Fitness Success Stories

Have A Story To Share?

Be a source of inspiration for another woman or girl by telling others how simple lifestyle changes like riding your bike can produce unexpected results.

Just a week after finishing my last class of your Learn to Cycle series, I completed a 15 mile bike ride on the American River Bike Trail. I'm sure you remember how out of shape and intimidated I was to get back on a bicycle. I was able to use everything you taught me in class. I used my gearing to make it up hills and then descend with power. I even got up on my pedals and used positioning on my bike to make it up a few! The section I rode had quite a few curves so I was able to practice the turning techniques you taught me, and had many situations to use the bike etiquette and communications skills I learned. I didn't get in a pace line with anyone so I wasn't able to practice that, but maybe soon I'll be up to the challenge. I have to say I was VERY thankful that I didn't have to used the emergency stopping techniques you taught!

I so enjoyed your classes. You made them very fun, but they were so informative and gave me the confidence to go out and ride. I truly believe that I wouldn't have been able to ride as far as I did without using the techniques I learned in your class. I have a long way to go in conditioning, but now I know I can ride in the Princess Promenade!

Thanks again,
Mary Tanforan

Last October I invited my daughter, who was 25 at the time, to join me for the Princess Promenade. The last time she rode a bike was ten years ago and she got sick from peddling to Folsom Lake. We started at a leisurely pace. She stopped numerous times along the way to catch her breath. She thought often of giving up but after some rest and encouragement she decided to keep going. We counted down the miles to Sac State, had a snack and water, and then headed to the finish line. I will never, ever, forget the look of astonishment on my daughter’s face as she crossed the finish line…her first ever 15 mile bike ride and she lived to talk about it. She was in disbelief never thinking that she could accomplish this ride.

She wanted to quit but didn’t. She wanted to cry but didn’t. She wanted to scream but didn’t. What she did do, however, was to not give up on her. She traveled outside of her comfort zone only to find that it made her stronger. She learned that the only thing that stands in the way of success is HER. I was so proud of her that day and the fact that we got to spend such a special day together was an added bonus. Thank you so much for all the work you do encouraging women and girls to go after what they want, to believe in themselves, and to have fun in the process.
See you in 2009 with the rest of the family!

Carrie Pavao

I want to thank you for putting on such an informative and fun cycle class series. I was so thankful to participate in it. Having been an avid bicycle rider many years ago, I was surprised and delighted to learn so much from your classes. How did I not know so much about riding as a rider myself? Maybe it was just dumb luck or youthful stamina and ignorance. Either way, I feel more confident and sure of myself on my bike now than ever before.

I went on a ride this morning on our beautiful bike trail and was reminded many times of all the skills I learned from taking your classes. From my bike prep, to the rules and etiquette of the road, to using my gears properly, to leading and drafting – I used it all on my ride today! I know I am a better equipped and more responsible rider now.

I am committed to using my bike more for general transportation. Maybe in the process I can save some emissions, enjoy more of the beauty around me, get fitter and stronger and bring along family and friends for the ride!

Thank you, Janae! You are a gifted, enthusiastic and wonderful coach!

Kathleen Breining Klug

When I first moved back to CA almost five years ago, I hadn't ridden a bike in years. Being a nurse, I knew the cardiovascular benefits of cycling and I really wanted to incorporate it into my regular workout routine, but I was a little unsure of my skills.

Your "Learn to Cycle" classes gave me the knowledge and the confidence to get back in the saddle! I started with only the most basic cycling skills I learned as a child. Before long, I was climbing hills, learning to descend, learning how to use all those gears, and stop quickly and effectively. The bike etiquette skills gave me the confidence to ride with other cyclists. With your instruction, I gained the confidence to get out of the saddle for power and even to reach for my water bottle while riding. (I remember how scary that was for me in the beginning!) Your tips on nutrition and hydration were invaluable and corrected some of the misinformation I had about proper fueling.

Now, cycling is much more than mere exercise for me. I have incorporated in into my everyday life as recreation, a mode of transportation (I bike-commute to work) and a way to reduce my carbon footprint on the planet, all the while enjoying the health benefits. I now consider myself a "real" cyclist! Whether on my road bike or a beach cruiser, I use all the skills and etiquette I learned from you to be safe on the road and to have fun. I have even completed two triathlons and have enjoyed several organized bike events. Thanks so much for sharing all your years of experience and reintroducing me to this fun and healthy pastime.

Kim Kennedy

Hi Princess Promenade!

Just sending along a thank you for helping me improve my bike riding skills. The knowledge I acquired from your Learn to Cycle Series definitely gave me the confidence I needed to climb those daunting hills more easily and increase my total miles on each successive ride. With your expert on-trail coaching, I now know when to shift gears for maximum affect, feel comfortable on tight turns and quick stops, and have the confidence and the tools to deal with minor emergency repairs on the trail.

To my list of cycling accomplishments I have added, as of Friday, the Folsom Crossing Bridge. In addition to Beale's Point and the El Dorado Trail in Placervile, I think I'm heading in the right direction: always attempting something more! This I can do more easily in large part from your coaching and the skills you taught in the Learn to Cycle Series.

Stay well and happy cycling,

Sharon B.

Two years ago I called a good friend and asked if she wanted to go do something “outdoorsy”. She said that she was doing on a ride on the American River Bike Trail with a training group and that I was welcomed to join in. I had a mountain bike and a helmet and was good to go!
The group was the Learn To Cycle Series put on by the Princess Promenade event organizers. We learned how to stop quickly, ride in a pace line, and shift efficiently. This was my first exposure to biking as sport, and not just as a mode of transportation, and I loved it from the get go! I have always been active and loved the outdoors—skiing, tennis, hiking, running, etc—but from that day I was
hooked on biking!

Now I have the skills and the equipment and bike year-round. I find myself doing organized rides and making friends with a community of folks I would not otherwise have had the opportunity to meet. As I have moved through my 40s and the arthritis in my knees has progress rapidly, I’ve found that the non-impact nature of biking also a real gift in my need to try and live a healthy lifestyle. That day on the bike trail with the coach and friends was the beginning of a great adventure which now includes several of my close friends and family members!

Holly Peterson

Janae helped me to train for the cycling leg of the 2009 Eppie’s Great Race. Before meeting Janae, I had a solid base of endurance riding but was SLOW. I was motivated to seek her out because I was 39 years old and my Eppie’s teammates were both more than ten years younger than me, and I did not want to embarrass myself as an “old lady.” During a six-week period of training right before the race, Janae helped me increase my speed. She helped me to do the following: strengthen my cardiovascular conditioning and body strength (upper body, lower body and trunk); improve the performance of the bike itself by suggesting component changes and adjustments; and increase my skills on the bike including gear selection, hill climbing techniques, drafting skills and bike etiquette. Best of all, her coaching helped me to NOT feel intimidated by the guy in the Eppie’s holding area on his windtrainer and the handful of people on time trial bikes for this community ride. While I have always led an active life, this was my first competitive event other than high school team sports and ,with Janae’s encouragement and support, my ultimate speed for the event was close to the pace team’s cyclist. This was an increase of approximately 5mph over the course. I would never have thought that was possible. Janae is the real deal—her approach to coaching is very businesslike and she uses the coaching time very efficiently, so you get the maximum out of the sessions.

Jeannie Vance