Tim, Asher, and I had planned to do a 50-mile gravel ride today as training for Gravel Grovel. I am registered for the Gravel Grovel again this year. I have a better bike for it this year, but I’m out of shape and my weight it up.
Asher is also planning on racing. Tim isn’t, due to other obligations that day, but he’s willing to train with us.
Due to unplanned circumstances, Tim wasn’t able to drive his car to haul three bikes out to the planned ride location. I hurriedly made up a route the night before (after having too much beer) that stayed in the Louisville area and didn’t require a car.
The new route had very little gravel, but it had some hills, and allowed me to stretch my legs on the new bike for 50 miles or so.
Asher arrived at my house at an ungodly hour. I only managed three hours of sleep – mostly due to my light-night drinking and carousing. Once we were ready, we both headed to Tim’s house.
It wasn’t 6:00am yet. It was dark and cold. Heading out Taylorsville Rd, which can be stressful during the day, just wasn’t an issue. Once we left the urban “heat island” the temperatures plummeted, and I got quite cold.
Eventually the sun came up enough to slightly warm us. As we got outside the city there was fog in the low-lying areas. It was actually a beautiful ride.
I was suffering early. I had no energy. I’m out of shape. The lack of sleep and too much alcohol the night before didn’t help, but the biggest problem was that I hadn’t eaten breakfast. I’d been munching on some peanut butter crackers, but that wasn’t enough.
We stopped at a gas station for some more immediate calories and to warm our hands and toes.
The gas station stop helped me immensely for a temporary basis. I would continue to “run out of steam” several times throughout the ride.
The overall route had us heading out of town to the southeast, turning north in a more rural area, then going back into town from the northeast. We traveled some major roads, but traffic wasn’t a problem on a Sunday morning. I had been drunk when planning the route, but it worked.
Once we arrived back in town, we deviated from the route. We were I was tired and wanted to cut a few miles and a few hills off the ride.
At one point, I stopped at a four-way stop sign quickly (wasn’t paying attention and almost ran in front of a car). I had shifted the bike, but the pedals hadn’t rotated enough to actually perform the shift. Once I started to go again, the gears shifted with a loud “pop”. The bike did not shift well after that. Closer inspection revealed that I bent a couple of links in the chain. Ah well, I’ll need to buy a new chain.
We made pretty good time down Westport Rd and wound through Cherokee/Seneca parks and to Twig and Leaf, a local restaurant that serves great breakfast and lousy but serviceable coffee.
Tim had family matters to attend to, and headed home. Asher headed back my direction, it’s on his way home anyway, and stopped by to share some IPA with me, and get his clothes covered in dog hair. 🙂
I ended the ride with 52.5 miles. That’s the longest ride I’ve done in a while. It’s the longest ride I’ve done on the new bike. I’ll write up impression about the Fargo at a later date.
I fully intended to take a nap. I was quite tired after the day’s adventure (and four days of being out late drinking), but I’ve been doing housework, playing on the computer, and reading a book.
I did not go out to a bar again tonight, nor will I. I’m actually considering a shorter urban ride on my single-speed.
My poor performance on this ride reminds me I need to lose weight and get stronger for the Gravel Grovel. My goal this year is to finish in less than six hours.