by This year was first cycling a Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund ride. Of the six, Saratoga Springs was the closest so I raised some money, packed the bike and headed across the border into New York. I dragged The Boy along who agreed to volunteer on support for the ride.
The ride was set up as an out-and-back ride out of central Saratoga Springs up along the banks of the Hudson River. The large pack rolled out slowly. A little too slowly for my liking so I moved up to the front to push the pace. Then a spicy group launched past me. I jumped on their wheels. But it was too spicy for me and I let them go. A second group pulled up on me and grabbed their wheels. That ended up being my group for the day.
It was four young guys up from Manhattan and a guy my age from Delaware. It was still a spicy group, but we all worked extremely well together. Everyone took turns pulling at the front and made sure that he got back on the group after the pull. The 50 miles to the turnaround came quickly.
It was overcast and foggy all morning. The roads were intermittently damp, dry and some rain. Looking at my computer I saw that we had only taken 2.5 hours, averaging just over 20 mph. That was blistering pace for me. Could I keep it up for another 50 miles? Wasn’t this ride all about raising money for Juvenile Diabetes research?
Almost and yes.
We stayed on pace on the way back, a reverse of our ride out. Some of faded a bit and would grab back on, fighting to keep up that 20 mph pace. At mile 85 I cracked and popped off the group. I fought to get back, but didn’t have it. I waved them on. We were right on the brink of the pace. I didn’t want to hold them back.
At the finish line, I clocked in at 5:03 with a 19.8mph average pace. So close.
So close, so sweaty. The Boy did not want a sweaty hug at the finish line.
I did manage to get a very professional photo as I neared the finish line. If only I wasn’t so tired that I forget how to use a water bottle.
