Sane or insane!
 

What sane person would attempt a 210km ride with barely no training to prepare?

While sitting around home on a lovely Saturday night at 6pm, i recieved a phone call from my mate who cycles quite often. He continues to tell me that one of his friends who was riding the Around the Bay in a Day event (Melbourne, Australia, 210km with a ferry crossing at the half way point), was sick and he had a spare ticket. Now he knew i was just getting back into cycling after a long break of a year or so, but had only done about 150km of riding in the past 3 weeks and my bike (Giant peloton 7000 with pretty crappy component, yes i do need a new bike or at least components) hadnt had a service or anything. Anyway, he continues to try and convince me to do the ride. I was very tempted, so tempted in fact that i said what the hell i will give it a shot, i most likely wont complete it but hey i will make it half way and then catch one of the stag busses back to the start. start time 5am Sunday morning, **** theres goes my saturday night out on the town. My whole family thought i was crazy to even try it with no training, but i was pumped, if not a little nervous.
After giving my bike the quick once over and getting some stuff together for the ride i was set, well hopefully i was.

We hit the road from the start line the next morning at 6am and after the first 5km i had already lost my friend and his mates wheel as the sped up the road. Ah well looks like i will have to find people my own pace to tag along with. Anyway to cut the long trip short i made my way to the half way mark and the ferry. Could i possibly continue? Was i mad enough to try and complete the event? The ferry trip help me make up my mind, i rested had lunch and set off for the next 110km.

After passing some mental blocks that i ouldnt go any further i made it to the magic metric century mark. I was totally ecstatic when i made the century, it was a real feeling of accomplishment, however there was still nearly 60km of riding to be done to the finish line. And i didnt have the energy to make that last 60. I ended up stoping at the 180km mark, which was luckily near my house and called home for a lift. I was dead tired at this stage, however i felt my legs werent in as bad condition as i imagined, although my left shoulder had a bit of pain in it, possibly due to bad posture or bike fit. however back was no problem only shoulder.
and now today the day after, i am sore but better then what i expected, apart from a very sore ass after being on the saddle for 8hours.
So 180km in 8 hours with no training! Was i sane or insane to attempt this??? well i am still alive

absolutely sane! opportunuity presented itself, you took it!

Sane or insane? Who cares? You survived and you've got a great story to embellish.

If you never want to ride a bike ever again, ever, it was insane.
Otherwise, sane.

And give it a couple of days before you make up your mind on whether you want to see a bike ever again.

Congratulations on the century!:beer:

--J

Now that you've done some training come up to Canberra this weekend (26-27 Oct) for Fitz's Challenge, only 150km! A few small hills though...:rolleyes:

http://www.pedalpower.org.au/events/fitz/fitz.htm

Insane. I think anyone who does anything more than 50k is nuts. I would fall asleep. I am much happier throwing my body down the side of a mountain while on two wheels ;)

Insane by those who fear BIG challenges, sane by those that like BIG challenges. The good...your next road trip will be easier. The bad, your legs are going to hurt and the next time you start, finish no matter the cost.

Congrats...:beer:

I would take offence to that if I knew you were talking about all cycling and not just road work.