Most cyclists who have done any real long-distance bike riding know that it is a back breaker, an assflatner and a ball buster. Indeed, it is all of that and more. In fact one cyclist told me straight out that he had ridden many 100 mile rides and 20 mile rides and he said he remembered the 20 mile rides as pleasurable and enjoyable and he only remembered the long rides of 100 miles, as either hard or painful.

In fact, when you talk to cyclists they often tell you this. Why? Well because it is true that’s why. So, you say if all this is true about the pain, then why would cyclists challenge them selves on long-distance bike rides then? I guess the rhetorical question of the day would be; Why do people climb mountains?

Once in my younger days I rode from Oregon to Mexico on the bike centennial route along the coast. I can remember some of the things from that last long-distance ride and YES these other cyclists are correct in that what I mostly remember is it was unbelievably painful.

At one point I thought I was going to freeze to death, another I thought I was going to fall off the bike and die. I crashed once and had a deep gash, it looked like it needed stitches; I think I might have got a concussion on that crash too even, who knows, but I kept going.

Yep, I remember that and remember I did not yield to the pain, Mother Nature, the naysayers or my worst fears during that long-ride. Yes, I do remember that indeed. Yes there I was, refusing to give up. NEVER, EVER give up! I kept telling myself, I was not even a cyclist at the time, I was a long distance runner and only an average cyclist if that?

Wow, the pain, yes, well, I remember that, I do not remember much else. It was either too hot in the day and I felt like I was hitting the wall at 17-18 miles, as I used to running marathons and if it was not too hot, then it was too cold sometimes riding thru the night to say on a 160-240 mile a day pace often enough to make the trek in the 6.5 days.

Would I do it again? Yes, yes I would, in fact I am now planning to ride across the nation from San Diego to Florida. Why? You tell me, I think you know why and I think you know you. Consider this in 2006.

Lance Winslow, a retired entrepreneur, adventurer, modern day philospher and perpetual tourist

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