Jun 24-27 - addendum

In no particular order, here are some things that I learned on this ride ...

1) sleep

I can make do with even less sleep than I'd thought before.  This ride I did 3x1 + 1x1/2 hours sleep.  Obviously 3.5 hours sleep isn't a lot but I can power nap and then go.  If there are enough controls, it works.

2) use of provided facilities

Since I'm able to power nap, I can use the provided facilities.  I'm less anxious about the rides now so I go to sleep immediately upon putting my head down.  It's not fitful sleep, it's more like passing out.  My cell phone does a great job waking me up.

3) saddle sores

Similar to putting duct tape on your ankles, duct tape on your butt does stop saddle sores.  The important thing is that the skin doesn't break.  Taking the duct tape off is quite another matter, but it does work.

4) cold vs heat

I'm getting used to dealing with cold and wet.  I can layer up and manage my riding to keep warm.  Heat, on the other hand, isn't something that can be beaten easily.  Yes, lots of ice and icy drinks help.  No, carrying lots of water doesn't.  Even though I drink a lot of hot beverages (read chicken soup), drinking warm-hot water isn't something that my stomach will take down without a fuss.

5) food

This one is tough.  I seem to be able to eat everything at this point.  That said, what called to me on this ride may not be what calls to me on the next.

6) lighting

I learned more about my Luxos U light.  In particular, the tail-light is the first thing turned off by the electronics, therefore it really should only be used if you also have a battery powered tail-light and/or a wired tail-light with stand light (built-in capacitor).

7) mind or body rebelling ?

Here's a tough one.  I was having panic attacks on the Janesville Grade in the dark in the middle of nowhere. I'd ride a few feet, my heart was pounding, couldn't go on.  I'd walk for a few feet, try again. Eventually I got through it but it wasn't going away quickly.  Company on the ride at that point would obviously have been ideal.

I ran into the same thing out in the dark during the 600k in Ontario last year.

By myself, in the dark, middle of nowhere, lack of sleep, extreme physical demands ... these things all add up.  Is this panic ?  I can walk without stress.  Perhaps it's just my body in panic mode, more so than my mind.  I know that in daylight, no matter how tired, I'd have managed that grade.   Yes there were some steep parts.  Yes I was tired.  I wasn't that tired and it wasn't that steep.

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There's probably more.  I'll think about it.

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Oh yes, I did learn some things for the Granite Anvil, which I have to get off to the team.  Drop bags, food, other learnings.