Warm Enough in Anchorage, Jill Homer Checks In

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

Biking 350 miles in Alaska's human-powered Iditarod, she had some miserable moments, and she had great moments. Being Jill Homer, she told us about them both.

Wet bike, wet boot, inner demons :

But it's awfully beautiful out there:

Laura Conaway

5:08 PM ET | 03- 3-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

 

She Made It: Jill Homer Reaches McGrath

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

At 4:20 local time Saturday, snow cyclist Jill Homer reached the end of Alaska's 350-mile Iditarod Trail Invitational. With a time of six days, two hours and 20 minutes, Homer fared better than the eight days she expected to spend on the trail. Not that it was by any means easy. Can't wait to catch up to her for an audio interview. Meanwhile, she writes:

I came to an open stream crossing that was running knee-deep, which at subzero temperatures is a big deal. But I was in a hurry so I wrapped my garbage bags around my legs and quickly duct taped the tops, then hoisted my bike and stepped right into the creek. But the bike's weight and rushing water were too much for me to handle, and I dropped the bike.

Read the rest on her blog.

Bonus: News of the other racers tumbling toward home.

Laura Conaway

7:08 AM ET | 03- 2-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

 

Thank God: Jill Homer Checks In

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

Snow cyclist Jill Homer reached the Nikolai checkpoint yesterday at 4:20 p.m. That puts her about 50 miles from McGrath, Alaska, the end of the 350-mile Iditarod Trail Invitational. Homer had set a blistering pace early in the race, fast enough to put her within reach of the women's course record.

Then she slowed down, way down, and the only news was that she hadn't slept to speak over the first few nights. Later, she was found in a bivvy sack napping beside the trail to Nikolai. You could practically hear everyone on the race's message board let out their breath when Homer posted an account at Nikolai. It's pasted in full after the jump.

Continue reading "Thank God: Jill Homer Checks In" »

Laura Conaway

8:54 AM ET | 03- 1-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

 

Jill Homer Takes a Nap

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

After worrying all day about snow cyclist Jill Homer, I'm happy to report that the reason she stopped making progress on the Iditarod Trail Invitational leaderboard is that she'd pulled off by the side of the trail to catch 40 winks. Or 400. The report from Alaska:

Jill told them that she was falling asleep while riding her bike and decided to stop otherwise she was fine.

Her boyfriend, Geoff Roes, finally reached her by phone. He says she has made it to Nikolai and plans to head out early Saturday for the last 50 miles of the 350-mile race. He writes, "She's had a couple tough days with lots of walking, wind, and cold but she is feeling strong and is planning to get some sleep and get up early for the final push on to McGrath."

Get those pancakes ready, y'all. After the jump, a Google map.

Continue reading "Jill Homer Takes a Nap" »

Laura Conaway

9:07 PM ET | 02-29-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

 

UPDATED: Where in the World Is Jill Homer?

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

On today's show, we heard from runner Geoff Roes. He'd been forced by bad ankles to drop out of the 350-mile Iditarod Trail Invitational. Now he's waiting for news of his girlfriend, snow cyclist Jill Homer.

The leaderboard shows Homer has left the Rohn checkpoint at mile 210 after an unexpectedly long stay. Race organizers Bill and Kathi Merchant, who were with her there, have reached Nikolai (at mile 300). Homer hasn't, at least according to the latest -- quite possibly iffy -- leaderboard. (UPDATE: "Jill Homer was reported about 20 miles from Nikolai and told people she was going to rest however she seemed fine and we should hear from her fairly soon."

Roes was hopeful that Homer would pull on into McGrath this morning, but I just talked to cyclist Rocky Reifenstuhl and there's no sign of her there. Reifenstuhl says he's about to set off for Nome. We'll keep our fingers crossed for Homer.

Laura Conaway

12:18 PM ET | 02-29-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

 

Iditarod Winner Looked Like an 'Ice Man'

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

Peter Schneiderheinze describes a warm welcome.

When racers in the Iditarod Trail Invitational reach McGrath, Alaska, they head for Peter Schneiderheinze's four-room home. Schneiderheinze and his wife feed and house the racers, sometimes two or three dozen at once. He says the winner, Jay Petervary, came in at 4:20 this morning looking like an ice man. He fed Petervary, and then fed him some more, and then Petervary headed off for a nap. He'll likely stay a couple of days before heading out another 750 miles on the trail to Nome.

Laura Conaway

11:27 AM ET | 02-28-2008 | permalink | comments (8) | e-mail post

 

A Winner! Jay Petervary Reaches McGrath

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

The Iditarod Trail Invitational has its first winner. Jay Petervary blazed his way to mile 350 in McGrath, Alaska, in three days, 14 hours and 20 minutes. Official results show him knocking on the cabin door at 4:20 a.m. local time. Come on in.

The record keeper writes: "[Jay] reports that trail conditions were a bit soft however he sounded in great spirits maybe this had to do with the fact that he called after eating several plates of lasagna provided by our host Peter Schneiderheinze."

After McGrath, the race continues another 760 miles to Nome. Nineteen people signed up for that -- including Petervary. Man.

Laura Conaway

9:48 AM ET | 02-28-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

 

Warm Enough in Anchorage, Geoff Roes Checks In

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

Geoff Roes on having to quit the race at mile 130.

Got an e-mail this morning from runner Geoff Roes, who'd been leading the men's division in the 350-mile Iditarod Trail Invitational before an ankle went bad and he had to leave the race -- at mile 130.

Roes is now in Anchorage, in a place with no phone, but he promises to call later. (And special thanks to his mother, Sharon Roes, for helping to get us in touch with her son.) Roes writes, "It's funny because there's all this discussion about the race going on all over the Internet, but out on the trail we don't know or hear any of it, so it's been interesting and surprising to see how much interest there has been in following our progress. Obviously things didn't go as planned for me." Now he's looking forward to next year.

Roes' girlfriend, Jill Homer, may or may not be holed up at the Rohn checkpoint (mile 210). The leader board says she's "still in," but lists another racer as "last out." Not sure what that's about. (An aside: Joe Polk reports that race officials weren't able to get a heater into the Rohn roadhouse. Brrrr.)

UPDATE: Homer has left Rohn, for the final 140 miles. Roes says he's not sure why she stayed at the checkpoint for so long, but he's relieved that she's on her way.

After the jump, an updated Google map.

Continue reading "Warm Enough in Anchorage, Geoff Roes Checks In" »

Laura Conaway

7:21 AM ET | 02-28-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

 

Leaders Battling Darkness, Cold, Sleep

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

The 350-mile Iditarod Trail Invitational should have a winner in the men's cycling division this morning, according to the record keepers.

Jay Petervary and Peter Basinger are in the last 50 miles, with the major obstacle being lack of sleep. Petervary's got the lead. Basinger was slowed earlier in the race when he broke a pedal and had to wait for a new one on the mail plane. The record keeper writes, "Will Jay go all the way without stopping? If he stops, can Peter catch him if Peter does not stop?"

In 2006, Peter Basinger shared his victory with Rocky Reifenstuhl. Race organizer Bill Merchant says Basinger stuck with Reifenstuhl, who's with the lead pack again this year, rather than leave him behind. They crossed the line together.

After the jump, an updated Google map.

Continue reading "Leaders Battling Darkness, Cold, Sleep" »

Laura Conaway

6:31 AM ET | 02-28-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

 

Jill Homer Hanging Tough with the Big Boys

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

This is far from a definitive report, but it appears that snow cyclist Jill Homer may be part of a lead group of 13 bikers in the Iditarod Trail Invitational that has passed through the Rohn checkpoint (mile 210 of the 350-mile course). She's been the lone woman in that pack.

Homer was 13th at the previous checkpoint, Puntilla, 45 miles back. The next person left out three and half hours after her. It's hard to see how he could have made up enough ground to pass her. See what you make of this, from the record keeper:

[Rob] reports that 13 bikers have passed through and are on the way to Nikolai. He was not there for some, however looking at the list of people that departed Puntilla, the leading group has thirteen racers in it.

Laura Conaway

2:50 PM ET | 02-27-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

 

Google Earth: Where in the World Is Jill Homer?

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

Just finished updating our Google map of the Iditarod Trail Invitational with photos from the race so far. But there's always someone cooler than you, as Mama used to say, and today that person is named Chris.

The generous listener sent over a link to the Google Earth map above. It follows the Iditarod race for mushers and their dogs, but the course is the same. And somewhere in those folds of green and white -- now mostly white -- Jill Homer is pedaling along. At least according to the latest report.

Laura Conaway

2:07 PM ET | 02-27-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

 

Bad Ankle Forces Geoff Roes From the Race

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

Reports from the Iditarod Trail Invitational are thinning out as the racers move deeper into the 350-mile course to McGrath, Alaska.

Runner Geoff Roes was leading the pack when he checked into Finger Lake (mile 130). Then his name froze on the leader board as he spent 12 long hours in the cabin there. Last yesterday, word emerged that Roes had injured his ankle. He waited at Finger Lake in hopes of being able to continue, and he did set out on the course again. But the mighty runner could go no more.

After the jump, a Google map of the frozen course, plus an update on Jill Homer.

Continue reading "Bad Ankle Forces Geoff Roes From the Race" »

Laura Conaway

11:59 AM ET | 02-27-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

 

If We'd Known Jill Homer Would Be This Fast . . .

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

View Larger Map
Puntilla Lake weather, 2.26.08: High of 20, low of 3

As I write these words, snow cyclist Jill Homer is probably pedaling her way through some nameless portion of the Alaska interior. Homer's riding the 350-mile version of the Iditarod Trail Invitational. The latest news from the race has her pulling into the Puntilla checkpoint (mile 165) still in the women's biking lead. She got there at 3:45 this morning and left again at 8:55. (Thanks for the update, @buttermilk1)

And then there's her boyfriend, Geoff Roes, who's running the race. He's ahead of the foot pack, checking in at Fingerlake (mile 130) last night at 11:56. No word on when he left out again.

Another interesting note: Champion cyclist Peter Basinger broke a pedal and had to wait for a new one on the next mail plane. He then caught up to the pack at Puntilla, pulling in at 9:40 p.m. -- 1:35 later than the leader. Basinger and the leader, Jay Petervary left again at 1:05 a.m., a half hour after another pair. A few years back, Basinger reportedly decided to stick with a racer he thought was in trouble on the course, settling for a share of first place to help another person. Don't know about you, but I'm so with that.

Bonus: Flickr photos

Laura Conaway

2:34 PM ET | 02-26-2008 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

 

Jill Homer Blazes Through First 130 Miles

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

View Larger Map
There seriously is nothing out there.

The morning news from the human-powered Iditarod Invitational has snow cyclist Jill Homer not only leading her division but within reach of a course record.

Homer passed through the Fingerlake checkpoint, at mile 130 of the 350-mile race, at 3 p.m. local time Monday. She stayed for an hour before heading out. The record keeper sends this:

Jill Homer is setting a great pace and may be able to beat the womans record to Mcgrath. The current record is held by Kathi Hirzinger-Merchant at 5 days 7 hours and 48 minutes. The overall record is held by Chloe Lanthier-Brandner set in 1998 is 4 days 23 hours and 50 minutes.

Homer's boyfriend, runner Geoff Roes, continues to lead his division, reaching Skwentna (mile 90) just shy of 2 p.m. and heading out at 3:34.

A few stubborn moose have caused problems along the trail, keeping some of the runners, skiers and bikers from reaching checkpoints. It sounds as if race organizers Bill and Kathi Merchant, who are doing the full 1,100 mile race, nearly had to surrender. After the jump, the record keeper's report.

Bonus: Ultracool audio reports from Joe Polk.

Continue reading "Jill Homer Blazes Through First 130 Miles" »

Laura Conaway

6:23 AM ET | 02-26-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

 

Geoff Roes Reaches the First Checkpoint

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

Looking like the First Couple of ridiculous outdoor endeavors, Geoff Roes and Jill Homer hit the initial checkpoint of the Iditarod Trail Invitational leading their divisions. The last record of Homer, who's doing the 350-mile race in the cycling division, was when she blew through Yentna Station at 9 p.m. Sunday night as the top female biker.

Now comes news that Roes made it to Yentna at 6:55 a.m. and kept on going -- the first runner through. Just for kicks, here's the second of his three-part video series from a training run.

Laura Conaway

1:07 PM ET | 02-25-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

 

Jill Homer Reaches the First Checkpoint

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

The 350-mile human-powered Iditarod Trail Invitational kicked off Sunday at 2 p.m. local from the outskirts of Anchorage, Alaska.

At 9:10 p.m., snow cyclist Jill Homer hauled herself into the first official checkpoint, Yentna Station. She left again 15 minutes later, heading for Skwentna at mile 90. No sign yet of Homer's boyfriend, Geoff Roes, who's racing on foot. That's not unexpected, since biking the course takes about eight days, running it more like 11 or 12.

The record keepers are sending over short notes, like this one:

"Jill Homer is the first Woman into Yentna at 9:10 if she has a good race it is possible to beat the womans record to Mcgrath."

We'll post more as we get it. Meanwhile, here's a clip from Roes on a training run with his sled. On his blog, he shares a couple more -- let's just say it's a long, long run. You can post notes for the racers on the course message board.

Laura Conaway

10:36 AM ET | 02-25-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

 

Jill Homer's Bike Delivered

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

We have talked a lot about Jill Homer's preparations to bike 350 miles in snow and ice for this weekend's Human Iditarod race. When we last spoke to Jill, she was worried she wouldn't have a bike to ride, because FedEx didn't have a clear idea of where it was or when it would get to her. Kind of a "girl meets bike, girl loses bike" story. How will this one end?

Like all great stories: girl gets bike. I just checked the tracking number Jill gave us. Her beloved Pugsley was delivered on Thursday, February 21st. It doesn't say what time the bike showed up. Here's Jill's blog post about it.

The race starts tomorrow.

Tricia McKinney

8:57 AM ET | 02-23-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

 

OH, NO! Jill Homer's Bike Goes Missing

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

Jill Homer has been training for months now to bike 350 miles through the Alaskan interior in the Iditarod Trail Invitational. Last week, Homer packed her bike in Juneau and shipped it to Anchorage, where the race begins.

Now, she writes, Federal Express' national people say there is no package, because no one scanned it. The local Fed Ex office says it may or may not be on its way to Anchorage. One told her:

"If it doesn't get there by next Monday, give us a call and we'll see what we can do."

The race starts Sunday. People commenting on Homer's blog seem hopeful. One writes, "Relax. They are good at getting things from point A to point B, but like a taciturn male (hey it's a fact men use fewer words than women!), a little lite in the communication dept."

Laura Conaway

9:52 AM ET | 02-20-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

 

Snow Cyclist Checks In: What a Bike

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

Somehow, while training to ride 350 miles in this month's Iditarod Invitational, snow cyclist Jill Homer found time to move to a new apartment, keep her day job and consider the bike she'll use to carry herself and her gear across the Alaska Range and beyond.

Her bike's a Pugsley, and it's phat. Also fat. If you've got even a dash of gear fetish, you'll know what Homer means when she writes:

You wore the purple remnants of somebody's bad '90s ecstasy trip, and even when they finally painted you gray, I could still see your skewed fork and crooked frame and offset rims -- purposeful deformations just to make room for all that excess fat.

Laura Conaway

4:25 PM ET | 02- 4-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

 

About That Wolf: A Romeo Update

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod, Slideshow

Snow cyclist Jill Homer told us the story of Romeo, the legendary lone wolf of Juneau. Several of you wrote in with ideas for getting Romeo a little companionship.

Now a listener named Harry R. has added a few details. Harry says that the pictures of Romeo with the pug were taken by a local man. (UPDATE: I just talked to the man, and he still wants to be anonymous.) Here's the redacted message from Harry R.:

Romeo is a male Alexander Archipelago wolf, approximately 5 1/2 to 6 years old. I've known him well for 5 of those years. It is thought that he and his (dead) mate were the sole survivors of a pack that had been locally trapped. His mate was subsequently killed after being hit by a cab while pregnant with four almost born pups. Wolves often only have one mate in their lifetime. Solitary wolves are rarely accepted into a strange pack, but sometimes, several strays will band together for companionship.

While rarely seen in the summer, Romeo does live in the Mendenhall Valley area year round... he's just much more visible in the winter. His name was derived from his friendly disposition, and his well-known love for playing with dogs.

Though rumors have circulated, there is no evidence that any dog has ever been injured by Romeo. The pug shown being carried in the picture was owned by the daughter of a local [man]. He had brought the pug and two other dogs into the Mendenhall Lake area hoping to attract Romeo so he that could photograph him. The photographs in question are his... taken by a very fast and expensive Canon camera. In truth, Romeo picked up the pug in his mouth, carried him for about a 1 and half seconds, and then dropped him completely unharmed. The pug flipped to his feet and Romeo traveled about another 10 feet and stopped... end of story. [The man] (minus the pug) was out doing the very same thing the next day with the other two dogs. [He] later submitted these pictures to the Juneau Empire (anonymously) and to the Anchorage Daily News (where he was credited).

Romeo is a true wild wolf, and should be respected as such... but in reality, is far better mannered than many of our local dogs. Over the years, his presence has captivated hundreds of visitors and local Juneau residents. Concerned about his well-being, local Romeo supporters have formed a group called "Friends of Romeo" that look out for his interests and publish up-to-date news concerning his activities. Interested parties that supply an e-mail address can receive a free copy of their latest bulletin.

If anybody has any questions concerning Romeo, I'd be happy to answer them to the best of my ability...

Laura Conaway

6:15 AM ET | 01-24-2008 | permalink | comments (6) | e-mail post

 

A Wolf Called Romeo

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

Snow cyclist Jill Homer is training to bike 350 miles in February's human-powered Iditarod. Along the way, she's meeting some interesting critters. Homer sends this photo evidence.

UPDATE: Meet the Friends of Romeo.

Laura Conaway

8:39 AM ET | 01-22-2008 | permalink | comments (21) | e-mail post

 

'Down Time': Snow Cyclist Seeks Shelter

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

When the weather outside is frightful, snow cyclist Jill Homer grabs a tent and a sleeping bag and heads for the woods. Homer is training to bike 350 miles in February's human-powered Iditarod. These days, she's working on the mechanics of spending a week or more sleeping in the enormous freezer of the Alaskan interior.

-- Special to the BPP from Jill Homer:

I crouched over the snow to rearrange my stack of twigs, rain-glazed and frozen to a hard sheen. Behind me, the ice spires of Herbert Glacier glowed an eerie electric purple in the moonlight. A stiff breeze tore across the glacial moraine and stabbed at my campsite on the edge of the snow-covered mudflats. The temperature before wind chill registered 10 degrees.

Continue reading "'Down Time': Snow Cyclist Seeks Shelter " »

Laura Conaway

1:46 PM ET | 01-10-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

 

Gallery: 6,572 Miles of Biking in Alaska

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod, Slideshow

Jill Homer hit a snag last week in her preparation for February's human-powered Iditarod. An old knee injury flared up, forcing her to take a break from her day-long rides through the snowy mountain woods -- just as she was about to enter the peak phase of her training for the 350-mile ride.

After a few days off, Homer reports, she's back on the bike. But she did use the break to calculate her miles in 2007. Try 6,572, and that's with an extended layoff for the original knee problem. If that sounds unimaginable, just check out the photos above. Happy trails, Jill. Keep pedaling.

Bonus:
Up in Alaska, Jill Homer's blog

Biking the Iditarod: The NPR series

Laura Conaway

7:21 AM ET | 01- 7-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

 

Gallery: 6,572 Miles of Biking in Alaska

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod, Slideshow

Jill Homer hit a snag last week in her preparation for February's human-powered Iditarod. An old knee injury flared up, forcing her to take a break from her day-rides through the snowy mountain woods -- just as she was about to enter the peak phase of her training for the 350-mile ride.

After a few days off, Homer reports, she's back on the bike. But she did use the break to calculate her miles in 2007. Try 6,572, and that's with an extended layoff for the original knee problem. If that sounds unimaginable, just check out the photos above. Happy trails, Jill. Keep pedaling.

Bonus:
Up in Alaska, Jill Homer's blog

Biking the Iditarod: The NPR series

Laura Conaway

8:50 AM ET | 01- 3-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

 

Running the Iditarod: 350 Snowy Miles in Sneakers

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

Geoff Roes lives in Alaska with his semi-famous girlfriend, Jill Homer, who's planning to bike the Iditarod. Jill has been blogging about her training for the 350-mile race through the Alaskan wilderness. It'll be a lonely trip, dark and cold and about as hard as a human can stand.

Geoff knows how scary the human-powered Iditarod must seem to Jill, because he's also in the race -- in the runners division. On today's show, we played a couple of clips from Geoff, who says he's planning to run in a pair of oversized sneakers with plenty of socks and a neoprene cover. He'll carry his gear in that sled you see up there, bought for a few bucks at the drugstore.

Continue reading "Running the Iditarod: 350 Snowy Miles in Sneakers" »

Laura Conaway

9:31 AM ET | 12-26-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

 

Snow Biker Checks In: Man, Is It Dark Up Here

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

Jill Homer, the intrepid snow cyclist, checks in to say that it's awfully, awfully dark up there in Alaska. Homer sounds grateful for the time she spends training to bike 350 miles of the Iditarod, even it's hard dragging herself out there sometimes. She writes:

These are dark days. And with the winter solstice at hand, they don't get much darker. The sun rises late in the morning, hangs low on the horizon for a few hours, and sets early in the afternoon. The remaining hours are shrouded in darkness, and it seems to have a negative effect on the moods of people in Alaska.

Ms. Homer, we wish you a happy solstice.

Bonus: Jill Homer's blog, Up in Alaska

Laura Conaway

9:28 AM ET | 12-21-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

 

Top 10 Tips for Biking in Snow

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

Got a care package from Jill Homer, who's training to bike 350 miles in the human-powered Iditarod. If you're a nutty urban cyclist in a cold climate (hello, Salt Lake City), take heed. Except for the parts about moose tracks and sled dogs, her advice could apply to you. (Interview excerpts on our show page.)

Top 10 Tips for Biking in Snow

Special to the BPP from Jill Homer in Juneau, Alaska

People sometimes say, "Wow, riding a bike on snow -- that's great. But how does it work?" Snow-biking can be different from regular cycling, so I've compiled a list of 10 tips for riding a bike on snow.

1. Think surface area. If you've ever used snowshoes before, you know that all that mass at the bottom of your feet can mean the difference between coasting atop power or wading knee-deep in it. Snow bikes work they same way. They incorporate wide tires with a flat profile in order to distribute bulk (you) as evenly as possible, allowing for maximum flotation.

2. Fat is the new skinny. As long as there have been bicycles, there have been weight-weenie types trying to shave grams off wheels. Nowadays, it's not uncommon to see a spoke-free wheel sporting tires as thin as razors. But once you slice into snow, skinny tires might as well be razors. Snow-bikers know that fat means float, and have been developing bicycles to accommodate increasingly larger wheels for years. I predict that not too far in the future, someone will build a bicycle frame with room for motocross tires. Look for it.

Continue reading "Top 10 Tips for Biking in Snow" »

Laura Conaway

7:36 AM ET | 12-14-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

 

An Update from Alaska: "Now I'm Frightened"

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

Jill Homer is training to bike the Iditarod in Alaska, and she's been guest blogging the experience. Here's the latest...

I am now officially, genuinely frightened.

A week of Arctic cold snaps, hurricane-force winds, remote mechanical mishaps, frozen eyelashes and camping in a 30-below-zero wind chill has re-opened my eyes to the learning curve of winter endurance bicycle training. It is a steep one. I set out early in the week for my first winter camping experience. I packed up my bicycle, left my house in the pitch darkness of 5 p.m., and pedaled 30 miles north to an area that is best described as "Alaska remote." I hadn't seen a car go by in more than an hour when I felt the awful bouncing of a rear flat tire.

Continue reading "An Update from Alaska: "Now I'm Frightened"" »

Dan Pashman

9:11 AM ET | 12- 6-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

 

Alaskan Cyclist Has Warm Clothes, Cat

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

Jill Homer sends another installment in her series on biking the human-powered Iditarod. And with it, she sends this picture of the cold-weather gear she'll be wearing in order to survive, and enjoy, the race. Check out the cat -- looks like a critter who'd rather have cheezburger than spend a week in pedaling through the snow.

Laura Conaway

12:36 PM ET | 11-29-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

 

Alaska Biker Suffers, Um, Personal Injury

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

Jill Homer, our favorite Iditarod snow-cyclist, phoned in from Juneau today with an update on her training.

Back home, on her wonderful blog, she reports on a fall that didn't happen -- and on the injury that did:

I hit a puddle that isn't completely frozen and plant my front tire 8 inches deep and my bike stops cold but my body flies forward . . .

Read the rest yourselves, people.

Laura Conaway

8:34 AM ET | 11-21-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

 

Meet Jill Homer, Snow Cyclist, Lunatic, Hero

Filed under: Biking the Iditarod

Greetings, BPP adventure enthusiasts, and welcome to the first installment of our weekly "Biking the Iditarod" series. We've decided to follow the training regimen of one Jill Homer, who's just so amazing. Her first post:

Hi. My name is Jill Homer. I'm a 28-year-old newspaper page designer in Juneau, Alaska. I enjoy hiking, reading and photography. Oh, and I'm planning to race 350 miles of Alaska's Iditarod Trail next February. On my bicycle.

On the surface, it seems like a mad proposition -- riding a bicycle hundreds of miles into the remote Alaska wilderness, in the winter no less, fully expecting and maybe even hoping to meet wolves, moose, rotten ice, deep snow, extreme isolation, blizzards that have been known to pin down entire dog teams and temperatures than can approach 50 below.

Continue reading "Meet Jill Homer, Snow Cyclist, Lunatic, Hero" »

Laura Conaway

9:52 AM ET | 11-15-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post