My First Century - Ride:Well Bike Tour

by Michael

This past Saturday I rode my first 'Century', that's 100 miles on a bicycle in one day.  And this one literally took me all day :)   

A little over a year ago our church started talking about a bike ride they were going to do to bring awareness and raise money for clean water and clean blood in Africa.  The organization is called blood:water mission and the event is called the Ride:Well Tour.  A group of ordinary people, like you and me, riding their bicycles from the west coast all the way to the east cost.  Last year I rode 46 miles at their event and raised over $500 for there cause.  I also found that I really like riding a road bike and have been riding ever since.  But I had not gone more then that 46 miles at once since last year.

Above is my RideWell Jersey that I received for raising money for them to build clean water wells in Africa.  (with a little bit of Sherri's camera magic)

This year I decided to step it up a notch and ride the 100 mile route.  I've been riding a lot lately but I still wasn't sure if I was ready for this long of a distance, especially in this Texas heat!!!  The day started off for Christian and I at about 6:30am.  Christian has only been riding about 2 weeks so he did the 19 mile ride.  He finished it in about an hour and a half.  We are very proud of him.  Next year he wants to ride the 100 with me.  I'm looking forward to that!     

 Here is Christian and I loading the bikes:

On Friday night I did some last minute prep for the ride.  I went and bought new riding shorts (the best $45 I've ever spent).  And ate more food then I have eaten at once in a very long time.  I ate about 3500 calories in pizza and bananas!!!  

The ride started at 730 on Saturday, the weather was around 84 degrees.  It didn't stay that way for long, it very quickly rose into the triple digits!  I had riding partners the first 30 miles or so.  At around 32 miles I turned right and it seemed like everyone else was going straight.  The right turn marked the splitting point for the 75 and 100 mile riders.  So, now I was all alone.  While refueling at the 40 mile rest stop another rider came up who was doing the 100 for the first time.  The 2 of us rode together the rest of the day.  At the 52 mile rest stop we were caught up by another guy from the oaks, Bryce. He rode with us for a while until we parted ways, he took the 75 mile turn and we kept on going towards the 100 mile mark.  I was still doing great at the 75 mile rest stop.  Keeping a 13 to 15mph pace, eating at every stop (about every 14 miles), staying hydrated and well fueled.  

Shortly after we left the 75 mile stop I started to hit the wall!  The temp was around 103 (the hottest day of the year so far), heat index at 105 and my bike computer said it was 117. Our next stop was 12 miles away, at the top of a hill, of course.  When we got there they had no food left, not good.  They told us the next stop was 9 miles away.  We went 11 and still nothing, so we made our own.  A truck came by and gave us some fresh water and told us that there was another stop about 5 miles away.  Guess what?  It was gone too.  I guess they got tired of waiting for us. At around 93 miles I started to get hungry, thats when I knew I was in trouble.  I had not felt hungry once all day, and feeling hungry is a bad sign.  After one more stop around the 95 mile marker I finally got the strength to finish.  

I left the start at 7:30 that morning and crossed the finish at 6:15 that evening.  It took me almost 11 hours to finish the ride.  I was literally the last person to finish that day.  I will admit, it was one of the toughest things I have ever done in my life.  The heat would just suck all your energy away and the sun made my skin feel like it was on fire.  My sunblock worked great though, protected my tattoos and no sunburn!  

What I drank: Water, Pickle Juice and Gatorade

What I ate: Bananas, Oranges, Honey, Oreos, Clif Bars, and Carb Gel Packs

Here is what it looked like when I turned right and split off from the pack.  

There was no one I could see in front of me or behind me.

Not sure if you can tell, but in front of me is one of the many rolling hills that can really suck the energy out of you.  At the top of this one was the 50 mile rest stop.  Half way home!!!

Some of the nice flatland scenery we got to experience.  

It looked like the road would never end.

My riding partner, Grant.  

3 miles from the finish line, the Waxahachie Courthouse in historic downtown Waxahachie.

Looking over at my supportive wife, Sherri.  The only person waiting to see me cross the finish line.  Thanks! You are the love of my life and the only reason I could smile at that moment.

Below is Grant and myself after we were done.  His Dad and Sherri were the only people to actually see us cross the line.

This is my trip computer: miles rode: 101.4 - time on bike 8 hours - avg speed 13.3mph - calories burned 4165!

I rode the 100 miles for two reasons.  The first was to help raise awareness of the fact that most people in Africa do not have clean water or clean blood.  Most children can't go to school because they have to spend their day walking the many miles to a clean water well to bring back fresh water for their village and family.  I encourage you to check out www.ridewelltour.com and see what they are all about.  If it is something you would like to help support, please do.  Just click on donate and its super easy from there.  Please use the drop down box to donate in my behalf.  Even 1 dollar will give a child in Africa fresh water for a whole day.  And the second reason...the challenge of pushing myself beyond my normal limits...and I'm trying to stop aging!

Thanks for reading the first blog I've ever written, sorry if it was boring and too long.