A note from Chris Irons

Chris and Rebecca Irons

A note from Chris:

The opportunity to participate in a great cause, doing something you love with great people, doesn't come along often. I have ridden many miles with my good friend Geo. I can't think of a better reason for the two of us to add more miles to this friendship. Arkansas Children's Hospital provides the greatest of services. I have a close family member who spent time working in the Emergency Room. She would talk about the heart breaking moments when the children would arrive. It would bring a tear to your eyes as you listened to those stories. The stories about the miracles performed were just as emotional. What greater cause can you support, than one that takes care of our children?

For those of you who don't know, Chris and Rebecca will be riding the River 2 River with me. He and Rebecca are as good as you get! Some of you UAMS folks might recognize Rebecca... Residents, y'all remember those chair massages? Yep, that's her. They trained with me a lot getting ready for the ride and they've taken a few days off to go to the Ozarks and ride the mountains. Yep, they're a little nuts too!

From the bottom of my heart... Thank you Chris and Rebecca!

THE ROUTE

River 2 River route
Milage
A Ride for Arkansas Children's Hospital
From Fort Smith (Arkansas River) to West Memphis (Mississippi River)
June 28th Start time 5 a.m.
Holiday Inn
Turn right out of drive and continue down Rogers Ave to Arkansas River
Over the bridge and under.
Stop or unload in warehouse area
Over Arkansas River Bridge into Arkansas
Fort Smith:
Turn left on 11th Street (This is one way and will turn into Hwy 64)
Over bridge into Van Buren 6
Mulberry 19
Ozark 14
Altus 5
Coal Hill 5
Hartman 3
Clarksville 9
Knoxville 10
London 8
Russellville 8
Atkins 13
Morrilton 13
Plumerville 6
Menifee 5
Conway 9
Mayflower 10
Maumelle 9
THE BDB 6
Down Rebsamen on bike route 0
turn right on North Cross 0
turn right on Capitol 0
turn right on Woodlane 0
turn right on Maryland 0
Go to front of ACH 3
Head back to Broadway bridge 0
North Little Rock 2
East Broadway 0
turn right to Lynch Drive 0
To Faulkner Lake Road 0
To North Walkers Corner 0
turn right onto Hwy 70 0
Lonoke 23
Carlise 9
Hazen 10
Brinkley 25
Biscoe 14
Wheatley 20
Goodwin 5
Forrest City 15
West Memphis 37
In West Memphis turn right on South 8th street and follow to river. 2

TOTAL MILES 323

Wednesday morning buzz...

Quick hit before heading to the office this morning.

I rode the north side of the river last evening and had a nice solo thing going on then I had something happen that completely blew my mind.

While crossing the long wooden bridge down by the Burn's Park boat ramp I had a guy fly past me on the right... on the bridge. Man, that was some careless and dangerous riding!! All the good local riders know that bridge is barely wide enough for one bike and to zip across and go under a rider is plain stupid! Here's the weird part. I looked back before crossing the bridge and there was no one behind me then whoa, there he was. If he is reading this... hey fella, that was just lame riding on your part. Wise up before you hurt someone out there!

Ok, I'm off the soapbox now... the rest of the ride was fun. Lots of families out and spotted a couple of ACH folks out riding and saw a lot more heading to the Travelers game last night. I had forgotten all about that it was the rescheduled ACH night at the Travelers game. Hope you guys had a great time!

06.05.07 Check out UNITRON!

Hey River Readers!

Check out this awesome web site! It's the kids section from Unitron. these guys made my hearing aid and changed my life! They do awesome stuff for kids!
http://www.kidsklub.unitron.com/kidsklub.html

Also if you think you may need a hearing aid these guys have some of the coolest technology around. Check out the hearing aid called Moxi (http://www.unitronhearing.us/ccus/professionals/products_us/moxi.htm)!! Very high tech looking.


I love how everyone walks around these days wearing ear pieces and calling them cell phones! I've been wearing ear pieces for years now! HA!

Quick hit Monday

Nothing since Saturday. Serious, I was blown after that ride. Happens sometimes. Took today off and spent the day in Benton helping my parents. Mom had cornea transplant last week. She is doing great but it was like being in a room with someone who has a hangover... dim those lights! HA! By the end of the day she was doing a lot better and even reading the newspaper. Dad and I sat out on the front porch and talked all afternoon and watched the word go by. When I got home tonight I checked and had 28 voicemails and 89 emails.

Should be out on the bike Tuesday afternoon for an easy ride since I'll do mega miles on Saturday.

Saturday 06.03.07

Beautiful Arkansas morning! Left the house and rode over to the Burn's Park socceer fields and met up with a bunch of riders to do the last Carti training ride. Sort of sad that this was the last one because it's been a lot of fun! Chris Irons stood in the back of a truck and preached to the riders. They even had these great lamanated cue cards for everyone.

Ran into a couple old ACH buds in the crowd. Dr. Paul from the ACH Eye Clinic was sporting a awesome Orbea Orca test bike from Chainwheel!! Oh man, let me tell you! It was a beauty and fast indeed! Also in the crowd were James Gaston and Keith Moore. Both are strong riders and always fun to ride with.

We rolled out and headed toward Keo and the group was on fire! I worked my way up toward the front and was determed to stay with the front group. I did fine until we got to the train tracks and I have to snail speed across them. I flipped a couple of years ago on these same tracks doing end over end at 27mph. I've been gun shy crossing them since.

Once I crossed the tracks I pressed on and did my best to regain my spot but several passed me at the tracks. By the time we had our first rest stop I had done ok but never made it to the pull position. One friend said when we stopped, "I looked down and I was going 26mph and I thought to myself, why?" I just grinned and said, "Becuz itza lotta fun!"

When roll out and head toward Keo, our mid-way point a break away group formed and I just sat in the second group. We were doing great but that guy thing took over. I pulled out and sprinted to catch the breakaway and I hit 33mph and was still not catching them. Geesh! I kept it at 25 for what seemed forever and then I blew. Blew so bad the second group caught me then passed me. I sat on the back for a moment then me and my bud Brandon (Our hospital Alltel rep) rolled along at a social pace to the mid-point.

On the way back we rode together at a social pace (18mph) and talked. I've known Brandon and his family for years and they are as good as it gets.

Note to Coach Mark: I know, I know it was supposed to be recovery.

Next weekend is gonna be great because I start with the Carti ride on Saturday morning and break off and ride to West Memphis then Terri and I are going to hang out in Memphis for the night.

All in all it was a great ride!

Friday quick hit

About to head to the office for a busy day but took the night off from training to go see Cirque de Soleil's Delirium at Alltel last night. So cool! I took Emmy with me and we had a blast. She kept telling me thanks for taking her.

Plans are falling in place for the weekend and it looks like a CARTI training ride and this weekend will be recovery weekend menaing a max of about 4 hours tomorrow and 3 on Sunday. Should end the weekend with about 70 miles total.









Next weekend things are falling in place to start off with the Carti Tour de Rock (http://carti.com/index.php?fuseaction=p0010.view&mod=50&rec_id=14) but jump off in mid course and ride on to West Memphis where Terri will pick me up and kidnap me for the rest of the weekend over to Memphis! Coach Mark will be riding with me to Forrest City it looks like.