We awoke saturday morning to a wet driveway and yard. "Dang" I thought not another wet century ride for this year. I immediately got on the computer and went to weather.com to see whats going on. I checked and whew the cell had passed and was on its way out away from the direction of the century route....NICE! It was considerably warm this saturday morning also which was a plus, 68 deg. forecast 85 for later in the day. I went and got my normal dose of fat intake (McD's sausage McMuffin) for any long ride I have planned. Im giving away my secret here, but oh well. Fat burns slower and lasts longer for more sustained energy for any endurance event in my case, since im not a professional athelete nor do I eat like one. We drove down to Bucks pizza got dressed and saddled up. The turnout was not impressive at all. I guess the rain deterred alot of people. I stuffed my pockets with all that I would need and began the ride. I had left the house with no water bottles and only realized it 10 min before the start. Angie gave me hers since she was only riding the 25( shes the BEST). I had no plans or allies for this ride. I had planned on riding the whole 100 miles by myself. At the start the road was soaked and the tires were throwing up alot of road spray on my nice shiny freshly polished Specialized S-Works. I was about mid-pack crossing buffalo. I hooked up with a group af about 20 riders and rode to the 62-100 split then it was only about 12 of us that were enduring the 100. I stopped at the 1st rest area because I only had 1 water bottle for the day. Thank goodness it was a 24 oz'er. I got left behind by a small group because they didnt stop. I reeled them back in ,despite the wind ,and rode the majority of the 100 with them. The wind was freaking howling now, trees were waving in the wind like a category three hurricane was forecasted. The headwind was BRUTAL. Whomever was up front pulling their turn got drained of every ounce of energy they had, it hurt. I stopped at every rest area because I had to keep the one lonely,precious water bottle full of thirst quenching liquid. At the 81 mile rest area (Daniel Boone H.S.) I was hurting bad. So was the other guys, they had their shoes off rubbing feet and stretching also. My back was killing me too. We left Daniel Boone and started on the last 19 miles. Those small hills sucked with a wall of wind trying to push you back to where you started. I was ready to just say the hell with it, I have exerted more than enough energy for a 100 mile ride. I felt like I had already rode 150! We are pushing along at about the 90 mile marker according to my garmin and I look up and see that orange rocketship GTI that Angie drives. My most excellent and fabulous girlfriend was bringing me another water bottle so I would have two, shes AWESOME! She drives past to turn around and Im thinking.........S A G !! I pull up at the stop sign and she arrives with a big smile,hands me a bottle and I hand her my bike, lol !!! I took the front wheel off and she says what are ya doing? Im riding back with you if thats ok? I put the bike on her thule rack, got in the car and sat in that seat and my lower back was sooooooooooooooooooooo happy. She drove me back the last few measley miles to bucks. We had some pizza and then went home. I was beat! Thats was the hardest century I have ever ridden, even worse than the ones with all the climbing......................constant wind sucks!
Later for a recovery meal we had some spicy tuna sushi....yum . Came home and called it a night. I thought I might be a little sore today but I was fine. Time to get ready for the 12 hr mountain bike race at Morristown this saturday and the TCRC crit on sunday
Later G.....................
No comments:
Post a Comment