Anatomy of a 100 mile bike ride

Most of you heard the news we (Goulding sisters+Mom) completed our bike ride and we did it with style. Some of us showed our personal style by our fabulous "dos", elaborate head dresses, extraordinary ability to make up lyrics to just about any tune or by showing just how much air we could catch speeding over bridges or other ramps on the road. No matter how we showed our personal style each of us followed a similar pattern as we started, endured and finished our bike ride. Follows is what I like to call the anatomy of a 100 mile bike ride.

The night before the big ride is especially important because that is when you really need to get a good nights rest, which is exactly what is running through your head all night as your laying in bed wishing you could just calm down enough to get to sleep. Your mind flips from "I'm so excited this bike trip is going to be so much fun." to "I hope I trained enough so I don't end up eating licorice in the truck." to "Holy crap, I really need to get to sleep."

Morning of bike ride-Wake up at 5 a.m. to mom flipping on the lights and yelling "Good morning sunshine, it's time to get started." just as you've finally fell asleep (shortest night in history). This is when the thought "Why are we doing this again?" runs through your head. This is photo illustrating Laurie

and I asking "Why?"

Thought that runs through your mind immediately before you mount your bike out in the middle of nowhere with two gentlemen helping you get ready-"Man, I wish we would have thought to bring a porta potty."

Miles 1-12 Pedaling, pedaling, enjoying the beauty, and grinning from ear to ear because you know it's going to be a great day.

Mile 12 Geo-Cache at Widstoe Cemetery (find it if you can)

Miles 12-25 Pedaling, everybody gets in their own groove

Miles 25-27 Flying down the canyon with the wind in your face, hoping you don't bite it or get bitten by one of the many snakes spotted on the road (most of them dead, but hey most girls are really freaked out by them, dead or alive.)

Miles 27-40 Pedaling, feeling great, singing, laughing, and encouraging each other. Before we knew it we had gone as far as any of us had trained (40).

Miles 40-53 Most of the talking, laughing, singing, and giddyness comes to a stop, because its time to get serious. Wondering where all of the down hill was? You know the "it's all down hill" that mom promised us. Pedaling, pedaling, finally feeling the pedaling....and finally feeling the seat on your seat (if ya know what I mean?). Entering Kingston Canyon and being too scared about getting hit by a car to feel your legs and bum. Getting through the canyon feeling ecstatic that we didn't get smushed and finally knowing we are going to finish (at least the first day.)

Lunch (dutch oven potatoes and chicken), visiting with aunts and cousins, watching mom (who just finished a 53 mile bike ride) and dad (who spent the entire morning babysitting us, lifting bikes and making lunch for everybody) set-up, entertain, feed, and clean up after everyone. Wondering the entire time how they have so much energy. You much get more energy the service you render. (Something to think about.) Then the blessed showers, the even more blessed massages, homemade oreos... and then sleep enough said. Night two the only thought that runs through your head is "Boy this bed feels.....(loud snoring noise)"

Morning of day 2 waking up feeling better than you thought you would, getting on your bike and thinking "Wow my bottom's not as sore as I thought it would be, then sitting down completely and thinking well....maybe it is." (See Photo at Right)

Miles 53-60 Doing your own thing, pacing yourself, seeing large hills ahead and knowing you need to ride with someone so you won't notice how large they reallyare. Laughing at Pee Wee and counting all of the road kill (entertainment is hard to find).

Miles 60-75 The time flies by as do the miles and apparently the beautiful "vases" of sunflowers and elaborately placed arrows placed carefully by the road. Singing starts again and many new and fabulous songs are created-such as Bring Back my Pee Wee, and Oh, Mother Dear. I'm sure they will both hit the top 40.

Miles 75-95 We hit a bike paved trail that was fit more for mountain climbers than bikers, mother nature called at the tunnel, we entered the land of road construction, water trucks, mud puddles, and the laughing becomes louder so we can hide the fact that we are all tired, sore, muddy and praying that we can make the last 5 miles.

95-101 For the first time since the beginning we all ride as a group so we can cross the finish line together. We finish and now the answer the question that we ask ourselves the first morning- "So this is why we did this!"

Dad greeted us with roses, hugs, and water. He really is the best support crew we could have ask for. When it was all said and done we did just over 101 miles in 9 1/2 hours. There is only one thing to say about this whole experience...GOULDING GIRLS ROCK!