Team Pedicab, Rounds 3-4

Good Day pedicabbers!

We are now in full swing of summer, and we have a cab up in Breckenridge, elevation, 9,600 feet. We have been spending the week pedaling and working. My first two nights were pretty average, and it took me a few hours to figure out the flow of people. Lo and behold, I came out tonight and made a good enough sum taking 70 year old women up our hills. I also flagged a couple of local young bar-rats whom I know and so, I came away with more than I anticipated. We burn calories like its out of style, and throw a smile on, regardless. Weather has been pretty cooperative, and believe it or not, I will be taking on drivers this weekend, do try their hand at riding. This is tough riding, because it isn't like normal riding. You really have to use your exposure and offer the crazy free ride everyone talks about. Otherwise, you will sufficate.

Breckenridge: Where your banker is your Boy Scoutmaster, local mountain bike racer, rotarian, and not to mention favorite pedicab operator. Sometime I will have a couple of cabs running and main street will be begging for a ped mall, but right now, I am the bike-dork of sorts, riding people up those hills for a nice tip. This weekend will be the second telling weekend, and I think the late night will require some crazy spinning.

Team Pedicab is hurting right now. Between climbing crazy mountains, wrecking our favorite beefsteak bike, and gnarling ourselves on course to the point of tears, we are regrouping. Brook is taking 1st in the women's beginner division, which means she will need to buck up and move to sport. Yours is learning the power of humility. Most recent race was the time trial where I missed my start and rode a 30 lb bike. I am working on changing and financing a frame, which will give me a better advantage. I am test-riding different bikes. Bike last week was the Kona Kikapu Deluxe, this week will be the Santa Cruz Blur or Superlight. The local bro-discount may apply, and I just hope to hit a good race Wednesday-- one that I know I can climb and hang with some of my nemeses.

With that, peeps, rebuilding is where I am. It is not about the bike, much like it is not about the pedicab. The bike is the means, not the end. I know I like bikes, I know I like to race, but now, it is about having fun. I am set on having fun. Ultimately, my stitches, were humbling, but the bike gods hit me harder on the Firecracker 50. Bike broke 5 times and it learned me a valuable lesson- love the bike, don't love the race.

On another, more charitable front, the Summit County Rotaract group is trying to get something going with Project Rwanda. It is looking like September, and we are working on raising monies for some bike tools for the coffee bikes, posted in a previous post. I have had contact with a famous name in components- but he plugged me into a couple of people who just love bikes and love to ride- not to race. We are trying to make some money for a cool international project-- Thanks for the heads up on the project, BIG TREE! Keep in touch about this, and Mountain Pedicab Company will continue to fit here somewhere.

Additionally, I found some time to climb Longs Peak, a fourteener, actually, under the auspices of Mountain Pedicab Company. We hiked this one. Ben, our Front-Ranger was present and a little height averse. I was smiling the entire way. We made it to the top without event or problem, other than a knotted stomach, and a new respect for granite slabs. Later on this day, we did ride, for some time, albeit whipped. I mean whipped. Imagine a stairstep for 12 hours. Then imagine hauling drunks around. Google Longs Peak, and you may get an idea of what an undertaking this was. We started at 2am, reached the summit at 9, back down by 3. Not the winners, but still Alpinists all the same. It was rewarding, but still tiring. Try it!

Any of your comments on the Mountain Pedicab front are appreciated!

http://www.mavsports.com
http://www.coffeebike.com
http://www.projectrwanda.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longs_Peak

Yours, without pictures, right now, but some good links!

beefsteak