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Several months ago I built big expectations for myself as I looked ahead to this year's (May 30, 2009) Tulsa Tough 100k ride. About 300 riders participated in the 100k with other cyclists choosing the 100 mile or the 50k. The ride isn't a fierce competition, but most folks don't want to do badly either.


A couple of things were in my favor this year:

- I owned a new (used) carbon bicycle, a Trek 5200 which is faster, lighter and smoother than my old Cannondale.
- The course was more familiar to me as it covered nearly the same path as last year.
- I knew more about pace lines and drafting, so I should be able to ride faster.

For the first half of the ride, I was indeed stronger! I pedaled faster, zooming along at a personal best pace. My ankle timer clocked my average at 21.7mph for the first 50k (about 30 miles.)

Here's the problem though-- the weather and the weatherman got hotter as the Summer sunshine roasted the riders! We melted! My overall time slowed nearly 30 minutes as I cramped and wanted to crawl toward the finish line.

I had a few other things that didn't help me:

-I pedaled less than 100 miles during the last month due to rainy weather and my work schedule.
-I didn't ride much in the early Spring either as some stupid hamstring issue bugged me.
-I crashed on my bike two weeks ago, and I only rode once briefly afterward as I mended.
-I lost 5 pounds in those two weeks before the Tough. I could only eat noodles and small foods due to swelling in my mouth.
-My right hand still hurt badly (more on this later) from my wreck, and I had to alter my usual grip on the handlebars.
-A family issue-- my Mother was in a car wreck six days before! My wife and I spent time in my hometown of Orange, TX helping Mom. (Yes, Mom is doing fine now!)
-We made the 500 mile drive back from Orange to Tulsa on that Friday Night.
-And due to the late return to Tulsa, I had all of four hours sleep before the 100k that Saturday morning!

I think a lot of the above events caught up with me on the second half of the 100k ride-- I averaged a career worst 9.6mph during the last 50k. The hot weather forecast by the weatherman didn't help either!

Severe cramping and poor conditioning briefly reduced me from cycling with a smile to walking in pain. But I didn't think about dropping out-- a '"DNF" wasn't an option. I didn't give up! Excuses aren't acceptable!

Despite walking my bike up the last hill climb I'm proud to say that I finished. Here's my story of this year's Tulsa Tough:

(BELOW: I snapped these pictures of Tour de France champion Floyd Landis on the Sunday crits along Riverside.)

(ABOVE: Channel 2's Julie Chin rode the Tulsa Townie on Sunday with Floyd.)

....

The 2009 Tulsa Tough Saturday 100k ride:

Saturday morning began warmer than expected with temperatures hovering at 72° just after sunrise. Early afternoon temperatures would reach over 90° under full sunshine-- no clouds or rain to cool us down this year!

After my 7:45am TV duties with Channel 2's Krista Flasch, I lined up alongside a few cycling friends waiting for the start.

(ABOVE: Channel 2's Krista Flasch and I on the news. I didn't shave for two weeks due to stitches in my face. Should I shave? My wife said I looked like a hottie!)

The ride began as scheduled at 8am. We're off! We pedaled through the streets of downtown Tulsa. Our course ride would take us from the 50 story skyscrapers downtown then northwestward into the beauty of the lush Osage Hills.

(BELOW: Men and Women of varying fitness levels begin the ride through downtown Tulsa.)

I easily went up the first hill. Just like last year the large group of cyclers thinned out after this first steep climb. On the downhill near Sperry my speedometer showed me accelerating toward 40mph. Wheeee!

The terrain flattened out near Skiatook and I caught up to and joined a small pace-line of guys. Our fast-moving group averaged an incredible 25mph for about 15 miles! We zoomed past many folks. This pace; however, was quicker than my comfort zone. I probably would have fared better later if I slowed down, but I was having way too much fun riding fast! More cyclists were absorbed within our group as we hammered along the country roads.

(BELOW: I joined this group near Skiatook. The group grew to a dozen of us. We rode fast!)

I skipped the first two rest areas choosing instead to stay with the fast group-- this might have been a mistake.

After passing a zillion riders I couldn't keep up with the pace-line any longer. I dropped off and rode solo for a while. I ended up catching David Gardner near the 50k mark. I rode with David and his friend Lonnie Iannazzo last year, but Lonnie had stopped off somewhere to assist another rider who flatted. David and I rode together for several miles.

Our mid-ride turn was located 30 miles northwest of Tulsa in the small town of Avant. I took my first rest stop here and loaded up on Gatorade. I was on record pace at nearly a 22mph average!

But I couldn't hold it. My average suffered during the last half of the course.

After a quick rest stop David and I clicked back in our pedals and headed south of Avant. The hardest challenge loomed next: the tallest hill, a 400 foot climb greeted us.

(ABOVE: The rest stops were well stocked with stuff to keep us cool and hydrated.)

David and I mashed the pedals trying to maintain momentum. The 6-8% or so grade reduced me to near 8mph. I couldn't use my right hand much to help me "rock" the bike for easier climbing.

Problems started by the top of the hill as I felt my quadriceps tightening. The muscles above my knee were locking up. Cramps! As I had 25 miles until the finish line my goal changed from setting my record time to simply completing the course.

David passed me ( He beat me by about 20 minutes!) Other cyclists passed me too. I couldn't manage much more than about 12mph on flat terrain.

I took an unscheduled break at the next rest stop, downing as much water and Gatorade as I could stand.

Back on the course my pace kept slowing down. My legs burned with each stroke. And did I mention the sun felt really hot-- who said it would be this hot weather anyway?!

The last downhill portion was greatly welcomed. The warm wind felt nice on my face. I hunkered down on my bike, coasting to near 40mph on the downgrade.

Somewhere near Skiatook we had an annoying side show. Some jack-hole driving a late model cherry-red Ford F-150 decided that he didn't like bicyclers. Instead of simply passing us he pulled his truck into the biker's area and honked at me and every other person on a bike. He then drove behind each one of us. He pulled his truck directly behind each bike and honked, trying to get a reaction. No one was amused. He caused more issues than any bicycle ever could as traffic actually backed up behind him-- no cars wanted to pass him as he swerved around.

If his goal was to annoy every bicycler, spectator, volunteer, motorist and resident for miles then I guess he succeeded. I was hoping our police escort would see him, but I don't what became of him. Anyway, forgot about him...back to finishing the Tough.

10 miles to go...I began massaging my legs while I pedaled. I discovered I could unclip one leg and massage it while I pedaled with the other foot. This somewhat worked. Another cluster of folks passed me up. My alternating one leg thing certainly wouldn't keep up with their group. My average speed wasn't helped by one-legged pedaling.

(ABOVE: An overpass offers a break from the heat near the finish. The skyline appears as a welcome landmark.)