Cheers to people who keep getting back on the bike
While riding—and occasionally failing—the Ohio State University Alumni Association president has learned something important.
Team Buckeye honorary co-captains Dr. David Cohn, Molly Ranz Calhoun and Dr. Andrew Thomas (Photo by Jodi Miller)
You never forget your first bike.
Mine was red (of course), had a basket and streamers on the handlebars, and sported
cool things on the spokes that made noise when the wheels turned. That bike was so much more than a toy. It was freedom. It made me feel in control of my own destiny. Nothing could stop me.
Except gravity.
Christmas wasn’t over before I took my first header on my new bike. It was scary on the way down, and hurt like heck when I hit the asphalt, but it made me love my bike even more. Maybe it was the sense of danger it now represented, or the pride I felt when I pulled myself up and got back on the seat, skinned knees and all.
My love for bicycling never left, and now I celebrate it every summer with Pelotonia, the hugely successful awareness and fundraising event that supports cancer research here at Ohio State’s James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. I’m honored to be honorary co-captain of Team Buckeye with Dr. David Cohn ’20 MBA, chief medical officer for The James, and Dr. Andrew Thomas ’95 MD, ’00 MBA, chief clinical officer of the Wexner Medical Center.
Throughout my Pelotonia journey, I’ve been inspired meeting cancer survivors and patients who are real-time beneficiaries of the research the ride makes possible. Those interactions became more meaningful after my own cancer diagnosis and subsequent successful treatment.
My ride has upgraded since that first bike. Basket and streamers have been replaced by advanced mechanics to maximize speed and efficiency. Turns out, those cool things on the spokes that make noise when the wheels turn really decrease speed and efficiency. Too bad.
A couple of years ago, I had another first. I graduated to “clip-ins,” a pedal/shoe combination where my feet are attached to the pedals for greater stability. They gave me the feeling, once again, that nothing could stop me.
Enter my old nemesis … gravity.
Falling off a bike is never fun. Now try it with your feet attached to the pedals. I was awash with a flood of old memories on my way to being reintroduced to the pavement: fear as I lost control, pain when I hit concrete, and pride when I pulled myself back up and started riding again.
That is the real message of Pelotonia. We ride to provide resources for scientists and patients to pull themselves up from setbacks, straighten the handlebars and continue moving forward.
I hope this summer provides you with opportunities to get out and enjoy the beauty Ohio has to offer. Be sure to say hello if you see me at Pelotonia. And, go Bucks!
