Precipice

I feel I am on a precipice.

Erev my first bike event--the Foothill Century--the only kosher century ride in the West! It is a fund raiser for the South Peninsula Hebrew Day School in Sunnyvale, with over 450 cyclists registered. I signed up for the 50k group--something like 36 miles--over 50% more than my longest ride to date and approximately 449 more riders involved.

I am excited. A little nervous. It will be a good step up from what I have been doing. A new experience. Hopefully pleasant.

Tomorrow is also the day I have committed to do the pre-launch of my fund raising campaign for the Israel Ride. It's my mom's birthday--which adds a nice connection to the day. My plan is to get some feedback from a few friends and family this week. Hopefully some donations as well. So that next Sunday--May 25, my dad's birthday I will do the full launch of the campaign. It's poetic. The ride itself starts on November 11, Dad's yartzeit. It seems fitting in several ways to dedicate this venture to him. The physical fitness part for sure. Actually he and Mom each had heart disease, but it was fatal for him. To exercise, lose weight, is important given my family history. The spiritual connection is another piece of family legacy, and one I embrace with pleasure. It really makes this whole crazy effort so much more powerful knowing that it will take me to the land and the people of Israel.

It is nice too that tomorrow's event, my first of this kind, is for a Jewish school, although I hasten to add that that is more a matter of circumstance than design. I have also signed up for the 50k section of the Sequoia Century on June 1 sponsored by the Peninsula's major bike club--the Western Wheelers.

I had a conversation this week with a staff member for the November ride. One thing led to another and I ended up buying their new training Jersey--with the letters emblazoned across the front "The People of the Bike." That should raise a few eyebrows at tomorrow's Jewish biking venue. In case anyone is curious I will have some handouts describing the Israel Ride and also giving them an opportunity to log onto my rider's page and make a contribution! Shameless marketing.

It has actually been a very stimulating bike week. A couple of highlights. With the temperature soaring to 100 degrees I decided to move my afternoon workout to early morning. Thursday when I headed up Arastradero Road I got to the intersection with Foothill Boulevard and discovered a bikers' refreshment stand supporting National Bike to Work Day participants. It was only a small stretch to say I was biking to work. Given that I work at home it was a 23 mile detour from my bedroom to my office, but it did indeed lead me to work. I gratefully accepted the Hobee's coffee cake and commemorative canvas bag they provided, regrettably eschewing some healthier alternatives.

I was amazed by the number of cyclists I saw commuting that morning--and the variety. Sprinkled in among what looked like the "regulars" was a unicyclist climbing (and later no doubt descending) Sand Hill Road. This is no small feat on a road bike, much less a unicycle. I reached my all time fastest speed that morning--40 mph on the way down Sand Hill. How someone defies gravity with direct drive pedals is beyond me. Maybe the other extreme was a women in a flowing dress, easily 300 pounds who I had to tacitly applaud for the extraordinary effort she demonstrated. From afar I silently wished her well on her quest, presumably toward fitness. It did set a context regarding my own obesity (yes, that's what all the body mass index charts label me).

Friday morning I went out for the first time with my friend John Carlsen who is a highly experienced cyclist. He gave me some great pointers such as how to stretch my calves on downhill runs, how and why I should increase my cadence going uphill, plus he took me through some magnificent back roads.

Shortly after John and I parted company I heard a loud pop from my rear tire--my first blowout! Gamely I applied the lesson I had received a month before at the bike store on how to change a tire. It came to me slowly, but I did manage to get it all apart and back together again! And simultaneously host a conference call for work that I had hoped to conduct from my office had I gotten home in time.

Tonight I am making final preparations for tomorrow's event. Freshly cleaned attire. New socks! Chilled water for my Camelback backpack hydration system. A fresh inner tube for my emergency kit. Carbo loading at my latest favorite Mexican restaurant. And some final touches to my website which will become publicized for the first time as part of the fund raising effort.

I am on a precipice, and that is one of the most exciting places to be!