JB's Adventure Blog: He's going the distance....

What up peeps?

So after yesterday's almost 7-hour ride, my coach tried to kill me with what I thought to be an impossible ride, but ''m as tough as a cockroach and perhaps as stupid.

I thought I had a good idea going when I left a note on the car door for Erin, it said "pick me up on Reddish Knob after your ride please".

I was looking to get in a final push to today's epic ride. I was exhausted, but the coach wanted two hours at tempo in the end of today’s ride. I had an Idea; even as devastated as I was, “you have to go hard to go uphill right”? There is something scary about doing a 10-mile climb in the dark not dressed warm enough for the descent and with no water. I was dazed in the rhythm of the pedals and the plume of exhaust from my lugs mesmerized me into a trance state. “I got it”. Was my mantra. HR 164, altitude 2,975 ft the last time I could read it. It is too dark now. The trees moved like black apparitions in the night, the snow my only saving light. As I got higher, after 35 minutes of climbing at a stiff tempo the air got colder. I was generating alot of heat but I was barley staying warm. If She doesn't get that note I am screwed I thought. I could look 2,000 ft down now and I saw a light. Was it the Volkswagen or just a bear hunter’s truck? I monitored it closely and it disappeared. If I were standing at the top it would take Erin almost 20 minutes just to drive up this climb!... Yikes... that would be bad.

Caught in the moment of my 3rd wind I continued, I had a little doubt but it is only then that you know you are closing in on your limits, perhaps a little in harms way.

I waited at the top and the wind wasn't bad this time 10 mph and the red ribbon of the sun that had set almost an hour ago was all but gone. It was below freezing and I was dressed for 50 degrees. I was smoked and drenched with sweat at 4,500 ft and no sigh of help. Time to move. I left Erin a voice message and made a slow start to the decent. I saw a few hunting trucks I thought about waving one down but I hadn't even resorted to the emergency method of running to stay warm. I continued….. all I could see was the silhouette of the new silver guardrail. I better watch out for black ice, that freaked me out a bit. Then rounding one of the switchbacks were the trademark lights of a VW. Sweet Jesus. Hi Erin ...I tried to play off the nerves as casual.

So.... Erin was a bit mad. I was sorry to make her worry but I guess if your coach is a maniac then you have to be a bit nuts to step up to the challenge. Thanks Hunter...

5:15 mins, 8,400ft of climbing finishing in the dark, that’s a tough mountain bike, ride. But nothing compared to next weeks monster.

Be careful out there.

Jeremiah

posted by Jeremiah Bishop # 1:25 PM

He's going the distance....

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