Teamwannabe out for a spin (photo taken in the spring of 2011)

It’s that time of year again. Every spring since 2006 us “Wannabe’s” have participated in Tour de Cure. It’s a great event and gives us a reason to get out there and start training early in the spring so we’ll be ready for a long ride in early June. The Tour de Cure is a fund raiser for the American Diabetes Association, which of course is a worthy cause in my eyes because I have friends and family members who deal with this disease every day of their life. I can’t think of a more fun way to be supportive on their behalf than to help in some small way with the efforts to find a cure for this awful disease.

So get out there and ride for this worthy cause! or you can support our team in our efforts by going to our team fundraising page at the following link:

http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/TourdeCure/UtahArea/1013311437?pg=team&fr_id=8080&team_id=529133

Before the ride, getting ready to line up at the "Start" line. From left to right: Becky, Wanda, Mindi (photo by Bill Bates)

On September 17^th, 2011 the “women of Teamwannabe” participated in AND finished the second annual “Wonder Woman” Century ride! This ride took place in South Utah County and was for women only. It was Mindi’s  very first century ride and she was a bit nervous. I don’t know why! She did just fine! She even kicked our butts on one of the hill climbs! I have to say, this was one of the most fun century rides I have ever participated in.  It was just as gals, going at our own pace. The weather was perfect, our bikes performed flawlessly and we didn’t suffer even one flat tire! Who could ask for anything more out of a bike ride? We began the ride at 7:30 AM and completed it at 4:00 PM. Oh sure, we didn’t set any records for speed on this one, but we were happy just to finish it! That’s what TeamWannabe is all about, helping others get started cycling and helping them achieve their goals. Mindi finished her first attempt  at a 100 mile bike ride! Who’d have thought, just a couple of years ago when she started cycling that she’d drop 65 pounds AND do a century ride? Kudos to Mindi!

At the finish line. Tuckered but PROUD! from left to right: Mindi, Becky, Wanda (photo courtesy of Brandy's cell phone)

3rd generation Teamwannabe jersey. MY personal favorite because it is highly visible.

Many times while out cycling in our TeamWannabe kits, we have had other cyclists inquire about where we got them and how they could get one too! So here is the answer to that question. You simply contact  Mt Borah and let them know you would like to order the  “TeamWannabe.com” kit. Be sure to tell them you want the ORANGE kit. (unless of course you really want one of the other colors)  you can email them at:

info@mtborah.com or call them directly at 1-800-354-2825

When I decided to have a custom made cycling jersey  the main thing I wanted to accomplish was visibility while out on the road. When I first started cycling there were a lot of red jerseys available at the bike shops and I had seen several out on the road and figured they were fairly visible. So the first generation jersey was dominantly red. But my husband pointed out that he had noticed that the red jerseys really didn’t show up very well from a distance. He had noticed the bright yellow windbreakers offered by Pearl Izumi and a lot of other manufacturers were way more visible. So I revamped the jersey and made the dominant color yellow. Close up it was a very bright and colorful jersey, one that I thought certain would be highly visible. But again, from a distance, it still didn’t grab the eyes and attention of a motorist the way I had hoped. So it was back to the drawing board one more time. Third time was a charm! I decided to take a cue from the road construction crews who use those bright orange cones and barrels to warn and direct motorists. If it works for them, certainly a similar color would work well on a cycling jersey! And so the third generation jersey was created and it turned out perfect! Now when we are out cycling we are highly visible, even from a long ways down the road! We loved the color so much that we even had a matching pair of cycling shorts designed to make us even more visible!  I always cringe when I am out driving and I encounter a cyclist wearing a black and white or gray and white cycling kit. They practically blend into the road. I’d much rather been SEEN in hopes of remaining safe!

TeamWannbe jersey, 2nd generation.

TeamWannabe jersey, 1st generation.

“So there I was, standing in the middle of a high end bicycle shop, feeling very much like a fish out of water. I had recently rediscovered the joys of cycling when I participated in the 2006 “Tour de Cure”. It’s a fundraiser sponsored by the American Diabetes Association. I had been asked to participate by some dear friends one of which, unfortunately, has diabetes.

When I first entertained the thought of riding a bike on a 25 mile course I was certain I could never do it! My mind drifted to the corner of our garage where my old, red Peugeot had been tucked for the past 12 years. The tags from the bike shop that had done the last tune up were still hanging on the handlebars, all faded and sad looking. The tires were flat and the rubber was all deteriorated .A layer of dust and cobwebs were testimony to the fact that I hadn’t been on that bike in over a decade! I wasn’t even sure I could still balance on a bike, let alone ride one for 25 miles! But not only did I complete 25 miles, I went on to do the 60 mile course!

I had so much fun participating in the Tour de Cure that I decided right then and there to participate in as many charity rides as I could. Which of course meant updating my gear! Which brings me back to why I was at the bicycle shop, feeling out of place. I quietly observed the seasoned cyclists strolling through the front door, many of them pushing their bikes alongside, all decked out in their cycling gear. Their bodies long and lean and oozing with good health. As they conversed with the shop employees I did my best to tune in to the conversation in hopes of learning something. But it was as if they were speaking a different language. It was painfully clear to me at that moment in time that I did not belong. I was an outsider. A newbie. A beginner. I couldn’t help but think, “what on earth have I gotten myself into? I really don’t belong here.. . . I am such a Wannabe!”

But then something inside me said, “so what’s wrong with being a wannabe? You’ve go to start somewhere!” And it was at that moment I decided that there was no shame in being a wannabe. In fact, I decided I was proud to be a wannabe! At least I had my sights set on something and wasn’t just sitting on the couch, hypnotized by some electronic gadget! So I decided to form “TeamWannabe”. A casual cycling team who’s goal is to put a positive “spin” on the term “wannabe”. And with that goal in mind, I invite everyone to join TeamWannabe or at least adopt the wannabe spirit! After all, don’t we all wannabe doing something to improve our lives and perhaps even the lives of others?”