Blake's Blog

Day 6 – Le Grand Finale

Blake — Sun, 4 Oct 2009 21:36:16 -0500

Sorry for the delayed report GJG fans, but I had to detail my bike immediately after the big show on Friday night and just finished the final step of flossing my cogs.

Friday October 2^nd Report

The events of the last day of were a fitting way to draw to a close the incredible experience that was Go Jim Go 2009. Once again we were blessed with weather that seemed as if it were ordered up special for us. A brisk chill to the morning air and golden sunrise after a night of scattered thunderstorms that had their say and were gone by daybreak.

I met Karen, Steve and Bill Fredrick at Bike Plus at 7:45am where we parked our vehicles and geared up to ride the quarter mile east on Poplar to today’s departure location Landers Ford at Houston Levee and Poplar. We arrived to a hot breakfast compliments of the Landers team and a flurry of activity. Several new riders joining us today would give us our largest peleton yet. New to the pack was Karen Lamport from Methodist Le Bonheur Corporate, Donna Brown a strong cyclist who happens to be a Grandmother, Mark Underwood and Jon Reesman. Rounding out the rest of the team was the rolling regulars Jim, Steve, Wayne, Curt, Bill “GC” Fredrick back for more and the best wind breaker since Members Only, yours truly.

No RV today. I guess management wanted to hedge their bets and remove the potential for any more mishaps. Not an unreasonable deduction given the nature and tight quarters involved with today’s ride.

As previously stated, the Memphis days are tough. It’s an all day long fight with a complicated route, a constantly changing schedule to keep, aggressive urban traffic, multiple traffic lights, eye rattling rough roads and pot holes lying in wait to sneak attack your front wheel and introduce your tender elbows and knees to a bloodletting. However, despite the many hazards and pitfalls we completed our ride with everyone intact. This was due to everyone’s exceptional riding skills, controlled pack riding, solid fitness plus the diligence and safe haven of our escort vehicles. For without those vehicles and the safety zone they formed around us, riding on some of the roads we were on would be unthinkable to a cyclist under any other circumstance.

Several highlights of the day included special guest riders Ben and Will Tracey, twins who are Le Bonheur patient success stories. They escorted us on their BMX bikes into their school, Lamplighter Montessori School. Thanks for the escort Ben and Will and thanks to your classmates for you contribution.

A big Blake’s Blog high five to the Cordova Middle School Cougars. You guys take the prize for the most energy and enthusiasm on Friday. I think Jim could have used a few bodyguards in his entourage at this stop. One funny personal incident I experienced at CMS, since we were without an RV today. I had to go inside for a nature break. The hallway to the facilities went passed a packed cafeteria of other students who immediately noticed my peculiar cycling get up. After all when I’m all geared up I do look like some kind of superhero! When I came back out apparently I had caused quite a stir so one of the teachers asked me if I could step into the cafeteria and wave hello. Of course I did and they went crazy! I think they thought I was Jim. So I had my I wanna be like Jim moment and let me just say it’s good to be da Jim!

Most touching moment of the day for me happened as we were stopped at our final school stop of the day. Bill Fredrick and I were on our bikes in the road waiting for Jim to finish talking to the students when an older man pulled up in a pick up truck. The truck was an old timer as well and in pretty rugged shape along with the various lawn mover carcasses in the back. As my version of the saying goes, you can never judge a bike by its paint job, but the appearances of this man and his truck would lead one to believe that he was just scraping by and that hardship was a frequent passenger. The man asked us if that was Jim Jaggers and we told him it was. He then asked “He’s riding for Le Bonheur right?”

“Yes sir” we replied. He then pulled out his wallet and gave us the only two dog eared dollars visible inside. We thanked him then slowly rolled on his way.

I wish I would have taken his picture or gotten his name, but wherever you are sir, God bless you. Your two dollars join the many other drops that form the waterfall that shapes the rock.

The group was treated to a complimentary lunch at the Sonic on Winchester near Germantown Road. I am always impressed with the great service we received from the friendly staff at Sonic. I had a grilled chicken wrap and one of their real fruit smoothies and it was excellent.

After a 20 mile slog directly into an easterly headwind we finally arrived around 3pm to a very nice reception from the staff at WREG. Many of the Channel 3 on air talents were there.

Once at the studios in a typical showbiz fashion it was hurry up and wait. We had to chill out in the lobby to kill some time before the big live finale scheduled at 6:30pm at Le Bonheur. That was no problem for me as that would be just about enough time for my hair and makeup.

Showtime was finally drawing near so after a hospitable break at Channel 3 we had to gear up, saddle up and roll out one more time. The highlight of the brief route to Le Bonheur was the ride down Riverside Drive. Thanks once again to our convoy of escort vehicles we were able to venture down this stretch of road that normally no sane biker would ever dare tread. Thanks to our city governments complete and what sometimes seems contemptuous disregard for Memphis cyclists, there are no bike lanes here and this is a gas powered zone only.

One of the most thrilling 25 meters you will ever do on a bike is rolling through the Le Bonheur tunnel to cheers of staff, friends, family and patients into a live TV show! Destination reached! Yet another testament to Jim professionalism, being able to jump off his bike and go directly on air!

The show was a lot of fun. Plenty of excitement, energy and the phones were ringing off the hook. I don’t think I ever saw any of the operators sitting idle. Jim brought the team up for introductions and expressed his appreciation for joining him in his efforts. Another surprise was the attendance of “Saint” Steve Roberts the farmer from the Wynne, AR who was such a star of the Forrest City ride on Wednesday. Would you believe Saint Steve had another one of his red envelopes that contained another $3,300! Due to all of his incredible efforts, it was a kick to see Le Bonheur’s President and CEO, Meri Armor wearing one of the caps Saint Steve brought. She even wore it on the air.

What a great way to end one exciting week. The last grand total I heard reported was $86,225. We beat last years total handily as this event continues to grow in proceeds and awareness. Total mileage at the end of the tunnel was officially tabulated at 369 miles. That equates to $233 collected per mile.

Well, that’s a wrap bike fans. I want to offer my most sincere heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers, the WREG staff, the Le Bonheur Marketing Team, Rick Kanschat, the Support Services Team at Le Bonheur, my wife Regina. Jim Jaggers and all the people who donated.

I’d like to also dedicate my ride to Mrs. Louise Macdonald she is 26 year associate of Le Bonheur and someone I work closely with. She is very ill and hospitalized as submit this report. Get well soon Mrs. Louise, we all miss you and the Mailroom is in shambles without you!

In closing, I would like to reiterate what I said on the air during the show. I am so blessed with happy, healthy baby girls, God forbid, but as we all know things can change in an instant. It is peace of mind for me knowing that Le Bonheur is there. The question we must ask is what we would do without Le Bonheur. Please help when you can however you can to make sure no parent has to ever answer that question.

Thanks to everyone for reading. I hope you have enjoyed my daily reports. Until next year, keep the rubberside down and the sunny side up.

Blake

Day 5 - 1900 Pounds

Blake — Thu, 1 Oct 2009 21:12:11 -0500

Another spectacular day for the Go Jim Go Team. Jim must really have some pull with the weather maker because we enjoyed another day of golden sunshine, cloud streaked blue skies, comfortable temps and very moderate winds. Nothing close to the wind speeds that had been predicted.

Today we were in charming Brownsville, TN. A historical community in Haywood county in the middle of rich Tennessee farmland. We rolled out from the town square at 8:30. Jim's gang of 8 today consisted of Steve, Curt, the returning Wayne Wayne and his daughter Madison, Fred Sesti from Jackson TN, Keith Billingsly representing title sponsor Kroger, Dr. Joel Lutterman back for more and your humble biking blogger.

First stop came quick as Jim answered the challenge from The Two Way Gin Company in Brownsville and owner Robert Campbell. Their pledge was to weigh Jim and his bike on their giant truck scales and contribute $2 for every pound. Well, we thought we would try to pull a fast one and all nine of us plus bikes got on the scales. Our total combined weight was 1900 lbs.! That's a lot of carbon fiber and one too many trips down the buffet line. After the real weigh in Jim collected a check for $500. I'll let you do the math, but I'm pretty sure they rounded up just to get a good even number ;)

Time to hit the road for real. I have been looking forward to this ride since last year. I love this area and this route. The roads are good and the countryside is gorgeous. Fertile farmland that at times is as far as the eye can see. The cotton was beginning to turn, the beans were looking good and the corn almost ready for harvest. On we rolled through this landscape where almost every turn in the road presented a view worthy of an artists canvas.

No schools stops for the morning leg. Two and half hours of cycling nirvana to the other thing that I was looking forward to in Ripley, TN...

For this...

I don't care how much further I had to ride to get home, I was not going to miss out on this plate of pure pleasure. Oh and it was so worth it! Besides the chef made them up special for us so how could I say no. Next time you are in Ripley, TN please stop by Emily's Restaurant and Bakery and ask for the fried pies. Thanks to the whole staff who were great taking care of us hungry bikers.

Too bad we didn't save our trip to the the scales for a weigh in after Emily's. No doubt we could have made it an easy ton.

Next stop was the Lauderdale Middle School Home of the Tigers. I will never forget as long as I live the energy, enthusiasm and NOISE they made last year and today they made a repeat performance. You have to experience to believe what it sounds like in this gym when Jim gets them going. And to top it off the Tigers raised $4000! Great job LMS!

Ripley Primary School was next where the little guys and gals got to make some noise. Then back on the road headed back to the Brownsville Square.

Today was a smooth, drama free day. Everyone had a great time and finished strong. We rode very well together and most times had the double paceline formed up like a group of seasoned pros. Another 60 miles today with a grand total of 288.

Why did the bike rider fall over? Because he was two tired! Get it? Two tired? No doubt I am tired. As fantastic as the riding has been this week, the back to back to back riding and the quick turnarounds are wearing us out. A big acknowledgment to Jim. In addition to the riding, he continues his rigorous schedule of multiple radio broadcasts and live TV shoots all the while never missing a chance to give a handshake and a smile to anyone who wants to meet him or give a donation. The great attitude never changes. Jim obviously bottles up the enthusiasm the students show him like the Tigers a LMS and passes it along to everyone he encounters no matter how much the 60 miles hurt. He sets a great example for all of us.

One more day. We return to our home turf and head to our final destination of Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center. Rain is expected to be lurking around tonight. Let's hope our dry streak continues one more day. Thanks for reading.

Day 4 -The Amazing Benevolence of Saint Steve

Blake — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:23:23 -0500

We met a saint today. That’s right, Arkansas has its very own real life saint living amongst the hospitable, friendly folks of St. Francis and Cross County. A man who farms the earth and makes a living with his hands. A hard working soul who’s head is probably never on the pillow past 5am. A true all American to the core and along with millions like him make up the roots and backbone of this country. Our team was blessed to encounter such a man and the story goes like this

Last year the Go Jim Go troupe rolled through the fall colored farmlands between Forrest City and Wynne, Arkansas as we made our way across Crowley’s Ridge. At about 25 miles in we came upon a lone man standing on the side of Hwy 64. Held out in his hand, two twenty dollar bills, Jim took the money as we rolled by, we yelled our thanks and kept going, later being interviewed in an article in a local paper, Jim mentioned the roadside encounter and expressed his thanks and appreciation. It was something about Jim’s genuine sincerity, the magnitude of what Jim and other riders were doing and what the money was going to support that inspired this man with a commitment to do even better the following year and did he ever.

Today’s base camp was The Forrest City Convention Center. As we were making our morning ride preparations a man arrived who was looking for Jim. Considering the celebrity treatment Jim normally receives, nothing unusual about that, but then there was that red envelope he was carrying. We pointed him to the RV where Jim was finishing up is morning radio broadcasts. A few minutes later an ecstatic Jim announced to us that this gentleman representing the St. Francis County Farmers Association had delivered to our cause a cash donation he had personally collected from his friends and fellow framers totaling over $6000! The person responsible for the biggest single contribution that I am aware of and the man with the two twenties on the side of the road last year is a Mr. Steve Roberts or St. Steve from this point forward. Needless to say we were all humbled and amazed. However, St. Steve proclaimed that he wasn’t finished yet and that he would see us after lunch.

What a way to start the day and what a day it was. You know, it’s getting redundant to keep gushing on and on about how fantastic the weather has been for our rides this week, but facts is facts. Today was simply perfect. If someone asked me to describe the ideal day for going on a bike trip, I would say, that’s easy, September 30th, 2009 in Forrest City AR.

Today’s group consisted of the sore rumped regulars Jim, Steve, Curt and myself, sans Wayne Wayne who had to take a day off to attend to bread and butter matters at the office. However, we welcomed the return of a GJG 08 alumnus, Bill “GC” Fredrick. In bike racing terminology GC stands for General Classification which means the order of the riders based on their accumulated time in a stage race. Bill had just returned from the sun drenched beaches of San Destin and was sporting a tan that would make George Hamilton swap the bulbs in his tanning bed so in Bill’s case “GC” stands Golden Calves.

Also riding with us was the Mick Seys from the Monday Oxford ride and his wife Patty.

Great roads, a great route, make you cry perfect weather, gorgeous views, friendly drivers and a mobile toilet that follows you everywhere makes for what I would call a bike riders dream come true. Even Steve at one point stated “Could someone please pinch my butt, because I really think I’m dreaming here.” No one complied.

Jim really does have a magnetic persona that draws you in. If you look closely you can see that all that charisma sucked in 18 wheeler retread right into his cog set.

The morning leg went for 39 miles and ended at the intersection of Hwy 64 and Hwy 1 with our lunch destination being the shinning emerald palace of the one, the only, best lunch buffet of Wynne, AR, Kelly’s Restaurant.

Remember the great paradox I discussed yesterday about choosing lunch wisely? Well, it takes all the will power you can muster not to go screaming down this buffet line with two plates and a wheel barrow. And yes, that is fresh cobbler with a soft serve ice cream machine at the end. Be still my heart.

Great food and great service. The staff was also very accommodating as Jim did his live shot from inside the restaurant which involved some musical chairs. As coincidence would have it, Le Bonheur’s world renowned pediatric heart surgeon, Dr. Christopher Knott-Craig was visiting Kelly’s to give a presentation to the Rotary Club meeting which garnered us over six hundred dollars in additional contributions from the impromptu collection taken from the Rotarys. Thanks to everyone at Kelly’s please put it on your itinerary when in Wynne.

After lunch we mounted up and headed into town for a stop at Ross Ford. Very nice folks with a really nice white mustang that would look good on me. It was there where Saint Steve met us again. Folks, in a mere 3 and a half hours, single handedly he had increased the contribution to $8000! I understand a job offer is in the works from our fundraising department. St. Steve explained that the money was farm money and that many were bringing in their harvests on roads that would not be too accommodating to a bicycle. So he did the 4X4 leg work for us. I don't know, he's got the beard and other attributes as well as bringing the goods in a red bag, he's kinda got that Santa thing going on. Though the rides were spectacular in Oxford and Desoto County the needle did not budge much on the contributions collected. So Saint Steve your efforts gave us a much needed shot of inspiration. Quite simply put, your work means someone’s child goes home healthy and healed. Well done sir. Thank you.

A very pleasant, uneventful 23 miles back to Forrest City which gave us a total of 62 epic miles for the memory book and a grand total of 246. Everyone rode strong and finished together and not one single RV mishap to report.

Today was a lesson in the appreciation of true generosity and kindness when it surprises you and touches your heart usually when you least expect it and from the most unlikely places. Saint Steve, you and your community were there for Le Bonheur. Let’s hope that you never need us, but if so, thanks to your generosity we will be there for you.

Gusty winds predicted for tomorrow as we hit the roads of Brownsville, TN. Thanks for reading.

Day 3 - Desoto County - Green Tomatoes Make You Fried

Blake — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:39:54 -0500

Hello again to all you screaming GJG fans out there. Here’s another road report for your insatiable reading enjoyment. Today the Jim Jaggers traveling road show was much closer to home as our route today covered the booming communities of North Mississippi. Considering the amount of friendly honks we got today, Desoto County loves Jim Jaggers and his motley crew of chamois jockeys. Well, on second thought, they probably just love Jim. We even met Jim's number one fan today!

For anyone who poked a nose outside today you know that it was another stellar day for the team to be out covering miles on a bike for a good cause. Jim used his weather remote to dial up a heavenly Mid South fall day. It was the kind of day that makes all those summer broils and weeks of drenching seem like distant memories.

A slight nip to the morning air brought out some of the off season bike wear from the far corners of the gear bag. Arm warmers and undershirts were well appreciated in the early breezes. The peleton rolled out of the Kroger parking lot this morning at 8:30 sharp. However, today we had a special treat. The boys in blue, Hernando’s finest were out in full support of Jim and crew. We had blue light escort out of town with the bicycle officers taking up the lead. Thanks for the hospitality HPD! We appreciate it!

Today’s roll call for Jim’s team in tight pants consisted of regulars Captain Steve, Wayne-Wayne, Curt the Cilmber, myself and our local guides and territory experts today were Beau Mcanich, Kevin McCarter and Keith Billingsly. Special guest rider taking a rare day off was Le Bonheur Cardiologist and bike freak Dr. Joel Lutterman.

Our pack of 9 riders and three support vehicles began our day long meandering through the countryside. Great roads and lots of small rollers would be the order for the day. Wayne’s mission to seek out every hill in the southeastern United States continued unabated.

First and only school stop was Horn Lake Elementary School, Home of the Eagles and they were screaming this morning! Thank you students, teachers and staff for such a great reception. Most importantly thanks for your ongoing support for the kids of Le Bonheur.

After about a thousand high fives from the kids we continued our journey. Just to show we are not a bunch of self centered, pampered prima donnas who insist on only red M&Ms in our RV, we encountered an elderly lady trying to load a chest of drawers into a vehicle all by herself, we all channeled our inner Boy Scout by stopping and providing curbside furniture moving assistance. Nice work guys. Everybody please remember this story during sweeps week, right Jim?

We enjoyed the rest of the God graced morning rolling through the tranquil farmlands, our high performance fabrics cutting through the sweet, cool air. We were transported to an almost meditative state as we focused intently on the hum of our tires singing on pristine asphalt and the metal buzz of well lubed cogs and chains propelling us forward like birds in flight. And thanks to Beau’s handlebar DJ rig and a speaker that fit in his waterbottle holder, this transcendent experience was further intensified by the music of Run DMC thumping us along over shadows of trees fallen cross the road.

A quick stop for sponsor acknowledgment at Country Ford in South Haven, then on down the road to a very warm reception from the very friendly staff at Homer Skelton Ford.

At this point, I’m sure you are thinking what I was thinking at the time, when’s lunch? Luckily following our stop for a live shot at Mr. Skelton’s we were a mere two miles from the lunch stop I have been looking forward to since last year, the one and only, Hazel’s Family Restaurant in Olive Branch. If you ever find yourself on a bicycle with a hundred plus miles in your legs anywhere near Hazel’s, heck, whenever you find yourself in Olive Branch period make a bee line for this place brother.

Great food and outstanding service thanks to Mrs. Kathy Milan. Notice the halo...

When you participate in Go Jim Go, there is always a serious dilemma when it comes to lunch. You are already ravenous from the morning’s efforts and the many options are so enticing. For example, today I was severely tempted by the fried green tomatoes, fried cheese and country fried steak, but you must remember that you have many more miles to contend with after lunch. So the decision is, do you go with the decadent lunch or go for the performance minded lunch? Knowing that if you indulge your stomach will feel like a sandbag for the rest of the ride. It is one of the greatest of GJG struggles. Especially at Hazel's.

Well, today some chose wisely and some unwisely. The first ten miles after lunch were very quiet. Gone was the chatter and jesting, replaced by an occasional moan, groan and a belch. There was an overall sense of... How many more miles do we have? Even Run DMC wanted to take a nap.

Other than another spectacular day to be on a bike ride, overall the ride was all routine and clockwork. I am very pleased that I have no RV incidents to report. We had zero mechanicals and zero crashes. We did have one potential brush with death when an impatient driver started to pass the group on a double yellow line with oncoming traffic. The vehicle was unable to make it past the pace car and was forced to quickly merge into the small gap between the pace car and the riders as the oncoming vehicle came to an almost complete stop. Whatever lunch induced coma left at that point was gone when that happened. Funny thing was it kinda looked like the lady we loaded the furniture for earlier that morning. Naa, can’t be…

To any drivers we may encounter, we apologize for any delay or inconvenience. Please remember we are riding for a worthy cause and please be safe.

Outstanding ride today team. We will see all you friendly folks in Forrest City, AR tomorrow!

Day 2 - Sunny Skies and Hills to Despise

Blake — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:34:25 -0500

Singer Bob Geldof used to lament in an old 80s song about how much he didn’t like Mondays and usually that’s the case for most of us, but today was truly an exception. So today instead of my usual Monday morning routine involving a mouse and keyboard, I rolled into Oxford MS for day two of GJG09. Considering the weather we have been having what a special treat it was to see the blue skies and golden sunshine that greeted us down in Rebel country. Man, what a picture perfect day to be a bike rider.

We hit the road from the Kroger parking lot at 8:30 sharp and headed to our first and only school stop for the day - Della Davidson Elementary School. We had a special guest rider for the first three miles, Cindy Howle who is one of the teachers responsible for organizing the Go Jim Go Drive at the school and what a reception she and Jim received when they rolled in. Thanks Cindy and to all the students at Della Davidson. Great job!

Back on the road we were in for lots of miles on rural back roads of Lafayette County. Riding with us today were the usual salty dogs of Wayne, Steve, Kurt, myself and oh yeah, Jim Jaggers. New to the group was Mick Seys and Joe Jeruzal of Kroger and Mike Mossing who is a molecular biologist at the University of Mississippi. Big brains for sure.

Before we even got a mile from the school we suffered a major mechanical. Joe’s front derailleur shifter decided to put in for early retirement. Joe was unfortunately forced to ride in the support vehicle until our next stop.

The winds were blowing pretty steady and stiff from the North, so of course, the first leg of the trip had us heading due North. We rolled at a good pace of about 16-20mph. We got our first taste of what we would be facing for the rest of the day which was consistent up and down hills or rollers, as we bike geeks refer to them.

Our first break came in Abbeville, MS. We stopped in the parking lot of the Abbeville Bank and I have to send salutation and appreciation to Pat Reaves and the staff of the Abbeville Bank. They came outside curious to see the caravan of cars, people and bikes and proceeded to purchase over $300 in GJG T-shirts and were quite the Abbeville goodwill ambassadors.

At the stop Karen Malagorski of Bike’s Plus was able to cobble a repair on Joe’s bike. She disabled the front derailleur and locked his front shifting in the small chainring. Though he would be short a lot of gears he was back on the bike.

The rest of the morning was just paradise on a bike. What a treat. A beautiful fall morning, smooth open roads, great group of riders and unbelievable sponsor and staff support. I was definitely counting my blessings mile after mile.

We followed a counter clockwise route first North then West and then back toward Oxford coming back into town from the Northeast. We rolled straight down Jackson Avenue out to the Ford dealership on Hwy 6 for a quick handshake and howdy. Then back into town through the beautiful campus of Ole Miss. For some insane reason Wayne took us down Fraternity Row when in my opinion, Sorority Row has much better asphalt. We then headed to our lunch rendezvous with the WREG satellite truck for the live shot at 12 noon. That was followed by massive carb consumption at the world famous Proud Larry’s on the Oxford Square.

Though I pleaded and begged I was voted down for naps in the RV after lunch. So it was back on the bike for a southerly route back out of town for more picture-postcard country side and more of those rollers.

Why is Wayne on the top of our RV? A) Taking advantage of the upper level hot tub and sundeck. B) Hiding from Jim for picking a route with so many hills. C) Looking for more hills to make us climb D) None of the above.

The answer is D. Wayne is assisting the driver of the RV who graduated in the lower third of his class at Bubba T’s RV Driving School and Bait Shop, to avoid getting further tangled in this power line that was crossing the church parking lot where we stopped for a break.

Near disaster was averted and Wayne did not get a new 220 volt inspired hairstyle.

The afternoon leg took us in a clockwise route south through Taylor, MS, west and north back to Taylor where we got this fabulous shot at The Old Taylor Grocery and Catfish Restaurant. Add it to your Bucket List to visit this place and partake its specialty.

About 8 miles from Oxford at this point, but according to Wayne we were only 3 miles from the finish for the next 8 miles. We rolled back into the Kroger parking lot at 3:47pm with 70.25 miles logged for the day and a 126 mile grand total. We were just in time for a 4pm live shot, but I think we cut that a little close in Scott Sutherland‘s opinion.

Top notch day all around. I highly recommend to anyone reading this to one day play hooky from work on a day like today and go ride your bike.

We will see all of you GJG fans in Hernando and Olive Branch tomorrow! Thanks for reading!

And They’re Off!

Blake — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:51:33 -0500

GJG09 is underway and what a day! It was a long haul in the saddle. The riders are sore and spent, but we are absolutely thrilled because in case you haven’t heard, more money was collected today than was contributed the entire week of the 1^st Go Jim Go event in 2006. I don’t know the precise total at this time because donations are still coming in, but the last number that was reported to me was over $26,000! Thank you Memphis!

We had a solid crew of old hardcore riders assembled at Peabody Place this morning. Today’s riders consisted of “The Captain” Steve Kuhar, “The Human GPS”, Wayne Lichilter (Who needs a Tom Tom when you have a Wayne, Wayne?) “The Comeback Kid” Curt Ogle, “The Beefcake” yours truly and “Big Red” the pedaling prognosticator of precip, Mr. Jim Jaggers.

Gloomy skies threatened sloppy conditions, but we were blessed with only a slight spritzing from time to time. By playing the odds and being fully prepared with all of our rain gear we brought ourselves a much dryer ride than expected.

The Memphis days are tough. Lots of twists and turns and potholes. Considering the reception Jim got from the crowds today, a run at the mayor’s office would not be an entirely ludicrous consideration. If Jim did become mayor then I’m sure he would immediately appoint a “Pothole Czar” to make our streets more agreeable to bike tires. Back on point, we have a tight schedule to keep as we have many stops at all the participating schools. So there is a lot of stop and go with some hurry up and wait thrown in as superstar WREG videographer, Scott Sutherland contends with the live TV requirements. Then there is the city traffic. Talk about defensive riding. However, cheers to you Memphis drivers, today we had nothing but honks of cheerful salutations rather than expletives of aggravation. All said and done we had approximately 7 hours of on and off riding totaling just over 50 miles for the day.

Though the long day will start to wear you down, you can always look forward to the burst of uplifting energy when you roll into the drive of one of the participating schools. The crowds go wild. Jim’s star power with the kids rivals that of a Backstreet Boy. Especially you Shelby Oaks Eagles! We stopped at 10 schools today across the city and you all made us feel like rock stars. Thank you so much to all the students, teachers and administrators who took the time out of their day to welcome us. Thank you for the overwhelming enthusiasm and energy. It truly inspires us. Most importantly, thank you for all of the money your schools raised to support Le Bonheur. Kids helping kids is a cool thing.

Other highlights of the day included the first class RV we have been provided by American RV in Olive Branch, MS.

We were treated to a stunningly beautiful acappella version of the Queen classic, Bicycle Race by the St. Agnes Girls Choir, very appropriate.

Gotta mention the VIP treatment we got at the Sonic on Sycamore View and Summer where hungry bikers were given an open tab and received outstanding service.

As we were fighting our way down Germantown Parkway we got an unexpected assist from a motorcycle officer with Elite Escort Service who, with his decked out police Harley, held traffic for us as we made our way to our next stop. Felt like Presidential treatment.

Also, Katherine Whitfield with the Le Bonheur Marketing Department, who, with her 3G Dell web book, was feeding constant tweets to Twitter about our progress from the front seat of the pace car.

Speaking of the pace car, Thanks to Dobbs Ford, we were being escorted by a Ford Fusion Hybrid. That is one special vehicle. I never heard the gas motor kick on once and as a cyclist riding behind it, no exhaust fumes. Nice!

Well, since I mentioned the Fusion and the RV, I gotta mention the only mishap of the day. As we were leaving the parking lot on our way to the last stop of the day, the two vehicles got tangled and both received some body damage. So folks, if you are in the market for a new RV or vehicle, please visit Dobbs Ford and American RV and tell them we are really sorry.

Seriously, you have to acknowledge the businesses who are still willing to help out a great cause even in these tough economic times. This event is impossible without them so please show your support if you can and tell’em Jim sent ya!

Oxford on Monday! Back to my old collegiate stomping grounds! Come on Rebels - don’t let me down!

Showtime!

Blake — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:45:41 -0500

Well, the tires are pumped, the chain is lubed and the bottles are topped off, we’ll saddle up and start tuning the cranks for the first mile of 333 at Peabody Place tomorrow morning at approximately 9:15am. Here we go again Jim!

Stop by if you can to be apart of the live audience or tune in to Channel 3 Live at 9 for the send off ceremonies. Looks like we may get a bit soggy tomorrow.

Firday's ride takes us on a Memphis tour stopping at multiple schools where the students have been busy collecting contributions for our cause. Thanks to all the kids helping kids. We will see you tomorrow. Cheer loud!

Remember, the children of Le Bonheur need everyone's support. Of course, I’m a little biased because I work there, but truthfully, this community is so very fortunate to have such a world class children’s medical center at its service. So many people over it’s 50 plus year history have been touched by the care of Le Bonheur. Whatever you can give to help us grow into our new facility and continue to treat the sick and injured children of the Mid South is so deeply appreciated.

If you see us out on the road be sure to honk and wave! Oh, don't forget we also take roadside donations! See you out there. Let's roll!

Rider Preparations

Blake — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:35:25 -0500

One week and counting! Well the rain is completely exhausting itself this week! My bets are that this weather pattern will be long gone by ride week. Of course, Jim is your better source on that.

For anyone who has signed up to ride or is considering participating, here are a few things to expect and prepare for during the week of scheduled rides. Some items may seem a bit obvious, but just a reminder so that everyone has a safe, enjoyable experience.

The only thing that was a surprise to me as a first time rider last year was the total amount of time spent in the saddle. The routes are carefully planned to visit as many participating schools as possible to give Jim the opportunity to see the students and show his appreciation for their efforts. That means there is a lot of stop and go, especially on the Memphis days. Depending on the route, some days we were in the saddle 6 -7 hours. I don’t know about you, but that is much longer than my typical training ride. It’s not the speed or distance, but the volume of saddle time that wears on you. You will definitely feel as if you have had a workout at the end of the day. I don’t bring this up to intimidate anyone, but to simply inform you so you can make preparations.

Pamper your Toosh! Make sure you have a good pair of cycling shorts or bib shorts with a quality chamois. This may be considered TMI (Too Much Information) but…, I also recommend investing in some chamois cream. Apply liberally. Watch out for the Euroblend with Menthol! Youch! These products are available at all Bikes Plus locations. Okay enough about ‘booty balm”. I think that’s probably all the detail you need right?

Sunscreen! Assuming Jim orders up some decent weather it will be a long day in the sun. Back of the neck, ears and arms get the most exposure. Reapply at the lunch break. You know your mama would be happy if you were fully lathered up in some SPF 9000! Rider to Rider Tip: Never put sunscreen on the forehead or near the eyes. Due to your postion on the bike it will cause the sunscreen to leak into the eyes via sweat causing stinging and blurred vision. These areas will be well protected by your helmet and shades anyway or you can roll with an old skool rodie cap.

Hydrate! There will be plenty of fluids available. Please take advantage and drink plenty. Don’t worry about nature calls we will have the RV for your convenience. Remember the experts say if you wait until you are thirsty you are already dehydrated.

Eat! The fastest way to bonk is to starve yourself when you are participating in a physical endurance event. Hungry or not eat a little something every half hour and you will feel and perform much better for much longer.

Check your Ride! Make sure the ride is tuned up and working smooth. Drop it by any Bikes Plus location NOW, not the day before the ride! Bikes Plus will have a rolling mechanic for the duration of the ride, but just for the basics. If you blow a derailleur, your day will be done.

Again please don’t be intimidated, though the ride may be a physical test for some, we will be prepared to assist you. The great camaraderie and experience is worth the effort. I am really looking forward to this event and meeting all the riders. Please drop me a line if you have any questions, robertsb@lebonheur.org.

Calling all Riders!

Blake — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:56:15 -0500

Just had a preparation meeting today for GJG 09. We met with Jim, the WREG team and Le Bonheur Marketing to discuss details. Man, there are a lot of details, but everything is coming together for 9/25 kick off.

Jim has been training and he will be ready to hit the road for Le Bonheur for 333 long miles. We are hoping for really cold, nasty, wet weather to elicit as much in contributions as we can out of pure sympathy for the riders suffering drastic conditions! Well that’s the theory anyway.

Hey, do you ride? Interested in being a part of the team this year? Please come and join us! Details are on this site about how to get in on the action. The pledge to ride with Jim provides you an opportunity to ride some of the most scenic roads of the Mid-South with a fun group of folks in a fully supported caravan including drinks, snacks, lunch, mechanical support and a Go Jim Go special edition jersey. The support crew makes it as safe as possible for the riders with a lead vehicle and two follow cars one of which is an RV with all amenities needed. You will also have the amazing experience of being treated like a rock star when you roll up to one of the participating schools where hundreds of students scream for Jim like he was a Jonas Brother. Not to mention your pledge goes to support the greatest non-profit children’s hospital in the region. Heck, the only thing missing from this package is a massage therapist waiting for you at the end of the ride! Maybe next year - right, Jim? Check out more information on the ride.

Please consider riding with the GJG team. Spaces are limited so sign up quick. Drop me a line if you have any questions, robertsb@lebonheur.org.

Kicking the Tires

Blake — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:21:28 -0500

What's up GJG fans! This is my first entry into my spanky new blog that Amanda Mauck in the Le Bonheur Marketing department has set up for me. Thanks Amanda! Here goes my test ride into the blogosphere! For my first post, I want to acknowledge a true champion of Le Bonheur, Mr. Jim Jaggers. It was Jim who came up with this idea and he and the WREG team have stayed committed to its growth going on 4 years now! Jim has spent countless hours and mileage on a bike in the best and worst of conditions, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars all for the kids of Le Bonheur. On behalf of everyone here at Le Bonheur, thank you Jim and the WREG staff for all that you do to support our mission. Also, to the many sponsors of this event, your generosity makes it all possible and your gift will help touch the life of a child. Now Jim, for this year, if you can order up some of the same weather from last year's ride, well then you really will be my favorite meteorologist.

The prep teams at WREG and Le Bonheur are hard at work on the ride logistics. These events don't go as smoothly as they do without a ton of effort from a lot of folks. Wayne Lichilter, is our senior (sorry Wayne!) alumni member if Team GJG and is one heck of a hard core rider! I think Wayne was on the original 7-Eleven Cycling Team that was the first American team to be successful in professional European bike racing back in the early 80’s. Well, at least he has one of the original bikes. I’ll have to get him to share that story on a later post. He also happens to be a human GPS and knows just about every road there is to know in this part of the country. Wayne is finalizing our routes and he and I will hopefully get together to preride some of the legs so we can scope the terrain, hazards and dogs with attitudes.

Meet Blake

Amanda Mauck — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:44:46 -0500

Hi! I am Blake Robertson, I'm a 5 year associate at Le Bonheur Children's and an avid cycling enthusiast. I have been riding and racing bikes for over 10 years. I am a founding member of the Memphis Velo / Smith & Nephew Racing Team and a USAC licensed Category 3 road racer. With this blog, I hope to provide you with a fun, unique insight to the daily rides from the rider's perspective as we support Jim on his two wheeled quest around the region to raise money for Le Bonheur.

I am married to Regina, a former Le Bonheur associate, who is now a full-time mom and pedals faster than I ever do to keep up with our two-year-old twin daughters, Emelyn and Adelaide.

To be a part of the team supporting the efforts of Le Bonheur and the exceptional care it provides to kids of the Mid South is the most rewarding part of my work and any contribution to our cause makes you a part of that team. To help Jim help Le Bonheur is an honor. Thanks to everyone for your support. Go Jim Go!