Cyclists biking Northern Tier Trail pass through Schroon

SCHROON | It was at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 17, when four bicyclists peddled their way- for the first time- into Schroon Lake. The group had already been riding for 62 days (their planned route would culminate in 67 days), making a planned stop in the Adirondacks on their 4,000-mile journey from Burlington, WA, to Portland, ME. The trip would be daunting enough (to be clear, these are traditional road bicycles, not electric bicycles) for even the most physically fit and perseverant of individuals, but there was one detail that made this excursion all the more impressive- all the cyclists were of retirement age, ranging from 56 to 80 years old. Tackling the legendary Northern Tier Bicycle Trail, it had taken seven weeks to reach Schroon. By the time they reached the Maple Leaf Motel on US-9 on Wednesday, they were tired and more than ready to enjoy pulled pork sandwiches at Paradox Brewery. But despite their exhaustion and fatigue, all were still smiling. "This ride is tough, not only 4,000 across but also 140,000 feet of climb going through a number of mountain ranges, on most rides that doesn't happen to you," remarked cyclist Christ Henry. "At this point, if you are still here with us, you have tolerated the climbs and you have what we call "coast to coast legs." You can do just about anything." When the circle of friends embarked on their ride, there were seven other riders in addition to Henry- Gregg Gerber of Virginia (80), Beth Knight of South Caroline (56), John Schafer of Virginia (69), Dave Campbell of Texas (65), Kitty McCartney of Florida (62), Ray Henry of Florida (65), and Janie Weaver from Indiana (58). "One thing we say when we start is that it's all about having fun," Henry noted. "If there is a point in time when you say you are not having fun anymore and you're done, there is no judgement. We look forward to seeing everyone again on our next ride." Henry, Campbell, Knight, and Schafer were the last riders standing for the final leg of the journey to Maine (including a stop in Middlebury, VT on Thursday Sept. 18). And though the thrill of accomplishment courses through their veins, for the cyclists, parting ways and returning to their respective states is always difficult- it is the price one must pay for deep, abiding friendship. It was 2018, and all eight met on a cross-country ride from San Diego, CA to St. Augustine, FL. Like any other social event, when encountering strangers, some people gravitated towards some more than others. These eight in particular were drawn to each other's approach to life- optimism and gratitude, through and through. The group has six long-distance rides under their collective belt. Between them, they've already traveled around the Great Lakes, along both the East and West Coast, and across the Southern Tier from San Diego to St. Augustine. According to Henry, the group of riding companions are all flexible people, their makeup refusing to get hung up on small details or minor setbacks. With high tolerance levels to whatever life throws their way, and in spite of the days that presented unforeseen challenges, all eight riders have the attitude that "tomorrow will be better." It's no wonder that after the long miles their legs had already pushed them, the final four peddled into Schroon Lake and all its picturesque autumn glory, excited for their night's stay. "The ending of trips like this is bittersweet," Beth Knight admitted. "It's hard to realize we are only five days away from the end and on the home stretch. Saying goodbye to one another is never easy." It is a circle of friendship that transcends place and time, the type of relationships people hope to have attained at a certain age, the mark of a full and well-lived life. They are friendships forged in challenge, hard-fought battles, and solidarity. They are each other's type of people. The journey itself is a character-building exercise. Not to say their age works against them, but opting for a more "hands-on" approach to retirement certainly comes with no shortcuts. The group has been on their bicycles for just about two months, peddling on the beautiful days, on the less-than-deal days, and the downright awful weather days. In spite of North Country downpours and winds blowing relentlessly in their paths, the group ride and the memory of its surprises become that much more cherished. According to Henry, an average day of travel is around 65 miles, depending of course on where there is available lodging for the night. A short day is 40 miles with a 9/9:30 a.m. start, a long day looms around 85/90 miles (those days the group would strike out at 7:30/8 a.m.). The concussion of a day of riding would fall anywhere between 2 and 4 p.m., and more often than not demanded an early bedtime to rejuvenate. "We have a vehicle with us," Henry explained of their tried-and-true technique to survive that trek with some iota of comfort and security. "We have rotating drivers, that allows us to keep moving instead of having to stop and have a rest day where we are sedentary for the day, whoever is driving the car is able to rest that way." SAG (support and gear) stops are a necessary occurrence and are executed every 15 to 20 miles. Refueling their bodies and allowing a moment of rest for their legs is crucial if they are to successfully withstand the miles ahead. "Cycling is really a good way to see places," Henry shared. " In a car or on a plane, you just go by too fast, on a bike or walking, you see things you wouldn't normally see; it is good physical challenge, as time goes on, your body gets stronger and you rebond with your friends." He added this trip has been remarkably flat tire-free- only four in 3,700 miles. "That is pretty incredible," Henry revealed. At 74 and taking on the challenge of a truly long-distance ride, one may assume Henry (known fondly as "PaPow" to family and friends) has been an avid cyclist for decades. The more surprising truth is that this has been a semi-recent undertaking, one he found after retiring from Silicon Valley in 2017. "I decided to take a leap, I could either sit in front of the TV or go on adventures, so I looked around for adventures to do," he recalled. The first adventure Henry found was walking the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile walk with a backpack from Southern France to Northern Spain. Once he completed that task, he thought he may as well sign up for a cross-country bike ride (the very one where he met his current group of travelers). "When I first signed up for the ride, the leader called to see if it was the right ride for me," recalled Henry. "He asked me what the longest ride I had ever done was." Well, in high school, Henry had a paper route, but that didn't qualify him for the ride. The next question was how many hours a week he was currently out riding, which the response was two hours a week on a stationary bike in the gym. The leader was unimpressed. Two strikes; he was almost out. "The leader finally said, 'Tell me something you have done that says you have the endurance to go 3,000 miles in 52 days,' so I told him about the Camino that I had just walked in Spain," Henry continued. "He said, "Ok, you can do it, but for godsakes go buy a bicycle and start training." And from that point and that first long ride, there was no turning back for Henry. And the story is the same for many who take up the sport of cycling. "Anybody can do this," Henry asserted. "It just starts out with each day deciding to do something, and build on that. You go out for a walk, and walk around the block, then the next day you do two blocks, or get on a bike and see if you can go three miles, after a week, try five miles. "Everyone has the possibility to do it, you just have to be brave enough to get out of your chair and walk outside."

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Cyclists biking Northern Tier Trail pass through Schroon

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