Big Tim Conquering Mt. Washington in Record Time!

"How one Everyday Cyclist and fellow Cyclo-CLUB Member rode back to the best fitness of his life after being hit by a car and demonstrates how 'CHANGES IN THINKING' can dramatically alter your ability to improve."

Dear Fellow Everyday Cyclists,

Many of you have heard me talk about my local riding buddy and good friend, "Big Tim".

That's what most of us refer to him as in our local cycling groups here in Essex, CT.

Big Tim towers over us at about 6'5 or so. He's been riding for well over 25 years and is my favorite and most respected riding partner. One of those riders you can just tell, 'gets how to ride a bike."

Tim is totally 'old school' in his cycling. Strong. Steady. Unwavering. He has a true love for cycling. I LOVE IT!

My first ride with Big Tim was on his classic steel Gios. Yah, the one's from the Tour's of yesteryear. He still rides it today, especially after his accident when his Colnago was trashed, along with his body and ability to ride.

Now, months later Big Tim is different on that bike. Stronger. Lighter. Faster. More Grateful.

He just CRUSHED his Mt. Washington best time and almost made it into 'Top Notch' by 13 seconds as a Clydesdale! He just completed a 120 mile off-road challenge in Vermont this past weekend!

Yah, BIG TIM is back in a BIG WAY! Let me explain what has changed...

Tim was ALWAYS on the bike. Six to seven days a week. I felt he was ALWAYS a bit overtrained and could get more results with less miles and more balanced work off the bike.

Tim is a very mild-mannered, relaxed, calm...stubborn cyclist!

Yah, pretty much the epitome of the same members and customers I deal with everyday. Except for maybe the relaxed part for some;) Including me!

Tim's addiction to not getting off the bike is what I call, 'The Mileage Prison". Big Tim was always afraid of losing his fitness or losing his base or worse, putting on weight!

That traditional cycling mentality has persisted for Big Tim for decades, just as it has for many of our members. That was until Big Tim got hit by a car this past spring and had to 're-think' how he could ride back his fitness without being able to do endless miles on the bike!

His accident was pretty bad and his re-hab was long and frustrating. Not a good thing to mix with a guy that loves to ride--EVERYDAY! Tim was 'depressed' about his situation, like many of us would be.

I had convinced Tim to become one of our Platinum Club Members so I could advise him on a few tactics to help him recover and get back to form. I told him that this was an 'OPPORTUNITY' to make some changes and come back even stronger than before.

(Yes, Tim got the 'Graeme's best friend membership due' special:) I'm a tough businessman, but I'm not a jerk!

I knew if he gave some of our club training and our bootcamps a shot, he'd at least have something new to focus on and that would be a great start.

I simply needed "A SPARK" to help Tim more.

Tim really didn't take to the CLUB at first. Again, 'old school' with the mentality that more miles and more cycling was the solution to get back in shape and drop the 25 pounds or so that he had put on after the accident. Heck, he had been riding most his life. What could he really learn that would help him, RIGHT??

Then, one day Tim could finally take the bike to the road. I pushed him a little actually, as he was still a bit hesitant. He had been inside on his trainer, wincing in pain for months. He actually did pretty well. It was just Big Tim and me, back out on the road, loving the ride. Nice.

I saw that he had the first step done. CONFIDENCE! He looked solid, steady, and HAPPY back on the bike. Some can get pretty itchy the first ride back. Tim was not. That was all I needed to begin to press him on a few things to get him moving over the next set of hurdles.

He was most frustrated with his weight gain after the accident. He had put on a bout 25 pounds. He wanted it off and he wanted it off quick.

So, I advised him to start the Advanced 7 Day Fat-Loss BOOTCAMP to supercharge his fitness and get his body moving forward. I knew if he would follow it that I would have him making progress. Now, would Tim be willing to shift his old way of thinking?

He was skeptical, but for the first time I think, Big Tim opened up and decided to give something else a go other than 'more miles'. He decided to let someone else give him a hand. Not usual for my stoic friend.

THIS WAS A BIG DEAL FOR BIG TIM!

In fact, it's usually a big deal for a lot of the people that I consult in the CLUB.

Tim would have to trust that my BOOTCAMP with workouts no longer than 90 minutes would be his spark-plug to get his body going. Only 4-5 workouts in a 7 day stretch, two of them off the bike! EEEEEE-gggaaaaaad!

But, he did the work. HE TRUSTED! He followed the nutrition from Cyclo-FUEL Fat-Loss and the HIT Training workout structure and guess what?

Big Tim dropped about 14 pounds in 10-12 days and revolutionized his body!

Yah, Big Tim added on a few EXTRA days to the BOOTCAMP after the initial seven. That's Big Tim for ya;) Not what I advise, but at this point...WHATEVER WORKS!

Anyway...THAT WAS THE SPARK! That was the ignition switch that has now dramatically changed my best friend from Big Tim to...

Super-Fit Tim has now lost all the weight he put on and more importantly, learned that there is another way to 'skin a stubborn cyclist into fitness'.

Supr-Fit Tim started working more with Cyclo-CORE Training (which he already was). He got back into more Yoga again to help with the tight muscles and pain. He started more work on his flexibility and low back. He even did the Platinum Level Home Spa! Wow, that's not the old Big Tim I use to know.

This guy has literally re-shaped himself in a matter of less than 2 months!

Every rider in our group has noticed. It's impossible not to. Big Tim was always a good rider, but he was always BIG TIM!

This guy just whollopped Mt. Washington. Less than a minute back from me. Did I mention that Big Tim is over 45?? Did I mention that Big Tim was on a gearing that for most would be impossible for Mt. Washington, including me?

One Week Later at the D2R2--120 Miles and Super-Fit.

Did I mention that less than a week later, Big Tim finished one of the toughest Randonnee's in our area? 120 miles of off-road, on-road pain and suffering?

This guy has snapped back in a BIG TIM WAY!

He has transformed his body and his THINKING ABOUT CYCLING and inspired both me (and hopefully you too) that no matter what happens in life, what your genetics are, what your road-blocks mauy be-- that YOU have the power to do anything you set your mind to.

You have the power to ASK FOR HELP!! Cyclo-CLUB and I have helped, BUT it is Big Tim that has shown the way.

Big Tim loved cycling before, but now I can see in his eyes, that he has fallen in love with it all over again.

He looks like a kid on the bike for the first time. That 'new felling' of adventure! That place that ALL OF US are trying to get to.

Sometimes it takes a CHANGE IN LIFE to experience a CHANGE IN HEART.

I'm proud of you Big Tim Super-Fit Tim! Thank you.

Your good friend,

--Graeme Street, Fellow Everyday Cyclist and Owner of Cyclo-CLUB

Top of Mt. Washington, together. This is Why We Ride!