BobbyG

Repeated last years birthday ride from Colorado Springs to Palmer Lake and back, but added an extra mile.
I made it north in 2hrs and 39min versus 3 hours last year. But the downhill ride home was against the wind, so it pretty much evened out at the end for a grand total of 5 hrs and 11min saddle time.

I hit "the wall" at 48 miles, but got a second wind at 54 miles. Last year there was no "wall"

My goal since moving here in 1992 has been to ride to Denver whose border is about 70 miles from my home. Now that my daughter lives up there I'm looking at a 77 mile ride to her place. I think I found a safe route (finally) but based on the difficulty of today's ride I don't think I'll make it to Denver without training. I have a profound respect for cross-country tourers who pedal heavier, loaded bikes 50 to 100 miles a day, day after day.

My cardio is up to it, and I can manage my hand cramps by changing positions, but the gravel and dirt section through the Air Force Academy beat up my butt. As my MTB is wearing studded snow tires I was on a road bike, but I wanted to record video from the Academy section of the Santa Fe trail (named after the railroad) which I missed last year due to run down batteries in the helmet cam.

The ride to Denver would be on roads only, and next years birthday ride will be pavement only. I've thought about trying to go 57 miles on the Velodrome by the Olympic Training Center, which can be rented, including fixed-gear track bike rental.

For a guy who commutes 9 miles each way 3-4 days a week with a 20-40 mile weekend ride for fun, I think I did okay. My butt says otherwise.

I'll edit down the video in the next few days and share it when it's done.

OldTryGuy

NIICE oh, BTW----

There is no substitute for time on a saddle so ride on and get that longer ride done.

McBTC

My experience has been that whatever I'm comfortable riding, I could do 50% if sufficiently motivated. Based on that theory, your training for a 77 mile run might be to get comfortable riding 51.3 miles on a regular basis.

canklecat

Well done. I can't think of a single ride longer than 30 continuous miles without a pause where I didn't feel like I'd hit a wall. Whether it's riding my age (60 now) or a full century, even with plenty of rest breaks, the last 10-20 miles always feels like misery bordering on insurmountable. More than once I've nearly dismounted on the last one or two hills when I realized I could walk faster than I was pedaling.

PaddleFoot

Hello,

Congrats on your Birthday ride! I missed my #57 ride this year due to weather. Folks born in the summer months sure have it easy!

A birthday is a special day when I am closer to my parents (both long gone). It has become a personal pleasure for me that is even more special than the well-wishes I receive from family and friends. I hope it as special for you.

Hitting the wall is terrible. Don't ever do it again! (haha). I've done it twice and when you can walk easier then you can ride, you have definitely bonked.

GadgetGirlIL

Congrats on your birthday ride! I started my tradition in 2014 and did that ride on the Trek 700 that I inherited from my father (he passed in 2005). I know my dad is with me on both my cycling as well as hiking adventures. He was an avid hiker.

I am grateful that my parents decided on making me a June baby ;-)

Wileyrat

Congrats!

Hitting the wall happens, and for me, it's a combination of rest and nutrition. Quite simply, I've learned what foods and amount of hydration works for me.

Next week I'll be doing a ride for my 59th b-day, but I think the ride will end up being 61 pretty flat miles.

BobbyG

I just mapped a ride from the northernmost border of Colorado Springs to the southernmost border of Denver...and it's 54 miles! So I think I could do the Colorado Springs to Denver ride!

BobbyG

Let's go to the "tape"...

rumrunn6

congrats! I shud try doing that before I get too old & the required mileage gets too high!

rumrunn6

haha nice job! how many bridges was that? 3?

BobbyG

There were a dozen bridges or more, but those were the noisy ones.

rumrunn6

def. a ride highlight

Dan Burkhart 

Great video! Who spotted the high wheeler at 1:58?