Welcome to our blog

Welcome to the Enduro-Tour blogsite. We want to thank everyone who has written and expressed concern and offered their thoughts and prayers. Steve will not have internet service until Friday so I will continue to update you. On June 24th, instead of catching the plane to Banff, to join the Tour Divide, Steve began ripping out walls and floors from his home, now that waters in his neighborhood are receding. Work has begun to salvage items from the Uni of Iowa School of Art and Art History where Steve teaches, but it most likely will not be ready for Fall Semester in the current location. There is a great deal of work to be done to sort out a new normalcy of life. Last week Steve made the decision not to ride in the Tour Divide this year. Sometimes you are a hero for what you do, sometimes you are a hero for the things you choose not to do. The lessons are many from the flood. One of the most important is that in working together and for each other, the impossible becomes the possible. This has been our experience with Kidneeds and is true of how many in our community faced the flood and now the aftermath. The Enduro-Tour has raised close to $35,000 and donations are still coming in from people all over the world. 100% of that will go to find a treatment for people with DDD. Even though almost every donor knows only one person, if any, with DDD, you have reached out to help your friends and family. For those of us with children or someone we love with DDD, your help is a gift we can never adequately thank you for. Collectively we are going to find a treatment. Thank you to everyone who has become a part of this adventure.

Matthew Lee - an organizer of the Tour- has been very supportive of the situation here. Matthew had offered to ride as Steve's proxy until Steve could get on the Tour. Now that Steve cannot make the Tour, please click on the link so you can track Matthew. Click on the blue waypoints to find him. To find out your sponsored miles visit the Blog page entitled "Check your Miles". Below is an entry on the official Tour Race blog that Matthew Lee posted just before he began the Tour Divide. We will keep you updated on posts from Matthew on the side panel. Thanks for your understanding and support of this continually evolving Enduro-Tour. We never imagined that the Enduro-Tour might involve a different type of endurance!! Lynne

http://mtbcast.com/leaderboard/

Click link above to track Matthew Lee.

Posted June 13th, 2008 by Tour Divide ---Everybody's here for the start but Steve McGuire. We hope he'll join our general classification a bit later on but for now he's busy in Iowa saving his home and his neighbor's homes from the high waters plaguing that region. It was a selfless decision to remain on the sandbagged homefront by a guy with a heart of gold. We wish his family the best in the coming weeks and months. We'll be thinking of him while we're out there on our challenge that almost seems to pale in comparison.

**********************************************************

Thanks! Jenna and everyone with DDD

(you can click on photos to enlarge)

Donations and sponsorship

Sponsor miles while donating to Kidneeds...

1. Determine Amount

The first thing you want to do is determine the type and quantity of miles you want to purchase. A table summarizing the options is included below.

Breakaway ---- $10/mile ---- downhill sections
Easy Rider ---- $25/mile ---- moderate incline
Iron Giant ---- $100/mile -- Steep mountain climbs
Hidalgo -------- $50/mile --- Desert

You are able to make donations in honor of someone! Provide their name and address along with the donation and we will send them a notification.

2. Specify Donation

Please include the following information when donating online or via mail:

Number of miles

Type of miles

State preference

Well wishes

Example: 3, Hidalgo miles, NewMexico, Good Luck Steve!

3. Donating Online
Click the button below and follow instructions for filling out the form.

4. Donating via Mail

Write checks to Kidneeds and send to this address:

Kidneeds, GCRCF

P.O. Box 1324

Iowa City, IA

52244-1324

Kidneeds is very appreciative of all donations! Thank you for supporting us and Steve in these efforts to further research for DDD.

***********************************************************************

Kidneeds is a fund of the Greater Cedar Rapids Foundation with 501(c)(3) tax status.

Donations go directly to Kidneeds are not refundable, even if Steve becomes unable to complete the Tour.

Email questions to endurocure@gmail.com

Steve's Waypoint

I would not be able to do this race without the support of my family. Lore, my wife, has not merely been patient, she keeps inspiring me with her wisdom. Getting to this point has been entertaining (lots of stories). The June 08 issue of Bike Magazine, Bring Out The Dread: The Ten Toughest MTB Races In The World, lists Tour Divide first in a review of the top ten toughest races on the planet. Those who've attempted to race the Divide know it to be the toughest multi-day racing out there, and I know one of the biggest challenges for me will be home-sickness.




Go Big Brown (and brown bike)! Kathy at UPS was terrificly helpful in getting the bike shipped to Banff yesterday.



Geoff's Bike and Ski in Iowa City is about as good as a local bicycle shop gets.

CLOTHES
Socks x 2
Cycling shorts, bibs x 2
Short sleeve jersey x 2
Cycling shoes (SIDI)
Helmet
Spec sunglasses
Fingerless gloves
Shoes
Wallet
Watch
Leg warmers
Rain pants and jacket
Glove, warm
OrGoretex mitts
Burley shoe covers

EQUIPMENT/MISC.
Old Man Mountain rack
Arkel bar bag
Cateye
Tail light
Chain lube
Cycling computer x2
bottles x 2
Glasses Mirror
ACA maps & book
Phone numbers
Credit card
Cash
Elph camera
Camelbak bladder
SPOT Tracker

SPARES/TOOLS
Pump
Tire boots x3
Tubes x 3 , 26”
tire levers x 2
Patch kit, glue-less & glue
Avid replacement disk pads
Multi-tool
Zip ties
9 Speed Speed Link
Small amount duct tape
Spare batteries for LED lights and SPOT
Cable - Brake
Cable - Gear
Spokes x 3
Cleat bolts (2)
Extra rack clamp
Second rear skewer
Lighter
Shock replacement piece
Shock pump
Extra Old Man Mountain rear skewer

TOILET KIT
Wipes
Sunscreen
Butt’r
Lanospeptic
toothbrush/toothpaste
Contacts

CAMPING
Atom-Sleeping-Bag-40-Degree-Down.html
Sleeping pad: 19 oz.
Small GG compression sack for sleeping bag, vest, and raingear
Large Compression sack for rear rack
Chlorine dioxide water treatment
Elte Tablytes
First-aid kit
Headlamp
36-inch lash-straps
Bibler Bivy 20oz

Note:
At some point trying to insure success in the race with electronic technology is a matter of diminishing returns, since only so much can be provided for – training. Equipment and navigation, no matter how good, will always have hick-ups. The time-trial is the challenge. Carrying the reassurance of a cell phone (that won’t work in most places), a satellite phone (its cost), a gps (with battery run-time issues) may have critical diminishing returns (more time fiddling than riding). The SPOT will keep track of me and has the 911 feature (just in case the grizzly escapes). So, no phone or gps.

Cheers and comments for Steve

Henry Ford said- "You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give!" Cheers and a Fabulous Adventure to someone who never stops going the extra mile(s )for others. -Lynne

(This is the first blog we have made and we haven't figured out all the tricks. We hope you will leave a comment, but I don't know how to make the comment link pop up at the top of the page. So please scroll down to the bottom of any page in the blog and click on post a comment. A pop up window will show and at the top click Jump to comment form you can enter your comment there. Thanks very much!!)

When the sandbags were still winning on Sunday June 8.

Dubuque St. from Jenna's house to the hospital, Uni of Iowa and work.

Park Road bridge with debris on it. Bridge to the School of Art and Art History where Steve works.

Click on photos to enlarge.

Audios,videos, stats

Fly Thru of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Ride

Our Generous Sponsors

We would like to thank all of our Sponsors who are going the Extra Mile to support Steve and find a treatment for young people with Dense Deposit Disease. We appreciate the international efforts of the DDD Families in Scotland and Italy who helped with the fundraising for this event!
Going the Extra Mile are:

Toyota Scion of Iowa City- IA
In honor of Steve, Jenna and Kidneeds' efforts
(Donating $1,000 of motivation to bike up Fleecer Ridge's 1,000 ft. climb in 1/3 of a mile; $2500 at the halfway point, $2500 at the 3/4 point and $4,000 to finish)

Hodge Construction-IA

The F. Spoleti Family- Italy
The J. Smith Family- TX
The R. Smith Family- IA

The Harris Family-NJ
E. Buchanan- IA
The Tully Family- London
The M. Serrano Family- CA
P. Pagliai- IA

P. Walker- AR
The Mitros Family- IA

The P. Hubbard Family- IA

The L. Jandik Family- IA
The D. Lanning Family- AL

Eight Anonymous

M.&D. Howard

Inifinity Skin and Spa

Hills Bank and Trust- IA

A.& J. Gray- Scotland

World of Bikes of Iowa- Iowa

C. Solow- IA

A. Broderick- IA

T. Aly- IA
T. Patterson- IA

Y.Zhang-IA

J. Robillard- IA

B. Putnam- Italy

A. Frisan- Italy

anonymous- Italy

F. Alberton, Italy

F. Tamiazzo- Italy

Rupp Building- IA

D. Adams- IA

M.& J Hildebrand- IA

R. Vernon- IA

W. LaVelle- IA

L. LaVelle- IA

B. Brems
Dixie

P. Gross- NC

The Douglas Family- Scotland

R.&C. Freeman- Oregon

W. DeVries- NJ

R. Boysen- IA

K. Smith- TX

M. Goode- IA

D. Verdechia- Italy

D. Burke- IA

J. Lambris- PA

C. Klein- IA

C. Caserta- Italy
Mrs. B. Scofield-MO
B. McGuire-PA

P. Pisoni- Italy

R. Taylor- Virginia
The J. Zabner Family- IA
The Personte Family- NY
University of Iowa Community Credit Union-IA

D. Eberl- IA

W. Boyd- IA

Y. Sato- IA
J.&J. Barta- IA

L.& E. Crawford-

E. Bell- IA

K. Southard- IA

Plaza Auto Auction- IA

M.& K. Barron- IA

M. Abel- IA
D. Ray- IA
St. Basil Academy- PA

D.& J. Roberts- NY

N.&.G Grimaldi- Italy

A. Campbell- IA

M. Fabrizio-Italy

E. Bonfanti- Italy

R. Gallo - IA

C. Runels-AL

Herteen & Stocker- IA

A. Hesse- IA
B. Asenjo-IA

Anonymous for a Princess in Pasadena, CA

Aero Rental- IA

M. Auchterlonie- Scotland

S. McIntosh- Wales

J. Kerman- England

S. & T. Irvine- Scotland

R. Williamson- Scotalnd

C. S. J. & L. Green- Scotland

A. Duff- Scotland

N. Patterson- Scotland

L. Galloway- Scotland

N. Imrie- Scotland

S. Haxton- Scotland

T. Smith- Scotland

E. McDiarmid- Scotland

A. McAnaw- Scotland

B. Wood- Scotland

A. Shields- Scotland

S.- Scotland

J. White- Scotland

A. Heather- Scotland

G. Fulton- Scotland

B. Dunn-Scotland

J.Gray- Scotland

A. Choptiak- Scotland

P. Gallo- Scotland

M. Thomson-Scotland

G. Bryson- Scotland

S. Murray- Scotland

E. Melville- Scotland

M. Sutherland- Scotland

M. Seraphina- Scotland

M. Westland- Scotland

P. Cullinane- Scotland

C. Crawford- Scotland

D. Smith- Scotland

M. Fifield- Scotland

B. Cunningham- Scotland

D. Cunningham- Scotland

C. Cunningham- Scotland

M. Yule- Scotland

N. Rook- Scotland

B. & D. Wilson- Scotland

J. Corstophine- Scotland

C. & K. Sharp- Scotland

T. Maxwell- Scotland

D. Murdoch- Scotland

M. Brown- IA
J. Goebel- IA

K. Reynolds- IA

L. Staak- IA

U. Rogani- Italy

F. Tonel- Italy

P. Badocchi- Italy
C. Beghi- Italy
M. Ciardi- Italy

D.&.W. Peach -IA

L. Hunter- IA
K. Berntsen-Fox- IA
A. Carnavale Miino- Italy
The T. Brennan Family- IA
C. Lerma- CA

S. Dvorsky- IA

M. Geri- Italy

F. Tonel- Italy

G. Scribani- Italy

N. Bruni- Italy

M. Richardson- IA
S. Barbettani- Italy

C. Brazzola- Italy
T. Russell- IA

M. Menecali- Italy
The R. Alberhasky Family-IA
R. Viscontini- Italy

B. Mooney- IA
J. Dunkin-IA

L. Rowley- NY
A. Gibb's School- England

V. Lim- IA
K. Stecher- IA

T. Zampogna- Italy

M. Venturato- Italy
Map of our sponsors and
Graph of sponsored miles (Purple)
click to enlarge

DDD families

DDD patients and friends- "Completing Stories"
Steve's journey of 2711 miles is for DDD patients. Steve, besides being a Prof., and a hero, is also a professional storyteller. Every choice we make creates a story- sometimes the stories are boring, exciting, triumphant or brilliant failures. But they are ours. Steve is setting out to create some stories with his trip and intrinsic to his story, is the story of how this trip will impact the lives of many others- me and you, for starters.

Kidneeds does not have any federal or state grant money or any major funding sources. 100% of Kidneeds money for research comes from the friends and families of DDD patients. None of them are professional fundraisers and in stepping outside their comfort zone, each person who has held a fundraiser has a story to share.

Fundraisers, please share your fundraising challenges and unexpected, funny occurrences at fundraisers.

Fellow DDD patients, Steve wants to hear stories of your challenges with DDD and how you overcame them. He wants to hear how someone went the extra mile to help you on your disease journey. You don't have to leave your name if you don't want to. You can email your stories to endurocure@gmail.com and I'll get them to Steve, but I hope you'll let them be shared. Your stories become part of Steve's journey for the 2711 miles. He is looking to how each of us has overcame challenges, for his inspiration and motivation to keep going when the road less traveled rises 1,000 ft in 1/3 of a mile.

The Kidneeds story is very like this journey. It is a road that many believed we couldn't travel to the end where a treatment lay. There were many reasons, the disease was too complex, no one was studying it, no one wanted to study it, the fact that there aren't many of us to study and the bit about there being no way to fund research. The choice we all make is the same as Steve has made three times. We can sit on the sidelines and hope, or we can jump in and do our best to change the outcome. Steve could easily have stayed on the sidelines. It would have been the wisest thing to do for his own safety. But he didn't and 5 people are alive today because of his choice and his courage.

We are getting close to a treatment due to the extraordinary committment of the Kidneeds' scientists, the research participation of some of the patients and our many generous donors. Steve has already titled the story of this journey "Completing Stories" because he wants to help us complete the Kidneeds' story- find the treatment. We invite you to become part of this story by sponsoring miles, getting others to sponsor them and sharing your stories. We hope you choose to join Steve, who is known for his courage to act on behalf of others. Because, the others in this story are us, the DDD patients and families. Thanks, Jenna and Lynne





Read Comments Posted by Others...
Jami

Steve took a break from riding to help me pass the time on dialysis.

Jenna, Steve and Kidneeds

Hi! Steve has to do the ride alone, but you can be part of the journey as he prepares for the ride. Please send your comments and sponsor miles so that Steve can store these up for motivation to complete the ride. Then monitor his progress, through the video and audio reports, as well as the live tracking we'll display on the blog. Hopefully, this will inspire some of you to experience the same sort of adventure someday--while others of us will be content to live this one vicariously.

MEAN PACKING JOB Here are some pictures of his fully packed bike and I wish my mom wasn't here taking pictures of how little his packs are for a 27 day journey (since I pack way more for a week trip without bringing food!)

In this little front pack, Steve is carrying all his food supplies, water chlorination pills, bear spray, flashlight, maps. He will be carrying a camel pack for water. He cannot get outside support for the ride, so needs to be ready for snow, desert heat, heavy rain, bears, mountain lions and being by himself for a long time.

(You can enlarge the pictures in this blog by clicking on them)


The bag in the back of his bike contains his tent, sleeping bag, blankets, emergency gear, bear spray, camera, podcast system, clothes, shoes.

Check out the thin leather seat. It is a Brooks and has metal rivets in it. Steve says that it breathes and is extremely comfortable. I'll have to take his word for it, because I don't see much padding there.

Steve created this Logo for the fundraiser, which draws from a bicycling project he has begun, American Discovery Tour. We hope you will sponsor Steve's miles. We will give you a copy of the Logo with the words Going the Extra Mile Off Trail Support Team under it. We would love to have signs in windows all over the town to identify everyone who is cheering him on. Guess I'll close. Please keep visiting the blog for more pictures and information.
Someone requested information about Steve, Kidneeds and me. Below are some links.
Read about Steve and his Storytelling and biking: http://www.consideration.org/asenjo/cyclingstoryteller.html

Or his River Rescues:

http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/12532766.html

http://media.www.dailyiowan.com/media/storage/paper599/news/2003/10/28/Metro/Art-Prof.Saves.2nd.Person.In.Iowa.River-540639.shtml

Read more about Jenna:

http://www.uiowa.edu/be-remarkable/portfolio/people/smith-j.html

Kidneeds website: www.medicine.uiowa.edu/kidneeds/

Enduro Tour Fundraiser

The Enduro -Tour is a new fundraiser for Kidneeds
that is being done by Steve McGuire, with your help.

Who is Steve McGuire? Steve Thunder McGuire is a Professor of Art at the University of Iowa and the head of the Studio Art and Art Education Programs. He is also a man of many talents who is willing to share his abundant talents with others. Among many trips, Steve has biked the circumference of Iceland, completed the 210 mile Alaskan Iditasport race in the winter on a recumbant trike and biked from Fairbanks, Alaska to Iowa City twice. He is also involved in helping the UI engineering students with construction of their solar bike. While Steve is well known for his biking exploits outside of Iowa, in Iowa City, he is best known for his river rescue exploits, having saved 3 people from drowning in the Iowa River. Steve's title for this 2711 mile journey is "Completing Stories." He will share the stories generated by his Enduro-Tour journey in Iowa City and at campuses around the country later. He is also hoping to help Kidneeds complete its story, by providing the research money for a treatment.

The Tour Divide - www.tourdivide.org/
Steve will be racing the intimidating 2711 Tour Divide off road trail from Banff, Canada to the border of Mexico, beginning June 13th. His goal is to average 120 miles per day. (Off road miles, equal about 3x road miles). This is the longest off road biking ride in North America. In the course of the ride he will cross the Continental Divide 27 times and bike up vertical rises equal to going up Mt. Everest,from sea to summit, about 7 times. He will ride over snow, through grizzly and mountain lion country, get rained on, scorched in the desert and probably lose some weight, some people report a 20-30% loss of their body weight. It's not a weekend spinning class.

To prepare for the ride Steve is currently biking about 360 miles a week and will jump to over 500/week next week. He will also probably begin to increase his daily intake of chocolate chip muffins and cookies. (I'm guessing, here). Check Steve's Waypoint for more information on the equipment and his preparations. We also are trying to break down information on the ride into sections you can easily access.

Jenna- my role with this fundraiser is to keep you updated, so Steve can concentrate on his ride preparations, the ride and then the story telling afterwards. Thank you for looking at our blog. You can help by sponsoring a mile or more and passing this blogspot on to others.

Please help us get every one of Steve's miles sponsored!
Thanks! Jenna

PS- Here's a good website to tell you something about what Steve can expect.
http://greatdividerace.com/_wsn/page2.html