Have We All Gone Crazy?

The answer to this question is probably "no." But...

The point of today's post is really a recap of our first training ride in earnest. All signs pointed towards a great ride. The weather was perfect, Amanda had her new bike that fit, and well, the weather was nice. I figured that 50 miles was a good start since we would have done 40 at the Frost Bike had it not been freezing here. Amanda seemed excited about getting out and really riding, and she took to it with gusto. For a first long ride, she kept a decent pace. We also saw a familiar face in hockey teammate, fellow avid bike rider and beer connoisseur/home-brew-meister, Chris Gerty. Chris always has tons of information on the science of biking and brewing beer, which are usually mutally exclusive. One thing that I've learned about these long bike rides, is that although you're going fast, they are still very long rides, take a long time and lots of energy and can try your patience. Around mile 30, things started to get really hairy for us.

For most of the ride, Amanda and I had been riding together or I would be a little bit ahead of Amanda, slowing down for her to catch up every so often. After the Mile 30 rest stop, I pulled ahead of Amanda then slowed down for her. As she pulled up, I heard the unmistakable sniffle of someone who had hit the wall. The next 20 miles were, well, let's just say little Gabby doubled as a psychiatrist's couch, and the country roads of Brazoria County might as well have been a doctor's office. For anyone who thinks the rides are easy, Amanda can now tell you they're not. I just happen to remember the easy times more than the sucky times (when the wind is in your face for the last 10+ miles of a 60 mile ride, or your going uphill for the entire ride). Anyway, she hadn't gotten much sleep the night before and was exhausted, but she was a trooper and finished the ride in better spirits.

Of course, I was not permitted to take post ride photos of her and Gabby. I guess well just have to wait until the next ride in tww weeks.

As for fundraising, I am very VERY happy to report that we've already raised close to $3,500! Tht is very impressive and overwhelming to have gotten such a response in such a short amount of time, and I think much of the response speaks to not only everyone's genrosity and the worthiness of the cause, but to Howie's memory. I think that many of the people who have thus far opened their heart and wallets knew Howie and the kind of person he was. And I think that his family should be proud (try not to cry, Andrea.).

There won't be any post next week, as Amanda and I will be in Nashville visiting her firend Sarah Lowe. I've never been to Nashville, so I'm looking forward to the trip.

Frost Bike 50 Too Frosty!

Last Sunday marked the unofficial start to the biking season with the Frost Bike 50. Frosty it was. We were registered for the 45 mile ride--not too short, not too far for the first ride of the season--but when we got to the start, plans quickly changed.

Sarah, suffering from a cold, and the near 30 degree temps pushed us to go easy and only do 17 miles, which was easy enough. Amanda did well for her first ride, although preparing for the cold with appropriate gear and dress--bike gear or just plain old clothes--still seems to be her weakness.

So how leisurely was our 17 mile jaunt? Afterwards, Amanda bemoaned the fact that she probably had not burned off the lean pocket she ate for breakfast, and that was probably true.

But the day was not a total waste. Amanda managed to score a brand new bike out of it courtesy of, well me. Borrowing Jeff Barnes bike for the interim proved to be unworkable, as the big was a tad too long for Amanda's shorter torso. So now she gets to ride a women specific Specialized in yellow and white (her choice of colors).

No rides this coming weekend as well, they are all too far away, and Amanda's father is here to come look at the new house that we are buying. A trip to the Memrioal PArk picnic loop may be in order for Sunday though to learn the proper use of the gears and shifting.

Rides Start in Two Weeks!

I've got to get into the storage shed in the backyard, peel through some cobwebs and hopefully find my bike and a bottle of WD-40. The chain is probably pretty sticky. After wiping off the thick layer of dust and greasing the drivetrain, the bike should be in pretty good shape. I'll be breaking in my new wheelset, which I obtained in part with the gift certificate reward I received last year from the MS Society.

Frost Bike 50 is on January 27! It ought to be fun seeing Amanda's first foray into long distance riding. Hopefully all that gear I got her for Hanukkah will last more than one ride...

My first email should be comign out soon...

The 300 Club

I found out recently that I was part of the 300 Club, which, as the MS Scoiety calls it, "is an elite group of the top 300 fundraisers for the MS-150." This year's 300 Club raised nearly $3.3 million in donations, an increase of $598,788.27 from the amount the previous 300 Club raised.

Of the 13,000 plus riders from last year's ride, I was the 294 highest donations earner. This is truly an honor, as well as a tribute to all who donated to this special cause.

Thank you to all of you who donated!!!