NER 400k -- or how I rode 260 miles for a Lunch IPA at Maine's best pub

I've shared stories about this ride on Strava and through text messages and over beers, but now I'll try to pull all those diverse threads into a coherent trip report.

The Summary

After 255 miles, I crashed.

Rippers offered sympathy, congratulations, front wheels, coffee, wine, food, and beer. Thanks, everyone!

Many people asked: "Are you OK?" I guess so. I feel like Tom Brady the day after a game. I have bruises on my left hip and shoulder, can't raise my arm over my head without pain, my neck is stiff, and I still have a headache. I hope my bike and body are better in time for next week's Okemo uphill bike race.

If you want to see great photos from Jake's pre-ride of the course, go to the bottom of the NER 400k page. I challenge anyone to look at those photos and not want to go ride a bike for 20+ hours. Otherwise, read on...

The Crash

During the ride, I thought about how to write about the scenic roads, the friendly people, and the joys and pains of riding 260+ miles. All those thoughts were literally knocked out of my head after 19 hours of biking when my front wheel met the curb at 20 mph. I landed hard on my left side, hitting my head and bruising my shoulder, hip, and ankle. Concerned motorists from a car behind me stopped and asked if I was okay. I tried to answer but mostly just lay in the street wheezing. Finally I got to my feet and staggered to the sidewalk where I sat down next to my bike. Most people would stagger after riding 255 miles, but they took that as evidence that I needed help and called 911. Soon I was surrounded by the flashing lights of a police cruiser, a fire truck, and the fire rescue ambulance.

The shoulder by Ryer's Store in North Reading goes from 4 feet wide to 4 inches wide in just a few feet. In the dark at 11 PM, the sidewalk looked like a continuation of the shoulder, and I didn't see the granite curb until the instant of contact. BAM! My wheel crumpled, the tire blew, and I crashed to the road. My helmet is cracked in 3 places and 3 days later I still have a slight headache.

Notice how the shoulder suddenly ends, and the sidewalk is made of the same material as the shoulder. I totally didn't see the transition in the dark, even with my headlight.

I kept telling the EMTs that I was going to repair my flat tire and finish the ride as soon as I caught my breath. They insisted I come back to the nearby station with them and call someone to pick me up. When I finally looked at the wheel, I agreed that was good advice.

Bell offers a crash replacement program for their helmets.

From the fire station I called Julie, waking her up, and asked her to drive to North Reading to give me a lift home. I had thought about carrying my bike to the finish, but walking 6 miles would take at least 2 hours and I was tired, so as much as I hated to do it, I called Jake, the brevet organizer, to tell him I had to DNF. Fortunately, Jake was thinking clearer than I was and instead brought me a replacement front wheel (thanks for the loan, John McC). Thirty minutes later, I was turning in my control card at the finish and officially completed the 400k. Yay!

Julie was patiently waiting in the parking lot to drive me home. I love my wife!

The Ride

My 400k brevet had a rough start and a very rough end. Other than that it was a great ride!

Though I woke up at 3 AM, I started 20 minutes late because my main headlight, charged and mounted to my bike the night before, wouldn't turn on. So I put on my backup light and began riding to the start. One mile from the house the backup light's battery died. (Gear picked up at the Ripper Swop shouldn't be part of your critical chain.) I went back home and got the backup to the backup light (and the required reflective vest and leg bands, which I forgot the first time. Whoops!). After all that I ended up getting to the start 20 minutes after everyone else left at 4 AM.

Since I started late, I missed the fast group. I caught up with many riders going at a more relaxed pace, but I just kept pushing into the headwind by myself. So I ended up riding the entire route solo. The flags were blowing straight towards me both going and coming back. The Ripper train would have been much appreciated.

The sun rising over Stearns Pond in Harold Parker State Park.

I shared my breakfast with this little bird at Breaking Common Grounds in Portsmouth.

Jake included an optional detour on this trail through Steedman Woods, so we could cross the Wiggly Bridge, a small suspension bridge in York, Maine. 

The Wiggly Bridge, York, ME

Me on the Wiggly Bridge

Me at the the Nubble Lighthouse, the 2nd control point. The sun washed out the colors of this classic New England icon. For a better photo, look here.

The third control point was at the Kennebunkport Bicycle Company, so I bought a new NiteRider headlight as a replacement for my two non-functioning lights. The new light only cost $40 and when I turned it on at 9 PM after the control at Dunkin Donuts in Merimac, it was bright enough to see the road, so I was happy. ...until I hit the curb at Ryer's in North Reading.

The route through southern Maine mostly followed the Eastern Trail, a 65-mile section of the East Coast Greenway. From Kennebunk to South Portland we were mostly on the off-road portion of the Eastern Trail. On the return from Portland most of the way to New Hampshire, we rode the Eastern Trail's scenic on-road route that mostly follows quiet country roads.

A bridge on the Eastern Trail, south of Portland.

Another view of the marshes from the Eastern Trail.

After checking in at the halfway control in Portland, I rode a mile out of the way so I could have lunch at Novare Res Bier Cafe, the best beer bar in Maine according to Thrillist. When I say lunch, of course I mean the world-class Lunch IPA from Maine Beer Company. I texted Julie that I should be home before midnight, finishing the 251-mile event in under 20 hours, well before the 27-hour cutoff.

In addition to a Lunch from MBC, I had a lunch of grilled cheese sandwich and tomato and roasted pepper soup.

My ride started and finished in the dark. This is a view of the bridge across the Merrimack River from Merrimac, MA. That's not a typo; the Massachusetts town is spelled differently from the river and the town in NH.

What made this a great ride? The roads were quiet and scenic; drivers were considerate and friendly; merchants at the control points were enthusiastic, asking questions about the ride, and clamoring for the opportunity to sign my control card even though a receipt from the store made a signature unnecessary.

At the 5th control just over the Maine-New Hampshire border, a bike shop owner riding home from work gave me a fist bump, a packet of Gu, and Nuun hydration tablets when he learned about my ride. Another guy complained about missing his morning ride because he he had to work. He asked "How far?" so I told him, "260 miles." "That's a f**king hell of a long ride," he said. "I feel like f**king hell," I replied. We laughed. All day long I had pleasant interactions with the people I encountered.

A few of you asked, "What's next?" The next randonee is the 600k on July 23, heading out to Williamstown, Mass. Come join me; you may enjoy it.

Fathers Day

The next day was Fathers Day, and my kids asked about my "race" via texting. Here is my response and their replies...

• Me: Not a race; a 400 km randonee. 40 people left Woburn at 4am (actually 39 cuz I started 20 minutes late). We rode to Portland and back. For an official completion, you have to finish in less than 27 hours. Even with the late start, a long lunch, and hanging out at the Fire Department after the crash, I finished in 20 hours. I'm mostly ok. Can't raise my arm over my head, slight headache, big bruise on hip. Coulda been worse. 
• Michael: Oh man. Hopefully you aren't concussed and can just medicate with a nice big beer or two. 
• Alexa: What did the 911 people say when they examined you? Concussion would be scary even if mild. 
• Nicholas: Happy Father's Day, Dad!!! 

I love my kids!

My friends think I'm tough because I finished the ride. I love my friends!

My wife thinks I'm a baby because I whimper when raising my left arm to put on a t-shirt. I said it earlier, but I will reiterate here, "I love my wife!"

In addition to helping me get dressed she gave me "hit pills" from her Chinese medicine pharmacopoeia. The hit pills, plus rest (and maybe beer), healed me enough that I can now shower, shave, and put on nice clothes without any help or crying.

Thanks for reading!

Concussions suck!

Updated 6/24/16

My ride and crash was last Saturday; now, 6 days later I still have headache.
My annual physical was today and the doctor confirmed I have a concussion.
The good news is I passed all the neurological tests he gave me.
The bad news is I am on self monitored concussion protocol, which means...

• No physical exertion until 7 days after headache stops.

• No mental exertion; i.e., reading, watching TV, bright lights, thinking hard...

• No alcohol, including beer!

• No anti inflammatory drugs; e.g., Tylenol, Advil, aspirin

After hearing the rules, I asked if I could race tomorrow. "No way!" he said.
So I gave away my Okemo Bike Climb registration. Now I've got 2 DNS for 3 hill climbs so far this year.