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Wrap Up

ROUTE:  To home DISTANCE:  Depends on who you are WINDS:  Don't matter
WEATHER:  Don't matter either TERRAIN:  Most are flying TOTAL CLIMBING:  Just into the van for the shuttle to the airport

DAILY REPORT:  Wow...it's over.  Another successful crossing in the books.  It was a lot of work and a lot of effort, but the riders triumphantly stormed the beach yesterday in mass celebration of the completion of a memorable journey.  Friends were made and the memories will last forever.  Last night's festivities at the banquet was testament to the feeling of accomplishment each had...each in some way felt a sense of fulfillment, a sense of self satisfaction, and a sense of loss as each would go their separate way at dawn's light.

Everyone had a different reason for doing this ride and I'm sure there were times during the course of the ride that they all questioned their sanity for even thinking about doing such a thing, but they pressed on.  But now that it is over, they all can be proud of their accomplishment.  One thing I found interesting, not one focused or complained about the tough weather or the tough terrain they encountered this trip...they will wear it like a badge of courage...well deserved.  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, and headwinds all across the nation.  They rode in conditions especially into Abilene, that if they were at home, they wouldn't even think about getting on their bike.  It's amazing what we'll do when we have to ride to our next meal, have an important goal, or have a group from which to draw inspiration...and this group was most inspirational.  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 their newly adopted family on the road. They will wake up at 5:00 in the morning and suddenly realize their routine of the last 32 days is no longer applicable.  I personally don't know what I'm going 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 grape Gatorade, and the usual 6000 calories it has gotten used to for the last month.  Every time they see a gold 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.  Every time they see a silver van parked along the side of the road, they will look for someone standing in the weeds trying to get that perfect photo of them riding by.  They will long for the companionship and the inspiration they've had for the last 32 days and won't understand why everyone they talk to for the next 6 months can only be interested in hearing about their adventure for about 30 seconds...on a good day.  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, but they'll have to do it without a daily rap session and support team to get them by.  Maybe, they'll start planning their next ABB adventure and try to do it all again somewhere else...we sincerely hope so. 

During the ride they were too busy riding and eating to notice the end of the ride was closing in on them.  Then, 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...it's not the destination that is so important, but it's the journey that got them there.  The people, the sights, the experiences, the sensations, the suffering, the elation, the emotions...all are part of the journey that make each ride special.  Many of those experiences had a definite affect on the riders...experiences that put the big picture in perspective.  We are so fortunate to have had the opportunity to do something like this and we can't help think about those we encountered on the trip.  We can't help but remember those who were just 45 miles from us when they lost everything in Greensburg KS...the next day we rode our bikes while they tried to piece their lives back together.  Also, this Memorial Day we should remember and thank those who are putting their lives on the line and especially those who have given their lives so we can have these freedoms...freedoms we should cherish and people we should never forget. 

The friendships that were made on this trip were like all the other trips except maybe even a little stronger due to all the encounters they made along the way...these friendships will last forever.  Barbara, Karen, Shane, and I all salute our new friends in the cycling world and will consider them friends for the rest of our lives.  God bless and may they have tailwinds and smooth roads in their future...we've grown to love them all and hope they'll come ride with us again. 

I hope you have enjoyed following us across the nation and I hope you will check back when we do the North Ride, the West Ride in September, and the Fall Foliage Rides in October.  I want to thank the riders for their sense of humor and for putting up with me making fun of them on the website.  It really picks up the spirits of the ride when we don't take ourselves so seriously.  Until the next ride, on behalf of the ABB front office and the on road staff (left), I hope you have a great year and may God bless.  See you on the road.  Mike 

PS:  This ride is designed for advanced riders.  ABB provides rides that can be accomplished by almost every level of rider but don't select this ride just because it fits your schedule or because you'll only be gone for 32 days.  You will be sorry if you do.  This ride is not a "Tour" where you'll have a lot of time to soak in the sights.  If you are going to enjoy this ride, you need to adhere to strict training standards and be able to withstand the stress of 100 miles plus everyday within a reasonable time frame.  If you can ride a century in less than 6-6½ hours riding time (without a tail wind to help you), and do it again the next day and again the next day, then this ride is for you.  If those times are outside your capabilities, then you should consider one of ABB's other rides.  And if you plan to ride any ABB ride, you need to bring a well maintained bicycle to complete the ride.  Hope to see you on an ABB ride someday.   
WHAT WE LEARNED ON THIS TRIP:

Clothes dryers don't work unless you push the start button.

Don't put "Icy Hot" on your legs before you pull up your cycling shorts.

If there's a chance of rain, take your rain gear.

It's better to change a flat in your room than on the road.

The tire pumps work better if you attach the hose to your tube stem.

When you find what you think made your tire go flat, don't stop looking.

Be sure to take the paper off the cheese before biting through your sandwich.

You can find a Starbucks in some of the darnedest places.

Shower caps work either on the outside or the inside the helmet.

Some of the neatest things grow in your water bottle if you don't wash it out occasionally.

Saddle sores are serious.

Chocolate is always a good thing.

Portion size is only a factor after the ride is over.

DQs are required stops.

When it comes to avoiding fierce dogs, just be faster than at least one in your group.

The weather channel is quality entertainment.

Cycling shorts shouldn't be worn more than one day without washing.

One can have as many flats in a motel room as on the road.

A twenty dollar bill used as a tire boot isn't any better than a one dollar bill...you don't always get what you pay for.

If you follow the same wheel all across the country, all the states seem alike.

If you have to drag your bag, you brought too much stuff.

If you do something that rates as a DID I REALLY DO THAT and no one sees it, don't tell anyone.

Yesterday's cue sheet won't get you to the next motel.

Extra miles decrease the cost per mile of the trip.

Lubrication is a good thing...on butts and on drivetrains.

No matter how bad it gets, we're still not at work...we are riding a bicycle!

 MORE IMPORTANT LESSONS LEARNED:

It takes more than intuition to navigate in most cases.

When asking how to get to a Perkins, be sure you include correct town and the address in your request.

Every bike will make noises if you don't tend to it.

Tires that go soft overnight won't heal during the day.

Helmets do save lives.

If you only bring 35 pounds of luggage you'll still bring things you'll never use.

You can never eat enough bananas.

Tires, tube, rims, bikes, tube stems do come in different sizes.

You can put anything on a sandwich when you are hungry and it'll taste wonderful.

You can drink too much Gatorade.

If you forget something, it will be on the bottom of the luggage stack in the trailer.

100 miles on a bicycle is no longer a challenge.

Dogs can tackle.

You can carry 4000 calories in a jersey pocket.

You can get a discount on just about anything.

What are you doing, where did you start from, where are you finishing, how far do you ride each day, and why are you doing this are questions you'll have to answer everyday.

You can't always get through construction on a bike...but sometimes.

Some pancakes just aren't meant for humans...or to eat for that matter.

Some things are more important than others, but most things aren't as important as we think they are.

You can't help but make lifelong friends on something like this.

Barbara has eyes in the back of her head when you reach for that cookie before washing your hands.

Stop lights and stop signs do apply to bicycles.

Being able to laugh at ourselves, makes the ride a lot more fun.

If you can ride your bike across the country in 32 days in all kinds of weather, you can do just about anything you put your mind to.

 

It's really over.

FROM YOUR ON ROAD STAFF...THANKS FOR RIDING WITH US AND WE HOPE YOU'LL RIDE WITH US AGAIN.  IT WAS GREAT SERVING YOU.

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