Specialized : Riders Club

Rachael Lambert's Journal

Wyatt's Mega Ride

posted by at 02:37 PM on December 07, 2007

Last weekend I subjected myself to brutal pain. No I am not a masochist and no I am not training for endurance sports. I just thought it would be fun to join in on Chris Wyatt's Mega-Ride on Saturday. Perhaps I should explain a bit further. Chris Wyatt is our friendly tire engineer. He also happens to have a few screws loose. And on top of that he is a former Army Ranger. His idea of a good ride was to ride from Aptos, California to the top of Demo and then back out Niscene. For me it sounded great because I had never before ridden at these locations. Mistake number one was agreeing to go for a ride that Wyatt called "mega".

Saturday morning dawned and I had an early breakfast of eggs thinking the protein would help. A big part of my problem was the preparation. Nobody really knew how long the ride was or how long it would take to complete it. So I thought if I packed a couple bars and a packet of Gu along with my Camelbak that would be enough. Big mistake number two.

The ride started steady with Sondra Williamson and I setting a comfortable steady pace. We completed the first climb to the top of Demo without too much hassle or pain. Now the best part was coming....the descent. My furrowed brow was traded in for a shit-eating grin as we started heading down the Ridge to Sawpit. Fun, fast and technical. It felt as though it lasted only a few short moments before we were back out on the fireroad at the bottom of Demo. I knew the next climb was coming but had no idea what I was in for.

Back up climbing and back with a furrowed brow, I started bonking. Having already eaten all my food and the large majority of my water, I began loosing faith that I would finish it. But there was no where else to go but up. Halfway up the climb on Tractor, it started getting steeper and punchier. I am ashamed to say I had to walk one section of steep trail. Back on my bike we made it to the top of Demo and relief washed over me that the climbing was over.

But no....Canadian Bacon is not downhill. Our next trail was a large dissapointment as it continued to involve my cranks turning and my body aching. After the first section of trail, I realized my body was kaput. I had been riding for over four hours and couldn't take any more. I cut out on the road and sacrificed riding the only sustained downhill (West Ridge) in an effort to put myself out of my misery. I made it down to the car exactly five hours after leaving it and could barely lift my bike onto the rack. After an unbelievably large burrito, a really hot shower and hour nap I decided I would never do it again. However, I sit here nearly a week later and have committed myself to riding the same loop on December 16th. I guess I will have to suck it up and live by Wyatt's motto Go Big or Go Bigger. Thanks Wyatt, I think I no longer have any hard feelings from Eurobike go-karting anymore.

categories: General