5/7/2020 0 Comments InspirationI haven’t always enjoyed biking. In elementary school, I would have never guessed that I would be dreaming of long-distance bike trips and races. The Ore to Shore mountain bike races are frequently on my birthday weekend, and I remember being asked if I wanted to be in a bike race on my birthday. I replied something along the lines of “why would I want to bike that far on my birthday?” and plans were made to spend the day at Lake Superior instead.
Fast forward a few years, at a family thanksgiving I propose we do a summer bike trip. For the next four summers we have bike trips around Grand Island, Bois Blanc Island, Newberry to Tahquamenon Falls, and Newberry to Muskallonge Lake State Park complete with matching shirts, camping, and s’mores. I also start racing in the Ore to Shore (Soft Rock) each summer, with adding enthusiasm – but lacking a base of inspirational female cyclists to look up to. Then, one Christmas I receive the book This Road I Ride by Juliana Buhring about her Guinness World Record circumnavigation of the world by bicycle. This book singlehandedly changed my life. Our life circumstances were understandably different – she grew up in a tight religious cult, and I in an atheist freethinking household – yet we were the same. I saw myself in Juliana and biking alongside her in her extraordinary journey. Her book gave me the confidence I needed in high school to dream about larger, do-able adventures powered by brute strength and human ingenuity. A friend introduced me to the Dirtbag Diaries podcast, and recommended “Pedal Strokes and Perspectives,” featuring Mary Ann Thomas, a woman who biked solo across the United States than moved her nurse career from New York to Alaska. A few years later, she biked across India with friend Daniel Baylis and wrote an amazing book, Asking for Elephants. After scouring endurance biking blogs, outdoor adventure websites, and female cyclists on YouTube, I learned about Lael Wilcox’s and Kate Harris’ grand biking feats. Lael Wilcox is an Alaska based all-out endurance cyclist who has set records on the Tour Divide and TransAm, to name a few. She also started Anchorage G.R.I.T. (Girls Riding Into Tomorrow), an organization that teaches middle school girls how to bikepack. Kate Harris is a scientist and adventurer who dreamed of Magellan’s adventures in the 16th century across the Silk Road – and then biked across the Silk Road. Kate’s book, Lands of Lost Borders, is an amazing documentation of personal journeys, science, history, and biking. Lastly, in 2018, the overall leader and first place finisher of the Transcontinental self-supported endurance bike race was 24-year-old German graduate student, Fiona Kolbinger. All 5 of these women, through books, podcasts, articles, and YouTube videos have positively impacted by life and cycling career. These are the women who I look up to for cycling tips, tricks, and inspiration. Cycling pages and websites are overwhelmingly written by and for men – although there has been a push for greater diversity in the outdoor industry. And with me being a fervent and adamant feminist, I want to follow and learn from endurance cyclists who look like me. There are benefits to everyone, not only the minority, when diversity is shown and showcased in the outdoor industry. Representation matters!
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4.25: 50 miles; 4 hours. I biked from Newberry to High Bridge State Forest Campground on M123/CO RD 407. The weather was nice, and there was little traffic on the roads. I started riding at 8:30am, as the weather was warmer than usual, and I was already up due to the cat waking me up at 4:30am. I was tired from the get-go, and I was hoping to fall asleep on my bike. However, that did not happen, and my nap waited until after lunch.
4.26: 16.3 miles; 1 hour 15 minutes. Sort jaunt around town to loosen up my legs from the previous day’s ride. My knees were not screaming for help, and my left knee only hurt when I was at the last 3/4th of an incline. I have been stretching more often, taking arnica, and icing my knees. It was warm out, and I worked on the iconic cyclist shorts tan line. 4.27: 60 miles; I actually only rode 34 miles in 2 hours 55 minutes. Due to riding in April in the Upper Peninsula, it was cold. And I was cold. My toes and fingers were frozen, and it was not fun to bike in. I’m all in for extreme weather, but I like to be a comfortable temperature within the extreme weather. Therefore, I turned around at 17 miles when I couldn’t stand the cold anymore. Even though I was cold, it was still a good ride. 4.28: 17 miles; I actually rode 30 miles, as I added a 13 mile loop to the 17 mile loop to make up some of the previous day’s miles. 30 miles in 2 hours 24 minutes. I felt like I was flying on these routes, cars gave me space on the road, and the sun was out. 4.29: 12 miles; did not ride on this day due to heavy rain 4.30: 12 miles; unknown time. Slow and easy ride to prepare for the long ride!!! 5.1: 87 miles; 7 hours 30 minutes. Started at 8am going north on M123. Listened to a podcast and lots of music! I was biking so FAST! Made it to Paradise (40ish miles) by 11:20ish – fast time! The sun finally came out on M123 south in full force. By the time I had 20 miles left, I was faced with a dehydration headache and an intense feeling of “I am going to puke right NOW” (but I didn’t!). Over my bike ride, I ate one Clif Bar and two peanut butter burritos. (My peanut butter burritos consist of peanut butter lathered on a quesadilla shell, crasisns sprinkled in, and rolled up with a cheese stick.) I drank one whole camel bak with water+electrolyte additive, bike bottle with water+electrolytes, and about half of a Nalgene that I had strapped to my front handlebars. Once I got home, I was exhausted and could barely stand up without feeling woozy. I took a shower, grabbed my pillow and blanket, and took a nap on the couch so I wouldn’t puke. I woke up about an hour later feeling better, without an urge to puke and able to walk around. I ate a hardy vegan meal of a boca burger, two slices of baked cabbage, and four peanut butter cookies. Remember about the sun? I received sunburn on my forehead from helmet holes (yes, you can laugh), my cheeks and nose, and the skin between the cuff of my jacket and bike gloves. ‘twas a nice day. ** Fun fact!!! I essentially biked 555 miles in 1.5 months!! A B S O L U T E L Y A M A Z I N G ! ! |
Author: Eryn corinthCyclist. Feminist. Outdoor enthusiast. Tree hugger. Archives
October 2022
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