Road Message Board

When we started out I told both Mr Bonk and his brother (who has done over 20 doubles) that I was going to ride at my pace.I wanted to go somewhat slow and do between 15 to 18 on the flats.HA! These guys were up over 20 and I was chasing them for the next 100 miles. Mr Bonk did come back once and helped light the way when it was dark.That helped a lot, both in the beginning and at the finish.The pace was fast and it was all catch-up for me. We got to the century mark and I wasn't really paying that much attention as we were going to break at the 120 mark so that had more of my interest.Then it dawned on me, I'd just done my fastest century ever. Not what I was trying to do and my plan of conserving my energy had flew out the window almost from the begining. We continued to click along like this although our pace had slowed substancially. And I was not complaining. I hadn't trained well for the climbing of this route as I thought it would be similar to the Amtrak route as we took over 30 miles of this route.This was the climbing section though of that route. Not bad climbing just the kind that goes on forever. Going over the mountains in the San Diego County area was another suprise for me.Good and painful. The descent was great.They had those turns that were posted at 25 mph and this is where you get to catch and pass a car or two.It might be for only 30 seconds or a minute or two,but that's fun. And now I know why they have double and even triple century rides.It's all about digging down deep and finding the ability within yourself to muscle it out.To go further then you ever thought you could.To do something so many others are unable to accomplish. This type of riding is similar to what it takes to do a marathon.Although the marathon is over in 3 to 6 hours where on the bike you're looking at anywhere from 11 to 18 hours and more. And believe it or not,it is fun. Hard and very difficult, but fun nonetheless.
Posted by Pain Freak riding a Surly Turner from The 909 on 03/17/05