Hi,
Top of the Marie Blanque - made it!
First of all, thanks to everyone for the calls, voice mails, e-mails and texts (e-mail works the best over here) with good wishes. Here are the highlights for my Etape du Tour:
1) I didn’t make it, but I’m okay with that because I gave it everything I had! In hindsight, with the difficulty of this ride, there was no way I was ever going to make it all the way, so it was really about doing whatever I could. Even if I had trained another 6 months and lost another 20 pounds, I still don’t think I would have made it. This kind of a route just isn’t designed for guys over 200 pounds.
2) I had the most physically demanding day of my life. After 8 hours of riding and 8000 feet of climbing, I just couldn’t go any farther. My body gave out – my legs were cramping, my back was going out, I was starting to get dizzy and was getting the shivers (despite the fact it was blistering hot). I was 4 km (2.5 miles) from the top of the Col du Solour – I know that doesn’t sound like much, but at the speed I was going, it would have taken me about 40 more minutes.
Then there was the fact that I had to stop every 200 feet from exhaustion, rest, and then try to go again. And finally, the “elimination” car was chasing me, so I couldn’t take any extended rests. I knew it was over when I nearly fell of my bike from exhaustion and wobbling all over the road from going so slow.
3) I was very close to my goal of getting to the top of the second climb, but I am happy with my day as I gave it everything I had. My body gave out and I could not have gone any further. I did my best. And as my sister Laurie says – “goals are overrated”. Couldn’t agree more.. 
4) It was an incredibly gorgeous ride. I was happy with the fact that despite the physical exhaustion, I was able to take time to appreciate the incredible views of the French countryside and mountains.
5) My friends Mike and Rick made it to the finish. Can’t tell you how impressed I am as neither of them had a lot of time to train. Just shows how incredibly fit and determine they are. Congrats guys!
Now we get to go and what the pros ride these mountains….
Thanks again for all the well wishes.
Bill,
I am so impressed with your ride! I too did an epic ride this summer. However, I did not train for it like you did. But the ride was epic just the same. I rode the Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction, CO. The ride was only 44 miles over the pass and back. And at the end it kicked my ass (actually riding down was the terrifying part!) Point is, I think I can appreciate your efforts (since my ass kicking journey was tiny in comparison) and I can’t believe how close you got -DOH! Gosh, that’s frustrating! But I applaud your optimism and determination for making it and pushing your body as far as you did. WAY TO GO BILL!!!!
Comment by jeanine george — August 5, 2010 @ 2:22 pm
Thanks Jeanine. Any ride in Colorado is impressive becasue of the elevation – it really makes a difference in how hard your ass (and lungs) get kicked. That was the one saving grace about France – the climbs topped out at around 6500 feet and find I don’t really feel the elevation until after 5000 feet.
And – you are right about the going down. Unless you try it, you don’t realize that the professional riders are daredevils – they reach speed of 60-70 miles and hour on those descents. Amazing!
Will I see you at the Lakeshore Century?
Bill
Comment by Bill Benjamin — August 6, 2010 @ 3:10 pm