Dave’s Adventure

Last night was a CIBA ride out of Franklin, one of our Thursday night rides. We were having a fine time, riding along as usual, enjoying the beautiful weather – when 20 some miles into the ride, a woman driving past stopped her car to warn us that the road was closed off up ahead.  Now, we knew the area had seen some substantial rainfall of late, but we decided we might as well investigate anyway.  We biked over the next ridge, only to discover a massive, hundred-yard portion of the road completely flooded over, with strong currents of water running across the road into the a ditch.  We stopped and admired these wild, untamable farmlands – then a fellow named Dave, riding with us, decided to ford the river, charging ahead on his bike.

View fullsize

Dave is 77. He was the strongest rider in our group, and we looked on in awe as he took on the mighty Cornfield River. He rode about three quarters of the way across, then was forced to dismount (in water over his knees) and forged ahead on foot. Everyone else remained a safe distance from the water, venturing only to snap pictures and shout encouragement. Once he’d reached dry land, we waved goodbye and biked back the way we’d come – leaving Dave on the other side of Cornfield River as he had declared that there would be no turning back. The rest of the ride minus Dave was lovely, as we discovered a new road and extended our typical ride by a few miles.

Here we are in front of a Franklin landmark, seven miles or so from the finish.  (Not pictured - Dave, who had forded the cornfield, and Dad, the photographer.)

View fullsize

Once we arrived in the Franklin city parking lot, we visited with one of the local Lions who was preparing for their Spring Fish Fry, and were reunited with Dave – whose quest had been extended by further surprise water features. He was, of course, just fine and happy to chat for a bit before announcing that his wife had baked a cake and requested his presence.

I doubt I’ll ever have Dave’s stamina and bravery, but he’s definitely become my newest cycling inspiration.

The Longest Ride Yet – and a Thank You

Dad and I rode my farthest distance this Sunday on the RAIN trainer, 82 miles! It was a little difficult towards the end, which we dealt with by means of a Subway feast. This one was a step up of about 20 miles from my last longest distance – around 65 miles. It’s pretty good news for the quickly approaching RAIN ride, because it’s preparing me for the significant saddle time that RAIN and the epic ride are going to require. I’ve got to say, I’ve seen much more beautiful country than the highway, but it was fantastic to get so many miles in my legs for the first time

This blog post is a bit of a shout out to my dad – my coach and chauffeur and culinary artist. I wouldn’t have been able to make it through the last ten miles without my dad doing his best to make sure I’d been sufficiently fueled and rested, and never losing his patience even in the hottest part of the day when both of us were sore and tired.

I have my dad to thank for much of the organization of this trip and training, the biking expertise and coaching, constant encouragement, and my bike itself of course. I wouldn’t have been able to make it this far, and I know he’s going to be the difference between my success and failure on the epic ride in August. We’re having a pretty great time, loudly singing “Life’s Been Good” by Joe Walsh when we’ve had a little too much sun and coming up with dumb puns to entertain ourselves through the cornfields. We’ve enjoyed Popeye’s fried apple pies after rides, and brainstormed my AP Language and Composition essays. If nothing else, this season of biking will mean many more memories with my dad before I go off to college.

Once again Dad, thanks for all you do! And congratulations on our first Strava Grand Fondo of the season!

A Significant Update

It’s been a while since I was last able to post – I blame school and AP exams  and such nonsense. However, there have been several important developments  lately, and I’ll do my best not to forget anything!

First, the most serious stuff: Dad took me to the rheumatologist on Tuesday (May 13th), and we were finally able to discuss the bike ride with Dr. Ballinger at Riley.  I was a little worried that she would be against it because of potential complications in the future and the risk of damaging important joints and such.  In the end, she loved the idea of sort of triumphing over the disease and essentially told me that she’ll never tell a patient not to do something, just encourage them to exercise caution. She suggested building in a few extra days to the ride to provide a cushion in case joint pain becomes excessive, and I’m trying to see how to fit that in around school and marching band and all the other crazy stuff I do. So we’ve got the doctor’s backing! 

View fullsize

Now that we know I’m sure that I'm allowed to ride, Dad and I have been working on getting this idea off the ground. As a completely broke teenager, I offered a family friend named Cody Jones a couple of nights of babysitting in exchange for a professional logo design.  Here I am hanging out with one of the world’s most fabulous babies, already a ladykiller and he knows it.

And here, almost as importantly, is the new logo!

View fullsize

Feeling pretty stoked about the new website and logo – but, being a bike-riding, long-haired, candle-making musician, I’m going to work with my equally hippie sister on tweaking the website design a little to reflect my personality, so expect some Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes and sepia photographs.

Beyond the media aspects of the trip, Dad and I have also been training hard lately. We’ve done some fifty plus mile rides these past two weekends, with interesting outcomes and some strange happenings.

On the first ride, we trucked along (there were many hills and I wasn’t a big fan) and made decent time on a CIBA group ride in Columbus. We were 49.5 miles in, just a half a mile to the parking lot where we had started, when suddenly this giant herd of wild deer appeared out of nowhere and sprinted across the four-lane highway. Both of us were nearly hit head-on by deer, but managed to survive due to some hasty prayers and luck. One of the deer broke his leg while dashing across the road. He popped right back up and made to the other side, but then he fell and couldn’t get back up – as his entire herd ran on and left him. I was horrified. I immediately yelled to Dad that we needed to go help the unfortunate, but as we were on a busy highway there wasn’t much to – so I insisted that we turn back. Dad humored me and we returned to see the deer still struggling, but several local farmers had already pulled over to deal with him. Apparently he needed to be put down, because his leg would never heal right and his herd had abandoned him. I’m assuming Bambi was eventually put down, but I definitely did not stick around to watch. That episode sort of put a damper on the triumphant return, but the ride was still a great one and frankly how often do ten deer stampede a highway while you’re trying to ride your bicycle and you survive?

The next weekend, we went for another 60-65 mile CIBA ride, this time in Lawrence. We started out strong…then 16 miles in my back tire flatted.  A hundred yards later, the patch on my tire failed. After this repair to a repair was made, we continued on for five miles only to have Dad’s back tire flat. Within a mile his patch failed as well. We switched out inner tubes and hoped they would work better, and received two more flat tires for our efforts. Needless to say, by the time we reached the first SAG stop, it was long gone, along with everyone participating in the group ride. However, we pressed on, (missing the second SAG as well) and rode until I announced lightheadedness and so we then enjoyed a McDonalds’ feast.  By the time we finished this ride, I was so sunburnt that I think I’m already more tan than I’ve ever been in my life. However, I’m rather crispy and sunblock has now become an essential component in my kit.

So here is the update on all things Bethany in the past few weeks! As I’ve recently enjoyed popularity on social media I encourage everyone to keep sharing and liking, thanks for getting the word out!

A Fabulous Ride

The only way I cash describe today's ride is totally fabulous.  Dad and I were desperate to get a ride in after my bike fit, and today was the first time I got in a decent-length ride after the fit.  I absolutely love it!  Suddenly keeping up with Dad was easy, and all leg cramps disappeared!  I felt so much stronger and faster.  

View fullsize

Dad spent the 28 miles explaining the finer pouts of competitive cycling to me which I was able to hear and understand because this time I wasn't gasping for breath two bike lengths behind!  We also did a half dozen two-minute speed intervals and practiced standing up out of the saddle - feats I had struggled with before.  to top it off, the weather was beautiful with minimal wind and sunny skies - not to mention that the calves were out in the pasture and seeing them is my favorite part of the Franklin route.

I'm feeling inspired and prospects are definitely looking up regarding the Epic Ride, in both strength and pain management.

Special thanks to Brian Goatee, proprietor of Gray Goat Sports, our family's favorite local Bike shop, a master fitter, who did a fantastic job.  Can't wait to have the new location open just four blocks from my house!

The Road to Khazad-Dum

Today Dad planned out a ride on the Wabash Heritage bike trail in Lafayette, Indiana.  The whole family got geared up, mounted bikes on the roof, and drove to Lafayette, planning a nice 40ish mile ride to include the Tippecanoe battlefield.  Upon reaching the park we unloaded and got ready to go (side note - this is the first ride I've recorded and downloaded on my new Strava app, so now you can follow my training!).

View fullsize

Lafayette's idea of a bike path?

At first the trail seemed to live up to its claims of road-bike friendliness, however we hadn't gone a mile before dark reality set in.  Unmarked dirt tracks, complete lack of signage, a runner who knowingly informed us that runners ALWAYS go against traffic (even on a path?!) and this fabulous single board bridge that I was refused the privilege of returning in order to photograph it because apparently damage to our bikes and humanity would be too great, all contributed to this.

Apparently, "road bike" is synonymous with "rugged mountain climber bedecked in soccer cleats and war paint!" Or Legolas.

However, our journey across Middle Earth was not the only epic event in the park that day.  A group of valiant warriors was waging foam war on one another in the park:

View fullsize

The foam "boffer" battlefield.

After an 8.9 mile quest through the wilderness, Zoe and I felt justified in interrupting a duel to get a selfie, so here we are, pictured with Aragorn.  Or possibly Gimli.  Can't be sure which.

View fullsize

And so it begins

Macalaster is 700 miles away. Which is a lot of miles. Unfortunately, I can't fly those miles on my newly-acquired winter bingo wings, so training has begun full force. This weekend was the first ride of small epicness to kick off the season -- a sixty-five mile ride to Columbus, through the town on the ever-fabulous People Trail, and back to Franklin. Traveling with our small Franklin CIBA ride group, we were feeling great when we reached Columbus (25 miles in) and loved the next 17 miles through the city. However, on the way back I was unpleasantly surprised by arthritis-induced swelling and soreness. I was a little shocked -- arthritis is usually that constant, background sort of nonsense, always present but rarely jolting like this. However, my dad and fellow riders were incredibly supportive, and after eating tons of plastic bike energy food, I was able to finish the ride -- and consider the first big ride of the season a success!