speedvegan

It was a wonderful weekend for this year’s MS Bike Tour. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and the wind wasn’t as bad as previous years, though some may disagree.

Starting Day 1

The first day was (surprisingly) the hardest for me this year. I started all the way at the back again, which sucks. All of 2000+ riders were in front of me, so I was forced to ride slower than normal. I finally kicked things into high gear after the lunch rest stop 50 miles in where the majority of riders stop. I had 25 miles of clear road in front of me at that point and thoroughly enjoyed riding them.

Miles: 75
Time: 4:15
Calories: 2400

Starting Day 2

The second day was the most exciting of the two. I didn’t forget my water bottles in the hotel fridge this year, which was good. I set off at a normal speed until the legs warmed up and then caught up to a group of three who were riding at a decent clip. After a few miles, I came to the front and pulled for a few miles. Eventually we got swallowed by a larger group which was really sloppy, so I dropped to the back and hung on until we hit the next big rest stop, where the group finally disintegrated. I finished the first 25 miles in 1:10, which has got to be a record for me. I rode by myself the rest of the way, which was hard, but gratifying.

Miles: 66
Time: 3:20
Calories: 2000

Done, medaled and hydrating

Overall, this was the best year for me. I only stopped once to refill my water bottles. Also, I paid close attention to what I was eating and when. I had a banana at the start. Then alternated gels and Larabars every 30-45 minutes. It worked really well and I didn’t feel like my blood sugar dropped at any point during the ride. I am looking forward to doing it all again next year.