Breaking the Cycle - Cycling 2013

Back 2 plus years ago I started taking on one of the biggest challenges of my life. Losing all the extra weight that I have gained since childhood, 570lbs.  I was going to consider surgery, but with the great support from the cycling community, I got a bike and started riding with the dream of racing. Well Today I’m down to 330lbs, and in 2012, raced in 9 Cyclocross races.  All was well till Mid Nov. 2012 when I lost my job. My company had layoffs. They let go 35 people and I was one of them.  This was a huge blow.  Today I’m still job searching while trying to keep up the cycling and racing.  As some of you may know bikes and bike racing can be very expensive, and I’m lucky to have some great sponsors, but without a full time job and living just on Unemployment, it makes it much harder to make ends meet, and make sure I have money to go to races, eat right, keep the current bike I have for training and racing... Add to that money for medications I need to take care of my type 2 diabetes and other heath related issues.  But because of cycling, I have been able to help reduce these health issues and getting my life back.

 In 2013 I plan to do a ton of riding and training during the late winter, spring and summer. Along with the goal of riding in as many US states as I can.  I’m not physically able a this point to bike ride from state to state (2014/2015ish goal), but I want to conduct group rides ride with as many groups, teams and other cyclists as I can to promote cycling, weight loss, and exercise.  

To do this I will have to travel to these locations (via air, auto, bus, or train what ever works best) and setup a 10 to 50 mile bike ride from that point.   I also want to help people who are dealing with depression and anxiety issues related to weight and other weight related issues. I also will try to bring one of the racers who helped me along to join us on these rides.

By the time I do all this and fall hits I’ll be ready for the 2013 cyclocross season and try to race in 11 cyclocross races. (in 2012 I raced in 9 races, 2011, zero!).  Hopefully in 2014 I can break into the world of road cycling.

To do all this and to keep my health in order (i.e. purchase needed medications to maintain my diabetes and heart), and to train, eat right, and to keep cycling going (i.e. money for cycling related travel, fees for races, bike parts, repairs and other equipment) it will take money, Thus I turn to you all for help.

For more information about my story please visit the following NPR and Velo News links below.

http://www.velonews.competitor.com/2012/06/news/a-bicycle-and-a-few-friends-lead-a-big-man-into-an-even-bigger-world_226368

 and

http://www.npr.org/2012/10/09/162586325/instead-of-surgery-man-pedals-off-the-pounds  

(download the Audio file of the actual radio broadcast of the story)

Visit my Strava page to keep track of my Riding, training and races.  Visit....   http://app.strava.com/athletes/272804

Thanks so much for reading, and for your help.

Ernest Gagnon