WBR 09 - Report

A couple of Saturdays ago, I helped support some running friends of mine while they raced in the Wasatch Back Relay (a 188 mile relay race-- see here: http://www.ragnarrelay.com/wasatchback/index.php). My job was to ride my bike through the night, providing water (or other energy drinks), lights and a way for the rest of the team to rest. Basically, those who aren't running are supporting the guy who happens to be out doing that particular leg of the relay. By riding through the night, I allow them to get some much-needed sleep.

About the ride

I started around 2:30am (someone else took the first half of the night) and finished around 7:30am. I covered about 35 miles. I rode my hardtail mountain bike (I didn't think my road bike had low-enough gearing) with flat pedals, Ergon grips (http://acidinmylegs.blogspot.com/2009/06/bar-ends.html) and plenty of lights. I rode slowly. One might even call it a running pace. (Though, to be sure, I don't think I could have run at that pace. I'm no runner.)

Observations

It hurts more to sit on a saddle when you aren't pedaling, or are pedaling slowly.

While I had plenty of time to look around, it was dark. Even once the sun came up, I'd rather not have that much time to look around.

Runners run on the wrong side of the road-facing traffic. We were on old country-roads where the only other people on the road were others supporting or participating in this race, so it wasn't so bad, but I really don't like riding against traffic. Makes me feel like a salmon.

When riding that slowly, grips make a big difference (http://acidinmylegs.blogspot.com/2009/06/bar-ends.html), but shoes do not. I wore some comfortable shoes and didn't miss the stiff soles of my normal riding shoes.

I got surprisingly hungry, but not really thirsty over the ~5 hours I rode.

It's much harder than you'd think to sit on the bike and go slow. Trust me.