first long distance group bike ride
I am a solitary distance road biker who usually logs 100-150 miles per week in lumps of 30-50 miles in and around the roads of southwest Houston. I have just returned from my first long distance group ride.
Breast Cancer Benefit Ride for Marji Umbricht- Summary
The tour, the Meandering Mississippi , was organized by Woman Tours and goes from New Orleans to Lake Itasca, Minnesota. When I first signed up for this tour 8 months ago, I was convinced that I would never be able to do the entire tour and so I only signed on for the first leg of the tour, from New Orleans to Memphis.
The total distance I rode from New Orleans to Memphis was 612 miles in 7 days of riding. This is exactly the same mileage I drove home from Memphis, a fact I find both amusing and ironic.
During the trip, I had several personal bests including; 3 consecutive 85+mile days, my first and so far fastest 100 miles against 20 mph headwinds the whole day at 7 hours 57 minutes on a 120 mile day, three crossings of the Mississippi on everything from a super highway bridge with the cars whizzing by at 70 mph as I granny geared up to the peak to a somewhat repaired former railroad bridge with gaps between the planks large enough to eat a tire and possibly the bike and rider as well.
I learned how to change a tire in less than an hour and how to adjust my brakes as well as clean and lube a chain. I also learned the value of dill pickles for salt replacement, and something brown, caffeinated and bubbly late in the afternoon as a pick me up. I also learned that you cannot drink enough water, or apply sunscreen, lip protection or chamois butter to the nether regions often enough on those long days. My shortest time in the saddle (not counting breaks and stops) was 3 1/2 hours, my longest was 8 hours and 45 minutes on a 107 mile day against headwinds booked at 20+ miles per hour.
I survived 95 + degree and humid enough to drink the air days on the shadeless levees, detours through heavy construction on the roads leading out of Natchez, how to gear and pace myself up some really steep short hills as well as how to granny up a gradual slope. I also survived a pouring rain storm along the Natchez Trace that had me stopping to empty water out of my shoes and wring out my gloves every 10 miles. I learned to roar “NO!!!” at big fierce loose dogs hard enough to set them back on their haunches, and I had one final perfect ride with light tail winds while my feet danced on the pedals for the last 40 miles into Memphis.
Most of all I discovered a wonderful sense of cameraderie and support that can occur when riding with my sister who was also on the ride and with each and every one of the other 25 remarkable over 50 women in the group.
In fact I enjoyed myself so much that I have signed up to do the Underground Railroad Tour from Mobile, Alabama to New Towne, Ontario, next year at about the same time. My sister will be joining me.
marni
