Day six, the final day of the ride, began with a bit of a dull thunk. The night before had ended with a tremendously celebratory mood with partying around the campsite.
Having dropped off my bike with the ride’s volunteer mechanics the previous evening (it was making some odd noises on day 5) I headed back to them to pick it up. The bike was fine - just needed some bolts tightening - but gently pedalling back to my tent sent stabbing pain in my Achilles tendons, both feet, at both points of attachment and along the full length.
After that I decided that it was important to me to finish the ride entering Montreal - a 15km stretch. Not wanting to risk missing that in light of the problems I was having, I realised I should not ride until the afternoon rendeszvous.
Tearing down and packing my tent and other camping gear knowing I was about to miss a large chunk of the last day’s ride was far from the greatest experience to date. The wellness crew - especially the chiropractic team - had been tremendously helpful and were sorry to see me have to make the decision not to ride.
After loading the trucks, we all walked to a grassy hill in the centre of the campsite for our last morning announcements, clap, and photos. The most impressive announcement was that the total raised had increased once again.
Seeing more than three hundred riders and the hundred or so volunteers all in a large circle, all in ride jerseys or crew shirts was quite something. To think that we riders had all come this far on our bikes and that all the crew had spent their week appearing in just the right places to cheer us on, feed us, and keep everything running smoothly -so much hard effort, such a great time, and what a result.
Riding in a van was nice because of the conversations and air conditioning. With those exceptions it was irredeemably frustrating passing riders, cheering them on as we drove by, sitting at breaks and lunch waiting for them to trickle in. I wanted to be on my bike. Needed to get on my bike. Had to get on my bike!
Fortunately for me I was first in line for the wellness team at lunch. After fifteen minutes or so of massage by camp favourite Sam (once he had got over his ‘wow these are tight’ reaction) my calves were quite a bit looser and with that my achilles tendons relaxed a little.
After lunch I switched vans, this time riding with Klaus (road safety lead) and Debbie, two absolutely fantastic people who lifted my spirits right back up with banter, observations, kind-heartedness, and playful ‘house shopping’ as we passed through Montreal’s tonier suburbs.
Arriving at the rendeszvous point where we riders were to gather and form up to ride into Montreal, I spotted my bike and speedily walked to retrieve it. The day’s frustration was over; I was ready to ride!
40 minutes later the last of the stragglers had pulled in, we formed up in single file, and set off along the Lachine canal. As we made our way into the city centre crossing bridges, circling through underpasses and passing numerous pedestrians we were frequently able to glance back and forward and see the incredibly long line of bike rally jerseys which stretched as far as the eye could see. At one point, crossing one bridge we could see participants of the ride still making their way across a bridge some way in the distance. The sight also surprised a large number of passers-by - many a person was heard commenting on the seemingly endless procession.
As we rode up Rue Bleury to the arrival point, one of the stages at Divers/Cité, our excitement grew. Police cars and cadets held traffic, waving us through junction after junction, and the cheering in the distance grew louder and louder. Finally, after six days of cycling, five nights of camping, and months of training rides we rolled past a swollen crowd, arriving to the sounds of “Bicycle Race” by Queen… “I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike….”
Bikes were rapidly parked as riders rushed around the beer garden embracing, cheering, and congratulating one another on completing the journey. Soon, beers in hand, we crowded onto grass for arrival photos, speeches, and more hugging.
Eventually the celebration wound down and we remembered we had to go drop off our bikes and collect our belongings from the support vehicles that had been carrying our camping and biking gear as well as all our clothing all week long. From there Greg, Jed, Mark, Tatum, Wade, and myself headed off to the Hyatt, our base camp for the weekend. Shopping, dancing, and massages were on the menu for the rest of the weekend, then, finally the all-too-short train ride home to Toronto on Sunday.
Thank you to everyone who supported me in preparing for the ride, in fundraising for the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation, and especially to everyone I rode with and met during the ride. It was a truly inspiring event to participate in - I look forward to repeating it in 2009!
