spindizzy
09-17-2009, 05:48 PM
The Healing Cycle
I completed my first 160km ride on Sunday. Had to raise a minimum of $1500 to ride the Granfondo century. There were other distances, 100km, 50, 25 and 10k. I was fortunate enough to have many generous friends and a bunch of stuff to sell on Craigslist.
The day started off cool and cloudy. Was supposed to heat up by midday. There were 11 people in the GranFondo group, 9 guys and 2 women. We set off about 6:40 a.m. Immediately, 2 people, a woman and a man were dropped. We weren't even going that quickly. Got to the first rest stop, peeled off the long-sleeve jersey, filled up the water bottles and off we went. Pace picked up a bit more, NE wind picking up more, very humid..felt like rain. But I was still riding ok with everyone. There was one guy on a recumbant..those things really travel! The course is slowly uphill, and rolling. I arrived about a minute after the guys by the time we get to the 2nd rest stop. Fuel up, bathroom break and off we go again. I tried valiantly to keep up with the main group, but I am unable to. Settle in with 2 other guys - eventually they drop me. I am by myself :(. I momentarily felt sorry for myself, but considering that I do all of my training by myself..it wasn't a big deal. Except for now I had a motorcyle dude on a Harley sweeping behind me!
I get to the 3rd rest-stop about 5 minutes behind everyone. It is 54km to the last rest stop. JP (ride organizer and cyclist extraordinaire) says to follow him, he will do all of the work and call out shifting. I think I lasted about 5 minutes before that mini-peleton left me. Then the other 2 guys were off...
So here I am, the seriously rolling part of the course..it was relentless. There were times I would peak on a hill and almost cry at what was in store for me. I remember..feeling cranky, tired..and remembered reading somewhere that if you feel like that you should "fuel"...yes I am hungry and need to eat more. I had made some PB and honey on those "thintini buns" Worked one out of my jersey pocket. Just what I needed. Food for the relentless, never-ending hills.
Sun is starting to peak out. I come to the last rest stop. Motorcycle dude commenting on the relentless hills..and he's on a motorcycle! Filled up bottles again and see the 2 (Bill and Steve) guys that kept dropping me and this stop fussing over Bill's bike. I ask what is wrong. Apparently he has a flat. I watch with amusement :D as these 3 guys have all of these tire levers hanging off the rim, tire still merrily hanging on. I go get my quick lever, show the boys how to use it. Perfect. I figure I'll wait for them. They are standing still....with a CO2 container. They are looking at each other. Ok, by this time I am thinking bad thoughts about people being unprepared for riding that distance. :confused: Again, I go to my bike bag and retrieve my adaptor so they can get the bloody gas in the tube. None of them even have a pump :confused: I remind Bill that he should fill up tire with air when he gets home so he doesn't do out and get another flat...He brushes me off.
I was talking to the motorcycle dude while waiting for Fric and Frac to get themselves organized. I ask him how long he thought it would take these guys to blow me off again. He smiles. Steve heads out at a fairly quick pace -we only have 20 km to go. We have a brisk headwind, so I let Bill work for 5 minutes, then I would work for 5. Steve was by himself. Did this for about 20 minutes and came to the one last spirit crushing hill. Bill couldn't stand it anymore and peeled off to kill Steve on the hill. Oh..if I only had the reserves to crush them on that final 5k. I have to say, I was quite pissed. And all that is in my mind is revenge..crush them like tiny ants. I feel so evil. Stop and help someone...But perhaps to them it was a "race" - for me it wasn't. But I tell ya' I would be loathe to help those two again.
Received a nice medal. I love my Jersey!
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae242/sheloveshills/Healingcycle2009001.jpg
JP and "The Prince"
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae242/sheloveshills/Healingcycle2009002Small.jpg
The "Piss Me Off" Flat
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae242/sheloveshills/Healingcycle2009003.jpg
My "Motorcycle Dude"
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae242/sheloveshills/Healingcycle2009004.jpg
Jersey Front
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae242/sheloveshills/Healingcycle2009005.jpg
Jersey Back
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae242/sheloveshills/Healingcycle2009007.jpg
I completed my first 160km ride on Sunday. Had to raise a minimum of $1500 to ride the Granfondo century. There were other distances, 100km, 50, 25 and 10k. I was fortunate enough to have many generous friends and a bunch of stuff to sell on Craigslist.
The day started off cool and cloudy. Was supposed to heat up by midday. There were 11 people in the GranFondo group, 9 guys and 2 women. We set off about 6:40 a.m. Immediately, 2 people, a woman and a man were dropped. We weren't even going that quickly. Got to the first rest stop, peeled off the long-sleeve jersey, filled up the water bottles and off we went. Pace picked up a bit more, NE wind picking up more, very humid..felt like rain. But I was still riding ok with everyone. There was one guy on a recumbant..those things really travel! The course is slowly uphill, and rolling. I arrived about a minute after the guys by the time we get to the 2nd rest stop. Fuel up, bathroom break and off we go again. I tried valiantly to keep up with the main group, but I am unable to. Settle in with 2 other guys - eventually they drop me. I am by myself :(. I momentarily felt sorry for myself, but considering that I do all of my training by myself..it wasn't a big deal. Except for now I had a motorcyle dude on a Harley sweeping behind me!
I get to the 3rd rest-stop about 5 minutes behind everyone. It is 54km to the last rest stop. JP (ride organizer and cyclist extraordinaire) says to follow him, he will do all of the work and call out shifting. I think I lasted about 5 minutes before that mini-peleton left me. Then the other 2 guys were off...
So here I am, the seriously rolling part of the course..it was relentless. There were times I would peak on a hill and almost cry at what was in store for me. I remember..feeling cranky, tired..and remembered reading somewhere that if you feel like that you should "fuel"...yes I am hungry and need to eat more. I had made some PB and honey on those "thintini buns" Worked one out of my jersey pocket. Just what I needed. Food for the relentless, never-ending hills.
Sun is starting to peak out. I come to the last rest stop. Motorcycle dude commenting on the relentless hills..and he's on a motorcycle! Filled up bottles again and see the 2 (Bill and Steve) guys that kept dropping me and this stop fussing over Bill's bike. I ask what is wrong. Apparently he has a flat. I watch with amusement :D as these 3 guys have all of these tire levers hanging off the rim, tire still merrily hanging on. I go get my quick lever, show the boys how to use it. Perfect. I figure I'll wait for them. They are standing still....with a CO2 container. They are looking at each other. Ok, by this time I am thinking bad thoughts about people being unprepared for riding that distance. :confused: Again, I go to my bike bag and retrieve my adaptor so they can get the bloody gas in the tube. None of them even have a pump :confused: I remind Bill that he should fill up tire with air when he gets home so he doesn't do out and get another flat...He brushes me off.
I was talking to the motorcycle dude while waiting for Fric and Frac to get themselves organized. I ask him how long he thought it would take these guys to blow me off again. He smiles. Steve heads out at a fairly quick pace -we only have 20 km to go. We have a brisk headwind, so I let Bill work for 5 minutes, then I would work for 5. Steve was by himself. Did this for about 20 minutes and came to the one last spirit crushing hill. Bill couldn't stand it anymore and peeled off to kill Steve on the hill. Oh..if I only had the reserves to crush them on that final 5k. I have to say, I was quite pissed. And all that is in my mind is revenge..crush them like tiny ants. I feel so evil. Stop and help someone...But perhaps to them it was a "race" - for me it wasn't. But I tell ya' I would be loathe to help those two again.
Received a nice medal. I love my Jersey!
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae242/sheloveshills/Healingcycle2009001.jpg
JP and "The Prince"
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae242/sheloveshills/Healingcycle2009002Small.jpg
The "Piss Me Off" Flat
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae242/sheloveshills/Healingcycle2009003.jpg
My "Motorcycle Dude"
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae242/sheloveshills/Healingcycle2009004.jpg
Jersey Front
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae242/sheloveshills/Healingcycle2009005.jpg
Jersey Back
http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae242/sheloveshills/Healingcycle2009007.jpg