John Martin's Homepage - Tour de Friends Training Journal

John Martin's Tour de Friends Training Journal

Saturday: February 8, 2003

The Training Route

I picked up my new bike yesterday, and took it for my first ride today.
I rode three laps around Lake Johnson in Raleigh, with each lap being 3 miles, for a total trip of 9 miles.

What I Learned

Biking is fun!
A new bike takes some getting used to!
I can't start off without holding onto a tree or pole because I can't get my second foot into its toe strap while moving.
You really need to anticipate the hills; it's too late to start shifting when you're almost vertical.
It's going to take some practice learning to judge the curves. A few times I needed to turn sharper, but was afraid to because it felt like I'd lose control.

What Hurt

Surprisingly, not my butt or my back, but my neck. I think I'm going to ask the guys at the bike shop to give me a 1.5-inch height adjustment on my handlebars.

How I Feel

Exhilarated about the commitment I've made.
Excited to have a new bike.
Great about getting some exercise that was fun to boot!

Sunday: February 9, 2003

The Training Route

Today I rode with my friend Joe, who is also doing the tour with me.
We rode the same route that I rode yesterday at Lake Johnson - a total of 9 miles.

What I Learned

It's going to be hard to chat while riding, since we're going to be riding in single file.
Having to start off holding a pole or a tree every time is not fun, nor is it practical. Today I wore different shoes, tennis shoes with a smaller girth at the toe. That made it easier to get in and out of the straps, but I still couldn't do it without holding onto something.
A lot of coordination is necessary, especially in these early stages of getting familiar with the bike. You have to watch where you are, anticipate the path ahead, shift gears on both handles depending on incline, brake mostly with the right hand, slow down appropriately for the sharpness of the curve, etc. Whew!

What Hurt

Those bones in my butt, but only for about the first half-lap. At the end of the ride, my neck was a little sore again.

How I Feel

Glad that Joe came over to ride, as I may have blew it off if he hadn't.
Accomplished afterward.
Gaining confidence in my ability to control the bike.
Looking forward to the organized training rides starting in March.

Friday: March 7, 2003

The Training Route

In anticipation of me participating in the first organized training ride tomorrow, I took my bike from my house to the post office, approximately .75 miles round trip.

What I Learned

When it's 35 degrees out, it's not too swift to ride without gloves and with only a light sweater jacket on.
You absolutely must take the foot, which you are going to put down on the ground when you stop, out of the toe strap before you fall into the bushes!
I actually got my toe in the second strap twice after starting to ride!
If you want to be treated like a car on the road, you must drive your bike like you're driving a car.

What Hurt

My hands were frozen by the time I got back, and since I have a cold, my nose was running like crazy.

How I Feel

Glad I took this short ride to learn a couple of valuable lessons.
Accomplished that I was able to get my toe into the straps twice without being stopped and holding onto a tree or pole.
Excited about tomorrow's ride with the group. I had to miss last weekend, which was the first weekend of training, because I was in NYC. A note they sent out about it said they had 37 riders, which is very cool. Last year, the most riders they had participating at one time in a training ride was 15.

Saturday: March 8, 2003

The Training Route

We did a 15.1-mile ride today in the Raleigh area. It was called the "Green Road Park" route. At times we ended up on Six Forks Road, Glenwood Avenue, and Millbrook Road.
There were two "Team IBM" members there (me, and my friend Joe), and about 25 Team Alliance members.

What I Learned

At the beginning of every organized training ride (every weekend, both Saturday and Sunday, between now and June 15 th ) we have to sign a waiver, hear "the rules of the road," and receive our "Cue Sheets." (The cue sheets have the route mapped out textually. i.e., Right out of Green Park Road, Left onto New Hope Church Rd., etc.)
After saying it twice, I learned to not refer to my "hat," but, rather, to my "helmet."
I need some "accoutrements" for my bike! I had no place to put my keys. If I'd've had a spare tire tube, clippers to change a tire with, a patch kit, and a water bottle, I'd've had no place for those either.
I need a water bottle, and I probably need to wear a sweatband or one of those kerchiefs that a couple of folks wore under their helmet.
I can now change a bicycle tire, even the rear one! An hour before the ride, one of the riders gave a clinic on how to do this.
Cue sheets are critical. Early in the ride I ended up lagging far enough behind the folks in front of me to not see where they turned, but so far ahead of the people behind me that I couldn't see them either. I used the cue sheet extensively.
I can get the chain back on if it falls off. I panicked when this happened, as it was when I was "between groups" and no one was around to show me. I thought, "Great. Chain clinic is probably next week!" I flipped my bike over and did what I thought I should do and it worked. Yippee.

What Hurt

A few of the hills were challenging, but manageable. My neck hurt just a little this time. Joe is going to help me tilt my handlebars up just a tad. He did his last night.

How I Feel

A little disappointed that for so much of the ride today, I was actually riding alone. Next time, it's worth slowing down to wait for a group that might be lagging than to continue to try and catch up with the group who has passed me by. Especially if someone in that group knows the route! It's totally worth waiting for them rather than to have to constantly get the cue sheet out to find my way.
Very good about 1) having gotten the chain back on myself, 2) discovering most of the route as I went along using the cue sheet, and 3) out of the many times I stopped at traffic lights, I was able to get my toe into the second strap fairly well upon starting back up. I had only one incident where I was having a little trouble with the right foot, during which I almost ran into the curb.
I feel like when God was cranky, he made hills. There were two major cranky spots on the route today.
I received another significant donation last night, and am feeling so blessed about the people in my life who are being so supportive and generous.

Sunday: March 9, 2003

The Training Route

We started in downtown Raleigh at the state Capitol building. We rode through some busy streets, had to take a slight detour at the beginning due to roadwork, and road just over 15 miles.

What I Learned

There is a great sense of camaraderie when you're riding in a group, and doing all the signals and warnings you're supposed to do.
The verbal warnings: "Car up!" "Car back!" "Dog up, left." "Mud." "Pothole, right." "[Passing] On your left." "Pole, center."
To put my chain back on when it doesn't go on smoothly the first try.
The four people you're following at the end might be going home instead of back to the state Capitol.

What Hurt

My neck, but just a little, and oddly, my biceps.

How I Feel

Very much a part of "the team."
It's going to be a long day for each day of the race. Today, particularly after riding yesterday for 15 miles as well, as I was feeling at the end, "I'm glad we're almost done."
Very good about the toe straps.

Thursday: March 13, 2003

The Training Route

I rode the 2-mile track around Shelly Lake 10 times for a total of 20 miles! I would not have been able to do another lap if I wanted to as it was about as dark as I could get away with riding without a light by the time I finished.
I rode this today because I am going to miss this coming Saturday's training due to attending my niece's wedding in Jacksonville, NC.

What I Learned

That walking a bike up a steep short hill because you didn't shift into the proper gear ahead of time feels "wimpy," even if the training coach says it's not. He says, "We call that cross-training."
That I can ride twenty miles, comfortably, in about an hour-and-a-half. That means that I can probably ride the little less than 100 miles we'll be riding each day in about 7 hours or so. That doesn't, however, factor in slowing down for long-term fatigue during the day. It's still encouraging.
It can get cool fast when the trees hide the sun.

What Hurt

My neck and my biceps a little, again.

How I Feel

I feel good that I got my practice in, since I'm going to miss it on Saturday.
Encouraged, endurance-wise.
I would prefer training on the roadways instead of doing laps around a track in a park.

Saturday: March 15, 2003

The Training Route

Missed this training ride as I was out of town, attending my niece's wedding..

Sunday: March 16, 2003

The Training Route

Training canceled due to rain.

Saturday: March 22, 2003

The Training Route

It took almost an hour to get to our meeting place in Carrboro. We rode though some beautiful country, though, a lot of it out by where my friend Kevan used to live. The ride was 35 miles, our longest yet, by far.
We had 42 riders participating in the training today, and the weather was just beautiful. This is the biggest training ride ever in all the years the team captain running the training has ever seen.

What I Learned

Roadkill is bigger and uglier up close.
I still have some work to do in anticipating gearshifts. My chain came off once during the ride.
35 miles is a long ride for a 45-year old, but doable.
What one-third of one of the four days we'll be riding feels like.

What Hurt

The place where your legs meet your butt. I didn't realize this, however, until I got home and started walking up the stairs to my second floor. Little sharp, stabbing pains happened there, with each step.

How I Feel

I feel very good about my stamina for the 35 miles. In spite of being one of the oldest people participating, I was one of the first 10 people finishing. (It's not a race, and I'm not "competing," that's just where I ended up coming in after riding at a pace that was comfortable to me.)
I am officially declaring the toe straps a non-issue .
Toward evening, thinking about riding another 25 miles tomorrow, I thought, "I don't know why they don't space these training rides out, say maybe one on Wednesday and the other on Saturday." After quite a while, it occurred to me though, the ride takes place over four consecutive days.

Sunday: March 23, 2003

The Training Route

We met in North Raleigh, off Litchford Road, north of 540 off Falls of Neuse. This is the apartment complex in which our training leader, Ken, lives.
We had another very large group of riders today, and the weather was just beautiful again today!

What I Learned

25 miles feels good after doing 35 the day before.
That my little bike bag holding my tire tube was on wrong. My friend Joe reattached it for me.
While looking behind you to see how far the next person is behind you is interesting, it's not critical. And it's certainly not worth getting into an accident over. (I almost ran into the curb doing this today.)
I need to get to REI to get a pump and a tire gauge during the week, because I don't seem to get there on the weekend.

What Hurt

My butt hurt for about the first minute when starting out today.

How I Feel

I went into the ride today thinking, "I am just going to take it easy today after the long ride yesterday." However, I found, again, just going at a comfortable pace that I was in the first 10 or 12 folks to finish. Cool.
I was thinking, "so with yesterday and today's ride, a total of 60 miles, that's about two thirds of what we'll do in one day during the ride." 90-100 miles in one day will definitely be doable by June 19th.

Saturday: March 29, 2003

The Training Route

No organized training ride. Training captain is out of town this weekend.

Sunday: March 30, 2003

The Training Route

No organized training ride. Training captain is out of town this weekend.

Wednesday: April 2, 2003

The Training Route

As there were no organized rides this past weekend, and I didn't take the initiative to go out on my own, I wanted to take a mid-week ride. I worked from home today, so I could start at 6:30AM and end at 3:00PM to get a ride in before dark.
I decided to ride the same route as on March 23 rd, the "Falls of Neuse" ride. It's a 25-mile ride, and for the most part, a low-traffic route - though it does have its moments.
I started off a little confused about which way to turn on Falls of Neuse and Durant. After turning around once, I got on the right path. I got down Durant, then onto Raven Ridge, then Hardee, and then Possum Track.
At the intersection of Possum Track and Chatsworth, I thought the house on the corner was Chris and John's house, and I turned down Chatsworth to ride by the house. Once past it, I turned around and before I could react I there was a huge pothole in front of me. I couldn't stop, so just went into/over it. My back tire bounced on the front edge of the pothole and it immediately pinched two holes in my tube.
A flat tire. I've been training for this! I thought, "Thank goodness I have a spare tube in my seat pack." Fortunately I thought this through before removing the back wheel, and the tube from tire.

What I Learned

Those two little holes on either side of a tire tube that happen when your tire gets slammed against the rim as your back wheel pounds into the edge of a huge pothole, really do look like "snake bites."
Owning a bicycle pump is a good thing. It still being in the Wal-Mart bag at home on your couch - when you get your flat tire - is not.
To hail a ride, cell phones work better than thumbs.
People are nice. While waiting for Mike, a lady, whose dog was walking her, came by, and said, "You're not waiting for a bus out here are you?" I told her my plight, and she said, "I think we have a pump somewhere in our garage. Though I'm not sure it would even work."
It pays to have supporters who live in the vicinity of your demise. (Thanks, Mike, for rescuing me in your pickup truck, and recommending that I defuse my stress with a Caramel Mocha Frappacino at Starbucks. God, was that good! All that, and a $100 donation! Thank you for all your support!)
Experiencing the changing of a back tire myself. I was glad I'd been to the flat tire clinic. I was glad to be doing it in my living room and not on the side of the road in 90-degree heat. It was fairly painless - I got to try my new floor pump, I installed the portable pump holder on my bike frame, and I actually placed the portable pump into the holder for future mishaps. Bring on the anacondas!

What Hurt

I wasn't on the bike long enough for anything to hurt. I'd only gotten about 6.5 miles out when I was derailed.

How I Feel

Thankful for another lesson while training instead of in the actual ride. More confident.
Today, before I left for my ride, I received the most incredible card in the U.S. mail, which so overwhelmed me that it moved me to tears. It was from a couple that I've never met. It said: [Note: Nibby is my uncle, who is married to my father's sister.]

Hi John,

First let me introduce myself. I'm Al Flores and Claire. I am Nibby's older brother. I read the wonderful letter you wrote to him and your Aunt Viv and we were very impressed with your concern and dedication to this wonderful cause, "Tour de Friends." We can relate to your anguish, because our youngest son, Kenneth, has been afflicted with this dreadful disease for the last 8-½ years. So maybe this small contribution will help in finding a cure for this dreadful disease.

May God bless you and reward you for your wonderful effort.

Sincerely,

Al & Claire Flores
[Enclosed was a check for $75.00.]

Angst. I decided to take advantage of ending my ride early, in time to get to the clinic for my once-every-six-months-whether-I-need-it-or-not HIV test. The irony of possibly finding out, however remote that possibility is, that I'm HIV+ during this exact time in my life, hasn't escaped me.

Saturday: April 5, 2003

The Training Route

We met north of Lake Wheeler in a subdivision, with very narrow streets, in which a Team Alliance member lives. The ride was advertised as a 25-30 mile ride.

What I Learned

Actually we all learned this: we have too many people to meet in a subdivision with narrow streets. We're doing this route again next weekend, and we're going to meet at Wake Tech instead.
Lightening can strike twice, sometimes three times! Excuse me while I break into prose:

Turning out of the subdivision onto the first main road of the route, a loud "POW!" took place. My beautiful new back tire tube went instantly flat. GRRRRRRRRRRR! Folks rode by me, saying, "Aww," "Dang," and "What a way to start!" Since I had put my spare tube in on Wednesday after my "pothole flat," and hadn't gotten to REI to replace it, I was without a spare. My fellow rider, and friend, Joe stopped to help me, giving me his spare tube.

We actually changed it pretty fast; it's easier with two folks. Everyone had passed us up though of course, so we got back on, and started to try and at least catch up with the rear of the pack. About a hundred yards up the road, "POW!" The new tire tube blew! "[expletive deleted]!" I yelled. Since neither one of us had another spare, I told Joe to go on, and that I'd walk my bike back to my car. It wasn't far at all, a quarter mile total, if that.

When I got back on that narrow street where my car was, there were two kids riding their bikes along their road. They were brother and sister, the boy about 7 or 8, and the girl about 11 or 12. She had a helmet on; he didn't. He was on a child's mountain bike.

The conversation went like this:

Girl: Where'd y'all go riding?

Me: Well, they went on a 25-mile loop right around this area.

Boy: 25 miles?

Girl: Wow!

Boy: What happened to you ?

Me: I got two flat tires, one right after the other, and I don't have any more tubes.

Boy: You can ride my bike. [Sees me looking at his little bike.] There's a mountain bike, in our garage.

Me: Oh, that's very nice of you. I appreciate it, but I need to train on my own bike, and I need to go get it fixed for another training ride tomorrow.

Boy: When will the other riders be back?

Me: Probably in about 2 hours.

Girl: Excuse me, sir, did you say a 25-mile loop, around here?

Me: Well, it's not really a loop, I guess, we have a route mapped out around here, down Donnybrook, then Fayetteville Road, then Hilltop Needmore, all around here, ending back here.

Boy: Wow! We only ride up and down our street here.

Me: We're training for a charity ride that we're doing in June. We'll ride 330 miles, from here to Washington, DC.

Girl: Wow! 330 miles?

Me: Yes. And we each have to raise $2500, too.

Girl: Twenty-five hundred dollars ?

Boy: Has anyone ever died doing that?

Me: You mean from a traffic accident, or from a heart attack, something like that?

Boy: No, from dehydration.

Me: Oh no. It's a very organized ride. During it, they have lots of volunteers all along the way, and you can stop every 15 or 20 miles, and they give you drinks and snacks, like an energy bar.

Boy: Are you thirsty? Do you need a snack?

Me: No, thank you. I have two full water bottles here, and some snacks in my seat pack. You are a very generous boy, though, and I appreciate you.

Me: Well, you guys be careful riding along your street here. [To the boy:] And you should wear a helmet when ever you ride.

Boy: [Gripping his handle bars:] My bike is real sturdy.

Me: Yeah, well whenever people do die from biking, it's usually from a head injury. And I want you to stay alive and grow old.

Boy: [Pouting:] I don't wanna grow old!

On the way home, I stopped by the Farmer's Market and had breakfast. I sat down, ordered two hotcakes with link sausage, some orange juice, and coffee, and went and washed my hands. While waiting for my order to arrive, I captured the above conversation on paper while it was still fresh.

On about the third bite of the delicious pancakes, a huge flash of lightening and a loud crash of thunder made me look out the huge glass windows of the place. The downpour was fierce! I thought of those two kids scrambling up their street, and about my fellow riders, probably about 15 miles out, now, training in the rain.

I got a voice mail message later in the day that said, "John-John. It was probably a sign that you didn't ride today. I am wet in places I didn't even know could get wet."

During the day I started thinking about my flat tires, and how unlikely it was to get two flats that close together. I thought about what had happened on Wednesday banging into the edge of that pothole like I did, and started wondering if perhaps I had damaged the rim of my wheel. I checked it out, and sure enough, there were two spots on the rim, which had been damaged, exposing real sharp "slices" of metal. These are probably what are puncturing the tubes.

I got to REI at about 5 minutes before it closed at 8:00. I was looking for some sandpaper, and perhaps some kind of liquid that might dry hard coating the places after I sanded them. I had no luck, and one of the sales folks suggested I might need a steel file instead of sandpaper. I bought four new tire tubes, and left.

I stopped at Wal-mart on the way home, and bought: a steel file, some sandpaper (because it said it sanded metal on it), some silicone, which could be used for sealing cracks, and some electrical tape.

At home, I removed the damaged tube, and sanded the rim down with the sandpaper. That actually worked quite well, and I didn't need the steel file. I put some silicone goo on it, and let it dry for about a half-hour. Then I put strips of electrical tape over those two spots. I felt carefully, over and over, around the rim for other possible sharp edges. I also felt up inside the tire, all around, to make sure nothing was stuck up in there. I put in one of the new tubes, and pumped it up to 100PSI. Looks good, anyway. My confidence level that the two spots I covered were the only two spots, though, is probably only about 65%.

What Hurt

No pain. No gain.

How I Feel

At once: sorry to have missed out on the training in the rain experience, and not.
Antsy about tomorrow's training, getting a little ways out, and popping another tube because I've missed a spot, or that's not what was causing the blowouts at all.

Sunday: April 6, 2003

The Training Route

We met at the Food Lion off Highway 54 in Carrboro, the same place we met on March 22 nd . I like this route. Hopefully the road kill out here has gotten a little less big, and a little less ugly.

What I Learned

My repair job very well may have fixed the "root cause" of my problem. I took a "pre-ride" up and down my street before heading all the way to Carrboro to make sure my tube wasn't going to pop. I also did a couple of loops around the shopping center parking lot when I got to Carrboro.
The squealing noise that happened when I first applied my brakes during the ride today may have been the brakes rubbing up against that nice electrical tape on my back rims.
It's very comforting to have a fellow rider stay with you the entire ride once you've "jury-rigged" your tire. I finally stopped worrying about whether my tube was going to pop at about 20 miles into the ride.

What Hurt

My thighs.

How I Feel

I was very tired after this ride today. It seemed harder than the last time we did it. We had headwinds today, and that if we have had them in the past, I hadn't noticed them.
Good about the possibility that I've repaired the damage to the rim that was causing the tube tears.
Like I might should buy a new back tire rim, especially to use on the ride, and keep this one for a back-up.

Saturday: April 12, 2003

The Training Route

Today's ride was called, "The Bunn Run." We met in the city of Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, and rode out to and back from Bunn, NC, a total of about 32 miles.

What I Learned

How beautiful a bright, sunny day can be after almost a solid week of rain and gloom.
What it feels like to ride a very hilly 32 miles.
What it feels like to ride the last mile of a 32-mile ride uphill, against the wind.
Did I mention the hills?

What Hurt

I was very tired today.
I really felt on that last hill, "If this ride was one more mile today, I don't think I could make it." I felt the muscles in my thighs strengthening today.

How I Feel

Lousy about not staying with my friend Joe during the ride today. We started off together, but I passed someone early in the ride, and he didn't or couldn't. I kept going. At our pit stop (half way), I waited, and waited, and waited for him. Turns out he got a flat tire early in the ride! And he was so generous helping me with my flat last Saturday, and then staying with me all during Sunday's ride in case my "repair job" wasn't successful! And what do I do in return? Go leave him in the dust today. He fixed his flat, rode a little further, saw the tube bulging out in the area of the valve stem, stopped, deflated, re-inflated it, and then rode on successfully. After catching up at the break, we rode the last half together.
Accomplished for making it through a very rough, hilly (I can't let it go!) ride. A little apprehensive about how tiring a 7-8 hour day is going to be, three days in a row in June. At least the last day should only be 3 or 4 hours.
Lazy about the rest of the day. I'm going home, fixing myself lunch, going out on my deck, soaking in the sun in my lounge chair, turning on some classical music, and reading my book.

Sunday: April 13, 2003

The Training Route

We did an extended Lake Wheeler Road route today. This was the same route I missed last week due to my flat tire (and I missed the rain!), but with an additional 7 or 8 miles. That made it a 40-mile ride.
I started this ride off very stressfully as we had been notified of a time change for this ride that I had forgotten about. When I turned on my phone at about 8:50, there were two messages from Joe saying that we were meeting at 8:30 instead of 9:30, and taking off at 9 instead of 10. I called him back immediately, he said the others had just all left, asked where I was, and then said, "Well, come on. I'll wait for you."

What I Learned

What a team player my friend, and teammate, Joe, is. I can't tell you how good it was to see him, the only one left in the parking lot when I showed up, and how good it was to have someone to ride with on a most exhausting ride.
A pit stop at the 11-mile point is not enough for a 40-mile ride.
Road kill can be quite repulsive! Today's fare included one of those huge geese - if you work at IBM at the Research Triangle Park, it was one of those like they have out at the recreation center. The things are huge . Later, we saw a cat, very dead, with one paw up in the air, almost as if waving goodbye. This was very disturbing to us, and Joe came so close to hitting it with his front tire.
That our training captain might be straight. Joe said he's pretty sure he's heard him refer to his girlfriend before, and has joked about being one of the token straight guys riding. There are at least two other straight guys that I know of riding. The first week I rode, his wife was "due any minute" with their second (I believe) child, and he had a beeper with him. The other guy is Gordon, and his girlfriend is riding with us. There are several straight women riding.

What Hurt

I was so exhausted at the end of this ride today. Joe and I both kept saying, "This has got to be more than 40 miles. I can't believe we still have that far yet to go. That's a long way!"
My butt actually hurt for the first time today, but only slightly, and right near the end of the ride, not at the very end, but shortly before the end, and then it was fine.

How I Feel

Joe and I were both so convinced that this ride was longer than 40 miles that afterward, we got in my car and drove the 40-mile ride. Imagine our delight when it turned out to be 42 miles! "I knew it!" we squealed.
So blessed for Joe's friendship, and participation in this endeavor with me. It's nice to have someone to share with who can really relate.
Sunburned. I wore a tank top today.
Thankful for another beautiful day. If I had to ride for forty- two (no, I can't let go of it) miles today, I couldn't have asked for a better day!

Wednesday: April 16, 2003

The Training Route

No ride today; I just received my HIV test results, which were negative.

How I Feel

Alive, vibrantly so. And I ride on - for those who aren't.

Saturday: April 19, 2003

The Training Route

Training ride cancelled due to cold and drizzle. We didn't decide this until we were already at the meeting place.
We took the opportunity of being together to take a group picture. Instead of saying, "Say cheese," the captain said, "You can at least look disappointed about not riding today!"
We descended upon Starbucks and shared some fellowship together over hot java.

Sunday: April 20, 2003

The Training Route

Today we did the "Louisburg to Henderson" route, which was approximately 40 miles. It was cold today, and I was happy to have grabbed my sweat-jacket at the last minute.
Just north of Rolesville, I got a call on my cell phone from Joe, and he did not sound good. We had both partied heavily last night, in honor of his birthday, which is actually next Friday, and were out until about 2:30AM. Right after he said hello, I lost my cell phone service. (Later, the captain told us it gets like this the closer we get to the ride date, because we're traveling further out into the country to train.)
The rest of the way there, I wondered if he was calling to tell me he was too hung over to make the ride today, or if he was calling to tell me he'd be late. After a few more folks arrived, I borrowed someone's phone that still had service (Yeah, Verizon!), and reached Joe, who also had Verizon. He told me he was on his way, but would be late. I was more than happy to wait for him, as he's been so supportive of me over the last few weeks.

What I Learned

We can catch up with a least one person on the team even if we start 20 minutes after everyone else.
What it feels like to have a huge truck within 5 inches of your shoulder as it zips by you on the highway. Not a comfortable feeling!
How good it feels to go after a "lost biker," and find her! At our halfway point (20 miles), poor Michelle missed a turn, and went an extra two or three miles. She stopped to ask directions, and asked, "Can you tell me where Rosie's is?" The lady who answered was quite rude, "It's back the other way, a long way!" (Turns out that's where we'd started - 20 miles back to Louisburg. She should have asked, "Can you tell me where the Wildflower Café is?" which is where we were meeting in Henderson.) Everyone gave her the biggest cheer when she finally reached the pit stop. "Go Michelle!"
To drive Joe's big-ass truck. He got a flat tire within the last mile or two, and I went ahead, back to our starting point, loaded my bike into my trunk, and then went back to rescue him with his truck.

What Hurt

Nothing really hurt today, and it wasn't nearly as tiring as that 42-mile route we did out at Lake Wheeler last weekend. It had "the famous Louisburg hill" in it, but it was a long, not steep, hill. I really felt all the muscles in my legs being worked, and it felt good.

How I Feel

Good that I was able to "give back" some today to Joe.
Good about this route; I really enjoyed it today. Also, it's part of the actual route we'll do during the ride, so that was cool.
A little disconcerted in that I thought the actual 4 days of riding would be something like 95 miles each of the first 3 days, and the remaining 30 or 40 the last day. Someone said today, though, that it was going to be more like 85 miles the first day, 110 miles the second and third day, and 25-30 the last day. Don't like the sound of those second two days!

Saturday: April 26, 2003

The Training Route

No organized training ride. Training captain is out of town this weekend.

Sunday: April 27, 2003

The Training Route

No organized training ride. Training captain is out of town this weekend.

Saturday: May 3, 2003

The Training Route

Today we did the "Warrenton Ride." We started in Louisburg, at Michelle's infamous Rosie's Steakhouse & Seafood Restaurant. We rode 25 miles to Warrenton and 25 miles back.
On this ride, we had a "sweep vehicle" for the first time. The job of the sweep vehicle is to start off ahead of us on the route, perhaps stop at our first turn, and wait and point everyone to turn. They also then cruise back and forth along the route, making sure everyone is doing okay. If someone gets too fatigued to finish, or has a problem with their bike that they can't fix on the side of the road, or needs assistance of any other kind, the sweep stops and assists. We had two volunteers today, so two separate cars sweeping the route.

What I Learned

The actual ride route has been announced:

Daily Mileage:

Day 1: Opening to Camp 1 (Raleigh, NC to Warrenton, NC): 68 miles
Day 2: Camp 1 to Camp 2 (Warrenton, NC to Richmond, VA): 115 miles
Day 3: Camp 2 to Camp 3 (Richmond, VA to Bealeton, VA): 95 miles
Day 4: Camp 3 to Closing (Bealeton, VA to Washington, DC): 65 miles

What a downward spiral in confidence the combination of cold, hills, headwinds, driving rain, and 50 miles can cause.
Why the Warrenton hills are so "infamous." There were many hills on this ride, and on the way out it was freezing, and very windy, and the wind wasn't to our backs.
How it feels to ride in the pouring rain. The first thing that happened was that my combination prescription/sun glasses became useless. I found myself looking through a one-inch viewing area delineated by water dripping off the front of my helmet, and my glasses resting on the end of my nose below. At first my attention was on my t-shirt, and how quickly it was becoming drenched on the shoulders. And it was already so cold. Suddenly, though, I had bigger problems. In an instant, my shoes were actually sloshing in the toe straps. I had on black tennis shoes, and as I put pressure downward on the pedal, I could see shiny lines all along the leather where the water was oozing out. My natural inclination when the rain started really driving was to go faster to get through it quicker. However, I learned that there is a significant cost to that inclination, that being that the faster you go, the more water your front tire spews up into your shoes, socks, and crotch. I was amazed at how instantaneously my concern about my wet t-shirt had gone south!
That, in the country, on narrow two-lane roads, when a vehicle with a sign on it that says, "Oversized Load" blows its horn behind you a good ways, you'd better get off the road, quickly, and way off the road. Those mobile homes they're carrying hang way off the side of the road.
That "cross training" feels pretty darn good up a long hill at the end of a hilly, windy, wet 50-mile ride.

What Hurt

My frame of mind. (See "How I Feel" section below.)
Ascending the last hill of this ride wet, tired, and discouraged, a slight spasm started in the center of my front left thigh. I shifted into a higher gear hoping pedaling slower would decrease the throbbing. However, while I was pedaling slower, I was having to pedal harder, which indeed did not decrease the throbbing. Quite the opposite happened. At that point, I decided to bite the bullet and "cross train," which actually felt amazingly good. I was close enough to the end of the ride that I considered walking the entire rest of the way. However, as I crested the hill my thigh felt fine, and I got back on the horse - so to speak.

How I Feel

This was a very discouraging day for me. In addition to the cold, the hills, the wind, and the rain, I found myself toward the end of the ride lagging further and further behind Joe. I felt like I was "holding him up." We discussed this at the end of the ride. I told him that I thought as our rides got longer and longer, our age difference is bound to become a factor. Not to mention that he's in better shape than I am, as he's working out in addition to doing this ride. And, since we'll have sweep vehicles for these long rides, there's really no reason to "buddy ride" any more.
At the end of this ride, pulling in to the starting spot, I thought about our second day of the actual ride. It's 115 miles. This means, that if this were the ride, I'd have to get right back on this bike now and ride another 50 miles, and then 15 more! At this point, I just couldn't do it. This, also, greatly discouraged me.
Joe and I went into a Subway restaurant in the shopping center where we finished, and had lunch. By the time I got nearly to the end of my sandwich, I was shivering so bad from being wet, and then cold in the restaurant from the air conditioning, that I had to go outside to warm up.

Sunday: May 4, 2003

The Training Route

Our ride today was the "Rolesville Ride." The route started in Rolesville and went through Knightdale and Zebulon.
When I arrived at the starting point at 8:30 it was, once again, very cold, and rain seemed imminent. I told Joe, "I can't do this again today. It's too cold, and I just don't want to risk getting wet again today." (I had been sick the week before with a fever of 102.1 at one point, and was really just getting back to 100% - which may also have played into my discouraging day yesterday.)
I told Joe I was going to wait until later in the day, and if the weather cleared up, go out on my own. He stayed and rode with the group. Later in the day, at around noon, I rode out to Carrboro, and did the 33-mile ride we'd done in the past out there. I rode it alone.

What I Learned

That when you're riding a bike, and your bare legs are exposed, every dog you see is at least one-half Rottweiller. At the beginning of this ride, I spotted two very large, black dogs, probably Labs (or half -Labs, at least!) running loose on my side of the road up ahead. I stopped to see what they were going to do, as it looked like, though playing with each other, that they were waiting or trying to cross the street when they could, which is exactly what I wanted them to do. After a couple of minutes, the bigger one ventured into the road. A lot of cars slowed down, and then stopped, and they made their way across. As the cars started back up, I took off like a bat out of hell wanting to get past them while there was still the road, and a line of cars, between us. As I zipped past the very area where they were on the other side of the road, this aggressive, extremely loud barking in my ear occurred. My heart was in my throat. I pedaled like a madman, thinking, "there's no way those dogs could have made it back across that street that quickly." When I looked up, I saw a pick-up truck passing me with a huge dog (part German Shepherd, I'm sure!) in the back of it barking like crazy at those dogs on the other side of the street. I started breathing again, and got a grip!
I passed by a deer that had obviously been deteriorating on the side of the road for a day or two. The stench was so bad that I had to hold my breath until I was way past it.

What Hurt

No real pain today. I was cold, though, as I had on a tank top, and the sun kept disappearing. Overall, though, it was warmer than it had been at 8:30 this morning, and I was glad I had waited until now to ride.

How I Feel

Once again, my frame of mind was not very positive on this ride. I felt like I went very slowly up the slightest of hills, and I spent more time coasting downhill and even in flat areas, where in previous rides, I would have been pedaling. I tried to write this off as it once again being cold, having such a discouraging day yesterday, and just now getting back to 100% with regards to my health.
Thoughts about "my age," and doubts about the actual ride crept in on this solitary training ride. At one point on a long, deserted stretch, during which I passed no walkers, bike riders, folks in their yards, or even cars passing by, I even thought, "I could be abducted out here." I went so far as to start thinking about what I had on my bike, that as I was being dragged into a car or something, I could drop on the ground as "breadcrumbs" to indicate, "I was here when it happened." Talk about too much time to think!
When I finished this ride, however, I felt very good about having taken the initiative to get out and ride on my own, especially with the frame of mind I was in. It helped me regain some of my determination and, hopefully, fortitude.

Saturday: May 10, 2003

The Training Route

There wasn't an organized ride today, as Team Alliance (the team Joe and I are training with) had a bake/yard sale fundraiser instead today.
Joe and I met in North Raleigh at Litchford and Falls of the Neuse at 9AM, and did the "Falls of the Neuse" training ride, which was 23 miles. I ended up taking a wrong turn, and with that factored in, we ended up doing 31 miles. Yippee!

What I Learned

That we've really come a long way from the last time we did this route, which was on March 23 rd . We were to the pit stop before we even knew it.
What Six Forks Road looks like taking it north when it makes that left turn. This was the wrong way, but it didn't occur to me we were off track until quite a ways out. Though, when we crossed highway 98, I thought, "Odd. This doesn't seem right." A little further along I noticed that the road had changed from Six Forks Road to New Light Road. We turned around.

What Hurt

No big pains today. Every once in a while my knee hurt, where I have an old soccer injury. And every once in a while, I had a little tension in a muscle on the underside of my left thigh. I should probably stretch a little more before starting.

How I Feel

I felt "back on track" today - a good attitude recovery from last weekend. Of course we only went 31 miles.
After the ride, Joe and I drove back to the wrong turn we'd made and measured how far out of the way we'd gone. It was just over 4 miles, one way . We were thrilled that that took our 23-mile ride up to 31 miles.

Sunday: May 11, 2003

The Training Route

Today we did the "Henderson to Oxford" route, which was approximately 30 miles. The turnout was really small, probably for a couple of reasons. One, it was Mother's Day, and two, one of the other riders sent an e-mail out Saturday night basically saying it was crazy to drive over an hour to Henderson to do a 30-mile bike ride, and so he was organizing his own ride in Raleigh. I thought this was pretty poor, not a very team player move at all.
Robert, a wonderful man in my life, and a generous supporter of my ride, came along with us today and drove "the sweep vehicle."

What I Learned

Again, how far we've come in our training. This 30-mile ride really was pretty much a breeze. We were at the pit stop before we knew it, and at the half-way turn around point shortly after that.
What the cute little city of Oxford looks like on a bright Mother's Day Sunday morning. There were some beautiful historic homes on the one street we ride on. Funny, Robert and I each said what we thought about when he saw those big, beautiful homes. I said, "I always wonder if the people living there are happy ." He said, "I always wonder what their heating bills are."

What Hurt

The slightest of tension, for just a short period, of that muscle on the underside of my left thigh. And, no, I didn't stretch again.

How I Feel

Good about having made the ride all the way out there just to ride 30 miles. Ken, our captain is always so affirming. He really is a nice guy.
I, once again, really enjoyed having a sweep vehicle. It was nice to see my car go by several times, with Robert waving in encouragement, or to see the car up ahead, at the top of a hill, or at our next corner. It's just comforting.

Saturday: May 17, 2003

The Training Route

Today's ride was the "Durham Dairyland Run," a 65-mile ride. However, when we arrived at our starting point in Durham, it was raining. It remained light for a little while, but then rained, pretty heavily. Joe and I both decided to not do this ride. The team was still waffling when we left.
Later in the day, Joe and I got together and rode out in Garner. We rode around Lake Benson, up Highway 401, Highway 70 (out to Clayton), up and down Hammond Road, and back to Joe's house via Timber Drive. I measured it after we finished, and it was a 31-mile ride.

What I Learned

How frightening it can be to try and cross two lanes of highway with very fast traffic coming up behind you. We had to do this a couple of times on our ride, especially where I-40 crosses NC 70.
That when I get a flat tire toward the end of a ride, I'm too easy to say, "Why don't you just finish, and come back and pick me up?" Joe said, "It'll be easy with the two of us doing it, let's change it." We experienced the "bubble phenomenon" around the valve of the tube, where the tire in that area won't go all the way into the rim. We worked through this, and learned that by leaving the valve stem nut a little loose takes care of this problem. A good lesson to learn before the ride.

What Hurt

No pains today.

How I Feel

Apprehensive about this latest flat. It was on my back tire, which is the one I sanded the rim on, and patched up with the electrical tape. I really do need to think about getting a new back rim for the ride. I should at least go price them.
Good as far as being "back on track" with regards to my attitude. And, again, thankful for Joe.
Committed, since we intended to ride if the weather improved, and we did.

Sunday: May 18, 2003

The Training Route

Today's ride was the "Wake Forest to Youngsville," a 50-mile ride. However, the weather was, once again, miserable - cold and rainy. I called Joe to let him know I wasn't going to drive all the way out this time, and then decide not to ride. He was having the same thoughts, and eventually decided not to ride himself.
We agreed to try and ride some time during the coming week, probably on Wednesday.

How I Feel

I'm trying not to feel "less committed to the ride" with these last few training ride cancellations, and decisions not to ride. I know I will ride in the ride, whether it rains or not, so that is not a concern. I just don't see the value in training in the cold and the rain. I do know what it's like to ride in the rain after all.
Hoping we'll have good weather for the Memorial Day Weekend coming up. This is our biggest training ride to date, and I want it to happen. On Saturday, the 24th, we're doing a 65-mile ride. On Sunday, the 25 th, we're doing a 90-mile ride, and on Monday, the 26th, we're doing a 35-mile ride.

Tuesday: May 20, 2003

The Training Route

I made up my route today, as I just wanted to get one in due to missing the one Sunday due to rain. I rode from my house off Western Blvd. to my friend Steve's house in Garner. Later I measured it, at 20 miles.

What I Learned

That you can ride all the way to someone's house, and even though their car is in the driveway, they might not be home.
That I have enough supporters in Garner to have a pretty good chance of finding one of them out and about. I ran into Joye Stephenson and her mother. Always good to see them.
That there is a hiking trail in the woods just off Western Blvd. that's worth exploring, both on foot and on the bike.
That rushing home to get back before dark, and riding into the setting sun can be challenging. One traffic light I could not even see because of the blinding sun in my eyes.

What Hurt

Nothing hurt. This was a "baby ride."

How I Feel

I feel good about getting a mid-week training ride in.
I feel less good about it being a 20-mile ride, when the ride I missed on Sunday was 50 miles.
Excited about next weekend's big rides, one 60 miles, one 90 miles, and the third 40 miles. Worried about the weather, as currently the forecast is not good.

Saturday: May 24, 2003

The Training Route

Today's ride was called, "Beyond the Bunn Run," about 60 miles, from Wake Forest to Bunn to Zebulon back to Wake Forest.
We met at the Baptist Seminary in Wake Forest. After about 15 people parked and unloaded their bikes, we were approached by the school police, told that it was graduation day at the seminary, and that we wouldn't be able to park there today. He directed us to a gravel parking lot at an old school a few blocks away.

What I Learned

That a rider can get very hurt, even at a very slow speed. As we were all clumped, just getting out of the parking lot starting the ride, one rider was looking down at his feet getting his feet in his clips. When he looked up he realized the person close in front of him had stopped, and he slammed on both his breaks. Unfortunately, stopping the front wheel that fast tends to flip you over forward, which is exactly what happened. He came down on his chin, looked up in time to see his bike flying in the hair about to come down on him, and rolled out of the way. He ended up at the hospital, and with 13 stitches in his chin.
That my friend, and fellow rider, Joe has the patience of Job. He got three flat tires on this route today! The last one was just a couple of miles from the finish, and he only had an already-patched tube left, so he decided to ride in with the sweep vehicle.
At one point, during a particularly long, bucolic segment of the ride, Joe pulled up beside me, and taught me this song, of which I had never heard:

There was a hole, (repeat)

In the middle of the ground, (repeat)

Prettiest little hole, (repeat)

That you ever did see, (repeat)

The hole's in the ground and the green grass grew all around all around and the green grass grew all around

And in that hole there was some dirt, the prettiest dirt that you ever did see; the dirt's in the hole, the hole's in ground, and the green grass grew all around.

And in that dirt there were some roots, the prettiest little roots that you ever did see; the roots are in the dirt, the dirt's in the hole, the hole's in ground, and the green grass grew all around.

And on those roots there was a tree, the prettiest little tree that you ever did see; the tree's on the roots, the roots are in the dirt, the dirt's in the hole, the hole's in ground, and the green grass grew all around.

And on that tree there was a limb, the prettiest little limb that you ever did see; the limb's on the tree, the tree's on the roots, the roots are in the dirt, the dirt's in the hole, the hole's in ground, and the green grass grew all around.

And on that limb there was a branch, the prettiest little branch you ever did see; the branch is on the limb, the limb's on the tree, the tree's on the roots, the roots are in the dirt, the dirt's in the hole, the hole's in ground, and the green grass grew all around.

.and on that branch...there was a nest

.and in that nest...there was an egg

.and in that egg...there was a bird

.and on that bird...there was a wing

.and on that wing...there was a feather

.and on that feather...there was a flea

And on that flea there was a mite, the prettiest little mite you ever did see; the mite's on the flea, the flea's on the feather, the feather's on the wing, the wing's on the bird, the bird's in the egg, the egg's in the nest, the nest is on the branch, the branch is on the limb, the limb's on the tree, the tree's on the roots, the roots are in the dirt, the dirt's in the hole, the hole's in ground, and the green grass grew all around.

Let's just say, we had a lot of free time!
What it sounds like when someone is riding along in the car up the road from you, and the hood of their car suddenly flies open. I thought the car had hit a rider. The driver came to an instant halt, as obviously, she couldn't see in front of her at all . This was way out on a country road, the car was old, and she got out and started just yanking the hell out of the hood, which was stuck, up. It started actually bending, but she just kept yanking on it. I rode by torn as to whether to stop and help her or not.

What Hurt

No specific pains, only general fatigue after 60-miles.

How I Feel

Great knowing I can do 60 miles!
Anxious, yet excited, about the big 90-mile ride tomorrow! It really will be the pinnacle of our training, what we've been working toward for 3 months of committed weekends.
Wondering how I'll feel by Monday afternoon, after the 90-mile ride tomorrow, and the 40-mile ride on Monday.
Excited that the ride is just a few weeks away now!

Sunday: May 25, 2003

The Training Route

Today's ride was supposed to be the "Near Century," 90-mile ride. However, when we arrived in Louisburg, at 7:00 in the morning, the bottom just fell out, and it poured . The forecast was not good for the day, and because it was to be such a long ride, and very rural (i.e., not many shelters should it start really thundering and lightening), the captain postponed the ride to Monday. We made plans to get the word to the riders who weren't there so they wouldn't show up tomorrow in North Raleigh for the originally scheduled 40-mile ride.

What I Learned

That this has been the rainiest training season ever in the five years our captain has been leading the training rides.
That after getting up at 5:30AM on a holiday weekend, riding about 40 miles to our starting point, canceling the ride, stopping for a big breakfast on the way home, I can still fall right back asleep once I get home and in my bed.

What Hurt

No pain today, other than the weather!

How I Feel

Disappointed in yet another rained out training ride, and the big one!

Monday: May 26, 2003

The Training Route

Today's ride was the "Near Century," 90-mile ride. It felt a little like the movie "Groundhog's Day," with once again getting up at 5:30 to be at the starting point at 7AM. It was overcast, and just a little drizzly when we finally rode out at 7:55AM.
Robert rode out with me today as he was driving one of the sweep vehicles today.
On our way, Joe called to say that he had decided to take the day off. I must say I was surprised, but I totally understood, especially after his discouraging ride on Saturday, and explaining that he really needed a day off with the amount of work he's been doing, and his schedule in the upcoming weeks.
Before we rode out, as folks were arriving, Robert and I both wondered aloud, "Wonder where Michelle is." You remember, Michelle? Asking for directions to "Rosie's," and the "lost rider" I found? Little did we know that tomorrow we would receive this e-mail:

Michelle was on a training ride by herself yesterday on Hwy. 1010 when a car hit her - a hit and run. She is in ICU at WakeMed, but is doing well and will be transferred to a regular room later today.

She has a broken collarbone and a lacerated liver, but is feeling very little pain right now because they are giving her morphine. Her shoulder is scraped up, as well as her knees and thighs. Katie and I just went over to WakeMed to visit her, and she was smiling and cracking jokes as always! She should get out of the hospital by Friday if all goes well.

As you can imagine, she is very disappointed that she will not be able to do the ride. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

What I Learned

That this route was devised such that you could do a 50-mile ride, an 80-mile ride, or a 90-mile ride.
That you can actually patch tires, not just tubes! One of the riders, thankfully not Joe or me, got two holes in his tires, and patched them. He ended up doing the 80-mile ride today, which I thought was pretty impressive as the patching was done on the way out, at the beginning of the ride!
My rear tire needed air after about 35 miles. By the time we reached the halfway point, I decided that it had a slow leak, and that I would change it during our "lunch hour" at Lake Gaston. Not really something I was looking forward to doing during a break that I was so looking forward to. I was glad to have the sweeps along to get some air along the way until I could change it.
How much thinking time you have on a 90-mile, 8-hour ride! I passed two cemeteries along the way, and as I passed each one I found myself looking across all the gravestones wondering, "How many beautiful boys in this cemetery died of AIDS, and of those, how many died alone?" At another point, I came across a dead dear on the left side of the road. A huge vulture landed not 20 feet in front of me to feast. I wondered, "What, if anything, would make a buzzard chose a bite of live, human flesh over dead, animal gut?" As I approached, it took off languidly, and that was answer enough for me.
The pride of doing such a long ride. While we were waiting in line at Lake Gaston, in the little marina food joint, several people asked us about our riding. All were impressed with the endeavor and the commitment the riders were showing toward it.
How appreciative a bunch of riders can be over a bunch of bananas. Robert and I brought about 35 bananas to have in the sweep car. A banana is the first thing folks will reach for if they start cramping up. As a rider, you like to have one or two, but they are a pain to carry along with you. So, knowing they would be at the pit stops was really appreciated. In fact, it was such a popular idea, that at the halfway point, Robert ducked into a grocery store and bout about 25 more!
What the human body can do once it sets its mind to it.

What Hurt

My back hurt just a little after riding for just about 7 hours today. I can't believe that my butt still doesn't get sore. I do not have any padding in my pants, nor do I have a padded seat. Amazing.
My thighs were a little sore toward the end, and I was, in general, just weary! I took an ibuprofen as soon as I finished. Several people took some at the halfway point.

How I Feel

I started the return trip with a new tube in my rear tire, and my sights at the end of the ride. Several times during the ride back, I visualized what it was going to look like and feel like when I pulled back into our starting point later that afternoon. One time I cried with the anticipation of pride and accomplishment that I would feel. And I thought, "Crying is one of the greatest gifts of coming out." I used to do a lot to hide my emotions, with not crying certainly being one of the biggest ones, in fear that people might think I was a "sissy" or a "fag." What a wonderful feeling to be able to just be . And I thought, "Thank God I didn't spend my entire life being someone I wasn't."
I relish the feeling of finishing this ride! Robert made sure he was back to see me come in. I got a big hug, and as he told me how proud of me he was, I teared up. It felt so good . It was 4:20PM . Long day!

Five of us who finished at about the same time:

I now have no doubt now that I can do The Ride. This is the most physically challenging thing I've done in my 45 years on the planet.

Saturday: May 31, 2003

The Training Route

The organized ride today was a 65-mile overnight trip to Lake Gaston, returning tomorrow morning. Because I had a one o'clock commitment on Sunday, and we would have had to sleep in tents out in somebody's back yard, I decided not to participate in this training ride. Joe did the same.
We planned to do the "Durham Dairyland Run," which got rained out the last time we were to do it. Unfortunately, once again, it rained all day today, too. We ended up not riding at all.

Sunday: June 1, 2003

The Training Route

We did not participate in today's organized training ride, as it was the return trip for those who rode out to Lake Gaston yesterday, and spent the night.
We heard later on that it was rainy, and they faced terrible headwinds the entire 65-mile trip back. God bless those who participated.

Saturday: June 7, 2003

The Training Route

We didn't ride today. It poured unbelievably all day long. I attended a 4:00 "Garden Wedding," and it was pouring so hard on the way to it that I could hardly see with my windshield wipers going on their fastest speed. I even called the couple to ask them if the wedding was still on!

Sunday: June 8, 2003

The Training Route

Our training ride today was the "Carrboro Run" ride, which you may recall me doing recently on my own. It was the one with the dogs on the side of the road and then the one passing me in the back up of the pickup truck scaring me half to death. Oh yeah, that was the one during which I fantasized the possible alien abduction and breadcrumbs incident, too. The route was 33 miles.
Even though it was very overcast, and the forecast called for rain throughout the day, I forced myself to go out for this ride. I didn't hear from Joe, so assumed he was feeling the same way. Just as I began to approach Carrboro, it began to rain, which it proceeded to do, on and off, the entire ride. One minute the sun would be out; the next minute, it would start pouring. After getting soaked at one point, we turned the corner up another road, the sun was out, and the pavement was not even wet. Weird!

What I Learned

That though it feels like (and looks like it, if the back of your white shirt is any indication) all the water from your rear tire is splashing up onto your back, it isn't. I found this out by getting behind Joe at one point, where I experienced at least half of the water coming off his back tire making a beeline right to my face. Not pleasant.
That while it's not pleasant, riding in the moderate rain is not all that bad. Or if it just pours for a few minutes, then it's not too bad. My shoes and socks were soaked, I had a brown and black streak of dirt up my back, I had grit in the hair in my legs, and all over my face. It was so muggy that I had a constant drip of sweat leaking off my chin almost the entire ride. I kept looking down when it dripped to see if it was landing right on my chain. Most of the time it missed.

What Hurt

I started this ride off with lots of muscle soreness. This was my first time back on my bike since the 93-mile on Memorial Day Monday, and my thighs were definitely aware of that. The inside of my thighs, leading up to my groin were strained for about the first five miles.
At the pit stop at 17 miles, my left leg was sore as I walked on it. By the end of the break, though, walking on it, it was okay. In the last half of the ride, my left knee hurt at times. I have an old soccer injury in that knee. In the past, I've worn a knee brace when participating in athletics. I'd rather not wear one in the ride, but will probably pack it just in case.

How I Feel

Good about my bike! I took it in for service last week. They examined the rim and declared it fine, they put on a new rear tire and tube for me, and tuned up the bike. It ran beautifully today - no squeaking changing gears, and the gears changed smoothly from one to the other. I'm very pleased!
Really, really good after participating in this training ride. I came so close to not going out again because of the weather, but was really glad I did when it was all said and done.
Really psyched about the ride; it's just 11 days away!
Opening Ceremonies have been announced:

The Opening Ceremony is being held at 9:00 AM on Thursday, June 19, 2003. Ride Out is 10:00 AM. The Ceremony will be held in the Jim Graham Building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. The Fairgrounds are located at 1025 Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh. All riders must arrive to the Fairgrounds no later than 8:30 AM (Please note that if you did not check-in on Wednesday, you must check-in on Thursday from 6:00-8:00 AM). Daytime parking is available at the Fairgrounds.

And the Closing Ceremonies:

The Closing Ceremony is being held at 4:00 PM on Sunday, June 22, 2003. The Ceremony will be in Georgetown on K Street between 29th and Wisconsin. Please note that there is NO PARKING available at Closing Ceremonies. Your friends and family are encouraged to take the Metro to the Ceremony. The closest Metro is Foggy Bottom (blue/orange lines), approximately a ½ mile away, and taxis are always available near the station.

The "Cheering Stations" have been announced! They can be found at: http://kintera.org/Custom/tourdefriends/CheeringStations.pdf

Saturday: June 14, 2003

The Training Route

Our training ride today was the "New Light Mystery Tour" ride starting in North Raleigh, north of 540 and the Falls Lake Dam. It was about 28 miles. Thank goodness, the weather held out!

What I Learned

How disappointing it can be to find out that the "Tour de Friends" biking jersey you've been waiting for to arrive since the first of June is way too tight to wear in the ride, and there's no time before the ride to send it back. I sent an e-mail to the folks from whom I ordered it, and they wrote back, "Not to fear. We will be at the fairgrounds this week for the start of the ride, and we can swap it for you." Yippee!
What it feels like to ride in a gazillion percent humidity. I forgot to put my headband on for the first half of the ride, and my chin was like a spout. Nasty stuff.
That a goat will jump up with its front paws onto a fence to get pet, just like a dog. There were goats in the yard adjacent to the little country store at which we had our pit stop.
What a PowerBar tastes like, but much worse, what one looks like! Let's just say I'd rather eat one than look at one. We won't even talk about how much they cost. (As I proceed to anyway.) Earlier in the week, I bought a 20-bar box at Sam's that I thought said, $9.99 for the box, but found out at the register that it was really $19.99.

What Hurt

My legs were a little stiff again at the beginning of this ride. I guess that's the price one pays for not doing any other exercise between training rides.

How I Feel

So excited about it being the last training weekend. We have worked so hard for three-and-a-half months! I'm looking forward to sleeping in weekend after next. I am so not a morning person, and if left alone, I will easily sleep until noon on the weekends! I haven't done that in months .
Excited about tomorrow's last ride, and the appreciation gathering being held by the Alliance of AIDS Services - Carolina (one of the three ride beneficiaries) is having for us tomorrow afternoon.

Sunday: June 15, 2003

The Training Route

Our training ride today was the "Wrap-Up Route" ride starting in downtown Raleigh at the State Capitol, which is the same place we had one of our first training rides. We rode almost right by my house during this very short, 12-mile ride. It really was just a "last gathering," more symbolic ride, than anything else.
A photographer was there from The Cary News, and he took a group photo. Joe and I didn't join in right away as we really aren't on Team Alliance (and it was their photo), but they insisted that the two of us, "Team IBM," join them for the picture. "You've trained all season with us!" they said. Very cool.

What I Learned

What it feels like to take the "last training ride" of a long, and at times grueling, training season, and thinking back during the ride of the very, very long way we've come.

What Hurt

Just a little awareness of my leg muscles, but it was such a short ride - over before we knew it!

How I Feel

Proud.
Accomplished.
Excited!

Sunday: June 15, 2003

Event

Alliance of AIDS Services - Carolina Appreciation Event, Cookout at Bond Park in Cary, NC from 1:00-4:00.

The Emotions

We enjoyed a great meal of hot dogs, hamburger, veggie burgers, baked beans, slaw, chips, cookies, cake, and soft drinks!
After a while, Michelle Spence, arrived. It was such an emotional moment as she walked up with her arm in a sling, all of us standing and clapping, seeing her for the first time since her accident.
After she had a chance to eat, Ken, the Team Alliance captain, called her to the front of the shelter in which we were eating. He talked about how far Michelle had come, how in the beginning riding that old, heavy mountain bike she has, she had to "cross-train" to make it up hills, but eventually rode them all the way to the top. He then mentioned how her bike was damaged in the hit and run incident, and how, in spite of that, she was determined to ride again. As he was talking, one of the Team Alliance teammates was wheeling up the brand new $500 road bike we all pitched in to buy her. Needless to say she was overwhelmed, as were a lot of us. Ken told her that the outpouring of generosity from the team was so tremendous that, additionally, he wanted to give her this, the leftover contributions, $750, to buy everything she could possibly need to be prepared to ride next year. And her reaction to that? Shaking her head, "What? No. No. We should give this money to the people riding." (There are some people on the team who still haven't reached their minimum $2500 commitment needed to ride.) What a generous, caring spirit she is!
We, of course, yelled, "Speech! Speech!" and she did her best to thank us. She was so moved, and moving. She made us laugh talking about how mad she was at the EMTs on the side of the road as they, at first, cut her "CamelBak" (water hydration pack) off her back, and then, cut her sports bra off!" She said she was cussing them out under the oxygen mask they had over her face. And she made us cry saying "This accident won't stop me, though. As a cancer survivor, I know I can get past this, too. We've got to keep riding. I've lost so many friends to this ridiculous disease." Breaking down, and most of us along with her. "I will miss riding with you, but I'll be back next year. Thank you so much."
Next, the team presented a number of gifts to the team captain, who has done just a tremendous, tremendous amount of work getting the team prepared. Ken is such an enthusiastic, encouraging mentor. We gave him a $175 gift certificate to Starbucks (he lives there!), a gift certificate for a day at a "day spa," I think two $50 gift certificates to Flythe Cyclery (where we all bought our bikes) as he was going there this week to get some new equipment for the ride, and a few gag gifts like an article entitled, "How to Pick Up Women in 60 Seconds." (You remember me discovering about halfway through training that he is straight. It's amazing to me that he doesn't have a girlfriend.)
Two awards were given out to the folks who had raised the most money. The first place award went to someone who wasn't there, and of course, everyone joked, "She's out raising money!" She raised $41,000! (That's not a typo folks!) Her goal is to raise (she's not done!) $51,000! She has broken all local records, and if she gets the $51,000, she will break the national record for fundraising by a single individual in this type of event. Quite amazing!
A couple of other recognition certificates were given out, one to one of the sweeps, Mike, who swept for a lot of our rides, one each to two guys who've done a lot of work in fundraising, both with team fundraising events throughout the training season, and with getting businesses to sponsor the team. A few others were given out to folks who work at the Alliance, who have done a lot of work on this event.
The closing to the afternoon was given by Bill Brent, the Executive Director of the Alliance, who expressed his heartfelt thanks to all of us for the dedication and commitment we've given of ourselves for almost a quarter of a year now, and for the almost one quarter of a million dollar that the team raised that his agency will benefit from.
I left there with my heart full - feeling the human connection that we don't feel often enough in our everyday lives. The calendar says the first day of the ride is in four days. My heart says today was day one.