LONG Ride

(July 4th weekend - still catching up)

Fourth of July weekend the plan called for a 3 hour bike ride … I was leaving from the beach and knew that my usual “follow the MS Ride” route would not take 3 hours I decided to get creative on mapmyride. I searched for a 45 mile ride and found one that began and ended in a place I was familiar with that was 50 miles ... close enough I figured and made my own cue sheet from the map. The morning of the ride, I loaded up with gel and gatorade and was out the door by 8 am.

The first 10 miles or so were on my usual route and I felt fine. I was only traveling with the cue sheet, not the map and around 10 miles tried to visualize where I would be on the map – and that’s when I realized that I forgot to account for the fact that I started my ride 5 miles before the 50 mile mapped ride “officially” began and would be ending it about 5 miles away from my final destination. And like that my 50 mile ride became 60.

The next 15 miles were off my usual route and less than straight – I thought about doubling back to keep the distance down but wasn’t sure that I’d be able to easily reverse the directions in my head. I also wanted to hit the hills that were yet to come on the complete course. I was hopeful that I would at some point know where I was and be able cut out some miles by taking a direct route home. If not, I had an extra gel and money so I figured I’d be fine.

At about the 35 mile mark things were still going fine and I estimated I’d come in around 3:30, go for a run off and enjoy the rest of the day having done some solid training. And then, just as I was feeling good about my direction following ability, I realized I missed a turn. I doubled back and still couldn’t find the road I was looking for. I tripled back and having added another 6 miles to my already too long ride, started to panic. So I pulled out my phone and used the gps function which told me I was only 1 mile away – I quadrupled back and STILL COULD NOT FIND it. And the fact that I was by myself and miles away from home on a hot summer day started to freak me out even more. So I had the gps give me turn by turn directions and realized that the road I was looking for had two names, only one of which was on the street sign I had ridden by 4 times already.

Unlost but realizing I was going to be on my bike for a long time (both in terms of hours and miles) I decided to stay focused and get home as quickly as I could. I was still doing ok, and thankful for a passing shower when I hit the head wind. Ouch. Before long I was down to my emergency gel, conserving warm Gatorade in the middle of farm country without a 7-11 or gas station in site and I still had at least 15 miles to go. But I was fine, more or less, and didn’t think it was worth using a “help come get me” card with any of my friends. So I pressed on and eventually made it home having covered just over 70 miles in just under 5 hours.

And was never so grateful for GPS and the emergency gel!