It's All About The Butt Butter

I just spent the weekend with 5 Guys. I've had a glimpse into the Dark side. It's a strange and wild world. I've been told that what happens on the Ride stays on the Ride. But they never said anything about the Blog...!

Waiting to begin. The Hubby and the Beamer see us off.

Me and the Guys and thousands of others cycled 200km from Toronto to Niagara Falls to raise a total of $17.5 Million for the Ride to Conquer Cancer. I surely hope this amazing gift from 4600 riders, 800 volunteers, and all the wonderful people who made donations and gave encouragement creates a significant dent in cancer's unrelenting impact on our lives.

Me and Colin

We gather at 7:30am on Saturday under threatening skies. Thousands of riders wearing the official yellow Ride jersey. All with the single focus to make true on our pledge to ride the distance. It's an awesome sight. The opening ceremonies remind us why we're doing what we're doing. The entire route is filled with riders. There are all shapes of bikes, all shapes of Riders. There are Survivors riding with yellow flags on their bikes. There are tributes to loved ones attached to jerseys.

We gather at camp on the first night to share adventures. There are many jokes about Butt Butter. Have you ever heard men giggle?

Geoff, Mike, Bruce, and me just into camp after finishing the first 100km!

We leave early Sunday morning for the second 100km. It's harder this day. Many well intentioned well wishers tell us "it's all downhill from here" usually just seconds before we hit yet another uphill. Even the slightest incline is felt. Butt Butter has stopped providing its protective powers. The shoulders ache. The quads are burning.

Our last pit stop and there are only 18km to go. The Guys come up with something that only guys could come up with. I can tell you without a doubt that no woman I know would ever think of this. The Guys decide that the 6 of us should ride single file, each one of us drafting behind the one in front. According to manly wisdom the guy in the lead breaks the wind for the others behind. It's extremely dangerous. To get the full benefit you need to ride inches from the rider in front of you. I ask: "What if we get into an accident?". The Guys guffaw in unison. So we do it. I, the girly wimp, stay in back but it's fun to watch the Guys yell insults at each other while working cooperatively to switch positions at 30km/hr.

Colin, Geoff, Bruce, Jon, me, Mike

As a team we look awesome. Whizzing along at high speed in our Highly Identifiable matching team uniforms, passing all the Slow Pokes. Then one of the Guys, who shall not be named (by Manly decree), gets a flat. We all pull over to the side of the road. Now we are 1 Woman laughing and 5 Guys in Highly Identifiable Uniforms trying to figure out how-does-the-mechanic-do-this-anyway? while the smug Slow Pokes whiz by yelling offers of help (but they're definitely snickering inside!).

Karma sucks.

How many Guys does it take to change a flat bike tire?

As we finally near the finish line the crowds of cheering supporters lining the route get thicker and thicker. My Supporters are there too. Cheering me on, giving me strength, reinforcing the pride I feel in my accomplishment and in what we all did together.

Brother-in-law Richard and Scarlett with me at Finish Line

 The Hubby is there. My sister is there...

My Sis and me

The Daughter is there...

Matthew (Colin's son), Julia (Geoff's daughter), the Boyfriend, and the Daughter waiting at the Finish Line

Jennifer's memory is there too.

How do people do the lifting of the bike over the head thing?? I must have weak arms.

I'm recruiting team members for next year. The Hubby will do it. More women would be a good response to all the testosterone. And I'll ensure plenty of Butt Butter for all.