So far, a festival highlight is definitely the hilarious and disturbing film, Big River Man. Filmmaker John Maringouin follows Martin Strel, the record-breaking distance swimmer in his attempt to conquer the entire Amazon River. Strel is the perfect anti hero - too old, too drunk, and too fat. In fact, halfway through his journey into the replica Tag Heuer caf1110.ba0804 watch heart of darkness Strel morphs before your eyes from lovable kook, into a character even more unsettling than Brandos Colonel Kurtz. Strels quiet Slovenian humor and his idiosyncratic half-baked crew keep the laughs coming though. Strel said hes ready to attempt another epic swim - I only hope they film it. Id love to see the sequel! Amy Feitelberg
By Stephen RegenoldMinnesota is not often noted for its hills. But a newbike race in the state, the Ragnar?k 105, makes the most of Minnesotassouthern bluff country, climbing and rolling for an estimated 8,000 feet ofelevation gain over its namesake 105-mile length. Last month, in a nine-hour effort, I completed the race,which is fully replica Tag Heuer wv2115.fc6182 watch self-supported and primarily on gravel roads. Racers tote allneeded water, food, and gear for the entire length.(My full story on the race is.)Heres a quick report onthe gear that worked and a few items that could have performed better on theRagnar?
ks long, rolling course. Bike Cyclocross models were the iron steed of choicefor several Ragnar?k riders. I rolled an old favorite out of my garage for thecourse, clipping into my 2006 Kona Jake the Snake for its combination of speedand grip on the gravel roads. With knobby tires, a solid frame, and a speedydrop-bar build, the Jake the replica Tag Heuer wjf211b.ba0570 watch Snake was almost perfect for the course. Oneissue: For the Ragnar?ks steepest hills, the Jake did not have a gear lowenough, forcing me to stand up and crank slow toward the top of the biggestclimbs. (2009 model: $1,399, )Tubes While changing a flat near the start of therace, I had the ill luck to pump up a faulty tube.