I got my bike back!

I picked up the bike last night. It was in for a much needed tune-up. I havn't taken it out for a ride yet, but it looks brand new again. I maintain and keep it pretty clean, but I took it in looking pretty beat up after that brutal bike ride on Sunday and the guys at "Bicycle Warehouse" did a great job as far as what the bike looks like. I can't wait to see how it handles as far as how precise the front and rear derailers go.
My plans for a ride tonight are sidelined until tomorrow. Martha has an association meeting. I probably need the rest anyway. Plans for rides the rest of the week are Thursday and Saturday. Anticipated total mileage for both should be around 75-100 miles depending on how early I can get up Saturday morning. It is supposed to be hot again this weekend and I don't want to be out any later than noon.

How important is the MS bike ride to me?

When I planned the MS bike ride, I was so excited that I could do something that I really enjoyed and could help with a cause that has affected my family and me in personal ways.

I was so excited that I didn't even check my events calendar. I was going to do it!
Well, most of you know how much I love my NASCAR. The California race that I have been going to for years is scheduled the same weekend and it is the speedways first "chase race", which is like a playoff game in other sports.
When I realized this, I didn't even think twice about the MS ride. I am committed to this event 100%.
I do have 4 tickets to the NASCAR races for both October 10th Nationwide race and October 11th Sprint cup race and will be selling my ticket on Stubhub.com by August 1st so that the proceeds will go to the MS ride unless I get an offer I can refuse before then. I'm willing to take trades in kind as well for the remaining ticktets.

Thank you!

I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you who have supported me thus far so that I can do my little part in eliminating MS from our planet by doing what I love. Thank you for your support through my Facebook cause page at: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/309283/62360556?m=f3643606

Those of you who have shown support through this portal, please help me by passing this on to your Facebook contacts. We can use all the support we can get...

Don't forget to check out my regularly updated blog for my training progress and news here: http://mikewillbiketofinishms.blogspot.com/

With out my bike I don't ride. With out your support Multiple Sclerosis wins the battle.

Bike is in for a much needed tune-up

After yesterdays ride, I took my bike in for a much needed tune up. I got this bike new about seven months ago and started riding it regularly by mid february and have over 1200 miles on the bikes computer odometer. I know enough to get myself in to trouble when it comes to fine tuning a bike, so I'm leaving it up to the pros and hopefully it will be like new again when I get it back. It is supposed to be done by Tuesday. I'll go for my second ride this week either that day or Wednesday depending on the rest of the families plans.

Sunday July 12th

I was set on taking a nice long bike ride to Torrey Pines today to get a feel for one of the notoriouly tough hills that runs along the coast from North County to San Diego up the "Torrey Pines grade." My plans were sidelined somewhat with the triathlon that was being held on the coast in Carlsbad. I made it to Carlsbad, but had to climb over Tamarack and then up and down some pretty good sized hills to La Costa Ave, which was a bit of a challenge for this old guy that is not a hill climber, but I made it to Solana Beach train station and back the same route. Whew! 62 miles total.

Thursday July 9th ride

I got a little carried away and did 49.67 miles. Actually started from my house at the top of Old Grove Road and College instead of the bike path at College. This was a major step and hurdle for me as it throws new challenges like elevation gains that I have not done at my current weight and age. 20 years ago it would have been a challenge. I completed a 50 mile bike ride and the elevation gain at the very end of the ride. Sky is the limit! Let's go kick some MS ass!

Ride schedule changed

I did not end up going for a ride yesterday as planned. Martha had a meeting, so a little rearranging of the schedule here is in order.
Planned ride this evening - goal 30-40 miles and Saturday morning 45-60 miles. This weeks anticipated miles 120 - 145 miles combined with the 45 miles I did earlier in the week. Both rides today and Saturday will be "the bike path" from College to the coast and ride south no further than Del Mar train depot.
For longer rides, I'll push futher to the top of Torrey Pines and then to La Jolla and back, but for now these rides are what I am to expect as far as elevation changes on the MS ride.
If there are any riders in North County that follow here that would like to join me in a ride, please let me know.

Bay to Bay Bike to fight Multiple Sclerosis

Did I mention that I was doing this ride for charity???
If you can support my efforts to support the National MS Society please see my site here: http://www.biketofinishms.com/mikebike

7/6/09 - Rode 5:30-8:30 45 miles to Charlie's by the Sea in Cardiff from bike path at College. Average ride speed 17.5mph

Next planned ride 7/8/09 and 7/10/09 to make up for lost riding time during first week of July.

The training schedule has been rolled out from the first week of July 2009 to the first week of October. The Bike to Finish MS is schduled for October 10th and 11th. Relatively flat, coastal ride of 150 miles. There won't be one single day that I anticipate riding a century ride to prepare for this ride due to time and the lack of a support team or someone that can commit to the same 100 miles in a given day.
The planned training includes 75 miles, on average, per week in the months of July and August. September, I will bump this up to 120 miles per week to get acclimated to longer rides and pacing myself instead of going all out on typical bike rides. I also plan on taking the last 7 days leading up to the ride off as a "recovery period". Nothing does a body good like rest.

I'm confident that this ride will be a successful one for personal reasons as well as for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society from bikers like myself, "virtual riders" and support from friends and family that have supported all of the pieces to this puzzle. I'm also confident that with the collective support such as this our children and their children will only about Multiple Sclerosis by reading about it in a text book and never have to experience a loved one with MS or afflicted themselves with this debilitating desease.