Powderhorn 24 — Finishing the race

I've had a blast racing in the Powderhorn 24 and vlogging about it.  Though I have written articles and speeches and given speeches, what I did for the Powderhorn 24 was something completely new for me.  I have never reported to a camera, and I did it completely ad lib.  You can tell from my complete lack of time comprehesion, my searching eyes, my dead air, my discourse markers, and my loose cohesion. [Videos below and at Powderhorn 24 — First day; Powderhorn 24 — Live!;  and Powderhorn 24 — Awards ceremony and end of race.]

I sorta fell in love with it by the end.  I might steal the camera that Editor Mary Turck lent to me, or maybe even buy my own.

I can say with some degree of certainty that no journalist has ever ridden in a 24-hour bike race whilst vlogging/reporting about the experience with (sorta) live updates.  If the finished product isn't very polished or high quality, at least it is something new.

There are numerous errata throughout my recordings.  I was not attempting to be a fact finder, but rather I was attempting to have an experience and   record it.  For example, the TC Daily Planet photographer is Meredith Westin, not Miranda like I said.  Also, I rarely knew exactly on which lap I was.

If I do this again next year, I would prefer to have a support person or two to deal with uploading video files, holding on to possessions, feeding me, lifting my exhausted spirits, and checking the time.  I would like to get many more laps completed and keep much better track of the leaderboard.

I am astounded that I know so many fast friends.

I invite all of our readers and viewers to race or watch the Powderhorn 24 next summer.  Or, better yet, come be a part of the multitude of bike events this summer.  A good place to find bike events is at http://mplsbikelove.com/events/.

The fire in my legs might have burned hotter than the fire in my heart at the end of the Powderhorn 24, but it did not burn longer, and I've rekindled the racing fever.  Luckily, there are many opportunities.  There ain't nothing like a Twin Cities summer.

-Mike Jones

20 - Mechanical

21 - Baiku (kind of like haiku, only with bikes)

22 - Heart of the Beast

23 - Lunch - tuna, olives, curry-coconut soup

24 - Full Cycle bonus stop - guess the mystery - Mike won't tell

25 - Chair - may not get up again

26 - The fans keep us going - especially these at 40th Street and 11th Avenue

27 - Lupper - clue: it's about more food

28 - Visiting with Team Meat Mane 

29 - Greenway Poem 

30 - Angry Catfish (bonus stop)

31 - Greenway 911 - are you kidding? trying to steal a bike?

32 - Beverage - at Midtown Global Exchange - almost done

33 - Crazy puppet bikes!

34 - Unicycle and falling contest