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Why ride? Observations from the director
There's two questions here:
- Why am I directing this ride?
- Why should you be interested in participating?
I'm directing this ride because I love cycling and because I'm also a kidney transplant recipient, which allows me to enjoy cycling once again.
I've been looking for an opportunity to both raise awareness on the importance
of organ donation - something most folks don't care about until they have an
urgent need in their family - and also raise funds for the UNC
Kidney Center.
I've ridden many, many centuries.
For example, see my write-ups and photos of the
1997 Assault on Mt. Mitchell and
1998 Bridge-to-Bridge rides.
I've also directed enough centuries (such as the
1997 NCBC Spring Rally) that I have some well-formed opinions about
what constitutes a good cycling event.
Thus, I've chosen to organize a century ride, make it a first-class affair,
and direct the proceeds to the UNC Kidney Center.
"Fine," you say, "but why should I ride?"
Because I think you'll really enjoy it. Remember those well-formed
opinions I mentioned? Here's the top ten reasons why I think the
Raven Rock Ramble will be a ride you'll want to do:
- The route.
We've got a really good route, on roads that will be new to most area
cyclists. The century and metric century routes run west of the Cape Fear
River. The first half of both routes is hilly enough to be challenging,
and the second half is flat enough to make for a strong finish. All routes
are through scenic, rural countryside, and you'll visit such places as
Bunn Level, Barbecue, and Broadway, NC. There are also 31-mile and 10-mile routes for
folks who would prefer a shorter distance. There are also
"shortcut" routes of 86 and 43 miles.
- The facilities.
We've got a good start/finish point, with large covered shelters to
meet with riders both before and after the ride, ample parking,
restrooms, and plenty of entertainment opportunities should you have family
with you.
- The t-shirt.
What makes a good shirt? To me, one that
has good graphic design, goes well with blue jeans (not white!), is a
high-quality shirt (we'll use Hanes Beefy-T, or Zorrel quick-dry for $6 extra), and is clearly a cycling event
shirt (so you can impress folks that you're an endurance athlete, of course).
See the Artwork page for this year's and prior
year's designs. I'm hoping it will be a shirt you'll enjoy wearing for years to come.
- The food.
You don't have to ride for long to realize that a big part of a good ride is
good food. We'll have good food. We'll have ample Le Bleu water and sports drink at all sag stops and at Harris Park.
We'll have bagels from Panera Bread, bananas, cookies, fig newtons, Little Debbie
snacks, soft drinks, and more.
Plus, we'll have pizza from Rudino's at the finish (while they last).
- The date.
I have purposely picked the first Sunday in May. It's when lots of riders
are gearing up for the season and training for rides such as Mount Mitchell.
The weather should be warm enough but not oppressively hot, and there are
few other established rides on that date.
- Not a conventional fundraiser.
I don't know about you, but I'm uncomfortable about asking folks to pay
money for me to ride. It would be like my wife asking to be paid to
eat chocolate. Instead, we'll simply charge a fair price and donate the
proceeds. If you wish to donate anything extra, you are of course welcome
to do so, but you don't need to ask others to donate.
- Not that expensive.
OK, it's 30 bucks, but, you'll get a
receipt for the charitable part of your entry fee (around $20) and you get
the aforementioned t-shirt, food, and perhaps other freebies. I like to think
that you'll find the ride to be very worthwhile.
- Maps and cue sheets.
Admittedly, not really a reason to ride but a spoiler if it's done poorly.
The route will be marked so you can't possibly get lost.
The cue sheet will be detailed with road names, numbers, and comments,
and the location of sag stops and stores will be clearly marked.
The maps and cue sheets are posted on the Routes
page so you can ride the route again at a later time if you so choose.
- A worthy cause.
I hope that neither you nor your loved ones should ever be confronted with
end-stage renal disease. You should take comfort, however, that there are
groups such as the UNC Kidney Center that are there to help.
- A special offer.
In order to increase awareness of the importance of organ donation (one of my objectives),
I have a special offer for folks who have agreed to be
organ donors (indicated by a heart on your driver's license) or who sign a donor card
at the event.
My personal story
I started cycling in earnest 1987, shortly after a volleyball-induced knee injury
took me out of running. I started riding in local group rides and centuries and
developed decent strength and speed over time, such that by 1997 I set a new personal
record in the Tour de Moore, finishing the 102.4 miles in under 4:30. Shortly thereafter
a routine physical exam detected red blood cells and protein in my urine. One test led to
another, and a kidney biopsy confirmed that I had a condition known as
IgA nephropathy.
From there began a slow physical decline, with the most immediate symptom being leg cramps.
By the summer of 2000 it was clear that I would be needing a transplant, and by November
2000 I was sufficiently anemic that I got a prescription for EPO (the blood-doping
drug of choice on the Tour de France - I can testify that it's really good stuff!).
My sister Laura agreed to be my donor, and we underwent surgery on March 7, 2001, just
before I otherwise would have had to have started dialysis. I had some of the ups and
downs associated with transplants (rejection, infection, etc), but by Memorial Day weekend
I was back on my bike and managed an 8-mile ride.
I never expected I'd recover my speed and conditioning so quickly. I was riding metric
centuries by July and full centuries by September, and without the first quiver of leg
cramps. I began to remember why I enjoyed cycling so much, and would ride for the
simple joy of feeling my body move and the bike respond. God, it's great!
The average transplant lasts only 10 years. I'm hoping for more, but I
realize my time to enjoy cycling may be limited.
My response is to make the most of it, ride when I can, and savor every moment.
I encourage, indeed urge, you to do the same.
-DLC
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