47mi Support Stop
This early season Charles River Wheelmen event that took place Sunday rolls from Wakefield through forests and upscale residences in MA and NH. The course is well marked with painted arrows. Sunny and just a touch cool, the weather was perfect, and I even had a friend interested in riding at about my pace. What more could I ask for in a ride?
I don’t like the inefficiency of driving to a ride, but I’m warming to the fun social aspect of an organized event. There’s safety in numbers too as motorists are more aware of groups of riders. The noisemaker ING cowbell, a spectator handout at last year’s Hartford marathon, that hangs from the corner of my day bag has drawn more comments than ever expected. My favorite: “More cowbell!” It gives a certain finishing touch to my beater bike motif. While I was surrounded by carbon fiber containing road bikes worth more than my car all day, I might have been piloting the only rig in the event without drop bars or with a bag on the rack.
Carrying extra supplies was easily justified however, because, although conditions were ideal, the CRW support could be improved. For the $20 registration ($15 if pre-registered) you get a plastic admission bracelet, two support stops, and the finish line support. The first stop doesn’t come along until about halfway at 47 miles where they announced they were running out of… WATER! Snacks were not exciting, but decent. Mushy PB&J never tasted so good. I can’t comment on the second support stop, because I wasn’t inspired enough by the first to stop for the second. There are a few small stores on the route to keep you going. Finish line support wasn’t much better. Chips and pretzels were the only food you could count on. There were a few mini sandwiches, but they were being rationed to the degree that luck was the only way to be standing at the table when some were put out. Appreciate that these things must be hard to organize, but I expected more from a group with the prestige of CRW.
One shortcoming on my own nutrition of the day was salt. I didn’t complain too loudly about those salty finish line snacks because at that point I was ready to lick the bottom of the pretzel tray. Of course, I remember clearly how a long summer ride can leave your face and clothes caked with expelled electrolyte, but I had shamefully neglected to plan sufficiently for the replenishment. I had only mixed one of my four water bottles with my sports drink mix and I blame most of my fatigue in the last 10 miles of the ride on this shortcoming. Noted for next ride.
Overall though, a fun ride on a beautiful day!