29. (Almost) 60-Mile Bike Ride

What made me think I could ride my bike nearly 60 miles, with no training?

I’m in pretty good shape. I exercise almost every day (well, for 10 minutes anyway …), but I haven’t been on my bike in ages. With a 60 mile ride on my 60-to-60 adventures list, I’ve been looking for a long ride that accommodates slower cyclists and doesn’t include massive elevations.

Selfie at City Hall Plaza before the ride

When I came across a listing for Hub On Wheels, a 45- mile ride through the city of Boston - the day before the ride - I decided to register. Hub on Wheels starts and ends at City Hall Plaza, so with a six or so mile ride from my house to the starting line, and then again on the way back, it came pretty close to 60 miles.

In a different life, pre-kids, I used to ride my bike long distances: from Calgary to Banff; through Canyonlands National Park in Utah; from Boston to the Berkshires.

My first bike trip, in my early 30’s, ran from Massachusetts to Quebec City. The first day - a 60 mile ride - I almost made it the whole way, taking the van for the last 10 miles only. During the rest of the trip, including one 80 mile day through the mountains of Vermont, I pedaled the entire way, as if I’d been riding long distances all my life.

Now, though? I guess I’m older.

During the first 25 miles I thought, “I’m LOVING this! Why don’t I ride my bike more often?”

By mile 30, my thighs started to burn.

By mile 40, I was thinking, “Is there a T stop near here? Will they let me bring my bike on the train?” And, “My phone died. I wonder if I can borrow someone’s phone to call an Uber.”

Just when I thought I couldn’t go even one millimeter more, a Hub on Wheels rest stop - complete with Lara bars, water, and porta-potties - saved me. I’d take a rest, chow down some snacks, and get a second wind.

I did this ride solo, as one day proved too little notice to get any cycling friends interested. At the starting line, I met a group of siblings, all around my age, who were doing the ride together. We became fast cycling buddies.

Then at the first rest stop I ran into a friend, Susan. She and her friend invited me to ride with them, but they soon blew past me as I’m so slow on the uphills. As much fun as it would have been to ride with another person or two, I was glad at that point that I was on my own and could go at my own glacial pace.

The route showed me parts of Boston I’ve never explored. And boy, is our corner of the world beautiful!

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We rode through Olmstead Park, behind Jamaica Pond, and through the Arboretum. Then down through Franklin Park, neighborhoods in Hyde Park and Mattapan, and back up along the coast, including the Boston Harbor Walk and the Neponset River Greenway, and up Morrisey Boulevard past Carson Beach. When we got back into downtown, we rode along the bike path in the North End before finally reaching the finish line at City Hall.

The most fun part of the ride? They closed Storrow Drive for Hub on Wheels, and we got to ride it west from the beginning to where it turns off towards Newton, then back the other way (see pic, above). For anyone who has driven in Storrow Drive traffic, you’ll understand the amazing feeling of flying down the middle of it on a bicycle.

Awesome!

When we finally made it back to City Hall Plaza, a gaggle of college students in pink Hub on Wheels T-shirts clapped and cheered for us and handed us medals to put around our necks. Since my phone had died, I asked one of them to snap a pic of me at the finish line.

Many of my fellow riders stayed afterwards for a Hub on Wheels celebration, including food and drink. I still had six miles to go, and just wanted to get home.

Those last few miles were brutal, despite stopping for an ice-cream. I couldn’t make it up a tiny little hill near my home, and had to walk my bike for a bit. After pedaling nearly continuously from 7:00 a.m. to 2:30, riding into my driveway felt sweet, and triumphant.

Then I crashed. But with a couple of Advils and some yoga, I barely felt any aches the next day.

I will definitely do more cycling - but next time I’ll work my way up to long distances. Anyone want to do Hub on Wheels with me next year?