July 15, 2020. Elgin, Oregon.
Bike MS 2020: 150 miles in 5 Days (Day 4)
Bike MS 2020: 150 miles in 5 Days (Day 3)
Bike MS 2020: 150 miles in 5 Days (Day 2)
Bike MS 2020: 150 miles in 5 Days (Day 1)
Tour de Yachats
My wonderful aunt recently purchased a house in downtown Yachats. She bestowed it Sweet Haven. She decorated it in greens and purples with mermaids all around. She was kind enough to let my mother and I stay there for a summer vacation. I took the opportunity to ride around. I haven’t been feeling very well, and biking has been tough. I gave it all I had the first day. But the beauty at every turn inspired me. I only wanted to ride more. The next day I went all out and it felt fantastic. Riding from Yachats to Newport was the best day of riding I’ve had all year. I had to cut the third day short for time, so I left wanting more. It’s on my list of priorities to get back there. Soon.
Bike MS Willamette Valley 2019
At the finish!
Buena Vista Park
I sat under the Team Slugfish tent with my face nose-deep in berry cobbler and ice cream. I tried to chat with another team member when a high-pitched voice on loudspeaker told us the evening program would be delayed due to a rider still out on the route. Then she urged us to go to the finish line so we could cheer her in. People gathered at the finish line, not far from our tent. I looked at my watch. It was nearly 6:30. The course maps made very clear that the route closed at 5pm and that there’d be no support afterwards. I shrugged at all the people passing me. I’ll just politely cheer from my table, thank you very much. I rode so slowly my first several MS rides that I wanted to paste a sign on my back that said, “Yes I’m ok, I’m just slow.” I remember those final hours: smelling the truck exhaust from vehicles waiting for me to pass so they could pack up the rest stops. No one cheered my finish when I came in so late. I’d just roll into a quiet road with a few volunteers taking down decorations. But then someone urged me to get up, so I did. I guess there’s no reason to deny this finisher cheers just because I’m tired and bitter! As I folded into the crowd, I began to feel the energy. OK, so this last person out on the route is riding her very first century. OK, it makes sense now. The first century is the hardest. It was a hot and humid day out. The weather got pretty miserable in the afternoon, but she didn’t give up. Her first century. Then they tell us that this woman riding her first century is also a rider with MS. That’s what we are all about. I glanced around at the crowd. “She’s 3 minutes away,” the loudspeaker announced. Even though many faces showed the tired we all felt after riding a long, hard, hot, emotional route, there was still this unmistakable anticipation. We felt the combined urgency to share the joy steeping underneath the tired. “OK!” the voice on the loudspeaker prompted, “she’s probably getting close, let’s start cheering so she hears us as she comes around the corner!” The claps started, along with the bells, whistles, cheers, hoots and hollers. The entire River Village group stood there, cheering. I started to feel moved. It felt good to clap. But then we kept clapping. And clapping. And she never came. No one stopped, but some people started to look at each other, questioningly. Did we miss her? Did she make a wrong turn? Everyone kept clapping and cheering. I don’t think anyone knew what to do, but no one wanted to be the first to stop. Then. We see a bike turning the corner. The crowd exploded! I saw that she wasn’t alone. A small group of people pedaled down the chute, in a protective, supportive clump. That’s when I lost it. She wasn’t alone. Tears streamed down my face as I clapped. The people around me jumped and screamed like she was a rockstar. As they pedaled in, I expected her to smile from all the cheering. I’ve never heard so much cheering at an MS ride in all my 20 years. But her gaze was fixed forward, he glance unwavering. The determination was still on her face, she needed every last bit. She looked like she could vomit. Her expression brought all the feelings back. All those rides I did where muscles, energy, lungs had long gone and sheer determination was the only thing left pushing you forward. I don’t mean to sound melodramatic or overly severe; it’s hard to capture this amazing feeling in writing. We’ve all been through unsurmountable challenges and came out ahead. It’s the beauty of pain like this. There is some pain that really does make you stronger. No, stronger isn’t the right word. There is some pain that makes you better. Perseverance. Stamina. Bike MS taught me a lot over the years, and I am a better person for it.
My White Bicycle at Buena Vista Park
Sweaty Selfies…
I never would have predicted this years’ ride after last years’ ride. Last year I reached a new personal physical peak. I felt stronger and healthier than I ever had before. This year has been met with a lot of fatigue and an undefined feeling of ick and sluggishness. Perhaps Slugfish is finally a fitting name, except the “f” is a “g” for me. I rode less in July than I had since….since before 2002. I opted to ride the shorter 85 miles ride for Saturday. When the sticky humidity rendered my entire body sweaty after just 20 minutes, I knew I made the right choice. I rode well. But that night I ate too much food and overslept by some 5 or 6 hours.
Bigfoot!
Shoes!
Participation was down by half. The ride had a generic feel to it. The decorations all had this 80’s motif that felt like “the 80’s package” from a corporate party planner store. I loved the days when the Harley riders had Alf and other decor covering their hogs. I loved all the SAG wagons adorned with signs and streamers and honkers and cheering volunteers. Now they are slow driving white vans that make you feel like you are surrounded by the CIA. I loved the decoration contests that each team and rest area participated in. I loved the sandwich lady, who had her own sandwich making assembly line every year. Sure, the catered food is more exotic and classy now, but it doesn’t have the same honorable grass roots feel. I loved the days when each rest area had is own unique array of snacks, usually promoting local brands and foods. I loved the ride-specific jerseys with their awesome designs. However, I did find bigfoot this year! I also rode by fence of shoes, so there is still a little bit of “Oregon” left in the Oregon ride!
Ride Time Capsule Tuesday: Reach the Beach 2011 Pacific City, Oregon
Still the best ride ever, 2011’s Reach the Beach did not disappoint. I rode with a group of friends at all different riding levels. A drizzly, cooler ride this year, and still the best.
Ride Time Capsule Tuesday: Reach the Beach 2009 Pacific City, Oregon
I can’t find a previous blog I wrote about this ride, but I’m sure I did somewhere. It was a magical day. I forgot my sunglass and bought a new pair at the start line. How convenient that they were sold there! They turned out to be one of the best pairs of sunglasses I ever had. Zoe and I started out together and quickly picked up the other 2 dudes in the photo. I don’t remember who they were, but we ended up pacelining together almost the entire ride. We all rode at complimentary paces, which is hard to find! There we a few stretches that randoms added to out caboose, making our line 20 people long at one point. Amazing day!
This ride is a fundraiser for The American Lung Association, and remains to this day my favorite route of all time!
Bike MS 2018 Foothills to Foothills Monmouth Oregon
Give MS the Boot! Stomp MS! Our sole purpose! Thanks, John, for the pun overload!
Friday Amtrak delays meant I arrived to Rider Village in Monmouth too late for dinner. I filled up with hard kombucha and wine at the free bottomless beer garden. That counts as carbo loading, right? Saturday I rode 98.6 miles and the temperatures were perfect (coincidence?) The valley spared us the heat, headwinds, and thick smoke of last year. The route took us through rural Willamette Valley, including Ankeny Wildlife Refuge (they’re renovating the viewpoints!), Jefferson (the “big city” near my first-grade home), Scio (covered bridge capitol of the west), farmlands including a trees-as-biofuels research site and a creepy “quiet qarden” that boasted such loud birdsong that it had to be fake, and the tiny Buena Vista ferry. I finished in plenty of time to get my free massage and eat 2 dinners (pizza from the mouthwatering Yeasty Beasty and spaghetti feed with berry cobbler from the catered buffet). Evening entertainment included Star Wars movies, popcorn and candy in the park, but my tired self skipped all that in favor of sleep.
Videos of the Ride
This is the ride that started it all for me. I didn’t even know what padded shorts were the first time I bike for MS. I did the whole thing on a rusty Schwinn mountain bike at about 9mph. I finished after the route closed and cried the last 30 miles just trying to get to the end. Now I’m a top fundraiser, average about 15mph and finish ready for more. I still cry a lot. These days I might ride more miles, climb more feet, or face greater dangers on other rides, but Bike MS is reliably my most challenging ride every year. This is one weekend where hundreds of compassionate people touched by this disease rally together spreading support and hope.
On day 2 at the start line microphone, a person with MS read a poem about their experience, leaving the entire crowd with leaking eyeballs. This opened the floodgates for conversation with fellow riders and volunteers the rest of the day. Each person I met had a story to tell. I shared tears with strangers; the woman with MS who rode her first century ever on Saturday, the guy who lost his sister in ’99, the SAG driver whose wife lost her ability to walk in ’08, my teammate who only rode his recumbent the 1 mile loop this year because he didn't get a chance to train, and the young woman who was just diagnosed a few years ago and is scared of her future.
Distance: 150.51 miles over 2 days
Pace: cheerful
Mechanicals: Just the terrifying moment mid-ride that I suddenly thought I put my bike shorts on backwards (I didn’t).
Flats: 0
Wildlife: numerous turkey vultures, hawks, a gopher, a busy barn cat, wandering chickens (do livestock count?), 2 very angry fenced Pitbull’s, and ample roadkill (deer, raccoon, opossum, mice).
New Viewpoint at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge
Photos from the Ride
Food of Bike MS
This is one of the main reasons I do anything. I do it for the food.
This is What Your Donation Can Do
Ride Time Capsule: Sunday City Parks and Cemeteries
I first fell in love with cycling during my college years. My beautiful red Schwinn Cruiser was stolen he day before my first midterms, freshman year. I couldn't believe it, the bike I had since 5th grade, gone. I thought it would be safe, locked in a bike shed. I bought a new bike down in Medford after spring term ended but before summer session. It was another Schwinn, this time a green mountain bike. All the mountain bikes had shock absorbers. I couldn't afford such fanciness and I felt a little ashamed for that. But, I took to taking that bike with me to a different city park every day that I could. Summers in Corvallis are glorious. When I couldn't find a park, I'd make my destination a cemetery. Cemeteries have long been a destination favorite, particularly when cycling alone as they afford quiet, tranquility, and reflection. Now, decades later, I get to enjoy the same things I did then, with new bike paths and improved roads. It is a lucky treat to ride in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Bike MS 2018 is coming up!
It will be here before you know it, the first week in August. I've been posting little bits here and there on my facebook page. Check it out!
There may also be some changes to my Bike MS Page since your last visit. Check that out, too!
Ride Time Capsule: Mary's Peak 2018
I'm starting a new blog series; the Ride Time Capsule. Ride Time Capsule captures images, thoughts, and notes about rides that happened some time ago that haven't been posted on SheRidesToday before. Here's to saving treasured memories!
Mary's Peak is my signpost of progress, change and growth. During college, friends and I drove up to Mary's Peak a few times. We hiked around and enjoyed the view. You can see many of the Cascades and even a glimpse of the ocean on a clear day. It's an amazing vista and so close to Corvallis. I remember seeing spandex-clad cyclists in their fancy bikes and thinking, "They are insane. Never in a million years could I do that" I couldn't imagine I'd ever be able to ride a bike like they did. And now I can. I slugged my way up Mary's Peak. I felt slow and distracted. My hands hurt terribly. Reynaud's made my hands white and numb. It was scary and difficult to grip the breaks- which you do a lot on the ride down!
But it was all worth it. Just as I finished soaking in the view, carloads of college kids started arriving to the scene. I decided to hop in the porta-potty and be on my way. I overheard a college lady say, "Oh my god! Someone rode up here on a BIKE." I stepped out of the porta-potty and waved. They sort of gawked a little and I awkwardly clip-clopped on my cleats over to the rock my bike so gallantly leaned on. I wonder if I planted a seed in those younger ladies, creating a me for the next generation? I have to assume the last thing they expected was for that lone rider to be a woman, just like them.
Comparing a previous climb up Mary's Peak back in 2010, I rode farther and travelled a while 1 mph faster this time around. The previous ride was a cold February day with snow on the shoulder, and I probably hadn't warmed up to doing very much distance in the weeks prior to the ride. Still, I'm going to take it as an improvement over the years because I felt so guarded this time around and knew in my heart I wasn't giving the ride everything I had. It still holds true, Mary's Peak is my signpost, my pedestal of progress.
I rode past Cookie Monster pinata, complete with patches of various local breweries and wondered what it was. Did someone die at this water fall with Cookie Monster stationed in thier memory? No, it belonged to this friendly fellow hiking around nearby. He carried his pinata with him all around. We crossed paths again at the top of the mountain.
Registered for Bike MS 2018
I am all registered for Bike MS 2018 in Oregon. It sounds daunting, being so far away. As I type this, it's cold, dark, and rainy outside. And I'm fighting a cold. I think back to last year, all the sweat, the long, lonely training rides, and the smoke from forest fires that clouded our views and fought with our lungs. I think of how my mind and energy is constantly bombarded with so many people in need. Children are at risk of being shot in schools left and right. Homelessness engulfs the most fragile at epidemic rates. Health care is feeling more and more like a privilege. Our very environment is constantly under criticism (winter is coming). I wonder about Bike MS. What will this year entail? Bike MS is never easy, but it is always rewarding, and always important. I think of how my body is at it peak right now. I am healthier than I've ever been, and more physically capable than I'll ever be. Is riding enough? It's something, I feel compelled to do something. How much will I be able to raise? My donors have been SO amazing over the years. I feel so indebted to them. What can I do for them (you?) this year? There is a lot to think about, and the time will come before I know it.
I am already older than most people who develop disease. I am several years older than my mom when she was diagnosed. It seems like a lifetime ago. What does it feel like to her? When my mom was the age I am now, she was barely able to work, but she kept trying, she tried and tried. Do I have it in me to try as hard for her as she did for the world?
Most Pleasant Training Ride
Finally, after several stressful training rides, I finally had a fun one! I call this the "pleasant ride" because I rode through several pleasant-sounding names; Sweet Home, Pleasant Valley, Mt. Pleasant, Mt. Hope, Golden Valley, all the places that sound as lovely as the day. I truly started to have fun on this ride, real, live fun! The coolest thing about this ride is that I maintained a 16 mph average all the way until mile 65! I tried really had those last few miles to keep the pace up, but my body couldn't take those final hills at speed. This was a training ride in its purest form; I pushed myself and finished just as it got too tough!
A most pleasant view
Queens to Kings Ride
I took a training ride in Corvallis that surprised me with traffic. I didn't end up going where I initially planned, but I did end up making a royal loop, as it were. I started on Queens avenue and rode through Kings Valley. Very royal, indeed!
Other than having a madly full bladder and nowhere to go but thorny brambles on a busy road, and loads of traffic, this ride proved to be uneventful.
Ride to Peavy Arboretum
On the last day in June, I had the grand opportunity to log some training rides in my old stomping grounds. I don't get to ride in Corvallis often, but when I do, I have a lot of fun reminiscing. I rode to Peavy Arboretum. I used to drive out to this place to run on the trails. Can you believe it? I used to run? What was I thinking. I biked here a few times too, in the summer when most of the students were away.
This short ride qualified as epic. Google sent me on a dead end. This wouldn't have been too bad, expect going there required me to cross a busy highway, and I had to cross it again to back track. Then I plowed down the Crescent Valley hill, happy that I wouldn't have to climb up it, only to find the road closed at the bottom. I had to climb up it anyway. Then, at the very end of the ride, I fell off my bike while stopped in the drive way!
I went up a hill, err, mountain, I didn't know existed in Corvallis. Maybe I rode it once and blocked the memory out, I am not sure. Vinyard Mountain is accessed via Concord Drive. There is a Strava segment called grape crush that I crushed! That felt awesome!
The Harvest Century
Pictures from my Harvest Century
A person named Maria recently sent me an email from my website. This like, never happens. Anyway, she asked me if I could promote The Harvest Century. No brainer! Did Maria even look at my website? Did she realize I rode the Harvest Century back in 2008 and it was one of the best rides I ever did? I wanted to reminisce, so pulled up my blog from that ride. Sadly, it somehow missed being a featured ride on my organized ride page. She probably never saw it! So I looked at the post, and I didn't even have anything written! How on earth is everyone supposed to know that I have been wanting to do this ride again for years? I know I saved the stats and summary from the ride somewhere, I just don't know where. I recorded things on mapmyride, on various blogs, and on paper. Who knows where all of that went. Maybe I just need to do the ride again so I can write about it again?
Here is what Maria asked me to post. Take it from me, though, this ride was pretty awesome. The smell of fall. The colorful leaves. Hot cider on cold fingers. Riding through the classic Oregon wine country. What could be better? Because it's cold and colorful, this ride has a very different feel from the other organized rides I've done. I feel the snuggly comfort of autumn just thinking about it.
“My name is Maria Duong with Community Vision, a non-profit that supports individuals with disabilities and their families. We are hosting our 15th annual Harvest Century Bike Ride on Sunday, September 24, 2017, in order to raise funds to support the individuals that we work with. We would appreciate if you are able to list this event on your website:
15th Annual Harvest Century Bike Ride
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Hillsboro Civic Center
The Harvest Century is more than a bike ride – it’s a ride with a mission! Every dollar raised goes directly to Community Vision for the support they provide for individuals with disabilities and their families.
Harvest Century has 5 route options:
- 3 mile family ride
- 25 mile ride
- 45 mile ride
- 75 mile ride
- 100 mile ride
On each of the routes, you will pass through Willamette Valley wineries, glimpse breathtaking views of Mt. Hood & The Coast Range, and find yourself in unexpected places right outside city centers. The 45, 75, and 100-mile routes enjoy a rest stop at Montinore Vineyards.
For information check out the harvest century website:
www.harvestcentury.org
Thank you so much for all of your help!
Sincerely,
Maria Duong”
The main image on my organized ride page is a Dan Henry from the Harvest Century. They had the best, they were all pumpkins!
Bike MS 2017 Willamette Valley Monmouth, Oregon
Another amazing ride for MS. I arrived to Rider Village late Friday, tired and haggard from the long drive. I met up with various SlugFish at the team tent, ate some pizza and shared freeway horror stories. I crawled into bed early. I slept much better than I ever had before a MS ride. I slept in my very own camper van for the first time ever. I enjoyed the quiet along with the easy access to a toilet (gotta hydrate!).
The next morning I awoke feeling ready to go, inhaled a piece of toast and started riding. I began before the official start time, which the organizer encouraged due to the predicted heat. She even mentioned that the routes would close earlier than planned, but didn't say exactly when. I ride slow, so I had to get moving! The first stretch of road felt familiar, comfortable, calm and quiet. The bucolic livestock scenes made me argue with myself; stop for photos or pedal on?
The clear skies told me the Willamette Valley wasn't affected by the massive fires in British Columbia, but by the time I rolled into Marion a gray haze blocked out the blue. I didn't know the route changed from last year, and thus didn't know I'd be riding through my old hometown of Marion. I hoped I would pass a road I recognized. I didn't. I did get to scream down some speeding descents- 40 mph! Riding along a flat road that paralleled railroad tracks, a deer crossed my path. Rather than run away, the deer bounded along the road in front of me. The deer and I maintained a similar pace for a while. I watched it go from a walk, to a run, to a bounding gallop. I realized I never get to follow animals in the wild for more than a few seconds, so this deer gave me a real treat. She kept me company longer than I imagined, and then finally veered off into the brush.
Temperatures climbed and still I rode alone. A goal materialized in my head. Suddenly, I wanted nothing more than to get to the Century stop, the spot where Century riders get a special patch, before any other women. A few men passed me already, so I knew I had a fighting chance at being the first woman. I also had a fighting chance at being the first "top fundraiser". Top fundraisers have differently colored bib numbers, and none of the guys who passed me had them. It was just after this new goal gave my feet more fire that pealing suddenly seemed impossible. Breath left me. I kept moving, but so slowly. What was wrong with me? I didn't feel particularly good all morning. My knees stung with pain, and my thighs felt like they were encased in lead sheaths. But this new level of slowness was of great concern. Was I having a medical problem? Could I be going up a hill? Was I riding into a head wind? I saw no hill and felt no wind. I sweated. Nothing could pick my speed into the double digits. I knew a woman would pass me any moment and all my effort would have been wasted! I pushed. I panted out loud. I grunted out loud. I started yell-grunting. I grunted as loud as I could. I passed a sign that a rest stop was near. Thank god, I thought to myself. But it seemed to never appear. I started counting at the top of my lungs, trying to distract myself. Finally, after what felt like 100 years and 100 deaths, I made it. It was the Century Stop! I was the first woman! I was the first top fundraiser! I learned that whole stretch was a hill, one that I couldn't see based on the landscape. Since I hadn't studied the route, not knowing it would be different, I didn't know where the hills would be. Sometimes just knowing is half the battle!
I thought I was going to die, but I turned out being the 2nd fastest woman of all time!
The next couple of hours still felt painful, but the wheel kept turning. Women passed me. My route intersected with others taking shorter routes. Finally, I saw other people proving this was an organized ride! My legs hurt more, my head and neck began to quake. The heat started to clog my lungs, making my breath hot and slow. I began to feel like this was one of those days that are only worth while for the memory.
At mile 70, the lead peeled off my legs. The sweat rolled off my arms. The daggers lifted from my neck. Music filled my ears. I was back! I rode those last 30 miles like they were the first 30. I flew through the air. I approached the finish line before I was ready. I pumped my fist in the air as hands clapped and onlookers cheered. I crossed the orange arcs. Usually I want to cry at this moment. But, I had taken care of all the emotion hours ago. I didn't even want a rest. I actually hoped back on the bike to ride to the showers.
The next day, I hoped on the bike eager to ride more. I hadn't really even planned on riding a second day. Usually the first time my butt hits saddle on day two results in anguish that only goes away after 10 miles. This time I felt nothing but comfort. I rode another 30 miles quickly, easily. My body needs to ride. It needs the challenge! This is my comfort zone.
Each rest area had a decoration and a theme this year. I loved that! I also enjoyed the new route. Day 1 riders got to enjoy the Buena Vista ferry. It's a short but picturesque ferry ride. I think those on shorter routes got to ride it before, but I had only used it on non-MS rides.
Team Slugfish got to eat Yeasty Beasty pizza for being a top fundraiser, but I arrived too late for the good flavors. I didn't have much for breakfast the next day. However, iced mocha drink at the Wildlife Refuge tickled my fancy, and I drank 2 full cups. This new route had me reaching the lunch stop at noon (gasp!) instead of the usual 10am. I inhaled salads and chicken and tasty sauces. I drank iced tea. I snaked on fruit, nut mixes, and sno cones. I don't remember much about dinner, other than the server secretly snuck some tempeh on my plate (only vegetarians are supposed to eat it). It was worth the risk of getting scolded. Yum! I am not a fan of coleslaw, but we were served a cilantro slaw that had me going back for seconds.
Overall, another great ride that was worth training for. I raised a lot of money for the MS Society, and I am still raising more. One of the hardest things for me doing these rides is thinking about the people who sponsor me. I know so many amazing people. So many of the people I know donate to this cause for me every year. Yet, I don't get to see them very often. I'd say I see most of my sponsors about once a year, if that. There's only a few that I see more than that, and still it's only every once and while. I ride the long hours thinking, how can I make connecting with all my amazing friends and family more of a priority? I don't really know. Fellow sponsor, if you are reading this know that you are treasured. And, non-sponsor, if you are reading this, know that you are amazing too!