Thunder Ridge Report

Since I'm contemplating which homework assignment to dive into next, I will procrastinate by writing this report for you!!!  It is my desire to do different types of events on my bikes this year, so this past Sunday I participated in a group, road bike ride for charity.  This was the first Storming of Thunder Ridge which benefits a program at the Lynchburg area YMCA.  I have many wonderful friends in Lynchburg, so I've kind of adopted it as a 2nd hometown.  There were two distances for this ride - a 56k (35-mile) option which I did and a 100k which I might try next year!  

The ride itself starts just off of Rt 221 in Forest, VA and winds its way through some beautiful Bedford countryside.  It was a tad foggy and humid to start the ride, but otherwise a good day to ride.  I started off just after 8a.  I really didn't know anyone riding the 35-miler so I was pretty much on a solo road ride.  I followed this one guy in a bright yellow jacket for a while until he lost me on a short climb.  I was thoroughly enjoying the ride and looking around as I rode.  I had never been on any of these roads and had no idea where I was going.  Fortunately they had posted the course file on line so I was able to load it into my Garmin (which was the first time I've used this function).  

I rode along thinking of how nice it was to have the ability to go out and ride with no stresses in the world.  I stopped for a sip of Gatorade at one of the reststops, chatted with the volunteers for a minute then headed on my way.  I remember a few specific things from the ride - a couple of dogs that worried me, a turtle that I worried about, a cool rock statue, a collection of huge rocks at a church, the Sedalia Country Store, Gunstock Creek (listening to it was tranquil).  

I didn't really see other riders until I got to Sedalia.  I saw 4 ahead of me as I passed the Sedalia Center and thought it would be nice to try to catch them which I did.  I eventually passed all 4 and went on my way.  I was having an absolutely fantastic time.  Once I got back to Rt 122, I saw two more riders, an older guy and a young man.  They were stopped in front of a restaurant.  I smiled and continued on.  It was so cool on 122 as not a single car passed me while I was on that road.  I was also able to pedal fast.  I felt like I was moving at record speed.  (HA HA, I can dream.)  

After 122, you turn onto another road, I passed another rest stop where I just waved and continued on.  A few miles later I started feeling like my left pedal, cleat or something was loose.  I remembered this from Friday's ride home from work, but why 27 miles into an event it started again I couldn't figure out.  Well one pedal stroked up a hill proved it wasn't the pedal or the cleat - the whole crank arm came off!!!  WHAT??? 

Well of course, I stopped dead in my tracks.  I literally stood there wondering what the hell to do.  Here I was 8 miles from the end of the ride, a few people I could call if I got a signal...  Well I just decided to keep going towards the end.  I soon passed a lady, her daughter and two dogs.  They were like what happened?  I showed them the crank arm which I was carrying along in my left hand.  They were like what are you going to do?  I was like walk, ride or otherwise get to then end.  I think they thought I was nuts.  Soon the young man and the older dude caught up to me.  They were like what happened, you were flying?  I was like, um I broke my bike?  HA HA HA.  The young dude decided that if I was going to try to ride back with one pedal that he would as well.  They stayed fairly close to me for a bit then went on their way.  By now I had tried to put the crank arm back on, but didn't have a wrench large enough for the "outer" bolt.  I could tighten the inner one some and the outer one a little.  The crank arm would stay on for about a 1/2 mile at a time. When it was on I had to pedal very lightly on the left side.  I'd coast on the downhills then carefully try to pedal the uphills.  


I think the thing fell off at least 3 or 4 more times.  The other people who I had passed all passed me back.  Each offered assistance which was cool, but there was nothing anyone could do other than call for a ride which I had already decided against.  I wanted to finish on my own.  I'm just stubborn like that I guess.  I got within 3 miles of the finish when the race director waved me down, offered me water and called SAG.  I waited for about 5 minutes, but soon got hot waiting; and decided just to get done.  So off I went with my handicapped bike.  Pedal pedal, clank, plunk - this time I ran over the crank arm when it fell off.  I laughed as I veered to the side of the road to stop - ran back quickly and picked up my broken appendage.  This time I just stuck it in my back pocket and pedaled the last mile plus with my right leg.  Right before the last turn, my leg was fatigued to the point where I couldn't pull the pedal up and over the top of the pedal stroke.  


It was entertaining to ride with one foot.  Try it sometime.  The opposite leg has no idea what to do when you're pedaling with just the one.  I ended up propping my foot up just above the bottom bracket.  =)  I wish someone had gotten a picture...  I figure that broken part cost me about 20-30 minutes.  

Oh well, I had an absolute blast on this ride and hope to attend again next year.  If by chance I continue riding my road bike and can get my mileage and cardio up I will do the metric!  It supposed to be a 13-mile climb up Thunder Ridge!  WOW.