February 22, 2009 Winter is on the run.....

ONLINE REGISTRATION for the 2009 Border Raider Ride is now open and busy, we are getting riders signing up everyday from all over the country. If you prefer snail mail a PDF form is also posted online for your use. We are not mailing out the traditional ride flyer this year. We have embraced the world wide web to spread the word for us............ and many of our former riders will have an email in their inboxes from Paul this weekend. However, Paul and I are old school and it just did not feel right not to mail out something.......... so we are looking to do some postcards soon.

Our Border Raid ride does not have much of a prison following, meaning very few personal cars follow along the ride route during the week. One year our ride had only 3 staff cars and 2 personal ones for 150 or so riders..... But, if you have a spouse that would like to come along and volunteer and help for some or all of the ride let us know and we can work things out with you. We can even entertain the idea of a rider/volunteer combo.

Sadly, the high gas prices last year put the hurt on us as well as Shuttleguy. They informed us that due to the high gas prices and
the fact they lost money last year on several rides they had decided not to join us this year. We are sure sorry and hope they can come back and join us in the future..... We are exploring other vendor's for this kind of service and will let you know.....

I hope you can begin to get out and ride soon...... I know I will be doing that as soon as this winter thing lets up. As always I am jealous of you folks in the southern part of the country that do not know the joy of "cabin fever".

The staff of Border Raid is meeting monthly now and getting ready for another great week of cycling fun....
Keep the rubber side down and get out there and ride...........
Jim Turner

February 14, 2009 Happy Valentine's Day

Hey, the new website is up and running so you can tell everyone to get on board the Border Raider Express to fun in the sun this June through the prettiest parts of 4 different states......
We already have people signing up and this is only day one of registration, so don't be left out.
So in honor of Valentine's Day, we would love to have you join us. You do not need a BS degree to come on the Raid, but it sure seems to be the degree of choice of the riders....

February 12, 2009

By the calendar, it is still winter, but outside right now there is bright sunshine and a warmish 50 degrees.... I will quite possibly go take a short bike ride this afternoon......

We have been hard at work behind the scenes trying to get our 5th Border Raid Ride organized and ready to go by June 20th. It will be here before you know it. Many phone calls have been made and many more will be made.

Our new website should be up and running soon. Keep checking back, it won't be much longer until we get together in June for a chance to create some new Raider memories.....

As always, keep the rubber side down. Jim

January 10, 2009 Happy New Year

I am glad to be rid of 2008, it was not my best year, (could have nearly been my last one) and I feel I dodged a very big bullet last year. I made my annual New Year's resolution to lose weight and ride my bike more..... wish I had a nickel for every time I said that.

The Border Raid was posted on the Missouri Bicycle Federation website today and I would like to extend an invitation to all roadies to check out our website and look over our ride. We ride through some of the prettiest parts of four states. There is a lot of history to look over and a few little bumps to go over, too. That is not even mentioning the pie........

I have long admired the work of Missouri's Bicycle Federation and because I am from Kansas I can say honestly I am a little jealous of it, too. Folks in Missouri get it, they understand the benefit of a strong cycling community and we always enjoy riding through such a beautiful state. Weston is one of the highlights of our week long trip.

With their help, namely from Brent Hugh, Kansas is trying to follow their lead with KanBikeWalk. I hope they can become a very strong voice for Kansas regarding cycling issues.

Hot, cold, hot, cold and now into the freezer. Kansas winter weather can be different, but this year has been really different.
I rode last Friday in 62 degree weather in shorts and this Thursday it is to be below zero, go figure.

So, bundle up and ride when you can. We only have 6 more months to wait before we can get together and have some more bicycle fun. Remember to keep the rubber side down.
Cheers Jim

November 18th 2008

This last weekend my wife had a conference in Lincoln, Nebraska. I got to tag along and boy, did I have fun. On the way home we went through Border Raid territory and I got to show her the sights. She loved the Quilt Shop in Syracuse, was wowed by the Lied Lodge and beauty of the orchard view from the balcony in Nebraska City. We both learned a lot from the Lewis and Clark stop.It astounds me that no matter how many times I go through there, I see something new and different each and every time.

No matter if this will be your first Raid or your fifth, you are in for some great times on the bike.... We go through some of the best parts of 4 different states. Yes, we have a few hills on the route, many riders have noticed that over the years. They do not seem to be overly concerned by them. Last year we had a group of recumbants do the Long Rider Century. I was at the last sag when they rolled in.... looking a little fatigued, but still in very good spirits. It was Skips first Century, oh boy he picked a good one. I watched as they mounted up for the last time to roll on in to Weston and the Banquet. I was very proud and jealous of them.

I don't know what it is, but this ride attracts some of the best folks from all over the country, most come with BS degrees it seems. (and I do not mean a Bachelor of Science.....) I got my BS degree years ago and update it yearly on the Raid. I have had more fun these last few years on this ride than any human should.... whether it is kidding around with the staff or the riders, it does not matter. It is a short week for us cause we are having fun. It really goes by too fast ........

Please have a safe Holiday and we will see you next June or sooner I hope.
Jim

November 1st 2008

Greetings Border Raiders,
Only 3 more days to the election and just 6 months to get ready for the RAID......
I will be glad when it is time for the Border Raid Ride in June and really glad when this election is over.
I voted early and it seems like that was a good decision. I hope everyone exercises their "privilege" to vote. So far the large crowds and early turnout are amazing to me...... This is a good thing for the country and something I always hoped to see some day.

We are working behind the scenes to get ready for the RAID 09 edition. The nice days in Kansas are becoming more and more rare and the days are getting shorter, so are my bike rides....

If you are still on the bike this winter, stay warm and safe. As I gradually get a little longer in the tooth as they say my enthusiasm to go out and freeze my buttocks off seems to be wearing down...... Years ago I bought a new pair of wool tights to ride in the winter so naturally I did. Being all of 20 years old decided to ride from Hutchinson to Harper, Kansas. It was only 80 miles, but it was January. I was going to ride straight south with a north wind as a tailwind...... only 5 miles was with a crosswind and ohh baby that was cold.... I think I averaged around 18 miles per hour, it was hovering around 32 degrees so it was not too bad, really. My buddy Chris Webster picked me up just outside Harper where he lived..... it was starting to rain and he was a little worried about me. It was a very cool memorable ride.

Remember to keep the rubber side down and see you again soon.
Jim Turner

Hey Raiders........

Greetings Raiders,
Jim Turner here. Yes, I am still above ground and will remain that way for many more years...... Border Raid 2009 will begin on Saturday June 20th, so pencil us in on your calendars....

Just so you know I graduated Cardiac Rehab with flying colors and went back to work July 8th. I am back in the saddle and even had the pleasure of riding with Mark Crane from Iowa at Octoginta briefly here in Lawrence, before he dropped me like a rock...... Bill K. and Paul W. were there also and I had breakfast with them Sunday morning and then never saw them again..... With over 700 riders in Lawrence that morning it was hard to stay together with someone or find them... It is wonderful to be out riding again, cabin fever was beginning to set in.

We have high hopes the weather will be a little kinder to us in O9 with no detours because of flooding. We usually draw riders from at least 20 other states besides Kansas so it is nice to give them a taste of "our weather." Whatever the weather, I know our riders will tough it out. (Like our group of New Englanders that did the Long Rider Century when the temperature was also in triple digits) I must say the day we had the special lighting effects in Hamburg from the thunderbolts every five seconds did scare me a little, and I do not scare easily........

Border Raider riders seem to be "exceptional" cyclists, or perhaps, "experienced".( I did not want to say Old Farts) It is not their first Rodeo and they know what they are doing. It has been a pleasure these last few years putting this ride together and a labor of fun. Many seem to have a "BS" degree, like myself and I have to run to keep up with them..... I may be bringing my "waders" this year, just in case.

I really can not wait for June 2009....... it is so exciting to see old friends and new ones from all over the country come together for a week of great riding and great storytelling..... Canada Bob if you are out there and read this I will save you a spot and not put you in time out this year....... Sue from Oregon, get back here we have much more to discuss about how to save the world and right all wrongs....... Ken from Missouri, expect a bit of candy on your sleeping bag each night....

This is my first post and my first attempt at "bloggin". Mary is helping me. It will not be my last.

I am Jim Turner and I and only I approved the above message and any resemblance to "truth" or " facts" is purely accidental.