Interview from the road: Between Mill City and West Wendsor, Nevada

Emmett Peixoto and David Fink Interview:
by ben thum

After a week on the road how do you feel about the experience so far?

Emmett: Well, I was about to kill Dave Fink the first 5 days. Then I actually tried, now I think the "team" is pretty strong; which is unfortunate. As far as the bike riding goes, I wanted to quit for the first couple days, but that was because I didn't ride a bike once leading up to this journey. The country-side is beautiful, the bike riding isn't that tough and I've gotten used to the pain.

Dave: The first couple days were hard because Emmett was crying throughout the ride and constantly telling me he was gonna quit and go home. But I convenced him of the tremendous amount of satisfaction and sense of accomplishment that we would both attain upon arriving in KC for the nationals.

What has surprised you the most on this journey?

Emmett: The weather and I witnessed DV kissing DF on the lips (for 5 seconds straight). Yucky!

Dave: The ease at which I am accomplishing 100 miles a day.

High points of your first week?

Emmett: Top of the Sierras Lloyd

Dave: Pushing Emmett out of the Team and welcoming DV

Low points?

Emmett: Whiping off the tears of Dave Fink's face after he couldn't peddle two miles.

Dave: Not having my cold weather and snow gear

Thoughts on that (small tornado) weather problem you encountered?

Emmett: I really didn't know what was going on. The snow was bad, but I took my mind to a zen-like state.

Dave:Very happy to have DV riding a few paces behind us, keeping us safe with the Toyota Tundra

Will your legs be ready for the 4-wall Nats after a month of hard core biking?

Emmett:YES! I'll be in tip-top shape. Better than ever before. This is my training for the nationals.

Dave: I would have turned around in Reno if I wasn't planning on going to KC to win!

What type of activities occupy your off-bike hours - besides sleeping?

Emmett: Females.

Dave: Studying handball videos. Have you adapted well to sleeping in a tent?

Emmett: Well, I never went camping as a kid. I had a, "My little pony" tent in my back yard and I slept there once. So, this is a shocker. DV is making it easy on us.

Dave: I didn't grow up with a "silver spoon" so I have had to adjust at a young age, without the luxuries that most kids are fortunate to have.

Most interesting people you've met so far?

Emmett:There was this biker that we stumbled across that went off the road. His bike was on top of him and he was screaming for help. So, DV got out of the truck and we got off the bikes, lifted his motorcycle off of him. He tried to get up and farted (broken leg and ankle and all) and then tried to cover it up with curse words and other profanity. He drove off without saying a word. DV cracked the biggest joke at the perfect time, as this guy sat in a heap undfer his bike farting and cursing. DV is a genius! God, I will never forget that moment. If we didn't show up the guy would have died and yet, he only farted and didn't thank us.

Dave:The newspaper reporter and her family that invited us into her home for a warm meal and treated us like family.

What are the odds The Team will bike all the way to New York City?

Emmett:I'm ready to go to NY and further

Dave:I want to stop at as many handball clinics as possible along the way. As long as our schedule calls for it, 100%

Think you'll ever do this again?

Emmett:I want to make the next trip across Ireland

Dave:Yes

Have you heard a discouraging word?

Emmett: All kinds of curse words from the farting/distressed biker
Dave:Yes, everytime I am updated on mb posts from Albert Apuzzi

Have you watched the buffaloes roam the prairies?

Emmett:We haven't made it to Kansas yet, Ben. And, we aren't going thru New Mexico

Dave:Yes. I watched Dances with Wolves

They say there's nothing like a X-Country bike trip to test the mettle of even the best of friends. Have you found this to be true yet?

Emmett: Every second

Dave: This is nothing compared to living with the "Kings" in Australia

Does DV sleep in the truck - or at a 4-star hotel?

Emmett: 5-star hotel

Dave: He shares a sleeping bag with me.

Heard any good jokes lately?

Emmett: Dave Fink beating Sean Lenning

Dave: Dave Vincent told me he was an Open Handball Player once? Sorry. What? Wait!

What other thoughts would you like to share with the handball world?

Emmett: We need your support. Support the WPH. The WPH is the best thing in handball right now. If we can just give it a boost it has the know-how to sustain itself and become great.

Dave: I'm appreciative of the support we received and hope to receive a lot more in the coming weeks.

Good luck guys. May the wind at your back never be your own.

Emmett: Thanks Ben

Dave: Love you Ben

Ditto. You too, DV. Not surprised to hear the Toyota Tundra is a GREAT truck! Keep on' truckin'

Update: Sat-Tue May 24-27th

Toyota Tour De Tundra/WPH Bike Tour: Day 6-9


It took The Team eight days to get from San Francisco, CA to the Utah/Nevada border. As mentioned before, the weather was not agreeable and even a small tornado touched down east of Reno, NV on the day we were riding through (pic attached below captures the storm cloud in the making).


Storm Cloud forming in Reno Nevada



On Saturday, May 24th, Emmett, Dave and I hit the road at 7am (our earliest departure of the trip). The boys drank protein drinks, bananas, and suited up their bikes with water and small supplies. The weather was still in the 40's, but flat ground made for easy riding conditions. We decided to head down to Carson City, then highway 50 to Fallon, NV, then back up to H-80 (See route above) based on construction zones, weather, and safety. Along the way, we stopped multiple times to warm-up the riders, get lunch, and to talk handball with the locals. We passed out twenty 2006 Simple Green US Open DVD's between Reno and Fallon, then another thirty DVD's over the next day and a half. Along the way we were able to talk about handball and explain our cause; proving that our professional athletes are just as "fit" as other top sports.


Sunday, May 25th, brought us to Mill City, Nevada. Due to some lucky pre-planning, we sent out press releases prior to the Nevada trip and this gained much attention by local media in Reno, Carson City, and Fallon, Nevada. One local newspaper reporter invited us to a dinner party (Pic posted below) and we took-up the offer. Besides eating some warm food, The Team needed the rest and relaxation. This dinner party was a great break in action! Emmett pulled out his guitar and played a couple tunes before we called it a night.

Emmett Plays for the locals (and a dog name Stanley)

"This bike tour is draining, physically. I am glad that we have the Toyota Pace Trucks and the support from the people because I would have given up by now. Please, if you truly feel that this is a good cause for handball and it's growth, please consider donating or pledging a few dollars to our cause. The WPH (DV) personally spent over $8,000 in the first week of our tour and food and gas are quite expensive. We are showing people that anything can happen. That our professional athletes can stack up to other sport's top pros. Additionally, we have given out many Handball DVD's and fliers regarding handball. I am happy to report that local news, radio and TV stations are covering Dave Fink and myself and handball is getting exposure. Next up is Salt Lake City and the Aces Handball Tournament. We will play, put on an exhibition, get some rest, and head to Colorado. Dave Fink and I would like to thank you for the support. Please know that we appreciate it so much and can feel it from the road. Do not worry, DV/WPH is keeping us safe and keeping us company with humor and friendship. Please consider a donation to help us help handball's growth. Thanks, El Rock (Emmett Peixoto)"


From Fallon to Mill City, The Team put in the most miles-to-date for one single day of riding: 100! But, that was nothing compared to Monday, May 26th, when we trekked across the flat Nevada desert nailing down 153 miles in 12 hours of off-and-on riding. Needless to say, Tuesday (today) was a rest day for the Team who woke up in Elko, NV WANTING to get on the bikes to close out Nevada. As I type, Emmett and Dave are suiting up and want to hit the road, as we make way for Salt Lake City, Utah, for a big handball EXPO and local tourney.

By the end of today, we will take two days off in a row before riding into Salt Lake City, Utah. West Wendover, Nevada is 100 miles from Elko and we have a lot of flat ground and cold temps to navigate through. Wish us luck, but DO NOT WORRY ABOUT SAFETY!!!


Peace!


-DV
PS. Sorry for the lack of pics, but the Internet connection is the slowest I have ever seen. Took two hours to upload two pics! Feel my pain please!!!


To sponsor or donate to the World of Pro Handball and the Toyota Tundra Bike Tour, please contact us at weplayhandball@cs.com : Dave Vincent, C/O WPH, Box 208, Rough and Ready, CA, 95975

WPH/Toyota Tundra Bike Tour Day 4 - 5

Toyota Tour De Tundra: Bike Tour Day 4 and 5:

Thursday, May 22nd- This was a "rest day" for The Team. Tour De Tundra brought The Team to WPH Headquarters, located in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains. Emmett and Dave caught a movie (Indiana Jones Opening), ate veggie burritos, and played some ball at Club Sierra in Grass Valley, CA.

Friday, May 23rd- The Team woke up early (due to the guitar-playing Peixoto) from their camp-site and headed East. This trip started in 77 degree weather and ended in 37 degree temps. Along the 87 mile journey, Emmett and Dave had to battle rain, wind, sun, sleet, construction zones, crazy drivers and even snow. By far, this was the most taxing day of battle.

• 37 degrees on the California/Nevada border. Snow and Bikers don't mix!!!
  
  

• Upon arrival in Reno, NV The Team stop by the grounds of JOGO and visit with Joe Garcia. JOGO is a sports complex that will feature more than 20 handball courts; four-sided glass show-court, hotel, restaurant, lounge, and business center (Opening planned for May of 09). JOGO will also be the home (headquarters) for the WPH in 2009.

• The Team at the site of the Emmigrant Trail Summit (and almost 8,000 ft above sea level). They finally conquered the mountain!
  

We finally found a resting spot for the night in Reno, NV. Tomorrow it's Fallon and places east, as we make way to highway 50 and eventually Salt Lake City, UT.

To sponsor or donate to the World of Pro Handball and the Toyota Tundra Bike Tour, please contact us at weplayhandball@cs.com : Dave Vincent, C/O WPH, Box 208, Rough and Ready, CA, 95975

WPH/Toyota: Tour De Tundra Day 1 - Day 3

Tour De Tundra- The World of Pro Handball has teamed up with Toyota Motors and Firstar Sports, Inc., to bring you a grassroots TransAmerica bike tour to promote the sport of handball across the heart of this country.

"The Team" AKA Dave Fink and Emmett Peixoto are two top-seven world ranked handball players that vow to win the USHA four wall National Championships in Kansas City and the one wall National Championships in New York, as they peddle their way across the United States of America on their bikes promoting handball along the way. The Team will be traveling from San Francisco, CA to New York, NY from May 20th until Mid August, 2008.

The World of Professional Handball is raising money to help create a new instructional video for junior players, off-set webcasting and filming costs, and to help with bike tour finances. Please contact us at weplayhandball@cs.com for details about making pledges and setting up handball clinics along the Tour De Tundra Bike Route.

Monday, May 19th- Emmett and Dave (The Team) started their coast-to-coast bike tour in San Francisco at the Olympic Club with a fundraiser and pro handball exhibition.

Tuesday, May 20th- Dave and Emmett get fitted for their bikes, as provided by the WPH and Mike's Bikes in Berkeley, CA.

• Meanwhile, Ken Moeller (WPH Supporter), stores our Toyota Tundra Pace Trucks back at his home in the East Bay of Lafayette, CA. We all thank you Ken for "watch-dogging our rides!"

• The Team quickly get suited-up and head across the street for a pre-tour grub fest, at The Mayflower.

• Marv Burke (WPH VP Sales/Detroit AC) and Dave Vincent (WPH President) drive just a couple blocks down the street and start the bike tour overlooking the SF Bay.

• After the mini-photo shoot, The Team get on their bikes and head toward Sacramento, CA. What a long day! 77.4 miles later and 16 bottles of water, The Team call it a night just south of the State Capitol Building.

Wednesday, May 21st- The Team makes the State Capitol Building in Downtown Sacramento before heading over the the Capital Athletic Club for some Handball!!!

• The Team make quick business in Sacramento and head up north (towards WPH Headquarters). Next up? Reno, NV.