Oct 15, 2023

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...