What an awful night’s sleep I had last night. I woke several times — once not seeing the first “1” on the clock and thinking I had just over an hour before my alarm would go off. Turns out, it was 11:58, and when I looked again and it was 12:03 I thought “three more hours’ sleep.”
But not really. I was up again a couple of other times. I felt poorly. I had a headache and suspected I might need to use the facilities during the ride — not a pleasant or easy thing, depending on where you are when the need presents itself. Bib shorts being up over the shoulders under the jersey = needing to take everything else off before getting them down for action.
But I’ve done it before, and in circumstances quite dire, so I felt I was up to it. Fortunately, during the ride, the need never arose.
Usually, when I hit 90 miles or above, I’ll just go for 100. But today was going to come out at 85. Fifteen extra miles isn’t easy, especially when you were expecting less when you set out. Even after an adamant “no” when Joon first brought up the idea (at about mile 65), I couldn’t quite shake the idea. So when we’d set out after a short break and a snack not long after, I motioned him alongside and said, “you know, I might be able to come up with something for 100.”
And I did. Got myself to 100 right at home, while Joon had already cleared 101. He uses the Strava app on his phone to track his rides, which, it seems, adds both distance and elevation. It’s called “digital doping” when it’s intentional (like when someone uses an electric bicycle or drives a distance with their bicycle GPS tracker on and don’t correct it. Joon doesn’t dope — it’s just that Strava is more liberal (and less accurate) with their miles.
Today’s ride is a repeat of one I first took in 2021, then again in 2022. Both of those (“The Battle of Ant Hill” and “Ant Hill 2022”) were about 85 miles (thus our original target). I varied the route a bit, and found an absolutely beautiful little valley (for which pictures do no justice at all). Even with the changes, we were still looking at 85 miles when Joon opened his big mouth (and I acquiesced).
So, I’m tired. Slightly dehydrated (though I’ve been drinking a lot of water over the past few hours). But still, satisfied.
Very much so.
Looks like a great ride. Nice photos.