Policemen and marshalls at every junction to direct you.
Cold isotonic drinks and water at support stations.
Exhilarating descents around every corner.
And the toughest bike race ever. For this athlethically-challenged rider at least.
Around every corner there was another slope to climb.
Isotonic drinks? Not on stage 1, at least not for the slower recreational riders.
Children wanting to hi-five and my water bottle.
And the 40 deg C heat, unrelenting, merciless and ever so humbling.
Having done the training camp some weeks ago, I was mentally prepared and came with a game plan. Hydrate more often, stay aerobic as much as I can, devise a nutrition plan of cereal bars, bloks, gels and S-caps. And of course, a compact crank. If only I could execute...
My plan was to go at my own pace and stay within my capabilities. We started together after a blowup some 100m into the race. After a few km, I was glad that CS and MH went ahead, they were much faster and stronger riders. SC, Jodan and I were lagging behind, and when the serious slopes started, we began to pull apart. I found the compact crank to be a major improvement and was pleasantly surprised to catch up with the front group who'd stopped for an impromptu water break. SC and I started together and I was wondering if it was a good idea for him to ride with me. Several times, I told him to go ahead, but was thankful that he stayed with me. We took turns pulling at the coastal stretch, but other than that, I was drafting him most of the way. Thanks, buddy.
I was glad to reach the second water point without the ugly C monster grabbing me. Again surprised to see CS and MH there. Apparently the water ran out and they spent 15 minutes waiting. I was lucky cuz the water came shortly after I arrived. Counterpain aplenty. But that was insufficient to belay the C monster. It struck shortly after while we were going through up one of the slopes in Tg Pinang. But somehow, I kept spinning easy and it went away. The C monster would rear its head four to five more times.
The heat was getting to us then, and the heavier traffic didn't help. We had to make a few more short stops (at my request). Several times After a gel, I felt strong and started pulling. However, not long thereafter, the sugar high wore off and I suffered again. Decided to stop for water by a road side store. Just then the sweeper bus came along and the driver notioned to us. We waved him off, and then kinda regretted. :(
By then we knew that making the 125km cutoff was a tall order. The third water stop was just a few clicks away and I decided to stop again, and SC rode ahead. The conversation among the riders there were pretty much like - hot day, tough slopes - amidst weary smiles.
I turned a corner and saw this big climb and many riders walking their bikes up. My heart dropped. So I unclipped and walked up. That was when the C monster leapt up and consumed me. Ironic, wasn't it, to be seized by cramps in both legs while walking instead of riding. Took the better part of a minute to get around them and continue. Defensive from that point on, it was merely a grind-it-out affair.
At the 125km checkpoint, I was disappointed to see a group of riders standing around, and more so that SC didn't make the cutoff as well. Apparently he missed by 10 minutes, and I felt really bad to have slowed him down. I was glad that the pain and suffering was over at that point. At least the consolation was that I managed to make it to 125km.
The second stage the next day started with a larger group as cat 3 riders that didn't make the top 80 were lumped together with the recreational riders. Even before we reached the Nirwana Garden gates, I was right at the end with the motorbikes and bus behind me. Hhmmm...
CS was waiting for me and he asked me to draft him. So I did rather reluctantly and we caught up with the FOTR group. We rode together for a bit but soon I fell back. Going to stick to my game plan more carefully and ride within myself.
The terrain was not as challenging as stage 1, but I found that following AY's advice to go downhill on big chain ring and then changing down on the upslope really helped (I was on small chain ring almost all the way in stage 1). After a while, I began to get the hang of it and the slopes became easier to overcome. Took me four long rides to figure this out, hence I concluded that I am also learning-challenged.
Anyways, the highlight of the tour for me was the descent after a short climb outside town. It was a fairly long descent with two to three turns. Yeehaw!
The weather wasn't as cruel on day 2 and it even drizzled some. By the time we reached the second and last water station, I met up with JC and rode together along the coastal stretch, taking turns to pull.
Perhaps it was the adrenalin or the conservation strategy, but I felt strong enough to start overtaking other riders then. Over the last 24 km, I reckoned I overtook about 12 to 15 riders. Cheap thrill it was, overtaking two riders up the KOM. A polite gentleman from Operation Smile and I rode together for a spell and then I overtook him as well. Within one km of the end, I saw a distant rider and started huffing and puffing just to overtake him some 200m from the finish line.
The gang was at the side of the finish line to encourage me. They told me I finished mere minutes behind them. They were being kind. Probably a good half hour by my estimate. That said, I was glad to finish strong for the 74km stage 2.
A friend said that there was nothing fun about this tour. I agreed. But there were many lessons learnt.
And what did I learn from this humbling experience? To quote Dean Karnazes: Pain and suffering are often the catalysts for life's most profound lessons.
Indeed, I had many hours of commune with my Creator, especially when struggling through the cramps. There's a song that I composed that brought me through those excruciating and trying minutes. I am also grateful for friendship and comrades in suffering. There's nothing more motivating than to have fellow sufferers pulling and pushing me on. And I am thankful for the gifts of life and health.
Best of all, was this welcome home card from my family that made it all worthwhile:
