Images of day one Start, Bike before event and wet, dirt and grime that was collected during the ride.
Attached are the Garmin files of Day 1 and Day 2 MS Bay to Bay bike event.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/53488060
(copy and paste to your browser to see details of day one)
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/53487986
(copy and paste to your browser to see details of day two)
Stats:
Total miles: 156.7
Total calories burned: 12,128
Total Elevation Gain: 7,690
Total donations received for the MS Society as of 10/18/10: $2,460.
Despite the early 5:30 and 6am arrivals to the starting lines, the cool headwind, the rain and mud that found my bike for the first time in its existence, a chain break on mile 12, the slow processions of team riding from the start and in to the finish lines and losing my new sunglasses to our dog Buddy(don’t ask), the ride was AMAZING!
First I must thank everyone that helped me complete this ride in some form or fashion. I set a lofty goal this year to raise $2000 and it appeared that I wouldn't make that goal up until a few days before the event. I even received donations on day one and day two of the event to put OUR current total donation amount at $2,460. I can assure you that those funds will go to a great cause and your support there is extremely appreciated by those afflicted with MS. I too am extremely grateful of all the support that I received in donations this year. I believe the MS Society will be keeping our goal links live a couple of weeks, so it is not too late to add to our total. Again, the link to donate is: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/mikeflanagan
I couldn't have finished the ride without those who have trained with me encouraged me and helped along the rides with the maintenance issues. I though day one was going to end early on mile 12 of 109 but with the support of ride Marshall, Mike number 1289, literally saved me from having to abort. Macgyver like he fixed a broken chain with a small multi-tool wrench by completely removing a link and repairing it to the point where it actually felt like a new drive train. Not to mention he managed all of this on the side of the road with bikes whizing past in the rain on a wet grimy bike. I couldn't thank him enough and had nothing to offer but I’m fairly confident that he was pleased by just doing the right thing...
I would also be amiss if I didn't thank my family and most importantly my wife Martha for putting up with my hobby and the time involved it takes in order for me to complete events such as this, also for waking up early to drive me to my starting destinations over an hour away this weekend. Thank you Love!
As mentioned before, I joined the riding group from 24 Hour Fitness out of Southern California. This event was my first ride with them. I wished I had an opportunity to train with them prior to this event for many reasons. I felt more like an outsider even though they were all very welcoming and supportive. It so happens that almost 30 of the 71 total riders in this group were new as well. I'm guessing that I was the newest rookie based on conversations of previous rides. The group consists of riders that have been riding that are extremely talented on a bike that rode 158 with very little effort to riders that found the first ten miles in the rain to be one of the worst traumatic experiences of their life...
I was grateful for their support and event planning, but the processions away from the starting line and in to the finish lines dragged along to the point of frustration. I guess that comes with riding solo for so long. I appreciate the sport as an individual sport and have always biked that way and have never been passed up by a biker that hasn't asked if I needed support when I have mechanical issues. I appreciate the group managers wanting to ride in as one group, but when it takes an hour to finish the last 7 miles of an event to ride in as a group, it does more mental and physical damage to the individual riders than it accomplishes for the team. That's just my two cents and free advice to team managers out there and worth every penny you pay for it.
I’m also grateful for all those who willingly gave their time to volunteer for this event. The outpouring of volunteers was pretty impressive and always amazes me how smoothly they all pull together to make this event so successful each year.
Last year I didn’t ride much after the MS event, but feel committed and compelled to sticking with some form of winter riding and training so that I can ride more events in between MS rides. I’m currently interested in riding the Palm Springs Century ride in February, The Solvang Century in March, the San Diego Century in May and possibly the Santa Barbara Century in October of next year. My goal will be to ride in five Centuries a year for as long as I physically can and from my experience from riding with “older riders”, it is possible to ride well in to my late 50’s and in to my 60’s and remain as competitive as I am today. The average age of the top five most physically capable riders in the 24 Hour Fitness group was easily 50 years old. I’m also interested in an L.A. to San Diego ride, a Santa Barbara to San Diego ride as well as the ride across Iowa in 2011 or 2012.
I managed to find riders of my experience and riding capabilities on both days. Day one a little more of a challenge with the broken chain that put me about 30 minutes behind the faster riders, but with shorter breaks and lunch, I managed to catch up before we hit mile 100.
Day two started off very fast for a bunch of tired sore riders. I managed to find the quicker paced riders and stuck with them pretty much from start to finish up until the last rest stop 7 miles from the finish. That is where we ALL had to ride in together as a group.
Also on day two, we rode up Torrey Pines grade not once but twice. It was a new tradition that the group decided to start. They called it the "Extra Mile". This was a ride up Torrey Pines twice. Once for the event and once for those with MS who are unable. It turned out to be about five extra miles... Surprisingly enough, the second time up was easier than the first. I am glad I did it though. I thought of all those that struggle daily with MS like my Mom who have to deal with the challenges and pain of MS daily. Those thoughts really motivated me to do what I did last weekend. Torrey Pines to local riders is known as the widow maker for the enduring climb that doesn’t seem to end. The grade is about 6-7% and is 2.5 miles long. There were many people literally crying when they made it to the top. Many of them also wore the "In memory of" sheets on the back of their jerseys that represented the person or persons they knew who have passed away from the devastating effects of MS, but still continue to ride in this event because they know how important is it to find an eventual cure. Whether I ride with an organized group or not in the future, I will continue to ride the Torrey Pines grade twice as a tradition for those who can't.
Thank you all; once again, for your support! Together we did make a difference… Mike Flanagan
http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/mikeflanagan
