Hi happyholidays, these long rides are always made up of highs and lows. Last week I was absolutely emptied on the outward leg, so much so that I really wondered how I was going to compete the ride. We didn't stop at a cafe until 60 miles. It was warm last week, I drank my 750ml sports drink during that leg and had 1 energy gel. Not enough, plus, with all the elevation and hills , my back was extremely painful. At 50 miles I had to get off at a junction and stretch. My degenerative discs were causing nerve pain in to my glute, quad, down my thigh , back of my calf and into my groin. A2 minute St.op really helped. I was at a point where the pain was debilitating. Getting to the cafe , starving and knackered was a god send. 2 poached eggs, lean grilled bacon, beans toms and 2 toast plus cake hardly touched the sides but hit the spot. That gave me enough energy to make the first long ride home. That homeward leg was tough but I made better progress and the average speed went up from 15.7 mph to 16.1. I went to work the next day not feeling any affects!
Today's effort was tougher. We went out at higher pace, most if it was over 17mph. Then my neighbour missed some turns, so we detoured, longer and some harder climbing, short sharp painful climbs instead of the long drags. In this ride I filled up better, more gels, better breakfast before I left home. This meant that I got to the cafe stop in better shape, but my back was screaming. The home ward leg today was just sheer torture. Back hurting every 15-20 miles, we had a choice if going tough hills in the North Downs if lower land but longer. My neighbour plumed for longer. This ride had a very long low episode. The sign posts never mentioned anywhere near home for eons, the scenery was beautiful the cycling brutal. Kent chalk streams, country estates, hidden idyllic farms and pastures, stunning. The pain took the beauty away, when I got a puncture I was so relieved. However, getting off my bike left me in agony for about 3 minutes until I straightened up. Puncture fixed and we pressed on. I ran out of drink,p so we stopped at at roadside motorbikers cafe before they shut shop. More drinks and off again,still no signs for local villages. We were heading for the southern coastline this time. The villages on the posts confirmed that this was going to be the longest ride I had ever done. At 90 miles we were still nearly 30 miles from home.
More pain, more sings going round my head, more positive thinking that this will help to make the Alp D'Huez climb easier. My neighbour is a proper cyclist, only weighing 10 St and he was chewing up,the miles, but ride just in front of me ( gave me his wheel) so that I could get the benefit of slip his stream. Those last 30 miles were the hardest physically and mentally. Another stretch off the bike with 10 to go and it all started to feel better. Out of the low and back into a high. 3 miles to go and said that we should add a loop in to break the 120w. It ended well. I do feel sore.