Riverwest 24 Hour Bike Race - My First Time

July 24th, 2015 was the 8th annual run of the Riverwest 24 Hour Bike Race that goes through the Riverwest neighborhood of Milwaukee.  For years I've enjoyed the event from the sidelines: watching the riders, listening to bands, drinking with friends.  But this year was different.  I decided I wanted to ride in the race.

Jamis Quest Elite - Ready for the
Riverwest 24 Hour Race

About two years ago I bought my first road bike as an adult.  When I bought my Jamis Quest Elite I promised myself since I purchased a road bike, I needed to do the Riverwest 24.  The first year I was out of town on vacation and couldn't do it.  This year, I knew I would be home.  It was time.

Riverwest 24 Hour Bike Race - Solo

Riverwest 24 Hour Bike Race - Start

And not only was it time to ride this race, I decided I wanted to do it solo - ride my road bike for 24 hours.

I wanted to test my endurance, could I ride for 24 hours?  How could I perform against the riders who have done this before, some of them multiple times?  Could I get into my zone for that long?  I had no expectations except to ride as hard as I could for the entire race.  And lastly could I win?  Get enough laps and enough bonus points to come in first.  (Ok yes, I am a bit competitive)

Well the last question was answered the day prior to the race.  Unfortunately my dog had some health issues on that Thursday that caused me to change my game plan.  I needed to take a step back and focus on taking breaks throughout the race to go home and check on her.  Winning the race was out.  But all the other questions were still in play.

I changed my game plan for trying to get enough laps and points to really trying to test my endurance.  How many laps / miles could I do in 24 hours even when I knew I would be spending time off the course at home.

Riverwest 24 - the 24 Hour Riding Endurance Challange

The race started and I was off.  Riding with who knows how many countless riders.  The bikes, the people, the camraderie - this was fun.  Riding to the checkpoints was an experience.

Riverwest 24 Hour Race: Checkpoint 2

• Checkpoint 1 - I got my first of many punches to my manifest(s).  
• Checkpoint 2 - my neighborhood, my friends punching my manifest, cheering me on.  
• Checkpoint 3 - Twizzler Alley (they handed out Twizzlers to everyone riding by who wanted one), riding the Marsuipal Bridge.
• Checkpoint 4 - where it all started, headquarters.  Time to start the next lap, get a new manifest, look at the scoreboards.

As I continued to ride into the evening I thought to myself "I feel good.  I can do this."  The adrenaline rush, friends always checking on me, the people, the neighborhood, and getting into the zone.  

And I did it.  43 times to be exact.  From 7 pm on July 24th to 7 pm on July 25th.  The Endurance Challenge was met.  I did it.  24 hours.  209 miles.  

From early evening, to night, to sunrise, to a hot day, to early evening.  What an experience it was.  I can't wait to do it all again.

Riverwest 24 Hour Race: View of downtown Milwaukee at night.  

Photos:

Downtown Milwaukee at night.  I saw this many times as I rode through the night.  It was beautiful, calming and endearing to see the city I live in lit up.  

Riverwest 24 Hour Race.  Sunrise over the Milwaukee River.

The sunrise view out over the Milwaukee River toward Lake Michigan.  Such a beautiful sunrise it was on what would become a hot, steamy day.  Following this was a bonus checkpoint at the top of Resevoir Hill in which you were able to have a professional take a picture of you with the sunrise in the background.  I can't wait to see / get that picture.  Memories.

 

Race over.  24 hours of riding done.

Tired? Yes

Sore butt? Yes

Ready to do it again? Yes

43 Laps

209.10 Miles

6115 Ft of Elevation Gain

My first Riverwest 24 Hour Race was in the books.  

"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe."  John Muir

I kind of feel this is a good John Muir quote to end this blog with.  The Riverwest neighborhood of Milwaukee is diversified and unique.  It's amazing how this race has brought this neighborhood together for the last 8 years.  You do find that if you pick out one thing in the Riverwest neighborhood, it is connected to everything else.  It's what makes this neighborhood a special place to live.