A Momentous Occasion.

Did 82 miles today, longest ride to date. Discovered a few interesting things.

1. I don't really like sports drinks. Urge to brush teeth.
2. I don't really like gels. Urge to spit them out.
3. I was very hungry by mile 70 and craving savoury food. Various menu options were flashing through my mind, with tuna pasta bake being top of the list, I was almost salivating.
4. I can't reach my aerobottle when I'm on the tri bars. Have to shift round to be able to reach. What that's all about I do not know. Bad shoulder flexibility I think.
5. By mile 53 I was really bored and wanted to get off.
6. By mile 75 I went to quite a depressed and fed up place, my neck and shoulders were killing me, and I just wanted to be at home. Then it started to piss it down. I thanked the sky with sarcasm in my voice. Started thinking lots of weird ''What would happen if....'' scenarios.Think I was running out of energy, had 2 gels.
7. By mile 80 I was bizarrely euphoric, and was belting out ''Ain't No Mountain High Enough'' whilst pedalling up a big hill, in time to the beat playing in my head. Think the 2 gels worked.
8. I REALLY do not like sports drinks. Big urge to brush teeth. Started wondering about taking toothbrush into transition. Seriously.

What am I going to do about this issue...? I wonder if I can just get away with water and gels? That'd be a lot of gels though... and I'm not too fond of those either to be honest! But I can't stand the aftertaste of sports drinks.. and the coating on my teeth! Awful! I'm a complete sugar addict, I eat way too many sweets, but today I really couldn't face anymore sugar. (Apart from the Easter eggs I had when I got home obviously, but they aren't anywhere near as bad, which is saying something!)
What is savoury-ish that I could have? Flapjack maybe..  Or a Tesco cheese twist? I must try this out on next long ride. Got to have a proper eat/drink plan, and stick to it. I was drinking today, but not at regular intervals like I should have been. Need to make it almost automatic. An amazing thing happened today though..


It has long been a joke amongst my cycling buddies that I refuse to get my bum out to go to the loo en route. I just don't like it, it is most uncouth for a lady. We have to squat. Not nice. Now I really don't look anything like someone who'd care what bits they had out, I have large tattoos, wild hair and various piercings, but I am actually a complete prude. I should have been bought up in the Victorian era. I don't want my bum out of my shorts, simple! And in the whole time we have been cycling together, (8 months) I haven't had to go. Partly I actually wouldn't need to, (think it was a psychological block to keep bum in shorts) and partly if I did I'd hold it until I had a toilet.


But today something miraculous happened.. I needed a wee whilst cycling. Really needed one. Then something even more miraculous.. I stopped and went. Outside!! Behind a bush!! Me!! I tried to wait and not go, but  had to, it was hurting, and really putting me off. So I climbed over a fence, disappeared into some trees, wrestled with top and got bib shorts off, and did the dreaded squat. Instant relief, even if a bit did go on my shoe.

My comrades were most proud of me, offered hearty congratulations, and told me I was now a woman of the world, and could achieve anything. It was truly a momentous occasion.

It also feels a momentous occasion that I have achieved 82 miles actually. And I went to visit friends when I got home too, didn't just collapse. My legs are slightly sore, and know I will feel stiff tomorrow, but it's not bad.. I got home and thought, 'I really do have some endurance now'.

Smiled to myself. It's a good feeling.