Pushing the limit, Part I

Riding a bike does not require a unique athletic ability. Most of us can do it. But what happens if you just don't get off? You have just become an ultra-marathon cyclist.

Here is a 3 part glimpse into what you can expect.

PART I:
Sleep Deprivation

Since staying on your bike is key in reaching your destination, we (ultra-marathon cyclists) have a tendency to cycle many hours without sleep. This can lead to some unique experiences. Here is one of them.

Early on in my cycling career, I participated in Boston-Montreal-Boston. This is a 1200 km unsupported randonneur event. While the cut-off time limit does allow you to take some sleep breaks, it is not always easy to find a place to sleep. One of the check points with some sleeping accommodations was a community center. When I finally got there around 2am, most of the cots were already occupied. I still found a place and I thought I would just go to sleep right away. No such luck. The snoring from about 50 people around me was unbelievable. I think the decibel level was approaching 90. After three hours of tossing and turning, I got up and continued on to Montreal. A quick meal and I was on my way back. By 3am, I was back to the Snorers Inn. A combination of physical discomfort (pain) and a desire to get back to Boston asap, led me to get back on the bike after another futile attempt at sleep. By the time the sun came over the horizon, I had not slept for more than 15 minutes at a time in 66 hours. It took every thing I had to keep my eyes open. I was alone somewhere in the back roads of Vermont. The fight to stay awake was all consuming. Then I began to enter a mental state that I knew was not real any more, but I was powerless to do anything about it. It was around 9:00am. In the distance I saw three children dressed in flower girl dresses. They were standing by the road, waving at me. It looked like they were going to a wedding. I thought this was great. Finally I was not alone anymore. When I got close, they turned out to be three mailboxes with a couple of US flags waving in the wind. It was then I knew I was hallucinating, but I could not get out of this state. I also became concerned about my food and water. Would I have enough for me, and get this, for my bike? I actually found myself dividing the food between me and the bike. My bike took on the personality of another human being. I did the only thing I could do. I stopped, lay down in the ditch. I closed my eyes for about 15 min. My mind was clear again. I no longer saw things that were not there. A couple hours later I finished my first 1200 km ride. That certainly was pushing sleep deprivation a little past the limit.  (This was the only time I experienced this)

Stay tuned for Part II, Physical Limits

Arvid