| 2022 |
| Armed Forces Cycling Classic’s Challenge Ride – DONE Saturday, June 4 9 laps in 3 hours (my goal) | Crystal City, VA Beneficiary: various charities |
| Empire State Ride 2022 Sunday, July 24 – Saturday, July 30 500+ miles fully supported | New York Beneficiary: Roswell Cancer Research |
| RBC Century Ride Sunday, August 21 100 miles | Reston, VA Beneficiary: Reston Bike Club |
| Lime Connect Century Ride Saturday, October 8 100 miles | Reston, VA Beneficiary: college-bound high school seniors with disabilities |
| 72 Hours to Key West Thursday, November 3 – Saturday, November 5 280+ miles | Ft. Myers to Key West [Florida] Beneficiary: Tiny Hands Foundation |
| 2023 |
| Bike to the Beach Saturday, April 22 100+ miles | Miami to Key West [Florida] Beneficiary: Autism |
| Loudoun 1725 Gravel Grinder Sunday, June 11 40 -or- 60 -or- 80 miles | Middleburg, VA [Salamander Resort] |
| Lake Anne SUP Triathlon August – DATE TBD SUP + Ride + Run | Reston, VA Beneficiary: Reston CORE Foundation |
Past RIDES I HAVE DONE Multiple Times That I Recommend: |
| TD Five Boro Bike Tour + Bike Expo New York *super fun, not a race First Sunday in May 40 miles on car-free roads and bridges | New York City Beneficiary: Free bike education to kids in the five boroughs (largest charitable bike ride in the US) |
RIDES I HAVE NOT DONE, But Are on My List: |
| Bike MS Date Varies Based on City 15 to 150 miles | 68 City Options Throughout the US Beneficiary: The National Multiple Sclerosis Society |
| Tour de Perry *after the ride you can enjoy the Perry Chalk Art Festival July 17 -or- 31 -or- 53 miles | Perry, NY Beneficiary: N/A |
Category: cycle
Ride On
Last year was rough for everyone, but we seemed to find ways to pivot and do the best we could. To me, that is the spirit of a strong-minded and resilient woman!
I focused on cycling. I have loved the sport since I was a little girl and received my first bicycle with training wheels. I could not wait to get my training wheels off! In the beginning, I must have wiped out more than a dozen times, but I was determined to succeed because my bicycle gave me a sense of joy and freedom that fills my soul to this day!
Fast-forward a couple of decades, eager to share my passion for cycling, I became a bike ambassador for Fairfax County and a certified Schwinn cycling coach. Last year, I signed up for The Empire State Ride, a 500-mile ride across New York to raise lots of money for Roswell Cancer Research (please click here to make a donation). In 2020, ESR was virtual due to COVID, and they deferred our registrations. I have every faith that all of us riders will come together this year, and ESR will proceed as planned on July 25!
This past year I connected with other women cyclists who also registered and are training for the endurance ride. We have never met, but we keep each other motivated through Strava with our posts about the lows and highs of our journeys. I cannot wait to meet these amazing ladies in person! Of course, my training would not be as effective without my gear from Terry Bicycles. When I’m on training rides outside, I love my Terry Soleil Hoody for comfort, style, sun protection, and my trusty Terry Touring shorts. Similarly, my Terry Soleil shorts are a staple item of comfort during long rides indoors, allowing me to stay focused.
All my rides right now revolve around ESR training. Although I was bummed about the one-year delay, I’m excited to have had extra time to prepare for this personal challenge. It is my first endurance ride, and this year is extra special because a few weeks before the ride, I will turn the big 5-0 (shhhh!). The little girl on training wheels with a passion for cycling could never have imagined that she would be striving for new heights in cycling decades later.
NOTE: Terry Bicycles is a cool women’s bike apparel company owned by a woman with products designed specifically for women.