Hello friends! Great news, my wonderful ARA has volunteered to not only donate the fabric for the raffle quilt this year, but to just go ahead and make the darn thing. If you'll recall, she has donated the beautiful fabric for the past two years, and last year also did the quilting. She has been making quilts for as long as I can remember (her quilting blog can be found here, though it doesn't do the body of her work justice), and she is incredibly gifted. She taught me everything I know (and more that I don't know and just won't retain), so whoever the winner is this year is one lucky devil.
Thus, let the raffle chances buying begin! All you need to do is donate at least $5 and you are automatically entered to win! The raffle schedule is as follows:
$5 = 1 chance
$20 = 5 chances (that's a bargain!)
$50 = 15 chances (she's going crazy!)
$100 = 50 chances (whoa Nelly!)
Check here for pictures of the fabric selection and updates!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
I Am an Ultimate Cyclist
And I have the t-shirt to prove it. Last night was the first of 22 training sessions with the the Ultimate Cycling Group www.ultimatecyclinggroup.com/ . There is a $5 charge for whining, which keeps me in check because I am broke and don't carry even $1 with me.
This was the first time I'd ever done a cycling or spin class, and I was a bit apprehensive at first, for at least the following two reasons:
1. While the class is for all levels of athlete, I still didn't know where/whether I'd fit in.
2. I find half an hour on the trainer to be mind-numbing, and didn't think I could make it through an hour and a half.
I made it, and it was the most pleasant hour and a half I've ever spent on the trainer. I worked up a good sweat, I got my heart rate going (it's how the class is conducted). I feel good today, to the point where I wonder if I could have worked harder last night (but I was in the right heart rate zones, so I probably *shouldn't* have). I'm looking forward to the remaining classes.
There are some awesome and inspiring people there (one lady is training for a double ironman, which is appalling), as well as a number of friends from Team in Training ( www.teamintraining.org ). I'm looking forward to becoming a faster and stronger cyclist.
This was the first time I'd ever done a cycling or spin class, and I was a bit apprehensive at first, for at least the following two reasons:
1. While the class is for all levels of athlete, I still didn't know where/whether I'd fit in.
2. I find half an hour on the trainer to be mind-numbing, and didn't think I could make it through an hour and a half.
I made it, and it was the most pleasant hour and a half I've ever spent on the trainer. I worked up a good sweat, I got my heart rate going (it's how the class is conducted). I feel good today, to the point where I wonder if I could have worked harder last night (but I was in the right heart rate zones, so I probably *shouldn't* have). I'm looking forward to the remaining classes.
There are some awesome and inspiring people there (one lady is training for a double ironman, which is appalling), as well as a number of friends from Team in Training ( www.teamintraining.org ). I'm looking forward to becoming a faster and stronger cyclist.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Training Has (Un)Officially Begun!
This past weekend I finally got out on the bike. TWICE, if you can believe it. Saturday was a beautiful day for a bike ride -- cool but not windy or rainy. It was a truly gorgeous day. Sunday was a bit ickier, with more wind and less warmth, but still a good day for a ride out to the mountain. I felt it was important to get two rides in because
1. I'm going to be doing that, anyway, come February
2. I want to have a good base so that I can focus on the participants once training gets going
3. I am woefully out of shape
This need to ride coincided (unfortunately?) with my determination to start running, so I had run twice earlier in the week. I don't think that helped.
Saturday (Brookhaven) Stats:
Maximum speed: 28.8 mph
Average speed: 14.2 mph
Distance: 15.31 mi
Time: 1.04.01
Sunday (KSR) Stats:
Maximum speed: 32.5 mph
Average speed: 13.1 mph
Distance: 27.73 mi
Time: 2.05.49
I felt tired and sore after each, and my left knee (tendons, really) hurt yesterday and today, but it still felt really good being on the bike. It was nice to see the KSR folks again, and though I was the slowest both days, I think I have a good season ahead of me.
1. I'm going to be doing that, anyway, come February
2. I want to have a good base so that I can focus on the participants once training gets going
3. I am woefully out of shape
This need to ride coincided (unfortunately?) with my determination to start running, so I had run twice earlier in the week. I don't think that helped.
Saturday (Brookhaven) Stats:
Maximum speed: 28.8 mph
Average speed: 14.2 mph
Distance: 15.31 mi
Time: 1.04.01
Sunday (KSR) Stats:
Maximum speed: 32.5 mph
Average speed: 13.1 mph
Distance: 27.73 mi
Time: 2.05.49
I felt tired and sore after each, and my left knee (tendons, really) hurt yesterday and today, but it still felt really good being on the bike. It was nice to see the KSR folks again, and though I was the slowest both days, I think I have a good season ahead of me.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
2011 Quilt Complete!
Just in time to start a new raffle project for 2012!
As you can see, it came out quite nicely. Special thanks to ARA for doing a great job with the long-arm quilter and doing the actual quilting for me. It's great (it's butterflies!)
There was a bit of drama, wherein I realized that I didn't have enough fabric for the border (at least, not enough of stuff that I wanted to keep), and ARA came through again. This is the Sticks and Stones pattern from Black Cat Creations--a fat quarter quilt that went together easily (once I got the cutting right-measure twice, cut once and all that). I had a good time making this quilt, and I think I'll use the pattern again: you don't have to get the same quilt twice! You can rotate and place the sticks and stones blocks wherever you like in relation to each other (a challenge using neutrals) until you get the finished size. It's great!
Check back here for more incentive updates!
 |
| Congratulations, Curtis! |
As you can see, it came out quite nicely. Special thanks to ARA for doing a great job with the long-arm quilter and doing the actual quilting for me. It's great (it's butterflies!)
 |
| You're a lucky son-of-a-gun. |
Check back here for more incentive updates!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
An Urban Cyclist's Resolution
Dear Readers, this year your friendly Urban Cyclist is taking the easy way out, costing only what some of you would consider a small amount of money and a slightly more sizeable amount of time. I am going to continue the fight against blood cancers and, by extension, all cancers by mentoring a growing Tahoe team on 3 June. To do this, I will raise more money than either of the previous two seasons. I am also going to participate in at least one olympic-distance triathlon (in May), and this is going to cost me only the price of registration and a new pair of running shoes.
What can I say? I want to make the world a better place, for me and for everyone else.
You can help, too, by hitting the little "donate now" button there on the right of my blog. Get in on the ground floor, that's what I say. There will be another raffle this year, and a really cool event will come together for those more local to me.Get in on the action early and there just may be a benefit to you for doing so, before the non-tax-related incentives kick in.
I start riding again (building my own base) this week, so also keep an eye here for training progress, per usual.
Happy New Year! Let's make it a great one!
What can I say? I want to make the world a better place, for me and for everyone else.
You can help, too, by hitting the little "donate now" button there on the right of my blog. Get in on the ground floor, that's what I say. There will be another raffle this year, and a really cool event will come together for those more local to me.Get in on the action early and there just may be a benefit to you for doing so, before the non-tax-related incentives kick in.
I start riding again (building my own base) this week, so also keep an eye here for training progress, per usual.
Happy New Year! Let's make it a great one!
Saturday, December 17, 2011
TNT 2012 - It's ON!
That's right, folks! The cycling season is fast approaching, bringing with it another challenge to you, dear readers: support me in my training and blood cancer patients and families. The fundraising website is now available here, and you can also donate via the widget at the right of this post (the one that says "Donate Now!")
Why should you donate? A few, non-exhaustive, reasons:
1. It'll improve the lives of the estimated 137,300 people who developed leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma in the last year, and the lives of their families.
2. You personally know of and care for someone who fought or is fighting cancer.
3. It's the holiday season and you're feeling generous.
4. The current tax cycle is almost up -- donate now and get a 100% deduction on this year's taxes (and then donate again next month and get THAT deduction, too!).
5. You know I'm good on my word and really WILL ride 100 miles on 3 June with Team in Training, because I've done it before.
6. The warm feeling you get when you know you've done a right thing.
Thank you, all, for your continued support, and keep checking back here for fundraising and training progress! I'm excited to share my journey again with you, and hope that you find this process as fun and rewarding as I do!
Why should you donate? A few, non-exhaustive, reasons:
1. It'll improve the lives of the estimated 137,300 people who developed leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma in the last year, and the lives of their families.
2. You personally know of and care for someone who fought or is fighting cancer.
3. It's the holiday season and you're feeling generous.
4. The current tax cycle is almost up -- donate now and get a 100% deduction on this year's taxes (and then donate again next month and get THAT deduction, too!).
5. You know I'm good on my word and really WILL ride 100 miles on 3 June with Team in Training, because I've done it before.
6. The warm feeling you get when you know you've done a right thing.
Thank you, all, for your continued support, and keep checking back here for fundraising and training progress! I'm excited to share my journey again with you, and hope that you find this process as fun and rewarding as I do!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Hokies - Keep it Together
Today, 8 December, two more lives were lost to a lone gunman on Virginia Tech's campus. The campus is on lockdown, the nutbar (at this point in time) is at large, and they are securing students in safe rooms in the Student Center, where there has been "activity".
The feeling of helplessness is so familiar. It is not a friend.
The feeling of helplessness is so familiar. It is not a friend.
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