Went to a great organized ride on the Natchez Trace this past weekend. It was the Cyclists Curing Cancer ride, put on by the Baptist Healthplex in Clinton, MS. The proceeds are going to a serenity garden for cancer patients and their families. It's always great getting to do something as fun as riding a bike while helping a great cause at the same time. Cycling is more than just a great workout sometimes.
Well, I went expecting to do 50 miles. This was going to be pretty tough since for two months I had done triathlon training rides. Basically laying on the aerobars and hammering as hard as I could for 20-30 miles. I also wanted to get back to my house in time to catch the start of the Mississippi State and Auburn game. Well, to quote the LBS owner, if it has two balls and it's on two wheels, it's gonna race. We went the first 25miles at .5mph lower than my personal best. I was ready to cry uncle and turn around. Unfortunately, we had caught up with a guy I work with.
He said, "Come on, it's only six more out and back, then back in from here. Let's do the metric." Well, I couldn't get upstaged by a guy I see at work every day, so I went for it. Turns out, I was kicking some ass. I ended up pulling him and a few others to about the 55 mile mark, and I was turning at a great pace for me. I could have even rode off and left them, but I was all about being the stud that yanked the wheel suckers along.
Then my legs fell off. Everbody was sucking wind. No one could pull. We were fighting a hellacious head wind. Mortorcycles and cars were whizzing by, pissed at the group that looked like a bunch of drunk bikers struggling on flat ground. To top it off, I got in my car, turned on the radio, and found out I had missed MSU scoring the first thirteen points against Auburn.
Well, I got home, cracked a beer, turned on the game. My legs were throbbing, I was still breathing hard, and it was then I realized how much freaking fun I had. Even when it breaks you down into a whimpering puppy, riding a bike is exactly what Bobke said it is (see the quote at the top of the page).
Two other things made the day great:
and:
