From the Ohio Canal Corridor's Trails, Tracks & Timely Facts newsletter:

View the preferred Towpath Trail alignment for Harvard Avenue to Steelyard Commons on June 17th from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo located off West 25th Street just south of I-71. The Consulting Team will provide a short presentation and a number of working stations to allow visitors to understand the decision-making process behind the alignment; ask questions and offer comments.

For more information, visit www.ohiocanal.org or call 216-520-1825.

...while you're riding with the Paladins, at Bike MS or anywhere else.

And seeing as how this is team week, today would be a great day to sign up! The registration fee is currently $40. You can register for 30, 75, or 150 miles. (There's a loop that can get you up to 100 miles in one day or 175 miles over two. Three ways to register:

1: ONLINE: go to http://www.pattispaladins.com/join.php and click on one of the many links to join Patti's Paladins. When prompted, enter your discount code WEB to get $10 off your registration.

2: Call 1.800.667.7131 and register over the phone.

3: Download the registration form from http://msohiohome.org/MSBike/2008/2008%20Bike%20Registration%20Form.pdf. Fill it out. Fax it back to 1.216.696.2817 (or drop it in the mail to 6155 Rockside Rd., Suite 202 Independence, OH 44131. Technically, you could even drop it off there yourself. Does that count as a fourth way to register?)

Why register now?

• Because Team Captains with 20 or more teammates registered by midnight on Friday will win a free pizza party for their entire team.
• Because the team with the most NEW registrations this week will win a free team tent at the Bike MS finish line in Berea!
• Because the 34 registrations that Patti's Paladins is a long way from the 100 for which we're shooting!

BONUS FIFTH(ish) WAY TO REGISTER!

If you've not ridden Pedal to the Point in 5 years or more (this time frame includes NEVER,) then Rebecca and I have 5 more FREE registrations to give away. (We received these in the mail yesterday - any of you others already registered get them? We don't know if it was a team captain thing or an early bird registrant thing.) You get to save the $40 registration fee, but you will still collect at least $250 in pledges, just like the rest of us.

We only have 29 registered, and it's already into May!

A little luck, a little sales, a little personality. Here's a story from that Chris J. sent me several days ago:

"I wanted to tell you about a ride on Saturday. I consider myself a seasoned rider. Maybe even advanced as compared to the casual rider but on Saturday I was completely humbled. I rode with a couple that I met in North Royalton who rode from Solon to North Royalton. We rode 18 miles out and back to my starting point. 36 miles. Not bad for the beginning of the season. What was so humbling was that during the first 15 minutes, I looked at their bikes and noticed that their bikes didn't have more than one chain ring on their front or back of the chain. They were riding a single speed with no free wheel ability. I was like, wow, that means they cannot coast at any time or change gears going up hill or down hill. Not only did they ride at 18-19 mph pace the entire 36 miles we rode, they crushed me on every uphill as I used up every gear advantage I could find.

"After the 36 miles and a speed that was beyond my normal, they said goodbye to finish another 25 miles back to Solon. They completed close to 80 miles on single speed bikes, never having the ability to coast or change gears. Saturday night, my legs were begging for mercy and I realized that I rode with a completely different level of riders that day. It was an incredibly challenging ride for me. I mentioned Patti's Paladins and they both would like to join the team. They were nice people. To top off this story, the end of their ride finished in the thunderstorm and hail that came through late Saturday afternoon.

"The point of the email is just to share my experience and let you know that Patti's Paladins will be represented by some riders that may end the Pedal to the Point in the top 5 percent and for a great cause."

Patti's Paladins is represented by riders in all age groups and at all levels of cycling ability. We'll take everyone, but we won't get anyone if we don't ask anyone!

So when you come out and join me at Pedal with Pete <http://www.pedalwithpete.com/bike-a-t.htm> in a couple of weeks, wear your Bike MS gear, wear your Patti's Paladins gear, and don't be afraid to talk it up with whomever you find yourself riding!

Also next week, May 12-16, Bike MS Team week just happens to coincide with Cleveland Bike Week <http://www.clevelandbicycleweek.org/>! If you're not registering tonight (May 7) at the Winking Lizard Kickoff Party, next week would be a great time to commit yourself!

I received this in e-mail the other day from your teammate and mine MJ:

"Hi Guys!

"I have not talked you you since last years ride but I wanted to share a story with you about the MS Society and what they did for me.

"My son's friend's dad past away about 4 weeks ago, he was only in his 50's and his Mom has MS and I ride for her every year! The dad had not worked in over a year and the mom is in a wheel chair and cant work and Sam is in the 8th grade, they live in section 8 housing in Parma.

"So I contacted The MS Society to see if they were able to help her out and they are getting her a new wheelchair, paying her rent for june and helping her with her prescriptions...

"For all the miles that we ride and hard work we do thru out the year for this ride its nice to see someone that we know benefit from it! It made my day when she called me and she was thrilled that she is able to receive help from someone thru this tough time!

"So I wanted to share that with all my fellow cyclists! It made my day, hope it made yours, too!"

Labels: inspiration