Now that I posted the blog from 2011 a few moments ago, on to 2012!

May 5, 3rd Annual Ride Ataxia NorCal FA Research Fundraiser
In the months leading up to the event I had been riding about 23 miles a week, with unfortunately periodic long periods of inactivity due to competing life priorities and some weather issues. But I was feeling reasonable about the 15 mile ride again with Brianne behind me because we had done reasonably up to the point her wheel bearing failed last year.

So Wednesday I pulled out all 4 of the trailers I now have to remind myself which I will bring. I decided the last two I acquired will need some work before being ready for use so the two original trailers got air in the tires and a safety check. As last year my daughter Brianne and a FAer from Lakeport, Sophia, are riding to raise their own FA research money. I say that's only fair! ;-) Because Sophia's dad Eric has a bum knee right now and my Brother-in-law Richard had already decided to ride with us (as did my step-son Jarod!) I tapped him to pedal Sophia. BUT in return because he really wanted to ride the 30 mile course I agreed on Sunday if the creek didn't rise we would do that together.

By 11am Friday we are on our way to Winters, CA to hope we could catch a first come first served campsite which we did. As last year we were at the US Bicycle Hall of Fame registration by 4pm and began meeting all the wonderful people involved as FARA staff, volunteers and riders in this 3rd Annual Ride Ataxia NorCal fundraiser. At 6pm the reception started and the floodgates opened as riders raising $300 or more came in to celebrate with us! We enjoyed ourselves so much we missed out 9pm curfew at the campground and had to walk in on foot. lol

We were back the next morning at the Davis Vet Center at 7:30am to be ready for the 15 mile ride start at 10am. I needed to assemble/mount the trailers and wheelchairs in time for my riders. At 10am we led the 15 mile riders out of the parking lot and we were on our way! By this time perhaps I should have mentioned the wind coming from the NNW was blowing at 22mph! Oh, yes! And just thank the Lord it wasn't coming out of the west! And though the day was to warm up to 80 "later" it was Chilly for a lot of the ride. Many riders including Brianne had not brought jackets (she did have a heavy shawl/cape thing) assuming the morning would be warm-ish. When we got on the main road and cleared the city cover Katie Bar the Door! lol The wind kept blowing Brianne's cape loose and when the wind gusted I could feel the trailer front lift a bit as Brianne was pushed back and I would lose 3 - 4 mph immediately. Our max speed was 11+mph and our min speed was a measley 3.8mph on the way out! Our route was straight west 5.5 miles and then turned into the wind for 2.5 miles; longest 2.5 miles I've every pedaled! Whoo!

We rested and visited a bit at the rest stop before heading back. The ride back went much better than the ride out, and a good thing, I had used much of my reserves getting us to the halfway point. Of course the first section south we almost had to brake with the wind behind us and the two riders acting as sails, and the rest of the way back we were able to maintain a higher mph, although our max speed going back east was 12mph. Once back we enjoyed a wonderful Outback lunch and the company of all the fellow riders. The 30, 55 and 68 mile riders really had it rough on their routes. Jarod and his friend Christy thought their course was challenging enough. ;-)

We were last out before Felicia and the Bryant's so we joined Richard at Appleby's for a salad dinner. While sitting there I was hit with a massive back thigh cramp - it didn't appreciate me sitting nor the cool inside air. We got back to camp before curfew and got to bed very early. This morning we called Richard to report the winds were still 11mph and my legs felt like jelly; so there's a rain check on the 30 mile ride. :-)

I want to sincerely thank all the people that thought of us, prayed for us and sponsored our rides and the fight against FA. We are winning! Just a couple of months ago the first human safety test was started in Milan, Italy on a drug that in FA blood raises the level of the problem protein Frataxin to asymptomatic levels! And Brianne has been on another experimental drug for a year now that will shortly start clinical trials toward FDA approval. There are something like 10-ish trials in process right now. We are still 5 - 10 years out to stopping the progression of FA but in the world of diseases and disorders that's close!

This fundraising event is not yet over! Last year they were at $87,000 the day after the Ride and ended at $103,000; today the total is $89,000 so if you have not sponsored me and would like to just go to https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1012679&supId=351303087 and click in the upper right hand corner!

God bless you all and stay healthy!