My name is Michael Jacoby. My pal, Michael Brodsky and I have made it our side business to cycle, triathlon, run, attend yoga classes, hike or whatever physical feat we can try to stay young and healthy! I say “side business” because we both have day jobs running successful commercial real estate companies. I intend to write a host of things in this blog but I also hope to share this with my friend Michael Brodsky so that we both can post about our adventures. We have already been up to some cool stuff this year. If you read our postings maybe we get inspired and talk a bit about not only our fitness adventures but our life adventures. I’ll let Michael B. share what he enjoys in life and family, but I am very blessed to have a very supportive, loving,  supportive and the world most beautiful wife, Nathalie and 3 great kids Brynn 26, Joslyn 24 and Ben 22 as well as 2 wonderful step children, Marc 23 and Nicole 21. Without their love and support, my adventures wouldn’t be so great. Thanks family!

OK, on to the good stuff! Thats Michael Brodsky on the left and me on the right.

In a couple of weeks Mike and I are headed off to the South of France to do the Cent Cols Challenge in the Southern Alps. 10 days of cycling with EACH day consisting of about 120 miles of cycling with 12,000 feet of climbing. Epic!! The ride is sponsored by cycling brand Rapha. I am a little anxious because I have never done something so monumental but I am excited! Mike and I have done a number of events before from triathlons to Gran Fondo’s to marathons but nothing like this. Before we head to France, we will be doing the Double Triple Bypass in Colorado on July 8th and 9th. Two Days of riding from Evergreen, Colorado to Avon, Colorado and then the same ride in reverse the next day. Each day in Colorado will be similar to the France rides, 125 miles with 11,000 feet of climb! Mike and I have done this ride more than a few times previously but only in 1 direction!  Maybe because we attend our gracious friend Neil’s post ride party in Beaver Creek each year and enjoy too much recovery beer!

The Triple Bypass is a monumental and beautiful ride into the heart of the Colorado Rockies. Big Views, Big Climbs &  Big Descents. I am looking forward to my return to Colorado. We will ascend and descend 3 major pass’s of the Rockies including Juniper, Loveland and Vail. When we summit Loveland we will have crossed the Continental Divide. What a view!

We already have done some awesome rides this year with a host of old and new friends. One of the things i enjoy most about cycling as opposed to Triathlons is the camaraderie and general joie de vie of all my cycling mates. The first epic event of the year was our annual “Mike and Mike” Bike Camp at Jay Moglia’s Raw Talent Ranch at the Lost River Barn in Lost River, West Virginia. Here is a pic of some of this years campers outside the Lost River Trading Post!

 

Michael B and I have arranged for our good friend Roman Semenov to lead us on 4 days of epic cycling based out of the Lost River Barn. Raw Talent Ranch/Lost River Barn guru/owner/guide /philosopher and all around great guy Jay Moglia has graciously tagged along this year for a couple rides and regaled us with stories of West Virginia and his cycling life. We had a great time this year again. Thanks Jay, Roman and everyone else who helped us have a great time and shake off our climbing cobwebs! For anyone reading this who hasn’t been to Jay’s Lost River Barn, you have missed out! Only 3 ways to get to the barn, Hard, Harder and Hardest! Maybe that is why Rapha held their Prestige Ride Appalachia from the Barn last year. That, my friends, is a story for another day!