I got up early this morning and had breakfast with most of my fellow riders. Orientation began around noon. We went over how to change a tire and stuff about the trailer, such as the fact that we are able to lean our bikes against the trailer, but not the van. We also went over safety details and got our jerseys with the Bike the US for MS logos and another one for a drug used with MS. One of the coolest things we got was our maps. I didn't have a thorough understanding of how to read them (they are extremly detailed), so one of our guides, Pepper, taught me how to read them. I'm going to put them in my handle bar bag (I never thought I would use one of these)! We ordered pizza for supper and all the riders and their families socialized and got to know each other better. The guides are very knowledgable and have tons of stories, some of which include an older woman who makes cookies for the riders and another story about an individual who has ridden across the country on a unicycle. I have most of my stuff ready to go, but have a few last minute items I will get together in the morning. We are scheduled to dip our wheel in the water at 8 am and then we are off to the Pacific! I still don't know if it's set in that I will be riding my bike across the country for the next 2 months!
PS - There were some issues with commenting. I made a few setting changes, so hopefully you are all able to comment now. I look forward to hearing from you and will keep this going as best I can. Thanks again to all the donators!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
2 days till!!
So today we got into yorktown virginia. I met quite a few of my fellow riders and got to see the cubbie that i get to put all of my stuff in!! Tomorrow from 12 to 5 i have orientation for the ride. For the most part i have everything packed up and ready to go!! Many pictures and exciting things to come!!!
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Sunday, May 29, 2011
My Luggage!!
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Ruby
This is my bike Ruby!! It is a specialized ruby so I often refer to it as Ruby. I insisted that Ruby be put in the van for our trip to virginia, needless to say my siblings we not happy about it and thought that Ruby should ride outside of the van. So we now my two sister brother and dad are on our way to virginia beach and are going to spend one night at the beach and then go to yorktown where i leave from. So tomorrow night we will spend there because on tuesday i have orientation for the ride and then wed i will dip my rear wheel in the atlantic ocean!! Tradition for those of you dont know is to dip your rear wheel where you leave from and then front where you end up so in san fran i will dip my front wheel!!! Sorry about my grammer, spelling and or short hand i am typing this all on my phone and probably will be most of the time. A thank you to my mom for letting me barrow her netbook so that i have means of communication etc.!!!
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Friday, May 27, 2011
5 days and counting!!
OMG!! I can't wait! I spent 5 hours today at kohls and dicks searching for clothes to wear during the day. They recommend clothes that will dry easily as we may be washing these by hand. If we wash them at all...ha.
OMG, again!! An anonymous donor gave $81 which puts me at my fundraising goal of $3785!!!!!!!! Thank you whoever you are!! And thank you to each and everyone of you who have contributed!! Also thank you to all of you who are going to follow me on this journey of a lifetime!!
So training hasn't been as expected due to all the rain :( I have been riding as much as I possibly can and finally said to heck with the rain, I am going to just have to ride in it in order to get some saddle time and base miles in. So yesterday my riding buddy Steve and I decided to go to Bellefontaine to get a good hill workout in. Well about an hour into the ride it started raining, well I mean POURING......and it poured on us for a good two hours as we bucked headwind, climbed hills and even rode through a closed road due to flooding-water a foot or so deep, squish, squish, squish with each pedal stroke, I poured water out of my shoes at the end of the ride...........but I am sure that it is only going to make me stronger and I am sure that I will have many days that are much more trying than this. A BIG THANK YOU to Steve!!
Tuesday evening was my last BikeSource Women's ride until I get back. THANK YOU to all of the wonderful women who have joined me for this ride in the frigid temperatures and sometime in the extreme heat!! You are the best and I will MISS riding with you all this June and July!!! See attached picture from this ride!
I will be updating everyday from now until August unless there is no cell or wi-fi service- STAY TUNED!!
OMG, again!! An anonymous donor gave $81 which puts me at my fundraising goal of $3785!!!!!!!! Thank you whoever you are!! And thank you to each and everyone of you who have contributed!! Also thank you to all of you who are going to follow me on this journey of a lifetime!!
So training hasn't been as expected due to all the rain :( I have been riding as much as I possibly can and finally said to heck with the rain, I am going to just have to ride in it in order to get some saddle time and base miles in. So yesterday my riding buddy Steve and I decided to go to Bellefontaine to get a good hill workout in. Well about an hour into the ride it started raining, well I mean POURING......and it poured on us for a good two hours as we bucked headwind, climbed hills and even rode through a closed road due to flooding-water a foot or so deep, squish, squish, squish with each pedal stroke, I poured water out of my shoes at the end of the ride...........but I am sure that it is only going to make me stronger and I am sure that I will have many days that are much more trying than this. A BIG THANK YOU to Steve!!
Tuesday evening was my last BikeSource Women's ride until I get back. THANK YOU to all of the wonderful women who have joined me for this ride in the frigid temperatures and sometime in the extreme heat!! You are the best and I will MISS riding with you all this June and July!!! See attached picture from this ride!
I will be updating everyday from now until August unless there is no cell or wi-fi service- STAY TUNED!!
Friday, April 8, 2011
Getting things together!
So I am still in the process of getting gear and other things together and arranged for this trip. For those of you that do not know there will be 24 cyclist 4 of which are guides and have done this ride before and then one person driving a van and trailer with all of our gear in it. I have been informed that we each get a cube in the trailer to put our stuff in and it is 30x18x16 inches so I still must pack light for this trip. My plan so far is to bring about 4-5 outfits for during the day and then 4-5 cycling outfits. I will try to wash these by hand one time and then do laundry the next. This should get me about a week until I have to find a washer and dryer. I have been busy booking hotels in Virginia for when we depart in Yorktown and then also making arrangements in San Fran. for when we arrive there on July 31st. I have been informed that we are scheduled for a July 31st arrival and then we stay the night and on August 1st we do the traditional wheel dip and then ride across the Golden Gate Bridge. I have also been making arrangements there in order to get my bike taken apart, boxed and then shipped back to Ohio. Still there is more planning and gearing up that must be done in order to be prepared!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Gearing Up For The Ride!
So I have been busy fundraising and want to Thank everyone who has generously donated to this great cause! It really does mean SO much to me and those who suffer from MS!
So I have been starting to try to get things together for the trip. It is going to take alot more gear than what I had originally thought. I am getting a new tent that is more durable and lighter weight! I never knew that there was so much to know about tents but have learned alot about them through my shopping experience! I have also purchased a stuff sack/ pillow which will server as my bag to put all of my clothes in and I can reverse it and it also serves as a comfy pillow! I talked to my brother and he is going to be kind enough to let me barrow his itouch and digital camera so that way I have some tunes to listen to and can take pictures to document my trip! I have been told that many times we will not have cell phone reception and I usually just use my phone to listen to pandora so this will not work.
The guides have also been updating us with things that we are going to be doing along the route. So far they have planned for us a bathroom remodel for someone who has MS so that they can shower more easily. They have also planned a yard makeover for someone who has MS in which yard work is hard for them to do. I am so exited about all of the other fun things to come while on this trip!
So I have been starting to try to get things together for the trip. It is going to take alot more gear than what I had originally thought. I am getting a new tent that is more durable and lighter weight! I never knew that there was so much to know about tents but have learned alot about them through my shopping experience! I have also purchased a stuff sack/ pillow which will server as my bag to put all of my clothes in and I can reverse it and it also serves as a comfy pillow! I talked to my brother and he is going to be kind enough to let me barrow his itouch and digital camera so that way I have some tunes to listen to and can take pictures to document my trip! I have been told that many times we will not have cell phone reception and I usually just use my phone to listen to pandora so this will not work.
The guides have also been updating us with things that we are going to be doing along the route. So far they have planned for us a bathroom remodel for someone who has MS so that they can shower more easily. They have also planned a yard makeover for someone who has MS in which yard work is hard for them to do. I am so exited about all of the other fun things to come while on this trip!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Cycling for Dreams
It has been my dream for many years now to ride acorss America and I am so excited to finally have this opportunity! On June 1st I will be departing from Yorktown, Virginia and be on my way to San Francisco, California for an August 1st arrival. First I must raise $3785, one dollar for every mile in order to raise awareness and funds in order to find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis.
MS is a chronic inflammatory response of the central nervous system. Many people who suffer from it experience numbness in the limbs, fatigue, dizziness, paralysis, loss of vision, weakness, tremors, muscle spasms and many can no longer even walk. At the later stages many people can no longer talk, chew or even swallow. Symptoms of MS will often improve and relapse with time and vary from one person to another.
MS is a chronic inflammatory response of the central nervous system. Many people who suffer from it experience numbness in the limbs, fatigue, dizziness, paralysis, loss of vision, weakness, tremors, muscle spasms and many can no longer even walk. At the later stages many people can no longer talk, chew or even swallow. Symptoms of MS will often improve and relapse with time and vary from one person to another.
MS affects around 400,000 Americans today and there is no current cure. No one should have to go through this horrible disease; so, therefore I am committed to raising $3785 for research for a cure. The funds will go to the James Q. Miller Multiple Sclerosis Clinic in Charlottesville, Virginia in order to improve the quality of life for people living with MS.
So now you do the EASY part and DONATE I will do the HARD part and RIDE! Go to: http://www.biketheusforms.org/cyclists/detail.asp?cid=111 in order to dontate to this GREAT cause! Any amount big or small is appreciated!
Thank You in advance for your gift of HOPE and dreams not only for me but for those suffering from MS as well!
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