Thank you

I have reached all of my goals and just wanted to say thank you to all you amazing people who have donated/sponsored me in this challenge.

Without you and your encouragement, I wouldn't have been able to achieve this.

THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.

GOALS ATTAINED

So I bought my bike the week before the GCC started. I hadn't ridden a bike in over 40 years since I attended high school. This is my 1st year riding for GCC I increased my donation target from $500 - $1500 then onwards to $2500 so far reaching $2671 for the young people who are and continue to fight with true bravery. I'm humbled and amazed by this wonderful community that I have come across. The support and encouragement from everybody is awe inspiring, without all of you and the GCC organization i would of just been doing my daily commute to and from work which is the reason for buying the bike in the first place. Then, having this challenge to motivate me, I'm now a cycling wanna be. My year to date is pictured from stats off of strava. Keep those pedals turning, feeling blessed and humbled.

The last week

Well folks, the challenge is drawing to a close, and I'm getting close to my goal of 500km. I only have 98km left to cycle and 9 days in which to do it.

I know I'm going to beat my target as I have 48km in commutes a group ride on wednesday afternoon of 40km, not including the ride to and from the event. Also, I have a couple of weekends to do a few longer rides 20-30km, so with that in mind, a HUGE THANKYOU for your support and words of encouragement.

Just be aware that this is an annual event, and I will be participating in future rides.

Love and blessings to you all.

New Jersey

I received my hero jersey today and want to thank all of my sponsors for donating to Sick Kids. I had a great 51km ride today, leaving me with 171km to hit my 500km target.

Keeping motivated is becoming a little harder as I'm hitting the tarmac on my own. It would be nice to have a riding buddy.

As always, thank you for your support. It is all of you who keep me motivated.

A Big Thankyou

Due to your generous donations and yesterdays match day, I am pleased to inform you all that I have raised over $2500 for Sick Kids organisation.

It is with great gratitude and humility, and your contributions once again a BIG HUGE ENORMOUS THANKYOU FOR YOUR GENEROUSITY.

feeling very blessed and humbled.

Let's get it done

Have reached my 1500$ now im really asking all of you to help me get to the next level. I'm riding my butt off to help these kids who should be out playing.

Wednesday 13th August

Today is Saturday the 9th of August.

I know those of you keeping up with my blogs have already donated to the sick kids already, and I thank you from the bottom of my ❤️.

This coming Wednesday, the 13th of August, is MATCH DAY. Any online donation made will be matched. If you can make a small donation, it will be doubled, so if you donated another $5, it will be a $10 donation.

I'd really like to make my target of $1500, but to exceed that would be phenomenal. Thanking you all in advance.

Daily Commute

Having realised, I am going to achieve my distance target. I am going to save the larger rides for the weekends when I have more time available and can get out in the early hours when the temperature is more conducive to longer rides.

If it is cooler in the evenings, I will do 10-15 km rides in the local neighborhood.

I have had a couple of evenings recovering from the weekend 125km ride, so tonight, 7th Aug. I'm going for the usual ride.

Thank you all again for your generous donations

Feeling loved and blessed.

Day 4

Was going to ride with a friend today, but due to unforseen circumstances, this was not viable, so I had another lonesome ride. I'm so glad I can use the phone to tune into the radio and keep the momentum going.

After today's excursion, we are now 25% complete, only 375km more to go.

I know things are difficult at the moment with prices on nearly everything going through the roof. So again, thank you for your donations.

Another thing I have noticed is that my fluid and food intake has increased bananas, and peanut butter sandwiches, pasta, and chicken are now all high on my diet list. Fluid intake is high protein smoothies made with fresh fruit plain yogurt and milk. I also have hydration energy powder to add to my bottle.

Today's ride was a little over 27.5km.

Day 3

Went for a steady ride today, not the fastest, but im learning a mtb is heavy, and knobbley tires are not the best for road riding. I'm just shy of the 100km mark, so 400km left. Remember, approx 200km will be my daily commute. I'm going to be getting alot fitter by the end of this challenge.

Have already decided that this is going to be something i'm going to do annually. Next year's ride will either be on a road bike or a gravel bike.

Personal Best

This morning, Saturday, August 2nd, I was up just after Lorraine left for work (540am), had a morning coffee, and the usual walk around the block with the dogs. After which they got their breakfast well I got it for them they can't serve themselves.

Looking at the blue skies and feeling the mild temperature, it was time to get the bike out and go for a ride. I was determined that a few scrapes and bruises were not going to stop me.

Mounting up, I started with the usual area ride, and then when I reached Mooneys Bay, I followed the Rideau canal downtown (Petula Clarke in my head now). I made it to the Chateau Laurier and then down the path to the NAC going back towards Mooneys Bay on the opposite of the canal, around Dows Lake up to the locks at Hogs Back, finishing my loop on the regular paths.

30km ride well happy.

Not the start I wanted.

Where to start. Riding home Thursday after work, I took a tumble. I graised my left shoulder forearm knee and ankle. The right pedal skinning my right shin. I'm all good, nothing broken, just bruising and a little soreness. Took a couple of advil and rested.

I felt better Friday evening still aching in places but dug deep and did a 12k ride to start my challenge.

Tomorrow is another day, and im going to get back in the saddle and make a better impact on my challenge.

The attached photo is the remains of my watch, so I'm going to have to get a new one at some point, feel a little naked not having a watch to wear.

Updates on progress will follow.

So It Begins

Today is the 1st of August, and I embark on my journey of 500 km. I'm planning on getting 50km done today. It is also a long weekend, and we have a mainstream holiday today, so I'm lucky to get a 4 day break instead of the 3. That means I can get some serious distance covered this weekend. If I get close to my 500 km mark, I will increase my goal again.

The Final Countdown

We are into the last 4 hours of the countdown until the start of the Great Canadian Challenge for Kids with Cancer.

Once again, I'd like to say a HUGE THANKYOU TO ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE DONATED.

I'm excited to get on with this challenge as it is my 1st year back in the saddle after 25-plus years, I'm also privileged to be riding for a worthy cause.

When I was a lot younger in my youth, I did sponsored walks for MenCap and swims for the British Heart Foundation. The walks were 10 miles, and the swims were a mile (64 lengths of a 25m pool). So 500km should be a walk in the park.

Feeling Blessed and Loved.

GREATER DISTANCE

Having realized that my daily commute is 6km each way. I have increased my distance goal to 500km. The reason for this is that I want to show my gratitude to all my sponsors and also want to prove to myself that if you set your mind to it, you can achieve anything.

I'm also going to ask you to share my post with your friends and family, I would really like to raise a lot more for these kids who are fighting an uphill battle. With your generous donations, they are going to be able to beat cancer and do what kids do best, which is live love and laugh.

AGAIN A HUGE THANKYOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS.

The reason for my ride.

Okay, so this is the reason I decided I was going to do the Great Cycle Challenge, and yes, I know it's a dog. This is Loki he was born on the 12th of February 2019, and we (the wife and I) were lucky enough to have 6 years with this beautiful boy. It wasn't cancer that took him from us, but stage 4 kidney failure.

We had got him a friend Gigi who pined and cried just as we did. So we contacted Gigi's breeder to find out if another litter was available. As good fortune would have it, there was a litter that would be available in February the pups being born in December of 2024. We collected Jasper on February 25th of this year.

The change in Gigi was instantly noticeable. She became more playful and energetic, and her little brother snuggles and plays with her on a daily basis,

Gigi is 14 months old, and Jasper is 7 months old.

Now think of Loki as your 6-year-old child fighting cancer.

The Real Deal

Well, now I can say I'm part of the challenge. The jersey fits well and looks awesome.

PACKAGE DELIVERY

I have been waiting all day for this package to arrive, and it's finally here. Without my sponsors, this wouldn't have been possible. Due to your generosity, I have got my GCC Jersey for 2025, the first of many.

Thank you all. You're all amazing.

MORNING RIDE

Sunday morning 27th.

The dogs had me up at 6am, so much for an extra hr in bed. Had the morning coffee and then walked the dogs for a couple of kilometers. Returning home fed the dogs and the crazy parrot ( Yoda, she's a Blue fronted Amazon 25yrs old.).

Decided I would go for a ride this morning, I didn't have any idea where i was going and still learning the cycle paths. Well, the first 4kms were a loop as I turned the wrong way somewhere. After figuring that out, I got back on track and headed off to Mooneys Bay, then along the Rideau canal (yeah, the one that holds the record for longest skating area). Turning around at the 10-mile point, heading back towards. Mooneys Bay, then onwards and upwards to home. Total distance just a little over 28km very happy with this.

First 100kms

So I have had the bike for a week now and have used it for my daily commute to work. If I follow the map and stay on the roads, it is an 8.2km ride each way, but as I work at the top of the road nearest to huntclub, I go down the embankment and into work cutting out 3km

Besides commuting to work, I have done 3 loops with a friend each approx 12km, and then last Sunday 20th I rode out to The Merry Dairy ice cream parlor and home again doing just over 20km So, in my 1st week of owning the bike, I have ridden a little over 100km. This is a great result, considering I haven't ridden in over 25 years.

Daily Commute

After purchasing the bike, I decided I would use it to commute to work on a daily basis. If you know Ottawa, Huntclub Road is a main artery for commuters, and the traffic is stop go, especially during rush hours, and because there are not many bridges across the Rideau river it gets really congested. Depending on your direction crossing, Riverside and Prince of Wales can take 5-15 mins.

I can now get from my front door to work in 20 minutes, instead of the 30 minutes it used to take me in the car. I am also getting fitter doing this commute.

The New Bike

So after 25 plus years I have bought myself a new bike. It's a Bianchi 29.s Duel 2022 model. A few specs for those who are interested, it has a 2x9 group set by Shimano. 100mm of travel on the front shock by SR Suntour with Kenda rubber 29x2.20.