Fifty Plus (50+) - First Birthday Ride is History

Well I've been planning a 62 mile Birthday ride for about 6 weeks. Last year at this time I couldn't contemplate such a long ride. I made at least four practice rides of the partial route I selected; but yesterday, May 27th was the big day. Since the weather has turned quite warm, I've changed plans the last minute to leave house a bit earlier to ride in cooler temps. I got 20 feet out the door and my music player battery died. Fortunately that did not turn out to be a bad omen. Changed battery and on my way. It was cool for first 5 miles but was turning warm quickly, but not unbearable. Rode from 9am to 12 noon with 4 mini rest stops. Drank a full 32 oz bottle of water, ate one banana. Finished leg 1 with 35 miles. Had a one hour lunch break with the in laws and one daughter. Son in law was suppose to ride last half with me, but he begged off, was too tired from working on house. So I rode off for leg two, a flat road ride around the Oley Valley for just 12 miles. This leg was oddly the hottest. Back at in laws for a 35 minute break, some blue berry pie, top off water and grab another banana for future fuel, but never ate it. Leg 3 is the final 15 miles back to house. The last leg is also the toughest with three steep hills. I planned a mini break for two of the hills, so if I had to quit riding and walk a hill, it wasn't the end of the world. First hill I did just that. Dismounted, walked about 50 feet, consumed my last fig newtons, sipped some water. Then off again for just 3 miles to a convenience store. Had a cold ice tea here, and enjoyed the air conditioned store for 5 minutes. Feeling extra fresh, I climbed the second steep hill. Actually a feat I haven't been able to do before. But alas that climb sapped my strength and I had to walk about 75 feet on the third steep hill. I was actually walking as mile 60 ticked over on the odometer. Stopped under a shade tree for 10 minutes and waited for sister who was to meet me. But apparently she doesn't ride in 84 degree temps. Dumped my remaining water on my head, which had the cooling effect I wanted and rode on to complete the ride. Arriving home at 4:10 pm. Daughter snapped the attached photo before my wife and sister threw water on me. I think they have their sports confused, I really wanted a cold beer.

There are some of us that have birthdays in winter and some of us- me included, try and wait for when the temp gets sensible to do a ride. Have a feeling that you wish you had done the same. Great ride but you will have to get the family better trained for your next distance ride. The cold beer has to come first. Great ride but shame about the riding top.

Great ride and report Guy, and good point about the temp, stapfam! I was riding up toward your way on Saturday, Guy- Philly to Collegeville and back- a full metric (my first). I almost bonked on the return between Conshohocken and Philly, but took a couple of mini-breaks (no fig newtons, but I could definitely have used one or five). I had 92 degrees on my computer- it was a hot one!

Congrats!

Way to go guybierhaus!
As for riding in hot temps, it is a way of life in my neighborhood. By mid-June it will be in the mid-80s for my after-work rides, and mid- to upper 90s by mid-July. Just have to drink a lot more water, ride a little slower pace, and find shade for regular stops.

My birthday ride is coming up in mid-June -- it will be a little easier (51 miles).

. . . And you wouldn't have even contemplated this a year ago. That's what makes it so great/fun/important/etc. Nice going. :beer: And I LIKE your jersey! (Now, the shorts . . .):)

How do you like that bag that hangs in the trianle?

I just recently replaced my two-year old Cannondale with a Giant T-mobile TCR carbon fiber bike (collided head-on with a car on the C'dale, totalling it).

I had outfitted the C'dale with a seat-clamp rack to carry anything from light seat wedgies to heavy styrofoam lined trunks capable of carrying to six-packs of soda (or . . .).

Anyhow, I don't have the heart to slap a heavy rack on the seat of this very light-weight bike, so, have been carrying less, and added one of those "oversized" Topeak wedge bags - but could still use some sort of extra storage space.

Your bag might fill the bill.

Caruso

Oh, and congrats on the ride.

Caruso

Congrats on the ride! Well planned and very well done. I'm sure the water felt great both times!!

I'm a little younger so I have the advantage of having to do a few less miles........plus my Bday is in September. Usually it's not too hot..........

How do you like that bag that hangs in the trianle?

Caruso

The triangle bag is one that we use on the Tandem and I find it very usefull. The saddle wedge still carries the tube and levers etc. but that frame bag is unobtrusive and can carry the longer items. Even bananas don't get mangled in that bag. Only problem is that on Compact frames- they might not fit aswell as they should.

And as for JPPE doing less miles- I think he should be made to do a double century for his ride. Or Ride his age up and down the last 3 miles of his last ride- without the downhill sections counting. That should bring him in line with the effort that the NEW birthday boys and girls have to put in.

How do you like that bag that hangs in the trianle?

Anyhow, I don't have the heart to slap a heavy rack on the seat of this very light-weight bike, so, have been carrying less, and added one of those "oversized" Topeak wedge bags - but could still use some sort of extra storage space.

Your bag might fill the bill.

Caruso

The bag is great. I had such a struggle with attaching an underseat bag, then worried about it coming off and I would never know it. Had a larger frame bag first, but it covered part of my bike name on top tube, so got the smaller bag. Both from Nashbar. My pump actually fits in bag, with tube, napkins, fig newtons or a banana, tyre changer bars and small ratchet with seat adjusting socket. Or I could put banana in shirt and put camera in bag. That will be tomorrows trip.

And to respond to another comment, after seeing that pic of me, I do need other shorts for that shirt. Looks like the Jelly Belly team uses black. Also failed to mention I rode an extra few tenths of a mile over 62 to yield a metric century, for what ever purpose that serves. There was nothing much left in me to go for a 100 mile century...that will be maybe next year.

I was actually walking as mile 60 ticked over on the odometer.

I hope you were back riding by mile 62 - if you were walking when it ticked over to 62 you'd have to start all over again! Congrats on the ride!

BTW, I consider 75-85F to be PERFECT bike riding weather! What's up with sister not riding at 84F?

I hope you were back riding by mile 62 - if you were walking when it ticked over to 62 you'd have to start all over again! Congrats on the ride!

BTW, I consider 75-85F to be PERFECT bike riding weather! What's up with sister not riding at 84F?

Well, when it cools down this fall, I hope to ride the same route again. Although I did actually ride the last 2 miles with my version of a sprint through my stone driveway and into back yard where reception group was waiting.

It's another story, but unknown to me, my "baby" sister started riding about the same time I did. She doesn't really ride enough. Got herself a 21 speed beach cruiser. Prefers flat, flat roads, as in southern Delaware where she resides. We first rode together at the Amish Bike Tour from Dover, DE, in 2005. All she could talk about is the pies at the rest break. She rides her cruiser at 7 mph, I was on the hybrid then at maybe 11 mph. In 2006 she was still 7mph and looking to the pies. I was on the road bike by then, rode twice as far and waited 15 minutes at the end for her. She did attend the NY 5 Boros ride last year, I wanted no part of that crowd. She was gathered up by the SAG bus, too slow. Anyway I encourage her when I can, after all she does ride sometimes. The wife is scared to even sit on the bike.

Nice planning on that ride. I like the stops and pie along the way. If I ever get anywhere close to that distance, I will be doing the same. It would be my only hope.

I'm in agreement with the difficulty in riding in warmer weather. I'm hot at 80 and very uncomfortable at 85, at least with eastern humidity. 90 out west is much more comfortable than 85 in the east.

I'm hoping for an average Wisconsin summer, where the highs are in the upper 70s and low 80s, with nights & early mornings in the upper 50s. If we get a stretch of upper 80s and 90s, it will really cut down my riding.

Congratulations on the birthday ride and on the progress. 84 degrees is mild weather around here.

Fantastic accomplishment! Definitely poor yourself a cold one or two.
I'm with you... 80 and up gets a little too warm for comfort for this coastal boy...

Last year at this time I couldn't contemplate such a long ride.

It's statements like these that keep me motivated :)

Congratulations and happy birthday :beer:

Well I've been planning a 62 mile Birthday ride for about 6 weeks. Last year at this time I couldn't contemplate such a long ride.

Congratulations and Happy Birthday!

Congrats, the first birthday ride is really a great accomplishment. Too bad they get a mile longer each year..