WHEN AND HOW WILL YOU RIDE YOUR LONGEST RIDE EVER?
WE ALL KNOW OUR LONGEST RIDE. Might have been last week, last year or decades ago. Might have wrecked us, might have opened our eyes. Bottom line...
... it was memorable.
Epically unforgettable, like it was yesterday.
Part of that, for me, is I couldn't and wouldn't have done any of my longest rides without a friend.
Some one to hatch the plan with,
no matter how stupid it sounds.
My first longest ride was with Tally, my roommate, 6 weeks after purchasing my first road bike. A 125 mile loop, sunrise to sunset through the mountains of Utah.
30 years later, after much shaming from countless friends who'd done it, my next longest ride was LoToJa. 212 miles, just over 9 hours.
Yesterday was the latest. San Clemente to Big Bear. After two failed attempts in 2022, we made it:
- 122 miles,
- 15000' of vert,
- over pavement, gravel and single track.
It started in the dark, (photos below)
a balmy, coastal fall morning.
It ended in the dark.
I'm just gonna say right now, we could easily have died up there.
Sweaty
8000'
35°
But, we didn't.
Josh, Michael and I clocked 14 hours, just under 12 on the bike.
Richard and Terry amazingly finished 3 hours later,
Met at the summit by angels Kevin and Marrissa,
After Kevin's irreparable tire escapade.
Post a hot shower,
Trevor, my son, showed up with hot pizza.
Wrapped in blanket, still shivering I couldn't help but ask...
... Would you do it again?
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
We could make a few changes...
- Go when the days a longer
- Streamline Doheny to O'Neill a touch
- Skip the extra miles and 1700' of Grafton (I love)
- Get more people for a stronger paceline across the I.E.
Logistically, we nailed it pretty good.
- Stop in Corona at Speedway minimart
- Stop in Redlands at 7-11
- Hamburger and fries at Angelus Oaks.
Bike choices, it's def a gravel bike ride.
Emergency prep, could have been better:
- Space blanket
- Arm warmers
- Skull cap
Major mistakes on my part:
- Left my bottles at home, turned around and got 'em
- Left them again at Angelus Oaks, pressed on
- Back up batteries for Wahoo and head light
... yeah, we could change a few things.
But, we can't change this.
We made it,
together...
... and it changed us,
for the better.
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A few stats:
- 300+ calories/hour, mostly carbs
- Average power 179
- Average HR 129
Terry got a "lift" back to OC from Richard.
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Targeting 6.14.24... put it on your calendar
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161.3
6.5 hrs
No strength training
0 minutes recovery
0 minutes reading + Journaling
Todcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
