A Day in the Life

So what's day-to-day life like?? I get asked this a lot so I decided to do a post on it. It's going to be boring aka no pictures but hopefully it will give you some idea of how we live. I'll start by describing it as a whole and then describe a typical day, trying to cover all the emotions that go into a day of riding.

Life on the 4K is like nothing else I’ve ever experienced. I’d be lying if I said I’m not out of my comfort zone at least once per day. And that’s not a bad thing! There’s some truth to the saying that life begins where your comfort zone ends.

4K life is nomadic. We bike from place to place with all our belongings in a single duffel. We wear the same clothes day in and day out and no one cares. Eating is borderline barbaric: at breakfast and lunch, food is set out in boxes and we just dig in, no plates, no silverware. And we eat a TON.

Although we have our schedule, our riders couldn’t tell you off the top of their heads where we’re going to be two days from now. I say “our riders” because I could tell you, but that’s because I’m a leg leader.

Each day is a new adventure. New faces, new scenery, new challenges, new accomplishments. It's pretty cool. We rarely get bored. We have a saying on our team, "do it live," (taken from SNL) that basically means that we try not to have expectations and just go with the flow. Things are much easier that way, since every day at least one thing usually goes wrong. Example: "We're making much better time than we expected.... what if the host isn't there to let us in?" Answer: "We'll do it live."

Team dynamics: We don’t all get along perfectly, but I think overall we are doing a great job. I think every person on the team has a good attitude and is honestly looking to improve both themselves and the team as a whole. As today was the end of leg 1, we just had a really productive 2-hour meeting where people aired their complaints and constructive criticisms. I think it was really helpful in keeping our team dynamics moving in a positive direction.

Team strength: Team strength has improved dramatically over the past three weeks. The gap will between the strongest and weakest riders will never disappear, but it will get smaller, and it certainly already has! The hills are really what set us apart; when we are on flat land we can all keep a very fast pace and come in very close together.

Aches and pains: On a daily basis, what do you feel like?? Well, as far as physical aches and pains go, my knees have been hurting a dull, achy pain since day 1. It helps to remember to push and pull with the heel instead of the toe, but that doesn’t alleviate all of the pain. I’m not too worried though because it definitely isn’t so bad that I can’t bike on it. Also, leg muscles.., obviously. Quads and hamstrings are constantly pretty sore and after a water stop or lunch stop they feel very stiff and achy for a few miles until they warm up again. But, as the ride has gone on, it now takes a lot more for the soreness to linger! So that’s a good sign.

Finally, your hands can go numb if you’re not holding them in the right position. If you’re supporting your weight with the middle of your wrist, it constricts blood flow and suddenly you’ve lost feeling in your hands. I notice this happening from time to time and I just shift my hand position until blood flow goes back to normal. The other thing is that our butts always hurt. Mine is actually okay because I have a women-specific seat and I haven’t had much trouble at all. It still doesn’t feel great after a long day of riding, obviously, but it’s not terrible.

Chafing is also an issue; many people have issues with this as well as saddle sores. We have chamois butter, which is basically a lubricant you can put on the inside of your shorts to reduce chafing. It freaks me out so I don’t use it, and I haven’t had any problems, but some people on the team swear by it and would never go a day without it. I think it’s because I don’t have very sensitive skin. On the issue of skin, though, I do have a rash just below the bottom of my shorts. It’s red and bumpy but it doesn’t itch. Meredith has the exact same thing and we are trying to figure out what it is. It went away on our rest day and then came back. It may be heat rash, but I’ve never had a problem with being out in the heat before… but of course I’ve also never biked across the country before.

A typical day, pretty much covering all the bases of things that could and do go wrong.....

Morning:

Alarm goes off (usually 6-6:30 am)

Some people pop up immediately; others hide under their pillows (I may be among the latter)

The more proactive riders wake up the less proactive riders

People roll up their sleeping stuff, and make moves toward the bathroom like zombies

Change into biking clothes

Pack duffel and bring it out to the van

Eat breakfast (usually means pulling out our leftovers and people digging into them)

Round up people that are being slow and bug them to get their duffels packed

Help pack the vans

Help clean up the disaster zone we’ve usually created at the host, take out trash, etc.

Wander around looking for one thing you’re missing

Ask entire team if they’ve seen your missing white sock; no one has

Give up

Remember your tires need air; pump them up

Fill water bottles

Help round up straggling team members

Put on cleats and congregate in circle for dedication

Dedication (where we say who we’re riding for that day – popcorn style)

Painfully awkward team cheer (our cheer does not flow together at all and is in major need of help)

One person (chosen the night before) “breaks it down,” aka says a few motivational words, and then we all cheer on a count of 3

Separate into ride groups

Realize you have to use the bathroom

Run and use the bathroom

Put on helmet, check wheels, check brakes

Get on bike & get going

Realize you didn’t know which way to go out of the parking lot

Stop and check directions

Leave: Take 2 (8 am)

The ride:

Become acutely aware of aches and pains from yesterday: leg stiffness, butt soreness, etc

Realize it’s really hot outside

Realize you have a lot of miles ahead of you

Legs begin to warm up and bike starts to feel good

Talk to teammates

…. Many miles later…

Realize you’re hungry

Wonder where water van is

Check GroupMe (our group text) to see where the water stop is going to be (what mile marker)

Get slightly annoyed that the water stop is not exactly where you thought it would be

Realize that was stupid and try to be patient

Arrive at water stop

Throw down bike, begin devouring some snacks

Refill water bottles

Attempt to round up teammates to leave; realize one teammate is just starting to eat something/off finding a makeshift bathroom/fixing their bike

Wait around and chat with water van drivers and other teammates

Finally round up riding group to leave; get back on road

Realize you are lost

Wonder where the chalking was

Realize there was no chalking because the water van is at the water stop

Call out for teammates to stop; check map

Deal with teammates being annoyed that we’re lost

Figure out how to get back on the route

Begrudgingly trudge back to route

Encounter gravel road

Hold on tight and hope you don’t fall

Get back on route

Grumble because now your mileage will be off from the cue sheet

Realize you’re getting sunburnt

Ride through large hole or bump and get annoyed with teammate for not calling it out

Legs start feeling awesome and riding group is going a solid pace

Group member gets a flat

Attempt to find some decent shade; wait for them to change the flat; help if needed

Continue rolling

Pass a few dozen cornfields

Feel a few raindrops

Really really hope it doesn't rain

Starts pouring; make sure phone is in Ziploc bag

Rain stops

Get barked at by a dog

Get chased by a dog

Take in some nice scenery

Realize you’re biking across the country and that’s awesome

Bond with teammates

Realize you’re hungry

Wonder where food van is

Tackle huge hill

Arrive at next water stop; food van is nowhere to be found because they haven’t found food yet

Begin to get hangry; attempt to curb emotions

Fill up on snacks from the water stop

Continue riding

Arrive at food van

Devour food like animals

Lay down on grass and wait for teammates to finish eating

Doze off

Awakened by someone stepping on you

Take some pictures while you’re waiting

Round up team to get back on road

Continue riding… more of the same until we’re close to the host

Begin counting down miles to host when about 10 miles out

Cheer when we see the host and ride in

The evening:

Help unload van if we’re the first group in

Claim a good sleeping spot before other people take the good spots

Collapse on floor for 15 ish minutes

Greet another group coming in, cheer for them

Flock to showers

Realize all showers are taken

Wait for someone to get out

Take best shower of life (every day)

Realize shower is cold

Make the best of it

Dry off with unsatisfying quick-dry towel

Set up sleeping stuff; for me this means spending a few minutes pumping up my air mat

Graze on snacks

Sleep/check internet if we have wifi/read

Dinner time!!! Devour more food

Help clean up

Plan route for next day; email to team

Relax with teammates

Blog

Eat late night snack

Realize you’re exhausted

Sleep!!!! (10 pm)

And that's a day in the life!! Notice it does not involve spending money, and it involves very few worries other than normal stresses of riding, getting from point A to point B, and eating. 4K is pretty awesome :)