I have truths I live by. Some are truths, some are mostly true. Here are 2:
1. On the bike; some days I am good and other days I am awesome.
2. Half the battle of winning a race is just showing up. (This is my coaches saying that I have adopted.)
Today is the great Chicago mass chaotic ride called Bike the Drive. For you non-Chicagoans it is the one day a year where Lake Shore Drive is closed to all traffic except bicycles from 5:30-10am. LSD is a 30 mile loop stretching from Hollywood Blvd. in the North past downtown to the Museum of Science & Industry in the South, 15 miles along side the shores of Lake Michigan. Its 8 glorious lanes of concrete & asphalt in various shape ranging from totally smooth to pot holes that will taco your wheel in a second.
Approximately 10,000 riders pay forty bucks each for the privilege to bike the most beautiful city street in America. There are all kinds of riders from toddlers in Burleys to octogenarians on ultra plush riding machines, from novices to racers, from the physically fit to those who should have consulted their doctor before participating in physical exercise. There also is a myriad of bikes from racers to cruisers, from recumbents, to tandem recumbents, to tandem's of all kinds pulling a tag-a-long or a Burley. (That is one long bike.)
Bike the Drive is chaos in the guise of a bike race. Most riders are casual riders and their job is to provide obstacles for the riders who want to go fast or if you are a leisure rider the ride is a causal ride mucked-up by riders who think this is a 1 day bike race. My goal was to continue my training for the Etape and the Horribly Hilly. That meant that I wanted to complete 2 circuits, 60+ miles before the drive was reopened to cars.
I left my house at 5:30am with my friend Ed and we headed to the Drive. There was a strong wind from the North, 12-15mph, that was pushing us along. Once we hit the drive we were able to open it up and ride at a fast pace, 22-25mph, because most riders were just starting and we joined the ride at one of the apogees. It took exactly an hour to get from my house in Evanston to the Museum at the Southernmost point of the ride, a drive that can often take 1 hour or more in a car. Its amazing what you can accomplish with a little wind and some open road. However once we turned North we began to pay the price for our speed and pedaled right into the teeth of wind, 14-17mph. My friend Ed tired quickly. He fell off the pace twice and Ed told me that he had biked 2.5 hours the day before and was recovering from Saturdays ride.
Half way into the return loop Ed dropped off and I continued alone. Because I am training for 2 hard rides I decided to have a no-draft policy and just ride my ride. I kept my cadence high to work my aerobic system and made sure I kept the workload at a sustainable level, 180 watts or less. The return leg into the wind took 55mn, which was a good time.
I really began to feel good on the return leg with the wind at my back and began to ride hard. I passed other racers, other racers passed me and we would encourage each other. At one point a saw a friend, Troy, on a tandem with a tag-a-long. He had modified the tandem to allow his daughter to reach the pedals. We were riding hard when we reached a little hill and Troy yelled back to the kids, "ok I need some help, everybody pedal," at which point everyone came out of the saddle stood on the pedals and rode in unison. It was a fantastic and beautiful site. I told Troy he needs a photo of that, it was so cool.
Soon Troy pulled off to meet some friends and I continued on along feeling really strong. Because I was moving fast a group formed behind me drafting off my efforts. The code of biking allows for people to draft as long as everyone helps. However today no one was offering so I decided to shatter the mini-peloton by sprinting. I felt really evil as I powered ahead and the group just floundered. What a great feeling.
I rode strong for the rest of the ride. I motored by riders into the wind. I began to feel that I had really improved then I remembered my coaches saying, half the battle of winning is just showing up. Bike the Drive is a mixed ride with skill and weekend riders. I was just in a group where I could shine. Well down a few pegs but still an accomplishment.
Now for the facts. Total miles 78; total calories 2218; total time 4:40:06. My nutrition/hydration method is working well. I did 300 calories an hour with electrolytes. I tried 1 GU but I really did not need the extra sugar and caffeine during the ride. I think this is partly due to my loading before the race. I was told to eat more protein then usual. I had a great dinner the night before and that really sustained me. I was able to refuel after the ride at a fantastic after ride breakfast at the Ringwoods. What a great way to recover with bagels, smoked salmon pancakes and friends. Thanks a ton Michele & Ken.
The only downside to the ride was my left knee which began to stiffen at the 65 mile marker. It could have been the breakfast stop or it could have been the fact that i pushed myself the entire ride. Whatever the reason it feels better a day later. I will have to do extra stretching and be careful to let it heal.
Until the next Bike the Drive see you on the road.
