By Betsy Gordon — I have been a casual rider for some 50 years. I bought my first bike as an adult from a friend when I was a student at the University of Utah (U of U), living in an apartment near 200 South and 800 East in Salt Lake City. The bike was an old 10-speed of the type that I had in high school. I bought the book – “Anybody’s Bike Book: A Comprehensive Manual of Bike Repairs” by Tom Cuthbertson – and tuned the bike myself. It was a challenge. After the bike was ready, I walked it to the gas station a block away from my apartment, put air in the tires, and coasted back to my apartment. I lifted my bike to carry it up the steps to my apartment, only to have the front wheel fall off. There was obviously still a learning curve ahead of me. After I handled that, I began to ride my bike up the steep hill to the U of U, to classes, work, and just explore the area. I had no car and relied on walking and public transportation to get around. My bicycle provided freedom and independence. My supervisor at work was an avid bicyclist and rode his bike to work, even in winter. He was an inspiration to me to bike and keep biking, as he was decades older than me.
I eventually graduated from the University and would occasionally ride my bike to work (across town). I also rode in nearby areas just for enjoyment. I never rode fast or up the canyons, and I still don’t. Life continued, and eventually, marriage and children came along. We tried mountain bikes, but they were too heavy for me, especially the models that were available 40 years ago. I did get a child seat for the back of my bike so that I could bike around with the baby. I found that the weight of the child could throw me off balance, and it was too much for me. After that, I rode sans baby, and not so much. After the children got older, I found time to ride more. I explored further and further afield. I found that the farther I rode, the farther I wanted to ride. I got a job with a long and friendly bike route and would ride to work occasionally. That was difficult for me when the children were still in school because I always felt the need to hurry. When our youngest son graduated from high school, however, I suddenly felt free… I did not need to hurry. I still did not ride to work frequently because, for me, biking is a fair-weather sport. Additionally, the bicycle commute added almost two hours to my day. I would take Saturday or Sunday mornings for longer rides to the zoo, along Legacy Parkway, and other places, going farther and farther, mostly alone as my husband, Oakley, still wasn’t riding.
In 2007, our niece, Heidi, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the age of 35 and with two young children. She had been working at Alta, a ski resort in Utah, on a ski break and one of her legs didn’t respond as normal. She mentioned to her co-worker that her leg just didn’t seem to be working. The co-worker had some medical training and urged her to go to the doctor immediately. Please check this information from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society if you would like to know about symptoms and the disease: https://www.nationalmssociety.org/understanding-ms/what-is-ms. The prospect of Heidi having this disease was alarming.
That spring, I participated in the Walk MS in Salt Lake City in an effort to do something to support my niece. I was surprised by the energy of all the supporters. People were dressed in costumes, including one dressed as Darth Vader. In subsequent years, more family and friends participated. I was impressed by the crowd of people, as I assumed that they all had connections who were affected by MS. I had known a few people over the years who had MS but discovered how many people that I knew peripherally had friends and relatives with the disease.
In 2010, I decided to participate in Bike MS: Harmons Best Dam Bike Ride in Logan, UT. This is a fund-raising event, the goal is to raise over $900,000. There is a registration fee of up to $70, it is less if you register early. If you register, then you are expected to raise $250 minimum for the cause. There are two days of biking, Saturday and Sunday, and different length rides to pick from each day. This is a 2-day weekend event, though you can ride just one day or both. It’s a ride, not a race. The route options are inclusive for all ability levels, with recumbents, hand-cycles, and e-bikes welcomed. Bike MS is a fully supported ride, with rest stops every 8 to 12 miles, SAG vehicles to help out on the route, and the most encouraging community of participants, volunteers, and supporters.
The rides start and end at the Cache Valley fairgrounds, where the meals are held, and participants can camp for free. There is room for camping, camping trailers, and RVs, and some people prefer to stay in motels or commute if they don’t live too far away. I like to camp, so that option suits me perfectly. My favorite camping spot is on the grass near a stream that flows through the fairgrounds.
I like to leave Salt Lake on Friday and drive to Logan in time to get there around lunchtime. Upon arrival, I set up my tent, eat the lunch I brought with me, relax next to the stream, and explore the preparations for the ride. I like to park and then try to avoid driving at all until I leave on Sunday. Lunch and dinner are not served on Friday, so I bring my own. When I was working (i.e., before I retired) this was great downtime for me, spending an afternoon just relaxing by the stream, reading, and watching the children tubing by. I love that I have nothing that I have to do all weekend except to ride my bike.
Saturday is the big day for the bike ride. Because I camp at the fairgrounds, all I have to do after getting up is stumble the 50 yards or so to the breakfast area for food and coffee, pick up my bike from the bike corral, meander back to my camp, and get ready to ride. There is a big crowd of bikers at the starting line, mostly teams, who have the privilege of going first (I think because of their fundraising). You don’t have to be part of a team, however, and most years, it was just me. They start us off in waves, as there would be too many if everyone left at once. There is an announcer announcing the names of the teams, who is generally charming and encouraging.
On the first day, Saturday, there are three distances to pick from: about 40 miles, about 70 miles, and 100 miles. I often ride the shorter route and find that when I return, the 100-mile riders have been back for quite a while. Upon leaving the fairgrounds in the morning, the intersections are staffed by police officers who give you the right of way. Eventually, you reach roads that take you out of town. These are regular highways with traffic, but after a few miles, the roads are not so busy, and it is pretty mellow until you finally return to Logan. However, safety first. I cringe when I see people who are being careless on busy roads. I usually take long breaks in the rest areas. They can be fun, the other bikers are pretty happy and tired, snacks and sports drinks are crucial. One year I did not take advantage of the energy/granola bars at the stop and found myself without any food in the middle of nowhere. That was a big mistake. Now I always check my food supply before leaving any rest area. On my first ride, and not far from the beginning, the chain popped off of my bicycle! Before I had a chance to do anything a ride marshal (volunteer biker) stopped, put the chain back on and told me what to tell the repair people, who are always at rest stops, to fix. I was hooked on Bike MS at that point. As I stopped to admire views, people would stop and ask if I needed help. Encouraging words are frequently heard. I love the people. One year I neglected to ensure that my cell phone was fully charged. I worried about that the entire time – don’t make that mistake.
After the ride, I drop my bike off at the bike corral and spend the rest of the day resting and recovering. There are showers in the campground, but there is also a water park across the street with nice showers and a pool. I spend the balance of the afternoon walking about, sitting by the stream, and feeling very happy. Eventually, dinner is served, and there is music and a program. For the last few years, alcohol has also been available in a beer garden.
There is also a bike ride on Sunday, but I have only done it a handful of times, mostly because I am exhausted from the Saturday ride. There is a choice between a long ride that goes up scenic Blacksmith Fork Canyon and a shorter 25-mile ride. Breakfast is served at the campground, and lunch is served on the ride or at the campground, depending upon whether you take the shorter or longer ride. Then it’s back to camp, pack up, and have a leisurely drive home.
For the first few years, I just did the shorter Saturday ride but I was always wondering if I could do 75 miles. One year, I finally decided to go for it. This was the only year that I have ridden where the weather was not perfect. I call it “The Year of the Wind.” And my bike at the time was a pretty heavy one. I got very far in the ride and made it into Idaho. Heading back into Utah, I was riding into the wind, and it was much harder. Still, I persevered. I returned to the main road into Logan and stopped in front of the cheese factory there. I had to sit on the curb and consider whether I could possibly go the last three miles. I just didn’t know if I could go any further. As I sat pondering, I saw a SAG wagon going in the opposite direction. The driver saw me and turned around to see how I was doing. He encouraged me to let him give me a ride for the last bit and I saw the wisdom in that. The SAG wagons are very nice because they let the riders off a block or two before the finish so that we can have the satisfaction of riding across the finish line. I bought myself a lighter-weight bike after that ride.
I tried the 75-mile ride another year, but that time, I took a wrong turn which added several more miles to my ride. Fortunately, I saw a few other riders who pointed me in the right direction. I went to the closest rest area and caught a SAG wagon from there. I knew that 75 miles was about as far as I could go and didn’t think that I could manage that, plus the extra miles from getting lost.
Finally, in 2022, I reached my goal of completing the 75-mile ride. I did it! As only a casual rider, and at the age of 69, it can be done! I can’t say that I want to do it again, but on the other hand, I must confess that I am considering it.
A lot has changed over the years. I have retired, and so has my husband. He had stopped biking for many years. Then, on a trip we took to Europe in 2016, he got so ill that he was hospitalized in Montepulciano, Italy, for three days. We had to abort the trip. Upon returning, the first thing he did was buy a new bike and take up biking again. We have been riding together since then, which has been much more fun. He rode the MS ride with me for the first time in 2023. Overall, we have been having a great time riding and plan to continue as long as we can pedal.
In closing, I have always enjoyed biking, and the MS Bike Ride has given me focus. Participating in the ride has helped raise money for this great cause. I encourage all bikers (casual or serious) to support finding a cure for MS while having a good time on this ride.
The next Bike MS: Harmons Best Dam Bike Ride is June 28-29 in Logan, Utah. https://events.nationalmssociety.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=2082
