ALYN Wheels of Love 2019 – Day 1

A Challenging start to Wheels of Love 2019 –
66 miles, 7760 feet vertical (scheduled), shortened to 55 miles, 6450 feet vertical

I’m not going to sugarcoat it.  Today was really hard.  After our usual opening ceremony and our usual opening balagan, the Challenge riders set out from Biriya forest just a little late at 10:20am.   Man oh man, the initial descent was steep (-14-15% grade).  It was so steep, I couldn’t even take pictures (so you know it was steep).  For a Day 1, there was no acclimation and no easing into it.  It was gangbusters from the get-go.  There’s a lot of energy and a lot of testosterone in this group and at 67 (next month), I’m one of the oldest riders on Challenge (if not THE oldest – I’ll check.) 

On the first steep climb, it took a lot of discipline for me to stay “in the zone” and not blow up. Of course, this also found me slipping to the back and it wasn’t long before I felt the sweep bus entourage creeping up behind me.  I decided to stay focused, keep the breathing steady, put it in my lowest gear and just grind away.  The gradient varied with long stretches over 10% (some 12-14% segments).  My goal was to survive to the first pit stop at 26km.  I made it – and most importantly, I wasn’t last!! 

Just for a reference check, riding with us is the Israeli Cycling Champion, Guy Sagiv, who by the looks of it, doesn’t have a single ounce of body fat. So what if he did the climbs twice to my once?  It was also quite hot (90s) and many people were cramping up.  I struggled to stay hydrated.

Because we got a late start, the sun was already going down by the time we got to our lunch stop.  The ride was called and we bussed back to the hotel.  We ended up doing somewhere around 54-55 miles and 6400 feet of vertical.  All agreed – it was a tough day.  More to come tomorrow.  Laila tov.

Please enjoy these pictures from our first day in the Golan Heights. 

And, if you want to support my ride, please visit alynactive.org/participant/jeff-blye.  To all those who have already donated – THANK YOU so very much.  I am deeply grateful for your support.