Square to Square

I'm finding out that being part of the JDRF Cycling Team isn't all about going out and riding to prepare for the National events, it's also about volunteering!  The Square to Square ride is put on by a great couple, I don't think they charge anything for it, but any donations that are received go to the volunteers to help fund their National rides!  I signed up to help clean up afterwards because I had no idea what to expect and thought this would be the easiest thing to do with out being in the way!

Before going down, I was told that this goes through a few of the town squares of the areas that make up Cincinnati.  What is Cinci landscape known for?!  Yes... HILLS!  And I was warned ahead of time that we would be riding through urban areas.  I'm not thrilled with either!  Give me country roads any day!  Wanting to be a part of the team and see what all they do, I dove right in, head first!  I have to admit that I was thoroughly impressed!  We rode through beautiful areas, such as around Xavier College, and not so great areas, but over all, it was a great ride! Heading back from the rest stop in Kentucky, I rode with Coach Dan and M (who is around 20 and has been Type 1 for about 15 years).  Once we got across the river and started up the steep streets around the Reds' Stadium, she struggled and we called for a ride for her.  That or she was tired of me asking a million questions about how riding effects her sugar and how she manages it! I couldn't help it, Ellee wants to ride with me so bad and I'm nervous!  Any little tips to help for when she starts riding, the better!

From just North of the Ohio River, it's just Coach Dan and I.  This is great because he will be on the Wisconsin ride, and any cycling tips from as many different coaches, the better!  We some how missed one of our turns and kept saying that it's got to be right around this bend in the road!  Half way up the second hill I stopped him.  These are long, fairly steep hills and this second one looked like it went on forever!  I talked Coach Dan into stopping and checking the GPS to find a route back instead continuing to playing the guessing game!  We figured out where we went wrong, called another coach to let them know that we were off track and thought we had it figured out.  As we got closer to the finish, we mutually agreed that if we ever got directions for another ride where every other thing was "at the White Castle, turn..." that we would pack our bikes up and leave!  We ended up riding 36.2 miles and so far it's the story I'll be sharing years from now at team events!

Unfortunately since it took us so long to get back, they had everything pretty much packed up.  To make up for the shotty directions... they handed us ice cream as soon as we got off our bikes!!!  Wow, do they know me or what?!  That right there made up for every emotion that ran through my head when we were lost!!!

I told Coach Dan that if he wanted to test me on my climbing skills, all he had to do was say so, he didn't have to "accidently miss the turn"!  Again, I can't say enough about how impressed I am with this Team!  Everyone is great and I love talking to the others to find out why they ride!  Some have T1 themselves, for some it's their kids, and surprisingly a majority of them didn't have a connection but do this because some one asked them to!