On Trying, and Retrying

I failed.

Two words, and I would feel really lousy about it but for two things, as follows:

First, the distance I did achieve is epic, stupendous, insane! I stopped the GPS on the Rainbow bridge just before crossing and forgot to restart it for about 20km thereafter but it still showed over 249km when I finally did stop on Friday night about 44.5km from Jeff's front door. His girl friend drove out and picked us up. (With just enough time to stop at Sticky Lips and get some take out of what ought to be World Famous ribs. As I did not eat any solid food Friday until the ribs I had not a pang of guilt for ingesting a full rack of ribs and two orders of sweet potato fries. (The Cheese cake from The Cheese Cake factory was a little more guilt inducing - next time I think I will go with a nice fruit salad from Wegmans... Oh who am I kidding, I'll eat the cake!)

The return trip I did not stop the GPS, I did confront one of the worst head winds I have ever fought, instead of my usual 27~30km/h I was fighting, swearing, gritting my teeth at a wimpy 22~24km/h. I reached Hamilton in pain after 13 hours, having covered 256km.

The other reason I am not upset is that I have already made new plans based on lessons learned, and those lessons I will share with everyone who reads this. First, St. Catherines is in the middle of major road work, avoid highway 81 through St. Catherines if possible. Second, US border guards are paranoid, I know everyone already knew that, but in case anyone thought different, make sure you are prepared for this suspicion, because just because you are gainfully employed in a country with universal health care and riding a $4500 bike, doesn't mean they don't think your trying to smuggle drugs in the bulge under your shoe covers - it was the buckle! Third, no matter how early you start some riding will be done in the dark, so be prepared. I will bring my super bright head light and I now have three rear facing frog lights, two at the base of the seat post and one wrapped around the rear hub. Four, don't mix gel and powder in the water bottle no matter what the marketing people say. At Jeff's while preparing for the journey home, I filled my two flasks with gel I had plenty left over so I dumped the rest in my bottles, not smart. The gel prevented the powder from dissolving and made the water taste disgusting. Gel goes in flasks and is taken straight, powder goes in bottles and is mixed with water. Five, try to look past the sorry state of towns like Lewiston and Niagara Falls NY, once on Route 18 New York becomes a remarkably wonderful place to ride. The towns of Western New York are depressing places that will take the great work of President Obama and many Democrat successors to repair but the rural regions are awesome places to ride. Six mix electrolytes with the powder and water. It worked well for me and then there are no pills to keep in suspicious bags if you do get searched. Seven, Niagara-on-the-Lake has a lot of car traffic. Not saying I have the slightest idea how to cope with it, but at least we all know its there, and the bike trail... Well let's just say they did not have road bikes in mind, or if they did, they were thinking Paris-Roubaix when they paved that "trail". Eight, when you fail the first time begin planning the next attempt. So I must remember to ask my Manager for July 2 and July 3, then return, how fitting, on July 4.

Plans are afoot, new routes will be posted. GPSs updated, by God I'm gonna do this thing if it takes me a thousand attempts!

Now for those of you who are interested, the ride out I have lost the route, rather it was corrupted for some reason, but here is my return path, or as much as I achieved.

2009-05-17

http://www.bikely.com/