Text message conversation April 28th part 2

Don: "Saturday will be out of Texas just want to make sure Candice and Kolby pic with me is added to the site..not sure if  Stealthy Stan has added Pics"

Me: "Ill look for the pic" 

Don: "They are cute girls standing one each side of me"

Me: "Wrd!"

Don: "What are you talking about when two beautiful girls are weird?"

Me: "No..I meant..word!"

Don: "Oh...right on"

Text from Don; April 28th

Don wrote: "I was the only one who stuck it out in the rain last night and first one ready for a 62 mile trek!"

Text from Don; April 27th

Don wrote: "Rode 33 Miles in the rain to Bastrop Texas and it was enjoyable.."

Pictures from the Lone Star State...

Downtown Austin.

Lake whachamacalit.
Bambie and friends.
Boot fences are the newest in fence technology. 

Here are a few pics from the ride into Austin...

Text from Don; April 25th

Don wrote: "Knee feeling better...now in Austin Tx. with a rest day tomorrow"

Emory Pass NM pic

At 8200 ft. the hightest point oon Don's trip, Emory Pass New Mexico looks amazing. Don said that the downhill was gnar and the 50 mph crosswind wasn't something to mess with either....here's proof he made it to the top. 

Amendment to April 18th post...

Don game me a call today and said that the April 18th post was all good except the photo of the guy in the speedo was in Blyth AZ. That dude is the owner of a book store out there and judging from the skivvies looks like he doesn't run the A/C much...

Text from Don; April 23rd

working on the tan...

Don wrote: "Tuffed out 78 Miles with pulled ligament in knee from stretching too hard in Texas. You can't get away from the sun so I should have a good tan when I get back"

Text from Don; April 20th

Don "chillin'"

Don wrote: "Yesterday rode 96 miles, today 46. I stopped counting flat tires after 10 but I've been averaging a flat every other day and still make it to my destination. For now chillin'"

Text from Don; April 18th

Bike $1200 on credit card, Biking gear $350 on credit card, Photo of this old guy in speedos, headphones, funky sandals and some crazy blue blocker shades in the middle of Texas...priceless

Texas is huge! 

Don hit me with a text on the 18th and said this guy was documenting the whole ride on his 

website click here to see Stan's photos. Above are some good one's I pulled out incase you don't have time to hit up the site...

Don wrote: "picturetrail.com slash bikingstan. Today only two flats and 53 miles to Sanderson Texas"

Phone conversation with Don: April 17th, 2009

Had a chance to catch up with Don on the phone yesterday, here's what he had to say:

"I'm in Marathon, Texas! We've been riding on average 60-90 miles a day...I've had a few more riddles...the axle on my trailer broke and the wheels fell off, a nice guy that didn't have anything to do pulled over to help me out. Also this guy in the group George "McGiver" as I call him, helped me get the parts and rig it together...I've had no cell service out here...the wind sucks! the trailer sucks with the wind too...Oh today while I was traveling alone in the "lone-star" state, I was on the side of the road resting and eating a sandwich when these 2 slobs rolled up in a beater car and offered me a place to stay when I got to Marathon...I was thinking "I don't think so...these guys are sketchy and probably looking for trouble". Well I just rolled up on this place called the "White Buffalo", looks like a local watering hole (image above)...I'm gonna cruise in..talk to you later"

Text from Don; April 14th

"what is your email address again? I will try to send some pics...p.s. check your voicemail."

Text from Don; April 12th

"Happy Easter! Next couple of weeks going through the western part of Texas is going to be

pretty desolate so you will hear from me when you hear from me"

More Don Quotes from early on in the trip

Had a chance to talk to Don on the phone a few days after he left and below are some things he had to say:

"I'm having no problem keeping up with the crew....most of the group is retired in their late 50's to 60 years old. There's one guy who's 68 years old!"

"We've been riding between 6-8 hours a day and averaging 50-60 miles a day...this one day we only did 20 miles because of gnarly headwinds!" 

"There was 16 people in the group but this 1 guy had a drinking problem and got the boot (laughs)..he was cussing a bunch and the leader wasn't really feeling him. He tried to come back the next day and start riding again but the leader said no. I don't know where he is now..maybe following us?" 

Text from Don; April 4th

Text from Don @ 1:27pm on April 4th:

"Will cross the rest of Arizona tomorrow and take on an 8,000 foot mountain to start New Mexico" 

Text from Don; April 3rd

Text received from Don 8:30pm on April 3rd: 

"Rode 80 miles today carrying most of the groups stuff because they are old and I am a brain injured bad ass!"

Text from Don; April 2nd

Don's text @ 4:12pm on Thursday April 2nd reads:

"Today rode 56 miles to Globe Arizona, I was in the top 3 riders to reach the destination. That is the update for now!"

Weber is trying to get photos but it's hard to stop and send them...found this photo of another biker enjoying Globe AZ...don't worry I'd never heard of it either. 

March 31st First Full Day Off

On April 2nd Don and the crew got their first full day's rest of the trip in Tempe Az. A few quotes from Don...

"I'm feeling good, muscles are a bit sore but doing good."

"Towing the trailer sucks! It's got these crappy tires that have gone flat so many times I've lost count after like 6"..."maybe somewhere around 10 flats now"

He's living on Mr. Tuffy's patch kits...

OC Register write up

OC Register recognizes Don's ride...

Letter from Don

Dated January 23rd, 3:29pm

"My name is Don Weber and I am riding my bike from San Diego, CA to St. Augustine FL. to raise awareness for Help for Brain Injured Children (HBIC). It is 3,160 miles one way and if my butt isn't too sore, I will be making the journey home on my bike as well. I will be taking the Southern Tier Route, a bike trail that basically rides the same way as the 10 freeway. I have a brain injury that was caused by a motorcycle accident in 2003 and my main goal is to give other people with brain injuries hope. By riding across the United States on my bike, I want to show them that anything is possible when you set your mind to it. Since my life has revolved around my brain injury for the past 6 years. I feel a great passion for helping others out and by doing so, my brother and I have gone across the state of California, by skateboard and bicycle (Brea to San Francisco) to help with Spinal Cord Research. That trip was a total of 518 miles taking 11 days, with fundraising going toward the Life Rolls on Foundation. I figure I can do 60 miles a day cruising at my own pace and estimating any riddles that should come by way, I should be in Florida within 3 months. To make my goal a success, Boost Mobile, Adventure Cycling and Whittier Cyclery have donated time and money to help me out in this 3,000 mile plus trip of a lifetime. I plan on hitting the road April 1st, 2009 and any support anyone can contribute to the HBIC foundation would be truly appreciated."

Thanks,

Don Weber 

Change of Plans

Plan was to ride from La Habra CA to St. Augustine FL. on a beach cruiser by his lonesome. Don's mom had an uneasy feeling about the whole thing so she sprung for him to roll with a crew from ADVENTURE CYCLYING. The particular group Don is riding with are all over the age of 60 and retired...it works out because Don is a self-proclaimed retired 29-year old. 

On another "riddle" note the beach cruiser is dust...He's now broken the frame on it twice and a weld job just wouldn't do for a coast to coast ride. Plus the cyclists' in the group thought he was crazy for trying to ride a single gear with coaster breaks so they suggested a 24-speed road bike...Don's mom again showed support and faith in her son's determination and set him up with a brand new bike from WHITTIER CYCLERY...thanks Bill C. (owner) and Robert/Jeff and Bart (crew) for all the support!

Training continued

...a two month ride calls for tons of preparation. Kind of like Rocky (insert "eye of the tiger" theme song here) getting ready for the fight against (insert Mr. T, Dolph Lundgren, Apollo Creed or Hulk Hogan name here)

Training Days...

Training started more than a year ago...the work will pay off in the three thousandth mile.