Yesterday’s goal was to do four hours on the bike for endurance, so I started planning a route that would let me hit at least one coffee shop. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to go to Ride Studio Cafe in Lexington, or Atomic Cafe in Beverly. Then Chip Baker said:
Mocha latte at Ride Studio Cafe
Hm, ok, can I do that? I know that at this time of the year I’m slow regardless of fitness, between the weather and mindset, so four hours on the bike would be about 55-60 miles. I managed to cobble together a route that would bring me to both places along many roads I know well, including my old route through Lynnfield and Salem to get to Beverly. Of course come ride time I couldn’t get the Garmin to pull up the route, so knowing the roads was a savior as I rode sans-map.
The first 10 miles was a little rough. I wasn’t really feeling the ride, and was doubting the ability to do the whole route, mentally at least. I always do better on group rides when there’s the ability to be social. Then a couple of things happened at RSC that seemed to give me the push to get to Beverly: I met Christine for the first time, said hi to Aidan (who was in the middle of a 111 mile day) and talked to Cindy about racing this year. It wasn’t the same as doing the route with someone, but it was just enough socializing to get myself focused on the ride. I rode strong and quick up to Beverly, at least for a little while.
Beverly Harbor
Mocha latte at Atomic Cafe
Coming through Salem it hit me all of a sudden: I didn’t eat enough. I had plenty of food with me, but I was enjoying the ride and didn’t take the time to eat right on the bike. So there it was, I was bonking. I managed to make it to Atomic, and made a poor decision, ordering a turkey panini. Yeah sure it was delicious, but it was too much to handle all at once, plus the mocha latte.
Therefore, the last 20 miles back to my house were brutal. The legs wouldn’t turn, the mind wouldn’t focus and the weather didn’t cooperate. I felt like I was fighting the bike on every turn of the pedal, until I got to North Reading.
The high school in North Reading is the 5 mile mark. Heading out for a ride, passing it usually means I’m warmed up enough to ride a little harder. And coming back it’s the point at which my mind goes: we’re only 5 miles from home, let’s do this; and then the legs work better and I ride faster. This is what happened on yesterday’s ride.
After 54.3 miles, 3:46 hours on the bike (yeah yeah I didn’t get to 4 hours), two mocha lattes and a panini later, I was done. This is what done looks like, plus a little embro:
So the lessons from the ride were:
- solo riding is even harder mentally than physically
- I need to eat more often on the bike
- paninis after bonking is a bad idea
- mocha lattes are awesome
How was your Saturday?
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i still dont understand how you can ride when its this cold out. im in total ski mode haha.
Haha I don’t mind it. I gotta get the miles in.
Your poor, pink legs! I’m psyched we’re in the 40′s this week. Definitely adding some base miles! I need a few longer rides in 2013. My longest was only 52 last year–totally unacceptable–but it’s hard to find a chunk of time that big (for me) and I agree–having someone to chat with makes it a bit less monotonous.