I was given this from someone special I know:)
Thoughts on my Bike 4 Chai:
Wednesday August 8th 2012 I was on my bike from 7:30am (leaving Asbury Park NJ) and didn’t reach the hotel in Suffern NY 100 miles away until 6:30pm. Only eight hours of actual riding, but 11 hours on the trip. Today, Thursday 8/9/12 we left at 7:30am and rode into camp at 2:30pm doing about 60 miles of the steepest hills I have ever seen.
Here is a short list of some of the experiences that inspired me:
5:30am prayers with 200 guys all committed to raising money for kids with cancer.
200 riders cheered on by 100 volunteers leaving the Berkeley Carteret at 7:30am Wednesday morning.
The huge sign on the house in Loch Harbor as we rode pass it that encouraged us, and the people outside cheering.
Seeing the hundreds of people standing outside of their homes at 7:40am in Deal and West Deal cheering us on.
Seeing guys who traveled from all over world, Montreal, Israel, Miami… All coming out to do this ride and support kids with cancer.
The riders: many were regular businessmen, professionals, etc – not cyclists or athletes at all.
I rode about 25 miles on Wednesday with 70 year old Mickey Abraham who was riding with his grandson Moe Kishk.
They rode 70 miles together. Imagine riding with your grandson! What a dream!
We were all constantly approached by the volunteers with their amazing dedication asking “what can I get for you? How can I help you?…”. This was truly a Chesed Mission.
Here is another list of some of the thoughts I had and lessons I learned while on this incredible ride:
Next time I’m going to try to sleep at least two hours the night before riding 100 miles the following day!
Watch out for sand in the road!
My bike, going at least 30mph (or so I’d like to believe) slid into the sand on a sharp curve with a big bus behind me and I rode SIDEWAYS for about 3 long seconds and saw my life pass before my eyes.
Hills Hills Hills
We saw a lot of Upstate NJ and NY. A lot of hills and virtually everything is for sale.
This ride reminded us that beauty is just right around the corner. We didn’t have to be in Italy or even California to experience almost majestic beauty.
I think the Number One blessing anyone can have is the ability to be grateful.
Gratitude is the root of all good.
While riding I thought about my friend Steve Czech and his son Mikey – and how this 12 year old boy who had a rare form of cancer was taken from him too young, too quick, too soon.
Steve replied right back to my email and became my largest sponsor. Thank you Steve.
I thought about the kids in Camp Simcha and how their lives are full of so much suffering.
I thought about being the parent of a child with a terminal illness or severe handicap or disability and how much of a challenge that would be.
On Wednesday most of the day I rode with my friend who has not one but three kids with disabilities. His 15 year old daughter was actually a camper this summer in Camp Simcha.
He is an amazing person, an incredible tri-athlete, and an “iron-man” in every sense of the word. He is also a great friend who inspired me to join this ride:
“Come join me! I will be your first sponsor!” He never stopped encouraging me throughout the ride.
Another lesson was the sheer power of a group to raise money for charity and do acts of kindness where each person does his job.
The result?
We raised more than $1.7M. That’s more than $8000/each rider.
Another blessing I take for granted is the love and support of my wife and kids. I don’t anyone can have a better, more unselfish business partner who encourages me to do these kinds of things and takes all the business on his back.
The best idea was to shut off my blackberry as well as my phone and just focus on the rode. I could only do that thanks to my business partner.
Another lesson:
Just as you start really enjoying the “downhills” – you get a steep uphill.
The truth is, the steeper (and thus grueling) the uphill the more fun (and fast) the downhill will be.
But, for both, the words of Solomon persist “This too shall pass”!
The lesson for me is:
“Don’t get used to anything. Why? Because nothing lasts. There is no use worrying about the uphill climbs – they will be there. You can bet on it. There is no use getting too excited about speeding downhill at 42MPH with the wind at your back. It won’t last either.
My eighth grade math teacher who was born in 1900 used to say “the key to success in math is all about the 3 P’s. P.P.P. : Prior Planning Pays…
That’s true of math, as well as life.
And the words of Dale Carnegie came to mind: “There is no use worrying about anything because 99% of the things you worry about don’t come true”. (“How to Stop Worrying and Start Living”)
I don’t know about foxholes, but now I’m SURE there are no atheists in bike-a-thons on a 1200 foot 3 mile climb. It was crazy. You have your bike in the lowest gear, you’re standing up and going as fast as you can with all your might and all your energy – yet your bike isn’t moving forward!
That experience taught me another lesson: Humbly accept the help when you need it. Get off the bike and walk. Get on the van if your legs go out. There are people in this world that can help – don’t be too proud to ask for help and accept it when you need it.
This ride reminded me to stay completely focused on the road and the task in front of you… No matter how daunting it is.
NEVER LOOK BACK while you’re on the road – especially on an uphill climb. And try not to look too far ahead either. I was on a the bottom of a mountain today watching my fellow cyclists struggle to climb it. That scared me. I said to myself “just go a few feet. Then a few more…” Not imagining that I could actually get up the entire 90 degree angle. It’s a lesson for me – instead of looking at the plan for next year or even next quarter or next month or next week – when I am on an “uphill climb” I just have to focus on “right here, right now” and get through the day!
Abie Maleh (who, along with Alan Shamah really invented this ride in 2010 and on this trip raised about 50,000), complained to me about all the riders passing him up the hills “If another guy tells me “passing on the left” I will kill him”!
Of course he was kidding. I thought that was another lesson. Not to concern yourself with anyone “passing you” in life. Just do your best and move on. This Bike-a-thon was NOT a race – and neither is life.
I can’t overemphasize how importance Verbal Encouragement and support – especially when the going gets tough. It is like oxygen.
Once again: thanks to your generous support, we were able to raise a lot of money for a great cause – but every one of you psyched me up and that gave me the strength to keep pedaling through exhaustion!
Camp Simcha is translated into English as “Camp Happiness”.
It is an escape for kids with illnesses or disabilities and their families.
The scene coming into camp today was just surreal.
200 riders all together riding into the camp. Music blasting. Hundreds of people cheering us on. Singing and dancing. I was overwhelmed.
Then they sang a and performed a song for us dedicated to us. The chants and the laughter and the kids. I can’t ever put into words the feeling we had.
All the grueling miles going uphill – they were all worth it.
I kept my sunglasses on to hide the tears streaming down my face.
I also made a little friend. A nine year-old boy who stole my heart. We played and talked and took pictures together. I was touched by his kindness and personality more than he could possibly understand.
Overall, this was a great experience and I hope I can do it again next year.