Ironman, you are cruel!

eDBiLLy & I began our trip to Lakeville around noon on Saturday. Everything was going great until about 6:40 pm, when somehow, the Yakima rack on eDBiLLy's Jetta decided to eject at 70 mph. It landed in the ditch, still with both bikes attached. This was a rack less than a year old, professionally installed! Both of our bikes need to be fixed, but thankfully, no one was hurt. The really bad thing is eDBiLLy's Jetta has the back window knocked out, with a whole bunch of paint missing off the trunk.

Props to the Trans Iowa racers!

Just a brief wish of good luck & no rain to the TI racers. eDBiLLy & I signed up one year for this race & then came to our senses (well, eDBiLLY did). It takes a special breed to endure these kind of conditions.

Ironman 2004

I've done the Ironman once before, in 2004, with the KeRNeL & eDBiLLy. The day started out with sleet, & ended up with our bikes covered with earthworms (they were all over the road)! The ride was billed as a century, but ended up being 109 miles. At about mile 101, people started pulling off to the side of the road & calling their friends to come & pick them up, because they had ridden 100 miles! Anyways, here's Ironman 2004 summed up in two pictures. The first pic is of eDBiLLy & I near the beginning. We were optimistic that the sun would come out & it would be a nice day. eDBiLLy had just gotten his Langster & I was riding my trusty old Guerciotti fixie. Now for pic #2, taken at the end of the ride. We got back to the motel & it was time to scrub the earthworms off our bikes! They were hanging down like globs of raw hamburger! The weather forecast for Ironman 2007 looks promising, so hopefully we won't have a repeat of 2004, but if we do, that's what makes cycling so much fun: the adventure.

Ironman this Sunday

This weekend, we travel to Lakeville, Minnesota for the Ironman Ride

eDBiLLy & eDLoNNiE after a couple Spilkers

Leona's place in Cortland is great! Spilker served in Spilker glasses-righteous!

The KeRNeL, rocking the Serotta

Cortland, Home of Spilker Ales!

Here we are, looking for Dorothy & Toto (It was windy!).

A couple of pics from LBL

Here are edBiLLy, Jim, eDLoNNiE & the KeRNel ready to embark.

LBL is in the can.

Four brave souls battled the hellacious winds- we only made it to Cortland & back. Even with just 45 miles under my belt, I feel like an overbaked lasagna. Crispy on the outside (from the wind & sun) & dry on the inside(from the effort) . Look for a couple pics in the coming days. Next up for CiTy BiLLy: the Ironman Ride, in Lakeville, MN.

It's not too late to register for LBL!

Please join us tomorrow @ 10 am for LBL! Drop me a note at CiTyBiLLy@neb.rr.com & I'll send you my address. Beer, Bikes & Fun!

Cipo wants you to ride LBL!

Please join us this Saturday for LBL! We'll meet at my house & ride to Beatrice & back. Beer & food will be provided. Cocktail hour is at 10 am. If you're interested in riding, e-mail me at CiTyBiLLy@neb.rr.com. I will then e-mail you my address. I'm doing this so I know how much beer to buy. There is no fee, as I assume no responsibility for what may happen on this ride.

The Shirt

What should I expect on this ride?

We're going to have fun! A couple of beers before the ride (if you're so inclined), a moderate pace out to Cortland, a stop at the convenience store (mmmm Hopluia!) & then out to Beatrice & back. If there's gale force winds, some of us may turn around early. Either way, we'll have a little get- together at the end of the ride with food & beer (if you don't drink alcohol , please let me know what your drink of choice is). CiTy BiLLy cycle is a big fan of King Eddy Merckx, so we may have a "Sunday in Hell" showing on the TV.

Details on LBL

LBL is Lincoln Beatrice Lincoln, an out & back course approximately 80 miles in length. There is no entry fee, as we assume no liability for the hijinx that may happen. This is a ride, not a race. If interested, please register by sending an e-mail to CiTyBiLLy@neb.rr.com . Upon registering, you will receive the starting location, "exclusive VIP" credentials to get into the pre & post ride cocktail (BEER) party & for the first 10 people, FREE t-shirts (Note: I'll be away from my computer April 17th & 18th, so your credentials won't come until Thursday the 19th) ! Our t-shirts are designed & handcrafted by CiTy BiLLy founder, eDBiLLy, an actual professional artist! We are screenprinting the shirts on Saturday the 14th, so pics will be posted soon!

LBL Ride