Day 60 - Middletown to Cape Henlopen, DE - 71 miles - 512 feet of elevation gain

I’ve been traveling since June 2, biking since June 10, and tonight I’m writing about the final day of the LIFECYCLES TransAM bike ride from the comfort of my own bed. What hasn’t changed is that it’s 10:40pm and I’m just getting around to writing about the day, a fairly typical time for me to be working on the blog post. What an incredible journey… awesome young men, beautiful country, support to be able to fund this trip, people willing to drive our gear, the ability to pedal, and God’s protection that brought us safely to the finish! It will take some time to process everything and fully realize the magnitude of what we have accomplished.

This morning we bumped up the start time to allow for contingencies and eating. So we rolled out of the hotel at 8:30am with two additional riders from the LIFECYCLES leaders. I warned anyone riding with us that we would be moving. We had 71 miles of flat roads and a slight tailwind. This is my fourth time riding to the beach so some of the roads were very familiar. I also know from past trips that it can get very hot, so I was super thankful that today was overcast and in the 70s for most of the ride.

I like riding through Dover and the old section of town with brick streets. Delaware is bike-friendly and has lots of bike lanes. This means we can actually have conversations while riding. For me those chats were my favorite part of the final ride of this trip. I got to ask some of the boys questions about the ride and returning to “life.” We also played some “remember that time” and “where were we when.”

Honestly it’s still amazing that 71 miles feels like just a stroll. I remember before I left I told my friend, “I don’t feel like dying after 50 miles, so I guess I’m ready!” Some of the boys started the trip with less than 200 miles logged for the year. Our first week of riding they more than doubled their pre-trip riding. Now these miles have changed our bodies and minds to what is possible. Zach and I were talking, while riding, about how you can reach the end of what you think is physically or mentally possible, only to find a reserve tank that you didn’t even know existed. Some days we had to dig deep to finish, and other days we could have just kept going.

For most of the final miles we were on a trail that led us to the beach. As we came into Cape Henlopen we decided to let the boys take the lead. There was a little confusion about our route, which sometimes happens when you’re in unfamiliar territory. But as we rounded the corner into the parking lot, we began to hear the cheers and bells. The boys were ecstatic and full of smiles. I told them when we roll in, we have one task, get to the beach. It would have been so tempting to run and hug family and friends, but we didn’t come nearly 3,700 miles to miss the opportunity to dip our tires in the Atlantic Ocean. The parents and everyone that came to the beach made it so special with signs and banners. We are truly humbled that you took the time to follow our journey, and pray for us across the 14 states to reach the end.

There will be more coming in the way of stats and reflections from our ride, but for now, we thank you for supporting us and coming along on the virtual bus. I hope it’s been a fun ride!