Well Sunday I went out for my second group ride with GABA (Greater AZ Bicycle Association). Sunday was an 85 mile ride, I did a short 45 mile ride the previous week and after the 70 mile ride I sort of thought that was easy so I decided to do the longer ride, believe me I am still wondering how wise that was.
So the route started out the same as the previous week heading up Sabino Canyon Sunrise to Oracle then north towards Catalina State park. Rather than the quick break at the park we continued on to Rancho Vistoso, then through some of the back routes (it was all a blur to me) then back down to Tangerine to I10 down the frontage road to Avra Valley the over to Sandarino to ride behind the Tucson mountains, then for the killer around 65 miles we started on Gates Pass Road to then head back up Broadway to get back to Udall park.
For the first two hours everything was fine and I was doing great keeping up with the front pack and I had averaged 19 MPH, from there I continued on a bit at a good pace, until the turn onto Avra Valley road where the group I was riding with separated and then I was alone again. Turning up Sandarino I definitely was feeling it. I had to pull over for a slightly longer break, for the last of my water and to finish a banana. I was only a mile or two from Marana High School and was a few miles south of Avra Valley road, I looked behind me to see if anyone was coming up I could ride with, nothing in site, the few riders ahead of me were long gone so I could not catch them, especially with a head wind and a slight incline. Since I didn't know the exact route my only hope was to get to the gas station I knew was coming up and hope to meet the people in front of me or just wait for some people to catch up. I think it was another 6 miles before I got to the Chevron or whatever it was, the tandem couple were there already and one other rider that passed me. I parked in the shade and went in for some more water, used the restroom surprisingly (I was not dehydrated at this point) and started stretching and resting a bit for the final leg. I had 33 miles left and while I was standing there i thought it was 23 so I thought it would be easy haha. Finally some other riders started pulling in and I struck up some conversations with some of them to my dismay those that had ridden this route before informed me that the next portion till we got past Gates pass was all up hill and of course Gates pass was very steep. Some of the people said they had to walk up it.
I think I rested 20 minutes and felt ready to tackle the last bit and I took off following two other riders, we took turns in the lead to share the load, once I turned up Kinney road I had to drop down to the small cog up front, I was already on the big one in back so this shift made the chain fall off (note to self don't be in the big cog in back when dropping in front). Any way so I have to pull over to get the chain back on. After this start I finally got to some rolling hills but I was thoroughly exhausted so it was little consolation, then the big climb hits. I am zapped and I don't even know how far it is to the top, I pull over in the first parking lot to rest with some other riders and replenish the electrolytes. I started back up and maybe get an eighth of a mile, I am nearly falling over I am going so slow, so I succumb to the sad prospect of walking up the hill.
This is humbling of course but we are 67 miles into the ride and a good number of other riders are doing the same thing. Then the most annoying thing happens, some team riders I had seen throughout the day casually pass me whistling and making this hill look easy encouraging me on. To make it worse they rode down and back up a couple of times while I trudged on up. I don't know how long it took me and I thought I would collapse but I finally made the crest, hopped on and coasted down at a brisk 30-35 miles an hour with no pedalling (wow that felt good) Once again I was alone, I knew I had to ride up Broadway so I went the route I knew. I got to the Circle K just before Campbell and pulled in for some more water and had also got a banana. I think at this point I had 10 miles to go. I drank a bunch of water and while trying to psych myself up for the last leg my stomach knots up, I double over in pain and struggle over to the side of the building so I can wrench my guts out. This happened 4 times and then a couple of times with nothing, as I thought hearing about football players having died in practice from dehydration and my head is swimming I can only think to call Katie to come rescue me.
With humility I pick up the phone and ask Katie to come and get me disappointed I would not be finishing this grueling training ride. She sounded worried and was in town and that she would be getting me soon. While I waited though I thought on how many articles I read and heard of friends saying how much better they had felt after getting sick, well to my amazement the same thing happened to me, I called Katie and told her not to come and I hopped on my bike knowing I would be able to make it. After a couple of miles a group caught me and this was all the inspiration I needed to get me back to my car. The last miles were a blur really, I was just holding on to finish. Well I did, riding time was about 5 1/2 hours with total time being about 6 1/2. Not too bad really. I made it home took a shower, took a little nap and packed for my red eye trip to Atlanta that night.
I was tired, I could have skipped the ride and left for Atlanta early gotten a good nights sleep and been just as happy. I was glad I didn't skip it and the very next day I was thinking about my next long ride. This one will be a Century Ride "The Tumacacori" ----this one will be mostly flat though so I think I will manage. Till next time continue riding and beating yourselves up, you will feel better for it.
No comments:
Post a Comment