What it's like to go 76.5 miles on a bike

That’s right, not just 75 miles. We literally went the extra mile and pulled of 76 and a half. Here is the picture to prove it. (Look at the bottom number 76.525...)

It all started by massively cleaning my bedroom (which needed it anyway) so I could relax while I was gone knowing Amy and Luke come and stay and take care of my kids and have some nice clean space of their own. So I transformed my bedroom into a hotel room complete with miniature bars of soap. I did a pretty good job too, I should have taken a pic, but I didn’t.

I packed the car loaded the bike and headed downtown to pick Steve up at work. After I nabbed him, we were off. We made it to Sardine Canyon and drove into a torrential rain storm (surprise surprise). It was crazy, I felt so bad for my bike getting all wet on the back of the car. Sorry bike.

Once we got into Logan we met up with Missy and Scott at the University Inn where we had reservations. The hotel turned out to be super nice. We loved it. Although, it wasn’t the most luxury room ever, it was really nice. Plus they give you tokens to go get free Aggie Ice Cream, and a pass to the University’s swimming pool located across the street.

Once we were settled we headed off to the fairgrounds for a dinner Team Fidelity was hosting. The dinner turned out to be pizza and salad, not as fancy as I was expecting, but I never complain when someone gives me free pizza. So we ate, got checked in for the race the next day and collected some pretty sweet SWAG.

We didn’t waste much time burning though our Aggie Ice Cream Tokens. He headed to the ice cream store via a chartered bus making continuous loops from the hotel to the ice cream shop. Seriously, that was all it was doing… Driving guests 4 blocks to the ice cream store. Funny how so many Americans (including me) are tubby…huh?

After ice cream we went back to the hotel to hunker down for the night (if you know what I mean) and get ready for the race the next day.

The morning came quickly, starting at 5:00 am. Breakfast at 5:30 thanks to the Hotel. They served an average continential breakfast. Then we headed back to the fairgrounds. We made it just in time to be in the team picture. We took a few other pics like this one...
And this one…

Then we made it to the starting line. There were over three thousand participants, so even though the race started at 7am, we didn’t start until after 7:30am. They let a couple hundred riders start about every five minutes.

It was really fun anticipating our beginning and waiting to start, and then came out moment. We started to ride. It was pretty touch and go for a few minutes when there were so many bikes in a tight area. One sudden movement could have caused a catastrophic crash involving dozens of riders.

Once we got going it was a lot of fun, but was more work than I was anticipating. I had a really hard time keeping up with Missy which is strange since we have done all our training together, and this was the first time I had struggled to keep up. I thought to myself…I am never going to make it, this is really hard work and it’s just flat. What is wrong with me?

Then Missy, who had her bike serviced the day before said… “Maybe you need some more air in your tires?” I hoped she was right. I hoped it was my tires and not me just being wimpy.

Once we reached the first rest stop after about 9 miles we pulled into the bike service area where I said, “I think my tires may be a little low.” The guy squeezed them and started to laugh, “how did you even get here on these tires, you could have walked here faster! How long has it been since you’ve put air in these? (March) So, I learned that you have to add air to your tires every so often. Noted. In the future, I will comply.

After leaving the rest stop with air-filled tires, riding was a breeze. It was a HUGE difference. I felt like I was a foot higher off the ground too. I couldn’t believe the difference. I was delighted to be riding after that. Pretty clever training though, training with flat tires then filling them on race day...I ought to send that training tip to Lance Armstrong. Write that one down Elise and Skyler.

We had a great time riding except when we passed the dairy farms. They were unbelievably stinky. I dry heaved over my handle bars every time. I haven’t dry heaved like that since I was pregnant. Not pleasant, especially while on a bike. I'm lucky I didn't crash.

It was very green and beautiful everywhere. With all the rain we have had the last month, it was unusually green.

It was so fun to be part of such a big ride with so many people around us. It was fun just to look ahead and see all the bikers in front of us and know, there were at least that many more behind us.


It was so crazy at each rest stop to see so many bike laid down all over the place. I have never seen so many different machines.

Missy and I just had so much fun doing this ride. We were so proud of ourselves. We really felt the culmination of all the early mornings and Saturdays spent riding in preparation for this day. We had so much doubt about whether or not we could actually do it on our mountain bikes instead of road bikes. When it came right down to it, we felt great and totally capable (especialy with the right amount of air in our tires). It was a sweet swelling feeling.

We rode everywhere through Cache County. We started at the fairground in Logan and rode through Newton, and Trenton and Richmond up to Franklin Idaho, back into Utah, through Clarkston and Trenton and a bunch of other little Cache County towns. It was so fun to see it all.


Each time we got really tired or especially hungry, there was a rest stop. They took great care of us and our bikes there. They had tons of food, snacks, sunscreen, chapstick and beverages to help us keep going. I didn’t expect to get so much support, it was a nice surprise.

Once we hit 50 miles we were on cloud nine, that was farther than either of us had ever ridden before. My record was 26 and Missy’s was 40. We stopped to take a pic by the 75/100 mile route split to prove we had made it that far. After the split, we met up with all the folks who took did the extra loop to make 100 miles at the Lunch rest stop.

The lunch stop was especially great. There were so many people and bikes everywhere. It was fun to be a part of it.

The food, which was nothing special tasted especially great. You know how everything tastes better when you are desperate for food. We ate our Turkey sandwiches, oranges and Power-Aide with great pleasure. We also took time to re-apply the sunscreen and use the Honey Bucket (potties) which thanks to amazing modern technology didn’t smell bad, very surprising. Then we were off, for our last 25 miles.

I won’t lie, the last 25 miles were the hardest, but honestly I expected the last 50 miles to be really hard, and they just weren’t. It was so fun to see all the farms and towns and scenery. Here is a pic I took of Missy over my head while riding. I think it might be my best pic. I'm going to start doing all my pics this way.

We pulled into the last rest stop to refill on water. Everyone was weary by that point. There were a lot of people laying on the ground. There was a big group of serious bikers laying on the ground and all the their bike were laid out in front of them. Just as we hopped off our bike we heard a big POP…..Fissssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss. The whole crowd of people gasp. Somebody’s tired spontaneously ruptured. The group of guys jumped up to see whose it was, then one of them shouted…. “It was mine!” and everyone started cheering. It was hilarious! Just the comic relief we all needed as the lucky winner walked his bike over to the service stop.

After that we made a few calls grabbed some water and a quick snack and peddled off for the last 12 miles.

I was really excited to be done and thrilled that we had done it. I was unsure if I could really put down this kind of mileage. It was triple my longest distance ever. As it got closer and closer, it was hard for me to hold back my emotions. Yes, I cried, but just a little. I was really proud of myself, and proud of Missy. We were both hurting by then, our bums were…hurting to say the least and our toes were numb, but we kept going.

They rang bells when we passed the one mile point, and that was really exciting. I started sobbing then. As we rounded the corner for the final strait-a-way, I passed a big group from the same team. They seemed to be waiting for someone. I thought it odd that they would stop here. They looked like a pretty serious team concerned about their time.

As I rode on I saw Steve up ahead with our camera. It was so fun to see him. He was so excited to see me and proud too. I had been telling him all week that I wasn’t sure I could do 75, but he just kept telling me that he knew I could. Missy and I came in together. It was a sweet proud moment for both of us.

We crossed the finish line where they handed us a metal and we got off the bikes for the last time. What a relief. What a day, what an experience. If we can do it, anyone can. Here is our total mileage from the odometer on Missy’s bike. 76.5.


After we had been done a few minutes and big cheer came from the finish line. The team that I had seen waiting around a few minutes early crossed the line and had excorted an rider on a recumbent bike across the finish line. She was riding with MS. This team had met her at the 75/100 mile split. She told them that she was riding alone, so they adopted her as part of their team and stayed close to her the rest of the race. It was a very touch moment. Not a dry eye in the crowd.
It reminded everyone, including me about why we were riding in this event. It made me think of all the home health patients with MS I cared for. It is such a painful debilitating disease, but just goes to show you that, if you want to do something, the only thing stopping you is you. Very inspirational moment.

After we recovered for a few minutes, Steve drove us back to the hotel where I showered, and laid down for a while. Then we went and got some dinner at the Blue Bird Restaurant, Prime Rib for me. Delicious! Again everything tastes better when you are starving. I couldn’t believe how hungry I got while I was riding. We basically had to eat something at each rest stop to feel satisfied. I usually never want to eat while I am exercising, it kills my appetite, but not over the long haul I guess. Your body needs fuel to keep going. According to Missy’s bike computer, we burned nearly 4000 calories on the ride.

After we stood up from the dinner table, the pain began. I could barely walk. Pain in my quads just radiated off my legs. I was scared for the next day.

We went to Smiths and bought some Ibprofen (and Pepsi, Steve was on this trip after all).
Missy and I chose not to walk through the store, mainly because we couldn’t.

Then back to Aggie Ice cream for one final cone.


We had a great time with the Lester’s. While Missy and I rode, Steve and Scott played 18 holes at Logan River golf course. It was really fun to have uninterrupted adult conversations while we were without children.

Then back to the Hotel where it was all Icy Hot and Ibuprofen, and a hot bath. I can’t remember much else that night. I think I passed out before 10pm which very unusual.

I was very afraid for the pain that would sure be mine the next morning, but to my surprise, the pain was minimal, almost non-existent. Thanks Icy Hot, you rock.

We packed up our one bag and bike and without much effort we headed toward home.

I loved having a weekend without children, but I must admit I was really excited to see my kids.

The kids had a great time with Amy and Wuke (Alyssa speak for Luke). I don’t think they even really missed us although they were excited to see us when we got home. Alyssa who was outside playing on the front lawn with Amy and Wuke squealed when she saw us pull up. She came and gave me a big wrap around hug and told me how much fun she had.

Sunny was asleep, but woke up shortly after we got home. When I went to get her out of her bed she saw me and started to laugh and laugh. I don’t think she really missed me until she saw me and realized how long I had been gone. She wouldn’t let me out of her sight the rest of the night. She got very nervous anytime I took one step away from her the rest of the day.