Paceline: It all started with a mountain bike

Shared by Ellice Whatley Bowman, Event Operations and Merchandise Coordinator for Paceline Ride, LLC.

On May 10-11, 2019, Paceline hosts a bike ride and community celebration to benefit critical research and survivorship at the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University.

This story is a look at why one of those riders decided to get involved.

Candace Kimbrell arrived home from work one day in 2011 to a gift that changed her life. Her husband surprised her with a mountain bike. Like most adults, Kimbrell rode bikes as a kid, but the hobby did not continue into adulthood. What started out as a gift transformed into a passion. Soon after receiving the bike, Kimbrell completed duathlons, and eventually bought a road bike for triathlons, completing the local Ironman, as well as the full Ironman in Florida and Chattanooga, Tennessee.  Now, she is training for a century ride for Paceline.

Kimbrell first heard about Paceline through Drew Jordan, owner of Andy Jordan’s Bicycle Warehouse, and she immediately joined his team. Her mother-in-law, Becky Kimbrell, passed away in February 2018 after her battle with small-cell lung cancer. Becky fought for several years and received treatment at the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University. The cancer fell into remission, but unfortunately it returned aggressively.

“She was so strong, though,” Kimbrell said, as she proudly remembers her mother-in-law. “She didn’t want us to worry about her a lot. I felt bad because when she was fighting it at first, I wasn’t going with her to the doctors, and I wish I had. When it came back, I was there.”

Kimbrell is fundraising and riding 100 miles to remember, honor and celebrate her mother-in-law’s strength and bravery throughout her battle with cancer — something Kimbrell will always remember.

“I can’t think of a better way to honor her memory than combining my love of cycling with fundraising for research to find a cure at the place where she touched the heart of everyone she met,” she said.

Kimbrell has grown as a cyclist since she received her first mountain bike eight years ago. Leading the women’s road group rides with Andy Jordan’s Bicycle Warehouse, she uses her cycling experience to safely keep groups together as they train. When it comes to joining the Paceline, Kimbrell believes there is a place for everyone.

“Everybody rode a bike as kid, and it’s more natural for some people than others, but everybody can do it,” she said. “You don’t have to bite off the 100 miles like what I’m doing. There are other distances. You would be surprised how quickly you improve just by putting in a little time. Whenever I first started, I went from 10 miles to 40 miles in no time. Once you get the hang of it, you excel quickly. There is still a lot of time, and the adrenaline of being around other people helps you make it.”

Join the Paceline.

Paceline is more than a ride. It’s a community event where 100% of all fundraising goes to fund critical research and survivorship at the Georgia Cancer Center. Learn more or register to ride at pacelineride.org.

A wide range of volunteer options including bike management, food and beverage tent operations, photography, rider check-in and more are available. Register as a 2019 Paceline Volunteer.