Following the J&A Blog by email

I've had a few emails over the summer and an interesting exchange with Allison Peacock organizer of the Austin Cycling Meetup group about tracking the blog via email.

If you use an RSS reader, I've got lots, I use Microsoft Outlook at work and subscribe to a number of tech blogs through that via RSS; I use feedburner to track a number of music blogs via RSS; and then I've subscribed to the BBC, This American Life and number of other podcasts on my Blackberry Torch phone, and I get the shop blog updates there as well. You can use this RSS feed to follow along http://jackandadams.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

So it never occurred to me that people would like to receive the blog updates as email. Hey, the internets do everything, so I went and looked and yes, if you post the RSS feed URL in at http://blogtrottr.com/ and give it your email address, they'll show up. Neat!

How do you follow the blog? Do you use the tags we add to entries? Got any tips to share? ++Mark.

Following the J&A Blog by email

2010 Ironman World Champion coming to Austin!

Chris McCormack aka "Macca" will be coming to Jack & Adams Bicycles on Wednesday, Nov. 17th from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Chris is one of the most decorated triathletes in the history of the sport. McCormack became the first man in history to ever win the ITU World Championships, The ITU World Cup series and be ranked number 1 in the World in a single season. After shifting focus to longer distance racing he displayed exceptional aptitude for the distance winning many races. McCormack won Ironman Australia in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. Twice he has finished the Quelle Challenge Roth, an Iron-Distance triathlon in less than 8 hours, a feat only 5 other athletes have completed. In 2007 he won the Ironman World Championships in Kona Hawaii after 6 attempts at the race coming as close as second, within 2 minutes of the winner, in 2006. He again won the Ironman World Championships this year in 2010.

Chris lost his mother, Theresa, to breast cancer on April 26th 1999. MaccaNow is the foundation set up by Chris McCormack that aims to donate $1,962,800 dollars to Breast Cancer and its affiliated charities by 2015. Since beginning in 2008, the foundation has raised more than $200,000 dollars for Cancer, through the help of a variety of different challenges and charities. "I lost my mother to breast cancer in 1999, at the age of 53. I set myself the challenge of raising this amount to celebrate my mothers life. $1,962,800 dollars represents 100 dollars for every day my mother was alive and I will achieve this goal. I now have two daughters and along with my wife, I am surrounded by women. Breast Cancer is a disease that is fought primarily by women, but as men it takes our mothers, sisters, daughters and wives, and as a man I will do as much as I can to help fight and support the women who are fighting this disease. My mother was taken in the prime of her life, and left behind a family of 3 boys and her husband. The disease took everything from us." Chris McCormack

Come join us on Wednesday, November 17th from 7 to 9 p.m. to celebrate Chris McCormacks latest Ironman World Championship victory and his efforts to meet his fundraising goals. There will be free food, beer, an autograph session, and a talk by Chris. Normally there is a door charge to raise the money for Chris's foundation. The Austin triathlon community has stepped up in a major way, as it always does to bring you this celebration for free. There will be a donation box on site for additional donations. The businesses involved in putting this together include:

Jack & Adams Bicycles, Hill Country Running, Texas Iron, Austin Triathletes & Duathletes, High Five Events, Advanced Rehab, Pure Austin, Clif Bar, Coogan & Associates, Lewis Sign, New Belgium Brewery, Steve Jolly Company, Austin's Pizza, and BigMouth Announcing.

Please RSVP by E-mail here! or RSVP on Facebook Here!

2010 Ironman World Champion coming to Austin!

Dirty Duathlon Weekend Nov. 20th & 21st!

Saturday & Sunday November 20th & 21st.

Rip it up at the oldest off road multi-sport event in Texas!

At the Dirty Duathlon Weekend, there is something for everyone. Come spend the weekend camping, running, and riding at beautiful Rocky Hill Ranch. Awesome trail runs on Saturday morning, the Bike Toss World Championships on Saturday night. Sunday morning is the original Dirty Du. New this year is the Dirty Du Sprint.

Don't mountain bike? No worries, this event is perfect for relays!

Saturday, November 20th, 2010
9:00 AM - Off Road Half Marathon Start
9:30 AM - 5K Trail Run Start
3:00 PM - Bike Toss Prelims
6:00 PM - Bike Toss Finals

Sunday, November 21st, 2010
9:00 AM Dirty Du Start
9:45 AM Dirty Du Sprint Start

More Info & Register Here! Volunteer Here!

Dirty Duathlon Weekend Nov. 20th & 21st!

IGO Active Neat Seats

I don't know about the rest of you but I am a sweater...big time!! During the hottest and most humid times of the year I finish a ride or run looking like I fell in a pool. Fellow sweaters know what I am talking about.

If you are headed straight for the shower post workout then sweating is not a huge issue. But what about those of us who need to drive to our shower? If you are like our family and don't want to leave the driver's seat sweaty for the next driver in the family then you put a towel down. Occasionally not a huge deal but over time it is annoying and what if you forget your towel completely? Yuck.

Igo Active, a local Austin based company, has come to the aid of athletes from all different sports with their product, Neat Seats! The product is designed to protect your car or truck seats and seat belts from sweat, stains, and smells.

Neat Seats are available at Jack & Adam's! They are perfect for the early bird Holiday shopper trying to find the right gift for their active friend or family member. Now through October 31st purchase your Neat Seat for $40 ($10 off). Need more than one? Buy one get the second half off!!

IGO Active Neat Seats

Athlete's Honey Milk

Are you still deciding on what recovery drink to use? Well, look no further!!! Athlete's Honey Milk is coming to Jack & Adam's Monday, October 18th with free samples for all!

Finish your strength workout with a chilled recovery drink and take some samples home with you.

For more information click here.

Athlete's Honey Milk

2nd Annual Runnin' Down a Dream

October 20th, 2010 marks the 2nd Annual Runnin' Down a Dream fundraiser. The event benefits the Girls On the Run of Austin.

Festivities start at 6:30pm and end at 9pm. Guests will enjoy appetizers, wines courtesy of Stone House Vinyard, photography from B.Strange, cupcakes from Hill Country Cupcake and LIVE MUSIC by The Daze and door prizes. It's $20 Pre-Sale & $25 at the door.

There will also be a silent auction featuring: TWO Cruisers from Jack & Adam's Bicycles, certificates to restaurants & hotels, spa, health & sports packages & more!

Last year the inaugural event raised enough funds to give full scholarships to 45 girls; the goal this year is to surpass that number!

To purchase tickets and for more information, visit www.gotraustin.org.

About Girls on the Run
GOTR is an after-school program that uses the power of running to help prepare pre-teen girls for a lifetime of self-respect, positive choices and healthy living. Over 12 weeks, girls are guided by trained volunteer coaches, and learn about the power of positive self-image. At the end of the semester, in celebration of their achievement, girls along with their families, coaches and volunteers participate in a local 5K race.

2nd Annual Runnin' Down a Dream

Shop ride Sundays: October

Just a quick heads up for the shop rides for the rest of the month.

Sunday, 10th. see all the rides go South. ACL is in town and both parking and road access will be difficult. South is the only route we know we can take for sure, even that will mean navigating a Police barricade to get up Dawson and coming back down. While the shop will be open over the w/e, parking will be difficult, maybe this is one of those times cycling down makes sense. I'll be away racing in Dallas at the Toyota Open Triathlon.

Sunday, 17th. This is the Austin 70.3 race day. We need over 100-volunteers for the bike course alone, and I need about 5 strong minded people to help me get approx. 5000 competitors and spectators from the expo/parking are over to the lake in just 3-hours. So there will be a no-drop ride only that Hugo will lead up Shoal Creek, but thats it. Please sign-up to volunteer here.

Sunday, 24th. Steiner Ranch Steak House ride. Firmly establishing itself as a popular ride amongst a core of shop riders, and a core of Steiner and north western based riders. Bring a change of clothes, some cash and enjoy half price brunch, a mimosa or two, a great view and your Sunday shop ride buddies! See you there.

Sunday, 31st. To be confirmed.

We had a number of issues this week that it would be good if people could be mindful of. The roads do get messy after heavy rain, please remember to bring your own tubes etc. for repairs. The ride escorts will help out where needed, but the best way to learn is to do it yourself.

For all the groups, but especially the Advanced group, when we are on longer rides and have either scheduled, or impromptu stops for water and to re-fuel, please try to bring just a few dollars cash with you. It's one thing for 30-lycra glad cyclists to suddenly appear at a gas station in the middle of nowhere, it's another thing entirely when half the group or more try to pay with credit cards for $1.89, $1.50 etc. It creates a lot of work in a short period for the staff. Lets be as friendly as we can. Besides, everyone knows a dollar bill makes a great tire boot if needed, so bring at least $3! ++Mark.

Shop ride Sundays: October