Bay 2 Bay Ride 2021

 

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Jun 27 2021 Sun: Bay 2 Bay 84 mile Ride
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Departure Photo : Edgar, Lisa, Max, Drew and Allen



84 Mile route and data



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Discussion of the Bay 2 Bay 84 Mile Ride

I have done the Bay 2 Bay many times in the past but this one
was the first group ride I did post Covid. 
The ride begins in Betterton, MD from the Firehouse.
The outbound segment of the ride goes from Betterton to Woodland Beach, DE
essentially going east. The return segment does a loop going west 
and then north back to Betterton.

This year the weather was sunny, hot, and windy. I estimated that
about 400+ riders participated. The rides included loops of 25, 50,
84 and 102 miles. Only the 84 and 102 mile rides went from "Bay 2 Bay".

There were 5 riders in our group, but at the very start I decided I
was going to ride at my own pace. I did the 84 mile loop, the others
did the 102 mile loop. The difference was an extra 18 mile loop
at the end of the ride that went to Tolchester.

We began at 0800 and I rode the first segment to the first food stop 
near Galena (17 mi.). It was still relatively pleasant. The wind was 
from the SW and generally behind us. I was able to ride in the large 
chairing for most of the ride. 
There were all levels of riders, including some large groups of bike 
teams. I noticed ABRT jerseys. I tried to drink almost all the water in
my 2 water bottles before I stopped. I had put 2 tablets of Enduralyte
FIZZ in each bottle. However, I forgot to bring extra tablets.

I stopped, had some blocks, ate a banana, I peed behind a pine tree 
(the only time I did this during the whole ride). I got going again 
fairly quickly and the route began to turn SE and go thru Smyrna.
From Smyrna it was a straight 8 mile stretch due East to Woodland Beach
(mile 38). During this run I really enjoyed the help of the wind to
my back and was going at a good pace when I was caught by a large group
of riders from Dover. I jumped on the back and really enjoyed it.

We were really moving well and during this segment I saw Drew and Lisa 
going the other way. I got the impression
they were working hard and not going that fast and had a little 
inkling of foreboding. Just before getting to the Food stop I began
to notice the flies that were buzzing around our group. During this
segment I experienced my max HR. We arrived at Woodland Beach at 1030.

I re-filled my two water bottles had several Cliff gels and blocks,
and a small peanut butter sandwich. I took two Enduralyte tablets
at this stage and realized I should have brought more.

Before I could get going I noticed my saddle was loose. For some reason
the rear bolt had come loose and I was fortunate in carrying a hex 
wrench and I was able to tighten it. I was also occupied swatting
away flies as they bit me in the legs and back.
When I started up on the return leg, I realized my Garmin had stopped 
and for some reason did not pick up the ride again until I was 5 miles
away from Woodland beach. 
So I ended up recording the total ride in 2 segments.

I soon realized that going West was going to be a big problem with a
South-Westerly wind 15-20 mph against us for about 35 miles. I rode 
with 2 other riders who caught me. Along this segment we saw 2 riders
sitting on the shoulder and their bikes were down on the road flat.
We asked them if they were OK, and they just sort of smiled and said
yes. I think they might have touched wheels. We got to a large overpass
over some water and one rider and I dropped the other rider but we
regrouped at the light just before Smyrna. Once we reached Smyrna they
told me they were going to stop and rest.
 
I kept going. I began to see several riders stopped along 
the route under trees and by gas stations. It was very difficult going
against the wind. I was passed by my wife driving the Prius V and I 
almost thought about stopping for a while, but she just waved and kept
going to the next rest stop.
I also saw a truck with 4 bikes in the back and I thought it could have
been a sag vehicle.

The next rest stop was at Millington (60 miles) and I was glad just to
get there. I refilled my water bottles, had pickles and some pickle
juice, ate a small sandwich. I then got on the bike and kept going
west. Millington had some road construction and the road was uneven.

The other thing I noticed was that they had filled cracks on the 
road with black tar and they were irregular patterns. Some were
loops, some looked like snakes. And others were straight. I 
was a little upset when I rode over a straight line segment and felt
my front wheel slip to the side. After that I was more watchful
where the black tar was.

This next segment was the toughest for me. It was near noon. The wind
was really bad especially when the road was across open spaces, and 
sometimes gusts would try to push you off the road.

In this segment I was caught and thankfully drafted off some riders
with distinctive DMV ( Delaware-Maryland-Virginia) jerseys
that incorporated flags and patterns from each state. Even though this
was a "flat" ride there were long segments of 2% or 3% and with the
wind it seemed like they were mountains. I kept going and then began
getting twitches in my thighs and I knew that cramps were on the way.

Sure enough I first got a cramp in R thigh. I stopped and finished
drinking one water bottle. I got going again, switched to the small
chainring and went for several miles, but then my L leg locked up.
I again got off the bike and drank more water and was passed by the
rest of the DMV group.

I somehow managed to keep spinning and climbed the last to the final
rest stop: Chester River Manor at mile 72 in Chestertown. Here I got 
in the shade had some salty potato chips, had some more pickles and 
a banana and drank more water. The cramps abated and I felt a 
little better.

There was only 12 more miles back to Betterton but thankfully this
was due North and the wind was now behind me and I was able to complete
the ride around 1415. I got to the Firehouse and saw Drew and Lisa on
mats doing post-ride stretches. They commiserated with me about the wind.
Edgar and Allan did the full 102 mile ride and they finished a few 
minutes after I did.

I was never really hot even thought the high for the day was 89F. 
I was well ventilated. It was just that this was my longest one day ride
so far and my body was not ready for it. And even with all the fluid
I drank (about 8 bottles) it still did not prevent me from cramping.
I wore the classic pink stripe ascent Coppi jersey and I got a little
sunburned on my back because of the thin material. But it kept me cool.

I was really concerned about an achilles tendon inflammation in my L 
leg and that it would act up. But it did not. So I was
just glad to finish the ride. The cramping is something I am all too
familiar with. Even at my age I have not learned from previous 
experiences!

Well, there is a 5 day stage ride from Frederick to Pittsburgh in July!
 
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Updated Dynamic 2021 /     
 Copyright © 2021, Max Prola