Mike Across America

On Thursday, Feb. 11th, I’m hosting a viewing of the video Bicycle Dreams, a documentary of the Race Across America (RAAM). It will be shown at Uno Zoni, 196 E. 6th Street in Sioux Falls, SD. We will start the show at 7:00 pm, and it should be over at 8:40. Come earlier to order supper if you want. If you plan to eat, RSVP to me at dunlapmike@hotmail.com so the staff at Uno Zoni will be prepared.

If you want to see what RAAM is all about, you need to see this. The cinematography is awesome and the story really grabs you. But don’t take my word for it. Velo News had the following review:

“In making Bicycle Dreams, filmmaker Stephen Auerbach and his crew worked around the clock to capture the highs and lows of the 2005 RAAM. With 18 cameras in the field, the team searched for innovative ways to document an event that sees half its participants abandon, including a midrace trip to the emergency room. Auerbach then took on the enormous task of editing hundreds of hours of material into a powerful, inspiring look inside the most difficult race on earth; since its spring release, the film has won nine film-festival awards.”

Bicycle Dreams is available for $20 at www.bicycledreamsmovie.com

There is no charge to come and watch the show, but I will have my fund raising material available to anyone who would like to donate to my causes – Sanford Research Center and The Dick Beardsley Foundation.

“Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true.” Leon J. Suenes

I’m happy. Five of us are traveling to Sacrament, CA this weekend, January 23, for a Race Across America Seminar. Crew Chief Jenny Stinson, crew-members Karen Dunlap, Kallie Dunlap, Ben Dunlap and myself make up the “students”. The last few years the organizers of RAAM have offered participants the opportunity to learn from experienced RAAM racers the “ins and outs” of successfully completing RAAM. Rookies with rookie crews(which we are) have the highest failure rate completing RAAM. So the hope is that the seminars will give participants more knowledge to increase the chances of success. Plus it will be nice to have a change of scenery as winter is in full glory here in South Dakota. Indoor training is going as well as can be expected. Plans for RAAM are coming along nicely. Yes, I’m happy.

Today was the first “Bike With Mike” indoor cycling session. I had a 6 hour ride planned and I asked Chad Pickard – owner of Spoke-N-Sport bike shop – if I could do this at his store. He graciously agreed and set up extra stationary trainers so others could bring in their bikes and ride with me. Thanks to Amy Miller, Jaci Heide, Eric Sahly, Bill Murphy, Joe and Tina Stiller, Greg Thornton, Dustin Bakker and Jason Cox. They all came in to ride at least 1 or more hours with me.  Having the company really helped make the time fly bye. Attached is a video that my wife Karen shot of the fun. Kelo TV came out and visited with me. They shot some nice video and it was on the local news. It was a good day.

Mike Across America segment at eight minute point in the broadcast below. January 16, 2010

The start of RAAM 2010 is only 150 days from now. Hard to believe when its -24 degrees outside – like it was this morning. But time waits for no one – so up and over to the Sanford Wellness Center for back to back spin classes. The first class is 1.5 hours then a 30 minute break before the second 1 hour class. I change shorts/jersey after the first class – grab a couple of fresh bottles of Gatorade and jump right back on. So today I ended up with 2:50 ride.  Average HR is 120-125 with some 140-150 at times. Now that 2010 is here I’ll try to keep the weekly total to 10+ hours. Thats about the same as 200 miles/week outside.  Please sign up for the rides I’m doing at Spoke-N-Sport on 1/16, 2/13 and 3/13 as I could really use the company and it should be fun. Go to spoke-n-sport.com for more information.

I finished 2009 with 10, 636 miles of biking. 8,724 on the road and 1,910 miles on my indoor trainer.  I’ll continue with as many indoor sessions as I can tolerate until the temperature and road conditions allow me to get back outside. I’m planning to increase the length of the indoor rides through the spring. On Jan. 16, Feb. 13 and Mar. 13 I’m going  to do a 6 hour ride at Spoke-N-Sport. Chad Pickard and the staff there are willing to set up an area for myself and two other riders to do these rides. Anyone who is interested can sign on to participate in these indoor sessions with me as a way to draw attention to the 2010 RAAM and the fundraising I’m trying to do. Plus I can really use the company during these long sessions to help keep me motivated. Doing long indoor sessions is tough and having people to share the experience with will help me a lot. “Misery loves company”!! Click sponsors – then click  Spoke-N-Sport and under rides/events is the “bike with Mike” link.  I hope to see you at one of the rides. If you don’t want to ride  – just stop by to lend your support and encouragement. We started 2010 right with the Spoke-N-Sport New Years Day ride. The temp. was 0 but 100+ riders showed up to compete the 12 miles ride. I hope you also start 2010 well.