That sounds like an appropriate title for the final blog entry for Ryloride I think. I know you all thought I would end it with a Trey lyric—well, I will be patient, jeez.
I have struggled with how to try and end my blog in order to do justice to my epic journey. I thought about just a one liner but the pressure was too much so I will just blather about til I get tired and move on. Its my blog I can do what I want.
My mind is still processing the entire adventure. Parts of it seem totally surreal to me still. Its hard to believe a week ago at this time I was struggling to get to Pismo Beach alive yet here I am not only alive but feeling fantastic. I literally feel like I can do anything but luckily I realize that I can’t. I have proven to myself that I can do things I didn’t think possible, which is great, but I also learned that there are limits and I should respect them.
One question I kept getting asked along the way by the other riders was “why are you doing this ride”? Most of you know the drama of my back from 06-08 which sort of ruined a good slug of time for me but via a relatively minor back surgery at Stanford in 7/08 followed by life saving physical therapy from my friend Thomas I was able to move forward. I didn’t really fix the problem, I went for more of a “bandaid approach , but the Dr. said after my surgery get out there and ride a bike and stop running. So, I did and it changed my life. I started slowly but within no time I was riding up Diablo. It changed my entire existence from one of painful maintenance to one of endless adventures on my bike. Exercise is part of my DNA so when I was out I wasn’t happy and that is why the CAF ride spoke to me. The same is true of Bill Walton. When Bill would speak to us, which was often and always fun, he frequently started like this: “ I love my bike. I love my bike. I love my bike. It changed my life. It saved my life. It gave me my life back”. I feel the same way which is just more proof that we are twins!
Was it worth it? What? Of course what are you talking about! It was a fantastic life altering journey that I am so happy I took. It had some lows—oh yeah—and there were parts that kicked my butt, but, I came back strong and kicked some righteous butt myself! I met the official “pro rider” at the very end while we were drinking bloodies at the Lodge. His comment was: “are you telling me you rode that bike in tennis shoes all the way down here and I didn’t know? That is the most insane thing I cant imagine what you could do in clips. “ Well he hadn’t met me cause he was a bit further in the front than I was but I will take that compliment all day long!!
The Charity: CAF is a fantastic organization that does SO much good for SO many people that I am proud to have been the second highest fundraiser at just north of 35k. The CAF staff thanked me constantly and really let me see where the money would be put to work. They were all fantastic so feel good about your donations as I feel good about my efforts.
The people: I have never been surrounded by so many TYPE A people at once let alone so many amazing athletes. The caliber of the riders was so far above what I ever expected that I remain in awe of what they can do but I think I probably deserved a bit more awe than I received as well from them–but its ok I had my own supporters! I met some people who I hope to keep in touch with down the road as they enhanced the journey for me. To my new buddy Ray from CCSD (an absolutely amazing organization who supported the entire ride) who picked my up out of the dirt when I was covered in grossness—thanks. Thanks for picking me and my bike up and taking care of me until I battled back to a more normal state. You are a good man and I greatly enjoyed getting to know you. Bill Walton—amazing/generous/sincere-a wonderful addition to the experience who was one of my bigger fans.—I love Bill.
My bike: whats next? Oh man I am totally jonesing to ride but I promised myself I would take a week off but I wont make it that long I just need to get my bike back! I always wanted to do a double Diablo—up north gate to top back down via southgate and then do it in reverse—but I didn’t think I could do it. I know, right? I will bang that out this week cause I KNOW I can do it. 8000 feet of climing in 24 miles—I know doesn’t that sound fantastic and that means 22 miles of downhill too! But you won’t be able to follow my journey on strava cause I am no longer going to use it. My riding from this pt forward will be about me and what I want to accomplish on that particular day. I am gonna ride a ton and I am gonna set so many PR’s but only I will know what they are (oh and the guys I text non stop) which is the way I want it going fwd.
Fundraising: Another journey I had never taken. I was completely overwhelmed by the generosity of all my sponsors. Each and every donation meant a TON to me cause it made me feel like I had a team of supporters—It wasn’t about the amt it was about supporting me. I was surprised by some of the sponsors, and to be honest some of the non sposors!, so thank you to each and every one of you who donated to my ride. That said I feel I must give a shout out to the 3 people who each gave me $5k, yes $5,000, when I was just getting the fundraising going- you guys rock, thank you: Charlie, Nathan and Phish (Steve).
Team Rylo: I am a nut and over the last year (well way longer) I have pummeled a select group of you with what I think are just awesome pictures of things I see when I ride via text. So I send them thousands of texts and well they put up with it—thanks Nathan, Bobby J, Bret, Cooker, and Ann! Yes one more shout out to my lovely and loving wife Ann–THANKS. And to my 2 soulmates who put up with all of the above PLUS a ton more you guys rocked it and your texts telling me to get off my lazy asss and finish probably are what made me do just that so thanks Steve and Jason. Sorry if I forgot you I still like you don’t be mad.
The end: I guess that’s it. The last entry is pretty darn long but I got lots of free time now so deal with it. I will throw up a bunch of pictures to end it cause I love pictures and I want to remind you that although I have blathered about myself a lot the ride was about the Challenged Athletes and the CAF as a whole—remember #morethanaride. Not sure what my next adventure will be and it might be a little less public but I plan on making it super fantastic like this one. Its all good!
“toss away stuff you won’t need in the end
but keep what’s important – and know who’s your friend”
See you on the bike! Go do great things.
RIDE ON!
Rylo
This concludes Ryloride.
