September 8th 2012 "Pedal to the Metal" Las Vegas Ride

[Namida12]

Special Olympic ride...

This is a fun event for a good cause, enjoy this event with a group of friends, Two different distances starting from the West Career and Technical Academy at 11945 West Charleston, LV, 89135

25 mile route or 50 mile route (with optional free timed hill climb) 50 mile ride begins at 7am; 25 mile ride begins at 8am.

Might be the event to for you and a few friend to dress up in period clothing as you ride your 1950 cruisers to Blue Diamond and back. Or have your neighborhood ride in this event, as an extended family outing... The bike rodeo is wonderful for children and non riders...

Website -
http://www.sonv.org/getinfo/pedaltothemedal.html

[LoonyTick]

Sounds like fun, but it would probably kill me. lol I am so out of shape still...with my bum knee. You can ride for me Namida.

[Namida12]

Sounds like fun, but it would probably kill me. lol I am so out of shape still...with my bum knee. You can ride for me Namida.

Nice to see you hanging out here on a bike forum, you gave me a large grin "ear to ear" as I gave a blustering chuckle to my computer screen. Tis an easy ride, one you can practice 4 in your local the air conditioned gymnasium all summer long. I will be delighted to ride at your capability and walk if necessary so you can enjoy the fine eats at the finish, maybe with an exciting raffle win.

I am certain you will burn off the calories in the goodies offered at the Blue Diamond Hydration area during the return ride to the starting point, to smile at your accomplishment.

JR

[LoonyTick]

Since you and i have never met in real life, you do not know the shape I am in. Before i will even consider any rides like this, I want to get under 200 lbs. I have a ways to go. Having the knee problems from being too heavy for too long stalled my weight loss for quite awhile, since I could not be active. The older I get, the more I seriously need to shed all the excess weight and start living again. I thank you for your kind support, but I am just not even remotely ready yet. Someday.

I still need a new bike, but with money issues, right now it is just a wish. I hope to find a way to get it for Christmas or by spring time 2013 which is not that far off considering how fast time flies when we are older.

[Namida12]

Tis OK I was in your place 30 months ago, when the doctor told me I must walk every day, something I could & would not do because myankles and knees would swell-up from the effort.


Friendgave me a poorly maintained bicycle that had a left crank arm weldedon, that was not square any longer to see if I would like riding. Iroad it a twice maybe 3 times each week 3 miles for about 2months, when the neighbor's gave me a serviced Wal-mart Boat Anchor(50 pound dual shock mountain bike) that I road the same mileagfor about 6 months. I got lucky and found a early 90ties steel frameTrek 700 multitrack in a garage sale that was like new, and weight50% of the Wal-mart boat anchor. Replacing the tires and tubes(700x28) I was then was able to increase the distance I was ridingseveral times a week.

Thelike new Trek 700 disappeared while grocery shopping on a sunny day, and allthat was left was a cut chain & lock. I was very lucky thefollowing weekend and found a Trek 800 Antelope in a another garagesale that needed a fork replacement, and after making the Anteloperoad worthy it allowed my to increase my weekly riding distance. Juneof 2011, I purchased my first road bicycle, and attempted riding with a bicycle group on Saturday. My first experience on a bike trail I managed toride a total of 4 miles out and back. Reality reared its uglypresents, as I became very disappointed I could not ride very well.One of the riders, helped me learn when to shift, and use a few handsignals but most of all became a mentor and helped me increase themileage I was able to cover. When I was ready in his eyes we startedriding with the main Saturday group on the River Mountain Loop Trailin Henderson, and other riders of the group pushed me to ride fartherthan I believed possible.

WhenI changed from the hybrid to the Aluminum Road Bike, I began usingSPD clips mountain bike shoes, and learned it was possible to get more power pushing and pulling with my feet clipped to the pedals. Iquickly discovered it required less effort making square circles withbicycle shoes affixed to the pedals. I also discovered it was mucheasier to fall over when your shoes did not release from your pedals.Eventually I learned to anticipate removing my shoes from the pedalswhen approaching a stop light/sign. With a lighter easier pedaleffort, and magic disappearance of rolling resistance using narrowertires I enjoyed riding more often and for longer distances. The moreI road the bicycle the farther I could ride, and I used the Pedal toMetal as my first organized bicycling event, 3 months after only ableto ride a total of 6 miles distance on a bicycle trail.

Ijust returned from Portland, OR. I took a holiday shipping my bicycleto Seattle & participated in my first STP event (Seattle toPortland event consisting of 204 miles).

Istill find it unbelievable that I went from a 3/6 miles ride distancein June of 2011 to being able to complete 204 mile in a two day event in a yearand a month. Most of all I improved my health reducing my 44 inch waist size to 34 inchesriding a bicycle with the Doctor blessing. I have gained a bit of size back wearing 36 inch waist Jeans comfortably, and do not strive as diligently in the pedals,but with my scheduled 30 mile ride on Tuesday I will have ridden 500miles again this month.

When you are ready to start riding a bicycle let me know. Riding a bicycle changed my life, and I still look forward to riding several times a week, getting up quite early to avoid the summer warmth in the dry Vegas Valley.

I will ride the Pedal to the Metal event again this year...

JR