ahumblecycler
05-30-2010, 10:19 AM
Bike: Lynskey R320
Helmet: LAS Victory (thanks Charles :beer: )
Distance: 201.11
Time: 11 hr 48 min 26 sec
Rest time: 12 min 11 sec
Total: 12 hrs 00 min 37 sec
I have never suffered so much in my life!
Prior to yesterday, I did not alter my cycling schedule. I continued to cycle 60 or miles per day (except 20 May, 30 miles due to steady downpour for the entire commute), and my last day off the bike was 16 May.
I woke up at 0330 hrs and completed my stretching and weight workout. I ate breakfast at 0430 hrs. I fixed my two PB&J sandwiches by 0500 hrs, and I was out the door at 0526 hrs. No route mapped out; just ride.
I came across the Cycle City group around 0845 hrs. The ride had tail wind, and I matched the pace (24-26 mph). They cut their ride short but I kept going. When I did turn around, I came across 4 riders who had fallen behind due to the headwind. We formed a train and made our way south. My turn came at the start of some hills, nothing great, but hills are where I excel and make ground. Mind you, I have been on the saddle for 5 hrs now. After the final hill, I looked back and I had left them ... ***!
At 1045 hrs I ate my first sandwich. By 1215 hrs, I had gone through my two, 24 ounce bottles. I met TAW at 1300 hrs who brought me 36 ounces. I ate my second last PB&J. We went north and I felt I was doing pretty well ... he can verify or not. Note I had not check mileage but I suspect I set an all time best 100-miles, rough time of 4 hrs 25 min, and I think I was around 130 miles when I met TAW. At our turn around point, I found much to my despair that the park had shut off their water. TAW gave me his extra bottle, thanks bud. At this point, we came across Ralph who is the best cyclist I know. We started back south and we came across Rob (retired LTC), and the four of us headed south. Rob gave me two cereal bars, my last 260 calorie snacks.
We witnessed a terrible accident where a Ram pulling a 4-6 animal trailer run into a motorcyclists slowing down to turn (and he had a signal). The motorist had little road rash, amazing. TAW can describe it as I was border line delirious as this point and I recall thinking the trailer would over turn and run me through ... and I then could stop thinking about water.
Taw jumped off at our meeting point, and I escorted Ralph home. He gave me more water. At this point I looked and I had 158 miles. Honestly, if I had stopped at this point I would have been fine. But there is no quit. Rob went with me north again, tail wind, and then suffered the headwind. I led the way. He is a retired LTC who is here for moral support and I was not going to let him down. I left him draft most of the way. I say this not to brag, but because of his caring he motivated me to protect him against the misery. He is a great friend.
We parted at 190 miles, 11 miles from home. I could not compute anything. It was a fight for survival, PERIOD. Some cyclist flew by me, asked how it was going, looked at my face, commented, "oh that good," and kept going. I chased him. He has no clue how much he helped me.
I made it home, could barely punch in my key code to get in. If I had to cycle more, I would have mustered it up, But I knew the journey was over and my body gave out. I collapse on my basement floor. It took 20 minutes to get all the clothing off. I stood, staggered to my stairs, and collapsed again. It was another 20 minutes before I got up the stairs and into my bed. The entire time I was intensely sick. I kept dry heaving (nothing to to possibly up. 1 hr 40 minutes later I crawled into the shower and sat there with water running over my head for another 25 min. I finally ate 2.5 hrs after I had made it home.
I feel as if I was in a car that was rear ended at 25 mph.
People have asked me why the hell did I do this. Two reasons:
1) My mentor use to compete in endurance races and he said I needed to do at least one of these this year. Okay, but why now ...
2) I work with Soldiers day in and day out. I have much respect for them. It is Memorial Day weekend, and I wanted to suffer for them. At the end of the day, I am home with a nice shower and clean bedding. Every day our troops are deployed they suffer through the day and they do it every day. I learned I am not strong enough to endure that. I am humbled by our troops (and their family and friends); I am grateful.
I am donating $201.11 to "Special Operations Warrior Foundation." I asked my friends and family to donate something, some amount. I encourage everyone to challenge themselves, to accomplish it, and to remember why we can do it.
Okay, got to prep for my next ride ... definitely not doing 200 miles today :D
Helmet: LAS Victory (thanks Charles :beer: )
Distance: 201.11
Time: 11 hr 48 min 26 sec
Rest time: 12 min 11 sec
Total: 12 hrs 00 min 37 sec
I have never suffered so much in my life!
Prior to yesterday, I did not alter my cycling schedule. I continued to cycle 60 or miles per day (except 20 May, 30 miles due to steady downpour for the entire commute), and my last day off the bike was 16 May.
I woke up at 0330 hrs and completed my stretching and weight workout. I ate breakfast at 0430 hrs. I fixed my two PB&J sandwiches by 0500 hrs, and I was out the door at 0526 hrs. No route mapped out; just ride.
I came across the Cycle City group around 0845 hrs. The ride had tail wind, and I matched the pace (24-26 mph). They cut their ride short but I kept going. When I did turn around, I came across 4 riders who had fallen behind due to the headwind. We formed a train and made our way south. My turn came at the start of some hills, nothing great, but hills are where I excel and make ground. Mind you, I have been on the saddle for 5 hrs now. After the final hill, I looked back and I had left them ... ***!
At 1045 hrs I ate my first sandwich. By 1215 hrs, I had gone through my two, 24 ounce bottles. I met TAW at 1300 hrs who brought me 36 ounces. I ate my second last PB&J. We went north and I felt I was doing pretty well ... he can verify or not. Note I had not check mileage but I suspect I set an all time best 100-miles, rough time of 4 hrs 25 min, and I think I was around 130 miles when I met TAW. At our turn around point, I found much to my despair that the park had shut off their water. TAW gave me his extra bottle, thanks bud. At this point, we came across Ralph who is the best cyclist I know. We started back south and we came across Rob (retired LTC), and the four of us headed south. Rob gave me two cereal bars, my last 260 calorie snacks.
We witnessed a terrible accident where a Ram pulling a 4-6 animal trailer run into a motorcyclists slowing down to turn (and he had a signal). The motorist had little road rash, amazing. TAW can describe it as I was border line delirious as this point and I recall thinking the trailer would over turn and run me through ... and I then could stop thinking about water.
Taw jumped off at our meeting point, and I escorted Ralph home. He gave me more water. At this point I looked and I had 158 miles. Honestly, if I had stopped at this point I would have been fine. But there is no quit. Rob went with me north again, tail wind, and then suffered the headwind. I led the way. He is a retired LTC who is here for moral support and I was not going to let him down. I left him draft most of the way. I say this not to brag, but because of his caring he motivated me to protect him against the misery. He is a great friend.
We parted at 190 miles, 11 miles from home. I could not compute anything. It was a fight for survival, PERIOD. Some cyclist flew by me, asked how it was going, looked at my face, commented, "oh that good," and kept going. I chased him. He has no clue how much he helped me.
I made it home, could barely punch in my key code to get in. If I had to cycle more, I would have mustered it up, But I knew the journey was over and my body gave out. I collapse on my basement floor. It took 20 minutes to get all the clothing off. I stood, staggered to my stairs, and collapsed again. It was another 20 minutes before I got up the stairs and into my bed. The entire time I was intensely sick. I kept dry heaving (nothing to to possibly up. 1 hr 40 minutes later I crawled into the shower and sat there with water running over my head for another 25 min. I finally ate 2.5 hrs after I had made it home.
I feel as if I was in a car that was rear ended at 25 mph.
People have asked me why the hell did I do this. Two reasons:
1) My mentor use to compete in endurance races and he said I needed to do at least one of these this year. Okay, but why now ...
2) I work with Soldiers day in and day out. I have much respect for them. It is Memorial Day weekend, and I wanted to suffer for them. At the end of the day, I am home with a nice shower and clean bedding. Every day our troops are deployed they suffer through the day and they do it every day. I learned I am not strong enough to endure that. I am humbled by our troops (and their family and friends); I am grateful.
I am donating $201.11 to "Special Operations Warrior Foundation." I asked my friends and family to donate something, some amount. I encourage everyone to challenge themselves, to accomplish it, and to remember why we can do it.
Okay, got to prep for my next ride ... definitely not doing 200 miles today :D