Long time no blog. 2011 has been challenging for the old bod physically. I was on a roll from last year when I completed 11 double centuries in the California Triple Crown series, including the Triple Crown stage race of 3 of the most difficult rides.
Then in early 2011 I decided it was time to try some brevets, which are mostly unsupported long distance events ranging from 100K to 1200K. Since I have done 70 double centuries, I figured I would start with a 400K (250-ish miles), which I did in April. That turned out to be a fun event for me, working under a time limit, and not so much worried about my recorded time. I tend to ride double centuries almost like a "sprint" pushing my limits more. I was able to enjoy the scenery and get a feel for the countryside, rather than just looking at the road and my computer/odometer.
Then I fulfilled one of my cycling bucket list items in May with a 600K (380 miles). One of my goals was to ride a 24 hour event, and this took care of that. I was only 1 of 4 who rode straight though the night, while most of the "huge" crowd of 30 cyclists chose to get some sleep after 250 miles. Took me 27 hours and 5 minutes.
The 600K literally changed my life. Riding through the night, and riding up the last climb as dawn awakened, I realized I in fact should take a recent job offer which I had turned down, thinking my existing job was more secure, when in fact the new job had exactly what I wanted. Doing something enjoyable is worth more than a false sense of security these days.
During April and May I was diagnosed with a ruptured disc in my lower back (lumbar, L5 disc). The thing isn't just bulging, it's pretty much exploded, surrounding my sciatic nerve. After the 600K the inflammation got to where I was in severe pain. The second attempt with an epidural injection (actually 2 the second time) helped with the pain and allowed me to get back on the bike to where I was able to complete two more double centuries this year, the last one being the Borrego Springs Double Ordeal in southern California, east of San Diego. 204 miles, with 15,000 feet of climbing.
The course is amazing, starting in the desert, climbing straight up into the surrounding mountains in the dark of pre-dawn, with near-freezing temperatures and a headwind. Then it's a long steady descent, with a steep climb in the middle, down through the rolling hills to the coast at Oceanside for lunch. Then back to the desert we head, with a beautiful, long and gradual climb up toward the mountains. After a rest stop, the gradient kicks up to 8-9% before I noticed it and all of a sudden I was grinding up a long steep climb in my smallest gear.
One more climb with false summits up to the town of Julian, above 4,000 feet, then it's the mother of all descents down Highway 89 to the S2 cutoff to Borrego Springs. There's a irritating little climb here, then the longest, straightest, smoothest descent you'll ever ride, down to the desert floor.
In July I was crying in the neurosurgeon's office, barely able to put weight on my left leg. Now I'm still a bit hobbled but able to enjoy this passion in life. I am very grateful. I will probably end up having surgery to try to correct it, as I would like to finish a 1000K this year, and currently I can't walk very far without some pain and numbness.
