Stumpyman

I woke up wednesday morning with the worst sore throat I've had in a long time. I went to the doctor that day, got prescription decongestant/expectant and proceeded to do everything I could to kill the bug in my system. By Friday I was excited, but not quite 100%.

So yesterday, I woke up at 6:30am to head out to do the Tour de Felasco, the 50 mile ride I had mentioned before. I've never drunk so much water in a single day before, nor had so many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The first half was awesome, I finished in 3 hours. That includes time for two SAG stops (Stop and go?) where they fed the riders tons of good trail food. I hated the last 5 or so miles of the half though, because it was really strenuous double-track, and seemed almost like a continual climb.

The lunch was good. I had some great vegetarian chili (they also had chicken soup, but I wanted something spicy and thick instead) and I ate another peanut butter and jelly. I probably could have rested more at lunch, but it probably just would have made me take longer.

The second half...ugh. I was moving very slow. I left the lunch area at 12pm and got back to the parking lot 25 miles later at 5:30. I was the last person that actually finished the entire course. A lot of people dropped out. I had many opportunities to drop myself, but I didn't take them and stuck them out. I was granny-gearing it most of the second half mainly because I was getting hamstring cramps that were awful, but they went away after I drank a few glasses of gatoraide at the last SAG.

Overall, I'm proud. I went in expecting to do at most 25 miles, and got back to the parking lot with all 50 completed. I'm actually not too sore today, probably because I only crashed once. I was going downhill, got crooked on a root with my front wheel, and tucked it doing a pretty nice endo. I landed sideways on my right food, surprised I didn't twist my ankle. I did, however, get a nice bruise on my left knee. I was trying to tell which way to go with the signs at an intersection and I turned late, smacking my right handlebar into a wooden trail sign, causing my front wheel to go right then left and thwack my left knee. I did not crash though.

Now...if only my back would get a little stronger.

Cornish_Rdr_UK

Wow, sounds like a cool ride! Wish we had Races and rides like that around here, we dont have any comps for 150 miles in every direction...

Well done man!

skunkty14

Congrats on finishing the whole ride. 50 miles of trail riding is impressive for anyone in my book. Hopefully I'll be in the shape needed for such riding by this summer, I'm planning some epic rides of my own.