MY UPHILL BATTLE TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE LED ME TO DEVELOPING A GREAT BIKE TOUR 22 YEARS LATER

I drag myself to 8am spin classes fifteen minutes early during the long and dark winter months while living in State College, a small college town in Central Pennsylvania, along with my wrench to swap out my pedals, so I can get my favorite bike.  As the music blares loudly I can’t help but enjoy it even at this hour.  After 20 minutes, the quads are burning, I’m playing air guitar and a little air drum and my minds drifts.

I had wanted to do a Go ‘n Groove (my home based “Organized Women’s Trips” business) trip to the Finger Lakes area of New York, and for a couple of years had fantasized about bringing a group of ladies to the Aurora Inn to take over their EB Morgan House.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t sure there would be enough to do in the area to draw women for a couple of days.  But as my heart rate rose and I started to sweat, which I loved, I thought “Ah, but what if we did it on bikes?” So I took out highlighters, guides, and Google Maps and tracked three days of biking in and out of Ithaca, which included a stay at the Aurora Inn.

But did the idea really start then?  Or was this cycling trip an unconscious attempt on my part to make things right from my last few weeks before graduating from Cornell University in ’84?

I started at Cornell in ’79.  Along with our required academic credits, two semesters of Phys Ed had to be completed along with a swim test.  Well, these requirements were not on the top on my list.  Most everyone I knew knocked these off early, but I wasn’t like everyone else!  I also wasn’t very athletic or interested in any of the classes offered.  I can’t recall how I completed the credits for the first Phys Ed class; I think I got them by “managing” the Men’s Gymnastics Team as suggested by a neighbor in my apartment building who was on the team.  I went to the meets and that was that. I think that was the semester that I also passed my swim test.  I knew I could do it, but it was hiking all the way to the pool (Cornell’s campus is VERY large), getting undressed, miserable and wet for 10 minutes, getting dressed again and heading back down the hill that was daunting to me so I had put it off as long as I could.

Fast forward to Spring ’84.  Five months to commencement day and I was still in need of my final Phys Ed credits.  Nothing interested me!  I decided I wanted to take a sailing class, but it was full.  Then I saw a “Women Outdoors” class.  Okay, that sounded good.  It didn’t meet twice or three times a week, just a couple of outings here and there.  I didn’t mind being outdoors.  Two meetings in and immediately I already hated it.  There wasn’t much snow, but on a Sunday we were out there cross-country skiing on gravel.  I don’t remember many of the other outings, but I do know that the leaders of the class, fellow students, knew I wasn’t much into this class or them.  They were nice enough women, but in my opinion, they were taking the class and their responsibility way too seriously.  Remember, all I wanted was to get these credits over with!

Jenny & Karen At A Party Senior Week

It came down to our final adventure, a two-night bike ride in and about Trumansburg, a rural area outside of Ithaca.  Okay, I thought, I can do this.  I didn’t make the first overnight as I had a prior commitment, which didn't sit well with my leaders, but I was there bright and early Saturday morning to take off with the group.  I’ll never forget the looks on my roommate, Jenny’s, face and our friend, Peter, as they dropped me off.  They were in my Chevy Luv Pick Up Truck trying not to laugh at me; we took out my backpack and 10 speed yellow Fuji bike I had gotten freshman year in High School.  I must have looked pathetic and I am sure they giggle all the way back to Collegetown as I reluctantly joined the group. 

Then we hit the road.  It wasn’t that bad!  I actually enjoyed it.  The scenery was beautiful and I loved the solitude of the ride - just the bike and me and all that landscape.  Until of course, it was time to stop for the night.  Then the rain started and it got heavy.  Also, at the time, I was a smoker.  What can I say?  It was the mid 80’s and I was 23.  So off to the woods I went alone to smoke a butt in the pouring rain and to take care of business.  I hate this class, I thought, and I couldn’t wait to get back to campus the next afternoon as there was a big fraternity party I was so looking forward to. 

Karen & Jayne On Graduation Day

The next morning we were back on the road, the rain had subsided, and we arrived in Ithaca mid afternoon.  We weren’t expected to cycle up Buffalo Street, the notorious steep hill leading from downtown Ithaca to Cornell’s campus.  So I walked my way up the hill thinking it would be just a couple of hours until party time.  At the top of Buffalo at University Avenue, my friend, Jayne, just happened to drive by in my pick up truck.  Pure coincidence!  Remember there were no cell phones back then for me to tip her off that I was almost home.  We got chatting and the group went ahead.  When I realized that they were all gone, I decided to put the bike in the pick up and meet them at Barton Hall.  No problem, right?  At the final meeting place we said our good byes and Jayne drove me home.  Yeah, it was over!   But no…

Cornell Grads From the Early 80's After Completing The Ride

About three days later, I received a call from one of the leaders of the group saying that they had noticed that I didn’t keep up with the group all the way to the end.  In order to receive credit for the class I would have to meet them at the Chapter House, a local watering hole, on University Avenue and ride from there to Barton Hall, the athletic center in the middle of campus.  Although it was less than a mile ride it was almost all up hill.

Karen Before Taking Off Out Of Ithaca

The next morning, I was back on my Fuji bike and I rode in between the two leaders.  And, yes, I made it all the way to Barton Hall no problem. Thank God for the red light along the way – a brief stop.  Yes, I graduated, but I certainly thought it wasn’t going to be a bike ride that might keep me from my diploma with exams in Accounting, Wines, Engineering and Computers that I was also busy studying for that week.

Fast-forward 22 years and my business, Go ‘n Groove, Organized Women’s Trips, is planning a bike ride in and out of Ithaca.  This will be our 7^th ride in and around the Finger Lakes and our 3^rd in and out of Ithaca.  Starting from downtown, we cruise through Cornell’s campus and up along the east side of the lake to the Aurora Inn. From there it’s through the beautiful farm country to Skaneateles with a stop at MacKenzie - Childs farmhouse. The next morning we get shuttled over to the top of Cayuga Lake and then we cruise down the west side of the lake with a stop or two along the way at a winery or the Amish Market or Taughannock Falls or to the Glenwood Pines for their infamous burger.  Back in Ithaca we stay at the wonderful William Henry Miller Inn at the bottom of the ever-famous Buffalo Street hill.

THE CYCLISTS THAT RODE IN & OUT OF ITHACA, SUMMER '10

Every time I finish this trip I can’t help but reflect on my “ride” from the Chapter House to Barton Hall and can’t help but think, boy, I’d like to see those leaders and show them that now I can not only do that ride, but can also kick ass up Buffalo Street!

For more information on Go ‘n Groove’s Trip To The Finger Lakes (Cayuga & Skaneateles) go the site page:  http://www.goandgroove.com/fingerlakes.html