Sunday, December 30, 2012

Home to hub; backbone by stenogrl at Garmin Connect - Details

Home to hub; backbone by stenogrl at Garmin Connect - Details

Nice ride up Sullivan and down backbone - tempo -
then flatted at Will Rogers parking lot - learned a lot - like I was not carrying the right tube!


Saturday, December 15, 2012

                                    CORBA RAM  - AT THE HUB
                                      GGR PHOTO AT CORBA RAM
I am on the end with the green bike eating? lol

Paseo to hub for Corba RAM by stenogrl at Garmin Connect (2) - Details

Paseo to hub for Corba RAM by stenogrl at Garmin Connect (2) - Details

Today was a great ride, but pretty cold!   Catherine and Doug keep me on my toes....I mean wheels -

Mt time last year was  over 30 minutes longer from Paseo gate to hub.   So progress for sure!.

Friday, November 23, 2012

WR; Hub; Eagle Rock 32.5 miles; 4068 feet MTB by stenogrl at Garmin Connect - Details

WR; Hub; Eagle Rock 32.5 miles; 4068 feet MTB by stenogrl at Garmin Connect - Details

Another great ride in the Santa Monica mountains with Catherine Hinton.  We headed up from my house to Westridge, Hub, Eagle Rock and back home.
Beautiful day!


Gilbert's annual Thanksgiving ride by stenogrl at Garmin Connect - Details

Gilbert's annual Thanksgiving ride by stenogrl at Garmin Connect - Details

                                            Devo admiring my bike
                                          Over 30 riders showed up for the
                                          Sullivan Backbone loop!


We started at Ocean and San Vicente at 8:00 a.m.   I met my friend Stephen at 7:30 and we headed to the start.  Up Amalfi to Sullivan FR, Hub and Backbone.  I ended up riding most of BB by myself as the others missed the turn off.  It was so much fun.
Over 30 miles and plenty of climbing.  Then off to Oxnard for a wonderful dinner my daughter prepared for 7 of us.  A long day with so much gratitude for my life and health, family, friends and mountain biking!


Monday, November 5, 2012

My thanks to La Grange for the Russell Moon Ride of Hope


Thank you, Michael.   I do know Russell – Russell gave me hope in some very tough times – Russell never gave up on me, even when I thought I had no hope to keep on living.  It was really hard for me to walk up to him too, though it was all I was looking forward to.

I chose to ride solo on Saturday – For 70 miles I thought about getting back in time to see Russell so I could tell him that I pray for him every day – and tell him to keep on fighting!
Over and over I thought about  how this type of accident could happen to any one of us.  I fought my own  personal battles, first, breast cancer, seven years later, multiple myeloma,  terminal bone marrow cancer -- two bone marrow transplants – But by some miracle, I am not only alive, but in the two percentile of surviving my situation.   I rode for Russell – I climbed for Russell and kept thinking of how I wanted to make him happy – and he would be so thrilled  to see all the riders who showed up for HIM.    
I did not want to miss seeing Russell!!  I knew I had to be back by 12:30.  Ride faster,  Cheryl! 
That may not be a big ride for most  of the LG riders, but that was the longest ride I have ever ridden alone -    I cried a lot of tears on Saturday.

The highlight was when I finally had eye to eye contact with Russell and he smiled and moved his lips and whispered “thank you” when I said, “I pray for you every night” -    Please know, my LG friends, most of whom are strangers, that I thank you from my  heart for what you all did on Saturday.   It was a life-changing day for me -- and I am sure for Russell -- And I am sure  lot of you who know and love Russell, or don’t know him, but still showed up him. I won’t forget those minutes with Russell, the  hope in his eyes, the  look on his face- It will never leave my mind, and in a good way.    He is a fighter like I have never seen.   He is one heck of  good guy --  Who knows what the kind of support you all  gave him on Saturday might do.   The mind is a powerful place.    A place we can believe and dream for the good. 

As said earlier, this was a ride for a fallen rider and not a race.    I had over four hours to reflect on how grateful I am for my life and how grateful I am to have had that opportunity, that day, with my bike, with fellow riders, and mostly FOR OUR FRIEND RUSSELL – I had the opportunity to say, “keep fighting” – we all had the opportunity to show another human being that WE care! What a gift.
I am still emotional about it, obviously.   I just wanted to chime in on this thread to say thank you all.    La Grange is  great group, with a solid foundation of riders who give hope.   Riders who deliver meals to those in need and, from what I see a lot of charity.    The few people I personally know in this group are people I respect and look up to very much.    You know who you are!  I am proud to be a small part of this group.

Maybe next year Russell will be with us on the ride – I know that I am glad I never gave up hope when doctors told me I had six months to live in 1995.  
Peace

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Monday, October 1, 2012

Vision Quest 2013 - This is the big brother for Cheryl


  • I am in for Vision Quest this year!
    Date: Saturday, April 06
    Venue: Vision Quest 2013
    Location: Santa Ana Mountains, California, USA
Like ·  · Register

Sunday, September 23, 2012

SMMT CHALLENGE OVER - I was the only woman to complete all the MTB climbs, only woman to do all 30 climbs and most QOM's - what a summer


Congratulations to Cheryl Parrish for having the most QOMs! Cheryl had 13 QOMs (all MTB) in the challenges. For second place we have a tie between Mary Bouchard and Tink with 7 each.

Road QOMs:
1 - Mary Bouchard - 7
1 - Tink - 7
3 - Fiona Petersen - 1

MTB QOMs:
1 - Cheryl Parrish - 13
2 - Melissa Buches - 2



Congratulations to Conal Tepper and Cheryl Parrish for winning first place in the Mountain Bike Challenge! Conal was the only person to break the 5:30 mark and Cheryl was the only woman to tackle all the MTB climbs! Great job Conal and Cheryl!

MTB Men:
1 - Conal Tepper - 5:29:41
2 - Gareth Roberts - 5:47:39
3 - Craig Donkin - 5:49:11
4 - David Donatoni - 5:53:47
5 - Jon Dutton - 5:56:27
6 - Buz F...
See More

Congratulations to Jon Dutton and Cheryl Parrish for winning first place in the Combined challenge! Jon was the only person to break 12 hours and Cheryl was the only woman to take on all 30 climbs! Great job Jon and Cheryl!

Men Combined:
1 - Jon Dutton - 11:59:55
2 - Gareth Roberts - 12:04:52
3 - Craig Donkin - 12:12:46
4 - Buz Fulton - 12:32:31
5 - Ross Lamb - 13:57:01
6 - Carlos Alves - 14:26:...
See More

Sunday, September 16, 2012

                                           River horsing around
                                            Oma horsing around at Paseo

Hot Saturday 114 degrees; 32 miles; 4000 + feet

Yesterday I rode out of my garage at 6:15 a.m. and headed up Westridge to meet Derek and Doug for a long mountain bike ride.  The heat came fast.  We headed to the hub, trippet ranch, and paseo.  We me a crazy guy at the Paseo bench who rode a huge heavy downhill bike there.  I seriously struggled lifting the bike off the ground. I used to downhill and have had a bike like that.  But my Giant was more like 35 to 40lbs - This bike felt like 60! Big travel and big pedal - Paseo is one of the toughest climbs around here.

We refueled at Trippet Ranch, but my water quickly turned to hot tea water and not drinkable.  I decided I needed to head back down Paseo to PCH and not do the more grueling climb back the way we came.  Thank goodness.  It may have been too dangerous in that heat.   Overall, my goal was not there, but I did get 32 miles and 4K feet - and in the heat, that is still some training.  I need some more 50 mile endurance rides and longer climbing days.  Skipped the LaGrange Piuma race.  Good move, Cheryl - MTB was better training.

My darling  River turns 2 today and we are having her party at the Moorepark zoo.   I need to get ready and see if the 405 is going to reopen in time.  She is so beautiful and I am so happy.   River has the most loving parents and grandparents.
She is a lucky little girl.  And, frankly, since I did not expect to see my own daughter turn 16,  I sure never expected to see her daughter turn two.  

I woke up this morning and first thing got on my knees and thanked God for another day!   I am so happy not to have a hangover.   I am happy I am not in the hospital on chemotherapy.  I am happy I have hair.  I am happy to have sore legs from riding bikes.   I am happy to have friends and family.  I am not sure why or how I lived through two very serious cancers, especially since my best thinking was to include a lot of alcohol with the chemo.  Those were some lonely days.  Me the chemo needle in my chest 24/7 with a battery attached to me- and a fifth of vodka.  No friends.  No hope.  No "life" -

**What I thought was the end, was really just the beginning.  So keep calm and keep confident and keep on being the best you can be, no matter what.  Remember that everybody is likely going through their own rough times and good times.  So just strive to treatment like you want to be treated.

I am still struggling with life on life's terms.   I daily struggle with low self-esteem and not ever being "enough" - I have a new t-shirt, which appropriately says, "will you ever be satisfied?" And Paul sent me a great shirt that says, "pain is weakness leaving the body" - AWESOME  -
Peace and blessings!


Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Santa Monica Climbing Challenge completed last Sunday

http://www.smmtchallenge.com/Leaderboard.aspx?type=Both&filter=f

Yes, I finally climbed the last five climbs last week:  Three on Friday, Yerba on Saturday and Corral on Sunday.   That was something else.   My legs were zapped.  Corral is steep, hot and terrible road, but I  did in 52.06.  Pretty good for this old gal.  30 climbs in all, around 37K feet, 15 road, 15 mountain - a very tough challenge, to say the least.


                                    Top of Corral - completes the SMMT Challenge and I am in first place of the women and 4th place of men in overall leaderboard - the challenge is still open until Sept 22, so I have some time go get faster times, if I wish.


On Monday I headed up Westridge with a group of girls for 23 miles and over 3000 feet of pure fun mountain biking on my RDO Niner HT.  I am new to riding a hard tail and not having rear suspension, so this will take some getting to used to.   But the bike is fast and I hope to be a great race bike for me.

Life continues to be filled with every-day quality problems.   Sometimes it is a challenge just reminding myself from where I came.  The path I took to get where I am now was more than rocky, more like I had to making my own bridges to get from destination to destination.  

I know my purpose in life and after several life relapses, literally, sticking to my purpose is something I must never forget.


                                 Westridge on Labor Day - with very tired body!
Remember, we all really only have today, this moment, now.   Worry about past and future is simply a waste of time.  So I am moving on this morning for an early ride, to the office and hope to take a new friend to a meeting in Thousand Oaks tonight.
And Happy Birthday to Lou  Kobin who coached me last year to my new life!

Peace


Saturday, September 1, 2012

Yerba Buena Climb - -down Mulholland - fun ride by stenogrl at Garmin Connect - Details

Yerba Buena Climb - -down Mulholland - fun ride by stenogrl at Garmin Connect - Details
headed up Yerba Buena this morning prepared for a gnarly climb - not that bad - sort of fun climb.  I took it nice and easy, keeping my HR not over 150 since I have never ridden this climb before - Still getting comfortable on a road bike, period, especially on the downhill -
thanks to Monte for changing the stem and seat post, it was much better today.  Trouble getting out of the left pedal, so stopped for that several times and mechanical issues -  I was crying this morning driving to this climb, knowing I only have one more and I will have completed the challenge.

And it has been a lot of hard climbing 30 tough climbs, 15 mtb and 15 road - and I am not used to a road bike, or lots of climbing! lol -

My life has really changed.  Sometimes I feel I have lived three different ones, maybe four -  Life as a struggling child without a father and skipping the whole childhood deal -
Life with breast cancer - life with multiple myeloma -
Life as a party girl, turned to cannot-stop -the-party girl - Living at that point with (what Dr. Vandermolen called) three terminal diseases!  And that my liver was shot - over, Cheryl - Lost my daughter - lost my money - lost any and all hope to live to see Dani even turn 16 and drive a car.

Been a long (un-paved) road - lots of demons to work through and now after just celebrating three years (again) without a drink - no cancer - two beautiful grand kids - lost of cycling friends and support - work is work, but not the most important thing in my life anymore -

I saw Dr. Kevin Earhardt yesterday at the bike shop.  He treated my broken leg and foot.  I remember him telling me, no more mt biking!   You can ride the bike path!
He was happy to see me and my new bikes ;-)

I am sorry to ramble with so much gratitude for my life today, but I suspect not many read these long boring blogs - however, it sure helps me to write, to reflect, to smile and thank God for another day - Never give up hope - that's what I say.

Cannot wait to climb Corral tomorrow!  yahooo

Friday, August 31, 2012

Decker WL and Potrero by stenogrl at Garmin Connect - Details

Decker WL and Potrero by stenogrl at Garmin Connect - Details

Started off this morning at the top of Rock Store - rode down so we could ride back up.  From there we drove somewhere to ride Decker Westlake, then drove another "somewhere" to climb Protrero -  so that's three of the SMMT climbs today.
I have two more nasty climbs left:  Yerba Buena and Corral - foot a little sore today.
I took the road bike in to Monte at Helen's for a fit - see if it's better.   He suggested a zero setback seat post and a longer stem - there went another 300.00 ;-)

My RDO Niner is pretty much finished.  They need to cut the bars and then I car see how I can race a 29er hardtail!  It's beautiful!   I now have "Easier than Cancer"  stem caps on all my bikes - very cool!

Thank you, Lydia, for keeping the office together today, and Tracy and Petra! I worked the last three days - and three days without riding makes me cranky!
Just ask Lydia (my office manager) ;-)

My legs are pretty tired and I am pretty tired.  But the plan (unless I am wiped out in the morning) is Yerba - I have never ridden it, but I think it is about 2000 feet and 8 to 9 miles.

Looking forward to finishing the next two climbs and I will have climbed a total of 30 Santa Monica tough climbs!  15 Road and 15 Mountain!!!!!!!!!!
And i am too tired to proof this post, so good luck, if you read it.
Peace
Cheryl

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Piuma; Fernwood; Stunt - by stenogrl at Garmin Connect - Details

Piuma; Fernwood; Stunt - by stenogrl at Garmin Connect - Details
                                 Top of Stunt - 3 climbs 8-25-12 Saturday
                                        40 Miles and 5900 feet of climbing


I have five climbs to go to complete the SMMT Challenge.  If you want to check it out, go to www.smmtchallenge.com

Yesterday was pretty tough - My plan was to rest today, but for some reason I deciding to jump on my singlespeed and had up Westridge, standing up most of the climb and very warm at 12:15.  What was I thinking?  It's Sunday!  Tomorrow the plan is to ride up Corral - we'll see.   My legs feel thrashed!


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Mulholland & Top of the World by stenogrl at Garmin Connect - Details

Mulholland & Top of the World by stenogrl at Garmin Connect - Details

Left PCH and Mulholland about 8:30 this morning.  What a beautiful climb that is - nicely paved road and shade and gradual climb.   This segment ends at Little Sycamore and that climb was familiar because it's where I would usually do my intervals training for Counting Coup.  But this road on a road bike was pretty rough coming down - the road is in terrible shape.  I nearly went over the bars twice on big bumps, grabbing too much front brake - I have very little experience on road bike and much more comfortable on the mountain bike! - Eight more road climbs to go.   Not much time for recovery, just a lot of climbing.  My foot (Jones Fracture) is pretty sore - I am sure it's just from so much pressure on an injury and it will be fine.
I had a beautiful day with two climbs, dinner and a meeting! Thank you, God for my life, my family, my friends and my health!
                                      Mulholland - check
                                    Top of The World - check

Monday, August 20, 2012

Las Flores - 1st time up and down - ouch by stenogrl at Garmin Connect - Details

Las Flores - 1st time up and down - ouch by stenogrl at Garmin Connect - Details

My first time climbing this baby- it was a tough one - I really need to go do it faster.  My legs are clearly not recovered from Saturday Decker and Deer Creek climb.   I have 10 more to go!

Come on friends and family, cheer me on, will ya?  Check out the SMMT Challenge to see what I am up to.
Not the exact link, but you will find it on google.

Depo all day tomorrow and hope to accomplish Top of the World and Mulholland on Wednesday -

A nice way to celebrate such an awesome date for me! August 22, 23 - Love and miss you, Mother !

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Saturday - August 18, 2012 Decker & Deer Creek climb

Yesterday was a brutally hot day, so picking a few climbs off PCH seemed the smartest thing to do.  My goal was two climbs to check off the SMMT climbing challenge (road climbs left now) -

I met Doug at 8:30 (should have started earlier) at Decker and PCH.  We climbed up Decker and came back down.   Drive my car five miles down PCH to Deer Creek - now this is a hard climb - it was so steep in places I was not sure what to do?  Can I turn this next revolution or fall over? - This took some deep breathing and all my personal little sayings to myself, over and over!
My heart rate was 180 plus for over two miles up!  (so hot on a steep climb with no breez)
And that trail was more scary coming down than any mt bike descent! (well, not any, but...) -
I am not used to a road bike with skinny tires on rocky steam roads with super sharp switch backs, so speed was not an issue here.  My hands were nearly cramped closed when I finished from braking all the way down.
Bottom line:  I did em! lol

Climbed 2850 feet in six miles - ouch!  Okay, I have 11 more of those steep road climbs to finish and I hope to be the only woman to complete all 30 climbs!

No, I don't get anything, but kudos, and my own satisfaction that "I DID IT" -
And it's all for me anyway!
I am not a roadie - I am MTB gal - but I want to win the whole challenge - so pray for some cooler weather!!!  In the meantime, I working on the tree trunk legs I always wanted! lol

BTW, Doug - how much total climbing is it for all 30 climbs?

Thanks for reading this far, if you did!
And the call is still out on the handle:

Honey Badger
Thunderbird
Phoenix
????
Peace
cheryl