Your girl has officially done it! 🏁🚴🏾♀️
I set out to conquer a massive 250-mile cycling challenge, and after 11 days of pure grit, sweat, and determination, I crossed the finish line. Not only did I hit my target, but I actually pushed right past it to a grand total of 252.01 miles.
To put that into perspective, I averaged an about 22.91 miles every single day.
The 11-Day Journey Breakdown
Looking back at the daily logs, it was an absolute rollercoaster of outdoor adventures, indoor training experiments, and massive endurance pushes:
- Day 1: 11.90 miles – Started strong with a beautiful morning ride through three incredible Bronx waterfront parks: Soundview Park, Concrete Plant Park, and Starlight Park.
- Day 2: 34.40 miles – Pushed the limits early by riding the annual Tour de Bronx event!
- Day 3: 12.31 miles – Caught the morning light during an incredible sunrise ride at Orchard Beach.
- Day 4: 4.28 miles – Active recovery day! Took it easy and tested out the Rouvy virtual cycling app for the very first time.
- Day 5: 24.90 miles – Headed into Manhattan for some brutal but fun hill repeats at Central Park with friends.
- Day 6: 26.77 miles – Reached the official halfway mark with a great route out to Randall’s Island.
- Day 7: 6.36 miles – Another short legs-saving day split indoors between both Rouvy and Zwift.
- Day 8: 12.44 miles – Swapped out the pavement, took my gravel bike out, and hit the dirt on the historic Old Croton Aqueduct (OCA) Trail.
- Day 9: 34.34 miles – A deeply meaningful solo ride out to Rye, NY, to visit the historic Rye African-American Cemetery. Steeped in history, it is a peaceful, powerful space that honors generations of Black residents and veterans.
- Day 10: 33.83 miles – Linked up with the iconic Empire State Trail for a smooth, dedicated trail ride up to Elmsford and back to set up the ultimate final push.
- Day 11: 50.48 miles – The Grand Finale: The Double-Bridge Loop to Nyack!
The Ultimate Finale: GWB, 9W, and Donuts 🍩
By the time Day 11 rolled around, I knew I had to empty the tank. I also knew I needed proper motivation, and that motivation had a name: Boxer Donut in Nyack! My friend Rachelle and I had talked about riding there since before the summer, and we finally made it happen.
Joined by our friend Blaise, we crossed over the George Washington Bridge and powered up Route 9W. After a well-deserved, handcrafted donut stop to refuel, we kept the epic momentum going. We crossed over the massive Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, hopped right back onto the Empire State Trail, and rode it all the way back home into the Bronx.
Dropping a 50.48-mile finale was a little rough after two back to back days of 30 plus days of riding, but crossing that psychological barrier with great friends by my side made every single sore muscle worth it.
If this challenge taught me anything, it’s that our minds usually want to give up long before our bodies actually do. When you break a massive goal down day by day, and throw in some incredible scenery, local history, and sweet treats along the way, you can achieve things you never thought possible.
🔮 What’s Next: The Challenge Continues!
I might have crushed the 250-mile goal, but I’m not putting the bikes away just yet. The engine is warm, the legs are ready, and I’m riding this wave all the way to the end of October.
I’m officially continuing the streak to see just how many miles I can stack up by the end of the month. Stay tuned to see where the road (and the gravel trails, and the virtual worlds) takes me next!
