This year I had two goals: walk a half marathon and ride a century. I've walked a half marathon before but had only topped out my mileage at 95 and that was a few years ago on the trip to Modesto (although it was on the Mundo so that should add extra mileage points). Anyway, I've been feeling out of shape this year and wanted to feel strong again like I had after Little Brother was born.
This weekend was a kid-free one and I planned a long ride up to Lake Solano and back--all in one day, 100 miles exactly if I took the American River Parkway, a bit out of my way. I had the support of my sweet boyfriend, K., who had just finished his 3rd century+ of over 130 miles at an average speed of 17mph. My goal was more modest: 100 miles and be home before dark. Slow and steady, just keep moving forward, that's my bicycling mantra. I might not be very fast but I can keep going.
This weekend was a kid-free one and I planned a long ride up to Lake Solano and back--all in one day, 100 miles exactly if I took the American River Parkway, a bit out of my way. I had the support of my sweet boyfriend, K., who had just finished his 3rd century+ of over 130 miles at an average speed of 17mph. My goal was more modest: 100 miles and be home before dark. Slow and steady, just keep moving forward, that's my bicycling mantra. I might not be very fast but I can keep going.
K. rode the Bike Friday HaulaDay because his bikes would have been too fast for me to keep up with and they can't carry any gear. Also, he just likes riding the HaD. We stripped off the basket and extra rails to lighten the load, stretched it out to its max length with the OSATA adjustments, then loaded it up with snacks and water. He'd be the sag wagon while I would be free and unencumbered. I rode the upgraded Oscar, my old Nashbar touring frame. We planned to leave by 6am so naturally, we were rolling along by 6:30am instead.
The first exciting unexpected event happened just out of West Sac when the HaD's crankarm became loose. I'd recent lost all my bike tools and we had been riding without any tools, especially an allen key that would have fit a crankarm bolt. We checked our options and sadly, the newly opened West Sac Edible Pedal wasn't going to open for another hour so we found the right size tool at Home Depot, tightened it back down and we we're back on the road.
Because of our delay and the fact that we were feeling good, we decided to skip a Davis stop and continue on to Winters where our lunch at Steady Eddy's was planned. We looped up around past Lake So,lano first and I was starving by the time we reached it. 53 miles down and it was 11:45am, hot out already. Lunch was amazing, of course. Getting back on the bike afterward was not.
We lucked out by not having much of a headwind in either direction. It was gusty at times but nothing that wasn't manageable. We made a couple extra short stops to snack and refill our bottles. The Hydroflask bottles kept some of the water cool while the water in my bottle cage could have brewed tea by midday.
Arriving back in Sacramento put us about 10 miles short of our goal so we rode back up the American River Parkway to Sac State and back down to midtown for dinner at Burgers & Brew. Every part of my body hurt. My elbows, my hands, my legs, and especially my butt. I had worn my one pair of chamois shorts but nothing could have helped. Ouch!
The first exciting unexpected event happened just out of West Sac when the HaD's crankarm became loose. I'd recent lost all my bike tools and we had been riding without any tools, especially an allen key that would have fit a crankarm bolt. We checked our options and sadly, the newly opened West Sac Edible Pedal wasn't going to open for another hour so we found the right size tool at Home Depot, tightened it back down and we we're back on the road.
Because of our delay and the fact that we were feeling good, we decided to skip a Davis stop and continue on to Winters where our lunch at Steady Eddy's was planned. We looped up around past Lake So,lano first and I was starving by the time we reached it. 53 miles down and it was 11:45am, hot out already. Lunch was amazing, of course. Getting back on the bike afterward was not.
We lucked out by not having much of a headwind in either direction. It was gusty at times but nothing that wasn't manageable. We made a couple extra short stops to snack and refill our bottles. The Hydroflask bottles kept some of the water cool while the water in my bottle cage could have brewed tea by midday.
Arriving back in Sacramento put us about 10 miles short of our goal so we rode back up the American River Parkway to Sac State and back down to midtown for dinner at Burgers & Brew. Every part of my body hurt. My elbows, my hands, my legs, and especially my butt. I had worn my one pair of chamois shorts but nothing could have helped. Ouch!
Delirious!
I was actually thrilled at this point, I just don't look it.
I had a root beer float and a chili cheeseburger. Food is so yummy! I was terribly sad to have to get back on the bike for the final three miles home after dinner. One last stop for beer and Three Musketeer bars to end the ride.
This morning, I woke up a little stiff but otherwise fine. I was able to function and go about my day although, by afternoon, I was exhausted so I took a wonderful nap. I'm quite proud that I was able to ride a hundred miles in a single day without any actual training or preparation. I'm very grateful to have a body that is strong and healthy and I would like to continue to stay this way for as long as possible. Biking on a regular basis has really helped me stay active because with our busy schedules, it'd be difficult to get additional exercise any other way. Without a car, I'm forced to ride to get around so exercise has become a part of my everyday routine, it's a sustainable practice that I've grown to love. My new goal is to continue to push my body to reach new limits to become stronger, both mentally and physically. I might as well enjoy being active now so that I can continue to be active longer in life--use it or lose it, they say.
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