Post by YellowLemondTed on Oct 4, 2008 17:49:19 GMT -5
So as many of you are aware due to my subliminal messaging (all gone now), today was the Raisin Hope Foundation Ride.
There were several route options ranging from 15 to 63 miles. I chose to ride the 63 so I'd be able to ride with Saul Raisin as much as possible. The ride is held in and around Dalton Georgia which just happens to be located in the foothills of the blue ridge parkway. We (my parents went with me to meet Saul's parents and thank them for sharing their story) arrived about 8:30, the ride was set to roll out at 9. After I went and checked in and picked up my number I still needed to change to my riding kit. I went up to the restroom to slip on my shorts, when I came out, Saul recognized me immediately (last time he saw me, I was in the hospital). I walked over and we gave each other a big hug. He couldn't believe I was there to ride after my accident just 14 months ago. After I finished changing I went up to the start line. Saul, Timmy Dugan, Nathan O'neil and a few other pro racers were there with him. I worked my way in with them and stood there in awe by the fact that I was about to ride with all of these great athletes in support of brain injury survivors. The ride rolls out and we're cruising down the road. I coast up next to Saul and get to talking, he asks me which distance I'm planning on riding. When I told him I'd be doing the 63 he looked down at my bike and said "What are you going to drink?". I looked down and realized I forgot my 2 bottles back in the car. I told Saul I was going to drop back and pull over so I could call my parents and ask them to catch up with the bottles. Saul says "well here, take one of mine". He hands me a bottle, but I decide since the ride just rolled out, it won't take long for my rents to catch up. When I'm finished calling, the whole group has passed me and it's just the group of highway patrol cars behind me. I take off in pursuit of the peloton. As I'm riding I pass a few riders. I'm headed up what I think is just a long hill, didn't seem like anything too major and I pass a couple, I figure it'd be smart of me to find someone to pace with so I don't burn out too soon, when I pull up I ask if they minded if I tagged on. They told me it took them an hour and a half last year to get up this hill, but I'm welcome to join if I wanna roll at their pace. This didn't click with me at first, and I just keep truckin. As I'm going up the hill, I start getting passed by a couple riders. My dad catches up with me and I get my bottles. Just as I'm taking off, a good sized group passes me, I catch onto them and ask if we're on Fort mt. When they say yes, I think, well they must have already climbed it once, there's no way I passed em. When the told me it was their first assault this really has me confused. I climb up to the top of the "long hill" and refuel at the sag station, then I head down, not wanting to let my legs seize up.
I fly down the mtn, making sure I don't pull a repeat. When the road levels out, I'm only at 38 miles. I get myself into a rhythm and keep my head down. I tag onto a group passing a sag stop. We pace line for a bit, holding a good solid pace, but not busting our legs. All of a sudden, a race team passes us and all of the riders I was with decide they wanna ride with the "big boys". So I'm left riding all by myself. At this point, I start to bonk, all I've got left to drink is a bit of water. I start feeling a headache coming on, I realize I've gotten myself a bit dehydrated. Luckily I pull up to the last sag station and refill both bottles. It's only 5 more miles to the finish. I'm draggin the whole way, but I finish the ride. I ask around and find out that the lead group took a wrong turn and that is why they were all passing me on Fort.
All in all I feel I rode very strong, considering I was riding solo 75% of the ride.
My ride time was 4:00:16
The distance ends up being 63.55 miles
My avg speed is 15.8mph (I'm impressed considering I've be hanging around 15 lately)
My top speed is 40.1mph
Riding up in the mountains reminded me of how much I always enjoyed riding the WNC hills. I cannot wait to return and ride cullowhee mtn, water rock, and rich-balsam.
There were several route options ranging from 15 to 63 miles. I chose to ride the 63 so I'd be able to ride with Saul Raisin as much as possible. The ride is held in and around Dalton Georgia which just happens to be located in the foothills of the blue ridge parkway. We (my parents went with me to meet Saul's parents and thank them for sharing their story) arrived about 8:30, the ride was set to roll out at 9. After I went and checked in and picked up my number I still needed to change to my riding kit. I went up to the restroom to slip on my shorts, when I came out, Saul recognized me immediately (last time he saw me, I was in the hospital). I walked over and we gave each other a big hug. He couldn't believe I was there to ride after my accident just 14 months ago. After I finished changing I went up to the start line. Saul, Timmy Dugan, Nathan O'neil and a few other pro racers were there with him. I worked my way in with them and stood there in awe by the fact that I was about to ride with all of these great athletes in support of brain injury survivors. The ride rolls out and we're cruising down the road. I coast up next to Saul and get to talking, he asks me which distance I'm planning on riding. When I told him I'd be doing the 63 he looked down at my bike and said "What are you going to drink?". I looked down and realized I forgot my 2 bottles back in the car. I told Saul I was going to drop back and pull over so I could call my parents and ask them to catch up with the bottles. Saul says "well here, take one of mine". He hands me a bottle, but I decide since the ride just rolled out, it won't take long for my rents to catch up. When I'm finished calling, the whole group has passed me and it's just the group of highway patrol cars behind me. I take off in pursuit of the peloton. As I'm riding I pass a few riders. I'm headed up what I think is just a long hill, didn't seem like anything too major and I pass a couple, I figure it'd be smart of me to find someone to pace with so I don't burn out too soon, when I pull up I ask if they minded if I tagged on. They told me it took them an hour and a half last year to get up this hill, but I'm welcome to join if I wanna roll at their pace. This didn't click with me at first, and I just keep truckin. As I'm going up the hill, I start getting passed by a couple riders. My dad catches up with me and I get my bottles. Just as I'm taking off, a good sized group passes me, I catch onto them and ask if we're on Fort mt. When they say yes, I think, well they must have already climbed it once, there's no way I passed em. When the told me it was their first assault this really has me confused. I climb up to the top of the "long hill" and refuel at the sag station, then I head down, not wanting to let my legs seize up.
I fly down the mtn, making sure I don't pull a repeat. When the road levels out, I'm only at 38 miles. I get myself into a rhythm and keep my head down. I tag onto a group passing a sag stop. We pace line for a bit, holding a good solid pace, but not busting our legs. All of a sudden, a race team passes us and all of the riders I was with decide they wanna ride with the "big boys". So I'm left riding all by myself. At this point, I start to bonk, all I've got left to drink is a bit of water. I start feeling a headache coming on, I realize I've gotten myself a bit dehydrated. Luckily I pull up to the last sag station and refill both bottles. It's only 5 more miles to the finish. I'm draggin the whole way, but I finish the ride. I ask around and find out that the lead group took a wrong turn and that is why they were all passing me on Fort.
All in all I feel I rode very strong, considering I was riding solo 75% of the ride.
My ride time was 4:00:16
The distance ends up being 63.55 miles
My avg speed is 15.8mph (I'm impressed considering I've be hanging around 15 lately)
My top speed is 40.1mph
Riding up in the mountains reminded me of how much I always enjoyed riding the WNC hills. I cannot wait to return and ride cullowhee mtn, water rock, and rich-balsam.