My Day at l'Etape du Tour

It started off very well. Arrived to the race early and hung out. I was wearing my new Unity jersey in honor of Chris Funk and Travis Goodman, two awesome Trek people we lost to cancer in the last few months. Weather was perfect and I felt great going into the ride. Last year I almost folded on Ventoux at the end of the race. Two months after the race my lovely wife said to me “I wonder how fast I could have done l’Étape this year?” JB translation: “I wonder how fast I could have done l’Étape without having to wait for you at the top of every climb?” My response was 1 hour faster. My other response was that I was actually going to get into good shape so that I would not die at the end. Mission accomplished. I showed up at the start 17 pounds lighter than last year, ready to go. Tania had major surgery in February and has not put in as many miles and so I was actually more concerned about her performance than mine.

All good after 55K as we hit the first climb, the Col du Marie Blanque. Only a 10k climb, but the last 2k are a 12% grade. Felt very good during the climb, we were in good shape. Off to the Col du Soulor, a 22k climb at 7.5%. No problem, feeling good. Hit the top of the Soulor in pretty good shape and the descent was AWESOME. Hit the Trek Travel rest stop at the bottom of the Tourmelet and up we went. By this time, I was starting to get a little tired and it was HOT. We moved on. This was a timed event and we were 1 hour 30 minutes ahead of the grim reaper. The Tourmelet is a freaking BEAR!! I thought last year's Ventoux climb was the most difficult I have ever done. The Tourmelet was just as bad. No switchbacks, and relentless. I start to fold like a lawn chair, and cramp up. Thank God for the people along the course who were dousing us with water. I must have had water poured over my head a minimum of 30 times goings up the mountain. 

Trek Travel rest stop with 10K to go. I really did not want to leave. Had a few Cokes, a few nuts, and we were back on the bikes. I struggled all the way to the top. We finished in 10 hours and 43 minutes. As we got to the end, once again it was Tania waiting for me. I actually thought that after trailing my wife through five l’Étapes in a row, perhaps this should be my last. Not. I’ll be back next year with the goal of not dying on the final climb.

Jb.

72 hours until game time

Just arrived in France for l’Étape du Tour, after three missed flights. Fired up and ready to go.

L’Étape du Tour is a citizen race put on by the ASO in France during the Tour de France. They usually pick the hardest stage and they limit the entries to 8,500 lucky souls. Last year's stage was Ventoux. This year the race is Stage 17, going over the Col de Marie-Blanque, the Col du Solour, and finishes on the Tourmalet. I love this race. It is my favorite event of the year. It is part Tour de France because you get to ride on the exact same course as the pros, and part Ironman because you are out there forever. Last year my time was 9:47, and a couple of years ago it was over 11 hours. And finally for me it's part Boston Marathon, because of the tradition of the event and because I ran Boston with my Dad three times. Without my Dad I never would do goofy events like this. 

It is always an incredible day, and this year will be no different. I got sucked into this event in 2006 when I thought it was just a ride. It is not. (I have attached that story below.) After not finishing that year, I vowed to return and get the deal done. The next year was the most difficult l’Étape in history. Five mountain passes, and 124 miles. I made it!!! I did kind of stack the deck... but I made it.

Which of the following tactics did I employ after the failure of 2006?

A. A personal domestique.
B. Obtaining a starting number in the top 200 instead of waiting 30 minutes to start at number 6,708.
C. Three strategic rest stops (because the official ones are always out of everything by the time I arrive). 
D. A motorcycle on the course in case we have a problem.

Anyways, I love the Tour De France and I am really looking forward to this year's adventure.

Jb.

The four magic words

How can I help? If you would like to help support a bicycle-friendly United States, here is your chance. Sign the People for Bikes pledge. This is a campaign organized by the non-profit group Bikes Belong, whose sole goal is get get more people on bikes, more often. Bikes Belong wants pledges from up 1 million Americans who care about the future of biking. All you need to do is pledge below or go to PeopleforBikes.com and sign up. Name and e-mail, that is it. If the bike movement needs you to write a letter or get involved in the future they will be in touch.

Just signing up makes a difference. Being able to tell a Congressional Representative that 1,412 people in his/her district signed up or telling a mayor that 718 people in the city signed up and care about biking makes a difference.

If you are a cyclist who cares about biking, sign up and send this on to your friends. You can be the one to help make a difference.

If you are a bicycle retailer, help make a difference by taking a personal stake in your city and sign up your customers. While buying tubes at the Trek Store in Madison today I was asked by one of the sales people if I would like to sign up. Already had. How many people have you guys signed up? Over 100 so far this weekend. Wow! How did you get so many? Well, it was really easy. We just walked around the store and asked customers if they would like to sign up. It's that simple.

Another great day to change the world!

Jb.

Chris Funk

Last week I wrote about a good friend and Trek employee Chris Funk who was in hospice care battling cancer. Late last week, Chris passed away. One of the BEST people who have ever worked at the bike company. When my Dad died a few years ago someone told me that his body would die but that his spirit would live on. Turned out to be very true. Same thing goes for Chris.

Jb.

Copenhagen

I have seen the future, and it’s in Copenhagen. I traveled there last week for the Velo City Conference, a meeting of bicycle advocates from around the world. It was outstanding. My favorite part? The 2-hour private tour of Copenhagen by bike. It was AWESOME!!!

In the United States, 1.4% of trips—to the store, to work, to the ball field, to school, etc.—are taken by bike. In Germany it’s 10%, in Holland it’s 25%, and in Copenhagen, it’s 37%. They want to get to 50%. In Copenhagen they have figured out that the bicycle is a simple solution to many complicated problems.

In Copenhagen even the car drivers love bicycles, because each bike is one less car on the road and less congestion. One bridge in Copenhagen has 35,000 cyclists crossing it every day! Pollution in the city is way down, and I did not see an obese Dane the entire time I was there. Not one. In America, 2/3 of our citizens are overweight or obese. We just passed the largest health care bill in history, and how many words did you hear about people taking personal responsibility for their health? I guarantee you that the entire amount of money Copenhagen has spent on bicycle infrastructure has been saved on health care costs 5 times over. What amazed me is that a lot of the infrastructure isn’t that expensive—just simple solutions to create a buffer between cars and bikes so people feel comfortable and safe riding their bikes, every day.

If you ever get the chance, go to Copenhagen. And see the future.