Dateline: August 30, 2015 Smithfield, Rhode Island
The North Country 50 Ride, with the Narragansett Bay Wheelmen
After an unplanned lull in training, the result of a minor skin cancer on my forehead which left me under doctor’s orders to “take it easy,” for a WHOLE WEEK, I was heading back to Maine for a little more sun, sail, and family time, and on the way up, I detoured to Rhode Island to ride with the Wheelmen. We don’t need no stinkin’ training!
I drove up the night before and stayed in the Hampton Inn, treating myself to dinner at a down home place called B’s Breakfast, Brews, and Burgers. Sitting round the bar, I met a nice local couple and we chatted about Hawaii and Alaska and travel and our kids. We watched American Pharoah lose his race at Saratoga to Keen Ice. After a burger and a couple of brews, (I’m pretty much a vegetarian but when you are at a place called Burgers and Brews, you have to improvise…) I trundled off to bed. The ride director had warned me to “bring my climbing legs,” and to expect a hilly course.
Each Sunday, all year long, the Narragansett Bay Wheelmen mark out two to four courses on the pavement at distances ranging from ten miles to 100. And then they gather, and they ride. No race, no rest stops, no sag support, but very well organized and mapped, and welcoming to first timers. At 9 am sharp, the jackrabbits who ride at 19 miles an hour started off, and then the rest of us. This day, rides of 18, 30, and 49 were on tap.
I rode alone most of the time, and just kept on going. The hills were manageable and I was riding smoothly and easily. At the top of what turned out to be the biggest hill, I stopped, almost two hours in, and treated myself to a granola bar and some Gatorade and about five minutes rest. Several people topped the hill and rode past, leaving me thinking I might be the last rider on the 50 course. No big deal, but I was thinking, wow, these folks are fit, or maybe most were doing the shorter rides.
The most scenic part of the ride was crossing a huge dam. It was more impressive than the photo can capture. I didn’t get to experience any of Rhode Island’s coastal areas on this ride, which gives me ample reason to come back and try another ride. I can choose from 52 weeks’ worth, after all. Their signature ride is in September, and it’s billed as the flattest century in the east. It’s called TFCE, The Flattest Century in the East. Since Roger William’s day, Rhode Islanders have been a no- nonsense bunch.
Three hours in, I was getting tired, my water bottle and Gatorade were empty, and I was ready for respite. I have ridden more miles in a day, but usually with rest stops and lunch. It makes a huge difference. At Mile 49, as I turned into the school driveway and finished, I could feel my quads and groin muscles starting to cramp. It’s a good thing the ride ended when it did. I had nothing left to give.
I refueled on watermelon and a local beer and chatted with the other riders as several more filtered in. I wasn’t last in the pack after all. I was proud to have done nearly 50 miles, nearly nonstop, averaging over 15 miles an hour. A great morning’s workout. I hit the road for Southport, Maine, and I knew I was tired when I missed my exit off 295. No harm done; I got a chance to explore some new back roads in Maine. I took a few days off from riding and crewed on Mimiday in match races against Short Stuff, two family boats that turned out to be very well matched indeed. Beautiful weather, plenty of wind, loads of laughs. Rules were flaunted and corners were cut, but the Wilder Cup will be one of my most treasured summer memories of all time.
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