March 31, 2001:

Hello all!

The riding season is upon us and all sorts of group rides will be starting this week so latch onto a club ride and get yourself out there.

Now is the time to be working on your spin.  Until you have a couple hundred miles on your legs it is too early to pushing those big gears, don't even think about using your big ring now.  For those of you with step in pedals, try some one legged drills.  Unclip one foot, hang it off the back and pedal for a ways with one leg.  It's hard but it'll teach those muscles a round spin.  Try it with different gears and different cadences.

The best vodka for a vodka martini is without a doubt, Chopin Vodka.  Distilled from potatoes in Poland, it's the elixir of the ages.

The Tour de Cure this year in Warrenville, IL is set for June 10.  I won't be there as that is the weekend of the 24th Tour of the Mississippi River Valley.  Plus, I don't believe Harpo will fielding a team for the Tour de Cure this year.

Turin Bike shop in Evanston will be holding bicycle maintenance classes this fall if anyone is interested in learning to maintain their bikes.

cheap hotels in DragorI still haven't written any of the diaries from the previous two years (I've really been slacking) and memory is failing so please email me with any memories and thoughts of the ride that you may have!  Please!

For those folks who don't live in the tropical climes of the West Coast and have to suffer through these 10 month midwestern winters, I highly recommend obtaining shoes covers or booties for riding outdoors in these months.   Excel Sports has very high quality booties for cheap prices.  I have a set and my toes swear by them!

Maytag bleu cheese which is made in Iowa is the best bleu cheese for stuffing olives for martini garni that I have found.

January, 2001

Hello all!Snow is still flying and ice is still around, but spring and summer will be here shortly so get on your trainers, get to the gym, do what ya gotta do to get yourself in riding shape for this season!Some of you are returning team members, some are new, I hope I get to see all of your sweating faces on your saddles at some point this year!Here's some ride info ya'll may be interested in joining in on, if not, read no further and delete!  There are AOL hyperlinks imbedded in this email, hope you can get them.May 5, 2001	Wine Country Century sponsored by the Santa Rosa Cycling Club in Santa Rosa, CA.  It promises to be a beautiful century through the Napa Valley.  I know several Jollies are hoping to venture forthand help represent the team.  Contact: The Webmaster or The Illustrious Super Dave if interested.June 2 (?)	Tour De Cure for the American Diabetes Association in Warrenville, IL.  Several ride options and I always ride the 100k.  Harpo Studios usually fields a team although we haven't heard for this year.  Everyone is welcome to ride with Team Harpo on this one.  Contact Pro Bikerif interested.June 9 - 10	The  24th Tour of the Mississippi River Valley (TOMRV 24).  A beautiful two day ride of about 200 miles!  The first day is very scenic with fast rollers along the Mississippi River the first two-thirds of the route.  North of Galena however, knee busting hills and white-knuckled descents will test your skills and your lungs.  The second day is 90 miles of fun, fast rollers.  This one is a great training ride for Ragbrai, get in as great of shape as you can!  Check the website for further info and contact Me if you're interested.July 22 - 28	Ragbrai XXIX   A week of more two-wheeled fun than you ever thought possible riding in a traveling metropolis through Iowa with a great organization and great people.  Check the website and Team Jolly Roger for more info.  Applications need to be downloaded off the website and sent to, I assume, our Illusive and Sublime Captain.September ?	The Harmon Hundred rolls through southern Wisconsin with a stop at The Waterford Cycles factory, especially interesting for those of us that ride the best bikes in the world, Waterford.  Fun century ride with fast rollers in early fall; check the website and notify  Yours Truly if interested.Those of you interested in weekend Ragbrai training rides, contact Me for more info, let's get something going.  These could be fun and more importantly, beneficial for our cycling skills under the influence of perhaps a bit too much beer.My email address book is a bit limited, pass this on to anyone that I may have missed.  See ya out there!The Probiker

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