The Tour of the Pig (or should I call it Ridding from the Devil)

With the Tour de Cure approaching very quickly and only rides of 20 miles in, I knew I had to get a 30 mile ride in at least for mental reasons. As a former cyclist I know that once you get 30 miles in everything else becomes easier especially of riding with other riders as the draft will help you to the finish. So with the heat and humidity of the say at noon, I took off for my what I thought would be 30 mile ride. I was not prepared to say the least. Breakfast had been a bagel with peanut butter and an apple at 8:30, I had a banana before starting, and took two more with me for the ride. I grabbed some gels, but decided against it (bad idea). Hydration would come from two bottles of Gatorade (90% Gatorade, 10% water). I had adjusted my seat post up and right away I knew this knew fit was good. The legs felt very strong and my stroke felt fluid. the ride starts off with a slight hill up to Rt 9 then descends, I ad the wind at my back and the pace was steady at around 17mph. Then I realized, OH Crap I will have the wind and a climb to deal with for the last couple of miles. Could be trouble! But I was enjoying the ride, I got to listen to SteveRunner talk about his new puppy Indy, and it made for an enjoyable first couple of miles. Once I got through New Gretna and got onto 542, I knew this was uncharted territory, but I was excited. I immediately dropped into Tour de France mode. I was now an unknown domestique out on a lone breakaway. Once on 542 the road turns rural and winds it way through some great countryside. As I approached the Bridge, I knew this was now or never. I seized the moment kept the tempo up and rode. I knew I would be OK, but I am now through 3/4 of one bottle and one banana and its only about 8 miles. this is not good. As I rode along the Mullica River across from SweetWater I knew Batsto was just up the road. The road winds it way on the outskirts of Wharton State Park (where sightings of the Jersey Devil have been reported) I knew I had to try and outride the Devil, LOL. I almost called this ride the "Riding from the Devil".


Batsto Village is a 1700's era village where you can visit and see how "pig iron" was mined and processed from the river back during pre Revolutionary Days. Batsto holds a great 5k in August, and I have plans to run it this year. Thus the reason for todays ride. I thought Batsto was about 15 miles from home, turns out its almost 17.5 miles, so I decided to add another 3 on further till the turnaround. The next 3 miles were beautiful, but horrid. the road is pot holed and crappy. I felt like I was in Paris Roubaix with all the jostling. Hoping that I would not crap a wheel with all the ruts. Add to the fact the road narrows and there is no shoulder to speak of and road traffic was getting heavy. Once I got to 20 miles I quickly made the turn around. Once again I dealt with the crappy road. Once I got back to Batsto, I finished up the first water bottle and started on the second. I have to ration this one accordingly and I still have 17 miles to go. As I approach the scenic view around Sweetwater again, I kill the last banana, and take a break. I call in a update to the Extra Mile podcast. I also shoot a little 30 second video of the beautiful river front. I spend about 3 minutes are so and I am off again.


The next remaining miles would go very quickly even though my pace was a bit slower, I now had wind to contend with. The heat is also starting to make a difference, but I know I am almost home. I hammer as I approach the Bridge, make the hard right turn and I am now in the single digits till the ride finishes. Once I get into New Gretna, I can feel a renewed strength but I am starting to get feel the early onset of hydration. I decide to kill the rest of the bottle at 4.5 miles to go, so I at least have something for the last 5k. As I get to 5K, I now picture mentally the finish. The road starts to climb and I know I have about a mile of a slow climb. As I make the right on to Mathistown, I know I am home free, I crest the climb recover on the very short decline and start the little last incline. I jump out of the saddle power up this small hill and let out a resounding scream knowing the last 1.5 miles will be a rolling down. I slow it down and try to spin it into the end.


When it was all said and done, it was a 40.30 mile ride with a moving time of 2:27:12 at a pace of 16.4mph. My heart rate was 157. The wind speed on the way out was 13 mph coming in from the East, so I had my work cut out for me on the return portion.


Here is what my speed looked like for the ride



I now know that next weeks 62 mile ride should be know problem, as long as I address my hydration and nutrition needs, but given that the Tour de Cure will have aid stations to refill up my bottles and tummy, I am not too worried. As long as its not very windy or real crappy weather I think my goal of riding it under 4 hours and 15 minutes should not be a problem. I think I have to make one more adjustment to my bar stem, to raise it slightly and it should help to further fix my fit issues, as well as allow me to use my Scott Clip on aero bars.
I can assure you my ride report for next week will be interesting. LOL