How Peer Pressure Made Me Get Over Myself

About a month ago I rode with one of my BNI buddies. He had not been on the bike in over two years, and I am not the most experienced rider in the world – it seemed like the perfect match. We would ride, do lunch and discuss how we can help each other in terms of our businesses (This is called a One to One or Dance Card in BNI).

I learned more than just about his business that day. I learned that peer pressure is a powerful tool. As we rode I asked many questions to really understand not what he does, but the type of connection I could make for him. We tried to stay at a pace that matched each other so we could carry a conversation that involved just the right amount of yelling and hearing. I’ve got a fear of hills — not the uphill part but out of control speed you get going downhill without your breaks. Every time I would feather my breaks he would yell “No breaks, no breaks!” much to my chagrin. Eventually, I was so embarrassed that I just gave in.

In one day, he accomplished what my coaches, hypnotherapists and cycling partners have been unable to do. When I rode the Solvang Century ride a few weeks ago I could hear the voice of  “No Breaks Man” yelling at me to take the descent for everything it was worth. I found myself zipping down hill at 58 mph (OK, I will admit I threw up a little later). I would not recommend this to anyone else as a training method, I prefer a different kind of motivation, but I did have to ask myself “what’s working?”.

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)

I like to ride my bicycle, bicycle! Goals for 2008

Like everyone else this month, I’m reviewing my goals for the coming year. For the most part they are realizations of what  could have done better in terms of cycling.

I’m a firm believer that results go with goals and goals are accomplished by being able to track your progress and results. So far, my goals have been specific events, they still are, and for 2008 I’ve added more events then the two I did in 2007. What I did not do is track my miles.

Step aside Lance, the Tour de Foothill is ours!

Now you have to admit, that unless you work for BNI (which I do), there probably isn’t a whole lotta reason to go to Upland, other than maybe the adult store located there, but we won’t go there now.

Add the Tour de Foothill to your reasons to head on over to lovely downtown Upland.

So, nu? How was the Solvang Prelude?

So, nu? How was the Solvang Prelude?
Rae and I decided we would take it easy after all. Being off the bike for so long didn’t seem like a snap any more and after all, our team was only doing a training ride of 20 miles, so we opted for the 50 miles route.

The ride out of the start was a nice easy flat warm up of about 5 miles or so, a little chilly in the early hours, with most of us piling on the layers. So we’re tooling along, thinking this is lovely, then the hills hit.

What to do? What to do?

So here’s my big dilemma: I have not been on my bike to really prep for this week’s metric. If you haven’t seen a prior post, it’s been only 2 rides since early August, one at 44 miles in September and last week’s 15 miler. Alternately, today Rachael had her first return to the bike since her September 30th accident. She did 20 miles.

The Solvang Prelude metric ride is really important to me as it is a prep for the follow week’s metric

Have I bit off more than I can chew?

Its Friday here in Cancun, just one week away from my first metric, the Solvang Prelude. I’ve been training since the spring

Century Rides I Would Like to Try

I also have a goal of golfing the top 100 courses in the world. My thought is to schedule a vacation where I/we play golf at one of those courses and I ride a century the same week.

I did find a two day event in Toronto for June of 2008. The Ride to Conquer Cancer is right up my alley. I’m all for biking for a cause. A friend of mine once pointed out that I have to have a reason for something, I can’t just enjoy it. Somehow I think that is missing the mark. My enjoyment stems from working towards my goal, to make a difference in some small way – that makes me happy.

I am currently looking for Centuries in Ireland and New Zealand (NZ has three of the top 100 courses!), a century around Saint Andrews wouldn’t be too bad either. If I could book this with a BNI event at the same time, that would just send me into multi-tasking event organized heaven.

As far as TNT goes, I’ve got 2008 covered with Solvang (March) and Hawaii (Sept). 2009 brings me Lake Tahoe in June and if I can swing it with my schedule I’ll do Phoenix in November. We’ll see, two fundraising events a year plus my charity golf tournament is a lot more than I have rich friends.

Insert Worried Mom Title Here

Rachael made her goal of getting to the Honolulu Century. Unfortunately, she didn’t make it to the first SAG before fate stepped in.

Cycling Hills on a Road Bike

I can’t help feeling that I should be excluded from riding hills on a road bike. Our special light weight editions deserve a dispensation that takes us only on those wonderful routes that you see in the Tour de France. Sure those have hills, even the Pacific Coast Hwy has hills — ya gotta love those 3 bitches right before Peperdine!