Here are the finalists for my bike name, proffered by Landshark, Alex Nemeth and my good friend Christopher Varmus. Vote early. Vote often (that is, if you can figure out how to stuff the ballot box). Polls will close tomorrow at noon. I promise to abide by the results. When my bike emerges from its cross-country journey it will be known forevermore by the winner of this poll.

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A very generous supporter of the Landsharks has offered to match all donations made today, Thursday April 8th, 2010. Keep an eye on this post for our progress. And don’t forget to donate!

During the 2009 season, for more reasons than not, I was lucky. I enjoyed the good fortune not only of having a great friend like Cat Fitzgerald, who was generous enough to lend me a bike, but also of Cat’s similar height. Her Raleigh road bike (with Cat below), if a tad small, fit me pretty well. In the last year, I rode it for countless miles: across the Brooklyn Bridge while dodging photo-snapping tourists and back across the Manhattan Bridge while grunting frustration at pedestrians who stray to the northern, “bikes-only” side; up the west side highway and around Central Park on swampy late summer evenings; and past saltwater farms on the Maine coast in September.

I returned Cat’s bike, somewhat sad to see it go, this past Friday to its rightful owner. Cat, having recuperated from a serious knee injury, is ready to start riding again and has even signed up for an upcoming triathlon. I’ve embarked on a new relationship with a yet-to-be-named Kestrel road bike that looks altogether too fast for my plodding cycling.

That’s where y’all come in. Despite the attempts of my plucky roommate and Landshark, Alex, my bike is still without a name and I would like some help. Between now and Sunday, April 11th at midnight submit your ideas in the comments here, via Twitter (follow me @choyo; tag #namechoyobike), or by email aaron@brooklynlandsharks.org. On Monday of next week, I’ll reveal the winner.

Last week when I sent an update email to my friends and supporters, I had to choose between two topics on my mind: taking action (as opposed to speaking words) against cancer OR all of the various set backs and injuries the Landsharks have stuggled against this season. I chose the former.

The following morning on my way down the stairs and out the door I fell and broke my fifth metacarpal in my left hand (now it seems like I was just saving the latter until I had a better story!). I thought for sure it was just bruised, but it hurt like hell and my pinky was sticking out an odd angle, so I went to the ER. When I learned it was broken I was devastated. The race was less than 6 weeks away and the doc said I could be in a cast for 6 to 8 weeks. So I decided to believe 6 and find an orthopod who treats athletes. A couple days ago I went to see him and got better news.

I got a cool waterproof cast, which I should be out of in three weeks, pending good healing, and while I can’t bike outside since I can’t hold the handlebars, I can swim, run and spin at the gym (all of which I have tried in the last couple days and feel good about). It still remains to be seen if I’ll really be able to race, but right now it feels possible.

I’ve been thinking a lot during this process about setbacks, perserverence and positive thinking in my own life and in the lives of those living with cancer. I can only imagine how hard it is to get that first diagnosis, but then along the way there are inevitably good days and significant moments of despair. It is cliche (though also true) to say that we use the stories of those fighting this disease as motivation to train and fundraise, but for me this has become even more crucial now. Sweating through a spin workout, trying to find a comfortable place for the cast on the handlebars, I think about how small my struggle is and I am inspired to keep going in the face of discomfort. The other Landsharks have faced shin splints, foot and shoulder problems, bruised ribs, and persistent respiratory problems. What we have control over is the way we deal with these inevitable setbacks– and what we give back in the way of funding for research and care. Please show your support and give.