. All in all, he had some good reason to be angry. On top of everything, recently he was involved in an accident at his work that will affect his range of physical ability for the rest of his life.<br /><br />Sometimes we can find inspiration in unexpected places. I hadn’t gone to visit this student with the idea that it would be a reciprocally beneficial interaction; I simply wanted to show my support and concern. To my surprise he had done quite a bit of maturing since I had last sat down with him a year or so ago. Despite some insurmountable odds, this individual is learning to suffer. As I sat and spoke with him he began to open up more and more and share some of the thoughts that were going through his head. We talked about the frustrating nature of the permanency of how one single unexpected moment in time can change your entire course in an instant. Without, much hesitation or debate, I started to open up to him about losing my brother, which is something I had not previously ever done with any students of mine. I accompanied this with the idea of “Learning to Suffer” and how you have two choices of how you will allow this to affect you. He was very receptive and really listened intently. <br /><br />Last year, in a moment of anger, this same student had firmly exclaimed to me, “what the hell to you care about me, you only do this job for the F-ing paycheck”. At the time, I simply let it roll off of me. In my line of work, teaching students with emotional impairments, verbal abuse simply comes with the territory and you quickly become immune to it. However, he brought his statement up again yesterday. I was very surprised, as I really didn’t even think he remembered what he had said. He explained that he now understood why the staff at my school willingly walk through the school doors each day. Furthermore, he was even insightful enough to tell me that he understands that I am smart enough to get a higher paying job in another vocational field, but that I must really actually care about what I do. There are always intermittent moments in a teacher’s career which reinforce your occupational choice; this was one of them. <br /><br />Time seemed to have slipped away from me, as what was planned to be a 30 minute visit quickly turned into a 2 hour one. Without realizing, I had sacrificed my rationed time for my pre-planned evening training session. However, while the physical training aspect of racing is in no doubt the first and foremost most integral one, sometimes the mental preparation is equally important. Mental race fuel can go a long way to enhance your fitness through added perseverance. <br /><br />I was not the one in the hospital. I was not the one who had been dealt the terrible hand. I was the one who was going to give support for someone in need. Ironically, and much to my surprise I found strength and inspiration from this individual. He had commented to me, “Mr. Finkel, I know you take a lot of pride in your bike riding and racing, I have never met anyone who takes bike riding so seriously...and I bet you think about your brother when you pedal that bike, I bet you want to try and do your best and win to make him proud…I think that’s pretty cool”. He was right, but he may not have realized that I probably will now draw strength from his own perseverance as well. As I left, he was actually lecturing me to make sure I keep my head up high and stay positive. <br /><br />I left the hospital with the content feeling that this visit was more beneficial for me than any trainer interval workout would have been that evening. Sometimes the lessons of suffering are the most valuable, and sometimes they come from some of the most unexpected places. I am grateful for this experience.Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-17373944121501589762011-02-07T12:59:00.000-08:002011-02-07T13:13:22.140-08:00Homage ManifestoFirst post of 2011…where have I been? It seems that for years, this blog has served as a platform for all of my cycling induced ramblings. However, recently I’ve found myself less apt to want to voice my thoughts and rather focus on minimizing outside distraction in an effort to maximize my efforts towards this summer’s task at hand. So I apologize for my lack of posts these days. This year’s task does not only include putting together my race season but also getting married as well as procuring a four legged new addition to my family.<br /><br />Truth is I haven’t had much to say lately that you all haven’t heard from me already. You can only write so many race reports, submissions on perseverance, and insights into the larger, metaphorical significance of cycling before it all seems to sound like recycled redundancy and you lose interest. I also am not quite sure people even read blogs anymore. I’m beginning to assume that if my thoughts are not limited to 140 characters, than they will not be absorbed by my peers.<br /><br />I have never used this blog as a venue to vent my emotions about the happenings of my immediate cycling culture and scene. Well, I did write a bit of a <a href="http://timfinkel.blogspot.com/2008/04/part-of-problem-or-solution.html">manifesto on April 14th, 2008</a> that even the MI Scene felt compelled to repost but other than that, I’ve kept my outlook and attitude positive. This is all to say until now. It seems that hearsay and grumblings amongst the more virgin layer of the Metro-Detroit race culture has left me with a very bad taste in my mouth that I can’t seem to get out.<br /><br />What caused this bad taste? I’m speaking about the recent doings of the generation of “the grass is greener on the other side” racers. I’m speaking directly to those riders who don’t ask what they can do to be a part of the team they are on but rather what is the team going to do for me? I’m speaking directly to those who display and air of entitlement and think that just because they’ve finished a few races, maybe even wound up in the money a couple times, that the sport owes them something more than what they are already getting. I’m talking about those who make lateral team leaps to solve their lack of race results rather than putting their heads together with their comrades to develop a cohesive plan of how to improve collectively. And I’m specifically speaking to those who have no hesitation to forget to acknowledge those responsible for first taking them to a race, teaching them how to ride a pace line, how to corner, what interval training is all about, how to have fun with the sport, and sometimes simply how to put your rear wheel on properly. There is no need to name names; if you need to hear this, you will.<br /><br />Perhaps this disgust may be exacerbated by the fact that I’ve been watching The Soprano’s all season on the trainer, but nonetheless there are principles here. Aside from the immoral behavior, gratuitous murders, and sociopathic tendencies of The Soprano’s, there are some ethical life lessons to be learned. Hierarchy is an idea that helps keep order, respect, and hard work an integral component of a culture. It combats entitlement and helps to create an environment of multidirectional respect amongst its members. Respect is given by what has been shown, and true success comes from goals and aspirations that are reinforced by those around you. In a sense cycling has always been a brotherhood for me. And with that name “brotherhood” accompanies very serious connotations, much like words like love or hate. You better truly mean it if you say it.<br /><br />Lets all be honest with ourselves, the glory that is received from racing success is indeed a romanticized one. Only about 0.5% of bike racers throughout the world really even make enough money to make an actual career out of it. However, every season thousands of amateur racers line up seeking something they have not yet mentally attained. So we must do it for other motives. Hopefully these motives extend beyond discounted product. While these motives could easily be filibustered upon for pages I think we can narrow them down to two things:<br />1. To gain respect of your peers and a name for yourself you can be proud of.<br />2. To experience the personal intrinsic satisfaction that cannot be bought but rather only attained through hard work and dedication.<br /><br />Now I’m not speaking directly to those who may have made team transitions due to a relocation of residence or specifically those who have moved up in the rankings to a team that can bring them to the next step like bigger and better races and venues. However, I may be speaking about you if you are one who failed to look back at those who helped pave the path to that next step. Frankie Andreu always took the time throughout all the phases of his career to thank Michigan cycling and specifically the Wolverine Sports Club for helping him get to where he was. I’m speaking most directly to the riders who make lateral team moves without first discussing with their current team and with the notion that because their current team may not have to offer exactly what they personally want, they’re bailing rather than trying to play their part in improving the “whole”. <br /><br />If we are to look at racing as being part of a brotherhood, then perhaps shouldn’t we try and mend problems rather than just leaving them? If you have a problem with a family member, do you simply leave and go join another one? Mutualism is a fundamental aspect of our behavior as mammals.<br /><br />You may agree with my idea or not, and that’s ok. I value different sets of opinions. I simply feel that this idea boils down to foundational ethics and manners that human beings deserve to give each other.<br /><br />I may simply just be old school at heart, but I still think cycling is a team sport. However, I see an increase each season in new riders that don’t want to be part of a team but simply want to keep their own personal best interests as first priority. I always wonder why these types of riders don’t just race solo with a jersey that simply says “ME” as the title sponsor. <br /><br />In a culture that seems to become cheaper and more and more disposable everyday, let’s try and keep our sport honorable and valuable. Appreciate that you belong to something that was here before you, would still be here without you, and WILL be here after you are long gone. Respect your fellow riders no matter what level they may be at. And most importantly, honor your team by displaying basic forms of courtesy and respect. <br /><br />Thank you, and my closet is now clean. Rebuttals are welcome privately or publically, but do me the favor of not doing it anonymously. See you all at the line.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRi4fm0Q9StSndcwDzTmOJ5ldcd8_zAjH1Wmj0sSoZeTTH9IdT2qGYgGKuI0TcppBrzOidnpCJdvp9G1MdkJzKBE8i-Bns0_8KjkvDeXKmc8NfS76DEVaA0S0o6QxRh2x7KTFGJUNzjc/s1600/wolverinewheelman2_o5xg%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 326px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRi4fm0Q9StSndcwDzTmOJ5ldcd8_zAjH1Wmj0sSoZeTTH9IdT2qGYgGKuI0TcppBrzOidnpCJdvp9G1MdkJzKBE8i-Bns0_8KjkvDeXKmc8NfS76DEVaA0S0o6QxRh2x7KTFGJUNzjc/s400/wolverinewheelman2_o5xg%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571055973089553762" /></a>Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-10008985224096975292010-12-20T18:39:00.000-08:002010-12-20T18:47:39.191-08:00Iconic Metal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyR2RXM0RIYirKsYcGs-AlEiugYJjzx4UrsXbnFxR2oLjvtyAkLIogRMxt748Q39pgfS41lPM8GTsxsaYT2_uynOog0UArVUzEIC_srlzjRY362CRQtvTl45k3rPYO-K4PPFdgcPcVakc/s1600/34831_1774311244597_1443804334_31916550_2071321_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyR2RXM0RIYirKsYcGs-AlEiugYJjzx4UrsXbnFxR2oLjvtyAkLIogRMxt748Q39pgfS41lPM8GTsxsaYT2_uynOog0UArVUzEIC_srlzjRY362CRQtvTl45k3rPYO-K4PPFdgcPcVakc/s400/34831_1774311244597_1443804334_31916550_2071321_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552959874908076466" /></a><br />My grandfather used to commemorate all of his major landmarks in his lifetime by the car he happened to be driving at the time. He loved his cars. He’d make references like, “I remember when…that was when I had my 52’ Plymouth”.<br /><br />This past week, I ceremonially built up my 1999 custom painted Titanium Kona Hei Hei. Every year I pull this bike out, I fall in love with it all over again. There is special meaning and emotions connected to this bike. <br /><br />I have been blessed with great sponsors and help with a sport that I otherwise could never afford to have the latest and greatest. I am very thankful for every new bike I’ve attained each season. However, despite their pretty looks and high performance, these days my bikes have become more of a tool rather than a jewel. <br /><br />I had worked all summer to purchase the Hei Hei frame. I carefully tallied my hours and calculated the exact day I could get on the phone and order the fine steed. I spent countless hours thumbing through the QBP catalogue reconfiguring my dream build and meticulously piecing together the most finely matched anodized pieces of flare, down to the crimp caps and bolt kits. <br /><br />Every year I pull this bike out I am reminded of what bikes meant to me back then and how they made me feel. I had never crossed the line before the rest of the field yet, I hadn’t ever ridden a hundo before, I didn’t realize how therapeutic bikes could be, and I certainly had no clear concept of just how far a bike could take a person. The bike simply represented unchartered potential, hope, and aspiration. It was the infancy of my love affair of man and velo machine.<br /><br />This winter season, I have a few frames in my stable worthy of being relegated to winter riding. However, last week I reached for the Hei Hei once again when it came time to coble together this seasons “winter beater”. The more I think about it, the more I realize there may have been some deeper sub conscious underlying psychology as to why I did this.<br /><br />The day before I built up the bike, I heard a few dreaded words that had never really crossed my mind before. “Tim is getting old enough, that even he is starting to get a bit outdated in the racing world”. <br /><br />Since my involvement in the sport I have always been driven by personal progression. Besting previous years has always been something that has been consistently achieved. I must admit, at first I was a bit taken back by this comment. Are my best years behind me? I’ve always thought I still have races to be won that have not yet been won.<br /><br />I was quickly soothed by the idea that whether or not I am outdated, there will inevitably come a day when I do become outdated. A day when much like my grandfather, I look back and say; “I remember when I won…that was when I was riding my 2005 Trek…”. When this day comes, will that be it for me? Will I hang up my bikes permanently and let them collect dust for the rest of my life, leaving them with nothing more than the stories of adventures had in the past? What soothed me was that I realized I would never let this happen. There will always be a race for me despite whether it’s an elite race or not. You are never “at the top”; there is always someone capable of besting even your greatest form. I have learned to play the game. Even more importantly, I have learned to love the game of bike racing. <br /><br />So perhaps this is why I built the Hei Hei back up. I wanted once again climb atop the bike that really helped to start it all for me and represented hope and aspiration. After all, this was the first bike I had ever won a race on, raced a 24hr race on, and rode 100miles with. Everyone has that one bike they'll never sell, this is it for me. I've probably had around 20+ bikes since this one, but I'll always come back to it. <br /><br />Winter riding is a ritualistic time to set new goals. It's a time to be driven by your dreams. Next season I plan to continue to play the game.Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-785200158876721172010-12-12T12:56:00.001-08:002010-12-12T12:57:14.798-08:00Cross Training<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfplFKl-Rf9d7sjWS2IQmJ9il4nL9sBq0YDo74VofMZZxf0y-DX3kljVDVN3oqbwIJuPnUL8Zn-lTEAsdP7hyphenhyphenCblOgwbKXMboqekrZx2XVlSJ5rjyuEVnrO8NZ3oZeE8TJbgBlcQ_ep4/s1600/IMG_3378.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 289px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfplFKl-Rf9d7sjWS2IQmJ9il4nL9sBq0YDo74VofMZZxf0y-DX3kljVDVN3oqbwIJuPnUL8Zn-lTEAsdP7hyphenhyphenCblOgwbKXMboqekrZx2XVlSJ5rjyuEVnrO8NZ3oZeE8TJbgBlcQ_ep4/s400/IMG_3378.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549902710984192466" /></a>Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-68641051631263215592010-11-11T13:30:00.000-08:002010-11-11T13:42:12.551-08:00Paramount Barely<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsiQ_3Smw0mAIWpNqR6LptHaiRjCQuBmFqpIJd0SGRBlxb6CM4XxSoFBQ4OMXTvPjf0KLWrUEfJytTJCiDkLesUTo6AfnNR8WEI6mdh0PTY4dj_kRql5Up7kg42rUPQ-MQOgTt_AKud4/s1600/39525_1563136270994_1012966683_31393121_4058710_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsiQ_3Smw0mAIWpNqR6LptHaiRjCQuBmFqpIJd0SGRBlxb6CM4XxSoFBQ4OMXTvPjf0KLWrUEfJytTJCiDkLesUTo6AfnNR8WEI6mdh0PTY4dj_kRql5Up7kg42rUPQ-MQOgTt_AKud4/s400/39525_1563136270994_1012966683_31393121_4058710_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538408753936702194" /></a><br />This Iceman report is not so much a race report, but rather the description of one ceremonial and annual instance that has now become engrained in my season as ritual each year. <br /><br />For those who know me, you know I like my beer. I drink it often, and for several different occasions. However, there is one specific beer I have each year that I can always clearly identify as my absolute favorite beers of the year.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHxpvNktMbgBYf5LQsOojRJjW5LDxlWpm3l_EW1xCpkykauV_khSQZh2C-p5WZQdmCXGnBBQIyw4WyRjzpQloCq575BJ5JT8nszzkEW5Vqd63QQTYkqO-ZQ5iOKwmWHrFXbTSVxitmp8/s1600/74222_1563136470999_1012966683_31393123_4432077_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHxpvNktMbgBYf5LQsOojRJjW5LDxlWpm3l_EW1xCpkykauV_khSQZh2C-p5WZQdmCXGnBBQIyw4WyRjzpQloCq575BJ5JT8nszzkEW5Vqd63QQTYkqO-ZQ5iOKwmWHrFXbTSVxitmp8/s400/74222_1563136470999_1012966683_31393123_4432077_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538409298179628882" /></a><br /><br />Iceman is a funny race…perhaps it is its timing, maybe it’s the allure and mystique it has gained over the years, and maybe it’s because it is the largest mountain bike race in America. Whatever makes this race what it is, one thing is for certain, it is a race that always perpetuates months or preparation and months of provoked thought post race. What makes this so funny is that it is simply a 28 mile race on an extremely technically neutral course.<br /><br />Iceman takes place at a time of year when the road racers season has ended, so they end up racing it. Also, cyclocross racers are in the thick of their season, so they race it. The mountain bikers are always up to race, so they travel cross country to race. The combination of such an eclectic race demographic creates something special that other races just don’t have. <br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNamw4d6OwiUuBV34zKKaGgJfW38-EgttRIwjKSuMuSvAlvS4xf5_xD2Db3DxLUFxnSaR-rDAJ3FpFykz6jpU9oe9Oa8GCi9PV90FaxhK7B90JOkS3pPmcLL1NGbwJn-6bqXkngZm6NQQ/s1600/75669_1563131990887_1012966683_31393073_2966806_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNamw4d6OwiUuBV34zKKaGgJfW38-EgttRIwjKSuMuSvAlvS4xf5_xD2Db3DxLUFxnSaR-rDAJ3FpFykz6jpU9oe9Oa8GCi9PV90FaxhK7B90JOkS3pPmcLL1NGbwJn-6bqXkngZm6NQQ/s400/75669_1563131990887_1012966683_31393073_2966806_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538409521534135490" /></a><br /><br />Not only does the race itself cause for elevated heart rates but the anxiety of the preparation alone has many people going anaerobic just thinking about the start gun. A good showing at the Iceman gives you hope and sparks unparalleled enthusiasm and dedication for the following race year. Likewise, failed expectations at Iceman cause you to deeply look introspectively at what you can do to make next season your best one ever. Regardless, this race is always held as a metaphor of where you will guide your future drive and focus. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMi-8LijUwsw99sC4K3D-8MxrHHeRVG819LhNpuGMAee1P_N1ajsCO_dBq-teQ97uWLUz1mKdhZRCMX2280eBCAlxAVDbLqScye12I3mspioy7yiE9AYn8lBT2qQFL6O6pkbGQONyWTc/s1600/2010+Iceman+Finish.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMi-8LijUwsw99sC4K3D-8MxrHHeRVG819LhNpuGMAee1P_N1ajsCO_dBq-teQ97uWLUz1mKdhZRCMX2280eBCAlxAVDbLqScye12I3mspioy7yiE9AYn8lBT2qQFL6O6pkbGQONyWTc/s400/2010+Iceman+Finish.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538409706953443778" /></a><br /><br />The 2010 Iceman was not good to me at all. Both the legs as well as the machine beneath them did not want to cooperate with my mind’s intentions and expectations. However, this is not a race report…this is a story about my annual favorite beer.<br /><br />For many people, myself included, the finish line at Iceman is the last one I will cross for that given race season. Every year, I treat myself to a cold one shortly after the line. This is always my most beloved beer of the year because it stands for so much more than its contents. This specific beer gets raised to another full successful season of good results, personal health, and loving family and friends. Not only does this beer celebrate the end of a journey but it also represents a clean slate and a fresh start, full of expectation and promise for the year and years to come. Beer can only taste this good after the arduous experience of a full season under your belt. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXqmBd1ZctAqhe20M_jDD1hw0OfArldDBpDKJq85amtLsKznzuTxFKGtG5t-DhBOjjovwDSjEH_wPyvb20wJdpvd4SB8rjvJN7vPPXWCz15TIUDhd4m5XslnZwpCpfPhYoAS7lkFRXz4/s1600/149509_1563131150866_1012966683_31393064_5175900_n%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXqmBd1ZctAqhe20M_jDD1hw0OfArldDBpDKJq85amtLsKznzuTxFKGtG5t-DhBOjjovwDSjEH_wPyvb20wJdpvd4SB8rjvJN7vPPXWCz15TIUDhd4m5XslnZwpCpfPhYoAS7lkFRXz4/s400/149509_1563131150866_1012966683_31393064_5175900_n%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538409929385157282" /></a><br /><br />Despite what my Iceman result is each year, I am always thankful. This is what will keep me coming back year after year...my quest for the best annual beer I could ever have. <br /><br />Beer of choice this finish line: Bell’s Two-Hearted<br />My vote for the Landlord of the Midwest: Brian Matter<br />See you all next year…Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-86745756925559126882010-10-25T12:00:00.000-07:002010-10-25T12:31:00.815-07:00Learning to SufferIt was a tough race. The field was filled with the “who’s who” of racing. My nerves were high and in my mind, I had already lost the race even before it started because of my mental intimidation. The gun sounded, and my heart rate was pegged within 30 seconds. The pace didn’t slow down, but rather kept ramping up and surging even more potently than it had mere minutes ago. Thoughts of quitting began to seep into my mind and I became comforted by the thought that I could make this all end if I just stopped pedaling. I pushed onward for a few moments longer and gave what I thought was my last best effort. However, it was just that, my last effort. Soon after, I watched the field disappear before my front wheel while I fell off the back. <br /><br />After cooling down, I rolled up to Ray and exclaimed how difficult the race was and how I tried to give it all I had but it just wasn’t good enough. He replied back to me a few simple words, “You know what your problem is Finkel, you need to learn how to suffer!” In disgust and defense I barked back, “Ray! I was suffering in that race!” He refuted, “You didn’t suffer…I’ll tell you when the first time you suffer is.” He went on to retell a classic Dybo Memoir involving Clair Young, a similar defeated race of his, a raddish, and those all so wise words…you need to learn how to suffer. <br /><br />Ray was right, I hadn’t learned to suffer yet.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQeDLL61DlE3B1-pLu5qxUK8vBbngWBv19H2C1YFe0To1h2LrOwzjCORmyJqfv8Dz6-XkV8fQlKifg0pCa2ABmy4fh_aAIHc2zKvDWUakqZzybquxXvA87i3ckGbUQONL-Nv3QdGUsuQ/s1600/2303205084_71d655eefd%5B1%5D%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 99px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQeDLL61DlE3B1-pLu5qxUK8vBbngWBv19H2C1YFe0To1h2LrOwzjCORmyJqfv8Dz6-XkV8fQlKifg0pCa2ABmy4fh_aAIHc2zKvDWUakqZzybquxXvA87i3ckGbUQONL-Nv3QdGUsuQ/s320/2303205084_71d655eefd%5B1%5D%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532063978666255890" /></a>On the morning of October 12th, 2010, the sport of cycling lost quite possibly one of its most unsung heroes. This is something I’ve been reluctant to write about for awhile. The task of honoring a person who gave so much seemed monumental and a bit intimidating.<br /><br />I had only had the privilege of conversing with Clair Young a handful of times. However, during those times I was able to make the accurate assumption that Clair never really said anything that wasn’t worth saying. I always walked away from my interactions with him smarter and wiser than I had been earlier that day. Despite my minimal interactions with Clair, I feel that I am traveling daily on roads he helped pave. As a result, I feel I have an acute understanding of the person he was, and the person he wanted to project to the world. This has not only given me inspiration but great respect for Clair.<br /><br />Clair left a clear message with the Wolverines that has become a mantra for me not only in terms of racing but in life in general. This message was simple: you need to learn to suffer. I’ve always felt that our highs can only be measured by our lowest lows. Clair lost his wife at the tender age of 37. However, he kept his family together by devoting himself to his children, speed skating, and cycling. Two of his children Roger and Shelia, went on to attain more <a href="http://www.wolverinesportsclub.com/WSC_Champions.html">National Championships, World Championships</a> and <a href="http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/yo/sheila-young-1.html">Olympic medals </a>than I have room to write on this page. <br /><br />I feel very fortunate to of been able to interact with Clair. Moreover, I feel fortunate that his teachings and ideals have been passed along to me through the Wolverine Sports Club. Best of all, I am thankful that through Clair’s words of wisdom I have truly learned how to suffer.<br /> <br />Ray was right. At the time, I hadn't suffered yet. It wasn’t until years after that first race I dropped out of, and several results later that Ray finally pulled me aside and said, “You've suffered…Congratulations…I’m proud of you.”<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oHVTEQ52uRQ?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oHVTEQ52uRQ?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-50142317238971267082010-10-13T09:46:00.000-07:002010-10-13T16:05:10.347-07:0012 hours of Getting Beat by a Girl.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUppFmv0KxKNnXYVCLHIf7mcNKVpJ1gcL9dKwV-03u5hBhIs2q1AA2JZeDrR4T4pPxAet7pdGBRBsJbUCPsk90_VmDn__YxDmcx03hU7zNzmZf0K2PmXJCpmvnlK6Bj4daQfvFvjMgDI/s1600/65952_437637470993_519455993_5390772_4602721_n%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUppFmv0KxKNnXYVCLHIf7mcNKVpJ1gcL9dKwV-03u5hBhIs2q1AA2JZeDrR4T4pPxAet7pdGBRBsJbUCPsk90_VmDn__YxDmcx03hU7zNzmZf0K2PmXJCpmvnlK6Bj4daQfvFvjMgDI/s400/65952_437637470993_519455993_5390772_4602721_n%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527573784026332034" /></a><br />Although I am still rolling a healthy amount of miles these days, my racing objectives for the season have mostly all been met and I am focusing more toward 2011.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksyKbvm3n658qChC5Xt6HQyZR-ni6nRPjtgG0wQ6HCA7pxQFkb_MuXQEW-8TJ7OrSHolRiBdhdHPUJ9Nt0ELo6Oq8lmDwT7iKwvWNRi0wg3sDReOBFpEMU7gp93TShF78HpEU4VjF34I/s1600/37129_1652404917015_1443804334_31691602_6117109_n%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksyKbvm3n658qChC5Xt6HQyZR-ni6nRPjtgG0wQ6HCA7pxQFkb_MuXQEW-8TJ7OrSHolRiBdhdHPUJ9Nt0ELo6Oq8lmDwT7iKwvWNRi0wg3sDReOBFpEMU7gp93TShF78HpEU4VjF34I/s400/37129_1652404917015_1443804334_31691602_6117109_n%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527573881750960754" /></a><br />Different racers have different motives for lining up at any given start line. Some may take off at the gun with the intent to decimate the entire field, some may be seeking out something from within they are not sure exists, some may simply be trying to break personal records, some may be doing it to share an experience with other people who share your passion, and some may simply just be trying to finish. I must admit, I have lined up for all of the above reasons at one point in my life.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxWzesxFBxfOXlvsKevn4CVj8sL_mHiAFoZ1Ee1PUMVbnN9BkqmAp1J51HDqQcIR_Gq9Qzwib1DwNPebANS1zrVenoAzk7H6KxMkzaW-7zYXlf27fuaFeppaNoy17Vi89shI-_Ty7e6E/s1600/72470_437637500993_519455993_5390774_74624_n%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxWzesxFBxfOXlvsKevn4CVj8sL_mHiAFoZ1Ee1PUMVbnN9BkqmAp1J51HDqQcIR_Gq9Qzwib1DwNPebANS1zrVenoAzk7H6KxMkzaW-7zYXlf27fuaFeppaNoy17Vi89shI-_Ty7e6E/s400/72470_437637500993_519455993_5390774_74624_n%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527574071979260642" /></a><br />2010’s edition of 12hrs of Addison Oaks had me lining up for a new motive, to seek out some season-end closure. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiia9K7d6ekJf6MRp2ut2SQERuYMn1ZvE8IHXd_5I6RMyTv0ryB1RtyGK5uyAedth8BIu4JkEW_yJdVdDJZTGQQBhFw_OtozMZKbWKgJjr7X2lUeuJygpVfRvLdIf1mtvSao-psjjM1VFk/s1600/33690_10150278352540621_348009725620_15224927_4050730_n%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiia9K7d6ekJf6MRp2ut2SQERuYMn1ZvE8IHXd_5I6RMyTv0ryB1RtyGK5uyAedth8BIu4JkEW_yJdVdDJZTGQQBhFw_OtozMZKbWKgJjr7X2lUeuJygpVfRvLdIf1mtvSao-psjjM1VFk/s400/33690_10150278352540621_348009725620_15224927_4050730_n%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527574394688446450" /></a><br />For the past few seasons my recipe for success has been pretty concise and simple; pick one audacious goal toward the end of the season and treat everyday/race leading up to it like rungs on a ladder to get to the top and everything else will fall into place. For the most part, it has been a successful equation for me. However, this past season I had set several audacious goals only to have them taken away from me before I could ever even line up. <br /><br />This season the timeline went a little something like this:<br />1. 24 hrs of Big Bear National Championships Cancelled.<br />2. National 24hr Series Dissolved to one race.<br />3. 24 hrs of Nine Mile Cancelled<br />4. New Promoter picks up 24hrs of Nine Mile and it’s back on<br />5. New Promoter cancels 24hrs of Nine Mile again<br />6. Consider returning to 24hrs of Hot August Nights but opt to race 24hrs of Mohican to attempt to set the course record<br />7. Register for 24hrs of Mohican and began getting focused<br />8. 24hrs of Mohican Cancelled<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlID5BodZNOto5zek3z0pgjJl3owplBRKWtmwK0LbaaY5C3_32DwYST-d51PKDkHM0upYLQn2uT_Mc5xXN3gWf-PEHAMzNQIFJBvs2TBp87Xi6UGr0frVysQTy36so86vJ8cf9nmvUNsY/s1600/71626_437637580993_519455993_5390777_4737205_n%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlID5BodZNOto5zek3z0pgjJl3owplBRKWtmwK0LbaaY5C3_32DwYST-d51PKDkHM0upYLQn2uT_Mc5xXN3gWf-PEHAMzNQIFJBvs2TBp87Xi6UGr0frVysQTy36so86vJ8cf9nmvUNsY/s400/71626_437637580993_519455993_5390777_4737205_n%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527575682783110018" /></a><br />Although I never did get a crack at any of my audacious goals, I did have a pretty decent season posting 8 total wins and 14 podium finishes. I can’t complain too much but as my season draws to an end; my racing satiation has been left a bit empty.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2i-8GX8XeM9_XUsqd2MguyRKue3Osxi3FMIKwEO5aczdwTgl5n0nxmd7GEAf8YdC4GjEB1X77EbTHMKqhhGHRcNgLKJOxEAz8ndBRSznxMLjFWgXw_ozi7ZKyzq3StOpCLwbZPWoWis/s1600/40116_1652421717435_1443804334_31691662_1955990_n%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2i-8GX8XeM9_XUsqd2MguyRKue3Osxi3FMIKwEO5aczdwTgl5n0nxmd7GEAf8YdC4GjEB1X77EbTHMKqhhGHRcNgLKJOxEAz8ndBRSznxMLjFWgXw_ozi7ZKyzq3StOpCLwbZPWoWis/s400/40116_1652421717435_1443804334_31691662_1955990_n%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527574577385992498" /></a><br />My teammate, Dana Baurhenn, had also been working on achieving her own lofty goals this season. Being naturally drawn, as well as gifted, at endurance MTB racing she also signed up to race 24 hrs of Mohican solo. We had planned to share our support crew for the event and make the trip down together to support each other as teammates. However, our ambitions were crushed when we got word that Mohican was cancelled mere weeks before the event. We were both left pleading question, “Where do we go from here”.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxU8loxK2b8d7s1fBTATnxRQ6LK6CbOSz2K3B1Iqjkxc23XTAvlm8zXiGR3DrneFDHRQqd0GOeJSSOzDylM93SqqT2dHBwxOjrS94aj4Ph6-J6PMfDxy2MmGzDRz3lvuLTIUowIA8CbHI/s1600/33891_1652409637133_1443804334_31691613_4238625_n%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxU8loxK2b8d7s1fBTATnxRQ6LK6CbOSz2K3B1Iqjkxc23XTAvlm8zXiGR3DrneFDHRQqd0GOeJSSOzDylM93SqqT2dHBwxOjrS94aj4Ph6-J6PMfDxy2MmGzDRz3lvuLTIUowIA8CbHI/s400/33891_1652409637133_1443804334_31691613_4238625_n%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527574842805908002" /></a> <em>My loyal family support crew</em><br /><br /><br />There were a few local Michigan endurance events left on the calendar; 24 hrs of Hanson Hills and 12 hrs of Addison Oaks. Dana decided to take her maiden solo crack at 24hrs of Hanson Hills of which she won quite handsomely. <br /><br />As Addison Oaks neared, I conjured the idea to race on a 2 person team with Dana and go for the win amongst the other non-coed teams. It seems only natural as we were both mourning the loss of the race opportunity Mohican had once presented. She agreed to the idea and we got to work planning out the logistics for race day.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKipKW9LmaUbGSJOf1dX4plVpupo1W67ltMetNPEL2iqtGZkcXvQqVSB4UAEgeFM2jQSk3oCxFmpPiwgZT2Cv-cm_PQXG9mXRTkDO3JSk_uR6GyvYXO0ZrltBdSM2KGuNvtDdRTM8j00/s1600/33686_1652427037568_1443804334_31691696_3814750_n%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKipKW9LmaUbGSJOf1dX4plVpupo1W67ltMetNPEL2iqtGZkcXvQqVSB4UAEgeFM2jQSk3oCxFmpPiwgZT2Cv-cm_PQXG9mXRTkDO3JSk_uR6GyvYXO0ZrltBdSM2KGuNvtDdRTM8j00/s400/33686_1652427037568_1443804334_31691696_3814750_n%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527573535843819682" /></a><br />All in all, the race was a complete success! We scored the WIN, did not fall victim to any mechanicals or crashes, and completed 24 laps, the same amount as the winning 4-man teams. Both Dana and I rode extremely consistent keeping most of our lap times within minutes of each other.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTR4w_x9cdM8A8M-Vbo11P2r-enEAhG38BIrrz5dpHnCWh3JN7tgZ2nrp7QYW4oEgE3rl4pWxgMcFfiQ0PSJ9TO2brRaOa1HYwdjMEMDqPUFCRVt19EShhUnFKJMPTeTCCKBBiP3cdzY/s1600/33936_1652416637308_1443804334_31691636_3644369_n%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTR4w_x9cdM8A8M-Vbo11P2r-enEAhG38BIrrz5dpHnCWh3JN7tgZ2nrp7QYW4oEgE3rl4pWxgMcFfiQ0PSJ9TO2brRaOa1HYwdjMEMDqPUFCRVt19EShhUnFKJMPTeTCCKBBiP3cdzY/s400/33936_1652416637308_1443804334_31691636_3644369_n%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527575170495416418" /></a><br />While neither of us were able to chase and catch our dreams this season, we were able to practice what the true meaning of “Team” means and keep each other motivated at the tail end of a season, which isn't always easy to do.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6HWyyVASQqUoo0bNdMqYZtKPvGkDO9LPKMItNY-8KZu5JqkT1a77J0UfsTwg7Y6VoBtvZeZ6ImoEIyl9dIDBpeX4RN6GlWJYlsfBXRQqksSax2qKt1pOqEf7E0SR5Nvi9cMIlaaO1FE/s1600/44918_1652408637108_1443804334_31691610_4812162_n%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6HWyyVASQqUoo0bNdMqYZtKPvGkDO9LPKMItNY-8KZu5JqkT1a77J0UfsTwg7Y6VoBtvZeZ6ImoEIyl9dIDBpeX4RN6GlWJYlsfBXRQqksSax2qKt1pOqEf7E0SR5Nvi9cMIlaaO1FE/s400/44918_1652408637108_1443804334_31691610_4812162_n%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527575443573728594" /></a><br />Thanks again to all my family and friends who came out to support the event!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Uxm-H8iG4lzuTQI5O4v4JwQz4vMmHAz2JAsO57DuPQ2DnpbOWT8ep4IyY470kyTiXi23NDJE2jDSJzc0QKZleYlHsnvDjxUwnooGvgD8NWM1kh_zv3EluNFMooWgrIpcu1PxD5cu9Ks/s1600/66927_437637620993_519455993_5390779_2951598_n%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 338px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Uxm-H8iG4lzuTQI5O4v4JwQz4vMmHAz2JAsO57DuPQ2DnpbOWT8ep4IyY470kyTiXi23NDJE2jDSJzc0QKZleYlHsnvDjxUwnooGvgD8NWM1kh_zv3EluNFMooWgrIpcu1PxD5cu9Ks/s400/66927_437637620993_519455993_5390779_2951598_n%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527575829618334914" /></a><em>Congrats to fellow teammate Robert Herrimen for dominating the solo category with an impressive 166miles in 23 laps!</em><br /><br /><br />For full results, click <a href="http://snoxracing.com/results/mtb/2010/10-9-1012hour.html">here</a>.Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-78459913865836751222010-09-28T18:13:00.000-07:002010-09-28T18:40:34.362-07:00Rhonde Van Stony<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChwQD7ahZVRtHpbghHOewcQzu77cVLhjbDB7cXsbDz_zRbNZQxVHAMqmwNGBxFrWNmjQhA02Am2tUXT_ydR9_OuznrV8MQ5xNFUJcOVDlw5Jcg3xLrhJ2nGXd0qiqYKVAofwzm7IJpuw/s1600/IMG_2367.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChwQD7ahZVRtHpbghHOewcQzu77cVLhjbDB7cXsbDz_zRbNZQxVHAMqmwNGBxFrWNmjQhA02Am2tUXT_ydR9_OuznrV8MQ5xNFUJcOVDlw5Jcg3xLrhJ2nGXd0qiqYKVAofwzm7IJpuw/s400/IMG_2367.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522138970099571394" /></a><br />Blazing fast double track, challenging power grade climbs, dirt roads, three cleverly named cash prems, and free beer from <a href="http://www.kbrewery.com/">Kuhnhenn brewery</a> = instant fall classic!!!<br /><br />If you missed this race, make sure it is on your calendar for next year as it is only going to get bigger and better!<br /><br />A few months back, <a href="http://www.runguru.com/">Clint Verran</a> contacted to me ask me if I’d be interested in racing the first inaugural <a href="http://www.rondevanstony.com/">Rhonde Van Stony Classic Dirt Road Race</a> free of charge in an effort to spark some enthusiasm towards the race amongst the local cycling world. He may of also mentioned free beer in the equation as well. My response; “you had me at free and beer”. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrRB1n8I77e6KmNsQPOdDN8JuEatUYoRVo4_3kdbL41N5HF_yNGVIzSb-2xP-x4_1p0J-AyiesCpcXNfD57E5UrhVwn2zL1e7TpUQOp_TBLBRHJa5_4sRoyCIvO3ytPLavJOBknvfiHg/s1600/IMG_2359-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 321px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrRB1n8I77e6KmNsQPOdDN8JuEatUYoRVo4_3kdbL41N5HF_yNGVIzSb-2xP-x4_1p0J-AyiesCpcXNfD57E5UrhVwn2zL1e7TpUQOp_TBLBRHJa5_4sRoyCIvO3ytPLavJOBknvfiHg/s400/IMG_2359-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522139101478923538" /></a><br />As race day neared my excitement for the race grew. This past Thursday I pre-rode the course and became even increasingly stoked. The big topic of debate leading up to this race was what steed would be the optimal tool for the job. The race had a few sketchy descents that a MTB would gain an advantage on but on the flipside the majority of the race was held on dirt roads where as the minimized rolling friction and larger gearing ratios of a CX bike would be an advantage. I opted to race a CX bike, which turned out to be the weapon of choice this day.<br /><br />The race started with a brief neutralized roll out and quickly entered the first 2.5 miles of double track which initiated the first selection of riders. I decided to take a “play it safe” approach and front run this section in the top 3 spots as their were 140 other riders charging behind me. <a href="http://webhosting.web.com/imagelib/sitebuilder/misc/show_image.html?linkedwidth=actual&linkpath=http://www.prestigecyclingclub.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/Saari.jpg&target=tlx_piczbb4">Tim Saari</a>, a definite potential victor for the day, experienced a mechanical on the first effort of the day which knocked him out of the front running selection. It was an unfortunate incident as Tim has displayed this CX season that he has the horse power to make people hurt very badly early on in a race.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9buE9WTVw9KYSWaByJVsRRSab2PrZKmTTzLux0-EPfzyaVIbvUofj5W-vXzzMB_9bPoBv5jtuNOzMO7pxg-sElv7jk8MRQZdvG5JARkVeMcbPKciO_yWulSqvB_6afUEqx5VXKOVJcLU/s1600/IMG_2974.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9buE9WTVw9KYSWaByJVsRRSab2PrZKmTTzLux0-EPfzyaVIbvUofj5W-vXzzMB_9bPoBv5jtuNOzMO7pxg-sElv7jk8MRQZdvG5JARkVeMcbPKciO_yWulSqvB_6afUEqx5VXKOVJcLU/s200/IMG_2974.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522139557598614482" /></a><span style="font-style:italic;">Prem #1</span><br /><br />The first person out of the double track section earned the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20yo3-6ctFUpAw5oDL2J95dzSe13T7PY8ohNa60eyu1EIsCEvfwjy5EDzQPk1T46PjOZ-QQCdQMPrABoomlqRpGWMETnaSJU6_6B_OhpOhxWt5lnT_x2XGsNFmRXzxnfN_S6RwCIOv2I/s1600/Prem+1.jpg">first prem</a> of the day. I was most interested in going for the win so I didn’t go out with the intentions of going for this prem. However, I quickly found myself in a neck and neck sprint with Danny Klein. We both agreed it was too close to call without a camera. Danny, being a good friend, decided to give it to me.<br /><br />As the race went on, I found my form feeling pretty good and my power increasing. We whittled our front group down to 7 riders with a second chase group charging after us. In the interest of keeping the 1 to 7 odds, I maintained a pretty high tempo at the front of our group to ensure we stayed away. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-Ex8mBbl9Ffirr-yYhfWC-VtMK_lI_DI3ViSH4lrK7qml4E9j30F6J4ef_afUfjSX1tkmhuCpL9SCWo-atkq_RX7aMZa8UqiD5bkYXyNBSEQmFTsh0wLlImoe02yW3LFE-SGwXGem00/s1600/IMG_2973.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-Ex8mBbl9Ffirr-yYhfWC-VtMK_lI_DI3ViSH4lrK7qml4E9j30F6J4ef_afUfjSX1tkmhuCpL9SCWo-atkq_RX7aMZa8UqiD5bkYXyNBSEQmFTsh0wLlImoe02yW3LFE-SGwXGem00/s200/IMG_2973.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522140747746770098" /></a> <span style="font-style:italic;">Prem #2</span><br /><br />The <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYR2vV-tdu7uAMm1xxbMXV5YfThV5iFOW8XxrhrXQvQgT1qrlUeGXUWqRhL848ji-E0z2gxg2oPxY-_GMiP_VV7V1ikQUl7V48k83NKIbSAW8w0zhlgXPdYJ4gcDp-Vo6quERVvuIMVs/s1600/prem+2_Page_1.jpg">second prem</a> came at the top of Parks Rd., which is commonly referred to as Paris Rd. because of a discretion in the road sign. Feeling strong, I pressed this climb and found myself snagging yet another prem. <br /><br />The day was going well but I was getting antsy to shed some of the dead weight from our group. On the last significant road climb of the day I discretely attacked the group and found myself with an instant gap joined by Clint Verran, recent elite runner turned cyclist. We only had about 6 miles left in the race and with the exception of one last double track section, it was mostly downhill. Clint and I worked in cohesive synergy and quickly rode the remaining chasing group out of sight. As we entered the final trail section I knew I had to take him one on one and try to exploit his weakness; handling skills in the trails. Being a national caliber marathon runner, Clint may be able to run sub 5-minute miles for hours on end, but I was confident I had the upper hand on him in the trails. My assumption was correct as I rolled away from him and was able to ride steady tempo for the reminder of that section slowly putting distance between us. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNxo9qP1EPJV4wbCP-TOhe4pBKRLbH7kWyW7NvsslqSQYgsxzQLsQjhQ_wUsxXDTWK3wPhIE5nOHRaLyL7AlE17u_0vZcnmXB2JdZ2ZqjhT9s7k6ksmKs89c-gG2qcgyDSTgmU2U-5q4/s1600/IMG_2972.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNxo9qP1EPJV4wbCP-TOhe4pBKRLbH7kWyW7NvsslqSQYgsxzQLsQjhQ_wUsxXDTWK3wPhIE5nOHRaLyL7AlE17u_0vZcnmXB2JdZ2ZqjhT9s7k6ksmKs89c-gG2qcgyDSTgmU2U-5q4/s200/IMG_2972.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522140931665517394" /></a> <span style="font-style:italic;">Prem #3</span><br /><br />There was one <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3__suqBgg0ucZNFddjH0cSKZuEEJdOo16XBIY44YhyphenhyphendGnYcVa_1s8Bmi7ycb6HvpEvsuY_zmdUdz41xkJI3iCoDkJl2NzIWWm84MDEFWyjOciJ9GMGMMR04mVZZEgTxCuz_c_VzKDjQw/s1600/prem+3.jpg">last prem</a> available after leaving the final trail section that I was able to pick up without contest. From there on out I was able to simply settle into a personal rhythm and spend the last two miles intrinsically giving thanks for the win before rolling into the finishing straights. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjz90yEwtUzbMxL_MdKWxN62XGyLrgLlQ1g6BIuEWam3W1CY-NFYHwr3qEgm_c4VPA3Z4h7f6q84kiapmAn4nzCX_3JNbp9CVqIL9BnWONvsET9hqpnvnHQXpkXsL8CpI65uKIEFqgyg/s1600/IMG_2362-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjz90yEwtUzbMxL_MdKWxN62XGyLrgLlQ1g6BIuEWam3W1CY-NFYHwr3qEgm_c4VPA3Z4h7f6q84kiapmAn4nzCX_3JNbp9CVqIL9BnWONvsET9hqpnvnHQXpkXsL8CpI65uKIEFqgyg/s400/IMG_2362-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522143382036576626" /></a><br /><br />As I rolled into the finish line relaxed and calm, the hands went up and I took time to really soak in the victory. This doesn’t happen too often as most of my wins are by mere seconds. Whenever I get the treat of winning a race in this fashion I take time to reflect on those who I love in my life and the loved ones I’ve lost and meditate on the reasons I race a bike in the first place. These moments are rare, they only come a few times a season if you’re lucky; I regard them as sacred.<br /><br />Click <a href="http://www.rondevanstony.com/p/registration.html">HERE</a> for full results.Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-8778749817582795392010-09-10T13:28:00.000-07:002010-09-10T13:43:32.226-07:00Ice Ice Baby: Verse 1-Stop...Collaborate and ListenFinkelstein is back with a 2010 edition. Same time, same place...new and improved route.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kY0MWa_X92ap1bJdOwDDgJZlfRC4cQb2XhbGsa_c36JnqLupsh_36h7Ne0N7tHJ5Cr0ducBspKqLhSEmTo9CAzI9ANiQfa-OVDhIodzZW7sIXx_Ec4D76bczg_TcoLTrquNOuoxnfn8/s1600/57903_1485291684928_1012966683_31239412_1950514_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kY0MWa_X92ap1bJdOwDDgJZlfRC4cQb2XhbGsa_c36JnqLupsh_36h7Ne0N7tHJ5Cr0ducBspKqLhSEmTo9CAzI9ANiQfa-OVDhIodzZW7sIXx_Ec4D76bczg_TcoLTrquNOuoxnfn8/s400/57903_1485291684928_1012966683_31239412_1950514_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515386933114130914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheatF2Y_XgJyj8_SKmILw3VM9jGggKzAdP6S8zClStCycxM6V79uynHlm6UD8S0wrU7VJ2Z7pxPOEOarHRFZDEfaY4pqOCFLwzX8NAOSa5xWjtVoLEUqzL2IHgqLs0Zw7xUUdB7z2vqHg/s1600/59183_1485290884908_1012966683_31239404_5559307_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheatF2Y_XgJyj8_SKmILw3VM9jGggKzAdP6S8zClStCycxM6V79uynHlm6UD8S0wrU7VJ2Z7pxPOEOarHRFZDEfaY4pqOCFLwzX8NAOSa5xWjtVoLEUqzL2IHgqLs0Zw7xUUdB7z2vqHg/s400/59183_1485290884908_1012966683_31239404_5559307_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515387588861551250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgef_2etrW4SisuqdvaEPFcKOchlcqAVdXqIF_5S-UqFOaXam6fZ34KoPPpHe13CUtyI73nC9eh-tSBZQiQKX-W57MEvdZ17nS1oskJHqrI1mbORrscbTDAWKB4ig2IrKZtRDesFlrgpCs/s1600/59183_1485290804906_1012966683_31239402_4867573_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgef_2etrW4SisuqdvaEPFcKOchlcqAVdXqIF_5S-UqFOaXam6fZ34KoPPpHe13CUtyI73nC9eh-tSBZQiQKX-W57MEvdZ17nS1oskJHqrI1mbORrscbTDAWKB4ig2IrKZtRDesFlrgpCs/s400/59183_1485290804906_1012966683_31239402_4867573_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515387523769353986" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPOQHRR9WxyX06Rv8V_FKrAsMVDAZkUIVGvvOdMtQY-bA-u2Fo-SwS6OldCTVqdjOLA-XqceL5nn0_PpqtUMhAUTPafcTtv8nWem1qT3HIRSmFVhHW4vIWJoMMTs58Tooa9AVVoSba_w/s1600/59183_1485290724904_1012966683_31239400_6858370_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPOQHRR9WxyX06Rv8V_FKrAsMVDAZkUIVGvvOdMtQY-bA-u2Fo-SwS6OldCTVqdjOLA-XqceL5nn0_PpqtUMhAUTPafcTtv8nWem1qT3HIRSmFVhHW4vIWJoMMTs58Tooa9AVVoSba_w/s400/59183_1485290724904_1012966683_31239400_6858370_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515387437987212114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcRPAzB3Mn94Wbo2Zj9GDwPgnJydMFz1IPO7TH7trrS1A0SabwOR0wzvOppERKBkJaU0H1QzW_5y9inaHQWDaqSdIXuADFy3nO-XZttXoUThAwSmkWuNeJhk9uqJj2v4awzqLLF3HWks/s1600/59183_1485290604901_1012966683_31239397_5639825_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcRPAzB3Mn94Wbo2Zj9GDwPgnJydMFz1IPO7TH7trrS1A0SabwOR0wzvOppERKBkJaU0H1QzW_5y9inaHQWDaqSdIXuADFy3nO-XZttXoUThAwSmkWuNeJhk9uqJj2v4awzqLLF3HWks/s400/59183_1485290604901_1012966683_31239397_5639825_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515387371509158450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpSgR9zyo7NN4RHEsGK7caOhK5TSMrhGGU55pRi0sglBKL_bkh06S2HMX3fKRCyDaLUDCE9D-EXEjURXvuHymzjanus1dtprT91pDZCw-ed2pxPUiE5z0t7MCtHqyO8BxkA0Fvjamdw4/s1600/57903_1485291724929_1012966683_31239413_311082_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpSgR9zyo7NN4RHEsGK7caOhK5TSMrhGGU55pRi0sglBKL_bkh06S2HMX3fKRCyDaLUDCE9D-EXEjURXvuHymzjanus1dtprT91pDZCw-ed2pxPUiE5z0t7MCtHqyO8BxkA0Fvjamdw4/s400/57903_1485291724929_1012966683_31239413_311082_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515387246611571650" /></a>Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-88440530563975899692010-09-07T15:24:00.000-07:002010-09-07T15:27:36.026-07:00It's Coming...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcBX24_SXsBIGEYe9dPwIxecBnn6LVfR-CtHAYcNPFE68tyHVMttG_-M0pa8eZCCY2kduM-ZwPmGCfPa-y_R_aj277R1J70B6CohK6ifGYNeS9FNakdOihOsnl_PxXSDjh-j7pN2br-M/s1600/artworks-000000918887-5na4q0-crop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcBX24_SXsBIGEYe9dPwIxecBnn6LVfR-CtHAYcNPFE68tyHVMttG_-M0pa8eZCCY2kduM-ZwPmGCfPa-y_R_aj277R1J70B6CohK6ifGYNeS9FNakdOihOsnl_PxXSDjh-j7pN2br-M/s400/artworks-000000918887-5na4q0-crop.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514301781845400098" /></a><br />Are you ready for this year's <a href="http://timfinkel.blogspot.com/2009/10/ice-ice-baby.html">Fat Tire Fight Club</a>? If you're in the know, make sure you show...because it's always worth the price of admission.Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-60688294824642008782010-09-05T20:25:00.000-07:002010-09-05T20:28:59.790-07:00My First Master's RaceThe 2010 Tour di Via Italia was good to me this year! I can get used to this old man racing. <br /><object style="background-image:url(http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/OzryF4F5UEA/hqdefault.jpg)" width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OzryF4F5UEA?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OzryF4F5UEA?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="480" height="295" allowScriptAccess="never" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-3844242758025087672010-08-26T09:45:00.000-07:002010-08-26T09:50:41.689-07:00A Recipe for New Ink.Getting a tattoo is a deeply personal experience. People’s motives for this can be quite vast. I never thought much about getting any tattoos in my lifetime. This may be the reason it wasn’t until I was thirty that I got my <a href="http://timfinkel.blogspot.com/2009/04/spring-break-re-cap.html">first one</a>. Tattoos are permanent landmarks in time. I got my <a href="http://timfinkel.blogspot.com/2009/04/spring-break-re-cap.html">first tattoo</a> 6 weeks after my brother passed away. I wanted a permanent reminder of what his presence in my life had meant to me and how I wanted to strive to live my life from that day forward. I decided to keep the placement of that tattoo concealed mainly because it was something that was just for me.<br /><br />As the cliché goes, it’s hard to only get one tattoo. One of my summer projects this year was to get some new artwork done that was not just for me but also for everyone. I wanted a piece that spoke of who I was. Below is what I came up with. There are several metaphorical layers to this one. The bike cog represents my passion, not simply for cycling but the idea that I am a person of passion. The anatomically correct heart represents that my passion is what makes my heart strong and helps me to be the person I want to be. The background wings follow the contour of a Corvette logo. My brother had an immense passion for Corvettes. He was one of those lucky people that get to have their passion and occupation overlap. He achieved this by following his heart. When you put it all together you have the recipe for what makes me happy and that’s why I decided I wanted to carry this recipe around with me all the time. <br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGddwItAY6MMnwt3A2Oty620afjryL36bsRvxrA71FDSHSuo6jZ-rgeNY4i1Op2GwGr1-RHRlugaY3CM8Zj2uzsZJnsu9b_4e1_OtFpeJrnkm3xt1Wozkw0WLhGVQA2FV0sgDPUCkiS20/s1600/IMG_2911.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 331px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGddwItAY6MMnwt3A2Oty620afjryL36bsRvxrA71FDSHSuo6jZ-rgeNY4i1Op2GwGr1-RHRlugaY3CM8Zj2uzsZJnsu9b_4e1_OtFpeJrnkm3xt1Wozkw0WLhGVQA2FV0sgDPUCkiS20/s400/IMG_2911.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509761125862539426" /></a><br /><br />One of the most important lessons I’ve come to love about tattoos is the undeniable truth that you are a product of the decisions you make in life and that they follow you wherever you go…shaping who you are.Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-52120874702270978912010-08-03T10:39:00.000-07:002010-08-04T11:03:53.658-07:00Days 3-7 of 700 in 7: The Belated Ride Denouement Report<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSpU3pkdIjiTGyIL2sXYsKuYiNoeFvrh1eqLF0_4Ca4Y6U9hGUzguvBxXnse-e5GqgUZyb43YB0ne6nmO6TQrBO1iKtMVSsGO4SrqaWzzh-Kn0h0blWiI5a-oMVSlICByRSZVC1skdqI/s1600/IMG_2811.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSpU3pkdIjiTGyIL2sXYsKuYiNoeFvrh1eqLF0_4Ca4Y6U9hGUzguvBxXnse-e5GqgUZyb43YB0ne6nmO6TQrBO1iKtMVSsGO4SrqaWzzh-Kn0h0blWiI5a-oMVSlICByRSZVC1skdqI/s400/IMG_2811.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501239909194867858" /></a><br />I apologize for the tardiness of this entry but it seems that when you hit the pause button on life to roll 40 plus hours in one week on the bike a tidal wave of postponed responsibilities comes crashing down on you as soon as you cross the finish line. Nonetheless, I’ve had a week to mentally digest this experience and I’m ready to pass it along to you.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgm3c4-NFvGNLj4urz8xEOIbZ4i3VDkcmDrUiN8gMmQUXTqh2JMlUpzfor85EftmHGLS1KPVzsuw9sO4TjSsityLsnH42bhqTbhaHw2dHEKffc8CAYoSCnNstF97fSZ3kvP3YZ6q-ynZM/s1600/IMG_2812.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgm3c4-NFvGNLj4urz8xEOIbZ4i3VDkcmDrUiN8gMmQUXTqh2JMlUpzfor85EftmHGLS1KPVzsuw9sO4TjSsityLsnH42bhqTbhaHw2dHEKffc8CAYoSCnNstF97fSZ3kvP3YZ6q-ynZM/s400/IMG_2812.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501240076854044258" /></a><br />I’d like to first start by sincerely thanking all of those who donated to this cause. Before I started this ride, the Make-A-Wish foundation was purely a conceptual idea to me. It wasn’t until I was fortunate enough to listen to the stories of so many people and feel the support of everyone who was behind me in this endeavor that I was able to see that what I was doing was something tangible and worthwhile. No matter how big or small your donation, the gesture of your support was a major contributing factor toward me keeping the cranks turning throughout this week of attrition. Although I was the one completing the miles on my bike, this event was not about me, it was about the children who have to live with fear that they can’t even understand at such a young age. Make-A-Wish is able to provide something to these children that even the best of doctors cannot; this something is hope, excitement and joy amidst life-threatening situations. Furthermore, Make-A-Wish does not only positively affect the child but also the family unit as a whole. Your support toward this cause allows families throughout the world to improve their quality of life even when it is limited through something as simple and magical as a wish. With your help, I was able to raise $2300 in a little less than a month. This has me excited to see how much higher I can raise the bar next year.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Day 3:</span> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC36nth9VxTIEZe0iM0x-5Bn1f8l9jOYs5Gbc8CQg9To19Td9Rgczk2Jr8yPp60drgxKsWt0uWMh_DA2HsLBFY8eXXg9K1_kpVRtSkneI21jBA9iIqP31GiQA6-fOeVSLrEg9_1D4koz0/s1600/IMG_2809.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC36nth9VxTIEZe0iM0x-5Bn1f8l9jOYs5Gbc8CQg9To19Td9Rgczk2Jr8yPp60drgxKsWt0uWMh_DA2HsLBFY8eXXg9K1_kpVRtSkneI21jBA9iIqP31GiQA6-fOeVSLrEg9_1D4koz0/s400/IMG_2809.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501240300754552866" /></a><br />My first 320 miles were ridden alone. I didn’t really plan for this, it just kind of happened. However, in retrospect I’m happy that it turned out that way as I realize it was a blessing. Everyone has his or her own way of grieving the loss of a loved one. I’m discovering that figuring out constructive methods to do this can be extremely challenging and confusing. I’ve also realized that this journey is not a start and end format either but rather an ongoing process that becomes part of the core fabric of who you are as a person. So far throughout my own process riding my bike has been my most comfortable psychiatric chair. These first three days of riding in solitude helped for me to center my thoughts and reflect on certain emotions I have felt over the past year or so. I was hoping for this experience to be a cathartic one and it indeed was. Nonetheless, after riding three days alone, I was ready to welcome company on day four.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Day 4: Solitude Ends</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDg2snwxJmkW5dwiZDyj007mfMFY-3cI2wpvQ4G5c3HjI-g3nr9Sfb0cwO-lWCXixUQkoC3xYPwlLOmKu-ZRmV1-uDmOw_DkcY0rkjglOytUa6jxNRFMhCDi1AX0HmMasmiLj_8B4Dyc/s1600/IMG_2822.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDg2snwxJmkW5dwiZDyj007mfMFY-3cI2wpvQ4G5c3HjI-g3nr9Sfb0cwO-lWCXixUQkoC3xYPwlLOmKu-ZRmV1-uDmOw_DkcY0rkjglOytUa6jxNRFMhCDi1AX0HmMasmiLj_8B4Dyc/s400/IMG_2822.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501240820316837762" /></a><br />Cullen Watkins and I met up at 6:00 in the morning to head toward Birch Run where an illustrious 40-ft RV, courtesy of the generosity of Jeff Surnow, was going to pick us up in style and proceed toward Traverse City. Despite not having much of a pre-determined route in place we were able to link together some great dirt roads and double track that ended up eventually dumping us out onto Dixie Highway in Flint. We reached Birch Run a little after 12:00 and with 100 miles in our legs resulting in a week total of 420 so far.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7j9k5u5548CiZ3VQ4NPCyVRBuk2sv_EILZDBiiX4JM40_H-ENavZkLWV90S4euEWDCb0N0XPT7j3FX-twdBg3Ajj5NAq5pqwe9rKalW9oEZDz7E7CvHKyj8RAt9pVWSCCQu1pwD9UbIA/s1600/IMG_2825.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7j9k5u5548CiZ3VQ4NPCyVRBuk2sv_EILZDBiiX4JM40_H-ENavZkLWV90S4euEWDCb0N0XPT7j3FX-twdBg3Ajj5NAq5pqwe9rKalW9oEZDz7E7CvHKyj8RAt9pVWSCCQu1pwD9UbIA/s400/IMG_2825.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501241139879112706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1hU6K6edLWZrSHbF1D-7ejDgUqvhzEAYo4p0NhgL-6eTlFChcElRQKPJsAaxVUV6vbJ9O_kGtdftDvau1GHmq5DpeK2yvjTTsW0rORGr3bwd3Yf96IcLeLnOspTLYdaZ-iQSAPwdz0A/s1600/IMG_2827.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1hU6K6edLWZrSHbF1D-7ejDgUqvhzEAYo4p0NhgL-6eTlFChcElRQKPJsAaxVUV6vbJ9O_kGtdftDvau1GHmq5DpeK2yvjTTsW0rORGr3bwd3Yf96IcLeLnOspTLYdaZ-iQSAPwdz0A/s400/IMG_2827.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501241391242389794" /></a><br />We were greeted by some great company in the RV. As the trip rolled on, I realized that although it was my first time meeting many of these people we were going to all become good friends by the end of the weekend. Whenever you are thrown into a new social situation a common ingredient that is an extremely effective catalyst in unifying the group is beer! I can honestly say that by the time we reached Traverse City, our group had become one!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VX_FOrAg_0h32YFxvffEZa00OawahJYG35qKWETkTLikuDzXPWeb2W8iLWT4AorAjgreJwhpV3u5Uv0v_5tjI5yyxZ5JG-AoqE3oWRlpvHQ_mBKGdU6HmjJJxJAicSfF5JAmAHDNV2I/s1600/IMG_2834.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VX_FOrAg_0h32YFxvffEZa00OawahJYG35qKWETkTLikuDzXPWeb2W8iLWT4AorAjgreJwhpV3u5Uv0v_5tjI5yyxZ5JG-AoqE3oWRlpvHQ_mBKGdU6HmjJJxJAicSfF5JAmAHDNV2I/s400/IMG_2834.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501241607131931426" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Day 5: The WAM Begins</span><br /><br />You can take the racer out of a race but you cannot take the race out of the racer. Mind you, this event is a tour. It is not designed for personal glorification or ego feeding. However, when you have 800 plus riders starting at one point, heading in the same direction, and ending at the same point…it kind of becomes a race to me regardless of the rides motive, I guess it’s just in my blood. “Look at that guy…He’s on a single speed mountain bike…he must not have ever done this before…just wait until the end, he’ll be suffering”. Echoes of these sentiments rolled off the tongues of everyone I came in contact with this day. Soon after the ride began I started searching for road wheels to follow and tuck behind until they tinkered out. I spoke with many of the riders, as they all asked me, “Why are you on a single speed mountain bike”? My most common answer was, “I’m a glutton for punishment”. I would then proceed to inform them that I started the day with 420 miles in my legs already and plan to roll 700 for the week. I should also mention, I was not alone in this single speed venture. Cullen Watkins, who first pitched the idea, and Jeff Surnow, were also limited to fat tires and one cog for the weekend. News spread quickly amongst the participants and we became known as “The Deranged and Insane Mountain Bikers” for the rest of the weekend. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Lyrkz-P9i32FDrNheENH8jh5-_CtKllGhXMotNHahH3yUOjkePWjutYRcrOkiLNDOTTPKT4NYX971OIfFAqvetP7QeiFYZh6cFjnBcFTkE45sUUXPBMH3vDOti67f5iIj9xaEoMMHW8/s1600/IMG_2858.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Lyrkz-P9i32FDrNheENH8jh5-_CtKllGhXMotNHahH3yUOjkePWjutYRcrOkiLNDOTTPKT4NYX971OIfFAqvetP7QeiFYZh6cFjnBcFTkE45sUUXPBMH3vDOti67f5iIj9xaEoMMHW8/s400/IMG_2858.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501241935037989154" /></a><br />After about 60 miles of riding for the day I stopped in at an aid station and they announced to me that I was the first person through for the day. I was leading the ride…not that it’s a race of course. At around mile 85 two-road bikers blazed by me and I put in an effort to stay on their wheel. The two riders were a fellow Wolverine and Blair Dudley who is a very accomplished road racer. They kept the pace high and dragged me to end the day rolling in as the first three finishers. Soon after we completed, I was able to sit down and talk with Blair and his involvement with Make-A-Wish. Turned out, his daughter received a wish in 2003. He went onto explain how the experience of this changed his life dramatically which even lead to a career change to the healthcare field as well as seven years of participation in the WAM. Again, his story contributed to my conceptual view becoming even more tangible. <br /><br />That evening we had a Team Alex party in our hotel. Bill and Susie Graham graciously provided the team with food and beverage and thanked us all for honoring the life of their daughter through our efforts. That night I decided to share my story in front of the entire team as to why I wound up at WAM this year. I only made it a few sentences into my speech before I was overcome with tears. I had delivered a speech at my brother’s funeral that I managed to make it through collected. However, this evening as I shared my story aloud it began to become much more real for me. I thought about Bill and Susie losing Alex, and I thought about everyone’s story in the room and my emotions overtook me. At the end of my story, many people approached me. Despite the difficulty of sharing this with everyone it was ultimately a good thing for me and I realized I was amongst friends and supporters. <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Day 6: Atonement through Suffering</span><br /><br />As we rolled out at 5:45am as a group, we all realized we were going to get wet this day. The forecast did not look favorable and there were even grumblings amongst the organizers that the ride could get shut down today due to severe thunderstorms. Immediately I became fearful that my 700-mile goal could be in jeopardy so I adopted the mentality that if I rode fast enough I could outrun the weather. I didn’t exactly end up outrunning the weather but I did end up avoiding some severe thunderstorms and finished the ride with 118 miles for the day and again, arriving in the front group. <br /><br />I’ll admit, this day was not a fun day in the saddle. We battled torrential downpours all day long. Under any other circumstances I probably would of thrown in the towel. However, the thought of meeting our wish kids at the finish line the next day and the realization of the suffering they have had to endure kept the wheels turning all day.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEN9wGkDN9hgzHt0pzsgWWp_Q1AKEdvE58RNCDGSFVYgMG-bmebnX8ZtUgDAG29hMAsAEfeqmY3I2BRHmG64s6DghZ_7cFlFQtMZqO9z2z1Kr-xyL4JRG45r3B4IWPt9wnAmsZ9LbE2U/s1600/IMG_2883.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 361px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEN9wGkDN9hgzHt0pzsgWWp_Q1AKEdvE58RNCDGSFVYgMG-bmebnX8ZtUgDAG29hMAsAEfeqmY3I2BRHmG64s6DghZ_7cFlFQtMZqO9z2z1Kr-xyL4JRG45r3B4IWPt9wnAmsZ9LbE2U/s400/IMG_2883.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501247253007494642" /></a><br />That evening was the WAM Awards Banquet in which they honor the riders, share the event history, and entertain a very tired crowd. To my surprise, I won the award for the most surprising stunt of the weekend. As I said, word traveled fast amongst the riders of my 700-mile week. Also, being a part of Team Alex, we were awarded with the Top Earning Team Award collectively raising just over $202,000, which equates to roughly 30 wishes being granted. I felt very honored to be a part of that figure and overwhelmed that in today’s economic climate, Team Alex was able to achieve this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVwtIdWlwmewV3KBJs7dxatYOb2kg1gKrWFio5RyNoEMvgqOVhIrX9yyNNPn55pIdwzbrbVRcuwdOIXtRPCSixkrdbJZDMUqEYoJE8kkfXPeh6vjg8_5tKGx5wBcx-_cr1gxhfTt9ivg/s1600/232323232%7Ffp53842%3Enu=3343%3E-;4%3E8%3C3%3EWSNRCG=34%3C37;7;4;336nu0mrj.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVwtIdWlwmewV3KBJs7dxatYOb2kg1gKrWFio5RyNoEMvgqOVhIrX9yyNNPn55pIdwzbrbVRcuwdOIXtRPCSixkrdbJZDMUqEYoJE8kkfXPeh6vjg8_5tKGx5wBcx-_cr1gxhfTt9ivg/s400/232323232%7Ffp53842%3Enu=3343%3E-;4%3E8%3C3%3EWSNRCG=34%3C37;7;4;336nu0mrj.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501242236141151842" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Day 7: Completion</span><br /><br />There are many experiences in life that are so great in the moment but are forgotten with time. However, every so often you experience something that is great in the moment but once you’ve had time to reflect on it, you realize that it was truly amazing. The last day of WAM was such a day for me. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lwVKMTStzc4PJ4C7bVWkl4hqc9Zj7rOR3jV0pKE1hDc9OVWFj_W6PB5L4pIhPws-aRAw8gfRMg-95sHmJ2dKBxtLU-5LA35pcufdLaJ8Kv4rD1da5kq9bHa537AUA4tFGEu5IrMlmqo/s1600/232323232%7Ffp53833%3Enu=3343%3E-;4%3E8%3C3%3EWSNRCG=34%3C37;7;53336nu0mrj.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lwVKMTStzc4PJ4C7bVWkl4hqc9Zj7rOR3jV0pKE1hDc9OVWFj_W6PB5L4pIhPws-aRAw8gfRMg-95sHmJ2dKBxtLU-5LA35pcufdLaJ8Kv4rD1da5kq9bHa537AUA4tFGEu5IrMlmqo/s400/232323232%7Ffp53833%3Enu=3343%3E-;4%3E8%3C3%3EWSNRCG=34%3C37;7;53336nu0mrj.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501242469883657154" /></a><br />Make-A-Wish is a truly a unique charity in the sense that you get to meet the children your efforts have directly affected. While the root of charity is helping others out unconditionally and without necessary acknowledgement, I believe this unique characteristic of Make-A-Wish is reciprocally beneficial to both those fundraising and those receiving. Perhaps that’s why so many of the Make-A-Wish Kids become employees of the foundation later in life. The opportunity to meet those directly affected by your efforts puts hope in your own heart but also allows the Wish children to realize that there is a community of people fighting for them and supporting them through their adversity. It allows them to understand that they do not have to face fear alone.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASHUrKeB5t8yV31_2rIy3wDYNk8-9y762ZUhof-x35rej4DlJ_LflGWgoyJk0jHktxnJrTB2NXbTJHXGEd2Rqw9b_91Oc0MJmo0UXaBBOJO6xlf5ao6ZntCijE7oIEKEeJ_wgC74XSi4/s1600/232323232%7Ffp5383;%3Enu=3343%3E-;4%3E8%3C3%3EWSNRCG=34%3C37;7;87336nu0mrj.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASHUrKeB5t8yV31_2rIy3wDYNk8-9y762ZUhof-x35rej4DlJ_LflGWgoyJk0jHktxnJrTB2NXbTJHXGEd2Rqw9b_91Oc0MJmo0UXaBBOJO6xlf5ao6ZntCijE7oIEKEeJ_wgC74XSi4/s400/232323232%7Ffp5383;%3Enu=3343%3E-;4%3E8%3C3%3EWSNRCG=34%3C37;7;87336nu0mrj.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501242649731500642" /></a><br />The simple words “Thank You” that came from the mouths of the Wish Kids that day is still resonating in my head. It was during these moments of gratuity from the children that the conceptual truly became the tangible and I realized that I will seize the opportunity to participate in WAM for as long as my body enables me to.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oc8Jw6oiR3ew8naorvH9Q543-mzDCyA_LymaS51nT0kcMLoOU5TIiCXxK1oHzswt2K2JwR4aTjqf71p1DM0qe93LEG8BZ-ZDMHLRUQkEZgFNdkYKiEUqJAA2RmUwPOn4MWQn8p3xaYk/s1600/232323232%7Ffp537;4%3Enu=3343%3E-;4%3E8%3C3%3EWSNRCG=34%3C37;7;95336nu0mrj.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oc8Jw6oiR3ew8naorvH9Q543-mzDCyA_LymaS51nT0kcMLoOU5TIiCXxK1oHzswt2K2JwR4aTjqf71p1DM0qe93LEG8BZ-ZDMHLRUQkEZgFNdkYKiEUqJAA2RmUwPOn4MWQn8p3xaYk/s400/232323232%7Ffp537;4%3Enu=3343%3E-;4%3E8%3C3%3EWSNRCG=34%3C37;7;95336nu0mrj.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501242830965242738" /></a><br />I ultimately ended the week with 730 miles total, 30 miles above my goal. However, the week wasn’t about the miles…it was about something more. Much to my surprise, it ended up resulting in even more than I could of ever anticipated. Again, thank you to everyone who financially supported this as you all share a piece of this experience.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuW9H-JttNFY_lxiPBDjTIFD2XV02IATbb4z7SYrlskNE0OsA-0q_QzZkXZYyeUFJl6OGG5OEzmN8O9Zoc_13XmMSFlAe5C2ahRLO1XaSCt3DxkPb5JDgYTx3q36nsn0b6YSqQEo_2_zQ/s1600/232323232%7Ffp537%3C4%3Enu=3343%3E-;4%3E8%3C3%3EWSNRCG=34%3C383%3C3%3C3336nu0mrj.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuW9H-JttNFY_lxiPBDjTIFD2XV02IATbb4z7SYrlskNE0OsA-0q_QzZkXZYyeUFJl6OGG5OEzmN8O9Zoc_13XmMSFlAe5C2ahRLO1XaSCt3DxkPb5JDgYTx3q36nsn0b6YSqQEo_2_zQ/s400/232323232%7Ffp537%3C4%3Enu=3343%3E-;4%3E8%3C3%3EWSNRCG=34%3C383%3C3%3C3336nu0mrj.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501243155895402818" /></a>Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586002056440571308.post-55829761945348446452010-07-21T06:45:00.000-07:002010-07-21T08:56:37.672-07:00Day 2 of 700 in 7: Giving Thanks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQWqq6liFo5WgujKZKR0OyOR7EB2_moFqZhkBW1K4TLRaTzxROgUWg7VO5ffXO_BwePVSvebKgminQg2PLqIQyfwHH_4MykzhHcloKa6IyTQcrEaGrPSep0c7Svk0AdxbSuSPAWH1QBc/s1600/IMG_2785.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQWqq6liFo5WgujKZKR0OyOR7EB2_moFqZhkBW1K4TLRaTzxROgUWg7VO5ffXO_BwePVSvebKgminQg2PLqIQyfwHH_4MykzhHcloKa6IyTQcrEaGrPSep0c7Svk0AdxbSuSPAWH1QBc/s400/IMG_2785.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496355554766653714" /></a><br />It’s still pretty early in the week but I must say, my legs are holding up pretty well so far. Also, I’ve had an overwhelming amount of motivation to keep the wheels moving forward. Today that motivation materialized itself into a bit of bonus miles as I rolled some extra credit and came in at 120 miles for the day with a ride time of 6hrs 58min.<br /><br />Most often, my rides have some sort of training objective (i.e. active recovery, intervals, hills, tempo, base miles, race tune-ups, etc.) However, this week is not about training to me…in fact, it’s not even so much about the ride at all, but rather something more. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiKFYyh99TDoKumnH1I_E2OvxTcYkv0vjha-qWzZZV7nQBMBzduSfo9fgS9_-qvbiNRaSdGg7sVGUNKft3vIE0z7cbbEXGTZJEcsF8-xd1eA6qPDWBx22WbZqw60WNJ4RsfC0gnwoB6U/s1600/IMG_2786.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiKFYyh99TDoKumnH1I_E2OvxTcYkv0vjha-qWzZZV7nQBMBzduSfo9fgS9_-qvbiNRaSdGg7sVGUNKft3vIE0z7cbbEXGTZJEcsF8-xd1eA6qPDWBx22WbZqw60WNJ4RsfC0gnwoB6U/s400/IMG_2786.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496355889421856034" /></a><br />Last week I taught in a classroom composed of severely multiply impaired students. All of the students were in wheelchairs and non-ambulatory. Many of them had to eat through feeding tubes in their stomach, and they were almost all not able to communicate verbally. Their ages ranged from 6 to 10 years old. It’s easy for us to feel bad for this population. We tend to compare our own life experiences to what they will never be able to experience. However, I noticed that many of these students still experienced happiness and joy; it was simply in a different form than what we are accustomed to. I observed one student who would laugh and smile simply by hearing certain music he liked or feeling something tactile that he enjoyed. <br /><br />Although these students may never be able to function without assistance, their role in their caretaker’s lives is still very symbiotic.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vZ8V4SFI5vUWnN048lreAuP0efDhykFJkEnU1G22KPRTsk8m-A-NC7kdy29u4Y3IM0G6nb09MduwS-5uAlryKsiCo5w-44i6nb932Zb8WwrlZKJO5aNSnfPIvLbjgjc8mETLN7O3Tu4/s1600/IMG_2784.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vZ8V4SFI5vUWnN048lreAuP0efDhykFJkEnU1G22KPRTsk8m-A-NC7kdy29u4Y3IM0G6nb09MduwS-5uAlryKsiCo5w-44i6nb932Zb8WwrlZKJO5aNSnfPIvLbjgjc8mETLN7O3Tu4/s400/IMG_2784.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496356113121818354" /></a><br />As I rode today, I reflected on my often taken for granted, simple ability to ride a bicycle. At one point I found myself lost in my thoughts, looking down at my legs pumping rhythmically and harmoniously with my machine, and I began to think about those students I worked with last week. A wave of gratitude came over me and I became so thankful for the gift of personal health and ability. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjV38F8bNJKZ8pXB9LZKEszdAuy1toULPExCSKG0h6p3HC75OWo4X83ZoIddub9VQqJFnW3P-F5Qrf7NLKT0wQmNSKtec191G71AIJtnran8iecltBqw6hUMYgKlKItj5BTPR0kmQ0NE/s1600/IMG_2792.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjV38F8bNJKZ8pXB9LZKEszdAuy1toULPExCSKG0h6p3HC75OWo4X83ZoIddub9VQqJFnW3P-F5Qrf7NLKT0wQmNSKtec191G71AIJtnran8iecltBqw6hUMYgKlKItj5BTPR0kmQ0NE/s400/IMG_2792.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496356282037118658" /></a><br />I must admit that although the main objective of this journey is to raise money for <a href="http://www.wishmich.org/Page.aspx?pid=758&frsid=41485">Make-A-Wish</a>, my initial motives could still be considered a bit self-serving. I thought it would be a healthy cathartic way to grieve over lost loved ones and an excuse to ride 700 miles in one week.<br /><br />Last night after my ride, Angela and I attended the <a href="http://www.wishmich.org/Page.aspx?pid=759&frtid=11939">Team Alex</a> Pre-WAM party. After listening to some of the veteran riders testimonials of meeting the Wish Kids on the last day of the tour I began to realize that it is going to be a difficult task to finish the week with a dry eye. Although, my efforts are focused towards helping these children’s wishes come true, I have a feeling they will be giving back just as much to me through their inspiration.<br /><br />It’s not so much about the miles or the ride but just simply giving thanks.Timothy Finkelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15115240451825034876noreply@blogger.com2