First, the MS Bike Tour is not a race. Second, I do not have a lot of recorded data before 2024.
With those 2 things in mind, I was still thrilled to PB 80 km on Day 1 of the tour, beating my previous best by 3 minutes and 43 seconds.
Also, shout out to John who was the first rider to cross the finish Day 1. He was so fast! No, it’s not a race, but it is also fun to go fast.
The conditions were ideal for me. A cool 18C to start. It was calm with only the faintest of breezes. This year’s route was straighter, flatter and on quieter roads. Those things help me do my best.
Michel rode with me. Now that I know more about how my left ear affects my balance I ride with Michel on my right.
I can hear him better and I get less dizzy. We had a marvelous day.
Ride from the ride
After we finished the course we rode the 4 km home alongside our new friend Jersey. I was tired but not wrecked when I got home.
Magical Morning
Day 2 was another excellent day for riding conditions. I felt strong and decided to see how it would go without any solid plan.
The first hour I averaged 19.5 km/hr and I could feel my thighs pumping up.
Perpetual Motion
As the morning went on I got faster and faster. It does take me about an hour to be warmed up but this was next level.
We rolled through a little town with a speed monitor that flashed 24 km/hr. That felt good!
The possibility dawned on me
I decided in the last hour or so to see how fast I could go. It’s a descent to the finish and I was feeling it. It occurred to me I might break my personal record again. Maybe?
As we rolled towards the finish Michel told me I was much faster than Day 1. I laughed. SURE BABE, SURE!
He was right, of course. I completed 80 km 6 minutes and 23 seconds faster than the previous day. Thanks to leaving from the house my total distance hit 50 miles, which I PB’d by 9 minutes and 45 seconds.
The last time I felt this strong on the bike was in 2016 on the People With AIDS ride from Toronto to Montreal. I don’t have data from that time but I know I rolled consistently in the 20-22 km/hr range.
New Possibilities
Before last weekend I thought my fastest rides were behind me. Now I’m thinking they may very well be ahead of me and that feels pretty exciting.
It’s always a group assignment
While my watch only records my speed, my results are because of a whole bunch of people.
The event organizers and volunteers ensured each stop for water, food and toilets could be done quickly and safely. Thank you!
My physiotherapist had helped me heal from many injuries and empowered me with strategies to be strong and steady on the bike. Thank you Emily for helping me ride injury free!
My teammates provided company and encouragement on both days. I got to ride most of Day 2 with Tracy & Rosie, which was a rare treat. Rosie powered through a mechanical like it wasn’t even happening. Tracy was rocking a new ride. It was great!
And, of course, Michel there by my side for both days. We laughed. He shared snippets of Werner Herzog’s autobiography. He was listening to the audiobook read by Werner himself. There’s something really entertaining about his grim determination when you yourself are feeling determined.
A great weekend
So, long story longer, it was a marvelous weekend of riding and spending time with great people.
Michel and I are now plotting how we can do more rides together very soon.
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