Why Team Limited Brands Rides

Click here to watch a really great Pelotonia video produced by the Limited Brands … and scroll down to read more about the company’s team, commitment and plans for 2011…

This Rider’s a Flyr

Here’s the rider report of Josh Flyr, who was inspired by the Pelotonia volunteers,  the cheering crowds who lined the roads, fellow rider Big Mamma … and discovered he really is a flyr.

 

The cheering was particularly inspiring because almost no one used the traditional “way to go” or “you can do it.” Rather, the most common cheer we heard was simply, “thank you,” quite often from someone holding a poster with the name or picture of a loved one lost to cancer. Easy to keep riding your silly bike when you hear that.

Here's Josh (L) and Dustin during a brief rest stop

The mile 55 rest stop immediately preceded the primary difficulty of the day, and we were climbing before I’d wiped all the PB&J off my face. It started at a comfy 3 to 4 percent grade through shady forest … (It then got a lot steeper and many) of the riders in sight had dismounted; most walking, some standing along the side of the road waiting for the summit to come down and fetch them. That almost never works. Between the bodies and the loose gravel, picking a line was a chore. I put my money on a boisterous woman near me … who kept shouting things like “Look out! Big Momma comin through!”

 

(On the second day) our plan was to take the first leg of the trip at an easy pace, take stock of our physical and psychological inventory, then consider our strategy for the hills to come. That plan went out the window about five minutes into the day, when my riding companion, Dustin Arnold, missed a turn. I sat up a bit to let him catch up, and sure enough, about 5 minutes later, he came blazing past me hanging on to the back end of a pace line being led by a tandem. If there is one cardinal rule in this sort of distance ride, it is that you do not let a 21 MPH pace line led by a tandem pass by without a fight. There’s no better way to gobble up the miles quickly and efficiently. I jumped out of the saddle, hooked on, and settled into the eerily quiet and effortless wind shadow of my hell-bent riding companions.

 

Our pace and numbers grew over the next few miles and soon enough we barreled flat stick into the first food stop – 30 strong, two abreast at 23 MPH – and were met with an explosion of cowbell cheers from the unfailingly brilliant volunteers. We had covered the first 14 miles in just over 40 minutes, and dove eagerly into our second breakfast, still laughing nervously from the rush of those first, crazy miles.

 

It is both a challenge and pleasure to eat well on a trip like this. The challenge is that you have to force yourself to eat even when don’t feel like it. When the lights go out from a hunger crisis, they stay out. The pleasure is that you can eat almost anything you want, in truly alarming quantities, and still not have to look towards heaven to button your trousers. An hour earlier, I’d had the following breakfast: two plates of scrambled eggs, a large Bob Evans sausage, two bananas, an orange, a bagel with cream cheese, two cups of coffee and a protein drink. I arrived at the first food stop with my stomach already grumbling from renewed hunger, so topped that off with a one and a half PB&J sandwiches, another banana, an orange, a cup full of trail mix and some Gatorade.

Here's the big hill that Big Mamma helped Josh climb. Trust us, it's steeper than it looks in this photo.

Dustin and I both felt unaccountably super on Sunday, and the lost roads of the Hocking Hills were a simple, if somewhat prolonged, pleasure. We spoke little, pedaled hard, quickly decimated another food stop, and before we knew it we were a mere twenty miles from home. Little more than a nice afternoon spin.

 

I’d barely dismounted (at the finish) and hugged my grime onto Laura before my bag was whisked into my possession by another amazing volunteer, and just like that, Pelotonia 10 was over.

 

There is a glow that comes from participating in these things, but there is no magic to them. You set a goal, you train hard, you pedal until it really hurts, then pedal just that little bit more. That’s how progress is made, both on the bike and in the fight against cancer. If you are lucky, like me, you also have a group of friends and family who humble and overwhelm you with their support and encouragement.

 

Why We Ride

Here are some of the comments and observations about Pelotonia 10 from our riders and a reminder why we ride, volunteer and raise money…

I was already feeling an adrenaline rush at the opening ceremony, mostly thinking about what the ride – which would be my first century – would require physically, when a familiar voice called out “Hi Aaron.” It was (fellow rider) Dr. Kelli Cawley, who had treated my wife (for cancer) at The James so many years ago and who we had not seen in over a decade.  It was wonderful to see her and it reminded me why I have been training so hard for this ride.  I introduced her to my two oldest daughters, and maybe that underscored for her why this is so important.

Aaron Shank

My dad’s sister, Connie, is fighting cancer with the help of the James, so last year he rode to Athens as a way to show his support. My brother, sister and I surprised him in Athens at the finish. We were so proud and inspired!

This year he committed to 180 miles – and challenged me to join him. I am not an athlete by any stretch, so I chose to ride the route to Amanda.  He rode the 43 miles with me, which I thought was amazing of him to do –  because I’m really slow.  But he didn’t leave me, which shows what an amazing man he is and also is so in line with the Pelotonia spirit. I really feel this cause has brought my family closer together and I am so thankful. My grandparents sat in Athens starting at 11:30 with a cowbell cheering on all the riders, which was precious! Next year my sister and husband are joining us and will be riding.

Kristin Gilligan

Friday night, I was anxious and couldn’t sleep.  I didn’t want to let my supporters down and I wanted my mom to be proud of me (she lost her battle with cancer 2 years ago). Once we took off Saturday morning, 4,000-plus riders strong, the band playing, people cheering, I had all the energy I needed.

The thing that struck me most about the weekend was the camaraderie among the riders, the volunteers, and the folks on the street, law enforcement, the massage therapists and chiropractor.  The list is so vast I’m sure I’m missing someone, I’m not sure these people realize how much donating their time and their encouraging words motivate the riders to keep on pedaling.  I was proud to ride with Rob, a 5-year cancer survivor.

Reynette Magyari

Trust me when I tell you this, you all made a difference. Whether you did the ride, or donated money, or volunteered, you helped make a difference. I meet people on a daily basis that have been affected by cancer. A lot of them would not be around if it weren’t for recent advances in cancer research. Someday we will celebrate a cure for cancer. Until then, every August I will put on my helmet, air up my tires, and do something that makes a difference…ride in Pelotonia.

Jeff Mason

As a survivor and someone who was laid up in the ICU during last year’s ride, this was a new beginning for me. From the Opening Ceremonies and Chris Spielman’s rousing speech to crossing the finish line, I was overwhelmed. My disease is so much bigger than what I’m going through. So many others are fighting a similar battle.

Seeing the supporters all along the ride holding up signs made each pedal and each mile easier to deal with. To share the experience with my fiancée and my sister made it that much sweeter. With family cheering me on and by my side, just like my cancer, I knew I’d made it through the ride. Pelotonia is something that I will continue to do every year.

Matthew Hare

I was pretty nervous Saturday morning, but excited. The ride was amazing.  I walked up a few hills (who told me there were no hills in the first 50 miles?), but I also successfully rode up some, with thoughts of patients who had lost their fight powering me along.

Having people cheering along the way and at the finish line in Amanda was overwhelming and brought tears to my eyes.  I was exhausted but elated. I look forward to riding again next year, but I’m not sure I’m ready for the 100- or 180-mile rides just yet. I think I need to do some more hill training and will probably do the 50 again! But who knows, when I registered this year, I only planned to do the 23!

Doreen Agnese, cancer survivor and doctor

My mom is a breast cancer survivor and I have several friends and family who have battled cancer and (Pelotonia) is such a great concept. I went out and bought a bike and trained and it was an amazing experience. There are so many good people in the world. And this reaffirms that and is a testament to the concept of grassroots fund raising. You never know what will inspire someone.

Lindsey Gale

My Ride: Jill Weldon

Here the rider’s report from Team Weldon and Jill Weldon, whose husband, Bill, passed away on March 26, 2009 after he was diagnosed with brain tumors. Bill ran Bill’s Bike Shop in Circlevlle for many years and he and Jill spent a lot of time together on their tandem bike, roaming Ohio and beyond. Read more about Jill and Bill here. And remember, it takes a team: to ride in Pelotonia and to beat cancer.

 

Riding was an activity that Bill and I shared and we had so many fun times together on our tandem.  After he died, I wasn’t sure I could ride again.  Then it was like …  how could I not ride?  I couldn’t give up those good times and happy memories.  So I got a solo.  Now Pelotonia 09 and Pelotonia 10 have become healing events as well as uplifting and encouraging events with ONE GOAL.

My great memories of the ride are . . . . .

Riding with my family and friends, joined together in a cause.

The people, cheering and encouraging, especially my coworkers, all along the route.  How awesome!  Thanks Amy and Jan!

The signs on the road for Team Weldon and the signs along the road, a car waiting with cool drinks.  What great support!  Thanks David and Marie!

Special jerseys and other signs along the route, all focused on  the ONE GOAL . This is more than a bike ride it’s a war against cancer.

Seeing Mike (a bone morrow transplant patient) in Amanda holding “A Cancer Survivor!” sign and saying “thank you” to the riders.  It was his 60^th birthday.  What a celebration!

More signs while climbing “the hill” about riding for the ones we’ve lost and riding for the ones that will live because of our efforts.  How encouraging.

The support of people while climbing.  A great example of how cancer patients need the same support in their fight through hard times and tough treatments.  I could see the top of the hill.  I knew I would make it.  I hope our combined efforts will allow those in treatment see the ‘top of their hill’ and know they’ll make it.

And lastly…crossing under the banner in Athens. The ride is done but the fight’s not won.  We’re all in this fight together … ONE GOAL: BEAT CANCER!  I’m already planning for Pelotonia 11.

 

My Ride: Kristin Gilligan

Here’s the rider report from Kristin Gilligan, who was talked into riding by her father, Keith Kuhn. This is another example that father really does know best…

My dad’s sister, Connie, is fighting cancer with the help of the James, so last year he rode to Athens as a way to show his support. My brother, sister and I surprised him in Athens at the finish. We were so proud and inspired!

Kristin and her dad

Since then my dad has developed a complete passion for cycling. This year he committed to 180 miles – and challenged me to join in. I hadn’t ridden my bike since I was in middle school so I knew it would be a challenge.

I am not an athlete by any stretch, so I chose to ride the route to Amanda.  He rode the 43 miles with me, which I thought was amazing of him to do –  because I’m really slow.  But he didn’t leave me, which shows what an amazing man he is and also is so in line with the Pelotonia spirit. I really feel this cause has brought my family closer together and I am so thankful. My grandparents sat in Athens starting at 11:30 with a cowbell cheering on all the riders, which was precious!  Next year my sister and husband are joining us and will be riding.

The  things I learned from Pelotonia 2010

Clearance bike shorts are on sale for a reason

There are no hills for the first 43 miles… Really?

Riding an indoor exercise bike is not the same as a road bike

If you find yourself eating pretzels in a porta john you are exercise delirious

Is it ever a good idea to let your husband fix your bike?

If your dad is at the top of the hill on his cell waiting for you…. You should have trained harder

Chewing gum and riding a bike are not made to go together

Pelotonia is for everyone!  I just let the experienced riders pass me

My dad is the most amazing man I know. He was an inspiration who challenged me to make a difference not only in raising money for cancer research but also in myself.

My Ride: Pat and Cherie Khumprakos

Here’s a report from Cherie (who was four months pregnant at the time) and Pat on their first Pelotonia ride. Check out Pat’s blog.

My name is Cherie Khumprakob, and my husband and I were both riders in this year’s Pelotonia. I rode a mere 20 miles (we’re expecting our first baby, so I’m pretty proud of those 20 miles!), but my husband, Pat, rode the full 180. He just started biking in May, so I’m pretty proud of him.

Here's Pat at the finish

Pat had a kidney transplant 7 years ago, and rode in honor of one of our closest friends, Adriane Blewitt, who battled Hodgekins lymphoma at that same time, when we were all 23 years old. Adriane competed in the Olympic track and field trials 4 months after going into remission, so needless to say, she’s an amazing gal. After several awful battles of cancer in our extended family, we decided to do something about it … and signed up for our first Pelotonia ride.

Pat raised his funds in an interesting manner, by taking bets from his friends and getting paid to do some silly things, like become a Twilight fan-boy. He blogged about those adventures, and it’s pretty amusing.

My Ride: Kelsey Gray

Here’s the report of first-time rider Kelsey Gray, an OSU student and one of the recipients of a Pelotonia Fellowship your fund raising efforts have made possible:

The first thing I noticed when I got to the Opening Ceremony on Friday night was the overwhelming sense of community, despite the fact that I was surrounded by thousands of people I had never met before.

Here's Kelsey (R) and a friend during Pelotonia

As I walked by fellow riders, we would often look each other in the eye and smile or nod.  There was an immediate, powerful connection that needed no words, simply because we had come together in the fight against cancer.  This connection remained the next morning as all the riders prepared to head out onto the course.

Every person standing on the edge of the course was a part of this community too.  As a rider, their cheers and the signs they held were encouraging.  They often helped push me over one more hill.  As a cancer researcher, their cheers and signs were even more inspiring.  I was able to see people who had been helped by cancer research, those currently being helped, and those who would be helped by future research.  As an undergraduate student, I am especially excited to be a part of this future research.

My Ride: Reynette Magyari

Here’s the rider report of Reynette Magyari. In a really cool bit of coincidence, Reynette is the woman with the last name that starts with M from Gahanna that rider Jeff Mason wrote about in his report (scroll down to read Jeff’s report). Reynette inspired Jeff with her story, and Jeff inspired Reynette when she really needed it with some words of wisdom.

When I signed up to ride 180 miles, I hadn’t been on a bike in 11 years and was seriously questioning my sanity.  I bought a bike at the end of May and started riding in June.

Friday night, I was anxious and couldn’t sleep.  I didn’t want to let my supporters down and I wanted my mom to be proud of me (she lost her battle with cancer 2 years ago).

Once we took off Saturday morning, 4000-plus riders strong, the band playing, people cheering, I had all the energy I needed.  When I hit the hills, I was reminded of a gentleman I met at rider check-in Friday night.  He told me getting up the Hocking Hills is not about your legs, it’s about your heart.  That became my internal mantra for the weekend and seemed to symbolize the goal of Pelotonia, it’s all about heart, the human spirit.

The thing that struck me most about the weekend was the camaraderie among the riders, the volunteers, and the folks on the street, law enforcement, the massage therapists and chiropractor.  The list is so vast I’m sure I’m missing someone, I’m not sure these people realize how much donating their time and their encouraging words motivate the riders to keep on pedaling.  I was proud to ride with Rob, a 5-year cancer survivor.

Here's Reynette with her new friend Rob.

Tired from Saturday’s ride, and yet another sleepless night, seeing the back of Rob’s Pelotonia jersey, which said “survivor,” how could I slow down or stop?  I want to thank all the folks I mentioned above and the Pelotonia organizers for a weekend I’ll never forget.

*I couldn’t remember the name of the gentleman I met at rider check-in until I read your blog today … and the posting by Jeff Mason. In his story, the woman from Gahanna with the last name starting with “M” is me.  It’s amazing to me that a short conversation in line left an impression on both of us.  I think of him often as I apply his “all about the heart” comment to other aspects of my life, not knowing that he has thought about me after our brief encounter.  Who knew? Life is a funny thing and you never know when you are going to make a lasting impression on someone’s life.

My Ride: Jeff Mason

Here’s the rider report of Jeff Mason, who is the Pelotonia Fellowship Director:

I was in line to get my rider packet on Friday night and met the lady in line next to me. I never got her name, except she’s from Gahanna and her last name starts with an M (we were in line by the first letter of our last name).

That's Jeff (on the left) with Gustavo Leone, one of the top cancer docs at OSU.

Anyway, we were talking and I asked her why she was doing Pelotonia. She casually said something about how last year she was looking for a fitness challenge and decided to sign up. I didn’t say anything, because I knew there was more to the story, but didn’t want to press her or get too personal.

As I stood there, I could tell she was struggling with what to say next. So I just waited. Then, she turned to me, with a look that’s burned in my memory. At first, she had a look of frustration, and I could tell she was holding back tears. But soon this frustration turned to a look of determination…and then to hope…and she said, “My mom died two years ago…and that pissed me off…and I want to do something about it.”

Trust me when I tell you this, you all made a difference. Whether you did the ride, or donated money, or volunteered, you helped make a difference. I meet people on a daily basis that have been affected by cancer. A lot of them would not be around if it weren’t for recent advances in cancer research. Someday we will celebrate a cure for cancer. Until then, every August I will put on my helmet, air up my tires, and do something that makes a difference…ride in Pelotonia.

I also thought I would share a few things I learned at Pelotonia 10:

Little things do make a big difference: Over 4,000 riders and probably 100,000 individual donations equals $8 million raised in one weekend for cancer research right here at the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center

Made it ... with a little help from my friends, lots of coffee and bib shorts!

No matter how bad you feel, there’s always someone who’s a lot worse off than you.

You should not try to ride 180 miles without riding your bike more than three times during the previous month.

When things get really tough…stop, take a few minutes rest, have a big cup a coffee with a friend (thanks Rich!), and then keep going.

Good bib shorts are so expensive because they’re worth it.

When you really feel bad, it doesn’t matter how enthusiastically someone screams “you look great,” you still feel bad.

I still can’t believe how true the lyrics to the song I Get by with a Little Help From My Friends are.

It’s fun to be around new people you don’t know, but there’s also a lot of comfort having good friends around after dinner (thanks Larry and Tom).

My Ride: Matthew Hare

Here’s another in the on-going series of reports from my team of riding correspondents. This one’s from Matthew Hare:

When I first received this request (from Steve), I thought that this would be a terrific way to reflect what this ride meant. But as I sat down to begin, I realized putting into words the emotion and hope I felt through Pelotonia was impossible.

As a survivor and someone who was laid up in the ICU during last year’s ride, this was a new beginning for me. From the Opening Ceremonies and Chris Spielman’s rousing speech to crossing the finish line, I was overwhelmed. My disease is so much bigger than what I’m going through. So many others are fighting a similar battle.

Seeing the supporters all along the ride holding up signs made each pedal and each mile easier to deal with. To share the experience with my fiancée and my sister made it that much sweeter. With family cheering me on and by my side, just like my cancer, I knew I’d made it through the ride. Pelotonia is something that I will continue to do every year.