date: Sat 16 Aug 2025 08:58:07 PM PDT
subj: cycling dad's day, great fun, what i think about when I
ride
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The end of my day is here, and I was going to top it off with a
Doom session, but I rather try and capture today's events.

Today I woke up with the plan to do the annual bike tour on the
island. As I got ready, with low quality sleep last night I
wasn't feeling too good. My neck is stiff, I'm feeling pretty
nervous, my stomach was upset. On the toilet I'm thinking can I
do this!? I hadn't made time to make a proper meal so I settled
for a protein shake, and the morning moving faster to the start
time, than I was liking.  My wife (one of the babes) was on a
mission getting herself and the twins ready. I told her I wasn't
feeling that good. She said you can always skip it. I think she
knows, I can't really do that. My mind doesn't like that idea.  

Weeks before I was reluctant to register. My wife would ask at
least once each week with a huge smile, "Are you going to
register?" I would tell her I haven't decided, or I don't know
if I'm going to do it this year. Last year I road a century in
the tour, and trained a lot to do it. I put in a lot of 12 mile
rides, trainer sessions, lots of 30 and 40 mile rides, a few
50's and 60s, a few 70's, and even a 100 mile ride to get ready
for the century on the tour. This year I couldn't do the same.  

Starting in March or April (can't remember due to lack of
sleep), I had a surgery, and I was told to rest for five weeks!
Five weeks at my age is like resting for about nine months for
someone fifteen years younger. The surgery really messed with my
sympathetic nervous system, so after five weeks passed, I didn't
really feel I had total control of my muscles. I couldn't push
them like I could before, it felt like they wouldn't flex when I
told them to. I'm still feeling that a bit, but a lot less than
before.

So this year, I didn't think I could ride, and in my mind the
tour started becoming something I wasn't going to consider
doing. I told myself, I'm doing more important things, so my
focus is on my babes. I'll have to ride when I can, but I can't
expect to spend time focused on fitness like before, even though
its a bit of a battle, I know I have to stay fit, but lack of
sleep is making it really difficult, and weight training is hard
enough right now I'm not getting the benefit due to lack of
sleep. 

Well my wonderful wife, never let up, a little over a week
before the tour she said "You should sign up for the tour, you
can do a 33, you don't have to do the century." I said OK, and
with a huge smile she signed me up. Dang I love that woman! Then
she told me the weekend before "You better do a longer ride to
get ready for the tour." So I did that, and it wasn't easy, and
my mind started thinking ... more! 

The day before today, I washed my bike, got all the grit off it,
and oiled it up. It sat over night and waited. At night my wife
gathered snacks for my bag, and then disappeared for a long time.
It was getting late, and I really wanted  her in bed, because
she really really needs her sleep. She sacrificed a lot for us,
and the babes, so I push at her to get to bed as early as she
can, because she wakes up at night and takes care of our twins,
and any extra sleep for her, is one of my priorities. My worried
mind thought she was gone! I went to find her wondering if she
was OK. She comes back with my last year's registration number
which has been on my bike all year (I won't take it off until my
next tour). She then zoomed off again, I follow the noise she
was making, and found her putting my new registration number on
my bike. (small tears of sentiment appear in my eyes). She says
"I'm getting all this ready for you. You won't have to do it in
the morning." She knows I'll wait until the last minute to do
certain things, probably because I'll try and sleep and not wake
up until I have exactly the amount of time to get ready, but
sometimes things happen; like last year, I went out to get my
bike ready, and found my tires were flat!

Well I did push it this morning, having to use the restroom too
many times due to not feeling good. I swap bags and walk in and
out of the house too many times getting everything I need but
wont use on the ride into my bag. I packed my tire pull bars
in case I get a flat, but forgot my tube! I hear her in the
truck and she passes me, and says I'm going to look for parking.
I think dang she is gone and there is no turning back now. One
last check of the tire pressure. Sure enough they are low by 20
lbs. I air them up with the Ger pump to 60 lbs, urinate in the
yard, one last time, and start my ride up the hill to the
starting location. 

Two blocks into my ride to the starting location I feel my legs
are already achy. I think uh oh, my super short ride to
registration pickup last night effected me! Then as I continue
up the hill my body starts to wake up. I make it over the hill
and shift my chain to the outer sprocket, and put the chain on my
favorite gear in the back. Almost no traffic today so I ride
down the hill and stop at the light. As I wait for the change
I'm starting to feel better, my bike feels good, sounded good,
no squeaks or minor grinding, I've got my long sleeve biking
shirt on the one my wife bought me from last year. The light
changes and I sprint across the street. I crews down the hill,
and make my way to the starting area. I see all the people and
cyclist, and I start to look for my wife, and a small cup of
coffee. I find my wife but no coffee. She has our twins with
her, and she is looking beautiful and enthusiastic. A couple of
ladies pass her and see the twins, they had to stop to take a
peak and say nice things to my wife. At this point the day is
starting to look really good! My wife asks me to go by the start
so she can get a picture of me on my bike. Then the tour
coordinator makes the announcement its about to start. I'm early
and starting with the H crew (half century) even though I'm
riding 33. I didn't want to start late. The coordinator's
photographer gets in position to take photos of the cyclists.
When the coordinator says come up to the start, I heed her
command and I'm in the very front. My wife gets to take a photo,
a moment later the horn blows. I start pedaling with a moment to
wave to my wife, as I pass by. 

I think she did all that work, getting herself and the twins
ready out the door for about five minutes of time for me. As I
ride on the same road I was on to get to the starting area, I'm
still trying to get my course started on my computer. I don't
want to stop because I'm not in the very back. Last year I was
with the century riders and everyone seemed to be racing so this
time I didn't want to fall behind and just ride all alone. At
the stop before the first turn I work the computer, and all the
riders pass me, so I get through the intersection pullover and
get the computer started. I spin my legs fast and catch up to
the riders. We all ride together enough, and since I know the
course I feel pretty relaxed. Not being passed by everyone I get
to ride with others, and feel their pace is a littler slower
than what I'm used to, so I ride my ride for this area, and pull
away from many riders. I'm breathing hard and trying to focus on
my breath. I eventually pass all the riders due to the strongest
rider pulling over. 

As we head for the first large climb I think oh no here is where
I find out what my fitness level is. I think good thing I
didn't ride this route to town yesterday to wash my bike at the
car wash. A rider passes me and asks if I'm on an E bike. I
laugh and say in a few I will be wishing I was as we approach the
first climb. Then the other stronger rider passes me with a
smile and a good morning. I settle in and decide I just have to
get there, its my ride. I start the climb and watch the other
two riders slowly pull away, and I think about my wife and
twins, and marvel at how lucky I am, and how lucky we are. I
see the fancy houses and I dream maybe my children will grow up
to live in those houses or one like them. As I climb I wait for
it to get really difficult but it never does. I make it through
all the climbs before the first rest stop, as I approach it I
begin to pass a rider that must have started early. He asks
about the signage on the road, so I slow down a bit to explain
it, then I continue on at my pace. 

I pull into the first rest stop and see my wife, with her huge
smile. Such encouragement. She greets me and I get some snacks.
I see a few things I like, eggs, cheese, lara bars, and other
things. I go back to my wife and asked if she ate breakfast. I
push one of the snacks I grabbed on to her, and she tries to
refuse it because its for me and the riders, but I insist. We
hang out at the rest stop as I eat my egg, with a smile. We
talk to the rider I passed just before the stop, and another who
just arrived on his Mt bike. Then my wife helps me by watching
my bike while I use the restroom, and then we say good by with a
kiss, she takes herself and our babes to the next rest stop. I
head back for one more pass by the snacks. I find a plant based
power drink. I guzzle it down as I watch some of the riders
head out. After i finish my drink I get on my bike and head to
the next rest stop.

As I ride, I'm feeling really good, better than I should. I
wonder what was in that drink!? This part of the ride is through
town, and its nice to see other riders. Its mostly up hill, but
the grade isn't bad, until we leave town and make our way to
the next rest stop, and the coast just past it. I see other
riders on the way, and eventually see the Mt biker from the
rest stop I just came from. I slow to talk to him about Mt
biking and himself. I find out he is a retired Firefighter Capt,
and he rides not far from where I ride. I tell I'm if he ever
wants someone else to ride in the mountains with I'm I would be
happy to go when I can. Then I continue on at my pace to the
next rest stop.

Feeling peppy I push up the climbs before the next rest stop.
There is a cross wind that is pushing against me for awhile, but
I'm feeling pretty good. All the climbs aren't too bad, but the
one after the rest stop is a long one. That is on the minds of
riders and each rider I passed had something to say about it. 

At the rest stop my wife was there! Seeing her really boost my
energy. She joins me near the food at the rest stop. We talk
with the crew there and others and the twins come up. Then one
of the ladies operating the SAG says she has twins too. We talk
about the twins and they ask how we are doing, and give us
encouragement. My wife connects with the woman in the SAG and
they offer her some snacks. She had this way about her she can
connect with others. We are all having a wonderful time sharing
and others join in. A woman talks about her children, how after
twenty-five her daughter has returned home, which makes her
happy. I think I hope we get to experience the same thing. We
love our family. 

My wife helps again with watching my bike before she and our
twins have to head home. This is the last rest stop for the 33
milers. She asks if I will go onto the fifty. I can't decide but
I tell her I'll know once I'm in the middle of the next climb.
We say goodbye with a kiss and head down the road. 

On the road the climb is approaching, but the wind is at my
back. I see the red flashing tail lights of the riders in front
of me climbing the hill. At the base of the climb, At the base
of the climb Hurten Crue is in my ear, and my legs feel good! As
I head up the hill I put the chain on the small front sprocket,
and in the back two before my easiest gear. Nothing seems to be
easy right now, but my mind is determined to climb. I pass some
riders that started before me. Some of these riders are
impressive youth riders pushing themselves behinds their
parents, others are older riders, one of them is the Mt Biker. A
good song can help the mind focus on the rhythm of the beat,
helping push the legs to the rhythm. I push and push and this
time the climb seems shorter for some reason. I guess after
doing this climb about 6 or 7 times now it goes by quicker + the
tail wind. 

Over the climb I sit up and enjoy the view for a bit. As I ride
on I think about how much I'm enjoying this ride. Its a rare
thing for me to enjoy a ride. Most of my rides are about fitness
only, I make it to Sherman road and I send a message to my wife
I'm doing 50. She sends a message back of encouragement. I
approach a group of three riders smiling and talking, as I pass
them I smile back. Then I see them in my mirror, and they are
right behind me. As we turn towards Ebey's the wind is at our
head, and the group of three begin to pass me. We share time as
front man positions to break the wind. I'm pushing myself and
my legs, but they help give me a break from the wind. We all hit
the hard but short Ebey's climb before the final rest stop. 

Next and last rest stop for the H (50 half century), I load up
on snacks and talk with the Break crew. About 20 riders are
there. I pick some good snacks, put them in my pocket, eat some
cheese, and prepare to continue my ride. One last stop in the
port-a-potty. While in the port-a-potty my legs ask my brain why
I decided to ride further than they feel like peddling? I begin
to think I'm not sure 50 is a good idea. A brief moment of dread
strikes me and a cry for a moment. I exit the port-a-potty make
one last pass at the snacks table then mount my bike and
continue on. 

On the road I still feel good but my legs are starting to hurt.
I hydrate to try and help my legs. More hills ahead and I pass
an older lady up the hills, then at the next hills she passes me
as we turn to the direction of the finish. I'm having to to use
my easiest gear for hills I normally ride in harder gears, and
I've had to think of stopping for a moment, but I push myself
and stand on the peddles inching my way up the hills.  

The final climbs feel like they did last year although I had
road a 90 more miles at this same point. My legs are burning,
but I manage to control them and just focus on the joy of riding
through the pain. I look around at the foliage and the road
ahead and think of good thoughts of my family. These climbs are
very familiar and I know their length. They don't seem as bad as
a year ago, but as I get to the sculpture garden I start to see
the end of climbs in my mind.   

I get to the final hill the one I started on in the morning as I
road to the starting area. I slowly ride up it and pass the
crest. Down hill I make my way to the finish where people cheer
for a single rider! What lovely people! My face says tired. I
then ride to the pizza and outdoor gathering for the finishers. 

At the pizza I ride in and I'm greeted with a high-five by the
event photographer. I get my pizza and take a seat with older
riders. It looks as if they've been there awhile, each of them
has three empty glasses. They are relaxed, and we all share a
little about our ride. Two of them are ladies about 8 years
older than myself. The woman a crossed from me says, that will
be us to the woman next to me. I turn and I see a lady about 70
years old joining the finishers. I eat my pizza then say goodbye
to my meal party, I have a wife to relieve at home. I ride back
up the hill to get my last mile in to make a true 50 mile ride. 

I make it into the house and greet my wife and twins. I'm so
happy. I'm really really glad my wife encouraged me to do the
ride. I felt it was a great day and my body felt good, it liked
the ride and the hard work. Even my neck pain went away. All day
I was happy at home spending time with my wife and our babes.
They are so much fun with their smiles. we read them stories and
they smiled and cooed. 

It was great to have my family help encourage me during this
year's ride. Something special happens when my wife is there.
Her smile, her cheer, and presence is special, I'm not the only
one who notices. Others around her join in with her. She has
charisma and her personality infects others to be part of her
interests. 


date: Sat 16 Aug 2025 11:10:00 PM PDT