This is the ride recap Alan Dedman sent to his contributors after the ride on 05/10:
I want to thank you again for sponsoring me for the American Diabetes Association NAPA Tour de Cure. The ride took me 5 hours 28 minutes 26 seconds to complete the 100 miles. I had every one of you along for the ride on a typed up "Scroll of Honor" complete with a picture of Sammy Boom who I dedicated the ride to.
The ride started early, officially at 07:00 on the Sunday morning, amid the sound of Wild Turkey calling the Hens; a mist or marine layer had set in overnight and hopefully would burn off pretty soon, it was quite cool.
There were 2 other team mates that had set off on the same distance a little earlier than I, George Young and Joyce Brunelle were riding the same distance. Hopefully, I would catch up to them soon. I had made earlier arrangements to meet the Team Captain from our Benicia Refinery, who passed on to me the new team Jersey and Shorts, I decided to change into the new jersey at the end of the ride, using the existing Company colors
I eventually got underway just before 07:00 and hit the road, some of the organized starts can be a little hectic and I decided to bypass that.
Having got into decent pace to stretch the legs somewhat I decided to open up a bit, at this stage going North on the 128 is quite flat so it allows for respectable turn of speed, I'm averaging between 20 to 25 M.P. H. Looking over my shoulder in helmet mirror a large group of riders come up on me and I decide to get in the middle of them and keep the pace. When your in a peloton of riders like this there is very little head wind, the speed now increases to an average of 27 to 30 M.P. H. and the adrenaline is pumping away, it really is exhilarating, the legs are feeling great. Further along the road I find myself with only 4 other riders the other main group have broken off and taken, what I now know to be the easy way out. Where they broke off is the start of the climb, I'm told it ranges from 900 to 1,300 feet, so this original group had previously done this ride, it's a shame they didn't stay because I found the climb to be fairly easy, much easier than I ! had imagined.
On the downhill section the legs get a rest, they're still turning but very little pressure is being applied to the pedals. The sun has come up and the hot air balloons are rising over the vineyards, there must have been at least 6 of them, would have made a very nice picture, but I wasn't stopping.
I eventually caught up with George and Joyce, they were pulling into a Support/Rest area, I was still riding a very fast pace with this small group of riders and wasn't going to stop. A few more miles further on I got parted from this group, I had to slow down for a vehicle at a junction, where the other guys took a chance and rode straight through, I didn't want to take that chance. So losing that momentum and the draft from that group I gradually dropped back.
At this stage approximately 50 to 55 miles I was feeling a little drained, and no wonder I still had my weather jacket on and knew there was a problem when I saw water running out of the sleeve cuff onto the handle bars. So I stopped removed the jacket and put it into one of my jersey pockets, I was soaked, my jersey top of my shorts, it was a little uncomfortable to say the least. Surprisingly, picking up the pace again the jersey soon dried out. I was now on the return section of the run and the route was doubling back on itself for a while. I eventually arrived at the rest area where I had first seen George and Joyce and decided to try and replenish the liquids and other carbs I had lost on the initial stage.
After a 15 to 20 minute rest I was off again and mostly on a solo ride, there were still plenty of people heading out, I was on the return section and climbing the hill again. It was a little slower this time as I didn't have the momentum when riding in a group, that's a big difference, but nonetheless I climbed the hill and knew that the rest of the ride should be easier, with the occasional rolling hill, nothing as steep as the one I had just climbed.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
At the next rest area about 65 to 75 miles into the ride, I took on a lot of liquid some energy bars and a corn plaster. My little toe on the left foot had developed a corn and I had to get it attended to. A nurse or medical volunteer at the stop dressed it, but it only eased the pain a little. I just carried on pedaling and eventually my mind drifted from that concern to another. My inside of my thighs were beginning to cramp, again it is just a matter of working it through the pain eased I took supplements or gel packs of concentrated electrolytes and drank a lot of water, all while riding the Silverado Trail. At this stage another rider from another team decided to join me, and took the lead which was a welcome break because the pace picked up again, as I was riding in his draft. We alternated the leads and overtook several slower riders on the 25 and 50 mile ride. I managed to keep up with him until my legs started to give out again and I told him I'll see! him up the road as I was having a few problems.
It didn't last for long as, no sooner had he started to pull away there on the side of the road was another sign, "Rest Area", I was so pleased to see the sign and a mile later I managed to get of the bike grab some water a slice of bagel with peanut butter and banana, after downing them I had some more water an energy bar and began to stretch. I found the other rider and thanked him for the assistance.
Feeling a little better with 13 to 15 miles to go I decided to leave the area and ride to the finish. I jumped back onto the bike and began to pedal. There was a slight incline but nothing too big, but enough to give my legs something to think about. The cramps were coming back in both my legs. At this stage I had a good talk to myself "I didn't come all this way to to give up now", "Come on you can do it", anything to overcome the power of the excuse of it was painful, I can't go on, I just kept riding to a point where I found a reasonable turn of speed and my legs recovered. At this stage I am reflecting back on my decision not to stop earlier and remove the jacket that had drained me so much. A lesson was learnt there.
With about 4 miles to go there was a truck with photograph equipment "Photocrazy" with a big sign "SMILE" I have attached that photo to this letter, but at that stage I knew I had completed it, I done it, I was feeling so pleased with myself, too much so, I admit I got a little emotional.
I eventually returned to the Start/Finish line just before 13:00/1 pm, and checked my cycle computer to get the following stats:
I also calculated that I burnt over 4,000 calories, and lost about 8 pounds.