We Did It And We Have a RickShaw

Well sort of… We have definitely raised over $50,000.00 for the Segal Cancer Research Centre at the Jewish General Hospital. To be clear, 100% of that money is going to cancer research. All other expenses: rickshaw, inner tubes, Dagwoods Sandwiches and beers are paid for by us the riders and our sponsors. A very good feat for TeamKat indeed. We bested last years ride by $10,000.00. And of course we are still accepting donations.

So about the rickshaw… you would not believe how hard it has been to secure one of these puppies for the weekend. Two of the companies we called flat our refused to rent us one for the whole weekend due the distance we are covering: 250KM. I can understand some trepidation about seeing your equipment be loaned outside of your home turf, but that is why security deposits exists. To those guys, all I can say is shame on you. The ride to Conquer Cancer is a well established charity event with unbelievable technical and logistic support.

ricksahwSo we stared looking into riskshaws we could buy outright. This was  not as easy as one would think for such a cosmopolitan city like Montreal. For example we found a lot of stuff that “needed work”like this one in the picture. Or some that were basically just adult tricycles.  Such as the one below. Although I will probably be going back there soon for another project I thinking of.

TrikenotRickshaw

So getting back to our quest. As time was running short and suppliers were backing out, some of the TeamKat members and supporters got involved and managed to secure a ride for the weekend. As my buddy PK would say, this one is:

“SAME SAME….. BUT DIFFERENT”. 

IMG_4050

Enter the Ted. Our good friend Ted managed to find this old sailing dinghy turned cargo bike with seat and dodger for a roof. I will admit it’s not exactly an aero bike like my Kuota, but a deal is a deal and a gentleman always honours his wagers. So here I am. Two days before the ride, with an amazing effort form TeamKat and all our sponsors and donors getting ready to literally push this boat downstream to Quebec City. My only consolation is that I will be carrying my own food and beer along the ride, conditions of the wager of course. And if things get really bad, I will just head for the nearest landing and sail this thing down the river using a Dagwoods t-shirt as a spinnaker.

GO TEAMKAT GO

 

RTCC Rickshaw UPDATE: Only $1600 To Go


Just wanted to give everyone an update as to the whole Rickshaw saga for this year’s Ride to Conquer Cancer. We have now raised just over $48,000 and I am now seriously worried about finding a rickshaw in time.

I honestly did not think it would happen and have been caught a little flat-footed. So I am now counting on all of you to help donate towards last the $1600.00 dollars and hopefully help out with the rickshaw rental or purchase.

Please reach out to us and let us know if you can help.  Comments below or use the Twitter and Facebook links.

The Cancer Kicking RickShaw Dream Lives On

Via WikiMedia.org

So one night this winter, I jokingly made a bet that if TeamKat was able to raise $50,000.00 for this year’s Ride to Conquer Cancer in support of the Jewish General Cancer Research Centre, I would make the ride on a rickshaw complete with a passenger and case of beer for them to enjoy. Well, I’m an idiot…

As of this morning, TeamKat has raised $41,423.32. A busy weekend rush has seen the team raise $3000 to take us within $8500. That means that with only 12 days to go I could see myself strapping the the red rocket to the back of one of these bad boys (see above) and spinning my ass up the Donnacona hills to la Vielle Ville.

I must admit, I am actually getting worried.  Why:

  1. It’s going to be f…ing hard
  2. I DON’T have a rickshaw… And don’t know where to get one
  3. Did I say it was going to be hard.
  4. Blair and Ted want to sit in the back….
  5. And It’s going to be fracking hard.

So if you hate Cancer as much as I do and you want to see me suffer… A LOT! Please give generously using this link.

And as I’m being such an idiot, I might as well go one more:

  1. For $5000 you get to ride the whole way beer & sandwich’s included (Trevor you just volunteered to make the Dagwoods)
  2. For $1000 You get to ride for one stage and slap your corporate logo on the rickshaw
  3. For $500 You get to slap your corporate logo on the rickshaw
  4. For $250 You just get slapped with a Dagwoods sub.

 

 

 

The Pack Mentality, Re-Learning to Ride Safely

In light of this weekend’s tragic accident during BC’s Ride to Conquer Cancer where a young cyclist aged 16 lost his lost after clipping another rider’s wheel and falling into oncoming traffic. I think it’s important that we all remember and in some cases learn some of the basic rules for riding in a pack.

We share the road with cars who despite our numbers, loud jerseys, reflectors and lights will always claim they did not see us. Therefore it’s always a good rule to assume that you ARE invisible to them and try to ride in a way that is akin to the way motorcyclist call defensive driving, anticipate the road and the others around you. If you don’t make eye contact with the driver, then assume they have no clue you are on the road.

I stumbled upon this piece from the MEC Ride don’t Hide blog and had to share it. Please click on through and the read the great tips from Jess Hainstock and Allan Prazsky.

“Fluidity and subtlety are key whenever you’re in a pack, because an element of risk comes with group riding. Etiquette within the pack is important for several reasons, most notably safety for you and those around you,” Allan responds, when I explained the code of conduct I’d observed on the group ride. “There is something called ‘the accordion effect,’ where the action of the front rider gets magnified as you travel to the back of the group. A sudden acceleration, deceleration, or swerve becomes exaggerated as it moves through the pack, ultimately leading to frustration, a crash, or worst case, a frustrated crash.”

As my buddy Alister mentioned this morning when he forwarded the CBC news clipping: Safe Riding People

via Ride Don’t Hide – The Pack Mentality | MEC Blog.

Century Uno: The RTCC Training Continues

SafariScreenSnapz006It’s Victoria Day Bank Holiday in The Great White North and after a weekend of staining the deck and pergola, I just couldn’t take it anymore and had to get out on the Red Rocket. What started off as a simple Ile Perrot loop turned into my first metric century of the year. The wind was pretty forgiving and the carbon fibre K-Factor made all of the West Island roads feel pretty decent. Although I will admit that Ile Bizzard and Ile Perrot roads are pretty bad.

It felt pretty good to finally get a real 100KM ride in under my belt this year, especially after last week’s pretty abysmal commuting schedule. For some reason May always seems to just kick my ass, last year the weather and travel schedule didn’t help and year it’s been high winds and illness.

The Ride to Conquer Cancer is just over a month a way and if things keep going at this pace, I should be fine. It’s never too late to make a donation, just use the link above.  And if you’re keen on joining me in my training rides, just send me a note. I always welcome the company.

 

Please Support My Ride to Conquer Cancer

 

JohnnyintoMordor

I have started training pretty regularly for the Ride to Conquer Cancer coming up in July, Basically I will be riding from Montreal to Quebec City (about 300KM) over the course of 2 days in support of my friend Katrina who is battling stage 4 lung cancer. I will be riding with her husband Alister, her brother Greg, another of our friends Annie, a buddy from soccer Massimo and about 2000 other cyclists. It’s a pretty awesome journey and all in the aid of the Segal Cancer Centre at the Jewish General Hospital.

Red Rocket with new boots

Research has come a long way since I lost my grandfather Ben to lung cancer in 1991. When my sister Julie was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s in 2002 after giving birth to my nephew Mathieu, she was greatly aided by advanced detection and immediate chemo and radiation therapy. In her case, the research and excellent facilities made her journey through the treatment to be a more humane one. She has been in remission since 2008 and her own feisty spirit has driven her to keep fighting for her life, running half marathons and giving birth to her daughter Sophie and her son Ben.  

For Katrina there are treatments available that can significantly extend her life for several years with only minor side effects. She is in the minority for stage 4 lung cancer. Most people have only a short time. Although there is no cure, cancer research has given her the possibility of prognosis of years rather than months.

So I ask to donate generously by using the link below, I am about halfway towards my goal but the ultimate goal of kicking Cancer’s Ass for good is far close. I’m no doctor or research scientist but I am doing my part in raising awareness and getting fighting fit while doing it, now please do you part too.

Please Support My Ride to Conquer Cancer

Cold Morning Commutes