ride or meds???? ride!!!!!
blood pressure, cholesterol, high sugar, family history of diabetes, heart disease, several types of cancer, work stresses, famly stresses, mourning the loss of family members, etc.....doctors answers....take these pills!!!!! I chose to ride in 20-30 degree weather. my mind was on the road, avoiding any black ice, keeping warm, and making sure that the gps did not freeze up so that the ride could be recorded.
I registered for Rapha 500 through Strava, an app that cyclists and runners use to record their workouts. The app allows one to rate themselves against other cyclists around the area, the state, the country and the world. I am not a professional cyclist, but I often use this tool to see how I rate against others. This app allows one to obtain bragging rights on any completed segment. As soon as one completes the workout, the app provides statistics and how you rated to others. It is very interesting to see who did faster or slower on that specific segment and by how much time. Most importantly I believe that it does psychologically spark a fire under ones saddle to work harder in order to gain bragging rights..
The Rapha 500 was a personal challenge. I dedicated 8 consecutive days to cycling in order to see if I could personally fight the weather as well as my hectic work and family schedule in hopes to complete 500km. In doing so I needed to schedule enough time in my day to complete 62.5km everyday. If I missed a day.....I wouldn't be able to complete the challenge.
I planned to use the flattest route possible in order to complete the longest distances in the least amount of time. Between the dates of December 24th and December 31st the temperatures were mostly below 35degrees with the windchill in the high teens and low 20s. In choosing a flat route I rode along the coast. Several of the ride days the wind gusts were in the 5mph, several of the rides, the winds were in the 20mph.
On a few days I felt as though I was just riding in place inside a commercial grade refrigerator.
below are a few photos of the ride. the photos were taken while riding so that i did not have to stop. As I cycled I was warm....any stopping meant change in body temperature.
