Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Something about Charlie...


What can one really say about a guy who rides a fixed gear on training rides, rides back and forth from the front of the group to the back of the group even when the 'group' is often miles apart, rides his bike TO the training ride meeting point even when it's 30+miles from his house and rides HOME, contributes thousands to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, shows up every single weekend with patience and understanding AND has the brightest smile on his face no matter what?


They just don't make 'em like that anymore. Charlie Gerhardt is a friend to me and to riders everywhere. If you haven't met him and you ride, you MUST meet him. His passion and love of riding is contagious and just seeing him on a weekend ride can make you want to be a better cyclist or at least complain less about hills and wind.
A person who musters the courage to come to his or her first training ride often arrives unprepared for what lies ahead. Regardless of the instruction provided through the email or invite, it is very common for these newbies to come without having eaten, without enough water, riding a heavy hybrid or mountain bike or a road bike that was popular when Reagan was president. Or sometimes the converse is true, the newcomer is completely outfitted with the finest equipment, gear and clothing and hasn't ridden more than six miles around the neighborhood. Sometimes, these folks show up with a healthy helping of ego as well. No matter which is true, Charlie treats every single person with his same respect and provides the same gentle advice to each person.
But one more sweet thing about Charlie is he comes as part of a package. Sue, his wife, shows up on weekends with an SUV full of goodies. She is prepared with a bike rack, a cooler of gatorade, a cooler of water, bananas, fig bars and most of the time, she even bakes homemade oatmeal cookies for the riders. Her sunny face and sweet disposition is just what a tired rider loves to see after battling a brutal wind as we did last Sunday or slogged up a peak that Charlie referred to at the beginning of the ride as a little bump. Sue is an angel to cyclists and anyone who shows up for a Sunday training ride knows what I mean.
And, when one of the knuckleheads that does not heed his well-delivered advice and winds up looking like a dying sparrow, Charlie is there again to help. Having been that knucklehead myself, I remember the time I showed up to ride for the first time and hadn't eaten a single thing. After 10 miles or so, I knew death was near as I felt like I was going to have dry heaves, I could swear I could hear the angels playing harps around me and I had NO idea how I was going to get back from the bottom of Pecos Road since the way back presented about three miles of gently ascending asphalt. Being totally unprepared and without any food or gatorade, Charlie made sure I ate and drank some gatorade, instructed me to pour water on the back of my neck and waited until that death feeling had passed. Without any judgment or ridicule, he then instructed me to saddle-up and get back on the bike. Humiliated and angry with myself for believing I could ever do this crazy sport, I protested. I was going to call home and get a ride...but he wouldn't hear of it. So, for three miles, he pushed me, riding alongside me telling me: "I'll keep pushing as long you keep pedaling." I'll never forget it. That was two years ago and cycling has since become one of the most significant parts of my life. I was just foolish enough or wise enough to return for more punishment the following week, thanks to the kindness and help of a man who is more comfortable on two wheels than on two feet.


Team Girls Gone Riding Newsletter #3

Inside:

Feb. 21st First-Ever All-Woman's Ride -- Thank you!
Bike MS Kick-Off Ride - Feb. 28
Fundraising Tips
Volunteer needed for Bike ms Round-Up Ride
Dates ahead
Want to ride another all-women's ride? Info on Little Red Riding Hood ride, Utah, FYI

First-Ever All Women's Girls Gone Riding ride
Our ride went well last weekend. I received some good feedback about the route and other details that will come in handy when we do it again next year.

Thank you to all who participated. I will be turning the money in on Saturday at the Kick-Off so someone in our group will be eligible to win the prizes (I am not eligible...:+) but my team is)

Bike MS Kick-Off Ride -- Hope you can join us for a fun ride, breakfast and chances at prizes.

More than 125 people have rsvp'd about Saturday's kick-off ride and breakfast. Ride and connect with others doing the Bike MS ride in March at the Bike MS Round-Up Ride Kick-Off Ride and Party.

The event will be held beginning at Discount Tire headquarters in Scottsdale beginning at 8:30 a.m. The ride will be held first, breakfast will be offered thanks to Discount Tire to follow. It's a great opportunity to do a Saturday ride and then ride again on Sunday, back to back rides. There are two routes: 17-mile and 35-mile routes.

Breakfast is being served compliments of the great people at Discount Tire Co.! Hope you'll join me.

Here's the address:
20225 N. Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, AZ


Fundraising Tips:

Many of you have been successful in raising your money via email. A few of us have done some of our own fundraisers.

Emails and letter-writing campaigns work well. They work especially well if you tell your story.

Congratulations to our team for raising $500 in the women's ride. Don't forget about our BBQ on March 14th. You will be receiving an evite in a separate email. Please forward along to your friends and family to attend this fun chance for us all to get to know one another and also raise some cash!

Volunteers are needed for Bike ms Round-Up Ride:

The National MS Society is in need of hundreds of volunteers for the weekend of March 28-29th. If you know of individuals, schools, groups or companies who might be interested, please contact jvalencia@aza.nmss.org. Jacqueline will be able to help the interested folks. OR volunteers may register on the bike MS website. Here's the link:

https://secure3.convio.net/nmss/site/TRR/Bike/AZABikeEvents/722749174?pg=ptype&fr_id=9530


Little Red Riding Hood ride, June 6

One of our teammates, Connie Roubinet, has let me know about a very successful all-women's ride on June 6th in Salt Lake City, UT. I have decided to do this ride instead of the PA MS ride this year as my parents have decided to visit in May.

If you are interested in this ride, registration is open until May 23rd but is cut off after they reach 2600 WOMEN! WOW. I hope to learn a lot from these folks to help build our women's ride for next year. If you are interested, please pop me an email.

Here is the registration information:

http://www.bbtc.net/

Hope we can get a group of Girls Gone Riding to head there!

Upcoming Dates:

Feb. 28, Bike ms Kick-Off, Ride, Food and Fun! Discount Tire Headquarters, Scottsdale
March 14, Cabernet, Blues and BBQ BARBICURE, Sheryl's house.
March 28-29, Bike MS Round-Up Ride 2009!
June 6 Little Red Riding Hood ride, Salt Lake City, UT

Team Girls Gone Riding Newsletter #2

Inside:

GGR Team Meeting Reminder
Feb. 21st First-Ever All-Woman's Ride
Bike MS Kick-Off Ride - Feb. 28
Fundraising Tips
Dates ahead

GGR Team Meeting Reminder
We are having a team meeting tomorrow at the Disability Empowerment Center, 5025 E. Washington Street in Phoenix at 6 p.m. I expect the meeting to last about 1 hour. If you cannot participate in person, I can set up a conference call if there is interest.

Please let me know your thoughts...
http://us.mc11.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=sheryl@girlsgoneriding.org.

First-Ever All-Women Girls Gone Riding Ride Team Fundraiser:
We have received 15 registrations for our ride this Saturday and many emails of interest. I am going to prepare for 50 riders.We will have snacks, water, gatorade, SAG support, sandwiches after the ride, HAM Radio Operators who will double as SAGs and three rest stops.

I have attached the registration form again and am requesting that you let me know if you are planning to ride in the Women's ride, volunteer or if you can bring some volunteers. We have help, but I am a little anxious about help if lots more riders show up. It's a good problem to have. If you are riding, your $25 will go directly toward your own fundraising and any extras will be split among the teammates who help or participate. I am also attaching the route map for your perusal.

The greatest need I have right now is for more volunteers who can change tires. If you know a gentleman or a woman who would like to help, please forward this email.

Bike MS Kick-Off Ride
Another opportunity to ride and connect with others doing the Bike MS ride in March is the Bike MS Round-Up Ride Kick-Off Ride and Party.

The event will be held beginning at Discount Tire headquarters in Scottsdale beginning at 8:30 a.m. The ride will be held first, breakfast will be offered thanks to Discount Tire to follow. It's a great opportunity to do a Saturday ride and then ride again on Sunday, back to back rides. There are two routes: 17-mile and 35-mile routes.

Here's the address:
20225 N. Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, AZ
Connie Roubinet 480-399-6776 http://us.mc11.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=connieroubinet@yahoo.com Gilbert
Laverne Lindsey http://us.mc11.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=rastainred@hotmail.com Chandler

Fundraising Tips:

Many of you have been successful in raising your money via email. A few of us have done some of our own fundraisers.

Congratulations to Amy Willey who did a chili lunch for her work friends. Providing chili for coworkers and offering an opportunity to make a donation produced $800 for her! Way to go!

I did the same thing for my coworkers and raised $130. I am going to do it again for all of the agencies in our building at the end of the month.

Upcoming Dates:
Feb. 19, Team Girls Gone Riding team meeting, MS Office, 5025 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034, http://us.mc11.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=sheryl@girlsgoneriding.org
Feb 21st GGR All-Women's Ride meeting, NMSS Office, 6 p.m.
(Reg Form attached)
Feb. 28, Bike ms Kick-Off, Ride, Food and Fun! Discount Tire Headquarters, Scottsdale
March 14, Cabernet, Blues and BBQ BARBICURE, Sheryl's house.
March 28-29, Bike MS Round-Up Ride 2009

What are you waiting for? Come out and join us...