Campy Only's Big Fix/PBP Blog

The Reviews Are Coming In ...

2011-09-29T20:14:00.001-07:00

... for Paris Brest Paris: The Movie, our latest video production. Here's what viewers are saying:

"Fantastic. I started watching, sure that it would be just another boring bike video.
I was wrong. Susan & I watched, spellbound. We got a real feel for the event..." Steve, California

"Great, great video. I am so tired after watching and empathizing that I think I will go take a nap. Thanks for the effort to put this together. It is an inspiration" Jim, Massachusetts

"Artfully done and incredibly evocative! Bravo, and thanks for sharing that for we armchair PBPers." Jim, California

You can view our video of PBP here.

My, How Time Flies

2007-10-22T22:04:00.000-07:00

It seems like yesterday (almost) that we rolled back into Saint Quentin after completing Paris-Brest-Paris on our fixed-gear bicycle. We had high hopes of posting entries from the course, hopes that were dashed on the rocks of rain, fatigue, and a stunning lack of internet access in the French countryside. We did take a lot of photos, however, which are available here. In case you're interested, you can also find photos of our PBP bicycle here (scroll down to see our green Quickbeam). The photo that appears with this posting is of us (Eric) sleeping on the floor at Carhaix on the return leg. We found the PBP poster laying around, and it worked perfectly to keep the cold breezes off while we snoozed. Total sleep for the 83 hours we rode was about three hours.

Sun!

2007-08-20T08:56:00.000-07:00

Just a few hours before the first riders start, and the sun has come
out. Looks like the 80- and 90-hour groups will have dry roads heading
out of town

Check-In

2007-08-19T02:46:00.001-07:00

Due to the rain, bike check has been cancelled--the organizers will
check bikes at the starting line(!) Here is a shot of riders from
dozens of nations checking in at the gymnasium.

Rain!

2007-08-19T02:42:00.001-07:00

We woke up to rain this morning (Sunday). Forecast is looking damp.

Bikes, Bikes and More Bikes

2007-08-18T10:50:00.001-07:00

The bike room is *really* full!

Guess where?

2007-08-17T15:52:00.000-07:00

Friday, August 17--Peter and I went to Paris to check out a famous
local landmark ...

First thing: Build the bike

2007-08-17T08:27:00.000-07:00

Drop PDF your luggage, then it's time to build the bike

Bikes!

2007-08-17T07:33:00.000-07:00

The bike room at the Campanile is filling up!

Paris at Night

2007-08-17T07:17:00.000-07:00

Photo from last night. Eiffel Tower in the distance.

Second Wave

2007-08-17T07:15:00.001-07:00

4 pm Friday, local time, and the second wave of US cyclists has
arrived. Here at the Campanile, the already full bike room is getting
*really* full. The weather has been good all day today, and many
riders took the opportunity to get out of town for a spin in the
country. Others headed for Paris or for the many local stores for bike
parts, food, etc. More training opportunities tomorrow, then bike
check Sunday.

--Eric Norris
Sent from my iPhone

Paris!

2007-08-16T15:31:00.000-07:00

Here's a photo from Notre Dame. More to come.

Paris!

2007-08-15T04:48:00.001-07:00

We have arrived at the hotel--1:45 pm local time, 4:45 am California
time. Niles arrive soon, then we assemble them downstairs, get some
dinner, and then sleep :-)

On the shuttle!

2007-08-14T06:35:00.001-07:00

6 am Tuesday (California time)--Peter and I are on the way to the
airport!

While We're Waiting ...

2007-08-13T21:51:00.001-07:00

While you're waiting for PBP to start, here are links to pages with photos from some of my training rides earlier this year:

600-Kilometer Qualifying Ride

Seattle to Portland Solo in One Day

"The Ride"--San Francisco to Santa Barbara in 3 Days

Welcome, DBC, RBW, and PMC Friends!

2007-08-13T21:46:00.000-07:00

You have found my PBP blog. As I type this, all of my gear is packed and ready to go--airport shuttle arrives at 5:45 a.m. We're leaving tomorrow, but it will be Wednesday, Paris time, by the time we can get to the hotel and start working on getting rid of jet lag. Then, a few days to relax and see Paris before the fun starts!
Remember to check back for updated reports. The ride starts for us at 5 a.m. on Tuesday the 21st (Paris time). I hope to blog from the ride, assuming I can find a computer in the little French villages we will be riding through.
See you online!

Paris Weather

2007-08-11T22:02:00.000-07:00

Look over there to the right--we've added realtime weather and forecasts for Paris. As of today, the weather for the ride is looking pretty good--mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-70s.

August 11--Ten Days to Ride Start

2007-08-11T16:27:00.000-07:00

Spent some time today getting packed for the trip. Our bike is in its travel box, and we bought a variety of supplies (sleep aids, immodium, etc.) for the trip. Here are shots of our bike in mid-pack, and some of our gear laid out.

Friday: At the airport

2007-07-20T07:21:00.000-07:00

Almost time to get on the flight to Portland!

Seattle to Portland!

2007-07-19T18:48:00.000-07:00

No, not the official ride ... tomorrow (Friday) I leave for Portland by plane and then on to Seattle by train (may get a car in there too, somewhere). Saturday I ride solo from Seattle to Portland, about 200 or so miles along the same course as the Seattle-to-Portland ride. Photos and ride reports to follow ...

290 Miles, Randonneur Style

2007-07-09T16:10:00.000-07:00

More info later, but here is a link to the route that Peter (Rockstar) and I followed this past weekend in training for PBP:

http://tinyurl.com/youhku

The elevation data is a little skewed (our climbing was closer to 12,000 feet), but you can see the route we followed, with a few adventures along the way.

Registration is On Its Way!

2007-06-30T11:55:00.000-07:00

We sent in our registration today! Here we are, handing it off to the USPS.

Big Fix Reunion--June 16, 2007

2007-06-16T14:36:00.000-07:00

One year ago, we gathered in Davis to ride across the US. Today, we returned to our fabled starting point to ride and reminisce about the hardest fundraising ride ever held. Photos from the ride are online at: http://www.campyonly.com/mypages/misc_rides_2007.html

Big Fix Movie

2007-03-06T10:30:00.000-08:00

The Davis Bike Club hosted a screening of the Big Fix Movie last night--everyone liked the show, and the Club will be making a donation to the Histiocytosis Association of America.

Yet Another Fixed Gear DC

2007-03-06T10:28:00.000-08:00

PBP training continues--this time with a fixed gear double century in Southern California. Photos are available here

Fixies on NPR

2007-02-08T11:50:00.000-08:00

National Public Radio's "Day to Day" show weighed in on the subject of fixed gear bikes this week:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7217570
Not a word about the Big Fix ...

CampyCam Videos

2007-01-22T13:19:00.000-08:00

We're expanding our ride coverage to include video! Here are two places to see them:

Enjoy!

"The Ride" Day Three

2007-01-15T20:44:00.000-08:00

Last day of The Ride--126 miles with about 5,000 feet of climbing. Today we rode from Morro Bay to Santa Barbara, with a lunch stop in Lompoc.

"The Ride" Day Two

2007-01-15T20:34:00.000-08:00

Photos and info from Day Two of "The Ride." A great, scenic trip down the rugged California coast, with a stop in Big Sur. Today's ride: 127 miles, with about 8,000 feet of climbing (scroll down for a route profile)

"The Ride" Day One

2007-01-13T21:17:00.000-08:00

January 13, 2007--The 2007 journey to Paris started this morning at the Golden Gate Bridge and ended 124 miles later down the coast in Seaside. Four Big Fix alumni were on hand--Mojo, Peter, Ike, and Eric. Cold weather, delivered by a blast of Siberian air, prompted all of the 56 or so riders to bundle up--and we mostly stayed that way all day as our coastal route never really warmed up much.

Tomorrow--another 125 or so miles through Big Sur to Morro Bay, then on to Santa Barbara on Day Three.

Next Stop, Paris!

2006-12-11T15:21:00.000-08:00

Having conquered the Sierras, Hwy 50, the mountains and deserts of Utah, and the Rockies on our fixed gear, we're setting our sights on a new challenge: Paris-Brest-Paris Along with several other Big Fix alumni, we'll be traveling to France in August 2007 to ride the quadrennial 1200-kilometer PBP on fixed gears (which, after all, is the way all of the riders did it in the early days).
Check back for ride reports as we train for PBP and do the qualifying series of 200-, 300-, 400-, and 600-kilometer "brevets".
More info on PBP can be found here

Mojo on TV

2006-10-02T10:30:00.000-07:00

Sacramento's "News 10" TV news profiled our Gearless Leader last week. Here's a link to the video, which features images from the Big Fix Movie:

http://www.news10.net/news/watercooler/good/index.htm

What a Night!

2006-09-26T09:15:00.000-07:00

Last night's world premiere of the Big Fix Movie in Davis, CA, was a great success! Attendance exceeded our expectations (about 150 people attended the screening at the historic Varsity Theater in downtown Davis), and we raised more than $1,000 for the HAA through ticket and DVD sales. We were also fortunate to have so many Big Fix alumni on hand, both riders and support crew.

Big Fix Tix Update

2006-09-07T10:48:00.000-07:00

Local (Davis, CA) bike shop Ken's Bike and Ski has added news of the Big Fix Movie to their home page. Check it out at www.kensbikeski.com

Big Fix Tix Now On Sale!

2006-09-02T12:25:00.000-07:00

Advance purchase tickets for the Big Fix Movie premiere in Davis, California, are now available for advance purchase at these convenient locations:

B and L Bike Shop
Wheelworks
Ken's Bike and Ski

Same price as day-of-show, but so much more convenient. Proceeds from the tickets benefits the Histiocytosis Association of America.

Check out the Davis Varsity Theater's web site for more info on the show: www.thedavisvarsity.com

Big Fix: The Movie Poster

2006-08-28T22:24:00.000-07:00

Instructions: 1) Download the Big Fix Davis Movie Poster, 2) Post it, 3) Buy tickets, 4) Enjoy the show!
Click here to download the Big Fix Movie Poster for the Davis, CA, big screen showing on September 25, 2006

More info from the Varsity Theater web site:
http://www.thedavisvarsity.com/pages/events.php

Big Fix on the Big Screen

2006-08-24T15:32:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendar for Monday, September 25, at 7 pm, and the Davis, California, Big Screen premiere of the Big Fix Movie! The movie will be shown in a benefit performance for the Histiocytosis Association of America at the historic Varsity Theater in downtown Davis. Tickets will be $9 at the door.

The screening will include presentations by Big Fix riders, raffle drawings, and other fun events. Copies of the Big Fix DVD will be available for purchase after the show.

For information on the show at the Varsity: http://www.thedavisvarsity.com/pages/events.php

Big Fix: The Mini-Reunion

2006-08-20T17:59:00.000-07:00

Five Big Fix riders met today to ride the 100-mile Tour of the Napa Valley--Fixed! Shown in the photo, from left to right, are Randy, Mojo, Greg, Eric, and Peter.

Big Fix: The Movie!

2006-07-24T12:29:00.000-07:00

Coming for Labor Day 2006, the complete story of the nation's toughest fundraising ride! Click here to see a preview. (Requires Quicktime or compatible viewer.)
Watch for details on purchasing your own copy.

Post-Ride Photos

2006-07-15T20:41:00.000-07:00

The day after the Big Fix, and time for more photos, including a "proof of Boston" picture.

Mojo's Last Report, Day 28

2006-07-14T16:44:00.000-07:00

News from Mojo on his last Big Fix daily call in:

As usual for these last days, the ride ended up being longer (100 miles) and hillier (2,000 feet of additional climbing) than predicted.
The venerable Sheldon Brown rode the last few miles with the boys, accompanied by a group of messenger cyclists from Boston. Sheldon's wife, Harriett, also attended. It was Sheldon's first fixed-gear ride in nine months.
About 30 riders came out to usher the Big Fix into Boston.
Final stopping point was Fenueil Hall in Boston.

Total mileage for the Big Fix: 3,480 miles, with 135,000 feet of vertical gain.

The riders are now off to Maggiora's restaurant in the theater district for a big post-ride celebration.

Day 28: They Did It!!

2006-07-14T16:08:00.000-07:00

Our intrepid riders have done it. More then 3,000 miles of fixed gear cycling in 28 days, crossing deserts, mountains, plains, and hills. They arrived today in Boston, where Mojo's lifelong (well, almost lifelong) dream of meeting fixed gear guru Sheldon Brown was finally realized. Here are photos from the last day. More info soon.

Day 27: The Penultimate Ride

2006-07-13T21:06:00.000-07:00

Just one day to ride, but the Catskills and Berkshires did their best to make the Big Fix riders miserable. Today's ride was about 140 miles, but also included about 6,000 feet of climbing--and most of that came in the form of steep (10% plus) hills, "straight up and straight down" in the words of Mojo. He says that, unlike other parts of the country, where roads follow the contours of the land, the early roadbuilders in the east apparently went straight no matter what topography got in the way.

The day started in Tannersville, where the Big Fix once again overwhelmed the staff at a local restaurant. Today's slow breakfast resulted in a late, 8 a.m. start.

A little later in the day, the boys hit their third road washout, forcing a detour that once again added some miles. Later in the day, the riders crossed the Hudson river.

By day's end, Ricky's bike computer told the group they had ridden 3,370 miles, with 84 to go tomorrow from Wilbraham to the final destination in Boston.

Day 27 Road Photos

2006-07-13T08:51:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe, but there are just two days of riding left! Photos from the penultimate stage:

Friday Festitivies

2006-07-12T10:27:00.000-07:00

Andrew Janjigian has invited other riders (espeically those on Rivendell bicycles, a Big Fix sponsor) to meet him on Friday in Kenmore Square to greet the Big Fix peloton and ride with them to the finish line. For details, email Wendy: webbernelson@alantos.com

Day 26 Road Photos

2006-07-12T08:10:00.000-07:00

More interesting stuff from the road ...

Fixed Gears in the News

2006-07-11T19:37:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's because of the Big Fix ... the Wall Street Journal has caught on the to fixed-gear phenomenon: Click here

Day 25 Road Photos

2006-07-11T13:50:00.000-07:00

More camera-phone fun from Mojo:

Don't Forget ...

2006-07-11T09:39:00.000-07:00

... photos and reports starting with Day One of the Big Fix are part of this blog. Click on the "Archives" links (on the right-hand side of your screen) to see earlier reports.

Big Fix on the Web

2006-07-11T09:36:00.000-07:00

The Fixed Gear Gallery has posted some great photos from rider Peter Burnett. Check them out here

Day 24: "... And the Rains Came"

2006-07-10T21:06:00.000-07:00

An exhausted Mojo called to report that the riders got a little wet on their trip to Lakewood, NY. First of all, it took the boys three hours to get out of Cleveland (the only big city on the entire trip). Shortly after leaving Cleveland, the rains began and kept up for about 60 miles. The skies cleared, then opened up again. Needless to say, everyone was soaked.
As the ride enters the East, the roads are also getting more topographically interesting. Translation: More hills. Rollers threw themselves at the riders all day, culminating in a mile-long, ten percent grade at the very end. The next few days call for more of the same ...
Mojo also reports that yesterday's Histiocytosis symposium was a success, with about 60 Histio families and half-dozen physicians in attendance. A ton of photos were taken--we'll post some as soon as we get them.

Big Fix in the News

2006-07-10T21:01:00.000-07:00

From today's (July 10) Springfield, MA, Republican:
Bike ride puts focus on disease

Day 22: The Lost Boys

2006-07-08T22:27:00.000-07:00

You would think that, with the Big Fix's longest (185 miles) day ahead of them, the group would pay pretty close attention to the route? Well, something went wrong today, reports Walt (aka Big Dog) in his voice mail ride report. The group went astray and ended up putting in about 225 miles.
We're a little behind on Hard As Nails reports, but Walt was handed the nail at the end of today's ride.
The good news is that tomorrow (Sunday) is a rest day in Cleveland for the Histiocytosis symposium. More than 60 Histio families are planning to attend; Ken will give a presentation. Mojo plans to sleep until noon.
More photos and news as they become available ...

Special Message to Mojo

2006-07-08T14:49:00.000-07:00

Captain, when will you be back?

Day 22 Road Photos

2006-07-08T11:03:00.000-07:00

A looong 185 miles today. Here are some photos from the road. Ken is clearly in Payne after his third crash!

Day 21: Two Crashes and a Barbeque

2006-07-07T14:01:00.000-07:00

Report from the road: Today's ride started with a crossing of the Wabash River amid a thick, tule fog with temps in the 50s. A rather uneventful day ... well, except for two crashes:

Crash #1: Those awful rumble strips claimed another victim. The group was riding to the right of the rumble strip when Mojo saw a pile of gravel coming up in their path. He went left, but Ken hit the gravel and went down (that's his knee in today's earlier post). This was Ken's third crash of the trip.
Crash #2: A fist-sized rock thrown up by a rumble strip went under Ike's wheel, causing him to crash.

Both Ken and Ike are OK--Ike was contesting sprints later in the day.

Today's ride was 107 miles with minimal climbing (and a little shorter than the route sheet estimated). The host for tonight in Fort Wayne, IN, is Joe Endres; a barbeque is planned for dinner.

As of today, only three of riders on the road are EFI: Greg, Ricky, and Mojo. (What is EFI? We'll tell you ... soon.)

Tomorrow, however, is 185 miles ... then the riders get to take a day off and spend two nights in a sumptuous hotel in Cleveland, where Ken will head up a day-long symposium on Histiocytosis. More than 60 Histio families are expected to attend.

Day 21 Road Photos

2006-07-07T13:36:00.000-07:00

Posted almost live ... We are checking into whose knee that is.

Day 20: Indiana

2006-07-06T22:56:00.000-07:00

We missed Mojo's phone call today, but we can offer these photos from the road. Ken, it seems, has found his true home.
The riders entered Indiana today, ending in W. Lafayette, IN, after a 160-mile stage from Springfield, Illinois.

Day 19: Across the Mississippi

2006-07-05T21:51:00.000-07:00

Today's news from rider Greg Ngo:
Day 19 saw the riders across yet another major landmark--the Mississippi River, at Hannibal, MO. The 7-rider Big Fix peloton enjoyed a police escort to the river, and about half the population of Palmyra turned out for the event. Two TV stations turned out--here is a link to KHQA-7's coverage
While in Hannibal, the riders stopped at the Mark Twain museum.
On the east side of the Mississippi, the riders entered Illinois, the seventh state so far for the Big Fix. Once there, they rode past 125 unbroken miles of tobacco and corn--an amazing sight. Today's lunch stop was marked by a simultaneous nap--the riders spent 45 minutes dozing, won en masse, and started riding again.
In Jacksonville, the Big Fix picked up three guest riders from the local bike club. All went well until two of the riders crashed--Mojo then ran over them. One of the local riders suffered a severely cut finger and was taken to the hospital. No Big Fix riders were seriously injured, although some old road rash was freshened up by the latest contact with the pavement.
Perfect weather today--78 degrees and no rain.
The end of today's stage was Springfield, IL, where the riders are now safely dozing in the local YMCA.
Today's photos include a Frank Lloyd Wright house that the riders passed by, and a section of washed-out road (see our earlier reports).

Day 19 Road Photos

2006-07-05T08:52:00.000-07:00

More photos from the camera of Mojo. Looks like Ricky is following in Bo's footsteps ...

Day 18: Palmyra, Missouri

2006-07-04T18:03:00.000-07:00

Today's route took the riders 160 miles over rolling terrain to Palmyra, MO, home of BF crew worker Kim. (Actually, the ride stopped a little short of Palmyra and the riders took a shuttle--the shuttled miles will be added back tomorrow.)

The riders are staying in Palymra's Sesquicentennial Building tonight. Not much sleep is anticipated, due to the nearby Fourth of July festivities.

Today was the first day the riders got really rained on--at one point, the road was washed out, and they had to trek across a 100-yard-long gully.

Ken crashed today (just some road rash), but recovered and put in a Tour de France-like performance on the road.

7 riders are on the road. Tomorrow, they will ride south to Hannibal, MO, for a stop at the Mark Twain memorail. TV coverage is planned--we will link to it if we can.

Fourth of July Fix

2006-07-04T17:40:00.000-07:00

Photos from today's ride to Palmyra, MO, home of one of our support crew workers, Kim.
As shown in the photos, the crickets from Nevada seem to have grown quite large, and are following the riders across the country :-)

Day 17: Missouri!

2006-07-03T19:17:00.000-07:00

Today's ride report from Mojo:
The Big Fix today left the flat cornfields and entered the green and lush Flint Hills. The riders also said farewell to Kansas and hello to Missouri (a resurgent Greg won the stateline sprint). Among the highlights from today's 161 miles:

The riders found a bicycle museum, which was unfortunately closed when they rolled by
The route today turned onto Old Hwy 50, a road that included a three-mile-long gravel section
Three guest riders joined the ride for a short stint in the paceline: Bill Burns, Bill's friend "D-1," and Mary James, who flew out from Davis, CA, to join the ride. Mary was riding a fixie owned by Sandy B, who rode out with the Big Fix on Day One.
Lunch was in Louisburg, MO. Mary bought Mexican food for everyone.
Almost everyone in the peloton is now riding on Brooks saddles--Sandy's bike was cannibalized for its Brooks today, which found its way onto Ricky's bike. Another new Brooks was also provided by Bill Burns for Greg
Two new support workers joined the ride today: former worker Christie's mom and aunt. Support workers now almost outnumber the riders!
New Big Fix rider JT has let us know that in addition to being a graduate student in linguistics, he is also a burlesque dancer. No dancing in the paceline has been reported yet ...

Tomorrow, the ride travels to Palymra, MO, the hometown of ride support worker Kim. The Big Fix will celebrate the Fourth of July there.

More Big Fix News

2006-07-03T18:29:00.000-07:00

This time, about our videographer, Kevin Lynch. From the Bainbridge Island (WA) Review:

Lynch rides cross-country to ‘fix’ disease

Julie Busch photo

Kevin Lynch (right) answers Alain Huggler�s questions about Lynch�s 12-hour indoor bike ride to raise money for Langerhan�s Cell Histiocytosis.

By JOHN BECERRA, JR. Staff Writer
He’s making a film while he rides from California to Boston on ‘The Big Fix.’

When Kevin Lynch got the call from the Histiocytosis Association of America a few months ago to ask if he was willing to ride cross country for a fundraiser and film a documentary of the trip, his answer was immediate:
No way.
“So we went back and forth and one thing led to another, and so they asked me ‘What could you do it for?’” he said.
“I said ‘Guys, you’re talking about a 30 day trek out of my life.’ I’m not a doctor. I’m not a lawyer. Yeah, I live on Bainbridge, but I’m at the lower end of that common spectrum. I have to work really hard.”
But after meeting some of the riders and the sponsors and getting a price that he could work with, Lynch is ready to put in some long hours as he participates in “The Big Fix,” a cross-country bike ride to raise money for Langerhan’s Cell histiocytosis, a rare blood disease similar to cancer that primarily affects children.
“It just came down to, ‘How could I not?’” he said.
Last Monday, Lynch, who works as the sales and marketing coordinator and spinning instructor at the Gym at the Pavilion, did a “Little Fix” bike ride by riding 12 hours straight outside of the gym.
Despite riding for several hours, he was still upbeat as he chatted with friends and patrons of the Gym, asking if they were interested in donating to the cause.
He broke the CompuTrainer record for continuous spinning by two hours and rode 273.18 miles – roughly the distance from Bainbridge Island to Cheney.
Lynch also raised $1,963.70 with the possibility of the pledges he collected being matched by a local philanthropist.
“The Big Fix” started last Saturday in Davis, CA and will end July 14 in Boston, Mass.
Along the way, the group, riding fixed-gear bikes, plans on stopping at several towns to visit kids who live with histiocytosis, along with holding fundraising events for the disease in some of the bigger cities they ride through.
The ride is 3,340 miles long and stretches over 28 cities and towns in 11 states.
Lynch said they’ll travel over several mountain ranges and average 120 to 150 miles a day – “which makes what I’m doing (the “Little Fix”) look like child’s play,” he said. “But it all ties together because it’s a ride to ‘fix’ this disease on ‘fixed’ gear bikes.”
The society called Lynch because of his film company Pro-Motion X-5 and the number of triathlons and triathletes Lynch has shot over a period of eight years.
Lynch is filming the ride on a helmet camera and will have another camera with him to shoot at several fixed locations across the country.
To save on his costs, he bought a bike that he had shipped to Davis, where he’ll put it together.
Then at the end of the race, he’ll either sell it or give it away or ship it back to Bainbridge.
He’ll travel with his gear stowed in an anvil case and carry a backpack on him with his riding gear and his clothes.
Despite the long days – he expects to be working 19 hour days and start at 4 a.m. for filming, not to mention numerous hours editing the hundreds of hours of footage down to an hour-long DVD by Labor Day – Lynch is excited about the journey.
“I think it’s going to be a great adventure,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
He also said the trip was a chance to be part of something special.
“There’s not going to be many more opportunities that are going to come by (like this,)” he said. “I got some of the stories about the kids and some of the bios on the riders, and I went, ‘Oh my goodness!’ This thing is intense.
“And I’m one for drama,” he added.
To keep track of “The Big Fix” and their travels across the country, visit their blog at http://fixhistio.blogspot.com.
To learn more about the disease or donate, visit www.fixhistio.org.

Big Fix in the News

2006-07-03T18:25:00.000-07:00

This time, from the Canon City Daily Record. http://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com/region-story.asp?ID=4048

Big Fix in the News

2006-07-03T18:20:00.000-07:00

From the Longmont, CO, Daily Times-Call newspaper. A great story about Pastor Steve his daughter, Daryl, and their involvement in the Big Fix.
http://www.longmontfyi.com/Local-Story.asp?id=8562

Day 17: Road Photos

2006-07-03T11:18:00.000-07:00

Photos from Mojo's camera phone. Today, the riders reached the 2,000 mile mark!

Life After Being "Fixed"

2006-07-02T22:27:00.000-07:00

Today was a rest and travel day for Big Fix riders Bo and Eric, who stopped in Boulder, CO, on their way home to Davis, CA. They spent the day walking around ... and eating. A lot. Here are some photos from Boulder:

Day 16: Last Full Day in Kansas

2006-07-02T22:11:00.000-07:00

"A lot of fun, and a lot of wind" ... That sums up today's 151-mile ride to Emporia, Kansas. News from the riders:

Thanks to Bill Burns from the Fixed Gear Gallery (www.fixedgeargallery.com), Mojo has a new Brooks leather saddle that will make his riding much more comfortable over the last two weeks of the ride.
Ken showed amazing strength again today (reminiscent of his monster ride into Blanding, Utah), and seemed to be gunning for another Hard As Nails award. Ken and Ike gapped the group at one point, and even Mojo had to work hard to catch up.
Greg was getting down about Kansas and the lack of scenery ... he will hopefully perk up once the ride enters Missouri tomorrow.
The Kee Family ended their trip with the Big Fix today, having spent the last three days providing meals and rest stops for the riders. The Big Fix is very grateful for everything they have done for the ride.
A new rider--James Thompson--joined the Big Fix. James will ride to Boston, bringing the paceline back up to seven riders. James' mother, Rosemary, will also join the ride as a support driver.
Lunch was at Lake Marion, about 45 miles from Emporia.

Photos from today's ride coming soon!

Day 15: Bo and Eric Say Goodbye, But the Fix Goes On

2006-07-01T17:28:00.000-07:00

Bo and I (Eric) said farewell to the Big Fix today. We signed on for two weeks, and completed our journey. Six riders cotinued: Greg, Ike, Ricky G, Walt, Ken, and Mojo.
But ... the Big Fix blog will continue. Mojo and the other riders will be calling in reports from the road, and we'll keep posting them here. Look forward to some interesting news as the ride enters the last week--there are some hellacious stages coming up in the eastern states.
So--here is today's report:
At the start, young Claire Kee once again led out the paceline--but not until AHA president Jeff Towhill fulfilled a bet and rode her bike. She had to fight to get it back ...
The six Big Fix "full pull" riders stuck together today on the second day (and first full day) in Kansas. Yesterday's afternoon headwind had turned into a slight tailwind by the morning, although it shifted to a tailwind later in the day. The terrain was a repeat of yesterday--unrelentingly flat with a gradual downhill that never seemed to materialize.
The Kee family from Nebraska stuck with the ride for the second day (they'll be back tomorrow, too), provisioning a rest stop and making dinner for the riders. Their spaghetti yesterday was totally delicious.
The riders stopped briefly in Amy, Kansas, where an expedition to explore an abandoned school was interrupted by ... the owner of the school. The Big Fix almost had a repeat of yesterday's arrest (not really) of Bo.
Lunch was in Alexander, then it was on to Great Bend, where the riders were waiting for a girls' basketball tournament to end at the high school when Mojo phoned in his report.

Day Fourteen Route

2006-06-30T17:55:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of www.motionbased.com

Day Thirteen Route

2006-06-30T17:53:00.000-07:00

Pueblo, CO, to Eads, CO
Click to see more info, courtesy of www.motionbased.com

Day 14: A Prairie Flower

2006-06-30T15:53:00.000-07:00

Day 14 was another hot day on the prairie--104 miles from Eads, CO, to Scott City, KS. Once again, the scenery left much to be desired, so we concentrated on pacelining and working together against a nagging 3/4 headwind that dogged us all day. Lunch and dinner were provided by a Histio family who travelled all the way from Nebraska to feed us! Check out the photos below--their daughter, Claire, led us out from the lunch stop. Claire was diagnosed with Histiocytosis in several parts of her body, but is doing fine now. Big Fix rider Ken consulted on her case, as he does for many hundreds of Histio cases each year.
Today also saw the long arm of the law descend on the Big Fix ... We were just leaving Wichita County when the local sheriff pulled us over to let us know that our 3- or 4-abreast paceline (echeloning into that 3/4 headwind) had generated a few complaints. We tried to keep everything nice, but he ended up cuffing Bo. We begged, pleaded, and told him about the purpose of the ride, and he let Bo go with a warning and a request never to come back to Wichita County.*

* Bo didn't really get arrested.

Day 13: The Incredible Flatness of Being

2006-06-30T15:06:00.000-07:00

Day 13 marked our first real day on the Great Plains. After a great breakfast at the Methodist Church (Thank you!) we headed east, and it became clear very soon that the spectacular scenery of the past 12 days were behind us, and the Big Fix's challenge would become mental as well as physical. We passed through several small towns, including two where we were treated to lunch (Sugar City) and a rest stop (Haswell).
We also saw one of the nicest outhouses anywhere--part of the "Prairie Horizons Trail," a bike route through the prairie. Check out the photos.
Today was also the first opportunity in some time to get the entire Big Fix crew together in a paceline. We were joined on the ride by pastors Steve and Gary, who rode with us and who were both trying out their first 100-mile rides. With the assistance of all the BF riders (except Mojo, whose inner muse said "sprint!"), they made it to Eads--sore, but with their first centuries.
Arriving in Eads, we showered at the fairgrounds and then had dinner provided by members of Gary's church--sloppy joes, chips, and lots of cake and ice cream for dessert.
After dinner, we watched a huge thunderhead develop to the southeast; it was gone the next morning.
The Hard As Nails award went to Ricky G, who has truly been HAN since the beginning of the ride. The SAG award--in this case, "Solo And Gone" went to Mojo, in recognition of his 100-mile breakaway effort.
Four riders--Greg, Ricky, Mojo, and Eric--remained "EFI" after today's ride.

Scott City!

2006-06-30T13:54:00.000-07:00

3:30 local time (Central) and we have arrived in Scott City. More info later.

Day Twelve Route

2006-06-28T21:40:00.000-07:00

Lots of downhill today--just one notable climb halfway along.
How do we get these maps? Eric (BF blogger) is using a Garmin 205 cyclecomputer, which uses GPS positioning to determine speed, distance, elevation, etc. The 205 also stores the route we have travelled. That route is uploaded to www.motionbased.com, where it is made available for you to see.

Courtesy of www.motionbased.com

Day Eleven Route

2006-06-28T21:37:00.000-07:00

Up and over the Continental Divide!
Click on the image and check out the elevation profile. It's brutal.

Finding That Sweet Spot ...

2006-06-28T21:04:00.000-07:00

It shouldn't be any surprise to hear that all of the riders are suffering to some extent from, well, sore butts. We've put in more than 1,300 miles on fixed gears since we started, most of that sitting in the saddle, and with all the movement down there it's only natural that chafing and soreness happen. It's amazing how the normal concerns of daily life become less and less important, and you find out what really matters: finding the right way to sit on your saddle, making sure you have enough water and drink mix in your bottles, knowing where the top of the next hill is, and where the next rest stop will be. Anything else simply doesn't matter.
A word about one of our sponsors: Without the amazing lubricating power of Friction Zone from our sponsor, Brave Soldier, we would be in a world of hurt ...

Day Twelve Awards

2006-06-28T20:57:00.000-07:00

Who won what today? Well, Kevin passed the Hard As Nails to Steve, in recognition of his hard work over the past week and his contributions to the Big Fix peloton. Steve then handed the Nail to Greg, in recognition of his great riding and generous assistance to all of the riders.
The Biggest Sag trophy was handed to Mojo and Eric, in the hope that they would use it to tie their bicycles together for even more effective paceline leadership.

... And Now, a Word About Our Support Crew

2006-06-28T20:47:00.000-07:00

The Big Fix would simply not be possible without the dedicated hard work of the support crew that has followed us on our trip, setting up rest stops in the middle of barren wastelands, buying groceries, helping with luggage, and generally doing all the things the riders are too tired to do. Our crew has included Christie, Sandy, Kim, Lauren, Missy, Kevin (also our videographer), Joan, Ken, and Jim. Jeff Towhill, president of the Histiocytosis Association of America, has also come along to help out and see how the event is going.
Here are photos of most of the crew...we'll fill in the rest in a future post.

Day Twelve: Down From the Mountain

2006-06-28T18:46:00.000-07:00

Today, we descended out of the last tall mountains that the Big Fix will see, completing the descent that began yesterday when we crested the Continental Divide and ended the day in Salida, Colorado. Our day began with a sumptuous breakfast cooked for us by Jenny, wife of rider Steve. It was a delicious way to start the day.
Day 12 began a series of flat or mildly downhill days that will continue through the Great Plains. At the same time, the scenery changed--we started the day riding through the Arkansas River canyon, and ended in what is essentially the western shore of the Great Plains. No more soaring mountains or sculpted mesas for us ...
At about the halfway point, we stopped at Royal Gorge to see the world's highest suspension bridge--1,053 feet over the Arkansas River. It was a great, relaxing interlude.
The weather once again smiled on us--rain threatened, and we were sprinkled on at Royal Gorge, but we once again remained blessedly dry.
In Pueblo, we were hosted to dinner by the great people at the First United Methodist Church. Afterwards, most of the riders and a few friends and family went out for dessert--we riders in particular have acquired an amazing ability to eat, and eat, and eat.
We were joined at dinner by young Darryl McPadden, who recently underwent back surgery to correct damage in her spine caused by Histiocytosis. In one of the photos below, she shows what happens when you eat too much cotton candy ...
Today was the last day of riding for Steve, who rode with us for the past seven days. Steve will be taking a few days off the bike to let his nether regions heal up.
Tomorrow: More mildly downhill riding to Eads, Colorado.

Day 12: Royal Gorge

2006-06-28T11:17:00.000-07:00

We are at Royal Gorge right now--stopping for some sightseeing. Downhill from here to Pueblo!

Day Eleven: Hard As Nails Update

2006-06-27T21:45:00.000-07:00

Today's recipient was not a rider, but someone who nevertheless has been crucial to the success of the Big Fix: our videographer, Kevin
Much more than just shooting hours and hours of video, Kevin has been critical to keeping all of the many pieces of the ride together. He is a human dynamo who has earned the respect of everyone on the ride.
Congratulations, Kevin!

Big Fix Day Eleven: Over the Continental Divide

2006-06-27T21:16:00.000-07:00

Today we rode 128 miles from Montrose to Salida, Colorado, crossing the Continental Divide at 11,312 feet and officially entering the Atlantic portion of the United States. But that's jumping ahead. Here are a few things that happened along the way:

First, we started the day joined by several local riders (on gearly bikes) including Tom Barrett, who provided our meal in Montrose last night. We promptly rode into a stiff (20-30 mph) headwind that dogged our progress for the next two hours or so.
Ducking out of the wind, we stopped for pie at Pleasant Valley, again treated by local riders. The pie was delicious.
As we rode toward Gunnison, CO, hometown of Big Fix rider Ricky G, we saw some 1,200 riders on the other side of the road doing a leg of the Bicycle Tour of Colorado. Many of them gave us a "Big Fix!" shoutout as we rode by.
Lunch in Gunnison was provided by local riders (Thanks!), many of whom joined us for the second part of our ride from Gunnison to Monarch Pass (the Continental Divide). While we were in Gunnison, we also visited Ricky's bike shop, Tuneup Bike and Ski Shop. Great shop!
Leaving Gunnison, the paceline was zipping along Hwy 50 when a large hubcap became detached from a motor home coming the opposite direction. Like a manic UFO, the hubcap careened toward the peloton at a high rate of speed, eventually striking one rider's bike. Miraculously, noone was injured, and the damage was limited to a bent chainring and a ruined front tire. The same Somebody who has kept the Big Fix free of major mishaps was on the job again today.
With that event out of the way, we proceeded on the long, 30-mile run-in to the start of the climb to Monarch Pass at Sargents. The group quickly spread out, but at the end almost all of the BF riders made it up the long, long climb to the top. We checked out the gift shop, sipped hot chocolate, and then continued across the Divide and down the other side to Salida.

Tomorrow: A fairly short (about 90 miles) flat day to Pueblo, Colorado.
Enjoy the photos!

Day Ten: Hard As Nails Update

2006-06-26T19:43:00.000-07:00

Today's winner of the Hard As Nails award was ... Greg!
Greg hammered the course today, showing that he is truly "hard as nails."
Note: Greg is also "EFI"

What is "EFI"?

2006-06-26T19:33:00.000-07:00

Wondering what "EFI" is (see the 1,000 mile entry)? Well ... let's wait a little while longer before we unleash that one on the world.
Maybe tomorrow ...

Day Ten Route

2006-06-26T19:25:00.000-07:00

Here is today's route from Rico to Montrose, courtesy of www.motionbased.com Click on the map to see information about the ride.

Day Ten: Up, Up, Up

2006-06-26T16:04:00.000-07:00

Our tenth day of riding started in Rico (elev. 8,800 feet) and quickly ascended to our first alpine pass at Lizard Head summit (elev. 10,222). We were also treated to our first doses of Rocky Mountain scenery--craggy peaks with snow clinging to their summits, and gorgeous valleys and mountain towns. Lunch was at "Tru Grit," a restaurant in Ridgway dedicated to John Wayne. Great food. A few riders got caught in a flash hailstorm on the heights.
Tomorrow, we climb again, this time to the highest point the ride will reach: Monarch Pass, at 11,312 feet.
BTW, in the second photo, Bo and Mojo are discussing ride strategy with Groovy Boy. His advice? "Ride Groovy" Learn more about Groovy Boy here

1,000 Miles!

2006-06-25T22:08:00.000-07:00

We hit a major milestone yesterday on the way to Blanding: 1,000 miles of fixed gear cycling since we started on June 17th. Five riders were in the "EFI" club: Peter, Mojo, Ricky, Greg, and Eric. They're in this shot with the rest of the Big Fix riders. Also yesterday, we exceeded 50,000 feet of vertical gain ... all on fixed gears!

Day Nine Route

2006-06-25T22:03:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of www.motionbased.com
Click on the map to get lots o' info about the ride, including an elevation profile.

Hard As Nails, Day Six

2006-06-25T21:58:00.000-07:00

Our riding companions reminded us that we failed to mention that Eric (your faithful blogger) wore the Nail on Day Six. Peter handed the nail to Eric in recognition of his hard riding on Day Five. Thanks, Peter!

Hard As Nails Update, Day Nine

2006-06-25T21:55:00.000-07:00

Today's winner of the Hard As Nails competition was ... Bo. Bo has been a stalwart of the Big Fix, helping other riders while dealing with physical and emotional issues during the ride. Yesterday, he drove a sag vehicle--today, he dominated on the latter part of the course, riding away from two other strong riders to finish first in Rico. Way to go, Bo!

Big Fix Day Nine

2006-06-25T21:28:00.000-07:00

Today we left Utah and entered Colorado, a 118-mile trip from Blanding, Utah, to the tiny community of Rico, Colorado. Rico is our highest overnight stopping point (8,800 feet), and we are ensconced at the town's elementary school (student body: six children).
Today was memorable for another reason: we were joined for the first part of our ride by young Vincent Miller, from Mesa, Arizona. Vincent, age 10 (almost 11), is a Histiocytosis survivor--diagnosed about six years ago with bone lesions, he underwent therapy and is now free of the disease. It was great to ride with Vincent, and he brought home for us once again the reason for the ride--to help other children like him beat Histiocytosis.

Goodbye, Peter and Christie!

2006-06-24T22:43:00.000-07:00

The Big Fix family loses two members tomorrow: Rider Peter and sag worker Christie. Peter has helped many other Big Fix riders finish some of the tough days, and Christie has done stellar work in the sag vehicles. She may be back ...
We wish them both well. So long!

Day Eight Route

2006-06-24T22:41:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of www.motionbased.com

Day Seven Route

2006-06-24T22:38:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of www.motionbased.com

What It's Really About

2006-06-24T22:31:00.000-07:00

One of our sag workers, Kim Hanlin, marked a sad anniversary today--six months ago today, her grandson, Tucker, passed away after battling Histiocytosis for 14 months. Only 18 months old when he left this world, Tucker spent most of his life in the hospital battling the disease.
Kim graced us with a great video about Tucker and his short, valiant, and happy life.
What is the Big Fix all about? It's about kids like Tucker who need the help of researchers who are trying to find a cure for this disease. As Kim said, it's about using our legs to battle hills and help raise awareness.
You can help! Donate generously to the Big Fix. For details, go to www.fixhistio.org
Follow the easy directions to donate online. All of the Histio kids around the world thank you.

Day Eight: Ken is Hard As Nails

2006-06-24T22:30:00.000-07:00

From tonight's Hard As Nails ceremony ... Dr. Ken won the award for his pedal-stomping performance on the hills.

Day Eight Photos

2006-06-24T22:00:00.000-07:00

Another day, another 127 miles from Hanksville, Utah, to Blanding, Utah. How can we describe the scenery? How about WOW! Another gorgeous day. And the difficultly? How about another WOW. Today's course included about 7,500 feet of climbing that included a section of uphill that lasted for 37 miles. But that wasn't the worst...at the end was an uphill section that included several long pitches of 8 percent grade--and an uphill, into-the-headwind finish that even Peter Burnett said was one of the hardest finishes he has ever done.
Histio doctor/rider Ken put in a stellar performance today. On one of the last steep pitches, Greg looked behind him as he crawled up the hill, expecting to see Mojo, only to find Ken nipping on his wheel. Ken was today's Hard As Nails recipient.

Day Seven Recap

2006-06-24T21:27:00.000-07:00

Day Seven took us from Tropic, Utah, to Hanksville, Utah, over a grueling 151-mile course that included some of the most spectacular scenery anywhere in the world. We also ascended to the highest point yet on the ride--a 9,600-foot peak outside of Bouder, Utah. The climbing took its toll on the group, and we ended up strung out over some 30 miles of road after the descent from the summit. Back down from the mountain, the heat was turned up as we rode the last 50 miles through the Capitol Reef National Park. Big Fix leader Mojo and his riding partner, Greg, outran the support crew and ended up scrounging doubtful water from a closed-down camp near Caineville. Greg ended up laying on the side of the road for about ten minutes before Mojo found and revived him. Back on the course, Walt, our "Big Dog" amazed everyone by completing the entire course (more about that later).
The tough course and problems providing support to such a strung-out group of riders (physically and mentally) took its toll. Dissension broke out in the ranks, and the wheels of the Big Fix began to wobble precariously. A midnight rider meeting was held, followed by more discussion the next morning; problems were solved, and Day Eight went smoothly and without a hitch.
Based on his stellar performance, Walt was awarded the Hard As Nails prize for the day. The Big Dog certainly had his day.