Hopkins 4K for Cancer

June 13, 2002

Day 12 (Day off in Chicago)
Chicago… the Windy City… our second day off. It’s an odd feeling when you realize that you have biked more than 500 miles, traveled through five states, and are resting just outside of one of the five largest cities in the United States.

This day has been highly anticipated since the first century that we rode on Monday. After clipping out of our pedals and dismounting from our saddles that day, we began to relish the idea of having our next day off in possibly the largest city we will be visiting during this entire ride. The thought so occupied our minds that it helped relieve some of the stiffness and soreness on the 90-mile day after our first century, as well as the aches, pains and bruises on yesterday’s 80-mile ride. None of it was of consequence for each day brought us one day closer to a day without pedaling.

You can never complain when the day begins by being awakened to the smell of freshly made pancakes. Even when lying there in the first few seconds of the new day wishing for another couple hours of sleep, the aroma of an atmosphere so reminiscent of home is a comfort and a luxury that you just have to sit and relish.

Then you realize that food is ready, and you rush to be among the first to eat.

Slowly, as the stomachs fill and the food begins to disappear, thoughts change from the need to consume the necessary daily 5,000-plus calories to the chores that can only be accomplished on days off.

At one time, you’re compounded with the desire to explore the City, see the sights, traverse the walks, and pretend to live a normal life by grabbing food at a Panda Express, shopping for sneakers at Niketown, buying jeans at Abercrombie and Fitch, and developing film at a one hour Walgreen’s photo shop. But in the same moment, you still have the nagging reminders of your trip obligations such as finding chain degreaser, fixing bent handlebars, repairing twisted rear wheels, and the ever persistent gremlin of remedying stinky biking apparel “funk.”

Quickly, too quickly, the time passes. This day very much feels like a distant premonition of the weeks to come. Already we have passed the point of uncomfortable silences and distant unknowing stares. Spending twelve days with 23 other strangers you have never known before, you begin to develop an eerie sense of companionship. When all you do is constantly eat, sleep, pee, bathe, cycle, crash, and ultimately arrive at your daily destination… doing all of this together breaks down those uncomfortable silences and distant unknowing stares. It’s hard to imagine what else can happen in the days to come.

I, for one, hope we can launder out some of that bike funk.

-Frederick Tan