Oh Canada! Or how I prepared for The Ride to Conquer Cancer.

I often travel to Canada for my business, but this time I went to enjoy a BNI Conference (scored a copy of Dr. Ivan Misner’s yet-to-hit-the-stands book, 29% Solution, thank you very much) in Toronto, and ride with Richard, my Canadian riding partner for the upcoming event.

Richard suggested I leave the downtown hotel once the conference was over and bring myself and the bike over to his side of town. I really didn’t want to move all my stuff but it seemed like a better place to be in terms of smooth operations and such. And you know me, I’m all about the schedule.

Tottenham turned out to be the cutest place in the world with great roads to cycle. On day one we pulled my bike (Trek WSD 1.2) out of the B I G iron case and popped it all together. It was easier than I thought it would be, but I am sure that is because Richard did it for me. After a bit of that, we left the drive and started on our way…. as did the rain drops.

We rode a little less than 2 miles up the road and hit our first hill. It wasn’t Encinal Canyon but it took a little effort. I have to say, hitting a hill with a 2 mile warm up isn’t my favorite thing to do. I used to hear people say “It takes me about 8 miles to really warm up” and I thought, “gee, after 8 miles, I’d rather be in the car” but things are a little different now. The next hill was a bit more difficult which I stormed at a whopping 4 miles an hour. Richard told me those were the hardest hills of the route and I was a little stunned that was all and maybe relieved.

The silly thing is the bike I brought to Canada has a cyclometer set in miles but the one in Los Angeles, is in kilometers. I actually like it that way, because doing the math conversion keeps me busy and I don’t notice other things like being tired on the climbs so much (I still notice).

At this point, the rain was coming down pretty hard and it was getting hard to see. I had already ridden into the dirt shoulder twice and had to stop. It didn’t seem like I would be able to make my way through much more without cycling into a building or off the road. We decided to return and did an honourable 10 miles, knowing that the next day would have better weather.

Day two was planned for 60 km (37 miles). Richard seemed worried about a distance like that for me. I told him he might be right to worry but if I don’t get off my butt for 60 km then I won’t be able to handle next week’s Crusin’ the Conejo at 68 miles (109.5 km). This lazy girl needs to get in gear. Speaking of gears, the chain on this bike is <I>still</I> giving me trouble.

So if you thought I was unhappy about Saturday’s hills with little or no warm up at less than 2 miles, you should have seen me on Sunday when we clipped in and went right to a hill! This day was a group ride with just a hand full of people – 5 including myself – who would be doing the June Toronto to Niagara event with me.

We tackled one hill after another, no flats between but some low grade false flats. Richard and another rider took off like jack rabbits and I was pacing with the other two. One woman had only had her bike out last week since the summer and the man there hadn’t ridden since he was 14, but his father died of lung cancer this past January and he was determined to be a part of this – really touched my heart.

By the time we were about 4 miles in of these hills – oh, did I mention the winds? – I stopped to fumble with something and noticed they were stopping to walk a hill. On the next downhill the winds were so fierce that I could not ride straight into them and was forced into a zigzag. I could not believe that I was doing 7 mph downhill! I told my two riding partners that this was silly and I would ride another mile with them and then turn back to the cars where the hills were more rollers with lesser winds and I could get my miles in.

Not only did they agree, but Richard and his partner had come back, listened to my game plan and did the same. We rode down the road, it was quite an ego boost to the other two who had thought they bit off more than they could chew.  They were able to look back, see what they did and continue on for a bit more cycling. However,  I am not sure what happened after that. We didn’t do much more and then Richard pulled us back to the cars. I am guessing all told, we did about 15 miles that day.

I am flying back today, out of two for two more days without my bike then in meetings aaaallllll of Thursday. Friday is a half day then I leave for the Saturday event. My only hope is that the next hotel has a gym with an indoor trainer. Otherwise I am just a wee bit worried about Crusin’ the Conejo. But you know me, I love a good stress filled week!

100 Rider spots left!

If you are still thinking joining our Team US Cares (password Kickbutt) for the The Ride to Conquer Cancer, Benefiting The Princess Margaret, June 2008, now is the time to get registered! There are only 100 spots left and Rider registration will close soon.

Ride Guides are standing by to help register any of your friends, co-workers and family members. Call today at (416) 815-RIDE(7433) or register online at: http://conquercancer.ca.

Let’s be clear. You don’t have to be rich to participate in The Ride to Conquer Cancer. And you don’t have to be an athlete. Whether you’re 25 or 75, a fitness freak or couch potato, a banker or barista, you can absolutely do this.

The funds you raise will support critical, breakthrough cancer research at The Princess Margaret, one of the top 5 cancer research hospitals in the world.

200 km or Donate – which do you choose?

I’ve made a personal commitment over the next five years to don my helmet and cycle to raise funds for cancer cures. To date, I’ve raised $3,478 and my family as a whole as raised $10, 478! We need to keep working together to conquer cancer for those struggling right now and for those yet to be diagnosed. To accomplish this I’ll be cycling The Ride to Conquer Cancer.

The Ride to Conquer Cancer benefiting Princess Margaret Hospital is a cycling journey from Toronto to Niagara Falls – a distance of over 200 km – that I’m embarking on to fight cancer. It will be a challenge in a number of ways, but with my bike, my helmet, and your generosity, a real impact will be made!

I’m asking my supporters to please make a donation of $218; one dollar for every kilometer I am committed to riding and eighteen for life! Of course any contribution is welcome as you support and generate the all-important funds for research, which will be allocated based on the highest cancer research priorities at The Princess Margaret and OCI. Click here to DONATE

I’m a firm believer that cancer does not stop at the U.S./Canada border. Because of that I’ve created Team US Cares to participate in The Ride to Conquer Cancer. The event is not just for athletes or cycling enthusiasts. It’s the ride for anyone who wants to challenge themselves for a great cause. All you need is motivation, a bike, and a helmet. The rest is history. To be a part of it and join Team US Cares, click here. (Team Password: kickbutt)

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!

Go Rae Go!

We need YOUR help in making a difference. Like all of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives.

Each one of us going to Solvang has a fundraising commitment. The event is less than 2 weeks away and Rachael is $1,800 short of her commitment. Since she stopped working on Saturday’s to be sure she had time for training, she has lost income and now the job, so there is no way for her to make this up before March 8th, the day of the Solvang Century ride.

After 5 months of training it hardly seems right not to help her raise money for all individuals who are battling blood cancers.

Please click to help her and others cross the finish line against this terrible disease.

Traveling with my bike.

I’m no different than anyone else with a bike. We’ve all spent a chunk of change on our ride. Taking care of it becomes a time challenge among other things. I am terrible about cleaning my bike, degreasing it, etc. Fortunately, I have an extremely knowledgeable daughter who is willing to take care of mine when she cleans hers. Of course mom has to pay the going rate.

We travel for various events – not just biking but golfing in new and exciting places too – which meant we needed a new car to handle the bikes in a way that would keep them from getting banged up like they did with the rack on the back, allow us to have room for luggage AND 3 golf bags, plus let us pop an extra rack on the back in case we needed to SAG. It was quite a site watching me open car trunks, throw in my clubs and see if I could lift a bike to the roof of the car. I refused to test drive or listen to a sales pitch before I was sure it would suit our needs. I should point out here, that I have a very supportive husband who does not ride a bike … ever.

It didn’t stop there. With me getting ready to start working on the June Ride to Conquer Cancer in Toronto, I’ll be traveling there to get to know the routes and spend some time training with my cycling partner there. (very nice guy who is a cat 1 paired with me, a cat 5). I started to worry about my bike on the plane. The airlines helped me get a bike safely to Calgary in a cardboard box but I wanted something more for this bike. This week I bought a Trico Sports Iron Case from Helen’s Cycles with my super Team in Training discount!

I’m pretty impressed with this purchase. It not only is much more secure for my bike than the cardboard box but also a bit shorter in length. This will help me in getting a cab. The wheels on the bottom are small in my opinion but they do work well and the case does not tip to the side when pulling like some rolling bags.

The only thing that might make me happier is getting it out of my living room and into the garage until I am ready to use it!

Here’s My Ride

2007 marked the return of cycling in my life and becoming an endurance athlete, which is a very nice way of saying I park my ass on a bike and pedal long distances on purpose. I don’t do this because I think this is the best way to travel long distances (it lacks a driver and room service), I do it because I believe that in my own way, I can make a difference by fundraising to support various cancer related causes.

200K for the Cure!

I am so glad I went to the Challenge to Conquer Cancer office. I wasn’t able to make the orientation meeting the week before, so I called them up and asked about flying in the following week for a quick meet and great, with a little info. I could use a little get away time and had a few people I wanted to see there anyways.

I am not cancer.

I am life.

I am emotion.

I am curiosity.

I am energy.

I am determined.

I am introspective and extroverted.

I am, at times, two wheels and the road.

I AM INCREDIBLE.

Maybe

I sat in the tiny airplane bathroom and let the tears come unbidden. I don’t know why they picked that moment to surface but they had been welling in my eyes for a while and I had no desire to fight them back – not this time.

Maybe it was being in three countries in less than 24 hours and not sure which one needed me there most.

Maybe it was losing a friend last week, maybe it was finding another had passed too.

Maybe it was learning that the tumors are something you only think you are free of, until they decide to show themselves again.

Maybe it was meeting an old friend for the first time; familiar and yet foreign.

Maybe it was the fear that you can’t keep your children safe from everything and you may not always be there to protect them.

Maybe it was feeling too old, maybe it was feeling far too young.