To all my sponsors and supporters - THANK YOU!!
With your help, as of today (Sept. 19) I have raised $640.09! This puts me well on my way to meeting my goal of $1,000.
If you haven't been able to make your donation yet, you can click HERE to go to my National MS Society page and then click on "Donate to Nora" to make your donation online. If you'd prefer to mail a check, you can email me at noisy415@hotmail.com for my mailing address.
We had a great time at the Bike Tour, as we always do. Below are some pictures of our adventures on hot, windy Saturday and rainy, chilly Sunday!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
MS 150 Bike Tour 2007 Pix
Blanche, me and Larry before the start.
Blanche and Larry ready to head out! Well, Blanche was ready - Larry hopped off his bike so I could take their picture. Blanche is riding a recumbent three-wheel bike. Larry rode "Mr. Fuji", a regular road bike - because their tandem-recumbent-tricycle had wheel troubles that weren't fixed in time for the Tour.
My sister Marie, who was the first in our family to ride the MS 150 Bike Tour, me and Dad (riding since 1994), ready for the start.
With Joe, a long-time rider and friend.
On the move at last! That's my shadow with the camera up in the air. We are riding above Hwy. 70 - the main highway into New Bern from the middle and western part of the state. Those itty bitty spots are cyclists! Aaaaack! We'll be down there in a minute!
This is just as Dad and I started down the on-ramp. Couldn't take any more pix after that, I was too busy enjoying the ride! It was a fun curving downhill and quite an experience to bicycle on a road that I've driven many times. I couldn't get a pic of it, but they had one of those changeable highway signs that said "Caution Bicyclists on Bridge". I'll try to find some other pix of the bridges - they go over the Neuse and Trent rivers, which New Bern sits on. This next pic is from up on the bridge.
Here's what it looks like from above - green arrows indicate where we rode.
Below two photos are me and Dad with long-time volunteer and friend Glen. This is at the first rest stop - about 14 miles into Day 1. Glen has had MS for many years and when I was on staff at the MS chapter, he called in to sign up as a volunteer. It was the beginning of a great working relationship that became a wonderful friendship. Glen is one of those people I see maybe 2-3 times a year at MS events, but we pick up chatting about families and other important things like we just saw each other yesterday. Dad rides for Glen, so they have a special bond as well.
This horse was just running along his pasture, enjoying the beautiful day as much as we were!
I think there are some cyclists up the road there....somewhere.... Just a peaceful country backroad - most of the tour is like this.
More photos to come!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Fri., July 6
Met Marie and Dad after work at Catsburg. They did a short run of about 7 miles, then met me and we headed out. Went out to the Exxon, then down Geer St. for the other side of my Rocky hill - the side I fell on last Sunday.
Marie got ahead at the intersection and waved us on, keeping an eye out for traffic so I didn't have to stop before making the turn. Dad ended up stopping there with her, so I hammered on ahead to attack the hill. I could hear them shouting behind me "Go Rocky Go!!!" and I made it!! It's a long hill, but I made it with some gears to spare and felt pretty good.
Had the downhill side of the hill to recover a little before the sharp left and up a tiny hill (feh! I laugh at hills!) and we cruised slowly through the next couple of miles, drinking, chatting and recovering.
It feels really good to be able to actually ride with Marie and dad, even though I know they're holding back at times to ride with me and encourage me. But at least this year I don't feel like I'm constantly battling myself and/or the bike just to make it down the road, which is how I've felt in the past.
Really enjoying riding!!
Marie got ahead at the intersection and waved us on, keeping an eye out for traffic so I didn't have to stop before making the turn. Dad ended up stopping there with her, so I hammered on ahead to attack the hill. I could hear them shouting behind me "Go Rocky Go!!!" and I made it!! It's a long hill, but I made it with some gears to spare and felt pretty good.
Had the downhill side of the hill to recover a little before the sharp left and up a tiny hill (feh! I laugh at hills!) and we cruised slowly through the next couple of miles, drinking, chatting and recovering.
It feels really good to be able to actually ride with Marie and dad, even though I know they're holding back at times to ride with me and encourage me. But at least this year I don't feel like I'm constantly battling myself and/or the bike just to make it down the road, which is how I've felt in the past.
Really enjoying riding!!
4th of July
Had a great ride with Dad! It was nice to have plenty of time and no particular destination. We started out about the usual time - 8 a.m. with a plan to go about 20-25 miles. Weather was gorgeous, a little breeze that didn't bother us until pretty far into the route. It became a nice tailwind after we turned around at Pope's store!
The worst part of this ride - I hit a squirrel! Dad and I were cruising along side-by-side at about 17-18 mph with that nice tail wind, when from the right comes a squirrel. He darts under dad's bike and makes it through fine. Then he gets to me and isn't so lucky - my front wheel hit him and I think the back one did too. I felt terrible, but I couldn't go back - what could I have done for him, assuming we were able to find him?
Ended up with about 23 miles and an average of 11.6. Not bad, but I'll get better!
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Monday nite
Dad and I rode from Catsburg, did the Gorman Church Rd. loop out to my "Rocky" hill. When I can get to the top of that one without bonking, I'll feel like I've accomplished something.
We took the curve wide, dad in front of me. Just as I was swinging out and picking up speed, two pickups came down the road towards us. I was scared as it was, didn't feel in control and was too far over to the left. One of the drivers yelled something, but it's probably best I couldn't understand him! I braked a bit and started up the hill, but didn't make it quite to the top. The legs were aching and I was huffing and puffing, so I just looped back and headed down the hill and up the next one.
Did the rest of the miles without incident. I feel like I'm improving every time. Although I wasn't as consistent tonite as on Sunday, it was much better to be back on my own bike.
Mileage - 13 miles. Avg. speed 12 mph.
We took the curve wide, dad in front of me. Just as I was swinging out and picking up speed, two pickups came down the road towards us. I was scared as it was, didn't feel in control and was too far over to the left. One of the drivers yelled something, but it's probably best I couldn't understand him! I braked a bit and started up the hill, but didn't make it quite to the top. The legs were aching and I was huffing and puffing, so I just looped back and headed down the hill and up the next one.
Did the rest of the miles without incident. I feel like I'm improving every time. Although I wasn't as consistent tonite as on Sunday, it was much better to be back on my own bike.
Mileage - 13 miles. Avg. speed 12 mph.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Rides up 'til now - July 1 - 14 miles - Catsburg Village. Me, Dad & Marie. Had to use Marie's hybrid, mine had a flat. Overall, bike too small, but we did adjust the seat and handlebars a couple of times and eventually it was pretty good.
Never felt like I was extending my legs far enough, but it shifts nicely and has a few more gears than my bike. Did ok on the hills, except toward the end, a hill caught me by surprise and I didn't have enough gears to make it. Trying to shift, foot slipped off the pedal, lost my balance and went down. Bit of road rash on my left leg and elbow, no damage to the bike.
Clif shot blox and GU on board - felt good. I definitely prefer this to bars - they can be tough to digest and I usually end up with a belly ache.
June 24 - me and dad. Catsburg village 11 mile ride. Out to the Exxon at 85, down the extra piece at Gorman Church Rd. Halfway up the "goal" hill, turned around.
Used Clif Shot Blox and GU for carbs. Felt good - not sure if it's them or doing better with gears, don't much care!
June 17 - Me, Marie & Dad. Dad hung with me and really coached me on using my gears on the hills. I guess I've been doing them all bass-ackwards all this time! Found it a lot easier getting up the hills today. Arms and legs quite weak and shaky after a short time.
Never felt like I was extending my legs far enough, but it shifts nicely and has a few more gears than my bike. Did ok on the hills, except toward the end, a hill caught me by surprise and I didn't have enough gears to make it. Trying to shift, foot slipped off the pedal, lost my balance and went down. Bit of road rash on my left leg and elbow, no damage to the bike.
Clif shot blox and GU on board - felt good. I definitely prefer this to bars - they can be tough to digest and I usually end up with a belly ache.
June 24 - me and dad. Catsburg village 11 mile ride. Out to the Exxon at 85, down the extra piece at Gorman Church Rd. Halfway up the "goal" hill, turned around.
Used Clif Shot Blox and GU for carbs. Felt good - not sure if it's them or doing better with gears, don't much care!
June 17 - Me, Marie & Dad. Dad hung with me and really coached me on using my gears on the hills. I guess I've been doing them all bass-ackwards all this time! Found it a lot easier getting up the hills today. Arms and legs quite weak and shaky after a short time.
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