[Bent] 84-Year-Old Bikes 150 Miles

[Sfriedlander2 at aol.com]

Here's a nice story about an 84 year old lady who rode the MS 150 ride on a 
 1 speed bike wearing a dress and high heels.   -Steve
 
 
 
84-Year-Old Bikes 150 Miles for MS
by _Deborah Dunham_ (http://www.thatsfit.com/bloggers/deborah-dunham/)  
(_Subscribe to Deborah Dunham's posts_ 
(http://www.thatsfit.com/bloggers/deborah-dunham/rss.xml) )
Oct 29th 2009 5:00PM 
Categories: _Fitness_ (http://www.thatsfit.com/category/fitness/) , 
_Motivation_ (http://www.thatsfit.com/category/motivation/)  
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Photodisc


Lan Yin  Tsai is not your typical long-distance cyclist. At New Jersey's 
recent _City to Shore 150-mile ride for MS_ 
(http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?fr_id=13251&pg=entry) , the  84-year-old Tsai completed the 
distance with a style all her own. Forget the  Lance Armstrong-style spandex, 
clip-on bike shoes and _fancy road bike _ 
(http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/11/29/sore-cyclists-should-try-a-professional-bike-fitting/) with multiple gears. 
Tsai prefers  simplicity, riding her one-speed bike in a dress and high heels. 

Just as she has done for the last 26  years, Tsai rode her purple bike with 
a wire basket in front earlier this month  to help raise awareness for 
multiple sclerosis. She sat tall and proud in a  green turtleneck dress, 
embroidered jacket and high-heeled pumps. "I went to  church, so I always dressed 
up and would ride my bicycle," she told CNN. "So  that's why I do it that way 
-- I do it that way naturally. That's the way I ride  my bike."

Every year, the _National MS Society_ 
(http://www.aolhealth.com/conditions/multiple-sclerosis-ms)  holds 100 different fundraising  rides across the 
country to gather support to help fight this disease. In an  economic period 
where volunteering and donations are down for many _charities_ 
(http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/03/26/get-fit-for-a-good-cause/) , Tsai vows to continue her 
efforts. "I always  try to tell people, whatever you can do, keep doing it, 
keep doing it. And  that's why I do MS. When I start something, I don't 
want to just quit."

Tsai's grandson, Alan Sim also  participated in the ride with her. Even 
though his grandmother is usually last,  Sim, along with many other cyclists, 
wait hours for her to cross the finish  line. "She'll just ride in, and 
people are cheering, taking pictures, asking for  autographs," says Sim. "It's 
like being with a celebrity." 

When she's not out riding, Tsai  practices the art of _shiatsu massage _ 
(http://www.thatsfit.com/2007/06/13/workplace-fitness-massage-is-not-just-for-s
tress-anymore/) on MS patients. She plans to continue  her business and her 
riding for as long as she can. Determination, guts and  commitment -- it's 
no wonder she's known as the "_superstar of the ride_ 
(http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/28/eiko.irpt/index.html) ." Plus, she offers the best  
motivation of all to her grandson. "I have the most pressure out of anyone on  the 
tour," says Sim. "I know I can't quit, because my grandmother's behind me  
somewhere!"

Want to ride with  Tsai next year? Take some _training tips from  Lance_ 
(http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/12/05/lance-armstrong-training-hard-for-win-8/) .

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