22 posts tagged “waves to wine”
Short story:
- Saturday morning: AWESOME. 25mph pacelines [while my cardio system allowed it], great fun.
- Saturday afternoon: My it band acted up in a nasty fucking way and I had to get driven in to camp because I couldn't walk. I saw a massage therapist that night and she spent some time loosening shit up.
- Sunday morning: I was stiff as hell but not in pain and took it super easy in the morning
- Sunday afternoon: Fog burns off, weather heats up, I feel great and complete the ride without issue.
Longer story:
Doing this ride a second time was a lot different than doing it the first time. The most obvious difference, to me, was how much more prepared I was this year. I mean, I obviously wasn't adequately prepared for the cold on Saturday morning and suffered the consequences. But, as to my physical fitness level, the ride was MUCH more doable this year than last. It even got to the point where I would be cruising past points I remember stopping at last year because I was so tired.
It was also a ton of fun (as it was last year!) to ride with The Anti MS Crew. We splurged and bought full team kits which we all wore on Saturday. We looked pretty smashin', if I say so myself. It was fun to be able to recognize people from a distance. Plus, it's a nice memento from the ride.
I'm a little sad I won't be able to do the ride next year (I'll very likely still be doing the cross country tour which I swear I'll talk about soon) - but it was great to do it a second time.
Sorry for not posting anything today [Sunday] during the ride - I left my phone in my gear bag in the morning. Oops.
Thank you all for the texts, etc. Hope your weekends were great :)
Saturday is the start of the Waves to Wine 150 mile charity ride for Multiple Sclerosis. I realize I haven't been super vocal that I'm doing this ride - but it's only because I'm still a little in shock about the AIDS LifeCycle. Saying thank you feels insufficient, but it's really all I can do. Thank you so much to each and every one of you that has donated to any of the charity rides I've done over the past year.
It's strange to think that 15 months ago I didn't own a bike. I didn't really have a plan to buy a bike - I was happy with my car. Now, 15 months later, I will have ridden 850+ miles for charity and another 1000+ miles just on my own over the course of the year. Plus, that whole collarbone thing. In addition, I'm planning my 4,000 mile cycling tour that I'm doing once I graduate. So, in short, bikes have kind of become a big deal in my life. And, it's thanks to my friends.
Because, to be honest, I wouldn't have gotten into this sport without the encouragement from some awesome fucking people. IE, you guys. Ydnar for helping me out with some extremely neophyte biking questions and keeping my interest sparked right when I was curious about the sport, Jamison for getting me out and on my bike for the first time (and getting me involved with the AIDS LifeCycle!), Chris for teaching me such valuable skills as "descending at speeds above 12mph" and "standing up while climbing hills", Zach for being the most awesome ALC tent buddy ever, the Cal Anti-MS Crew for giving me a team to ride with for Waves to Wine, the Cal AIDS LifeCycle team for being stupidly supportive of me when I was going through my injury, and every single one of you who have ever said a word of encouragement to me or donated to my ride.
Seriously: Thank you. All of you.
As a recap, through the help of all of you awesome people I've raised over $6,000 over these three charity rides:
$2,200 for Waves to Wine 2007 (150 miles)
$3,600 for AIDS LifeCycle 7 (550 miles)
$350 for Waves to Wine 2008 (150 miles)
It's awesome to know people like all of you. Keep up the good work of being nice.
It's time to get a few hours of sleep and then go bike up to Healdsberg. I'll try to MOHBLAWG (post some photos from my cellphone) as the weekend goes on.
One last training ride before the Waves to Wine ride charity ride (for Multiple Sclerosis) next weekend! Doing a three bears loop (38mi, 5000ft climbing) with a few members of the team.
Want to Donate? http://tinyurl.com/5u3hta
In the spirit of riding long distances to help excellent causes, meet amazing people, and eat tons of double plus good food I have again signed up to do the Waves to Wine 150mi ride for Multiple Sclerosis!
The ride is on September 13th - 14th and goes from San Francisco to Healdsberg. This was the first charity ride I did last year so I'm pumped to be doing it again. I'll be doing longer rides on the weekend again so if any of you bike ridin' folks are interested in doing a Three Bears Loop (this website only sometimes works in FF3.. might require Safari/IE) on the weekends let me know. It's around ~45 miles with ~5000ft of climbing. Takes maybe 5-6 hours depending on breaks (I usually take a bunch of breaks to take in the views).
If you feel inclined to donate you can use the intertubes and donate at this URL: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?px=4379733&pg=personal&fr_id=9066. After all the amazing generosity so many people poured out for the AIDS LifeCycle I almost feel bad to mention I'm doing another ride. But I am, because I love doing these, and if you want to donate I would really appreciate it.
I'll also be posting more training ride summaries as I get closer to the ride. Yay bikes!
And, finally, if any of you want to join me that would be even MORE awesome. So let me know if you're interested and we can definitely train together :)
Well it's now almost three weeks out from my surgery. My collarbone is plated together and the pain levels are pretty much gone as long as I keep my arm in the sling / resting carefully. I've been a lot more mobile and have begun getting into the gym doing some crazy exercise biking.
Since I can't push myself -too- hard (as I have to maintain upper body immobility, for the most part) I've just been doing faster cadence (faster pedaling) to keep my heart rate up. I've been attempting to do 30-60 minute rides maintaining a heart rate of between 150-170bpm which is deep in the cardio range for me. I've noticed some improvements already - although I am nervous about how much I'll be able to do in this state until I get back on the bike.
My fundraising efforts died down a bit after my injury and I've got to begin working on that again. The Cal team has a couple of events planned that I'm trying to be a part of but unless it's right on campus it's proven difficult to help. Any one have ideas on fundraising techniques I can do from home?
I've also, at this point, determined the extent of the (hopefully temporary!) numbness/nerve damage in my shoulder region. Extending about one two inches below the entire span of the incision is partially numb while moving closer to my front deltoid is a little more signifnicantly numb. The numbness on the front deltoid extends to nearly the top end of the bicep and almost as far out as the side deltoid. The numbness clears up by the top of the soulder where the collar bone meets the shoulder joint. My most excellent surgeon has assured me sensation will return and that it will not affect muscle movement or strength - it's just surface numbness. It's EXTREMELY strange, although I'll take this in a heart beat over having my bones knit together in such a way where I'd lose mobility in my shoulder.
I'm optimistic about being able to complete a good portion of the ride. I've begun a stretching routine to keep my legs limber and I'm hoping to keep increasing the frequency and duration of my indoor 'training rides.' My kickin' rad friend Zach has been awesome about morale support and he's agreed to help me out how he can on the ride. I'm really serious when I say that AIDS LifeCycle is Good People. I feel like every person I've met has a heart that can barely be jammed in their rib cage. I guess it takes a certain kind of person to bike 545 miles, but still.
Either ways - I'm very optimistic about my recovery in time for the AIDS LifeCycle and am fully confident I'll have a full summer of riding.
Also, I wanted to thank all of you who supported and donated for my Waves to Wine ride in 2007. I know most of you read this, and it was amazing to see everyone support me and I honestly think each and every one of you influenced my life in a way you probably don't realize. I wasn't sure if longer cycling riding was for me - but as donations came in I realized that people were putting trust in me. I pushed myself, succeeded, and felt amazing about myself. And now I'm anticipating riding 1000 miles for charity this year and cycling has become ain integral pillar of my life. I know this isn't a personal thank you letter - but when you (yes you!) read this know that I am specifically thanking you and I really do appreciate the vote of confidence. You've pushed me onto this path and I'm extremely happy to be here, so thank you.
So I'm now registered for the AIDS LifeCycle (545 miles) and the Waves to Wine 2008 ride (150 miles) which totals 695 miles.
That leaves a scant 300 miles to register for to meet my new years resolution of riding 1000 miles for charity this year. Does anyone know any awesome charitable causes that hold charity events that provide me with free food for raising money and riding?
While I think the whole point of them (Brightroom Event Photography) taking and posting these online was for me to /buy/ the photos, I have no qualms about just posting 'em here.
Me + Bike:
Nick's astute observation: I've got the waves part of the Waves to Wine ride down. Har har har.
Left photo: After helping a guy fix a flat. He was reattaching his wheel and the guy (barely pictured) on the left was rolling off too. Barely 2 miles from finish line (day 2). Leftmost guy had a really nice bike.
Center photo: Sometime during day 1. No real idea when.
Right photo: Cold cold cold morning of Day 2. By this point it was warming up but I kept on all pieces of clothing I brought to stay warm since we kept dipping down into shade by a river and that was frigid. Supposedly there are things called "jackets" which I now feel compelled to purchase.
Also: Yes I wore beer jerseys both days. I guess it'd be more fitting were I riding Waves to Beer. Doesn't quite have the same ring.
Just got it in an email -- Here's a pic of everyone who was on "The Anti-MS Crew" (note everyone pictured works in the CS department there are two meanings hint hint there are jokes present). We were all supposed to be hunched over like we were descending downhill from.. a parking lot I guess. I'm second from right in white helmet.
So some awesome riders were present that I sadly didn't get any pictures of during the weekend. Luckily, my friend took a photo of the true hero of the day. There were a few guys on fixed gears (pulling wheelies and skidding around at rest stops, those crazy fixie kids), a few folks on handbikes (with the biggest lats I've ever seen), and the one hero who tops them all. This gal:
Update 8/28/2007: I've reached my second goal of raising $2,000!
charity cycling ride for multiple sclerosis and need your help!
Update 7/31/2007: I've reached my original goal of $1000!
Update 8/28/2007: I've reached my second goal of $2000!
People are amazing.
All posts involving the Waves to Wine Multiple Sclerosis ride have been tagged Waves to Wine and can be searched.
Why am I doing this?
I have two close friends who have been diagnosed with MS and they are some of the most outstanding and wonderful people I know. They've helped me through hard times and have stopped at nothing to continue to live their lives the way they want to live them. I really admire their courage and dedication and want to help out by doing this charity ride.
What will I be doing?
I'll be biking 150 miles during the last weekend of September (29th-30th), and have raised $2000 to help both finding the cure and aiding those already afflicted by MS. I would sincerely appreciate it if you would consider donating and helping me reach my goal. It would mean a lot both to me as well as those affected by MS.
What can you do?
This is a charity ride which means I'll be raising money to ride. A number of amazing, generous people have donated, and I can't thank them enough. As of this update I've passed my original goal of $1000, upped my goal to $2000, and have met that as well. I am obviously still accepting donations but have met both goals thanks to the help of so many people. If you haven't donated yet, and still would like to, it would mean a great deal to me and those afflicted if you'd do so. Plus, you'll sleep sounder at night knowing you're an awesome person whose contributed to fighting a disease that has no cure and affects people for their entire lives.
I'm an awesome person with a big heart and I want to help!
Updates / Relevant Posts:
My New Bike
My Training Regime
First Tiburon Loop (short video)
A heart felt Thank You
Waves to Wine 2007 Update
So it turns out Dave Patterson, one of the professors who helps run the RADLab (one of the two labs I'm working with this semester) is also doing the Waves to Wine ride. I noticed he had his donation page up during a meeting this morning so we started talking about the ride and he ended up inviting me to join the team he's apart of.
Joining a team doesn't change anything for me personally -- all of the donations still count towards my personal total, and my 'best donors ever' list still reads all of the best donors ever. In addition, however, the combined total of all team member's' donations are counted towards a 'team total' which is tracked separately. With the addition of the donations by all of you awesome people the 'Anti-MS Crew' is now in the top five Family & Friends teams with a total of just over $21,000 raised all said and done. Wow!
Also: I added a photo to my waves to wine profile page, so if you want to see just how goofy I look in a helmet and cycling clothes, you're more than welcome to laugh at me.
