Barfing...er..Biking Across Kansas

[bike4ever]

That's a real bummer about the norovirus. I did a Bike VA ride a couple of years ago. We got hit with food poisoning. It is quite yukky being in the port-a-potties with full blown diarrhea - sweating profusely. I also didn't do the last day ride just because I was too weak.

[emily_in_nc]

That's a real bummer about the norovirus. I did a Bike VA ride a couple of years ago. We got hit with food poisoning. It is quite yukky being in the port-a-potties with full blown diarrhea - sweating profusely. I also didn't do the last day ride just because I was too weak.

BikeMom, I was on that same Bike Virginia and also contracted a nasty case of Camplyobacter poisoning. It was simply the sickest I have ever been in the intestinal tract in my life. I couldn't ride the last two days of the tour. (It seemed to hit everyone at different times; a guy in our bike club didn't have symptoms until arriving home, but then was sick for weeks after!)

I was one of the lucky ones; we were moteling it rather than camping and had an amazing SUITE in an elegant inn with 18th century antiques and a HUGE marble bathroom. It was the last lodging anywhere in town when we booked, so we ponied up for the expense and called it our anniversary gift for each another. A better gift was never had; I felt like I had a guardian angel.

I almost hate to tell you this, but there was a bidet in the bathroom! That was the best thing a girl with the serious trots could ever, ever hope for. I LIVED in that bathroom for two days. I remember sympathizing heartily with any riders with this illness who were camping and having to use porta-potties. I would have died.

Did you hear? The CDC finally ruled that the poisoning came from polluted water from chicken farms that splashed up on water bottles on the 1st or 2nd day of the tour (I can't remember which), when there was a brief shower. We drank from water bottles not knowing they had been contaminated. Some people didn't get it, others did. My husband never got sick, lucky guy. He skipped day four's ride to stay with me but did do the fifth day to go get the car at the end and pick me up at the inn.

What a memory!

Emily

[weathergal]

Wow, emily_in_nc and bikemom, that BikeVA sickness sounds nasty. I was sleeping indoors on a gym floor, so running to the school bathrooms was better the portapotties, but a private bathroom with a bidet would have been way better.

I learned my lesson about not eating anything not packaged. I did take off my gloves before going, and had antibacterial hand gel. Thing is I probably should have forced everyone around me to use it. Hopefully the BAK organizers learned some lessons too and there will be some improvements for next year.

[Trekhawk]

The CDC finally ruled that the poisoning came from polluted water from chicken farms that splashed up on water bottles on the 1st or 2nd day of the tour (I can't remember which), when there was a brief shower. We drank from water bottles not knowing they had been contaminated. Some people didn't get it, others did. My husband never got sick, lucky guy. He skipped day four's ride to stay with me but did do the fifth day to go get the car at the end and pick me up at the inn.

What a memory!

Emily

Ooh yuk. I think I remember reading that the same thing happened at the TDF one year. Lots or rain, lots of manure washing onto the road from farms and splashing up onto the riders bottles and voila lots of seriously sick TDF riders.

[Kathi]

Thanks for the heads up, I've got a couple of tours planned for later this summer. I'll be more cautious now.

What BikeVa was this? I did it in 04. The volunteers would not let us touch any of the food. Actually, in some places they ran out! We didn't buy the lunches and ate in the towns. Sounds like we were better off!

[withm]

My riding buddy was on that Bike VA trip - she said it was awful - with so many people SO SICK (including her). NEVER fill your water bottle from a hose in the middle of the boonies!

[Lise]

How awful. Thanks for telling us, though. I will be much more careful about the food. L.

[bike4ever]

emily_in_nc - yes it was definitely terrible running back and forth to the port-a-potties. By the time I'd make it back to my tent, I would have to walk back again.

I only was sick day 4, and this didn't start until after I finished that day. I knew I wasn't feeling well since I had more difficulty than usual on the hills. I chose not to ride day 5 since I was so weak. By the time I broke camp, I had no more energy. My hassle was that I had a very long drive back to St. Louis to begin that day.

Kathi - I think it was 2003. It was the Winchester ride.