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Sunday, September 9, 2018

Pedaling For A Purpose Update


Response to my May 13th post (HERE) really blew me away. This is my first attempt at fundraising, so I didn't really know what to expect. Thank you so very much to those who donated and helped me achieve my goal. The response was so quick I was nearly at my goal by the end of May. Honestly, my whole riding season felt different, in such a positive way, because of this. It truly felt like I was pedaling for a purpose. Thanks to your support, more than $31,000 (Main Fundraiser Page) has been raised for this amazing organization: Vermont Adaptive

Another extremely enjoyable element of my purposeful riding this year is that I am honored to be an ambassador and team member for Rescue Project.  This is a national organization mainly comprised of competitive athletes with the mission of raising awareness for animals in need of rescue and support. We raise funds through donations and through sales of their VERY COOL clothing and accessories. I'm not kidding, this stuff is really cool, check out their online shop: Rescue Project Store. If you do make a purchase, please select "Leo Rescue Pals" from the drop down menu so that proceeds will be sent to Leonberger Rescue. For those of you who may not know, Dace and I have had two amazing Leonberger rescue experiences and still have Rosie who is now 8.5 years old. Dace is a New England representative with Leo Rescue Pals volunteering time helping dogs get placed in the forever homes.

Now, for the update: It has been a very fun filled year of mountain biking, my most enjoyable year I can think of. Largely because of what I have mentioned above, but also because my spring and summer have hit all the points of why I LOVE to ride: exploration, adventure, traveling and community. Please enjoy the photos and descriptions below that provide a flavor of what I've been up to. All that fun and adventure aside, this entire blog post is being typed one handed. Last weekend I crashed fairly hard resulting in a severely broken left wrist. I will have reconstructive surgery next week. The main point being, and largest source of my pain, is that Vermont 50 is very doubtful for me. That breaks my heart not only because I truly love this event and this would have been my 6th consecutive year, but also because this event was the basis for my fundraising. Funds were donated on the basis that I was making an extreme effort to warrant a charitable donation, and now I will not. The only compromise I can consider at this time is to at least make the effort to get to the starting line, start, and then immediately drop out. It has always been my philosophy that it's better to have the status "did not finish" (DNF), than "did not start" (DNS). I know you all agree with me. One way or another, I plan to be there. I CAN NOT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR YOU KIND AND THOUGHTFUL SUPPORT.

This is what I've been up to since May:
Follow me on Instagram: AinaKai

I 💚 Vermont. This was the first trip of many in 2018, to my very happy place: Ascutney. The camping is great, the trails are spectacular. This was in May 2018.

















I 💖 Northern California! End of May 2018, work trip and tacked on a couple extra days to enjoy the amazing (road) riding. Day 1: Marin Headlands, Day 2: San Francisco Peninsula





I 💚 the Pacific Northwest! 4 days of riding with my good friends Rob and Mark, including some BIG adventures such as Northwest Epic Series - Mission Ridge GranDuro (45 miles, 10k climbing)
and Kachess Ridge in the High Alpine











Then back to Vermont (💚!!!!) for a full one week vacation. This was an amazing vacation with home base at an a Very Cozy Cabin where I got to explore some hidden gems as well as some super well developed networks. Not to mention some serious quality time with Dace and the dogs. The final full day there I linked together several the rides I had done to create this massive epic Cady's Falls to Stowe.











Then to Southern California for some after work rides with my good friend Jason and on the absolute worse rental bike I have ever ridden (not sure what I was expecting for $20/day):





Then to Maine, and boy do I 💘 Maine!!


Back to Vermont for The Vermont Overland Grand Prix



And this happened one week later!






 
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Sunday, May 13, 2018

Pedaling for a Personal Purpose

I have been riding the Vermont 50 Mountain Bike Race for the past 6 years. I continue to be drawn to this event for a few reasons - largely because it's in Vermont at the end of September which means spectacular Fall foliage and quintessential New England scenery, and also because it's a grueling test of endurance and will. This race includes 50 miles of mixed terrain and ~8,000 vertical feet of climbing ( VT50 2017). Yet another reason for continuing to torture myself with this event is for its purpose. This event is a fundraiser for an amazing organization called Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports. It has been a very good feeling knowing this is a non-profit event and that a portion of my entry fee was going to a meaningful cause.

This year, I have decided to dedicate additional time and effort in making this a special year. I decided to raise the bar on my entry commitment by raising additional funds which 100% will go to Vermont Adaptive.

Adaptive sports, in general,  has a special and deeply meaningful connection for me. My brother, John, was very seriously injured in a biking accident with a motorist in 2004 which resulted in the amputation of his right leg just below the knee. With massive courage and strength, he returned to riding his bike about the same time I started riding the Vermont 50. He lives in Los Angeles with no direct connection to Vermont Adaptive, yet I feel the connection. He is not only riding his bike but really getting out there, back on the Velo LaGrange Bike Club and can routinely be seen riding the coast line north and south of the airport dipping into the hills of Brentwood and Hollywood. His mental and physical strength is a valued and much needed encouragement for me. Not just on the bike, or training for the VT50, but in everyday life struggles. Thank you John!

I am dedicating this year's race to John and am seeking support for this worthy cause and my goal of raising $1,000 before September 1st, the anniversary of his accident. Please visit my donation page to consider any donation possible. Your kindness will not only be appreciated by me, but more importantly to Vermont Adaptive and the those this organization serves.

MY DONATION PAGE







Sunday, September 11, 2011

Back from Irene. A few days without power and thankfully nothing more. Her wrath changed a few things around here, namely mountain biking.  Big River was hit pretty hard. I havenÊ»t been in there for a few weeks - which makes me a crappy NEMBA member since so many people have been working hard to get the trails cleared out. Thanks people. Maybe next year I will buy a chainsaw. Or maybe IÊ»ll get one when I get my generator. I tell you this mother - there ainÊ»t no way weÊ»re gunna be without powah this winter.

Anywho, the focus now needs to be getting ready for Ê»cross. My schedule is starting to come together. Looks like my first race will be October 2nd at New EnglandÊ»s premier event Grand Prix of Gloucester. The following weekend IÊ»m aiming for a Sat/Sun combo at Providence Cross Fest and then up to Maine for the Casco Bay Cross (as long as they donÊ»t cancel it again due to pending bad weather (such a non cross thing to do)). Following that start, the options are open. I would love to head back up to Maine the next weekend for the New Gloucester races. November is fairly open, but options are available every weekend. ItÊ»s just a matter of how far weÊ»re willing to travel. I hope to survive long enough to have my season conclude on home turf at the NBX Grand Prix of Cyclocross in Warwick in December, an event I hope to race both days. Like my first year racing in Seattle, it will be a learning experience. The events are much different, the terrain is different, the vibe is different, and I know the weather is going to be different. The reality sank in the other day while talking about tires - "well youÊ»ll need some for snow and slush". Snow and slush, oh crap. ThatÊ»s right, this is New England.

I calculated my current condition to be that of about 30% of what it was this time last year. Someone asked my how I can up with the 30% and I just said "trust me, and Iʻm probably being more generous than reality". It basically comes down to this - I only started riding 30% into the year (May/June), Iʻm only averaging 3 workouts per week (at best), Iʻm 12lbs heavier, I just started running, mountain biking training has been way too few and far between. This is not some kind of sympathy request, Iʻm just trying to prepare myself mentally for the pain and suffering.

I did start running last week and am still working through those miserable aches and pains every time I start running again. I hope to increase my workouts. Last week the weather sucked, but I committed to the plan and worked out on both the stationary bike and treadmill. Weather is looking more promising this week, but wouldnʻt you know work isnʻt - hosting guests this week, and then potential travel the last week in Sept. I donʻt get this, all I want to do is ride/train. Why does work have to keep getting in the way. Stupid work.

Yesterday, I did go out for a killer ride. Some of my local roads but in a combination that I havenʻt done before. Iʻm getting closer to piecing together my epic workout ride, but I still need to eliminate route 102. It wasnʻt my plan to ride on 102 yesterday, but it was my only option for stopping to get some fluids which turned into a bit of an issue in the warm weather. Iʻm not sure if I am fighting a bit of a cold or what but every climb in the 4,500 vertical route seemed to wind me pretty good - thatʻs really what the epic rating on my "suffer score".




Pre Irene, I had a great ride up at Bradbury Mountain with Benjamin. Iʻm stoked that Ben is getting into biking (at the same age I got into back in San Francisco). Heʻs full of young energy and can motor on the trails - and make me work for my money to keep up. Iʻm loving Bradbury. This time around we first went up the "mountain", a 5 minute climb. On the way down Benjamin flatted, and of course didnʻt have a tube. Giving him one of mine wasnʻt an option as heʻs a studly 2-9er. But Maine being the incredibly friendly state that it is, someone in the parking log gave him a brand new tube. That made our day since it looked like it was going to be a very early end. We crossed the road and into the area we had ridden before, but checked out some new terrain. Namely, the "O" trail - a wicked fun, twisty, rooty, rocky, endless assault. If only I had access to this park more routinely....... maybe next weekend.


Wednesday, August 24, 2011

My Favorite Commute Route


My commute.....(when I have a little extra time at the end of a busy day).... days are getting shorter, noticeably. As cool as Fall is, Iʻm not ready for it. Oh well, Iʻll just log miles when I can....


Friday, August 19, 2011

Killer Thursday Evening Ride: Big River


Thank you Jason for accepting the challenge, definitely the best climbing Iʻve experienced in BR. Iʻm slightly shocked by the final numbers. I loved the "Allan Ave" area. All the new areas we explored were sweet. I wish I could have enjoyed that long flowy stretch with the killer burms a little more - had I only realized it was a stick in my cog and not my freewheel freezing up - the whole time I was thinking "itʻs a f-ing Chris King, how can it be failing on me?". Another thank you to Jason for pointing out the stick jammed between my spokes and cog that I never saw the 3-4 times I stopped to try to figure out the problem. Oh well, after that, all was good again.

This definitely is a loop I want to figure out, and even more so this is definitely a ride I want to be able to combine with last weekÊ»s ride. That would land us in the 20-25 mile range, and > 2K of climbing. I would consider that an epic. OK, Jason,  The Challenge is on!

My next big challenge is night riding. I thought I was totally prepared for it last night and had everything ready to go including a fully charged battery for my 10 lb Nite Rider except the damn handle bar mount. Oh well, at least I had a good excuse to end the suffering a little bit early last night. And the excuse to go out and buy a new light system. I never really got into night riding back in Seattle, for reasons I donÊ»t know. But with how quickly itÊ»s getting darker earlier now, I can see itÊ»s going to be a necessity. IÊ»m really looking forward to it. I donÊ»t think IÊ»ll fear getting eaten by a cougar either (IÊ»m pretty sure their arenÊ»t any cougars in RI). IÊ»m pretty sure thatÊ»s the only reason "friends" were asking me to night ride with them back in Seattle - "you donÊ»t need to be faster than the cougar,  just not the slowest one in the group". ThatÊ»s usually me.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Tiverton/Little Compton



Definitely my favorite road ride so far into this East Coast adventure. I had heard before that this area was nice, but I guess I just didnʻt have that on my mind when setting out for the ride and therefore was unexpectedly impressed with the sweet scenery. Unlike Newport, Jamestown or other well known "desirable" coastal areas in RI, this area was filled with a completely different vibe. Beautiful old colonel farm houses with killer stone walls (hundreds of years old Iʻm sure) surrounding the property. Most of them seem like they could be in a photo shoot for some country living magazine.

We parked at the  Native American Pow Wow where the ladies went off watch, and I suited up and headed down Fish Road. Right on King and Left on Lake. A right on route 179 which is a busy road, but not too bad from a road condition and traffic stand point... blah, blah, blah. Picturesque roads led me to the point called Sakonnet Harbor. Yes, I would live here! Reminded me of Maine, like Southport Island. Or Washington, like Whidbey Island. I took in the sights for a few, ate some blocks, called The Wife and then was on my way. For the first time since riding in RI, my route took me into another state - MASS. I headed East and then south to one of the most spectacular beaches IÊ»ve ever seen (not including Kauai, of course). I have no idea what the beach is called or even what town itÊ»s in, but itÊ»s located right at the mouth of the Westport River. ItÊ»s not like it was undiscovered, there were tons of people there and all the signs around said "private beach". What is up with private beaches here in the NE? Stupid. Anyway this place was way cool so you need to go check it out. I followed River Road back up to 179 and onto Trierton Four Corners where the ladies were shopping around. Made a tasty sandwich in the back of the Aina-mobile and all was very good in the world. Dace mentioned going back to that area for open studios next weekend, I said, "hells ya".

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Thursday Night NEMBA @ Big River



Big thanks to Jason C for leading Dave and I through my most enjoyable ride to date in Big River. DNA  is a fun, PNW kind of trail. Twisty and fast. OK Jason, the challenge is on - next week a similar route, but add just a tad more climbing, 1K is too little. RI dirt is starting to really work for me.... will be better when I get my hard tail niner....