With Rick, I rode another one of his perms. He had to keep his 200km monthly streak alive to earn his R-12, and he was running out of month and rideable weather. Rick has had some physical issues, having to cut short a recent attempt at a 300km ride, and he wanted some company for this ride. I was wondering recently if I could still handle the distance, not having ridden 200km in over a year. So it came together, and really went okay.
We met and started riding mid-course in Hammonton NJ, roughly an equally distant drive for each of us. We started out in the chilly rain; not a downpour, but enough to make us hope it would end soon. Thankfully, after an hour or so, it did.
I guess the rain washed off the lube, as my chain got chattery about halfway thru the ride. Knowing the weather forecast, for the first time I had packed some Finish Line Wet lube just in case. It came in handy. I applied it outside of Bud's Market (a control) in Alloway while enjoying a little time out of the saddle at about 90 miles in. While stopped there, I also enjoyed my first taste of Gerber's organic pureed baby food in a pouch, something I had seen recommended in a comment in a Road Bike Rider newsletter. I immediately wished I had packed a second pouch, it was that good and went down that easily. Along those same lines, I read where many riders like a Snickers for fuel, but not wanting to deal with peanut pieces in my teeth, about 50 miles in I opted for my first (Share Size) Milky Way in umpteen years, maybe since I was a trick-or-treater. Mmmm.
Fauna-wise, I saw a blue heron flying very close by, plus guinea hens, horses, cows, goats, sheep and donkeys, turtles (alive and dead), red-winged blackbirds, a duck family of 5 on a pond, and vultures tearing into a road-killed deer.
Flora-wise, I saw lots of pines (of course), plenty of Atlantic white cedar, blooming dogwood, wisteria, and lilacs (including some bushes planted in rows (?)), plus lots of blueberry fields, all with the bushes in bloom. I hope to be picking some by July 1.
As it turned out, Rick was his usual strong-riding self. He even chased after a trio of young bucks out on a training ride, and, even with his fendered bike sporting a big handlebar bag, damn near caught them before they turned off.
Me, I was happy not to have to resort to ibuprofen or additional caffeine; I just made sure to dose myself every 25 miles with a couple SaltStick capsules to fend off my old nemisis, the cramp monster. The ride went well enough that I plan to attempt another 200km in the near future.
I didn't care enough for this route to want to do it again, mainly due to traffic / shoulder concerns. However, Rick is working on creating another 200km permanent, in deep South Jersey, so I may be doing that one in the next few months.
On the 2013 Specialized Roubaix, my rando rig.
Route elevation, profile and pics here:
Oyster Creek 200km Permanent Route - A bike ride in Hammonton, NJ (ridewithgps.com)
