Tulsa Tough June 10-12, 2011

LIKE THAT THING THEY DO IN FRANCE

BUT IN TULSA

I stole that from a t-shirt but it tells the story. If you have never been to Tulsa Tough as a cyclist or a fan you really should plan on it next year! I can't tell you how much fun this weekend was...you just have to experience it to understand!

My new friend Noah, dad, mom and me!

Biju & me

Friday was AMAZING. My new friend, Noah Roberts had invited me and my family to the VIP Reception at Lee's Bicycles to watch the races. We were right by the Start/Finish line, had great food and I met some even greater people. Noah, brought the canvas he had painted for my LIVESTRONG auction. It is awesome I promise you! Then, he introduced me to Biju Thomas the chef for Team Radioshack and MapMyFitness. He has got a cookbook coming out in October and he told my mom about some recipes for cyclists. I was able to watch several categories race but really liked watching the Pros race at night under the lights. While the Cat 1-2 racers were racing a storm blew in with heavy rain and lightning. It was very slick and caused some big crashes. CRAZY! There was a bit of delay before the Pros started so the rain could clear out. GOOD NEWS: Great Race BAD NEWS: Roads were still wet and slick!

Saturday was my first day to race at Tulsa Tough. I need to be honest, I was a little nervous thinking about the day. I got up early and mom made me Biju's special oatmeal...it was YUMMY! I didn't race until later in the day so, I also got to try his pasta recipe! WOW...mom is definitely buying his cookbook!

Team Rad warming up

The course today was shaped like an "L" so, I thought that was a good sign. As soon as I got on the course I wasn't nervous anymore. I am never happier than when I'm on my bike except when I'm on it racing, working with my teammates and passing people! I think the one thing I was nervous about was the fact that the Chipotle Jr. Development Team was racing in the Jrs. They have been racing in Belgium and are already Cat 1-2 racers. I knew I just needed to go do my race! I finished the race and got 4th in my age group. I wished I had done better but the Thursday before my doctor said I still had bronchitis and now an ear infection so, I wasn't a 100% coming into this weekend. I raced clean and finished...good day...I guess.

I was stoked because I also got a OKC Velo jersey and gloves from Peter Erdoes. He made me an honorary member of their club because I let him use my bike in the State Crit Championship and he got 2nd. Can you believe his seat just fell off?

Getting my focus on for CRY BABY HILL

Sunday was Cry Baby Hill...I guess you can imagine why..a .really big hill that separates many! When I was going up there on my first lap I got tangled with a teammate and we had a  mini crash. I didn't have any road rash so thought I was good. Although, I will have to say my front wheel felt crazy but I didn't know about a free lap and I just kept riding. After the race I found out my wheel was bent no wonder the hill was so hard. CB Hill was hard & long but it was so cool. There were large crowds and even a kid was playing a saxophone up on the hill. It felt like a mini TdF to me! I took 3rd in my age group this day but I will never skip the neutral service and miss my free lap again!

Volt (Tulsa Shock) & Luke

It was also fun after the race getting to enjoy the atmosphere of the party! I got to visit with my team, my coach, hang out with some of the Tulsa Shock cheerleaders and Volt! Well, I sure hope I see more of you at Tulsa Tough in 2012! I will be training till then!

CIAO YA'LL

I am SHOCKed...Tulsa Shock WNBA!

Alright...go buy your tickets for the 2nd annual Tulsa Shock LIVESTRONG game on June 18, 2011. This will help support another local NBA team and help support LIVESTRONG too!

 I just got word that I will be spinning courtside on my bike trainer! If you wish to support my LIVESTRONG fundraising you can pledge so much per mile as I ride courtside. I am going to be there with some other cycling teams but I'm going to be featured!! Please support the Shock, support LIVESTRONG and help support me! You can get your tickets by clicking on the link below! There are tickets as low as $10 and you can come see MARION JONES (Summer Olympian) and many other amazing players for an awesome night of fun and help the 28 million with CANCER! You can also make a flat donation through my LIVESTRONG fundraising website listed below! More details to come as they become available!

http://www.wnba.com/shock/

http://austin2011.livestrong.org/lukeisthebikeman

Blue Canyon State Championship Time Trial-June 5, 2011

My mom (in all black) crossing the FINISH LINE

This has been a great weekend! First, my mom ran in her first 5K. I was really proud of her. She is a cyclist and has not run since she had her knee surgery in 2008. Hey, she wasn't the fastest but she finished strong and absolutely wasn't last. She said that was a win! I don't know about that but I was still proud.

5-4-3-2-1 GO!

So, why else was this a great weekend? It is because this was the weekend for the Oklahoma State Time Trial Championship! It was a super race put on by the OKC Velo Club! Thank you!

I have been battling bronchitis so mom & dad were worried but I knew I felt like it was going to be a good day. I got up at 4:45 am, ate a good breakfast, got the car loaded and then slept all the way to Lawton! It's good to be a kid! I ate my pre-race snack, warmed up and got to the start line ready to RUMBLE!

And, I'm off!

Well, I felt good and strong and finished the same way! And, when the results were posted it was an AMAZING day for Team Rad Racing. My teammate, Sawyer, won the 15-16 and I won the 10-14! So, we are both STATE CHAMPIONS!!! The guy who won the 17-18 is Grahmm Smith. He is really cool and races for Chipotle Jr. Development Team!

Two REALLY Happy Guys!

I was really happy because when I got home my mom checked and I had taken 6 minutes and 22 seconds off my time from this race last year! WOO HOO! I am getting stronger and faster! I love being on the bike!

State Champs Luke (10-14) Sawyer (15-16) Grahmm (17-18)

Ok, I know this is silly but last year when I won we drove to the top of Mt. Scott and took a family picture. So, we did it again this year! My parents are pretty awesome! Don't forget to LIVESTRONG!

Top of Mt. Scott



What An Honor!

I was very shocked and very honored when I got word that I was the 200th hero at Kids Are Heroes! If you get a minute please check it out! Lots of kids doing really amazing things! It's great to read such good stories! One person can make a difference! If you would like to help me reach my LIVESTRONG goal your donation will really help the 28 MILLION with CANCER! Then, let me know who you want me to ride for Survivor, Warrior or Angel and I will add them to my LIVESTRONG page as well as my jersey in Austin. AND, my collection bucket has reappeared...this time at the NEW Sun & Ski Sports in Norman, OK. So, if you are there please stop by the bike counter and make a donation and tell Rob (the bike manager) hello! Thank you!

http://www.kidsareheroes.org/lily.php

http://austin2011.livestrong.org/lukeisthebikeman

Palmer Sand Springs Criterium OK STATE Championship May 22, 2011

I have some great news! I GOT NEW SHIFTERS!!!! I love them...Campagnolo's rock! I hope to never write about shifting issues again! Now, about racing...May 22 was the State Criterium Championships and I couldn't wait! I won this race last year so I wanted a good race.

There were 12 in the entire race and half were in my age category. It was great to have two from Team Rad Racing in the 10-14 and two in the 15-16 category! It was going to be a great day!

Jr.'s are off!

I was still warming up on the course when they called for all Jr's to the line. I got there just in time for them to call my name and start the race. I hadn't gotten myself in the correct gear and so my start was lame. My parents told me after the race that they were worried it was going to be a bad day at the races for me!

You can do it!

I didn't panic that I was in the back of the field I just started riding my race. And, one by one I started passing other riders. I knew I only needed to focus on those riders in my field and let the others go. My teammate Dallas (10-14) was riding really strong and so I knew unless something happened he would take 1st. I really wanted us to go 1-2 as it would be a great showing for the team. So, I just kept riding...I felt strong! I now just needed to ride smart! By the end of the 1st lap I had passed everyone in front of me but one and passed him climbing the first hill after the officials tent. So, if I just kept pushing I knew I would put some distance between me and the kid in 3rd.

Eye on the Prize

I was really proud of my team and how we all rode. The two older riders made a break with 2 laps to go and had a big lead when they hit some sand in a corner and both crashed! It was really sad! The good news is they both were ok and finished the race. So, drum roll please...Team Rad Racing took 1st (Dallas) and 2nd (Luke-me) in the 10-14. Team Rad also took 2nd (Sawyer) and 3rd (Jay) in the 15-16. It was a great day for the team and a great day on the bike! I can't wait until the State TT, June 5th! LIVESTRONG!!

Dallas, Jay, Sawyer & Luke all medaled!

SO MANY RACES!! PART II

Ok, I'm back from our family reunion so I decided I should get caught up on the races I've completed so far this year! Let's see what was the last race I told you about...oh yeah, Lincoln Road Race!

Wednesday After Work Criterium April 13, 2011

I had watched this race several times last year and I was excited to be participating for the first time. My coach thought it was a good idea to get in a big mass start before the team went to Dallas. It was fun being there with several of my teammates. I didn't have a great race because I was still having shifting problems (remember NW Arkansas). I just couldn't get my gears to switch. Ok, I know how to shift and so what was the problem. I still had a fun time racing even if it was very frustrating!

Matrix Challenge (Dallas, TX) April 16-17, 2011

This race was so amazing for so many reasons: 1st race out-of-state, 1st time racing with my ENTIRE team, 1st time hanging out at a hotel with my teammates and 1st BIG race with lots of Jr's! Perfect combination! Well, I have to admit, I was a little nervous or just too excited the first day! Things didn't go as planned. I had a bad start...couldn't get clipped in off the line (first time that had ever happened) and then, I was behind trying to catch those in front of me. This race had a lot of track racers in it so it was VERY FAST! I did pass several but I was never going to catch the lead group. I was still having loads of trouble with my gears and they just wouldn't shift. I have to say I was having a pretty miserable day but I wasn't going to quit or so I thought. We had only 3 laps left and the unthinkable happened...I HAD MY FIRST CRASH while racing. I was out of the race! But, I told the paramedics I would be back on Sunday to race again! I did and I placed 9th! I was very proud because I had raced better and FINISHED!!

It's not that bad...I'll be back tomorrow!

Check out the bandage! Battle wounds!

PG-13 TT April 20, 2011

I went to my sponsor bike shop, Buchanan Bicycles, on Monday and Ryan checked my shifters and gears. They were WAY out of alignment! I knew I wasn't crazy! So, I decided to race at this Wednesday night time trial to see how the adjustment felt! WOW...big difference! I had a good race and knew I was ready for Saturday's TT.

OKC Velo TT April 23, 2011

This was the second race in this three race series. I just had one goal in mind...shave time off from your last race of truth! And, guess what...I DID! I took another 7 seconds off! I was stoked! I LOVE TIME TRIALING!!!



OKC Velo TT May 14, 2011

This was the last race in this series and they take the combined time of your two fastest races for overall placement. It is a good thing I had pretty good times the first two races because this day was brutal. We race next to a lake and the wind gusts were well over 30-35 mph. You had a headwind all the way out and and wicked crosswind all the way back...where was the tailwind?? Oh well, I still placed 4th overall for the series in the Jr. 10-18 category.And, I taken off lots of time from last year...I'm almost 6 minutes faster than last year for the total of the 3 races. Not too bad for a 13 year old! Thank you to Steve Schlegel at Schlegel Bicyles for my awesome 4th place prize. I will cherish it! It's a numbered B/W photo of a Liquigas rider at Paris Roubaix! It's amazing and hanging in my room!

And, he's off!

Next race: I will donate an entire post to the Palmer Sand Spring Criterium! Lots to tell about the Oklahoma State Criterium race. Remember to always LIVESTRONG!

****AUCTION**** UPDATE

I want to apologize that I haven't started the auction when I promised it would have started by now. We all know things happen and unfortunately the artist had to leave town before I could get the canvas. I don't want to start the auction until I can post a picture of what you will be bidding on! I can just tell you it will be AWESOME!

Here's a clue:

Question:    Do you love LIVESTRONG?

Answer:       YES!   (Then, you'll love this)

Disclaimer

This event is hosted by a LIVESTRONG fundraiser to raise funds for LIVESTRONG. This is not an official LIVESTRONG-hosted event, but all proceeds benefit LIVESTRONG.