Home City: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Cycling Experience: Master Heart Zones Indoor Cycling Instructor. USA Cycling Coach, Spinning Certified, Local MTB/24 hr races, road races. Author of Cycling Fusion Power Training for Indoor Cycling
Other sports: Tennis, Mountain Biking, Road Riding, Snowboarding
Why are you interested in riding the Giretto d'Italia? I'm riding in the Giretto for two reasons. I want to make a statement for indoor cycling. Many outdoor cyclists miss out on a tremendous opportunity to control their environment and their fitness objectives through indoor cycling in the off season. I have never done a century, but I have done a lot of cycling. If I can do 4 centuries back to back, through these initial stages of the Giro, with two artificial hips, I believe it will prove the efficacy of indoor cycling. Secondly, even though I have not been personally touched by Cancer, I have friends who have, and the person I am riding for has been inspiring to me in her fight to stay positive, and in fact, get back on her bike. I want to make HER cause, MY cause.
Who are you riding for? Jo Danko.
Why I ride for Jo:
I have many fond memories of family dinners on the Italian side of the family. Jo figures prominently in them, as an Aunt that always tried to reach out and connect with the kids. As I've grown, I've seen her push her own kids to be all they can be, and in her retirement years, she continues to inspire her adult children and nieces and nephews like me. She defies her age by never letting anything stand in the way of living her life to the fullest. She's been involved in athletics for many years, but recently she has been dancing, singing and acting up a storm in Florida. The news clips keep on coming, now changing from talking about her performances, to her fight with cancer. Since being diagnosed, she has fought back with the same positive attitude and enthusiasm that she throws into everything she does. We are expecting a complete recovery and her own "Acadamy" will applaud her all the way through till she accepts her award, as a cancer free survivor. In the meantime, I will raise money, train hard, and live strong in her honor.
