Today the team rode 71 miles from Richmond to Indianapolis, Indiana. One word to describe today, WINDY! Those who call Chicago the windy city obviously haven't seen Indiana. We had 20 mph alternating cross winds and headwinds for the entirety of the ride, oh what fun!! In my personal opinion wind is the worst poison because no matter how hard you try you can not go faster and the resistance is enough to leave you winded. Although we bikes through a literal wind tunnel the day was still great! The route was relatively flat. We also had rest stops at good gas stations and our final rest stop at Dairy Queen which was incredible. This gave us the energy and positive vibes to finish the last 12 miles which were nuts! When I said Ohio was the pothole capital I had not been through parts of Indy. Holy cow there was not one smooth portion of road for the last 12 miles.Today the ride was dedicated to Maggie’s grandpa who has pancreatic cancer. I would also like to thank Tabernacle Presbyterian for hosting our team tonight in your beautiful church. We also got a delicious meal provided by an active alumni named. Tomorrow we have the pleasure of riding with the chancellor and president of the University of Illinois foundation. We will be riding with them until we arrive back in Champaign.~Tailwinds~MandyFlat count: 1Song of the day: Blown Away -Carrie UnderwoodMemorable moment: We all wore out jerseys backwards as part of the mosher activity
Day 15
Hello world!Day 15 was a doozie. 105.6 miles logged today. My first century bike ride ever!!!Today was loads of fun. My group was very spontaneous, just how I like it. We saw probably 35 garage/yard sales and decided to stop at one of them. Although I was tempted to buy the old 45s I saw, I had to resist because you can only hold so much on the bike.We took another fun stop at the legendary Waffle House! I don’t know why people throw so much shade at it because the food is yum and the price is just right.Kind of crazy to think that our little legs got us from New York City all the way to Indiana... so strange but so cool!As my group rolled out of the second to last rest stop, I told them that I wouldn’t have made it all the way/wanted to have done my first century with a different group of people. That’s facts right there.Power to the Fab Five (@Hitarth @Kathy @Caroline @A-Aron)MargePS - Call today a W because my water bottles never fell out!!! Baby steps!
Day 15: The BIG 100!!
Today the team rode our first CENTURY (105.6 miles to be exact) from Columbus, Ohio to Richmond, Indiana. There was a lot of anticipation and anxiety leading up to today but I think overall it was must more manageable then expected.Man, was it cool to see the 105 miles on my bike computer. I never knew I would be able to do it and still be able to have energy afterward! It goes to show of physically and mentally tough everyone is becoming each day. When talking with everyone it was so great to see the new found confidence everyone had. Just a few short months ago we struggled when riding 60 miles and look at us now, tackling 100 miles! The day started out cool and cloudy which was perfect riding weather, around 60 miles the sun came out and it started to get really warm. 87 degrees and humid the team pushed through a relatively flat day with very few climbs! We had several good rest stops today. One being at a waffle house, yum! We also crossed another state line today to Indiana.I would like to thank the Richmond Friends school for hosting us tonight. The ride dedication for today was for Alex Timmons Aunt would battled cancer.~Tailwinds~MandyFlat count: 2Song of the day: Centuries - Fall out boyMemorable moment: The team getting our second lunch of the day at the Waffle House! Also crossing the border of Indiana at 100 miles!!!
Day 14
Hello world!Day 14... we were cruisin!We knocked out almost all of the hills after the first rest stop around mile 22 so that was a plus. The ride was smooth sailing for the most part, except the last few miles but who’s really counting??Today I saved a banana from breakfast and made a pb & banana sandwich for lunch which was the bomb.com. Sidebar: I4K has opened me up to crunchy peanut butter and I dig itWe had a little bit of time to meander throughout Columbus before dinner and somehow made our way into Northland High School graduation!!! In all honesty, I expected more out of the valedictorian speech... hers was pretty weak.On another note... tomorrow. Oh boy. A whopping 105 miles will take us from Columbus, OH to Richmond, IN ! Should be quite an experience.As the Principal of Northland High School says, Aspire. Achieve. Adapt. Hopefully I will be doing all of that tomorrow.Pray for me.Marge
Day 14: To Columbus we go
Today the team biked 65.9 miles from Zanesville to Columbus, Ohio. The day started out with a few big climbs out of the hilly side of Ohio. It then turned into rolling hills which was a relief after several days of climbing. The countryside of Ohio has changed my overall opinion of the state. The feeling of looking down at the green grassy hills that you just climbed is one of the most rewarding feelings. We have all come such a long way and each one of us has accomplished a day we thought in the moment we could not. Today we had our rest stop at a farm that had lots of locally sourced food. Matt even ate a whole rotisserie chicken!I would like to thank Trinity Episcopal Church for being our hosts for tonight. The ride dedication for the day was from Emma. She dedicated the ride to her friends mom who had breast cancer.Today I interviewed a rider of the week: Justin HauterWhat's been the best part of I4k so far?I think given the wide ranging impact of cancer so many people are willing to let down their guard and talk to you.What motivates you to do push ups at rest stops?I remember the first day it just keeps my mind in it. It gets me in a routine of focus.Favorite cheat food?Reese's peanut butter cupsWhat's your favorite artist?Chance the rapperIf you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?I wish I was a better singerWhat's your dream place to live?South Africa -Cape TownWhat has been your favorite day on I4K so far?Day 7: I really enjoyed mowing the lawn in BuffaloTeam Knife or spoon?Knife for peanut butter spoon for jellyIf you could have any superpower what would it be?TelepathicWhat's been the most challenging part of I4K?Cumulative toll. After weeks the exhaustion seems to pile on.New edition to a crayon box what would you be?Shamrock green- spring, new things come to life, it's got energyWhat will you miss most?Waking up to Phil’s beautiful eyes~Tailwinds~MandyFlat count: 1Song of the day: ghost townMemorable moment: While the team was out exploring Columbus they stumbled upon a graduation and decided to crash it.
Day 13: Zany in Zanesville
Today the team rode 80 miles from Wooster to Zanesville, Ohio. Today was one of the hardest climb days the team has had and several of us were feeling exhausted toward the last 20 miles. I also drove the van as part of rotation today. It was a lot harder than it looks to handle that bus up and down hills meanwhile keep track of teammates and stay on route. The route was very beautiful however, with rolling hills and lush trees all around. Today the ride was dedicated to Kathy’s aunt also named Kathy who had pancreatic cancer.I would like to thank the hosts at Westwood Baptist Church for their kindness and extreme generosity of providing our team with Chipotle. I have never been so excited to see Chipotle before and it brightened the mood of the team immensely. We also get to sleep on cots tonight which will feel like a dream. They have been hosting teams for 11 years, and it is so incredible to see the connections that have been made between the organization and our hosts throughout the years. Without amazing people like this to host us we would not be able to have the best summer of our lives.Tomorrow should be less hills as we head to the west side of Ohio to Columbus!~Tailwinds~MandyFlat count: 1Song of the day: Castle on the hillMemorable moment: Justin the most positive and undefeated person on the team felt defeated today and in his words “hit a wall”. If this doesn’t sum up today I don’t know what does!
Day 13
Hello world!Another day, another 80 miles down. Today was a good day but a constant battle with the heat, rolling hills, and climbing big hills.I gotta say, Ohio is an underrated state! The landscapes are so pretty here. It reminds me a lot of driving through Ireland... good vibes all around.It’is the 11th year that Westwood Baptist Church has hosted the Illini 4000 and there is a reason this is known to be one of the top stayovers...Tickle me pink folks because listen to this... we have been given cots for the night, Chipotle catering for dinner and... MADE TO ORDER OMELETTES FOR BREAKFAST!!!!I am one happy camper.We’re lookin at a 57 miles tomorrow to go from Zanesville to Columbus, OH with a bit of climbing to do.Stay peachy.Marge
Day 12: What is it about Wooster?
Today the team rode 80 miles from Cleveland Heights to Wooster, Ohio! Today was a doozy, and getting out of Cleveland was a nightmare. Ohio has got to be in the world records for most potholes! We began the ride on the Cuyahoga river trail. Some people loved it, others could barely breath due to allergies. The air was thick with dust for all the trees it made it very difficult for those with allergies. After a ways of climbing in the warm sun we made it to lunch. Rolling in exhausted and low on moral is the exact opposite from the way we felt rolling out of lunch. T-Roy, a local store owner has invited Illini 4000 teams to his local store for the last few years. He is a legend! Spoiling us with meat and cheese sandwiches, fruit and something very rare this summer.. veggies. He also gave us a free voucher to get ice cream at his store which was delicious and just the pick me up the team needed after a rocky start. Thank you so much T-Roy and all the others that we met at the shop for your kindness and warm welcome on such a tough day!I would also like to thank Westminster Church for hosting us tonight and providing us more than enough space.~Tailwinds~MandyFlat count: 1Song of the day: Another one bites the dustMemorable moment: Singing to Nick for his birthday during breakfast as he ate his oats and giving him a very I4K worthy card. Also the delicious pizza and ice cream the team got for his birthday! First Illini 4000 birthday celebration (“check that off the list” -Caroline)
Day 12
Hello world!Day 12... check that off the list!Today was a long day with a series of events... some fortunate and some unfortunate.We rode on the gravel trail through Cuyahoga National Park for a while which was super pretty! Unfortunately, after hitting a bump on a bridge, my water bottle flew out of my bottle rocket cages and rolled into a nasty river. Thanks to my homie Ryan, he fished it out with a stick and the bottle was resurrected!By mile 18, our dear friend Caroline was blessed with a flat and broken spoke on the trail. We proceeded to walk a mile to meet the van up a gravel hill to get out of the park... some tough stuff to start out an 80 mile day I’d say but we made sure to laugh about it and pretend we weren’t struggling as much as we were.Don’t fret though, it got better as we had lunch supplied by our Man T-Roy Selzer. The fresh fruit really hit the spot and our group the extra boost to push through the last 30 miles. Thanks T-Roy!For the last 15 miles, we biked through rain. It was pretty refreshing after being outside in the heat and humidity, so thanks for cooling us off Mother Nature. You are a saint sometimes!Tomorrow we will log another 80 miles going from Wooster to Zanesville, OH. Should be an interesting day!Goodnight, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite.Marge
Day 11
Hello world!Rest day.Rock n Roll hall of fame.Crazy inspiring/cool to see. 10/10 recommend !!Peace.Marge
Day 11: Rockin and Rollin in Cleveland
Today the team rode 0 miles today as it was our first rest day!!! It was so nice to be off the saddle for a little while and explore Cleveland. The rest day could not have come at a better time as most of the team was pretty broken down from yesterday's ride. We started the day off by visit the Cleveland Hope Lodge. We got to get a tour around the facility by the legend, D.Weber. It was great to see such a wonderful place where people going through cancer can take refuge free of cost. From the Hope Lodge the team split into two groups, some went to Edgewater beach the rest went to the Rock n Roll hall of fame. Some people even got to meet the drummer from the band Journey! A few people also checked out Wahlburgers ( Mark Wahlberg's burger chain). It was a fun and somewhat restful day!I would like to thank Grace Lutheran church for hosting us for a second night and providing a delicious dinner! We even got to conduct a portrait with the pastor of the church.We are back on the saddle again tomorrow for more hills and more miles!~Tailwinds~MandyFlat count: 0Song of the day: Don’t stop believingMemorable moment: Lauren, Justin, Mike and Ryan got free milkshakes at Wahlburgers
Day 10
Hello world!Today was a toughy... lemme tell ya, whoever said that the state of Ohio is flat is a straight up liar. I would also recommend Ohio increasing their taxes because their roads are kinda absolute garbage and no fun to bike on. 1000 too many potholes for a biker’s liking.We climbed 2300 feet today and it was a hot tamale. Despite the heat, we had a couple encounters with some very generous people! First we met a guy named Gary who owns part of Route 6 and decided to buy us pancakes at the town’s Memorial Day pancake breakfast. Then, we had ice supplied to us by The Cleveland Illini Club which was so nice of them! We were livin large today.Tomorrow we have a rider event at the Hope Lodge in Cleveland followed by our first official rest day!! The plan is to go to the infamous Rock n Roll hall of fame so stay tuned ... ha ha ha get it??I hope everyone had a nice and relaxing Memorial Day weekend!!Marge
Day 10: Cleveland ~new~ Heights
Today the team rode 59.4 miles from Ashtabula to Cleveland, Ohio. Today was another toasty day with lots of hills and climbing. The team agreed that the hills in Ohio rivaled the hills we saw in upstate New York. The day was very good, although it was hot we got to get free pancakes for our first rest stop! There was a memorial day breakfast at a fire station in a town we were riding through. They saw us and graciously invited us to eat. They were so kind and generous and provided delicious pancakes. It was definitely an unexpected and great surprise on such a tough day! We also got to meet a few alumni of The University of Illinois alumni club, they came to meet us and gave us much needed ice to keep the water in the coolers cold. It was so nice of them to make the drive to see us! The rest of the day consisted of very long and hard hills. Everyone was winded and sweaty when they arrived at the lunch stop. The lunch stop was able to revive everyone just enough to push through the last 10 miles of giant hills. The lunch stop was also at a fruit farm so some people got creative with their peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Later on, a large group went to a baseball game ( White sox vs. Cleveland Indians) and explored downtown Cleveland.I would like to thank Grace Lutheran Church for hosting the team tonight. Also a special shoutout to Matthew and Hitarth for being such great bike mechanics for the team. They are always being called to fix different things on people's bikes at various points throughout the day. They are always quick to fix problems and are happy to help when needed.Tomorrow is our first official rest day! This has been a long time coming for the team and we cannot wait to explore Cleveland and spend some time relaxing!~Tailwinds~MandyFlat Count: 2Song of the day: Call me Al
Day 9
Hello world!Top of the mornin to you all. Yesterday was a very good day. My group and I took our time on the ride, spontaneously stopping at a cider mill for cider slushies, a drive in restaurant that had “the best root beer east of the Mississippi”, stopping to take pictures by cool buildings, and stopping at the iconic Sheetz gas station.We enjoyed the views as we passed 2 state lines, Pennsylvania and Ohio! Today we take on a 50 mile ride and then we will arrive in Cleveland, OH for our first official rest day (praise the lord).We had just under 20 miles to go when we heard that showers closed at 5:00, so we had to book it to the stayover. Averaging a solid 18 mph on our way back, we made it with 20 minutes to spare and we’re blessed with showers woot woot!!Cool beans.Marge
Day 9: Always sunny in Ashtabula
Today the team rode 74.5 miles from Westfield, New York to Ashtabula, Ohio! Finally a new state, and we even got to cross through Pennsylvania. Two pictures at state lines later and we finally arrived at the stay over. Today was a very HOT and HUMID in the high 80’s. Each rest stop was in the beating sun but the van clan kept the moral high by playing some jams at rest stops where the team worked on mastering ”the floss. We also found the infamous Sheets as our lunch stop for today. Sheets is the gas station of all gas stations. Seriously it is an I4K pastime for good reason they have everything you could ever want and need. They have the best cheese curds with ”boom boom sauce”, tried and tested from our team. Riding along Lake Erie again gave some nice scenery to look at throughout the day. Some teams we're speedy and tried to beat the heat while others took their time and made multiple food stops along the way including stops for apple slushies and root beer floats!Tonight we are staying at the First Presbyterian Church where they provided our team with a lovely dinner. It was great to meet the people that were hosting us!~Tailwinds~MandyFlat count: 0Song of the day: SensationsMemorable moment: A wild bat was flying around the church at our last stay over around midnight. Several team members were woken up and attempted to smack the bat with shovels. Lots of screaming later the bat was finally wacked to it's death. Needless to say it's always an adventure with I4K!
Day 8
Hello world!3 amazing things about the ride today:1. We saw a world class rollerblader going down the highway at 28 mph and doing all kinds of tricks... he’s out here making us look bad!!2. We got to bike along the beautiful Lake Erie (and even see Canada across the water)3. My group and it’s awesome sing alongs to ABBA, which inspired a team movie night with Mama Mia! You bet your bottom dollar we’re seeing the second this summerTonight is officially our last night staying in New York and then we’re off to Ohio!Tomorrow we take on a 70 ish mile day from Westfield, NY to Ashtabula, OH. Weather is looking promising, but keep those fingers crossed.Lit.Marge
Day 8: Windy Westfield
Today the team road 59.6 miles from Buffalo to Westfield, New York. It was a relatively easy day biking along side Lake Erie. A few hills later and the team made it to the lunch stop. Props to Lauren the van driver/soccer mom of the day for picking a rest stop right on the boardwalk. Nestled within a cute little pocket of shops was a bomb ice cream shop that refueled the team today after they rolled into lunch a little run down. Everyone was feeling a little exhausted today due to yesterday’s doozy but we pushed through! A few groups kept their moral high by dancing and attempting to ride with no hands on the handle bars. The groups also went to the beach to see the lighthouse along route. The guys group also saw a rollerblading man who past them going 22 mph on a downhill. They instantly found their new idol. After the ride a few soccer fans convinced the team to go watch the game (Manchester vs. Liverpool) at a sports bar. Later on the team watched Mamma Mia together!! We quickly learned who are and who are not the singers of the team hahaI would like to thank United Methodist Church for hosting our team today. We are living large tonight as almost half the team gets to sleep on a couch!! Also shoutout to our food dudette Sam for hooking us up with free food every night so far, you rock!Tomorrow we are off to Ohio! It’s been fun New York but onward we go.~Tailwinds~MandyDaily flat count: 2Song of the day: Mamma Mia soundtrackMemorable moment: The team riding an extra few miles to the lighthouse beach and being unanimously underwhelmed by the lighthouse but making jokes of how great it was anyways.
Day 7: Bustling winds in Buffalo
Today the team rode 70.9 miles from Rochester to Buffalo, New York. The day started out smooth and easy but about midway through the wind started to pick up and the headwinds began to slow us down. The resistance from the headwinds left us winded and everyone was pretty exhausted when they arrived at the stayover. The beautiful sunny weather contributed to good vibes despite the head winds. Today we also got to eat meat and cheese Sammy’s as opposed to the usual PB&J. We have been eating good these last 7 days and I hope it continues in Ohio!All of us have begun to get injuries or small aches from a weeks worth of riding without having built up the muscle yet required for all the miles. Cramping in hands, sunburns, sore butts and achy knees we all continue to push through the discomfort and know it will only be a little longer before our bodies become used to all the physical activity we are putting them through.I would like to thank our stayover Grace Lutheran Church for hosting us and providing us with a delicious dinner! Some of us even get to sleep on air mattresses. It’s amazing how little things are appreciated so much more on the ride when everyone is living off so little. The kindness and support that all the stayovers have showed in New York has been so incredible. Every kind gesture has not gone unnoticed and the team could not be more thankful. One more day in New work and then we are off to the Midwest!~Tailwinds~MandyFlat count: 1Song of the day: paint with all the colors of the windMemorable moment: Multiple people sleeping in strange places today. Sam fell asleep at the rest stop with a sandwich in hand. Eric fell asleep standing up. Kathy fell asleep outside our stayover.
Day 6 and 7
Hello world!Sorry folks for dropping the ball on day 6. We were having too much fun on our almost day off! We only had to bike 23 miles, so we had most of the day to ourselves. The ride was followed by a team field trip to a mom n pop diner for brunch.We went on to explore University of Rochester and this really spooky but very cool abandoned building. It was perfect for watching the sunset on the rooftop!To give an update on my poor, pitiful sunburn... :( We have now progressed to an uncomfy rash all along my thighs!! Today I went to urgent care to get it checked out and they’re giving me a steroid so hopefully it’ll help...darn my sensitive skin!Life’s been just dandy otherwise! We’ve got about 60 miles tomorrow to get from Buffalo to Westfield, NY. We’ll see how the ol’ rash/burn is doing tomorrow to see if I can ride.Keep calm and TGIFMarge
Day 6: Short and Sweet in Rochester
Today was our shortest day yet! We rode an easy 23 miles from Palmyra to Rochester, New York. A beautiful sunny day with a trail along the river made for a leisurely ride. The team remanist on a few months prior when 20 miles seemed like such a long and tiring ride. It is pretty amazing how strong the riders on our team have become, each day people get faster and more confident with their riding. Everyone is improving so rapidly and becoming more comfortable riding in unfamiliar places each day. Unfortunately, our rider event that was scheduled for today was unable to happen, however it gave the team the opportunity to walk around Rochester and rest. We all finished before 10 am which meant our “rest stop” was brunch. We managed to fit the whole team in the van for the first time and drove to a local diner. It was a great time bonding with the team. We are realizing that we are quite the spectacle everywhere we go in our matching shirts and grease stains. A group of us decided to do laundry today, another group went to go a repair bikes, and another group explored Rochester University. A restful and productive day was had by all!We would like to thank the church of the love faith for hosting us tonight and providing us a very nice space to camp out for the night. They even provided us food! The team has yet to eat pasta and lentils because all of our stay overs have been extremely generous *cheers* Back to a 70 mile day tomorrow.~Tailwinds~MandyFlat count: 1 -me :(Song of the day: Tied up right now -parcelsMemorable moment: The whole team jamming out in the Van to extremely loud music with more base than lyrics.