My current route on Hwy 30.
We’re now down to 60 days until I head out from MD Anderson in Houston, TX and ride my bike 2,100+ miles to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD to raise money and awareness for cancer research. This number scares the bejesus out of me. That’s a word right?
My goal this week started with a big number – 300. That’s how many miles I wanted to ride. It’s more miles than I’ve ever ridden in a single week and I definitely ran into obstacles like rain and mechanical issues.
I’ve decided (with the urging of a few friends) that from now on, I won’t let rain get in the way of training because I definitely won’t be avoiding it on the Ride this summer. Sound advice.
Mechanical issues — well what can you do about those?
So today, I decided to ride after church. I was on the fence for skipping it so I could get on the road sooner but since my church, Peace Lutheran Church, is a major sponsor of the ride, I just don’t feel right doing that. I need to make up some miles to hit my goal, but I’m just not sure I have time for 100 miles today.
I opted for 75 instead. It’s a little short of my goal at 275 miles, but it’s better than nothing right?
By the time I got home from church, changed clothes and ate lunch with the family it was after 1:30pm. So I headed out and found out that it was going to be a repeat of Saturday with an approximate 10-15 mph headwind. Oh well, I’ll make the best of it.
On approximately mile 7 I got a flat. Nuts. It took me about 30 minutes to get that fixed and back on the road. I decided not to stress out about it as thankfully my wife Tara, wasn’t expecting me back until between 5 and 6. That should leave plenty of time for a 75 mile ride in the hills and even with a stiff headwind.
I stopped in a gas station in Roans Prairie for a “natural break” which is a nice way of saying I had to go potty. I also filled up on Gatorade and water. I also had a nice conversation with a lady there.
“Do you have a skinny seat or a big one?”
“I have a skinny one.” I said.
“You need a wide one. That’s what I have and I can ride forever!” She said. Although to me it looked like she really couldn’t – but hey. Who am I to judge?
Back on the road again. The rest of the ride went relatively uneventful. Lots of headwind until I turned to head north at Navasota where thankfully I finally had a tail wind all the way back home. There’s nothing like having a tailwind heading into home. Almost like ice cream after a baseball game.
Since I’ve been this way before, I didn’t really see anything to stop and take a picture of. So the image above is a Google map screen capture of the route I took. Nothing fancy, but it might give you an idea of my route.
The total time for the ride was 4hr 15 min. If you take off the 30 minutes it took me to change the flat, this put it right at 20 mph average. Again not bad with headwind and hills.
That leaves me at 275 miles for the week. Not exactly my goal, but still not bad. I’ll get it next week right?
Speaking of, next week I plan to ride to Huntsville and back. That should be a 100 mile ride in lots of hills. That will definitely be an interesting ride. 😉
I am so proud of your vision and compassion to help others. My mother was also diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer a year ago by accident. By God’s graces and mom never being sick helped in the early discovery. So far she is cancer free but knows in time the cancer will return some where else in her body. With her strong faith and staying positive and most of all with many prayers and God’s graces and blessings we will not worry about what the future holds until it happens.
Thank you so much. My family will keep you in prayers for your continued training and while you are on your mission ride. My hubby is ordering the jerseys and can’t wait to get them.
God Bless,
Sandi