My buddies at DMC are Amazing!!

     All the way back to the very beginning of my journey to ride in the Bike To The Bay, my BFFs at DMC Technology Group have always had my back.  

     

     From snapping goofy pictures for my blog every time I got a crazy idea, to riding on my team, even Pat and Elaine Sheehan, the owners, have saddled up their bikes and put air in their tires; they've all gone completely out of their way to help me on my quest to try to make a difference.

     

     Maryanne must have taken a Kazillion pictures until we found the one that captured the attitude I was trying to convey, but she humored me and just kept taking them:)

  Then Jean had this brilliant idea to highlight my blog on DMC's website and this would be one more audience to reach in the attempt to help me raise money and awareness for MS.  

    If you think there aren't many amazing people in this world, just come to DMC Technology Group, and that's where you'll find them:)

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

No one is exempt from my begging:)

     Just when I thought I had exhausted all of my resources there was another prospect for my team right under my nose.  Of course the only way I find these hidden treasures is through my idle chit-chat.

     After I was finished answering the phones at DMC I went down to the workout room to do my training on the bike.  Jason from Gem Energy Services happened to be in there Doing some repair work and of course I told him I was going to ride the stationary bike to train for the Bike To The Bay, and I also told him I have MS, as if he really cared...

BTW, look on the counter! What day is it?? It's huuump daaay:)

     Well to my surprise he said "oh really?!  My Aunt has MS", to which I replied "oh really!?!?  You realize now you just have to ride for her!!"  I'm sure you can guess what happened next... he was totally in!  Then he said he would also ask his wife and father to ride too.  Some people might think I tend to run off at the mouth, but see... how else am I gonna find these hidden treasures:)

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

Awesome!! another shirt sponsor!!

   I had never met my soon to be new friend and team member Nazih from Organic Bliss Deli and Bakery; a neighboring business of DMC, where I work.  However, I've had their food and I do know they have the most amazing organic food I've ever tasted.

     Pat, the owner of DMC knows him well and was telling him about the Bike To The Bay and how many of us from DMC were riding in it.  It wasn't long before Pat was telling me about our two new team members, Nazih and Brandon.

     It was overwhelming to see the outward support of this great community.  Of course I made it a point to go to our neighbor and thank Him in person.

     But it didn't stop there; Nazih also offered to be a sponsor for our team shirts and wants to try to sell them to help raise money for our team.  What a great guy!  My entire team is made up of amazing people!  I'm very fortunate to be surrounded by so many wonderful people.  I'm looking forward to many great things to come.

Have a great weekend!!

Christine:)

Our second team shirt sponsor; Yay DMC technology group!!

   

  Now that our team is growing it's time to really focus on the sponsors.  A lot of our team members are co workers from DMC technology group where I'm employed.

     The owner, Pat Sheehan and his wife Elaine are among the many riders from DMC.  Pat approached me and said he would also like to sponsor our team shirts!  Not only do I work for a great company but the owners are very generous as well:)

     Of course Elaine mentioned she would love to have a fundraiser put on by DMC to raise even more money for the cause.  We sure have some amazing team members, all with great ambition to make this year huge!

     Please help us grow!!

msohiobike.org

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

My gift of gab is priceless

     
     Maybe I do tend to run off at the mouth; at times and you might even call it a gift of gab, but here's proof that it is in fact a gift, because it just keeps landing me rider after rider for my team!

     When I was at the DMC Christmas party I started my recruiting again and by the end of the night I had several more of my co-workers anxious to ride on my team!

     Greg and Katelyn Gomach were very serious about this quest.  Katelyn rode in the past and was confident that she could get some of her friends to ride this year as well! It didn't take long before Greg was also on board. Now it looks like Santa may have to bring someone a new bike for Christmas:)

     They must have been serious because they allowed me to have our picture taken as proof, so I know they won't be backing out now:)  I'm very fortunate to have them on my team!  Thanks guys!


Have a great day!!

Christine:)



     
     

     

My team just keeps growing

     My team in the beginning consisted of only me (of course that crazy fool that though I should ride  better be riding too!)  At first I thought it would be like pulling teeth to get my team together.  As I started talking about it, more and more people came forward, and I was in total shock by the takers I would least expect to commit.  

     All of my friends from DMC have sure gotten an ear full about my quest, and I knew I might be able to rope one or two of them into my web.  Maryann was the first one to commit to the challenge, Jean was soon to follow.  Before long Karen was totally inspired and knew she needed to take the leap as well.

     I had a few of my "team leap frog" shirts made up and  and thought who better to test them out then some of the awesome ladies at DMC.  If they work for them then I'm sure they'll work for the many, many others down the road.  I mean, pink is a no brainer right?! If I do happen to find one or two guys that are too manly to put on a pink shirt I'm sure I can throw in a white one or two, but I'm betting I can convince them all:)

     My brother Doug (remember the motorcycle??)  He said he has no problem with pink!  But if he's gonna make a statement he wants to go big.

     His plan is to loose the sleeves and sport a green Mohawk.   I know defacing the flag is illegal, but my team shirt??  I guess I should be thankful he wants to ride; I say "you go!!" 

Have a great day!

Christine:)

The outdoor riding season has come to an end

 

      Well it's finally time to put my bike into hibernation for the winter.  Where did the summer go?  Remember the bike trail I was riding on just a couple of weeks ago??  Look at it now! Snow?!?!  Seriously!?!?  And we're not even half way through November!  Not quite enough for a snowman but I was freezing my behind off taking these photos, then again the wind didn't help:)

    Of course now that means I have to try harder than ever to keep up my riding indoors so I don't have to start all over come spring.

     To think there was a day that I couldn't ride a stationary bike five minutes without getting bored out of my mind.  Now I find myself using it like a drug.  The natural high is amazing!

     So I've committed (with witnesses)  to riding after work three afternoons a week and I'll admit I usually dread getting started, but about twenty minutes in when I feel that first bead of perspiration roll down my face I remember why I'm there.

     Once again it's the mind games that keep me going; if I have to imagine myself riding across country then that's what I'll do.  As long as I keep focused I can do anything!


Have a great day!

Christine:)

     

Could I ride my bike to work??

     It's only 4.3 miles from my home to my work and I've always wanted to ride my bike there just for kicks.  It couldn't be that hard, if you remember I rode 17.5 miles recently with my son.  My biggest dilemma was what route to take to get there in one piece with no or little bloodshed.   The route I always drive is down a road that has 50 mile an hour traffic and a very narrow bike lane.  Most of the people drive like maniacs!!

     There is another option and that is to go through a winding subdivision, which wouldn't be a straight shot but it would be safer.  My friend Jean Gist from DMC had a third option which I really liked a lot, or so I thought.  The bike route my son Matt and I took the other day which was back through a hilly rock quarry would be off the beaten path, but I would avoid all of the traffic and I wouldn't have to go through the winding neighborhood.  This route would also take me right to the main road about a half mile from my work.

     On a quiet Saturday afternoon I decided to give this route a test run.  For the "average Joe" this would be perfect; when I rode it with my 23 year old son Matt I felt very safe, but riding it on my own I pulled out my bag of "what ifs".  What if my tire slipped on a rock or a twig, what if I was halfway  up a hill and ran out of steam and flew backwards, or if I lost my balance and ended up with a major case of road rash, or worse,  requiring a full body cast...out in the middle of nowhere.

     After miles upon miles of nervous riding I was coming up to the area where I would leave the bike trail and join all of the motorists on the main road.  However, the road that connected the two happened to be about fifty yards of gravel.

   Out came the "what ifs" again.  What if my tires slipped on the gravel or what if I went so slow to make sure that didn't happen and then I stopped?  My crazy leg was already fatigued from over five miles of hilly riding and I may not have the strength to start back up again, on gravel no less.

     I did manage to make it to the main road, then subsequently  to my work unscathed, but it ended up being six miles in all.  That was a learning lesson for me.  I'll take that route again I'm sure, but doubtfully on my own.

     My route back home ended up being in the winding neighborhood after all, and it was a much more pleasant trip, not to mention a mile shorter.  Live and learn, the only way to know what works is to try, and I'll try anything once:)

Have a great weekend!

Christine:)

Testing the waters

     Now that I made the announcement that I would ride in the Bike-to-the-Bay I figured I better see if I actually stood a chance. My bike was in the shop but I was anxious to test the waters. For all I knew 35 miles could be a breeze, on the other hand 35 miles might feel like a million. Maybe seeing what just five feels like first would be a good place to start.  I walk on a tread mill and strength train but riding a bike is totally different.


   The company I work for, DMC Technology Group, has a workout room which comes equipped with a stationary bike. If I was able to train on that first then I could at least test my strength before heading out on the road.

   I set the timer, and low and behold, I actually made it to 8 miles! And my heart was still ticking. My poor leg (the crazy one) was another story. When I walked It felt like rubber. Maybe I need to start using a bike as my form of transportation and leave the walking to the rest of the world.

  

 With several months to go, I know I’ll figure out how to make it over the finish line. I have faith that it can be done! 

Have a great day!

Christine ☺