Reflections

 

 Rolling Along

As the first snow has fallen, I was forced to take my wife’s car to work two days in a row. Time to get the  Bike’s cracked exhaust cross-pipe welded and find out why my gas mileage has been equaling the outside temperature. At 28 degrees I get 28 MPG, at 35 degrees I get 36 MPG, and at 50 degrees or better, I get closer to 48 MPG. I have three more months before the temperature gets me back close to 300 miles a tank.  I have the engine oil sensor in the oven and the air temperature sensor in the freezer, with the Ohmmeter at the ready, as I write this.  E=IR is Murphy’s Law.

Well, thanks to my sponsors, supporters and friends, I can say the first 6 months and  14,500 documented miles of the Endless Road Tour have gone pretty well.  From announcing to the world my MS diagnosis and my Mission to ride 1,000,000 miles for awareness, setting a world record, to being #41 across in a national magazine crossword puzzle, is a long way from where I was just six months ago! I was also surprised to see my name listed in Wikipedia under the category of Long Distance Motorcycle Riding! I believe my goal to be riding, writing, and helping others to recalculate their road as my full-time career will indeed become a reality in the next six months.

Thanks to all of you, we raised $4,000 during my 100 SaddlesSore 1000 for the National MS Society where the funds will be used to help find a cure and programs to help MS patients. On April 29th I rode 1000 miles in under 24 hours using 100 different motorcycles!  T-shirts still available here.

Although I have yet to get a motorcycle manufacturer to agree to sponsor my one million miles for MS, I have had a good number of companies believe in my mission enough to step forward with offerings of support and products.

Coolshirt is working with me to design a cooling system for the hot season, and will be available for others who ride motorcycles.

Rocky from Bill Mayer Saddles will be designing custom saddles for the bikes I use in April for the 50,000 mile world record fundraiser.

National Powersports donated countless hours and use of 100 motorcycles as well as $100 from every bike sold towards my first fundraising effort and world record.

Rocket Moto has a new top of the line communication system just waiting to install on my next bike.

LS2 Helmets donated a helmet, which I used on the world record ride in September.

Aerostitch, maker of the very best motorcycle riding gear has graciously offered to replace my beloved but aging riding suit and boots.

Bridgestone has just agreed to be my exclusive tire sponsor, offering me enough rubber to ride 100,000 miles in 2013!  This is a huge help!

Please let these sponsors know you appreciate the support they are giving me.

 If you are interested in advertising or sponsoring my 50/50 ride or my million mile journey, please contact me.

On The Publicity Front

Despite the local newspapers and TV channels not being very interested in my recent record or mission,  in a two-part series (the first time the magazine has ever done so), Ability Magazine really captured my riding and my goals, and they even put me in the crossword puzzle! I was featured both in the October issue and the December issue. An excerpt can be found here.

ABILITY Magazine is ranked in the Top 50 Magazines in the World — and is the leading magazine covering Health, Disability and Human Potential. They are an award-winning publication, distributed by Time-Warner. For over 20 years, their mission has been to provide new insights into individual levels of ability.

MSFocus, the free quarterly magazine published by the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation did a very nice feature article (p.38) on my mission as well.

Adventure Motorcycle put my story in their newsletter as well as in their January/ February issue.  I may be featured in the RideNH motorcycle guide of NH roads, and my record ride was recognized by the National MS Society on their website as well as on other MS sites. Thanks to all who have followed me on facebook as well as Twitter. It was interesting to use social media during my record ride as well as during other extreme ride attempts. Thanks to all who joined my blog Mile Posts, and have signed up for updates. Please continue to pass on  to your friends and family my website. I do try to post to the lists and discussion groups whenever I have a new story, but that has become very time consuming. If you are reading this and have not signed up yet, please do so! No spam, just my reports from the road. Thank you to the few hundred who are signed up!  The website has been seeing an average of 100 new readers a day and 60,000 hits a month!  Thanks to all who help spread my story this year, and if you have a connection, know a guy, or like to write e-mails, I would appreciate any help I can get. The more publicity, the better chances I have of getting a major bike and drug sponsorship which would allow me to take my mission full-time sooner. My ability clock is ticking!

As far as my appearances and speaking tour so far, I have attended about 45 MS related patient events throughout New England, including having my bike on display at the MS Annual Conference and the Annual MS Curefund Health Fair. Although I have yet to be anointed as an official  MS Ambassador, my face is being recognized, my story is getting out there, and I have been actively involved in events.  My first live presentation, comparing riding a Russian Ural  in the World’s Toughest Motorcycle Competition to every day life with Multiple Sclerosis was December 22 at Twisted Throttle in Rhode Island. See details here.  I left the event without any vegetable stains or death threats.  I am working on speaking engagements at other motorcycle rallies and event this coming season. Stay tuned! If you are interested in my presentation for your event please contact me.

I have been asked to write a regular column for ABILITY magazine, and of course jumped at the opportunity! Chet Cooper, the publisher of Ability magazine has really given me a chance to tell my story and my adventure with the world, and I am very grateful! I am also working on multiple articles for other MS and motorcycle magazines.

50K / 50Day -A World Record Attempt to Benefit the National MS Society

My world record ride is soon approaching, April 1st is not a joke. I will be attempting to ride 50,000 miles in 50 days or less, attempting to beat the current record of 31,068 miles in 31 days set by David Zien. For seven weeks I will be getting up at 4:00 am, riding until 9:00 pm, taking a shower and going to bed.  And that’s if everything goes exactly as planned!  Weather, traffic, tummy aches, haircuts, funerals, oil changes, tire changes, valve adjustments, flat tires, breakdowns, accidents, all have to fit into that little equation. The big elephant in the garage is my MS.

As simple as the feat appears when typing or saying it, (50K in 50 Day) reality is really setting in for me.  A couple weeks ago I rode 1150 miles in 18 hours, and I was beat! Having that kind of pace for 7 weeks will be a serious toll on my body, my mind and my disease. Make no doubt about it, I plan to succeed, but stress and fatigue are known triggers for MS attacks.

This attempt will be difficult and dangerous. I am taking this challenge and the risk to my health and finances for my friends with Multiple Sclerosis who struggle daily with disabling symptoms, some who no longer have the physical abilities to do even the simplest everyday chores.  Those who  have lost hope that a cure may come during their lifetime, those who have given up on their dreams, unable to even remember happiness, those who find just getting  through each day an overwhelming hardship, and those who struggle with the question, “Why Bother?”  My ride and my million mile mission is to help them find a way, find a road, find some happiness.

Road Blocks

The first  issue I need to solve very soon is the bikes. I will need a main bike and a spare for when the main bike is being serviced, repaired or getting tires (which will be every 7-10 days). I have written to Honda, BMW, Yamaha, Triumph, Moto Guzzi, Ducati, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Motus. While they all think what I am doing is great,  no one has stepped forward with help. I’m probably asking for the equivalent of a one page ad in a monthly magazine. If I break the record or not, the publicity of their goodwill should get that back ten-fold!

A touring bike, sport touring or adventure style seating position will be required for the long days in the saddle. The bikes must have similar amenities set-ups for long distance, 300 mile fuel range, GPS, communication gear and gadgets, luggage, and custom ergonomics. I’ve got sponsors for most of the add-ons. A nearby dealer, willing to do any needed repairs or maintenance is important as well.

Do you know a PR person who works for a motorcycle manufacturer? Do you think I should be riding your brand of bike? Can you write e-mails?

 My second issue is a big one. By taking off the 7 plus weeks from work to break this world record, I’m pretty much going to be out of a job when I finish, and I had thought  I would be starting my appearances and speaking presentations a couple nights a week around the same time. However, I was just informed by the pharmaceutical company that supplies my current medication, one who had originally expressed  interest in having me be a patient advocate, that they are, “Unfortunately not adding any new speakers to our programs for next year”. A big fat Dead End.  Other pharmaceutical companies have also expressed interest, but “Only if you are taking our medications, could we offer you a speaking opportunity”.  I call Bullshit.  I have been to hundreds of these GREAT drug company sponsored patient educational events, listened to dozens and dozens of patient speakers, Doctors and MS specialists and the information and messages are very universal for the most part, with minor mentions of their medication and benefits, but always combined with listing the other therapies that are available as well.  The MS Doctor giving the talk isn’t required to be on the medications, so why should I as the patient advocate with MS have to be in order to speak? These events are where patients get to interact with other MS patients, learn about new drugs and treatments, and hear first hand accounts of how others are coping with their symptoms.   These are great programs and I know my story and my presentation will work well at any of them.  Big Pharm, are you listening?  I am on a mission, an adventure with a great message, and I need your help to tell it.

It shouldn’t matter which drug I am taking, to help others understand the benefits of getting on a drug therapy to reduce their relapses.

It shouldn’t matter which drug I am taking, to help others find ways to be happy.  My message, my mission and my entertaining story works  for everyone.

Besides, as part of my million mile mission, I’m going to show up at all your events and eat your food anyway, so you might as well take advantage of my goal to help others by using my unique story and my ability to entertain.

Without an underwriting sponsor, the  50K / 50Day World Record attempt will cost approximately $25,000.

My fundraising goal for the 50-day attempt is also $25,000, with 100% going to the National MS Society.

So, as I plan out the next 6 months of the Endless Road Tour my three minor dilemmas are;  finding about fifty grand, a motorcycle manufacturer with a big heart, and a pharmaceutical company with some………. 

 Christmas spirit.

Damn, the oven beeper is going off, the oil sensor must be ready to test!

New Years resolutions are simple this year:

1) Ride

2) Raise  money

3) Ride harder

4) Tell my story

Peace,

Longhaulpaul