Ride Back To Health

At the Nebraska State Fair the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) provided blood pressure and cholesterol checks, showing I had let my health slip into danger. It never occurred to me that almost two years later they would be the main sponsor of my bicycle racing team. At age 44 and 235 lbs. I knew I needed to reverse this downward spiral of poor health. A friend from work convinced me to sign up for Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska (BRAN). The over-night stay in Arthur, my childhood home, BRAN’s twenty-fifth anniversary, and additional vacation days gave me good reason to participate in the longest bicycle ride of my life. After receiving encouragement from my wife and two daughters I submitted my entry into the 2005 BRAN.

When I was dropped off in Kimball with bike and camping gear, I seriously questioned what I had gotten myself into as I watched my ride pull away.

On day 4 of 7 while cruising along, six strong Nebraska Medical Center / Team Kaos bicycle club riders from Bike Masters bicycle shop of Omaha came steamrollering past in perfect wind cheating formation. They were drafting each other expending much less energy than me, but moving by much faster. I slipped onto the back of the pack as they rode by. After 300 miles of going it alone I really appreciated and enjoyed the concept of efficiency. Shortly there after someone in the group called for a friendly race to the next re-fueling station, which was on top of a distant hill. As we approached the speed kept increasing, and you could feel the tension of the heartbeats rising. Gears were clicking and sweat was flowing. I threw my right shift lever down two gears grabbed my drop bars stood on my pedals and hammered my legs as fast and as hard as they could go. I came through our imaginary finish line a half a bike link ahead. I’ve been hooked on racing ever since.

On BRAN I met a serious amateur racer from Colorado who raced the 55+ category and was one of the best in the state. I couldn’t believe they had categories for people my age and older. He was an inspiration and when I got back to Lincoln I decided to do the mountain bike race at the Cornhusker State Games (CSG) to test the waters before doing the 3 stage road race the following week. To my surprise I had immediate success winning the beginner Veterans 35+ division, an action photo in the Lincoln Journal Star and my family cheering me on. I finished 4^th overall in the 35+ open at the CSG stage race with a 2^nd in the road race. I continued to compete and improve in 2006 winning the honor of Rider of the Year, the Nebraska State championship Criterium, Road Race, and third in the Time Trial.

This spring my goal has been to join the bike racing team UNMC/Team Kaos and move up the ranks from a category 4 (Cat 4) racer to a Cat 3 racer forgoing age brackets. The Friday afternoon before Kolach Days and the Norfolk Classic Bike Race I received a call from a United States Cycling Federation official with word that I had now earned Cat 3 racer status. Along with packing for Kolach Days and our Family reunion honoring my Grandparents I took my bicycle and my new Nebraska Medical Center/Team Kaos uniform to partake in one of the omnium events taking place in Norfolk on Sunday. With my wife, daughters and teammates cheering me on every lap I took first place in my debut as a Cat 3 racer on Sunday.

Now I weigh 175 lbs and have a resting heart rate of 38. I feel young again. Within 3 months of starting my training for BRAN my blood pressure and cholesterol readings dropped out of the danger zone to a normal level. With family, job and rental property to maintain, I train a bare minimum of 8 – 10 hours a week. I encourage others to get cardiovascular exercise. The secret is not to go more than 3 days without at least a 20 min cardio workout. Exercise improves mood and builds character through discipline. I’ve been very blessed with family, great camaraderie within the bike community, and for the wake up call from the Nebraska Medical Center shouting DANGER with my test results. UNMC also deserves a special thank you for primary sponsorship of my bike club and race team that promotes health and community service. If you decide to take up biking, for safety sake get good bike shop quality equipment and always were a helmet.