going for it. i’m going to bike from my house in the fan to the end of the cap trail and back. 100+ miles. it will be the longest single day ride i’ve ever done. i need a challenge. the last week has felt like a loop of getting out of bed and getting into bed, and out again. feels like nothings happening.
i decided to do this ride as of 8pm last night. i have my new bike that i’ve only had the chance to to ride only twice since i got it a few weeks ago. i want to push it and see what it’s made of. i take a melatonin and go to bed.
7:16am. 0 miles. 12.22.2020
i’m just about ready to go. the bike is all packed, mostly with snacks. don’t need my overnight gear since it will only be today. 2 top tube bags, seat post bag, and 2 water bottles. i’ll have plenty of places to fill up on this trail.
not going for speed. just want to do it to do it. however long it takes. i attempted this in the summer, but ambitiously blasted to the first 60 miles in under 4 hours. i only made it to 78 miles before i had to call it, and have alex pick me up. i don’t want that to happen this time. going to try and pace myself. take as many stops as i need to stretch, and try eat something every hour.
i’ve brought headphones just in case i need to escape while i escape.
it’s. let’s get out the door.
ended up riding along side a fellow cycler. we were stopped at an intersection for long enough to exchange some friendly chatter. we’re going the same direction, so decided to carry on the conversation for the next 2 hours. he was kitted out, very slick bike and gear. bike was orange, i don’t remember the name. he shared that he grew up in richmond, but has been living in dubai for the last 10 years for work. trading mercedes cars or something? had to move back to the states due to covid. i asked about riding out there and he said it was nowhere else he had ever been before. hot and very beautiful. like another planet.
he taught me how to “draft.” which is a tactic done in cycle racing where you ride behind somebody really close to their back tire to create a slipstream, so the rider in back uses less energy and makes you go faster. i will admit it was pretty tricky and a little nerve racking. it was fun to learn something new! but i wasn’t trying to go fast today.
10:18am. 36.3 miles.
made it to charles city library. my usual spot to stop and eat a snack. fellow rider is headed back toward richmond. i’ll keep going as planned. i’ve taken a piss and ate an rx bar. gonna stretch some, then keep going.
11:57am. 56.9 miles.
made it to the brewery at the end of the trail.
i just slammed so hard half a mile from the end of the trail. i was giving my hands a break and sat up. the wind just took me right into a pole. bent the sign. nothing feels to banged up, but shit. that sucked. that’s now the second time this new bike has launched me off of it. still getting used to disc brakes. glad i had a helmet on. definitely going to feel that for the next couple days. gonna chill on this picnic table for a bit and have lunch before heading back the way i came. i made myself some DIY cereal in a ziplock bag. granola and dehydrated coconut milk. honestly pretty good. just add water. remembered to bring a spoon this time.
12:36pm. 59.6 miles
filled up water at spoke and art bathroom. inside was closed. was hoping for a hot coffee. looks like a nuun tablet will have to do.
2:07pm. 77.5 miles.
made it back to the charles city library. eating some almond butter and honey stingers. was ready for a little break. it’s gotten pretty windy. biking all into headwind. feels like i’ve been climbing a mountain. a flat mountain. definitely going slower. mentally feeling good though. also took the time to facetime my parents and say hi. nice having my phone rigged up on my handlebars. i’m sure they could see all my boogers.
3:51pm 91.9 miles.
i’m fuckin tired. physically not mentally. i had to stop on the side of the trail and lay down. my right knee is starting to tighten up. but nothing a little stretch session and break can’t help. drank some water and walked into the woods to take a piss before heading on again.
97.4 miles. 4:26pm.
4 mile trailhead. i’m spent. i sit down on one of the park benches and turn into a puddle. the sun is starting to set, which means i’ve got about a half an hour of daylight left. definitely not going to make it back to the house before it gets dark. my mind is starting to give me doubts. can i do it? should i call in a rescue, aka alex? i sit for a good bit and end up calling alex to check in. i tell her where i am, how far i’ve gone so far, and that i have about 18 miles left. mention that i’m not sure that i’m going to make it. i was feeling really good till this point. through talking, she gave me the confidence to keep going.
gassed me up! i head on!
4:45pm 97.4 miles
i’m back on the trail heading into the city. i start to set little goals in my head. check points. get to the bridge. pass the asshole with all the trump flags. reach the trail head. make it to the big hill. get through oregon hill. make it home. setting these little goals made it a fun game, and took me out of focusing on the ride as a whole. another motivator was that, i put the idea in my head, that i was gonna order a popeye’s chicken sandwich went i get back. that definitely gave me some juice.
6:04pm 113.9 miles
i’ve walked into the front door of my apartment. bike hoisted up on my right shoulder to carry up the stairs. feel like i’m in a daze. it feels weird to not be moving anymore. alex is home and is my cheer squad. i’m feeling good. mainly just drained. all i want to do now is get in a bath and eat a popeye’s sandwich.
mission accomplished. feels good to know that i can ride that distance if i have too. every time i ride, i grow as a cyclist. an adventurer. understanding my mental strength, as well as physical. to enjoy the little things. to see and experience what’s around me. the satisfaction after every ride is priceless. pure bliss.