Biking Poem

My mom's boss is riding

his bike across the

United States.

He'll probably see lots

of license plates.

It will take him 30 days

to ride 3,000 miles.

Back at the office he

will have lots of work piles.

By ASHLEY SWEITZER, age 10

5th Grade, Sinking Springs Elementary School

Editor's note: Ashley's mother, Carol is Sam's secretary. Ashley had to write a poem about an adult whw was fulfilling or has fulfilled a dream.

Shameless Plug

At the suggestion of Jere, I bought a new bike for the cross country trip. Throughout the fall, Jere spent hours surfing the web for bicycles that he thought would suit me. Whenever, he found one, he would e-mail me the link for my perusal. Buying a bike on-line I suppose is alittle like an arranged marriage. Its not for me. I want to see it before I buy it. Ultimately, he found the perfect bike, Bianchi's Coast-to-Coast, all carbon fiber bicycle. Since I can't afford an Italian sports car, at least I can own an Italian made bicycle. I knew Tri-Speed in Timonium, Maryland http://www.huntvalleybicycles.com/trispeed/home.php carried the Bianchi line of bikes and they were just a short trip down I-83. Jere is like my kids, he thinks its fun to spend my money, so he took control. I got all the angles of the dangles measured and Jere ordered me up what he thought I needed. The only thing I had to do was get out the credit card. That was easy. Now Tri-Speed didn't just sell me the bike, they want to make sure I can ride the thing. After all, they don't want a plugger riding one of their all carbon fiber bikes and sporting the shop decal. So they agreed I could schlep across the Mason-Dixon to ride along on their Saturday morning "shop rides". The first Saturday in March, was the perfect day, temperature in the 70's, for a ride with the Maryland boys. Tri-Speed Bicycle's Shop Ride. Now for the shameless plug. The bike is great!! It is extremely comfortable. It handles like a sports car, without the sport suspension. If you are looking for a touring bike with a racing bike look and feel, the Bianchi Coast-to-Coast is the bike. Jere did good and so did the boys at Tri-Speed.

Back to Jere, he's still trying to find a bike for the trip. He wants to go retro and ride an all steel frame. The latest bike he found on the Internet is "Root Beer" in color and the chainstay has embossed; "Smile and Ride". For some reason he doesn't feel the bike suits. Can it be the snickers he's getting. Now Jere's considering a Bianchi, albeit a steel bike. Tri-Speed may even hook Jere up. (shameless plug). Sam