Day 26

Sioux Falls, SD to Fairmont, MN (Longest Day!)

• Miles: 127.5 mi (planned 126, thanks to a detour 😉)

• Elevation Gain: 2,070 ft

• State Count: 8 - Hello, Minnesota! 🎉

Today’s Ride
Wow — our longest day in the saddle! What was supposed to be 126 miles turned into 127.5 miles thanks to a detour that took us straight into the winds. We climbed 2,070 feet, but the real challenge was the relentless side winds.

A huge thank you to everyone for the tailwind prayers, dances, and positive vibes. They kind of worked — we had 1 mile of tailwind, 125 miles of side wind, and 1 mile of headwind. I’ll take side winds over head-on any day, so thank you! 🌬🙏

Despite the conditions, our group made the most of it. We experimented with a rotating double pace line — which from above probably looked more like the “Wheel of Idiots” — but by the end of the day, we had it somewhat figured out and were able to give each other relief from the wind.

Milestones & Moments

• 🎉 We crossed into our 8th state: Minnesota! Another big milestone on this journey.

• 😂 Group decorum officially broke down when one rider used her fork from lunch (which our guides handwash each day) to pick “stuff” out of the bottom of her riding cleats. Gross — but also amazing it took us until Day 26 to get here!

• 💪 Exhaustion is real, but so is the camaraderie. Even on a day this long, the laughter and shared effort make it worthwhile.

Today was surreal and exhausting, but also a reminder of what this trip is all about: pushing limits, finding humor in the hard miles, and leaning on this amazing group of riders. I’m still in disbelief that I rode 127.5 miles today — and grateful for every pedal stroke.