Back in May I signed up to ride in the Smart Ride 2008. The ride is from Ft. Lauderdale, Fl to Key West, Fl for AIDS Awareness. For more info check out the link http://www.thesmartride.org/3/. The ride takes place on Nov 14 & 15 of this year. I have begun training, as you might imagine 165 miles in 2 days is alot. So far, my longest ride is 60 miles. I ride with the group pictured below. In this shot we are at Baby's Coffee, the first of several stops on our Sunday training rides. That is me third from the right! Yes, I do wear the tight shorts and shirt, funny shoes and a helmet.















In signing up for the ride, I pledge to raise over $1250.00. All of which is used locally. If you would like to make a pledge (family required, no matter how distant). You can be as far away as Utah, Toronto, Pa. (PennSYLvania takes up alot of space), New Jersey, Maine, Nova Scotia. You get it I think. If you only have a couple of $$$$ fine. I need (they need) as much as we can raise! Click on the following link https://www.thesmartride.org/3/pledge/ and enter my name or rider number, # 166. I will be posting more pics of me training as well as short videos of what it is like to have a semi pass you on the highway at 50 mph, only inches away. Maybe feet, but it sure feels like inches! By the way, this is great exercise, I have already lost 15 pounds!
If you want to see my ride follow this http://www.bianchiusa.com/08_c2c_nirone_tiagra.html. I never knew riding a road bike was so much fun. The pic below is on one of the old railroad bridges of the Florida Keys. A surprisingly comfortable place to stop and replace what else...a flat.