I like to eat, eat, eat oranges and bananas

What I learned this past weekend: oranges and bananas are the best food ever. And it seems that no amount of sunscreen in the world could have saved me from the sunburn I am sporting. Also, I learned that I am able. Able to ride 183 km in the hot, hot, hot sun to raise money and awareness for MS. Able to push my body and to feel great about it.

The Rona MS Bike Tour from Leduc to Camrose and back was this past weekend. It was my first bike tour. But not my last. The event was amazing. 1650 riders with pledges totalling greater than 1.5 million dollars. It was well organized from the website sign up and pledge collections through the event itself. My friend, Chelsea picked me up at 6:15 am and we headed out to Leduc to prepare for the start of the tour. With 1700 people (Bike Marshals who rode to assist with the tour, help those who needed it, and generally make sure that the rules were being followed also joined the 1650 who collected pledges), it was a slow kick-off. After the prerequisite speeches and rule reminders (single file, no headphones) and the singing of Oh Canada, we headed out in groups of about 100 people at a time. Our United Cycle ladies team was near the back of the pack and we didn't get out of the gates until almost 9 am. The first check point was a much welcomed break after 19 km and the worst hill that we would face in the entire tour. It was there that I came to really understand the true spirit of the whole event. Riders were cheering each other on, volunteers were handing out oranges, bananas, and trail mix, refilling water bottles and passing out juice boxes and Gatorade. It was inspiring and uplifting.

From the first checkpoint until lunch was the toughest part of the whole tour for me. I was prepared for the sore butt and the tired legs, prepared for the exertion itself. But I was not prepared for the heat, most of my (little bit of) training was done in our cold Spring, heat had never been an issue. I was not prepared for the pain in my shoulders, between my shoulder blades was a sharp stabbing pain. And I was suffering from the usual mess of allergies...cycling past a beautiful horse ranch and then sitting on grass for lunch did not agree with my already allergic self. Here is my first plug for United Cycle: the team checked my bike, adjusted my seat and discovered that they didn't have the tool that they needed to cut down my handle bars. My handle bars were much too wide for my narrow shoulders. So they advised me that they would take care of my handlebar problem at the finish line of day one and that I should ride with my hands placed as far inwards as possible. Damn, those guys know their bikes. The rest of the day went with much less pain, having taken their advice.

After lunch, knowing I was more than halfway and knowing that dehydration played a role in my earlier discomfort, I took it a little easier. Drinking more water and allowing myself to take a good long rest at the last checkpoint before riding into Camrose. Riding through the town of Camrose to get to the exhibition grounds was the longest part of the day. Riding on the highway is so joyful, I felt like I was flying, but riding through town, stopping for lights, cars and pedestrians was not so joyful and frustrating when I knew I was so close to the end. I was really proud of myself when I reached the finish line.

The event was so well organized. I picked up my bag from the storage place where it was stacked and labeled by rider number. I could have dropped my bike into the storage facility too but the United Cycle (plug number two) team had taken it to cut down my handle bars and were going to keep it loaded in their trailer overnight. And then I had the choice of heading over to the beer gardens, over to the rider's village where each team had their own tent, over to the amazing portable shower system or over for a free massage. That's right: free massage: masseurs & masseuses who had volunteered their skills to take care of the riders! I didn't get a massage, didn't feel that I desperately needed one any more than I needed to shower, eat and sleep. So I showered and then hung out with my friend, also named Shawna, who is amazing in her own right.

Shawna is the friend that encouraged me to do the bike tour with her. The friend who thought she wouldn't be able to ride this weekend because of sickness but managed to pull through and be on the road with me on Saturday morning. She and her husband graciously invited me to stay with them in their fifth wheel so I didn't have to sleep in a tent or find other accommodations. They are amazing. Truly amazing. And because of them I felt strong and capable and I got a great night's sleep so that I could start the Sunday in the best condition possible. Shawna is faster than me on her bike, has muscle memory that I will take years to build from riding as much as she does. But she graciously waited for me at each stop to make sure that I was alright and able to continue. And she road the entire last leg of the race with me so that we could finish together. She is a rock, and this weekend she was my rock.

Shawna and I got an early start on Sunday morning, starting out about 15 minutes before the official start. Knowing that I was slow and that the weather was going to be hot, we opted to take advantage of the cooler morning weather as much as possible. It was a good choice for me, good that we didn't do the first leg in the midst of a large crowd and good that we were more than half way done before the heat got too bad. The United Cycle team (plug three) had shortened my handlebars and changed out my saddle. The change in the handlebars was night and day, I didn't experience any back pain on Sunday because of that but the changed saddle did not sit well with me so at lunch they replaced it with my old saddle. Those guys rock. I can't say enough about them.

I had a little problem at the last checkpoint. My pannier had lost a bolt on the gear side of the bike and slipped down into the gears. I feel lucky that it happened at the checkpoint. A bike Marshall stopped to look at it and then the United Cycle team (plug four....go United Cycle!!) replaced the bolt and did a quick check to make sure that I hadn't damage the gears. Good to go.

My little family met me at the finish line and after Steve loaded up my bike and gear, headed off to the barbeque. I had expected to feel hungry at this point but not so much. Just exhausted from the heat. And completely proud of myself for finishing.


One last note: I couldn't have done it without you. Without those of you who pledged me on this ride and those of you who just plain encouraged me through the whole ride. Thanks so much. You mean the world to me.

Here is my honour roll:

Steven
Shawna
Jason
Heather
Mom and Dad
Astrid
Lisa and Andrew
Auntie Deb and Uncle Joe
Olann
Angela
Annette
Shawna D.
Sonya
Aunt Amanda
Auntie Penny
Auntie Winnie
Diana
Joleyn
Barbara
Carrie
Moon
Rae
Auntie Betty

Together we raised $790. You are all heroes in my books!