"I want to thank you for your generosity"

"You've been so kind and generous

I don't know how you keep on giving

For your kindness I'm in debt to you

For your selflessness, my admiration

And for everything you've done."

- Natalie Merchant

Thank you, friends, for your continued donations to the MS Society to show your support for the fundraising bike rides that I participated in this summer! As of tonight, you've contributed $5,141 - more than I thought would be possible (especially with no corporate sponsors and people with average jobs)!

So, what are you doing on Sunday? 

Want to join me on a bike ride? This will be part of my planned route:

Noon - Bike ride begins: Riders will meet near the corner of Carter Avenue and Eckles Avenue in Saint Paul, on the campus Lawn. We will ride the U of M Transitway west towards the Dinkytown Greenway. 

12:20 p.m. – “Pit stop” at Malcolm Ave. SE: We'll meet up with Mayor Rybak and hear a brief presentation from Omar Ansari, the founder of Surly Brewing Company, about development plans along this route. 

12:45 p.m. – Grand opening celebration: Gather at the corner of Oak Street SE and 5th Street SE, next to TCF Stadium, to formally open the Dinkytown Greenway. 

After the celebration, the bike ride will continue along the new greenway, through campus and across the Mississippi River to the site of next year’s Bluff Street Trail project, which will complete the trail connection to downtown Minneapolis. 

Monday, Monday

"Monday, Monday, can't trust that day. Monday, Monday, sometimes it just turns out that way. Oh, Monday morning, you gave me no warning of what was to be."

Oh, actually you did, when I put my hand through the plastic bag when walking the dog this morning. Nevermind.

After coming home and scrubbing my hands for about 35 minutes, I got on my bike, rode down 42nd Street to 42nd Avenue, followed a truck through the green light, and ran over something that popped my rear tire.

Since I got a lot of practice changing this tire on the 4th of July, I wasn't too bummed to get that sucker changed in no time at all. Tire off, old tube off, new tube on, tire on, and... my pump, which stinks, was not cooperating. I pumped, and pumped, and pumped. It was hard to get a good seal because I have a screw-on adapter for my Shrader (sp?) valve pump to work on my presta valve tires. I pumped some more. I tried to have a Zen-like attitude. I pumped. For a long time.

And then a guy across the street opened his garage and I yelled across, asking if he had a floor pump. Indeed.

I got it pumped up, rode home, showered (had planned on doing that at work), and went to the bike shop. Today's purchases? A delicious, large latte, two spare tubes, one new Continental Gatorskin tire, and one fabulous, small hand pump made for presta valves.

I could have real problems.

And as a bonus, I got to answer all of the bike mechanic's questions about how the TRAM went, and think again about what a great week that was, and then spent some peaceful time tonight in the garage, putting on my new tire, cleaning my chain up, etc.

Monday, Monday... So good to me?

Everyone is getting "new" bikes

I'm super excited for my friend Stacy who just got her first road bike. I think it looks something like the Trek pictured below. I'm also excited for me, because I will get to ride with her and will have to try to keep up with her fancy new bike.

Dan also got a new-to-him bike: a three-speed for next May's two-day, three-speed tour: http://www.3speedtour.com/.

He's doing a hard-sell, encouraging me to follow suit as a training ride for the MS150 and the TRAM. We'll see...

In the meantime, I'm focusing on rowing, to prep for rowing camp during the first week of September, although I'm missing my bike. It is a good friend. I found this pristine photo from the manufacturer (the Giant shown below). A guy on the TRAM complimented me on the paint job. It IS pretty sweet. I like the shape of it too. I love that stupid bike.

You'll Only Really Understand This If You Are a Wilco Fan

I had one of the most funny email exchanges with my friend Paul this morning.

Referencing my frequent biking dreams related to Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, I pointed out that I was surprised that none of my delirous mind wanderings during the TRAM related to Jeff Tweedy. Paul suggested that he was with me on the ride, as evidenced by only one tire track in the sand (a play on that poem or whatever it is about Jesus and the footprints in the sand). I responded that if Jesus was riding a bike on this ride, Jeff Tweedy would have been there with Jesus, encouraging him not to cry. So, that got me thinking of what Jeff Tweedy would've said to Jesus, and this is what I came up with:

Jesus, don't cry

You can rely on me honey

You can bike up that hill you've got time

I'll be around

You were right about the bike

Each one hurts your bum

Tall hills rise 'n fall

Birds 'n critters call

singing sad sad songs

Tuned to chords strung down 

Your cheeks

Bitter melodies turning 

Your pedals around

Don't cry

You can rely on me honey

You can bike with me any time 

You want

I'll be around

You were right about the bike

Each one hurts your bum

Tall hills rise 'n fall

Birds 'n critters call

singing sad sad songs

Tuned to chords strung down

Your cheeks

Bitter melodies turning 

Your pedals around

Riders whine, gears and things are scraping

Your gravelly voice is saying "on your left"

You eat all you can get, turning 

Your pedals around

Our bikes, our bikes

Our bikes are all we have

Our bikes

Our bikes are all we got honey

Every one hurting your bum

Tall hills rise 'n fall

Birds 'n critters call

singing sad sad songs

Tuned to chords strung down

Your cheeks

Bitter melodies turning 

Your pedals around

Riders whine, gears and things are scraping

Your gravelly voice is saying "on your left"

You eat all you can get, turning 

Your pedals around

(Note, I don't think this is offensive to joke that Jesus might cry on a bike ride. But if it is, I'm sorry. That's mostly a note for my mom.)

Reflections on The Ride Across Minnesota 2013

Travis and Maggie at the finish in Duluth

I spent the weekend recuperating from my 285-mile ride last week from International Falls to Duluth. I'm really glad I did the ride. It was hot and muggy and there were some hills, but all the big thunderstorms courteously held off until either the late afternoon (Orr, Biwabik) or overnight hours (Biwabik, Two Harbors).

This ride had a totally different vibe than the MS 150. The way we were describing it as being different made people who haven't done the MS 150 think that the MS 150 must really stink. It's just different. The MS 150 is a fun ride because it's two long days and, because there are 3,800-4,000 riders, there's a lot of energy packed in to those two days and a lot of money is raised ($3M+).

The TRAM had 753 riders this year, who raised over $800,000. What I enjoyed about it is that there isn't the same sort of corporate sponsorship presence, you see the same volunteers for five days straight (some of whom also volunteer for the MS 150), the MS Society has contests for the teams, and the towns are really engaged in wanting you to have a positive experience (bands and food in the parks, maps of local places to visit). But really, what I liked most are the riders. The riders tend to be older (a number of retirees, who can easily devote a whole week to riding their bikes) and have ridden the TRAM for many, many years. A number of the riders have mobility issues and have modified bikes, or support for when they get off their bikes. There are some younger riders, and some kids.

In Biwabik

Regardless of their age or ability, most of the riders aren't racing to finish and are enjoying each other's company at each of the rest stops or when passing each other on the route. I passed a woman on a hill and she shouted, "You go girl!" I told someone that story at a rest stop, and when I passed her later, she yelled, "You go girl!" What a nice environment for riding... When finishing the last day, Travis and I passed an elderly gentleman, who I think was Roy. Roy is 89 years old and this was his 22nd year doing this ride. This man/Roy cautioned us to save some of our energy for the hill at the end, because it was a doozy.

I'm not sure what I'll be doing when I'm 89. Hopefully there won't be a need for the MS TRAM by then - - - hopefully MS will be a thing of the past. Regardless, I hope that I'll be able to be active and to enjoy doing things like this for many, many years. We are undergoing some negotiations at our house, and with Stacy and Travis, to decide who exactly is going to do the TRAM next year (Travis and Dan? Travis, Dan, and Maggie?) and who will provide support (Stacy? Maggie?). Regardless, it's safe to say that at least two people from our team will be doing this ride again (and two riders we met - Matt and Ron - might join our team), regardless of where it is located within MN next  year. (Although hopefully not 5 days of riding through cornfields...)

The route is shown below. To see an interactive map and to get more details about the route, including information about the elevation, click on this link to my Map My Ride page and then, just to the right of the map, click "View Route Full Screen."

MS TRAM 2013

Here's a map of Minnesota to give those of you who aren't from the area some perspective. The MS150 ride in June went from Duluth to White Bear Lake.

Minnesota (in case that wasn't obvious)

I am emailing people a link to my photo album. If you didn't get an email and want the link, let me know. (I didn't want to make it accessible directly from the blog, which is directly accessible from Facebook. I don't know if it matters, but I figure it might be good for privacy reasons not to have that directly linked through Facebook.) I took the time to add captions to each photo. The photos are not entirely in order, but it's pretty close. I dated them to help you follow along. I think it is likely I will be getting a few more photos of the finish from Stacy and adding them to this album, and I haven't looked at all of the professional event photographer's photos yet, so there might be some I will get and add, too, like this one. It actually is decent! (That's the lake by Buhl early on day 3).

Thank you for all of your wishes of good luck, the good luck charms, the favors, and support. Thank you, too, for your donations to the MS Society. I'm super proud of the fact that we together raised $5,034 for the MS Society between these two rides. Thank you! I've got a few other donations for the MS mud run that I'm doing in three weeks, but I mostly just signed up for that because it is fun.

Oh, by the way, I finished!

I updated Facebook, but haven't posted anything here since the middle of the ride. Sorry, those of you checking the blog for updates!

I will post more info later, but basically, we went to Biwabik, then Two Harbors, then Duluth. It was hilly and warm, but fun - and done! 285 miles!

Dan and I spent the weekend at a B&B in Duluth so that I could recuperate in style. It was fantastically relaxing. I kept on forgetting I was in Minnesota.

I've posted a few Duluth photos below.

Now we are driving home, returning to the realities of life. I hope to somehow maintain my Zen feelings of this past week...

TRAMalot, TRAMps like us, TRAM-a-lamma-ding-dong

These are just a few of the names of the teams participating in the TRAM. But our little, two-person team is holding its own!

Yesterday we left International Falls at about 7:20 a.m. We were two of the last riders to leave. We are novice week-long riders. We were riding pretty quickly and were at the front of the pack at the end of 81.4 miles. Will we run out of steam? Other people seem to go slow and steady and take a lot of breaks. Well, except for the people that are riding 100 miles each day.

Observations:

- TRAM riders are more sociable, seasoned (most people I've met have ridden it at least 10 times), and older (we are young riders).  Nicer, too, than the MS 150. Less corporate.
- Chisolm is remarkably pretty, but if you think our economy has fully improved, visit the iron range. Buhl was depressing, as was a city we rode through yesterday.
- We have crossed the Little Fork river a few times. It is beautiful. The whole ride has been really pretty. I saw a weird and cool round house yesterday.
- It's good it was only 51.7 miles today. Hot headwind, hilly.
- Tomorrow we go to Biwabik. 57.9 miles. It looks like we go through Virginia. We will be on the Mesabi Trail a lot, I think.
- My back is bugging me a lot. This muscle on my left lower side is pretty much on fire most of the ride. When I'm off my bike it is fine. I think I need to do more situps and core work in the winter. Ibuprofen helps, as does stopping at each rest stop.
- It is a fun week so far. I hope Dan and Piper are having an ok time, despite the less-than-ideal camping scenario.
- I'm one of the lower-ranked fundraisers for this ride, but between my two rides, I am feeling really proud. Thanks for the financial support and all your excellent words of encouragement!

I have a lot of photos I took from my bike. I'll create an album when I am home.

Hodgepodge of observations on way to International Falls for TRAM Eve

It's that time again! (Cue cheesy 70s game show music.) Miscellaneous thoughts running through my brain! This must mean a big ride is approaching. It is too hard to organize my thoughts as we are headed to International Falls (the inspiration for Rocky's and Bullwinkle's Frostbite Falls) to start the ride tomorrow....

- If you want to bike more, but don't have the time, get rid of your car. I loaned mine out for about 10 days and got a lot of exercise.

- I bike to work through two small shopping districts. Whole Foods customers routinely turn right in front of me, but not visitors of other shops. Maybe it is because Whole Foods opens earlier and has customers right away.

- If you live in the MSP area, this one is for you: I'm not saying it can't be done, but it is really bad idea to do a u-turn on Ford Parkway without looking around yourself sufficiently. Nothing bad happened but it could've been real ugly for the guy who did it and his girlfriend who almost blindly followed him. It could've been really uncomfortable for me, too, if the girlfriend hadn't heard me yell "Do NOT turn! I am right behind you, and so are two cars."

- If you invite people over for a BBQ and they have children, it doesn't hurt to carry spare house keys in your pocket. Although the art work they hang on your fridge (as an apology?) can be nice.

- Something I pondered when seeing an old woman on a road bike is how old can I be and still ride a bike? And still have it be fun? 80?

- We are looking at highs in the 70s and 80s each day, good chance of rain three days, rain likely a fourth day... I don't think the wind is supposed to be too bad. We will see!

Two roads diverged in a wood and I took the one un-gnome (so sorry, R. Frost)

Well, the bike ride is rapidly approaching. I've been sort of apprehensive or something in some way that I can' t really describe. But I'm really excited today. Let me tell you why.

1. I got a new derailleur a couple of days ago. While this may not seem like a big deal, I think it is. Now I can ride with confidence, knowing that if I go up any hills, I can actually shift my gears and be in the gear I want to be. I know that it is likely that I will need my derailleur or cables adjusted while on the ride, since my derailleur will be getting worn in on the ride, but I'm still really excited about this. I rode to work the other day, picked the hilliest route I could find, and it was a fantastic ride. 

2. I'm getting really good pep talks from friends - a lot of really encouraging and supportive words. To top it off, I got some good luck gifts today, including the lip balm and lucky clover thingy from Kate and this most interesting naked gnome from Anne (rear and front views shown below). I was really touched by Kate's offering because I've been sort of crabby and she's dealing with it nicely. I had a totally different reaction to what Anne sent. I love the fact that she sent this to me, even if I think it is a little, well, unusual. Why do I love the fact she sent it to me? A. She felted this at family camp. Who goes to family camp? And, once there, who felts a bizarrely sort of anatomically correct gnome? B. She sent me a funny note about the ways in which this will bring me good luck, the opportunities for making puns that it will create, and the fact that I will save her from getting into trouble at work. C. She Fed Exed it to me. That's support. D. I think, despite some misgivings, that I will attach it to my bike. It will be a conversation starter on the ride. "Is that a gnome?" "Yes, it is. It is FELTED." "Is it naked? Are those breasts?" "Duh." Okay, maybe I should prepare some responses that are more socially acceptable.

3. I met all sorts of fundraising goals that I didn't even know I had before this week. First, I realized that between the MS 150 and the TRAM I was close to having raised a total of $5,000. Me! $5,000! I noted that on Facebook and Joelle, sweet Joelle, made a donation to get me to $5,000 on the penny. I then realized, with this donation, that my TRAM goal was nearly met - almost to the $500 mark. Again, good ol' Facebook saved the day. I noted that I was close to $500 for the TRAM and that, if I met that goal, I would get a free TRAM jersey. I promised that if my teammate Travis (also close to $500 at that point) and I got the TRAM jerseys, we'd wear them and take photos. My friend Stacy's mom and dad, Ann and Wade, who happen to be Travis' in-laws, made a donation to each of us to get us there. Thanks!

4. At rowing practice tonight, after headed into a, uh, precarious situation with the boat and trying to understand the yelling coach's directions and then hearing a lecture afterwards (while it was a dangerous situation, he didn't understand that we were actually avoiding it and that his yelling at us to stop actually put us in more danger - - - good job, Debi, for saving us and the boat from harm, and thanks for taking the heat, even though I think it was partly my fault)... ANYHOW, he turned out to be a nice guy who has ridden the TRAM 16 times! He told me all sorts of things (he confirmed Joelle's statement that people of all ages do this ride, so I can hack it, he explained how the camping and food works, he said the route shouldn't be too hilly based on the roads he's ridden in the area, etc.) that made me really, really excited.

So, we leave Sunday, head to International Falls, and start riding Monday. I've got to wrap things up for my week's vacation from work and take care of getting some last minute items (bug spray, spare bike tubes, etc.), but I'll be on my way soon, enjoying a nice ride through my beautiful state. And I made my goal of $500 for this ride, surpassing my combined goal of $4,500 by over $500. Thanks, guys. You're great. As your reward, Robert Frost's poem, without being bastardized by references to gnomes...

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
    I took the one less traveled by,
    And that has made all the difference.

One Week to Go

On the 4th of July, Dan and I rode to a nearby coffee shop where we got caffeinated and met Dave. The three of us rode north along the west bank of the river, past the U of M, and through downtown, the warehouse district, an industrial zone, a nice park, and a residential area to the very flowing Coon Rapids Dam. From there we took a cool trail to Elm Creek Park Reserve. There and back was about a 58-mile ride.

It was a ridiculously long ride to the park due to our flat tire situation. I got one near the Camden Bridge. A piece of glass was stuck in my tire. I'm not sure what the heck I did, but I twisted the new tube and ended up with another flat tire - before I even put the wheel back on the bike. The second tube went on more smoothly, although all three of us were cursing my newish tires, which were nearly impossible to get back on.

Once we got really close to Elm Creek, we were checking the route (I took a wrong turn). Standing there, in the sun, Dan's tire hissed and deflated. Just like that. We had no more spare tubes and incorrectly patched his tube (although it nearly lasted to the park). Once we were at the park with Dave's family, we patched it up the right way and took advantage of the nice pump that was in the car.

We had lunch, swam, and rode home in the hot sun against a decent head wind that had sprung up. We rode cautiously, but had no tire mishaps.

It was a tough day, and yet 30 miles shorter than the first day of the tram.

I was busy today, and it was really hot, so I went to a pretty big hill in Mendota and went up and down it 10 times. It was tough. My gears are still slipping, despite three adjustments after my new chain and cassette were installed. I think they'll get it right when I take it back in.

After riding, I saw a cute little muskrat at the lake by my house. That, in addition to seeing a work friend who just got out of the hospital after a serious illness and getting to celebrate the retirement and 40th wedding anniversary of great people, really made my day. Even more than riding my bike up hills! Shocking.

One week from tonight, I will be settling in for the night before the first day of the TRAM. That last month flew by. I'm feeling pretty proud about raising $4,970.40 thus far (between the two rides), but couldn't have done it without the help of family and friends. Thanks!!

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/MaggieMahoneyTRAM

A-musing(s)?

Apparently I'm very juvenile. I thought that I should bring some levity to this next post, perhaps by making some dorky joke about a bike-related musing of mine, and how, in my case it is clearly disconnected from the word "muse" as a noun (versus a verb). So now I've just proven that I'm a nerd, but let me tell you about my juvenile nature.

I was using an online dictionary to prove the above, dorky points, when I got distracted by the online dictionary's "near words" feature. The online dictionary indicated that the seven or so nearest words started with "musculous sphincter" and had a third word to further modify this term. Who wouldn't be curious about musculous sphincter ani as opposed to musculous sphincter pylori, for example?

I am sure I laughed like Beavis and/or Butthead when clicking on the hyperlinks provided (for you youths, Beavis and Butthead were cartoon characters of the 1990s; check out the one when they hallucinate about Star Trek). What mysteries were revealed, you ask? I have no idea. Each link, when clicked, led to a page indicating that the term did not exist. If that's the case, why are there hyperlinks? It's all very circular. And we went down this rabbit hole all because I wanted to keep this fresh for y'all/ya'll.

I hope to have some photos posted here from tomorrow's 4th of July ride. In the meantime, let me share two thoughts.

First, you're great for supporting me on these rides. As I mentioned before, it is quite humbling. If you think anyone would be compelled to donate just $10 to the MS Society due to being inspired by Travis' and my decisions to do this second, longer ride this year, please share this link: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/SCS-TRAM2013. Thanks, Kim S., for getting the ball rolling! 

Second, I think I passed a biking milestone today. About 1/3 of the time I enter my neighborhood bike shop, the mechanics look at my bike and remember it and my most common problem. "Derailleur again?" (Pardon me if it is supposed to be u before e.) Today, I entered without my bike and caught the attention of the nicest bike helper guy (he is a mechanic, but is also super helpful). I said, "I'm here to buy a tube." His reply? "For your Giant?" (That's the type of bike I have.) "Yep." "Okay, Maggie, that will be $6.37." Woo hoo! My name.

We talked about a concern I have about my bike, and then I told him I appreciated that he took the time to remember my bike and my name, but that I was worried that this must mean I'm there too often. In his nice hipster salesman way, he told me I'm a frequent customer, but not a jerk. He tries never to remember the names of the jerks, just the nice people. I thought that was a good philosophy about priorities.

And, well, to top it off, I feel as though I have some bike cred. Or at least bike repair cred.

(For the record, I'm ok with most of Beavis and Butthead humor, but have a problem with one thing: they'd say something is "gay." Big pet peeve of mine. Carry on.) 

"There's no return from 86"

In two weeks, I'll hopefully be sound asleep after having just ridden my bike 86 miles on the first day of the MS TRAM. According to Green Day, there's no going back. The first day covers International Falls to Orr, wherever the heck that is.

My spirited pit crew, pictured below (in winter; hopefully it won't be like this in International Falls, "the nation's icebox") is gearing up. Dan bought a game with the unfortunate name of "Cornhole." It basically is a beanbag toss game. While I found a lot of info about this game online, I am not quite sure why it is called this.

I got my new chain and cassette today, and had to go back to the shop after riding to get things adjusted a bit more. Now she runs like a charm, whatever that means.

Stacy sent me a photo of the confluence of three rivers in Pennsylvania. If this blog has devoted readers, those folks will know I love rivers, especially the confluence of the MN and MS Rivers. I don't know if I could handle the excitement of three. All the different paths, histories, etc. I think I would faint. I should go there and see what happens to me.

Today's riding was a little sedate due to my slipping gears, but I've got some good days of riding planned for the rest of the week. 

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/MaggieMahoneyTRAM