Kimby Bikes

THE PEEPS!

 The last weekend in August saw me saddled up on my mountain bike supporting my best friend since kindergarten in her Bike MS ride along the Greenbrier River Trail in West Virginia. After 3 years of tests and suspicions, she was finally diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis this past spring. I had already promised to raise money and ride long before her diagnosis. But knowing for sure she had MS made it a little more real. I wasn't just riding for my friends' reasons for donating to my ride, but I was riding for her: because it was meaningful to her and because she rides with MS.

1st rest stop. Me: Hey, this ain't so bad! (HAH)

The trail trek is reportedly 60 miles. But when you start at mile marker 14 and end at MM 80 that math doesn't compute. A check on Map My Ride confirms the trail trek is approximately 66 miles. But the route is well stocked with some nicely placed rest stops. And Blake and Mandy's aunt are able to SAG for us. Day 1 of the trek starts in Anthony, WV and ends in Cass.

It was a right eventful first day. Mandy's uncle hit the side of the tunnel while trying to turn on his light and busts open his tube and tire wall. We frankenbiked him as best we could and reach the next rest stop 7 miles later. Next, it's my turn to have a flat. We pump and pump the new tube to no avail. It obviously had a puncture in it as well. The 2nd tube works thankfully. Also, we only have 1 tube left for all 4 of us. After a quick brake adjustment we're off again. But slow since the pressure on my tire is low.

The origin of Frankenbike

We're 1.5 miles from the finish when we have to slow down for a group of horses. After passing we try to get back up to speed and Mandy's uncle clips my rear wheel with his front wheel. This sends him skidding across the trail on his shoulder. We're all so eager to finish he brushes himself off and we push forward. We finish with forced smiles. Mostly because we're done. Until we realize Mandy's uncle's phone had fallen off his bike when he crashed. Mandy and I stay behind as her dad and uncle head back down the trail to look for the phone. They return in less than an hour: success! Overall it had taken us 8 hours. We head up the mountain to Snowshoe to clean up and eat dinner at the banquet.

Day 1 finish at Cass Firehouse. Look at that sexy helmet hair!

After dinner we head to the hot tub to ease our sore muscles. I'm pretty spent and so are the others. Bed time is early as we need to be at the breakfast around 6:15 the next morning.

So...many...bananas...

Oh, haiiiii!

After breakfast we head back down to Cass to pick up our bikes and hit the trail right before 8AM. We're cooking at a great pace to the first rest stop. However, the 2nd stop is 18 miles away. I'm struggling to keep the fast pace. I'm starting to bonk. We reach Marlington and the next stop. I take some time to refuel and make sure I can make it the rest of the way. As we pull out of the rest stop I hit a soft patch of gravel and try to stabilize myself by setting my foot down. But I'm clipped in. And I fall. Right over. In front of everyone. I pick myself up and in perfect stubborn manner say, "I'm ok."

My knee is stiff the entire way to the lunch stop. I take a shot of pickle juice and pain killers after the first aid guy helps me clean up my bloody leg. It's not as bad as it looks, but it looks pretty bad. Somehow, I get my second wind at lunch, and I'm ready to go! We hop back on the bikes and take off. The last half of the ride we keep our pace and I don't pass out from exhaustion. There is less chattering than at the beginning of the ride, but everyone is in good spirits. Our last stop is where we decide to finish strong by riding up the mountain to the official finish line. It's an extra mile and mostly up a mountain road. When we reach the bottom of the hill I down shift to granny gear and Mandy and her uncle quickly get ahead of me. I'm completely satisfied with sitting as long as I can since my quads are all but shredded.

Yay for being 30!!!!

Finishing was a great feeling. High fives, sweaty hugs, big smiles. And knowing I can sit in a car seat instead of a bike seat for the next 5 hours.

There were times during my ride (mostly on Day 1, surprisingly) where I felt like quitting. Where it hurt. Where I was tired. Every time I had these thoughts I forced myself to think about my overall situation. I'm healthy. I don't have MS. I am able to feel this pain. I am able to ride. And that's what kept me going. Knowing that I was able to raise money to support education and programs and research to better the lives of those with MS and those who will be diagnosed with MS in the future.

And I can't wait to do it all again next year. :)

Yay!

So buff!