I have official word that the 5th Annual LBI Unithon, an 18.5 mile charity ride held on New Jersey’s Long Beach Island, will take place on Saturday, May 31, 2003. For more information please check out:
Please note: The gathering location information and an entry form are not yet available. I will post them as soon as they are.
Looking forward to seeing you all,
Raphael Lasar
Matawan, NJ
5th Annual LBI Unithon - Update
There is now an entry form available for the Saturday, May 31st, 2003, 5th Annual LBI Unithon at:
Links to MS Word and HTML versions are on the upper right side. I’ll try to put a PDF version up within the next couple of days.
A couple of unofficial comments.
a) The organizers are trying to arrange to have the post-ride barbecue right at the area around the Barnegat Lighthouse where the ride ends. This would mean much less shuttling around after the ride.
b) I do not have official word on when the cut off is for submitting entries and being guaranteed a t-shirt, but obviously the sooner the better.
c) A request has been made for mid-seventies with a slight tail wind; a ban on motorized vehicular traffic; and no comments regarding lost wheels, the other half of ones bike or clowns. Holding breath not advised! 
Please spread the word!
See you there,
Raphael Lasar
Matawan, NJ
LBI Unithon Update - May 12, 2003
The Jersey Shore’s very own LBI Unithon is 19 days away.
The latest updates I have are as follows:
The t-shirts are ready. 
There will be LBI Unithon caps for sale this year. As with all things LBI Unithon, proceeds will go to the Alliance for a Living Ocean: http://www.livingocean.org .
This years post ride picnic/barbecue will be held at the Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, the end point of the Unithon. Riders who arrive at 9:00 am and are shuttled down to Holgate for the start will be find that they, their car and the barbecue are all conveniently together at the end of the ride. Riders who need to arrive closer to the 10:00 am start time at Holgate will still be able to get a ride down to their car following the ride.
For full details including an entry form and contact information, go to:
See ya!
Raphael Lasar
Matawan, NJ
ONLY 10 MORE DAYS!
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Don’t miss the LBI Unithon
Yours in Spam,
Raphael Lasar
Matawan, NJ
Re: 5th Annual LBI Unithon
On Wed, 21 May 2003 14:48:33 -0500, JJuggle
<JJuggle.nsoad@timelimit.unicyclist.com> wrote:
>Yours in Spam,
Now Raphael has posted four times, i.e. 107, 55, 18 and 10 days before
the event. Logaritmic extrapolation leads me to the prediction that
the next spam post will occur 6 days from now, i.e. 27 May.
Hacky-sack was invented in Turkey.
I’m doing the Unithon!
I’m doing the Unithon!
Should I buy a headlight? Because the furthest I’ve ever ridden at one time was 2.7 miles, which included several rest stops and a short stop at Dunkin’ Donuts. Oh, and my average speed was an incredible 4.4 miles per hour (and when you factor in the rest stops, I could have walked there faster). This is going to be the 24-hour Unithon for me. Good thing it starts on a Saturday. Are there any other slow beginner-ish riders doing the Unithon? I could use some company. Come on and sign up! If I can do it (or at least try), so can you! And to the experienced riders – take your time at the barbecue! I’ll see you there eventually! Can I dare anybody to do it on a 20"??? I’ll have some riding company that way!
Also, any advice? Short cranks? Comfortable seat? Don’t do it? Are there any Dunkin’ Donuts along the route? My unicycle runs on donuts and caffeine.
I’m not worried. Really. No, really. Okay, never mind. I’m sure it will be a really FUN adventure, but I’m not sure whether I can finish…
Dave (uni57), who has now committed himself in front of the entire world and therefore cannot possibly back out of doing this impossibly long ride without being subjected to much embarrassement and intergalactic ridicule by every single person on RSU (including every single lurker who has never posted in their life and people who haven’t even registered yet and non-riders and those Jane Goodall chimps who know sign-language and space creatures who will make their Earthly presence known just to let me know how wimpy I am)…
P.S. - I’m doing the Unithon! And so should you!
Hallelujah, brothers and sisters!
Virtually guaranteeing (well depending on my mood) that it wont happen then.
Raphael Lasar
Matawan, NJ
Hey, in case you haven’t heard – I’m doing the Unithon!
Okay, now that I’ve made this crazy decision, I have a few questions and comments. I don’t want to drive Raphael completely insane with my hourly PMs, so I’m directing my questions (#3 anyway) to the group.
FYI, the Allaince for a Living Ocean web site says that helmets are required for all riders.
When do my sponsors have to have their checks? Before the event? Soon after? Do they give the checks to me? Do they make the checks payable to “Allaince for a Living Ocean”?
Since I’m not a very experienced rider and I have sub-zero confidence I will be able to finish an 18.5 mile ride, I need all the tips and advice I can get (otherwise I won’t stop whining for the next nine days). Here are my current upgrade and equipment plans: Miyata air saddle with leather cover, bike shorts under regular shorts, 110mm cranks (on a Yuni 29"), CamelBak hydration system, and helium in the tire and saddle. Somebody said that hydrogen is lighter, but is more inflammable. Do you think it’s worth the risk? (okay, I’m kidding about the hydrogen) (and the helium) (and the bike shorts) (not) Also, I’m putting pedals with pins on the 29er so I can practice long-ish rides (they are forecasting rain every. single. day. for the next eternity)
Please help!
Thank you.
Dave (uni57)
This is the first year the ALO has put something about the Unithon so prominently on their website. Good!
As for the requirement to wear helmets, my first comment is, that I’ll be wearing one and everyone should wear one. It is a good idea. However, as for the requirement, the ALO is not in a position to enforce it. The organizers of the Unithon do not require it and the police officers who accompany us along the route have never made it an issue.
These are details that never get addressed directly, but always seem to work out. The best thing to do, Dave, is to have the checks made out to you and to write one big one to the ALO. The amounts of money involved have never been that great, no one, to my knowledge, has requested a receipt for tax purposes. I always just put the amount I personally donate under the cash option (no receipt required) on my 1040.
Raphael Lasar
Matawan, NJ
Re: 5th Annual LBI Unithon
The furthest you’ve ever ridden at one time was 2.7 miles, and now you
plan to do 18.5? I wish you luck.
On Wed, 21 May 2003 23:34:21 -0500, uni57
<uni57.ntclb@timelimit.unicyclist.com> wrote:
>110mm
>cranks (on a Yuni 29"),
If the objective is to ride the distance but not necessarily fast,
stick to a wheel and crank combo you are familiar with. 110’s on a 29"
wheel will take some time getting used to.
Let us know how it went.
Different drummer? I’m my own band!
Re: Re: 5th Annual LBI Unithon
Just for the record, when I first did the Unithon I hadn’t gone more than 4 miles in a single trip to that point.
Raphael Lasar
Matawan, NJ
Update: I did four miles virtually non-stop yesterday. I was worn out and I overslept the next day and was late for work.
I didn’t think the adjustment period for short cranks would be so long. I’m going to try them anyway, just to see. I also got 125’s in case the 110’s were too short. Maybe I’ll end up compromising by using the 125’s, but based on what you are saying, I will probably put the 150’s back on. Also, U-Turn just gave me the same advice!
Raphael, that’s encouraging and inspiring news. But it still doesn’t change the fact that 18.5 miles is going to be extremely physically demanding for me. It does, however, increase my resolve. Good thing it’s on a Saturday!
Dave (uni57)
Rain or Shine
The LBI Unithon is 4, yes only 4, days away.
The weather forecast for Saturday, May 31st seems to change almost as often as some of you change your cranks, but for the record, please let it be known, the LBI Unithon is Rain or Shine.
See ya there,
Raphael Lasar
Matawan, NJ
YeeHaa!
See you tomorrow, then!
Cheers,
Raphael Lasar
Matawan, NJ