CSC Winter Training Ride - Wrapup

February 10, 2008 in Cycling, Pictures, Rides by Bud | 2 comments

What a beautiful day for a ride. There were a few people I knew there at the ride start. A few Bee teamers, and I also ran into a few others I knew and/or have ridden with in the past. The route took you out of Harrisburg, NC from Hickory Ridge High School and headed basically in a southeasterly direction into Union County, then it makes a turn almost directly north back into Cabarrus County before turning west to the finish.

There was some very beautiful scenery along the way. If anyone has ridden out of Mint Hill you might recognize some of the roads in the bottom portion of the ride.

The organizers mentioned that the route was being done in the opposite direction from previous years, and that it would be a little bit harder this way with a lot of climbing near the end. After completing the ride, I am not sure I believe it was just "a little" harder, it was damn hard. By the time you hit Miami Church Road the wind was blowing hard and directly in your face. The road had some steep sections but with the wind every inch of that road felt like you were going up hill!

JohnD and I rode most of the 70 together, at least from the first rest stop. About mile 55 I started to cramp up. Both quads were in a lot of pain every time the road turned uphill. I could barely keep up with JohnD, but after the last stop I don’t know what happened, I felt better although the cramps were causing severe pain, but JohnD felt worse. I can honestly say that I have never been on a ride with him where he did not have to drag me into the finish. This time he told me to go about mile 64. He says he stopped and walked up the hill but I am not sure I want to believe him. Just say it isn’t so.

Here are some of my stats for the route along with a route map and elevation chart. Did I forget to mention that there were several climbs on Miami Church Rd that showed up as 15% grades!

CSC Winter Training Ride
Location: Harrisburg, NC Start Time: 2/9/2008 10:06:33 AM
Category: Road
Distance: 70.42 miles Ascent: 3,474 feet
Total Time: 04:57:12 Descent: -3,493 feet
Moving: 04:25:56 Stopped: 00:31:16
Avg Speed: 00:03:47 / mi Fastest Speed: 00:01:43 / mi
Slowest Speed: 00:15:41 / mi Calories: 4887
Avg HR: N/A Max HR: N/A
Weather: 64 °F Clear Windy
Bicycle: PedalForce - RS #1

Elevation Profile

Just a few pictures from the very start

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  1. John DeMeo’s avatar

    John DeMeo on February 10, 2008 at 9:20 am

    Was it Hall and Oates that sang the song Say It Isn’t So? Well it was so. But once I got up that hill walking (not because it was steep, but because both my legs locked up, I managed 15mph or less). Kinda weird that after 2 of the 3 gu packets, my legs automatically cramped up, then went away. Who knows. It was fun riding with you. I think we should have made that right turn and went for barbecue.

  2. Bud’s avatar

    Bud on February 10, 2008 at 2:18 pm

    For those that didn’t see the sign, there was a big barbecue in Fairview yesterday. John almost convinced me to skip the rest of the ride and eat barbecue instead.