Tim Cline

It was the week before Labor Day, a month before I was supposed to ride a double century at the MS Breakaway to the Beach. I had just returned from a ride with several riding buddies...or I should say from a ride watching several riding buddies disappear in the distance.  I had ridden very little in August due to a travel schedule, but I had put in over 3,000 miles before that. With that sort of record, I figured I should be back on the bike with no problem.  But here I was, bonking after 20 miles of 13-14 mph average. Friends were dropping back to help me get home--that make me feel even worse. It was so bad I went to my doctor for a check up He said I was in great shape (oh, yeah, lose some weight) and could ride circles around most people my age (69 and counting). Problem was I didn't want to ride with people my age, I usually rode with folks younger than me and wanted to keep doing it.

I had done some Winter Training Series sessions at TotalCyclist which had helped me a lot, so as a last resort, I gave Chad a Call and said, basically, "Help me." Chad told me that I could get my mojo back in time for the MS if I was willing to put in the work and to drag my butt and my bike into the training center the next day. Getting there was the easy part. Chad cranked up the Computrainer and the music. I could go into the whole pain cave thing, but suffice to say, it was hard (and at times, painful) work. Chad set the threshold high and picked tough programs (still hate the shark fins) but was helpful and encouraging.  Keep in mind bikers, this is not spin class. This is training based on good research...at least that's what Chad tells us as he whips us into shape.  Must be true, seven sessions later, I actually began to think that the MS double century was possible.

The ride started in the rain and fog, but three hours into it, things started to clear off, but by lunch break I was getting a sunburn. Our group was putting right along and I was staying with them. About mile 90, I was the one who dropped back and pulled a buddy to the end. Felt great. Sunday was a repeat of Saturday except for the wind(ugh) but we hung together to the end and had some good beer to celebrate.

If this overweight, Medicare card-carrying rider can do a double century at 16+ with a month's worth of Chad and Total Cyclist training, think of what a real cyclist could accomplish..... You will never regret the work you put in at Total Cyclist and I promise you will forget the pain and remember the rewards.