The Bauer Family

Yesterday at lunch we discussed with JJ the preparation that he needed to do for Ore to Shore.  He signed up for the Shore Rock this year which is 10 miles and not an easy 10 miles.  I made a deal with him that if he trained with me 3 times a week I would ride with him and pace him for the race.  So today we started the training.  We would ride to his girlfriends house and Michelle would meet us there.  He could then ride home with Michelle or ride back with me.     A quick lesson on the shifters on the cross bike.     A quick photo.   And we're off!   We took a direct route to Kayla's house which ended up being around 8.3 miles.  JJ did really well until the final stretch when everything he had for dinner caught up with him.  His stomach was not feeling good.  But he got his first ride of the year in.  We will be riding home from church tomorrow.  I will make the ride as short as p...

This past week we had church camp.  It kicked off on Sunday afternoon and wrapped up on Thursday evening.  The theme this year: This is the second year of our church camp for youth.  It was the first year for Michelle and I to be head counselors as well as chefs.  As the theme says we encountered many mountains. We arrived late Saturday evening and set up our camp.  Pastor Harold Inman was kind enough to let us use his trailer for our accommodations this year.  The trailer was small, but had air conditioning and a nice bed.  We were going to grill for our meal but decided not to when Dawn and Rueben suggested pizza.  It was getting late. Sunday arrived and we continued to set up the camp and prepare for the arrival of the kids.  We had everything set and the kids came in and we had a taco bar that night.   Group photo!     The kids setting up camp!   Dinner served.   Th...

Over the winter I sold off frames and parts to build Project Gravel.  This left me without a beater mountain bike.  I received some money as gifts on Father's Day.  I now had enough to buy a frame if the price was right.  I went to the Bikeisland site and checked out the Gravity Single Speed frame and fork.  For $200 this looked like a great deal. I placed the order on Monday evening (day after Father's Day) and the frame arrived on Friday.   Waiting for me when I got home Friday evening.     My plan was to build the bike up and take with us to church camp which we were leaving for on Saturday.  There was much preparation to do for church camp before I could start working on the bike.  I did manage to take it downstairs and open the box.     Box is open and it is out.   After cutting up 40lbs of Chicken I headed to the basement.  My plan was to work on the bike for an hour.     ...

We started off Father's Day weekend at my parents house on Saturday.  Mom and Dad wanted some yard work done so we helped them and had a little cook out.  The food was great and it was nice to see mom and dad.  We had not seen them in a couple of weeks.  The boys always seem to enjoy being there also.  Brendan and Granddad spending some quality time together.     Sunday morning came early and I spent a little time in the bike shop waiting for the rest of the family to get up.  I went upstairs and woke Michelle up so we could start getting ready for church.  She got the boys up and they came down with presents for dad.  I got a very nice card from the boys and very special card from Michelle.  I have really become a bit of a coffee snob and received a bag of Starbucks coffee beans, a set of headphones for my iPhone and iPad and a bin of change from JJ for my bike fund.  Brendan also gave me a small stuffed bulldog....