Ride to Empower

Anxious about fundraising?

I am happy to announce that I have officially registered for the 2009 Ride to Empower! When I signed on the dotted line (so to speak), I felt a twinge of anxiety. The same anxiety I felt last year when I registered for the 2008 Ride. How the heck was I going to be able to raise all that money? This year is different than last year because there are different levels of fundraising, but still there is that nagging question as to whether I will be able to meet my fundraising goal.

Last year, I received information about the 2008 Ride sometime in late May. I was concerned because I would only have about 4 months to raise the $4000+ that was required for  the 2008  Ride. I was not very experienced in fundraising. Furthermore, I was concerned because I wasn't the most social person in the town that I lived, had a rather small extended family and did not work for some large company that would give me access to many co-workers. Who would be kind enough to make donations in support of my fundraising goal? The anxiety was nagging at me so I held off on registering. A chance encounter with a woman I knew helped give me the confidence to register for the 2008 Ride. We were watching a baseball game that each of our sons was playing in, and I voiced to her my concern about raising the money. She told me to definitely not worry. She had been involved with many different fundraising events for breast cancer, and said that she never had any difficulties raising the necessary funds. With those words of encouragement, I finally "got off the fence" and registered.  

My fundraising was quite straightforward and much easier than I had expected. First, I composed a letter that was based on a form that had been circulated by the Network of Strength for this purpose. I added some personal information such as being a breast cancer survivor, and my involvement with the Network of Strength, and had them printed on pink stationary. I then went through the school directories in my town and made a list of people that I knew. Keep in mind, I am not that social so many of these people were just casual acquaintances. I added to the list the names of some local businesses,  family members, and friends and co-workers of my husband. I personally signed each letter, and added a handwritten personal note at the end of each one. I mailed them in pink envelopes using breast cancer awareness stamps. After the Ride was over, I sent out handwritten thank-you notes to each and every person who had made a donation on my behalf. The response I got to my fundraising efforts was truly amazing, and heartwarming to me. I raised over $5,500!  

Notwithstanding the fact that I was so successful last year, I felt the same anxiety when I registered for the 2009 Ride. How could I ask the same people to donate again? I hate asking anyone for anything. When I say this to my friends they respond by reminding me that I am not asking people to help me  personally, but rather am asking them to donate to a worthy cause. They remind me that I should never feel bad about asking people to make a donation for an organization that benefits breast cancer survivors.

Well, my friends give good advice, and I will pass that advice on to you. It's normal to feel some anxiety about asking people to donate money but don't let that anxiety deter you from participating in this event. I'm glad that I didn't let my fears keep me from registering last year. If I had I would have missed out on one of the most memorable experiences of my life. You don't know what will happen unless you try. So those of you who have been thinking about registering, now is the time to make it official.

As I mentioned, this year is different than the Ride last year because there are different levels of fundraising. However, don't be afraid to set a high goal for yourself. Once again I'm setting my goal at $4000+. I will think positively,and repeat the steps I used last year. If I have trouble raising the funds then I will regroup and take a different approach to raising the money. Last year, I told myself I could always go door-to-door if I had to. I didn't need to, but if necessary I will do that this year. Where there's a will there's a way! When you register, Network of Strength will send you a brochure which will contain, among other things, suggestions on how to fundraise. Keep an open mind, be creative, stay positive and don't stress-out over it too much...The sooner you register, the more time you will have to raise the money. Think how good you will feel about yourself after reaching your goal. If along the way your anxiety keeps nipping at your heels, then please send me a comment on this Blog and I will try to ease your concerns. That is what I'm here for!!! 

Early Season Training

So… you’ve just signed up, or are seriously contemplating signing up for the 2009 Ride to Empower. Unless you’re a fairly experienced cyclist, you’re no doubt wondering what you need to do to get ready to ride your first century. When should you start training? How many miles do you need to ride? How long will it take to prepare?

First and foremost – take a deep breath!

You absolutely do not have to start training THIS MINUTE. The first thing you should know is that even if you’re completely out-of-shape, have never ridden a bicycle outdoors, and haven’t exercised in you-can’t-even-remember-how-long-ago, so long as you begin seriously training by the end of July, you can get in shape to finish the Ride To Empower.

It is commonly accepted that a person can be ready to ride a century in just ten weeks!

That said… the truth is, if you wait until those last ten weeks to get in shape, you’re going to have to stick to a regimented training program, riding 5 or 6 days a week on a strict schedule; without any significant rest days, and certainly without taking any vacation!

So the sooner you start riding the better. Starting as soon as it’s warm enough outside to do so will allow you to ride fewer days of the week while still increasing your cycling fitness. The more fit you are, the more likely that riding a century will be a wonderful, enjoyable, fun and exciting experience!

If you can’t or don’t want to start riding now, NO PROBLEM.

We realize that many of you don’t live in the sunny Southwest. It’s still winter; it’s cold and wet. The last thing you want to do is get bundled up to face the cold and potentially icy roads. What you should do, though, is continue your current fitness routine; and if you don’t have one, get one.

Kick start the new FIT YOU by getting in some aerobic activity at least three times a week. From our experience, from most beneficial for cycling to the least:

Riding your bike on a trainer.

Spin class.

Cross country skiing.

Running/jogging.

Power yoga/Pilates classes.

Swimming.

Walking (Which would be higher on the list if it’s fast/strenuous enough to raise your heart rate into a training zone).

We can imagine some of you are pondering: How hard do I need to work at any of the above exercises to receive a good aerobic benefit? The rule of thumb is that you need to be working hard enough to make it hard for you to carry on a conversation during at least half the duration of your workout. You need to be breathing heavily!

It’s really that simple. No need to be any more regimented or specific in your training this time of year unless you either have cycling goals months before the Ride to Empower or if you want to do the Ride in five hours or less. (Those folks, please email us directly for tips about intensity training.)

Two other things you should think about to make your century ride easier:

First, be mindful of your body weight. No, you don’t have to be a skinny-mini to successfully ride a century. But there’s no escaping the laws of physics. Extra pounds on your body are an extra load on your legs and back to pedal up the hills. No matter how strong you are, extra body fat will slow you down, and make the climbs more difficult. As you ramp up your training as the year goes by, if you watch your diet and your weight, you’ll likely find yourself slimming down and getting beautiful cycling legs!

Last, but not least, do some core exercises. A strong stomach and back makes climbing easier and helps make cycling more comfortable by lessening neck and back issues. So do those sit ups and “superman” exercises!

As we approach summer, we’ll post a more defined program for those who want/need a more disciplined approach to training. In the meantime, just enjoy getting your muscles, your heart and your mind in shape to pedal 100!

Final thought: As you hit the road on your many new cycling adventures, be sure to sometimes stop and enjoy the flowers!!!

This shot was taken on Figueroa Mountain during the Planet Ultra Solvang Spring Tour!

Best,

Deb & Brian Bowling

Riding made a little easier

Well, I'm proud to say I finally brought my bike into my local bike shop to be tuned up. I live near Chicago so I was lucky that on the day I went to the bike store it wasn't below freezing, snowing or torrential rains. Sometimes I ask myself why do I live here but that's a separate story. Anyway, I want to make it clear that I'm no bike expert. For expert advice, stick to reading what Brian and Deb post on this Blog. All I have to offer is what I've  learned from my experiences during the 2008 Ride to Empower.

When I turned 50 (which is starting to feel like a long time ago), I bought myself a fairly nice road bike. In my younger years, I always rode this kind of bike so that is what I am most familiar with. What excited me about buying my "birthday" bike was that it was made specifically for women. I am a little over 5 feet tall, and when I  rode when I was younger I was prone to groin pulls. My new bike fits me perfectly, and I no longer have this problem. I never rode my "birthday" bike much until I signed up for the 2008 Ride to Empower. Let me say that when I took it in to the bike shop, the other day, it looked as if I got a lot of use out of it. It was filthy. I felt so proud.

I would like to share with you some of the things I did to my bike last year in order to make riding easier for me. I want to add a caveat, however, because I never want to say anything that might discourage any one of you from participating in the Ride. My caveat is that you don't have to follow my suggestions in order to be successful in the Ride to Empower. My purpose in writing is simply to share my experiences. Take what you want or don't want. You will be just fine whatever you decide!

 Having given you my caveat, I will now talk about what made riding easier for me last year. As mentioned, I had my "birthday" bike for the 2008 Ride. My bike is fairly light weight and has a lot of gears, and I would be lying if I didn't say that it made riding easier. If you decide to buy a new bike for the Ride (in saying this I need to remind you of my caveat), then head over to your local bike store. When you go you can tell them how much you intend to ride, and they can make suggestions to you in this regard. You can also ask questions about different type of bikes to Brian and Deb by posting comments to them on this Blog. In considering whether to buy a new bike keep in mind that it's an investment that will last you for years to come.

While training for the Ride last year, I started to go from being a bike rider to a cyclist, and  as a result, I upgraded my bike along the way. Here is a brief list of these upgrades:

1.Seat: When I started training longer distances, I noticed it was getting quite uncomfortable down below (if you know what I mean). I found out that there are bike seats made just for women. Luckily, my bike store had such an anatomically designed seat, and it did the trick. It brought a smile to my face. If you are riding long distances, it helps if you are comfortable. So, if you are experiencing discomfort from your seat, you may want to consider checking out a different type of seat.

2.Bike shoes and pedals: I always thought those fancy bike shoes that clip onto the pedals were only for those cyclists that speed by you so fast that you immediately feel inferior by their mere presence. Well, guess what?  Even the inexperienced bike rider can wear these kind of shoes. I found that switching over to these type of shoes and pedals helped me in riding long distances. My bike store owner analogized clipping on your bike shoes to pedals to clipping on your ski boots to skies. Well, I'm not a skier but  there seems to be a similarity between the two. I must admit trying them out for the first time was scary. I did fall 3-4 times but I did adjust to them fairly fast. They did seem to  make pedaling easier and more efficient for me, but it was not a good feeling when I started to fall and there was nothing I could do about it. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. If you are thinking about investing in these accessories but are nervous about using them, I want to assure you that you will be able to master them in a short amount of time...just be confident.

3. Cat Eye Cadence Bike Computer:Our local coach last year recommended a CAT Eye Cadence computer. Such a computer is fairly inexpensive and fits right on to your handlebars.  It tells you about your speed, cadence, millage, and related information. Once again, I will turn the floor over to Brian and Deb who can explain the benefits of this computer to you in more detail. All I will say is a cadence computer really helped me a lot when I was training.

4.Aerobars:  I found that having aerobars attached to my handlebars made riding a road bike more comfortable for me. As best as I can explain, they are an accessory to your handlebars and are usually attached to  the middle of your handlebars. There are different styles of aerobars. My aerobars allow me  to lean my forearms on two pads, and then I can extend my hands out so I can hold on to an oblong shaped bar that juts forward off of my main handlebars. My aerobars give me a more comfortable place to lean while riding. I also get carpal tunnel from riding, and so when I lean forward on to my aerobars it takes the pressure off of my hands and helps minimize numbness. Also, it gives me a way to rest my upper body while I'm still pedaling.

5.Handlebar Tape: I also had my handlebars wrapped in a special tape that helped to minimize vibrations. The roads in Chicago are pretty bad, and having the bars specially wrapped did help to minimize the jarring I usually felt when riding over bumpy roads. This also helped my carpal tunnel.

6.Water bottle holders: I had 4 water bottles put on my bike. Even though my bike is pretty small, they all fit nicely. I had these put on after I fainted while riding from dehydration. In a later post, I will talk more about eating and hydration while riding. For now, I will simply say the more water bottle holders the better.

So these are some of my bicycle tips. Also, I always like to wear bicycle gloves. The ones with extra padding definitely help minimize the shock to my hands when riding over bumpy surfaces. Remember that I was not much of a bike rider until last year so I don't have years of experience to share with you.  I'm hoping, however, that even sharing my limited experiences from last year will still be of help to you as you prepare for the 2009 Ride to Empower.

 There are many different reasons  why people will make the commitment to participate in the 2009 Ride to Empower, and along these same lines, there will be many different goals set in connection with the Ride. Despite all of these differences, what we all  have in common is the desire to raise money for  a worthy cause. When we come together in Las Vegas the differences among us are not what's important but rather the fact that we are there supporting each other and the Network of Strength. Our togetherness will symbolize what the Network of Strength is all about..ensuring that no one faces breast cancer alone.

I want to end by saying that I'm starting to receive comments to my postings. I would love to hear from more of you. This Blog is a way of feeling connected as we all move towards the Ride in Las Vegas. So, if you have any questions, please post them to any one of us on this Blog. Even if you don't have any questions, let me know how you are doing. I would love to start connecting with more of you!

A Brief Comment About Shorts

Your choice of which bicycling shorts to wear to ride 100 miles is an important one. The truth is, shorts can make a huge difference in your comfort level even on a 20 mile ride. The challenge is, there is a huge variety out there - and you're not necessarily going to choose right the first time. So be patient - and try out several kinds before you settle down with a particular brand.

Since shorts are a very personal thing, I honestly can't recommend any specific kind. But I can tell you that, generally speaking, you get what you pay for; and my own experience is that my butt, and other personal areas, don't take kindly to the cheap ones. A good pair of shorts runs will run you at least $75 or more (unless there's a great sale). I know that sounds like a lot -- but think of the parts of your body you're trying to protect!

My personal preference for long rides is Shebeest. I really like the top of the line model with the century chamois and also the next one down with the she-lastic chamois. What I like most about Shebeest is that the chamois is actually cut to the size that matches the size of the shorts. Some brands have a one-size-fits-all-size-chamois; and since I wear XS shorts, the large chamois can feel like I'm wearing an over-sized diaper... Not good at all.

Whichever short you ultimately choose (and please try many), here are some tips and recommendations:

First and foremost, bicycle shorts are supposed to be tight. When you put on a brand new pair, you should feel like you're really having to squeeze yourself into them (but not so much so that you're about to rip all the seams apart). I promise you they'll stretch out a bit with wearing and washing. If your shorts are too loose they'll move around when you ride; which will cause bunching and chaffing. Trust me: Bunching and chaffing are BAD.

I realize that the super tight lycra look is a bit daunting when you're new to cycling. Some of us may feel a little self-conscious at first. Please don't be. Just remind yourself that bicycling is great for your body and soul - and we're all in this together! You're beautiful in lycra whether you believe it or not!

Next, no underwear allowed! Bicycling shorts are meant to be worn next to your skin. Underwear elastic and seams will cause all kinds of problems you don't even want to know about...  So leave your tighty-whities at home!

Please don't wear a brand new pair of shorts on your first century. Pick a pair you've worn at least a few times, and feel good about.

A tip about washing: Do wash your shorts every time you wear them. Line dry them. They'll last longer than if you put them in the dryer. This is also true for your cycling jerseys.

A word of caution about chamois creams: If you're new to cycling and haven't used it before, don't start now. Chamois creams were created back in the days when the chamois was actually made out of suede leather; and IT needed to be softened up. If you start cycling with cream in your shorts, the skin down there will stay moist and soft; and the truth is, if you're going to be a distance cyclist, you need to toughen up! Exception: If you're experiencing little bumps, like pimples, apply a little Neosporin on the area before you put your shorts on. Those bumps are usually caused by bacteria clogging the pores, or a hair follicle getting infected. Anti-bacterial cream can help that. But that's the only time I recommended putting anything on your skin before a ride.

Finally, if you're getting a lot of chaffing, feeling "smooshed," or having significant numbing or pain, the more likely cause is your saddle position, or the saddle itself. We'll talk about that in another post...

:-)
Deborah Bowling
embassy@planetultra.com

Are you up for the 100 miles challenge!

This post is addressed to those of you who want to take on the 100 mile challenge!  In my last post, I tried to ease the concern of those of you who may shy away from the 2009 Ride to Empower because of the fear of not being able to ride the full 100 miles. As I wrote in that post, you only have to do as many miles as you want. However, if you do want to try riding the full 100 miles then I want to  encourage you to give it a try. With some time and effort, you should definitely be able to reach this goal.

The reason why I wanted to try riding the full 100 miles in the 2008 Ride to Empower is because I've always liked to challenge myself physically. In my younger years, I was quite competitive. If you asked my sister about me she would be quick to point out that I was the one who always wanted to finish first, and she was the one who could care less. On vacation a few years ago, we went on an informal bike tour, and it was funny that even in our 50's, I was the one riding at the front of the bike group, and she was the one riding at the back. However, ever since I had breast cancer, I've changed a lot in this regard. Rather than focusing on the finish line, I've tried to slow down and enjoy life more. I have a strong desire to appreciate life and value those things that make life meaningful. It's the journey and not the outcome that most intrigues me these days.

 So, although I trained seriously for the 2008 Ride last year, I knew that when I went to Solvang I wanted to enjoy the experience and not become too obsessed about riding the 100 miles. In order to take the pressure off of myself in Solvang, I actually rode 100 miles in Chicago early last Ocober in order to prove to myself that I could accomplish my goal after training all summer. ( I can hear my sister laughing at me for having rode the 100 miles twice.) Anyway, as I've mentioned before, I had a wonderful, amazing time in Solvang and it was the experience rather than achieving my goal of riding 100 miles that I will remember the most. 

 We all have different personalities that influence the goals we choose for ourselves, and the ways in which we achieve these goals. This was apparent to me during the 2008 Ride in Solvang. There were people who were determined to complete the 100 miles, and were successful in this regard.  You could feel  their focus and competitive edge.  In contrast, there were people who laughed about the 100 miles knowing that there was no way they would be able to ride that far, and so they didn't even try. Then there were those people who had their doubts but thought they would at least try to ride the 100 miles. Some were successful and some were not. The key for me was finding someone to ride with who matched my personality. The day before the ride, I asked a woman next to me if she was good at following map directions and could she change a flat tire? These were two things I was bad at so when she answered yes to both, I knew we would ride together. To put it simply , we had a blast!  Whether it was relieving ourselves on the side of the road, getting lost for a short period of time, enjoying the beautiful scenery together, or her making jokes to me in order to help me keep going when I no longer wanted to, that was what made the 2008 Ride so memorable for me.

Given that I was not a serious bike rider, I did have to train pretty hard last summer. The Network of Strength- Illinois Affiliate was able to find a local coach last year, and I more or less followed the training plan created by that coach. I've been told that a new coach has volunteered in the Chicago area for the 2009 Ride, and that a new training plan will be prepared. I would suggest that you first check with your Network of Strength Affiliate to see if a coach is being used in your area. If not, I want to assure you that we will provide you  with the information you need to train for this Ride. I will try to make a training plan available to you, or at the very least, I will share with you, on a weekly basis, how I intend to train for the 2009 Ride. All you have to do is keeping checking  this Blog for the latest tips on how to prepare. We will help you achieve your bike riding goals- whether it's 100 miles or less!

In my upcoming post, I will address the bike issue. I found that as I started to train for the 2008 Ride last summer, I visited the bike shop quite often so I could upgrade my bike ( such as a new seat, new pedals, etc)  At 53 years old, I needed all the help I could get. So I will be sharing with you what I personally learned along the way.  I want to emphasize that what I may suggest is based on what I experienced, and you may find that it doesn't pertain to what you need. That is definitely okay!  The information I provide is just my suggestions, and you can take or leave what you want. Also, the other people posting on this Blog have their insights on these topics. The purpose of this Blog is to provide you with information which will hopefully help you achieve your goals.  For me, having a decent bike and bike shorts made a huge difference in training for and completing the 100 miles. I will be taking my bike in soon to have it tuned up so I will be ready to ride once it gets above freezing around here. It's been one heck of a winter here in Chicago. I will get back to you soon on the bike issue so you can also start taking the steps necessary to begin training.