“How Winning a BIKE Changed My Life”

Crinkle the tickets my sister said. When I bought 3 chances for $10 I figured I was simply making a donation to Girls with Gears (an annual women’s cycling event to support Carol for Heart {www.carolforheart.org} an organization set on preventing women’s heart disease through education). Like a “good little sister” I listened to Pat & “crinkled” the tickets.
A few months later I received a phone call: YOU are the GRAND PRIZE WINNER of our Girls with Gears contest – a $2000 Trek Bike. Who NEEDS a $2000 bike I thought out loud. Later I discovered I could “spend” $2000 in Collegeville Bikesport Shop (www.bikesportbikes.com). This meant my husband Michael & I could both get bicycles or $2000 worth of whatever we wanted in the store. After HOURS of test riding bicycles and getting properly fitted (who KNEW bicycles where so involved?) Michael & I each selected bicycles. I will admit we exceeded our $2000 Grand Prize “allowance”. Weeks before I knew literally nothing about bicycles and I was now transformed into an “expert”. I “needed” to buy the “Mercedes” of bicycles. Classic “Helen” antic… Always “requires” the best…. and why should anything less be accepted?
Despite the risk of sounding CLICHÉ, I must admit – the day we brought our bikes home forever CHANGED OUR LIVES. Michael & I started biking regularly. First around Warminster & Northampton parks (ten miles or so) then longer excursions on weekends. We joined Central Bucks Bike Club (www.cbbikeclub.org) and became avid bikers. We biked all year round –unless it snowed – then we skied! Twenty & thirty miles became our “short rides”. Moreover, we spread the biking fever to our neighbors. A few of them were inspired to purchase bicycles and join CBBC as well. We have encountered countless interesting people during our biking adventures and forged wonderful relationships. We love exercising, being outside & meeting new people.
Thank you Carol for Heart for designing a contest where people can really WIN & have their LIVES changed because of it!