Today, I had some trepidation about completing our first full century ride for 2025. Since yesterday’s ride, I felt a right adductor muscle strain. In the morning portion of the ride, my right knee arthritis was flaring up. We were all worried about restaurants in the small town of Columbus closing before we arrived. But something miraculous happened at our lunch break at a small road side store. I ate an entire pint of Häagen-Dazs Rum Raisin ice cream in addition to my peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I was immediately sated and energized, Then everything improved after lunch for the three of us. Without great effort or pain, we greatly picked up our afternoon pace and for 8 of the last 10 miles we estimated that we sustained a 28 to 30 mph average in our shared pace line. According to Strava we completed 101 miles in 6 hours 3 minutes with a 16.7 mph average! This is a pace I haven’t done in about 20 years.
Along the way we crossed the Continental Divide before lunch. We speculated how water would flow east or west from a roadside sign marking this physical landmark, despite seeing little sign of any water flow in a long while. Prior to lunch, we also met another group of self supported Southern Tier cross country cyclists at a morning store stop. Doug had been following them on a FaceBook group of fellow STCC riders this season, and communicating with their leader, Melissa. We expected to catch them because they had fully loaded touring bikes and doing less daily miles. It was nice to talk with them and even get a picture together, and we wish them luck on their journey with the same planned destination, St. Augustine, FL.
Are we having fun yet?
I’ve been following your route and am really enjoying your daily narratives, photos, and maps. I hope that muscle strain heals quickly!!
Thank you Marsha. So glad you are following me and enjoying the story of our journey. The muscle strains (lower back and adductor) fortunately went away from riding on, so far at least.
Miracle on the Continental Divide! Rum and raisin PB&J – you should patent this! Big ride. Well done – you’re getting stronger every day.
Thanks Adrian. Your would love this tour and the food along the way. Today (Day 12 on March 23rd) was a sardine sandwich, but no ice cream to be found on the route.
So cool that you ran into Melissa, Paul, Sue and the Brit 🙂 I have been following them on FB – I know Melissa from BikeFL years ago, and Paul and Sue from Festivelo — thanks for all the great write-ups 🙂
Paula, thanks for reading my site. It is a small cycling community knowing you, while you know most everyone else!