Newsletter
July 17, 2008
Wheels of Justice No Ka Oi! (“Wheels of Justice is the best”, in Hawaiian):
***NOTE: Important tour info at the end of this email, please print out and bring with you to the Courage Classic
Greetings from Kauai -- where the waves are big but the roads are not! Biking here may not be the best training for the Rockies but the R&R can't be beat. This week I did manage an epic ride up to the top of beautiful Waimea Canyon road. 18 miles and 3500 ft up. Much of the way up was in a lovely, cooling rain, the canyon shrouded in mist. Everything cleared as I rode downhill at sunset, and I was treated to a real show -- to my right, the sun dropping like a molten mango into the Pacific, splashing the wet trees with orange light. To my left, epic views of waterfalls across the big canyon with the nearly full moon already high in the sky. All of this as I'm flying downhill at 25 mph! Thanks to my WoJ training, it was the most memorable part of my trip!
Fundraising
With one week to go till the Courage Classic, the Wheels of Justice team has now raised $172,759 -- 86% of our $200K goal. Where n the world will this last $27, 241 come from?? -- YOU & ME! It's up to each of us to lean for the tape and go that extra mile for the team and for the kids, doc and families at Children's. Please send out a reminder email to your contacts letting them know that the 1 week COUNTDOWN is in progress and that you're hoping they can dig deep to help make this Courage Classic the best one ever! Remember: the kids, families, doctors and nurses at the Children's Hospital Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders are counting on us! Plus imagine the fun we'll have at the Courage Classic if we're celebrating finally reaching our $200K goal while we are still at the event July 26-28.
At this point 32 riders still have $0 in their fundraising column -- so to all of you, It's still not too late -- please fundraise now!! If you need any help getting started or drafting follow-up emails, please contact me via e-mail or phone and I will be happy to serve as your personal fundraising coach and concierge. I have templates and tips galore to share with you! The only barrier to our team achieving its goal is each of us somehow NOT finding the time to do our part -- so please ensure that each of us are personally committed to be the solution!
Why We Ride, Part 426:
Two friends share their tales of adventure, fundraising and fitness as WoJ team members:
Here's a note received from WoJ rider Leslie Morgan (she's currently raised $845) on her recent ride at Squaw Peak:
I want to share with you a story... this occurred on Thursday on our training ride on Squaw Peak Road. On our descent, it was dusk, as we had followed our plan to turn around in time to get back to the car before dark. I LOVE speed, it is my reward for the climb. With my newfound confidence and skills, thanks to Megan Hottman's recent training on descending skills with our team, I tend to enjoy it even more. I had just passed my friend and WOJ teammate, Rita, tucked in and burning down the hill at 30+ mph. Suddenly a big buck deer popped out of the trees to my left, and for whatever reason, he chose to RUN alongside me for a good 50-60 yards! He was stretched out at a full gallop, kicking up huge dust. Such a strong, beautiful, graceful animal! I had to keep an eye ahead at such speed, but I kept looking left, incredulous that this guy was keeping up. It was if he was playing with me! Then he suddenly cut back left into the trees, outta sight. WOW! I laughed all the way down the hill - never have I raced a deer! It was amazing. Rita saw it from behind, so we had a good laugh about it all the way home. Certainly a Once-in-a-Lifetime experience, and I never would have been there, seen that, had I not been training for this ride. It is moments like that one that make all of the work worthwhile.
Very cool story. And who is her laughing speed demon friend Rita? Why none other than new WoJ rider Rita Wu (she's raised $1970!) who had written me on July 11 on the life-changing benefits of joining the Wheels of Justice:
I went to the WoJ kickoff party to support my friends Charlene Krogh and David Jones, and without really knowing what I was signing up for, was convinced by David to sign up for the Courage Classic. In the past two months, I've gone from not being able to jog even half a mile and being miserable on every ride to finally being able to ride up lookout mountain without stopping and actually enjoying every other ride. Yesterday, I rode 7 miles up squaw pass, and it was amazing.
While our main goal is always to fundraise for the kids and doctors at Children's, these two stories illustrate some of the great side benefits of this project -- adopting a fit lifestyle and friendships forged in adventures galore. Do you have an amazing WoJ story to share? Please send to me at hpurcell@levinepurcell.com
Swag Report!
WoJ swag was mailed on Monday: Remember if you ordered a jersey, you committed to donate or fundraise at least $500 and if you ordered shorts too, you committed to $1000. We are expecting all to abide by these commitments, as we ordered on reliance on your commitment (sorry, sometimes lawyer-ese is the only thing that'll do!). Once you get your swag, wear it proudly!!
- If your apparel doesn’t fit, please post to the WoJ general bulletin board and see if anyone wants to switch with you.
- Be sure to bring your long-sleeved training shirts to the CourageClassic, as we will all be wearing this for our team pic, to be taken Sunday at 4 p.m. Please wear these shirts when walking around at Copper, as we'll be able to identify each other.
- Cool WoJ hats will be for sale at the CC and especially at our party for $22. All proceeds go to Children's Hospital, so please consider buying this extra piece of swag.
- Also don’t forget: the framed, WoJ training shirt signed by Kate Hudson's squeeze (aka LANCE ARMSTRONG) will be auctioned off at the Party at 3:30 p.m.on Sunday.
- Many thanks to our incredible swag sponsor, Primal Sportswear!!
Training Ride
Wheels of Justice Coached Paceline Clinic w/ Megan Hottman on Sunday July 20.
Many thanks to Bradley Scott and his wife Stefania for leading last week's amazing training ride double header. This week, Megan will teach us the finer points of paceline riding and drafting (see attachments). Although I studiously avoided any physics classes in my umpteen years of schooling, here's a fact that got my attention on drafting: Even if you just alternate drafting with one other rider, YOU (AND THE OTHER RIDER) WILL TRAVEL at least 25% FASTER than if you worked solo against the wind. Not to mention how much more fun you will have. But you have to know how to do it right, to do it safely. So here's where Megan's clinic comes in:
Sunday, July 20th, 2008, 8:00 a.m.
Paceline Training at Bear Creek Lake State ParkTraining Ride Host: Megan Hottman Please RSVP by COB Friday to Megan, meghottman@hotmail.com, 303-968-8386
Meeting Location: Ride will start at 8:00 a.m. sharp. Conoco at the intersection of C-470 and Highway 93 (Morrison Road).
Directions: From C-470 Turn west on to Morrison Road. Drive past the 1st stoplight and turn right into the Conoco. Park across the Conoco in the dirt parking lot.
Ride Summary / Distance / Ride Difficulty:
There will be a brief tutorial before ride begins. Bear Creek Lake Park to straightaway that runs east/west (parallel to Morrison road) where, depending on wind direction, we will work on various pacelines, drafting techniques and other energy conservation tactics when riding in a group. Once the rules are established, we'll ride a loop or two through the park working on changing paceline directions as the wind varies/as the road changes course.
Anticipated duration: 2 hours. Not so much a training ride as an educational clinic, so riders may want to head out on a ride afterwards.
IMPORTANT TOUR INFO:
Team Party
Please come to the Wheels of Justice Party at the Courage Classic: Our party promises to be the best ever this year and will take place at Zizzo's at Copper Mountain on Sunday, July 27 from 2-6pm. We'll have burgers, dogs, brats, beer and soft drinks for all in a lovely patio setting just off Burning Stones Plaza. We'll be thanking our sponsors and all of the folks who have worked so hard to make this year a success, plus hear presentation by an inspiring Children's Hospital family and Dr. Stephen Hunger, the leader of the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders -- this program will start at 3:10 pm. Plus we'll be auctioning off a framed Wheels of Justice training shirt signed by seven time Tour Le France winner Lance Armstrong at 3:30 p.m.!! Also our team picture will take place near our party at 4pm, -- I hope you can all make it in your latest WoJ long-sleeved training jerseys!!
Course Change
Course Change on Sunday!! Sunday's route will NOT include Keystone/Swan Mountain and can no longer loop around Dillon Reservoir. Due to the closing of Dillon Dam Road by Homeland Security and Denver Water, the Courage Classic Route has to change. Here are the new Sunday course options:
New Route:
- 35-mile, Family Ride
Copper/Breckenridge-Lunch/Copper- 56-mile ride
Copper/Blue River—Bottom of Ute Pass/NO LUNCH/Copper- 74-mile ride
Copper/Blue River—Bottom of Ute Pass/Breckenridge-Lunch/Copper- 96-mile, Almost-a-Century Ride
Copper/Blue River/Top of Ute Pass/Breckenridge—Lunch/CopperLook for the Route Info Desk, Friday night at The Edge building at Rider Registration and Saturday at Lake County High School in Leadville. Staff will be onhand to answer any of your questions about the route change.
Team Start/Pic:
If you are up for it, please be ready at the start at Leadville and ready to go at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday. We'll gather briefly under the START Banner to take a WoJ Team picture with those epic mountains in the background.
Team Shuttle/Ride Coordination between Copper and Leadville
If you and your bike need transport to/from Leadville on Days 1 or 3, or if you have room to give a ride to someone, please email Charlene Krogh at krogh.charlene@dorsey.com. Charlene has valiantly volunteered to help coordinate rides for the team -- thank you!!
Wanted: WoJ Team Photographers
Will you or your friends/family be taking pics? If so, please let me know as we'll want to have lots of team pics to make available online after the ride. More specifically, I’m looking for a photographer to take our team pic at the start in Leadville on Saturday -- if you're up for it, please let me know.
Save Time - Watch the CC Safety Video Online
You can streamline your check in process at the CC by watching the required safety video on-line before midnight on July 18. Go to the www.couragetours.com website to find it!
Volunteering:
Is your spouse or friend interested in volunteering for the team at the Courage Classic?: We especially need volunteers at the Team Party on Sunday, starting with set-up at 1pm and with ONE-HOUR shifts continuing till 6 p.m. Also some have mentioned being willing to run a WoJ Sag Wagon. If you know of volunteers, please ask them to contact me via email.
Transportation:
Transportation at the Courage Classic (and to/from): Also please use the bulletin board to post your transportation needs/availability. Some are staying in Vail, Silverthorne, etc. and have expressed interest in carpooling.
Friday Night
The CC will show the best cycling movie ever -- “Breaking Away” -- on an outdoor screen at Burning Stones Plaza. Bring blankets and coolers and enjoy the movie under the stars starting at 8:45pm
Saturday Night
The CC will put on a terrific fireworks show starting at 9 p.m. at the West Lake Overlook.
All the best,
Heather
Heather A. Purcell
Levine + Purcell LLC
600 17th Street, Suite 2800 South
Denver, CO 80202
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