CALLING ALL CYCLISTS

UPDATE (8/1/12)

Please check out our new website for the Luke's 5-Line to get the most up-to-date ride information!! You'll find: What's Included, Routes, Photos, etc.

www.lukes5line.com

It's the ride of a lifetime

5-7 October 2012!

Black Mesa, Oklahoma

Special Thanks to our Sponsors:

    

SKA-DOOSH!

This is our official logo for the Luke's 5-Line Double Ride! We are so excited that Aaron Whisner (artist) created this great logo! We are super pumped that Dwelling Spaces in Tulsa, OK will carry our merchandise. This is so cool because they are also going to sell our merchandise during Tulsa Tough! A portion of the sales will benefit LIVESTRONG.

We are also pleased to announce our latest sponsor:   Lee's Bicycles of Tulsa!! It is because of all of our amazing sponsors that this will be an EPIC event! We would like to thank all our sponsors: Whitten-Newman Family Foundation, ExplorOlogy, ICEdot, Buchanan Bicycles and Lee's Bicycles. We owe a special thanks to Team Rad Racing for helping us permit this ride through USA Cycling!

You don't want to miss this AMAZING event! Register at USA Cycling (https://www.usacycling.org/events/index.php?event=2054&year=2012).

There isn't any fee to register and remember this ride benefits LIVESTRONG so 80% of your registration fee is tax deductible!

AMAZING SPONSORS:

SPEECHLESS

I haven't been able to write about this because I have been so blown away I couldn't find the words to express how I felt and still feel!

My mom and I were on our way to do a training ride. We didn't make any stops except at stop lights and at a railroad crossing. We were just a few miles from our location when my mom looked in the rear view mirror and saw my bike was GONE! I totally freaked out! I couldn't think clearly! I started crying "That's my baby! I have a race in two days! That's my baby!" It was the most horrible feeling I have ever felt over losing a thing!

We quickly turned around and began the search. Mom tried to keep me calm but it wasn't an easy task. We saw a good friend and fellow cyclist, Andy Chasteen. He was out on a training ride and offered to help us look for my missing bike. Thanks Andy!

Mom and I continued the search for four hours looking in every bush, ditch, drainage areas... EVERYWHERE! NO LUCK! I was devastated! My mom kept telling me, "There's a greater and overall meaning to this. It may be that we need this experience to help us grow. Or, it may be that it's because someone else needs to grow... but God has a plan and we need to trust!" She always says this when things are good and when things are bad. I knew she was right but it didn't make it hurt any less.

I had a time trial I was supposed to race in that coming Saturday (March 31). I wasn't sure what I would do when our friends the White's offered us a loaner bike!! Miracles were already taking place. I was going to be able to race.

I had a good race because I just kept thinking the guy in front of me was the one who took my bike! I took 4 minutes off my personal best!!!

Every night I prayed we'd find my bike! We did find it a week later posted on Craigslist! These guys were trying to sell it! I couldn't believe it. There's a whole other story here but the bottom line is we got my bike back. When we took it to the bike shop to get it repaired I had the BIGGEST surprise EVER!!!

My friends, Ryan Lenhart and Tobin Vigil, at Buchanan Bicycles were there when I got to the shop. Ryan took me in a separate room and began telling me "A lot of people were really sad when you lost your bike. And, you are always thinking of others with what you do for LIVESTRONG. So, a bunch of your friends who are cyclists pitched in a bought you a brand new bike!" The words I heard but couldn't believe. He took me into another room and there was the new bike all setup ready for me to get a fit! Tobin was taking pictures and I just walked around the bike in shock. I just kept saying "I can't believe this!"

 I don't know who all did this and may never know but THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!! I still look at it  2 1/2 weeks later and I'm still in speechless! You all are the best friends a guy could ever have! I feel blessed! GOD IS GREAT!

 

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT

UPDATE (8/1/12)

Please check out our new website for the Luke's 5-Line to get the most up-to-date ride information!! You'll find: What's Included, Routes, Photos, etc.

www.lukes5line.com

It's the ride of a lifetime

5-7 October 2012!

Black Mesa, Oklahoma

Calling all cyclists - from Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado:

 

Here's the plan:

100 riders ... 100+ miles ... 5 states ... all in one day.

The distances you can choose are: 20, 40, 95 or 120!  Join us for this epic event! 

 

BLACK MESA OR BUST!! 

 

Special Thanks to our Sponsors:

    

Follow on Twitter:

@lukethebikeman or 

@lukes5line

DETAILS ARE COMING SOON!

DRAMA

Last week was the best and worst week in a long time! I was preparing for my first Race of Truth and two days before the race my bike was stolen!!!!! I'm not ashamed to say, I cried like a baby for my baby...MY BIKE!!! This felt like the worst thing since losing my Poppy! I had nightmares that night...a pit in my stomach for days! But...race day was still coming and I needed to be focused! 


So, I had a teammate go off just one minute in front of me. He's my friend but I kept thinking he stole my bike. Oh, this kept me focused! I am pleased to say I set a new PR. I took 4 minutes off my best time on this same course!! I was happy to get some good news when I had been feeling so sad! 


There has been some good out of all of this! I have been overwhelmed at how many offers from other cyclists to help me find a bike to ride, build up a bike, give me a frame or parts to help me rebuild a bike. This is so cool that so many would reach out to help! THANK YOU to EVERYONE who has offered help or came to my rescue! I feel honored!


OK...onto a new subject...I am so excited as I am getting ready to make a BIG announcement! There are still a few details to be worked out before I can tell. This is all I can say right now...100...100...5...more to come! 

STAY TUNED

2012 Racing Season Debut

Well, the 2012 racing season is underway in Oklahoma. It always starts with the Salty Creek Criterium/Tall Chief Cove Road Race. I had signed up to race in the Jr. category for both days but when I got there, on Saturday, they informed me that the Jr. road race had been cancelled for Sunday due to bad weather being forcast. I was really disappointed. So, my coach Mark Teruki suggested I race in the Men's 4/5. I was excited to be able to race, since I wanted to see if I had improved since last year, but I was a little nervous to be in my first men's race.

Saturday's criterium went OK. I made a major mistake at the beginning and although I finished closing the gap and feeling really strong at the end it was too late to make up the time I needed. I took third and learned something for future races. One thing about racing is you are always learning and getting more chances to do better!

Sunday I woke up feeling ready for the road race! I ate my new race breakfast, courtesy of Biju Thomas, and knew I was feeling better today. It was cold and wet and started pouring just before our race began. I felt really good and when the day was done I had taken 29 minutes off my time from last year and placed 11th. It was a long way from a win but it felt like a victory in a small way to me. I overcame my nerves, raced with men and showed a significant improvement over last year. I know I haven't come even close to my full potential and I will continue training hard but I will take small victories and build off them!

Next race...TIME TRIAL...this weekend!

LIVESTRONG