100 mile bike race

 So this past weekend there was a little 100 mile bike race.  I have had this date circled for a while now.  I had set a goal earlier last winter to do a 6 hour century ride, start to finish.  Up to this point I had done 6 hours of saddle time, but not 6 hours total elapsed.  The only way I figured I could do this, was to go non-stop.  So my goal was nonstop and finish under 6 hours.   Planning started Friday night, mixing my water bottles (I used two bottles of HEED, an electrolyte replacement drink with a few caloires, and two bottles of PERPETUEM, an endurance based drink with more caloires, protien) getting them in the freezer so they would be cold when I was ready for them, at approx the 50 mile mark.  The first 50 miles my plan was to use a Camelbak, with electrolyte tabs and Honey Stinger energy gels.  After getting food and drink lined up, took the bike out and done a once over, wiped her down, took her for a quick spin around the neighborhood, and put her back in the closet and went to bed.   Saturday morning was cooler than it had been, and very foggy.  This was the second Saturday in a row when the fog has been thick.  When riding, its almost like rain.  You get just as wet.  Got to the starting point, unloaded, check air pressure, 4 bottles, Camelback, made sure I had ID, money, and at 7.30 we were off.  I was able to hang with the front group for the first 11 miles, but after we made the turn to head north, they dropped me.  6 in front of me now.  Every 10-15 miles there was a sag tent, but like I said, I had no plans on stopping.  The first 50 miles I was hauling the mail, for me anyways.  I averaged 21 mph the first 65 miles. I have never held those kind of speeds before, so I was pretty impressed.  About the 45 mile mark, started to wonder where the other six riders were.  They should have been turned around and headed back by now.  Then another thing popped into my head, what if I pushed too hard the first half and blew up the second half, oh well, too late now.  So about the 47 mile mark I seen the lead bike, 3 miles ahead of me was the leader, not too bad!  Then I started counting bikes, and some where along the way, I passed two of the others, as i was now in 4th, at the turnaround.  I got to the turn around, slowed down just enough to take my Camelbak off, throw it towards the support vehicle tell them my name, and headed back out.  At the 40 mile mark I had decided that I was going to have enough water, so I stated drinking one of my Heed bottles and was comfortable getting rid of the Camelbak.  So the next 15 miles were pretty good, then we turned back south, into the wind, and the wheels started falling off.  The next 15 miles were horrible.  More mental than anything I think.  My legs were screaming in pain, I was tired, tired of seeing 9 mph at the top of hills, tired of seeing my average speed drop on the Garmin.  I even told myself at one point, I see a sag wagon, I was quitting.  Then I started cramping.  So I gave up on the idea of non-stop.  I stopped for about 2 minutes, took a nature break in a corn filed, walked around for a few minutes, and stated again.  Things were feeling much better now, physically and mentally. NO QUITTING!!  Shortly after my stop, I passed one of the guys that was in front of me, he had a flat.  I slowed and he had things in hand, so I continued on.  With about 10-14 miles to go we changed directions again and kind of had the wind to our backs again, and the speed picked up.  We were mostly going down hill now, and on good asphalt.  Speeds back up to over 21 mph now, life is good again.  The railroad was building a new track beside the highway we were on, and I was looking at the construction and WHAM.  Still not sure what I hit (it felt like a concrete block).  It shook me so hard, it nearly jerked the bars out of my hands, my shoes came unclipped, and I had thoughts of going down again.  But I managed to keep it up right, but during the ride, I could hear my blackberry tumbling down the hi-way.  A cell phone has a very distinct sound as the pieces come off the phone and begin their own rolling journey down the pavement.  A lot like wind chimes.  As I stop, I can hear air coming out of my front tire.  Great.  So I change the tube, put air in it, and as I am putting it back on the bike, I hear air again....are you kidding me.  My brand new tube had a split in the seam.  I only carry one spare tube, so I have to patch this one, which during a race seems to take forever for the glue to dry.  As I am waiting for the glue to dry, more 100 mile racers go by, :(.  I only have one more cartridge of air, so I have to make sure I have everything done right this time.  Ok, we are rolling again.  Two tube changes and a patch job, 22 minutes, not too shabby.  So I'm off again, and its all down hill once again to the finish line.  Oh, the phone, put all the pieces back together again, and it works!   So I made my time goal, of under 6 hours, 5 hours 36 minutes to be exact in 6th place averaging 19 mph and 3100 feet of elevation climbing.  I did have to stop, once to water the corn, and once for the flats. I was on course for a 5 hour 15 minute ride up to that point.     Good day on the bike.   Thanks   ROY

except for the flats that was a great race!  awesome that you had equipment problems but still killed your goal.  congrats!

Amazing!  Great goal snatching!  You peeps in the saddle all that time keep me curious as I pedal along at 7mph in a comfy seat complaining! LOL

Congrats!

 that's an impressive ride man, even with the flats those are great numbers.  

Awesome job!

Nice job and finish!

Nice race! Way to overcome adversity with that flat! Big congrats on meeting your personal goal!

 Awesome. Congratz.

What a great story! Amazing you rode that long, congrats!~