Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - A favor please?

My buddy at work hates cyclists and never misses an opportunity to give me a hard time. When I submitted a short write-up to this site (http://www.ge-healthahead.com/article/11904?) regarding my weight loss, health changes and my recent brevet, he suggested that no one would read it.

So, we did what any good friends would do: we made a bet. :p

It's simple: if I can get 100 thumbs-up by Monday morning, he'll donate $50 to the charity of my choice. Actually, we'll do it through a work foundation which will match it so technically, it'll be $100. My mother died of complications from Alzheimers so you can guess the charity of my choice.

If I don't get the 100 thumbs-up, I'll make the same donation to the charity of his choice.

May I ask for a favor? The article is here (http://www.ge-healthahead.com/article/11904?). If you have a second, please visit the site and if you like the article, hit the "thumbs up" at the bottom of the page. You don't have to register and there's nothing in it for me other than a bet between friends.

Thanks!

Nice job Gerry! I'm inspired

Done. I can relate. We finished the LC 1200 back in the mid-2000s.

Is the motel in Attwood still as scary as it was back then? And is Attwood as scary as it was back then??

Done. Very nice article, good sir...

Done. I can relate. We finished the LC 1200 back in the mid-2000s.

Is the motel in Attwood still as scary as it was back then? And is Attwood as scary as it was back then??



Rowan... I love old hotels and felt strangely at home in my "It'll Do" room. I'm not sure if that says more about me or the motel!

Thank you for the article.
I shared with friends and asked them to "thumbs up" if they like it.

Nice job Gerry! I'm inspired


Done. Very nice article, good sir...

Thank you both!

Thank you for the article.
I shared with friends and asked them to "thumbs up" if they like it.

Excellent! I appreciate your support.

Done! Good article btw, I am hoping to finally do more than a 200k in 2013 so it was cool to hear your story.

:thumb:

Excellent adventure and i posted it on my Facebook page

Done! Good article btw, I am hoping to finally do more than a 200k in 2013 so it was cool to hear your story.

Thanks Chris - you can do it!

:thumb:

Thank you - appreciate your support.


Excellent adventure and i posted it on my Facebook page

Great!

Good read, but I gotta ask: were your knees sore again after 1200 km?

Voted up and loved reading it! You are inspiring man!

Good read, but I gotta ask: were your knees sore again after 1200 km?

Not at all but my right Achilles was killing me on that last day. As you know, any imperfections will be amplified over long distances and I had just a tad too much reach for the pedals. I've adjusted that and will hopefully not have that issue again.

The only way to test it for certain is to do another one. :thumb:

Seems almost like cheating on the bet. But you have my thumb!

done, i hit thumbs up at work and on my phone, i'll do it again at home, that'll be three from me.
great job!

Seems almost like cheating on the bet. But you have my thumb!

That's a very fair point. Since I had my strategy planned from the get-go, I'll kick in my money even if I win the bet. Win/win.


done, i hit thumbs up at work and on my phone, i'll do it again at home, that'll be three from me.
great job!

Three votezzzzzz? Ezcellent. Thankz my friend!

you could always post it to the road forum where there is a lot more traffic, but you are almost there

p.s.
and to recumbent forums like bent rider online

you could always post it to the road forum where there is a lot more traffic, but you are almost there

p.s.
and to recumbent forums like bent rider online

I was nervous enough posting here. There are really only two sections of this board where I participate: here and the 50+. I didn't think it would be good form to post it in both.

I'm a huge participant over on advrider.com and I posted it there in a bike thread that's been going for quite some time. I'm thankful and happy with the results!

94,

Come on folks. Someone soon is going to be # 100

Jeebus...103 and still going. Thank you! There's $100 for the Alzheimer's Association which will be doubled to $200. My mother would get a chuckle out of this!

Nice piece Gerry - congrats. What kind of 'bent were you riding? I did the first four days of the 2012 RAGBRAI on an old (but very comfortable) Rans Tailwind. Best, Raj

Nice piece Gerry - congrats. What kind of 'bent were you riding? I did the first four days of the 2012 RAGBRAI on an old (but very comfortable) Rans Tailwind. Best, Raj

Very cool my friend. 2012 was another hot Ragbrai 'eh? I ride a Bacchetta Carbon Aero 2 but my first recumbent was a Bacchetta Giro which I rode on Ragbrai 2011. I was lucky...I went with 700 x 28 tires and didn't have a single flat!

Good times 'eh?

By way, here's a old picture of my parents. They met and were married in less than 30-days....and then spend the rest of their lives making each other happy. My father always said he'd take care of her until it killed him and he damn near got his wish.

When he finally relented and put her into an Alz unit, he had open heart surgery and was treated for thyroid cancer. I mentioned him in my comments in the article.

Until he passed away in 2010, he spend every day missing her. She finally passed away last year - as with most Alz patients, she forgot how to swallow. That was a tough, tough, tough call but as a RN, she made it clear that we were not to prolong her life with IV's and feeding tubes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/k7lro/Leon%20Edwin%20Elam/EdwinandPhyllis-1956001-1.jpg

When I think about the dangers of cycling, I know that there are many worse things than getting hit by a car. Growing old isn't for the faint of heart. Yep - our parents can be a PITA but I'd kill to have more time with mine. That's obviously not going to happen so the best I can do is live a good life - be a good man - do the best I can for my family... as my father did.

Forgive my ramblings.... and give your parents a call tomorrow. :thumb:

Congrats on crushing the bet. If there was not stipulation about recruiting people to vote for you, chances are you are technically in the clear on the rules. Either way, $200 is going to a great cause and you are showing a co-worker how much people care about cycling.

Done. Nice article

Great post(s). I voted as well. :thumb:

Gave a thumbs up, let us know how many you recieved when it's over!

Nice post. :thumb:

Excellent post! Got a thumbs up from me.

Thanks all. My buddy figured I had a little help but he made his donation with a laugh, I pitched in the same amount and we both secured matching funds for a total of $200 for the Alzheimer's Association!

Great article! :thumb:

good deal, thanks for the update