Big bike, big burn
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Carine Moylan has a regular fitness routine featuring an elliptical trainer and free weights.
Natalie Rozelle – whose alter ego Anytime Fitness Girl’s super powers include ‘keeping people fit,’ – was easily identifiable by her blue costume highlighted by distinctive silver glasses and matching fitness figure on its front.
But both felt the ‘big bike burn’ Monday afternoon as they headed up Rolph Street.
“It’s a different burn, all right,” Moylan laughed.
“I felt it coming up by Rolph Street (Public School),” admitted Rozelle.
The two were in good company: nine separate teams cycled through a circuit of downtown Tillsonburg aboard the ‘big bike’ in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. And most, even Community Centre/Program Manager Janet McCurdy (who did a tour of duty with town staff and an additional loop as a guest member of the Brocanier family) felt that Rolph Street burn.
But it was in effect a ‘good’ burn, in the sense the pain was shared amongst compatriots, and coincided with raising money for a great cause.
“It was fun,” said Moylan. “An awesome cause - I’ll do it again.”
Heart and Stroke Foundation Area Coordinator Caitlin Morrow ‘did it again,’ Monday, hopping aboard the big bike for the first time since high school. Her active lifestyle includes horseback riding, but she too noticed the Rolph Street burn.
“It’s just a slight hill, but you feel it at the end,” she admitted, while agreeing wholeheartedly with the ‘good burn’ analogy.
“Exactly, you’re helping raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and helping make health last.
“It was so much fun, really nice weather and everyone in the streets is so supportive.”
Participants in the ride raise pledges before hopping aboard the bike in the Kelsey’s parking lot, for a quick loop down Broadway and back around via Rolph. The process began at 11:30 a.m., concluding around 2:30 p.m. In total, the effort raised over $16,000 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, money which will be used for education, advocacy and research.
“It was a super good day today,” Morrow concluded. “It was a lot of fun, everybody had fun.
“And Tillsonburg is always very good to us.”