August 21, 2008 – As mind-boggling technology transmits spectacular images of great athletes from many time zones away, we can be lulled into believing there is nothing but the present. But for those of us who have been around the sport of cycling for several decades there is an amazing human being and cyclist who put Canadian women on the international map, and set the bar rather high for all who followed. Her name is Karen Strong.

I remember the first time I saw Karen. It was in May 1974 and as she was pulling her bike out the back of a Volkswagen at a downtown Hamilton, Ontario criterium. I knew, simply by looking at her legs, that I was sunk. Karen, at twenty years of age, and from the St. Catherine’s Cycling Club, took Ontario, then Canada, and finally the international cycling world by storm. By 1977 she was on the world championship podium with a bronze medal in the 3000-metre pursuit and appeared again in 1980 taking the silver in the same event. While she didn’t win a world championship medal on the road, there wasn’t an international road event beyond the World’s that she didn’t win or place in.

She prevailed particularly well in stage races, her endurance and skill on the bike being matched only by the other legends of her day – Connie Carpenter, Rebecca Twig, Sandra Schmacher, Keeite van Oasten Hage, Mary Jane Reoch. It was these athletes who opened the doors at the 1984 Olympics, when women were finally allowed to enter the road race, for the women who race today.

For many new to the sport, Karen Strong’s name may not be familiar, but unfortunately this weekend there is a very special ride she will take part in with Lance Armstrong to raise funds for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Strong is fighting that terrible disease right now. Those of us who have known her all of these years have had a hard time with this news.

But Karen’s strong spirit isn’t diminished and she’s throwing her leg over her own saddle for this ride. Anyone who has ridden from Canmore to Lake Louise knows what a tough ride this is, though it can’t be anything but a blast with Lance Armstrong and Robin Williams along. Karen’s team is called “Strong Connections” and she is joined by athletes she once coached on the women’s national team – Kelly Anne Carter Erdman, Maria Hawkins, Alison Sydor and Sara Neil are accompanying her as well.

These four, who planned a reunion with Karen, along with Denise Kelly, Clara Hughes and Jill Gould last fall, have not just been raising funds for breast cancer research for months, but have been there for Karen as she faces down this awful disease. Kelly Ann especially has appeared at Karen’s door with dinner, with great books, with her time and with her friendship.

Support Karen’s ride tomorrow and think about all she has given to this beautiful sport. It’s time to give her something back.

Please visit www.calgaryridewithlance.ca – then enter “˜Team Strong Connections’ in the Team Name or Karen Strong as captain. You may donate to the individual riders or the team.