By Harv Bergen

A FEW days ago, I woke up grumpy.

 I had a morning mountain bike ride planned. On my way out the door, my wife said, “Ride your troubles away.”

That is exactly what I did. I lined up my bike and gear. Then I met a good friend, and we hit the trail. The ride started out rainy, but we didn’t mind. After an hour, the rain had stopped; and by the 90 minute mark, the sun was poking through.

I can’t remember what it was that had brought my mood down in the first place; but whatever it was, it did not deserve a place in my head.

I arrived at work that morning with a big grin on my face. I sent my wife an email: “You were right, hon. I rode my troubles away. And now I have a new marketing slogan: ‘Ride your troubles away.’” That wife of mine is a genius!

I most definitely benefit from the mental and emotional health benefits of cycling – but that is not all.

I have a 15 year old Rocky Mountain Metro Hybrid bicycle that I ride to work a few times a week. I also enjoy a couple of one- to three-hour mountain bike rides per week. That may seem long, but the time just flies by.

Taking a road bike out is also something I like to do. Rides around Sumas Prairie and out to Chilliwack are great! Riding from Abbotsford to the top of Mount Baker is a challenge that always satisfies.

My biggest rides have been from Abbotsford to Osoyoos in one day; but I have only done this twice, and I have had to dig deep to make it happen.

Several years ago, a routine visit to my doctor revealed I had a high cholesterol problem. I was a bit shocked, because I had always thought I was maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

My doctor asked a few more questions, and I learned about the two types of cholesterol. The HDL is good, and the LDL is bad. It turns out my LDL levels were high, but my HDL were even higher. I am over-simplifying here, but they kind of cancel each other out.

My doctor felt that cycling was the key to me keeping my cholesterol in check. The good news is that I don’t need to be on medication – and I am currently a low heart attack risk. My family appreciates this.

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Harv Bergen owns and operates Life Cycles in Abbotsford.

Cycling to  beat cancer

FOUR young people – Christian Pye, Jenna Webb, Jeremy Hoos and Megan Naples – left Vancouver by bicycle May 5. Their goal? To reach Halifax, 7,000 kilometres away, in three months.

They originally decided to do the trip in order to experience a great adventure, to learn perseverance and patience, and to enjoy God’s creation along the way.

However, Webb – who had recently lost her stepmother to cancer – suggested they also use the ride to raise money for the B.C. Cancer Foundation. Before they left, they had already raised more than their goal of $5,000; but they still accept donations.

The four told The Abbotsford News that they are all Christians; but their faith isn’t necessarily what led them to this project. On the other hand, they said they’re trusting God for their safety on the road – and for the opportunity to have this be a faith-building exercise.

biking4change.blogspot.com

Hot Pursuit

A TEAM of five bicyclists from Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) in Winnipeg, riding in shifts around the clock, will attempt to race the 2,400 kilometres from Vancouver to Winnipeg in three and a half days, starting July 17.

The team – made up of Kevin Kilbrei, faculty members Chris Huebner and John Brubacher, and alumni Craig Penner and Jon Guenter – will be attempting to overtake marathon cyclist Arvid Loewen, who will leave a day earlier.

At stake in the race, called Hot Pursuit, is a pool of pledge money: 60 percent goes to the winner’s cause, and 40 percent to the loser’s.

Loewen is racing for Mully Children’s Family, an orphanage in Kenya. Over the past four years, his group, SpokeImpact, has raised almost $1 million dollars for the organization.

The CMU team is raising money to help international students at their school.

June 2010