My (Hot and Humid) 4-Day Charity Ride

As I have done for the past 5+ years, on July 18th I saddled up with some friends/teammates to take part in the Red Ribbon Ride, which is Minnesota's AIDS/HIV fundraising ride: 4 days, almost 300 miles. Always in mid-July, which is almost always the worst - aka, steamy hot, humid - weather period of the summer here. This year proved no different.

Day 1: 80 miles from the Mall of America in the Cities to Lake City. The heat index was over 100. Halfway through the first leg, which was only about 15 miles, my friend ran out of water - he had drank a whole liter! So much dripping that sunscreen was reapplied all day, but even the water-resistant stuff had trouble staying on. By day's end, I noticed that I had a heat rash on my legs, as did many others.

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Day 2: The day of the hills from H E double toothpicks. 75 miles, through the bluff country of southeastern MN, to Rochester. Not quite as horrid as day before, but still hot and humid and with a brutal headwind of 20 mph + the last 20 miles or so. By now, my behind was feeling it from too much time spent on the trainer, and not enough time outside, due to our almost non-existent spring and late summer this year. I was really happy with my legs in the hills though - without trying, I left my teammates behind every incline. I've never been the mountain goat before.

Day 3: 75 miles meandering and circling over rolling countryside to Northfield. Much better weather, lower dewpoint, high only in the 80s instead of 90s, but ... we were just drained from the prior 2 days. I've never done this third leg so slow (average was only about 13.5 mph - I normally average 14 - 18). Because the sunscreen did not want to stay around too long on the prior 2 steamy days, I started applying zinc to my nose and cheeks as they were starting to look a little on the rouge side; also used arm coolers.

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Day 4: Perfect temp, but then came the thunderstorms. They pulled everyone off the route and most of waited it out for 2 hours in a fire station in Farmington. I didn't know there was such a thing as blue fire trucks.

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The remainder of the ride to the State Capitol was pleasant and sunny. I raised over $1,700 and as they say, the worst day on the bike beats the best day at work!

Note: A Lantiseptic update: considering the lack of time in the saddle outside leading up to this, and considering the steamy weather for much of the ride, I was pretty happy with how the Lantiseptic performed. :)

Great ride summary and pics! Sounds like it was a bit brutal, but it also sounds like you did well.

Great cause, thanks for riding!

Congrats on finishing the ride!!

Thanks gals!

Way to go!

Great ride report and pictures. Hills AND heat: my nemesis. I would never have survived it! What a great accomplishment to do that mileage in four days. Wow! Well done you!

And thanks for the lantiseptic update!