Secret Training Camp (day five)

Published July 16, 2010 at 4:43 p.m.

One word. Epic.After trying to get to the Bearskin trail for several days yesterdays cross ride will be one that I remember for along time. After adding up the mileage including the miles to get there and back I knew I was on the longest ride of the summer, rolling in with 65 miles. Just a few miles more than the other day. But what I did not add up so well is the time. I knew my average speed would be a bit down from a road ride but I had no idea I was going to roll back to the cabin with 4 hours 50 minutes in my legs!
The ride started with a 12 mile road ride into a huge head wind.
Took me over an hour to do this.
I love the "whirring" sound of a cross tire on the road.
Then I arrived at the trail head. This is the same trail I rode in April but never went end to end.

Then once I hit the trail it was game on. This rails to trail is all hard packed lime stone and is 18 miles long. It runs thru and past tons of lakes and marshes. Sometime on both sides at the same time. This is the stuff a cross bike loves and I blasted all 18 miles out and back with gusto. I was a true bike path warrior and no other had anything for me today. I was on fire.
Once I got about 5 miles out the trail thinned but close to Minoqua the trail was packed. I saw an elderly woman hit the dirt riding her cruiser. She got to far off to one side and washed out in the marbles. Her husband was there and I offered my cell phone if she needed help, and told her to take her time getting up. After what seemed to be an hour but was just minutes, she slowly got back on her bike. That was scary. But the huge crowd of weekend riders were every where. I saw several parents with a very young child (like a year old) in those rear seat things. And no helmet. What are those people thinking? Thats a long way to the ground for a one year old.
Farther out the riders thinned and I turned it up. At this point I saw several riders who were headed back but could see by the look in their eyes, were in trouble as they bit off more than they could handle. They forget that they ride out until their in pain, and then have to ride back. Saw several walking their bikes 8 or 9 miles out. Several tandems. Almost no one had a helmet. 80% did not.Anyway, I rode pretty hard and took in the sights. Very scenic ride and highly recommended.
This bridge was almost 1000 feet long.After completing the 36 miles of trail, and negotiating the Minoqua rush hour,( comparable to New York), I hit the road back to the cabin and was happy to find the wind still going strong. So I put it in survival mode and peddled the road route back. This ride I believe has been the longest in almost two years for me and although I did not plan it that way, was glad to see it. I was plenty sore when I returned and had to fight cramping for several hours after I got back.Today I had planned a Madone road ride but the once again huge winds will once again kick me into the woods. Hopefully dried out from the rain the other day.
So as I was a little upset about not hitting my 15 hours but as I sit here this morning, the last riding day of Secret Training Camp, I need only 2 hours 10 min to hit the 15. Tomorrow is the drive home.While the weight loss is a bust of sorts, I'm convinced my riding fitness has been turned up a notch or two. Maybe not back 100% but way better than a week ago.I will leave you today with a way bigger PB pic than the other day. And one that I'm going to visit tomorrow for breakfast.Next post after the weekend.
DLD

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