Well after 3 years of saying no to RAIN. (Ride Across Indiana) I finally gave into peer pressure. This is something I really didn't want to do. After all, who enjoys sitting on a bike for a 160 miles in the hot July sun with humidity hovering around 90 percent. The good news for me is that we had 11 other Roll:ers who committed to do the ride. Our fellow team member and my good friend Mike Perakis agreed to be our SAG.
In years past, I have suffered from leg cramps. They normally come out and bite me in the ass around 60-70 miles. Made no difference if we were going 15 mph or 25 mph, on flat terrain or major hill climbs. I hydrated, carbo loaded, took enduralites, sport legs and nothing seemed to work. So far this year, I have been able to beat the cramp issues, but its always lingering in the back part of my mind. I hate to disrupt a ride with my team when it happens.
This winter I trained hard in the gym and on the bike. I'm riding 200-300 miles a week and still training at Lemonade Fitness 2 days a week. I train on a Velotron and Sci-Fit bike under the supervision of Don Moxley one our team sponsors. I calculated that I had ridden over 5000 miles so far for this year. If there was a time to do this ride. This is the year to do RAIN. No question about it, I should be in shape.
I'm up at 4AM ready to roll on about 3 hours sleep. As we roll out of Terre Haute before the sun rises, I begin to wonder why in the hell am I doing this? I'm always up for riding 75-80 miles. On rode trips riding a 100 miles is always expected. To me doing a century for the additional 25 miles is like getting extra credit at school. Its nice, but you don't need it to pass. As usual at this event like most events. Our team kits are like magnets for wheel suckers. As we roll out from the start, we had 30-40 people already for a free ride to Richmond. Normally we'll drop most them after a few miles as we pick up the pace. Were not racers but we do ride strong as a team.
In the end. I had fun with my friends, created more memories. I was able to ride 160 miles and finish with no aches and pains and most importantly no leg cramps. We did the ride in under 8 hours and averaged almost 20 mph.
Can't wait unil next year.
Check out our pictures on the Teamroll website
