March 23, 2009 Note from Padre

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to take a moment to let you know about a NEW RIDER HOSPITALITY SERVICES on The Border Raider’s for 2009!

We are pleased to announce that Padre's Cycle Inn will be providing First Class Tent Accommodations in addition to towel and chair rental, and other hospitality services for our cyclist!

Padre’s, provides a peaceful place of comfort and rest at the end of a long day of cycling. So you can spend more time cycling and less time working on your campsite.

But Padre’s so much more than a tent rental service.
Padre’s provides,

1. Clean, high quality Sierra Design tents.
2. Thick comfortable air mattresses already set-up in each tent.
3. Comfortable chairs to be used around the campsite.
4. Padre’s Post. A shaded canopy gathering area for Padre’s guests to enjoy good times, laughs and relaxation after the ride. While everyone else is working in the sun you will be taking it easy in the shade.
5. Plenty of cold soft drinks and snacks in the afternoon.
6. Plenty of fresh water and Gator Ade in the morning for your bottles or camel backs.
7. Free cell phone charging.
8. Tent customers also receive luggage service to Padre’s Post. Your luggage will be waiting for you in our own camping area. You won’t have to search through all the other bags for yours.
9. On site bike pump, work stand and shop towels for your convenience.

Imagine after a long day of riding uphill in the wind. You come in and your tent is set up ready to go. The air mattress is inflated and waiting and there’s no searching through mounds of bags because your luggage is waiting at Padre’s Post. No roaming around trying to find snacks, or soft drinks in the evening or water in the morning because it’s all waiting for you at Padre’s.

All of these services are included with Padre’s First Class Tent Service so you can spend more time enjoying the ride and less time working to set up camp.

Space is limited and reservations accepted on first come, first served basis, so be sure to sign up early.

As an incentive Padre is offering an EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNT until 4-30-09.

Major credit cards are accepted and you can register online at www.PadresCycleInn.com,
or by calling Padre at 573-721-4400.

You cycle inn, Padre does the rest!


Your Friend,
Padre

You cycle inn, Padre does the rest!

For details of Padre's services, to check prices, or to find other rides where I am offering services please go to my website,
www.PadresCycleInn.com or phone 573-721-4400

March 13, 2009 Friday

Friday the 13th is now our lucky day. We were saddened when Shuttleguy pulled the plug on helping with our Border Raid this year, but I have good news...... We have a new Sherpa Service for 2009 and we are very excited about it.

Padre's Cycle Inn
http://www.padrescycleinn.com

Phone: 573-721-4400

Padre's Cycle Inn LLC
PO Box 104
Mexico, MO 65265

e-mail: info@PadresCycleInn.com

We are sure that they will pick up where Shuttleguy left off...... So sign up for the Border Raid and then contact Padre if you have a mind too......

The overnight stays for 2009 are arranged and I tried to get us back into Nebraska City, but school construction is preventing that. We may have some other school construction issues in the near future.... No matter, Syracuse Nebraska is a wonderful town and great hosts. We tried to tell them what a town full of hot sweaty hungry cyclists would be like, but it is just something they had to experience to understand.....

We are still getting a steady stream of riders and from all over the place...... I can't wait to get back together with old friends and the new ones I am going to make this year. We even got an email from Sue (Oregon) while she was in Australia? letting us know as soon as she gets closer she will be back with us in 09.... I hope she had a great time there and will get back here safe and sound.

It will be Spring soon I hope. At least I hope the temperature will feel like it. I have ridden a couple of times on the few nice days we had, but long for a full week of bicycle fun..... Keep the rubber side down and get out and ride. See you again soon.
Jim

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