Mule Train gets Longer.......

Last year my brother and a few friends started an international cycling team for a bit of a laugh and an excuse to wear some really cool cycling jerseys. "Travel with my Mule" The intent of the team was to get fellow cyclists from around the globe to blog and or tell stories about their training and cycling experiences. The only requirement to join was:

• You must be commited to cycling for charity as often as you can
• Must not take yourself too seriously
• Must be a "Good Mule".....We do get bad ones that we tolerate if they buy beer!

Our ranks have swelled over the last six months and its great to see a "paceline" full of Mules speeding along the rural rodes of Texas. (Tommorow Frostbike- Houston)

I have just bought a helmut Cam so this year I intend to capture a few of the more colourful rides.

One of our newest Mules "Jason" is a star! Kiwi, by birth but Aussie by nature hes a real dynamo and even joined me in 13 F conditions recently. (Seen Above with 4 Layers)

Forest Gump (Mrs)

Friday

When Forest Gump uttered that now famous Quote "Life is like a box of Chocolates, you never know what your going to get", I never thought it would have such a resounding application to my riding adventures.

This weekend was a perfect example! On Friday Sean and I set forth on a 50 mile ride and on one of our fav stops we encountered a young lady who was bravely back packing from Florida to Waco Texas along with her dog.

Her dog could definitely have been an "Honorary Mule" as he was well equipped with his own panniers and provisions, and she had biceps on her that were proportionate to the huge back pack she was carrying. I guess you don't have to worry about the Gym when your hitting the road!

At first we were a bit suspicious and concerned for the young "lassie" but being anxious for a break we exchanged the typical social pleasantries and very quickly realized that our preconceived ideas were sadly judgemental and this exchange was very rewarding.

She was great! young, confident, eloquent and full of that "Joi de vivre" that seems to be missing in a great deal of our youth today. She also new a great deal about bikes which of course opened the door for full acceptance.

As we guzzled back our water in attempt to hydrate in the beating sun we listened intently on some of her adventures. In New Orleans she was arrested for trying to hitch a ride on a freight train and had the pleasure of spending the night in one of the Crescent cities finest "Lock ups" while her poor dog was thrown in the pound.

She, like any "dog lover" knows found this experience more compounding by her dogs situation than her own dilemma. Still after paying a hunk of change $270 she bailed the dog out of "Doggy Jail" and was on her way swearing never to try to take a ride on the Railroad again.

Saturday

Kenny & I pushed a respectable 50 miles but admitedly jumped on the back of a very fast (23mph hour) Peloton for the last 12 Miles. I could have read a book it was soo comfortable.

Sunday

We started today in great form as I was joined by Sean,Kenny,Andy and Paul (Paul joined up with us today) Had a great ride and found a Horseshoe en route!!! The wind was stiff from the South and had us on our toes with some difficult cross wind action. One little time event was after 30 miles into the ride when I broke through my 2000 Mile mark for the year. It just happened to be on a hill which I thought was very fitting.