About

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Happy 2017 and welcome to Jason Tang and mine’s newest venture, #WeRideWhy. My name is Greg Roth. What I am not, is a professional cyclist. I never have been, I never will. : ) What I am is a lifetime off and on athlete, avid cyclist and fitness enthusiast. I ride an average of 125-200 miles per week. I ride to train, I ride for fun, I ride on organized and official group rides. Including, Obliteride, Seattle To Portland, Reach The Beach etc. These particular events help raise funds for those suffering. I love cycling and everything that goes with it! I love the culture, I love the aesthetic and I love the athletic challenge. What I love most is the positive impact cycling can have in our community and beyond. Riding for something bigger than myself is what drives me on and is what helps be push through a tough climb!

In addition am the founder and Creative Director of Seattlemusicinsider.com, a successful music publication that covers music in around the Puget Sound region and way beyond.

Music is one of my greatest passions but along with my passion for music and our amazing music community, I am a huge cycling and fitness enthusiast. This new venture will highlight my own adventures in cycling but others as well. Seems like a pretty natural fit to me! : )

We ride because it gives us freedom. Freedom from work, freedom from our e-mail accounts, family obligations, politics, dogma, stress, worries, sickness and more. Cycling gives us so much beyond physical fitness. It is our happy place, our church and our refuge from the lives we lock ourselves into.

When we have something that we love, we want to give it away and share it with the world. That is what we are going to do here. We have some big things planned for 2017! This includes a series of videos and long form documentary telling our story of why we ride for a greater purpose and meaning.

The site is currently under construction. We are going to shine the spotlight on businesses, establishments and brands that we love. We also want to keep you up to date with what is going on in the cycling world and community. Eventually we will be adding contributors as well.

We will be adding new design and functionality in the next few weeks. We look forward to taking you on this journey with us!

#WeRideWhy?
We crave the freedom of the open road, with wind at our backs and our destination ahead.
To feel the agony of a climb and thrill of the decent.
We ride to connect with our planet and universe.
Because it makes us happy and healthy.
We ride because cancer took our friends, mothers, our fathers and our children.
We ride to chase the pain away.
To heal.
Because it brings out the best things about ourselves.
We ride out of love and passion.
To make a difference.
To touch the face of God and the angels.

Greg Roth – Founder/#WeRideWhy

What is next?

I will be riding in Obliteride 2017 on the 2-Day Route. I will be riding for my Mom and two Seattle moms who have battled cancer. Every dollar that you donate goes to Fred Hutch and the great work they do in helping fight cancer.

Donate to Obliteride

“#WeRideWhy?” The Movie

Follows Greg as he finally opens up and shares his intense pain and experience at the loss of his mother at such a young age, the negative impact it has had on some of his relationships.

The Film will be shot and released in 5 installments with the final installment and complete film released in early July.

#WeRideWhy? (Part I)

#TheDarkness

#TheFear

#TheStruggle

#TheHope

#TheHealing

*Part II will be released in the Fall

 #WeRideWhy? Part II (Post Obliteride)

 #The….?

The story follows Greg Roth as he continues the healing process from the death of his mother when he was 10. Greg’s mother was only 31 years of age. Last year Greg rode Obliteride for the first time. He rode to raise money for cancer research, via Fred Hutch. Participating in Obliteride brought up some ghosts for Greg and started what continues to be a healing process.  Part of his process is to participate in Obliteride 2017 but this year Greg is building a team with the hopes of raising $30,000.00 for Fred Hutch and cancer research.

The film will follow Greg and his team as the train and prepare for Obliteride 2017. Greg also shares his story about the pain and lifelong impact of losing his mother at a young age. The film and ride will be part of Greg’s healing process from pain that he has buried on and off for most of his life. In addition, Greg shares about the healing powers of cycling and what it teaches him overtime he goes out for a ride.

The film also focuses on two mothers that Greg and his team will be riding for:

Jenny George was diagnosed with leukemia at age 12, given less than 30 days to live, and told that she would never have children. Jenny beat the odds and credits the music of Duran Duran for helping her keep her spirits up during her illness and recovery. Today, she is a dedicated mother and an advocate for cancer research and treatment. She has donated her DNA to help scientists understand, diagnose, and treat leukemia and lymphoma.

Jenny established Dancing On The Valentine in 2004 in celebration of another year of life. Held annually on or around Valentine’s Day (Jenny’s birthday), all proceeds from DOTV go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Dancing on the Valentine has raised close to $60,000 for Leukemia research since 2004, and Jenny hopes to add another $10,000 to that figure in 2017.

Ashley Berg is a single mother raising a 10 year old daughter. She continues to battle cancer and raise her daughter in a loving and positive way. Like Jenny Ashley loves music and often takes her to family friendly music events and festivals. Ashly tells her story of the pain and isolation of cancer and the impact that it has had on her daughter.

#WeRideWhy?

 Jenny, Ashley and other friends of associates will share their stories among a backdrop of elegant and action packed cycling footage of Greg and his team as they ride around the Puget Sound and beyond preparing for Obliteride 2017. The film will take viewer up to weeks before the event, which will include 1500 – 2009 riders.