Let’s start with the atmosphere …unparalleled by anything else in the US. The start/finish of the race is adjacent to the American Airlines Center and AT&T Plaza. The plaza includes more than $20 million in large outdoor video screen technology all programmed so you can enjoy the non-stop action that is a part of cycling, more specifically criterium racing, featuring LIVE footage from other areas of the course as it is happening around you. While in the plaza you can also enjoy food, drinks and can even get your picture taken, compliments of Metro Volkswagen, capturing the moment for you and your friends.

The overall battle for the USA CRITS Championship Series title has never been so close and with just 1 race to go before the riders do battle on the streets of Dallas …

Clayton Barrows (AXA Equitable) is holding on to just a 4 point lead over the series Best Young Rider Isaac Howe (Mountain Khakis Pro Cycling). You can expect both these riders to go head-to-head for the mid-race points primes and maximum points at the finish.

Reigning USA CRITS Championship Series Champion, Mark Hekman (Mountain Khakis Pro Cycling) knows what it takes to win the overall, so be on the lookout for “Big Red” to do a lot of work for his teammate (Isaac Howe) in hopes to help him overtake Barrows for the championship.

So who else is coming to race?

This year the race will feature a huge number of the top professional in the sport of cycling easily making it the one of the most competitive and coveted races to win of any currently produced in the United States. Riders from around the globe will collide on the streets of downtown Dallas with the intent to dethrone the 2-time defending champion, Heath Blackgrove of New Zealand, and capture the glory reserved for the winner of the 2010 TX TOUGH GRAND PRIX III.

Some of the most notable names expected to line-up include:

> Heath Blackgrove, Team Hotel San Jose:
2-Time TX TOUGH GRAND PRIX Champion (2008 & 2009)

> Josh Carter, Team Hotel San Jose:
2010 Texas State Criterium Champion

> Luca Damiani, KENDA Pro Cycling p/b GEARGRINDER:
3rd Stage 2 2010 Nature Valley Grand Prix,
4th Overall General Classification 2010 Speed Week and 1st CSC Invitation (2008)

> Jim Stemper, KENDA Pro Cycling p/b GEAR GRINDER:
1st Overall General Classification 2010 Tour of America’s Dairy land
1st Stage 4 2010 Tour of America’s Dairy land and 3rd Stage 3 Eik Grove (2009)

> Chad Hartley, KENDA Pro Cycling p/b GEARGRINDER:
2nd Overall General Classification 2010 Tour of America’s Dairy land
1st Univest Grand Prix (2004)
2nd Overall Best Young Rider Competition Tour of Georgia (2003)

> Alessandro Bazzana, FLY V Australia Pro Cycling
Former U23 Italian National Road Race Champion
3rd Overall General Classification 2010 Speed Week

> Ben Kersten, FLY V Australia Pro Cycling
2-time Australian Track Athlete of the Year
1st 2010 Sunny King Criterium

> Rory Sutherland, UnitedHeathcare p/b Maxxis Pro Cycling
2-time USA Cycling National Racing Calendar Champion
1st Overall General Classification 2010 Nature Valley Grand Prix & Cascade Cycling Classic

> Hilton Clarke, UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis Pro Cycling
1st Stage 2 & 4 at 2010 Nature Valley Grand Prix
1st Walterboro Downtown Criterium
1st Air force Cycling Classic Clarendon Cup
1st Overall General Classification 2010 SpeedWeek
Former USPRO Criterium Champion

> Ivan Domingez, Jamis-Sutter Home p/b Colivita
2nd Stage 4 2010 Tour of Gila
1st Cacasde Cycling Classic Criterium (2009)
Former USPRO Criterium Champion
40 + Career wins as a professional

> Adam Myerson, Team Mountain Khakis fueled by Jittery Joe’s
3rd TX TOUGH GRAND PRIX II (2009)
2nd Overall General Classification USA
CRITS Championship Series (2008)

> Rahsaan Bahati, Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling
1st Stage 3 & 7 2010 Tour of America’s Dairy land
2nd Merco Cycling Classic Downtown Grand Prix
7th Overall General Classification 2010 Tour of America’s Dairy land
Former USPRO Criterium Champion

G

Oakley’s Rolling O Lab has been busy this summer with its more recent stop at Summer X Games 16, undoubtedly one of the biggest action sports events of the year. On September 16 you too can get a personal tour of the O Lab because it is coming to the TX TOUGH GRAND PRIX III.

See first hand what makes Oakley Eye wear superior to any other product on the market today. Oakley is a proud sponsor and Official Eye wear of the TX TOUGH GRAND PRIX.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the Grand Prix on September 16!

Preston

You’re thinking, “why is Geoff sharing information with me about JP Morgan Chase?”  Because Chase, through their “Chase Community Giving” program, has decided to award 200 charities a portion of 5 million dollars.  That’s right…5 million dollars!

How is Chase deciding who gets the money? They aren’t….they are leaving the choice up to the “community”. Chase is turning to you and me and our “friends” on Facebook, and asking us to ‘vote’ for our favorite charity. Passion for Chldren’s is eligible to receive a portion of the 5 million dollars Chase is going to donate….we just need your vote! The charity receiving the most votes will be awarded $250,000.  The four runners up will each receive $100,000, and the remaining 195 top vote getters will each receive $20,000.  Each vote from you and your “friends” on Facebook moves Passion for Children’s one step closer.  PFC needs and deserves your vote….Children’s needs and deserves your vote!

Why vote for Passion for Children’s? Passion for Children’s was formed with a single purpose…to be used as a vehicle by parents, friends, neighbors, co-workers and/or the corporate community as an efficient means to raise money in support of Children’s Medical Center….but not just to support Children’s as an institution….but to support the specific areas of the hospital most important to them.

PFC has several programs that give people opportunities to work together, actively do something fun, raise money and choose where the money they raise goes.  100% of the money raised by the individual participants goes directly to support Children’s. PFC removes the challenges associated with organizing, producing and managing a fundraiser so people who want to make a difference and give back to Children’s can do so easily.  That’s why PFC, and Children’s,  deserve your vote!

Visit the PFC information page on facebook. Click on “VOTE NOW”. It will ask you to select that you “Like” the Chase Community Giving page — then cast your vote. I would also ask that you take another quick second to post on your Facebook Wall and invite others you know to vote too! We have until July 12th to rally as many supporters as possible to vote. Please don’t wait. We need your vote today!

Thanks for your support!

Watch Geoff’s personal appeal here

This past weekend the fireworks started early with Aerocat’s Juan Pablo Dotti crossing the line first and claiming this year’s top spot at the Hyde Park Blast. Mountain Khakis’s Isaac Howe was able to keep the overall series leader’s jersey despite getting tangled up w/ 2009 winner, Emile Abraham, in the final sprint for the finish.

Aerocat was all over the front of the race chasing down primes, and, ultimately, winning the race. Mountain Khakis’s Mark Hekman (last year’s overall USA CRIT Champion) and David Guttenplan were in multiple breaks, but most of the race was spent defending Howe’s lead.

It was out of the last turn about 100 feet from the finish when Howe and Abraham locked horns and went down. But in the end it was Dotti who picked up the win and the 200 points which boosts him from 61st position to a top 10 spot in the overall series standings. The Series next stop is the Iron Hill Twilight Criterium on July 10 in West Chester, PA and then to Capital City Crit on July 11, which makes its return to the streets in Washington DC.

Unfortunately I could not attend both the Giro de Grafton and Hyde Park race…but will be back in the saddle in an effort to help put a KPC rider on the podium in West Chester and DC.

Your top finishers at Hyde Park were:
1. Juan Pablo Dotti (Aerocat)
2. Clayton Barrows (AXA Equitable)
3. Christopher Uberti (Panther)

Current Champion System Overall Series Leaders:
1. Isaac Howe (Mountain Khakis), 541 points
2. Clayton Barrows (AXA Equitable), 524 points
3. Andy Crater (Aerocat), 496 points

Sports Base Online Lap Leader presented by VeloNews
Hilton Clarke (United Healthcare), 17 laps

Maxxis Best Young Rider presented by Cyclingnews.com
Isaac Howe (Mountain Khakis)

September 16th is around the corner….should be one heck of a bike race!

In an effort emulate what Children’s does for its patients and families, each of Passion for Children’s fundraising campaigns come with the commitment that 100% of the money raised goes to support the care provided, and we make it personal….by empowering fundraisers to chose where that money goes.  As part of our effort to do just that….make fundraising personal….the Kenda Pro Cycling chose to get involved and not only help promote fundraising associated with the TX TOUGH GRAND PRIX III, but also raise money!

In my mind…having spent the better part of a week with KPC at Athens Twilight….these guys actually share a lot in common with a hospital. On the bike they are pushing the limits at amazing speeds, forced to make split second decisions in high intensity situations, and often are weighing the cost to benefit in real-time with no mulligans.

Kenda Pro Cycling GM and owner, Chad Thompson, is a firefighter/paramedic as well as a father.  He has a special appreciation and first hand experience with the impact a facility like Children’s Medical Center has on a child’s life.

For us….its an all star squad guys who have had incredible success on the bike, rolling literally around the world with the TX Tough shield on their jerseys and a message of hope, determination and vision for people that want to make a difference.

But it does not stop there….not only are these guys helping spread the message and promote interest in the TX Tough Grand Prix III….they fundraising too! They all have fundraising pages under the Grand Prix campaign page, and you too can donate toward your favorite KPC rider’s goal.

They really are a great group of guys….I spent more than 14 hours w/ Johnny Sundt on our road trip from Dallas to Athens and Chad Hartley and Rob White met us in town before the rest of the team arrived. A cut up bunch of overgrown fraternity boys riding bikes, they kept me doubled over laughing the entire trip.

While in Athens, Geoff made sure to take time to sit down with Rick Tillery, Kenda Pro Cycling’s Media Relations director and get some perspective of what it means for KPC to be involved with the fundraising effort.

I too was able to snag Johnny for a minute, wasn’t like he was that hard to find after the race because he suffered a bad crash, and broke his collar bone- so he wasn’t quite as spry as earlier in the week 

Johnny in now in his 8th season as a professional and really understands what we’re trying to do with the efforts to build grassroots support for Children’s. And as a new Dallas resident himself, he sees the value that it brings to the community.

Stay tuned, because as the year progresses, Geoff and I will have the opportunity to spend some more time with these guys- and we’ll have some footage you won’t want to miss.

A big thank you to all the KPC guys for the effort you not only giving on the bike, but the time, energy and commitment you have all made to Children’s. We really appreciate it!  More to come…. P

Check out the video:

Today began w/ trek to airport to catch 7:40 flight to Atlanta.  Forecast in Atlanta right now is rain and more rain.  Once on the plane pilot said to expect delays arriving in Atlanta…..AWESOME!

Am I nervous…you bet.  It’s been almost 6 years since I have competed in an event at the National level with top pros from around the globe (since 2004).  This is not to downplay racing in Texas because over the last 3 or 4 years Texas has seen a dramatic shift.  Now it has some incredible competition week to week at events across the state….but over the last several years I certainly would not consider my preparation or participation serious…. I have been focused on other stuff and riding when I can so going to an event like Twilight…it’s just another level and you can’t fake it.

I started preparing for this year in October.  Have suffered thru some set backs w/ allergies and illness which kept me from doing some of the early season racing I had planned to do prior as part of getting ready.  Am I ready?  Probably not in the kind of shape I really need to be in….but mentally I am prepared to suffer the entire 90 minutes w/ constant accelerations in and out of corners.  Riders on top of you 3, 4 maybe even 5 wide all under the lights.  Throw some rain on the course….and…..well there is only one word that best describes what tonight will be like…..INSANE!!!

12:30PM
Now in Atlanta at the airport.  I am supposed to catch a flight from Atlanta to Athens but that is not going to happen.  The plane that is scheduled to leave at 1:15PM is not even here.  Preston helped me find a shuttle online and as I walked across terminal to get to shuttle pick-up…..rain and more rain and it is coming down hard.  Does not look good for tonight.  Athens is only about 60 miles from Atlanta…..I am trying to be optimistic but the thought that weather is much better 60 miles away is not likely.  We don’t race until 9PM….but not sure it is going to let up 

4PM
Now in Athens.  Preston has been here since Thursday working his tail off.   Athens Twilight is one of the oldest and most prestigious bike races in America.  Very hard rain or shine…..this race is something every American bike racer would love to put on their resume as to having won.  Not sure what kind of crowd to expect tonight w/ the poring rain…but traditionally it is not uncommon for the race to have 35 – 40,000 spectators lining streets of downtown. I was on the shuttle w/ a group of people that are cycling fans and flew in just to catch the race tonight, Roswall Criterium tomorrow and be a part of the entire weekend….that is cool!

12:30PM
Race is over.  Twilight did not disappoint….it was INSANE!!   A key to success at Twilight outside some good fortune is starting position.  Unfortunately….mine sucked!  I was not able to participate in the Computrainer Time Trials that have become a crowd favorite prior to Athens and are used to line guys up.  If your wondering what the heck on the “Computrainer Time Trials”are….checkout Preston’s blog.  He was there with (2) of my teammates….Chad Hartley and Jonny Sundt…who by the way….both made the finals!

Bottom line….since I did not earn good start I was at the back.  Rain was coming down and coming down hard.  Pace started off hard as I expected and I began trying to navigate to the front of the field as quickly as possible. First 5 – 10 laps were at incredible pace and I watched crashes take place in the turns on almost every lap.  About 10 laps in I hooked up w/ teammates who suffered from early punctures.  Not glad they got punctured but we were able to work together to make a push toward the front.

About 30 minutes into the race I was able to see what I thought was the front of the field.  Rain and spray from the tires of other riders made it almost impossible to really see anything but I think I can see the front end of the field.  As come thru the start finish I see 35 laps to go…..are you kidding me!   I am beginning to feel somewhat more comfortable but the pace is relentless.  As I come out of turn 4, head down charging up start/finish straight I see one of my teammates…Chad Burdzilauskas….rolling slowly along left side rail.  Later I found out Chad suffered bad crash…but he was able to pit and rejoin group and still managed 12th place finish but it made the rest of the night tough.

30 Laps to go and I can see the front! Coming out of turn 2 there is slight rise in the course and I make a big acceleration to move forward. Slide in about 10 riders back….but as look up there is a group of riders already heading into turn 3…..WHAT???  You guessed it….HUGE split in the field . While I was navigating crashes and killing myself to get to the front…I was not making my way to the front at all….about 35 – 45 riders are in the front group and the rest of us….well…..off the back.

My estimate the gap was somewhere between 18 – 20 seconds.  In the conditions and speed group was going there was no ….waaaay I was bridging that gap….probably not even on a good day.  I surfed the front of the split for another 5  maybe 8 laps ….but ultimately with about 20 laps to go the Officials pulled the plug and myself along w/ large portion of the field (estimating approx 20 – 30 riders) were forced to exit.

Overall end result for KPC….Luca Damiani….one of my teammates started what ended up to be winning break of 6 riders.  He attacked the break numerous times in the final laps to get the win but ended up finishing 6th.  Awesome ride for Luca.  Chad Burdzilauskas 12th, Chad Hartley 19th, Rich Harper 25th.

Low point for the team was crash suffered by Johnny Sundt which resulted in a pretty severe break in his collarbone.  Johnny called me about 1:30AM from hospital.  None of us saw Johnny’s crash and had the chance to speak to him prior to going to hospital.  This is really bad for the team the rest of the week because Johnny is such  an experienced bike racer and not having him w/ team during remainder of Speed Week will definitely have an impact.

Here’s the Twilight Recap from Athens:

Well I did what I do best, I googled. Apparently CompuTrainers are used worldwide to improve athlete performance, test speed, efficiency and power. Some of the best cycling and triathletes in the world use these things year round, but they seem to be really popular north of the Mason Dixon line where it turns cold past well, August. Thank goodness I live down here, where it’s warm.

So these CompuTrainers looked pretty cool online, but cool doesn’t begin to describe the setup in downtown Athens. Eight pro racers, fighting for start position and call ups at the oldest CRIT in the US (also the start of the USA CRITS series), lined up on stage, set to fight each other in watts and pure brute power for a short warm up and quick lap set around the virtual recreation of the course they would run the next night. Three HUGE plasma screens triangulated on the front of the stage drew attention to the mph, watts, place and movement along the virtual course.

As Chad announced the start of each heat, the guys kicked it into overdrive. Eight guys pumping out almost 400 watts each, around 3200 watts together- that’s the size generator small RVs run on.

The race pedals on as the teams sprinters fight for position not only in their heat but overall to make it into the top 8 to qualify for the finals. Totally nuts to watch, and a lot of fun.

Two Kenda Pro Cycling guys made it, both captains, Jonny Sundt and Chad Hartley raced in the finals for the CompuTrainer Friday night. As Athens called it an early Friday from work the streets began to flood with downtown employees mixed with wives pushing strollers of small Children as the University of Georgia opened the northern flood gates of campus unleashing almost 30,000 students into downtown for one final weekend of festival environment fervor before finals and the library come in to dominate their lives fueled by coffee and stimulants. This night sans artificial stimulants was fueled by pure energy, excitement, nerves, & enthusiasm of the riders and spectators alike.

As the sun set over another beautiful day in Georgia, the hush of night was overrun by the hum of vivacity exuded by the gathering crowds in downtown Athens. The riders were poised on their bikes, CompuTrainers running strong and projecting the athletes progress on a vivid television display. Chad announces the start of the CompuTrainer finals with intensity of a commentator watching his favorite team win the Super Bowl in his hometown. And their off…..

Watch the video, these guys make my take on the whole experience sound like child’s play. It’s an experience not to miss, and we’re working on bringing it to Dallas for the Grand Prix. Stay tuned- it’s going to be awesome.
P

Next project….our overall campaign structure.  Following the completion of our first full year….we had to take a serious look at how we are doing things.  We really  just needed to evaluate what’s working and what can be improved. Nothing has changed….our objective remains the same as it as been from day 1:

Create something that will give the community an easy and efficient vehicle where they can personally have an immediate and direct impact in helping support kids and families being treated at Children’s Medical Center….pretty simple right?  But getting there….has not always been so simple…but we are making progress 

We have gotten some incredible feedback from volunteers involved in this past year’s campaign and from the more than 1,000 individual fundraisers already involved.….and one of the first things  we needed to address was messaging.  We have a range of ways people get involved…none of which are complicated….but communicating the various opportunities has not necessarily been simple.

One of the things we decided to do is build a site and brand around Passion for Children’s (PFC).  PFC is the 501c3 organization responsible for everything and has always existed….but behind the TX TOUGH brand.  Now we moving front and center and have created a home on the web.

www.passionforchildrens.org

If you have not seen the site…go check it out because we have a whole new look and I think it is going to help our existing fundraisers be more successful in recruiting others to join their FIGHT.

This is probably one of the most exciting changes we have made with in the organization.  Having produced (3) different participatory events last year….I think the take away is a better understanding of where we really need to focus and what people interested in raising money for Children’s really want.

As a result….we have modified the campaign and now offer (3) specific programs based on whether people want just want to participate in an event, make a flat donation, or make a real pledge commitment…..all aligned with what people want to do.

Program #1 – Children’s Medical Center Red Balloon Run & Relay
When: Saturday, October 9th, 9AM
Where: Children’s Medical Center Legacy Campus
Fundraising Requirement – NONE

Participation in the Red Balloon Run & Relay is intended to be something fun and easy everyone can get excited about doing. We are giving everyone the option to either make a flat donation in any amount, choose to participate as a pledge fundraiser, or just come out and participate in the event as a demonstration of your support for what Children’s Medical Center means to your community. We have kept the event virtually the same in format to the run/walk event we produced last year only we are working directly w/ Children’s and moved it to the Children’s Medical Center Legacy Campus in Plano.  It is going to be a ton of fun, kid friendly and something you will want to do w/ friends, neighbors, co-workers regardless of whether you do a lot of running/walking or not.  Course is 5K and I am trying to encourage everyone to be a part of a relay team.  Relays are just fun!

Program #2 – TX TOUGH GRAND PRIX III Category 2/3 Bike Race
When: Thursday, September 16th, 5:30PM (Prior to start of Pro Race)
Where: Victory Park / American Airlines Ctr.
Fundraising Requirement – First 150 registered participants to raise $600

Having had the chance to produce the TX TOUGH GRAND PRIX the last 2 years and begin to build interest and support from the D/FW area cycling community it made a lot of sense for us to try and expand the event this year to give those interested in bike racing the chance to be a part of what is one of the “PREMIER” professional cycling events in the US while at the same time….doing something wonderful for Children’s Medical Center.  This is something I had hoped we would be able to do at some point….but it all hinged on our ability to demonstrate that we could execute the production of a Professional race….more than once 

Now in it’s 3rd year….the TX TOUGH GRAND PRIX III is referred to by many as the “SUPERBOWL” of cycling and a must stop for the fastest guys on two-wheels.  What started out as really a tool we intended to use to draw attention to the grassroots fundraising campaign for Children’s and attract sponsors, media and interest….will also now raise more than $100,000 in it’s first year, that’s pretty cool!

Program #3 – TX TOUGH 250 Austin to Dallas
When: October 14th – 17th,  3 days / 250 Miles
Where:  Start in Austin (Zilker Park) – Finish in Dallas (American Airlines Ctr.)
Fundraising Requirement – Minimum $5,000 Pledge (by October 11th, 2010)

I am sure some people are thinking….”Godsey…are you serious?”.  Yes…..serious as a heart attack! I have been working on this project for more than 7 months.  Since Hurricane IKE disrupted our plans to produce a traditional bike rally style event, I have received hundreds of e-mails requesting and in some cases begging we put together a ride and if we did….they would support.  Well….your voices have been heard we are going to launch what we hope is going to be one of PFC’s most exciting fundraising programs for Children’s.  The TX TOUGH 250 Austin to Dallas will be something the cycling community both in D/FW as well as around the US can get totally stoked about.  3 days, 250 miles beginning in Austin and finishing in Dallas at American Airlines Ctr. Preston and I have been working all the details and will launch the events official website in early summer. First year space is limited to the 50 participants so if your going to want to be a part of the inaugural TX TOUGH 250 Austin to Dallas….then your going to want to register early.

Snap shot of what you can expect….some of the most beautiful back roads of Central Texas that takes riders thru the Balcones National Wildlife Preserve as well as some of the largest more historic cattle ranches of Central Texas.  I can promise an unforgettable ride that will also include some of cycling’s top professionals that will be right there by your side!  Mark your calendar….because if you’re a cyclist….this will be a must for 2010!

Stay tuned…more to come from the road…..

G

This past weekend, Kenda Pro Cycling Team Captain, Jonny Sundt and I hit the road, I-20 to be exact, headed to Athens, GA for the kickoff of the USA Crits Championship Series. Don’t worry, we left Dallas, passed through Athens (TX), Dallas (GA) and arrived in Athens, GA in a mere 14.5 hours including 3 gas stops, a Starbucks run, and the always road-trip-essential: Waffle House.

Who needs Google anyway? That old thing told us it would take 14 hours and 55 minutes no stops, wow did we prove that thing wrong. It must still be operating on the edge network, we’ve moved to 3G baby, and were rolling across the good ole south. Not to mention it couldn’t find us during our journey through Alabama. Forest? Forest Gump?

After a case of Mountain Dew and sugar free Redbull, we arrived. Road trip: complete. Journey: epic.

Check out the video- it tells the real story.

And stay tuned this week, we’ll be rolling out more footage all week long. Interviews with the riders, shots of the race, you won’t want to miss this.

Still emerging from my post Redbull binge,
P

I realize as Spring arrives we all get bombarded w/ ad promos that in some way hype the “NEW” and/or “IMPROVED” over what we just saw last year.

Apple just introduced to the world a new product….the “iPad” and while we don’t have anything that cool…. Passion for Children’s as an organization has gone through some changes over the last 6 months and we are pretty excited about what’s new for us in 2010!

So what’s the BIG DEAL?   Let’s start with as an organization we have grown by 100%….hiring our first full-time staff person.  That’s a pretty big deal!  His name is Preston Walhood and he will serve as our Campaign Director and Race Director during the 2010 TX TOUGH GRAND PRIX III.

Some of you might be asking yourself…. “Godsey, then what the heck are you going to be doing?”…well two heads are better than one and Preston brings an entirely different skill set to the table.  This is going to allow me to get involved in some other areas to help promote and educate people about what they can do to help so I am very excited.

A Dallas native, Preston graduated from LSU…. go ahead…give him a hard time.  I do and he has thick skin, so he can take it. Prior to coming to us Preston worked as the Associate Program Director and Director of Marketing / Recruiting of the Southwestern Diabetic Foundation where he helped to take care of more than a 1000 diabetic children each summer. The guy is incredibly organized….and he had to be because taking care of kids who are diabetic means they have to get their medication on-time or you’ve got serious problems.  He is uniquely qualified to help us and has a genuine interest in wanting to help kids and families….that makes him a pretty good fit!  He has a lot of enthusiasm, great work ethic and often times is a couple steps ahead of me unless I have been able to get a couple RedBull’s down…..then he’s got no chance

Since coming on board, Preston has jumped in head first and helped me do range of things that are going to be vital to the success of our organization moving forward.  First on the agenda was to build a website for the TX TOUGH GRAND PRIX.  This event has never had a presence on the web but now it does….check it out, I guess you’re already here…

www.txtgrandprix.org

We launched the new site mid February and the response has been killer! We are averaging nearly 1,400 hits a day….that is just WOW! We also expanded the event this year in an attempt to take it to the next level by adding a couple of very important components. In 2010…the Grand Prix will be the USA CRIT Championship Series finals….that’s right….ALL ROADS LEAD TO BIG “D”!

Last year series leader jersey changed hands all the way to the finals in Vegas and I bet it will be more of the same this year so mark your calendar for Thursday, September 16th….because the fastest guys on two wheels in the world are coming to Dallas and you can bet they are going to unleash the furry.

Another cool component we added that I am probably most excited about is our first amateur race for guys that like to ride/race their bikes and want to raise some money for Children’s.  This is something we hoped could be done at some point and well….we are getting our first shot.  Given we have to produce the race on Thursday night….we are limited on the amount of time streets can be closed …..but with any luck……if things go well we will move to Saturday night in 2011 and the Grand Prix can include a full schedule of amateur events.  Men, Women and Juniors….all targeted at giving people who like to race their bikes a chance to do so in a very cool venue as part of what is being referred to by the media as the “SUPERBOWL” of Cycling….certainly be an experience most would never forget.

There is lots more to talk about so I am going to break this into two parts.  Be sure to read Part II because there is waaay more cool stuff to come.