Cycle 4 Cures: 2013-07-26-27 CT Challenge note

day one was an A+.

we arrived at westport, parked our car and that was all we had to do.

the bikes were transported to lakeville via moving truck and we took a bus ride.

when we arrived at lakeville (the Interlaken Inn) our rooms and BBQ were ready.

we were treated to a great bbq with a great spread + beer and wine.

We were briefed about the ride and what to expect Friday morning.

Friday morning we had a continental breakfast and were ready to ride, but not before an awesome pep talk.

everyone rode differently, my ride was fast paced at the front as I drafted off of team eatna (our pace setters) we rode high 19 avg for first twenty miles,....then the hills began to present themselves. Everyone rode at their own pace, I dropped 1 mph per hour in average for the remaining 4 hours.

the rest stops were well stocked and the support was great. I was completely surrounded by fast riders, support wagons, photographers and lead out by at least 1-3 aetna riders at all times. The ride was quiet challenging for me with over 6,000 feet of climbing. The first 30 mile stretch was fast rolling and by far the most fun I have had on a bike in a real long time.

The last 50+ miles were rolling to hilly, yet manageable. We all hammered and rolled hard knowing that at the end of the ride we were to be pampered with showers, great food, beer, wine and massages.

Day two started out great, I was pumped up, stretched out and ready to ride. I knew that I was not going to be capable of hammering out the course, In my mind I just wanted to complete the 107 somewhere within the 15mph average.

My legs and neck felt tight, but I had taken 1 motrin in the am, I had hydrated myself pretty well throughout the night and before the ride. I felt a bit nervous at the start line when we were all standing in the sun for that 1/2 hour during presentations. The anticipation, the people, the emotions, the sun, the heat and the heavy leg feeling from the day before gave me way too much time to think and wonder why the heck I was going to do this all over again today. The heat and sun beating down on the black helmet started to turn my stomach and beat me up too soon in the day.

The ride started and we rolled out. Everyone could tell right away who had a great night sleep and who had ridden the 80mile day prior. I was physically, mentally and emotionally unable to keep the front line fast pace. I set my personal goal on 19-24 for the flats and 5-10 on the hills. The first rest stop came way too soon at 15 miles. I was psyched into thinking that I was at mile 20 already but not. distances between rest stops for day 2 were odd for the 100 mile route, but logistically understood.

after the 50 mile split I felt abandoned, I saw the same sag wagon once or twice, i saw 2 marshals blast by me and that was it for a long time. My nephew and I were helping each other through, but he decided that he should hop onto a group going the shorter distance. after the 50 mile split i was riding solo. I rode looking for cyclist to catch up to in order to ride with. I would see a group in the distance, cycle up on them and then draft 2-3 minutes and then set out again. I saw a lot of riders at the rest stops, no riders passed me (until mile 90+) yet I felt alone until the last rest stop where I waited out for a group to stick with.

The 107 mile is a beautiful route. It is challenging especially on the return on sport hill road and the long incline in newtown that feels like forever (especially at mile 170 something). If any of you that ride, or do not ride yet are familiar with the sport hill road hill or the hills of Newtow, well.... the ride was like that all of the way. In the last 10 miles, just before the finish line is when I kept thinking (to myself and out loud) (peacefully and with explicit vulgarity) that I had enough. I kept swearing at the hills and promised myself that I would lock and hide my bike in the closet for at least a month! I was Psyched that my six13 and I knocked this out and was grateful that my bike did what it had to do under these extreme conditions. I recall a dirt/gravel road up north that felt like it was about a million miles long.... I truly thought that my bike was going to crack, but it did what it had to do and we got through it.

Crossing the finish line is a rewarding feeling, i had family and friends there who knew what I was riding for.

In summary, the courses were well marked and well supported. the first 80 mile day was an A++.

the second day 100 mile course was an A. The routes are great and extremely scenic. some roads are loaded with potholes, but there is nothing that CT Challenge could do about that. The volunteers were outstanding, and riding along the way with Survivors is what this is all about.

body wise I felt great on day one, was beat saturday morning but felt by the 10th mile. No way in hell would I be able to ride another 80 on day three though. It was enough of a challenge for me and for the amount of training that I had done. I can usually ride a metric century solo in 4 hours and get home in time to do yard work, but with the CT Challenge I made it home just in time to fall into bed and sleep on both days!

If I were to organize a similar ride, I would have the day one 80 as the day two ride. the 100 was enough to kick your butt, so get transported up to lakeville, relax, message, etc and then hit the rolling downhills in the am. for a challenge keep the route the same, for an enjoyable route eliminate that crazy climb at mile 30 of the 80 mile route.

I've done this ride 4 or 5 years, I've done the 75, I've done 100 route twice, I did the 25 mile with my son before doing one of the100's one year. I've done the 180 (truly 188 by my comp). I hope to continue to ride it and look forward to what they plan for the upcoming years. I was asked to marshal it, but I have way to much fun riding it at my own inconsistent pace. Can't wait till next year!!!