600 K ACP brevet - Frederick, MD - 6/3/06

Finally I did it ! 375 miles (actually my odometer showed 381.40 miles, in part due to some unexpected detour caused by roadworks) in less than 40 hours including stops. My game plan was to ride it in 30 hours and take 6 hours stops, but without sleeping. I actually rode 30 hours 23 minutes and 49 secondes and took 8 hours of stops, including 3 hours 15 minutes at the sleep stop. All this was dead on target and I was very satisfied with those results.
If feels good after last year failure. Thanks to all those who helped me along the way, Mike Scott, Doug Young, Nick Bull, Natacha, of course CTS (my secret weapon).
On Friday, after a one hour ride with one interval to "tune up" my legs, it was off to Frederick where we arrived around 1:00 p.m., as usual a little too early to check in.
I took Natacha to the Hard Times Cafe for some Chili. I chose the vegetarian one and Natacha the Texas one. Unfortunately for her, this turned out to be a bad choice as the meat was actually swimming in oil !
Back to the hotel, I prepared the bike and took a nap. Around 5:00 p.m., we went to the Olive Garden. I thought it would be faster to take the expressway, and I managed to get lost. Anyway, we finally found the place and I was able to enjoy my spaghettis and Turamitsu. Then, back again to the hotel for a short night.
I got up at 2:45, for the traditional breakfast of home prepared oat meal, shower, stretching and get ready.
The start took place at 4:00 a.m. under a light rain that would last for around 4 to 5 hours. A few minutes after the start, I was already on my own, everyone else speeding away. But this time, I was determined not to let anything get me divert from my own pace. And the way the whole ride went for me proved me right.
At the first control, I caught up with Bill who had made a wrong turn and had had to back track for a few miles. We rode a few miles together, but again, I made sure that I did not have to push to stay with him and eventually let him go.
I then found Matt and Paul and rode with them until we caught up with Nick Bull with whom I finished that segment of the ride until the sleep stop. The fact that I finished together with Nick (and Bill) meant that we were riding at very similar pace. That first loop of 236.8 miles did not feel too difficult for 6,070 feet of climbing, but in only 2 main climbs.
So we agreed to do the second loop together.
Having arrived at the hotel at 1:00 a.m. allowed me to shower, sleep for a little more than 90 minutes while Natacha went to Denny's to get me some pancakes and hash browns, eat, stretch, get into dry clothes, adjust the rear derailleur which had caused me many problems during the first loop, and left with Nick at 4:15 a.m.
That day proved to be a wonderful day in terms of weather, blue sky, dry air and for most of the morning no wind.
We worked very well with Nick. He would tend to ride a little faster than me on the flat, but I was more comfortable than him on the hills, which were many, short and very steep. This second loop, made of 144.6 miles felt very tough with 4,210 feet of climbing, but in many different climbs.
In all, as Nick put it, we made quite a good team and the day went by almost fast.
Maybe things were going too well. A little less than 10 miles from the finish, I hugged the side of the road a little too close and my front wheel fell off the side of the thick coat of tarmac covering the road, and I went down quite hard. Fortunately, there was no damage to the bike, minor injuries to myself, especially the right hand, which made it difficult to operate brake and derailleur, and of course a big bruise to my ego. But after a few minutes, we were back on track, riding at a good pace and we finished at 6:23 p.m., well on target and in line with our game plan. And this time, I tooke the time to take some pictures.
But how in hell can you do twice that much ! . . . .
That's what I thought after the 300 K so I guess that eventually a 1200 might not be totally out of reach. . . .but not this year.