Saturday, August 30, 2008
On the verge
I am on the verge of reaching my goal of cycling 1,000 miles in 2008, and it's not even September yet! Today, I rode 32.4 miles, bringing my seasonal total to 975.7 miles. My ride today was to scenic Busse Woods bicycle trail, following the Meacham Grove trail/Roselle train station/Plum Grove Road route outbound and the Weathersfield Way/Salem Road/Schaumburg train station route back. My tentative plan is to surpass the 1,000 mile mark on a 28-mile Labor Day ride to Poplar Creek bicycle trail and along Schaumburg streets. Stay tuned!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
The Wright Ride pushes me over last year's mark
Originally posted to Livestrong.com blog on Aug 17, 2008
Today, I rode 30.5 miles in the Wright Ride, which coursed its way through Oak Park, River Forest, Berwyn, Riverside, Brookfield, La Grange Park, and Western Springs. By doing so, I exceeded my total mileage for 2007 and came within a half mile of reaching 900 miles for 2008. I now need only 100.5 miles to reach my goal of 1,000 miles! I may have to start thinking about establishing a new goal once this one has been achieved. ;-)
Today, I rode 30.5 miles in the Wright Ride, which coursed its way through Oak Park, River Forest, Berwyn, Riverside, Brookfield, La Grange Park, and Western Springs. By doing so, I exceeded my total mileage for 2007 and came within a half mile of reaching 900 miles for 2008. I now need only 100.5 miles to reach my goal of 1,000 miles! I may have to start thinking about establishing a new goal once this one has been achieved. ;-)
My July rides for LAF
Originally posted to Livestrong.com blog on Jul 31, 2008
In July of 2008, I rode more miles than in any previous month of my life -- 311.5 miles in 14 rides. This was 4 more rides and 64.9 miles more than I accomplished in July of last year, which was my previous record month. My longest ride this month was 52.3 miles on July 26th, when I completed my "50 at 50" Half Century Ride. My total accumulated seasonal miles through July of 2008 is 789.6! I only need 211 miles to reach my goal of 1,000 miles!
In July of 2008, I rode more miles than in any previous month of my life -- 311.5 miles in 14 rides. This was 4 more rides and 64.9 miles more than I accomplished in July of last year, which was my previous record month. My longest ride this month was 52.3 miles on July 26th, when I completed my "50 at 50" Half Century Ride. My total accumulated seasonal miles through July of 2008 is 789.6! I only need 211 miles to reach my goal of 1,000 miles!
July 26, 2008 -- I completed my "50 at 50" Half Century Ride
Originally posted to Livestrong.com blog on Jul 30, 2008
On this warm day with light northwesterly breezes, I successfully rode my "50 at 50" Half Century Ride, beginning at 7:30 a.m. I followed my self-designed course that passed through ten of Chicago's west suburban villages. I have posted this course to http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/il/-bloomingdale/101262204. In my ride, which lasted a little over four hours riding time, I reached the 10 mile mark at 8:25, the 20 mile mark at 9:24, the 25 mile mark at 10:08, the 32 mile mark at 10:46, the 40 mile mark at 11:35 and the 52.3 mile mark (and home) around 12:45 p.m.
On this warm day with light northwesterly breezes, I successfully rode my "50 at 50" Half Century Ride, beginning at 7:30 a.m. I followed my self-designed course that passed through ten of Chicago's west suburban villages. I have posted this course to http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/il/-bloomingdale/101262204. In my ride, which lasted a little over four hours riding time, I reached the 10 mile mark at 8:25, the 20 mile mark at 9:24, the 25 mile mark at 10:08, the 32 mile mark at 10:46, the 40 mile mark at 11:35 and the 52.3 mile mark (and home) around 12:45 p.m.
My June rides for LAF
Originally posted to Livestrong.com blog
In June of 2008, I rode ten rides for a total of 190.6 miles, which is four more rides and 66.9 more miles than I accomplished in June of last year. My longest ride was 32.2 miles on June 14th, which also marked my first ride on the Great Western Trail/Illinois Prairie Path for this cycling season. During June, I finalized the course that I will follow to complete my "50 at 50 Half Century Ride" using the web resources of Google Maps and MapMyRide.com. Now all I need is a warm (not hot!) day with light winds and no chance for rain. My total accumulated seasonal miles through June of 2008 was 478.1.
In June of 2008, I rode ten rides for a total of 190.6 miles, which is four more rides and 66.9 more miles than I accomplished in June of last year. My longest ride was 32.2 miles on June 14th, which also marked my first ride on the Great Western Trail/Illinois Prairie Path for this cycling season. During June, I finalized the course that I will follow to complete my "50 at 50 Half Century Ride" using the web resources of Google Maps and MapMyRide.com. Now all I need is a warm (not hot!) day with light winds and no chance for rain. My total accumulated seasonal miles through June of 2008 was 478.1.
My February through May cycling for LAF
Originally posted to Livestrong.com blog
I started my cycling season early this year with our vacation to Anna Maria Island near Bradenton, Florida. I rented a bicycle from the Backyard Bike Shop on Longboat Key and, over the next six days, I rode nine times and covered an estimated 112 miles.
But then, alas, I had to return to winter. After enduring a cold late-winter and a spring that seemed anything but spring-like (I only rode once in April), I logged seven rides in May, totaling 160.6 miles.
Tuesday, May 13th was proclaimed as Livestrong Day by the Lance Armstrong Foundation -- an annual one-day initiative to raise awareness and funds for the fight against cancer. To support the spirit of this day, I hosted a bicycle ride in west suburban Busse Woods Forest Preserve. Despite the threatening weather, two other riders from the Schaumburg Bicycling Club joined me, and we made one complete loop (i.e. 7.8 miles) before rain ended our ride prematurely.
On the Sunday of Memorial Day, I rode in the annual "Bike the Drive" along the lake shore in Chicago. This annual event closes down Lake Shore Drive in Chicago and makes it a "bicycle only" road until about 9:30 a.m. Upwards of 20,000 people rode all or a portion of the 30-mile loop that extends from Bryn Mawr Road on the north end to the Museum of Science Industry on the south end, with Grant Park serving as the start/finish point for all riders. In all, I rode 40 miles in gorgeous weather with Lake Michigan on one side and the Chicago skyscrapers on the other. It was a surreal and wonderful experience. Toward the end of the ride, there were so many riders on the road (many of whom were families with children) that I was actually slowed by the high volume of bicycle traffic. However, unlike automobile traffic, this type of traffic was invigorating, not frustrating.
So, as May ended, I was ahead of my mileage for this time last year -- 287.5 vs. 178.7 miles. The difference is largely due to the miles that I rode during my Florida vacation in February.
Thank you for your support and encouragement, and live strong!
I started my cycling season early this year with our vacation to Anna Maria Island near Bradenton, Florida. I rented a bicycle from the Backyard Bike Shop on Longboat Key and, over the next six days, I rode nine times and covered an estimated 112 miles.
But then, alas, I had to return to winter. After enduring a cold late-winter and a spring that seemed anything but spring-like (I only rode once in April), I logged seven rides in May, totaling 160.6 miles.
Tuesday, May 13th was proclaimed as Livestrong Day by the Lance Armstrong Foundation -- an annual one-day initiative to raise awareness and funds for the fight against cancer. To support the spirit of this day, I hosted a bicycle ride in west suburban Busse Woods Forest Preserve. Despite the threatening weather, two other riders from the Schaumburg Bicycling Club joined me, and we made one complete loop (i.e. 7.8 miles) before rain ended our ride prematurely.
On the Sunday of Memorial Day, I rode in the annual "Bike the Drive" along the lake shore in Chicago. This annual event closes down Lake Shore Drive in Chicago and makes it a "bicycle only" road until about 9:30 a.m. Upwards of 20,000 people rode all or a portion of the 30-mile loop that extends from Bryn Mawr Road on the north end to the Museum of Science Industry on the south end, with Grant Park serving as the start/finish point for all riders. In all, I rode 40 miles in gorgeous weather with Lake Michigan on one side and the Chicago skyscrapers on the other. It was a surreal and wonderful experience. Toward the end of the ride, there were so many riders on the road (many of whom were families with children) that I was actually slowed by the high volume of bicycle traffic. However, unlike automobile traffic, this type of traffic was invigorating, not frustrating.
So, as May ended, I was ahead of my mileage for this time last year -- 287.5 vs. 178.7 miles. The difference is largely due to the miles that I rode during my Florida vacation in February.
Thank you for your support and encouragement, and live strong!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
My "One for All" fund raising initiative
For the second year in a row, I'm riding in support of the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) and the 10 million people in this country who are currently living with, through or beyond cancer.
The idea for my One for All fundraising initiative was born in the spring of 2007, after I purchased a Trek 7500 hybrid bicycle. As I pedaled along tree-lined streets, crushed limestone paths, and fields of prairie grass near my home in west suburban Chicago, a realization came to me -- that my newly refreshed enthusiasm for cycling could not only satisfy my recreational needs, but could directly tie-in with my own charitable giving to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. In the manner of a charity bicycle ride, I could support people whose lives have been affected by cancer without necessarily having to join or organize such a ride. Instead, I could design my own "one man charity ride" that could be structured however I wished, and be sustained for as long as I want.
So now I support the war on cancer EVERY time that I ride my bicycle. I have pledged to donate 25 cents per mile that I ride during the 2008 cycling season. For more information about how you, too, can make a difference, please visit my One for All website at
http://77illinois.homestead.com/oneforall.html.
Each one of us can make a difference for all! Enjoy your cycling and live strong!
Bart Benjamin
Grassroots Event Supporter ID: 174344917
The idea for my One for All fundraising initiative was born in the spring of 2007, after I purchased a Trek 7500 hybrid bicycle. As I pedaled along tree-lined streets, crushed limestone paths, and fields of prairie grass near my home in west suburban Chicago, a realization came to me -- that my newly refreshed enthusiasm for cycling could not only satisfy my recreational needs, but could directly tie-in with my own charitable giving to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. In the manner of a charity bicycle ride, I could support people whose lives have been affected by cancer without necessarily having to join or organize such a ride. Instead, I could design my own "one man charity ride" that could be structured however I wished, and be sustained for as long as I want.
So now I support the war on cancer EVERY time that I ride my bicycle. I have pledged to donate 25 cents per mile that I ride during the 2008 cycling season. For more information about how you, too, can make a difference, please visit my One for All website at
http://77illinois.homestead.com/oneforall.html.
Each one of us can make a difference for all! Enjoy your cycling and live strong!
Bart Benjamin
Grassroots Event Supporter ID: 174344917
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