To healdsburg and back = 150 miles. I left this morning at 4:45am and rode in the dark for a solid 2 and a half hours, getting a good preview of what the night ride will bring. Pretty cold at the get go, but I was fairly warm with my skull cap and layers. I had a heavy bag of food and fluids on my back. I was determined today to keep extra close tabs on my food and fluid intake. I set a timer on my watch for every 15 minutes, where I had either a 1/3 a bottle of gatorade and every other 15 minute interval something to eat; PB and J's, cookies, bananas, an apple, bagels, jelly belly sport beans. Eating on the bike is a great distraction, but takes some serious coordination, I almost busted 3-4 times fumbling for food and drink. The attention paid today to my food and fluids paid off tremendously, I had great energy the whole ride and never once felt maxed out or exhausted, I could feel my body turn into a furnace that required constant fuel to avoid meltdown.
I biked right at 150 miles (actually had to ride around my neighborhood trails 5-7 more miles to get up to 150!), it was a beautiful ride up through petaluma, cotati, santa rosa and finally into healdsburg. I planned on waiting until the last second to put new tires on my bike specifically for 30for30th and I thought I could eek out one or two more rides before they blew out...I was wrong. About mile 90 in santa rosa I blew my back tire out all the way through! I patched it, but knew I needed new tires asap. I passed a trek store about two miles back, actually the timing of the blowout couldn't have been better. John from the trek store, super nice place by the way (i'm a big Trek/Gary Fisher fan, they are all I've ever ridden) set me up with some new gatorskins and I was back on the road in no time.
Oh yea, the saddle, felt great (how about good, no saddle could ever feel "great" after 100+ miles.) I was really pleased with the Selle Anatomica and actually started to feel more accustomed to it on the higher miles. I think it will be perfect for the long ride.
Overall the ride was excellent, I felt good, strong and never over the edge. My legs are tired now, but no more tired than when I bike an intense 30-40 miles. My triceratops and neck took the brunt of what little struggle there was today. I averaged about 14.5 mph which is faster than I plan on doing for the 30for30th ride. I'm shooting to do about 10 mph average, so I will have to be diligent and methodical about maintaining this pace. Further conclusions that the night will be challenging especially after a day or riding beforehand. The warmth of that sunrise felt so good this morning...
Good training ride, one more closer to the big one.
I biked right at 150 miles (actually had to ride around my neighborhood trails 5-7 more miles to get up to 150!), it was a beautiful ride up through petaluma, cotati, santa rosa and finally into healdsburg. I planned on waiting until the last second to put new tires on my bike specifically for 30for30th and I thought I could eek out one or two more rides before they blew out...I was wrong. About mile 90 in santa rosa I blew my back tire out all the way through! I patched it, but knew I needed new tires asap. I passed a trek store about two miles back, actually the timing of the blowout couldn't have been better. John from the trek store, super nice place by the way (i'm a big Trek/Gary Fisher fan, they are all I've ever ridden) set me up with some new gatorskins and I was back on the road in no time.
Oh yea, the saddle, felt great (how about good, no saddle could ever feel "great" after 100+ miles.) I was really pleased with the Selle Anatomica and actually started to feel more accustomed to it on the higher miles. I think it will be perfect for the long ride.
Overall the ride was excellent, I felt good, strong and never over the edge. My legs are tired now, but no more tired than when I bike an intense 30-40 miles. My triceratops and neck took the brunt of what little struggle there was today. I averaged about 14.5 mph which is faster than I plan on doing for the 30for30th ride. I'm shooting to do about 10 mph average, so I will have to be diligent and methodical about maintaining this pace. Further conclusions that the night will be challenging especially after a day or riding beforehand. The warmth of that sunrise felt so good this morning...
Good training ride, one more closer to the big one.
