Tour de Rock 2011

I did all the training for the ride, and I felt good on the morning of the ride. I got a full nights sleep, and arrived at the start line in plenty of time. I got my stuff rounded up and got my bike out. I then took some warm up laps around the parking complex, just stretching out my legs and back for the ride. I had been debating all week whether or not to ride the 50 mile or the 62 mile ride. I still hadn't decided.

I watched anxiously as the 100 mile riders left the start line. I love the feel of a organized race right before it takes off, nothing like the extra energy floating around. They even had a band all fired up for the start so we had some music to keep things exciting while waiting.

Finally our chance at the start line was here, I took off with the 62 mile riders, since I still hadn't decide which course to ride. I was told while waiting to get to the one person at a time wooden bridge on the river trail before the crowd did, so right off the line all of us at the start busted out sprinting. The people in the back were not impressed, until they hit the bridge. After the bridge we started the road portion of the ride.

I got with a group pretty quick and stuck with them till the first rest stop. We held an 18-20 mph pace all the way to the rest stop, and I was able to draft someone the whole way, which wasn't as important at the beginning of the ride as it would later be.

I got up to the point to where you had to decide, 50 miles or 62. I quickly decided to go for it, why not make a jump and try something big. After all I did have sag support to help if I couldn't cut it and a large portion of my family who were expecting a shorter ride out of me.  I stopped for a quick rest at the rest stop, and got a cookie. Nothing like a high sugar treat to keep your adrenaline boost up. I then set out, without a group.

I rode with anyone I could catch and hold in with for any length of time. I didn't like riding this portion by myself, but it didn't last over six miles and I was able to get with a group again for a while. At the second checkpoint I was able to get a little potty break in, and get some energy gel and a bottled water. I then headed out with the group I came in with and hung pretty close with a guy that had a speaker system on his bike. Just a little portable one but enough to make the ride go by a little faster, the 12 mile loop that made our course 60 was pretty remote area and the roads got a little rough in spots. Much like Hwy 199 that I ride in Pine Bluff.

If you look at my Garmin Connect data which is linked to at the bottom of this post, you can see that anytime I go North or West I slow down dramatically. The wind was pretty rough and fighting it was what wore me down. The whole first half of the ride was just like any other energy wise. I hadn't fought that hard to keep my fast pace. Things were changing fast as I got dropped from the group. I was not alone though, I got to ride with a guy that had plenty of experience with riding in the heat, and riding long rides. He had just gotten back from riding 500 miles in Iowa. I enjoyed the music from his bike as we fought out a 15 mph pace all the way to the Scott rest stop, where he dropped out due to the heat.

This rest stop was by far the best of the rest stops, it had more food, some great meats, and cheese rolls, and a misting tent which I spent some time in. The heat was kicking up and the wind was too. This was at mile 43 and I was feeling the distance, but committed to finish the ride. I started out what would be my battle to the line, I rode it alone as there were no slower groups near me, only fast club groups that I couldn't hang with. I rode a slower pace in a lower gear to battle the wind. I slowly made it on to the 53 mile rest stop.

This was the devils rest stop as far as I was concerned. I was limping in by that point with the wind having taken all my energy and most of my determination. I was dead on my legs and pushing only with the desire of completing my goal at any cost. I had been telling everyone the only way I was taking the sag wagon was if I had a medical situation or if they told me that I was taking too long. Neither was happening. I pushed and pushed to the River Trail which lead back to the finish line. My family had been watching via the gps in my iphone using mobileme.com . I was pulling around the corner when Kristina saw me and let everyone know which rider I was. They all came out and were cheering me in, which gives you a feeling unlike any other, when you see how much everyone supports what your doing.

After the finish of what measured up to be a 63 mile ride I ate and we quickly left and returned home, after all we had free tickets to see the Arkansas Travelers play and I needed a shower first.

I returned home to Pine Bluff and showered. After getting out I rested for a while, developing the dreaded after ride headache. I debated right up till time to leave for the game about whether or not to go. I decided in the end to go.

We headed to the game with our free tickets from the ride. We sat in the beer garden and right after the ceremonial first pitch we had a weather delay complete with down pouring rain. After an hour and a half they started the game, which then went on through rain. We decided after some rain that didn't cause a delay that we had enough. We headed home and I slept like a baby.