They give you the shirt at the beginning!

What a relief - all the pressure was off. I forgot that they give you your shirt at the beginning of the ride. So, no one would actually know whether or not you completed!

In fact, with fear as my co-pilot (the big guy had bigger fish to deal with) I did complete again this year - with mucho thanks to all who sponsored and otherwise supported me.

The fearsome Hamilton Mountain - not so bad. When I shared the vertical stats with the brother-in-law he advised me that they weren't as big as the ones he has made me endure around the farm (who knew he was actually trying to help by riding with me?).

I even got a good nights sleep in the lumberjack camp (what else do you call a field with A LOT of guys snoring?)

Once again I was amazed at the support - both from donors as well as people along the route. Met and made new friends, and gathered new stories to share.

Thanks to all who sponsored and encouraged me - there were well over 3,000 riders this year -- and once again we raised over $14-million in total for cancer research @ PMH.

Next year, I'm taking a pass (don't want to overdo it) -- but the brother-in-law has a new mid-lifer planned for us. Motorcycle trip to Alaska! That means more expensive toys!

Jill pointed out to me over the weekend that this year the ride is a couple of weeks earlier than last. Which of course means that the time available to whip myself into shape is similarly reduced.

It's not that I haven't been training - just not enough. Ditto on the fundraising.(link & hint).

Panic is setting in - rapidly.

I have memories of Hamilton mountain from last year - and they aren't fond.

Part Deux - Return of the Panda

Okay - so last year it was a big effort to get into shape and prove (to myself at least) that I was capable of conquering the 200+km bike ride to Niagara - which thanks to several months of 'scared straight' training I did manage.

And, caught up in the moment, I signed up to do it again this year.

The difference? I got complacent, and haven't done anything to keep in bike-shape.

So - the Panda is back (possibly plus a few pounds) and I've got 8 weeks to whip it into shape!

The training has begun - and the pain has returned!

Crossed the Line!

Two days and 220km later - I finished!

I'll post a lengthier tale of the journey later - I figure some folks will be checking to see if I survived so thought I should post something early before they start sending flowers to the hospital, and asking my wife out on dates.

Overall I have to say that the training definitely paid off.  I realized this on the second morning when I was able to walk - and sit!

Going in, I had no idea what an emotional event this would be for many of the people involved, cyclists and supporters alike.  Jill and the kids met me in Niagara Falls and commented on the number of people who crossed the big finish line with tears.  All along the ride route - even out in the country - you would find groups of people and individuals with signs supporting the ride and cheering us on.  

I think the fundraising stats say it all - 2,480 riders - $14-million raised.

Thanks to all my supporters and sponsors!  

The Panda Has Launched!

It's confimed - I've reached the point of no return (or dementia).

I shaved my legs.

Tomorrow we ride!

Damned if you do . . .

Heading into the home stretch.

So, as carefully planned out weeks in advance, I began to ride my trusty mountain bike into work this week. So I converted to new pedals, bought a new lock, gave it a service call at the shop, and I was on my way!

15k each way - not enough for a real workout, but enough to keep my posterior in training.

Day One - went pretty well. Got into work at a decent time after visiting the gym for a shower (I had thought about a sponge bath in the office washroom - but for a variety of reasons related to office etiquette decided against it). Got home in good time too!

Day Two - started out pretty well - even managed to pick up the pace and get downtown faster.

Then came lunch . . . while on my way out to get a healthy, nutritious meal I walked past the bike posts where I had locked up in my front of my office at Yonge & Bloor and WHAMMO - no bike!
All I have left is the seat (I took it with me) - and a nice, new, neatly severed lock.

That's it - screw the environment - I'm going back to my Detroit made, gas guzzling, emission spewing, 8-year old SUV.

At least I still have my new road bike!

375 KM Update

No I didn't die on the first bike outing . . .

Since acquiring the 'two wheel instrument of pain' I've been out on a series of consistently longer rides every weekend.

The longest weekend so far has been 140km - an 80k ride on Saturday followed up by 60k on Sunday.

And yes, my butt was numb.

Most of my rides have been along the lakeshore - going out to the tip of the Leslie Spit before working my way west to the Humber River trail and following it north.

Mistakenly, I thought this was a challenge.

Till this past weekend.

On the advice of the bike shop's resident in-house masochist on Saturday I went for a 60k ride north of the Toronto Zoo - around Uxbridge. Unfortunately, what they didn't tell me was that it was an all hill route.

BIG DIFFERENCE!

On Sunday I went back to the lake route.

No Training Wheels!

I've taken the plunge, and finally bought a bike.

There's (almost) no turning back now (except massive public humiliation - but I'm generally ok with that if necessary).

My new bike is a work of technical art - a LeMond Alp D'Huez.

I put more time into buying this bike than I did my last car - and the process was more personal than my last physical (if you know what I mean).

First there were a series of measurements - hand size, arm length, shoulder width and inseam (turn, cough).

Then a computer ran all the numbers to determine the right configuration of bike sizes.

Next, the shop (Skiis and Biikes - great guys for both products) brought in two different bikes for me to try.  Oddly enough I went in looking at a Trek 2.1 - and was generally convinced that was the one I would walk out with - but the LeMond (last years model) was a lot smoother and more comfortable (no it doesn't have a bigger seat) - so I went with it after riding them both around for a couple of hours.

Finally I bought a bag of stuff (pedals, shoes, spare tube, water bottles, etc.) to go with the bike and am now just waiting for the shop to finish giving it a final once over before I head out -- hopefully this weekend.

Incidentally (but not insignificantly) the real learning was that my butt already hurts after only a couple of hours testing the two bikes -- I definitely think I need to do some serious conditioning in that region of my anatomy before the ride.

European (Training) Vacation

My apologies for the lack of an update - while I'm sure many thought I had packed it in and called it quits - actually I thought I would kick up the training regime a notch (or sixteen) and do a little work with the European tour.

First, I went to Portugal to do some roadwork. Long hours spent on the Portuguese coastline, getting my competitive spirit in the right space and encouraging my body to follow suit. Pictures of my training partners are featured (I wish). 

Next, for the ultimate in inspiration, I thought I would go to Paris and get some inspiration from Lance's final lap around the L'Arc de Triumphe. Didn't work out so well - I guess Lance waited for the lights to change before trying to cross the traffic!

I also did some serious croissant and foie gras based carb loading - balanced out by some heart healthy red wine.   

European training is tough!  Good thing I'm committed to sport!

Finally, I went to Switzerland to do some hill and mountain work - fuelled by toblerone and cheese! Fortunately, the mountain rescue team is particularly good there!

Now I'm back - and Vlad the trainer has been looking for me!

The Pain Has Begun

OK - I am now officially, an 'athlete'.

How do I know? I've had an athletic injury.

Yes, to a muscle (which means I must have actually developed one - an achievement in itself).

To make a short story long, the demented Argentinian bastard that is my trainer employed the training technique of 'go to your limit - and then make your client go further' (and pay for it).

The end result? I couldn't go into the office today, because I couldn't walk to the car.

Embarassing? Yes.

Encouraging? Somewhat (seriously, I'm an optimist).

Let the Pain Begin!

I've now taken that monumental next step in my rigorous training regimen (no - I haven't put down the cocktail), I've actually visited the gym and worked out with a personal trainer.

Roberto - (or "you sick, demented bastard" depending on which end of the sharp stick you are looking at) has started me out with what he claims was a light intense workout - lower body only (upper body is the next session!) .  But its been two days and I still can't walk!

Tomorrow comes the upper body. Hmm, what happens when he puts it all together - complete paralysis?  Body cast?

I've also started thinking that I really need to start riding a bike - I've been reading up on the issues of "numbness" that come from bike seats.  Frankly, numbness doesn't worry me (what you can't feel . . . ) but "pins and needles" do!

Week One - Big Steps

Okay, we're under way now!

I've made the necessary commitments to ensure completion of this epic voyage:

1. Paid my registration fee
2. Started a blog to ensure public humiliation if I don't complete
3. Joined a gym
4. Bought a copy of Bicycling magazine
5. Solicited donations

Still to come - visiting the gym for more than a sauna, buying a bike and coming to grips with the idea of wearing spandex shorts!

The Epic Quest

So here it is - my epic adventure for 2008.

Somehow, for some reason, I've decided that it would be a good idea to enter The Ride to Conquer Cancer Benefiting Princess Margaret Hospital [link].

Over 200 kilometres in two days on the weekend of June 20-22, 2008.

By bicycle - not motorcycle, scooter or moped. (I know what you're thinking - there's no way he'll make it to the start line, let alone the finish).

Like most people, I have family and friends who have been touched by cancer - some more than others, and its something I would like to help stop. And, like a number of guys of my approximate age I felt the need to (try and) demonstrate that my chronological/ physiological advancement is in no way related to my psychological age, or hairline.

So, I've opted for the big bike ride.

Seems like a good idea - great cause that helps those I care for - and the opportunity for big bragging rights!

(I'm not sure who I will be able to brag to, my kids don't listen to me and neither does the dog, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it or probably just bore people to death at cocktail parties - they've probably already heard my existing stock of stories so will have to at least feign interest in something new).

But - I'm looking for a little help with this (a wee bit of a push up the hill, if you will).

Don't worry, I don't want your time (or cast off cycling shorts - though ointment may be called for later). It's only your cash I'm after.

Part of the deal is that I will raise $3200 toward cancer research at Princess Margaret (same middle name as my mother, sister and at least one cousin - Margaret that is, though the Princess part may have been given a workout from time to time too). Given that Princess Margaret is one of the top five cancer research hospitals in the world, it seems like a pretty good place to invest some coin.

To help me with this, simply click on the sponsorship link on the right side of the blog (which takes you to the David Gordon page on the official web site) and enter your sponsor information.

In exchange - you will get a number of items in return:

First - a tax receipt (yippee)!

Second - the opportunity to follow my progress as I prepare myself both mentally and physically for this epic, Ben Hur-like venture. I plan to update this blog on a weekly basis between now and the end of the ride, sharing my pain. Hopefully, I will make it humorous (they say that if you laugh it doesn't seem to hurt so much).

Third - the warm feeling that comes from contributing to a great cause.

Thanks!