I decided to wait awhile after the ride to write the epilog - to gain some perspective. When I finished the ride I was definitely feeling great. What an experience! I expected the euphoria to subside over time. Two months after the end of the ride I still had that great feeling and a big, broad grin. I felt like I had reached the point that people were tired of seeing me be so happy, time to move on. Then the holidays. Everyone loves the holidays, right? Five months after the end of the ride I still smile when I think of the experience. So what's it all about?
Here are some things I've identified about the experience. The 26 days of riding filled my body with endorphins. Cyclists, runners and other endurance athletes can identify with the feelings. Life on a natural high is very exhilarating.
Riding in the quiet of the morning gave me a spiritual connection like I've never known. When I think of those mornings and I am transported back to the experience of that connection.
Physically I felt great. Someone asked me if I rested for several days after completing the ride. Well, no, after riding so many consecutive days I was ready to continue to ride those distances every day. It wasn't as if I stumbled across the finish line, but rather, cruised. I could have turned around and riden back. If there weren't other aspects to my life that I was missing, I would have been sorely tempted to rally the group for a return trip.
How did this come about? Early on in my adult cycling days I saw a presentation about the Southern Cross. A cross-country ride put on by the people I rode with, that went from California to Florida in 20 days. I thought to myself, "You should do that someday." That's as formal as the entry on the "bucket list" ever got, but it did spark an awareness anytime I heard about anyone riding across the US. A year and a half before the ride I began to inch myself toward the idea of riding across the country. I started riding more with idea of becoming fit. I thought of buying a new bike and then thought that if I rode across the country that would be my reward. A couple of months later I realized that I was being foolish in riding a bike that was giving my aging back aches. I bought a bike that fits, and then the thinking became serious. I started reading about others' experiences and riding more. I planned on gradual preparation. In 2010 I rode 4,000 miles and intended to ride 6,000 in 2011, a number that was suggested as the year before a cross country ride minimum base mileage.
Then in late November PAC tour announced the Southern Transcontinental ride would be run in 2011. I had anticipated it being in 2012 since they had an established pattern of running the ride on the southern route (the shortest distance) every four years. So I researched other transcontinental rides and began planning training tours. Because the Southern Transcontinental begins in September, it allows one all spring and summer to ride into shape. So ride I did. I took on the mountains in Colorado because I had never ridden in the mountains before. I rode RAINSTORM again because it is grueling and a legitimate training ride for PAC Tour. And on and on. When I got to July, I had to decide: Sign up or defer. I sent in my deposit and my commitment became official.
I inched toward that decision, but I did need the year and a half to get in shape physically and to make the mental commitment. It was a grand adventure. Jean Hudson commented on one of the earlier posts, "Its all about the journey." Indeed, it is. It was a grand experience. And like all grand experiences, graduation day is just the tip of the iceberg.
I appreciate all the encouragement of those who followed the ride and the camaraderie of the riders who made the journey with me and really, on all the rides that lead up to the big one.
I encourage you to pick your new, next Grand Experience and have at it. The journey is the reward.
