Once outside Montpelier I began my treck up Geneva Pass, the next major climb. My stomach began to hurt at this point from the sudden intake of food and I wasn't feeling my best. I made it up, and my legs felt good though my stomach hurt. It was the next climb up Salt Creek that just about killed me. As I approached the foot of this climb I remember feeling drained and tired and that the sun seemed to be really beating on me. That's when it dawned on me that with all my excitement getting ready I had completely forgotten to put on any kind of sunblock. It was now later in day and though I hadn't really noticed up to that point but I'd been riding in the sun for hours now. I was sure this couldn't be helping my energy level and I wondered how I could get a message to Jen to bring some to the next stop. The problem was the next stop was still far away and I I'd better get some on right away. I began looking for anybody on the side of the road who might have some and after asking the first person I saw she was able to hook me up. I was grateful and quickly got back on the road.
My energy was at an all time low at this point. I really struggled up this climb and watch as many people passed me. I've heard people talk about their "dark time" on this ride. The time you start to loose strength and hope and your mind plays tricks on you and you think you're not going to make it. I never considered giving up but I knew this was my dark time. I thought that if I can just make it over this climb I'd be able to recover on the way down. It did worry me that I was already at my "dark" time in my ride and I was just about half way through. I slowly made it up the last steep portion of the climb and stopped at the neutral stop at the top. I quickly ate as many oranges as I could and I couldn't get enough of the swedish fish they had available. I knew I had lost a lot time going up that climb so I tried to hurry and not linger too long.
Once down the other side of the mountain I began to feel much better and recover. I found a good group to work with and stayed with them all the way into Afton, WY., our next feed zone where I would hopefully meet up with Jen. As I rode into the area I once again was met by Jen's voice calling for me and she was ready to give me what I needed. I thought to myself, "man she's got this down, like she's a pro." Little did I know that she had just made it by the skin of her teeth, and basically got there at the same time I did. She didn't mention this to me at the time as to not worry me. Jen took this short clip of me rolling out of Afton. Man, did I feel better at this point.
Afton to Alpine was pretty uneventful really. I just rode as hard as I could and joined up with as many groups as I could to work with along the way. I was making much better time and I felt much stronger. With this stretch of road you have to be careful of the rumble strips, and do you best to avoid them, but you learn to time your pulls so you don't have to ride over them. I remember thinking how pretty Star Valley was at one point and how it was a shame that I wasn't looking around much to enjoy it but with so many miles to get through you sometimes have to zone out. It's actually a part of biking that I enjoy, being able to focus inward and think.
After a while we reached Alpine and my final feed zone to meet up with Jen. It was only about 47 miles to the finish at this point. Jen was there once again all ready and willing and I was grateful. Jen mentioned this time how I must have been going really fast because she barley made it in time. I think she was just trying to make me feel good about myself, but I did kind of get a sense of how much this was a race for her as well. She seemed pretty happy that she was able to beat me there. Jen mentioned to me to be careful because she heard that someone crashed and went over the bridge into the Snake River at Hoback Junction about 20 miles ahead. I told her I would and I was off.
At this point you climb up Snake Creek Canyon and into Jackson. It was so beautiful and dramatic with the big Snake River flowing out. I did a quick stop at Hoback and with 27 miles to go I realized that I was probably going to make it to the finish. It was now a matter of making my goal of under 11 hrs. I knew it was going to be close. I passed over the bridge where Jen had told me someone had crashed and fallen into the river. I remember thinking that it probably wasn't true because "nobody could have ever survived that fall." I also remember noticing how low the guard rail was and how easily someone on a bike could fall in. It broke my heart to find out on my way home the next day that it was true, and that the guy had died. The road was a mess during this stretch and there were people on the side shoulder telling everyone to slow down and be careful, but I still didn't really think it happened. Thinking back, I'm glad I didn't know because it would have messed with me pretty good on that final stretch.
Coming into Jackson was a pretty ride. I'm sure it would have been more so if it weren't for the wildfire that was burning up along side the road. Right where the fire and the road met we turned left through some beautiful country toward Teton Village. I road with a group that pushed it hard. I enjoyed the strong pace and stayed with them all the way to the finish.
My timer said I finished in 10 hrs 54 min. but my official time says 11 hrs 5 min. I had better go with the official time. I felt good at the end. I did much better on the last 100 miles vs. the first 100 miles. This is something I will remember in the future. No major pains and I still felt strong. I had no flats the entire way and my bike ran smooth and quiet all day. I later learned that the earlier start groups had over 200 people flat just before Preston due to some Goat Head thorns in the road. This made me feel lucky that I had got a later start time. The thorns seemed to have gone by the time I passed.
.JPG)
No comments:
Post a Comment