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Section: Feature
Mitch Flynn’s Passionate Rides
By Jana Eisenberg
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Flynn, at right, at the 10th Ride for Roswell
with cochair Peter O’Keefe and Sabres great
Pat LaFontaine.
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Flynn, biking in Death Valley.
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Flynn and wife Ellen Goldstein at last year’s
Ride for Roswell.
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Mitch Flynn, 58, is the founder of — and one of the top individual fundraisers for — the Ride For Roswell, an annual charity event to support Roswell Park Cancer Institute. The Ride itself is the culmination of year-round efforts, and this year (its 14th) takes place on June 27. Flynn is definitely geared up for it.
He started biking in 1972, when knee-surgery rehab made it his sport of choice. “After the surgery and rehab, I began commuting to school on the bike; I didn’t even have a car,” Flynn says over coffee. “In 1975, I biked solo across country. I’ve done a lot of other long-distance touring since then. Biking became something I really like to do.”
He cites several reasons why. “There’s the adventure aspect — seeing places that you probably wouldn’t see, at a speed you can appreciate,” he says. “And on the other hand, appreciating the speed of cycling versus things that are slower. I like the fitness aspect: the athletics; I enjoy the personal challenges of being able to go further, faster, to keep up with people who are younger than I am on fast rides.”
Flynn mentions that in February of this year he took a trip out to Las Vegas and did a “century ride” in Death Valley. Yes, that’s a hundred miles — the cycler’s equivalent of a runner’s marathon.
I asked Flynn to describe a typical long-distance ride day. “On touring trips, I typically ride 100 miles a day, at a steady pace of approximately 15 miles an hour,” he says. “That’s more or less all day, broken up by eating tremendous amounts of food. You probably burn 5,000 to 7,000 calories per day.” Contrast that with say, an average person burning about 300 calories in 30 minutes of gym exercise.
He even used a ride in Florida to help him quit smoking cigarettes, back in 1980. “I smoked on and off since high school,” he says. “I smoked until the day I left for the ride. It was a great way to quit; 21 consecutive days of riding, basically substituting food for the smoke. I was burning so many calories, I didn’t have to worry about gaining weight.”
Why the commitment to cycling? “After the original surgery, there were things I couldn’t do, like skiing or running,” he said. “So part of the drive to cycle has been because it’s the one thing I can do without any kind of physical limitations … I love cycling. I’m fortunate. It brings together health, sports, fundraising, and probably a few other things, that are important to me.”
Biking is his main sport; during the winter months, he turns to stationary bicycle exercise classes (known as spinning) for maintenance. How do they differ? “My heart rate and level of exertion are higher with road-riding,” he says. “With spinning, I can’t motivate myself to the same level. I like spinning because it’s concentrated. It helps me with outdoor riding, rather than being an end itself.”
He’s even substituted as a teacher to lead spinning classes at the Jewish Community Center. “I led the classes myself partly to stay in shape for the Death Valley ride. Also, it’s fun and kind of creative to put the music together for the class.” His creativity comes out in other ways; his advertising and marketing firm, Flynn & Friends, has been around for over 20 years.
As for the genesis of the Ride For Roswell idea? “I was on the Roswell Park Alliance Community Advisory Board, and I wasn’t particularly interested in working on any of the existing fundraisers. I was looking for something I would like; we needed a grassroots event versus high-donor/black tie. So that was one motivation. I also thought that a ride would be fun, and a good way to meet other people to bike with.”
On his company website, he listed a favorite quote by poet William Blake: “The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom.” This prompted a comment that his biking activities actually seem a little excessive.
He doesn’t disagree. “In almost everything — whether you’re a writer, an artist, a craftsman or an athlete — you tend to learn from mistakes, from doing something beyond your boundaries,” he says. “When you concentrate and get into a zone — whether it’s spiritual, creative, or intellectual work — you gain the wisdom that comes from exceeding what you think your limitations are … particularly that you think you have limitations.”
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