Mike Dayton's Back

I can't tell you how many miles I've spent following those broad shoulders. For nearly every challenging ride that I've done over the past 15 years there has been one constant, sucking Dayton's wheel. He's got a big motor and pushes through the wind. I tell jokes and keep us on course. We're a tandem team that forgot to fasten the couplers. In February 2016 that changed in the time of a pedal stroke. While riding a 200k permanent midday in Johnston County four NC randonneurs were plowed down by a 1992 Crown Victoria. Mike Dayton hit the windshield and sustained life changing injuries. He spent time in a coma and was ventilator dependent for a week. His recovery continues today and the reminders are all around in his house. Dots and a stick are taped to the walls and lines are on the floor for balancing and vision exercises. He now wears corrective glasses so that he doesn't see two of everything. He and Kelly have been through a lot in these past two years. Kelly has been amazing in her devotion to Mike as he works his way back from injury. I've missed riding with Mike. I've missed spending the night over at their house before the Morrisville brevets. I've missed the banter of our next big ride that we were always planning or trying to one up one another with how out of shape we were. Of course when I say I'm out of shape it's true. Dayton is never out of shape. The 200k that he was riding would have continued a streak of 169 consecutive months of riding a century or more! Let that sink in. 169 consecutive months of riding a century.

Since February 2016 I have only ridden with Mike a handful of times. The first time was a short ride to and from UNCA from my house after attending the NC Bike Summit in September 2016. He was not ready for more than a few miles at that time. Since then he has been lifting weights, swimming regularly and riding on bike paths around Raleigh. In March 2017 we gathered with some friends for a 100k of Mike's Buggs Island Lake Loop in Clarksville VA. The ride was his first lengthy one back on the road and followed familiar roads of his childhood. Just a few weeks ago he rode the Morrisville 200k as a pre-ride with Kevin McClain. That was a big step and brought up discussions about what might be next. We exchanged a few texts and came up with a possible date for a 300k pre-ride. Mike has not really done any significant miles in the dark in the past 2 years. How would the glasses work at night? Could he sustain an effort for a long enough period of time for a 300k. I had no question, but he had a few. We would answer them.

I drove down and as typical arrived fairly late around 10pm. He and Kelly were waiting in the living room with the pups. They welcomed me and we sat around catching up. A few hours later and we were tossing and turning just like usual. Mike was nervous about the ride. I tried to be reassuring but felt a little on edge myself. I'm not sure why. It all felt very familiar but new also. I was up before my alarm at 5:45 and headed downstairs to warm up Miss Silvia (the coffee machine) and get a jump on breakfast. We had Mike's delicious lattes just like always. We ate Thomas' cinnamon raisin bagels just like always. We had plenty of time to make the start and then we were running behind, just like always. Well it didn't really matter because we were pre-rinding alone, at least that's what we thought. When we got to Big Al's house he also had a card for Martin who would be manning the 300k the following Saturday. After checking out Al's futuristic custom beer making set up the three of us rolled at 7:30, already 30 minutes behind schedule.

It was a cool morning with temps in the upper 40s. My fingers were a little chilly but by the time we hit Jordan Lake a strong warming sun was upon us. Martin tailed off a bit coming up from the lake and by the time we finished Jack Bennet Rd. he had disappeared off the back. He had told us that he was planning on dropping us off the front and he was true to his word. We would see him one more time just after the turnaround in Seagrove. He was riding fine, just taking it easy. I was a little nervous about extended night riding since Mike didn't really have an idea of how the dark would affect his riding. We tried to keep on a schedule that would minimize night riding. We took a quick stop at mile 50 at Snow Camp for a honey bun and a Maple View Dairy chocolate milk. The next control is only 12 miles later in Siler City and that serves as the turnaround for the out and back 200k that Mike and Kevin had completed 2 weeks earlier. We didn't even have the second foot clipped in as we left Siler City when we began talking about the cheeseburgers and fries that would refuel us at the turnaround in Seagrove. The early morning sun was now hiding behind a mid level layer of non-threatening clouds. We dodged dogs and some traffic near Seagrove as the potters were having an open house weekend. We stayed focused on a Hardee's cheeseburger. Mike was mainly riding behind me on our trip out but hey after 15 years I owe him a few pulls. Dayton has always been fast on the road but that pales in comparison to his speed at the plate. Two cheeseburgers, fries and a Dr. Pepper were dispatched post haste and we were on the return. We battled a few more dogs but the weather was near perfect and traffic light as we rolled back to Siler City. Beyond this, we would be in uncharted waters beyond 200k for the first time in 24 months.

There is a sheriff's race going on in Chatham County and it seems to be a hot election. The incumbent Mike Roberson is defending his office and doing it with signs in nearly every yard along our course. I don't usually like political signs but these were different. They feature a big "Mike" in the middle of a blue background with smaller font completing the message. Of course I only saw "Mike". It reminded me constantly of the reason that I was on this ride.

We caught the front end of the Sunday night beer rush at Siler City. An older man was standing in line behind us and was asking directions to a seafood restaurant that was some distance out of town. Once he realized that he was miles off he pivoted to asking for recommendations of any closer seafood restaurants. Less than an hour later we arrived back in Snow Camp. Only 50 miles left. We sat on the benches outside having assorted snacks trying to find that exact item that would squelch our cravings. We took in the comings and goings of a Sunday country convenience store. A Pepsi worker still in company car but obviously now off shift was picking up a 6 pack of bud light. He had obviously moved from sweet to savory. A guy with a bashed in front end was just pleased that he could still make his beer and cigarette run even though smoke billowed from his front end. A few rednecks in pickups said hi to us since we were just some guys dressed oddly eating outside a gas station instead of impeding their progress on roads that their taxes paid for solely. It was just before 6pm when we left Snow Camp. Not even time for reflective gear although Mike wore his all day. I can't blame him.

We were happy to get Greensboro Road knocked out in the daylight. I was riding with a Garmin and a Wahoo but Mike was riding by memory. He knows the course by heart and the roads that were ticking off were very familiar. Lindley Mill, Old Switchboard, Castle Rock, Chicken Bridge, Jones Ferry, Parker Herndon, Jack Bennett. By the time we got to Andrews Store our lights were on and we were in full reflective gear. We would have 20 miles of night riding. It was at this point that I began to fade a bit. Mike rolled by and I fell in. We basically rode like this for the last hour and a half. He had plenty left in the tank and pulled us home. Usually this was my role but this time I was happy to ride in on his coat tails.

A 300k is not a long way by randonneuring standards but it certainly is a test. It is a distance that is incomprehensible to ride a bicycle by most every human on this planet. In the days and weeks following our friends being run down in February 2016 we prayed and hoped for their survival and recovery. Randonneuring again was not in my immediate thoughts. Joel returned to riding quickly. Chris had a longer recovery but has returned fully and has completed a couple of 1200s and LEL. Lynn continues to recover and ride a bicycle but not for long distances or for any kind of credit other than personal accomplishment.

Mike and I have done 4 PBPs together although we didn't know each other during our first one in 2003. I didn't think there would ever be a chance for a 5th when I first saw him unresponsive on a ventilator back in February 2016. After our recent ride I'm starting to believe that anything is possible for Mr. Dayton. I'm just happy that we got to spend a day on the bikes and that I got to see first hand Mike Dayton's back.