Time has been just flying here in North Carolina. I have been here almost two months and my assignment at the hospital is drawing to a close. I have two weeks left here and that gave me some urgency to plan a big ride. Be sure to click on my Web Album to the right for pictures!
When I first started researching Roanoke Rapids, I looked up cycling routes and found that it is just about a hundred miles around the lakes. The Roanoke River is dammed up into three lakes, Roanoke Rapids, Lake Gaston and the Kerr Reservoir. So last week I suggested to Randy that I would enjoy some company as I circumnavigated the lakes. He was game, and with a club-wide text later, we had a few riders. So this past Saturday, 7 am, we headed out for some camaraderie and open roads!
It has been cooling down some here in the south. The mornings are often foggy, keeping the temps in the upper 60's vs the mid to upper 70's. Saturday was perfect southern bike ridin' weather.
Six of us headed west for Littleton, 20 +/- miles from here. That is where Jimmy and Chris turned around. The remaining four, intrepid cyclists, headed on for what was estimated to be a 115 mile ride. Turns out it was 120 miles and approx 4000 vertical feet of climbing. I know, not a lot by western Montana's standards, but enough to give us a solid workout.
And what a workout it was!
The first 55 miles flew by. We refueled at the pit stop gas station and headed on. The four of us kept a steady pace of 20 mph and things just rolled along. What beautiful and deserted country roads they were. We passed plantation homes, small and large farms, all growing cotton, tobacco and soy beans. We rode small rollers up and over, mile after mile. It was one of those rides that could put you in a trance.
We turned for home at about 90 miles, maybe 25 more to go. And I was still feeling good. The last couple of hours were really beginning to warm up, but no problems to speak of. A quick stop at a small church to refill our bottles and we were off. It was here that Gordon headed straight for home (to save himself some miles and a couple of "real" hills) and Randy, John and I continued.
I remember looking down at y computer as it clicked past 100 miles with not a care in mind.
Then I bonked! It was mile 106, right after a pull. Wow, how the lights go out quickly! Mile 108 was the highly anticipated Johnny's Hill. I had been in the big chain ring for the ENTIRE ride...until now. I was in my 39/25 pedaling squares as John and Randy passed me on the hill. Oh well, there was nothing left and I knew it. Over the top Randy began to cramp and soon he was behind us. (I found out later that he finally called for a ride.) I finished the last 1/4 of my Clif bar and the rest of my water. Pedaling flat and with a heart rate of 150 to 160, I had to slow down and told John to go. Young John, at 23, was the last man standing. He raced Coeur d' Alene this year for Kona with a 10:40 ish time (not really sure) and his strongest event is the bike. Good job out here John!
It took me an hour to get the last 14 miles home, but still managed a 6:08 final time. And Randy, I called for a ride too, from the convenience store two miles from my home. Yeah, I probably could've limped in from there, but the ICE COLD 32oz Dr. Pepper and A/C were calling me in like Sirens and I couldn't resist.
Another memorable ride!
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