About Donald
Welcome to Donald’s Daily Draft. It’s how I shift gears from anchoring our evening newscasts on NBC 17. My Daily Draft is just that: training, nutrition, rides, mechanics and whatever spins out of my mind. Cycle through anytime and send me your comments or suggestions. I’ll give a little background on how I became a pedaling fanatic. I ran a little track and cross country in high school. It was a good way for me to burn teenage energy as well as stay in shape. During college, I tried running for exercise but not only found it boring, it was hurting my knees. That’s when I decided to try cycling. I bought my first road bike (Specialized) and took off. I pedaled a lot through college but my riding time slowed during my early years in the news business. My poor bike, tires flat and computer dead, hung on the garage wall for six years. But then we moved to North Carolina. I was getting older, my metabolism slowing and a jog to the mailbox left me panting. Thankfully, I found the great back country roads of Wake, Chatham, Lee and Harnett Counties. It was time to pull the old machine off the wall.
Comments
What’s the date and mileage of the Grandfather Mountain race up in Blowing Rock? We pplan to be there and want to cheer you on!
Hi Leslie… Thanks so much again for the invite. I’m sorry I’ll miss out. But leeve me on the rain chekc list… I’ll certainly be there next time.
Hi W & C… Bridge to Bridge is set for Sept. 21st… It’s a little over a hundred miles and I’m in training now. I’m looking forward to having a larger cheering group to help get me up Grandfather! Thanks, Duck
Hello Donald we miss Janet Jones and “Keeping up with The Jones” segment on NBC., My 12 year son loved to watch you and your wife on TV. You both have a gorgeous smile and look so happy. I plan to support your ride all the way through. Tonight I am going to show your page to both my boys 8y and 12 yr old who are both fasinated by you. Will you be at the State Fair this year? They would love to meet you in person.
Hi Don(ald),
I had a great time riding with you, Jeff, Leslie, and Ralph at training camp. Photos will be coming. I tried to upload the Garmin files last night but was not successful because the files were “too large.” I guess that’s what happens when you go too far and, yes, I have been accused of that before. I’ll try to upload them again tonight.
Tim
Hey Donald–met Barry Leffler at the Optimist Meeting tonight and he told me about your blog–good stuff. Thought you might like to see one that I contribute to regularly: Research Trailer Park (ncrandonneur.blogspot.com). It’s managed by Mike Dayton, a riding buddy, but several people contribute regularly.
If you’re ever interested in taking your cycling to the “next level,” give randonneuring a try. Our rides start at 200km and go much higher. There will be about 20 folks riding a 400km brevet on Saturday. Several of us are training for various 1200 km events this summer including a ride through the Shenandoah Valley, the Gold Rush Randonnee that starts/finishes in Davis, CA, and the Endless Mountains 1240 in PA in late September. Mike is going to England to ride London-Edinburgh-London; 1400km with a 105 hour time limit.
I enjoyed meeting Barry and thanks for encouraging him to speak to our club–the members were very interested in hearing about the station and its business plan.
Jerry Phelps
Donald,
I recently came across your blog when looking up cycling; the information you provide is great. I was wondering if you were keeping up with the race between Lance and Cancellera; it’s close! They’re just fraction of a second apart, which should make for an unpredictable outcome. The big debate is obviously whether Armstrong will take home the title this year. Should be intense.
Newsy.com posted a video your viewers may like because it covers multiple perspectives from news sources on Armstrong’s potential comeback. I hope you will consider embedding the video on your site.
Newsy.com videos combine and analyze global news coverage of important events. Its unique method of presenting how multiple news outlets are covering a story gives viewers the information they need to understand complex issues.
Please let me know if you have any questions and I would appreciate any feedback,
Thanks,
Jessi Stafford
Community at Newsy.com
Donald,
You should join us on a ride sometime this school year. Trips For Kids – Triangle takes “at-risk” kids from Durham Public Schools out on mountain bike rides each month. The kids earn their spot on the rides by making improvements in academics, attendance, and attitudes. Trips For Kids – Triangle, is a local non-profit run by local school teachers, elected officials, and other community members to help reach our at-risk kids. Here is DPS Channel 4’s video of the program: http://www.dpsnc.net/channel-4/beyond-our-walls-1/trips-for-kids
We’d love to have you join us!
Andrea
Hi Donald and Leslie, I beleive you guys are both fans of the cycle challenge website run by Will. Me too. We’ll i tuned into his latest ride (yesterday)which went right past my new apline chalet up above Lake Annecy. I’m a cycle nut to and with my 15 year old son and 47 year old brother we had a great time climbing the Cols and watching Le Tour when it hit Annecy in July. I’ve been saving all the best rides that Will has done nearby and will work my way through them on my next trip out to France(in 10 days!) (our main home is in the county of Kent, England). I’m keen that Le Chatox is used by cycle nuts and have a Trek 5500 and a Tandem stored there for my wife and I or to be used by guests if needed. If you’re ever thinking of hitting Europe for some prdal bashing – just get in touch and we’ll sort you out base camp. Nice site Donald..cheers from this side of the pond.
Donald,
I wanted to let you know that the bicycle racing club that I belong to is holding a fundraiser ride in order to raise money for people suffering in Haiti. We will be rolling out at 9AM Sunday, Feb. 28th from the “Open Eye Cafe.” in Carrboro. There are two routes, one is 24 miles and the other is over 50 miles. We will have one rest stop along the way, which is at the “Saxapahaw General Store.” I would love it if you would join us/ spread the word about the “Ride for Relief.” The weather looks like it will be nice and sunny with highs in the 50’s. Not bad for cycling if you ask me. If you would like more information, we have a flyer available through our website http://www.tricyclists.com. I look forward to seeing you out on the road.
Adam Long
tricyclists BRC
Donald,
I saw you on TV. I am a student at methodist University studying business administration with a concentration in sport management. When i was 4 and a half years old i was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or A.L.L. I am in remission now and im 18 ive been in remission for almost 13 years. My class is having an event on saturday, April 17th at the All American Trail if you would like to participate or just come to the event. Heres the link to our blog http://musms.blogspot.com/. There will be an off-road bike of 22 and 44 miles, a road Bike of 56 miles and a walk/run of 10k, 5k, 1k. Please contact me as to what you think of our event we are running it through our school and MWR. There is more details on the blogspot link.
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Hello, Donald. I am going to be in Roanoke, VA, arriving late on Friday, April 25 and leaving on Tuesday, April 29, and plan to do a bunch of training. My wife is coming but she is not a very serious rider so I thought that one day I could do a more challenging ride. If you would like to ride together, maybe we could meet halfway between Raleigh and Roanoke–say, Danville area–or if you have not ridden in the Roanoke/Blacksburg area before you might consider it. The riding is absolutely superb, particularly around Blacksburg. And Roanoke has the Mill Mountain Coffee Shop.
I know that you probably have your hands full with childcare at the moment but if you could take a day off it would be fun!
I use the term “serious” not to promise more than I can–I have ridden less than 200 miles outdoors in 2008!
All the best,
Leslie