This was our 2nd year for the Hope Ride, in Hope Indiana.

Hope Ride

Coworkers have been doing this ride for 5-7 years or so and got us interested last year. In 2013, we showed up expecting a typical local ride with ~200 or so riders. When the local firemen were directing traffic onto the High School lawn (and all other parts of the HS property), I had to blink and say "wow."

This year we heard during packet pickup that there were 1900 registered riders with several hundred walkups expected. It's a big ride, and a big deal for the local economy. The organizers are well prepared for the numbers they bring... SAGs are well staffed and well provisioned, and the lunch at center of town (locally raised roasted sweet corn, plus other goodies) is set up to feed the army of hungry riders. Pancake breakfast in the HS cafeteria for some last minute carbo loading. Live local music at most SAGs (an oldies band at the center of town, though I caught myself signing along to the duo playing acoustic 90's alt rock covers at the 2nd stop of the 50 mile course... songs from my prime years). And yes, even a small petting zoo at one of the farmhouse SAGs.

The routes are roughly cloverleaf shaped, with 13/25/50/75/100 as options. The 50/75/100 course follows the same route for the first 50. Then there are 2 additional loops to get you to 75 and 100, respectively.

Safety: Dangerous curves/bridges are staffed with folks, and busy intersections had a guy directing traffic. SAG wagons are running the routes, but the dial-a-sag numbers are posted on the route maps for quicker pickup.

One of the local shop teams (that normally rides in a HUGE paceline at Tour de Cure) made an impression by breaking out the tandems. Yes, a paceline of 15 or 20 tandems with various hangers-on in singles. Despite some of the teams/clubs showing up, this is not (NOT!) a competitive ride. Folks are friendly, communication is great, chatter/banter while riding is constant.


Anyway, enough of the sales pitch for the ride. It's a good ride, well organized, with a friendly crowd riding. You get it.

This year, the weather was pretty good. We've had an early fall here, and we were expecting cool temps at the start, but a warm front brought temps around 60 when we set out. We chose to ditch the extra layers we'd brought and it was the right call. Mrs. Zoxe and I set out together and had a great ride to the first SAG. This part of the route cris-crossed around a streambed, so plenty of twisty roads and some hills down into the streambed and back up again. Very pretty and interesting, with some really neat old steel bridges.

At the first SAG, we gave each other a big hug and set out on our own so we could ride at our respective paces. I was shooting for at least 75mi, possibly 100, and she was heading for 50mi. We kept tabs on each other via txts at each stop.

I was benched most of the early season with lower back pain. After a 6wk course of phys therapy, this ride was my comeback tour. Anything beyond 30 miles I'd consider a success, considering in June I didn't know if I'd ever tolerate riding again. I was trying to run the route mostly self-supported as a test for future long course Triathlon events. This meant I avoided most SAG snacks (there was plenty!) and instead was running on Perpetuuem, gels, and such. I used the SAGs for water/gatorade and the random banana.


Around mile 22 or so, just before the first return to the High School area, there was a big flat grind to the south for several miles. The wind had begun to pick up, and I had the first inklings that my 100mi goal was in doubt. Head down, in the drops, grinding in a weeny gear.

Just before lunch, we came back through town, and the party/lunch in the town square was warming up. It was tempting just to pick a spot and wait for the band to start. But I turned out north of town, returning at mile 50 to find 500+ riders already eating lunch. Most riders do the 50mi option and then chow down. I ran into some coworkers, refilled water bottles and prepared to set out. One coworker offered to ride with to at least the 75mi loop. We set out, and my legs were beginning to complain. His were too.

Mile 62 brought our northernmost point, just before the turn south into the wind for a grind back to town. There were maybe 6 people at this SAG, compared to the ~100+ at the 2nd SAG (mile 32 or so). The wind was up and getting worse. We set out again. The terrain was mostly soybean field, some of it already picked. Flat, but very open. We rode side by side when we could, but tried drafting/pulling. When we could get sheltered by a big woods, our pace would pick up to a respectable speed, but in the open, we were leaning sideways into the wind and grinding at 10-12 mph.

Town brought shelter again, and we finished with our heads high. But, I was spent. 75.5 would be me mileage for the day. And worse, we were so slow returning to town that I missed the last call for lunch by 20 minutes. I had a rootbeer float, though.

My coworker was saying "next year I'm stopping at 50." In my head, I was planning how to finish the 100 route. My nutrition was spot on, my back was fine, I needed more miles on my legs.