No BMW content: Knary's Good Ride

<b>Everyone wants to make a difference in this world.</b> We all strive to make the lives of our friends and families better. Sometimes we have an opportunity to do something more. This, for me, is one of those opportunities. I hope you'll see it as one for you as well.

<img src="http://www.conary.org/tnt/scottbike3.jpg" width="240" align=right vspace=12 hspace=10 border="1">As some of you already know, I've committed, for the <a href="http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/">Leukemia & Lymphoma Society</a>, to raising $3,400 and riding the 109 mile <a href="http://www.pbaa.com/Home.html#ElTour">El Tour de Tucson</a>. The money my teammates and I raise will help fund medical research and assistance to improve the lives of children and adults afflicted with Leukemia or related disease. As an annual charity event, the El Tour de Tucson Tucson has both emerged as one of the premiere century ride in the United States and raised more than $2 million since its inception.

Nearly every day I'm on the bicycle training for November 19th, the day of the ride. As I pedal down the pavement, the miles ticking by, I still can't believe that I'm going to do this. The immediate reward is obvious. But pushing me up those hills is the young girl who was supposed to be at our kick off meeting but who is no longer with us, and the man who did lead the charge. Leukemia had taken her but because of a treatment developed by a group of researchers funded by the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society, he was there to cheer us on.

I hope you'll join me on this ride. We need your help and I hope my commitment will inspire you to contribute financially to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. To help me meet my goal of raising $3400, I am asking for your sponsorship with a tax deductible contribution. Whatever you can give is enough. Of every dollar donated, 75 cents goes directly to research, patient aid, advocacy, education, and communtiy services. Each and every dollar you donate is 100% tax deductible. I will raise this money even if all of it has to come out of my own pocket, but it will get done because it is my opportunity to make a difference.

Please consider making a donation.
Click here to donate on-line.

If you'd prefer to make a donation by check, PM me.

No donation is too small.

I'll keep you all up to date on my progress, both towards the ride and the fundraising. Many of you have already been extremely helpful in getting me as far as I have on the bike. Thank you.



ps. I'm sorry to disappoint, but no small children or their brand new bikes will be hurt in this ride.

Excellent!

dang, you've lost some weight, man.

KBasa said:

Excellent!

dang, you've lost some weight, man.

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Yes, I have. I topped out over 200 lbs of giggle after the artist-in-residence gig this past winter. I'm down to bit under 185, including a good bit more muscle weight. My pants don't fit anymore.

has that photo found it's way into jo mamma over on advrider yet?

username said:

has that photo found it's way into jo mamma over on advrider yet?

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So far everyone is playing nice.

The thread is here. It looks familiar, eh?

I'm waiting for that ritalin boy to chime in with something about "brown". 3

In

And even signed up for more info....

So what is the deal with the hair?

BradfordBenn said:

In

And even signed up for more info....

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Thank you

So what is the deal with the hair?

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A balding man with helmet hair.

Quickly approaching your goal. Yesterday when I donated you were at 29% of the goal. Today you are acorss 50%

What I meant by the hair was that last time I saw you you had shaved your head. I am suprised to see you with hair.

Where did my hair go?

Thank you, Brad!



The response has been great. Whenever I try to explain to people how great this group of people is, they look at me like my head is spinning. "You've got..umm...in-ter-net friends?" "Well, no. I mean, yes. I...uh...they're good people and if you say anything otherwise, I'm going to have one of the large ones come over and knock your block off." 2


Saturday was another bigger training ride. Starting in Troutdale, east of Portland, we went down the climbing and winding historic Columbia highway to Multnomah falls and back. I can't recall the last time I had so much fun on anything with two wheels. Crown Point was the mid-point on the way east, and, of course, the way back. The ascent had the legs burning but I couldn't wait to reach the top. The views are amongst my favorite - the columbia river stretches east and west, volcanic cliffs looming on the south side, patchwork of man's activities on the bluffs across the way. And from the top, you get to go down. The way easy is a long series of descending switchbacks and curves, most marked for 20 mph. My friend, and one of the mentors, and I chased each other down each side; bikes leaning hard; both of us cackling with the fun of speed and the exertion.

Each Saturday we add some miles and difficulty. Saturday, was a 45 mile day. This coming Saturday will, with some extra miles I'll be doing to get to and from, will be a near 60 mile day. For some of you, these aren't miles to notice, but each one of these rides marks the new furthest distance I've ever ridden on a bicycle.


So who wants more photos of me in the shorts?

knary said:

Thank you, Brad!



The response has been great. Whenever I try to explain to people how great this group of people is, they look at me like my head is spinning. "You've got..umm...in-ter-net friends?" "Well, no. I mean, yes. I...uh...they're good people and if you say anything otherwise, I'm going to have one of the large ones come over and knock your block off." 2


Saturday was another bigger training ride. Starting in Troutdale, east of Portland, we went down the climbing and winding historic Columbia highway to Multnomah falls and back. I can't recall the last time I had so much fun on anything with two wheels. Crown Point was the mid-point on the way east, and, of course, the way back. The ascent had the legs burning but I couldn't wait to reach the top. The views are amongst my favorite - the columbia river stretches east and west, volcanic cliffs looming on the south side, patchwork of man's activities on the bluffs across the way. And from the top, you get to go down. The way easy is a long series of descending switchbacks and curves, most marked for 20 mph. My friend, and one of the mentors, and I chased each other down each side; bikes leaning hard; both of us cackling with the fun of speed and the exertion.

Each Saturday we add some miles and difficulty. Saturday, was a 45 mile day. This coming Saturday will, with some extra miles I'll be doing to get to and from, will be a near 60 mile day. For some of you, these aren't miles to notice, but each one of these rides marks the new furthest distance I've ever ridden on a bicycle.


So who wants more photos of me in the shorts?

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First time I rode a bicycle as an adult, I rode around 4 miles and puked my guts out. It just got better from there. When I was riding a lot, I could do back to back century rides on the weekend, and enjoy doing it.

Good luck on your training, and I know you can do it. If my lard butt can bedal that far, I know you can too. I lost a sister to Lukemia, and I cant think of a better ride to do for research.

lorazepam said:

First time I rode a bicycle as an adult, I rode around 4 miles and puked my guts out. It just got better from there. When I was riding a lot, I could do back to back century rides on the weekend, and enjoy doing it.

Good luck on your training, and I know you can do it. If my lard butt can bedal that far, I know you can too. I lost a sister to Lukemia, and I cant think of a better ride to do for research.

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Gale,
I'm sorry to hear about your sister. It is reminder, for me, of why this is so important. Newer and better treatments are coming everyday. I know that every dollar we raise for organizations like the LLS can make a difference.

knary said:

So who wants more photos of me in the shorts?

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everyone does.

username said:

everyone does.

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Lemme get myself pre-hic-pared.

We crossed the $2k mark earlier today. Another $1400 +/- to go.

knary said:

Thank you, Brad!

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I can only take credit for a small but enjoyable part of that amount. I am sure that there are some others around here that helped.... just remember every little bit helps. Also when you donate, you can chose to hide the amount if you want.

BradfordBenn said:

I can only take credit for a small but enjoyable part of that amount. I am sure that there are some others around here that helped.... just remember every little bit helps. Also when you donate, you can chose to hide the amount if you want.

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Thank you, Brad.

70% and growing. Then again I have been spammed by Scott three times in the past week to donate.... man is he merciless. I am thinking about donating more just to get him to stop

BradfordBenn said:

70% and growing. Then again I have been spammed by Scott three times in the past week to donate.... man is he merciless. I am thinking about donating more just to get him to stop

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I gotta do what I gotta do.



We're about $1k short of the goal at this point.

The training is still going well. I put in another 25ish miles yesterday including a climb to the highest point in Portland. The ride down, as the rides down seem to always be, was exhilarating. I'd ridden down the same twisting urban back road on the motorcycle. On the bicycle, my adrenaline pumps madly as I take steep downhill curves marked for 15mph at 35+mph.

Training notes:
<blockquote>- each week, I'm adding another 20 miles or so and more and bigger hills. This coming saturday I'll be doing around 60 miles. This week will see a total of around 150 miles. Not much by some standards, but quite a change from where I started not many weeks ago.

- The painful muscle cramps I was getting in my calves seem to be a thing of the past. I've tweaked my diet and have been stretching as much as I can.

- My recent birthday awarded me a new seat. The place that shall go unnamed behind the boys is MUCH happier now.

- I'm getting some nagging pain at the front of my left knee cap. I don't have an answer to that yet. I do my best to not mash my way up an incline.

- How do you warm up? How long does it take you to warm up? 10 or 15 miles into a ride, I sorta just wake up. Until then, my legs feel like they're not getting enough fuel.

- There seem to be two different kinds of fitness at work here: cardiovascular and muscular. They never seem to be on the same page. Sometimes my legs keep pumping without a worry, but my chest is going to explode. Or the other way around. I am happy to say that as I get into better and better shape, it's my legs that are struggling to keep up.</blockquote>


Again, thanks to everyone for the support.

knary said:

I gotta do what I gotta do.




- I'm getting some nagging pain at the front of my left knee cap. I don't have an answer to that yet. I do my best to not mash my way up an incline.



Again, thanks to everyone for the support.

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I am assuning you are using clipless pedals, (the kind you snap into with your shoe) If so, check how your foot is pointing when you pedal. This can sometimes cause what you are experiencing. It doesnt take much movement right to left of the foot to cause pain.

lorazepam said:

I am assuning you are using clipless pedals, (the kind you snap into with your shoe) If so, check how your foot is pointing when you pedal. This can sometimes cause what you are experiencing. It doesnt take much movement right to left of the foot to cause pain.

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I'm going to tweak the seat and foot positioning and take her for a spin.

Thank you X 2.

Still not there yet. Only 82%... I am just happy I have not gotten anymore Knary spam. Might be the kill filter....