RAAM
Race Across America
Dream Smiles Cycling Team
Dustin Dinh, Solo Rider
Personal
Information
Georgetown, Texas resident, Dustin P. Dinh, D.D.S. owner of Dream Smiles Dental, Georgetown, Texas with the Dream Smiles Cycling Team, prepare for a bicycle race of a Lifetime – across the USA - to help raise money for East View High School Band in Georgetown, Texas and for First Presbyterian Church of Temple, Texas - Clean Water for Nicaragua Project. Dr. Dinh needs your help to underwrite the expenses associated with this amazing event by making a monetary donation.
Give a donation noting: Dr. Dinh RAAM Event, to East View High School Band www.evband.org, 512-943-5727 and/or First Presbyterian Church of Temple, Clean Water for Nicaragua Project fpctemple.org, 254-773-3407. For donations to Clean Water for Nicaragua Project click on the PayPal link or mail the donation to: 12 West French Ave., Temple, TX 76501. For donations to East View High School Band go to donate page and use the PayPal link, 50% of your gift will help underwrite “the world’s toughest bicycle race” of which Dr. Dinh will participate.
** The levels of donation are: Platinum Donor- $1,500, Gold Donor- $750, Silver Donor- $450, Bronze Donor- $250 and Other Donor Amount- give what can.**
Starting June 16th, 2015, Dr. Dinh will embark on an extraordinary journey that will test his limits: physically, his mental resilience and commitment to a cause. Dr. Dinh will endure 3,000 miles on his bicycle; across the length of the North American Continent, from Pacific to Atlantic.
The Race Across America, known as the “world’s toughest bicycle race”, will set over 200 competitors on a 3,000-mile route stretching from Oceanside, California to Annapolis, Maryland. Athletes race continuously day and night, on their own power or share the challenge with a team, and a crew of 7-9 people following in support vehicles with food and supplies for the race. These courageous adventurers brave heat, wind, thunderstorms, altitude, the dark of night, fatigue and sleep deprivation. They cross several major mountain ranges and raise over one million dollars for charity. To follow Dr. Dinh’s progress in this year’s Race Across America, visit RAAM online. For more information and race updates, see http://www.raceacrossamerica.org.
The Team
In March, 2012, I was introduced to cycling by Bryce Hendrix and Co. with his fantastic annual ride for Beer and BBQ. The ride is two days 120 miles through the spectacular blue bonnet fields of the Hill Country from Llano TX to Fredericksburg, TX. Having not ridden a bike since college, I showed up to the ride with two deflated tires from an used bike that I bought six months before. The first day was 70 long miles with endless hills and head winds. My rear end and lower back were so sore that everyone had bets that I would not finish 50 miles second day. Two weeks later I did the MS150 from Houston to Austin. Then three weeks later, I did the 120 miles One Loop Around Lake Travis organized by Bryce Hendrix. I had my first bike crash on that ride and a few more after that, but never ever thought of stop cycling. Then in March 2013, at the 400 miles RAAM Challenge in Marble Falls I met some randonneurs: Dan Driscoll, David Baxter, and Jeff Newberry at the RAAM Challenge in Marble Falls. They had some crazy talk about doing 1200km in Paris-Brest-Paris in 2015 but I never done more than a century ride. Dan was shaking my hand and squeezing it so hard that all blood circulation was cut off and I just nodded and agreed to go in 2015 just to get my hand and circulation back. Funny how life turns out, because now I train with the Hill Country Randonneur for my base miles and endurance, Thomas Engine Crew and Team Taco Deli for my social life, and Steiner Ranch Cycling for my speed. Through the Hill Country Randonneurs I got introduced to ultra-cyling and the influence of David Baxter for ultra-racing. In September 2014 I did 432 miles in 32 hours at the Texas Time Trial and in October of 2014 I did 1000 miles in 94 hrs 25 min at No Country for Old Men to earn the Murder Maverich Steer Award, for true grit.
Currently, my training is coming along well and I feel stronger as each day draws closer to June16th. For now, my goal is to ride 20 miles on Mondays with TTD, Spin class on Tuesdays, 20 miles on Wednesday with TEC, 62-124 miles Friday HCR, 55-186 miles Saturday HCR or SRC, and 30-62 miles Sunday HCR or SRC.I am constantly learning more about the sport of cycling at the same time getting more in tune with my body’s limit and ability. Cycling has positively changed the course of my life. It is an avenue for me to stay fit and healthy with the camaraderie of friends who are now my family who have enriched my life with their fellowship. Cycling helps me to be the best that I can be at my office and to the people that I am close to. While cycling, I can empty my angst and fill my mind and spirit with views of the velvety Blue Bonnets fields that caress the rolling hills or the chirping of the sparrows as the morning dew rolls of the spring leaves. I enjoy the company of my fellow cyclists as we roll down the road as the sleepy sun just waking up to cast a ray of light onto the world around us who are still snoring and dreaming in their comfortable beds.
RAAM will push me to an incomprehensible limit. Through this tribulation, I will experience humility, sacrifice, discipline, perseverance, and mental toughness. I hope that the memories and experiences from this adventure race will forever change our crew and my life. I hope that the money what we raise will help the students at East View High School to enrich their educational experiences and the First Presbyterian Church Water Project to provide cleaner water to the people in Nicaragua and their medical mission. In my life I have embraced the phrase “Never, ever give up on your hope or your dreams.” My safety and trust will be with my crew chief Manny Casillas and Co.
I want to thank in advance to my crew with Dream Smiles Cycling Team, my staff, and all those that are close and dear to my heart for their support to help me achieve my hope and dream to cross the finish line in Annapolis, Maryland.The toughest endurance event in the world, RAAM offers long-distance cyclists the opportunity to challenge themselves to the height of their abilities. Over 2,000 cyclists have completed RAAM since its first edition in 1982. Solo winners complete the course in under 7 days 16 hrs, and winning teams complete the journey less than 5 days and 22 hrs. These modern day heroes
brave the desert, plains and mountain weather, lead a crew and a mini-organization of support, and raise thousands of dollars for charities around the world. “RAAM unites people of all backgrounds, nationalities and cycling histories in a shared adventure through team bonding, struggle and a strong sense of accomplishment,” says Fred Boethling, owner of RAAM and Solo and two-man team finisher. “It’s man against the elements, the road, and ultimately, him or herself.” To follow Dinh’s progress in this year’s Race Across America, visit RAAM online at http://www.raceacrossamerica.org
Cycling Experience
Training & RAAM
