Day 39: Hoosiers

Indianapolis to Richmond, IN
Miles:  78  Climb:  1,713
Total Miles:  3,032

Today was an easy ride coming off our rest day.  We left the hotel at 7:30am, just in time for Indianapolis rush hour, and rode downtown to the circle and then headed east. At mile 13 we got onto US 40 and rode it all day past big farms and through small towns all the way to Richmond. It was warm and humid, but not unbearable, and we had wind from the southwest. It was a fun day.

When we got to Knightstown, most riders went on, but a few of us stopped at the Hoosier
Gym, the gym where the movie "Hoosiers" was filmed.  It is open to visitors and  has props and relics that were used in the movie as well as other basketball memorabilia.

After leaving Knightstown at mile 35, I rode alone the rest of the day.  I made some stops to take photos of barns and yard art along the way.  Two ABB alumni who did the ride last year had set up a road side SAG stop in a gazebo in the village of Cambridge City.  It was fun talking with them and learning about their trip last year. When I got into Richmond I rode through Earlham College before I headed to the hotel. With the strong tail wind and the flat terrain even with the self-designed side trips I got to the hotel early.

Tomorrow we ride 107 miles. I definitely am stronger and in better shape than I was when this trip started, but 107 miles in the heat and humidity will take the energy out of your legs, no matter how fit you are.  I'm feeling a little anxious this evening, and other riders at dinner said they were too.

The forecast is for thunderstorms and wind out of the west.  I'm hoping we have good luck such that they are wrong about the storms and right about the wind.

Day 38: Resting in Indy

Indianapolis
Rest Day

Slept in.
Cleaned the bike.
Did laundry.
Repacked the suitcase, sending some items back to Michigan with Rex to lighten the load for the last two weeks of the ride.
Took a tour of Lucas Oil Stadium.
Had a nice lunch with Rex before he headed out of town.
Returned phone calls.
Napped.
Repacked the bag, again.
Had a nice dinner with three other riders.

That was the rest day.  It was so good to see Rex and I am going to be in his debt for a long time for the support and encouragement he has given me in undertaking this adventure.

I am looking forward to a great two weeks ahead to finish an amazing experience.   Forecast for tomorrow as we head to Richmond, Indiana is for scattered thunderstorms and winds from the southwest.

Day 37: Tour de Indy

Crawfordsville to Indianapolis, IN
Miles:  65 Climb:  1,230
Total Miles:  2,954

What a day! We started from Crawfordsville with clear skies, low humidity, and pleasant temperatures.  A large group of us rode together for 30 miles to the first SAG stop where I was greeted by my brother Jim, nephew Tim, his friend Rajean, and Tim's sons Evan, Max and Sam.  I was so happy to see them and it was fun for them to meet my riding partners and the ABB crew. They got to see what a SAG stop is like and they talked with several of the riders.  Then I was honored to be escorted by Max and Sam from the SAG stop to the NAPA store Tim owns in the town we were in.    Max and Sam rode part of the official Bike route with me as my escort to the store, where Tim had posted a sign welcoming the ABB riders and a special shout out to me.  It was terrific.  So much fun! I spent some time touring the NAPA store and meeting the staff there.

Since I took some time out at the NAPA store, I rode alone for the rest of the day, which included a stop at the Indianapolis Speedway and the Indianapolis velodrome at Marian College, before winding my way to the hotel downtown next to Lucas Oil Stadium.  Coming down the street toward the hotel I was greeted by my family on Rex's side wearing "Laura's Breakaway"  T shirts, cheering, and clanging a cowbell.  They acted like I had just won a stage of the Tour de France. I stopped one block from the hotel and joined them for a beer.  Later we were joined by even more family wearing Laura's Breakaway T-Shirts.  We had dinner together and caught up on family news. It was a blast, such a fun evening.  And it has increased my mental commitment for staying strong for the rest of the ride.

The events today made me realize how fortunate I am for my family and friends, and for the good health that I have.  The first SAG stop visitors, the escort from my nephews, and the fun times with family today will be a memory that stays with me forever.  And thanks to my daughter-in-law, Jackie, for making the T-shirts, and getting them from St. Louis to Indianapolis in time for my arrival.

Tomorrow is a rest day.  Rex is spending the evening tonight and most of the rest day Tuesday before heading back to Michigan.

Day 36: Back Home Again

Champaign, IL to Crawfordsville, IN
Miles:  81  Climb:  1,722
Total Miles:  2,889

Back home again, in Indiana.  We crossed the state line today on our 81 mile ride.  Another state bites the dust. We now have ridden in more states than the number we have left to ride in.  We rode country roads and it brought back memories of my childhood days, riding the country roads with my friends. My legs came back today and I felt great. The temperature was mild and the weather was pleasant. There was very little traffic.  The road surface was smooth.  There was little wind. And we rode only 81 miles. Perfect day.

Shortly after I got to the hotel Rex arrived bringing fresh fruit, Michigan cherries covered in chocolate, and good beer from Salt Springs Brewery in Saline.  Happy Anniversary!  He came to the map session and then we went to dinner with the group, so he's getting a good feel for the spirit of the group and our daily routine.

Tomorrow we ride to Indianapolis, and it will be different from anyone day we've had yet.  My great nephews, Sam and Max, are meeting me at the first SAG stop and escorting me to Brownsburg, which is where they live and on our route.  My nephew Tim owns the NAPA store in Brownsburg and he has put up a "Welcome to Brownsburg" sign for the riders.  I am so excited.  On the way into Indy ABB has arranged for side tours to the Roark Bike Factory in Brownsburg, the Indianapolis Speedway, and the velodrome.  Some of Rex's family is coming to Indianapolis to see us come in.  It will be a great day leading up to the rest day and a good break before the final leg of the trip.

Forecast for tomorrow is for temperatures in the 80's and no rain.

Day 35: Tired Legs

Springfield to Champaign, IL
Miles:  97  Climb:  1,814
Total Miles:  2,808

The journey through the expansive Illinois corn and soybean fields continued today.  The conditions were perfect: good surface, not many hills, and pleasant temperatures. We rode the most rural roads we've ridden, yet. These were truly country back roads, which I love to ride, but my legs were dead. They ached the entire 97 mile ride.  Yesterday I felt strong and rode the 107 mile course hard. I paid for it today. My legs rebelled from the start this morning.  I tried spinning in a low gear at high cadence. I tried slowing the cadence. I played with my gears. Nothing relieved the soreness in the muscles. My quads and my hamstrings were telling me they'd had enough, but I had 97 miles in front of me.

I decided maybe I hadn't eaten enough carbs at breakfast to give me the power I needed, so I ate the Cliff Bar I had in my pocket before I got to the first SAG stop. The food on this trip has been a mystery to me.  It certainly hasn't been the fare of champions.  The SAG stop food is completely opposite of what I expected.  I expected to have high quality carbs and protein at the SAG stops. Instead, we have high calorie, high sugar food that I normally would not consider eating.  But when you are riding 80+ miles a day, day after day, high calorie food with sugars you burn quickly is the menu. When I arrived at the first SAG stop, I slathered a pile of peanut butter onto a piece of wheat bread and wrapped it around a banana, making a banana hot dog of sorts.  I paired the sandwich with a hand full of Cheetos and washed it down with a hydration drink.  I ate three Oreos and a peanut butter flax seed cookie and followed that with an orange.  When we got back on the road, my legs were still dead, and they remained dead the rest of the day.  I guess it is to be expected that day after day after day of long distance riding there will some days when the energy just isn't there. When that happens, all you can do is rely on the mental strength to power the legs to the finish.

Our second rest stop was at a volunteer fire department in a small town 33 miles from Champaign. The firemen had ice water for us and opened the fire station so we could use the facilities.  What a treat to use an indoor restroom on the road.  Normally we use a tree or the ditch, and in the flat farmlands of Illinois it has been challenging to find a suitable location. The warm reception and support we'be received from the towns we ride through has been heart warming.  We get a lot of teasing about why anyone would want to do this, but people have been overwhelming enthusiastic and supportive of our efforts.  It's restored my belief in the basic goodness of humans.

Tomorrow we ride to Crawfordsville, Indiana, another state and another time zone.  The anticipation for the finish is mounting in the group.  We are over two thirds of the way to our goal.  When we were in Kansas we felt like we were never going to see the end, and now we are feeling the end is coming too fast.  Forecast for tomorrow is for sunny skies and pleasant temperatures and the mostly flat terrain continues.  I've spent time this evening stretching my legs, rolling my thighs, and icing my knees.  Rex is meeting me in Crawfordsville tomorrow for our 41st anniversary.  I'm preparing for a fast 85 mile ride because I'm so eager to see him.

Day 34: Christmas in July

Quincy to Springfield! iL
Miles: 106 Climb: 2,605
Total Miles 2,711

We rode 106 miles today on rural roads through the corn and soybean fields of Illinois. The conditions could not have been better. The road surface was smooth, the terrain was mostly flat with just enough hills to keep it interesting, and we finally had a tailwind!  I rode with Liz and we cruised. For much of the ride corn lined both sides of the road. The leaves of the tall stalks  fluttered in the wind. Liz said it looked like the corn was waving to us, cheering us on.

Shortly after I got to the hotel, Drew and Jackie arrived, wearing "Laura's Breakaway" T shirts and bringing me a new supply of recovery drink mix, Strawberry Bonk Breakers, and Crunchy Peanut Butter Cliff Bars, my favorite.  Jackie made cookies with peanut butter and flax seed for a special treat at the SAG stop tomorrow. And they gave me a St. Louis Children's Hospital jersey to wear for the rest of the trip! It was like Christmas.  We had dinner at a farm to table restaurant near the hotel before they headed back to St. Louis. It was so good to see them and  a night out with family was just what I needed.

This leg of the trip has been the hardest, both physically and mentally. The combination of hills, distance and heat has been far more difficult than the mountain climbs that are followed by long descents. In six days we have ridden 550 miles, most of it hills. It is a relief now to be riding in flat terrain and to know that a rest day is not far off.

Tomorrow we ride 90 miles to Champaign.  Forecast is for good weather and warm temperatures.

Day 33: Farewell to Missouri Hills

Kirksville, MO to Quincy, IL
Miles:  91  Climb:  4,530
Total Miles:  2,400

The schedule called for a departure at 6:30 to accommodate for a long day with many hills, and to beat the heat. At 6:15 a Missouri storm blew through, causing us to delay our start until 8:15. Everyone was quite grumpy from getting up at 5:00 to eat and load, and then sitting for two hours in the hotel lobby waiting for the storm to pass.

The ride today was a roller coaster of hills for 84 miles on quiet country roads. For my friends at PowerCycle, I'd say we rode 84 miles of Bean Blossom today. Some hills were steep enough that going down we got enough momentum to help us up the next hills, but others seemed to rise up from the the flat, just to challenge us. The hills rolled on like waves for our entire route.

I really enjoyed riding the rural, country roads.  There was very little traffic, the road surface was great, and the scenery was beautiful.  We rode through beautiful Missouri countryside, with soybean fields that shimmered in the sun.  The corn was bowed over from the strong winds that came through with the early morning storm and tree limbs were strewn on the road.

At mile 84 we came down a hill, made a left turn, and suddenly we were on on a busy highway.  In seven fast miles we were crossing a bridge over the Mississippi River.  The bridge was under construction and eastbound traffic was down to one lane.  We rode on a very narrow shoulder that was covered in road debris with semi trucks inches away from our left side.  It was exhilarating and terrifying.  And now, we are in Illinois!

Tomorrow we ride 107 miles to Springfield.  The weather forecast is looking good, and we will have an early start because of the distance.  Drew and Jackie are coming to Springfield to take me to dinner. That will be great incentive to keep a good pace.  I'm so looking forward to seeing them.