August Cycling Challenge 2013

This is a post that someone shared on our September 2012 thread:

"Please allow me to share my story... hopefully it will give you all motivation NOT to quit riding!

In July of 2011 our family walked into a local bike shop with the intention of getting 4 new bikes (we did this because our daughters had outgrown their bikes and decided to make it a family affair since for over 18 years, my husband and I "talked" about getting bikes). That day changed my life! I weighed about 250 lbs that day, sadly that was not my top weight. We started out riding as a family and quickly our teenage daughters lost interest. My husband and I continued to ride nearly every weekend weather permitting. I managed to lose about 18 lbs between then and December, just by riding on weekends. In December I joined a gym and picked up the pace. I continued to ride on the weekends when I could due to weather. When spring rolled around, we were back out on the trails nearly every weekend. By then I was down another 20 lbs or so. Then I had an ah-ha moment! I realized I needed to challenge myself... so with complete fear and a little bit of crazy, I challenged myself BIG TIME!!! I registered for a Century Ride! Using an on-line training guide, I have been building up to the 100 mile ride with yesterday's ride being 51.25 miles. We started out just over a year ago barely being able to finish a 6 mile ride and yesterday I rode 51.25 miles! The Century Ride is October 6th... so I have a long way to go, but every day I make a conscious decision to work towards my goal. And to sweeten the pot, I've also challenged myself to lose 13 more lbs by then... because then I will have lost 100 lbs. How amazing will it be to exchange 100 lbs or 100 miles??

Please don't give up on the riding, just do what you can do 4 miles or 100, it sure beats sitting on the couch! "


When I wrote to her and asked if I could share her story she said, "I went on to complete that ride and reach my 100lb goal, plus a little more. I rewarded myself this spring by getting a road bike (I completed that Century Ride on a cruiser style trail bike). I've since participated in 2 ADA Tour de Cure rides (32 and 56 miles) and I'm looking forward to riding in that same Century Ride this coming October."

I wanted to share her success with all of you because it seems like you have a lot of newcomers who are not sure if they're starting out right. Keep pushing those pedals, Everyone!

I would like to join this. I love biking, but I rarely get to go out on a ride anymore with having 2 young kids in the evenings and hubby doesn't get home til 8pm, plus we are losing daylight now. So I'm resigned to my exercise bike...its....boring but mostly gets the job done. Maybe this thread will motivate me to get my butt on it

I hear ya! My children are just getting old enough that I trust to leave them home alone for a LITTLE while. It does really limit my rides, though, as I feel I need to be able to get home in a hurry if they need me. Last fall, I stopped riding altogether because I don't have an indoor bike. I hope that you are able to keep it up! We would love to have you along!