"You have to motivate yourself with
challenges. That's how you know you
are still alive."
Jerry Seinfeld
I have been keeping an eye on the weather because the motel for the Tour de Mad Dog overnight requires 72 hours cancellation. I see it is not supposed to rain and we decide to hold the ride. Or maybe it is more accurate to say nobody mentions canceling so we don't. Then the weather prediction begins to worry me as the weather forecasters begin predicting heat in the 90's that will have a heat index of over one hundred. Poor Thomas has to stoically endure email after email from me as I worry about the upcoming ride.
The TMD always used to have an overnight, but somehow it got lost along the way. When I sent out a survey earlier this year, surprisingly, at least to me, respondents wanted to revive it. Personally, I always thought it was a shame that it was discontinued. I have so many fond memories of past overnights. Some were tour stages and some were not. I guess a favorite memory was the year Jim "Grizzly" Moore brought his guitar and song sheets for a sing along and we sang "Mad Dogs in the Sky." Not one time, but repeatedly;-) There was just enough alcohol involved that people participated fully. I can still hear Jim Tretter pounding the table and yelling, "One more time." And there was the year when we arrived Mike "Sparky" Pitt had provided Halloween masks for everyone. Or the year Steve Royse arrived too late for the sag. We stopped for clothes for him at a Goodwill near where we were staying. For anyone who is interested, Larry has a video memory of some of these events on Youtube. Somehow overnight adventures seem to accentuate the group bonding of the Mad Dogs.
Thomas Nance was kind enough to volunteer to captain but requested a co-captain. I waited hoping someone else would step up to the plate because each year I doubt my ability to do back to back centuries at this stage of my life plus I tend to be rather bossy and at 69 I am not going to change, but when nobody does I bite the bullet. Once we decide on a destination, I plan a route there and he plans the route home.
This was before knowing it would be scorching hot. Thus far I have always been successful on multi-day trips. Hopefully this will not be the year that changes, but if it is there are lessons we learn from failure. How little we would progress without the occasional failure. It is good to challenge yourself occasionally, to try new things or hard things or different things, to, as Seinfeld notes, know you are alive.
I think you miss a lot in life if you only do those things you are sure you can do successfully because it means limiting yourself and not really knowing for sure if you could or you could not. Sometimes it is good to put yourself outside your comfort zone. I have thought that about Lance Armstrong and his drug use. Could he have won once or even repeatedly without cheating? Neither he nor anyone else will ever know. Looking back, many of the things I regret are those things where I didn't accept a challenge or stretch myself a bit. But that does not mean that making the decision to take the plunge is always an easy one. I am, after all, a chronic worrier with an over active imagination.
Because of the hot weather prediction and worrying about how people will do, I sleep only a couple hours at best the night before, restless to the point where even Tom, the cat that always sleeps at the head of my bed, arches his back, stretches, and heads for the floor to sleep alone and undisturbed by the inconsiderate human who keeps tossing and turning. Everything is laid out and waiting for morning to arrive. Bottles half filled with water in the refrigerator waiting for last minute ice cubes. Clothing that is lighter in color. Sign in sheets and sign out sheets. Wallet. The preparation all made easier by knowing that there will be a sag vehicle and we will not be riding self-supported.
So at this point I want to give a few gigantic shout outs. Bob Evancho, I hope you realize you won the lottery the day you asked Molly to marry you and she accepted. Thank her again for being such a wonderful and dependable sag. Not many people would be willing to devote two entire days to carrying luggage, ice, and water for a group of dirty, smelly, sweaty cyclists. A huge shout out to Janet Bolen as well who also offered to provide some sag services if necessary. It was a huge relief knowing we had someone we could call if a rider needed assistance or a ride in. Not everyone has a spouse who is supportive of their hobby. These two ladies are and I hope their husbands appreciate it. Another shout out to Thomas Nance who was the first to agree to captain this throw back ride. Without our TMD ride captains, the TMD would cease to exist. And Thomas can always be counted on to captain rides as needed with the patience of Job himself.
Morning comes and I am surprised as car after car rolls into the parking lot. There are seventeen of us: Larry Preble, Bryan Holden, Tom Askew, Keith Baldwin, Jon Wineland, Bob Evancho, Glenn Smith, Thomas Nance, Jason Willis, David King, Tim Getloffuge, Fritz Kopatz, Joe Bolan, Ed Scharfenberger, Jeremiah Westendorf, Carilo Molina, and me. Four are not LBC members. I am surprised. Even without the heat, I did not expect this kind of attendance.
The parking lot fills with nervous anticipation as each of us nurses our hopes and fears for the coming days. I know that Jeremiah is only riding with us part of the way and is planning on turning around. Jon Wineland and Jason Willis are opting to go self supported: Jason because he is planning on a solo self-supported trip later this year and Jon because he is weird;-) (I can say that because Jon is a dear friend, because he IS rather off, because I have said it to his face many the time while also claiming the title as my own as well). Perhaps we are all weird, getting ready to ride two hilly century rides over two days in extreme heat without being acclimated and when most people are planning to be inside under the air conditioner or outside in the swimming pool. And then we have two who plan on riding there and back without staying all night. Of those two, only one will be successful: Bryan Holden.
One rider, and I am not sure who, has trouble with his brakes in the parking lot. I assume they get fixed because he rolls out with us into the already warm air at 7:00 a.m. heading for the Red Barn. But maybe not. I don't know Tim and never hear of or from him the rest of the ride. So perhaps it was him. But when we finish, the parking lot is empty so he evidently is not dead and forgotten somewhere out on the side of the course.
The route today is one that I planned. I have driven most, but not all of it. What I did not drive, I "thought" I knew and had taken roads from other rides going in that direction. But more on that later. I called Amos a couple of weeks ago telling him I would be bringing a group of riders in and he has promised to have Gatorade. I normally ride and don't drive my routes ahead of time as this tells you more about dogs and terrain, but this route is an exception as it would have involved an overnight stay.
The group stays together for longer than I expect. As we head for the first hill, a hill I have warned them about and that is shortly before the first store stop, the chatter begins. Everyone is in a good mood. Fritz and I chat a bit about the TMD jersey and other things. I speak with Bryan Holden for a bit recommending he consider PBP in the future since he apparently is comfortable with riding at night and with distance riding. Keith and I find that we have something in common besides a love of cycling. Both of us had siblings that were in accidents that caused them to be in a coma for a long period of time before awakening: his brother and my sister. Keith, Larry, and I talk a bit about loss and how hard it can be at times. In the end, you have no choice but to move it, but it is never easy if you have loved someone who is gone.
As we talk, groups begin to form and my group is the last to arrive at the Red Barn. I had thought I would be at the back alone most of the ride as my strategy was to ride even more slowly than usual, and I can no longer keep up with many of the riders. But this never materializes. Nobody stays long at the Red Barn as we want to make use of the cooler air. No, it is not cool, but we all know it is cooler than it will be in the afternoon. I do warn them of the hill ahead, the one Larry remembers that Cathy Hill named "The Wall," and I also warn them of the hills after the last store stop as we pass Paoli Peaks. While I have not faced them on a bike, they appear to be quite punchy when in a car. (I later find I am not incorrect).
On the long descent following our departure from the Red Barn, I notice someone's bottles flying out of their cages and spinning out across the road. It turns out to be Bob Evancho's bottles and Tom Askew, who was behind him, is dodging them. Fortunately, for we are flying due to the steepness of the descent, Tom and I both miss them. Bob has to turn around to retrieve his bottles and I wait. Today is not the day to not have water bottles full and ready. Hydration will be key. It reminds me of Medora one year when it was hot. Bernice lost her water bottles and did not stop because she did not think she could get them and catch the group or that the group would wait. I retrieved them for her. She would have definitely been in bad shape had I not done so. But having aged and slowed, I better understand her reluctance.
When we arrive at "the wall," I am with the group. By the time we finish the ascent, however, I am not. It was a huge decision for me whether to take the Lynskey with my triple or the Calfee. I chose the Calfee. I have climbed this hill numerous times on the Lynskey and it is one hard hill, but I have never done it on the Calfee. I am amazed at how hard I am struggling when my wheel turns a bit bumping my toe. And I am finished. It is clip out or fall. No way am I descending to start again and no way can I restart. So I walk cursing myself for hitting my toe, for being weak, and for bringing the wrong bike for the job. I also worry about the hills to come. At the top I notice that I was attempting to climb the hill in the big ring and relief washes over me. Tom Askew has waited for me at the top and we take off toward lunch together.
Shortly thereafter, what do we come to but......drum roll.......a gravel road. This is not supposed to be on the route. I have no idea how bad the gravel is or for how long. I have Dieseled the other riders telling them there is no gravel on the route when there obviously is. Fortunately the gravel is easily ridden and is only for only a short stretch, but as I am cracking up imagining the ribbing I will receive while simultaneously I worry if there will be more. Actually, as it turns out, there are very few comments about the gravel, maybe because it isn't bad, but I think how lucky I am that Diesel isn't there after the teasing we gave him. Diesel is, when people ask, per Jon Wineland, adultering this week-end. From what Jon told me, what he meant to say was adulting, but of course once adultering was mentioned it could not be dropped or let go of without a thorough teasing. There isn't more gravel, but I don't recognize these roads. The other routes that use these roads must use a different part of them. I ride and enjoy them and the company.
The orange day lilies are blooming as are the daisies and black-eyed Susan's. Despite the heat, everything is still quite green and lush from the recent rains. And I adore being on roads I do not ride regularly. Tom Askew tells me about different things throughout the ride as do others. While I knew he was in the service, I did not know that he played tennis and represented them at times.
We arrive at Orleans to find that the Dawg House is no more and the pizza place does not open until noon so everyone but Dave and Jon decide to eat at the Mexican Restaurant. I don't think the overnight riders stopped either or Joe Bolen. Tom and I arrive after the others and they originally want to seat us in another room but we end up sitting with Bob and Molly. The food is good and quicker than I expected. When they bring the checks, however, she does not take my credit card and obviously doesn't understand English well enough to understand that she put my meal on Tom's bill. Tom is fluent in German and knows some Spanish, indeed he ordered in Spanish, but decides not to press the issue. I try to give him money for my meal, but he declines. As we leave, I see Jeremiah on the street and he tells me he is turning around. Since the restaurant in about 60 miles in, he will get a century in today, but not one that counts toward the TMD. I bid him safe travels and later text him to ensure that he arrived back safely.
Seven of us basically ride together the rest of the ride. When a few get ahead of us, they wait for us and we regroup. It reminds me of the old days, no dog left behind. I don't remember if it was the first or second day, but at one point while re-grouping, we ride up to find the group conversing with a young, overweight young man on a bicycle. The boy is obviously flabbergasted that we have ridden our bikes there from Scottsburg. I wonder if he is trying to decide if we are lying. He is also seeing a bunch of adults riding bicycles. As a child, I never remember an adult on a bike: only children. I wonder if it will expand his perspective or give him ideas he might not otherwise ever have growing up in a rather small, rural, Indiana town.
A few streets later, this or another boy makes sure to show us up by riding in an area next to the road and passing us. Of course, he has a motor on his bike, but he is obviously quite proud of himself. Thomas and I talk a bit about bikes when we were kids. Thomas said his group was fascinated with Evel Knievel and would build ramps to jump on their bikes. To be young is to think one is invincible to harm, but what fun those exploits were. Perhaps, by choosing to ride today and face these harsh conditions, a little of that remains alive in us even as we age. I like to think so.
The next store stop is only about ten miles from the motel, but with the heat and the upcoming hills I recommend that everyone stop and top everything off. Fortunately, they listen because the heat is getting pretty intense. Dave was quite distraught at the previous store after finding they did not have ice cream. and I was in the dog house;-) This store, however, does not disappoint. I can feel the heat is beginning to tell on me. Earlier in the ride,when Keith has a flat, we begin to joke about others getting flats for a chance to stop and rest. ( At least I "think" it was day one. I find it hard to remain chronological on multi-day rides) At one point, Keith helps me out loaning me a tool to fix my loose water bottle cage. As lose as it turned out to be, I am lucky I noticed and stopped. Frankly, I would have continued to the next store before tightening it not wanting to hold up or lose the group, but they all encourage me to fix it now. Losing use of that cage due to a lose screw could have been disastrous. I am thankful I listened to them and owe them big time.
Luckily, there is also a fairly strong head wind that helps keep us cool enough the rest of the day. Not cool enough for comfort though, just cooler than we might otherwise have been. It is blazing hot and little of this part of the route is shaded. Each of us is coated with a shiny layer of sweat no matter how much we try to hydrate. I know there is no way we can adequately replace the sweat that is covering us. Time to begin monitoring urination. A weird topic, but one the is appropriate for distance riders who need to monitor color and frequency to best judge dehydration.
I walk portions of a few hills on those last miles into the motel only to always find the others waiting and we finish as a group other than a few riders that went ahead riding at their own pace. When we arrive we find that Camilo, who originally intended to ride back with Bryan, is done and trying to find a way home. Eventually, he does. Finishers for day 1 are as follows:
Jon Wineland: 3:23 Group of 1
Camilo Molina 4:00 Group of 2
Bryan Holden 4:00 Group of 2
Ed Scharfenberg 4:00 Group of 3
Fritz Kopatz 4:00 Group of 3
Glenn Smith 4:00 Group of 3
Melissa Hall 4:44 Group of 7
Larry Preble 4:44 Group of 7
Bob Evancho 4:44 Group of 7
Thomas Nance 4:44 Group of 7
Keith Baldwin 4:44 Group of 7
David King 4:44 Group of 7
Tom Askew 4:44 Group of 7
Jason Willis ? Group of 1
When we arrive, Fritz and Glenn are already in the swimming pool having gotten in before us. Jon Wineland has already showered and dressed as has Jason. A few of us walk to Dairy Queen for a post-ride milk shake, or, in Jason's case, blizzard. We agree to meet to walk across the street for pizza at 6:30 to give everyone time to shower and rest for a bit. At dinner, we don't all get to sit together but the service is fast and the pizza is good. When we order the pizza, Tom is ahead of me. The woman asks if we are together. This causes us to laugh as we avoid a repeat from lunch. Then when they bring the pizza the same thing happens. They ask if Tom and I are together. It appears this is going to become a joke on this ride.
A few of us order enough to have the extra for breakfast the following day. The others will pick something up at the store. At dinner Jon tells a funny story about the day. Ed was riding and being chased by a German Shepherd, first in the yard but then in the road when the fence line ended. When he realized Ed was too fast and far ahead for him to catch, he paused not knowing Jon was coming up behind him. Jon yelled and the dog jumped about three feet into the air before skedaddling back to his yard. Keith's wife has joined him and it was delightful to meet her though we were at separate tables so never got a change to chat. I wish we could have all had a table together and that the restaurant was less noisy, but at least we got fast, filling food.
After dinner, we decide that we want to leave earlier than scheduled to beat more of the heat. Bags are to be in the car by 6:00 and we ride at first light. I rather expect Jon to object as he did on my Montgomery overnight, but he does not. We walk to Dollar General to pick up a few more things for our rooms for breakfast as the breakfast places do not open until 7:00. After that, I don't know what anyone else does because I am tired. My head hits the pillow and I sleep. While they might have gone out dancing and partying once I departed, I strongly suspect most did the same.
When we gather in the morning, it is cooler than it will be but already in the seventies and quite humid. Thomas announces he is taking a bit off the route where we go past the hotel. This will mean we reach the climbs earlier. We head out into a misty morning and the worst of the climbs. The climbs are challenging but I don't ever struggle like the previous day. Sleep has restored me. The scenery is fantastic.
Keith later tells me that the mist made him feel as if he couldn't breathe for a bit on the hills and I understand where he is coming from. We hit two significant climbs almost immediately leaving French Lick. The air is so moist it is almost cloying. I suspect most of us feel the same. But the mist also accentuates the early morning beauty giving everything a haunting, mystical feeling. For some reasons it makes me think of a couple morning rides rolling out on TOKYO, a four day tour Steve Rice used to put on for the club. Those that did that ride will always share a bond, and I hope that we all end this ride feeling the same, that we look back on this trip with the pride of accomplishment and a shared adventure.
I actually feel much stronger than I did the prior day. Ed passes me on his recumbent going UP the hill, and I tease him about my shame at being passed by a recumbent going up a hill as if he has not been ahead of me the entire ride. I think how much I love overnight or multi-day trips, particularly in the mornings when everything is so fresh and roads are new and unknown. As I am contemplating this, I notice something. I crack up when I realize that Tom has on the same jersey I picked for the day. I later tease him that all we need is a tandem since on this trip everyone that does not know Tom is happily married to a wonderful person seems to think we are together.
I am really enjoying the new roads we are on and am so grateful to Thomas for putting this route together. We reach Marengo almost too quickly it seems despite the climbs. Not that I complain when Thomas tells me the major climbs are behind us. We follow Jeremiah's suggestion to stay on the highway as it is not busy this time of day. The official stop is Dollar General, but most of us opt for the gas station. When I go to us the restroom in the back, it is occupied and I find a group of old men gathered around a table drinking coffee. I ask them if this is the Liar's Club. They find this amusing and we engage in chatting for awhile. I giggle when one says he wishes he had legs like mine. I figure in ten more years, which I guess is about his age, I will wish I had legs like mine as well.
The second stop is in Palmyra. A couple of people on the ride begin to develop leg cramps that will hound them the rest of the day. They are offered Rolaids and Electrolytes and other fixes. These help but never completely remedy the problem. At lunch I notice Fritz has metal water bottles. I ask about them and he says he got them at Bob's. He said they really keep things cool. Someone asks him how they are for squirting dogs and he admits they don't work for that, but I still like the idea of no plastic and may pursue it in the future. I see Jason outside the lunch stop and he tells me he stopped at the grocery and is going on. I hug him and send him on his way asking that he text me when he gets back so I know he is in safely. I later learn that Jon missed the lunch stop and just rode on finishing with Jason.
At Salem, the third store stop, the day is telling on everyone, yet they are all positive and in a good mood. There is still joking and laughing and very little moaning or groaning even among those cramping. Everyone is determined to see this ride through, and remarkably they do. And seven of us finish as a group, encouraging, regrouping, making this happen. This would have been a demanding overnight without the unexpected heat. The hills both days were challenging and many. The fact that the heat just happened, slapping us in the face, made it tougher as nobody had been able to even begin to acclimate as you normally do with a few shorter rides. We return as proud conquerors of the hills, the heat, and ourselves. A few say it is the hardest ride they have ever completed. NO DOG LEFT BEHIND! A few had finished before our group. I hope they also had a joyful finish and not a "Thank God, it's finally over finish." We ARE still alive.
Tomorrow I will wake with part of me glad for the rest day that I see in my future, but there will be a part of me that is sad that I will not be swinging my leg over the top bar onto the bike for another day of adventure. WELL DONE DOGS~WELL DONE.
FINISHERS ON DAY TWO: FRENCH LICK TO SCOTTSBURG
Jon Wineland 1:47 Group of 2
Jason Willis 1?47 Group of 2
Fritz Kopatz 2:49 Group of 3
Glenn Smith 2:49 Group of 3
Ed Scharfenberger 2:49 Group of 3
Thomas Nance 3:22 Group of 7
Bob Evancho 3:22 Group of 7
Larry Preble 3:22 Group of 7
Melissa Hall 3:22 Group of 7
Keith Baldwin 3:22 Group of 7
David King 3:22 Group of 7
Tom Askew 3:22 Group of 7
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