Most people don’t know how much I love cycling.

I spent the greater part of my early twenties traveling around New England and going to bike races. I can tell you everything you need to know about road bikes, the components and the gear, and the strategies of road racing. I get excited and shout at the TV during the final minutes of Breaking Away. I’ve been to the Tour de France and traversed switchbacks of L’Alpe d’Huez, which is the mecca of cycling. My Siamese cat is even named after French cyclist Laurent Jalabert.

Despite all of these facts, I’ve never been a cyclist. I didn’t need to be one in order to sign up for Pelotonia, though.

Pelotonia is not a race, but it does require strength and endurance. Participants choose to ride 25, 50, 75, 100 or 180 miles.

Eric and I opted for the 50-mile ride. Each day that we trained, we reminded ourselves of our family members and friends who have battled cancer. This ride was for them, and the funds that we raised were going directly to cancer research.

The Start

On the day of Pelotonia, Eric and I arrived at McFerson Commons at 7:00 a.m. Bikes and riders were everywhere. We downed water, Clif Bars and more water, and we were in the chute by 7:45 a.m. Shoulder to shoulder. Handlebars to handlebars. There was no room for forgetting to clip out of my pedals, so it was safer to start out on the platforms.

Our group was released at 8:05 a.m., and we headed south on Neil Avenue with a quick left at Spring Street. With the morning sun in front of us, we climbed the slight hill and took the left on to High Street.

We were on our way.

The pack quickly stretched out as everyone found a pace. Eric and I rode along side each other. No longer were his handlebars touching my right arm. We were a safe distance from each other and worked together to pass others.

Spectators of all ages lined the streets and cheered as the riders passed by. Handmade posters sent encouraging messages to friends and family members. Children rang cowbells. Other signs simply read, “THANK YOU!” to all the riders.

The Gratitude

“Thank you” was the theme for the day.

The emcees called thanks out to the riders and volunteers. The spectators’ arms most likely grew tired from clapping and waving their gratitude. And I thought I might lose my voice from shouting, “Thank you,” back to the cheering crowds and to the police officers that protected our route.

The main peloton was comprised of 7,270 riders. Over 2,500 volunteers registered, directed and fed the riders. And some of the largest corporations in Columbus sponsored the event, which enabled 100% of the funds raised to go to cancer research. Including the spectators and sponsors, it’s amazing to think that well over 10,000 people dedicated time to this fundraising event.

It was definitely a day to be thankful and to express gratitude to others. Everyone had come together for ONE GOAL: END CANCER.

The Ride

The first 25 miles were scenic, but not hard.

The longest ride Eric and I had been on was approximately 31 miles, so we didn’t feel taxed at the second rest stop. We fueled up with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, ate bananas and oranges, and drank down Gatorade. We stretched out our legs and relaxed before heading out on the second half of the ride.

A headwind greeted our 26th mile. I looked down at my computer and saw that we were crawling along at 9mph, and I apologized to Eric for not being able to ride faster. I felt like I was pedaling hard, but in reality I wasn’t going anywhere. My second wind wasn’t ready to kick in, and I wasn’t sure what to do to get it started.

I kept going though and ignored my struggle.

We were deep into the second half of the ride – the part that I was most nervous about. From here to the finish, there was a steady and significant incline, and if I let my mind get the best of me, I wouldn’t make it. Thankfully, that did not happen.

Riders were losing steam at the 35-mile mark, and they were dismounting their bikes to climb even the smallest hills. I was thankful for my cleats and clipless pedals, though.

Shifting down.

Loosening my grip on the hoods.

Engaging my core and my quads.

Pushing one pedal down while pulling the other one up.

I passed on the left of the riders, and I even passed Eric. My routine was locked in, and I was determined.

I am proud to say that I did not walk any part of my Pelotonia ride!

The Descent

We were treated to a five-mile descent on Worthington Road from Mink to Kitzmiller in New Albany. Cars passed by on the parallel Route 161, and they honked their horns as they realized we were riding for Pelotonia.

Pedaling was easy on the downhill, and our speed increased to 22mph.

We coasted behind a man in a Huntington jersey who was playing Dr. Dre’s “Nuthin’ but a G-Thang.” Eric rapped along, and I loosened my grip on the hoods and danced in the saddle. We eventually passed the man because we wanted to keep up our new speed.

We were happy. We had two more miles to go.

As we made our last turn on to Bevelhmer Road, Eric and I started singing:

John Jacob Bevelhymer-Schmidt,
His name is my name too.
Whenever we go out, the people always shout,
“There goes John Jacob Bevelhymer-Schmidt.”
La la la la, la la la la…

The man in the Huntington jersey caught up with us, and riders around him cheered. He saved his best song for last – “Chariots of Fire.”

We were amongst the white fences of New Albany, and we could see the arch marking the end of the ride. We were almost done.

We were elated!

The Finish Line

Eric and I discussed how we were going to cross the finish line while we were in our final miles. Holding hands seemed most appropriate, but safety was a concern. I had visions of us with our inside hands griped tightly and taking each other out a few feet from the line. To avoid that scenario, we decided to play it safe and simply raise one hand in the air.

As we made our last turn, we saw hundreds of spectators lining the road and cheering. The atmosphere was festive and tinged with sweat and exhaustion. I zipped up my jersey like they do in the Tour de France, and we raised our hands as we crossed the finish line.

Victory! It was time to celebrate.

We were superheroes for a day, and that was quite extraordinary.

Donate to My Ride

My family and many of my friends donated to my ride before Pelotonia; however, the giving continues. I must reach my fundraising goal by October 10 and can use your help.

Please make a donation at pelotonia.org/diannawilliams. Any amount you can offer will help me reach the goal!

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