The Rite of Passage Ride, why we are Crankees

We did it! This past Saturday we had the annual rite of passage, the grueling Westpoint/ Bear Mountain Ride.
The course was about 65 miles and over 6,000 ft of climbing- yes, truth be told, I love this Ride!

The day started early, very early, when I rose at 3:30 am, we had scheduled a 5am departure from Brooklyn. Our SAG support (husband and step-daughter) had the car packed (with the exception of the cold items) and were going to meet us halfway in the course with fuel and hydrating liquids. The temperatures were expected to reach 100 degrees.

The team met in the parking lot just under Perkins memorial drive, and we began to ride at 7am. There were 10 of us.  Like most rides that are coordinated by our couch Lewis, the ride began with a nice long climb, up bear mt. over the course of the first 36 miles (our designated meeting point at Mr. Cone) there were many a hills;  there was another climb waiting around every corner, at the bottom of every hill, when you think it was the top of a hill, if you missed a turn,.. you get it, it was all about the climb.

Mr Cone brought us a cuddly dog (Otis) a loving husband and step-daughter and some good food and drink (PB&J, bagels, bananas, Gatorade, COLD water) and some tri food (boiled potatoes?)
It was great to have the support, it was hot, and we were going through a lot of fluid and the food was able to provide us energy to continue on for the next- most grueling - part of the ride.

The back half of the ride brought us a few incidents, flat tires, wobbling falls caused by dropping a chain, low blood sugars, separation from the group, lost riders and tired riders. These things happen, we learn from these things, we grow from these and we ride to prevent these in the future.

The last 7-10 miles is the hardest, not only because we were tired but because you have come down to sea level and are now headed back up to the top of the mountain, it is a long climb, a steep climb but determined as we were, look up, look forward and ride. Those last few miles brought thunder showers that were refreshing and invigorating (always keep phone, meter, and cash in a zip-lock bag).  You look ahead and think, just another turn I will be to the top, just another one and another one, and you just keep going. Out of the 10, 7 made it to the peak- that is a pretty great accomplishment and I am proud of everyone who rode.

I feel this ride was a perfect example of why we ride and how we can parallel this to T1D, the uncontrollable elements (in this case heat, rain) the controllable elements (how we prepare ourselves for everyday in this case training) the known and the unknown, the strength we have to overcome challenge and the unity we have as a team to work together.


I am very excited to ride this Saturday with my team, the New York Crankees, in Vermont- Ride to Cure Diabetes!