Reason No. 15 to Ride

Reason number 15 to ride is you make a difference to people like Virginia Garner and others like her.

Virginia Garner is a blood cancer patient who became part of the LLS family when she was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).  She is now a First Connection volunteer, a vocal member of her local CML Support Group, active in the Light The Night Walk “CML BUSTERS”, a mentor through Team In Training, involved in presentations through the School & Youth program and just an incredible resource!  Here is a recent note from Virginia:

Ten years ago today (April 19, 2009) I sat in an examination room at UCLA as a participant in a clinical trial where I swallowed my first Gleevec pills.  It’s hard to believe that all that time has passed.  I remember having the pills in one hand and a cup of water in the other and chatting with Dr. Sawyers, Ginny the nurse, Van my husband, and Connie my sister-in-law until they lost patience and demanded that I swallow the pills.  When I did, there was a hush in the room that I’ll never forget.  I interpreted it as everyone there wondering what would happen next:  Would my eyeballs fall out?  Would my arms fall off?  Would I descend into uncontrollable fits of coughing?  Of course, what did happen was absolutely nothing, except that I walked out of that room armed with a new hope and on the road to complete molecular remission of the CML that had ravaged my body.  That’s a pretty big nothing, huh?

For over two years now, my follow up tests have come back showing no detectable cancer cells, and I live a full and productive life full of energy and joie de vivre.  These days I gratefully dedicate my time to others going through cancer treatment, whether it is by sharing my story with patients or fundraising for cancer research.  I have the hope that one day all cancers will be obliterated, and more people can live a satisfying and full existence like me.  Life is good!

To learn more about LLS, please visit www.LLS.org.

Reason No. 14 to Ride

Reason number 14 to ride is you create scientific proof.

I saw this on another blog and thought they were spoofing, but when I clicked on the link I was stunned to find an actual study!

Strange but True: Helmets Attract Cars to Cyclists
Although you might not want to leave your protective gear at home, just know that if you do, drivers will be a lot more scared of hitting you…

Reason No. 13 to Ride

Reason No. 13 to ride is Togetherness

Couples need a common goal. It foisters togetherness.  For some, it can be planning your start in life together, building a new business, raising kids. For others it takes it form in  the hobby realm of life. Sporting activities such as golf or cycling fill that niche’ beautifully.

And if you need further proof that couples can enjoy time on the bike together, just take note that Valentine’s day I teased another group of cyclists in passing about spending the day of lovers cycling. They all responded without hesitation that each one was riding with their spouse!

(for more on this topic please see Dr. Janet Raymond’s blog)

Reason No. 12 to Ride

Reason number 12 to ride is so you don’t end up like this guy:

All that show, where ya gonna go?

Need I say more?

Reason No. 11 to Ride

Reason number 11 to ride is you meet amazing people.

I’ve been fortunate enough to meet and cycle with a man who has a fabulous story about his road to recovery.

Joe doesn’t wear the fact that he is an ex-Olympian on his sleeve or boast about his being part of Team Simple Green. Instead he told me isn’t one of those “jerk cyclists” and would enjoy a ride or two with me. Early in our friendship he sent me his story where a head injury took him off his bike and his racing path to a world of epilepsy and surgeries.

Reason No. 10 to Ride

Reason number 10 to ride is that you see the coolest things!

So I’m tooling down the beach path, which is one of my favorite relaxed day rides (46 miles round trip if you are wondering) and I see this sign that says “Hang Glider Xing” , not your most common traffic post so I take notice. Right there, I mean right there! are the two most beautiful hang glider thingies practicing landing and taking off. It was amazing to watch. I also think that Southern California just may be the only place where you would see an official traffic sign for this.

Since I ride through Venice, Ca — land of the beach walk freaks you see on TV — I also viewed no less then 6 sidewalk Henna tattoo artists, body piercing and a guy on an oddly adapted mountain bike that had tires about 12 inches thick that looked like the kind of intertubes you may have used as a kid. Oh… and you know this was the same guy I saw with 2 large parrots on his handlebars!

Reason No. 9 to Ride

Reason number 9 to ride is that it is just so frickin’ beautiful!

If you are jealous that your morning commute didn’t include this, I strongly suggest you start planning your meetings around your cycling time. Its one of the few ways I can get my miles in and enjoy the day.

Reason No. 8 to Ride

Reason No. 8 to ride is you amaze yourself.

I have a firm policy of there is no shame in walking, it beats giving up. Today, I took a route that I had not used in a year. I saw a hill up ahead that I have never completed, once I got almost to the top and still had to walk it. I amazed myself by not only taking that hill to the top but had to laugh when I saw that I was going 18 mph uphill!

Yahooza!

Reason No. 7 to Ride

Reason No. 7 to ride is that you are an inspiration to others.

I was stopped at a light, wearing my very impressive 100 miles for Hope cycling jersey when someone congratulated me on my efforts and said that if I could do it (aging, overweight and grandma, remember?) there was no reason they shouldn’t get going in the same way.

I agree, time for all of us to get out there and help someone else – after all, cycling a 100 miles is a whole lot easier than chemotherapy!

Reason No. 6 to Ride

Reason No. 6 to ride your bike is your community.

Tooling around town or on the bike paths, you get to know the community in a way that you just can’t in your shiny SUV.

I’ve found more little markets and great eateries that I never noticed before. I’ve also found lovely streets and parks to enjoy on the days where I can just meander around.

Slow down, see more – what a concept!