Late to the fundraising party this year; Here is the 2018 Dude & Mini Dude’s R2S Thread.
2017 is here, previous years going way back in archives I’m sure: https://takethepiss.com/threads/dude-mini-dudes-2017-ride-2-survive.21585/page-3
This will be Michael’s 5th year riding, and my first year volunteering.
Say what?
Yep. Last year was a rough year physically, so I’ve decided I need less organisation, fewer races, more skiing, and eliminate the word “training” for a while. Besides, with the kid turning 18 now, he’s expected to raise $2,500.00 on his own. His peer group doesn’t exactly have a lot of cash floating around, and I hate fundraising, so something has to give. I decided to step back. Besides, if we happen to raise $5K, maybe I’ll jump back in.
Personally I have been riding a lot this winter and spring, and ironically feel 100% better than this time last year. In March I took off to South America for 3 weeks, which included 8 days of mountain biking in Bolivia. Long days, hard days, but 10/10 on a fun scale, and super invigorating. An amazing country, and spending two weeks at elevations above 10,000’ was challenging but also great for fitness…once I got over the Bolivian flu I brought home. I’ve spent the last three weeks dreaming about going back, but I’ll get over that as Spring rolls into Whistler, melts the snow, and opens up the trail network.
Michael had a very strong ride last year, establishing himself as one of the Alpha leaders on the ride, and doing a great job helping others get through a hard, hot day. They’ve asked him back as a ride captain, and for sure he’s earned his place amongst that leadership core. At 18, he’ll have already ridden 4 times before the event starts this year, and volunteered another two, so that’s a total of 6 years already he’s been a part of the R2S family.
Michael, if he’s honest, has had a bit of a tough year since graduating grade 12. Anyone who has met Michael comments rightly that he’s and engaging, confident personality, and smart. If they really know him, they’ll say he’s too smart for his own good. Turns out he has a lot in common with his old man in that he was more interested in girls and riding his bike through high school, and didn’t know what he wanted to do, post-secondary wise, so he took a gap year. Besides, he needed to improve on his physics and pre-calculus grades- as it turns out, not trying, not doing assignments, and not studying doesn’t get you high marks. Towards the second half of the year, he started pulling up his socks, but still, those grades need upgrading. He decided to work all summer: construction, which stretched into December. Good thing, because working construction in Whistler in the winter sucks on all levels. Especially missing powder days because you need to clear the worksite for the more skilled trades to get in. That level of suck helped him realize that either he needs to go to trade school, or university. He took off in early January for a couple of weeks of skiing in Colorado- solo- then came back refreshed and actually started the second semester at Whistler Senior Secondary taking Physics again, Chemistry 11, and re-wrote his English 12 exam. Things are going really well at school, I see a kid that is as focused on his studies as he was focused on girls and bikes last year. What the next 12 month entails, we aren’t sure yet, but it’s going in a progressive direction. The end goal is a career in Engineering / Industrial Fire & Explosion Protection. I’m hoping that in there he finds time to travel, and see a bit of the world. There is an opportunity for him to move to Hanover Germany for a semester of studying, and I hope he follows through with that.
Riding wise, he’s been into a solid training plan since the beginning of February, and on track to be really strong for R2S. He’s racing his bike this weekend , raced last weekend, and will race again next weekend.
For the last 9 (NINE!) years I’ve written about why I have kept coming back to this event, and really, for a solid 6 of those it’s been mostly about supporting my son, as he’s developed a very close tie to this event. It’s always ridden in honor of his grandfather, my father-in-law, who passed in 2012 from Multiple Myeloma. Mohammed had a good, long life, so I’m not going to rail on about how the disease took him too soon- and neither would he. But he would agree that the disease is cruel, and we’d agree that the younger it strikes, the crueler it is. No kid should have to deal with cancer, no parent should have to watch their child be taken over a long, hard-found, but ultimately cruel battle. Beyond supporting my son, it’s that thought that has motivated me- and I know Michael agrees.
Fathers and sons are always a complicated thing. We butt heads like any other father and son, but believe me when I write this: I’m incredibly proud of this kid, and for this side of him that wants to help make a difference in his community, and does something about it. He is growing up into a fine young man, but it’s that willingness to put himself out there, his heart, and leadership qualities that I’m most proud of.
Looking for TTPs support again. Regs, please don’t pull the plug on the site till AFTER June 23rd! I am not a good enough fundraiser to do this without TTP. Hopefully Michael is able to generate some good support through his social media and other efforts as well. As always, we’ll take what you can spare, but the overriding rule as always: don’t feel obligated. My charity is not yours, just pay it forward.
One day, 400 KM, Kelowna to Delta, three major mountain passes, heat, cold, wind, rain, sometimes snow…whatever. The day goes no matter what Mother Nature says. The team will start together and finish together. I’ll be supporting my kid as a volunteer for the first time. Kinda weird, but looking forward to the day!
Find us here to donate:
http://convio.cancer.ca/site/TR/Otherspecialevents/IFE_BC_even_?px=7798004&pg=personal&fr_id=23462
~Michael & Mike- Yours in the fight and a Life Behind Bars.
2017 is here, previous years going way back in archives I’m sure: https://takethepiss.com/threads/dude-mini-dudes-2017-ride-2-survive.21585/page-3
This will be Michael’s 5th year riding, and my first year volunteering.
Say what?
Yep. Last year was a rough year physically, so I’ve decided I need less organisation, fewer races, more skiing, and eliminate the word “training” for a while. Besides, with the kid turning 18 now, he’s expected to raise $2,500.00 on his own. His peer group doesn’t exactly have a lot of cash floating around, and I hate fundraising, so something has to give. I decided to step back. Besides, if we happen to raise $5K, maybe I’ll jump back in.
Personally I have been riding a lot this winter and spring, and ironically feel 100% better than this time last year. In March I took off to South America for 3 weeks, which included 8 days of mountain biking in Bolivia. Long days, hard days, but 10/10 on a fun scale, and super invigorating. An amazing country, and spending two weeks at elevations above 10,000’ was challenging but also great for fitness…once I got over the Bolivian flu I brought home. I’ve spent the last three weeks dreaming about going back, but I’ll get over that as Spring rolls into Whistler, melts the snow, and opens up the trail network.
Michael had a very strong ride last year, establishing himself as one of the Alpha leaders on the ride, and doing a great job helping others get through a hard, hot day. They’ve asked him back as a ride captain, and for sure he’s earned his place amongst that leadership core. At 18, he’ll have already ridden 4 times before the event starts this year, and volunteered another two, so that’s a total of 6 years already he’s been a part of the R2S family.
Michael, if he’s honest, has had a bit of a tough year since graduating grade 12. Anyone who has met Michael comments rightly that he’s and engaging, confident personality, and smart. If they really know him, they’ll say he’s too smart for his own good. Turns out he has a lot in common with his old man in that he was more interested in girls and riding his bike through high school, and didn’t know what he wanted to do, post-secondary wise, so he took a gap year. Besides, he needed to improve on his physics and pre-calculus grades- as it turns out, not trying, not doing assignments, and not studying doesn’t get you high marks. Towards the second half of the year, he started pulling up his socks, but still, those grades need upgrading. He decided to work all summer: construction, which stretched into December. Good thing, because working construction in Whistler in the winter sucks on all levels. Especially missing powder days because you need to clear the worksite for the more skilled trades to get in. That level of suck helped him realize that either he needs to go to trade school, or university. He took off in early January for a couple of weeks of skiing in Colorado- solo- then came back refreshed and actually started the second semester at Whistler Senior Secondary taking Physics again, Chemistry 11, and re-wrote his English 12 exam. Things are going really well at school, I see a kid that is as focused on his studies as he was focused on girls and bikes last year. What the next 12 month entails, we aren’t sure yet, but it’s going in a progressive direction. The end goal is a career in Engineering / Industrial Fire & Explosion Protection. I’m hoping that in there he finds time to travel, and see a bit of the world. There is an opportunity for him to move to Hanover Germany for a semester of studying, and I hope he follows through with that.
Riding wise, he’s been into a solid training plan since the beginning of February, and on track to be really strong for R2S. He’s racing his bike this weekend , raced last weekend, and will race again next weekend.
For the last 9 (NINE!) years I’ve written about why I have kept coming back to this event, and really, for a solid 6 of those it’s been mostly about supporting my son, as he’s developed a very close tie to this event. It’s always ridden in honor of his grandfather, my father-in-law, who passed in 2012 from Multiple Myeloma. Mohammed had a good, long life, so I’m not going to rail on about how the disease took him too soon- and neither would he. But he would agree that the disease is cruel, and we’d agree that the younger it strikes, the crueler it is. No kid should have to deal with cancer, no parent should have to watch their child be taken over a long, hard-found, but ultimately cruel battle. Beyond supporting my son, it’s that thought that has motivated me- and I know Michael agrees.
Fathers and sons are always a complicated thing. We butt heads like any other father and son, but believe me when I write this: I’m incredibly proud of this kid, and for this side of him that wants to help make a difference in his community, and does something about it. He is growing up into a fine young man, but it’s that willingness to put himself out there, his heart, and leadership qualities that I’m most proud of.
Looking for TTPs support again. Regs, please don’t pull the plug on the site till AFTER June 23rd! I am not a good enough fundraiser to do this without TTP. Hopefully Michael is able to generate some good support through his social media and other efforts as well. As always, we’ll take what you can spare, but the overriding rule as always: don’t feel obligated. My charity is not yours, just pay it forward.
One day, 400 KM, Kelowna to Delta, three major mountain passes, heat, cold, wind, rain, sometimes snow…whatever. The day goes no matter what Mother Nature says. The team will start together and finish together. I’ll be supporting my kid as a volunteer for the first time. Kinda weird, but looking forward to the day!
Find us here to donate:
http://convio.cancer.ca/site/TR/Otherspecialevents/IFE_BC_even_?px=7798004&pg=personal&fr_id=23462
~Michael & Mike- Yours in the fight and a Life Behind Bars.