Behind the Button

Riding with Lance Armstrong, LiveStrong | Part 1

Lance Armstrong, so what's he really like? Did the 7 or 8 minutes I spent riding with him change my life? Actually yes it did. Lance has been an inspiration and hero for me and knowing that people can go their entire lives without meeting their hero how could it not be life-changing! Basically he was a really nice guy, quick to laugh, funny but what most impressed me is he was engaged in our conversation & sans sunglasses, seeing a person's eyes while talking makes a huge difference. (I actually let him get a word in ...I think?)

So how did all this come about? As many of you know my wife Rhonda and I started a cycling team Mojoriding in 2005. When you start riding "road bikes" you learn fast that the best rides are charity rides, that's how I became what I like to call an "accidental fundraiser". I am by no means the best fundraiser on the team, far from it but I suppose I had a hand in motivating, sometimes begging the Mojos to raise over $125,000 the past 3 years in the 24 Hours of Booty** to benefit Livestrong. So thanks to my good friend Spencer Lueders and in larger part my cycling team Mojoriding I got to ride with Lance in his beloved killer Austin hill country (emphasis on hill!) **24 Hours of Booty is an amazing event started by Spencer Lueders who rode 24 hours straight the inaugural year (more about Spencer and Booty here)

Rhonda and I were invited guests of Spencer and the 24 Hours of Booty team for the annual Ride for the Roses | Lance Armstrong Foundation events in Austin TX on October 24. I was the very lucky cyclist in a group of 30 well deserved cyclists|top fundraisers who got to meet, ride and talk with Lance one on one. With well over 17,000 Livestrong Challenge participants and countless cancer survivors nationwide and knowing that every one would give their granny gear to ride with Lance I consider myself very lucky indeed!

OK, so back to Lance. We met on a picture perfect Saturday afternoon at a winery in the Austin hill country, which is best described as stepping into your favorite western movie, desolately beautiful. Oh...sorry first let me step back and tell you about Friday night and The Salt Lick in Dripping Springs TX.

As part of the Yellow Jersey contingent we were feted like royalty -- so of course we should get the chance to see the King (or as Lance calls him the President) of Texas, the indomitable Willie Nelson. So get this, on Friday night we are shuttled out to The Salt Lick for an open air Texas style BBQ fest and then a private show with his excellency Willie! (I felt at any moment JR and Bobby were going to show up). Momma's might not be so bad to let your babies grow up to be cowboys after all...part II in next post  

Riding with Lance Armstrong at Ride for the Roses

 Stunningly beautiful Texas day -- here is a picture before the ride with Lance (more to come)

Yes it's true (we've pinched ourselves repeatedly) Rhonda (my lovely wife) and I are off this weekend to participate in the Ride for the Roses LIVESTRONG cycling event in Austin Texas. We are guests of the 24 Hours of Booty Team and its founder, my good friend Spencer Lueders. And YES we are going to meet Lance ~ in fact if all goes as planned I will have the honor of riding with Lance on Saturday (check back here for pictures and giddy commentary)

So why post about this, well first we are obviously bursting with excitement but more importantly I think it shows that if you dedicate yourself to something good and work tirelessly good things do happen. Rhonda loves cycling and it is her way to give back to the Charlotte community that has given her so much! As for me it has been a dream of mine to meet Lance ever since I bought a bike and started MojoRiding in 2005. Since that time Rhonda, me and our team (mostly) have raised over $250,000 for local Charlotte charities including $130,000 for the official LIVESTRONG event the 24 Hours of Booty which takes place each summer in Charlotte.

In Austin Rhonda and I will be riding (and wearing buttons) in memory of our cousins Dale and Janie and so many others we have come to know in our fight against cancer. We will hold a special place for local heroes Brandon Elam, Hope Stout and our new friend Ellie Potvin ~ young people who have and continue to battle cancer courageously. (please check out their websites - remarkable families who are giving back in Charlotte).

I will carry the thoughts of many, many more people (some of you reading this) whom I have come to know through my passion Buttons of Hope ~ you are all with me.

So wish us luck and please take some time to read more about the people who are making a difference at the links above or through the great stories here Behind the Button. Godspeed and makehope!