Although I have been riding the bike all my life, the "Riding ON" motto has come on in the last 10 years. Mostly in my eagerness to get involved in the public awareness raised by Lance Armstrong in his battle vs cancer & the creation of LAF and LiveSTRONG in The Lance Armstrong Foundation. Not to mention the excitement of this American (but, I WILL!) achieving 7 consecutive Tour de France Championships since beating 'that monster'!
Most importantly though, it IS our 4 years 'fighting the good-fight' with Dr. Gail ~ 1962 - 2009, which brings us to this point and blog. She kept going - day in and day out, managed her case with that 'Brilliant Doctor' brain of her's and made a superior effort to always be my 'Glamorous Date' (and cheerleader) when we were out in public or just home alone.
I feel hopeful that time and The Bike will heal that 'victim of a crime' feeling in my gut and not diminish the memory of a life well shared and a person who has added so many facets and connections to who we are in the world.
Many "Thanks!", on the 1st Edition of this endevour, to Elden aka "The Fat Cyclist" and his blog - http://www.fatcyclist.com/
His inspiring work done with LAF and World Bicycle Relief this past December as well as his battles won and lost in the past few years are our human bond and commonality personified. In addition to having his own story on the bike, he has been the conduit for many great ideas, initiatives and connections with people around the world. For this shear effort in the face of adversity,
My Inaugural, Dr. Gail Extra Effort Award Goes to YOU!
CONGRATS, FATTY! You Ride ON 24/7...and away we go!!!
"...these are the things we take with us as we start back up the hill..." =gd=
Pat & Sal's #1-Son goes for a ride...
Since my first coaster-brake / hand-me-down Red Schwinn (with which I crashed myself unconscious while not wearing a helmet - circa 1968) to a current stable of 4 Beauties ~ a Giant TCRzero carbon fiber road model, a LeMond 'Tourmalet' dbl-butted aluminum road model, the latest Fuji 'OBEY' steel fixie & the old work-horse Kline MB (formerly my NYC commuting mode - weather permitting).
These, as well as all but one of the 6 in between, were bought @ Bennett's Bicycles, S.I.N.Y. est. 1896 and seen here as part of a sponsorship deal I brokered... http://www.wsia.fm/departments/sports/sponsors/sponsor2.html.
Back in the day, the owner wasn't married to my sister and I was saving my newspaper $$$ to get new bikes. Since then it has been a great personal relationship between owner and customer and now, Family! The current owner and 4th Generation in the shop is my Bro-in-Law. COOL! So, in the before time, a day out in the world has most assuredly included the bike. Whether escaping the friendly confines of the neighborhood, doing the daily chore of newspaper delivery (The News in the AM and The Advance in the PM ) on my 'new-bike-4-christmas' Sears 3-speed with rear baskets attached (and for a while both in the same day), to the 5 mile commute to high school on my 2-separate Schwinn 'Continental' 10-speed(s)*** and, of course, riding at Le Tour on some of the greatest trips on 2-wheels so far...
...With miles to go before I sleep, let's ALL Ride ON Today! =gd=
Today's Side-Bar:
*** Both Powder-Blue Continentals were eventually stolen but, after the 1st one was taken from in front of the YMCA, I had to go to the competition (they are still in business as well but, discontinued selling bikes in favor of Harleys long ago) so as to get the exact bike [size and colour] because the BB-guys didn't have another one to sell me. This was the only time I have bought a new bike and it wasn't from Bennett's. Sorry, Fellas!
Coming Up NEXT: The chronology of The Bike ...from the Red Schwinn to The Fuji 'OBEY' Fixed...
