The day started off pretty cold -- cold enough that I thought I would need my windbreaker. I wasn't counting on the 5-mile climb right out of the gate. Two miles into the climb, I'm absolutely burning up with my windbreaker unzipped and flapping behind me, and my jersey half-unzipped to get cool air to my core.
My dad said that he'd be riding with some of his buddies, and that if I were to find faster people I could go with them. I found some faster people almost as soon as we started climbing, and left my dad behind. Thus I had only ridden with my dad for a few minutes of (what would turn out to be) an eight-hour ride (ten for my dad). The guy I ended up riding with was a former Evolution Cycling team member and obviously one of the "Masters" (old) guys.
We chatted for a bit on our climb, and then started our descent. Just because this guy was old didn't mean he lacked the legs -- we were descending at 45mph, and he and I were trading places. His bike probably helped a bit, too: he was riding a green and black Pinarello Prince with aero wheels and tubular tires. Nice hardware. I stopped briefly to pack away my windbreaker (it bundles up into its own little fanny-pack pouch), and then resumed the ride.
After the initial climb, it was a series of smaller rolling hills, until the climb up to the first rest stop at mile-27. That was a tough one, but the payoff was worth it -- the rest stop was well-stocked and well-organized. Gatorade (real Gatorade, not the Heed-crap on the BCC) and water, foods including fruits, chips, cookies, and PB&J sandwiches. I had dropped my Evo friend so he got in about 5-10 minutes after I got in. After another 15 minutes of rest and recovery, we regrouped (we had two other riders to make a four-man group) and headed out.
Thankfully, the second leg was pretty tame compared with the first, with only rolling hills being the main challenge. Not too much to note, aside from the gravel roads at the start of the second leg and some pretty views of the rural land below us (wish I had a camera). At one point, we were riding through some farm roads and I was leading a group of riders, who then passed and dropped me as I was flipping my cue-sheet. Thanks, fellas. I caught up and hung on, dropping my Evo friend.
The second rest stop was at a fire station, with similar excellent food and water being provided by the volunteers, and this time I noticed the mechanics, which seemed to be extremely competent and efficient. After re-grouping with my Evo friend et al, we set off again.
My Evo friend said that he'd be bailing at 75 miles, to cut his ride short (there's a planned bail-out point at 66 miles -- from there, it's only 9 miles back to the finish). I found out why six miles later: around mile 58, we started another long, steep climb. This time I was in the lowest gear, and, while I wasn't feeling much pain, I was breathing pretty heavy and doing my best to keep turning the cranks, maintaining 7mph.
This monster climb was followed by a nice 1- or 1.5-mile long descent, followed by a few rolling hills...and then another climb that just kicked the crap out of me. I thought "OK, all I have to do is repeat what I did for that other climb: low gear, rhythmic breathing, turn the cranks." Except this climb was different, somehow, and hurt a lot more. Possibly it was steeper. More likely was that it was not a constant climb but rather would go steep and then not-steep and then steep again, not allowing me to get into rhythm.
Finally, after cresting, I passed through the first covered bridge, followed by rolling hills, passing by the second covered bridge and eventually passing through the final covered bridge.
The third rest stop at mile 75 was again at a fire station, and this time there was a new food: tomato sandwiches. Tomato slices, mayonaise, and wheat bread: scrumptious! I called my dad to see where he was (he was at the long climb at mile 60), and then sat down to rest a bit. When I got up to refill my water bottles (I had just sat, kicked off my shoes to get the feeling back in my feet, and finished off my entire Gatorade bottle), I had been at the stop for nearly 30 minutes and it was time to go.
Thankfully, the remaining terrain was all rolling hills -- no more monster climbs. This, I could handle. By this time I was riding alone; I dropped my Evo friend 20 miles ago. I headed out, leapfrogging from group to group, only staying in any one group long enough to get a little rest before continuing on. Finally, we rode through the Gettysburg battlefield, with the statues and cannons (I really wished I had a camera). Very beautiful, very somber, like riding through a cemetary.
For some inexplicable reason, they put a fourth rest stop at mile 85. I'm not quite sure why, because I wasn't in any particular need to rest or get any food, but I did stop, got a few cookies and fruits, refilled my water bottles (unnecessary, but just in case), and headed out. I think I stayed at that rest stop for all of 10 minutes -- my shortest stay on the whole ride.
Just 20 miles of rolling hills (and headwinds, now, which had picked up a bit by this time) and leapfrogging, and I was done. I rolled in at 3:45PM, put away my bike, changed my shoes, and wandered around the camp grounds, eating foods (recreating the tomato sandwiches) and ice-cream, and listening to the bluegrass band they had playing.
Nearly two hours later, my dad rolled in with his friends. Oof.
Statistics:
Bike: Trek 5200
Distance: 104.07mi
Saddle Time: 6h07m46s
Actual Time: 7h45m
Start Time: 8:00AM
End Time: 3:45PM
Start Conditions: brisk, clear
End Conditions: warm, sunny
Max Speed: 47.8mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 17.0mph
Avg Speed (actual): 13.4mph
Odometer: 1636.0mi
I'll tell you, this was a very mentally challenging ride. The thought of doing 100 miles, I have no problem with (some people I know consider it to be hard). It was the monster climbs in the beginning and middle that were the most trying -- I honestly considered taking the bail-out route when I was passing by it. I'm very glad I didn't, because at that point there was only the gentle rolling hills remaining (I didn't know this until I got to the third rest stop and overheard some people saying that the worst was over). It still took me that 30 minutes at the third rest stop to recover mentally while I was refueling physically.
But I stuck with it, and I'm proud of myself for doing so. The Civil War Century is now officially the most difficult century I have ever done; everything else I've done is "easy" in comparison.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
2010 Bay Country Century
I initially didn't want to do this ride, because I didn't like the organization last year, but I figured I would know what to expect this year and prepare accordingly. So I made my rice cakes, packed a cooler with cans of Coke, and (by chance) made my electrolyte drink overly strong.
I got up this morning at 5:30AM, thinking that I still didn't want to do the ride, but mainly because I wanted to sleep in. But I H'ed TFU and made myself get out of bed. After only an hour's drive, I got to the start, registered, and headed out.
The first few miles weren't that noteworthy. I was mainly leapfrogging from group to group...first to a group that had an Evo rider (didn't get to talk with him), then to a bunch of young ABRT riders, then to a group with four strong-ish riders.
It was here that things got interesting: we got out to MD-4 and got lost (missed a turn). Seeing markings on the ground indicating a left turn, we made to cross over the highway, but the leader aborted his attempt, just in time to cross his back wheel into the front wheel of his compatriot. The follower *almost* saved it, but ended up spilling all over the road anyway. He got up pissed off, and threw his bike over to the side of the road. We stopped to assess the damage: he had a couple small patches of roadrash on his elbow and knee, a car ran over and destroyed something he had in a spraycan, and his rear derailleur hanger was bent inwards. I supplied some water to wash out his wounds, and he used some of his frustration to un-bend the hanger to where he could use the RD again.
Taking it a bit easier, we started off again, but we were still lost. Some other riders had gotten lost as well, and we hooked up with them -- thankfully, they had smartphones with GPS + mapping, so they were able to determine that all we had to do was go down a little ways on MD-4, take another road, and we'd join back up with the route. We did so, and found ourselves practically at the turn to the rest-stop...but our mileage was a bit short because we had essentially skipped about five miles, so we decided to go and do the Lowery Rd. loop to get back up, and then head back to the rest stop.
I don't know what happened, but I ended up at the front of the group...and then they were gone; I was way ahead of them, somehow. I continued on to the rest stop, met up with some friends, and the other guys rolled in after a few minutes. Turns out they were doing the full century and I was only doing the metric, so our paths would diverge there. The rest stop was still a little disappointing (only sweet stuff and fruits), but at least they had fresh water. I was able to top off my water bottle, and dilute my Gatorade a bit. After resting up for a few minutes, I said 'bye' to the other guys and headed out on the metric route.
I met up with a guy soon after leaving the rest stop, and together we rode the second leg of the ride to the next rest stop. I found out he was a Hokie Parent, having put his daughter through Tech roughly the same time that I attended Tech. Spiffy. We passed some of my friends (Jeff B. and his wife) after climbing up Tobbacco Rd. (I remember that climb from last year; good times). After that, we hit another hill and the Hokie Parent bid me farewell as I hammered it up. Continuing to the rest stop, I passed Terre S. and her friend, and pulled in, meeting Crazy Kelly and Dave N., Ann P., and a lot of other old-crowd from my TNT days.
This rest stop was just as disappointing as last year, and this time I didn't even see any chips, either. But I was prepared: my stomach was basically turning itself inside out, craving some food, but I didn't want to eat any of the complex carbs being offered (6oz of store-bought apple pie? no thanks), so I whipped out one of my Rice Cakes. This time I didn't salt the rice at all, and I added some super-salty peanuts into the mix, which made the cakes a little clumpy and not really cohesive, but it did make eating them a lot more interesting, and the salt levels were just right. After I ate that, I was feeling OK, so (after topping off my water and diluting my Gatorade still more) I headed out with Dave N. and Kelly.
I wasn't a mile or two out from the rest stop when I came upon a group of riders looking over one's bike. I stopped to help, and discovered that a chainguard had somehow rotated itself around and jammed up the rear tire. I was able to get the rear wheel off, and Kelly and Peter (who stopped too) were able to neutralize the chainguard. We put the bike back together, and it was good to go.
Kelly and I headed up, and eventually I left him behind. I essentially soloed the remaining distance, not really riding with anyone and not staying with any one rider for more than a few seconds.
One last major hill, and then crossing MD-4 (again), and then one final hammer into the headwinds, and I was back to the school and done. I got my food, met up with the Hokie Parent ("Dave") from before, and we ate our lunches. It felt good to sit down and not have to work the legs.
This was a good ride, and the after-ride party was a lot better than last year (actual tents covering the food, a good spread of food, Quizno's catering). I went back to the car and sipped a Coke as I packed up.
Statistics:
Bike: Trek 5200
Distance: 64.20mi
Saddle Time: 3h33m19s
Actual Time: 4h30m
Start Time: 0800
End Time: 1230
Start Conditions: Breezy, Cool, Sunny
End Conditions: Breezy, Warm, Sunny
Max Speed: 40.3mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 18.0mph
Avg Speed (actual): 14.3mph
Odometer: 1434.4mi
Overall, I'm happy that I got out and did this ride, even if the organization is still a little lacking (when compared to the Reston and Seagull centuries). The organization IS getting better, at least, and the hills were just right for me; I think I should be OK for the Civil War Century next Saturday, at any rate.
I got up this morning at 5:30AM, thinking that I still didn't want to do the ride, but mainly because I wanted to sleep in. But I H'ed TFU and made myself get out of bed. After only an hour's drive, I got to the start, registered, and headed out.
The first few miles weren't that noteworthy. I was mainly leapfrogging from group to group...first to a group that had an Evo rider (didn't get to talk with him), then to a bunch of young ABRT riders, then to a group with four strong-ish riders.
It was here that things got interesting: we got out to MD-4 and got lost (missed a turn). Seeing markings on the ground indicating a left turn, we made to cross over the highway, but the leader aborted his attempt, just in time to cross his back wheel into the front wheel of his compatriot. The follower *almost* saved it, but ended up spilling all over the road anyway. He got up pissed off, and threw his bike over to the side of the road. We stopped to assess the damage: he had a couple small patches of roadrash on his elbow and knee, a car ran over and destroyed something he had in a spraycan, and his rear derailleur hanger was bent inwards. I supplied some water to wash out his wounds, and he used some of his frustration to un-bend the hanger to where he could use the RD again.
Taking it a bit easier, we started off again, but we were still lost. Some other riders had gotten lost as well, and we hooked up with them -- thankfully, they had smartphones with GPS + mapping, so they were able to determine that all we had to do was go down a little ways on MD-4, take another road, and we'd join back up with the route. We did so, and found ourselves practically at the turn to the rest-stop...but our mileage was a bit short because we had essentially skipped about five miles, so we decided to go and do the Lowery Rd. loop to get back up, and then head back to the rest stop.
I don't know what happened, but I ended up at the front of the group...and then they were gone; I was way ahead of them, somehow. I continued on to the rest stop, met up with some friends, and the other guys rolled in after a few minutes. Turns out they were doing the full century and I was only doing the metric, so our paths would diverge there. The rest stop was still a little disappointing (only sweet stuff and fruits), but at least they had fresh water. I was able to top off my water bottle, and dilute my Gatorade a bit. After resting up for a few minutes, I said 'bye' to the other guys and headed out on the metric route.
I met up with a guy soon after leaving the rest stop, and together we rode the second leg of the ride to the next rest stop. I found out he was a Hokie Parent, having put his daughter through Tech roughly the same time that I attended Tech. Spiffy. We passed some of my friends (Jeff B. and his wife) after climbing up Tobbacco Rd. (I remember that climb from last year; good times). After that, we hit another hill and the Hokie Parent bid me farewell as I hammered it up. Continuing to the rest stop, I passed Terre S. and her friend, and pulled in, meeting Crazy Kelly and Dave N., Ann P., and a lot of other old-crowd from my TNT days.
This rest stop was just as disappointing as last year, and this time I didn't even see any chips, either. But I was prepared: my stomach was basically turning itself inside out, craving some food, but I didn't want to eat any of the complex carbs being offered (6oz of store-bought apple pie? no thanks), so I whipped out one of my Rice Cakes. This time I didn't salt the rice at all, and I added some super-salty peanuts into the mix, which made the cakes a little clumpy and not really cohesive, but it did make eating them a lot more interesting, and the salt levels were just right. After I ate that, I was feeling OK, so (after topping off my water and diluting my Gatorade still more) I headed out with Dave N. and Kelly.
I wasn't a mile or two out from the rest stop when I came upon a group of riders looking over one's bike. I stopped to help, and discovered that a chainguard had somehow rotated itself around and jammed up the rear tire. I was able to get the rear wheel off, and Kelly and Peter (who stopped too) were able to neutralize the chainguard. We put the bike back together, and it was good to go.
Kelly and I headed up, and eventually I left him behind. I essentially soloed the remaining distance, not really riding with anyone and not staying with any one rider for more than a few seconds.
One last major hill, and then crossing MD-4 (again), and then one final hammer into the headwinds, and I was back to the school and done. I got my food, met up with the Hokie Parent ("Dave") from before, and we ate our lunches. It felt good to sit down and not have to work the legs.
This was a good ride, and the after-ride party was a lot better than last year (actual tents covering the food, a good spread of food, Quizno's catering). I went back to the car and sipped a Coke as I packed up.
Statistics:
Bike: Trek 5200
Distance: 64.20mi
Saddle Time: 3h33m19s
Actual Time: 4h30m
Start Time: 0800
End Time: 1230
Start Conditions: Breezy, Cool, Sunny
End Conditions: Breezy, Warm, Sunny
Max Speed: 40.3mph
Avg Speed (saddle): 18.0mph
Avg Speed (actual): 14.3mph
Odometer: 1434.4mi
Overall, I'm happy that I got out and did this ride, even if the organization is still a little lacking (when compared to the Reston and Seagull centuries). The organization IS getting better, at least, and the hills were just right for me; I think I should be OK for the Civil War Century next Saturday, at any rate.
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