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| Ali and Kevin in Port Washington |
Ali and I began training and fundraising in earnest this summer for our monumental Braking Aids 285 mile, 3-day bike ride from Boston to NYC in September, 2015.
Ali and Kevin came to WI for the July 4th Summerfest weekend and we started the holiday off the right way, with a 50 mile bike ride through Pt Washington and a relaxing 25 mile ride the next day.
One week later I traveled to NYC to join Ali for my first training ride with the Braking Aids group, 60 miles from Chelsea Pier to Nyack, NY and back to the city. It was great meeting everyone and experiencing the iconic 9W route along the Hudson River. There were a few little mishaps navigating the twists and turns of the entryways to the bridge and Greenway, but we persevered and our training continued.
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| Our Team |
Our next joint challenge was the Scenic Shore 150, a charity ride of 150 miles over two days, raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Together we raised almost three thousand dollars and Ali experienced riding with over 1200 other bikers, including many of my biking friends, and riding as a mother/daughter "team." The weather was fantastic and the miles flew by. Ive done this ride many times but for Ali it was a new experience, the predawn car ride to the start, the camaraderie, the supportive volunteers, the overnight hotel stay (complete with packing and unpacking a multitude of bike clothes and gear), the many miles, and the food - every 15 miles. For breakfast we were pleasantly surprised to discover the race organizer had requested tofu scramble for us ravenous vegans, a great treat. And best of all the feeling of accomplishment at the finish line after 150 miles, quite a feat, and great training for our 285 mile journey.
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Waiting out thunderstorms before the start
with Nancy |
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The thunderstorms passed, the sun came out,
and we were ready to ride, with Nancy and Joan |
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| Lunch stop |
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| Along Lake Michigan |
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| At the finish, oh so smiley! |
Through the remainder of July and August Ali and I continued our long rides, she in NYC and me in Wisconsin. I participated in the Riveredge Nature Center Ride, several JDRF training rides, and my most challenging ride to date, Race the Lake, 90 miles around Lake Winnebago in Fond du Lac (where I was the 2nd oldest woman out of over 1300 riders).
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| City Island with Naomi |
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| Rockaway |
Ali rode to City Island with Naomi, a Braking Aids participant, and Rockaway to meet Kevin, as well as to Coney Island with a friend. She did endless loops of Prospect Park and spent many hours commuting to and from work and around the city.
