Today was another century ride (100 miles). Most people train for months for a century ride and then take a rest for days even weeks after. Noooo, not us! We celebrate riding a century by getting up the next day and doing it again. Yes, we did Century II, The Sequel! And like many sequels, it sucked.
And the one thing about a TDA (Tour d'Afrique) Century, it must have the Epic feel to it. So instead of just riding 100 miles we must add the extra layers of challenge to it. You know, the little extras that would make a grown man cry. That is the way it qualifies as a TDA Century ride.
Today's ride was 107 miles (notice the extra 7 miles over and above 100) and with 1,600 meters of climbing! That is roughly 1 mile up of elevation climb, 5,280 feet! Add into that a good percentage of no road/mud road riding (20% of the day). Add into that a down pour of epic proportion and poof you have a TDA Century.
That was the day I had. Another long tough day of cycling. We have ridden over 313 miles in three days. We have climbed over 2,950 meters of climbing in three days. And add in two flats for the day bringing my total of 4 flats in 3 days. With rain in each of the past three days. Wow, that is a lot of stuff in three days. It does make you want to cry....
Tried to out run the rain... I lost the race. :( In Africa you can learn to swim while you bike ride. How convenient!
Rain, rain go away. Come again another day. Something like that.
ReplyDeleteEach day sounds more difficult than the last. As I read some of this to my wife, she said that she was glad I had not taken on that ride. I did not reminder that she vetoed the ride.
Ride on and enjoy the struggle.
Ray