Suggested Training Schedule

Okay, here is the link to the suggested training schedule put out by Cascade. Like I said, I can't promise this will make you a happy camper but we have time to catch up.

Preferences for Rest Stop

Me thinks that it would be wise for us to look for an overnight area about 110 miles into the journey so we get a head start on the herd and don't have to expend as much energy the second day when we are sore. What say you?

Corporate Sponsorships

We are doing well so far with individual riders. 26 have committed though not all have signed up with Cascade, which is pretty important. We will be seeking corporate sponsorships to match our donations. I have worked with Jeremy Stewart to come up with Levels of Sponsorship. I need each of you to brainstorm some companies that might be interested in being involved. You can e-mail me your ideas directly at richard@thewellspringfoundation.com and let me know if you want to take a look at our the form that we came up with. Thanks guys. I haven't done so well on training the past couple days. I need to get out on a good ride today or tomorrow.

couple questions

Whoohoo!! STP... here we come:)

I'm so glad that we're all able to stay in touch. good thing for technology:)

couple questions...

is there anyway that people who aren't using their real names (just email addresses) could introduce themselves. I think i have most of you figured out, but i'm not sure who CeeFree or Tandemtubbies are. Who knows, maybe i just don't know them.

Also, Lyny, remember at BigWhite you had a copy of a possible training schedule. Is there any way you can post that on line. I can't seem to find one anywhere, and it'd be interesting to see.

Well, that's it for now... anyone needing a riding buddy in the fraser valley. I'm in! (Chilliwacks' got some amazing rides!!)

Nutritional Supplements

Hi Lyn:

I haven't looked into nutritional supplements yet so I guess the answer to your question would be no. I noticed that there was no place at the bottom of your post for people to make comments. I went in and changed the setting so that should now be fixed. Cheers.

The 1st Annual...

So this idea for the First Annual Ben Farrant Memorial Cyclathon came about when I got back to home from Ben's memorial service and started thinking how easy it would be to simply go back to life as if nothing happened. In all honesty I was afraid I might forget about Ben in the future. But he deserved to be remembered, as everyone does, so to ensure that I thought why not do something in memory of Ben, and even greater keep his spirit alive by raising money for the purpose that was closest to his heart, The Wellspring Foundation? I bounced the idea off of Jeremy who agreed it would be a perfect tribute to "bulldozer Ben" and this is the result; a 200 mile fundraiser.

I am so pleased it has turned into something that will TRULY make a difference in the lives of rwandan children, just as many of us saw that Ben's life did. I think we will find ourselves having so much fun amidst the physical pain and so much Joy in the memory of a great loss.

Thank you for your participation in this fundraiser! It WILL be a success!

Now, onto discussions about riding. Is anyone using nutrition products/supplements? Jes and I are using Hammer Nutrition products and if anyone is curious about them we'd be happy to discuss it more. For people with sensitive stomachs (not Iron-stomach-Jesse's) they are great, but Jesse loves them too because they are all natural with no added sugar, great for diabetics! Much more to come!

What, When, Where and Why...

What... The STP. Ride and finish or die trying! Amanda and I are really looking forward to this ride and the challenge it will be. We are really excited about the team that is coming together too.

When... July 13th through the 15th. That seems awfully close given my current level of fitness!

Where... The beautiful northwest! Praying for sun with unseasonably cool temperatures!

Why... This is the most important. This ride is for Ben, for Wellspring, and for Amanda and I - our friend Kim. She was taken home to be the with the Lord while training with her husband for the upcoming cycling season. Two friends in two years is tough, but we thought this ride would be a great way to remember both of them and at the same time support a great cause!

We can't wait to ride with each of you.

Let's get ready to ride.

Alright! We have 25 people who have committed to ride so far. We have hit our target and that makes me think we are just getting started. Why not 40?

Maybe you've gone on your first few training rides and are starting to think: What did I get myself into? Remember that we are all in the same boat. This is a ride, not a race. None of us are professionals. And part of the purpose of this blog and bike journal is to encourage us and bring us together as a team. So the first post I would love for each of you to make is this: tell us about yourself along with a favorite picture. Why do you want to ride in this event? What are you looking forward to? What do you fear? To kick things off, I'll start.

First and foremost I want to ride to remember one of the closest friends I will ever have, Ben Farrant. In my mind, this is his event. He was an excellent cyclist, he was the king of endurance, and this type of team oriented ride would be right up his alley. I'll tell you a story about Ben that indicates that and doesn't shed too well on yours truly. A few years ago Ericka and I decided to climb the grouse grind with Ben. A few minutes into the hike Ericka wasn't feeling very well and she really started to slow. Well, I wanted to climb the grind as fast as possible, and so I checked in to see Ericka was okay and then took off towards the top. Ben stayed with my wife and made sure she made it up. I know that if he was on this ride, despite his capacity to kick all our tails, he would be there encouraging us along, making sure we all made it, as a team.

Second, I want to ride because I think this provides a great opportunity for us to collectively raise money for something that really matters: a quality Christ centered education for Rwandan young people. The sweat and tears of those 200 miles hardly compare to the challenges that most Rwandan children will face. I want to do this for them.

And finally, and definetely the least important, I need you guys to get off my tail and get in shape. I can't do it without the motivation of the team. Marriage has been good for me in many ways but I'll admit that the poundage has been finding it's way to places I never knew it could. It's time for a trim, slim and healthy Richard Taylor :)