Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010

Raleigh couple bikes 442 miles across Iowa

Cara and Chesley Greening would like everybody to know that the terrain in Iowa is not flat.

They know this because they have just wrapped up a bicycle ride all the way across the Hawkeye State as participants in the famous Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, or RAGBRAI as it is commonly known.

After successfully covering 442 miles perched on hard, vinyl bicycle seats for seven days straight, the final upward stretch before the finish line at the Mississippi River in Dubuque almost did them in.

"Potter's Hill is about a 19 percent grade that lasted a mile," Cara said. "It came up six miles from the finish line on the last day of the ride."

Online message boards debate the actual grade of the hill, but it was so steep that Cara had to get off her bike and walk, along with a large percentage of other cyclists hoofing it upwards.

For her husband, Chesley, walking was not an option.

"I'm competitive, and as I approached the hill, I could see that it curved, and not all of it was visible," he said. "People were getting off their bikes quickly, but I told myself, 'You know what; I'm going to do this.'"

Adjusting his bike to the granny gear, which is bicycle lingo for the easiest setting, he alternated between sitting on the seat and walking the pedals, and managed to maintain a speed of 3 or 4 mph until he made the summit.

"It was a real struggle," he admitted. "But it was a lot of fun after I reached the top."

The Midtown Raleigh couple maintain an active lifestyle, but they wanted to test their endurance and boundaries with this Iowa adventure. Their daughter is grown, and they are running and biking their way through their empty-nest years.

Cara, 45, grew up in Iowa, and the ride represented going home for her. Her aunt, who is 68, was along for the ride, proving that athleticism is a family trait.

Cara, who has run seven marathons, started participating in endurance sports in 2007. Prior to that, she was active, even riding in part of the RAGBRAI with Chesley a few years ago.

Chesley, 56, has run a few half-marathons, and while living in Oregon, he biked back and forth to his job, a 50-mile roundtrip. The Indianapolis (IN) Monumental Marathon in November, which he plans to run with Cara, will be his first full 26.2-mile race.

The couple also plans to ride in the MS 150 bike excursion in New Bern next month.

Before the RAGBRAI, their longest training ride was 42 miles. Cara trained mostly in spin classes and on a stationary bike at her home. Chesley burned up the Umstead Park trails on his mountain bike.

"RAGBRAI wasn't that hard," he said. "We saw people of all fitness levels, and a lot of people were able to finish."

It helps that there are rest stops along the way, most offering plenty of good food and entertainment.

From elephant rides, to a church where nuns sat in a dunking booth to raise money for charity, to musical jam sessions, beer gardens and popsicle breaks, the ride offered so much fun, it is sometimes called a Mardi Gras on wheels.

Cara described a storied RAGBRAI tradition.

Cycling teams enjoy bringing Mardi Gras beads and colorful stickers to decorate the corpses of possums, raccoons and other deceased animals they encounter along the way. This year was no exception.

"It was funny to be riding along and come up upon a dead possum wearing Mardi Gras beads," Cara said, laughing. "The bikers wanted to make sure the animals went out in high fashion."

RAGBRAI, in its 38th year, started in 1973, and is held annually the last week of July. More than 10,000 cyclists participate.

The 2010 trek started at the Missouri River in Sioux City on July 25, where riders dipped their back tires into the river to begin their journey. It ended at the Mississippi River in Dubuque on July 31, where the riders dipped their front tires when they finished.

The route changes each year, passing through communities that serve as hosts for overnight stays.

The Greenings spent their nights in the yards and homes of families in the host communities. It was an experience Cara will never forget, and reaffirmed her faith in humankind.

"People along the way were so sweet, nice and honest," she said. "Everyone was hospitable, welcoming and joyous."

Chesley particularly enjoyed the homemade pies he sampled along the way.

"There were cherry pies, peach, blueberry, apple, almost any kind of pie you could think of," he said. "One day, I ate four slices of pie before 11 a.m."

Not worrying about calories is a beautiful reward for pedaling for days on end.

Cara feels mentally stronger and spiritually refreshed.

"I now have the confidence that I can do something that requires endurance over an extended period of time," she said. "I wanted to challenge myself, and I'm stronger than ever."

The Greenings have just one regret - a nice rash from sweating on a bicycle seat for seven days. As their wounds heal, they're not so eager to get back in the saddle.

Well, for a few days, anyway.