Thank you JP Cola & Gary Peterson for representing HFHWCM in the Habitat 500!! 

I learned from an early age that the world looks better from the seat of a bike. I grew up in Bloomington. As soon as I could ride a bike, I was exploring the neighborhood far-and-wide. Riding to-and-from school, on my paper route, and just for fun. I would ride across the terrifying, rickety steel truss Cedar Avenue and Bloomington Ferry Bridges into Eagan and Shakopee, or brave city traffic and ride into Eden Prairie, Richfield, Edina and even Minneapolis. Bike trips to Twins games at the Met and whole days spent people-watching at the Minneapolis St. Paul Airport. In my mind, Bloomington was paradise when it came to exploring on my bike. When I was 13 or 14 I rode to Jordan to visit my uncle, a 40 mile round trip.

As I got older and moved away from home, my bike came with me. In my early days of radio, I was moving to a different town every 2 or so years. When I wasn't on-the-air, I was on-my-bike exploring. I moved to
Willmar in 1990 and know most of the main and back roads around here. In 1993 I rode in my 1st TRAM (The Ride Across Minnesota) to raise money for the MS Society. I rode the TRAM again in 2000, 2003 and last year, 2009. It's a 350 mile, 5 day tour across the state.

In 2003 I bought my first recumbent, a bike with a chair instead of a seat, and with your feet in front of you
instead of beneath you. It's a much more comfortable way to ride. This spring I bought a new recumbent and am looking forward to breaking it in this July in the Habitat 500. Yes, I like raising money for worthwhile
causes like MS and Habitat for Humanity, but again, it all comes back to my life-long lesson...the world looks
better from a bike. The Habitat 500 is slightly longer than the TRAM, and in northern Minnesota this year, a place I've never ridden before, and I am really looking forward to it. More adventures lie ahead!

When ask about his decision to participate in this 500 mile bike ride, Gary stated, "This is a great opportunity to help a worthy organization and get a good work out!" Good luck with your ride Gary!