Wilmington 600K Ride Report!
Yet another chapter; and being my last real practice ride leading into Seattle
in less than 3 weeks now. Oh that is so gonna hurt! What a great weekend to
spend on a bike. We had 20 riders at the start. A dozen riders hang together
for a couple hours at a leisure pace until there is confusion about the route
and a half dozed speed off the wrong way before we get it cleared up. Bonus
miles for some (John o.), but I want nun of that. We have a bit of tailwind
for most of the way from Morrisville to Wilmington. Our first rest stop is at
mile 78 with 8 of us still hanging together cruising 18 to 20 mph. At mile
125, we're in White Lake for lunch break. We have a six pack leaving there for
Rocky Point and Wilmington arriving there at 5:30pm. (190 miles) Pool is open
as we jumped in on previous rides but this crowd is all business and we're all
about food and heading back after just a 45 min. break.
We now have head winds back towards home but they are dimensioning a bit as the
day gets long. The six of us are back in White Lake at 10:30pm, (mile 250) in
record time. This is usually where we opt for some sleep but it's too early as
we're making record time. 3 head out after about an hour break and I give
chase a few minutes later as the rest are still deciding their fate. I chase
them down about an hour later. Temps are getting a bit cool and I realize that
I do not have enough stuff the wear. I always gotta make some dumb mistake. A
short while later my group leaves me and I can't keep up. I don't understand
as I've felt really good all day and holding back a bit. I've eaten well. I
watch them ride away. Awe man this sucks! About 45 minutes later while
riding solo I hit a bump in the road and feel my rim hit the pavement. My rear
tire has worn through the threads and has been leaking out slowly for several
miles. Slow miles for 45 minutes and a 20 minute unscheduled pit stop under a
green flag has ensured that I'll never see the lead group again. I know there
are 3 more riders behind me that plan on riding through the night so I have
company coming if I so choose to wait. For now I pedal on.
I take a 40 min. break in Stedman and try to rest my eyes a bit but
also hoping not to miss my pals coming up behind me. I'm cold and shivering
and not able to get much shut eye on the park picnic table. I continue on. A
near full moon making for a pleasant ride after a few sprints to warm myself
up. Twilight, then a beautiful Sunrise. 24 hours of riding now and 315 miles
in the bank.. That's a new 24 hour PR for me. Back in Angier's now at Micky
D's. It's a big breakfast for me as I'm exhausted. I've been up now for 28
hours and still 40 miles to go. I chat with the locals there and they tell me
that the first group of 3 riders left out 15 minutes before I arrived. They
can't believe what we've done so I show them my computer which now reads 338
miles. I struggle the next 30 miles as we're back in the hills around the
Sharron Harris Reservoir. Mile 370 our route joins up with the Tour-de-Cure
route around Jordan Lake and my ego sours as I start picking off several riders
on the home stretch being passed by only one rider. I wanted to shout out that
I'm finishing up a 380 mile ride but I just kept that to myself. Finished up
around 11:30am in 29.5 hours.
Geof and Cindy cruise in 20 minutes later and we sit a spell reliving the ride
and bragging about how many people we passed heading in from Jordan Lake. That
was a great ride and awesome weather. Ready now for a 3 week taper.
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