Week 3-paceline riding

Paceline riding is all about team work. The idea is to conserve energy since the person in front of you blocks the wind. In order to be effective, you keep a distance of upto 18 inches max. The main important lesson with team work is communication. It's like a domino effect calling out words up and down the pace line.

"all in" or "all through"-the entire team has gone through a street light, a stop sing, after a "gap" or after changing leaders.
"rolling" after stopping at a stop light or stop sign, you call this out when you are ready to bike forward
""slowing"-to let the person known behind you that you are slowing down
"biker/jogger/walker/car left/right"-to let the person ahead of you know that there's an incoming obstacle
"car back"-there's an incoming car next to you
"debris"-anything in the way of the path and you can also point to it
"gap"-if there's more than 2 bike lengths of distance, so the people ahead of you will slow down so that person that has the gap can catch up
"stopping"-you say this in advance so the person behind you knows you are slowing down to stop
"turning"-this includes a u-turn and you can also point to the left or to the right in the direction you will be turning

Falling off Melody

the culprit? new shoes with cleats and clipless pedals. It's all in the timing and the balance. I lost count how many times I fell of my bike, Melody. Today was the ultimate test-riding long distance with the team with the new equipment. My goal was not to fall. I was feeling confident but during one of our stops at a street light, I successfully clipped out but when I was about to put my foot down, I leaned over the unclipped foot. I scraped my knee but it was a minor accident. My knee was throbbing later though. I was very happy to clean up after the training. It was probably the best shower I had.

2nd week

We met in El Dorado Park once again but this time we rode for 20 miles and we road on the streets. We rode on PCH to Seal Beach pier and back. I hated my pedals. I kept having to look down and I still had a hard time getting my foot in. If I missed the pedal with my foot, the pedal would drag on the road. It definitely slowed me down. So, yesterday, I got bike shoes with cleats and the clip in pedals. I can't wait to try it especially since I got some great tips from Karen, assistant coach in Solvang's century bike ride. Coincidentally, my bike was also Specialized, the same brand as my bike. It's also white which is the color of my bike handles and seat. It was meant to be! Overall, I had a great experience on our 2nd week of training.

gadgets

As recommended by several team members and Tweety, I got my gadgets at Performance Bicylce shop in Torrance. Directions from my house (605S, 405S, xMagnolia->R, Warner->R, left side). Everything that I got was on sale: bike shorts, gloves, pump, tools for change a flat tire, spare tire, rack to mount the bike on a wall, lights for front and rear, and a computer bike (to monitor your miles and speed). Believe it or not, I still have more things to get: shoes, clip ins, and a jersey.

my new bike

Karen Curtis and Jeanne Perales (bless their hearts) accompanied me to Beverly Hills Bike Shop. They are TNT members who were willing to help out a novice like me. Here is the bike that I got, make: Specialized, model: Dolce, wheels: Gary Fisher. It's a sweet bike. Brown in color with a white seat and handlebars. I got 2 white cages (container for water bottles). It's a beauty. I test rode it this morning. My God, what an exhilirating moment. I was all smiles. I never felt the breeze of the wind wipe across my face and hear the wind blowing against my ears like that. I fell in love with cycling.

First Training Day

My biking adventure was awesome. My favorite part was getting to know my team members. We had the change to ride side by side each other and just talk about cycling. TNT is really a great way to meet awesome people. My coach, the mentors and other team members were so generous of their knowledge and time. I met Bill, one of our assistant coaches. I was at the parking lot looking confused so he approached me and asked if I was in the team. He said I'll look for them and I'll come get you. As promised, that's what he did. What a gentleman. The people there really go out of their way to help you. Our venue this week is in El Dorado Park. There was so much to see as we went in circles around the park. There were people of all ages taking a class on archery. There were geese, swans, dogs, squirrels crossing the street. We witnessed a near collision between Coach Charlie and another biker. We avoided obstacles, lots of ditches from the rainstorms. It felt like a whole new world. I loved it!

clinic

On some training days, we get a "clinic." This means we learn more about cycling. Today was on safety, equipment, gear, and shoes. It was a lot to take in so I made sure I took notes especially on things I need to get. Boy, do I have a long list and I'm already making calculations in my head and thinking, "Oh, no!" My goal is to get my bike by our 2nd training day. The search continues...

honored teammate, Laura

Fortunately the weather was perfect outdoors. Our team met one of our honored teammates. Her name is Laura and she is the wife of Coach Charlie. Her story was very inspirational. She was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and underwent two years of intensive chemotherapy including several clinical trials and radiation. Because of the enormous amount of toxicity in her body from the treatments, every organ in her body was affected. She has the inside of an 85-90 year old. Although she is in remission from AML, she was diagnosed with another cancer-bladder. During this time, she was training for a full marathon. She was running with a urinary catheter for their long runs 12, 16, 18, and 20 miles. The 3rd day prior to her event, the catheter was removed so this also meant she had the urge to use the bathroom frequently. Despite all of her obstacles, she never gave up. She finished her full marathon in about 8 hours because of the frequent potty breaks although her running time was about 5.5 hours. Pretty darn good! She has done several events with Team In Training and her husband being her coach for the century bike ride. She has done a triathlon, cycling events, and a full marathon. Amazing woman!

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

LLS was founded in 1949. At the time, blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma was almost always fatal. Today, due to research funded by LLS, survival rates have dramatically increased. Now, 88% of kids with acute lymphoid leukemia will be cured. When my brother, Paul, was going through his chemotherapy for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, his medications were funded by LLS. Without that financial help, this would have been a financial burden especially to a medical student and to my parents who were going back and forth California and Wisconsin. Leukemia Lymphoma Society makes a difference in people's lives not just for the patients but their families as well.

What is Team In Training?

Team In Training is the world's first, best, and largest charity sports training program. TNT trains first timers, like myself, or seasoned athletes to finish full or half marathons, triathlons, 100-miles bike ride, or hiking to the top of the Yosemite (this is newly added). The program includes a head coach, assistant coaches, volunteer mentor, fundraising captain, campaign manager, and an assistant campaign manager. They are great for first timers because you can join without any experience. They walk you through from zero to finish in just 4 months. It's really amazing and it's an experience you will remember for a lifetime. WARNING: TNT can be addicting.

my firsts...

went to a bike store on pioneer and artesia. i bought my first helmet. red was the only color they had. i don't mind. it's a one size fits all and has an adjuster on the back of the head. it was about $50 which wasn't bad compared to other helmets that can cost up to $100.

i got an approval for a carwash from the manager of fudrucker's in lakewood. he was very supportive. his wife is in remission from breast cancer since Dec.2009. i am very pleased!

thanks to tweety, i got "fitted" for a bike today from jax bike shop in long beach on spring st. and bellflower blvd. the lady knew i was a first timer and she showed me the ropes. with my 5'3" frame, i can fit 47cm-50cm road bikes or 15" hybrid. wow, i actually learned some terminologies. it was overwhelming looking at the numerous gadgets you can get and need for a bike. man, it's a costly sport. there's bikes in the shop that cost a couple of thousand dollars.

i got my first donors from my fundraising webpage today. my generous donors are my mom and drs.jay and suzanne lieberman. i feel so blessed! i am feeling pretty good about the progress with the fundraising. so far so good! just gotta keep pushing through...

committment

I have about 3 months to raise $4000 and to train for a 100 miles cycle event for June 6 in Lake Tahoe. I am excited yet nervous about this. I am excited because it's a new adventure; I am very excited to learn how to cycle. I am nervous because I am afraid I will fall off my bike since it's my first time. I am especially scared that I won't be able to raise that much money. I have ideas for fundraisings and I am anxious to get started. Currently, my ideas are a chick flick night, garage sale, car wash, ice cream social, and sees candies for easter. I know it'll all work out!