I stuck out in my visible-to-traffic puffy fluorescent pink jacket and black yoga pants that did not have the rider-preferred bottom padding as I straddled a second-hand mountain bike among a crowd of riders clad in bicycle jerseys, padded shorts, aerodynamic helmets, and with their own high-end, outfitted bikes. I had discovered in a friend’s Facebook Feed, the Miesville F6. It’s an adventurous 56-mile gravel bike ride through lovely southern Minnesota countryside at the end of April. I wanted to participate because it sounded fun and it scared me. I’ve been seeking new experiences to push me out of my comfort zone and build resilience.
The snow in the Twin Cities melted at the end of March. My attention, and slight panic, to get on my bike started on April Fool’s Day. My training method was to bike ten miles day 1 and then two days later add five miles until I had built up to fifty-five miles. The first week went well, and my mindset was on summery days and clear bike paths. A snowstorm in the second week, there’s always a last-season snowstorm in April, postponed my training by a handful of days. I rode fifty-two miles three days before the Miesville F6.
*Below images are Chimney Rock and Miesville Ravine Park Reserve.
I arrived two hours before the start time. After retrieving my bike bib, I walked the parking lot distracting my nerves with people watching and chatting with other riders. During the ride, I pedaled my own pace across backroad blacktop, gravel farm roads, and in, out, and into headwinds through open farmland. I didn’t bother counting the hills because there was always another coming up. I met fantastic riders who asked how I was doing and others who passed me without a glance. After my six-hour ride I was tuckered out and proud of my accomplishment. I’m on the lookout for my next new adventure.
