Riding with Dad

Biking with dad has been around since I can remember. When I was little and learning to ride, we lived at the top of a hill and at the bottom were some train tracks. I have a vivid memory of learning how to ride, feeling confident, and then immediately realizing that I was headed straight down that hill. Little Meghan, knew this was going to end badly. I had managed to get out in front of my parents, there was no saving me. I had two options, 1) try to brake as hard as I could and hope it was enough that I wouldn't end up meeting a train or jumping the tracks 2) TURN, turn into the grass covered ditch and hope for the best. I chose option 2 - I remember hitting that grassy hill, slowly regaining the ability to move and thinking "did I die, am I hurt, is anything broke?" Nope all good. Crying a little I jumped back on my bike and headed home. (Yes, my mom and dad were close by and I am certain they were concocting a plan to rescue me. Just not fast enough, I had to take matters into my own hands.)

When I was in high school my community started a fundraiser to raise money for the American Cancer Society - Peddlin' for a Cure. We were to start at the town square and ride to different destinations (Montgomery, Mobile, etc.) each of these rides averaging over 100+. I never thought I would be able to complete something like that. The first year we were riding to Montgomery, we were going to leave at night and ride until the morning. Somehow my father convinced me that it would be a good idea to ride with him - so I did. Turns out that one should really prepare for a 90 mile bike ride at night. Practice rides are important and helpful - but being a teenager, I just knew I could do it without practicing. Like many other times in my teenage years, my dad was right. I could not make it the whole way. It was scary, out there riding through the back roads of south Alabama...ALONE. Okay, not really alone but it sure did feel like it. Your thoughts get the best of you, you start to imagine that you hear growls, you are surrounded by glowing eyes, the little tiny flashlight I brought was NOT good enough. I was panicking. At the next break point I decided it was best to give my bike to a friend who had gotten in a bike accident and take a ride on the bus! Which is exactly what I did. When the sun woke up, so did I, finishing the ride alongside dad like I'd been peddling there all night.

The ride to Montgomery was the first of many rides that we participated in with Peddlin' for a Cure. Each year following, I tried to make more of an effort to practice, go on longer rides with dad on the weekends leading up to the ride - however, sometimes I was a cranky teenager that knew better than her parents. I regretted those choices as soon as I sat down on that bike seat. My butt was not prepared, those tiny seats HURT.

Fast forward to the week of Thanksgiving 2020 - sitting in the living room my dad mentions that he was hoping to ride his bike at least 60 miles along the Silver Comet. The Silver Comet is a full paved rail-trail built on abandoned railroad lines, starting close to Atlanta and takes you all the way across to the Alabama state line. I had a sneaky suspicion dad was mentioning this bike ride because he was looking for someone to ride with him. (Since moving to Atlanta my family has been riding bikes more, I however, have ridden 3 times in the last 6 months.) My mom quickly stated she was out because her hip hurt, that left Ellie and myself. We both hesitantly said we'd go knowing that we probably weren't going to make it the full 60 miles but felt we could give it a shot as long as it wasn't COLD.

Friday morning came around, the weather was a bit colder than we originally thought so Ellie was out. Dad and I waited for it to warm up a bit and then loaded the bikes and made our way to the trailhead. Thank goodness Dad had packed some snacks because on the way I realized that I had NOT eaten breakfast, who does that? Planning to ride as close to 60 miles as possible on a bike and doesn't eat BREAKFAST. Yikes. I ripped open the snack bag and devoured a PB&J.

We arrived at the trailhead, unloaded the bikes, and finished the checks before we hit the road. Somehow when I was completing my checks, I busted my middle finger. Today was not starting off great, I forgot to eat breakfast and busted my knuckle. The only thing that could make this worse is having to sit on a hard seat, gross. I could feel the pain before even sitting on the seat.

Off we go, my original plan was to ride at least 20 miles and then have my mom and sister come swoop me up while dad continued on. The Silver Comet is a nice paved trail, typically there are a lot of bikes and runners today was no different. You get to ride over a number of very pretty bridges and through a bamboo forest! What you don't realize while riding that most of the time you are peddling up a gradual hill. UGH, INCLINE. I remembered that I much prefer hills where I can see the top. I am the type of rider that likes to peddle, peddle, peddle, coast. With slow incline hills you CAN'T STOP. My legs get tired, I need my coast time.

Typically, we ride at about 10-13mph which is just easy enough that you can still carry on a conversation. It was during this time we discussed why he wanted to ride 60 miles. My conclusion was he is turning 61 on Dec 7th and wanted to ride as many miles as his age. Turns out that was not his reasoning, he didn't really have one but now that was the goal. If he was planning to ride about 60, I could at least ride 31. There is no way someone twice my age can outshine me like that...no way (even though he is and has always been way more in shape than me). I was determined.

We quickly approached mile 18 where I had to make the decision, was I going to let my tired legs tell me what to do or was I going to push through and make it to 31? I was at least going 31. Shortly after that I regretted my decision as I struggled up hill after hill and I mean STRUGGLED. Hills are the worst when you are tired all you want to do is rest. At one point around mile 28.5 I was peddling up a very steep hill, finally making it to the top I was excited. BAM, I made it. Unfortunately, as soon as I glanced up I could nothing but hills. Have I mentioned I hate hills?! Slowly, very, very slowly, I began to peddle, at one point I think I was frozen on the hill, it felt like time had stopped mid peddle. Like one little gust of wind and I would have just tipped right over. It just so happens that as I was frozen peddling an older couple passed me, I felt pretty confident they were exchanging looks at each other about me. How embarrassing! All I could think was "they have no idea that I haven't ridden my bike but 3 times in the last 12 years and the longest distance was 20 miles. Snicker all you want, I am crushing my goals today." I ate a little pack of Woppers and went on my way. (I love sugar.)

Mile 32.5 -- dad and I decided to part ways, he was going to keep on headed towards the Alabama border and I was going to head back so my mom and sister could pick me up. I was BEAT. I rode back towards the sports complex for my rescue, as I approached the parking lot I realized that I was only 4 miles away from reaching 40 miles. I thought, heck yes I can do that, 40 miles. What is an extra 4 when you have already ridden 36? As I zoomed past their car, I asked if they would mind waiting in the car while I quickly crushed another 4 miles riding up and down the path, back and forth across the bridge, up and down hills. I made it 40!

We made a quick stop by the gas station to grab a Dr.Pepper (I needed my fix) and made our way to the trailhead where we were planning to meet dad. Dad made it 53 miles - once we parted ways the hills grew larger and steeper, one hill has a 33% grade. Talk about steep. EEEkk. I slowly step out of the car, already feeling the pain left from the tiny hard seat, to help dad load his bike onto the rack. Home, here we come.

I share this story with you as a reminder that you can do the things that seem impossible. I never imagined that I was going to make it 30 miles on a bike and I ended up making it 41.5. Find something seems challenging and give it a shot, if you fail try again, if you feel stuck or frozen on a hill, push the peddle one more time.

Finally, I highly recommend that when planning a one way trip on a bike, one should always know where the trailheads are located, bathrooms, and the desired end point. We did none of this - oops. Dad was 0.3 miles away from riding his bike into Alabama and had no idea until we were home. Do your research.

Spending time with my dad fills my heart with joy. It is moments like these that I will treasure forever. Thankful that my dad encourages me.

//Thanksgiving, November 2020