Fighting MS one pedalstroke at a time: Liberated into a pure self and into the fresh, awakening world

In March, I read this great piece about accepting the risk of cycling to experience joy. "I swear that sometimes all I wish for, cool air, bare arms and to be free, free from the labor of making sentences, liberated into a pure self and into the fresh, awakening world."

The first year I did the week-long Ride Across Minnesota was a much-needed respite from an extremely difficult and stressful work situation. Since then, I treat this ride as a way to be free from my daily life, free from the labor of making sentences, liberated into a pure self. I also learn more throughout the week about the struggles of those living with MS and the accomplishments of the MS Society. As a result, it also helps reconnect me with my motivation for doing these fundraising rides.

This year's ride followed a relatively short (260+ miles) and flat route in western Minnesota, with a loop in South Dakota. I rode up and down most hills more than once (~300 miles), pushed myself to ride hard on some of the flats, and dug into the headwinds to help myself prepare for my California BikeMS ride in September. The weather this year was probably the best I've experienced on this ride - we had one overnight thunderstorm, and the days weren't too humid.

I apparently should have done more stretching - although I finished feeling that I had many more miles in this body, everything has been kind of tight and wound up since I got home. In between bouts of stretching, applying assorted balms, and cajoling the massage place to squeeze me in for a short visit, I've pulled together a sampling of photos to describe the events of the past week.

Getting started: Willmar to Montevideo

After a very hot and humid week in MSP,
Matt and I tried to squeeze in a quick ride
before I left for the week-long ride.
We got stuck in this storm, but I am
glad it hit BEFORE I left town.

Rest stop #4 each day had watermelon. I think that's
why my teammate Steve and I were pretty giddy on the
first day. We saw a lot of old metal park equipment
from our youth throughout rural Minnesota.

We found a great taproom and pizza place in
the town of Montevideo (MN, not Uruguay). Here
is our team with our nice friends from the team "MS is BS."
We normally have over 60 riders from our team do
the MS150, but just a handful that do this 5-day ride.

Kim and I at the first day finish line. This
was her first time doing 5 straight days of
riding. She did great. I've been considering my
dentist's suggestion that I get Invisiline (despite
having had braces as a teen). That snaggletooth
makes a persuasive argument.
Or does it give me character?

Montevideo to Ortonville; South Dakota

Steve's photo of Kim and me rolling into Ortonville on Tuesday.
I'm pleased with my posture. I've been working on that.

Stacy and Travis flew to Ortonville on Tuesday to have
dinner with us at a supper club on the lake, and Stacy took this photo.
(Restaurant choices in town on a weeknight are limited.)
The guy across from me is Aaron, from Team MS is BS.
He is from Colorado, is nice and interesting, and joined us
for dinner. I hope he'll ride with us again someday,
even if riding in MN likely is kind of flat
and boring for a former pro racer.

Stacy's photo of Ortonville

Ortonville has been a host city for this ride
10 times over the past 30 years, and was a host
city the very first year. We spent two nights
in Ortonville. They went all out for us: bands,
a beer vendor on a golf cart, s'mores, fireworks,
cornhole tournament, kayaks, pontoon rides...

On Weds, we did a loop in South
Dakota. The stretch by the lake was
amazing, the long south stretch was
one big fat headwind. The last leg back
to Minnesota was downhill with a tailwind.
I'm not sure I've ever ridden faster.

Percy the skeleton is on the route every year. This year,
his "minder" suggested that riders make a $2 donation
to the MS Society when taking photos with Percy.
He raised over $60 on Wednesday alone.
These were the riders from our team this year. Such great people!

After getting back to Ortonville, Steve and I did an extra
14 miles or so, heading over to and through the Big Stone
Wilderness Area. This photo doesn't do it justice. It
is astoundingly beautiful, with its preserved (non-mined)
stone formations and wetlands. It was hot, so I stopped in
town on the way back for ice cream with shot of
espresso poured on top: I recommend it!

That night, after losing the team jersey contest (we were robbed),
a teenager strong-armed me into going on stage and joining
in on this drumming thing. I was glad when it was over. :-)
We didn't enter Thursday's team song competition, but
Team MS is BS did great, winning a trophy!

My tent and my bike in Ortonville, with South Dakota
across the lake.

Benson

This was a sign at a rest stop. It makes sense, but
I had never thought of this before. Sobering.

Rest stop #3 was at a family farm.

I raised over $3000, so I had to go in.
I was going to pull down my shorts for
the photo, but realized not everyone
would find that quite as funny as I would.