How does a ragtag volunteer bike team in need of a shower somehow defeat a global superpower?

39 miles is a pretty small piece in the puzzle of the I4K ride, but each and every one of them counts. It is actually very rare to have the entire team ride together. One person is needed to drive the van, and riders may choose to sag for any reason, whether it be for prominent problems with the bike, medical reasons, or simply just needing a break. Excepting when it simply isn’t safe to do so, there are tires on the ground for every mile of the continent we cover.

Our mission is human, it deals with an absolutely terrible malady experienced by people, is leg-powered, and puts the gains in research as well of the experiences of those who have dealt with cancer above all else. I may be writing this to sound like a grand adventure, which it is, but losing sight of the human aspects of the ride and why we are here is detrimental to its purpose. Exhaustion, aches, frustration, homesickness, and all of the other aspects that tend to get looked over or tucked away are all human. Embracing them and working on them helps to better us as individuals and as a team as we push through each day.

Okay, blurb over, but remembering that we are all human is always important, both in this ride and in life.

Ride Overview

Mileage: 39.3

Elevation: +988’/-977’

General Direction: Ride south and merge onto the shoulder of westbound U.S. 24-35 (Hoosier Heartland Highway), stay on for 25 miles, make two rights and a left to meet Old Indiana 25 at mile 28.1, continue and proceed due south through Lafayette residential areas to reach the stayover.

Tales of the Trail

One of our smallest rides during the whole summer, enough that we got to sleep in an extra hour, this route took us west on a full-fledged highway for a good chunk of it. We take these and other crowded roads very seriously and communication between riders is always key. We experienced a bit of wind as the sun crept into a near cloudless sky, and took in the fields, freight trains, and the throng of nearby cars. With one brief rest stop halfway through, and some hills in the second half due to the river valley, we arrived at our stayover at around 10:30 AM! A quick ride day in and of itself, even for a shorter distance overall. We are definitely improving in our pacing and habits on the bike.

With nearly the entire day left, there was a lot of time to explore Lafayette and all it had to offer. Riders attended a local tavern to watch the Champions League Final match, others went to a few places around downtown including Sweet Revolution Bake Shop, McCord Candies, Main Street Books, and even took up some scootering on the Wabash River Bridge. A few others also walked around Purdue’s campus and caught up with some friends from the area. After dinner, many attended a local music festival called Mosey Down Main Street and had an absolute blast before lights out. It was a great day with lots of laughs and in many ways a nice break from the miles on the bike.

We are staying at the Church of the Brethren. They have been nothing short of amazing hosts. Pastor Steve Crain coordinated with our team, Ann Cripe organized a truly epic spread for lunch, dinner (with deviled eggs!), and breakfast, and Tom Brown assisted us with laundry and showers at a local middle school. Other parishioners volunteered to help make our meals and we talked with them about all sorts of things. We will definitely miss all of them and are thankful for all they have done. Tomorrow is our last stop in Indiana, a little town called Rockville, and an entirely necessary stayover. I’ll tell you a little more about why that is in tomorrow's entry. :)

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Edward Guo

How are you today? I’m doing great! It was nice to start the day a little bit later, and with an extra bit of sleep (or lack thereof). It was also nice that we had a short ride today, got into the stayover quickly, and were able to enjoy the food that was graciously provided to us as well as explore town.

What make and model of bicycle are you riding? I’m riding a 2020 Diamondback Haanjo 5 with a deep purple gloss. It is a gravel bike and has served me well so far.

What is your favorite aspect about the ride so far? Why is it your favorite? I’d say the views, specifically going through western New Jersey and all throughout Pennsylvania. Even though going up the climbs is hard, it is extremely rewarding to see the view at the top of each hill. A specific one of these I really enjoyed was the first of the three large climbs on Day 3. We climbed out of the valley entirely and seeing where we biked from was so great and really shows how far we have come as a group.

How much cycling did you do before training for I4K specifically? I’ve been biking throughout my entire life, mainly as a form of commuting. I remember back when during the summer before third grade my mom encouraged me to bike to summer camp every morning because she was busy. That was the catalyst that got me into biking. I get a sense of freedom through biking, it is faster than walking and you don’t have to be reliant on others for transportation. The beginning of COVID was when I started to take biking to another level, both for recreation and transportation; there just wasn’t a lot to do otherwise. My friends and I biked outside a lot as a way to meet up during this time and I have continued to bike ever since.

Where on today’s route (generally or specific mile marker) was the most memorable for you? What happened? For me it was the first 25 miles. We were on a state highway which was cool in and of itself. I’ve driven on these sorts of highways for years so it felt really surreal to be biking on one. It was challenging to see the constant long stretch ahead and the time was so much longer between sections compared to in a car. It was really impactful in that sense.

Anything you’d like to say to those cheering you on? Everything that you’ve said to give me support whether through liking my story posts or giving me words of encouragement has been very helpful in getting me through these tough and long days, especially in Pennsylvania. To those of you I may see in the next few days in Champaign and Chicago, I definitely look forward to meeting up with you all and sharing all that has come of this so far. Lastly, check out the website and please consider, if able, to donate to our cause that is the fight against cancer.

Please visit the rider profiles page on the website to learn more about this year’s riders! :)

~Dictionary of I4K~

Sag: (v.) short for “Supply And Gear”, riding in the van and assisting the driver with finding rest stops, navigation, packing and repacking, music choice, calling for donations, and many other things. Also a time to sleep or chat.