Livestrong Challenge--Philadelphia

[Possegal]

better late than never (just found this site last week), but my sister, brother-in-law and i rode this ride in August. our other sister was diagnosed with lung cancer in may and we rode it for her. my avatar (if it worked) is the back of the cycling jersey i designed for our team, which was named after my sister (kelly's posse, hence my name). we love our Posse cycling gear.

it was a really tough ride! my sister and i did the 40 mile but my b-i-l did the 100 and he says now "that was not fun". as my sister says "rolling hills my arse". it was very hilly! but we felt like we had accomplished something in the end and intend to ride again next year, hopefully with a bigger team! we raised over $4000 though, which wa a nice tribute to my sister.

my sisters and i went to france in 04 to watch a stage of the tour, so this charity ride seemed appropriate. the fact that i actually spoke to lance as he biked by me, and he spoke back, all before i realized it was him, was a great story to share with my sister!

now i've got til next year to get myself in shape for the 70 mile ride, which is my goal for the livestrong ride, though i'd still like to ride a century one of these days.

[bikerchic]

my email today!

Livestrong Challenge will be in Portland, OR June 29,2008.

For the last three years I've been a volunteer for the LAF I and hubby hope to volunteer again this year and I would love to ride in it! I'm making it a goal of mine to do at least the 40 miler if not the 70. Can't wait! It's a great foundation and a great cause I'm pleased as punch to do whatever I can for them.

mmh how did your ride go?

[ny biker]

Is anyone else planning to ride in Philadelphia this year besides me and Possegal? Just wondering...

[Peanut03]

I did this ride 2 years ago and it was great. I don't know if they've changed the route, but the last 25 miles of the century ride was hilly. It was well supported, definitely worth doing.

[ny biker]

I did this ride 2 years ago and it was great. I don't know if they've changed the route, but the last 25 miles of the century ride was hilly. It was well supported, definitely worth doing.

The route changed last year. It was 100% in the 'burbs, didn't go into Philadelphia at all. It was basically a big loop and was hilly the whole way, with the worst hills in the middle. It was difficult but fun. Lots of friendly folks cheering us on along the way, including several kids out in front of their houses giving out water and lemonade.

I enjoyed riding through some parts of Philadelphia the first year but in some areas there was too much traffic, and the area near the stadiums was not very interesting. I think I used up too much energy during that part of the ride and as a result I wound up in tears after riding about 85 miles because I didn't have the mental energy I needed for the hills at the end. Fortunately I was able to pull myself together and finish the ride (mostly because I have the most awesome personal trainer who coaches me when I'm getting ready for these rides and I knew there was no way I could tell him that I quit so close to the end). I cried again at the finish line but those were tears of joy.

I'm still waiting to find out what the route will be for this year's ride but they told me it will be similar to last year.

[ny biker]

Ride maps and cue sheets have been posted for the 2008 Philadelphia ride. At first glance, it looks exactly like last year's route, or at least is very similar.

[Possegal]

I'm curious to see if the route is identical, but it sure looks like it. This year, instead of just my sister and I riding the 45 mile (with her husband doing the 100), we also have my other brother in law, two nieces, and 4 friends. So my little team of 3 riders, this year turned into 10 riders. And right now, 3 runners, but 2.5 more are joining (my niece Jordan is only 6 months, but she'll be in her stroller!). I celebrated by ordering custom-designed water bottles.

Hey NY biker, if you see a white jersey with green and black and writing on the back that says "may the wind be always at your back", yell out KIM, and you'll have found me. Though as a self-described "slowski", I'll likely be near the back of the pack!