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.

A Trek Legend

On my way to Europe this afternoon my wife Tania and I visited Chris Funk at the Hospice Center. Chris is battling brain cancer and is one of the best guys you will ever meet. He has a Rock Star wife, Brandi, and a couple of great kids. Chris was sleeping, and not even my booming voice could wake him. I gave Chris a big hug and held his hand for a while.

Trek is a company made up of people. Trek is a great company because its people are great. Chris is one of the best. I wanted him to know we had stopped by, so I used my second-grade arts and crafts skills to make Chris a Trek Legend Certificate.

Chris, love you SO much!  Jb.

Saturday was a big day

Two months ago my good friend Amie Hackworthy was diagnosed with breast cancer. The Hackworthys have been friends for a long time and are a GREAT family. Shortly after Amie was diagnosed, her twelve year old daughter Tess came up with the idea of having a walk to raise money for the local cancer center and to show support for her mom. Tess thought that it would be really cool if she could get 75 people to show up. What began as an idea six weeks ago came to life on Saturday morning in Maple Bluff when over 600 people showed up for Tess’s first Walk for Courage. Simply amazing! That Tess could come up with an idea and six weeks later have 600 people show up was incredible, not to mention over $50,000 was raised for the cancer center.

 

A few of my favorite memories from this event in no particular order:

1. Tess knocking it out of the park with her welcome. A 12 year old girl standing on a picnic table in front of 600 people telling the story of her Mom was inspirational.

2. The UW Marching Band. Yep, the University of Wisconsin marching band showed up! 14 members strong. Why did they show up? My daughter Courtney called them up and asked. The band played their favorite hits before the walk and then formed a tunnel for all the walkers to go through as they pounded out On Wisconsin.

3. Me working. I actually did physical work! I got up at 5:30 and went to the Trek Travel warehouse, loaded up all of the tables, took them to the beach park, and set up. I even wrapped the tree in pink paper.

4. Amie walking with Howard the dog.
5. The post-party complete with mimosas, bloody marys, and beer at 10 am. I drank diet Coke. I am not a one beer kind of a guy.
6. The person who had the idea that we should celebrate Kentucky Derby Day later that evening and dress the part. My horse got second...to last.

Ride L’Étape & benefit the Robert F. Kennedy Center

We are participating in an upcoming online auction to raise money for the Robert F. Kennedy Center which does an amazing job promotion human rights around the world. We wanted to do something special so Trek is donating a trip of a lifetime. Every year the Tour De France sponsors a race called L’Étape du Tour, a citizens race over the most difficult stage at the Tour. For the last five years I have participated in this race and it is a blast. The auction item is a trip for two to L’Étape. My wife Tania and I are leading the trip and Trek Travel will ensure that it is an incredible experience. This is a great event to benefit an awesome cause. Please share this information along to anyone that you think might be interested. The auction ends on Thursday so place your bids now!

Thanks. Jb.

Mike and I and the $100,000 cup of coffee

At the National Bike Summit, Jenn Dice, who heads IMBA’s (International Mountain Bike Association), made a presentation on how hundreds of the best miles of singletrack are being shut down in Montana and that thousands of miles across the United States might be lost to mountain bikers if we don’t do something. Well Jenn, what are we going to do? She presented a very good plan with the pitch at the end. “All I need is money. I can put the organization in place to stop the madness, but I need resources to do it.” How much do you need? $300,000. Can Trek put in $100,000? My reply? YES!

Jenn is one of the all time great advocates and keeping trails open is a big deal. My next comment: make sure you talk to Mike. That is Mike Sinyard at Specialized. Mike sells a lot of mountain bikes. Jenn talked to Mike and Mike said YES. Jenn talked to Tim Blumenthal at Bikes Belong and he said YES. There you go, $300,000 in 30 days.

Last week at the Bicycle Leadership Conference in Monterey, California, IMBA wanted to have a press conference to announce the grants. Mike, Jenn, Tim Blumenthal, and I talked about the press conference for the following day. I asked Jenn if $300,000 is enough. “Well, we are going to be able to do a lot with that, but my dream would be $600,000.” Mike and I agreed that we should use this event to try and get the rest of the money. The next day we decided to ask the BLC attendees for the rest of the cash.

I asked Tim Blumenthal if Stan Day from SRAM should be part of the press conference. SRAM has given a TON to all sorts of great advocacy efforts over the past few years. The next morning at a coffee shop an hour before the event I saw Stan in line for a coffee. “Stan, at 9:30 Mike and I are going to make an announcement to help IMBA save thousands of miles of trails. We are also going to challenge the industry to come up with another $300,000. Would you like to join the effort?” “Sure, I’m in for $100,000.” That was it, a 30 second conversation and Stan’s most expensive cup of coffee to date.

Go Jenn, go.

You can help IMBA too. Become a member or make a donation today.

Photo courtesy of bicycleretailer.com

A good friend

I get to meet a lot of people and one of my favorites is Chris Kegel. Chris is the owner of Wheel and Sprocket in Milwaukee, a long time Trek retailer, and one of our biggest and best.

Why I like Chris Kegel:

1.  Whenever I see him he has a really big smile. It’s always there!
2.  Chris is fun! At Saturday's event Chris hosted the Wisconsin Bike Fed awards and dressed up in a tux. I wore jeans.
3.  Chris has been a tireless advocate for cycling. He's always at the National Bike Summit, on the board of IMBA, leading the way in Wisconsin, and advocating for better bike facilities in Milwaukee. He joined the advocacy train early and has made a HUGE difference not only in Wisconsin, but around the United States.
4.  Chris helps people. Chris does a lot of work for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and has been one of the lead organizers for the Trek 100, which benefits kids with cancer. He always says yes.
5.  He sells a lot of Treks.

 

Chris and Gary Fisher enjoying beer and conversation.

My First Commute of the Year

Yesterday was my first ride to work of the year. March in Wisconsin is a little cold so the inaugural ride kicked off at a fun lovin’ 31 degrees. In my first 25 years of work at Trek I rode my bike to work perhaps three times.  Last year I picked up the pace and recorded 22 rides to work. My goal this year is 30. Below is a photo of me bundled up and ready to go. I have also enclosed a photo of the hot photographer who took my pic. Comment below with your Best Commuter story or photo since January first and I'll pick the winner Friday for a special prize!!

The Big Guy

Tomorrow marks the second anniversary of the passing of my Dad. Shortly before he died someone told me that his body would die but that his spirit would live on. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about the Big Guy. The other day I was walking down the hall and someone coming from the other direction asked “how are you doing” to which I replied “good.” I really wasn’t doing that well, I had just had my bell rung in a meeting and I thought about a time maybe 15 years ago when The Big Guy was walking down the hall at Trek and someone was passing from the other direction and said “Dick how are you doing today?”  The response was classic Big Guy; with a big smile on his face he said “well I am getting my ass kicked today!” and so last week in a split second I changed my answer from “good” to “I am getting my ass kicked today.” The comment elicited a big smile from the passerby as it did 15 years ago.

In the summer of 2007, six months before the Big Guy went in for heart surgery he spoke at the Trek 20 year club dinner. At the annual gathering of employees who have worked at Trek for 20 years, the Big Guy went through some of his best Trek memories. Luckily, Harry Spehar brought a video camera to the event and filmed the Big Guy’s remarks. Even though the lighting isn’t the best, the stories are priceless. I have edited it down to his story of how Trek got its name, Trek’s first appearance at the New York City Bicycle Show in 1976, and the Big Guy’s memories of the 1999 Tour De France.

Enjoy.  Jb.

The best ride of the year

My first blog... Wow. I have thought about writing a blog for sometime, but have never pulled the trigger. Why now? Well... I am a very lucky person. I get to be the President of the Best Bicycle Company in the World. Some of the perks of my position are that I get to meet a lot of very interesting people, I get to travel all over the world, I get to see a lot of really cool products, many before they hit the market—and most importantly, I get to ride my bicycle. And so, on this inaugural posting of JB’s blog, we will kick it off with my story of the year.

Boston, this past September, I’m spending a few days visiting bicycle retailers. I love Boston. I went to high school in Boston junior year while my Dad got his MBA at MIT, and I ended up going to college at BU. I used to love to ride my bike around Boston, so on this trip I asked the Trek rep to have a bike for me at the hotel. I don’t care what model it is, I just want to ride in the morning before we hit the road. I fly into Boston and we spend the day visiting retailers and end up having dinner with a retailer in Natick. After dinner the manager invited us to go for a few beers at a bar in Brookline. A good time was had by all!! Bill Hand, the rep, drives me to my hotel, the Doubletree in Cambridge, right next to the Charles River. Strategically picked so that I can ride my bike in the morning.

I arrive at the Doubletree just before midnight and am greeted with a hearty Welcome to the Doubletree! Thank you, I reply. My name is John Burke and I have a room here. I’m sorry, Mr. Burke, we are sold out, and we have a cab waiting to take you to a hotel on the other side of Cambridge. You must be mistaken, I have a reservation here. We know, Mr. Burke, but we oversold the hotel and we don’t have any rooms. To which I reply, there must be a mistake, I have a RESERVATION here. Mr. Burke, there are no rooms. We are now in the taste great/less filling part of the conversation, and this is going nowhere. Do you have my bicycle? Yes we do. OK, if you could get my bicycle, I’ll find a hotel on my own.

My bicycle appears, a very nice 7.3 FX. I take my helmet out of my backpack, strap it on, put my backpack on, and sling my night bag over my shoulder. I head out the door at just past midnight. Destination: the Cambridge Hyatt on the Charles. I have stayed there in the past, and my Dad and I ran a race that ended at the Hyatt. The path isn’t lit and it is a little dark out, but there is a great moon high in the sky making up for the lack of a light. The Hyatt is further than I thought, but I make it there and wheel my bicycle into the lobby and to the registration area. Do you have a room? No, we do not. Surely you have one room. We are completely sold out. Any recommendations, then? None. Back on my bike, out the door, and I head for the Charles River Hotel further down the Charles. I get to the Hotel and ask for a room. Sold out, nothing available. Any recommendations? On the bike again and no luck at the Royal Sonesta. Maybe in Boston. It is now past 1 a.m. as I get back on the bike. I look across the river and I see in bright lights: WESTIN. I smile. My Dad and I ran in the Boston Marathon three times, and we always stayed at the Westin. FATE.

I ride my bike up the river and across the Mass Ave Bridge. It really is a beautiful night. I get to the Westin and up the escalator I go with my bike—not the easiest trick in the world after a few beers. I approach the registration area and ask for a room. Sold out. Are you kidding me? No. Just one room? Completely sold out. Any recommendations? You should try Cambridge. Already been there. I leave the Westin and I am now in my cost-is-no-object zone. I just need a room. I go across the street to the Copley Plaza. Nothing. We are now past 2 a.m. and I don’t know where to go, when I remember there is a hotel down by the Boston Common. I ride my bike towards the Boston Common and see the Boston Park Plaza on my right. I enter at 2:20 a.m. I walk up to registration and ask for a room. Sold out, says Theo. To which I reply, Theo, I really need you on this one. Let me check, Theo says. He returns with a key to a room on the 16th floor. At 2:30 my odyssey to find a room in Boston ends. It was one of my best bike rides of the year.

As we begin this blog journey, you just never know what will come next. Ride your bike.

Jb

P.S. If you’ve got a favorite ride, I’d love to hear about it in the comments section below.