86 flat miles ain’t no joke
this weekend’s long ride was…long.
but pretty fucking awesome.
but long.
got that? long, but fucking awesome.
moving on…it tuns out that i ride 86 miles alone at about 15 mph on average. not so much in the 16-19 range i was hoping for. but i haul ass on downhill and go faster than expected on uphill, partially due to said ass hauling, but partially bc i see hills as bite size challenges and i let my legs hurt like hell bc i know there is an end and it feels gooooooood to work hard, knowing its not forever, knowing i can…and the flats are boring, but i’m better than i thought at times and slower than i’d like to be at times. so hopefully it will all still work out.
sunday i spent a little under 6 hours in the saddle. to get to the 100 mile mark, probably add another hour. that’s 7 hours. giving me about 1.5 hr cushion for those damn killer hills before the sag wagon informs my slowness that i’ll be on four wheels from here on out.
i was spent at the end of my ride, but i also had in my head that i was ending at 85. (it was lonely too. not bad lonely, my tunes (100% franti) and many friendly riders made for great company, but i look forward to philly and the other livestrong and team fatty riders.) i think had i been mentally preparing the whole time for 100 i would have made it, still smiling, feverishly reaching for beer by the end (obvious, no?). spirits were high. i stopped by the bar on my way home, motivated by a text received around mile 65 that good friends and a shady patio were calling my post-ride name, for a beer, to wash down the fried cheese (duh) and a pitcher of the most amazing and delicious ice cold water known to man.
confidence is up. from here on out, a little speed work, a few hills and some relaxing should get me and my mental game primed for an awesome ride in philly.
all and all, couldn’t have asked for a better last long ride.
EDIT: i just reread this post and its all over the place. and horribly written. but that’s what it’s like to be inside my head right now so i’m not even sure i COULD edit it if i wanted…so, welcome to my brain.
ALSO: just checked my elevation gain from yesterday’s ride…few hundred feet more than next weekend…think i’m gunna make it!
