West Plains, MO to Popular Bluff, MO 110.5 miles
After yesterday's exhausting ride, my legs were very fatigued this morning and felt as if I had five pound ankle weights on them. This was not good considering today's ride was to be a repeat but only longer. Like yesterday, the hills started immediately after leaving the hotel and continued nonstop for 90 miles of the 110 mile ride. On average, the hills are 1/8 to 1/2 mile in length and the grade ranges from 6% to a steep 16%. On the climbing portion, I can only go 6-8 mph and need to stand up the majority of the time to gain the necessary power. I felt totally exhausted only 25 miles into the ride and I just wanted to make it to lunch at the 50 mile mark. I had serious reservation at lunch about how much further I could actually go and the mental toughness was really being tested. I told myself, as long as I could still move my legs, I was not going to quit under any circumstance. Once I reached the 90 mile mark and the terrain became more subdued, I actually got a second burst of energy and had no trouble finishing the ride. Hopefully tonight's massage will cure the majority of my aliments.