The Ride of Silence

We met as a team to cycle in to the Ride of Silence in honor of Dave Anderson....we that are working to end cancer and find a cure ...came together to mourn another needless death.

Dave Anderson was out cycling with his wife and family on a designated bike path when a car careened off the highway and killed him. His wife was ahead of him at the time and looked back to see the crash.

As we arrived after riding to the site in silence, we immediately saw a crowd of cyclists and friends and mourners gathered at the crash site. Bike upon bike lined

the thin fence that could not have hoped to hold the car back from the cyclist. We watched the cars go by thinking what a very freak accident this was....and how easily it could happen again. Many cycling teams were present and dressed in their kits representing their

teams...a solemn show of support.....and it was good to see so many people all present to pay their regards. It was a quiet crowd...thoughtful, prayerful...mindful...cyclists who arrived on the scene during the accident were there, the police at the scene were there...church members were there ...

When we first arrived, we were each given a beautiful flower and we all put the flowers around the ghost bike...the symbol of the life lost so needlessly. Many prayers were said....many tears were spilled...

The Ghost Bike is now a permanent memorial to Dave Anderson. His wife and daughter placed the first flowers and they and their pastor greeted the mourners. It has only been a month since their lives changed forever. Let us hope and pray that not one more cyclist is killed by a car.

Silly Yoga?

I have met a very nice woman in my new yoga class. I do not think, that at this moment, she quite knows what to do with me! She tilted her head after class and told me "I never laughed in yoga until you came along!" Thus, silly yoga was born!

I think that sometimes, in yoga we just end up laughing at ourselves, because we try so hard...when the goal is not to try so hard....but just to breathe and ease into in...but those times, when it does not ease in....are the times, I seem to have a battle with my body and try to muscle it and end up laughing at the hilarity of that!

Take the other day. We were into a pose similar to happy baby..only on the left side we were to straighten our leg. My leg would not straighten ...tight cycling hamstrings...and I started to roll around on the mat. I tried to "make" it happen, but the leg just would not stretch! This got me giggling. Then my new friend started to giggle and I think I heard my yoga teacher giggle too!

OH! Silly yoga! What a joy!

Sag Support! Try it, You'll Like It!

I think many cyclists do not really like to give up their role on the bike, to drive a car and be the support vehicle for a ride. But I am here to tell you that it can be fun! It is also a comfort to the cyclists. Having been on the receiving end of the benefits of the SAG vehicle, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to give back!

Some of the Team is doing the Santa Fe Century while others will do the Century in Lake Tahoe.

The friends you make through Team in Training can be friends for life...and many become just that! It was fun to meet new cyclists and to see friends who chanted 'Thank God for the Internet!" We were reunited on this ride after many weeks of back and forth emailing!

I will tell you what! I was pretty glad I was warm and cozy today! The Team had to cope with some mean hill climbing and also a fierce wind...no matter which way they turned! Everyone did such a great job and everyone was happy!

Lots of wonderful bonds are being forged.....like with these two guys below...maybe they are the wolf brothers...or perhaps the Blues Brothers in disguise! And yes, Ed, I skipped the blackmail pic of your butt! ...but could not resist mentioning it! LOL

Where is Coach Mike? I never got a pic of him...he was busy cycling back and forth! I overheard him say, "I did not start to feel good until I started climbing!" In my world a statement like this is beyond comprehension! He is such a wonderful addition to the Team and to the Wolf Brothers below! Everyone is relaxed and happy...and supported! What a pleasure!

There is an entire family cycling this year and it was nice to meet a few of them. I look forward to sagging the SF Century for this team in a few months! GO TEAM!

Fighting cancer one pedal stroke at a time!

Women Cyclists! Take this Survey!

The Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals are asking women to take a survey about what supports and prohibits us from cycling. After taking the survey, I continue to realize how bike friendly Albuquerque is. They are collecting data for a study and will use the information to improve cycling for women. Please take a few minutes and check out and fill out the survey. Sorry guys! They may have a survey for men in the future!

"Writing Women Back into Bicycling" Survey
Cece

Come Join us In Moab!

Come join us for the Moab Century Tour in September. This is a skinny tire event so all you roadies..come and meet us in beautiful Moab! There are several of us going and then there are some from Women Riding Well, our cycling club, going too. We would love to meet you there if you are on Team Fatty , Team Clydesdale or ride with the Leukemia Lymphoma Society too! A portion of your entry fee goes to support cancer research. Let us know if you will be joining us!

Have you heard that my favorite coach Troy Jacobson has been named official Coach for IRONMAN? It is true. Check out his new blog!

Today at work, someone asked me if I have been back on my bike since my surgery. I told them that I only missed one week off the bike and have been on it ever since. It really is amazing when I think of it. I have been doing lots of PT and strength training and am working my mileage back up! I went back to yoga again last week and was so happy to return. I am practicing with Anil Poovadan at his studio in Bernalillo.

This weekend, I will be sagging for the Team in Training as they increase their mileage for their century rides. It should be a lot of fun and I will see lots of friends and try to take lots of pics. Stay tuned!

Cycling Rhythms

If you cycle, you will know that there are familiar rhythms to it. There are rituals and routines and things to do..to prepare for... things to gather, hair to fix, tires to pump...IDs and medical cards to gather...water bottles to prepare...clothes, shoes and socks...all must match...we are all divas you know...male and female!

I was reunited with all these rhythms today as I took my first ride outdoors post-surgery. It was a very sentimental rhythm for me today. One that I appreciated and sort of bathed in...even the drive to the bosque was meaningful. Once on the path I felt the familiar headwind...that really should not have been there according to the weather...I felt the silence that was so full of miniatures sounds...rustling leaves, honking geese, the river, lapping down , stomping horses, cattle, dogs galloping with their masters who are rollerblading....and the multitude of cyclists who I wondered...were they all playing "hooky" with me on this beautiful and warm day in Albuquerque?

This was a test ride...to test the shoulder. It was so nice to finally be moving on my bike...rather than attached to my trainer ...the wind on my face...the smells...all made me know that I was finally home...at home...with the freedom of my bike. I took pics and tested the newly designed shoulder...yes I could hold on just fine !I reached for the water bottle with either arm. Still doing well. Standing up cycling...doing well! Took pics and held on just fine! All is well. I sauntered on... Absorbing the road shock and feeling the movement to create balance. All is well. At last!

I always sprint the last mile and as I threw it into the big chain ring and went fast..heart rate in zone 4...I thought WOW..a new beginning...12 miles down only 78 more to Go! I will be in Moab in September for the Skinny Tire Century as planned and as a matter of fact...my recovery is right on track! HURRAY....and thank you to my wonderful surgeon / cyclist Dr. Pachelli, my PT Char and my deep tissue massage therapist Stephanie! It takes a village!

cece

Back in Business!

Many have been asking how my recovery is going and I know I have not written much on this blog...so here is the latest and greatest news!

On Monday afternoon, I saw the surgeon and have finally been released! This means that I am free to ride my bike on the road again! HURRAY! I am very excited about this! I have been getting itchy to do so...and I knew I would, so I put an orange Continental trainer tire on my back wheel so I COULD NOT ride it on the road. This helped a lot and I have been riding indoors 40-50 miles per week (still cursing at Troy Jacobson) including the famous Cement Factory spin class on Thursday nights!

The camaraderie in this class is fantastic and we are all having a blast! Nothing like 80-100 cyclists in a cement store...all jammed in and rowdy!


So, I am back in business again! I have been doing some easy pilates (which is still difficult due to the whiplash ) and losing weight (10.4 pounds) and beginning to lift some light weights and get back into strength training.


Monday, which looks like the best day in the next few, I will get on the bosque and do a flat perhaps 12 miles and see how I do...beginning to get those shoulder/neck muscles going on the road. It always surprises me how different the actual road is from the trainer. On the road, you have to steer and balance and deal with road shock...on the trainer it is mostly legs!


Many of you know Yun and we are writing another blog together which is keeping us both out of trouble. It is called The Two Whos Check it out!

As I said to my wonderful surgeon, "See you on the Road!"
Cece