Blythe to Wickenburg Az…a stupid hard day

 


It’s not great when, 20 miles into a 115 mile ride, you feel like quitting. 

When the flagpole can barely hold onto the flag…

We spent 30 miles on Highway 10 fighting a ferocious crosswind and really challenging climbs.  With semis barreling past at high speeds.  Trying to keep your wheel straight in the wind, while avoiding all of the debris that can puncture tires… 

I had to stop repeatedly to rest.    

Here I am thinking…
10 more miles of this before we're even off US-10?  WTF 

By the time I finished the last climb of that first stretch, I couldn’t decide whether I was bonking or just suffering from  existential despair.   Maybe it’s just the fourth long day in a row.  But dang!

At some point, I just started telling myself… It takes as long as it takes. It takes as long as it takes.  A mantra I repeated about 50 times on the subsequent windy climbs before the mile 66 SAG.

The Little Church of Hope
Well-timed at mile 55

.

Two-time daily MVG

My Camelbak repeated as daily most valuable gear. I drank four gallons of water and electrolytes on this ride and finished parched.

I’ve ridden the Col du Tourmalet.   I’ve ridden the Triple Bypass.  I’ve done the 162 mile Ride Across Indiana in 100 degree heat.   This was the hardest day I’ve had on a bike.


But I finished  







Comments

  1. AnonymousMay 8, 2024 at 8:23 PM

    And you did it faster than I did! And I still rode EFI. You got this!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMay 8, 2024 at 8:25 PM

    Oh, and when it seems too late and you feel too tired, keep blogging. You’ll be glad you did. Or else it will all be a blur!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMay 8, 2024 at 8:35 PM

    Wow. What a day. You may need that mantra a bit more over these coming weeks. You got this.

    ReplyDelete
  4. JimMay 8, 2024 at 9:00 PM

    “… I’ve ridden the Col du Tourmalet. I’ve ridden the Triple Bypass. I’ve done the 162 mile Ride Across Indiana in 100 degree heat. This was the hardest day I’ve had on a bike…” Wow. Just wow.

    ReplyDelete
  5. OttoKMay 8, 2024 at 11:20 PM

    good job

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousMay 9, 2024 at 5:23 AM

    I’m sure there will be harder days, but they all make the last day sweeter!

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousMay 9, 2024 at 6:32 PM

    If you’re feeling wasted at over 15 mph maybe you’re not doing so bad after all! I finished this in way less harsh conditions after most of the group was showered and already at dinner! But I did it!!!

    ReplyDelete

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