So, we have one crewman here, Tim. However, Joe is at this moment stuck at Ottawa Airport after his flight was cancelled. Sounds like a horrendous day, sat in a plane on the runway for 5 hours going nowhere. Will wait to hear what/why the airline thought that an ok plan, when he gets here.
Marc will head here from NC on Wednesday in his van. Don is on vacation in Orlando and drives here on Friday, ready for his first evening/night shift and Deirdre will return from South America Thursday morning. So quite the international gathering just to help me ride a bike.
The preparations for this adventure have already been quite the journey already. It might seem an easy thing to say or do. “Hey, I’m thinking of riding in a race down the Florida coastline, fancy being on the team”.
Yet in reality that means: –
Riding for hours and hours on my bike or training bike to be able to last 18-2O hours a day pedaling.
Getting two bikes and five sets of wheels ready, fitted and running smoothly.
Gathering everything for 6 people to eat, sleep and survive for two days.
Planning route stops, crew changes and sleep schedules for everyone to keep me moving.
However, it has been fun so far, I must admit. From ordering endless supplies from Amazon to studying roads and weather patterns it’s been quite the learning process. I have leant a lot on others experience and advice to guide me. My experience doesn’t often match my big ambitions so having friends to share knowledge with has always been vital for me. Knowing a World Champion rider and some world class medical/nutrition professionals is not just fortunate, but a privilege I have enjoyed and never undervalue. It has also allowed the creative side of me to be let loose which I love. I would recommend to anyone over 50 to try, learn and experience new things, it really does make you feel younger and very much alive. Just because your body gets older, less efficient and worn down, your mind, enthusiasm and enjoyment don’t have to do the same. I still feel like a kid often when I have these ideas. I could easily use lymphoma, diabetes or age to be a good excuse to sit back, watch the world go bye and take things easy. Watching time pass isn’t something I do, never has been. Life passes far too fast, something I learned from nursing. So, my hope has always been, to be able to sit back at the end and say to myself, “Hey, that was a fun ride and you did way more than you thought you could”.
So, as we enter race week I think and hope I am well prepared. Not many stones unturned or possible scenarios thought about. The planning and preparations are almost over and now I can turn my mind and body on to simply riding a bicycle. Because in the end, that is what all of this boils down to, simple, “it’s like riding a bike”. Just for a very long time.
As the saying goes, “fail to plan, plan to fail”. I’ve planned and prepared as much as I possibly can, so let’s hope the result is a success and not to fail. Having a team along with me, friends and family behind me and the road/challenge ahead of me, is more than enough motivation to keep me peddling as long as I can. As Marc coined it, “Edging to the Keys”.
