I stopped counting how many rides over 161/200km I had done back in 2017. It was at the point that I had pushed my Edington number over 100-Imperial, which had taken a concerted effort over a couple of years, from its previous 92. It was hard enough doing the additional rides, a lot more than 8 in case you are wondering, but it took even more effort to keep a record and plan the intricacies. For once in my life I was able to drop a compulsion, leave it behind, and concentrate on just the sheer pleasure of riding a bike.
There were still challenges though. The Cent Cols in 2018 still ranks as the biggest and toughest event I have ever, probably will ever, do on a bike. Then I have had health issues, job issues, family and friend issues, all of which take a little bit out of you, and change you, sometimes in a positive way, sometimes not. But I like to think I always learn something productive if I strive hard enough.
One thing I did learn from riding all those rides back in 2016-17 was how to get through the tough bits of a journey on a bike. The hardest part of a long ride, for me anyway, was between the 60-80% mark, give or take a few KM or the odd hill. This has happened consistently enough to make it one of my known rules. I reasoned a few explanations. At 60% you have already put quite a lot of effort in to be a bit tired, but you are still a fair way off the finish. On a 200km ride that could be 2-3 hours away. Likewise, you may need to eat something, and it will take a bit of time to have a restorative effect. I’m always rubbish at fuelling early, I’m always playing catch-up. If you are very tired, it’s amazing how restorative a short stop can be, especially when combined with the refuelling.
Last week I was in the Cèvennes, on holiday, tracking down some of the ancestral Huguenot haunts, but also rehabilitating my soul, and my knee, with some moderate hilly riding in very quiet and deserted hills. It was a great break, very refreshing, and a wonderful place to refresh the batteries before the onslaught of an English Winter. There was also plenty of fuelling, but generally of a nutritious kind, and enough activity to also enable the shedding of a couple of kg of baggage.
I don’t know about you but I’m hoping not to die at all, to be the first person to live forever, in a real, literal and physical sense. What’s more I hope to maintain enough physical fitness to be able to ride a bike until eternity, albeit may have to continue to compromise on the gearing.
Failing that, like French legend Robert Marchand, I’ll settle for a decent performance into my 11th decade. That being so, tomorrow I’ll enter that 60-80% zone. It seems astounding to me the ride is that far advanced already, it seems like only yesterday I was at the first control, or cresting the halfway point.
What can you do to slow this ride down? Of course, there is nothing to stop the passing, and the ravages of time. My knee for example, whilst better, is not perfect, and I still have some pain in it. I think I may try some more physiotherapy. But it might also be that horrible of horrible, the “new normal”. But I can still ride up 20% gradients and 15km climbs without stopping, so it is not a disaster.
There really is only one answer, and it’s the same answer as for all those other long rides. Eat something, preferably the right thing, have some restorative breaks when you can, savour what you have accomplished, enjoy the company of your loved ones and your friends, but more than that, take pleasure from the ride while it lasts.
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