The Atlanta Team consists of
David Bundrick
Thomas Cross
Greg Masterson
Lee Nagel
Ming Tai
Mark Wolf *
This is my first 1200km ride. The longest I have ridden consecutively was the SC 600km. And all I can think of was in January 1999 I met the miles dealer on a cold weekend ride and he handed me this Pamphlet (green) and that got me here at BMB. I started ridding centuries in 1997 (2 - that year Savannah and 6 gap) wow what a contrast, with a TI-Raleigh 531 10 speed. Its now 12 I can't find any freewheels for that bike and the frame spacing is narrow.
The Day Before
Started with great breakfast at the hotel and a great lunch at a nearby town. We rode in the BATmobile (BMB Atlanta Team) to a nearby town where we visited a very well known and equipped bike store. Some of us came out salivating and some got their wallets back. On the way back to the BAT mobile, I was accused of being dangerous by a town policeman. He called me a mad scientist and said "I could make a bomb from a Big Mac". After lunch we headed back to the Hotel and got our bikes ready for the Bike inspection (4pm). At the bike inspection there was a long line even before 4pm most of us was in the back and I was caught starring at other beautiful bikes and toys. [1]
After the inspection we all headed to an Italian restaurant where we stuffed what we can in our system in prep for the days to come. It was a fairly silent evening, no discussion of plans or anything of that subject. All I have in my mind is get to sleep soon and face whatever the course have to offer.
The DAY (1)
Thursday 3 AM wake up call and the usual routine, and had half a bagel , a can of Ensure and some orange Juice before we headed to the starting line we were a little slow and was still signing in at the start when 4am came. We rolled right at 4:02 am and was in the back of the group with our proud glow sticks on our helmets. We could not locate Dave Bundrick because he did not have one on his helmet (at least we could not see it). As we rolled we were thinking maybe Dave plans on starting with the 84 hour group instead.
As we rolled we were slowly making headway and moving towards the front. Our Glow stick brightly lit and looks like we were self injecting glowing fluid into our system, we were also called "Green heads". We were well lit and recognized. Approx 30 min into the ride we had to stop to retrieve an article that got loose on the bumpy road.
If you think its not fastened on your bike - It will drop in BMB
If you think it will fail during the ride - It will break in BMB
If its not setup right on your rig - It will hurt you in BMB
If you think you need it - It will be needed in BMB
All the green glow sticks together and rolled shortly again but the front group is no longer in sight. We rode a little harder in hope to see them but after 15 or so minutes we came to a few rollers and could see the tail of the main group but got separated due to traffic and intersections. We decide not to get on the lead group. I had Arm and leg warmers and a vest on ontop of my shorts and jersey - it was comfortable.
Boulard Farms - 1st control we were all together (Tom, Greg, Lee, Mark and I) no rush we all got filled up and I was happy to see Cans of Ensure available on the ride. I downed one in my system and poured two into my bottle and fill the other with just water. I was ready to roll - The stop was maybe at most 15-20 minutes. As we rolled out we picked up a new rider from the south. We will call him "Baggage" in this report. We rode consistently to Brattleboro with some climbs in between
Brattleboro - 2nd control stop we were served with even better food - Fried Rice (chicken, pork or vegetable) I said to myself mmmmh I think Im beginning to like this ride. If they keep this up I may be able to keep my goal on long distance rides, of ending up heavier than I started. We took a little longer at this stop to fill up our supplies and some of us went into our bag drops to replenish some food [2].
Greg and I rolled of as we needed to reduce some liquid in our system. Mark, Lee and Tom was behind shortly, oh we forgot the Baggage was with them. By this time we need to call him "Tail Baggage - TB". The pace started to drop a little and there is some major climbs coming up. I was calculating our arrival to Burlington (our first planned stop for the night). We cannot be conservative anymore if we want to get some sleep that night. We have been fairly conservative the whole morning and took our time at the controls. If we continue this pace we would arrive at Burlington past 3am and that means only 2-3 hours of shut eye (not in my plan).
I rode a little harder hoping the rest would follow but only Lee and the TB was behind. Discuss with Lee about the arrival time but he doesn't seem to be disturbed by it so I decided there that I will have to make up time and ride to Burlington alone or pick up another group. Wham ! I was not alone TB was there.
We rode to Ludlow with 3 major climbs.
Ludlow - 3rd control. I was getting very tired from the mountains and did not get much rest on the way to Ludlow. The food there was not great, I had 2 bowls of chicken noodle soup and some bread from the control stop, went into my drop bag and refilled my pack and also drank one can of boost and carried one.
Ring - ring - call for Ming ! Whats this ? I didn't pay the entrance fee ? My check bounced ? Who knows Im here ? I was glad to hear a friendly voice and told my Mike my plan and its now behind schedule and I have to leave immediately and updated to Mike where I think the remaining team was. Mike gave me his blessings and I got on my bike a of we went. Me and TB. Approx half mile TB said he left his camelbak at the control stop, and as we rolled we picked up a 3rd rider from Italy - Giovanni. I told TB to go get his bag and convinced Giovanni that if we ride 3 together we could move faster and he said ok. We waited for approx 15 minutes for TB to retrieve his camelbak - his only source of hydration. We rolled again, after 2 miles Giovanni has difficulty with the pace and wave us to go ahead - we left. For over 30+ miles TB may have got in front of me for no more than 3 miles, by now he is called "Scum Sucking Tail Baggage - SSTB" SSTB has two computers, and a map IN his bike Bag and never resets his computer at the checkpoint. I had to climb and navigate in the dark during the monstrous climb up Middlebury Gap, I was tired, frustrated, and knees were in pain. I changed my pedaling style to relieve the pain, by toeing at the bottom of the stroke. The hills were getting steeper and the temperature was plummeting to the 50s. The climbs were extremely difficult but manageable. In the dark and cold the climbs were actually more comfortable than the darkness and the coldness……
Got to Middlebury past 930pm (cant confirm the time) The pasta and bread was not great but nevertheless sufficient to get me to Burlington. I went for my second set of lights (modified helmet light) and batteries, and refilled all my pack food. At this time I have no idea where the remaining of the GA team was and did not want to ride at night alone so I gave Mr. SSTB a choice of riding to Burlington but no guarantee of a bed but floor space and shower will be available. We rode of with two additional recumbents, the recumbents bring back memories and as soon as it flattens out and with some downhills they were ahead after two or three attempts to keep up I decided not to stay with them. The rest of the night was just at a very slow pace, creeping into Burlington. We got in at approx 115AM and left a message for the remaining team. Lights were out by 230AM after a hot shower and iced the knee. Still no sign of TeamAtlanta.
Wake up call at 7AM where the other members all crashed in the other room also was getting ready to roll out @ 8 AM but we were kinda slow moving and only left the hotel approx 830AM. First half hour the knees were sore and now I have an additional pain in both my archiles tendon ( I think form toeing the pedal) My knee is now getting from sore to pain. We (at this time we lost Mark - he stayed at Middlebury for the night) stopped at a store to get some liquids. I raised my saddle 2 mm in hope that it may solve all the issues. It was not helping but it did not bother me so I left it at that. Headed to Rouses Point with some advance info. I knew the NY state line was coming up and I was proud to contest for it.
Rouses Point - 4th Control. Again we took some time to refill and repair the wounds. The food was the same old pasta and spaghetti sauce routine. Food don't seem that tasty and the availability of "goodies" - Ensure, power bars, cakes etc… were no longer available. We cross the border but there were no Border signs so there were no contest there. By this time I was tired of the SSTB so I enforced the 2 mile pull rotation. And we went along very well, but soon it was getting slower due to the pace and fatigue. My legs were slowly giving out and knees were too painful to turn the pedals at a high rate I started to take Vitamin I (I=Ibuprofen) and it helped a little. Approx 15 miles from the turn around Greg, Lee, and Tom picked up the pace and I have nothing to respond with so I got left behind. A few miles later Tom dropped back to regroup with me, to a more gentle pace. When we got to the Midway control stop Lee and Greg was about ready to turn around. We could not respond to the pace nor the quick stop. There was only a ham sandwich for me at the stop - I had to use Mr Rachelson's gift (CAN $) and got some V8, bag of chips, water and a candy bar. At this time I had no choice but to recalculate the speed and time for some sleeptime tonight. Told Tom we have to leave in 10 minutes (after stopping for 20 minutes) and told SSTB that he has to carry his own weight if he want to ride with us - He finally pulled out his map and mounted it and with 3 person group he will have to pull his share as well. I took more Vitamin I hoping to relieve some more aches and pain. We rolled out slow 10-12 mph and as we started rolling faster the pain (knee and archiles tendon) increased. Tom told us to go ahead so he wont hold us back, I said NO (which part of No don't you not understand) He is not getting of so easy. Three pullng at a lower pace is better than two killing each other. In approx 30 min I got my "Mojo" and so did Tom we were taking long pulls at 17-18mph and soon the sun went down and our lights are fully recharged and so were WE. Determined to get there, we started to increase the pace even more at point where we hit 20+mph in the dark and was passing groups that left the last control 15-20 minutes ahead of us. Tom and I were now pulling 5 other riders at 20 mph to Rouses Point. Every rider we passed was a pat on our (Tom and I) back we worked extremely hard. I felt very good at that pace the knee pain was consistent (not pulsating) I was spinning over 100 rpm. It took us around 3.5 hours for the return leg compared to 5 hours on the initial leg out to Montreal. All pumped up and rolled in to Rouses Point ready to go at it again. Mark was already there for over 2 hours and told us to wake him up so he could ride together with us to Burlington. Greg and Lee was already there (RP) and soon after we got there they were ready to roll but we were not.
Rouses Point - 6th control took much longer than expected the grouped of 6-7 other riders we would like to ride with got inpatient and left 5 minutes before we were rolling again. After 5-6 miles we were all together approx 10 riders. Not too long after that I decided to move up front cause the pace was only 12-14 mph and would like to get to Burlington before 2AM and get at least 4 hours of sleep (my plan) before the next day. The MOJO strikes again and Mark and Tom came from the back to regroup (4 person) and now we were rolling at 16-18 mph. With that pace we could get to Burlington by 1AM. But soon we got a few sprinkles and most of us wanted a break. The breaks got a little too long and we started to see riders that we passed earlier coming from the back. We had a few more stops to add more clothing and one leads to the next we are now back to 230AM arrival (estimated). We didn't get to Burlington to about 3AM+
All four of us pilled up in one room after showers. I stayed up a little later to ice my Knee and ankles. I was tired but awake. Next thing I know all were sound asleep, some more sound than others. I tossed and turned and couldn't get to sleep the vibration and the chain saws were going at the same time. Looked at the clock it was 430 AM and im still awake. Next I looked at the clock its 530+ and still no sleep. At that time I knew I was in trouble - DEEP DEEP DOO DOO . Knowing the next day I have the hardest day with all the mountains stacked one after the other and over 400 miles already. My hopes were diminishing by the second. That was the lowest point of the ride at 6am I decided to check if there is breakfast available anywhere on the route or at the hotel so I can get on the road. I am just wasting time lying there not able to sleep. There is nothing open that early nor within 10 miles in the direction I want to go. At that time, I just dropped to my lowest point and did fall asleep. In 30+ minutes I was awake, and decided to give it one last shot. I changed packed and asked who wants to roll at 8AM. At that point I have as much I can carry and take from SSTB. My exact words "I am no longer of any use to you. You need to find a ride" to SSTB. He dropped me like a brick and found a group rolling off. Not only I felt tired but hopeless and I sat at the lobby to refuel as much as I can. Mark and Tom went back approx 1 mile to a nice breakfast where Lee, Greg and I had something at the hotel and headed out by 815 AM. All of us have individual issues due to being on the bike. Some are physical and some are emotional/mental or both. Now the roads that was once a rolling hill feels like a mountain. We are now on the way to Middlebury
Middlebury - at the control I had 3 slices of Pizza 1 can of boost and more Vitamin I. Reload my pack food and Rolled out. We were at the control stop for no more than 35 minutes. I felt much better than earlier in the morning. The knee pain was not getting any worst (it cant get any worst) Im happy to be on my return leg - the only positive thing I can think of.
The highlights of my ride - While climbing Middlebury gap after 500+ miles behind me and 5 hours of sleep for the last 3 days, I was able to get a double dose of MOJO when some local boys (2) passed us like we were standing still. I was able to get on the express mountain climb train. I was initially climbing at 5-6 mph but when I got the MOJO we were cruising at well above 13 mph. At points I could not keep up with the small ring and some cog in the back, but I did not want to change the gear [3]. I was in stealth mode for over 2 miles until I passed one of the BMB riders and he asked me what I was doing and the 2nd rider turned around and saw me inches from his wheel. Notified the lead rider that they now have a trailer. I swear the paced picked up, there was no chance I would let them go. When I passed Lee, who was ahead and feeling good beginning of the climb, I said "Will wait at the top". From then they knew I was with the BMB gang all the small talk between them came to silence and now its all business. We were no longer riding on the right side and swerving to pass riders. We rode in the middle and all business. We were flying Business Class. Approx 1 mile to the top the 2nd guy waived my by. I picked up more Mojo. And its now just the leader and me. We both got of the saddle and drop a cog at the same time. I could see a green sign at the top - thinking that was the top. [4]. I pulled over and waited for the team so we can fly again (down hill). We were now on our way to Ludlow and I know there are two more major climbs. Fatigue was kicking in and I was able to get a 5minute nap on hard wood floor at a convenient store. Every minute helps. Got my only flat on the ride shortly after the store stop.
Ludlow - first time that we (Lee, Greg & I) arrived at the last control before the last leg for the evening before dark. Again it was chicken Noodle soup and pasta salad. Was too tired to eat much. I was more concern of fatigue than hunger. Went to get a 10 minute nap - Got approx 5-6 min at least. Rolled out before dark and got to top of a climb after Ludlow and got our night riding gear together. There are still 3 major climbs and numerous hills before Brattleboro. We were climbing the 2nd gap after Ludlow in the dark and the temp was even colder than the first night. After 2 hours in the cold I could no longer feel my toes and fingers. I have long finger gloves and toe covers but it was insufficient. The pain in my knee is now unbearable and vitamin I is no longer working, besides I have already exceeded the limit for a 24 hour period in less than 12hours. We found a convenient store approx 7 miles from Brattleboro and I had to stop. I went straight for the coffee machine and held the jug with my gloves on. Had hot chocolate and candy bars. Before heading to the last Control Stop for the night. Arrived a little after 130AM and there was no hot food except soup in packets and hot water.
Checked out at 7am with no breakfast except a can of boost and some cereal and a cookie. It's the last day and the mountains are behind us (I thought) what can go wrong that has not happened, I asked myself. As soon as we rolled of I noticed my tires were a little flat. I turned around to get a pump and replace the CO2 with fresh Brattleboro Air. Of the bat we climbed into NH and continue climbing for the next 3-4 miles. Another climbed after that and another …….and we (Greg Lee, & I) then rolled into The last Control stop.
Boulard Farm - Last Control - I had a ham and cheese sandwich some pretzels and a can of ensure (left behind from a guy that DNFed) when we were about to roll again Mark Wolf pulled up with a grin. We definitely like to ride with Mark to the finish since we have about 75 miles left. The Quad group left slightly before us and we didn't see them again till they stopped for a "flash" and then passed us again when we stopped for Vitamin I and a "lube job". We didn't see them again till the Ice cream stop where we had french fries and salted ketchup and rested our behind (30+ min). The sun was bright and glowing, I removed my arm and leg warmers for the first time in four days. We are now heading back to the FINISH.
The quad riders gave us some assistance, food, water, tow rope, company,…….
The last 30 miles I hit more potholes and had more close calls than the whole trip so we decided to spread out a little more and take it easy rolling in. We picked up several riders on our way in and hoped to pick up some more. Soon the END was in sight and glad to see our FANS (Penny, Mike, Sandi(Lee's wife), friends,…)
The Bike and I have endured the ultimate test. I will let the others write what they have experienced.
Overall
It's a treat to be at BMB (southern ascent) . The weather was more than great, it was fabulous. Although the cold nights did bite. When I was riding alone(seems like) for the first night every house that I pass I asked why am I doing this crazy thing - I could be in there, in a warm and cozy house watching TV sitting comfortably or better yet in a warm cozy bed sleeping. I have no regrets but very grateful to several people that has assisted me to the Starting Line and more so to the people that got me to the Finish Line.
And special thanks to Mike Delong on that cold January morning 2 years ago. Wish you could suffer the pain of joy with us, on all the long and grueling miles at BMB.