A memorial

Sabina Rose O'Donnell loved to ride her bicycle. When she was 8 or 9 and she and her mother would ride together on a trail close to their home. We were their neighbors and friends. We later moved away and they moved away. Nevertheless, we kept in touch, in the distant way that parents who are busy raising children keep in touch when they do not live in the immediate area - a way full of good intentions, occasional phone calls but scarce opportunities for actual time together, trusting tomorrow to provide a time for a reunion.

Hightstown, NJ 600k - Ride your own ride

The NJ 600k ride started on Friday at 10:00 p.m., after a three-day heat wave. With temperatures approaching 100 humid degrees, the heat wave lasted long enough for the heat to seep into the pavement, which would radiate it back to night sky.

This would be my first attempt at this distance. On the drive to the start, I felt like I was about to take a pass/fail final exam in Randonneuring 101. My first two-day event. The 10:00 p.m. start guaranteed back-to-back night rides sandwiching a full day in the saddle. It guaranteed sleep deprivation. How much would be up to me. Could I ride 376.2 miles in less than 40 hours? Could I ride straight through? Should I try? How much sleep do I need to do this? What would it take to ride that far?