Orientation

The 2014 TransAm Bike the US for MS group met for orientation at noon on the waterfront in Yorktown. 

We did introductions, had a tire changing clinic,  practiced reading maps,  and learned the daily routine of the support van. It consumed all afternoon and Bret decided last minute he'd like to put on my new cassette and chain that I bought 9 months ago when I first got the bike. The chain and cassette are both 8 speed, but for some reason the chain was 3 full links too long! Luckily,  he was able to shorten the chain and get it all dialed in. It sure does pay to know someone who is good with all things bikes! Thank you, Bret!

The group is all ready to go for a 9 am departure from the ocean tomorrow! 

Off to Yorktown

Just a quick update to say I'm headed down the road! Bret is coming along to ride Day 1 since he is an alumnus of 3 Bike the US for MS tours. Off we go!

Training Day

For Memorial Day weekend, my training partner and I headed up to Skyline Drive to do some mountain riding while also learning to use my new bike cleats, helmet mirror, ride in the heat, and get a 50 mile ride in. Seems like a lot, eh? It was!  Sunday was just a short 12 mile ride at sunset while I practiced with my cleats.  Monday, however, was the real training day! I knew it would be my last big ride before the trip. We started at the north end of Skyline and headed 4 miles uphill, going south. I never thought we would make it to Dickey Ridge for a quick break. Four miles and I was already dying.  How am I ever going to do this trip?!  If you saw the mountain I climbed over those 4 miles, you'd wonder the same thing.  I knew I had to get through another 40+ miles, so I put all my focus into the ride with stops only at peak tops where there were great overlooks. Our halfway mark was way down in Mathews Arm, which required a brutal uphill to start out the return trip. Luckily, the ride back was about 2/3rds downhill, so I finally had a chance to soak it all in.

This picture is with all my gear at Hogback Overlook, with about 20 mikes to go. I know all the non-bikers think I look ridiculous!  On the downhills, I finally felt confident riding around 30+ mph without braking and actually enjoyed the speed.

We stopped a lot to rest, eat, see bears, and take in the views, but in all, the day lasted about 7.5 hours. I'm thankful to have a supportive training partner and finally feel ready to take on this challenge. I may not have pushed myself to complete the mileage otherwise.  

No matter how hard any of my rides will be, the pain is only temporary and I wish I could say the same for MS.

Why I'm Biking for MS

Hello and Welcome to my Biking Virginia for MS Blog!

In just over a week from now, I'm going to be bicycling 360 miles from Yorktown, VA to Blacksburg, VA to raise money and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) research with the organization Bike the US for MS (www.biketheusforms.org), which is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.

Starting June 1st in Yorktown, VA and ending August 1st in San Francisco, CA, I’ll be part of 40 other riders who will bike for two months straight for this same cause. I so wish I could take two months off to do the full ride across the US!  

In 2014, Bike the US for MS is collaborating with the National MS Society to fund their NOW research campaign, as well as home modification projects to help people with MS maintain independence. Cyclists will also deliver funds to UVA's MS clinic in Charlottesville, Swedish MS Center in Seattle, and Fairview MS Achievement Center in St. Paul as they pedal across America.  Personally, I have a number of friends who have been affected by MS within their families, and I feel this ride is a great way to honor them and to raise awareness within my circle of friends, as well as all the strangers I'll meet along the way. 

If you are interested in donating towards the cause, you can easily and securely donate online through my personal Bike the US for MS fundraising page: http://www.biketheusforms.org/cyclists/detail.asp?cid=500

I'm truly lucky to have a healthy body to do this ride and feel blessed to be able to share this experience with you.  I'm dedicating my journey to my friends and their family members that have been affected by MS in some way.  I’ve found the more people I get in touch with the more encouraged I am to be doing this ride.  I'm both nervous and excited for this journey, but I know that the 6 days of pain and struggle I may feel is minute compared to the daily struggles those with MS experience.

Thank you so much for your support and for following along!

Please note: I'll be doing the bulk of my blogging from my cell phone, so please excuse any typos or less than perfect formatting!