I've always been interested in cycling, whether it be downhill, XC, touring, or road-racing. My parents bought me my first 10-speed--a fluorescent-orange, Atala Giro Jr. from Stuyvesant Bicyles in NYC--when I was 10. A seminal six weeks in my life was an AYH tour from Portland, OR to San Francisco in 1979, which instilled in me a love for touring and Northern California.

I returned to New York and joined the Century Road Club, memorizing every ripple and crack in Central Park's roadway. Over the next two years I participated in the Pepsi Challenge, a 24-hour race in Central Park. The last time I rode in it John Howard attempted to set a world record for distance, which he did, although I believe he was disqualified later. I did ride for 21 hours and logged over 300 miles, and loved every minute of it.

I gave up road racing in 1985, and bought my first mountain bike in 1990. I haven't owned a road bike in the last decade.

I found out about the Furnace Creek 508 in 2002. I decided it was something I had to do, and started making plans to train and enter in 2004. This page is intended to be a training journal and hopefully will prove useful and informative to anyone interested in training for ultramarathons, endurance cycling, or other similar events.

OK a lot has been happening in the last month. Of course the 508 was run Oct. 11-13, and I wish I could have attended (see below). Eight course records were set. I stand in awe of all the entrants and laud the winners...to DNF the 508 is no dishonor.

I've started my training program with some easy rides to work and back (25 miles) on my vintage '90 Nashbar 3000...the pedal effort alone feels like I'm completing a century every day! I'm hoping to add 1-2 50-mile rides a weekend, and maybe a century or two in Dec.

The weekend of Nov. 1 was the final DH weekend at Plattekill. I did my best to destroy my '97 Jamis Dakar and retire it with dignity this season, before upgrading to a true DH ride, but the beast refused to die. I'm amused that the Shimano XTR pads last a maximum of 1.5 days of riding before disintegrating from heat. Meanwhile I switched to Ritchie blues and they seemed more durable, but V-Brakes and downhill were never designed to coexist. Rather than retrofit the Jamis with discs, it would seem better to put the money into the appropriate iron (or aluminum, as the case may be).

I went to InterBike in Las Vegas during the weekend of the 508, but I was able to catch glimpses of it through the webcast and emails. I was hoping to find the ideal training wheels for my 508 odyssey, but having been out of road biking for so long I didn't realize how much specialization has occurred. For now I'm going with either a Fuji Team or Team Super Lite. I have about 15 pounds to lose but hopefully I won't collapse the Super Lite's frame when my 190+ lbs clamber over the toptube. I hope to have the 2004 model in my hot little hands before the end of Nov., and the serious training can begin (anyone have 23mm snow tires?).

At InterBike I saw an inaugural issue of "ROAD--The Journal of Road Cycling and Culture", a bi-monthly glossy magazine published by Dave House at H3 Publications in Valencia, CA. There was an amusing editorial by Jonathan Maus about how he gave up cross-country moutain biking for the road when the trails got rained out in Santa Barbara one winter, and never turned back. I don't think that will happen to me, but who knows...

The 2003 508 is about to start in 6 days...props to all the competitors...I'll be with you in spirit!

OK, it's been a long time since my last post...sorry! Back at the end of July I had pretty bad fall downhilling at Killington, straining ligaments and tearing some muscles in my right shoulder. I haven't ridden since, except for short distances in New York, which has been rather depressing. The good news is through careful training I've gotten the shoulder back to 90%, so I'm ready to reclaim former glory.

BIG NEWS: I'm going to InterBike in Las Vegas in a week, hoping to score new wheels! While I'm there I hope to do a few training rides in the desert. With luck I'll find my dream ride and return to NY to start serious winter training.

The 2002 war stories are posted on the Official 508 website...many gems of info there.

Desi reminded me that in the wee hours of the Pepsi Challenge, we took the 64th street cutoff on some laps, cutting about a mile and half off each lap. Honest, I forgot about that! So my mileage total is probably less than I remember. Unfortunately there's no shortcuts on the 508!

I've given myself 16 months to prepare for the 508. My training will begin in earnest in Sept. of this year, allowing for 12 months of progressive road training up to the event. In addition to training, I will attempt to set up a team of four riders and two support crew.