2014 Tour De Cure Las Vegas

The 2014 Las Vegas Tour De Cure was a success.  Thank you to those who donated to this worthy cause.  The goal for the event was to raise $175,000 and I am happy to report that the event blew that number away, raising over $200,000!  Way to go!

OK, I have to come clean though.  I did not ride all 20 miles in the Tour De Cure. Sure it was a tough day with Temperatures hitting the high so far this year - 97 degrees and winds blowing 25 mph with gusts into the 40's. Sure I hadn't ridden as many miles before the event as I should have, but these were minor factors in my not riding all 20 miles.  The main reason was my back started cramping about 10 miles in. It was between my shoulders and up into my neck.  I suspect the culprit was the camelback I was wearing with the extra water in it in response to the heat plus having had to deal with riding on rumble strips for the first several miles of the ride.

Regardless of the reason, I made a promise to those who donated for my ride that I would ride the entire distance or I would match their donations.  Since I didn't make the whole 20 miles, I am making an additional donation of $121 to the ADA.

Now for the ride.  I woke up early and got everything ready to go.  I had the carrier on the car, bike tires inflated and bike loaded on the carrier, water bottles full, gear in the car, all before 7:30 am.  The 20 mile ride wasn't scheduled to start until 9:30 am which meant I didn't need to leave the house until 8:15 or so to get there, get checked in and ready for the start. So once I had everything ready I sat down and waited to go.  I have to admit I was anxious as I knew the temps were going to be hot and the wind was starting to blow.

Finally at 8:00 I couldn't wait any longer.  I kissed my wife good bye and headed out the door.  As I started towards the M casino I thought it might be a good idea to get some fuel in me before the ride so I stopped to pick up a Sausage McMuffin with egg and a large orange juice which I ate and drank on the way to the start.  Even with the stop and the slow service I was still at the M by 8:40.  I decided to make a trip inside to use the restroom instead of using the port a potties by the starting line. For some reason I got a few strange looks as I walked through the casino to the restroom.

Once I had taken care of business I went back to the car and got my gear together and bike off the car.  I installed my frame bag, put my Fat Cyclist water bottle in the holder (I love this from last year 100 MON - thanks Fatty!!!), strapped on the camelback and rode over to check in.

Check in took all of 2 minutes and I got my ride number - 325.  One of the volunteers helped to pin the number on my camelback.  I took my coupon over to the tent to get my event t-shirt which I then took back to the car.  It was 9:10 by this point.  I had some time to kill so I found our team tent (I was part of the BikingLasVegas.com team) and had a seat.  Seems like the other members of the team were doing longer distances as there was no one else there.

Finally they were calling for all of the riders to line up for the 20 mile ride.  One last trip to the rest room and I got into the queue at the start.  We had a wonderful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner for a student adn the Las Vegas School of the Performing Arts, we said "Stop Diabetes!", we sang happy birthday to Chris who is a red rider and celebrating his 12th birthday by riding in the event.  For those unfamiliar with the Red Riders, they are riders who have diabetes, themselves.

It was then time to go.  9:30 on the dot.  With the band playing we headed out of the start area and into the wind.  It took a while for the group to get themselves sorted out.  For the first mile or so I think we were moving at less than 6 or 7 mph. When we made the turn, heading north on Las Vegas Blvd, the riders started stringing out and the speeds started coming up. There were 2 factors helping out speeds at this point - a tail wind and a slight downhill.  I mostly enjoyed the first 5 miles of the ride, pedaling very little and reaching almost 30 mph at one point!  Due to the gravity assist I was able to actually sail by a number of riders.  This left me away from the back of the pack, which I wasn't used to.

Once we reached Pebble and mad the turn to the East, the wind became more of a crosswind and the road leveled out with a few minor ups and down along the way.  My speed slowed down and I started getting passed back, especially since it seemed I ended up stopping at each and every light.  Seems my timing was just off enough to catch every light just as it was turning red.  The other riders then accelerated away from me when we finally got the green light.

It was along here I saw two young women on the sidewalk.  I asked if they needed anything as I approached and they said yes.  I stopped to find they were having issues with a flat tire.  Their CO2 inflator was giving them issues.  I was grateful for my frame bag as I had various items that might come in handy.  One was my own CO2 inflator.  What appeared to be the problem was their inflator was for schraeder valves not the presta valve on the tire. I quickly pulled mine out, put in a cartridge and inflated the tire for them. Unfortunately this was a sort lived solution as the tire immediately started losing air. Apparently there was a sizable puncture in the tube.  She had skinny 26" tires and no other tubes. My spares were entirely the wrong size.

While they thanked me for stopping, I was unable to get them back on the road. Fortunately at that point on of the safety riders rolled up on their motorcycle and called back to the command center to get them assistance. They thanked me and I was back n my way. It was about 2 1/2 miles to the rest stop from this point.  I was now in the position I was used to - basically riding by myself near the back.  I passed 2 more riders, both taking care of flats.  I asked if they needed any help, but they said they didn't.  I kept going.

I was a mile from the rest stop when my back started getting tight.  I had been feeling some extra strain in my arms and neck from the position of the camelback, but didn't think much of it.  Just as I hit the overpass across the 215, my back got really tight and started to hurt.  I stopped and try to stretch it out.  It seemed to help and after a minute or so I started again.

I had no momentum so decided to drop to my small ring on the little climb up to the rest area I could see ahead.  I shifted and immediately dropped my chain.  I stopped and bent down to fix it and my back started cramping again.  I got the chain on and managed to get into the rest stop.  The great volunteers helped me make it with their cheering and enthusiasm. The volunteers were from Target.  Thank you!

They took my bike, offered me cold drinks, fruit, etc.  I grabbed a chair and had a seat, trying to ease my back and neck.  While it did loosen up some, I knew I was done.  I texted my wife that I was at the rest area, but wasn't going to go any further.  She wrote back Good Job - you did what you could.  She is always so supportive of my efforts - thank you dear!!!

As I sat there in the rest area, there were other riders who had arrived before me and they were acknowledging that it was hot and they were done as well. We talked to the volunteers who made a call to the command center requesting a SAG vehicle to pick us up.

One of the riders I had passed who had a flat came in and had to change his tube a second time.  He also needed to adjust his rear brakes as they ended up being too tight after he changed his tire.  Fortunately I was able to oblige with my multi-tool from the frame pack.  He got his brakes adjusted and was ready to go in a few short minutes.

As we waited, a few more stragglers came in that were behind us. One of them was a 6 year old girl who was a Red Rider.  I'm sad to say I cannot remember her name. most of the riders fueled up and took off. There were 5 of us in the rest stop who were looking for a SAG ride back to the start.  3 of the other riders were Red Riders, one being the 6 year old girl and another her older brother.  Eventually the SAG vehicle arrived and the 5 of us loaded up our bikes and 3 riders got in the bed, while myself and the 6 year old got into the cab.  I had tried getting in the bed, but was overruled.  We then headed back towards the starting line.

As we rode the young lady and I got to talking.  It was a 30 minute ride or so and we talked about many things.  I found out she had been diagnosed about a year earlier with diabetes, that she was turning seven in a month and that she had been camping the previous week in California. She said she needed some biking shorts and biking gloves.  I suggested that those might be a good suggestion for her birthday.  She agreed.

We talked about many other things as well on the way back.  In the back were her older broth and her step-dad.  Her older brother at 12 was also a Red Rider.  She said her step-dad rides all the time and he stopped because she did.  I have to say I was very impressed with that young lady.  I wish I could remember her name.

On the ride back in the SAG vehicle we passed several other riders who were stopped at the side of the road.  We stopped and talked to some of them.  All were waiting on a SAG ride.  Unfortunately we had no more room in the vehicle.  Finally we determined that we needed to get back and not keep stopping unless the riders looked hurt or in need of emergency aid.   We passed several more riders, but none seemed to need emergency assistance.

The driver said that they were down a couple of vehicles this year because there were a couple of other events going on this weekend, the biggest of which was the Susan G Komen walk for the cure. There were also fewer radios.  We called the base on his cell to let them know there were other riders in need of assistance, but the connection kept cutting out. We eventually got the message through.

Finally we were back near the finish line.  We unloaded the bikes and all 5 of use rode over the line to the finish area while the driver headed back out to get more riders.

There was cheering and clapping as I rode in, but I felt like a bit of a fraud.  Sure I was successful in raising awareness and money for the cause, but I hadn't accomplished my goals.

I met my wife and daughter in the finish area and they congratulated me on doing what I did.  Thank you!  I love you!

Part of what made the ride more significant for me this year is that my wife was just diagnosed with diabetes on Friday. Right now she is at the lowest reading to be diagnosed with this disease and we know that through diet and weight loss we can beat it, but this added one more reason to why I ride.  I also ride for my mother, my Aunts, and friends who have this disease.

So I didn't make the distance, but I did have a great experience and will be back again next year and hopefully my wife and daughter and maybe my grand kids, will be joining us.

Eat better.

Move more.

Get on your bikes and RIDE!

2014 Biggest Winner Challenge

This year I am once again the captain of my company's Biggest Winner team as part of the Corporate Challenge here in the City of Las Vegas.  Basically we have a 5 member team and the goal is to lose the highest total percentage of weight over the next 10 weeks.  Our final weigh in is on May 12.  Having participated in this challenge in the past I understood how easy it might be to "stack the deck" a bit in our favor by gaining a bit of easily loseable weight.  One of the easiest things to do is to drink as much water as possible the day of the initial weigh in to increase your starting weight.  Eating like a pig for a couple of days before and the day of prior to weighing in helps too.

I'm here to let you know I was very successful in this regard.  My Friday weight was 429 lbs. and my official weigh in weight was 440 lbs.  I got on the scale this morning at home and it showed 436.4 lbs.  My goal over the next 10 weeks is to lose one percentage of my starting weight each week for a total of 10 % for the competition.  Do I know this is faster than recommended as a good, steady amount to lose?  Sure I do, but it is a competition and not a lifestyle.  I do hope that the change will carry forward, though.

So, 4.4 lbs per week between now and May 12.  I know I can do it by staying focused, eating right and getting my butt moving!

It truly is an adventure...

When I decided to start this blog over 3 years ago, I was trying to decide what to call it.  I knew that a lot of what I would write about was riding my bike as I had fallen in love with riding again after many, many years.  I also knew that this blog would be more than that.  In order to ride more and enjoy it more I needed to lose weight and get healthier than I was.  There just was no 2 ways about it.  In order to ride more, and as a side effect of riding more, I knew that my weight had to change.  It has, but not nearly as much as it should.

Its truly been an adventure over these last 3 1/2 years in that I've had my ups and downs in both achievements and in my weight and fitness levels.

Unfortunately I've been on a bit of a down lately.  I haven't been watching what I eat as I should.  I haven't been riding and being as active as I should and my current weight shows it.  I have not been on a scale since I completed the Biggest Winner challenge back in May, but I know my weight has gone up by how my clothes are fitting, by how I look in the mirror and how I can feel the extra weight walking up the stairs.

Am I back to my heaviest, no.  Have I gained 15 or 20 lbs?  Probably.  There has been a real lack of motivation to get up at 4:00 am and get on my bike.  I like to kid myself and say I'll do it later, but later never comes.  I've told myself every excuse in the book - I'm tired, its too hot, its too windy, I'll do it tomorrow, my back is sore, I don't feel good... on and on and on.  the reality is these are all just excuses for me to stay in bed or to stay in my chair with my feet up, watching TV or playing on my computer.

The irony is I spend a good deal of time reading about other's adventures and accomplishments on the bike or getting fit and healthy while not doing it myself.  That has to change.  not tomorrow, not next week but today.

I know from experience that huge changes all at once don't work for me and are not sustainable in the long run.  I've drastically changed my diet and it usually last 4 to 6 weeks or so and then I get bored and feel too restricts and just go back to overeating unhealthy foods.  I've started rigorous, daily exercise regimens for them to fall apart after a week or two.

My goal for the next week is to start tracking my foods again and limit my portion sizes to stay withing a 2300 calorie a day allotment.  I'm also going to wear my fitbit daily and increase my steps to at least 5000 per day for the next week.  Along the way I plan on getting more miles in on my bike, going back to my goal of at least 3 days per week and hopefully more.

I am not getting younger, nor am I getting healthier with my current routine so now its time to apply myself and do what I need to do to get it done.

In the beginning...

In the beginning I was 492 lbs and got winded just walking from the parking lot into the building at work. In the beginning walking up the flight of stairs to the apartment left me panting and gasping for air. In the beginning I struggled to keep up with my Grandchildren. In the beginning I realized that I had to do something to make a change or my time to enjoy my Grandchildren would be cut dramatically short. So I decided to make a change.

In September of 2009 there was a weight loss competition at work called the Lose to Win challenge and I decided I would participate. I signed up for the challenge and decided that since I had experimented with a low carb diet in the past and had modest success (although once I stopped I gained back the weight twice over), that this would be the method I would use to achieve success. I thought about adding exercise, or any real physical activity to my plan, but it was basically just thought as I sat at my desk or my computer at home or on the couch (ironically watching shows like the Biggest Loser) but really did nothing.

I have achieved some success. I am down approximately 72 lbs from that start at 492. I know the weight loss has had a positive impact on my health as I am now able to walk much longer distances and I have even gotten a bike and started riding.

I think part of what has inspired me are blogs by Robin, whom I work with, and Jayne, Otherwise known as the slow fat triathlete. reading about how they have struggled and worked and met their goals has truly inspired me to get off my butt and start doing something. Along the way my co-worker Mary's triumphs in her Sprint Triathlons and reading about rides that Cynthia has taken have all helped inspire me and I just might decide to try a Triathlon in the future.

Between now and then I am going to try and put down into this blog some of the triumphs and set backs I experience along the way.