Sunday, July 20th, a small cadre of cyclists will depart Fairfield at 3:00AM for a 200-mile bike ride. The weather prediction is heat and humidity index in the high 90s. With time for breaks, it should take 18 to 20 hours.
Our Leader, Jeff, aka "Lucky Strike," has been riding this self-created double century for the last seventeen years. He has a dedicated route 100 miles east, then to turn around near Bushnell, Illinois. Rain, searing heat, alone or in groups, he has been perserverant. Now, all too often others need to know, "where to?" I relay the message that it is the journey, not the destination type of ride. This is not a race, no medals or false accolades to make ourselves feel good. The pain and the pleasure of it is that we do not need artifice to motivate ourselves. Rather, one sets the bar higher for the intrinsic value of knowing that each day is a gift. To honor that, we strive to perform at our respective peak levels – continuous improvement. With reference to a Robert Frost poem, the mantra of the day will be,
“promises to keep""I have promises to keep,
And miles to go
before I sleep."
So, my dear friends, fellow cyclists and civilians - sleep well. Keep us warm in your thoughts and in your dreams as we head out by moonlight at 3:00AM. Night turns into day, turns into night and we keep going. - Promises to Keep
Triple O
