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2nd Annual "Eugene to Coast" Ride

June 26, 2020 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Bike

Weather: 80s, HOT!

Comments:
After some milling around - and a lot of online work - we decided to hit the coast for the weekend. Micah and Alexis rented an airbnb about midway between Florence and Yachats - on one of the high points, before the Lighthouse - so I'd bike from home to that point, about 88 miles.

Left around 1PM and it was pretty damn warm. Not WSER hot, but low 80s and sunny.

A couple challenges today:
1. The heat (my GOD, the heat!). It wasn't that bad...but my feet (in black bike shoes) got super hot!

2. WIND. I had a headwind (of 5-20mph) for nearly the entire ride! That made it pretty tough...

The ride went pretty quick:
* through town and bike path to the roads of west Eugene
* past Fern Ridge reservoir, and finally onto OR 36
* up and over "Low Pass" (1 of only 3 significant climbs on the route)

Triangle Lake is about 35 miles into the scenic route to the Coast. It's a decent sized rec lake with lots of houses/cabins on it. When my feet started to BAKE I decided I'd stop and jump in!

Felt amazing. Jumped in with ALL my clothes on (including the silly Waldo winter hat I wore, which normally helps keep my earbuds in place - that I didn't use at all today). Felt SO good! That cooled off my feet and otherwise really refreshed me.

It reminds me of WSER, and hot running, in general: it's such an amazing reset. After that, I was truly rejuvenated.

Part II of the ride is OR 36 from Triangle Lake to Mapelton: mostly flat and trending downhill, nice rolling roads and not much traffic. This section was about 25 miles. Getting through that were the thoughts of stopping for some "CYAAAALORIES" at the general store in Mapleton.

When I rolled up at 5ish I got even more: CA had timed it to meet me there! So in addition to my 20oz silo of Mountain Dew (my first of '20, and my first since mid-Lost Coast Century ride in 4/2019), I also enjoyed a La Crux.

CA offered to give me a ride to the finish, but I refused; I wanted to finish. AND, for some reason, I thought the wind had died down.

It did, for like a mile, then the customary headwind resumed along the flat, 12+ mile section from Mapelton to the turnoff at Florence.

Lots of traffic on 126, but this section has a lane-wide shoulder (that was clear of gravel and debris!), so the riding was smooth.

Energy on this section was good, but I was getting sore: I'd alternate between:

* low on the bars (which really gets my glutes sore)
* upright on the bars (less sore)
* stand up (but low-bar) pedaling: good glute break but quad-sore!

I normally only get out of the saddle on ups, but since it was pure flat, I did so periodically for breaks (or when the wind picked up), and forced myself to stay up for 50 total strokes (about 3 more than I'd like).

It's like running ultras: near the end, VARIETY is the ONLY thing that feels good. So that's what I did.

The final section: the Siuslaw Road cutoff, then 101, went quick. Traffic really picked up, and, as 101 meanders far out of Florence, it got a little sketchy at times. But then I began to climb and the ride was nearly done.

Jonathan, who we invited along for the weekend, caught up to me on Siulsaw Road to say "hi". Then I surprisinly saw him pull up behind me again, just a mile from the driveway. He was there to give me a ride, since the climb to the house is 750' vert on gravel.

I was done.

Great ride and a great day!

Rest of the day:
* drove up to the house
* sat outside with M&A, CA and had a few beers 'til sundown
* drove to Perpetua Road to quickly eat and get to bed