bikecentric

Fix the C&O in a day

This is the third version of my C&O in a Day experience, but you won't see the other two. I thought it out in my head, wrote out a bit of it, but I just couldn't find a rhythm to finish it up. I'll give you the outline; you can put the story together:

1. We started at 5:06 AM from Cumberland.
2. We all ran fixies. I ran a 5.2 gain ratio.
3. It rained really hard on our drive up.
   
4. There was quite a bit of mud and puddles within the first 30 miles.
5. Our goal was 15.5 hours, a time set by Ms. Krone last year (but she did it unsupported).
6. We ran supported. My brother and his girlfriend planned to meet us at four spots to give us PBJs, bananas, and Gatorade.
7. I didn't sleep a wink since 5AM on Friday (the day before the ride).
8. Many times I fell asleep on the bike while riding, but I never crashed. I stopped a few times to take a nap while standing up. Truly weird and sad.
   
9. We all went at our own pace, and JoeP led for all 99.9% of it. (Stoner was always second pulled a Hincapie and sprinted ahead of JoeP in Williamsport after he dropped his chain). I was the caboose.
10. I was overgeared. Both my knees - and not just my right - started hurting really badly. Towards the end of my ride, I spun at speeds as low as 7 mph, barely enough to keep me upright.
    
11. I pulled into Williamsport, 85 miles into the ride, at 12:40 PM.
12. I quit there. I was extremely sleepy and tired, my butt hurt too much, and I knew I couldn't continue at a pace that would get me to Georgetown before midnight.
13. My knees hurt so bad that I had a really hard time sitting down and getting up from the camp chair.
    
14. It never rained on us. In the afternoon it was blazingly hot and humid, and it felt disgusting to be outside.
15. My bro, his gal, and I drove to Harper's Ferry to meet JoeP and Stoner.
    
16. JoeP pulled in at that stop looking decent. Stoner looked like he was hurting.
17. At the final stop, White's Ferry, JoeP was still his perky self. Stoner was completely tapped. He crawled into the car and called it a day. That was 155 miles in (150 on the Towpath plus the 5 mile detour), so it was heartbreaking. He had 35 miles to go, but he could no longer hold his bars. He hardly ate anything the whole day. He completely ran out of gas.
    
18. We flew to meet JoeP at Georgetown. He beat our goal: 190 miles in 15 hours and 26 minutes. He looked like he could have gone further. He's a maniac.

Pics:

So like this post, I couldn't find my rhythm to finish up the C&O. Achy knees and a lack of sleep will do that to you. I've learned a few things on this outing that I'll use on my next attempt (maybe later this year?). Thanks JoeP and Stoner for sharing in the misery.

posted by rickyd 2 @ 9:09 PM