Sort Of A Fail

I wanted to get a long ride in on Saturday out on the dirt roads; anywhere from 65 to 100 would have been sweet but the mapped and actual ride would fall a bit short.

The ride I mapped out a ride on mapmyride.com ended up only being 66.6 miles (YIKES!). I figured I could always add more on as I saw fit. With a number like that I should have known right there that evil was afoot.

Most of the ride was a loop/big ass square that I have done before, but I did want to explore some new roads too. No map, no GPS needed (good thing, 'cause I don't have one), I didn't feel the need for anything other than a couple road names scrawled on a piece of paper and stuffed in a baggie with a couple bucks to get more water at a store somewhere along the route.

The temps were going to be hot with a ton of humidity too, so I took 3 bottles. One bottle of 333 and one bottle of water on the bike and one bottle of water in the jersey pocket along with some Hammer Gel.

I knew from the start that the legs were not as good as the day before, but I also knew that if I just kept pedaling they would probably come around, and they did.

About 22 miles in a realized I wasn't sure if I was on the right road, then about 25 miles I was on ONE of the roads I wanted to be on, then at about mile 35 I was on a road that I had no real idea where it would dump me out at. It's pretty hard to get TOO lost here, as must roads are just big squares of dirt, keep turning left and you're bound to find a road that you recognize.

I did finally find that road I recognized, but not before going a bit further out of my way, going further away from any gas station or convenience store. CURSES! The bottles were super low, and about their contents about the same temperature as a human bladder filled with the remnants of an all night frat party.

It figured it would be at least 5 miles or more to the closest convenience store, and few miles or more to get back to some road that wold point me home, and that was assuming I was be going the right direction. Since I was hot as hell, and so humid that breathing was like trying to breath whilst being tea bagged by a Great Dane I decided to abort and head towards home.

The ride was still a blast and I ended up with about 58 miles. Well short of what I hoped for the day and short of my evil mapped ride, but still another great ride on the dirt roads. I did have to ride a couple more miles of pavement than I dig, but not nearly enough to warrant wishing I was on a road bike (for the record I have not done a ride on my road bike since early fall 2010).

I really should have planned better and actually planned the ride around store locations, or at least sucked it up and rode with a CamelBak. But noooo, I had to be a "cool guy," ride without a pack in 85 degree temps and 80% humidity. I'm an idiot.

I arrived home spent: A melted, sunburned, heap of sweaty human idiocy.

What lessons did I learn?

1. Maybe carry a map, or at least use a better cue sheet.
2. Plan the ride around stores or ride with a pack.
3. Don't be an idiot?

As I mentioned above, I have not been on my road bike (other than on the trainer) since last September, and have done ONE ride here in Michigan on it (I've lived here since October, but did the ride on a house hunting trip over Labor Day). Maybe it was the heat and my baking brain, but while I was out there the wheels were turning literally an figuratively... I dig my Jake, but it could be better in some ways (brakes suck, ride can be harsh at times, a couple other small details) and I don't ride my road bike. I hate to get rid of the road bike, but still the wheels are turning for 2012. I'm not exactly saying a new bike, but maybe some thing done to an existing bike, or... OK, I might be talking about a new bike in 2012 I just had to say that last bit 'cause I know Wifey reads this shit.

Later.