Ron's adventure

Hello Friends and Family

Its now 2 days into the ride.  Although this is one of the most challenging thing I ever did,  it has so far been extremely rewarding.

People ask me what is my motivation.  Its quite simple , MY CHILDREN.  I ride for this cause so that they never have too, so they never learn what is breast cancer.

Tomorrow will be our longest ride.  Wish me luck!!

Day#2

What a day! We have done 165 KM and 100 KM before lunch. This part was a big challenge for me and the team because we were very hungry :)!
After a good lunch, chocolate chip cookies and a change of dry clothes we were ready for another 65 KM. The afternoon was easier, the group was quick and very efficient. We are now all getting ready mentally for our 200 KM kick-@ss day tomorrow (a quote from our Captain Jeff Martens).
This was another great challenge today and the team is getting closer and stronger together. Way to go NOVARTIS!
Isabelle Deslauriers

Day #2 - Cobourg - Kingston - Jour 2

Well day 2 is over and we all made it gracefully! AM was fine, weather wise but got a little rain after lunch. But we are happy and looking forward to day 3: 200KM Kingston-Cornwall.
C'est fait, jour 2 et tout le monde avait l'air de bien aller! AM était OK; pas beaucoup de soleil mais on était au sec. Après le lunch on s'est fait prendre par une pluie fine mais tout le monde a terminé avec le sourire. Ils sont tous excité par le défi de demain; 200KM de Kongston à Cornwall.
Go team Ride for the cure 2010. Sophia M.

Presque 300 km de fait

Nous sommes maintenant rendus à mi-chemin de notre défi. Les 2 journées se sont très bien déroulées et nous avons eu une belle température....un peu de pluie aujourd'hui, mais sans plus. Nos fesses vont bien...la "butt crème" est très utile. Merci à nos drivers et aux organisateurs !!!! Wow, quelle belle expérience à vivre.
 Marie-Claude xox

Wow... what a ride!

First off, I want to say a BIG THANK YOU to my family and friends for the huge support, donations and all the many good wishes. Its an incredible ride and you are all part of it! Day 1 of the ride was fast, there were many moments we were riding at speeds of 40+km - of course it helps when the wind is behind us (thank you Wind Gods!). Day 2 just wrapped up and 165km completed, still feeling great and everyone in the team is in awesome spirits. To stay amused while we ride, some of us try to sing together and I stress on the word TRY, it would be great if one of us knew the lyrics to at least one entire song - wait, we did know one song - Rudolf the red nose randier! The team is awesome and we are gelling so well together, we just need to practice on the singing! Off to supper and get prepared for the 200km day ride tomorrow. Hopefully the weather will cooperate, forecast is showers - yikes!

Sergio Faraone

Ride 2010: Captains Post

Well it has been a fantastic start to another incredible ride.  This is the 6th year I have taken part in this incredible event and every year brings with it a new feel.  With nearly 50 cyclists- this is our biggest.  I have the privilege of leading this great group of people through the ride- and they are a great group.  It is incredible how everyone has stepped up to help out and developed a cohesive team.  I am also captaining Team 1- and they are number 1!  This team (Team 1) is always a group of new  cyclists-  nervous and excited about the 600km trek.  This group is on fire!  All members have found there place in the team and are contributing in there one special way.  We did have one cyclist that had to stop today- sick and bad knee-  which is always tough.  It was a bit emotional but we hope to have her back at it tomorrow.  Team1-  you are incredible people and I can't wait for tomorrow....200km of fun (and a bit of pain). 

Captain Jeff Martens

Happy faces at the finish line at Kingston

Team #1 celebrating

Congratulations are in order!!!

Kingston here we are!!

Well, Day 2 is history. 160k is behind us. The weather cooperated in the morning, but decided to shower a bit in the afternoon. All the teams did an excellent job and are pumped with two more days to go.

First Day Ride For the Cure

Amazing first day of the ride!  135kms as great of an experience as 2009 but quicker.  Riding with the fastest group in the ride is challenging but has been really fun.  Top speed today reached 67 kms per hr.  Riding to help raise money to find a cure for breast cancer is very rewarding.  Hello Will and Marvis!
JBrown

Teamwork

Today was a short day.  Only 125km.  But with a new group everyone needs to find their comfort speed and ours is apparently much faster than what I signed up for.  Over 50 km an hour downhill is easy, but 35 UP hill is nuts.  After a few hours I simply could not keep up any longer.  We had passed another group and I decided I was going to drop back and ride with them instead as they were slightly slower.  I told our chase vehicle to pass me and go on ahead and told our team captain the same. But it was not meant to be.  My teammate Sergio would not let it happen and slowed down to wait for me.  He then allowed me to ride right on his wheel, allowing me to draft behind him and give me a second life.  That, mixed with the reassuring words of our captain when battling the hills, got me through the day. Wow, just when you think you have to give up.  I ride with some amazing people, I hope they know it.

Kevin Knysh

Bonjour Émilie

Salut ma Belle Émilie,
Maman va  tres bien.  Merci beaucoup pour les belles rides en tandem dans les côtes de Ste-Catherine avant ce défi.  La premiere journée est maintenant terminée et je suis en feu.!!!  J'espere que tu va bien et j'ai hâte de te prendre dans  mes bras.  Tu sais, je fais ce défi  pour tous les femmes, filles, maman, grand maman de ce monde.  Love you   momy xx

Premiere journee...125 km le vent dans le dos !

Superbe premiere journee de Toronto a Colburg. Le vent dans le dos a contribue a rendre cette journee plus qu'agreable. J'ai deja hate a demain  !

MJ

Day #1 from Toronto to Cobourg (125 KM)

Youpi! Most of us (group #2) in our group today have achieve their first 125 KM ever in their life.
The first 80 Km were most difficult because we were in the city of Toronto and there was many hills with a lot of traffic. Our drivers have done an amazing job at making sure that the riders were safe.
Believe it or not, Jeff Martens (Captain of team #1) lost a key component of its pedal. He had to search for it on the street in the middle of Toronto. MJ De Gagne quickly went to take his place in group #1 the save the day.
We stop to eat at a very  nice farm where we could eat fresh apples and do a pick-nick. The second half of the day, went very quickly, we had many hills to climb but everyone was very supportive and efficient.
 We look forward to a very exciting Day #2.

Isabelle D.

Bonjour de Cobourg - Sophia

Hi,
First done; checked! What an awesome day, group, ride! 11 of us in team #3 - averaging 29KM with peak at 54; tail wind, thank God. Tomorrow, 165KM, a century... Hoping for good weather La premiere journee est faite et tout le groupe a eu un beau premier 125KM. En esperant que madame meteo contine de cooperer. Demain 100 mile, un "century" dans le langage velo... On se reparle a Kinston. Sophia

In Memory of Chrystal H.

"Today I'm riding in memory of Chrystal H." who lost her battle to cancer too early in life.  She was the best friend of one of my sponsor's, Keri Damen, and is survived by her young daughter.  Having sold wristbands as my fundraiser, the quote you read is what was handwritten on one side and gave me the strength & motivation to complete a successful 1st day.  To me, this is one aspect of what the 'Ride for the Cure' represents!

- Douglas Wong, Rider Extraordinaire! (Team 3)

CIBA Aliens

  Everyone on the ride has been great to us CIBA aliens even though we speak a different language and we have no idea what the complex chemical formula type words mean written on the jerseys.   Group 3 was awesome finishing the 118 kms in 4 hours and 10 minutes.   This is my second ride, having skipped out last year to drink more beer and spend time in France.    It's great to be back.  And it's a warm feeling inside knowing we are helping so many people.

The wind was our friend!!!

The first day of the RIDE is in the history books. WOW, what a difference a tail wind makes. Record breaking speeds for each of the five teams!!!
Overall, a spectacular day for each of the riders. More to come!!.

I humbly accept the challenge and responsibility that lies ahead with my focus on riding for the following great women: Eva, Clotilde, Franca, and Beatrice.

The Evening Recap

Well, the gang's all here. The U-Haul carrying the over 50 bikes arrived in Toronto without any problems. Hats off to Scott and Joe who successfully navigated the traffic and delivered the cargo safely for the second year. It was fully loaded.

The kick-off dinner was a great success. After a dinner to help fuel our body for the next four days, Jeff kicked off the evening program. He spoke to the largest group of riders which have participated in the event. Jeff reminded all of us why we are here - to help eradicate breast cancer from the face of the earth.

Finally, after much anticipation the uniforms were unveiled and the teams were named. The uniforms look great (pictures will be posted later). The team was pumped. The vans were prepared. Awesome time!!!.

The Final Countdown 2010

This is it!!!  All those weeks of training and fundraising are behind us. Now comes the easy part, riding from Toronto to Montreal. Some questions to ponder for the ride ahead.

1. Will the weather cooperate? I don't see snow in the forecast so far so good.
2. How many different types of Subway subs can we try?
3. What will be the color scheme for the new uniforms be and who will model them this year?
4. What will the team raise to support the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation in 2010?

Tune in on September 28th to find out the answers to all the burning questions.