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.
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