Robert Paterson's Weblog

Tip to Tip - Confederation Trail

Voted the best bike trail in Canada - here is a link to more about the Trail experience for Tip to Tip

Tip to Tip - Shannon Courtney - The "Journey"

Shannon is a world traveller - fearless in facing new cultures - fearless also in the kitchen - fearless in the classroom and on paper - but like me is not much of a biker.

Here is how she is tackling the challenge getting ready for Tip to Tip.

Tip to Tip - The Challenge

This is my friend, JP.

Aged 33 in 1987, fearing that he was on track to muddle through life - he decided to set himself a challenge. He rode from Tip to Tip, on the road, in just over 9 hours. Find out what this was like and how this affected him on the Tip to Tip Blog Here. Do you need a challenge?

To be 33 is to be too old to be young and too young to be old. People of our age are destined to raise families, pay mortgages, be good and little else. That’s not enough for me! I have a wonderful family, a good job and enough money, but I need more! I am becoming addicted to challenges and lost causes and I am beginning to understand the meaning of discipline.

Do you have a story like this? I would love to hear from you and to share it with others here.

 

Tip to Tip - Acceptance - Satisfaction

As an aging man - drinking all that water on the ride had its problems. But by day 3, I was just part of the gang - Here I am being cheered on by 5 women riders.

One of the results of the shared effort of the ride is that we all got very close - I could really be myself. All joking apart - that is rare and special.

How many times in your life have you really triumphed? That is the other part of the ride.

Here is the 3rd and last part of my story. I hope that you have the same sense of attachment and achievement that I found.

Tip to Tip - Rob's Story Part 1

Why did I do this? What were my fears? What was it really like for an unfit, middle-aged, man who had never biked before?

Here is part 1 of a 3 part story of how a community of lovely people took note of my fears and helped me conquer them.

Satisfaction - Tip to Tip

Have you ever completed something very challenging with a group of great people?

Here is last years team for Tip to Tip. Look at is gleaming from their faces - pride and love - OK maybe some pain too.

Do you want to help a great cause and find out more about you?

Here is where you can sign up.

Training for Tip to Tip

Lots of people signing up for the 400k ride across PEI on May 16-19

If you are interested please go to the main site that has all the details and how to sign up etc

If you are going - I will be posting nearly every day here on the Ride Blog with tips of training, getting the bike ready and later the ride itself. Today there are links to the:

• Ride Training schedule - where Bruce will be getting riders used to their bikes again after a long winter break
• Kelly McQueen's Spinning schedule - so helpful if you are out of shape like me

When I did the ride, I had not taken any exercise since I was 21. I am nearly 60 now. So it was quite a mountain to climb.

Everyone was so nice to me and accepted my sad state of fitness - so much for the "weaker sex"!

Ride your Bike across PEI for a great cause - Tip to Tip 08

Two years ago - feeling fat and old - I made up my mind to make a change. So with help form some friends I got fit and went on a 4 day bike ride across PEI using the old railway trails.

It was a trip of a lifetime for me. Not only did I indeed get fit. Not only did I get a special view of this beautiful place. But I also shared a precious experience with a group of people.

Doing something good that is hard with a group creates a bond. That kind of feeling you get when you all pull together to help each other.

Does this kind of experience interest you? If it does - here is our website that will show what is involved.