bike the drive 2023

This year, we managed a feat that had thus far eluded us: All five of us completed Bike the Drive together! Over the years, Mike has done BTD six times now, and I've done it five times. This was Liam's third time (he rode with me and Mike in 2016, and with Mike and Max in 2017), Max's second (he rode with Mike and Max in 2017), and Henry's first time. 

Funny thing: As you may have noticed, I've been riding my bike all summer long over various trails across the state, working my way up to BTD. Mike and the boys, in contrast, felt no particular need to do any training. I think Mike and Liam each rode once with me (a 10-mile ride), and Henry rode twice with me (the longest being 12 miles). Max hadn't ridden a bike since last year when we rode that trail in Alaska. They all said they didn't need any practice, and for the most part, they were right. But guess what? I wasn't the first person to get tired! Or even the second. So there are some real benefits to preparation too.

We started and ended at the Museum of Science and Industry this year, and that was great because it was so much easier to get in and out of the city, and the parking garage was right by the race start. We got there as the sun was coming up, and as soon as they let us onto Lake Shore Drive, the boys started riding ahead of us, not wanting to be held back by us slow old-timers (for the record, I am the only slow old-timer; Mike could have gone much faster, but he opted to ride with me instead). Funny enough, by the time they reached the rest area at Hollywood Ave. at the north end of Lake Shore Drive, they were only about half a mile ahead of us. The rest area marked the halfway point, and I asked them how they were feeling after the first 15 miles. All three of them said they were fine, it was fairly easy, they had no difficulty.

And then things took a turn.

As we headed back south, the boys again increased their speed and started riding ahead of us. But around mile 20, Max suddenly came up from behind me. 

"How'd you get back there?" I asked.

"Henry's out of gas and had to stop, and Liam didn't notice and went ahead, but I noticed and stopped with him. Can he ride with you now?"

I looked, and a clearly overheated Henry was right behind us. He had no water bottle, so I passed him mine, but I guess he doesn't have much practice drinking and riding at the same time, because as soon as he tried, he dropped my water bottle, which was then lost forever in the steady stream of riders behind us. (He offered to go back and get it, but no way was I letting him fight against traffic for a water bottle. That really could have been a disaster.)

So on we rode, to the river, where I had asked everyone to stop and take a picture. I could tell that Henry was super tired by then, so we took a long break and I got my picture (though it was really crowded so we weren't on the actual bridge). We started off again, with Liam and Max in the lead. I pulled into traffic and thought Mike and Henry were right behind me, but I guess they got delayed because I didn't see them again until the end. I caught up with Liam in Grant Park (about mile 23) and he told me his goose was cooked and he was ready to be finished, then we got separated again, and I rode the rest of the way by myself.

The final few miles were really hot and windy, definitely not my favorite riding conditions (especially with no water). Liam and Max ended up making it back to the museum about a half a mile ahead of me, and Mike and Henry were a couple miles behind, having stopped for rest breaks a couple times along the way. We got some water and snacks from the rest area, and the boys plopped themselves on the grass in an absolute portrait of exhaustion. 

Once we had a minute to catch our breath and Mike picked up all our event shirts for us (they're really nice this year!), we headed back to the parking garage and loaded up. A stop in Valpo for lunch, then back home by early afternoon. 

At lunch, I asked the boys what they thought, and the consensus was that they were glad we all got to do it together, but none of them wants to do it again next year. That could have been the soreness/chafing talking, but I don't think so. And I suppose it doesn't really matter. I'm just incredibly grateful that we could all do it together this year. I'm so proud of them for sticking it out for the whole 30 miles! And listen, I'm proud of myself, too. At the start of this year, I literally COULD NOT WALK. And now it's barely September, and while I can't walk long distances, I think I've proven that I can ride them. And that's more fun anyway!