I've been riding almost daily since March to get ready for this ride, mostly in North Caolina but with some rides in South Carolina and the mountains of western Virginia. Up to about 1200 miles training so far. I'll leave North Carolina on Wednesday, Jyly15, to drive to Iowa with bikes and equipment for some members of our group, the Road Apples, and connect with my brother who is driving his car from NC to Iowa. He will take over the truck and trailer duties to support the 14 riders in our group.
I'm raising funds for two groups important to me: the Winston-Salem Symphony Endowment and the Clemmons Food Pantry as I try to help feed some hungry families and make great music. If you want to pledge something in support of the 442-mile ride over seven days with 23,111 feet of climb, just send your pledge to rbear1@triad.rr.com. I'll get back to you with instructions on where to send the check after the event.
I've wanted to do this ride for many years and finally, upon retirement, can get away to ride. My riding partners include some rookies like me, some veterans of RAGBRAI, some older and most younger than me, at least one rider who has done the trans america ride and some members who are riding in from Michigan, across Wisconsin and Iowa and then back across Iowa. It is a diverse group and should be an interesting one.
I'm thinking the riding isn't going to be so tough, but the camping out...I don't know. My idea of roughing it is Holiday Inn Express or Motel 6. We'll see how I hold up.
More later.
Monday, July 13, 2009
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