Take the ride of your life is ADA’s Tour de Cure slogan. It was my first ever charity ride.
Prior to the ride I mapped out the route – 28 miles and change. My longest ride so far had been 24 miles, but I’d only done it once. Started getting nervous, had I bitten off more then I could chew?
I arrived by 7:15a, my ride didn’t start til 8a, since it was my first ride I wanted to make sure and leave plenty of time to get my riding number and get myself organized and ready…course all that took about 15 minutes!
It was a brisk 46 degrees outside and there I was dressed in spandex bike attire with no sleeves. At that moment I would have paid good money for some sleeves!
All the ceremonial stuff took about 10 minutes and the first wave of riders were on their way.
8a – time to roll out! They reminded us to shout “Go Red Rider” whenever we passed a fellow Red Rider – I thought “how corny” but went with it. As we headed out I was still worried I’d fail, wouldn’t be able to complete the route. There were rest stops at 5, 11, & 20 miles. I knew I could ride 10-11 miles without issue, but 10-11 miles three times back to back? Time would tell.
I rode right on past the 5 mile stop.
I did the first 11 miles alone, got passed by a lot of folks but I had expected that – as corny as it was, the cheer GO RED RIDER as they passed me was a good motivator. I returned the cheer to the Red Riders passing me (look at me bein all corny right along with em). At the 11 mile stop I pulled in, ate a snack, drank some more water, and text everyone my progress – I was really doin well, keeping a good pace and my butt only kinda hurt. 11 down 17 to go!
Back on the road and again I was alone, nothing to be sad about I ride alone all the time so this was nothing new or different. What was different was this odd woman who decided I needed company for miles 12-20. She pedaled up next to me and started a conversation. I went with it and politely answered back while thinking to myself “please move on”. As we chatted the miles melted away. She commented more then once about how much harder I was working on my bike than she on hers, and that I should have gotten a better bike for this ride. I explained what I was riding was all I had, there was no lightweight option back at the house. As odd and sometimes annoying as she was chatting with her got me thru those middle miles. At the 20 mile rest stop we parted ways.
20 miles done! 7 to go, I’ve got this!!
At the 20 mile stop my butt hurt quite a bit more, but the rest of me was feelin good! I was still keeping a good pace, a bit slower then the first 11 miles but still good. The temperature was approaching 70 and now I was glad I didn't have sleeves on! During the middle miles I developed a squeak so I went over to the Bicycle World tent and had them look at it – a little spray on my chain along with some good hearted teasing the squeak was gone. Walking back to the refreshment tent…OMG what a darling puppy!! He was a blue heeler/lab mix named Eli – playing with him for a little bit made me forget all about how much my butt hurt.
I had another little snack, some refreshingly cold water (still had water in my camelbak but it wasn't cold cold anymore) and text everyone my progress.
Seven miles left – I can do this!
Off I went to cheers of GO RED RIDER – I was energized and rarin to go…for the first two miles then my body started to get a bit tired, legs still goin strong but the rest of me wanted a nap! I kept pushing, I was too close to give up. I was determined not to ride to that finish line in a SAG support truck!
I now loved hearing GO RED RIDER, the cheer seemed to come each time I needed that extra push to keep going during those last miles.
My route monitor tells me I have hit mile 25.
I start talking to myself (yes out loud) - 3 to go, c’mon you can do this, you have already ridden farther then you ever have, let’s add some more miles to that!
About this time the Ride Marshal comes by, slows down and says “About 5 miles left, you can do this Red Rider!” and zips off. Five miles?! Nuh-uh! My thing just said three about a half mile ago!
Mile 27 – YES! I can do this, one mile to go! Only problem was nothing was looking familiar.
Mile 28 – Ummm I should probably be seeing the mall by now, this is not good
Mile 29 – WTF?! Where the hell is the finish line?!
After mile 29 – Boy it had better say 30 before I cross that finish line!
Mile 30 – GO ME!!! You are a bike riding rock star!!
As I rode in Anthony was at the final turn taking video, my parents were cheering and taking pics as I approached the finish and my friend was just inside the finish line taking video and pics. After a small celebration and a few introductions by the finish line my friend headed to her next activity while Anthony, Mom, Dad, and I went to lunch to celebrate my victory. Yeah I know it wasn’t a race and I didn’t come in first, but I did accomplish both goals I set for myself
1 – finish the ride
2 – don’t be the last rider in
Victory!
As we chatted about the ride the conversation went to discussing the need for a different bike for this type of ride. I agreed and relayed that I’d lost count of how many people said “I can’t believe you are doing this on THAT bike!” or “Wow, how are you doing this on THAT bike?!” Both statements followed by GO RED RIDER! as they zipped on ahead of me. Trust me, by the end of the ride I wasn’t even sure how I’d done it on any bike, let alone one not designed for distance riding!
By the time I got home the adrenaline was wearing off and I was feeling the need for a nap. As I rolled over to get comfy I realized the nap was going to have to wait until after a soak in the tub – from my waist down I was hurting. Soak done, jammies on, time to get some ZZZ’s – time to dream and relive the best 30 miles ever…it was indeed The Ride of My Life!
