Today was quite the lovely ride, a breezy 54 miles into Columbus Ohio. The morning began with a breakfast of champions: cake, ice cream, lasagna, and oatmeal, and combinations thereof. We enjoyed a leisurely ride on flat roads and an early arrival. Some team members spent their day around central Columbus checking out local bike shops, art shows, and the OSU campus. The alumni association provided us with a filling dinner, and some team members headed out to catch he hawks game while others went to bed early in preparation for the 100+ mile ride that awaits us tomorrow.
One rest day the hard way, please
Today was an excellent day. 54 short miles from Zanesville to Columbus, Ohio, and we relished every one of them. Rolling into your destination before noon means that you have effectively bicycled your way to a free rest day. If our sleeping space was open to us (there's an art show in the church we're staying in) I can guarantee you that the nappers would outnumber the waking. It isn't an unusual occurrence with this bunch.
I'm starting to get these weird memory lapses that involve forgetting entire stayovers and towns that we stop in. On a physiological level I'm sure it has something to do with my brain redirecting energy towards vital functions like breathing and blinking so that I don't fall into an exhaustion induced coma after each ride. It's a fair tradeoff as far as I'm concerned, but alarming all the same. Szymon had to explain to me the layout of the building and the surrounding area so that I could remember what Zanesville was - a town that we left less than 8 hours ago as I write this post. It is a sort of bizarre experience, sleeping in a different building each night with only short glimpses of the locale to fill in the blanks along the way. It isn't uncommon that I wake up entirely disoriented and uncertain of where I am. Usually when that happens the feeling fades as you take in your surroundings, identifying familiar objects or remembering what was happening immediately before you slept. If you are able to sleep deeply the moment that you close your eyes and you have no identifiable objects to rely on other than your own backpack and sleeping bag, the feeling tends to linger.
Today was the first day that we got to ride on a flat surface since leaving New Jersey on day... 2 I think it was. It was incredible. Our bicycles became something greater than themselves, carrying us effortlessly across the types of roads that can only exist between two cornfields. As we close one chapter (Mountains: A Horror Epic) and begin another (Oh Yeah, This is Why We Live in the Midwest), these are the things that stand out in my mind:
High-Voltage Power Lines: Having never come across lines of this sort before, riding beneath one for the first time was an unusual experience. The crackling sound that is produced as they usher lightning from one village to the next is quite enticing and I would've liked to stop and observe them more closely, but I've heard that they deliver cancer almost as effectively as they do electricity. It was kind of a treat rolling by them when we did cross their path, though.
Nacho Cheese Smell: One of the great mysteries of the natural world, there exists in these lands some agent of smell that creates what can only be described as an exact, one-to-one, chemically identical smell to bright orange 100% synthetic nacho cheese. It comes and goes as it chooses, available to be smelled at the top of mountains in Pennsylvania as well as in cities with names like Famousnameville or Naturephraseburg. Baffling and delicious, this elusive scent is a real treat for the hungry biker.
Roadkill: America's new top export. Although the original settlers preferred trapping and shooting their game, today's Americans know that the automobile is by far our most vicious and effective weapon. Not until you've seen the semi-rare bluejay lying defeated on the side of the road two days in a row or a rabbit that has been turned entirely inside out by the pressing force of even a lowly mid-sized sedan can you begin to understand the power that we each wield over the lesser beasts. And the smell will help you to understand it, too. Roadkill smells bad when you're in a car going 45 and you've got the fan venting in air from outside. Roadkill smells like angry death that has been left out of the refrigerator for too long when you're on a bike breathing heavily pushing 8 up a hill.
Tomorrow we ride for Indiana, and when we arrive, we shall all be known as Centurions. Let the 100+ miles of glory commence. After much sleeping and eating tonight.
Trek Across Ohio
Epic day.Fueled by cold pizza and soda, the team embarked on a 65 mile journey through the rolling hills of eastern Ohio. Riders rode through a light afternoon precipitation, enjoying the soft sounds of nature and the roaring of passing semis. Upon the exotic breads of Panera, we savored the flavors of peanut butter and jelly. Our lack of sleep and fatigue caught up with us as we arrived in Zanesville. The church provided us with a tasty lasagna dinner (promptly inhaled), and we concluded our evening with a screening of Little Women, a rousing game of euchre, and an 8:30 lights out.
haaaay again
I have not updated my blog in a while because we had some hot days with plenty of hills and I always manage to roll in exhausted. I often find myself thinking about song lyrics involving hills, specifically "The climb" by Miley Cyrus. Yesterday we had a tough time getting out of pitt and many of us were on the road for 12 hours. Today was overcast and only 64 miles. It was nice to arrive at our stayover early!
Cadiz, OH 06/02
Well, today was another driving day for me. Shao joined me today with her injured knee as we navigated our way out of Pittsburgh, through West Virginia, into Ohio, back through West Virgina to Pennsylvania, then back through West Virgina to Ohio again, where we finally arrived in Cadiz.Such a long day with some ups and downs. The Lady Pack and honorary Ladies Jeff and Kevin got mad style lost, apparently for the better, shaving 15 miles off their route. Jegg had some bike problems again, typical... Hilary is way nicer to him than his own bikes are. I discovered a few things this day as well... A. West Virgina is filled with some shady characters and B. While I am a fantastic van driver, I hope that this day, June 2nd, was the last day I ever have to drive again. I managed to lose two of the van magnets while driving, hence crossing WV 3 times... whoops. Sorry Conor.Also, I found out the MRI results. As expected there are some issues with swelling in the IT band as well and some fluid under my knee. Apparently this caused a small tilt in my knee cap affecting a ligament and some cartilage. Sitting out the past few days, I can honestly say I'm sick of not riding, it blows. I rode up and down the same hill numerous times today while the team ate lunch and then circled 5 miles in the church parking lot this evening. Did it feel awesome? No. Will I be riding tomorrow? Yes. I'm so giddy to get back on my bike it's not even funny, so we shall see how it goes. I hope Ohio is nicer to me than Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Steve does too, he says hi.
Grandfathered grades of Pitt and 3 states. Cadiz, OH 6/2/2010
93 miles is the furthest our team has riden on this trip so far. I was mentally prepared for this ride. I knew the beginning would be tough getting out of Pittsburgh with its very steep grades during rush hour. Pittsburgh roads were made before regulations of road grades were created. Being a city stuck between two mountains, getting into Pittsburgh is very easy and getting out is very taxing. It took us almost two hours to get out of the city- not even 15miles. Not kiding. These roads were STEEP and not paved well. I chained out twice in the first six miles.There was alot of frustration throughout this ride. Many of our cues were not descriptive enough or just not accurate. Many of the roads were unmarked. One group got lost 15 miles off of the projected route. They managed to get a police escort on an interstate to cut their ride to 75 miles! How cool! We spent much of the second half of the ride unsupported because of the group that got lost and bike issues. Therefore, we had to search for place to fill up our water. At mile 68 we ran out of water and we were exhausted. We stopped at a gas station. It was packed with people in polos. We went to the front counter to ask to fill up our water bottles. One of the men in polos jumped out and asked where we were riding and we gave him our story. He immediately offered us bottled water and anything in his store on him. He owned it. Amazing. I joked that I will only drink cold Aquafina the rest of the ride.Just outside the gas station preparing to take off, a man stopped us and handed me a few dollars. Then $15. Then a $20. He told us to get lunch and food for the night. He was from Florida and listened to our story in the station. He said his name was Jerry (something) and if we ever go to were he was from, he would buy us dinner. He is the only one in the phonebook under his name. This man didn't know us for more than five minutes and showed generosity and care because of a cause that hits home all across the United States.Lost again. We ended up in a "not so good" part of West Virginia. We met the van and conversed about how to get back on track towards Cadiz. While the van searched for our route, we waited under an overpass. Homeless people and intimidating locals roamed the street. A fireman walked up to us and asked us to push a car down a street for a woman. Conor and I gave Greg the job of watching our bikes. The car to push was not very close, try four of five blocks. We pushed it to a gas station, passing Greg on the way. He was terrified. We pushed it to the gas station and the woman was so thankful that she bought us all gatorade. After the purchase, Conor and I sprinted down the street to Greg. To our surprise, Greg was conversing with a homeless man who was very interested in our ride. At the end of the conversation, the man pulled three dollars out of his pocket and gave us one. Indescribable.Back on the road. About a mile down and a few turns in, we faced a very long, demanding uphill. Too bad I already used up my leg muscles to push that woman's car! I finished the hill in disbelief that I found strength to finish it out. 20 miles and many rolling Ohio hills later, we made it to our stayover. Across the street is an ice cream shop. I visited it 3 times today. I love burning 6000 calories a day.Tomorrows ride should be much easier. Maybe a cool 70 miles over plains with a group that I normally do not ride with. Should be exciting!
10 miles of rest. Pittsburgh, PA 6/1/2010
My rest day in Pittsburgh started off with me lying awake at 8am trying to fall back asleep. I was so bored lying in the dark that I texted Sean Laude if he wanted help preparing breakfast. I headed upstairs with this gourmet breakfast in mind. I was put on hash brown duty. My experience with has browns is extremely limited and as a result, they turned out really ugly. At least they still tasted like potatoes. My turkey bacon turned out a little better.I hit the town with a list of things to do. Go to the post office, buy a new towel, get some laundry done and buy some cheap pants. Lauren was able to schedule an MRI today. She wanted to see if her knee was in riding shape, so we planned to bike to the hospital and then to REI, a camping store. During her MRI, I went to the post office to pick up mail, only to find out that the mail I expected was sent to the return address already. I headed back to the hospital to meet up with Lauren after her MRI. This plan would have worked perfectly if I hadn't lost her bike lock key. Luckily, as my seat bag was spread out on the parking lot floor, Lauren called to tell me that she had been waiting a long time to get called. I stopped looking for her key and headed to REI. There, I finally got a camp towel and a food donation of cliff bars. I had some more time and headed to Goodwill to shop for cheap cheap packable pants. In the middle of my shopping spree, I got a call from Lauren that said she was finished with her MRI. There I broke the news that I lost her key. Apparently there was an important key chain on it. However, she wasn't very unhappy because she had a spare key. Unfortunately, I was 3 miles away! I sprinted (on my bike) back from across town, across the bridge and uphill to our stayover location. I ran downstairs and failed at finding Lauren's key for about ten minutes. As soon as I found it, I sprinted back to the hospital. I raced a bus on my way to the hospital and won. The hospital was built on a steep uphill. Max and Lauren stared as I chugged, dripping sweat in Lauren's youth large t-shirt (mine were in the laundry) up that hill. We unlocked her bike and headed to Jimmy John's. We got talking to the sandwich making guy at Jimmy John's and found that he too was a cyclist. This was my opportunity to sneak another food donation! My PB&J will taste so good tomorrow. We went to the post office again to look for Lauren's misplaced key. The post office was closed. Fortunately, I found the clerk I talked to earlier and knew exactly of what we were asking for. Time for the Cubs game! We quickly headed to the stayover to get ready for the game. Lauren and I were in a rush not to miss the bus; so much so that I piggy backed her halfway to the stop. she carried my wallet and phone. The bus came and I fished for my wallet in her purse. Not there. Problem.I immediately retrace my steps back to the stayover. Thought cross my head like, "Oh, this is so much worse that losing a bike lock key" and "food on Lauren next week!" A young man was walking down the sidewalk mispronouncing my name. He had my wallet! Thank goodness. He told me not to carry fifty dollars in my wallet. Little did he know that it was the only cash I had.Cubs game. Cubs lose. Typical. It was really neat to be an away fan. I cannot thank Jamie's parents for organizing that.As you see, I ran around a lot today. I managed to put 10 miles on my bike- so much for a rest day. Pittsburgh is a neat place but the residents that I met didn't think so. They like Chicago better! We told the bus driver back from the Cubs game that the buses in Chicago have karaoke. He might have belived it by the way we were singing on the bus.90 miles tomorrow out of Pittsburgh. Should be challenging!
Flyers fans? Nope. Pittsburgh, PA 5/31/2010
Go Hawks!!! The team took a trip to a local bar to watch the game. I managed to find a red jersey numbered 7 at our stayover! Thankfully my sister was on hand to tell me it was Seabrook's number. I have never seen the Hawks play with such energy. Our ride to Pittsburgh was short, flat, and enjoyable. Only just before our arrival in Pittsburgh was there a challenging hill. Much of the ride was done on a flat trail. Riders who caught up to my group on the trail were a little taken back. They asked if our group got a flat or took a break. In fact, we just wanted to kick back and enjoy the trail at 11mph. The last 15 miles were full of very good hill climbs that took my breath. I love that feeling. completely exhausted. At the top of one of our lat hill climbs, Conor asked, "You know what I like about you two? You never complain." This put things into perspective for me. In my cancer experience. I had never heard a patitent complain. They took every hill and mountain like there was no hill and mountain after. Total exhaustion. It was nice to ride knowing that I wouldn't have to ride tomorrow. I quickly took a nap when I arrived in Pittsburgh. I woke up to lunch being served. Moldy bread, peanut butter and jelly. No thanks. I ate some leftover ham and got pizza. Tonight we had a team meeing for isses that we would like to bring out about the team. Items like attitude, staying positive and bike groups were addressed.Keeping apositive attitude on this trip is alot like keeping a positive attitude during cancer treatment. Everyone has bad days, but you have to keep your spirits high. Everyone in that chemo clinic is feeling just as bad as you are. If you don't keep a positive attitude on this trip, the morale of your teamates will drop, just like chemo. Respect for people's physical fitness was also addressed. No cancer experience is the same, and no patient will take the same treatment like the person next to them with the same diagnosis. But, they push on. As I said earlier in my blog, I like to push myself on this ride to remind me of the struggles that a cancer patient has. An idea that was brought up in the meeting was to draw numbers for biking groups. this idea did not attract me at first until I gave it some serious thought. We are a team. A cancer patient and their support group behind them is a team. We all push each other to achieve our maximum potential. We won't pick numbers for the first ride after our rest day, but I surely cannot wait until we do.
3 States, 1 Day, 28 Pizzas!
Hello all,Yesterday was our first rest day in Pittsburgh, PA and we all enjoyed it thoroughly. Some did laundry, some got their eyebrows waxed, and everyone went to the Cubs vs Pirates baseball game! (Cubs lost!)At the begininning of the day, the team had to bid farewell to our #1 supporter--Sean Laude. Since we left Chicago, the 2007 rider/Illini 4000 Senior Director lended a HUGE helping hand in getting this year's trip off the ground. By driving the support van, always making sure we had water and food, and subbing in on another's bicycle. We will miss you, Sean, and we all wish you good luck with your new job next week. We look forward to seeing you in Chicago!Today marked Day 8 of riding as we traveled from PIttsburgh, PA, through West Virginia, to Cadiz, Ohio! Today exemplified to a great extent the dedication of the team and the way in which we carry out our vision. At 95 miles, today was our longest ride. Every group of riders interacted with communities along the route today. Some helped firemen push a car, some talked to community members about the organization, and some even got escorted across an interstate bridge by West Virginia's finest!The day only got better when the riders stopped by a local ice cream shop by the stayover! Finally, the team would like to thank Pat and Terri O'Hara (Eamon's parents) for donating 1 pizza for every rider (yes, 28 pizzas! And Domino's even through in a couple extra!)-The Illini 4000!
Bring it. Mt. Pleasant, PA 5/30/2010
Only three people rode in the front group today. There seemed to be some substance behind that small number today. This ride was HARD. Steep hills with very little flats or downhills for rest. I have never needed so many rest stops. Rest stops were funny today. I guess we all agreed to ride on whenever I said something extremely awkward. Motivation?I was very happy with the detirmination and vigor in which me, Conor, and Greg finished. 5:22 for an 80 miler with uphills. Along the way I hit 45.7mph. One hill was so steep that we coasted down it for 2 miles at 43 miles an hour. Amazing. I recieved two flats on this ride. Both occured during a 4 mile downhill. The first was caused by a little daydreaming and myself running over a really big rock. Flat number two was caused about one hundred feet after I finished fixing my flat on my front tire. A staple! BOOM. Back tire blowout. Ugh. The amount of energy used in this ride came from not me but from anger, passion, and faith. Anger from the merciless course of cancer. Passion from those who supported me when I was sick and faith from those who supported me on this ride. Truly amazing.Today I joined Lauren on her trip to the hospital. I am very glad I went with her to prevent her from freaking out and to ask questions she may not have thought about. I might be violating HIPPA by saying all this but, oh well. We were taken right away and Lauren began her registration. I looked like a boy who just rolled around in bike grease and Lauren looked like a girl who needed a cane. A nurse in passing asked if we were fiances. We both looked at each other, held hands and said yes. Typical. We burst out laughing.Lauren was taken to a pre-op rooom where there was a surgical bed and a chair. Lauren almost dove inot the bed as I did the chair. We stated to the nursre that we hadn't been that comfortable for a long time considering the really tiny peice of cushioned plastic I pedal on every day. lauren was left with a blood pressure cuff on her arm that took forever to take her bllod pressure. In fact, we never got a reading. Her pulse was made audible by that machine, so naturally I started hand drumming to her heart beat. She gingerly joined. The nurse stated, "You know, we do have a TV..." Laughter. We said that we became really good at occupying ourselves while on the trip. Lauren was taken for an XRAY and came back with a nurse holding two boxes. One held some spacers for her crutches and the other held "the IMMOBILIZER." This thing was huge. Before we vistited the hospital, I joked that they would put something so absurd on her leg. Guess I was right. After signing a few papers and challenging a woman to a crutch race, we exited the hospital. Lauren immediately ditched the crutches and gave them to me. I have never used crutches, so I figured I would give them a whirl. Lauren and I must have been quite a site with me in my bike gear on crutches and Lauren with her ridiculous leg brace. We got some crazy stares from a cop car that probably thought that I was running away with Lauren's crutches. Lauren's knee is still hurt and we didnt really learn anything signifigant from the Mt. Pleasant medical staff, just that me and Lauren look like a married couple.Today we recieved updates on the cook's sister from Everett. Her sister exited the hospital in a stable condidtion. Hope.I find myself always staying up late writing these entries. As I look around at everyone sleeping, I know that I cannot be surrounded by such a loving team. No matter what highs and lows we hit along the way, our back tires are going to find the shores of San Fransisco. Tomorrow is 58 to Pittsburgh. Bring it on. Nothing can stop us.
Foothills. Psh. Whatever. Everett, PA 5/29/2010
We climbed hills. 80 miles. We went to bed. This ride was the hardest yet but I hear that tomorrow's ride will be even more challenging. Who knew foothills could be so offensive to my physical fitness? Can't wait for more.... eh.The biggest meal awated us at out stayover. The members of the church spent all day cooking a wonderful meal of stew, prunes, applesauce and cake. I enjoyed five cups of coffee.A phone call rang and was answered by one of the cooks. The mood instantly changed from excitement and engaging to one of a more serious note. One of the women ran out of the room. Later, the cooks filled me in on what hapened. The sister of one of the women had been fighting cancer. That call was to warn them that their sister had gone unconcious and had been rushed to a hospital. I assured them that we were there for a reason and that we have hope.I waited six hours for a thirty minute shower. Totally worth it.
The best day ever. 5/27/2010 Lancaster, NJ
I was super worried about my knee before today's ride. I tied a bandanna around my knee to stop my IT band from moving as much. Riding out of Philly, I knew it was going to be a scorcher. It was. At one point it reached a heat index of 98. This is not fun biking weather folks.I started with a slower group than usual to take it easy on my knee. We got on the PA bike trail and I found that the bandanna I had put on was nothing but a nuisance. I took it off and wrapped it around my head. This was the best thing I could have ever done. The bandanna took all of the sweat away from my face.I was beside myself. I didn't know how fast I wanted to go today. All signs pointed to me taking it easy so that I wouldn't aggravate my knee. Tough. After a snack stop at the forty mile mark and a cheeseburger hot dog, I hopped up in front. We flew. I have never ridden this hard before. My knee didn't hurt and I felt great on the hills. My confidence was growing. I think the group I biked with was the perfect group for each other. Our riding styles and goals were all similar. After a very quick 17 miles to Churchtown, PA, we filled up our water at an amish bakery nearby. This bakery was something else. Everything was made from scratch and obviously homemade and totally original. I am still convinced that the water we filled up with was the best tasting water ever. Some of the guys bought some ridiculous deserts and we ate outside waiting for the other groups to arrive. As we were sitting and laughing, the cute old owner offered us deserts that were intended for her grandson! A whole shopping bag full! Instead of saving the yummies for the rest of the team and lunchtime, our group managed to take care of almost all of the deserts right then ad there. Nutrition!We finally saw the rest of the team ride by and we quickly hid our yummy desert wrappers. As we caught up to the team to meet for lunch, we found the can stuck in a ditch. Whoopedee. A nice Pennsylvania farmer grabbed his pull chain and pulled our van out. Upon leaving, Sean realized he forgot Lauren, who had no bike becuase she was riding in the van. I managed to flag down the first random car to hitch her a ride. To my surprise it was the husband of the bakery owner! Score.The first group quickly rode past the rest of the group eating lunch (who had no idea our stomachs were full of cookies, rice crispie treats and pumpkin pie)and hopped on the trail with an eccentric sugar high. 20 more miles.These miles were absolutely beautiful! Amish country! Horse bugeys, baby black sheep and very friendly horses! The last twenty were finished in no time. We concluded our route in the town of Lancaster, PA in possibly one of the nicest places we will stay in for the rest of the trip.Shower! Talk about irony.... The man who drove Lauren to the lunch stop was so happy with getting to know us at the bakery and at his farm that he served the rest of the team homemade strawbarry ice cream. What a day.
Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Ohio Hoo-Ray
Pennsylvania, the cruel mistress that she is, holds a special place in my heart. There are signs posted here and there along the roadways entreating Pennsylvanians (and visitors, no doubt) to “Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful!”. And it works, apparently. It's a beautiful place and it seems like the locals are aware of it. I can't think of any other reason that they'd be so excited to show off their state via a well demarcated and generally safe feeling bicycle path that literally leads from one end of the state to the other. I don't mean that figuratively. It became so welcoming a site that when we rode by a “Bicycle PA” sign today as it wound off into the beautiful wilderness, crossing our path for a fleeting moment, a single tear fell from mine eye. Just playing. I was surprised at how nostalgic I felt when I saw the familiar green sign, though. I'm not one to hedge my bets on the results of a Google image search, but give it a shot yourself. Try putting “Bicycle PA” in the image search, and then compare the results with those for “Bicycle WV”. The first hit for WV is a picture of a tricycle, if that's any indicator of what our ride today was like.It's striking how much the attitude of the municipalities can affect the behavior of the citizens. You'd think that those “Share the Road” signs in PA featuring a poorly rendered bicyclist with a car hot on his heels (again, feel free to plug the words in quotations into a Google image search, it works surprisingly well to illustrate what I'm referencing) were there for show, but let me tell you something. We rode through the entire width of Pennsylvania and through a tiny sliver of West Virginia. The entire time we were in Pennsylvania, from treacherous mountain passes to rolling hills with million dollar houses dotting the landscape, I'm not sure if we were honked at once. We were ignored (which is NOT a good thing when on a bicycle a few inches from the flow of traffic), honked at and shouted at from car windows multiple times in West Virginia, a state that we spent maybe 10 miles in. I'm not sure what the difference is between these two states – maybe it stems from an effort to change the perception of what a cyclist is by the higher-ups like I mentioned before – but it was palpable. We all crossed the bridge into Ohio with a bad taste in our mouths and, for myself at least, a heightened sense of appreciation for the hospitality of Pennsylvanians who did nothing more than give us the respect that they would expect if out for a nice afternoon of bicycle riding. Which is really what we're up to, on 4500 miles of different roads spanning the nation for 72 afternoons straight. Is a little respect so much to ask for?
Everett, Mt. Pleasant, Pittsburgh 05/29-06/01
Haven't blogged in a while, internet has been hard to come by. Soo here's the update.The 84 mile ride into Everett was quite the challange but I'm proud to say I finished. The last 15 miles or so Conor, Disha and I were caught in quite the rain storm, only to get lost and have no idea where in PA we were. Coincidentally, the locals didn't seem to have any idea where we were either, all giving different directions... After 12 hours of riding, Conor, our fearless leader, hailed down an old man in a pick-up truck and he rode us into town where we were greeted with a nice hot meal.The next day didn't start well, I rode about 2 miles before realizing the previous day was an overkill on the knee. Unfortunately, I took on van duty into Mt. Pleasant as well as into Pittsburgh. I'm not all that thrilled about missing out on these rides but my teammates continue to remind me that the cause we are out here for is what's most important.Today was a rest day in Pittsburgh. A few teammates cooked up quite the flavorful breakfast. Later in the day, Steve, Max and I took a trip to the hospital. I wanted to get back in the saddle to see how it felt, so we rode our bikes. Typically, Steve lost the key to my bike lock... and then I lost his wallet... causing us to miss the bus to the Cubs game... and then the Cubs lost to the Pirates...In other news: Steve and I have taken on a new motto: "Making people feel uncomfortable, New York to San Francisco"
Ready to Roll?
First week conquered? Check!Our first week on the road is complete, and as far as I'm concerned the hardest part of the trip is now behind us. Of course, the first week wasn't without its ups and downs (and we're not talking about the mountains), but everybody is still hanging in there and we're packing up getting ready to get back on the road after a rest day today.90 miles through the foothills await us tomorrow!
Bicycle: A semi-regular eNewsletter
To my dear Aunt Mary:
Here we are, the Illini 4000. When I first decided to ride across America, it was little more than a fun tidbit to share with people. “What are your plans for the summer?” “Oh me? I'm riding across the country... on my bike.” It was cool, and people thought I was cool for saying it. Who really has a chance to say that? The doing it part is entirely different. Now, all of those people who I told with a calm smugness that I'd be pedaling my way from one ocean to the next are at home, sipping beers and playing video games in air conditioned living rooms. The hardest part of their day is getting out of bed before noon; by then, we've climbed 30 miles of mountains and we've got another 50 ahead of us and the promise of a hotter sun with every minute that passes. It's hard, and we all know what that really means now.
I came into this trip thinking that it would be a great way to see America - to really get to know what's out there. I wasn't really correct in that regard. I'm gaining a basic understanding of what the topography of America is like and where certain cities are in relation to others, but this isn't a sightseeing opportunity. Every stop we make mid-ride is another roll of the dice. When you're uncertain whether you'll be able to take another stride with momentum on your side, starting from a dead stop is really tempting fate. The exhaustion we've accrued isn't wiped out in the time between the end of one ride and the start of another. Muscles still complain just as much as they did the day before and that lingering sense of uncertainty still resides in the back of your mind, asking whether you're sure you need to climb this hill because you most certainly do not want to. That keeps you in the saddle. It's one foot down, and then the other, and after so long your head drops just to make sure that your feet keep doing what they need to be doing to get you closer to your next sleeping bag. As it turns out, exhaustion trumps curiosity in the reptilian core of our brains that keeps us pedaling day after day.
That's not to say that I haven't been taking in my surroundings. While New Jersey was, as far as I could tell, a suburb of New York, Pennsylvania is a majestic expanse of rolling hills, mountains, fields and forests. The farmland surrounding Lancaster was breathtaking and the Amish people working on horse-driven plows and threshers were picturesque. Our very first mountain climb was appropriately shrouded in fog, giving the entire experience a sort of eerie stillness punctuated only by the incredibly fast moving traffic that has been a constant so far, no matter how far off the beaten path we go. We had really ought to do something about all of these cars in America. There's nothing like gasoline smell and perpetual fear to ruin a perfectly beautiful scene.
So that's what my trip has been so far. It's been extremely challenging both mentally and physically, but I've proven to myself that I can do it. We had a team meeting last night in which a lot of opinions and emotions were shared, and I think I'll try my hand at riding with some other groups from here on out. It's been fun and extremely rewarding personally to push myself and redefine my own limits and now I think I'd like to spend some time exploring my role as a teammate and (if I'm lucky) maybe even an honorary member of the Lady Pack.
ohio?! i want to go to there.
Alright. Since my last post I have most definitely learned what a "serious climb" is. We all are very, very familiar with serious climbs. We had two 80+ mile back to back days in the mountains - Saturday and Sunday. Both days were pretty rough for everyone due to not only the climbs but also the heat. But: we made it across some mountains! I'm so proud of us. my group rode really well together and took turns pushing each other up, and as always we made each other laugh. perhaps a little too much, because all my stomach muscles go towards laughing and pedaling falls by the wayside. today we only did 47 miles (my group got pretty lost and we ended up doing 7 extra miles...) and tomorrow we have a rest day here in Pittsburgh. I have to admit. . . I've 'had a pretty rough time on the mountains. However, we all made it through and hopefully the midwest will seem like a breeze after 6 days in PA. (Edit: there might be mountains on wednesday out of pittsburgh in which case i will be slowly propelling myself up them, cursing myself for writing this joyful blog while mountains were still ahead. i guess i'll find out!)The new stem I got in Gettysburg is amazing! I'm no longer having back pain which makes riding 100000x more enjoyable. My knee is still acting up - I think the tendon of my knee is rubbing against something called the lateral femoral epicondyle & the repeated cycling motion is causing the area to swell up at night. It hurts to cycle uphill but some other people with knee problems and I have been yanking up with our feet, since our cycling shoes are clipped to our pedals -- that hurts less than putting pressure down with the injured knee. I'm going to ice it and hope for the best. Another rider is injured and has been unable to ride for some time - we're all keeping our fingers crossed that she's able to make a recovery and be able to ride with us again soon.the church we're staying at is awesome - there's a giant shower and a nice spacious, carpeted room for all of us to sleep in. there's a great kitchen and tonight we got some generous food donations from panera bread - hurrah!i think my family is coming to see me in indy and i am very excited to see them then, miss you guys!-bridgetps. please excuse my spelling and grammar, i'm blogging on a small netbook and i'm not quite used to the small keyboard!
Check Point: Rest Day 1!
Friends and family,Well, we made it to Pittsburgh all accounted for. Currently residing at The Church of Ascension just next to the University of Pittsburgh campus. Quite a pretty place. Today's 47 mile, mostly hill-less ride proved a terrific treat for all the riders, even the ones caught in a brief downpour! A couple of riders had the misfortune of traveling to a local laundromat to clean our clothes sufficiently for the first time since we left on Saturday, but alas, the laundromat was closed due to Memorial Day. Tonight's schedule consists of dinner in mere minutes, a team meeting, and then a night of enjoyment!Tomorrow's plans for a rest day involves a day of personal interests and exploration of the city, wrapping up with a trip to the Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs game, courtesy of Mr. And Mrs. Kelleher (thank you!!!).Go Blackhawks!The Illini 4000
First Week: Done
Wow. We just arrived in Pittsburgh, PA after riding 7 days and 513 miles through the Appalachians. I know that it's only 3:15 in the afternoon, but I'm considering taking a nap soon.The past few days have been difficult, to say the least. We had a few 80-mile days through lots of hills and a couple of mountains in hot weather. Mile-long uphills followed by mile-long downhills are certainly challenging, and those are intermixed with many other hills of varying sizes and lengths. I love the feeling of racing down a mountain, clicking my shifters up until I find I have no more gears to go any faster. On the other hand, though, those occasions are sometimes met with climbing up the hills and downshifting and looking for an even smaller gear that my bike does not provide. Between those extremes, there's a lot of great challenges climbing and exhilarating slopes. On so many occasions, we've come through a clearing to a beautiful Pennsylvanian landscape opening up before us. On many others as well, I've been too tired to fully appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds us. Amish country was particularly beautiful, with the classic farms situated on rolling hills. I wished I'd had all day to hang around there with my camera. Instead, we were passing through on the fly and my camera was packed in the van somewhere where I was not.After I finish riding for the day, I don't really seem to have much energy left. My legs are done straining, so they're only a little stiff at the worst, but I get so sleepy so very early. I usually try to sleep as much as I can in the afternoons. Like yesterday, when Steve got his second flat with less than 20 remaining, I managed to fall asleep sitting up, propped against a post office while Steve was changing his tube and pumping up his tires. Aiming for bed before 9:30 is what allows me to function when we wake up at 6 each morning.So now I eagerly await sleeping in tomorrow and spending a day off of the saddle. This wooden bench I'm sitting on is pushing it a little.
Day Six: The Challenger
After yesterday's success with the mountains, the team started with high spirits, ready to take on the world--or at the very least a second day of the Appalachians. Little did the team know that Day Six would rear its head as the most challenging day thus far. Steve and Jordan both blew two flats each, Diana blew a flat, DIsha blew a flat, and I think you get the picture with flats. Lauren's knee started acting up, as did Jaime's back, and other members needed van shuttling for health reasons (no need to fret, mothers--except maybe Eamon's--just kidding!). After miles and miles of hills, the team started to approach the end. One, Szymon, took a hard fall on a steep decline due to gravel, but he's okay! Despite the roughest day yet, the stayover welcomed the team with cookies, chips, drinks, and fruit. Later, the team ate a terrific dinner of lasagna, spaghetti, ham, and salad.I (Eamon) spoke with the pastor when we arrived, and explained to him that even though we are six days into our trip, the generosity of the individuals we've met on this trip continues to surprise me and inspire me. I'm sure they will continue to do so.Tomorrow we're off to Pittsburgh with a rest day after that. Word on the street is that Jaime's parents are donating tickets to the Cubs/Pirates game on Tuesday. We miss you all dearly and are doing quite well.Later!The Illini 4000