Cool Breeze – 2011

On Saturday, August 20, 2011 @ 6:00 AM the coolest place to be is on your bike for this year’s Cool Breeze Century Ride.

A route for every rider! And don’t forget the popsicles, a Cool Breeze favorite! •Mini-Metric – a flat 38 mile coastal up and back route. •Metric – about 60 miles with just under1,500 feet of climb. •Century – 102 miles with about 4,000 feet of climb – a moderately challenging route, excellent for first-time Century riders. •Double-Metric – a challenging 124 mile ride with about 8,000 feet of climb

Net proceeds from the Cool Breeze Century benefit the foundation accounts of its non-profit organizers, the Channel Islands Bike Club and the Kiwanis Club of Ventura.

More Information
Click here to view the event organizer’s website

Support Me in Pedal Power — Tour de Cure

On May 7th, I will be cycling in the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure in San Diego, CA. Admittedly, I’m a little nervous about undertaking such a huge event after being off the bike for so long but I really feel that anything I do to help is small compared to what needs to be done.

Please support me by joining the team or with a donation by selecting the “Click Here to Sponsor Me” link. Our efforts will help set the pace in the fight against diabetes. So let’s get in gear and ride to beat diabetes!

Help Make a Difference!

oh, and I wouldn’t mind a few words of encouragement

Viva Las Vegas!

Grab your helmet, spandex and ride hard for The Nevada Cancer Institute

RTC Viva Bike Vegas 2010  – Presented by Vector Media
Benefitting Greater Las Vegas After-School All Stars and Nevada Cancer Institute!

Mark Your Calendars!
RTC Viva Bike Vegas 2010
Saturday, October 9, 2010

Whether you’re a beginning biker, a seasoned pro, or just want to enjoy the atmosphere of an exciting community event, this ride is for you.
Be the first to ride over the nearly complete Hoover Dam Bridge!
click for more info

I Live, I Ride, I am a Red Rider

It seems that the health of my family has kept my cycling schedule at a minimum for the last few years. This time it was the San Diego Tour de Cure I missed out on while my father is in the hospital. It really didn’t matter to me, I am a Red Rider at all times.

Why we ride … Red Riders
Red Riders are all Tour de Cure participants with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It doesn’t matter if you are on a team or an individual – you are an inspiration.

The purpose of the Red Riders…
Is to support everyone who lives with diabetes and showcase the courage it takes to live every day with this difficult condition.

And being a Red Rider means…
that you are not alone. With hundreds of riders who may share a similar story, and hundreds more to support you, being a Red Rider can help you with your first step or your millionth – in your fight to live a healthier life!

How do I become a Red Rider?

Wear the Red Rider Jersey

If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes you are eligible to become a Red Rider. Make note when you register or contact your local Tour de Cure coordinator and tell them you want to be recognized as a Red Rider on the day of the event. This means you will receive free recognition gifts on the day of the event including a Red Rider Jersey. (all participants must raise the minimum $150 fundraising goal)

Is there a team I can join with other Red Riders?
Yes! You (and those that support you) can join Team Red which is made up of Red Riders AND those that support Red Riders. Encourage others to join you.

Missed the San Diego Tour de Cure, like I did? No worries, you still have time to register for the Long Beach event and make a difference.

Reason No. 16 to Ride – Holiday Bike Giveaway

Reason No. 16 to Ride is a great holiday bike giveaway!

Here’s your chance to give your and others the gift of health this season.  Sign up for the San Diego Tour de Cure or better yet, Team US Cares rides the Tour de Cure and start your fundraising to help make a difference!

Raise $100 by December 16th and be entered to win a Specialized Road Bike courtesy of UC Cyclery!

$100 = 1 entry; $200 = 2 entries; $300 = 3 entries

About Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors appear to play roles. There are 23.6 million Americans living with diabetes, a disease that is outpacing heart disease, cancer and AIDS. Diabetes is a disease that has deadly serious consequences, and there is no cure.

Be The Stain

You would think that as I approach this week end’s Tour de Cure, I would be preoccupied with training, nutrition and preparation. Not so much.

Part of my mental game plan is to go into this century ride for the American Diabetes Association with a happy, upbeat attitude. One large key in overcoming some of my obstacles has been to love what I am doing and find the happiness within.

While Tide may not be aware of how they are helping me across that finish line (and thus helping others) I thought I’d share with you something that has sent me into uncontrollable peals of laughter every time I look at it…

I went over to BeTheStain.com and upload my pic to their applet, making me the talking stain that you see in the commercial. Sure its dumb, but seriously, what sane person spends their day off biking 100 miles.. on purpose?

Red Rider, Red Rider

Oooh, I have another cause and a great ride ahead of me! Admittedly, the event is not until April 18th, 2009, but I am pretty excited about it.

I’m putting together a team of dedicated people who have and have not been on a bike for a distance event before.   Our goal is to fundraise and bring awareness to the American Diabetes Association during their Tour de Cure.

A few people have been surprised that this is not my “Cancer Thing” but since my goals are to make a difference in some small way, it works very well for me. Also, I will be wearing the designated Red Rider jersey to show myself as someone with type 2 diabetes.

Come join Team US Cares.

More fun than you can shake a light stick at.

Another event to add to my reoccurring annual treks is the San Diego Midnight Madness ride. This year it was the same night as Cool Breeze. I opted not to start at one end of Southern California in the morning and head to the other in the evening, but now that I am a veteran of Midnight Madness, I just might do it next year.

I honesty thought to myself, “its a Saturday night in San Diego, it’ll be a cute little ride with like 20 people.” Man, was I wrong! About 1,000 riders showed. Between 8 pm registration time and the midnight start there were vendors, contests and just all around good fun.

Taking pics in the dark with a cell phone is not the easiest thing to do, but I was able to get a pic of the tandem couple who actually built a bed on the bike, dressed up as bride and groom with a just married sign. Her bouquet actually lit up! In case you were wondering, they’ve been married 37 years, so 20 miles on a tandem must be a snap.

Other costumes were Popeye and Olive Oil, the Disco Duo on a tandem with afros on their helmets, bubble machine and you guessed it, rotating disco ball. Let’s not forget the folks in pajamas with lights or the really unattractive man in a dress with tassels.

Day Two is almost done – Getting home from The Ride to Conquer Cancer

The train almost did me in. I had no idea I would get motion sickness, not having been on a train in 30 years (for those of you doing the math, I was 16. Trust me, it does too add up to 29). I thought it was extremely ironic that I made it over 200K on a bike only to be taken down by a train ride.

Fortunately, I had met some terrific people along the way, Kate and Sue pulled me to the end of the car where we had lots of room, lovely bottles of water waiting for us and time to regroup.

I hadn’t expected all that was done for us. I’m no stranger to corporate sponsors but in this case it was an amazing out pouring. Via Rail donated their trains to us for the trek from Niagara to Toronto. They provided the endless water bottles too.

We returned to the Exhibition Centre and I got my bike and gear. Just then Joe, who I had also met on the second day, promised to see me back to the B&B, making sure the American didn’t get lost along the way.

As soon as we took off, I got sicker and told Joe I would walk. He wouldn’t hear of it. He took my pack, tossed it on his handle bars set about his way, taking care of the US. I could not believe it, 2 days, his own gear and he was still willing to help me out. Just one more incredible story in this whole journey.

Day Two – The Ride to Conquer Cancer

Day two had me extremely excited that I was going to see Niagara Falls. I woke up, donned my Team US gear and got ready to pedal away.

I don’t know what happened, I felt awesome, but I was working harder than I have in a long time. Fortunately for me, the game is mental and I had a lot of help along the way. I was wearing my US cycling clothes and everyone was asking where I was from, they were all very impressed that I flew up just for the event and going back immediately. So many people asked me why. I was dumbfounded and never came up with an answer other than it must be the same reason as theirs.

After a while, people were calling me “LA” I have no idea how everyone found out but even the traffic volunteers would yell “Go LA” as I got there. It might have been the Toronto police officer I rode with for awhile (I was very impressed that I could keep up).

They were definitely right, day was an easier ride for us. I loved the area we were in and did a lot of rubber necking. But I’ll be honest, two days on a bike in and out of the rain, with less sleep then anyone should have, takes its toll on you.

Out in the middle of beautiful nowhere, I hit a hill around 60 Km, so I was pretty tired at this point. About 3/4s of the way up I saw bikers who were off to the side resting and onlookers, they starting cheering me on to the top and up I went. I could almost see the crest and thought I won’t make it, but three guys started yelling “USA, USA, USA” and it was all I needed.

Leaving the 64 km pit stop the Niagara Ice Dogs bus stopped and offered me a ride. I explained I was OK an had just stopped in the shade to stretch out my back. After they left, I thought I should have asked to go inside for a second so I could at least say I had been on the tour bus, but I knew if I accepted a ride, I could not live with my self after all this work. Just before the final pit stop I hit a pot hole, hard. The back tire blew and I was done. I wasn’t too worried, there had been support and sweep vehicles everywhere. So I walked, as I walked I realized that I was pretty alone and that maybe i was at the end of the stragglers – this got me very concerned. My angels Erica and Renee picked me up, took me to the next stop and we tried to get a bike tech. Seems they were all out. We finally got one and replaced my tire but I had lost so much time they were packing up the stop and I really would be alone. There was talk of taking me about 1 km before the finish line so I could still cycle in. It seemed appealing and cheating at the same time. Instead I got taken to a small group of riders and dropped off for safety but still able to ride a reasonable amount. WIth both days being over 100 km and my cycling too and from the event I was able to still feel pretty good about a 3 km loss and know that I was well on the way to the finish line.

Finally, I rounded the last curve and started heading downhill. I heard the Falls. I looked to my right and could see the mist coming up and started to cry. I realized my glasses were fogging up and I could wipe out pretty bad, so I pulled it together and made it in.

I honestly thought I would hit the finish and be a part of the hugging and the crying and all the hoopla. Instead I got some food, found out where to go next, talked to a few people and got on the train back in sort of a quiet way. Oh, and we learned that trains make me seasick.