Ride to Conquer Cancer 2013- Check!

First of all  thanks to everyone who donated to my fundraising efforts as without you I would not have been able to participate in this awesome event. Also, big thank you to Chelsey for driving all the way down to Seattle to pick me up and I even made you stay in an awesome hotel, thanks for letting me ride my bike so much and thanks for "letting me" get all the equipment and gadgets I "needed" to ensure a safe journey.

While I did the 160km Valley Gran Fondo last year I have never ridden back to back 120km days so I was not sure what to expect on that front. I must say the length was no issue as about 25 members of our team rode together both days and shared the workload, you could almost say it was easy. I was lucky enough to be a part of the Wedgewood Cycling Team for this event and their organization and experience made the riding very enjoyable and most of all safe for the team and everyone around them, it was awesome.

The event organizers did a great job of feeding the 2600 participants and ensuring we had clean showers and bathrooms. As we were the first team over the finish line both days, and amongst the first people to cross, the bathrooms and everything else were in even better condition for us; a case of where speed does pay! There was more than enough food and fluids to keep everyone happy and for the most part the food was damn tasty. The event raised $10.4 million (i think that was the total) for the BC Cancer Foundation and the Wedgewood Team powered by Odlum Brown and Friends raised over $450,000 of that total.

To cap the weekend off Chelsey and I spent the night at Willows Lodge and I must say it was rather nice and relaxing. We enjoyed a brewery tour at the Red Hook Brewery and then sat down for our team wrap up dinner. As the Wedgewood Team is already committed to the event for 2014 Chelsey and I are contemplating joining them also, more so after hearing some of the cancer related stories and the support provided by the BC Cancer Foundation. In the perfect world I would be in good enough shape to do the challenge route which is 160km both days and at a faster pace, fingers crossed!

I have posted a few random pictures of the starting lines and the campground below but I did not take many pictures so that is the best I can do. Also, for you tech geeks out there I have also include some of the info on the ride and you can click in to get more details, I did not wear my heart rate monitor so you will not get any of that data.

RTCC Update and First Cypress Climb

First riders to make it up, I am the fat stupid looking one on the left and was the last of this bunch to make it up

Thanks to everybody who came out to my fundraiser on Friday as well as all those who have donated; you know who you are. Your support is very much appreciated. Big thanks to my darling wife Chelsey as it was mainly her friend who came to the fundraiser as I prefer not to have the structure and costs associated with friends so I don't have any! With the help of that pub fundraiser which brought in over $200 (thanks again everyone), a well supported raffle at work and a few late donations I should be around $2800 raised for the Ride to Conquer Cancer. The team I am on, which is Team Wedgewood Hotel powered by Odlum Brown and Friends is nearing in on $400,000 raised this year which is mind boggling to this little Chilliwack person but I guess the pockets are bigger in Vancouver!

Anyways, the other cool part is this past Sunday our training ride took us up Cypress Mountain. Since I started road riding last year I have always wanted to grind my way up Cypress and Seymour so I was stoked at the opportunity. I just stuck in my easiest gear and spun my way up, it was easier than I thought so after a couple more recon rides I can try and put in a better time which should be fun; hopefully by then my chest will finally be clear! Other than thanks again to all my donors and fundraiser attendees that is all I have to say.