CruzLike
Guru
Hi All
Saturday (16th) was the RAIN Ride. Ride Across Indiana. It starts on the west part of the state in West Terre Haute and ends in Richmond, 160 miles later. One Day Grand Fondo. RAIN ride
The group of 1500 promptly started at 7a. I began early in my ride conserving energy because I expected to finish 11 hours later.
The weather that day was expected to be really nice. Sunny high of 80 and light breeze.
Early in the ride I had a little snafu. The water bottle stored beneath my seat dropped out onto the road. To add to the penalty of stopping to pick it up, I had to wait for 200 riders to pass, for me to cross the street. I may need to break down and buy one of these. cruzbike bottle-cage
I rode the first 40 miles at 17.9 avg. This was a great speed for me and was not sustainable. I expected to bonk going this fast.
I had enough water at SAG1 and I continue to the next stop without stopping. I continued 20 more miles to SAG2. I made it here ahead of schedule. I refueled with a PBJ, trail mix and water. 10 mins. later I was off again.
I started to feel tightness in my right knee that was new. I may have been mashing too much. I continued on the SAG3.
SAG3 was on the SE side of Indy, about 90 miles into the ride. I was starting to feel like I had ridden 90 miles, maybe more. I was wearing down and a little dehydrated. I stayed at this SAG for 20 minutes.
One thing that was interesting and was surprised to see, was a poster that noted the lead pack of 50 riders, (that may have included Larry and Rojo among others), passed through 1:20 before me. On other rides I have been nearer the back than the front. That raised my spirits but not the energy level.
The next milestone was 100 miles and I covered it in 5:48. PB for me. I trudged on loosing energy over the next 30 miles.
At SAG4 I really had trouble off the bike. My balance was wobbly and my knee was becoming stiffer. I loaded up with water and Gatorade. I even took a 2 oz swig of pickle juice. That was something.
10 miles down the road I was back to low energy. This was disheartening. I was on a fast part of the course, a long gentle downhill, and all I could muster was 15 mph with a tail wind. I also knew of the coming climb that I don’t like when I’m fresh. I was having those creeping doubts about completing.
As I lost energy, I liked to coast down the hill. That was okay till I told my knee to start bending again. It took about 5 revs for the pain to return to a normal level.
I survived the climb and just up the road was SAG5. This was the last SAG. 27 miles to go. I stayed there for at least 20 minutes recharging. I didn’t want to stay too long. I had a personal best (PB) still attainable but I was not hopeful.
I left SAG5 with the uncertainty of how long the energy would last following the rest. The last segment was a little flatter and some sections were pancake flat. I could really tap out a good steady pace. I knew it would be close to finish before 6p.
(Here’s the part you have been waiting for) The last 8 miles had two hills that were a pretty hard after 150 miles. The 2 long hills maybe 100 feet tall that have challenged me in past years. I often loose positions as I slowly climb them. I thought this year would be different. At the bottom of the first hill I would see what was left in the tank. I geared down and started huffing and puffing up the hill at a steady pace. I did notice I was chasing down riders ahead of me. I made it to the top and I was soon going to the bottom of the next. I picked off (passed) the first rider and began to next slow climb with a new riders to chase down. Throughout the second hill I steadily picked off riders. At the top of the second hill, it was downhill and 2 miles to the finish. I seemed to have more in the tank so I began blasting down the hill. I one point going downhill at 34mph chasing down bikes like I was on a motorcycle. As I entered town, I got hung up at a couple lights just shy of the finish and a small pack caught me. I was not going to stand (or recline) for that. The light turned green and it was a drag race to the finish. I may have been the only one racing. I was on a mission. The finish line in sight and I wasn't going to be denied.
The day ended well with just a sore knee. It could have been better with more training. I have only rode 400 miles this year. It’s been hit and miss.
I have been able to lose weight going LCHF. I have not been able to feel the “keto-zone” where I’m running stronger on Ketones than glycogen. My diet needs a little refining.
I also used Hammer Endurolytes. I don’t know if they helped or hurt. I will ride the route again this Saturday to compare. (not really)
Saturday (16th) was the RAIN Ride. Ride Across Indiana. It starts on the west part of the state in West Terre Haute and ends in Richmond, 160 miles later. One Day Grand Fondo. RAIN ride
The group of 1500 promptly started at 7a. I began early in my ride conserving energy because I expected to finish 11 hours later.
The weather that day was expected to be really nice. Sunny high of 80 and light breeze.
Early in the ride I had a little snafu. The water bottle stored beneath my seat dropped out onto the road. To add to the penalty of stopping to pick it up, I had to wait for 200 riders to pass, for me to cross the street. I may need to break down and buy one of these. cruzbike bottle-cage
I rode the first 40 miles at 17.9 avg. This was a great speed for me and was not sustainable. I expected to bonk going this fast.
I had enough water at SAG1 and I continue to the next stop without stopping. I continued 20 more miles to SAG2. I made it here ahead of schedule. I refueled with a PBJ, trail mix and water. 10 mins. later I was off again.
I started to feel tightness in my right knee that was new. I may have been mashing too much. I continued on the SAG3.
SAG3 was on the SE side of Indy, about 90 miles into the ride. I was starting to feel like I had ridden 90 miles, maybe more. I was wearing down and a little dehydrated. I stayed at this SAG for 20 minutes.
One thing that was interesting and was surprised to see, was a poster that noted the lead pack of 50 riders, (that may have included Larry and Rojo among others), passed through 1:20 before me. On other rides I have been nearer the back than the front. That raised my spirits but not the energy level.
The next milestone was 100 miles and I covered it in 5:48. PB for me. I trudged on loosing energy over the next 30 miles.
At SAG4 I really had trouble off the bike. My balance was wobbly and my knee was becoming stiffer. I loaded up with water and Gatorade. I even took a 2 oz swig of pickle juice. That was something.
10 miles down the road I was back to low energy. This was disheartening. I was on a fast part of the course, a long gentle downhill, and all I could muster was 15 mph with a tail wind. I also knew of the coming climb that I don’t like when I’m fresh. I was having those creeping doubts about completing.
As I lost energy, I liked to coast down the hill. That was okay till I told my knee to start bending again. It took about 5 revs for the pain to return to a normal level.
I survived the climb and just up the road was SAG5. This was the last SAG. 27 miles to go. I stayed there for at least 20 minutes recharging. I didn’t want to stay too long. I had a personal best (PB) still attainable but I was not hopeful.
I left SAG5 with the uncertainty of how long the energy would last following the rest. The last segment was a little flatter and some sections were pancake flat. I could really tap out a good steady pace. I knew it would be close to finish before 6p.
(Here’s the part you have been waiting for) The last 8 miles had two hills that were a pretty hard after 150 miles. The 2 long hills maybe 100 feet tall that have challenged me in past years. I often loose positions as I slowly climb them. I thought this year would be different. At the bottom of the first hill I would see what was left in the tank. I geared down and started huffing and puffing up the hill at a steady pace. I did notice I was chasing down riders ahead of me. I made it to the top and I was soon going to the bottom of the next. I picked off (passed) the first rider and began to next slow climb with a new riders to chase down. Throughout the second hill I steadily picked off riders. At the top of the second hill, it was downhill and 2 miles to the finish. I seemed to have more in the tank so I began blasting down the hill. I one point going downhill at 34mph chasing down bikes like I was on a motorcycle. As I entered town, I got hung up at a couple lights just shy of the finish and a small pack caught me. I was not going to stand (or recline) for that. The light turned green and it was a drag race to the finish. I may have been the only one racing. I was on a mission. The finish line in sight and I wasn't going to be denied.
The day ended well with just a sore knee. It could have been better with more training. I have only rode 400 miles this year. It’s been hit and miss.
I have been able to lose weight going LCHF. I have not been able to feel the “keto-zone” where I’m running stronger on Ketones than glycogen. My diet needs a little refining.
I also used Hammer Endurolytes. I don’t know if they helped or hurt. I will ride the route again this Saturday to compare. (not really)
