Meanwhile over in Treks head;

First off this probably came off pretty harsh. What's an unreasonable goal? We have riders right here recovering from injury, one TE'er training to walk 6 miles MS walk with a walker, our first time commuters .... we all remember that first ride, first Tri, first long run and someone who encouraged us.

My first AIDS ride I lucked into a tentmate, Kathy Mc (Kath? are you lurking? I know you're on BJ) a 6 time rider.

As we headed for our bikes on Day 1 she told me "your goal today is just_ride_safely. Some of these riders have never turned a pedal outside."

Sure 'nough as we stood ready to go a rider next to me, wearing track shorts and tennis shoes, with a Trek Madone said "How do I shift this thing? Where are the brakes?"

More about this rider and his success later, I gotta get to work