Ok, now to write about the ride. The week before I was getting nervous about the hills. I wasn't sure if I had trained enough and how big the hills were. So I spent 2-3 hours looking at the route map, google maps and a topo map to figure out the elevation hanges. Finally figured out it was a 5% to 7% grade. Then I had to compare those hills to the grades in Austin. Like my coworker said, had I spent the time riding some more hills, instead of trying to figure out the elevtions I would be ok. All in all, I figured the worst I could do was a hike w/ the bike.

I mapped the route out in my gps mapping software and transferred it all to the gps, spent an hpur packing my bike into a box. Decided it was worth the $100 to ride my own bike (especially since it had a granny gear that would help me up the hills) instead of borrowing a bike from my friend.

Off to Philly. what a beautiful area. The next morning we drove to Easton, PA and I kept evaluating the hills...Dang there are a lot of hills, but if I get my momentum up, I can easily make it up and over them..note the key word is momentum.

Morning of the ride...got near the area w/ 30 mins to get to the start, but parking is a nightmare! It was also colder (65) in Philly than it has been in Austin, good thing I had my disposable arm warmers w/ me (long socks w/ the toes cut out)!

Diane and I were joking about doing the 100 mile ride. So we strated at the end of the 100 mile ride pack figuring the fast 70 milers would start first and by the time they all passed us we would be ahead of the slower 70 milers. Then we debated about doing just the 45 mile ride. We had signed up to do the 60 mile ride but it was change to 70 miles. so we kept telling the SAG (support and gear) vans to come pick us up at mile 60!

At the start of the ride it was like the first sprint where your lungs start to burn. My heart rate was easily in the 160 to 165 range (I usually ride in the 145-155 range) seemed we kept going up hills! Finally a down hill! I went to check my miles per hour and my bike computer was on the wrong screen, so in my attempt to switch it, The computer flew off into the weeds! oh well...I turned around but couldn't find it. The gps had flown off earlier, too , but I had retrieved that!

Lots of turns on the route, PA doesn't have long straight roads like Texas does! All the roads wind around the old farms! the countryside was beautiful...tall trees, green pastures, silos, ponds, cows and barns! Wish I would have taken pictures, but oh well, I'll go back and drive the roads one year.

Finally made it to the 20 mile mark and a rest stop. Diane kept handing me food to eat..."you're not eating enough Meyer" she would say.So I ate and did a gue shot...energy gel stuff that tasted horrible.

The next 115 miles had the long hills I was worried about. So far, I hadn't had any problems going up the hills, they weren't easy, but they were managable.

Then problems wth the route started happening..it seemed like just when I would get my momenttum going I would have to slow down to make a sharp a turn and after I turned the hill would start! This happened several times. People ahead of me started jumping off their bikes...when I realized my heart rate was at 182, I yelled to diane in the distance "I'm bailing!" thus I hopped off the bike and started walking up the rest of the hill. When I got to the top D was waiting for me...what a friend..she was kicking butt on the hills and she didn't have the old lady gear! The granny gear is supposed to make it so you can easily spin your pedals and make it up the hills...at least that's what I do in Austin!

One big hill down 2 more to go before the next rest stop. Another hike w/ a bike up the next one..think this was the one that D decided to walk up, also, we joined 4 other bike riders in the shade of a building while we caught our breath. back on the bike..a bit easier after the break, we made it to the top (w/ a small hike) At the top of a previous hill, some of the residents where out cheering w/ cow bells. What a difference that made, really helped to get ya to the top! 5 more miles and 1 big hill to the rest stop. Of course I don't have my odometer so I have no idea where I'm at and the route I entered into the gps doesn't want to work either, so whenever I ask D how much longer her answer was "5 more miles" those where some long 5 mile sections... finally a sign that said rest stop 1 mile. On the hill (yes another one..there were way to many to count) there was a little girl in a devil costume, like the devil that is always on the mountain stages at the tour de france..I might just have to do that when the livestrong challenge comes to Austin, it sure cracked me up!

We took a long break .. we were now at mile 35.. halfway finished and all but 2 big hills completed. I'd remember the devil on the hill or the rest of the ride...I wouldn't let him get me. I also kept thinking of the 49 people whose names were on my back who were either fighting cancer or had fought or had lost their battle to cancer..this hilly ride had to be easier than that! So I just kept peddling. no pain in the shoulder, so that's good!

Turned a few more corners and went up a few more hills, had to hikesome, too, but oh well. Finally at mile 50! just an easy 20 mile ride left. Refueled the body and got back on the bike. soon saw a sign that that said 5 more miles to a rest stop! whoopie! STOPPED at the last rest stop. kinda annoying cuz they were starting to break things down, "hey we are still here and it's only 3, cheer us on!" When we left D had trouble w/ her chain , since mile 40, her gears broke and instead of having 16 speeds, she had 2, made it easier for me to keep up w/ her. of course I kept urging her to break the chain so we could SAG, but that didn't happen...oh well, when the chain would come off we would get a good break, but also get dirty, greasy hands! the last few hills were like Austin hills, long where you could spin up them. By now there wasn't anyone directing traffic at the stop signs and stop lights, another annoyance...it wasn't 4:30 yet, the time the course was closing, and this is a CHALLENGE, so there will be us slow pokes, make us feel special!

About 2 miles from the finish, we see D's husband (Brad)on the side of the road taking our pictures, he somehow makes it back to the finish.. cool to see him and the kids cheering for us!

Go thru the finish line, no big deal...I was psyched to have finished, annoyed by the lack of support on the last 20 miles, thrilled to have been able to do another ride w/ Diane (I miss her a lot), and HOT and sweatty. Chug a bottle of water, towel off some of the grime, then Brad shows up and hands us a beer...mmmm Beer.

Great ride, ended up raising almost $1500 for Cancer.

Felt great to get back out there and realize I can still do it. I still have a ways to go, but hey..I had a stroke and open heart surgery!

I would like to see how to start a ride called SPOKES for STROKES...one of these days!

thanks for everyones support!