Mid-week training: Just the 24-mile ride to work and back on Thursday. I did the ride to work in 50 mins (my fastest so far). But, I didn't stretch when I got to work and my right leg, behind my knee, bothered me all the way home.
Saturday's Ride: What a beautiful day! It started out clear and chilly. Appropriately, our pre-ride clinic was on clothing. Apparently, even though it will be in June the Tahoe ride may start out in the low 30s Fahrenheit (just above 0 Celcius), so layers will be important. Arm warmers, and leg warmers (no! not the 1980's Flashdance kind) are very useful. As are the thin windbreaker cycling jackets, just like the one I bought last week!
Our ride took us along Mulholland Drive, a road I had driven many, many times before on car rallies and scenic drives. The views were breathtaking and the hills were... tiring. But, seriously it was an awesome ride. I felt good, even though I dropped back on the uphill sections, I caught up on the downhills. It must have something to do with the 26lbs of Japanese steel I am pedalling. I am kicking myself for not bringing my camera as the ride through the Santa Monica Mountains was gorgeous. I will have to add appropriate photos later.
The ride route took us out to Westlake Village before heading back to the start. At a little over halfway we had our first SAG (Support And Gear) stop, where Deborah (who was standing in for coach Andy) handed us water to refill our bottles before telling us to get going again!
Reflecting on this weeks ride, I realised that it is the furthest I have ridden a bicycle in approximately 28 years. Yes, I am sore and tired, but many thanks to Bill and Crystal for this evenings dinner, good conversation and wine. Now I am relaxed once more!
Fund-raising: You guys are awesome! Donations recieved now exceed 50% of my goal, I am now over half-way to my goal of raising $5000. This is an awesome feeling as it doesn't include the corporate matching gifts, (icing on the cake). This Tuesday is Recommitment Day, where I have to guarantee (with my credit card) that I will raise a minimum of $3800 by June. I am confident I will get there, but my personal goal is to raise over $5000.
To make a donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, or to learn more go to TNT Donate
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Santa Ynez - Wine tasting.
"On yer bike"!
I need your help to raise $5000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Read more at TNT Donate and donate there too.
The Reason I am Doing It.
It was my brother's idea at first, he told me he had looked into doing a sponsored bike ride in England. The idea was to raise money for leukemia research because our mother had been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in 2005. Since I enjoy cycling, raising money for leukemia research while bike riding sounded perfect. An evening of "Googling" later, I had found Team In Training, a group that fund-raise with endurance sports for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I initially registered for the 2007 Lake Tahoe event, but had to drop out when it became aparent that Mum was losing her battle with leukemia. This year I am back and intent on raising $5000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The event I am training for is a 100-mile bike ride around Lake Tahoe on June 1st 2008. Because of the altitude (6,225ft.) and the distance, training is important. So, every Saturday for 5 months I will be getting up at 6:00 a.m. to join my team for training rides. There will be a lot of hills to climb!
So when the training gets tough, I look down at the top tube of my bike where I carry 2 names that inspire me to push on. The names are, my Mum – Ruth Davies, and my Aunt Meg, both of whom lost their lives to blood diseases. My Mum, as many of you already know, passed away last year from Leukemia (AML). I thank God for the 14 months of remission she had and the last vacation we spent together in February 2006. At the end of 2006, the leukemia returned and this time there was no stopping it. After wasting away, my mother died in April of 2007. Similarly, my Aunt Meg passed away in February of 1993 after an 11-year battle against Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. What these two women endured is infinitely more than any discomfort I feel during my training.
To make a donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, go to: TNT Donate
About Brian and his bike.
My enjoyment of cycling started in my teenage years with a frame that I found thrown away. With the help of a neighbour (an engineer who with a vice, a piece of string, and a ruler re-aligned the frame and front fork), I painted and rebuilt the bike. I had that bike for many years. I upgraded the components and changed the color many times. Weeks before she died Mum told me how she was amazed when I was a kid at how I would take my bike completely apart then put it all back together.
The longest one day ride I ever completed was an 80-mile round-trip ride from Shrewsbury to the top of the Horseshoe Pass. The bike was stolen when I was 20 years-old and I didn't ride again for nearly 15 years.
For my 35th birthday my wife gave me the biggest surprise ever when she had friends and family all pitch in for a mountain bike. My Mum (and Dad) was there for the surprise, it was awesome.
I rode the bike half-heartedly for the first few years, always feeling defeated by the hills and mountains we are surrounded by. Three years ago I started riding seriously, I now needed to lose weight. I began riding regularly on the flat, then after tackling some smaller hills I finally took on The Rocky Peak Fire Road (a challenging, loose surface, single track climb to the top of the 3rd Highest summit in the Santa Susana Mountain Range. I had done it! I achieved something in my forties that I couldn't manage in my thirties. It was such a rush to stand on top of the mountain that day.
The bike I am riding in training, and that I intend to ride around Lake Tahoe, cost me $15 (that's about 7 quid) when I purchased it from a Salvation Army Thrift Store. It is a 1984 Centurion Accordo and like the bike that I started this story with, it has recieved upgrades; 700c wheels, new seat, and down-tube shifters. But it remains an all-steel bicycle. (Some people say steel frames have the best ride, and the Centurion is a sought after steel frame). I may make some more upgrades, but this will be the bike I ride "round the lake" on what will be the longest ride of my life!
Mum - Feb 2006
Santa Ynez - Wine tasting.
Mum & Dad - Santa Monica - 1998
"On yer bike"!