They worked up a somewhat weird challenge of riding 79mi in a 24hr period on a particular weekend to commemorate Phillipe Gilbert taking the 79th running of the World Championships on his BMC. When they posted it I thought I might actually have a chance at this one weather permitting. We've had some decent weather of late so I figured I would pencil it in and if things looked good as we got closer I would go for it.
I also tried to talk a few other people into coming along for the ride but 80mi in 40 degree weather isn't an easy sell. A ME/NH border high five ride fell through, and I was unable to figure out a good route in the middle ground between here and Boston for Shaun and I to take a stab. BUT as fate would have it Clint texted me the weekend prior looking for a road ride. I was tied up then but I told him to stay tuned cause boy did I have a ride for him!
I gave him the details and surprisingly he was all for it. So I mapped out the flattest route I could think of.
PRO TIP: When the temps drop its better to keep your rides on the flatter side. This makes it easier to regulate your own temps. Big climbs will overheat you and then immediately descending covered in sweat will take you to the deep freeze. And lets be honest if the temps are dropping that means the season is ending and your legs are probably not what they were 4 months ago.
Clint has only been riding road for a year but hes one of those dudes with some serious natural fitness that works for just about anything and never seems to go away. He also rides Rt. 118 from Canaan to Plymouth once a week or so and that ride will do nothing but make you strong. He was churning big gears early and I was working pretty hard to hang on the rolly stuff. When am I going to learn that I can't do flat/rolly rides? My legs came around after about 20 and we got to business cruising right along to our stop at 50mi to top off fluids and get some calories.
Took me a bit to warm back up after that but then at about mile 60 we popped back out on Rt. 104 and those big rollers RUINED me. Very weird sensations. Wasn't cramping, wasn't bonking, my legs just hurt. Kinda like someone spent the day just unloading charlie horses on my quads. Never really felt anything like it. Needless to say I couldn't get them to do much but I was able to settle in and just suffer a bit. Even more strange after about 10mi of that they came back around a bit. Not completely but they felt more 'normal' for being that far into a ride.
We finished up Winona Rd. and Rt. 3 pretty efficiently for a ride time under 5hrs. Not bad. We had a short discussion about just rolling up to Campton and back for the full hundo...I think we both could have done it without much issue but it was risky with daylight and making calls in those scenarios seems to always tilt the scale towards bad luck. Make a plan, execute it well...don't push the limit late in the game.
Its nice having Clint back in the area. He's got a good attitude when it comes to slaying things. Next up...Turkey Burner on the party bike!
This sounds like a good ride....I'd like to get out on this one with you some time
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