It’s never too late to excel at something new.

Jenny Peters discovered the meaning of that phrase several years ago when biking changed her life. But what’s more important is how she now uses her talents with hopes to improve others’ lives.

Peters, a 40-year-old mother of two and ex-smoker from Austin, picked up biking nearly five years ago and never looked back. In the beginning, she realized she could bike more miles than she anticipated, and that was while she was still smoking.

Since then, her hobby has only grown. She uses it to fight multiple sclerosis, a debilitating disease that erodes nerve tissue.

About two and half years ago, Peters entered her first organized bike event. Now, organized events, personal rides from Austin to Owatonna and increasing distance goals encourage her to do more.

“I just wanted to go faster and farther,” she said.

Last summer she rode 127 miles in one day, and not for an event.

“That was a Sunday ride,” she added.

Last year, Peters entered the MS 150 ride from Duluth to the Twin Cities for her first time. She was inspired by the event’s focus to raise funds for multiple sclerosis. She never planned to raise money for MS, but biking brought her to it. She said it could have been juvenile diabetes, cancer or any other cause and she would have raised money for it. It just happened to be MS, and it involved biking and lots of it — 150 miles in two days. That sparked another idea in Peters’ mind: making and selling earrings to raise proceeds for the MS 150 every year.

That plan has been working for her, as Peters completed the 2011 MS 150 last weekend with a pledge of $1,300 dollars toward the fundraiser.

“It was so much fun,” she said about the 2010 MS 150, “It was so inspirational, I knew I had to do it this year.”

Peters pledged $700 toward 2010’s event, but with a pledge of more than $1,000 in 2011, she was considered a Golden Gear. Golden Gears receive special jerseys, recognition and privileges throughout the ride to honor their contributions. She hopes to continue the event each year and never give up that distinction.

Aside from her three jobs, she’s going to make as many earrings as she can at home and sell them for $3 a pair. Thus far, she’s sold pairs to people out of state, out of the country and to people with MS. She’s also met many inspirational people on the MS rides and started her own Facebook page, Jenny’s Cause, where people can find out about her fundraising efforts or buy earrings.

“Little donations can do big things,” she said. “You don’t always have to give $20 or $50 donations.”

Peters discovered another way small amounts of money add up, too. She’s approaching five years without smoking and uses the thousands of dollars she would have spent on cigarettes on bike equipment.

“I was chucking over a thousand dollars a year in cigarettes; now I chuck it in my bike,” she said.

According to Peters, people now ask her how she works three jobs, makes earrings and spends a lot of money on biking and fundraisers.

“I guess I just do it,” she said.

Though the MS Society’s The Ride Across Minnesota (TRAM) passes through Austin this year, Peters plans to continue her efforts on the MS 150, as she’s already dedicated all her fundraising money toward it. She may either volunteer at the TRAM, or try to jump in with the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI).

In the meantime, she’ll keep peddling earrings and pedaling miles for next year’s MS 150.