We've got quite a few cyclists here on BLF - I know because I join in pert near every thread there is on flashlights for cycling. BLF is also the friendliest site I've ever participated on and I've been on many, including a lot of cycling forums. Funny thing though, I've come here to a flashlight forum to let my cycling buddies know about a recent accomplishment.
About 3 years ago, a friend approached me with an idea during a Sunday morning breakfast ride which I had organized. It was a crazy idea, but I agreed to help out as the route master, along with my first real riding buddy in the Chicago area, who I've been riding with for going on 14 years. Basically, the idea was a ride for elite riders to help them achieve a recreational riders dream: Finishing a century in under 5 hours. That's 5 hours elapsed time - just like in a race - so feed zones or any stops count in your total time. To do it, a team is required for the vast majority of riders. Out of that breakfast conversation, the Sub-5 Century was born. The recipient of the charity portion was a local guy in our town that was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2006. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he started a foundation the next year to help find a cure for this debilitating disease: The Paul Ruby Foundation. I didn't know it at the time, but have since found out that my Grandmother and an aunt both had Parkinson's Disease...
September 12, 2010 was our inaugural year for the event. We had about 50 riders and raised about $14,000 for PRF. By September 11, 2011, Our rider total had grown to 127 and we raised over $21,000. Lot of expenses last year to make this a premier cycling event - including timing chips on every entrant's bike. This last Sunday, on September 9th, we had over 170 riders and are on track to raise over $45,000! But that's not all: PRF is on track to break the $500,000 barrier this year since it's inception...
The first two years, in addition to being an organizer and the route meister, I was also in charge of course marking and running all the SAG support crews, plus helping to find sponsors and volunteers to staff the event. In the early Winter of 2012, another of my cycling buddies agreed to take over my day-of-ride duties so I could participate in the Sub-5 as a rider. I found 2 other riders from my regular group and talked another team captain into letting us join his group (There are 16 riders on a team). I started training in earnest in June, and coached our small group all Summer long. Increased ride time has been one of the reasons I've not been on BLF too much lately. To accomplish the goal, I had to get our average speed up to 20.5 mph over 100 miles. I've been cycling for 23 years, but my fastest century in the past was just 19.1 mph and that was measured as ride time, with plenty of rest stops. I developed a progressive training plan that included twice a week interval sessions and long pace line rides on the weekends. By end of August we were ready and chomping at the bit to go after the goal.
Here's a picture of me and my main riding partners day of the ride. I'm the old fart in the middle:
We had a change in weather over the weekend. Temperatures dropped to a brisk 50 degrees that morning, with a wicked North wind that only increased in intensity throughout the day. This post is already too long, so I'll spare you the ride details, but I will say that out of 16 team mates, all finished and 12 riders did it in 5 hours or less. I am happy as a clam to report that I was in the lead group and finished in 4:58:15, with over a minute to spare.
This has truly been a milestone year (my 55th) for me. I am blessed to have the good legs to accomplish this goal and to help raise money for such a worthy cause.
Thanks for reading,
Dave
Sub-Fiver