My 200 K turned into 103 miles. I felt crummy from the very beginning. I didn't eat much breakfast and I didn't start eating right away like I should have. This cold I've had has just messed up my appetite. I was chilly at the start and it took me a long time to warm up. Then... I got a flat about 20 miles into the ride. I was doing about 20 mph, going downhill and the bike got a little squirrelly. I had picked up a thorn. After fixing the flat, I continued down the hill, but couldn't stop shivering. It was pretty demoralizing.

I met up with Thom at about mile 30, just before the serious climbing began. He got a flat 3 miles later. No more tubes, luckily we had no more flats. At about mile 60 my front tire started making a noise. It looked like the casing was delaminating slightly. We continued out to the turnaround. It never got any worse, but today I got a new tire and I put in a slime tube. I don't care that they are heavier. I don't want any more flats on important rides.

It seemed like one of those rides that just wasn't meant to be. All day long I felt like I had no power. Thom was constantly waiting for me. That's normal on climbs, but even on the false flats in between, where normally I pull him because I don't really like to draft, I couldn't stay with him.

We got back to the car at mile 92 and I decided to press on to the next checkpoint at mile 103. By now my butt was really beginning to hurt as my saddle really needed to be re-tensioned. I think I was riding on the rails for most of the ride.

I would pedal and do about 17 mph and then coast down to 13, so I could get a butt break. I got off the bike at mile 103. Thom told me I looked miserable. This mini mart had a taco bar and Thom had gotten his dinner. I got a Red Bull and a banana and tried, unsuccessfully, to feel better. I only had 23 more miles to go, but I just didn't feel like suffering. Oh... and I had managed to get sun burnt despite putting sunscreen three different times.

So... we packed the bike in the car and drove home.

I've got three more weekends to get in a 200K this month. So, I'll try again next weekend. It upsets my running plans a little bit. I'm suppose to up my mileage to 6 miles next weekend. I'll do that on Saturday and then ride on Sunday. Hopefully my legs will handle it.

Veronica

102.9 miles
5200 feet of climbing
13.5 avg.