2012 Brasil Ride - Day 7

Last day:
It's funny how a 40 mile day on the mountain bike sounds like an easy day after being tortured for 6 days. I was told today was going to be fast and it was not a lie. We cruised down the paved highway for 10 miles then onto dirt road mixed with double track and singletrack.

I somehow caught the lead pack which had over 80 riders. I kept moving up until I was off the front. I figured as wasn't killing myself so why not. I was out there for 2-3 minutes, others went by, and I was reeled in by the main pack. One of the leaders even talked to me "you're seat bag is open!". LOL!!  Not a seat bag but an awesome strap. I guess they don't have them in Portugal yet (leaders were from Portugal).

I slowly got moved back to my place and I started to think I was in a dangerous place. Too many people. Tour de Tucson kind of thing. And that's when it happened, a big screeching sound of metal and flesh hitting the ground. Rider right in front of me catapulted over other riders on the ground. About 10 riders went down and we were going over 25 mph. Must've hurt.

I got around the wreck and caught back on to the leaders. I knew once we hit the dirt road it would everyone for themselves so I wanted to stay close to them. I was feeling good. The pack broke apart as soon as we hit the road and I just rode. I was enjoying the stage, staying out of trouble, making no mistakes. Finishing was the goal. I hooked up with another team and just drafted them. I was in no rush.

At one point my buddy Paul comes by flying in his TT position so I jumped on his wheel. There were about 7 of us. Some were willing to work, others weren't. I helped. We hit the road back into town - first 20 miles in under an hour. WOW!! We had 8 miles of paved road and then we had to do the prologue course from day 1.

The only aid station was on the side of the road, and we were going over 20 mph. No way you stop. I took an orange soda took a big drink and dropped it. I assumed there would be another aid station up ahead - wrong assumption. At this point I'm probably in the top 40 riders - I don't think a I/we placed in the top 100 teams and here I am with the top 20 teams. Feeling good.

When we hit the spot on the prologue course where Trever broke his pedal and I flatted I was being very careful with rocks when all of sudden I spin out. I thought I had broken my chain, but. It had only fallen off. Same spot!!  WTF!! Back on the bike in less than 15 seconds but it threw my mojo out of sorts and I started to miss my lines  couldn't find my rhythm. Took me about 5 minutes to work back into it.

Two more sections of singletrack and pavement and I was done. I got passed by a couple of teams but that was pretty much it. I was surprised. I figured everyone would pass me sooner or later. The sandy section on the singletrack was much worse today than last week. I struggled going up it. I actually had to walk most of it today while last week I rode it all.  Not a big deal. Just FINISH!!
Out of the singletrack onto the road. Last road section. Bombing descent followed by a painful ascent. Last dirt section. Technical, but I'm able to ride all it except for one section where another rider was too slow going thru the section. Finally back in town. Not really a paved road, but a rocky, bumpy street. My ass still hurts by the way.  FINISH LINE!!  Get the finishers medal. No t-shirt?!?! WTF?!?!  Not a big deal. I know I finished all 7 days and I'm a Brasil Ride finisher.

Would I do it again? Probably if a few things were changed and I did a few things differently.  I want to thank Trever for stepping up and coming down here with me with such short notice  AZ Sportscenter for getting my core in tremendous shape. BK Coaching for direction and guidance. ESI Grips for making the best grips in the world. All my family and friends who read the blog and provided me with words of encouragement. And most importantly, my wife Wendy for being the love of my life and supporting my sometimes crazy adventures.