We finally got back to our hotel exhausted

We finally got back to our hotel exhausted. I had to get up early to meet Lance. He was signing a couple of items for everyone who reached a $5000 fund raising goal. Saturday morning I was the first one to the room for the signing. I guess I was a little early because they hadn't even set up the room yet. A writer and photographer from Southern Living met me and took a couple of pictures of me with Lance for a story that they were doing on the Ride For The Roses weekend.

Lance signed a jersey and copy of his book that my mother had given me. Olympian cyclist Mari Holden and Lance's coach, Chris Carmichael, were also at the signing.

After the signing, we left for our private ride. Lance attracted the biggest group, of course, but everyone took turns circulating around him to ride and take a picture. Robin Williams led a breakaway group off the front, keeping the group laughing the entire ride.

I got back from the ride and Angie and I went to the Convention Center where they were having a Cancer Survivor Panel. Lance and four other cancer survivors spoke and answered questions. More emotion, more cheers, more tears. In another area there were sponsors selling jerseys, Power Bars, bikes and all your cycling needs.

We went downtown next for the BMC Criterium Races. There were races for all categories, some pro men and women and even some handcyclists. We left after the last race, again exhausted when we got back to our hotel.

Sunday was the big day. The Ride For The Roses. We were transported by bus to the start of the ride. We had never seen so many bikes in one place. We heard estimates from 6000 to 8000. Everything was well organized and divided up in groups from beginner to experienced as well as 10 mile, 25 mile or 60K. Lance left in the first group with some of the US Postal boys and Robin Williams, still cracking jokes of course. It was a great smooth ride with some rolling hills, but nothing like around Birmingham. They had some great rest stops where all the workers were dressed like super heroes and they cheered for everyone that rode passed or stopped.

We made it back to the start and had little massage and a cold beer. Before we started our ride we were given stickers to pin on your back, if you were a cancer survivor or riding in honor or memory of someone. I had a survivor sticker and one in memory of my dad and Angie rode for my mother. More emotion, more tears.

We got back to the hotel in time to get ready for a dinner for the Peloton Project members. We finally sat down, it seemed like for the first time that weekend and had a big margarita and some great Mexican food. We chatted with some of the new friends we had made through out the weekend and finished the night off when Jeff Garvey, the LAF Director told us that Kristin Armstrong was pregnant again. She had just found out and told Lance before he hopped on a plane to Europe for a race the next day.

We had a slower paced trip to the airport Monday morning only to discover that we were in the local newspaper. After the big ride on Sunday a reporter had questioned Angie about the tag on her back, In Honor of Billie Kelly. Angie explained the tags, and told her our story and what had gotten us there.

The best way to explain how much we enjoyed the Ride For The Roses is to say we're going back this year and every year after that! Jerry Kelly

Birmingham Bicycle Club

http://www.bhambikeclub.homestead.com