Today was a very tough day for the whole group. With the excitement and adrenaline of doing our longest ride in known recent I4k history being gone, today cannot be explained as anything other than a grind. This was a day full of headwinds, which we are used to, however we are not accustomed to tackling a 90 mile day right after biking 130 miles the day before. It was not all bad though as the team had an amazing stayover to look forward to at the end of the ride where a few alumni hosted us at their house! Since we are all so tired and wanted to enjoy our stayover interacting with the alumni as much as we can, this will probably be a shorter journal post. We do want to try and keep mostly on track with daily uploading as much as we can though.
Ride Overview
Mileage: 93.7 miles
Elevation: 2,268’
Tales of the Trail
The team awoke, legs still heavy as we all got ready for the day. We all ate some Jimmy John's sandwiches and oatmeal for breakfast that the church had provided. The weather was amazing as we rolled out. As the first stretch of the ride was only 17 miles until the first rest stop, most of the team was feeling good, albeit pretty sore. Our first rest stop was a very small grocery store/gas station, so a lot of the team got various snacks, most notably candy. We had to restock as yesterday we went through 4 lbs of twizzlers as a team!
It was during the second stretch that we realized we were going to be in for another long day. After rolling out from the first rest stop we almost instantly hit a 15 mile long stretch on one road that was completely flat with 15 mph headwinds the whole way with no tree coverage. This middle part was very grueling, being definitely one of the most mentally and physically tough. A quite comical moment that really summed up how we all felt happened during the rest stop. While making a PB&J Cole dropped a slice of bread covered in peanut butter straight onto his nice white bike shoes. While most of the ride was really tough, our one saving grace was the third rest stop being an ice cream shop. We all got a much needed pick-me-up of sugary goodness.
The rest of the day was really just the team grinding to get to the end. After a 130 mile day previous we could really feel the miles compounding. Each mile felt like another challenge, but eventually after definitely one of the hardest days yet we rolled into the stayover and got greeted by two alumni: Logan and Rebecca Orr. They are a couple who did the ride together in 2017 (and are now married with two children!) who graciously decided to host us. Although being tired seeing food layed out right as we rolled in, the team did not hesitate to start digging into some shrimp, bean, chicken, and beef tacos. Along with banana pudding, chips, and salsa. (We were definitely very spoiled) Afterwards we all went outside to either throw a ball around or hear all of their stories around a campfire. We spent hours comparing routes, reminiscing, and overall just having a great time hearing about what we have to look forward to. We also heard from them about what we can do to make the ride more enjoyable and memorable. The team even got to see their signed jerseys from the 2017 ride! They said they had 27 people on their team, which is crazy to think about since that is more than double the size of our team this year. I feel like a smaller team comes with both positives and negatives. It has been an amazing summer of bonding so far, as we are so small I feel like we are becoming a very tight knit group.
This was also an eventful day from other tough perspectives: mechanical problems and falls along the way. The first incident of the day was Anthony catching a broken cable in his shifting mechanisms. This relegated him to the van until a bike shop could be found between the rest stops during the day. Frustrating, but at least no injury occurred. Then, it was Cole’s turn to enter the string of unfortunate news on the message channels. He had a fall about halfway between the second and third rest stops and scraped up his hip and shoulder. Although the bib shorts did not survive unscathed, he and his bike were good to go. The rest of the ride was completed in some pain, but it was done. Next, we got a call at the van from Anthony during our fourth rest stop that Sam had broken a wheel spoke. Then, another one broke! Again, Sam was fine, but it knocked him out for the rest of the day with an unrideable bike. Finally, Ren had a fall while coming onto some busier and much bumpier roads in Indianapolis. She too is alright, but like Cole, a bit scraped up. Whew! Finished.
Cyclists’ Corner
Rider: Cole Pawlak
How are you feeling today?
Ha ha… That is a tough question after today because I think this is the most tired and exhausted I have been the whole Summer. I thought I was catching up after the rest day in Columbus, but the 133-mile ride to Richmond yesterday really took it out of me. My legs feel tired, my body feels tired, my mind feels tired. Yeah. I am having a lot of fun and really enjoying seeing the country! This is just a tough time for me though.
What was your favorite part of today's ride?
My favorite part of today’s ride was right after we left the stayover. The sun was rising, it was relatively cool, and the wind was still light as compared to the end of the ride. Some rolling hills and a good group with Parker and Maaike made for a very nice way to start the day. I went on to have a bit of a crash later, I’m all okay, but that put another damper on the good vibes that this group and ride exude to me.
And what motivated you to join Illini 4000?
Well, I first saw an advertisement for Illini 4000 on Instagram back in 2023 during my first year as a graduate student at the University of Illinois and thought it sounded like a super neat program. I ended up missing the application deadline that year and it ended up being good because I had other opportunities to cash in on. This year though, it was time to try. I really love cycling and I wanted to see if I could have some kind of positive influence on the world, so the combination of the two was perfect. I also have some family who have been afflicted by cancer and it has felt special to honor them too. The adventure called me and I responded!
Before joining Illini 4000 how much bike training had you done? What other athletic background did you have that you feel would help for the ride?
In high school I bought my first road bike because I was really interested in riding further and faster than what was possible on my mountain bike. I wanted to be able to make it from my house to my grandpa’s house which was a little over 30 miles away and that was going to make it possible. I eventually did that ride, almost passed out during it, but I loved the feeling of being able to explore on two wheels and my own power. In college, I joined some rides with the Penn State Cycling Club and during 2020 I built the bike that I ride today. At the University of Illinois, I joined Illini Cycling and that was the most fun I have ever had riding with others. This is what really got me out on the bike more often and in the best riding shape of my life. Cycling is also a primarily leg muscle sport so it lends itself to what I am good at as a soccer player and skier through my childhood.
And then what is your bike's model, and does it have a name?
I have a 2017 Specialized S-Works Roubaix frame with a collection of components that I purchased, found, or had gifted to me when I was in the build process. It does not have a name. I tend not to assign names to inanimate objects. That’s just me.
And then what are you most excited about and nervous about?
I am now most nervous about the rides through the Midwest. I usually do quite well on climbs, so the mountains excite me more than scare me; however, it is the long hours in the saddle for the next couple of weeks that make me nervous about how my body will hold up. The last couple of days where we are riding for 8-10 hours a day I am not sure are sustainable forever for me. We will find out though.
I am most excited to see the Tetons in Wyoming. As a skier, going to Jackson will be an awesome moment for me because they are some of the mountains that I dream about when I sleep. I have seen videos and pictures but never been in person and I think it will be a life changing memory.
Creamy or Crunchy Peanut Butter?
I am a creamy peanut butter guy myself. Crunchy is doable, but creamy is definitely the preference.