The Route Was Backward. Ken Kept Going.
- Richard Webster
- Jul 24
- 4 min read
At 6:00 in the morning, it was 49 degrees, Ken was bundled in long pants and a jacket, and Oshkosh was waiting nearly 56 miles away.
The plan sounded straightforward: ride north from Hartford, pass through the small towns along the way, and meet family near the EAA grounds in Oshkosh.
Then the navigation system tried to send him the wrong way.
A Backward Route Before Breakfast
Ken quickly realized the route had been programmed from Oshkosh to Hartford, not Hartford to Oshkosh. Every instruction kept trying to turn him around.
Richard could help adjust the route from home, but until they sorted it out, Ken had one option.
“In the meantime, I’ll just have to use my own wits. I’ve done it before. I can do it again.”
It would have been an easy excuse to postpone the ride. Instead, Ken pointed the bike north and started moving.
Cold Air, New Gear and a Long Day Ahead
Before leaving, Ken shared a few of the things he has been testing for the Lake Michigan trip. He used a Breathe Right nasal strip to help him breathe more comfortably through his nose, compared his older Cloud 9 comfort saddle with the newer ROCKBROS saddle he now prefers for longer rides, and started the morning wearing his RZ mask.
If you are interested in the same gear Ken is testing, you can view the Breathe Right Extra Strength nasal strips on Amazon (Click here) or view the Cloud 9 comfort saddle on Amazon (Click here). We will add Ken's newer ROCKBROS saddle when its correct Amazon link is available.
The mask was not only for smoke or dust. Ken wanted to reduce how much cold morning air rushed directly into his lungs while descending hills at speed. It was one of those small gear decisions that made a major difference in how comfortable the ride felt.
That decision paid off later. After leaving Lomira, Ken said the mask had made a noticeable difference while he was traveling downhill at roughly 35 miles per hour.
“This mask sure saved me from that cold air going down hills.”
Ken has been using the mask during training when smoke, dust or cold air makes outdoor exercise less comfortable. On this ride, he especially appreciated it during the fast, cold descents. It helped him breathe more comfortably and gave him confidence to keep moving without that sharp rush of cold air feeling so harsh.
If cold air, dust or wildfire smoke sometimes makes your own outdoor activities uncomfortable, you can view the RZ Mask RZM3 Ken uses on Amazon (Click here).
Ken is also keeping the waterproof rain suit he tested on an earlier wet training ride ready for the Lake Michigan trip. The jacket, pants and shoe covers gave him protection without restricting his pedaling, and the ventilation was easy to adjust while riding. You can view Ken’s VIKAMAKA rain suit on Amazon (Click here).
Amazon Associates disclosure: Richard Webster may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Commissions help cover the website and trip expenses.
The Hills Look Different Now
The route carried Ken through St. Lawrence, Theresa, Lomira, Fond du Lac, Van Dyne and several stretches of open farmland.
There was a time when the sight of another hill could discourage him.
Not anymore.
“I eat these hills for breakfast. Let’s go, baby.”
At the top of one climb, the road opened onto rolling farmland under a clear blue sky.
“You don’t see that from a car, I tell you that.”
Ken’s shadow stretches across the road as the morning ride continues north.
By Theresa, he had covered about 20 miles. In Lomira, he crossed the 25-mile mark and estimated he was near the halfway point.
The temperature steadily climbed from 49 degrees into the 70s. Layers that had protected him in the morning began coming off one by one as Oshkosh drew closer.
The Destination Moved
Ken expected to meet his grandchildren and family near the EAA grounds. Family members were helping support people connected with missionary aviation during the event, and he hoped the ride might end there.
But life changed the plan again.
The grandchildren were not at EAA. They were at their grandmother’s house.
After riding more than 50 miles, Ken adjusted one more time and headed toward them.
The destination may have moved, but the welcome was worth it.
Fifty-Six Miles and Two Grandsons
Ken finished the day in Oshkosh with 55.8 miles recorded by Ride with GPS and 56.66 miles on his cycling app. The ride included approximately 1,560 feet of climbing, nearly seven hours of ride time, and roughly 2,803 calories burned.
Instead of ending in a crowd at EAA, the ride ended in a living room with two of Ken’s grandsons.
One grandson admitted he could never ride that far.
Ken’s response was immediate: “Yeah, you could. Maybe next year if you practice.”
Ken and family in Oshkosh after completing the day’s ride.
One More Test Passed
This was more than another training ride.
Ken handled cold air, a reversed route, changing temperatures, long hills, shifting plans and nearly seven hours on the bike. Each challenge gave him another chance to practice what the Lake Michigan journey will require: stay calm, adjust and keep moving.
The route was backward.
The destination changed.
Ken still made it to Oshkosh.
Encourage Ken and Help Ship a Shoebox
Your encouragement genuinely helps carry Ken through these long training days. Please like this post and leave Ken a comment below, then return to Facebook and like or comment there too. Knowing people are following along gives him another reason to keep pedaling.
Ken is preparing to bike nearly 600 miles around Lake Michigan to raise money for Operation Christmas Child. Every $10 helps cover the shipping and handling for one shoebox gift, and the goal is to raise at least $6,000 for 600 shoeboxes. We would love to go well beyond that goal and help even more children.
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