By Luis Hernandez, Jr.
My longest bike ride to date, in about a decade of riding, had been a 112 mile century ride. Several years ago, a group of Armada riders made a wrong turn toward the end of the Horrible Hundred and ended up on a highway, surrounded by fast cars and trucks, which added the extra and intense 12 miles to our century ride.
Centuries have never been my favorite. I just get bored out of my mind and certain body parts hurt for days after a 100-miler. So not really sure as to what possessed me to register for the Lake Monroe Challenge and pick the 125 mile option. It all seems so "doable" while you're off the bike; plans get made and it all sounds like a big, fun adventure.
And if you do it, an adventure it is. Fun? Depending on conditions, not so much.
The weather can add to the challenge, no pun intended, and in the case of the Lake Monroe Challenge, the wind was another factor that just plain sucked. No other way of putting it.
Riders doing the 101 and 125 milers, got on the road at 7 a.m. Early and light enough, but even at that hour, the humidity was unpleasant. Thankfully, once we were rolling, it felt okay, and the small group of riders (between 15 and 20), quickly was cruising at around 22-24 mph. Maybe a little fast for some of the folks in the pack, but the group will pull you along and, if you know how to draft properly, makes the miles go by easily. I believe that most people took their turn at the front, so the first 38 or so miles went by fast and without a hitch. I was feeling great.
After the first SAG stop, we got back on our bikes but, immediately, I noticed that our group had shrunk by at least 5 or more riders. I pulled the whole way from Sanford to the bridge on 17-92 that leads into DeBary. Our small group was strong and we kept a decent pace around the lake and back to the Sanford SAG. At this point I told a couple of the riders that were doing the 125 with me that I was going to stop by D2, where I had left some water bottles, gels and stuff. That was our original plan, but they wanted to go back to the SAG, so I rode by myself to the shop where I refueled, got my fresh bottles and got back on my bike.
So much for the plan. As I turned onto Orange Blvd., I was alone. I thought either the group had already gone by or they were running a few minutes behind. So I just kept turning the cranks. I rode many miles by myself and realized that the "challenge," at least for me, was starting at this point.
About a mile from the turn off of Markham Woods Road onto E.E. Williamson Road, some of the 125-milers caught up with me. Thank God! But these guys were cruising, as a group, at a faster pace than I was, and there was no way for me to be able to maintain it. So I got dropped. But I just kept on pedaling my bike and after about 4 miles I was able to reconnect with the group. By then they had already dropped a couple more riders. I just don't get it. You'd think that people would understand that there's strength in numbers but I guess that was not important at this point. So I just sat at the back and allowed them to pull me for several miles.
At some point our little group stopped so they could wait for two guys that were caught by a traffic light. I thought that was a good idea, and when the two caught up with us, I had to scramble to get back with the pack since those two were doing at least 25 mph versus our 10 or so mph as we got rolling again. This was obviously a dog-eat-dog deal and I figured I'd try to stay with them for as long as I could. At that point, of course, my right foot started hurting like never before. It was not a cramp, per se, but rather felt like it was on fire. I tried to ease the pain by loosening the shoe straps, but the pain would not go away. Then my left foot started doing the same thing. And just to add to the fun, my left quad cramped quite badly, but I managed to get through that little episode.
I knew we still were about 10 miles from the SAG, and the pace was still in the 24 to 25 mph range. Not a killer pace, but with the wind and heat, it felt too fast for my taste. At one point I was pulling down Lake Mary Blvd. at 25 mph and my feet were on fire. By the time we got to Celery Avenue, I was totally trashed and literally pedaling squares due to the pain. And I was riding alone, again. Add a strong head wind and I was barely maintaining 15 mph. Not sure how I made it to the SAG, but so glad it was there. I took my shoes off and Brian Houle gave me a small bag of ice for my feet. That felt GREAT!
Then Chris Williams told me I needed to eat a pickle. I honestly thought he was kidding, as eating a pickle or any other food for that matter, was the last thing I wanted to do at the time. He kept saying that it would help with the cramping. What the heck! I said "Give me one" and I started munching on a pickle. I ate about half of the darn thing and, even though I love pickles, this is not the most appetizing food when the temperature is around 100 degrees and after close to 100 miles. Brian also suggested I drink the brine, but I am sure that's more of an acquired taste, so I chose not to.
Interestingly enough, after a few minutes I started feeling better. My feet were pretty much back to normal and my left quad did not hurt as bad. I checked my bike's computer and realized that I had already travelled 99 miles out of my 125 goal. I thought — and had told Chris — that I was done for the day, and he offered me a ride back to the shop in his truck. But I told him instead I would wait until he got back from taking another rider back to D2. Don't know why, but the thought of riding in the "broom wagon" was something I wanted to delay for as long as I could.
Anyway, since I felt okay, I decided to ride my bike back to the shop. After all, it only was about 5 miles. Of course most of those 5 miles are on 17-92 by Lake Monroe, and I could only imagine what the wind would do to me. But nevertheless, I got back on my bike and on the road. And yes, the wind going around that side of the lake kicked my ass. But I was pain-free and feeling somewhat okay.
I was maybe a couple hundred feet from reaching D2 Cycling Center when I looked at my computer. It showed 104 miles. Wow, "only" another 21 and I would have reached my goal. But tracking back to 17-92 was not an option, especially when I thought about the bridge and the little climb as you enter DeBary. At that point those two were the equivalent of climbing Sugarloaf Mountain... twice. So instead, I made a right hand turn onto Orange Boulevard, feeling ambitious.
I've done D2's Mellow Monday ride many times, and I knew that if I followed that route, I would add another 18 miles to my total. But just the thought of pedaling all the way to Foxspur — the subdivision that marks the halfway point — was like pedaling to California. Besides, I was low on water and overheated. So much for feeling "okay" and "ambitious."
So I made a left hand turn onto Oregon Street instead, and followed that road all the way to Wayside and then International Parkway. I rode International Pkwy. all the way to Lake Mary Boulevard, taking little gulps of warm Powerade along the way, and turned right on Markham Woods Road, then I made another right turn at Markham Road (46A) to track back to the shop. At that point I ran out of Powerade. No worries since I knew there are two convenience stores at the intersection of Orange and S.R. 46, so I headed that way.
By mile 110 I was really starting to feel nauseous and weak, but there was no one to help me and I did not have a cell phone with me. I doubt I would have been able to use the phone properly in the state I was in. Funny how your mind starts acting up when you're exhausted. Well, it's funny now, after the fact... sort of. Anyway, I just dug deep and kept on turning the cranks trying to maintain 15 mph. That's all my body could muster. Not that I was trying to go fast for the sake of speed. I just wanted the ride to be over! I made it to the gas station and went inside to buy something to drink, as well as a gallon of cold water.
I paid the dude at the cash register and almost felt like promising him that I would be a better man, once my cycling ordeal was over. I was that messed up and probably having an early onset of heat stroke. Or a heart attack. I dunno. But I just paid for my water and went outside where I sat on the curb pouring cold water over my head and feet. That felt great.
After a few minutes I got back on my bike and started the last few miles back to D2. I kept looking at my computer knowing that there was no way I was going to complete 125 miles. But I was so hot and tired that there was no way I was going to go back down Oregon Street, up Wayside and back to International just to add more miles. I was not afraid of collapsing as much as I was afraid of dying, at that point.
So I went back to the shop hoping that between Oregon Street and Monroe Road there would be some sort of rift in the space-time continuum that would make my bike's computer leap ahead a few miles. Obviously, that only happens to the starship Enterprise, because by the time I made the right-hand turn into D2's parking lot, my CatEye computer only showed 119.85 miles with a total ride time of 6 hours 21 minutes. Average speed for my Sunday adventure was 18.8 mph.
Do I ever want to attempt one of these challenges again? I can tell you now, from the comfort of my air-conditioned home, while in my pajamas, after taking a refreshing shower and 100% hydrated... absolutely!
But seriously, right before we rolled out at 7 a.m., David Houle introduced us to the people we were doing this ride for. The August 28, 2011 Lake Monroe Challenge was a benefit ride for Charlie Vadala who has pancreatic cancer, and his wife, Diane. Charlie and Diane have been together for more than 30 years.
I spoke with Diane after the ride and she told me that they're trying to raise money so Charlie can go to Holland for a medical treatment which, if successful, could allow Charlie to live a little longer, maybe two or three years. When you hear these stories, at least I can't help it but be humbled by the fact that all I have to worry about is a Sunday ride where I was exhausted and concerned about mileage, while other folks on our planet have to deal with real challenges.
I know that we, individually, cannot solve all of the world's problems, but we can help others with a few dollars. As Diane mentioned, even $1 makes a difference. So thank you to all the wonderful people who supported the Lake Monroe Challenge, from participants to sponsors to volunteers, and of course to David Houle of D2 Cycling Center, who hosted the event. They are all heroes, in my opinion, for helping Diane and Charlie, and I was honored to be part of this event.
If you would like to learn more about Charlie and Diane, please visit the Charlie Vadala Cancer Trust Fund website.
By 
