I was out at the TTTT this morning for the 36 hour start.  Paul started the first lap then Greg, Steve and Bud for lap # 4.  Greg smoked 'em on his lap, something like 51 minutes or just under that.  I won't give much detail, but Greg has a good story about someone who had roughly a 5 minute lead.  I've taken a few photos and will be getting more when I head back out there as a volunteer.  The Flying Recliners look to be well taken care of by their support team.

This will end up being a long story, but I posted a course record with a 50.15 tie around the 20 mile course.  Paul took his lap, then handed off to me.  John Schlitter had a 5 minute head start, but I passed him 3 miles from the finish.  We dueled it out neck and neck until I took him on the final hill.  The team kicked serious butt with a 25:30 run for the full 500.  I couldn't have asked for better teammates.  I'll take you guys over anyone, every time, every year.
 
There are a bazillion stories to be shared, but I'm in too much pain to type....
 
Big ups to Peggy for her tremendous victory on the 100 mile!

That's the hardest thing I've ever done on a bike (so far)....   We're talking essentially multiple laps of a 20 mile sprint, that starts with an 8 mile climb and finishes with 9 miles of rollers...    
 
Good Lord, what were we thinking????!!!!!!!!!??????
 
Well, we were thinking that we'd maybe finish in 30 hours or so...  and CRUSHED that expectation with a 25 hour and 30 minute finish, passing people left and right...  (OK, only on the left...    Ding, ding!!!)  Suffice it to say, we had the second fastest 500 team time, and topped last year's course record (by the GDB Assassins) by roughly an hour...
 
What an excrutiatingly fun 36 hours, with an excellent team/crew...  thanks to all!!
 
I'll dish details later, but check out my new signature line!!!  
 
Here are a couple pics, in giant size -- more later!   (I've gotta get ready for the GDB picnic ride...)
 
The Flyers

 
John Schlitter, Honorary RBENT member
 

 
Greg on the approach/passoff
 

 
The Hardware
 

 
2nd Fastest Four Man Team, and Recumbent Division winner!!!
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Hi Guys!
 
  A very impressive performance by the Rbent Flyers!  I knew you guys were good, and I knew what bents could do, but even I was blown away by how fast and consistent you guys were.  Congratulations!!  I should say alot of people have taken notice, as well as taking notice of John's 29:01 course record.  Doing this event as a team, with your friends is an unbelievabley meaningful experience.  The Cole train exceeded our expectations as well, if not by quite the same margins.  We were aiming for 30 hours as goal, and came in at 28:08, turning nice consistent lap times, and no mechanicals or flats.  For me the hardest lap was the 6th one, being in the hottest windiest part of the day, I was motivated to go faster on the 7th being the last lap, and definitely cooler at night.  Despite our best efforts to get sleep I got very little and that may be the hardest aspect, sleep deprivation.  There we some real characters.  Gerry Hull from Georgia was on our opposite side from the Rbent Flyers riding a strange looking bike he built himself.  He was alone and crewing himself, and led for half the race, despite stopping to tell the lap officials a joke on nearly every lap.  He finally bonked sometime in the night and laid down in a ditch for awhile!  Brenda Barnell's team was just down the row as well, and despite being only 3 people, and then partway into the race just 2, they broke the mixed 4 person team record (31 something hours I believe).  The women's race was also incredible.  Sharon Stevens, had a flat the first lap, and a mechanical a few laps later, but persevered and pulled back almost 45 minute deficit on her rivals to set a new women's record somewhere in the 41 hour range.  
 
I'm sorry I didn't get to see Peggy's ride, after being up and crewing, and then turning in a great performance in the hot and windy part of the day, very impressive, I think I see a mixed team record in the near future ( I volunteer as a teamate!).  
 
Once again major congratulations!!
 
Take Care,
Nelson.

Here's a photo of the team. Other photos that Rose took are in my photobucket album.
 

"Flying Recliners" was an early option, but apparently "Reclining Flyers" sounded a bit more.... intimidating???  
 
Although there WAS the rare occasional comment by a just-passed DF rider, along the lines of "F-ing Recumbents"...   Hey, maybe that's NEXT year's name!!!!!   (The Fing Recumbents)

Bud was an awesome captain & teammate(as were Paul & Greg-all supportive). It was great to finally meet Nelson(awesome rider & all-around good guy-and his teammates Dennis,Jeremy,& Ray Torrey-of course). Ray's team camp was set up right next to ours.Thanks to both Ray & Nelson for the encouragement, advice & having someone to talk to between rides(during those times when teammates were getting much needed rest/sleep).
 
As I told Paul,the numbers "5-7-9"(our team number-which each team rider had to shout out to the timekeeper everytime we crossed the finish line) will be etched in my brain for sometime.  
 
Thanks to Dave for making a special trip to Cleburne on both Friday & Saturday( & taking pictures & the words of encouragement as well). Thanks for the support.
 
Ray,I would like to start riding in some brevet's. I need to improve my endurance. October 20th sounds fine with me(if your group will have us). Peggy would love to ride with you guys next year. Our secrets? Pedal harder/faster,but that's not really a secret.

Quote from FlyingLaZBoy on Sep 30^th, 2007, 3:57pm:

 
 
I *did* beg.....but that doesn't mean he LET me!  He had me going near 40 on the frigging flats trying to stay ahead of him!
 
F'ing recumbents it is for next year!