Patrick's Cycle for the Cause
In September I participated in Cycle for the Cause - The Northeast AIDS Ride. Starting in Boston and completing in New York City over 3 days. It's a great cause devoted to raising money for the LGBT Center in New York City, which you can read more about on the C4C page.
I will say that it was perhaps the most difficult thing I've done physically, but it was a great ride. I met a lot of new people, raised awareness for an important cause and helped The Center raise over $1,000,000! I could not have done it without help from all of your both financially and emotionally.
With the help and support of my friends and colleagues, I raised $6,692.50 — more that double my original goal — of the more than $450,000 which Team GS & Framily did.
I rode over 1000 miles since starting my training in June. On the ride itself, 275 miles in just under 24 hours on the bike. I'm told that in addition to the 275 miles of horizontal distance, we did 5 miles vertically (which has given me new found respect for even the smallest of hills). Two flat tires (both on the last day!). Over 10k calories burned. Dozen of pickles and PB&J sandwiches consumed (not together).
I've collected all my photos from the ride up in one place in case you aren't on Facebook, twitter or instagram. 
Progress
15 September The day is upon me. Wish me luck.
3 September Nine labs around the park today. By the end the squirrels were waving to me as I passed by. Highlights of the trip, were being passed by a man on a folding bike, and two runners. Though all where on the evil Harlem Hill and after I'd already done several round trips.
28 August Did some more Central Park today. Nothing terribly exciting, but I did make better time that the couple of runs through the park.
27 August I think I've given up on bike shoes. I keep using them and I keep huring myself. Just going to buy a simple set of sneakers with velcro to prevent the laces from getting caught.
20 August I've now more than doubled my modest goal! Thanks to all of you, but don't stop. More donations mean more people who can be helped. I will resist moving the goal post at this stage, let's see how big a multiple we can get.
19 August New shoes! Put them on and proceeded to fall the first time tried stop. LOL.
10 August Didn't get lost (much). Managed to do the whole thing in 5 hours 51 minutes with an average speed of 11 mph. I consider that a success!
9 August Going to redo the bike the CT tomorrow. Shows to be a little shorter if I don't get lost. So hoping to do the 60 odd miles in about 5.5 hrs of biking with a 30 minute rest-break in the middle. This will be somewhat affected by stoplights as I make my way up first avenue.
5 August Been focused mostly on training in the city recently. Tried a few new routes to and from work. Frankly, none of them are quite as safe as the one I have, so I'll probably just stick with that for the time being.
30 July Biked to Greenwich, CT and back today. 68 miles in total (plus the 2 to get to the westside where I was meeting people). It wasn't what I'd call "fun", but I survived. It would have been more pleasant if it hadn't rained for the last 15 miles!
24 July First Quarter Century (25miles)!
18 July Badge unlocked: "Biking in the Rain". Let's hope that I don't need that skill on the actual ride.
15 July Sorry, it's been a slow week. Still training though.
10 July First 20 mile ride. 3 circles around the park.
8 July First round-trip ride to work on the new bike! Yay.
7 July No pedestrians were insulted today.
6 July Finally got fed up with rude pedestrians who just walk where ever they like. It's okay to step out in front of a moving bike, but they'd never consider doing that to a car or truck. Had to screech to a halt which scared the poop out of one, and then yelled at another. Refrained for using an ugly word even though one looked at me like I was in the wrong for riding in a bike lane through a green light. Though I did mutter something under my breath.
5 July Raised 100% of the fundraising goal! Thanks everyone. Keep it up and help Team GS reach it's lofty goal of $500,000.
4 July Passed the 100mi mark in my training and did my first 1+ hr ride - though to be fair it was interrupted in the middle by coffee and a croissant with Martin & Hera at Le Pain Quotien. Team Patrick also passed 90% of its fundraising goal! However, I still can't get the front derailleur out of low gear. LOL.
3 July Did the Central Park loop today. Learned at least one thing - i need to get padded bike shorts. LOL.
1 July Another good fundraising day! Thanks again. This weekend will be the maiden voyage of the new bike. Probably around the apartment on Saturday, then in Central Park Sunday with all the hard core bikers.
30 June The bike has been assembled! Woot! Not only that but We save at least one paire of Martin's shoes with $425 in donations today. Thanks to everyone who has donated to date.
26 June My new bike arrives on Tuesday! I'm sure it will take me a while to put it together, but hopefully I will be able to ride around Central Park over the upcoming long weekend.
23 June Started the #SaveMartinsShoes for the humorous side fundraising effort.
20 June Today I signed up for Cycle for the Cause, the Boston to NYC AIDS ride.