With stomachs full and legs refreshed from our time in State College it was time to keep moving. We do still have to make it over 4000 miles, don’t we? Sometimes we joke in the team about ending the trip where we are and heading right on back to our homes. Today was certainly one of those times because of how nice the stop was. Nevertheless, onward and upward (emphasis on upward!).
Ride Overview
Mileage: 64.4 miles
Elevation: 4,764 ft.
Points of Interest: Spruce Creek, Altoona, Sugar Run Road
Tales of the Trail
This morning we had an upbeat start stemming from a surge in overall energy for the team gained during the rest day. As we rolled out from our second longest stay of the whole journey, the weather was beautiful for riding. Some of Cole’s friends who visited even cheered us on as we went the first few miles down the road! Speaking of that road, the first 20 miles of this bluebird Friday leading up to the first rest stop were some of the most fun and gorgeous of the whole trip. Riding alongside Spruce Creek, the team enjoyed a mostly descending elevation profile and a winding road that followed the contours of the creek to give great scenery along the way.
The rest stop was at a church that had river access and Parker helped an older gentleman down to the water to go fishing (just another unexpected way in which Illini 4000 spreads positivity). At any rest stop, you will find our team eating as many snacks as they can consume before rolling again, talking amongst each other about the day, doing pushups (an internal challenge to do one pushup for every mile biked), filling water bottles, or applying sunscreen. When it comes time to roll again, group members are always looking for each other and asking about how long everyone needs before starting up. This day was no different. Really, it was the perfect representation of an average rest stop.
Out on the road again, the action today was relatively subdued. We were riding through more of the Pennsylvania roads and places that we have become accustomed to over the last couple of days and the rolling hills continued on and on. These climbs and descents certainly made us all tired, so much so that I, writing this journal, have very few photos to share! The team was really dialed in on their riding today. The one place where things did get exciting was on Sugar Run Road, a 5.8-mile climb averaging 5.6% grade! This one road felt like it took forever and had everyone who made it to the top huffing and for some taking a breather under a shady tree.
Don’t be concerned that a lack of riding stories will limit your Illini 4000 journal content though. The Ebensburg stayover just may have been one of our favorites. Also, if it feels like we keep saying each and every stayover is our favorite, that is because this statement is totally true. Every place we have had has been incredibly welcoming with amazing people. Ebensburg felt special in its own right from the time we first saw the Ebensburg Presbyterian Church where a banner welcoming the Illini 4000 could already be seen on display from the outside. We were welcomed with open arms to places to store our bikes, snacks, dinner, and even dessert. The team ate and ate until our stomachs were full, which was well before the food had run out. Sometimes it really is tough to understand the generosity being shown to us, but we really, truly appreciate it. During dinner, we received a call from the mayor of Ebensburg, Randy Datsko, who shared his appreciation for our mission and journey. There should be no doubt that Ebensburg will find its way onto many an Illini 4000 route in the future. After dinner, we organized with two local community members to record a Portrait (stories of journeys through and with cancer to help foster a community of perspectives from which those who feel alone and isolated can relate) and heard the inspiring yet very raw stories of how each had battled through their diagnoses and were dealing with the after effects today.
Cyclists’ Corner
Rider: Vedang Mahajan
How are you feeling today? Physically? Mentally?
I'm feeling phenomenal. I'm a little sore, but I'm very motivated for the next day, and I just cannot wait to see what tomorrow has for me.
What was your favorite part of today's ride?
My favorite part of today's ride was just the scenery. It's been lush green rolling hills. It was some challenging climbs, but I feel like that's just part of it, and that really ties it all together. It's like nothing good comes without anything, no good reward comes without hard work. That's why that's what I felt like today. I was also with a really great group, so I really enjoyed the company I was with. Also, the food today. The food today was amazing!
What motivated you to join Illini 4000?
I was really inspired by the fact that as a college student you can have a really meaningful impact on society by raising money for cancer and I think that I really enjoy challenging myself physically. In the past, I found that through mountaineering, and I thought Illini 4000 was something that was similar in the way that you’re able to challenge yourself and do something that sounds wild, like biking 4000 miles. At the same time, you’re doing it for something bigger than yourself and that was super appealing.
Before joining Illini4000 how much bike training had you done, if any, and did you have any other athletic background that you feel prepared you for this ride?
Yeah, I feel I wasn't… I don't really have any biking experience as such, but I ran a little bit of track in school. Mainly, I was a basketball player in high school. I played for my school team and club. I was also extensively involved in mountaineering. I'm an amateur mountaineer, and I just like to keep myself fit, so I was prepared physically; also with the Illini 4000 trainings. I just generally like to stay in shape.
What’s your favorite mountain you’ve climbed?
My favorite mountain I've climbed is Lobuche East in Nepal. It's a 6100 meter mountain, and it's very close to Mount Everest, so you see on the climb all the big mountains in the Everest region, of course, including Everest, and it's one of the most beautiful places in the world.
What is your bike's name/model?
So I have a Cannondale Synapse Carbon Four, and it is nicknamed “The Ferrari.”
What are you most nervous/excited about?
I'm nervous about being able to keep going for 77 days. I think the sheer duration and length of this challenge, or this endeavor, is a little intimidating, but at the same time I think it's just going to be really fun with all the side quests and just the things we see across the entire country.
I think I'm very excited about going out West to places like Wyoming and Colorado and California, and seeing the mountains and the Pacific Northwest, and National Parks. That's what I'm most looking forward to.
Anything else you would like to talk about?
I think the words of wisdom: it's very important to challenge yourself and do something difficult and meaningful, I feel for everybody. It doesn't have to be biking, but anything that challenges you, like even scares you a little bit, definitely contributes to a lot of personal growth. I think experience, like experiencing hardships, is what prepares you for life in general, and when you look back, you feel like you've done something that you're proud of, and want to have. I think everybody, everybody should have that feeling at least a couple times in their life, that they've done something that seems incredibly difficult at first, but they went through it and got it done.
Crunchy or creamy peanut butter?
Crunchy. All day.