Two months ago, seven amazing RBG cyclists took to the road and retraced the historical route once ridden by 5 courageous Black women from New York to Washington, D.C. in 1928.  The ride that took place this summer marked Red, Bike and Green’s first bike tour from DC to NY where they were welcomed  by fellow bike/music lovers at Brooklyn’s Afropunk Festival.  RBG co-leader Jewels Smith had some great stories from the road (it being her first bike tour and all).  Read what she had to share and get ready to ride the next one!

It sounded epic.  As we started prepping the literature for advertising the Bike Tour, the thought of accomplishing that much in such a short amount of time excited me.  286 miles. 5 states. 6 days.

Following in the footsteps of ancestors before us who had made a similar trip with fewer resources and in less time, let me know that I had the ability accomplish the trip.

I had never done a bike tour before.  The closest I came to a bike tour was a 30-mile bike ride we had done during our first Flight Club ride in Oakland.  And although there were similarities, it could not be further from a bike tour.

The thought of the Bike Tour initially made me nervous and even during the tour I was anxious.  Before every morning, I knew that there was going to be a certain amount of unpredictability.  The weather.  Unpredictable.  My body’s reaction to hills.  Unpredictable.  The group’s motivation.  Unpredictable.  What time we would ACTUALLY leave the campground. Unpredictable.  Entering the campground at a reasonable hour.  Unpredictable.  That sort of unpredictability and nervousness would be at the core of my physical output.

Unfortunately, I did not get to prepare the way I would have liked before the tour.  Needless to say, I was not in cycling shape.  However, my body made the adjustments and by the end of the sixth day, a 40+ mile ride felt like an easy commute.

Anyone that knows me just a little knows that I’d rather ride 50 miles and end at the Hilton, than a campground. The prospect of a cold shower is enough to send me running back home.  But I let go of that fear and held on to my most coveted incentive: making RBG history.

I also found myself quoting the title of Ice Cube’s infamous film, “Are We There Yet?”  especially on the day that we rode over 70 miles from Philly to New Jersey.  Over 10 hours of cycling made me a physical and emotional wreck.  But constant reminders that the destination was simply one part of the larger experience, kept me going.  Everyday there was a flat tire.  Everyday there was a significant amount of hills.  Everyday there were moments when I wanted to hop my ass right up in that support vehicle.  And everyday I talked myself into knowing that I was right where I was supposed to be.

On one hand, the Bike Tour is a very team oriented effort.  We cook together, clean together, check each other’s bike, study the route, and make large decisions as a group.  On the other hand, the tour is very individualistic because the effort to finish is all self-motivation.  You have to be your #1 cheerleader.  You have to say the right things to yourself to keep going because you are going to be tired at some point.  There will be hurdles.  Without fail.

I met some fly ass women!  I mean fly, righteous and strong women.  (Shout out to Hamzat though.)  These women were fierce.  It really takes a certain kind of personality to do this bike tour.  Being motivated, pushing your body beyond its comfort level, having a flexible and open attitude, and knowing that the ability to finish is within you, are all traits that every participant had.

Another highlight was really listening to my own self-talk.  What was my inner dialogue that was going to keep me motivated at best or discontent at worst?  I really had to check myself throughout the trip.

In a heartbeat.

Rode 300 miles, I’m sweatin’…Woo!