Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - A double metric and then some

Came home about an hour ago, after doing my toughest ride so far. At about 9 this morning I loaded up my rear panniers with water, food, some long sleeve/leg clothes, a thermarest and trangia+fuel. I had no idea if I was going to finish the ride or if I would have to call for a pickup somewhere en route, so I didn't post anything about trying since admittign failure is one of my biggest problems ;-)

Anyway, home now, the figures came out as 233.04km(144.8 miles) in 9:58:10 pedal time, a bit under 12 hours total time. I'm completely beat but very, very happy :-)

I'll upload some more photos an maybe elaborate the story a bit later if anyones interested, anyway here's what I looked like around halfway.
http://gallery.rhapsody.st/albums/ironfist_dagstur/tur1.sized.jpg

Holy Crapola man!!! That's awesome. Great job.

Gonna give us a true ride report once you've had a nap?

Dang...you be da man.

Holy Crapola man!!! That's awesome. Great job.

Gonna give us a true ride report once you've had a nap?

O.K. :-)

So I started out early last morning, figuring it would be quiet on the roads as the day before was midsummer eve, one of those days in Finland when everyone and their mom get completely plastered and would by now have a serous hangover.

My photos came out very boring, mostly abandoned countryside roads with a bit of green on either side.

Anyway I figured most kiosks and gasstations would be closed so i brought a lot of water and food with me, 3 800ml bottles and a 3l canister in one pannier, 2 packs of instand noodles, some bread and fruit. After the first 50km I took a brek, inflated my thermarest at a roadside stop and set up the trangia and made som noodles and sat in the shade to cool off for a while, still thinking I wasn't going to make it the whole way. The cloud cover the metorological office had promised were a bit thinner than expected, the sun was out in force and the light breeze wasn't really helping.

http://gallery.rhapsody.st/albums/ironfist_dagstur/tur3.sized.jpg

Got back in the saddle and did another 30km and found a place that was open and served coffee. Took this to show what joe average rides in Finland.

http://gallery.rhapsody.st/albums/ironfist_dagstur/tur2.sized.jpg

Coffee is like magic fuel to me, reinvigorated I climbed back on the bike and set off, but stopped about 10km later when I saw a spa with a restaurant that was open and went in for lunch. Didn't even get any funny looks for wearing cycling clothes :-)

Continued on foe 17km where I saw a small sign that said swimming beach(Uimaranta, look for these if touring Finland, they usually are very nice little beaches with outhouses and all)

http://gallery.rhapsody.st/albums/ironfist_dagstur/tur4.sized.jpg

Sent a text message to my mom to let her know I was alright, rested for a while and had some peanuts and water. Being half way I felt I would make it, and off I went.

Stopped again about 30km later at a gas station, more coffee and a few donuts. Now I "only had 90km left and still felt quite strong. Rode back the same way I came and found this great wiew I just had to take a photo of

http://gallery.rhapsody.st/albums/ironfist_dagstur/tur5.sized.jpg

With only 6km left, I bonked. Just felt I had to get off the bike really quick, wich was a good think because i just about managed to lay the bike down and blacked out for a second or so, had a 10 minute sit down and felt better after a snickers bar and some water. Rode home and took the shower of the decade :-)

After a bit of stretching, a mug of coffee and a pipe(yes, I'm an occasional smoker) I went to bed and passed out.

O.K. :-)

So I started out early last morning, figuring it would be quiet on the roads as the day before was midsummer eve, one of those days in Finland when everyone and their mom get completely plastered and would by now have a serous hangover.

My photos came out very boring, mostly abandoned countryside roads with a bit of green on either side.

Anyway I figured most kiosks and gasstations would be closed so i brought a lot of water and food with me, 3 800ml bottles and a 3l canister in one pannier, 2 packs of instand noodles, some bread and fruit. After the first 50km I took a brek, inflated my thermarest at a roadside stop and set up the trangia and made som noodles and sat in the shade to cool off for a while, still thinking I wasn't going to make it the whole way. The cloud cover the metorological office had promised were a bit thinner than expected, the sun was out in force and the light breeze wasn't really helping.

http://gallery.rhapsody.st/albums/ironfist_dagstur/tur3.sized.jpg

Got back in the saddle and did another 30km and found a place that was open and served coffee. Took this to show what joe average rides in Finland.

http://gallery.rhapsody.st/albums/ironfist_dagstur/tur2.sized.jpg

Coffee is like magic fuel to me, reinvigorated I climbed back on the bike and set off, but stopped about 10km later when I saw a spa with a restaurant that was open and went in for lunch. Didn't even get any funny looks for wearing cycling clothes :-)

Continued on foe 17km where I saw a small sign that said swimming beach(Uimaranta, look for these if touring Finland, they usually are very nice little beaches with outhouses and all)

http://gallery.rhapsody.st/albums/ironfist_dagstur/tur4.sized.jpg

Sent a text message to my mom to let her know I was alright, rested for a while and had some peanuts and water. Being half way I felt I would make it, and off I went.

Stopped again about 30km later at a gas station, more coffee and a few donuts. Now I "only had 90km left and still felt quite strong. Rode back the same way I came and found this great wiew I just had to take a photo of

http://gallery.rhapsody.st/albums/ironfist_dagstur/tur5.sized.jpg

With only 6km left, I bonked. Just felt I had to get off the bike really quick, wich was a good think because i just about managed to lay the bike down and blacked out for a second or so, had a 10 minute sit down and felt better after a snickers bar and some water. Rode home and took the shower of the decade :-)

After a bit of stretching, a mug of coffee and a pipe(yes, I'm an occasional smoker) I went to bed and passed out.
This looks and sounds like a wonderful way to spend the day! My max ride so far is about 15 miles, so I can't imagine...yet! :)

Black Shuck, first off....GREAT RIDE!

As to ride reports with pics.....always a given! We love bike p0rn, ride p0rn, cool scenery and everything!

So that's Finland? Wow! It looks like Michigan or Indiana (Except in Indiana, there's be corn on both sides of THAT road!)!:p :D

Black Shuck, first off....GREAT RIDE!

As to ride reports with pics.....always a given! We love bike p0rn, ride p0rn, cool scenery and everything!

So that's Finland? Wow! It looks like Michigan or Indiana (Except in Indiana, there's be corn on both sides of THAT road!)!:p :D

It's a wonderful ride report, but it gives me flashbacks to Finland Road, the toughest hill on the Indian Creek ride two weeks ago. :(

It looks like Michigan or Indiana (Except in Indiana, there's be corn on both sides of THAT road!)!:p :D

I remember riding the Hancock Horizontal Hundred (Findlay, Ohio) and the view was different every 2 years:
* 2 years of corn
* 2 years of soybeans

Good job man! Great pictures too, I've always wanted to do something really similar, just get up and go. Kinda pull a Forrest Gump and just ride for awhile. You're post sure lights that fire again.

Jason

Wow, thanks for all the great response everyone!

Noticed last night that I'm 1½ kg heavier than last week...guess it's extra water or something. I figure I've burned well over 10000 kcal from cycling the last two weeks or so.

Ahhh...Finland...how was the summer solstice holiday there? Congrats on the double metric!

You're an animal, way to go!

Ahhh...Finland...how was the summer solstice holiday there? Congrats on the double metric!

The weather was good and I hear the parties were as rowdy as always. I cycled out to my familys summer cottage, bbq'd some veggies and stuff and had a couple of brews. Not really interested in the kind of celebrating most people get into, and figured I'd need some rest before the ride.

Black Shuck... you're a clydesdale with some SISU!

Excellent job and a great report. So far my longest single day was 104 miles. I'm hoping to squeeze in some longer rides this summer and you've inspired me (or maybe it is just shame that I have let so many other things interrupt ride plans). It is great to do that kind of distance when you have nice scenery. Also I am amazed at the pic with all the bikes outside your first coffee stop -- you'd only see that in the States if a bike messenger business was next door!!!