Words for Wednesday: some bike ride!

When I was a kid, I received a 26-inch blue bicycle one Christmas.

No gears, the only speed it had was as fast as my legs could pedal. No hand brakes, just applying pressure back on a pedal to slow down and using my feet to stop.

No helmets because it was the 60’s and we didn’t even think about such things as head injuries from a bike crash.

I was so proud of my bicycle I even took a photo of it with my Polaroid Swinger black and white film camera. I loved riding that bike  and the freedom it gave me to jaunt around my neighborhood with my friends.

We lived in the country, so we rode on rural roads. Coasting down hills was an absolute thrill!

Bicycle riding was one of my favorite things to do as soon as weather permitted in the spring and until the snow fell in winter. I’d plunk my little transistor radio tuned to my favorite station into the basket on my bike and away I rode, hair flying in the breeze.

I have good memories of me and my two-wheel companion. After Papa and I married, we both purchased 10-speed bikes but eventually we sold those after our children came along. And I haven’t been on a two-wheeler in many years.

But as much as I loved riding my trusty bicycle as a kid and young adult, I never would have become a long-distance rider.

However, one of my sons-in-law is. He rides his upscale bicycle more miles in a week than I probably rode in years.

Before I leave my Tuesday Tour posts about Papa’s and my road trip by car across Iowa last summer, I need to brag (just a bit) about the bike ride our son-in-law, along with his brother-in-law, accomplished last summer.

All the following photos were taken by my son-in-law on this epic trip.

We were amazed to hear that they both registered for RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa).

But we were even more astonished that they cycled 539 miles across the entire state of Iowa in eight days! 

You read that correctly! Five hundred thirty-nine miles riding a bicycle on blistering hot July days from one end of Iowa to another.

For those not familiar with this epic bicycle event which began in 1973, it’s touted as the oldest, largest, and longest multi-day bicyclist event in the world and 2023 marked its 50^th anniversary.

According to our son-in-law, last summer’s ride set records: “Record numbers of riders (40,000); record length of the ride (539.43 miles); record elevation gain for the ride (16,748 feet); and (hopefully unplanned by them) record temperatures (three days with the heat index over 100).”

Those two daring young men traveled to Sioux City, Iowa with their bikes, gear, and camping equipment all set for eight days of touring the state by bicycle along with  thousands of other bicycle enthusiasts.

They dipped their bicycle wheels in the Missouri River the starting day of the ride.

They usually arose around 4 or 4:30 a.m. each day to begin riding around 5:15-5:30 a.m. to beat the high temperatures.

They slept in tents at designated areas except for the last night when a violent thunderstorm forced them inside a facility for safety.

And they were treated to some tasty meals at every stop each day.

However, I do believe son-in-law’s favorite food was pie as he had several photos of the yummy treats he wolfed down.

Along the way, our son-in-law captured some wonderful photos and burned 19,491 calories!

He shared that it was a great experience although exhausting, but they were exhilarated to dip their bicycle tires in the Mississippi River in Davenport, Iowa at the end of the ride.

Their reward for all that sweat and endurance? The medal shown at the beginning of this post…

…and an experience they won’t soon forget. Papa and I won’t forget how amazing this son-in-law is, how proud we are of him, and how glad we are to call him a member of our family.

“On a bicycle, you’re free to pedal at your own pace. You can mosey along or catch a nice breeze. It’s pure freedom.” ~ Anonymous

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