Final Wrap Up

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Final Wrap Up

Another ride is in the books

ROUTE: Finished	DISTANCE: Nuttun today	WINDS: Don't matter
WEATHER: Who cares, we can drive in anything	TERRAIN: 3 feet down out of bed	TOTAL CLIMBING: Just into the vans to drive home

DAILY DOINGS: First of all, to the students and faculty of the Emerald Mountain Christian School. Thank you for your support and for allowing us to be part of your studies. I hope you've enjoyed watching our antics across the country and please know that our visit with you on the 17th of May was the highlight of our trip. Maybe someday you can ride across the country. Work hard and have a great finish to your school year.

Well, another ride has come to an end. It's been a great ride for us and we have mixed emotions as we reflect on what we've done. Basically, we are glad it's finally over, but we hate to see it end. Even though I wasn't able to share in their victory, I want to say it was a pleasure being able to support everyone in fulfillment of their dream to cross the US on a bicycle. We've developed some lasting relationships this ride and we will miss being around them after they depart their separate ways. There were several riders still milling around the motel when the staff finally got moving this morning...were they waiting for a route rap so they could plan their day? Or were they waiting for them to unlock the trailer so they could load their luggage? What ever it was, they looked lost not having to ride to their next meal and they'll miss Barbara's chuck wagon this afternoon for sure. The crew finally got moving around 9 this morning...had to eat then load the vans for the trip to Alabama with the vehicles. We'll dock there until it's time to drive to San Francisco for the next trip in June. I'm typing this as I'm taking a break from sitting with mom...can't believe this is the last installment of the journal...it's been a great ride.

Last night we put the capstone on the ride with a final dinner at the motel on Bay Street in downtown Savannah. It was a memorable affair that allowed each member the opportunity to share their thoughts about the ride and to share the evening with loved ones and friends. I think this group was pretty tired, but they mustered the strength to laugh at themselves and we usually even see a tear of two as they share their feelings about the trip.

Usually, the staff doesn't get too involved in the festivities, it's the rider's night and they usually come up with fun things. We recognized Andy as being the flat king narrowly edging out his roommate, Stanley, for that title. It sure looked suspicious as Stanley led most of the way and only near the end did his roomy take the lead...I wonder if Stan might have "helped" put Andy in the lead. The staff awarded Charlie with the progress map we've used all across the country. Charlie was in inspiration to everyone both physically as the oldest rider, and emotionally for his great attitude and spirit during the ride. He even learned how to change a flat on the ride.

Everyone had a different reason for doing this ride and I'm sure there were sometime during the course of the ride that they all questioned their sanity for even thinking about doing such a thing. This group's emotions ran the gambit as they went from jubilation at the departure beach to the realization that this was a serious ride soon after they reached the desert at the 80 mile point on the first day. I saw a tired bunch as we rode into Albuquerque for our first rest day...well deserved as they had covered over 800 miles in the first short week. They continued their trek into the winds and even got their first relatively easy day into Dalhart thwarted by pesky headwinds that were unusual for that time of year. From Dalhart, their luck finally ran out and they rode into headwinds, rain, and even hail before they conquered the Panhandle of the Longhorn state. Then they hit Oklahoma to endure the two back to back 130 plus days into slight headwinds and over the constant hilly terrain on the day into McAlester. Enduring another headwind day, tired and beat up they limped into Fort Smith for their last rest day before the final assault to the east coast. After Fort Smith their spirits seemed to be lifted as they left. I don't know if it was the much needed rest or the fact there were 6 new faces who put smiles on our faces with their antics that made the difference. Or maybe they could see the end coming...I don't know for sure, but it was probably the great tailwinds that finally started helping us...and stayed with us all the way to Savannah. But what ever it was, their mood got much better on the eastern leg and held up all the way to the beach. But now that it is over, all their trials and pains are all memories and they can now take pride in their accomplishments. I told them on day 1 they would stretch their comfort zone beyond their imagination and they did that. They endured heat, cold, rain, traffic, gravel road surface, rough chip and seal, hail, headwinds, and even a dog or two all across the nation. They rode in conditions, that if they were at home, they wouldn't even think about getting on their bike. It's amazing what we'll endure if we set our mind to it or when we have to ride to our next meal. They have joined the elite fraternity of riders that have crossed the US in short order...I salute them all for their grit, good nature, and final success.

As they go their separate ways, it will take them awhile to fully appreciate what they have accomplished. Some will continue their cycling adventures while others will not want to see a bicycle for awhile. But tomorrow or the next day when they return home and are flooded with questions from friends and family about the trip, it will begin to sink in. They will start to appreciate their immense accomplishment and will begin to miss the life on the road and their newly adopted family. They will wake up at 5:00 in the morning and suddenly realize their routine of the last 27 days is no longer applicable. They won't have to pack their bags, find the luggage van, sign in, mix their Gatorade, and pump up their tires. I personally don't know what I'm going to do with myself when I get home and especially what to do with the 2 hours a day I'll have by not doing a journal every day for awhile. But for the riders, their bodies will scream for the stress of a 100 mile ride, the taste of lemon-lime Gatorade, and the usual 6000 calories it has gotten used to for the last month. Every time they see a green Ford diesel 15 passenger van, they will hunger for an oatmeal cookie and feel the need to tap the top of their head to get it to stop...it probably won't. It will be a shock when they get back to the regular grind, but they will all have a new perspective on life and on what is and what isn't important...for those who are going back to careers, they will have a recharged attitude to deal with the stresses of their job. If they can handle the stress of this ride, they can handle anything and maybe they will start planning on their next ABB adventure and try to do it all again somewhere else.

During the ride they were too busy riding and eating to notice the end of the ride was closing in. Yesterday, all of a sudden, it was over. As for me, I will miss these folks and hope we can ride again someday. Although we will probably never ride together again as a group, I'm sure we'll keep in touch after the ride and many of them will get together for reunion rides. That's what it is all about...the friends, the challenge, the memories. From what was heard at the banquet, the riders realized it's not the destination that is so important, but it's the journey to get there. But something I don't think they do realize is, the journey's not over. Now that they've completed this ride they will yearn for other challenges and will relive the memories of this ride for the rest of their lives. Getting to know everyone and making lifelong friends is part of the journey. A ride like this bonds a group beyond imagination...they become a family when they all endure the same hardships, the same pains, and all strive for the same goal for whatever their personal reasons. The friendships that were made on this trip are like all the other trips I've been involved with...they will last forever.

Before I close, I want to publish a poem from one of our riders...It sums up the ride pretty well.

Is it in you?

Is it in you to ride your bicycle across this great land;
to discover yourself physically, mentally, emotionally; not knowing what is at hand?
To make new friends;
where the only thing in common, is the goal in the end?

Is it in you to endure the rain, the cold and the hail;
people think you are crazy...just bail.
To climb, climb and climb some more;
topping the crest, a screaming descent...spread your wings and soar.

Is it in you to work as a team;
to persevere through mighty head winds, as endless as they seem.
To appreciate this country’s unique beauty,
each state, county, town in all their unparalleled diversity.

Is it in you to pedal 37 miles more;
when 110 shut the door.
To follow 8.7 turn left, 92.4 turn right;
easier for some, others out of sight.

Is it in you to sweat out the illness, soreness, fatigue and injury;
inside only you, the judge and jury.
To overcome tiny wires, dirt roads, chip and seal;
testing your body, spirit and your wheel.

Is it in you to respect the staff we adore;
because all they give is more, more, more.
To treasure west winds, sunshine, the bird that sings;
and the connection with nature that cycling brings.

Is it in you to eat, and eat, and eat some more;
only to have your muscles screaming for more.
To complete your ultimate goal;
when even on your loved ones it takes a toll.

Is it in you to look over your shoulder, to see from where you have come;
and then look forward, YES see what you have done!

Jenny Moshak

Another from Jeff Unruh

“It’s Bittersweet, more sweet than bitter,
Bitter than sweet, It’s bittersweet surrender”

Chorus from Bittersweet

By Big Head Todd and the Monsters

It’s bitter riding in the cold, rain and hail
It’s sweet finding hot chocolate at SAG stops

It’s bitter riding into a block headwind (Tucumcari to Dalhart)
It’s sweet riding like you have “no chain” (Ft. Smith to Conway)

It’s bitter to crack a wheel somewhere in rural Oklahoma
It’s sweet to Have FedEx to ship you another set of wheels

It’s bitter to think you will be in the saddle for 8 or more hours
It’s sweet to have chamois butter, bag, balm, and A&D ointment

It’s bitter to see your fellow riders getting sick
It’s sweet to know that all of your obsessive compulsive hand washing paid off

It’s bitter to start riding 15 minutes after ordering/eating/inhaling a Denny’s Grand Slam
It’s sweet knowing you won’t need 6000 calories at breakfast to get your day started

It’s bitter losing your ride leader near the end of the tour
It’s sweet that he ran such a well-oiled machine that we can go on without missing a beat

It’s bitter to think the ride is over
It’s sweet to know you have a full-length movie to play over and over in your head

It’s bitter to leave your family for 4 weeks
It’s sweet to be a husband and a father again

It’s bitter to leave your “bicycle family” after such an incredible journey
It’s sweet to think of the unique friendships you’ve gained and that they will last for years to come!

Jeff Unruh

I hope you have enjoyed following our progress across the country. As I close this edition of our spring adventure, may you be blessed with good health and be prosperous in the coming year. It's been a great ride...a tough ride, but one the riders will always remember. Maybe you will come out and make your own memories in the near future. On behalf of America by Bicycle and the on-road staff, I'll say good bye until we meet again. It's been our pleasure being your support staff. May you continue to have tailwinds and keep the rubber side down.

PS: You don't have to be a Tour de France level rider to do this ride, but this particular ride is designed for ADVANCED riders. ABB provides rides to fit all ability levels, but don't select the "Fast" rides if you are not an accomplished cyclist. Some have chosen this ride just because it fits their schedule...big mistake if you are not extremely fit! I admire anyone who will challenge themselves and test their limits, but this ride covers large mileages everyday and if you cannot maintain the pace required to complete each day within limited time constraints, you not only do a disservice to yourself, but you also rob others of the vital support they paid for. If you want to enjoy this ride, you need to adhere to strict training standards and be able to withstand the stress of 100 miles plus everyday...in many cases in less than ideal conditions. Even the "easy" short days were tough this year...maybe some of the toughest days were the short ones. Under good conditions, if you cannot ride a century in 6 hours or less riding time without pushing your limits, then you should seriously consider one of the 50 day cross country rides or one of the other <30 day rides (the east coast or the Mississippi River ride). You will be glad you did. Hope to see you on an ABB ride someday.