Survived Another Week!

Well, the good news just keeps on coming. All of the remaining "Thrilling Three", Adam, Joy, and I are ALL IN for another week when the winner of the Scott & BR Cycling Challenge will finally be announced.

It's been truly amazing and yet another great opportunity for all of us to let you all know about great upcoming events and chances to support the cause and get great stuff in return.

Come out for a Rendezvous at the Ranch tomorrow night, Thursday, Oct. 1, 6:30-10 p.m. in Rancho Santa Fe. Tickets are $40 for 1 and $70 for 2 and include drinks and catered dinner so RSVP ASAP in advance clicking on the link above.

Awesome event including:
Gourmet Chocolate Tasting by Jers
Organic Burger Bar by O’Brothers Burgers (vegetarian options available)
Tasty Beverages
Opportunity Drawing, Raffle Items and 50/50
Possible appearances by Floyd Landis and Chris Horner!
Silent auction from 6:30-8:30 with over $15K in items, including a week's stay in a Kona condo, a plethora of cycling items, bike fit by the legendary John Howard, velodrome classes and training, spa treatments, golf clubs and outings, wine baskets, and so much more.

ALSO ... Brian Brillo is holding an opportunity drawing for a Yamaha Acoustic-Electric Guitar (model AEX500N). The guitar is gently used but in excellent condition with new strings. Pictures here: http://tinyurl.com/CAFguitar. Approximate value is $450. It comes complete with guitar strap and gig bag. Tickets are 1 for $20 or 2 for $30 with only about 30 tickets sold so great odds of winning. To get entered into the drawing, or for more information about the guitar, contact Brian at savoycourt11@hotmail.com.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST .... Adam Beck is holding another opportunity drawing--this one for a custom, modular BBQ island! The value of the components alone is over $5,000, but you also get FREE delivery and custom installation (including tile and stucco) in the San Diego area. Tickets are $30 for 1 or $50 for 2. Under 200 tickets have been sold (so your odds are pretty good). The winner will be announced on Friday, October 9, 2009. View the poster for details: http://tinyurl.com/CAFBBQislandTo get entered into the drawing for the BBQ island, or for more information, please email Adam Beck at abeck@framemax.com.

We all thank you tremendously for your gracious support of CAF on our behalf!

Keep Riding and Share Some Smiles Out There!!!

Week 18 - Almost There!!!

Sunday was a great ride up the coast into San Clemente and back. It was a change to the plan but a welcome one as the original route was to take us out into Fallbrook and 100+ degree temperatures. The 82 miles went fast as I rode on with Group 1 getting some good stretches in with some incredibly strong riders. We had a real "git er done" ride finishing in just under 4 hours.

It also great to get a shot at the start of the Thrilling Threesome left in the contest shown here in the photo. Its all been said if you've read the posts from the blogs, but it remains true that any one of the final group will properly honor the Challenged Athletes Foundation as the winner of the Scott & BR Cycling Challenge Contest.

It's been a long journey of training and the whole group is ready and in shape for the ride down the coast. It's really gone pretty fast and hard to believe we are finally down to just the last couple weeks of training and the contest.

Who will win ... Listen in to XX1090 Wed Morning for the next elimination!

The Thrilling Three - WOW ....

So at this point it seems nearly impossible, but I have survived to be one of the Thrilling Three remaining in the Scott & BR Cycling Team Contest to receive a $10,000 sponsored ride in the Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge 620mi bicycle ride from San Francisco to San Diego. The honor involved in that is compelling for sure not because of the opportunity to win, but because of the responsibility involved in being a good steward for Challenged Athletes and those striving for significance in their lives.

I can't say that I'm not competitive, because I surely am, however this contest has not been about one person versus another. Without rules or clarity or knowledge of what is required to win, all of us who have been involved have been equals preparing physically for this event while promoting XX1090, the Challenged Athletes Foundation, and this incredible event. The creativity of the immunity pump (Adam, Joy, Brian, Pat), Rob hanging off a crane, impromptu acoustical concerts by Brian, and more are just unbelievable displays of talent and energy not to be diminished.

And while it seems this is getting very serious there is a camaraderie and level of fun that exists as well and can't be overlooked. Regardless of who ends up winning I am having an absolute blast being part of the contest and on the radio promoting while also becoming part of the overall group that is totally committed to supporting CAF.

I have great respect for all those who have been in the contest, and even though they've been cut I hope and expect to see many on the ride in October through fundraising efforts. As for Joy and Adam joining me in the Thrilling Three I just know we each can honor the purpose of this whole thing and represent CAF and XX1090 with the utmost integrity through to the end regardless of who ends up winning.

Keep riding, keep smiling, get involved, and spread the word!!!

Eliminations Tomorrow - to the Thrilling Three!

Listen in tomorrow at 6:45a to XX1090 am and the Scott and BR Show for the announcement of the 2 eliminations which will bring the team down to the Thrilling Three!!!

It's been quite an incredible journey so far and this past week's excitement with XX1090 promotion and some fun outside of the cycling part of this has added just another level to this experience overall. It will be one I will remember forever I'm sure and telling stories about for years to come.

Most of all however, the stories of the Challenged Athletes and the experience of supporting them and getting to know a little bit about them is what will stick with me along with the friendships formed along the way.

So please tune your radio dial to 1090 AM or click here and listen at 6:45am tomorrow on the Internet feed. Thanks for all your support so far!!!

Day 2 - XX1090 Roving Tailgator RV

So another day of the recommissioned Hamlow RV as the XX1090 Tailgaitor. Yesterday I blanketed the coast beginning at Starbucks in Oceanside and moving to the O'side Coaster Train Station before working my way down south to successive stops talking XX1090 to commuters at the train stations down the coast.

Today I plastered XX1090 Banner along Hwy 78 at El Camino for the morning commuters to view and also along the freeway fencing with Hooters in the background. After that I rolled east to Sycamore and IHOP with the Rig parked in plain view of the Freeway drivers while talking with customers.

Finally, I cruised over to the Cal State San Marcos Campus and rolled around and parked for a while at the main campus entrance (note the photo) and talked sports with students as well as the QMDC ride handing out fliers for the upcoming La Jolla Brewhouse Brew Bash and Poker Run.

Overall a great 2nd morning of promotion and fun for XX1090, Scott & BR, and the Million Dollar Challenge.

What do you do with a Roll of XX1090 Banners????

Well, at the end of the interviews at the XX1090 Cox Communications Studios yesterday with Scott & BR they handed each of the Fab Five remaining contestants this 'roll' of XX1090 Padres Banner and said between now and Friday go have some fun with it!!!

So what do you do....... thanks to the creativity of my wife, Candi, we pulled out our Travel Trailer and 'recommissioned' it to become the new XX1090 Scott & BR Rolling Tailgate Party.

We spent the morning rolling all around North County San Diego talking sports and the Million Dollar Challenge to commuters. The pic here is from the Coaster/Sprinter station in Oceanside where I talked with commuters about the Padres and the Chargers and shared a bit about CAF and Great Friends!!!

Following is the Radio Airtime interview from my first stop of the morning with a rowdy Starbucks crowd at dawn up in Oceanside.

Gabcast! 2009 QMDC Journey #3 - XX1090 Tailgator Interview

9/17 XX1090 Scott & BR Cycling Team Tailgator Launch Interview at Starbucks I5/Oceanside Blvd at 6:15am



Finished the morning at the XX1090 Cox Communications studios getting more banner for tomorrows adventure... what will be next!!!

Great Fun ... Great Friends!!!!

The Fab Five Contestants Remain for Another Week!

In studio this morning the Fab Five got a reprieve from elimination after our 206 miles of riding this past weekend for the Challenged Athletes Foundation as part of our QMDC Training Plan.

Always a blast being on the Radio live at the XX1090 COX Communications studios with Scott & BR. Typical mix of nerves and excitement as we get to share a bit of our stories with the guys and all those listening out there on the airwaves. As the remaining Fab Five, we've been given a challenge over the next two days to get XX1090 visible out there in San Diego and let the station know what we are doing.... stay tuned to that dial between 5a-9a tomorrow and Friday to hear what we're doing out there!

It should be fun and entertaining as no one knows what to expect.

Countdown to Fantastic Four - On Dos Equis 1090

So .. tomorrow morning tune into the best radio going, at least according to the most interesting man in the world ..... for when he listens to radio .. it must be Dos Equis or XX ... 1090 am.

We will be having the next elimination from the Scott & BR Cycling team between 6:30a and 7am tomorrow live at the Cox Communications Studio of XX1090. Congrats again to Joy for gaining immunity this week and guaranteeing a spot in the FANTASTIC FOUR. Who will the others be??? Tune in and find out???

Keep riding my Great Friends!

Week 16 - Back to Back Century Rides, Simply a BLAST!!!

Completed back to back days of 103 miles this weekend with the QMDC Group. It was awesome rolling into Palos Verdes with spectacular views after a great day in the saddle Saturday and seeing all the smiles of folks. All in all it turned out to be a safe ride with a few typical mechanical issues and a couple folks with nutrition problems, but due to the awesome support of fellow riders it all worked out.

We then got the fabulous opportunity to have a nice reception and dinner together seeing each other, many for the first time, out of our cycling gear. It was another great experience to grow the relationships, expand friendships, and spend more time with some of the athletes we are supporting with this effort. Its really cool just to get to know these great people beyond their physical impairments because to them of course, that's just their normal, so getting beyond that to who they are what makes them tick is fantastic.

For Sunday's ride back down to San Diego we were treated with a cool morning and not too much wind which was a great thing as for many of us, the legs were feeling it. Had an awesome lunch stop in San Onofre with a gorgeous view of the pacific seen in the photo here.

Getting closer now to the event makes it all so much more meaningful. The privilege of being in the contest, without which I would never have even met any of the people who I now can call friends, is really hitting me. I owe a debt of gratitude to XX1090, Scott & BR, and the sponsors for making this happen.

Cut down to the Fantastic Four on Wednesday. Everyone is deserving so tune into the radio this week, Wednesday, between 6:30a and 7a to find out who remains!!!!!!

Another week survived and a huge week 16 ride coming!

Another crazy week and one step closer to this incredible event riding over 600 miles down the coast for the Challenged Athletes Foundation. That's right, down to the fab five contestants and I'm still here. Tough week with Joy's dog passing, Joe getting cut, and personally I'm fighting a bit of illness. It reminded me of what a priviledge it has been to be part of this thing and I owe all the thanks to XX1090 and Scott & BR because without being a Team 1090 member I would have never known about it.... THANKS!!!

Tomorrow we head off for back to back century rides or, per the route, roughly 207 miles of riding. For many it will be the first time they have ridden consecutive centuries. I look at this weekend as a challenge to gauge my physical comeback from the surgery now 6 weeks post-op as well as to support all those who are less experienced in this type of effort.

All the training has really paid off and the ride leaders and QMDC event organizers have done a phenomenal job making this part seem so easy. This has given us riders the ability to focus on spreading the word of CAF's mission and support XX1090 and the Scott & BR show. Last week while traveling in San Francisco on business I worked to drum up support for a start sendoff from some locals. Good news is I got donations for CAF and will continue to work on more local San Francisco support.

I'll report after the weekend's 12 hours on the bike. Please get involved and keep riding!!!

Week 15 - Elfin Forrest .. the comeback continues!

Another new experience and another phenomenal day on the bike. Today was a day of recovery for me personally in my physical comeback from surgery as I've done a bit too much in the past 10 days since my Surgeon gave me the go-ahead to lose the sling and begin to do 'more'. I've been in some pain and just overloaded so I needed a stress-free day on the bike.

As such I decided to make the most of it and ride with Group 4 on the road. What a great decision!!! I was able to meet more fellow QMDC riders and ride with David in the picture here along with Kristine, who is the QMDC event director at the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Scott, aka Hooter, leads a great group which has a great mix of riders fully focused on fun, no stress, building solid riding skill, and most of all safety.

It was also great to ride with a couple other fellow Radio Contestants that I hadn't had the opportunity to spend much time with on the bike. Overall just a fantastic day.

If you aren't part of this event, GET INVOLVED! Donate or JOIN IN and be part of it!

Talk about Suspence - Made the Sweet Six

WOW!!! So I got a call from Pratty at the Scott and BR show of XX1090 this morning not knowing what was happening. I was listening to the show and the boyz talk with Adam Beck about his immunity and his amazing story of being a cancer survivor.

For those who were listening you must have heard my heart pounding in my chest through the phone as they brought me to the brink making it sound like they were cutting me right before they let me know I was still in the contest.

It also made me realize how much I really care about this event and being a part of such an amazing group. It was then brutally difficult to hear that Mark Vandierendonck and Pat Thomas were cut from the final 8.

This Sunday we made a pact to keep the group together in training to the end and to work together with fundraising and support to get as many of us 10 finalists on the ride as possible.

Here is the interview clip from the Scott and BR Radio Show on Wed, Sept 2nd on XX1090am. Select Episode number 1.

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Thanks again for supporting CAF through your donations!!!

Eliminations Tomorrow - Down to the Sweet Six!

Hey all, tomorrow is another big day for the remaining contestants with 2 more eliminations. Since Adam Beck has immunity that means 2 of the 7 of us remaining will be no longer in the contest. It's been quite a journey so far and no matter what, the relationships formed have been worth 100 times more than the efforts expended on the bike.

BUT ... I still very much want to be part of the Sweet Six after tomorrow morning. So please listen up to XX1090am between 6:15a and 7a for the announcements and maybe a surprise or two!!!

Finally, I can't believe how quickly I was able to get back on the road less than 4 weeks post surgery and the healing has been going incredibly well. As you can see from the picture here the scar has to be pointed out just to find it.

Thanks for your support so far and please join Brian Brillo's Acoustic Night in Rancho Penasquitos tomorrow night, Wed Sep 2nd - CLICK HERE for more info.