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10-14-08, 09:02 PM
Last Sunday, I completed my new LHTs first century (Ride the Rivers, St. Louis, Mo). We (me, wife, coworker, and his 13 year old daughter) started at 0700, a nice cool, but humid/foggy morning. After climbing out of the river valley, my wife and I left my coworker and his daughter behind, by mutual agreement- she was trying to keep up, and the adults were pulling her a little too hard. At mile 35, my wife got picked up by my sister and her husband, and all three of them were to meet with me at mile 80 and they would ride in the last 20 with me (sister and BIL are new riders- 20 miles is a long ride for them). My average to this point was 12.5 mph. Rode the next 45 miles with a tailwind, and averaged 19-20 on that leg. At mile 80 my average was up to 14.5. Met up with the three, and we rode the last 20 into a headwind, and we were back down to 10-12 mph for the last leg. Finished with a 13.5 avg., at 4:30- a 9.5 hour day... Temps made it up into the 80's.
Had two bouts where my keester got a little sore- I attribute this to a brand new B17- not quite as comfy as my 4 year old B67. The LHT was great. No hand or arm pain, no neck or back pain. Had a pretty bad cramp session at about 75 miles, probably a little dehydrated, and pushed a little too hard on the tailwind stretch. Motrin and Clif SHot Blocks fixed me up (the blocks are great if you haven;t tried them).
So, final verdict on the LHT for long days in the saddle? GREAT. Very satisfied...
Best part of the day? The 13 year old and her dad came in at 6:30, lights blazing. ANd she was in good humor and high spirits. Her longest ride to date was 38 miles!
Pics: The trail in the morning fog. First Rest stop, in Forest Park. Tired but happy 13 year old.
Had two bouts where my keester got a little sore- I attribute this to a brand new B17- not quite as comfy as my 4 year old B67. The LHT was great. No hand or arm pain, no neck or back pain. Had a pretty bad cramp session at about 75 miles, probably a little dehydrated, and pushed a little too hard on the tailwind stretch. Motrin and Clif SHot Blocks fixed me up (the blocks are great if you haven;t tried them).
So, final verdict on the LHT for long days in the saddle? GREAT. Very satisfied...
Best part of the day? The 13 year old and her dad came in at 6:30, lights blazing. ANd she was in good humor and high spirits. Her longest ride to date was 38 miles!
Pics: The trail in the morning fog. First Rest stop, in Forest Park. Tired but happy 13 year old.