What do our Bikers say?

Anshu Gaur
I had started biking in 2009 with fond memories of childhood days. I used to bike 30-40 miles (average) and enjoy the scenery that will otherwise be elusive while zipping past in a car. When Asha SV started the TA biking program in spring 2010, I jumped to the opportunity to give my pleasure a purpose. During next 5 months,I made new friends, learnt to bike in a pace line, discovered many new trails and climbed King's Mountain and Mt. Hamilton! Thanks to the coaches (Lyresa, Jeff and Stan) who always pushed us to test the limits while being safe at the same time and company of fellow team members, I was able to finish Napa and Davis centuries. Thanks are due to the biking program coords as well for taking this initiative and starting the program from scratch. The fond memories of last year's biking still linger in mind as I yearn to create new friendships and new memories, discover new trails and just enjoy a day out in nature. So I look forward to TA biking program 2011. And to make these memories even sweeter and add to motivation, what's better than bringing a smile and hopes of a better future to a child in India.

Kiran Guleria
Team Asha is like my 2nd home. Whenever I need time for myself I come join the training program, either for running, biking or to volunteering. It gives me a new prospective in life and helps me focus my mind. My Asha journey includes completing my 1st marathon under 5 hrs and mentoring new TA runners for 2 years. With constant motivation and right training from Team Asha I completed my 1st Ultra and now running has become an integral part of my life. Something more interesting happened in 31st Dec 2009; I got my road bike, started riding it and prayed to God that Asha would start a Bike Program soon. And luckily it happened in 2010. Asha started a new biking program offering training programs for metric century (100K) and full century (100M).

I had never biked before in my life, so I had no idea about gears and all but all the wonderful coaches (Jeff, Leyersa and Stan) and captains taught me how to use that effectively. In the beginning I thought 100km is enough so I trained for NAPA Bike ride; it was a breath taking experience so I decided to go for 100M right away. This wonderful journey would not have happened without my fellow bikers/coaches and my family. I have been in Bay area for 10 years but what I saw while biking I had never seen that before. In four months time we covered more the 1000 miles and rode from south-bay to north-bay, east-bay to Peninsula. And who can forget our victory ride to Mt. Hamilton. My 100M would have not been possible without the support of my 2 kids, my long supporting husband and Team Asha bikers. I owe all this to my Asha Family and this keeps me coming year after year.

Sridhar Juvvadi
In the past two decades, my the longest bike ride was for 4 miles. So, riding a bike hunched-over for several hours on a tiny hard seat and developing a sore behind, was not my idea of fun!! However, after completing a couple of full marathons with TeamAsha in 2008/2009, I was ready for a new personal challenge. When Megha, Dilip & Vijay launched the first TeamAsha biking program in 2010, I signed up for the Tour of Napa Valley not knowing what was in store, but I had enough faith to give it a shot.

Boy, was I in for a surprise. Coaches Lyresa, Jeff and Stan laid out a well thought-out training plan that included us discovering the beautiful Bay Area backroads. Though I had lived in the Bay Area for over 20 years, I never realized that there were so many breath-taking views so close to home. Climbing up to Skyline Blvd and cruising downhill on Woodside road or coming down the Milpitas "Wall", I felt the same exhiliration a child feels when he first takes off his training wheels & "flies".

The Tour-of-Napa metric century ride was the highlight of my biking season. The comradaririe with TeamAsha riders looking-out for each other is something to be seen to be believed. Coaches Lyresa & Stan riding up and down the steep Ink Grade and encouraging the newbie riders like myself is unforgettable! I appreciate the friendships I made with TeamAsha while helping under-privileged children. TeamAsha is my extended family!