Hello everyone,
The good news is I made it to Paris fine. The bad news is that it is rainy, miserable and I'm writing this e-mail.
I know we have all been tracking Mike and we are all so proud of him. Unfortunately, Mike was forced to abandon the race due to a knee issue outside of Tinteniac today.
I asked him if he wanted me to send out an e-mail but he said he would do it when he arrived back at the hotel. Unfortunately, it looks like it will be tomorrow before he returns because of logistics and I just couldn't keep everybody wondering any longer. Besides if he knew how we have all been glued to the computer screen he'd understand as well. So, I hope he will understand me writing this e-mail and I know you will await his official e-mail later.
He is safe and dry which is so important and he truly gave it his best shot. Others are trickling into the hotel-some completing it and some abandoning as well. One man said he rode 54 out of 62 miles in the rain and he heard this is the worst weather since 1963. I haven't seen Tom's e-mail pictures yet but believe me when I say they are all returning weathered and beat up from the ride.
Just wanted to say thanks for all your support and it's been fun tracking him together.
Thanks again, and with a new respect for Mike and all PBP riders,
Lynda Brady
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
No word from Mike yet
Hello Everyone,
Well, I haven't heard from Mike yet and the site shows him finishing Stage 5 at 1:49am Paris time (6:49pm STL time) so I bet he is exhausted and hopefully catching some quality sleep. I'll let you know if I hear anything from him before I leave tomorrow.
I'm flying out tomorrow and should arrive in Paris around 7:40 am Thursday and staying in a hotel in St. Quentin fairly close to the start/finish line. The "Plan" is for Mike to call me when he is a couple hours out and let me know so I can wait for him at the finish line. If all goes well I will log on at the hotel and send out an e-mail to alert you he is getting close to the finish!! I'll try to test the hotel internet before that point to make sure it will go through as planned. It will probably be short since my says the French keyboard is harder to type on.
Just a couple of items to pass on:
European dates are reverse of ours so August 20th is 20/08 in Europe
Their time is listed in military time using the 24hour clock so 12h is noon and 24h is midnight
"passe" means: past, after, beyond
"Carrefour" means intersection
Please keep Mike in your thoughts and prayers along with the other cyclists (especially the 80+ year old man who is riding again this year).
Thanks,
Lynda b.
Well, I haven't heard from Mike yet and the site shows him finishing Stage 5 at 1:49am Paris time (6:49pm STL time) so I bet he is exhausted and hopefully catching some quality sleep. I'll let you know if I hear anything from him before I leave tomorrow.
I'm flying out tomorrow and should arrive in Paris around 7:40 am Thursday and staying in a hotel in St. Quentin fairly close to the start/finish line. The "Plan" is for Mike to call me when he is a couple hours out and let me know so I can wait for him at the finish line. If all goes well I will log on at the hotel and send out an e-mail to alert you he is getting close to the finish!! I'll try to test the hotel internet before that point to make sure it will go through as planned. It will probably be short since my says the French keyboard is harder to type on.
Just a couple of items to pass on:
European dates are reverse of ours so August 20th is 20/08 in Europe
Their time is listed in military time using the 24hour clock so 12h is noon and 24h is midnight
"passe" means: past, after, beyond
"Carrefour" means intersection
Please keep Mike in your thoughts and prayers along with the other cyclists (especially the 80+ year old man who is riding again this year).
Thanks,
Lynda b.
Monday, August 20, 2007
First tracking of Mike
Yeah!!! A new message for him just popped up on the screen and it looks like he ended up departing at 10:30 instead of 9:30 or 10:00. This explains a lot. I'm hoping the numbers turn to green as he passes through them and before he gets to the actual checkpoint. This is really, really exciting!!!! Yeah!!! Gosh, maybe we should all be at Kaldi's having a tracking party!!! My adrenaline is pretty high right now as you can tell.
Thanks,
Lynda b.
Thanks,
Lynda b.
Paris-Brest-Paris Tracking
Lynda....You must not be set up so that your blogs get emailed to everyone so I am re-posting for you.
Cheri
On Aug 18, Lynda Brady wrote:
Hello,
This is my first time blogging (you just never know what you'll do when your husband is out of the country:) ) so please excuse any faux pas I may make in posting this.
I know Mike has included many of you in his e-mails but I did want to post the following items for you.
I think I found the site where you can track him:
www.paris-brest-paris.org You can change the language to English by clicking on the British flag.
Select "The Ride" then "Rider Follow-up"Enter his number in "Track the Frame number" and hit search. In my best French the message states:
John Brady
The participant is registered but not yet left.
It also shows in the upper left hand corner: "D-1 before" which I am assuming is "one day before race day". Must be pretty exciting there. Sorry I didn't get to my e-mail earlier to pass on this info.
Also, he sent a link to www.parisbrestparis.tv which looks like it will have some live coverage of the event. Right now there is a little short clip with some interviews of a past PBP ride. It is in the bottom left-hand corner of the page and has some audio to it as well.
I actually spoke to Mike today and he seems to be enjoying himself. He was worried before he left about being bored but he said he isn't at all and is concentrating on adjusting to the French sleep schedule. He has met a couple of people and plans to start the ride with Bob who oversees the Brevet series in Kansas City. He's confident that he'll do well and I know we all are as well.
On a personal note thanks to all of you who have supported him along with this dream and many others. I really appreciate what great friends all of you are to him and I know he does too. Thanks Roark for including me on the blog and thanks Cheri for your earlier posting.
Hope everyone has a great weekend,
Lynda Brady
Cheri
On Aug 18, Lynda Brady wrote:
Hello,
This is my first time blogging (you just never know what you'll do when your husband is out of the country:) ) so please excuse any faux pas I may make in posting this.
I know Mike has included many of you in his e-mails but I did want to post the following items for you.
I think I found the site where you can track him:
www.paris-brest-paris.org You can change the language to English by clicking on the British flag.
Select "The Ride" then "Rider Follow-up"Enter his number in "Track the Frame number" and hit search. In my best French the message states:
John Brady
The participant is registered but not yet left.
It also shows in the upper left hand corner: "D-1 before" which I am assuming is "one day before race day". Must be pretty exciting there. Sorry I didn't get to my e-mail earlier to pass on this info.
Also, he sent a link to www.parisbrestparis.tv which looks like it will have some live coverage of the event. Right now there is a little short clip with some interviews of a past PBP ride. It is in the bottom left-hand corner of the page and has some audio to it as well.
I actually spoke to Mike today and he seems to be enjoying himself. He was worried before he left about being bored but he said he isn't at all and is concentrating on adjusting to the French sleep schedule. He has met a couple of people and plans to start the ride with Bob who oversees the Brevet series in Kansas City. He's confident that he'll do well and I know we all are as well.
On a personal note thanks to all of you who have supported him along with this dream and many others. I really appreciate what great friends all of you are to him and I know he does too. Thanks Roark for including me on the blog and thanks Cheri for your earlier posting.
Hope everyone has a great weekend,
Lynda Brady
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Paris-Brest-Paris Tracking
Hello,
This is my first time blogging (you just never know what you'll do when your husband is out of the country:) ) so please excuse any faux pas I may make in posting this.
I know Mike has included many of you in his e-mails but I did want to post the following items for you.
I think I found the site where you can track him:
www.paris-brest-paris.org You can change the language to English by clicking on the British flag.
Select "The Ride" then "Rider Follow-up"
Enter his number in "Track the Frame number" and hit search.
In my best French the message states:
John Brady
The participant is registered but not yet left.
It also shows in the upper left hand corner: "D-1 before" which I am assuming is "one day before race day". Must be pretty exciting there. Sorry I didn't get to my e-mail earlier to pass on this info.
I actually spoke to Mike today and he seems to be enjoying himself. He was worried before he left about being bored but he said he isn't at all and is concentrating on adjusting to the French sleep schedule. He has met a couple of people and plans to start the ride with Bob who oversees the Brevet series in Kansas City. He's confident that he'll do well and I know we all are as well.
On a personal note thanks to all of you who have supported him along with this dream and many others. I really appreciate what great friends all of you are to him and I know he does too. Thanks Roark for including me on the blog and thanks Cheri for your earlier posting.
Hope everyone has a great weekend,
Lynda Brady
This is my first time blogging (you just never know what you'll do when your husband is out of the country:) ) so please excuse any faux pas I may make in posting this.
I know Mike has included many of you in his e-mails but I did want to post the following items for you.
I think I found the site where you can track him:
www.paris-brest-paris.org You can change the language to English by clicking on the British flag.
Select "The Ride" then "Rider Follow-up"
Enter his number in "Track the Frame number" and hit search.
In my best French the message states:
John Brady
The participant is registered but not yet left.
It also shows in the upper left hand corner: "D-1 before" which I am assuming is "one day before race day". Must be pretty exciting there. Sorry I didn't get to my e-mail earlier to pass on this info.
Also, he sent a link to www.parisbrestparis.tv which looks like it will have some live coverage of the event. Right now there is a little short clip with some interviews of a past PBP ride. It is in the bottom left-hand corner of the page and has some audio to it as well.
I actually spoke to Mike today and he seems to be enjoying himself. He was worried before he left about being bored but he said he isn't at all and is concentrating on adjusting to the French sleep schedule. He has met a couple of people and plans to start the ride with Bob who oversees the Brevet series in Kansas City. He's confident that he'll do well and I know we all are as well.
On a personal note thanks to all of you who have supported him along with this dream and many others. I really appreciate what great friends all of you are to him and I know he does too. Thanks Roark for including me on the blog and thanks Cheri for your earlier posting.
Hope everyone has a great weekend,
Lynda Brady
Ride From Kaldis 8:00 am Sunday
Mark, Roark, & Bill will be riding from Kaldis in Chesterfield Valley at 8:00 am.
Figure 30-40 miles.
Figure 30-40 miles.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Paris-Brest-Paris News
8/17/07 Mike Brady wrote:
Maybe someone can post this to the blog for me.
I'll be doing a light spin from my hotel over to Paris and back - about a 35 mile round trip - no big deal.
I made it to Paris safe and sound. I put the bike together and all the lights and junk on it too. It looks like an overloaded semi. Didn't get to ride today, but didn't want to just yet. A nice spin tommorow and Sunday will be great though. The weather is mostly cloudy and a bit cool, but not too bad - and dry so far. The weather for the four days is looking pretty favorable.
I'll try and keep you all posted up to the start. Then after thqt maybe Lynda can post some news. She comes over on the 23 to meet me at the finish.
Things are going well,
Mike
Maybe someone can post this to the blog for me.
I'll be doing a light spin from my hotel over to Paris and back - about a 35 mile round trip - no big deal.
I made it to Paris safe and sound. I put the bike together and all the lights and junk on it too. It looks like an overloaded semi. Didn't get to ride today, but didn't want to just yet. A nice spin tommorow and Sunday will be great though. The weather is mostly cloudy and a bit cool, but not too bad - and dry so far. The weather for the four days is looking pretty favorable.
I'll try and keep you all posted up to the start. Then after thqt maybe Lynda can post some news. She comes over on the 23 to meet me at the finish.
Things are going well,
Mike
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Last Day For Room At The Inn!
Guys,
If you want a room from my MS 150 team's hotel block (Midway Budget), then you need to act before tommorow August 15th. At that point all the non taken rooms will be released back to the motel. Remember I have rooms at the base of the start.
You can reserve a room by calling: 573-445-9565
Roark
If you want a room from my MS 150 team's hotel block (Midway Budget), then you need to act before tommorow August 15th. At that point all the non taken rooms will be released back to the motel. Remember I have rooms at the base of the start.
You can reserve a room by calling: 573-445-9565
Roark
Monday, August 13, 2007
2008 Bike Trip
As you may know, we recently got back from Israel. While there, we thought about what it would be like to ride a bike there. What beautiful scenery! What climbs! What history!
A friend sent me information about the rides for 2008 in Israel. The email said....
We are pleased to announce that we will be holding two Israel Rides in 2008,
May 20-27, 2008 and November, 2008. Registration for both rides will open on Nov 1, 2007. Sign up (http://hazon.org/go.php?q=/misc/signup.html) for our mailing list to be notified of Ride details.
Here's the link to the rides....http://hazon.org/go.php?q=/rides/2007IL/aboutTheRide.html
The November one might be interesting since it will be winter here then. We can still get in some good riding half way around the world.
The fundraising is pretty steep, but thought I would throw it out there to see if there was any interest.
Let me know what you think.
Cheri
A friend sent me information about the rides for 2008 in Israel. The email said....
We are pleased to announce that we will be holding two Israel Rides in 2008,
May 20-27, 2008 and November, 2008. Registration for both rides will open on Nov 1, 2007. Sign up (http://hazon.org/go.php?q=/misc/signup.html) for our mailing list to be notified of Ride details.
Here's the link to the rides....http://hazon.org/go.php?q=/rides/2007IL/aboutTheRide.html
The November one might be interesting since it will be winter here then. We can still get in some good riding half way around the world.
The fundraising is pretty steep, but thought I would throw it out there to see if there was any interest.
Let me know what you think.
Cheri
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Saturday's Ride
Folks,
Lets get this blogger blogging again!
Regarding the Beer & Brat 5 Star Century Ride
I am putting together my thoughts for this Saturday's ride. I am not sure I want to ride in this heat 100 miles, but don't let that stop anyone else. I am willing to go along for the first 62 mile loop. Hopefully we can get an early start, say 7 am so at least for the first 62 miles we beat a bit of the heat. If the group prefers to ride another loop I am up for that as well.
Just let me know.
Roark
Lets get this blogger blogging again!
Regarding the Beer & Brat 5 Star Century Ride
I am putting together my thoughts for this Saturday's ride. I am not sure I want to ride in this heat 100 miles, but don't let that stop anyone else. I am willing to go along for the first 62 mile loop. Hopefully we can get an early start, say 7 am so at least for the first 62 miles we beat a bit of the heat. If the group prefers to ride another loop I am up for that as well.
Just let me know.
Roark
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Bicycle Fun Club Ride August 5
Is anyone doing the Bicycle Fun Club Ride tomorrow, Sunday August 5?
Greg
Greg
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Roark's Team Ride Saturday July 7th.
I am doing one of my team rides this Saturday starting from the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge at 9:00 am. I will be riding to the start from my house leaving at 7:00 am. Its about 25 miles to the start location. The ride is from the Chain of Rocks to Soulard Coffee Garden and back. If your interested in joining me, let me know.
Roark
Roark
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Saturday July 7th ride
I'm also looking for a good ride for Saturday July 7. I have two ideas.
One would be the AYH Firecracker 100 in Greenville, Il. I'm up for that if anyone wants to give it a shot.
My other idea would be to go up to the Alton / Grafton, IL area and do powerline drive and the backroads and the river road. Depending on where we start we can make this a 40 - 60+ mile ride with some good hill work and some good flat (speed) work.
If anyone has a third idea let me know. If I don't hear from anyone I may wind up just doing something near my house.
Mike
One would be the AYH Firecracker 100 in Greenville, Il. I'm up for that if anyone wants to give it a shot.
My other idea would be to go up to the Alton / Grafton, IL area and do powerline drive and the backroads and the river road. Depending on where we start we can make this a 40 - 60+ mile ride with some good hill work and some good flat (speed) work.
If anyone has a third idea let me know. If I don't hear from anyone I may wind up just doing something near my house.
Mike
100 (or less) miles of hills Sunday July 8
Hello all,
I spoke with Roark and Ron and we are planning on doing some version of the 100 miles of hills ride on Sunday, July 8. Start at Kaldis in the valley. I propose arrive at 7:30 (or earlier if you do breakfast), rolling at 8:00. 100 miles or even 80 is quite a bit, so rolling at 8:00 will be a good idea.
I might actually start at my house, wo we'll see if I can get up that early. Or maybe I start at Roark's house, or maybe I come by Roark's after starting at my house???
Roark, do you ride from your house to get the 100 miles in? Or do you just start at Kaldis?
If you're not up for this ride, you can do the fun club ride over in Collinsville. But for me I need / want the hill work. If anyone is going to the BFC ride I have 1 or two coupons left for it. I have 4, but I think Brian has claimed 2 or 3 of them. I'll try and get them to Brian or Cheri on a ride Saturday? (See post about ride Saturday July 7).
Mike
I spoke with Roark and Ron and we are planning on doing some version of the 100 miles of hills ride on Sunday, July 8. Start at Kaldis in the valley. I propose arrive at 7:30 (or earlier if you do breakfast), rolling at 8:00. 100 miles or even 80 is quite a bit, so rolling at 8:00 will be a good idea.
I might actually start at my house, wo we'll see if I can get up that early. Or maybe I start at Roark's house, or maybe I come by Roark's after starting at my house???
Roark, do you ride from your house to get the 100 miles in? Or do you just start at Kaldis?
If you're not up for this ride, you can do the fun club ride over in Collinsville. But for me I need / want the hill work. If anyone is going to the BFC ride I have 1 or two coupons left for it. I have 4, but I think Brian has claimed 2 or 3 of them. I'll try and get them to Brian or Cheri on a ride Saturday? (See post about ride Saturday July 7).
Mike
Friday, June 29, 2007
Sunday July 1 Bike Ride
We can meet at Kaldi's in the valley at 7:30 and roll by 8:00. Depending upon who shows, we can visit Babler, Rockwoods and/or Six Flags loop. Roark, you can meet up with us when your airport job is over. See you there!
Brian
Brian
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Saturday June 30 Bike Ride
Is Anyone planning to ride Saturday? I need to take advantage of this weekend because I have both days. I will not be able to ride on Saturday, July 7. I am up for doing the 80 - 100 miles Saturday and a shorter ride Sunday and we can meet up with Roark. Mark
Monday, June 25, 2007
Michigan itenerary?
Roark,
Do you have a day-by-day itnerary for the Michigan trip? I saw the link from the blog, but it is a bit confusing, and I think it has changed. I'd love to see a simple breakdown of the dates, the rides, and the milage. And maybe what city we are sleeping in each night.
Do I (we) owe any money at this point?
Also, have we worked out the driving arangements? I'm still more than happy to bring my car, and actually thinking about doing so either way. It will add no cost to the trip as it is a company car and company gas. I'm thinking of bringing it so I don't have to pack my bike in a case. Plus just easier on the packing and such. There'd be room in the car for another too, so we can spread out more.
Mike
Do you have a day-by-day itnerary for the Michigan trip? I saw the link from the blog, but it is a bit confusing, and I think it has changed. I'd love to see a simple breakdown of the dates, the rides, and the milage. And maybe what city we are sleeping in each night.
Do I (we) owe any money at this point?
Also, have we worked out the driving arangements? I'm still more than happy to bring my car, and actually thinking about doing so either way. It will add no cost to the trip as it is a company car and company gas. I'm thinking of bringing it so I don't have to pack my bike in a case. Plus just easier on the packing and such. There'd be room in the car for another too, so we can spread out more.
Mike
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Concerts at the Arch
Hello all,
Can we post other cool Saint Louis stuff here?
I just wanted to let you all know about the free concerts that are coming up at Fair Saint Louis and at Live on the Levee (also on the fairgrounds).
Lynda and I will probably be going to all of these:
July 3rd - Lifehouse, Goo Goo Dolls and fireworks afterwards. Lifehouse takes the stage at 7:00, Goo Goo Dolls at 8:00. There is one other artist at 6:00 that is actually pretty good so Lynda and I will probably be down there around 6:00. Fireworks are around 9:15
July 4th - Cyndi Lauper (Girls Just Wana Have Fun and others) at 8:00 and then fireworks.
July 6th - the fair is over, but this is the first night of Live on the Levee, which is a free summer concert series under the arch. July 6th is Los Lonely Boys which is a pretty good band at 8:00
July 7th - one of my favorite artists is playing. Emmylou Harris is playing at 8:00. Lynda and I are going to have dinner at 6:00 at a little cafe they are setting up down there (Sauce Cafe, hosted by Sauce magazine and featuring a different local restaurant each Saturday). You have to have reservtions, so if anyone is interested, let me know. It's a bit pricy, but a nice restaurant. Check out www.celebratestlouis.org for more details on the food, Fair Saint Louis, or Live on the Levee.
Mike
Can we post other cool Saint Louis stuff here?
I just wanted to let you all know about the free concerts that are coming up at Fair Saint Louis and at Live on the Levee (also on the fairgrounds).
Lynda and I will probably be going to all of these:
July 3rd - Lifehouse, Goo Goo Dolls and fireworks afterwards. Lifehouse takes the stage at 7:00, Goo Goo Dolls at 8:00. There is one other artist at 6:00 that is actually pretty good so Lynda and I will probably be down there around 6:00. Fireworks are around 9:15
July 4th - Cyndi Lauper (Girls Just Wana Have Fun and others) at 8:00 and then fireworks.
July 6th - the fair is over, but this is the first night of Live on the Levee, which is a free summer concert series under the arch. July 6th is Los Lonely Boys which is a pretty good band at 8:00
July 7th - one of my favorite artists is playing. Emmylou Harris is playing at 8:00. Lynda and I are going to have dinner at 6:00 at a little cafe they are setting up down there (Sauce Cafe, hosted by Sauce magazine and featuring a different local restaurant each Saturday). You have to have reservtions, so if anyone is interested, let me know. It's a bit pricy, but a nice restaurant. Check out www.celebratestlouis.org for more details on the food, Fair Saint Louis, or Live on the Levee.
Mike
Rides July 7th and July 8th
Anyone up for a ride on July 7th? I'd love to get some good hill work in as that has been lacking in my training this year. Perhaps we can do the 10 hills of Dr. Dan route? I think that is about a 50-55 mile route or so starting and ending at Kaldis in the valley. We could get rolling around 8:00 so as not to be out too late when it is likely to be pretty warm. But I'm OK with some warm, so I don't want to not do the route just because it is summer. Don't we like summer?
July 8th I'd probably lean towards doing the Fun club ride. It's the Big Bottle ride over in Collinsville. That's the ride Ron and I met on 4 years ago. I have 3 extra $3 off coupons for the ride too. I might be at Maplewood again in the next couple of weeks, so if I get by there I'll try and pick-up more coupons. First ask (here), first serve.
Mike
July 8th I'd probably lean towards doing the Fun club ride. It's the Big Bottle ride over in Collinsville. That's the ride Ron and I met on 4 years ago. I have 3 extra $3 off coupons for the ride too. I might be at Maplewood again in the next couple of weeks, so if I get by there I'll try and pick-up more coupons. First ask (here), first serve.
Mike
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