Spring Fever

It’s that time of year again when Mother Nature dangles the carrot of warm weather in front of us and I’m feeling the pressure to get out and start training on a bike. My bike status is that I still don’t have one! Let’s face it, there are too many excuses to fall back on and the one I’m sticking to is that March is a very busy month; birthdays, St. Patty’s Day, Spring Break (my sister’s not mine), MARCH MADDNESS (Go Panthers!)
and it’s still not that nice to go ride my bike. This is of course not true when the evidence is staring me right in the face. Its 65 degrees out! That is amazing! However, true to Chicago form it is suppose to drop 30 degrees and possibly snow on Sunday.



So my goal is to have a bike by mid-April… That leaves me what? Approximately 99 days to train on a bike before RAGBRAI?! Of course there are additional ways to train and I really must dedicate myself to a routine. According to David Ertl, a USA Level 1 cycling coach, great way to train in cold weather (or if you still don’t have a bike) is to take a spin class. Unfortunately my gym does not offer these classes! MB, I may take you up on that offer! I need to continue to get in shape by doing cardio, etc. I only hope that spring fever motivates me instead of distracting me!

- Alexis

To find more information about David Ertl and training:
www.cyclesportcoaching.com

Oh the Madness!

Well its official, March Madness is upon us, and I have only one thing to say GO PANTHERS!!! A bummer that we play Kansas in the second round, but anything can happen and I would accept the destruction of my bracket if it means UNI in the sweet 16 or beyond! You're probably wondering, what does this have to do with RAGBRAI? In short, nothing, I just really love March Madness. Living with Alexis is really what triggered this unknown passion that I had, and I can get pretty competitive about my bracket. I'll admit, I still have trouble remembering all the rules of basketball, and sometimes say the wrong thing when shouting things out in the heat of the moment. I think the reason I never really got into basketball as a youngin' is that I could never (and still can't to this day) dribble and move at the same time, and when it came to shooting the basket I was lucky to hit the rim... so needless to say I was never much of a basketball player. Also, my love of basketball really only pertains to college basketball, have you ever been to an NBA game? BORING! As a bit of a sports nut it was the only time I've ever been more entertained by the little gimicks and shows they put on during it than the actual game.

Speaking of sports, I am so glad I was raised in a family and by a mother that loved sports just as much as the guys did, thanks Mom! Also being raised in a family that regularly loaded up our bikes into the back of the trailer and drove into Davenport to ride the trails on nice Saturday and Sunday afternoons has always made me very fond of bike riding. It's really one of my favorite childhood memories, and it was always such a great bonding experience. I think that is a big reason I'm so pumped up for RAGBRAI. I think I will be even closer with Alexis and Andrea because of the experience. And as an added bonus my brother in-law Mike is riding it for a couple of days as well. He and my sister have been hard at work in a cycling class at their gym, I'm just hoping I can convince Jenni to ride it with him. Also, last weekend my little brother Jacob was visiting for St. Patty's day, he's been riding a bike to work and he mentioned maybe he'd do it a couple of days to. I think that would be great! It would be like old times! Ahh, sports and bikes bringing people together. :)

Finally, on a more funny note, I still haven't been awesome about my RAGBRAI training or exercising in general, but I did try to get myself to the gym a bit more this week, and last night I decided to take a combo class, Hip Hop Hustle and Zumba. If anyone has ever seen me dance, which is scary, they know that I am not exactly um a natural or graceful dancer, I look more like this:



Last night really wasn't any different! And I learned that of all the types of dance I'm DEFINITELY not a hip hop dancer. I did get one pretty sweet move down called the elevator, I'll sure bust it out next time I'm dancing the night away.

While I know these classes aren't exactly preparing me to ride a bike for 7 days straight, they are at least getting my heart pumping a little and I think any kind of exercise at this point is a good thing!

OH I also gave up drinking between St. Patty's day and baseball season, yes I know its only 3 weeks, but I hope that it helps me with a few different things.

1. Hopefully I'll just start feeling healthier and um, less dehydrated.
2. Saving some money towards that bike I desperately need.
3. Motivating me to work out more regularly.
4. Reminding myself who's boss, and that it is possible to have fun sans alcohol.

Now I know that last one sounds bad but I know I'm not alone in this, I think as you get older and you drink more regularly, you forget that you can go to a party or go out and have a good time with out booze... gone are the days of Mt. Dew and Truth or Dare.

I'm not so sure where all the nostalgia came from today, I guess its just one of those days!

Thanks for reading!

-Abbie

PS This weather is amazing, get outside as much as you can! Sure would be nice to have a bike right now...

OH and PPS, the route has been announced, check it here: http://ragbrai.com/data/2010/ragbrai-main-map-2010.php

Cleared for take-off

OH boy, have we been neglecting the blog or what!

Well I really don't have a lot new to report, still trying, albeit somewhat unsuccessfully,to research and save for a bike... I really need to get my butt in gear, because spring is right around the corner, or at least I hope!

Also, I'm suffering from the serious winter blues right now, I'm just so sick of it being cold, and having to be all bundled up, its seriously demotivating. So needless to say I have not spent nearly enough time in the gym. Yes I realize that is an excuse but I really hope that with warm weather, and a bike, my motivation comes back.

I do have one less hurdle, I had my follow-up appointment with my orthopedic doctor yesterday and he has officially discharged me from his care and cleared me for all activities. Woohoo!! So I promise to not make any more excuses like "I can't, I have a broken wrist" because I no longer do.

I guess thats really all from me, sorry for the unexciting update! Keep checking I promise this will get better!

I LOVE THE 90'S!

A word of warning, this post has little to do with RAGBRAI and more to do with a funny story.

This story actually begins several years ago from when Lex and I were in college. I briefly dated this guy, he'll remain nameless, however Alexis and our best friend Amanda nicknamed him 1997, because he unfortunately looked like he got stuck there and never made it out.

Well, lets fast forward a few years to 2 weeks ago. Lex and I were on the bus on our way to the train on a Friday morning, not expecting it to be different than any other day are minding our own business, when I look up, and on walks a different guy I dated, again briefly, a couple of summers ago. He also will remain nameless, however for those familiar with who this is we will call him "Trench coat guy." Why do you ask? Because he wears an almost floor length black duster as a coat, I'm not kidding its straight out of the movie "Say Anything" with John Cusack (a movie I can't help but love BTW.) Me being the grown up I am trying to hide as much as possible and didn't say a word in fear he'd recognize my voice.

So it was during this time of quiet and reflection that I realized I have a problem, I only date in the 90's, honestly, Alexis and I went through a majority of the guys I've dated, definitely a blast from the past.

And now I'm thinking, oh no, can it be that I'm stuck in the 90's am I still a young girl between the age of 7 and 16? My conclusion is yes and here is why:

1. On Thursday and Friday nights, instead of going out with friends like most single young 26 year old professionals do, I babysit.
2. When I babysit I have to let my Mom and know and check in when I get home to let her know that I made it safely much like a young girl would have to do.
3. Why do I babysit? Because I'm saving up for a bicycle.

And here ends why I'm stuck in the 90's as a 7-16 year old girl.

- Abbie

Official- er

We’re one step closer! We are officially registered to RAGBRAI 2010. We got together Saturday morning for coffee and push each other the last few inches off the plank of non-commitment. It feels like a snowball affect, where all of a sudden things are rolling faster and getting larger! We were going to have a vote on what our team name should be but we needed a name to register as a team. It wasn’t easy! There have been so many clever and memorable team names on RAGBRAI and we want to make our mark... but pressure got the best of us. I do think it represents us and I'm very excited to have a team our first RAGBRAI.

SoPo Spinners (SoPo is an abbreviation of Southport, the street in Chicago that after May 1st we’ll all live on)

Now, keep your fingers crossed because we still need to make it past the lottery. Then it will be official! The lottery results are posted May 1st!

- Alexis