Riding my bicycle 206 miles in one day
Yesterday about 6:15 PM, after 10 hours and 42 minutes in the saddle, I completed the Logan to Jackson (LOTOJA) bicycle race. This was my eleventh time participating in the race and I’m pleased to report this year’s LOTOJA went as smoothly as I could have hoped and I’m very pleased with my finish.
I was too spent yesterday evening to put together a race report. About all I could accomplish then was to shower and get something to eat.
This morning, I’m still moving pretty slow and I feel like I don’t yet have a totally clear head, but I managed to put together a report on some of the data from my cyclometer and also some of the photos that Pat took during the race.
Even though this was a race, I did manage to test my blood sugar before, during, and after the race. About 10 minutes before the start, I was at 133 mg/dl. Just past the Montpelier feed zone (about 80 miles into the race), I was riding solo on a road closed to car traffic, so I pulled out my Breeze2 test meter and tested (yes, while I was riding — this is an impossible, or at least foolhardy, task with any test meter besides the Breeze2!). It was 103! Very nice! Then, just after the Alpine Junction feed zone (50 miles to go), I saw another opportunity while I was riding solo with a very nice tailwind. The blood sugar there was 160. Then, finally, just after the finish, I tested and had a blood sugar of 75.
That’s all for now. I’ll write more later, after I’ve gotten back to my normal self.
| Total distance: | 201.46 miles (It was actually closer to 204 miles. My cyclometer shutdown about 3 miles from the finish because its rechargeable batteries were all used up.) |
|---|---|
| Time: | 10:38:43 (Actual finish time was about 10 hours, 42 minutes) |
| Average speed: | 18.9 mph |
| Maximum speed: | 51.2 mph |
| Total calories: | 15202 (This is what my cyclometer estimated, but I’m doubtful about it’s accuracy. I’ve compared past estimates from cyclometer to the much more accurate calorie figures from my wattage meter and for long rides like this one, the cyclometer’s estimates are about twice as high as the real figures.) |
| Average heart rate: | 135 bpm |
| Maximum heart rate: | 160 bpm |
| Total ascent: | 8032 feet |
| Total descent: | 6297 feet |
| Ride map: |  (click on image to view a larger version) |
| Ride profile: |  (click on image to view a larger version) |
Hey Pete,
Congratulations!!! We were thinking of you and hoping that conditions were favorable. Makes me a bit nostalgic. It’s been awhile since I’ve ridden that race but it still is my favorite. congratulations to Pat also for I’m sure a most excellent support crew.
Denise and Lawrence
Okay, I may be assuming wrong, but I am guessing you started the race with fully-charged batteries. If so, I think that is really, really cool that you rode for so long that you were able to outlast your batteries. It would be even cooler if they were Energizer!
Anyway, congrats on doing yet another incredible thing without letting diabetes stand in your way!!
-Jen
Hi Jennifer,
I never thought about it that way, but that’s pretty funny! The batteries are sealed inside the unit, so they could be Energizer, but I don’t know for sure.
Thanks for your comment!
Peter