The morning light had barely started. The sun was still an hour away from rising over the water. The harmony of Chris Stapleton and Justin Timberlake rang out, "Everybody Say Say Something...Say Something." I love that song and I just laid there in my tent and thought, "This is going to be a great day."
I was in New Bern, North Carolina on what was forecasted to be a hot but beautiful September Saturday. It was my first bike MS ride to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s mission to cure MS.
I had wanted to do this weekend for a few years but always had schedule conflicts. In 2021 I finally had the weekend free and drove down from Raleigh to camp in the town square. It's a huge event with cyclists from all over the South and beyond, many like me camping right next to the water.
I was part of a team of 10 people who fundraiser for the event. We raised over $10k and got a tent so I camped right next to it. Everyone else chose a hotel and had different plans for the ride so I didn't see the rest of Team Windbreakers, except for a bit after.
The night before the ride I make what should have been a two-hour drive down from Raliegh into a four-hour drive by forgetting my tent poles. I realized it halfway there and died a bit inside knowing I'd have to go back through rush hour traffic. But it was a sweet summer night so the drive was actually nice with the setting sun on the rural coastal NC roads.
There were close to two thousand riders and the event had some heaviness being the anniversary of 9/11. I didn't sleep much the night before because I was so excited about the day.
With a police escort the giant group of riders was off on the Interstate. It was such a cool feeling riding on such a big road knowing we were safe.
I got myself away from the packs so I could take a picture to remember how much fun I was having.
The packs started breaking up once the police fell off and we were on more rural roads. I just kept moving until I found a group that felt like the right pace. I had been practicing group riding etiquette before the ride so I wasn't totally lost when it came time to lead the pack.
I'm not the only one who likes taking selfies on the ride. I took this picture from Charles's Strava ride post. We chatted a bit during the ride. He's from South Carolina. Nice guy.
I fell in with a group of guys wearing Team Hoover jerseys and they were from around the Raleigh area too. They were nice enough to let me ride in their group for most of the day. After one of the rest stops the faster guys pulled away and Sean and I were near the back of the pack. We decided to just ride together and stop chasing the pack.
Sean and I rode probably the last 30 miles of the 101 miles together. We had good conversations as we rolled along the hot pavement of the rural roads. There weren't many drivers in the morning and those later in the day went around and gave us space. The town and area kinda come together knowing everyone is here for a good cause.
I got to see a few of my teammates during lunch. The event provided a really nice spread along the water under big tents. The ride started at 8 AM and by lunch, it was heating up.
One of the rest stops. It's great that all the stops are stocked with snacks and drinks They are run by volunteers who are super nice and supportive. They thank us and we thank them. It really wouldn't be possible without them.
The post-ride meal under my team tent. The NC BBQ sandwiches really hit the spot.
I earned a new patch for riding 100 miles today. This wasn't my first 100-mile day but it was by far my fastest. Riding in a pack helps cut the wind, motivates you to go faster, and there was really no elevation beyond the bridge riding into and out of town.
Carolina Brewing Company (
CBC) is a big sponsor of the event and supplied the beer after. They are a great group and I like riding with them when I can back in Raliegh. While relaxing I met Bill and Susan. Bill came over after seeing my Steelers gear since he was a fellow fan. I remembered I had seen them on the road at a few intersections. They stood outside their RV and cheered the cyclists on as we passed. They then drove to another part of the route and waited to cheer again. Such nice people who just wanted to be here for the event. I spent a few hours after dinner with them before sitting alone listening to the ocean on a dock. Then it was off to bed.
The entire weekend there was a positive vibe in the air. So many smiles. Lots of great little conversations with random riders on the 30-mile ride I did Sunday before heading home. It was such a blessing to have that weekend experience.
Final fun fact, New Bern is the home of Pepsi and is filled with statues of bears.
No comments:
Post a Comment