Cache Valley, Utah and Idaho - BikeMS 2012

This was my 7th year participating in the Bike MS Utah event to raise funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.  This event is always one of the highlights of my summer because of the scenic 175 mile ride through Cache Valley, the amazing volunteers and support, and the opportunity to help a great cause.  The event raised over 1.5 million dollars for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and thanks to my awesome family and friends, I was able to exceed my fundraising goals and reach the $450 mark.

Enjoying the ride through Cache Valley at the MS Bike Ride

This year I was joined by Robert, Ryan, Keith, Melissa, and Shawn and we all had a great weekend riding and relaxing in Logan, Utah.  The hot and windy weather made for a challenging ride, but the volunteers and riders made this event motivating and fun.  Thanks to everyone who pitched in and helped me fund raise to ride this year!

Shawn at the start line, very excited for his first MS Bike ride

Biking up Blacksmith Fork Canyon near Logan, UT

MS is a chronic, unpredictable neurological disease that affects the central nervous system. The symptoms of MS are different and devastating for everyone. There is currently no cure for multiple sclerosis. With diagnosis occurring most frequently between the ages of 20 and 50, many individuals face a lifetime filled with unpredictability.

Multiple sclerosis has been around for centuries, taking away people's ability to feel, see and even move. In the past fifteen years alone, six new disease-modifying drugs have been made available and dozens more are in the pipeline. Where there was once no hope, there is now huge momentum towards successful treatments and a cure.

The end of a great ride with Keith (Photo by Shawn Holloway)

Cache Valley, Utah - MS Bike Ride 2009 - Biking

To all of my sponsors:

I just wanted to thank you all one more time for supporting my MS Bike Ride this year. Even though the economy made it a difficult year for fund raising, I had enough generous people to support my ride and help me reach my goal. I was able to raise just over $1,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Thanks so much to the first time sponsors, people that have donated every year, old friends I haven't seen since high school, and even people that were riding in the event themselves! I really appreciate your willingness to help me support a great cause.

The ride was June 27-28 and I had an awesome time. We've had a lot of rainy weekends lately, but the MS Ride weather was absolutely perfect (aside from some killer headwinds up Blacksmith Fork Canyon!) I completed the full 175 mile course through Cache Valley in Northern Utah. The route took us through northern Utah into southern Idaho through small farming towns on peaceful back country roads, then south of Logan up Blacksmith Fork Canyon and around the south end of the valley. Along the way I had 3,000 other riders and a ton of awesome volunteers to keep me company, along with Rob and Brandon who did the ride with me this year.

3,000 riders participated in the event and we raised over 1.5 million dollars to fight multiple sclerosis. The MS Bike ride is the largest biking event in Utah and is also the state's largest fund raiser. A lot of people volunteer their time and resources to make this event happen and they do an amazing job each year.

Thanks again!

Riding in Cache Valley

Riding in Cache Valley

The start line at Logan fairgrounds

Lunch break

Rob, me, Brandon - the finish line

Cache Valley, Utah - MS Bike Ride 2008 - Biking

This past weekend was the MS Bike Ride in Cache Valley. Thanks to my family and friends I exceeded my fund raising goal and raised a total of $1,170! I'm lucky to know such awesome people!

The weather was perfect and by starting at 7.00am we were able to complete a lot of miles before it got too hot. Rob and I both completed the full 175 mile course through Cache Valley in Northern Utah. The ride took us along back country roads through small farming communities north into Idaho and then south of Logan up Blacksmith Fork Canyon and around the southern portion of Cache Valley. The scenery was amazing and the miles flew by .. except at the end .. those seemed like some long miles!

3,000 riders participated in the event and we raised over 1.7 million dollars to fight multiple sclerosis. The MS Bike ride is the largest biking event in Utah and is also the state's largest fund raiser. The volunteers and support are absolutely incredible!! They make sure all riders are well fed and watered all weekend. You couldn't find a nicer and more supportive group of people anywhere.


the starting line

me at Logan Fairgrounds with my new toy :)

rest stop with a sea of bikes

so far so good

Rob in Blacksmith Fork Canyon

end of the ride

MS Bike Ride 2005 - Cache Valley, Utah - Biking

This weekend was the MS150 bike tour up in Logan, UT. It's a big bike ride/fundraising event for the Utah chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. This year there were over 2300 bikers and they raised 1 million dollars - definitely a great event to be a part of. I rode with Team Albertsons again this year because I have a few friends that ride with them.

Saturday was my second official 100-mile century ride. I finished in 6 hours which was pretty good considering whoever made the course saved all the hills for the end .. and decided to make it about 106 miles. The wind was pretty strong all day and that slowed me up, but the last 5 miles I had to bike in a thunderstorm microburst that was knocking riders off their bikes and blowing tree branches into the road. It was wild. Those last 5 miles took forever! I rode the remaining 45 miles today with much nicer weather.

Special thanks to my dearest friend Felipe for transporting me and my bike to Logan ... and for making Logan as fabulous as possible while I wasn't biking.