Left the house at 11:30am, and got back from ridin' at 4pm. It was, as they say, another epic day on the bike. At noon I met with a reporter from the Lincoln Journal Star who's writing an article about me, to be published in tomorrow's edition. So.. for everyone coming here from there, welcome :).What's cool was that she wasn't just a reporter, but a fellow cyclist and a fellow bicycle commuter. Had a blast riding with her around town and chatting about cyclering things (yeah, that isn't a word), then headed to Cycle Works to get a couple things - most notably a Jandd top tube bag. So now I can take pics constantly. Sweet! After that, headed out on the mopac, destination unknown - perfect weather fueling a perfect ride.
This week has been amazing, needed, and just amazing. I'm humbled that something is being written about me, and just amazed at what has come from something as simple as finally finding some good. The good, the hope, and now finally - the smiles.
19 comments:
That was a great story in the paper. Congrats.
Hi!
So we've never met before...but I just caught your article in the JournalStar, which as a general rule I don't read much of...but the picture and headline caught my attention!
What a wonderful and inspirational story! I've only had the pleasure of reading a few of your posts but I hope to follow your story!
Your story is close to my heart...over the last year I have dropped 75 lbs and about two months ago I bought a mountain bike of craigslist and started riding for the first time in a good 5 or 6 years. It felt fantastic!
A few weeks later after my dad was diagnosed with Lymphoma I came across a fundraising program called "Team in Training" where you raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphma society and in exchange you get to train for 4-5 months to compete in a sporting event...and by some fortuitous twist of fate one of those events was a 100-mile century ride!
I don't know if you'd be interested in joining...but I thought I'd throw the idea out there because the only way I found out about it was because of the research I did for my dad's cancer. You can find out more here: www.teamintraining.org/ne I think there is a last-chance meeting June 10th at 6:00 p.m. at Eisley Library, if you are interested.
If you are curious to hear mroe about my experience so far with it I actually just created a website the other day: www.cyclingsawatzki.com (my blog is at http://blog.cyclingsawatzki.com)
You truly are an inspiration!! I really enjoyed hearing about you and your incredible story!
Maybe I'll see you out on the trail one of these days!
Cheers!
Sara
saratzki@gmail.com
Great story in the Journal Star today - The Orwell Office is proud of you!
Awesome. Now I feel lazy cuz I have not been on many rides this year. The 135 mile post was a good read. Cornbread does kick ass.
Hope to see you on the trails sometime.
Hello Ben,
Hope you remember me, Jason Paine, glad to hear your life is going well. Congrats on the marriage and the weight loss. I work in the office next to your mom, next time I see her I will give her a business card, contact me!
Great story! Congrats on your success and best wishes to you in your future endeavors.
The story in the paper was definitely one of the most inspiring I've read - EVER! I too am overweight by a good 160 lbs and this spring my husband (who only weighs 150 lbs soaking wet with his boots on!) bought bikes and a trailer to pull our son in in an attempt to get in shape. I'm tooting my horn right now because I rode 4 miles with my son last night and I feel great this morning! Reading your story and finding your blog has given me even more motivation to get my butt on my bike and keep pedaling despite the honks or disapproving passersby on the roads. You're amazing and I look forward to reading more about your cycling adventures!
As a fellow portly biker, I want to extend my kudos!! I, too, love riding and am ecstatic that you were featured in the paper so I could find this blog. Keep it up and way to go!
As we tell ourselves in the Clydesdale/Athena forum " x miles today is x miles more than you did yesterday, and x miles more than most people do any day, or EVER!" 4 miles is a good hop. I do between 7 and 8 one way when I ride to work, but it took a few weeks to work up to that last year. Im starting over again tomorrow, but I know the route and the timing so It shouldn't be too hard to jump back in now that the kids are out of school again. Keep riding!
http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=248
Here is the forum that you'll find Ben in (Bdinger) and me (Alathea) and a whole host of guys and gals with similar questions and issues and abilities.
Awesome story, Ben!
found out about your article on The BF.Net clydesdales forum, read the article and had to post comment. keep up the cyclin and bloggin.
Steve
Nobody deserves this recognition more than you, Ben.
Congratulations.
Cheers,
MG
Great job, Ben! You are an inspiration for those of us carrying extra weight and you are an ambassador of cycling. I congratulate you on your stunning success!
Mike J - Thank you! And thanks for being a regular reader/commenter - that does mean a lot.
Sara - WOW, keep riding! It's awesome to hear more stories, the comments the emails are just phenomenal. I'm linking your blog - so prepare for some referral traffic :). As far as team in training, my schedule is kind of tough, but I'd love to get in some charity rides - that'd be a great place to start. I'll try to make it - if not - the fight against lukemia and cancer are close to my heart.
Connie H - Thank you, and thank you to everyone there for the emails/comments/etc. I'm really missing Orwell right now, and will be happy to be back on Monday!
Beerorkid - don't feel lazy, just ride and smile. p.s. - Fat Tire in a can does indeed kick ass. Hope to see you out there!
captobvious - Jason! Glad to hear you are still around! Send it her way, she'll definitely get it to me, or you could drop it off at the receptionist and tell them to send it to Ben at the Admin office - that will get it to me too :)
Melissa - Thank you! I can't say thank you enough today, but rest assured, it means a lot - all of these comments.
RMJ - Great work! Keep riding, and remember, don't push yourself - just ride as far as you are comfortable with. It will all come together! Also, bravo - seriously - for getting on the bike and riding with your family. Keep it up!!
katles - thank you! It's really awesome to see how many other larger cyclists there are, and how happy all of us are.. something goes together there, doesn't it? Bike + person = smile maybe?
Zen - You'll get there, amigo, and I know how the kids things goes. Just keep it up, keep your great attitude, and enjoy it! Thanks again for the emails, tweets, and comments. Too bad I don't live around the corner anymore!
Angela - Thank you! And now I try to figure out which angela you are... LOL
Stephen - Thanks, fellow BFer!
MG - You sir, are the man. Right back at you for sending Cindy my way, and the great words. I look forward to getting out on a ride with you - maybe I'll finally make one of the bacon rides this year instead of sleeping in on a sunday.. haha :).
Big Oak - Thanks for this, and all the other comments (and the blog posts!). I accept this ambassadorship with my shoes firmly clipped in to the pedals.. LOL.
Ben, you rock! You've inspired a lot of folks. That's good bike karma. Keep pedalin' and spreadin' the love.
Thanks for checking out my blog, Ben! And for sending referral traffic my way :-) And also for being awesome! I look forward to following your story!
Keep on truckin! :-)
Nice article, Ben. Don't let the detractors get you down!
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